Shopping...

Last night Tristin & I had one of our dates- just he and I. We went to Target and bought him some shoes on clearance, slurped yummy icee's, went to Old Navy and then Goodwill.

When we stopped at Old Navy, we found this super cute jacket (sz 3-6 months) that made us stop in our tracks. We both just stood there saying how cute it was and we had to have it- so I totally splurged! I know another child will not inherit these clothes, so my $ is kinda pointless and wasteful, but I had too. Plus it's cuter in person!

Then I found these super cute shoes at Goodwill for .99!
I'm kind of liking the boy stuff right now!

Willow...

Willow came out a few minutes meowing like a cat- when I turned around- she was one!

Baby Names...

I think people should zip their lips when it comes to parents picking baby names. It's just rude for strangers at the super market to go on about how they dislike your choice, or for your family or friends to go on about how silly it sounds or how they will probably be made fun of at school- besides, it's your kid, right???
(not that any of these things have happened so far...)

So, I'm spilling the beans on our baby name, because I am incapable of keeping baby secrets- go ahead and love it or hate it- just know we like it!

If it would have been a girl, my choices were:

Ruby
Scarlett
Hazel
Sailor
Raven (this has been on my girl list as long as Daisy & Willow. I always wanted a bird name too!)

My boy choices were:

Lincoln
Sparrow (another bird... I'm a hippie at heart I tell you!)
Finley
Hudson
Owen
Roman
Leighton
Brolin
Rennon

So... because we are having a boy, and Trav has only named 1 of our children- I thought I would lean his direction and be a nice wife for once. he brought up Roman when we were pregnant with Willow and I liked it, but then she turned out to be a girl- so I got my way and named her.

This time he brought it up again and it stuck, until Lincoln came up. We live next to that road, so I saw the sign all the time and loved it- but Trav didn't. I was bummed because I could just picture a little blond boy running around (Tristin was super blond when he was little so I just imagined his brother looking similure.)

Then, the past month or 2, Trav started REALLY liking the name Dane, but I just wasn't feeling it. He kept talking about it and I just kept shaking my head inside thinking: I'm not crazy about it, and what happened to Roman?

Anyway, when he brought up Roman Dane- I said, "Yes. Lets do it."

So, little Roman it is!

Crib/ diaper holder...

I went to Target yesterday to wander around before Costco opened and was delighted to hit the jack pot on clearanced items! I found this cute green pouch for $ 2.28 that i had to have for baby stuff. I put a few clips on and attached it to the end of the crib. I think I'll put a few diapers in here later on- we'll see!

Working on baby stuff...

If I don't keep myself excited and busy with baby stuff, I fear I may remain pregnant for 30 years, so to help the time fly by, I'm keeping busy with little projects to keep my mind off my bulging body.

I found a HUGE white frame at a yard sale last year for .50 that I plan to decorate and place above the crib. I'm still searching for inspiration and glad that I still have lots of time to figure out what I want to do with it.

The mobile is still a work in progress, but because I love stars- I'm using some glitter Christmas tags from Target and covering the backs with cute green and yellow paper. I also have green lanterns that I hope will work with it too- who knows right now!

I'm still working on decore for the tops of the cabneit- and this is what I have for the moment. I love that yard sales are starting and I'll be able to pick up stuff to work with!

Working with what we have...

I love our cute little house more than anything, and I know how lucky we are to have it, but every once inawhile, I dream of a little more space- especially after Friday morning. I took the crib down and put it in the big kids room- and then rearranged the bunk beds, book case and dresser thing over and over again. I couldn't find anything that worked. The furniture just looked goofy everywhere I put it. So after sore arms and moving stuff I had no right to be moving- I stopped and gave up. I think where it all ended up was the best- it's what I had to work with and I think it will be fine.

I also scored at the dollar store with their plastic bins! Blue and green to match the room. I thought it would be difficult to combine the rooms- but it's working. I have craft projects to work on to baby it up- but it's started at least.

Baby blankets...

I was so excited to shop for boy fabric this weekend! I adore girly fabric the most- but looking at blues, greens and browns was kind of fun! I had to stop myself, because I have a little tiny fabric addiction (that does not need to be addressed at this time!)
These are the 4 I picked up on Friday & last night!

