24 weeks

I have not posted a lot about the pregnancy, I guess I'm just too busy with the boys to spend a lot of time dwelling on it. Although I am trying to savor this pregnancy and enjoy the special moments. I am now 24 weeks, and growing fast! Pregnancy #3 sure makes for a fast growing mama. Ha! Overall I am feeling pretty well, my only complaint is varicose veins in one leg, which I had with Luke, so I expected them, but oh my goodness, they are worse and no fun. I'm getting used to it now though and learning how to relieve the pain a little when I can. Baby girl is active, she kicks a lot!

As you can see from the picture, Isaac is all about baby. He is constantly rubbing on baby sister (not me, her), he tickles her, and talks to her. He asks me all the time what she is doing and when she is coming. He even asked me to lay in bed with him the other night, but it turned out he really just wanted baby sister to lay with him. He has even decided on her name...Hannah, this evening he asked me what Baby Hannah is doing. Oh goodness, this boy makes me laugh! We'll see if his name sticks...Carl and I have yet to decide on a name.

I will admit, I am scared of life with three little ones under the age of 4, but even through that fear I am SO excited and ready to meet this sweet girl and have her here with us, in our arms. Until then I will soak up everyday with my boys and have as much fun as we can until she joins us!

Peanut is 18 months!

His newest favorite activity is riding the 4 wheeler with Isaac.

Our little peanut is 18 months! Really!?! I know that's what you're thinking, it's what I'm thinking. How is time going so fast? He is maturing, learning, and growing...he is becoming quite a toddler. We will start with his stats...I was hoping to post that he has finally reached the 20 pound mark, but he has not. He weighed in at 19 lbs 10 oz and is 31.25" in length. He's growing, just ever so slowly.

Our Luke may be small, but he is not to be overlooked or underestimated. He has a strong and great personality. He cannot talk much, but he communicates very well and he lets you know what he does or does not want. He knows exactly what is going on, he understands everything, and he wants to be a part of everything! He loves to try to do the things Isaac does, he doesn't realize that he is quite a bit smaller and younger than his big bro. He still prefers to play with any kind of vehicle, if a toy has wheels he is pushing it around and often making the car sound with it. Thomas the Train continues to be #1 in his life...his eyes light up when he sees him in an unexpected place. He loves to read Thomas books, watch Thomas on TV, and of course play with his trains. He also prefers to play outside rather than inside...I don't think this will ever change. He still loves to swing, and has recently decided he wants to swing on the big boy swing, which surprisingly he does really well! Another random thing he always wants to do...wash his hands, I guess it's good he stays clean. :-)

Luke is doing better with his stranger anxiety, but still does not want to be left. If we are in the same room with him and others he will open up and play with everyone. It's when we leave that the problems begin. He has attached himself to a few people at church, so that helps, but if they are not around he struggles. I am ready for him to loosen up and feel more comfortable with others.

I love my little guy's personality, I love his sweet hugs and kisses, and I am so thankful to be his mama!

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday was a fun day for our family! I have never been crazy about the scary part of Halloween or getting into all of that, but I do love the joy that comes from the kids getting all dressed up, playing with friends, and going to see our neighbors. This year was a little different, but oh so fun! Together with our small group from church we hosted a party here at the house for all of our neighbors. We rented a bounce house (which the kids ALL loved), we set up a few games for the kids to play to "win" candy (mummy bowling, bean bag toss, and basketball), we also had popcorn and some dinner. We had many friends from church come to help out and hang out, as well as the Crews family, and Emmy and Gumby with Leah and Mariah. We started the evening with lots and lots of bouncing, of course some powerwheels driving, too. After some hot dogs we headed out to Trick or Treat. Isaac's best friends from church were here with us, Luke and Levi along with their baby brother Titus, as well as Samantha, and cousin Mariah. As a group we all walked down the street to a few houses, the kids enjoyed saying Trick or Treat and seeing what great surprise they got. It was a lot of fun to experience the evening with these amazing kids! It was a great evening of hanging out with neighbors, new friends, and family. I am so thankful we are a part of a church that cares about community and reaching out to those around us.

