Whatcha been up to?

I often ask other folks that question!  Here's a little of what we've been up to this week.

When a song comes on that Camille is rocking out to, she makes faces (similar to this one) and lip-syncs the words, it is the funniest thing!

Graham and Hannah Reece are my official dish unloaders, and they do an AWESOME job.  I am so grateful for their help!

I have been working on storing up some freezer meals this week, doubling and tripling some simple favorites. I know things will be a little hectic when I first come home with Lydia, so having some meals "ready to go" should help lighten the load a bit at dinner time, and maybe it'll keep us from eating take-out so much. So far I've made Sweet 'n Sour Chicken, bean, meat and cheese burritos, and later today I'm making Spaghetti Casserole and Chicken Curry.

Speaking of meals, this is Millie's favorite, basic black beans and rice with shredded cheese and a dollup of sour cream on top.  She'll even ask for it at breakfast some days.  Dinner is such a proper occassion around here.  ;)

Big Sibs

We are all getting excited about Lydia's arrival!  This anticipation is expressed in many ways and here are a few:

some of us make Lydia a "pretty house" out of paper

Some of us drive Lydia's momma CRAZY stalking around trying to snuggle with the belly

the sister-types like to practice their swaddling methods

and practice rocking the baby

and practice kissing the baby

and some of us get ready for Lydia by putting the baby's porta-bed together with great care.  :)

Some of the things I want to remember are not easily photographed, but are so precious, just the same:
-prayers of thanks for "our baby Lydia"
-the many many pieces of artwork creatied for Lydia Kate
-the way Camille breathlessly tells folks about our baby "Alivia Kate"
-the way every new baby and stuffed animal is now named "Lydia Kate"
-the way Reecie wraps her arms around my belly to give Lydia hugs and kisses
-the way Graham sings "Hush Little Baby" to Lydia each night:
Hush little Lydia don't you cry, Bubba's gonna buy you....
-the many, many conversations about who will change, feed, burp, help, sit next to in the truck, and be with Lydia each moment of the day  :)

I'm so excited to enjoy our precious people together and watch their relationships grow into something so beautiful!  

awake

It's 5:10am (new spring forward time) and I'm WIDE awake.  Baby bumpin' around....indigestion....and the cutest little (almost) three year old snuggled so close that I practically fell out of bed.  So here I am, in my "happy" place.  Recording these fleeting moments...how quickly I forget.

Yesterday was Hannah Reece's half-birthday--6 1/2!  I made her blueberry muffins for breakfast and we had grand plans to hit the skating rink for "Kids Skate Free" but finishing the girls' room took all afternoon.  And I love how it turned out!  Every inch of that 10x12' space is fully functioning.  :)  I look in there and STILL cannot get over the fact that God has entrusted ME with three daughters.

I started babysitting around the age of 11, I was a responsible, detail-oriented, baby-loving girl whom mothers trusted.  (I still can't imagine leaving my babies with an eleven-year-old---no matter how mature??)   Anyway, for several years, all of my babysitting gigs were for boys.  Gangs of brothers.  My mom would jokingly say that God was preparing me for a "basketball team" of boys someday.  Funny how those prophetic words (even in jest) stick!  :)  So with each new daughter I still can't believe it's true.  And I never would have imagined just how much I'd enjoy raising daughters.  They are complex little creatures, to be sure.  I am learning so much about myself (the good, bad and ugly) because a this stage, they mirror my attitudes and responses in so many ways.  I remind them often how blessed they are to have each other.  Even in the midst of squabbles and irritations, what a great blessing -- the assurance of life-long allies in sisterhood.

I pray that they would be women of noble character.  Honest.  Whole-hearted.  Kind.  Compassionate. Courageous.  Resourceful.  And I pray that the Lord would continue to grow me in these areas, too.  I get so overwhelmed by the "dailiness" of life at times that I lose perspective.  And then I fall into self-pity, or the "if only's" and that is just flat toxic.  Lord, rescue me from myself.  I want to be consumed with your life-giving, strengthening JOY and PEACE.  Fully surrendered to you!

