It's a.....

Today Rob and I were able to take our two oldest children to the hospital with us for the long awaited 20 week ultrasound (although I'm only 19 weeks).  We kept it a secret from (most) everyone because it had become such a huge deal (of course!) that we wanted to be able to digest the news (especially if baby happened to be another boy) and be able to tell people on OUR terms instead of being overwhelmed with well wishing calls/texts/e-mails/etc on other people's terms.

Everything went well.  Baby looks good.  Measuring on date.  And the cutest and most wiggly thing I've ever seen.  The kids were fascinated and quite enjoyed themselves (for like 10 minutes...then the interest started wearing off).  

After holding my breath for what seemed like hours (probably only 20-30 minutes or so), the tech started measuring the legs and moving more towards "the down belows".  I watched with a keen eye.  I mean, I've seen plenty of little boy parts in my time and was able to catch Kian's gender specifying parts long before the tech had even taken the time to actually "look" for sure.

I'm not gonna lie.  I just wasn't seeing anything.  But I didn't want to get my hopes up.  

I eventually leaned over to the (in my mind, dawdling) tech and asked, "So...do you have an idea?"

"Yeah....I think I do"

 "I do too but I'm afraid to say.  All I DO have to say is that IF this baby IS a boy, he must not be as "well endowed" as any of my others."

She smiled.

Now the time of reckoning.....

Shot after shot after shot of "between the legs" and I'm still not seeing anything.  Not totally unusual since baby was keeping it's legs pretty close together and wiggling like mad.  Modest little thing. 

And then there it was.  The perfect shot.

"There you go.  There it is.  See those three white lines?"

"NO WAY!  NO WAY!"

The room erupts into a chorus of "What?  What is it?" (from the boys and Rob, of course) and I'm thinking...."Hello!  Where have you been?"

Anyway....so yeah....

  and we couldn't be happier.

The boys were giggling.  Rob was BEAMING (still is)!  And me....totally in shock.  Still can't believe it.

Best part of the day....

I drop Rob off at work.  Before he get's out of the car he says, "Man, I feel like I just wanna chest bump someone (ha ha ha....so cute)!" 

"You can chest bump me if you want (a huge sacrifice for someone in my state.  Um...OUCH!)."

So....as I'm walking around the car to get into the driver's seat he goes in for the bump.....what the heck....let's do this thing.  A sacrifice worth making.

Afterwards he throws his arms around me in a big bear hug before he saunters into the building with the hugest smile on his face.

I think someone already has her daddy wrapped around her finger.  I think he's in love.

To be continued......
 

18.5 weeks and counting

I suppose I could have settled for just "18 weeks" in the title but why would I do that?  I'm going to count every second of every day I've bypassed with this pregnancy.  It's a great accomplishment, yes?

Anyhow....thought I'd post a few more pics.  For posterity (and curiosity's) sake.  No worries, the dirty mirrors are also part of it.  These types of things MUST be documented for future generations.

 
And, also for posterity's sake, proof that I do actually shower and get dressed every once in a while (despite what MOST of my children's memories will most likely recall someday).

 P.S.  Ultrasound coming SOON!  I'd tell you when, but I don't want to.  :)  Yep, I'm that mean.
 

4th Grade comes to a close

If there is one thing the kids school likes to do more than anything at the end of the year, it's party hardy.  I think the whole last two weeks were just a free-for-all.  Oh....except those hours and hours Gabe spent after school re-doing class work I thought he could have done better on had he put forth more effort the first time.  OUCH!  At least he got it done and his grades reflected the belated hard work put in.

Anyway....

We were able to enjoy many many fun activities with him.  Including but not exclusive to...

A recorder concert.  That's right...he is now a master at Beethoven on the recorder.

4th Grade Track and Field Day

400m run and the long jump
(other events not captured because of a dead battery)

and

Frog watching
(aka frog pestering)

Our old window well friend survived the winter and is still with us.

and we got a new friend..that ended up leaving us because he is NOT trapped in our window well and was sufficiently spooked by children pocking him with sticks (against strict orders not to).

 All in all a good end to a good year.

I can't count on both fingers and toes how many times this child exclaimed in pure amazement, "WOW!  I can't BELIEVE how FAST this school year has gone."  

To which I add, "or how slow the summer is going to creep by."  

THE END

 

Grandparents Day!

Grandparents Day!  A long standing tradition at our local elementary school.  I guess that makes sense since half of the school is being raised by their grandparents (not so far from the truth, sadly).  Not my kids, though.  In fact, their grandparents are nowhere near. 

Last year I skipped out on the monumental talent show/assembly that is the highlight of the celebration.  "Why should I go," I thought, "I'm not their grandparent."  But, with two kids in the program this year, one of whom is extremely sentimental (Cael), I packed up the younger two and we went.  NEVER AGAIN!

2 wiggly (and bored) kids. 2 HOURS LONG. Only 2 minutes worth of appearances from the children of my womb.  Like I said....."NEVER AGAIN".  I'm surprised the students themselves didn't mutiny.

Anyway.

One good thing that came out of it......Little red's artistry.  Introducing.....

Grandma G.

 

Grandpa G.

 

Grandma H.

Grandpa H.

Now, while his renditions are not exactly spot on, he did a pretty good job of capturing the essence of it all.  he he he......

 

End of the year morsels

You know when it gets to the end of the school year and your kids start bringing home loads and loads of useless papers?  Yeah?  You do?

Then you know how tempting it is throw the whole thing out.  Or my usual...."Is there anything in there I need to see?"  Gabe always answers with a bored, "No" and, just the opposite, Cael seems to think it ALL is worth saving.  Forever.  (now that is another story).

So glad I didn't.....

There were some goodies hidden in the stack this year.

A short paragraph as part of Gabe's "Autobiography" titled "My Fabulous Family",

"My family is a weird one.  My brother Cael likes to get out of work by saying, 'I need to use the bathroom'.  I am the biggest one-upper ever.  My brother Isaac collects everything.  My brother Kian breaks his toys (sometimes).  My mom is a neat freak, but my dad is normal."  

Silly, but refreshingly truthful.

And from Cael's writing assignment "The Best Day Ever",

My three cousins from Utah came to visit in April.  I was excited that they came.  My cousins X and A and I played Mario Brothers.  We didn't play the video game.  We pretended play.  I was Mario.  X was Luigi.  A was Bouser and Toad.  We had lots of fun.  They left after one week.  I was sad.  This summer I get to see them for 3 1/2 weeks.  by Cael G
 Such sweet sweet love.  He really does LOVE LOVE LOVE his cousins.  Especially X (born 3 weeks apart)

I find myself with extreme mixed feeling about school ending.  I am ready for them to be home for the next few months but am not all that excited about them being home for the next few months.

Such is the life of a mother with school age children.  Sigh...