Monday again

My last post was exactly 2 weeks ago. Apparently, blogging is part of my procrastination on Monday mornings. Mondays are a day I normally dread but since we are down to six short days before Christmas, every day will be spent in bliss before the season soon passes. Yesterday we spent the day making yummy desserts (no bake cookies, puppy chow and caramel corn) for our neighbors. Then we wrapped up the day by watching Home Alone with the kids and putting out a bunch of snack food. We realized five minutes into it we didn't pick the most kid friendly movie with words like jerk, ass, stupid, idiot, and of course they were scared shitless at the thought of Kevin being home alone. But by the end they were laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. So we may keep it on the Christmas movie list for next year. I really do love this time of year and I'm always so sad to see it end on 12/26. Yesterday the boys and I put together Polar Express puzzle (300 piece) and I'm still amazed at how swift Landon & Biruk are with puzzles. It's a lot of fun having helpers with the bigger puzzles now.

We had the ultrasound for Bugsy and we can officially announce "IT'S A GIRL!!!". It was our first time ever doing an ultrasound and it was a lot of fun. The first 30 minutes after she told us I kept saying "he" because I've spent the entire pregnancy convincing myself I'm having a boy. With three boys already in the mix you can't blame me for not wanting to get my hopes up. If I allowed myself any glimmer of hope I'd quickly suppress the thought and move on with my day. But for 24 hours after the ultrasound I randomly (and still do) let out squeals of joy and soon realized how much I had truly wanted a girl. And it's for REAL! Eeeeeek. So, things are about to change around here and though we'll still be outnumbered I will now have another girl in the house! The boys are super excited and we are starting to think about baby names.

We just finished up over 2 weeks of sickness in the house. Jus this weekend both Landon & Biruk were curled up with Nathan & myself with fevers. Conner was taken down by a wicked cough. But everyone seemed to be on the mend by yesterday and today they all seem 99%. May all the nasty viruses/bacteria finally come to an end. Somehow Nathan & I came out unharmed but I'm not out of the woods yet. With my luck, I'll be sick over Christmas.

I still haven't mailed out any cards yet. If you want to be added to the card list just let me know and I'll get your address. They may not arrive until New Years but I'm determined to send them out because I've been wanting to do them the past five years and never get them done. This year I'm getting rid of all the cards I bought on clearance and stored for the past five years.

I'll conclude with some pics of Bugsy. And while I'm biased I still understand that it's a 20 week old fetus and only as cute as she can be at that age. But I do love her little feet crossed, her cute little hand and sweet face.

Happy Holidays to all of you! It may be 2012 before I blog again.

Monday, Monday

After having hubs home for 5 glorious days in a row I'm sad that another work week has started. I told him the requirement for his next job will be a four day work week. Wouldn't that be bliss? Anyway, no more complaining. I just really like when he is around. Things run more smoothly. But alas, the kids are back to being stuck with their mama. As I type, my six year old is sitting next to me doing math. B wants to also homeschool like his brother so he's writing letters.

We decorated the house for Christmas this weekend. The tree is up, filling the house with the yummy smell of pine. The boys had a blast hanging all their ornaments and haven't stopped touching them since. One by one, the boys bring me broken Christmas ornaments and decorations. Nope, it's not irritating at all (sigh...).

My goal every December is to just embrace the month and keep things as simple as possible with minimal activity. This is one of my favorite times of the year (although since moving south we are missing such a huge part of the season - SNOW) and I dislike when it passes by too quickly. So operation December is under way and I'm hoping to do some baking for the neighbors & actually send out Christmas cards this year. I also love doing puzzles. There is something so relaxing about a cozy room, sitting at the table with a huge puzzle in front of you with the tree lit up in the background. The boys and I put together the Polar Express puzzle this weekend. I have 2 little ones that take it very seriously and the extra hands are helpful.

Our close family & friends are aware but I have failed to mention in the online world that I'm pregnant. I'll be 20 weeks this Thursday. The boys have named baby no.4 'bugsy' and seem very excited about another sibling. We've never done an ultrasound before but we will definitely be finding out whether or not bugsy is a girl or a boy this time around. It would be a really nice Christmas present Santa Claus if I was gifted with a baby girl.

I'm still searching for a midwife. I am interviewing two more this week and I'll hopefully have a decision made by Friday. I am less on the ball then ever and time has gone by quickly. We are planning another homebirth but since it's not the same CNM I used with my other 2 births I'm more nervous about choosing. Of course there is also the fact that Conner was born with forehead presentation and beat the shit out of my body on the way out. And Landon decided to come out sunny side up (professionally speaking, Posterior). I'm sure you can understand my paranoia that this baby is either going to come out with its feet or butt first.

Wishing you all happy holidays!