Baby Clothes...

After we found out it was a boy- the fun began! Like getting out 10 year old clothes when Tristin was a baby to see if anything would work for this little man. I quickly learned that yard sales were needed for 0-6 months. I was lucky to find 2 sales on Friday and the first one had exactly what I needed- newborn onesies & sleepers! Yeah! .25 & .50 baby!Love it!

Saying goodbye to the cousins...

Over the weekend, we drove to Oakley to say goodbye to Trav's sister, Ellen & the cousins. They are headed off to Florida in 2 weeks and we knew we had to go say goodbye. We stayed 1 night and all the kids did was play- it was great. We will miss you guys!!!

Pregnancy vent session...

Lets be honest, after yesterday's marathon of a day where I thought I could get up and going at 3:45 AM and conquor the world- I realized this old 32 year old pregnant body that weighs 300 pounds more- does not like being in motion that long. I literally crashed last night. It was one of those nights I knew the kids were up until 9:30 watching a movie, but I didn't even care. I was almost asleep and way too tired to get up and get them ready for bed. I just couldn't move. I was cemented in my bed exhausted. (Trav was out recharging the bug because our darling Willow played with my buttons and left my lights on!)

I've realized I hate pregnancy more than anything, and besides knowing there is a cute baby growing- there is nothing fun about this. I'm not sad that this will be our last child, (although knowing when Willow grows out of something, I will no longer see that item again- pulled at my heart a little yesterday. And realizing if I buy anything boy- it will only be worn a few minutes and then will quickly retire for no brothers to be passed down too, kinda made me sad as well)
I've realized my body is worn out already from carrying babies. It wants to be done with this "magical" part of life. It's endured 7 pregnancies and it's closing it's doors in awhile, and I'm okay with that.

I'm used to running all day long. I get 50,000 things done before noon- but lately, by 1:00- this old thing shuts down and forget about acomplishing anything else for a long, long time. Seriuosly, what is wrong with me? Where did the energy go? I hate going 30 miles a hour- when I'm used to 100. I'm a speeder, I move, I get things done- but not these days, and I'm getting really upset about it too.

I'm trying to embrace this stage in my life with a happy attitude, with a more grateful heart and a cheerful outlook- but let's face it- I'm not doing so hot.

I thank the Lord a million times for the ease in which we get pregnant, the ability to carry my babies and the chance to raise them and be their Mom. I know how many people struggle, so I don't mean to seem heartless, I just wonder why the Lord designed it this way- that's all!

Now, being the Mom part, is way better than the being pregnant part. You get to see cute 2 year old bums run down the hall way laughing all the way as you chase them, and listen to your 7 year old girl transform into a drama filled teenager right before your eyes and watch your almost 10 year old boy make dirt bombs and kill off an entire fleat of bad guys and stand amazed as your 5 year old runs the computer better than you do- it's the best and I love it!

Every once in awhile I stop and realize what I've been blessed with and my heart swells a million times in size. I just stand with tears falling down my face as I watch my babies all growing at different speeds and thank my Heavenly Father for what I was born to be- their Mom. I've gone in their room at night so often lately just to watch them sleeping and I can't explain it. I stood rubbing Tristin's forehead the other night when he woke up. He said, "mom, are you okay?" (He was probably startled as to why I was standing there in the dark like a freaky person touching his head) but it was just one of those Mom moments where love was overflowing and I had to be near him. I had to see him and I had to look at how grown up he had become. I was just overwhemled, and I constantly am. In good ways and bad ways. In ways I want to give up and in ways that make me feel impowered.

Motherhood is filled with about a thousand things a hour that makes you realize how lucky, how truly blessed you are and how even though it's impossible at times, there is nothing in this world that matches it.
There is no one other than Trav and I that will love them more (except the Lord) and I remind myself of that often. Our home is the safest place they have here on earth, and what am I doing everyday with my time to insure that safety? Oh, how I adore them...
... So in these months of pregnancy where I would rather cut off a body part than endure the awfulness- I remind myself that this little one, will indeed melt my heart just the same, so yes, it is all worth it in the end.