28 WEEKS!

We've made it to 28 weeks! Little Foot here is busy as ever, rolling and kicking and hiccup-ing. I don't remember feeling the other two kids having hiccups, so that's been fun. Ryan and I are realizing how quickly Brady will be here and are super excited! Today Ryan told me, "I'm excited for all of us to be together." Thinking about having a family of 5 is such an unexpected blessing to us both, we truly hadn't planned to have anymore kids. God is so good to give us the desires of our hearts, even if we don't know we desire them until after He's acted!
 The pounds are coming on and i'm starting to be hungry, a bit slower and more tired. Here's a few  pictures for this week.

 

Also happening this week, the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. 20 children and 6 adults killed in an elementary school. God was gentle on my heart this week and blessed Leah Beth with the flu...she's been home with me and will be home for most of the week. I know there's no need to worry but it's done my heart some serious good to have her close by.

We got to spend the weekend with most of my family in Austin...so much fun! Got to love on my niece and one of my nephews...they're so precious and i'm thankful for the time I got to spend with them, getting to know their little personalities better, watching them interact with my kids and our familiy. We missed Vanessa and her family but hope to see them on Saturday. My favorite part of the weekend was the big turkey dinner Mom made. Just love sitting around the big table visiting with everyone, eating my way down memory lane, and watching my kids taste some of my growing up years. I didn't take a single picture. And i'm bummed about that.

 We also plan to pack up and start our haul to Wisconsin and the snow on Saturday! They're expecting 12 inches tonight and we hope to enjoy some when we get there. It really is magical to be in the snow over Christmas.

Lord willing, i'll have another picture next week...with a bigger belly to share!

   

Loag

 

Oh Sweet Logan...

     You are ever moving, ever exploring, ever moving and ever moving...
                                                                  1 year old

We saw the spark in your eyes early on...next came the sense of humor...and the laugh that has to be heard...it's beautiful...

 

2 years old

                          
                         Your joyful heart never stops...even when you're sad, you find the best in every situation...

                                                                             3 years old

      You sly little guy, you always have a plan, always have an answer, always have a question, always have an idea...
                                                                         4 years old

        You turn 5 today! Daddy and Leah and I are totally smitten with you Squeezie Man. God has given you a compassionate heart that wants the best for everyone you love. You notice when someone needs help, you're quick to compliment and encourage, and you have a tender conscience that wants to obey the Lord. You're reading words on your own, spelling small words, adding and subtracting and even dividing simple equations in your head. You can't wait to play soccer on a team, you sing a lot of the day and you're very excited to meet your brother soon! We can tell that God has special plans for you, Little Man. Our prayer is that He will draw you close to Him, that you will choose to follow and obey Him and that He will use your sweet heart to do His work. Happy birthday, Logan! We love you so much and are blessed to call your our Loag!

                                                                            

13 WEEKS!

Brady is due in 13 weeks! Exactly 3 months from today. Unreal. Here we are at 27 weeks.

  As if those 3 months won't pass quickly enough, we have a busy 4 weeks ahead of us. Logan turns FIVE in 2 days. We travel to Austin for Christmas with my family. We travel to Wisconsin for Christmas with Ryan's family. Leah turns SEVEN after that. And Ryan turns THIRTY FIVE! It's going to fly by! I'm hanging onto every moment with my babies that I can. We're so enjoying this cold snap with firewood and twinkle lights, warm soups and sweatshirts. Our family devotional time has been encouraging every night, and we're so thankful for all of these blessings in our lives and the time to remember and recognize them.

December

We have a new tradition this year! I got together with a group of women from church and we exchanged ornaments that we all made. We made a set of 24 each, according to the scripture we were assigned. I gave everyone one of mine and I recieved a complete set of 24! Tonight, Ryan and I read the first scripture with the kids, about God being the Alpha and Omega. We're not just focusing on Christs' birth, but on the prophecy of Christ to come, the fulfillment of that prophecy and the promises that God has made to those who believe and obey! Excited to dig in with the kids and count down to Christ instead of gifts.

Here's Logan putting up our first ornament:

 Just a little something I whipped up for Leah today. Thought Teddy needed a sleeping bag too. I start Logan's tomorrow! I started making them each something a few years ago and it stuck. Thankful for my sewing machine, Mom and Dad!

 

 

Leah's first soccer game on her Sting team! They won 6-3! She's been goofy all night. Had a great time and can't wait till her next game and practice. She's quick and is learning so fast. We're excited for lots more games with those braids flapping.

 

Don't have a picture of Brady or my belly this week. Let me say, just for the record, He's still busy. I took a bath the other night and the water around me kept making waves from his kicks! When I type on the computer, his rolling around is starting to bump the computer. He's growing, he's strong and he's tired of me coughing, too! Poor baby can't get a good nights' sleep. Happy December!

25

It's been a busy week! We drove to Missouri and vacationed with our friends for Thanksgiving...

 I lost the wishbone wish.

