our little fairies.

The girls and I had a couple pictures taken recently before this little guy arrives.
Thanks to Jessie at lil snaps photography. :)

a baby update.

I guess when you get to baby #3 the pregnancy updates are few and far between.  But we are getting closer now so I figured it was due time for a little update.  About 10 weeks to go!
I've done this a couple times now and I have to say I am grateful for a little bit to be known, and that little bit is the fact that baby gets an eviction date, meaning I know for sure baby's stay in my belly will not exceed 10 weeks more. :)  Of course between now and that time is all unknown though.  Hopefully baby will just stay cozy until we reach the 37 week full term mark, then anytime I am game!

Baby #3 is a boy - we have seen that on several ultrasounds now. :)

Growing right on track with his due date and doing very well.

My belly is measuring right on track too.  

When I asked the doctor she said "You are definitely NOT measuring ahead!" - SO take that all the random people out there that like to share their two cents with you on how BIG your preggo belly may look.

We think he has a name.  I say think because we just aren't quite as confident in it as we were the first two times.  But the truth is, there is nothing else that is even remotely close to my mind at least.  So I would say he has a name.  Todd said "let's just go with it" and Quinn selected a name for baby that actually reflects the meaning of this given name so I guess we took that as a sign. :)

This pregnancy is very similar to mine with Andie.  I wasn't as violently sick or for as long at the beginning, but I was more tired and had more feelings of Blah.  I discovered I would rather take sick then those Blah completely unmotivated feelings, that is just not a fun thing to experience at all.

Second trimester was fantastic!  Third trimester is starting to hit hard with back pains, more Braxton Hicks contractions than I had with either of the girls, and being more physically tired.  Hot and humid July is not a fun time to be at the end of your pregnancy.  I very much appreciate that I delivered Andie in June and Quinn in February.

Overall though, no swelling and no other issues.  Blood pressure still remains just fine.  (With Andie I got my first higher reading by this point, so I guess that makes this pregnancy the most stable of all of them.)  Hard to believe that we are at the end and doctors visits are regularly every 2 weeks.

Despite all of my complications during my pregnancy with Quinn, she was by far the most comfortable to carry and I never experienced any back pain or other pregnancy related pains.  Andie and this little peanut are very similar.  The biggest difference this time is that my placenta is in the front so all of baby's movements feel very different from the other times.  They aren't as big or pronounced, more like little aftershocks or rumblings.  It makes it a lot harder to tell what position he is in, whereas with the girls I could always tell where hands, head, feet and butt were. :)

Stay cozy peanut - for some reason I feel you are more eager to make your exit early. (maybe its all the earlier braxton hicks I'm feeling this time)  Time will fly by and you will be in our arms before you know it. XOXO.

andie's birthday party.

On June 18th our sweet little happy girl turned two.
I'm going to do two posts on Andie's birthday, first a little one on her party and then a big one on all about Andie. :)

So, her party.
Simple parties are always the best aren't they?
This year we decided to go the super simple route. We combined it with the 4th of July and did a BBQ on July 2nd where we could celebrate our little Andie, but also have a chance to spend time with our closest family and friends.  We kept it small and simple.  We didn't even have any decorations!  Crazy for me, I know.  But an outdoor summer party certainly didn't call for any.

The weather was gorgeous and mild and it was so enjoyable outside - thank goodness!  It was just beautiful.  Outside we had pools, slip n slides, splash table, sprinklers - and a carwash sprinkler Todd put together quickly that the kids loved.  Tables and chairs set up for just hanging out and enjoying all the traditional delicious barbeque picnic foods.  It was simple and perfect.  Even better that we had such an amazing group of family and close friends there with us.  Made us realize even more how fortunate we are for those in our lives who love us and our girls so much - we are so grateful you could come!

Andie scored some pretty amazing toys and gifts that she has been playing with regularly ever since.  Lots of building, reading, puzzle mastering and fun around here. :)

And of course looking super cute!
(I couldn't even wait to put this adorable little number on her! Thanks Auntie K. :))

Andie loved just running around and playing with all the water toys - her favorites.  Our fearless girl.  Between that and the big smiles on her face with all her new toys and snuggling with everyone, we know this girl had a great time.  It made our hearts so happy.

Thank you to everyone who loves our girl. :)

quinn's willy wonka dance recital.

In June, Quinn danced in her 5th recital.  How that has happened already? I have no idea.  But the girl does love to dance.
She is dancing all the time at home.  She would often prefer music to any other choice and just dance her little heart out in the living room.  I enjoy her little daily performances.

Our little Lollipop in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.

The video:
Quinn is all the way on the right.

the fourth of july.

I'm skipping over updates that still need to take place.  Quinn's dance recital, the sweetest little 2 year olds birthday...  but for now here are two little sweeties we spent our 4th of July with.

After a busy weekend, our 4th of July was pretty laid back.  Grandpa and Grandma were still in town from Florida.  So after a day of playing, Todd and I took advantage of a little dinner out to celebrate our 7th anniversary, followed by smores and a few fireworks at home with our family.

7 years ago this was how we spent our 4th of July. :)

Summer is cruising along.  Lots of family time, playing outside, projects being done, gearing up for a Kindergartener to head to school in mid-August, and oh yeah - a little baby baking away.  With about a 7 month preggo belly in tow, I was so glad for a mild week of summer weather and over the holiday weekend.  It's been beautiful.  I'll take what I can, because I'm sure these last couple months will be filled with some hot days.  But at least pregnancy time seems to be flying by, I'm already to the point of every 2 week appointments, which seems a little crazy.  Ready to meet this new little guy.

So grateful for our family and friends we were able to share the weekend with.