Easter and Birthdays and Ultrasounds, oh my!

Wow – what an eventful week it has been and it’s not quite over!

Easter:
Anna had a special sleepover planned at Grammy’s house for her birthday over Easter weekend. Poppy picked her up on Friday night after work and she stayed there until Sunday. She got to go to a special planting day at a garden center on Saturday (complete with goodies to take home) and we met them halfway through church service on Sunday. I had the pleasure of meeting a family at their church who have ten children, part by birth, several from Ukraine, and several from the US foster system. And he said something so encouraging – though I am doubtful that I believe it…. he said, “Ten children between toddler and high school grad is less busy than four kids under five.” So I guess if we can survive the next couple years, we have it made! (no, we aren’t shooting for ten kids – let’s settle into four first, people!)

My dad was able to join us too, which I LOVED. My mom was visiting my brother over the weekend, so we had the pleasure of his company! I don’t feel like I see my parents half as much as I’d like, so it was really good to spend some time with my dad. We all had a yummy Easter lunch together and an egg hunt in the back yard, and the weather was just gorgeous and we all went for a nice sunny stroll. I was so proud of Anna for holding up to so much extended fun (that is tiring for a little person!) and she fell asleep on the way home and then slept extra for several nights and added in a few naps too. 😀

Babies and Birthdays:
On Thursday I had a midwife appointment (which is fun to bring all the kids – they do well… maybe because the appointment is in the playroom of her house?). I’m almost tracking the weight gain of my last pregnancy which is good and the baby’s doing well. We discussed plans for dealing with post-partum pains which I’m dreading a bit. It feels good to have a plan. The pains – afterpains and the big milk delivery. The plan:
Advil (because it works well on smooth muscles like the uterus), AfterEase (because it has both Crampbark and Motherwort and some other things), Calcium-Magnesium supplement, starting at 37 weeksish, and placenta (going to be encapsulated) Hope it helps!

So that went well and we got to visit Grammy at work too. The next day…. oh… the day I’ve been anticipating and dreaming about all week! The ultrasound!

The ultrasound was done at a very friendly place (I went out of my way to go here) and our technician was really nice and accommodating. Maggie and Anna sat down with Brian on the little padded bench with their snacks and we all had a nice monitor to watch the ultrasound on. I was surprised at how well Anna could tell what she was looking at! She did all her measurements first before checking gender… leg bones, head bones, abdomen, heart, brain, spine, etc. It was kind of her to mention every once in awhile that the baby looks perfect. (Especially since we have to wait a few days for the actual results.) The little stinker wasn’t cooperating at first to find out if we were going to be welcoming a little Dean or a little Carolyn… but after just a little wait, we learned we’ll be having our third princess! Carolyn Jane (nickname Carrie?) is measuring right on track and should make her debut sometime in September! Yippee!

As with the first babies, it’s always hard to “let go” of the other gender… you know… it could have been either a boy or a girl and I enjoy taking turns imagining our future with either. And at first it’s hard to not have one of those futures! But it doesn’t take me long before I’m so swept away by really getting to have three princesses that I am happy and glowing! Brian was beaming with pride on the way home… oh, how I love my husband! Despite being outnumbered and not having boys to do rough and tumble things with, he is a daddy right down to his bones and in love with all his children so much. I might even wonder if the girls wrap him around their fingers even more easily? Well, whatever the case, I am grateful that he has Jordan to keep him company when he needs a little more manliness around here. As he put it the other day, “It’s great to just sit with him and grunt at each other for awhile!”

I spent the afternoon choosing a baby book on amazon. 🙂 Hope I have time to fill it out!

Birthdays:
Anna is turning five. Wow. Where did the time go? Her birthday isn’t until Tuesday, but her birthday party was Friday and a family birthday party is Sunday! She is growing up soooo much. She looks older. She acts older. But, thankfully, she’s still my little girl and needed snuggles and help with opening her presents last night because she got too shy. We only had two friends over for her party, but that was plenty. That is – they had a blast and I was tired, so it must have been enough! They had an Almost Sleepover:
Pizza and pop in dressup clothes
Ring around the Rosy and Duck Duck Goose while I ate
Decorated their own cupcakes (with sprinkles, smarties, marshmallows and gumdrops) and ate them
Washed up several times
Changed into jammies
Made beds of sleeping bags, pillows, and blankets in the living room
Watched three episodes of Clifford
Popped and ate popcorn
Opened gifts (she got PERFECT five-year-old gifts! Thanks friends!)
Said farewell and took home a couple balloons

Simple. As easy as it gets. Fun!

This morning… in about 15 minutes, Anna will wake up to her new bicycle. It’s pink and purple. It has princesses pasted ALL OVER it. There are streamers and even a cheap little basket that looks like Cinderella’s carriage on the front for a doll and “stuff.” It has no training wheels. She’s been using a balance bike for awhile and doing really well. I hope she is ready for this! The training wheels are in the loft still, just in case we need them. Even if she can’t ride it… I think she’ll be happy to possess it. haha

Today I enjoy a day at home and do some preparations for tomorrow! Cake making, dishes, laundry, gift-wrapping (it’s a birthday for my sister, her son, Anna, and also Jordan even though it’s a month early)