This week.

Did you miss me? I think Cindy might have, and that made me feel so very special I decided to post a new blog today. Even though I don't have anything inspiring to share, I will just tell you about my week.

Tuesday I woke up with a sore abdomen and ribcage and realized that Ladybug must be doing a growth spurt and moving further up into my ribcage.The pressure was making me feel claustrophobic, and all I could think was I'm only 26 weeks and she's already pushing my lungs and I don't remember C and N being up so high. Why can't she scoot down a little? She is squirmy and likes to streeettttccccchhhhh. C did somersaults, N kicked me all day long really hard, and Ladybug has her own cute little wiggles. My adorably compassionate husband elevated the top of our bed to help with the pressure and I have decided to stop thinking about it.... that part might be helping a little?

I also woke up with a sinus infection Wednesday, and felt that my week would be doomed until later that evening I got my hands on one of Sugi's hot and spicy Korean soups and it worked amazingly. By Thursday morning my sinus was almost completely clear. I am so going to remember that trick next time!

And yesterday was my long-awaited haircut. I tend to wait about 3 months and that way I feel like I am getting away with two hairstyles-- one is chin-length and the other shoulder length. My mom says I should pay my hairdresser twice since I get two separate hairstyles! Anyways I LOVE my new haircut. It's got more layers than before and looks cute even when I don't do anything to it.... hmmm do I ever do anything to my hair? Good question, probably not. And the best part of my new haircut was arriving home to my C. He immediately noticed the new haircut, touched it with his fingertips and said "Mommy, you look PERFECT!" and then I smiled pretty much the rest of the afternoon and evening, at least on the inside.

Is this normal behavior?!!

N has replaced real crying with the WORDS "I'm crying, I'm crying". Tears will roll down his face when he's upset but he uses the words instead. This started a few days ago and I'm trying to control myself but it's so hard not to laugh. Stinkbug takes his toy away and I hear in the clearest words: "I'm crying, I'm crying." Big tears too.... I heard him late last night "I'm crying, I'm crying." What in the world!? I've never heard of this before!

Conversations with my belly button

C: "Ewizabif (aka Ladybug), it's your brudder! Hello?!!!

"Mommy, I'm using your penis as a microphone!"

Me: "That's my belly button, not a penis silly."

C: "Oh (smiles) I knew that... it was a mistake."

"Ewizabif... can't you hear me??? It's (his name)... Heeeellllllooooo!"

... and later that same day...

C: "Mommy, I got a piece of dried fruit stuck in my nose!"

(eyes tearing) "It hurts, get it out!"

Me: "How did it get up there? I can't even see it in there!"

C: "I don't know!"

Me: "Okay, put your finger over the other nostril and blow out REALLY hard!"

(a chunk of dried apricot goes flying across the room at top speed)

C: "Thanks, mommy. Thanks for the help."

Me: "No more putting things in your nose EVER."

C: "Okay mommy, I won't do that any more."

I love that boy! xoxoxoxo

You Betcha!

Sarah Palin dropped in on SNL for a skit about her, and I thought it was pretty funny. I love that she has such a great sense of humor!

The constant question: "Are you having any more?"

There's something about being pregnant with your 3rd.  Everyone starts asking whether you're having any more, from closest family and friends to random people at the grocery store.  I usually say "I don't know", because honestly Superman and I have always taken this one day at a time.  I didn't know how it would feel to have two until I was there and I still don't know what it will be like to have three.  I'm just extremely thankful for all that I've been blessed with.

So Superman and I have pretty  much decided to stop at three, and are planning for tubal ligation with Ladybug's C-section.  We've been talking about this a lot and it makes perfect sense.  It's logical and practical for our personal situation and that is something we completely agree on.  

But it's also the end of my reproductive life, and I'm very sad about that.  This will be my last pregnancy and I LOVE being pregnant!  This will be my last baby to hold and adore.  I thought that I would get to a point where I was DONE... done with pregnancy, dirty diapers, having a person attached to my nipple everywhere I go, sleep deprivation, you name it... but I would do it again and again and I don't know that I would ever be sick of it!  

My prayer is for peace in my heart that I can let go of this stage of life and embrace whatever follows, or if this choice is wrong then I pray that God will make that crystal clear to us.  I guess having great pregnancies and happy babies had to have a catch somewhere, and here it is.  I just want to live in babyland forever!!!

My SWEDISH Boys..

C loves these swedish hats with the braids. Last year he called it his "silly monster hat", this year it's the "chicken hat"!! So of course I had to get them matching swedish boy hats. They crack me up just looking at them so my excuse is comic relief. One thing I hadn't thought of is how Stinkbug now has something to pull N by... oh no! We're working on that one...

Our Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

We had an exciting little trip to Cobb Ranch today.  It was so exciting that Stinkbug fell asleep on the way there... I think he's doing a growth spurt or something?!!  Anyways, it was not crowded and so much fun!  We all went on the big tractor ride and saw a deer, walked around the pumpkins, checked out the animals, and played in the playground.  Stinkbug's favorite part was the bounce house, go figure.  We might be making another trip over there, it's like Disneyland to them!

Fall Planting Favorites!

There are so many beautiful flowers that love colder weather, but these are just some of my current favorites flowers to plant in fall!

Chrysanthemums

Gardenias

Pansies

Shasta Daisies

...and don't forget to put down California Poppy seeds during the winter months too!

It's a great time to protect the less hardy plants from frost by putting down wood chips and compost.  Happy Fall!

Her Big, Oldest Brother

"And thank you God for my baby sister (her name)".

I'm not even going to start on how C KNEW he was having a baby sister. He even knew what her name would be, since he'd heard me talking about how I love that name. But every night at bedtime he thanks God for his baby sister.

He takes his job as big brother very seriously, and is doing all the research and observation on baby sisters in general. He knows she will be here before long, but does he know how long 4 months really is?

Well, he's not the only one who's excited... I'm looking forward to meeting her too!!!

All of God's Beautiful Plants and Flowers!

Why do I love to garden?  Because I am amazed by the wonder and beauty of God every time! From the glossy green leaves of gardenias to the countless fragrant petals of a chrysanthemum... it's just amazes me!  When I bring home a plant and pull it out of that plastic container and see the roots all twisted and get to free them from their confines into their new home of dark, rich soil I can feel it smiling back at me!  I won't claim to be a great gardener by any means, it just makes me happy to play in the dirt and water my plants and watch the sun shine on them from the window.  And I'm so glad they are there, and thankful for God's creation!