29 weeks

Sweet Lydia Kate,

We are at the start of the third trimester and you are a growing girl!  You feel like a strong little baby inside my belly.  Even now, as I write, you are gently bumping around inside and you have the hiccups.  :)  I love you so much sweet daughter.  This stage of pregnancy evokes some crazy emotions in my heart.  On one hand, I feel like there's so much left to do to be "ready" for your arrival.  On the other hand, I'm just ready to not be pregnant, holding you close and enjoying you as a member of our family.  So, patience is the word for these weeks of waiting and anticipating.  Here we are at 29 weeks.  I could nap about 2-3 times a day if given the opportunity and my favorite snacks right now are dried bing cherries (with a few chocolate chips sprinkled in), oats with peanut butter, honey and bananas, and grape juice.  I'm definitely carrying you straight out in front and low.  Frequent comments from folks are things like "your due date must be right around the corner!  10 more weeks??"  My sentiments exactly. Ha ha!

--sweet sister getting in on our little photo shoot  :)  --

--before church, in the front yard at 29 weeks--

I started physical therapy for my hip pain a few weeks ago, it's helping to stabilize my pelvic bones and sacrum so much.  Here I am exercising at home with Graham's "angry bird".  Ha!

Your great-grandma Oedy came for a surprise visit this week.  This is the first time she's been back since Daddy and I got married almost eleven years ago. She is one special lady.  

Your big brother and sisters love on you already.  They love to kiss and hug my belly and sing all kinds of songs to you.  A favorite is "hush little baby".  Graham says he "just can't wait any longer, I'm so excited to see Lydia".  Hannah Reece likes to lay in my lap and wrap her arms around my belly, as if she's giving you a big hug!  Camille sings all kinds of songs to you and plays "peek-a-boo".    We are so excited to see your sweet face, baby girl!  xoxoxoxo, Momma

Favorites

This "grabber" is my constant companion as bending down with these achy hips is such pain (literally!)

I {heart} the Fernando Ortega station on Pandora with Selah and Watermark for variety.  I turn it on especially in the mornings and evenings for a peaceful tone.

This tea with lots of honey has been a staple in this pregnancy.  I have totally given up decaf coffee because it just does not taste good to me right now.  Also, hot chocolate...I love it with LOTS of marshmellows.  :)

sweet

The girls and I got a hankering for cupcakes tonight...and so we made 'em!  We're working on taking turns with the spoon in the kitchen.  Everyone wants to stir.  ;)

Here's "C-licious" after her nap, buck nekkid, chowing down on a  cupcake.  I love her warm snugs and sweaty baby head smell when she wakes up...can't get enough of my Millie girl!

She was so tickled with the way her voice sounds when she has her mouth stuffed full of cupcake.

One of our favorite traditions is the Christmas book basket.  So cool to watch the kids pour over these books, some familiar and some new to us this year.

Look at this little sweetie!  Eighteen weeks now.  

Feeling good.  Feeling sleepy.  Feeling HUNGRY!  Feeling some growing pains (round ligament).  Feeling little bumps and flutters.  Feeling so, so, so thankful.

Boy or Girl?

Dear baby,

Today is the day!  We will find out if you are a boy or a girl.  I think you are a girl...but maybe it's because those are my most recent memories from our last two babies?  Daddy is sure you are a boy.  Graham has pleaded with you since you were 4 weeks old "PULEEEZE grow a p*nis!!!  Bubby will be SO happy if you are a brother!"  Ha ha.  Hannah Reece has waffled between boy or girl and I think she'll be happy with either one.  She's excited to share diaper duty with me this time.  :)  Camille is SURE you are a girl.  Every time we are at Target, she veers off to the baby section to look at all things pink for her "baby sistah".  Whatever gender you are....we are thankful!  You are a reward and a blessing from God!

I can't wait to see your precious growing body wiggling all around at today's ultrasound.  I am up super early (5:30) thinking about you.  Mornings and nights are the times I think about you the most.  These are quiet(er) times in the house and my mind and heart are still amazed that God has given us you.  You are our fourth child and I think it's so cool that as soon as you come into the world FIVE people will be ready to overwhelm you with love and care.  Not to mention all of your Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who love you, too!  When we are together or at church, your nine-year-old cousin Logan embraces me with the sweetest (and gentlest) hug and says "I can't WAIT to see our baby!!!"  And then he reminds me exactly how many days until we find out if you are a boy or a girl.  So precious.