(Sorry there are no pictures, the blog is not cooperating.)

So excited...

Isaac is really so excited about getting a little sister. He tells everyone about her, including his teachers and gymnastics coaches. Since he found out about her last week he has said and done some of the cutest things, so I have to document and share them with you...

• While outside swinging the other day he started to talk about her, his face lit up as he talked. He said that she could ride in the baby car seat and if she gets bored in the truck he will talk to her and sing to her.


• He told me yeterday that Luke will need to learn to swing on a big boy swing, so little sister can swing in the baby swing and Luke can swing in the big swing next to him. He said he will push her if her swing stops.


• He asks me all the time what she is doing. So a couple of days ago I told him that he could talk to her because she can hear him. So he said hi to her and talked a minute. Then he was quiet for a few seconds. Then he started to sing the ABCs to her! It was priceless! No lie, after he stopped singing and talking she started to kick. I think she loves him already, too!


• Isaac has decided that we need to paint her room pink...because girls like pink.


• He asks me all the time if he can hold her after she is born. I tell him yes and he gets the biggest smile on his face!


• He was looking at his and Luke's pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and he said, "We need to go back and get one for my baby sister."


• While shopping at Target today we walked through the baby/toddler clothes department, I was looking at the clearance rack and he said, "Look, Mama, PINK, you need to buy that for my baby sister. She needs pink." A few minutes latery, "More pink, mama, buy that!" The entire shopping trip went on that way. He even tried to get me to buy baby diapers for her because she needs them. It was fun to see him so interested in getting things for her and picking out just the right color. ;-)

I am so happy that Isaac is so excited about his little sister. I pray that the joy sticks around once she comes home!

Whew, what a weekend!

Daddy and Isaac enjoying the hayride.

This picture makes me laugh!

Only big smiles from this guy!

The best family pic we could get with the pumpkins.

Luke holding on so tight during the hayride and Isaac loving on us both.

The three big kids sitting on the pig...just after this we tried to put Luke on the pig and in the process Isaac and Kacy slid off the side.

I captured this smile while he was admiring the ducks.

The not so safe, but oh so fun rope swing...he LOVED it!

Luke's favorite activity, the huge slide...he made Carl do it twice!

Isaac and Kacy, sweet friends.

Sir Topham Hatt at the birthday party.

Our Dutch soccer player hitting the pinata.

Look at Isaac and Daddy at the top of the dirt mound!

The guests of honor...Gumby, Cameron, and Leah.

This weekend was a busy one, full of fun times and great memories! It sure left me exhausted though...whew! We started the weekend with a great dinner at Oma and Opa's house on Friday night. It was a nice evening of family time. Saturday morning we headed out to Dewberry Farms, a wonderful pumpkin patch to let the kids run and play with some sweet friends, the Hendersons. Isaac and Luke love Adilyn and Kacy, so it was sure to be a fun time! Luke was not sure about the hayride or the pumpkin patch area...I can't figure out why he won't let me take his picture with the pumpkins. Isaac on the other hand was all smiles, he and the girls enjoyed the hayride and smiled and posed great for pictures. After the pumpkins we spent our time watching the pig races, admiring the ducks in the duck pond and the farm animals in the barn, as well as swinging on the super fun rope swings (Isaac's favorite!), sliding down the huge slide (Luke's favorite!), and just playing in the hay. We had so much fun with the girls and are thankful for such great friends!

After the pumpkin patch we raced home to get some naps, well apparently Carl and I were the only ones interested in napping. Luke slept about half an hour and Isaac, well, he never naps, so it was just the usual rest time (play time) for him.

