A view of the past as we look to the future

As I prepare for the birth of our third child, I can't help but think about my first two experiences. They were so similar that I can't help but think the third might be, too. I'm really not sure how to prepare for an early delivery when I really have no idea WHEN it will be. Or even IF it will happen early again. But here's just a glimpse.

We took this picture just after finishing putting Edin's crib together. We had no idea that in just a few minutes I would have my first contraction. 7 hours later Edin was here.

Edin's first picture. October 14th, 2008, 5 lbs 8 oz, 17 inches long, 19 days early.

Leaving to come home from the hospital. Our lives would never be the same. It felt surreal driving home with a CHILD! It seemed like it was just a normal day for everyone around us. We stopped at Wendy's on the way home and I got a frosty. I'll never forget that. I'll also never forget that I came home to a MESSY house. I kept telling myself "I'll clean it. I've got time before the baby comes." James spent the whole time at the hospital with me so he couldn't clean up either. We were so unprepared for this child to come when he did. The outfit I brought to the hospital was 0-3 months and obviously it's huge on him. Poor guy.
Edin had a serious lack of fat on his body so he looked like an alien for a long time. And he had no hair...for two years...

I think this is the last picture of my belly before Lizzie came, probably three weeks before.

"Why are my feet and ankles so swollen? I should take pictures." 6 hours later I had my first contraction and 8 hours later Little Lady Lizzie was here.

Lizzie was born April 15th, 2008 at 5 lbs 6 oz, 18 inches long, and 26 days early. I was even more shocked than the last time. "What? It's tax day. I'm having this baby today?"

When we left the hospital with Lizzie, she weighed only 5 lbs 1 oz. She was really ticked off at being put in the car seat. In fact, she didn't pass the "car seat test" the first time around so we had to wait for the test to be done again. Basically, they put your baby in your car seat, monitor Baby's oxygen levels for an hour, and if they stay high enough, you can take your baby home. If you don't pass after two times, they make you go rent a special car seat from Primary Children's hospital. You can't leave with the baby until you get it! Luckily she passed the second time but we sure didn't feel at ease about going home with a baby who barely passed. He head flopped around A LOT.
On the way home this time, we had to go to Target for some much needed baby items, seeing as how we were unprepared again for our baby's arrival....Then we stopped at Cafe Rio and I was in postpartum heaven. In this picture Lizzie is wearing a preemie shirt that actually has blue on the front, one of Edin's. We didn't have anything for a preemie girl. Poor thing.

So any guesses as to how early this baby will be? I'm due April 7th. On March 10th, I'll be 36 weeks along.

Valentine's day the Strait way

James and I hate going out Valentine's weekend so we mostly stayed in. Friday night we watched the Olympic open ceremonies and made this divine chocolate cake together. Cary (my neighbor and friend) brought me a piece of one she had made and I just didn't get enough. So when James asked what I wanted to Valentine's day I said "Cary's chocolate cake!!" So we borrowed the magazine and made it together. That made it even better.

The recipe comes from "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine. Heaven. Seriously. It's one thin cake cut into thirds and stacked with this amazing chocolate frosting in between and around the sides.

Last night I made up some valentines for James and the kids. They're cute and funny and cheesy. I put cars stickers on the kids and they thought that was pretty cool.

James and I made a delicious chuck roast for dinner today, complete with potatoes, carrots, and broccoli. Um, heaven. The veggies were probably the best part. I'm not sure what made them so good but holla! They were. We also tried a new brand of apple bubbly. It's now my new favorite.
James chopping vegetables. I was about to say I didn't really do anything to help make dinner but I played with the kids and kept them out of James' way while he cooked. That's a big deal.

I forgot to mention we also ate some Frenchy cheese, Camembert, with a bagget. The bagget wasn't that great so it wasn't a "wow" experience.

The Spread. I added gravy after the picture. Seriously, the potatoes and carrots were the best I've ever had.

Today I got to tell James that he's my best friend. "What makes a best friend?" I got to thinking. Well, a best friend is someone you tell all your secrets to; happy, sad, personal, gossipy, embarrassing. I tell him anything. A best friend is also someone you want to spend time with, all the time. It's not like you get bored of them after a few months. I still want to hang out with James all the time. We can just sit on the couch and read next to each other, we watch movies, we go shopping together, we go on dates. I don't get sick of this guy! I can't say that about anyone else. (Yeah, I'm kind of a snob like that.) James sees me when I'm at my ugliest but I also want to be my prettiest for him. A best friend is someone you trust with everything. It takes time to learn about each other's weaknesses and strengths but I WANT to. And you know what else? A best friend is someone who just listens, who's there. James IS my best friend. I like living with my best friend! I love James so much and I'm so glad I get to be with him for eternity. See, we can do that. Isn't that neat?

This is James' favorite picture of us. He said "This is a sexy picture of us. We both look good." This is from our anniversary in 2008. We got massages at the collage and ate at The Bambara. Yum! I had duck and we shared a cheese appetizer. How very "French" of us.

32 weeks

Just a small up date and some fun pictures of my pregnancy.

I painted my toe nails for the last time until I deliver. It was already really difficult to do but I love how they turned out. When Lizzie sees the red flowers she calls them owies and I keep telling her "No, they're pretties."

I thought it would be cute/fun to take a picture of all of our toes. I painted Lizzie's tiny nails, too. She calls them owies sometimes, too.

This is a new maternity top that I bought at Ross. I'm in love with it. I also bought it in brown. It's nice to have a shirt that I still feel sexy in while I'm pregnant.

I like the collar and ruffles. Also, that's the pearl necklace James got me for Christmas. It came with a matching bracelet and ear rings. My first jewelry from James (besides my wedding ring.)

A nice belly shot at 32ish weeks. Thankfully my excitement is still bigger than my belly. I don't know much longer that will be the case.

I'm still feeling good. A few back aches and special Braxton Hicks contractions. I found out I'm anemic so I've been taking iron for that. I'm still anticipating an early delivery so I'm trying to be prepared but it's so hard to be really ready when it could be anytime for another 7 weeks! That's a long time to be on pins and needles. Can't wait to meet the noob though!

Cooking things

I have all these things I want to cook lately but I just don't have the energy. Some things on my list include:

Broccoli cheese soup (Recipe anyone?)
Creamy corn chowder
Potato soup (Recipe anyone?)
Cherry pie
Vegetable Pizza (and by vegetable I mean all the normal stuff plus a green pepper or something)
Beef enchiladas
Cookies (almost any kind)
Brownies (mostly I want a brownie from Chili's with ice cream on it)
Mini Chocolate Cream Puffs

I might get around to some of these soon but then maybe not. Mostly I just want to eat out every meal. I'm pregant, can't I take those liberties? No, but I want to.


****Update****
So I made the Potato soup, Pizza, and Enchiladas (though they disappointed me.) I'm going to make the cherry pie tomorrow to finish celebrating Valentine's day. I was going to do it tonight but we still have some delicious chocolate cake that I'm going to blog about later.