 

Logan started reading! This picture is from his first run-through of his first book. "Mat sat on Sam. Sam sat on Mat." These two pages had him cracking up and the teacher in me just melted watching him discover that he can read! And that it is fun. And that he can unlock those secret words!

 

We put up our Christmas tree! Our sweet little home just got a little sweeter.

 Leah had such a fun week home on break, that it was a rough Monday morning. Tuesday was better so we're praying for a smooth 24 days until Christmas break. We're all ready for her real teacher to come back!

And Brady grew, by what is starting to feel like...a lot. He's starting to hurt. And we've got 15 weeks to go, folks.

I'm depending on an early arrival, Brady. Let's shoot for 37 weeks, ok?

24 and the other 2

It was a busy week here...Logan caught another fish!

He said a few things that I loved too. I love his mathmatical brain, it surprises me because my mind never really thought this way. Certainly not at almost 5.
Logan: "Mom, I know what 4 and 3 is."
Me:    "What?"
Logan: "7"
Me: "What did you think in your head to figure that out?"
Logan: "I thought that 3 and 3 is 6 and then one more is 7."
*
 A super example of simple faith. Love it.
Logan: "One thing in the world is everything."
Me and Ryan and Leah: "What?"
Logan: "One thing in the world is everything."
Us: "We don't understand, can you explain a different way?"
Logan: "You don't have to understand. It's like the donkey in the Bible that talked...God said it so it's true."
Us: "ok."


Leah brought this home from school: A writing prompt on what she is thankful for. So exciting to see that the traditions Ryan and I have put in place for our family are special to her. I'm pretty sure if you click on the picture, it will get bigger for you to read.

The kids learned about mistletoe this week and have been sneaking around the house putting pictures of it up all over for me and Ryan. We found 5 today...

And Brady grew some more! It's starting to feel a little full in there. I'm kind of in a perpetual state of feeling like I ate an entire ham and can't digest it. Gross, huh? Yup. I'm getting back aches and my arms and legs have been randomly falling asleep if I sit or sleep too long at any one time. It's not such a cute little bump anymore, it's more of a...well, a ham-stuffed-skin, sticking out there.

 Happy Thanksgiving from this little ham! (I thought turkey would be too cheesy...)

23

This week...

 

Brady got bigger.

 Leah lost another tooth! That's 3...and they're eating up my dollars!

 

Logan and I hit the craft store.

Other than the fact that our Jeep's back window was smashed into tonight while Ryan had it at soccer practice, the week is off to a good start!

Double Stuff

I hit the jackpot at 22 weeks. Brady's as long as a package of Oreo's this week! I purchased them yesterday...and there may or may not be only 6 or 7 cookies left...

 Friends have started to pass on baby boy clothes, play mats, little blankets, and some seriously fabulous tiny shoes. I'm starting to feel more hungry, more often. I've had 2 days in the last week that I just had to lay down and take naps. Long ones! My stomach is growing and I can tell Brady's bones are starting to really grow and harden. Ryan, Leah and Logan all felt him kick this week! Pretty special to watch the kids get to know their little brother this way. Ryan and I were talking about our Thanksgiving trip last night and he said, "I'm excited for Brady to get here too." My mama heart is very happy these days. And my mama stomach is very hungry. I think i'll have a few Oreo's.

Goodbye

Goodbye Jack-O-Lanterns

Goodbye hay-rides

Goodbye fair games and knocking Goliath's head off for candy

 (Logan hit Goliath's head 5 times in a row! The head actually flaps back on a hinge. So cute.)

Goodbye regular pants, unstuffy nose and beloved belts

Goodbye October and hello November! Hello 21 week old Brady! You're the size of a bottle of Root Beer. Love feeling you everyday, sweet boy! You have a consistent awake time from 9-11 everynight, and then you randomly bounce around during the day. Your brother and sister are already plotting your Halloween costume for next year...i've graciously vetoed the hot dog idea.You can thank me when you're older. Now, they're wanting the 5 of us to be the Incredibles next year...if it means your daddy in red tights, I think it could probably be arranged...

Welcome November! My favorite month of them all. Welcome jackets for evening dinners out with daddy

Welcome choir rehearsals for Christmas concerts, welcome firewood, welcome the countdown until our Thanksgiving trip, welcome cinnamon candles and welcome Christmas music and shopping! Welcome open windows and fresh air. Welcome bike rides and a fabulous time change.Goodbye October. Lord willing, the 5 of us will see you next year!

Shield Wolf

BRADY RANDALL

 Brady doesn't mean anything special, but Randall does. It means, "Shield Wolf." Sounds fierce. It's also my Dad's name and that makes it most special! Ryan picked Brady and it's growing on me. We're so excited to have a little boy coming! We were set on waiting but Brady jumped on into the sonogram shot at just the right time and was too quick for our doctor to get out of the way. We were totally shocked and completely happy. Now we get to do some gender specific shopping!
 Here's a few pictures from the last few days that I love.
 A little pre-sonogram breakfast burrito. It was bound to be a good morning!

Doc didn't really get very many good shots of the little flasher, but you can see him sucking his thumb here...

 Halloween party with our friends. It was tons of fun!