I've felt your "flutters" of movement several times in the last week or so.  Tonight though,  I felt a quick "bump".  I knew it was you.  I love you little one!  You already make momma smile.  xoxoxo

This is what you look like  today, at 16 weeks..

number four

It's official....we're expecting baby number FOUR.  It is so surreal to write this!   Each time we try to grow our family, I prepare myself for months of waiting.  (even though when Dan and I look at each other cross-eyed and get pregnant-ha!)  The Lord met our desires with a "yes" very quickly, once again.  We are so excited (and freaking out a little, too.)  :)

I had picked a three-pack of tests because I knew we were trying and they were on sale.  :)  ha!  My how things have changed-I remember I bought the fanciest test to be sure it was perfectly positive with Graham.  So funny.   Anyway,  I took one about a week and a half ago, another one on Tuesday-both negative.  On Friday evening, Dan suggested that maybe  I  should take another one in the morning.  When I woke up Saturday morning, I headed straight for the bathroom, remembered the test, did my part and left it on the bathroom window sill.  I then curled back up under the covers with Millie.  TOTALLY thinking it would be negative but highly entertained with Dan's excitement.  About 30 seconds later I hear laughter...silence....and then out of now where he appears right next to me. "We're going to have a BABY!"  I  thought he was joking.  I was practically asleep.  After all, it was 6 o'clock in the morning!!  I jump out of bed (wide awake now) and bolt to the bathroom to see the test.  "Oh my WORD!"  Totally shocked.  Like heart beating fast, light headed shocked.  It was nuts.  Then this feeling of panic.  How will I do this?  Can I do this?  How will we do this?  And then the tears. Dan, was so sweet and reassuring.  This was not the response I expected to experience from myself.    The truth is, I can't do this on my own.  I'm at the end of my own means.  I am leaning hard into the Lord's strength and mighty arms and it is the BEST.  Exactly where I want to be-running to Him.  Peace washes over me.  And I am GRATEFUL.  Thank you, Lord for this child!

I snapped a video yesterday of Dan and I sharing the big news with Graham and Hannah Reece.  Graham likes to play hang-man, so we made a little game of it.  Here's the final result of our little game:

Graham was sooooo visibly excited (as expected)  :)  and is really hoping for a baby brother.  Hannah Reece was smiling, but a little quiet.  She has to internally process things and I love this quality about her.  She's thinking it through!  :)  She is concerned that the baby might be allergic to dairy, like Camille, and also where this baby will sleep, etc.  We've reassured her that the Lord has planned this child for our family and we trust Him wholeheartedly to guide us through the details.  (I need to remember this, too!)  Today she kissed my belly three times.  I think sweet sister is excited.  And she wants a boy...her bedroom's already maxed out for cryin' out loud!  ;)  Miss Millie is still unaware, and we hope to keep it that way for a bit longer.  In her chattery, innocent two-ness she might spill the beans before we're ready.

We let the kids pick who they wanted to tell.  Graham chose to tell Grandma + Grandpa, Hannah Reece chose to tell Nana and Papa.  Graham played hang-man the same way to tell Gma and Gpa and they were so surprised and excited!  Mom stopped by today and Hannah Reece told Nana right away.  Papa called to talk to her this evening, and she shared the news with him over the phone. This baby will make #6 grandchild for my parents and #11 for the Oedy's.  It's a tie-breaker on the Oedy side, there are 5 boys and 5 girls!  So for now, the big kids and our parents are the only ones who know.

I still can't believe it's true, but I praise God for this amazing gift from above.  We trust that children are a blessing from the Lord.  It is a joy to surrender our lives to Him as parents.  I am grateful that He will never leave or forsake us or our children.  Our faith is in the Lord alone.

***
Dear sweet baby,

We are thankful and excited about you!  I can't wait to smell your sweetness and hold you close.  It is a privilege to be your momma.  I am honored to be able to watch  your life unfold from a front-row seat.  Daddy is beside-himself excited about you.  I'm pretty sure he was jumping up and down (all 6'4" of his big self) in the bathroom when he peeked at the test first.   :)  He's always envisioned four children for us, so you may be the grand finale.  I pray that your precious body and soul would grow to be strong in wisdom and stature.  Your life is already a blessing and  joy to our family.  Your brother and sisters can't wait to meet you tiny one!

We love you,
Momma