3 days to go!

My dear Christian will come into this world the morning of July 12th. He will be delivered at 38 weeks 3 days gestation. We are so excited to meet him! The end of this pregnancy has definitely lengthened the journey. We have had to have monitoring done weekly due to high amniotic fluid and some high blood pressure readings. Plus we've seen the obstetrician weekly. Most of these appointments completely wear me out. We usually sit for 2 hrs during the monitoring because my little boy will not move on command. However, at our last appointment yesterday his daddy thought it would be wise if he listened to a little Mozart during the monitoring. Daddy has played Mozart for each pregnancy and guess what?! It worked! This little boy danced and moved and twisted and kicked! We were outta there in record time!
Although all health concerns have been cleared to this point, i was told that we would most likely be in for a nicu stay. They say they want to monitor him to make sure all is okay. Im tired of all the medical run around and am not thrilled at all to deal with a hectic nicu experience compared to the peaceful bonding I've experienced with my girls. However, I'll do what needs to be done for my boy. Then hopefully, if all is well we can go home and be left alone.
I'm thrilled to meet my little boy and to get a glimpse of all that he will teach me!

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The Inquisitive Threes

Lately Emma has been asking questions for everything. She's trying to understand the process and reasoning behind everything. This is a conversation we had in the car last night on the way home.

Emma: Mom, can I sit in a big seat?

Mom: No.

Emma: Because why I can't sit in a big seat?

Mom: Because it's not safe and if we got in an accident you would get very hurt.

Emma: Why would I get very hurt.

Mom: Because your car seat is just the right size for you and if protects you.

Emma: Why does it protect me?

Mom: So you can grow big and strong.

Emma: But why do I need to grow big and strong?

Mom: So you can be here with Mommy and learn and grow.

Emma: But why do I need to learn and grow?

Mom: So one day you can be a Mommy.

Emma: What did you say?

Mom: So you can be a Mommy, don't you want to be a Mommy? (her favorite thing to play)

Emma: Yes I do Mom, I want to be a Mommy.

Mom: Then we need to keep you safe.

Emma: No, Mom, I think I want to be a daddy...*laughing*

Mom: Oh really, you want to be a daddy?

Emma: I'm silly, huh Mom? I want to be a daddy.

So, in a round about way we finally concluded our discussion on safety and with a little bit of her dad's humor thrown in at the end she proves to be a person that has the need to be informed, like her mother, and the desire to keep life light, like her dad. She sure is great. Now imagine this questioning with just about every conversation we have throughout the day!

Christian Rafael

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Our little Christian is growing! He now weighs 2lbs 4oz. He has chubby cheeks and his daddy's lips. We can't wait to meet our little boy. Only 12 weeks left to go. Grow baby grow!

Sisterly Love

My Dear Girls,

Although you may not always get along, you're always there for eachother in a time of need.

That's what sisters are for!

Emma Rose climbed into bed to sleep with Hallie the night she hurt her arm. I panicked when I didn't find her in her bed, only to find them both together. I'm surprised there wasn't a fighting match when this happened. It goes to show sometimes sisters just need eachother. I'm glad they have that!

This is just one of the many hugs you girls give eachother throughout the day to say "sorry" or after waiting for the other to wake up for a nap. Your personalities may definitely conflict... but I know the bond is there!!

I love you girls!

Birthday Breaks...

My hubby turned 29 on Thursday, March 31. He wanted to do a barbeque, last minute. So, I purchased all the items, rushed home and prepared the food- I was hoping for a nice dinner out. As frustrated as I may have been, because I don't do last minute very well, I knew he needed a break... He works so hard for our family and deserves what little he asks for. He. of course, had plenty of help blowing out the candles, Miss Emma's favorite thing to do. The girls were outside playing while Antonio barbequed the meat and Little miss Hallie fell off the ladder climbing to the slide. She was pretty shooken up, she had hurt her arm and didn't use it too much, but seemed to get over it as the night progressed.

The following day, Friday, we went to the Nuclear Museum. Antonio and the girls are obsessed with planes, so he had been wanting to take them there. He had this day off of work because he was taking a BREAK before he starts his new job on Monday. So, we headed off to the museum where we learned and played a lot with the girls... sometimes I'm glad I'm not that much of a history buff, it can be pretty depressing.