Next on the schedule was a birthday party for one of Isaac's good friends from school. It was a costume party, so the boys had to get dressed up! Isaac's firefighter costume was a little too hot, so he went as a Dutch soccer player. Luke dressed at Sir Topham Hatt, although in shorts rather than pants. They both looked great and were so excited for the party. We couldn't get Isaac out of the bounce house the enitre time and Luke was happy just running around the yard and driveway. It was great to visit with friends we don't see often and make some new friends as well. Birthday parties are a bit crazy, but so fun...I love seeing the kids all having so much fun!

Every Sunday is busy around here these days, but today was extra busy. We started the day at church with a great sermon and good fellowship with friends. The boys had fun in Sunday school and made some cute puppets. Their lesson today was based on the verse, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14. They learned this verse last week as well, so Isaac and I have been discussing it all week. He suprised everyone with his memorization of the verse including the Psalm 139:14. The boy loves to learn, he is a sponge...and he truly enjoys learning about God and studying His Word.

After church we rushed home to change and pack some lunch, then off we went to the park for a family picnic. We got together with Carl's family to celebrate three birthdays; Cameron, Leah, and Gumby. We all ate lunch togther, then the kids got to run around and play...on the playground as well as the huge dirt mound. As you could guess, Isaac loved the dirt mound and was determined to get to the top. Luke enjoyed the freedom and was running everywhere, he wore us out chasing him. It was a wonderful afternoon with family, celebrating three great people!

We came home for naps after the park, but unfortunately Luke fell asleep on the way home, for about 5 minutes and decided that was enough sleeping for him. We were supposed to head out to small group this evening, but with Luke's lack of nap I decided it was best to keep the boys home and get them in bed early. So that's just what I did. I am bummed to have missed the time of fellowship and digging into God's Word, but thankful for the extra rest for the boys.

Whew, I'm tired again now after just writing about the weekend. But thankful for the time with family and friends and the sweet memories we made as a family.

Sugar and Spice and all things nice...that's what little girls are made of.

We have a lot to learn, we don't know much about Sugar and Spice, but I know we will learn quickly and will have so much fun in the process!

We told the boys this morning that they were going to have a new baby brother or sister and Isaac was so excited! We told him that we were going to the doctor today to find out if he was getting a sister or brother, and that he could come with us. He thought this was great! Thankfully we didn't have to wait too long, so we could all get in and see our little one. The ultrasound tech looked immediately to find the gender, and our little one cooperated, there is no doubt this is a little girl! I love seeing the baby on the ultrasound, it makes it so exciting and I feel even more connected afterwards. She is an active one...she was moving the entire time! And she is on her head, maybe she's practicing her gymnastics skills already. Heehee! Isaac was able to see her head/face, hands, and feet; and even hear her heartbeat. He was so excited and of course filled with a million questions. This was such a sweet time for all of us, a memory I will never forget!

All afternoon Isaac's been talking about his little sister, he cannot wait! He has talked about taking care of her, playing with her, and of course he is so curious about how she got in my tummy and what she's doing in there.

We are all over the moon about this sweet little miracle, and are counting down the weeks until we can hold her in our arms.

Book Parade

Isaac the Fireman!

Sitting outside his classroom with some of his friends.

The fireman with his special book.

Isaac had a book parade at school this afternoon. He got to bring his favorite book and he had to dress up as one of the characters. Obviously, he was a fireman, his book was, "When I Grow Up I Want to be a Fireman." The kids all dressed up and then they paraded around the school for all the parents/grandparents to see. It was such a cute experience, the kids all looked adorable and all did great with the mass amount of people staring at them. I could tell Isaac was a little nervous, but he smiled so big once he saw us! He thoroughly enjoyed wearing his Fireman costume, and told me on the way home that one day he will drive a big firetruck and fight real fires. The kids were allowed to bring their parents and one grand, so Emmy got to come with us, and she enjoyed it, too. Isaac loved that she was there to see him parade.