Outnumbered

My crazy and amazing family. They certainly keep me on my toes. With the baby on the way, I’m sure it will only get crazier.

Our little social butterfly, Bryn, continues to amaze us. She joined the Mini Poms cheerleading so I was able to go up and witness it myself. I always love how excited the kiddos get when I come to any events they have. I’m always so proud of them. The fact that they’re proud of me, too, is an amazing feeling. Even though it was only one game, Bryn was pumped. With so many girls going out this year, they moved them to the enter of the field which greatly degraded my picture quality.

Thankfully our girl always seems to stand out, with a green sweatshirt tied around her waist, so she wasn’t difficult to spot. If I’m honest, it was exhausting. The drive there and back was over two hours and I was only there about half that long. On top of that I was driving back up the next day to pick Oren up for the weekend. But I will never let a long drive keep me from something important for my kids. I will do anything to ensure that I am there for them day and night, any day, any time, anywhere.

I also do my very best to create special memories with the kiddos. Oren made a point of asking me to go to a mother-son event with him this year. Well, since most dances happen toward the beginning of the year I found something he might like even more. It was an adventure day at Quaker Haven. He got to go rock climbing, race me on a jump pad (I thought I was going to pass out), play gaga ball, play ping pong, play air hockey and enjoy a taco bar. We had plans to go hiking and kayaking also but we got rained out.

This boy is crazy. He had a BLAST, though. Even though we walked back in a mini downpour. He ate three tacos (though half of one was discarded because we discovered one of the salsas was sweet–eww) and a fudge bar. The night before Troy and I were starving so O decided to just get a giant, super rich brownie ala mode. Spoiled rotten.

Next up for our family came….. DUN DUN DUN….. the big gender reveal! It was not well planned or organized necessarily on my part. Oops. But it got the job done and they got to spend time with friends. Their reactions were all completely priceless. It was perfect. And the result……? The boys are officially outnumbered. It’s another GIRL!

While Troy was able to come to the anatomy scan ultrasound, he had rearranged his schedule and was not able to come to the check up ultrasound. Since I went to Mishawaka for this one, my aunts were able to come. Never even really seeing an ultrasound photo until I brought them mine, they were ecstatic. It was a long ultrasound, too, so they were able to see her organs as they developed, various views of her body and how much she was kicking around. I was absolutely thrilled to be able to get some 3D pictures of baby girl. Nothing quite makes your heart feel 10 times bigger than getting a sneak peek of what your baby will look like.

Troy and I, and our families, found out on Oct. 10, which also happened to be Ace’s 5th birthday. So, when I went over to inform my aunts I also got to wish my baby boy a happy birthday. Unfortunately being away from him never gets any easier. I know he’s happy and spoiled and very well taken care of, but I miss him all the time and wish he could come home.

With the entirety of the Carlson gang now in the area, we are taking plenty of opportunities to ensure that the kids have an awesome relationship with their aunt, uncle and cousins. With our baby girl on the way it will be even better to have family closer. It also lets Oren spend some time with some boys.

I continue to feel more and more pregnant which, I suppose, isn’t really surprising. The greatest moment happened, however, when Troy and I were working a concession stand for the Garth Brooks concert at Notre Dame. On our way in, I was wearing multiple layers (it was COLD and rainy) but had shoved simple, basic necessities into my pockets. A member of security stopped me and asked if I was wearing a fanny pack. I was extremely confused for a minute and told him I had things in my pockets. It took a couple times of him asking if there was anything around my waist for me to realize he was referring to my belly. To which I responded, “No, that’s just my belly.” I could tell he felt extremely embarrassed at that point but Troy saved him by telling him I’m pregnant. Still was the highlight of the night for me, though.

FINALLY our house is seeming to come together. I finally completed the kitchen and dining room painting which means I am DONE painting at this house. Troy wants to touch up the cabinets, get the trim and he has to do a few spots high up that I couldn’t reach, but my painting at this house is complete. No more. That meant I was also finally able to start putting rooms back together. By the end of this weekend I should actually be done. A new stove had to be purchased and it is beautiful and amazing. Then we had to wait to save up enough for a new refrigerator. Do you know how annoying it is to have to walk out to the unattached garage EVERY SINGLE time that you need something? Very annoying! Thank goodness we are finally having a new one delivered on Halloween.

All this really helped us to de-junk our rooms. Overall I am extremely pleased with all the hard work. And even more excited that Troy has the majority of the stuff left to do for a little while.