We thought we'd take Hallie into the doctors, just in case. However, she woke up that morning using her arm and played throughout the day with it, so we decided she was fine.

Saturday came and went and I noticed in the early afternoon her arm was a little swollen. So, we decided to take her into the urgent care. While in the waiting room, she had Emma from behind holding both of her arms back because she wanted to play with the toy Emma had. Ton and I looked at eachother and shook our heads thinking, what are we doing here?? I'm pretty sure the other parents, that obviously had more issues thought the same thing.

However, as the doctor examined her arm he was certain there was a fracture. He said she was one tough girl to go two days with a fracture and no complaints or tears. The x ray verified that there was a fracture, so they proceeded to splint and sling her. She was the ideal little patient, she sat and let them do their job...which is unlike her! She was pretty exhausted by the end of the visit and quickly fell asleep on the way home. So, we end my hubbies birthday this year with a definite break in our two year olds arm... how sad! We definitely feel like horrible parents... but who'd know... she was playing and using it just fine! Hopefully she'll recover quickly, but she has sure been a sport with her splint. She's already trying to climb the same ladder, but we're not letting her.

Look Up!

I always seem to forget the point of pregnancy where you feel as though you can cry in an instant, scream in an instant and in a good moment, laugh in an instant. This past week has definitely been one of those weeks. With a lot of things going on and time to sit and think about all that has happened over the past few months and what is yet to come....my emotions just don't mix too well with it.

So...because I am who I am I sit, I question, I ponder and think about EVERYTHING! Little Christian has come to my mind often. With the joy I feel that he will most likely make it safely into our arms, I begin questioning what happened with his hand....what did I do wrong?? I am definitely scared to step into the unknown with him and be the mom that holds him up to no limits. I put so many limits on myself because sometimes I just don't feel good enough. Now I've been trusted with this boy, to raise him, to guide him, to help him know that he is more than most would ever imagine him to be.

I like to think that I have the faith to handle this situation, thus far, to know that we will move along and become stronger in the experiences that we are handed. However, this past week, it's been a little harder, with the realities of life and the world weighing down. In my moments of despair... I can't help but turn to support groups that I've come across about people who have lived with the same thing. Although this world may hold those who are different down to a lower standard, these people definitely prove otherwise. Hopefully, I can be that driving force in my sons life... somewhere along the line I've got to find the strength... Motherhood definitely gives me strength.

www.tonymemmel.com - This man was born without his left forearm and never let it hinder him. He is now an accomplished musician that has recorded music and plays the guitar.

Basketball playerThis man received a scholarship to play on a college basketball team.

Hiking accident
This man cut off his own arm during a hiking accident and looks at it as a blessing rather than a tragedy.

I know that in moments where I tend to look down...I just need to keep looking up! We all have obstacles to face and overcome, that are hard in the moment, but bring about much growth in the end. I'm positive Christian will amaze me from the beginning. Here's to that "leap of faith" into the unknown. Armed with love and knowledge of the gospel and examples from some really amazing people who set their own limits...not work on limitations, we will be successful!

My Emma

I have to tell you that I absolutely love this new stage of mothering, where my children are understanding what I am doing with them and can interact with me. Maybe it's the teacher in me, but I couldn't wait until one of my children was old enough to want to sit and learn with me.

I'm not saying it's always easy to find the motivation with everything else on my to do lists, but it's worth it when I do!

Lately I've been working with Emma on writing her name and reading duo stories that are part Mommy read and part Emma read. Many days when I don't feel motivated because I'm SOOO tired she'll say, "Mommy, can we please learn please?". I am so pleased that she has the desire to sit and learn with me.

Today as I was helping Emma clean the playroom and folding laundry she called me in there and said, "Mommy come look, I drew a face". This was the picture she led me to and then preceded to draw it over and over. I have so much fun watching her discover new things and abilities all on her own. Now, I'm going to sit down with her and have her draw a self portrait, then we can do it every so often to see her progress- so much fun!! But of course that's the Kindergarten teacher coming out. So far she knows the letters S, A, E, M, I and the words I, see, and we are working on me. Now my goal is to make it an almost daily activity and then she'll really catch on, consistency is the key!! Although she can be IMPOSSIBLE at times, I truly love this age!