Life on Lock Down

Well we are at 31 weeks already. It is kind of scary that I only have 8 weeks left but very happy that it is almost over. It is just hard to move around and bend over, which I feel like I do constantly picking up after the girls and helping them with the potty. Which is not going as great as I hoped it would be by now. They do great for a day or two and then accidents a few times the next, then repeat.

Getting large. I realize that I seem to be in this shirt a lot for pictures. I don't have many that fit anymore. Sorry about that! As for the baby, we don't have a name picked still. Eric likes the name Colt but I can't decide how I feel about it. Any suggestions are welcome. The baby is very active most days and every time I lay down of course. He also gets the hiccups a lot just like Livy did. But from his ultrasound pics, not that they are very telling, he looks more like Rachel to me. So I'm really excited to see who he looks like, or maybe a mix! It's gone great so far and now we are on lock down at home for the next two months until he gets here because of swine flu fears on my part. Everything I read and hear is that it pregnant women are more susceptible to getting the swine flue and usually get hit harder by it due to compromised immune systems while pregnant and your lungs/diaphragm already under stress due to being so squished. Pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized and so forth, bad news, bad news, bad news. So we have decided to play it as safe as we can and stay home as long as we can handle it. When I have to go shopping I go late at night when the store is pretty much empty. So if we aren't around much or don't hang with anyone sick please forgive us. Haven't decided whether I will get the vaccine for it or not. Scared of that too! Oh, what to do!

Trying on costumes when we pulled out Halloween stuff.

Painting pumpkins!

The girls are doing good so far and some times ask to go to the store but I am actually enjoying it so far. We are never rushed to go anywhere, it's easier with the potty stuff staying home, and we are getting a good dose of mommy and girls time before the baby gets here. A blessing in disguise!

Baby Shower

My awesome sister in laws and mother in law gave me a wonderful baby shower about 2 weeks ago. It was so adorable and these girls are professionals. They had everything you could imagine matching, down to the last detail! The theme was "Jess's Lil Pumpkin." Perfect for this time of year and the fall decor!

 Here is the cute invite April made.

Favors, pumpkin seeds which were delicious.

Pictures of some of the wonderful food. Everything pumpkin themed or flavored as you can see.

I'm always amazed at the parties/showers these girls can put together. They did such a great job.

Photo of the little guy.

April came and took some pictures of the belly and the girls a few days before but even with the girls not cooperating she still managed a few cute ones!

And I really loved all the painted pumpkins. They made a little pumpkin patch of mostly painted pumpkins that were so cute, and I am sure lots of work!

We don't have a name picked out yet so "It's a boy" was displayed!

Thank you so much guys for an amazing shower. You all put so much time and effort into the whole shower and I am grateful for all you did. It was so nice to celebrate this little guy and to spend the evening with everyone. You did an amazing job and I just want you to know I appreciate all you did for me. Thanks guys! Love you!

MDH

OK, so I am a little behind on posting but what else is new. My Mom, Dad, and Hannah came to visit us at the end of September. We had an awesome trip as always and can't wait for them to come back. The girls ask frequently when we can go to Grandma and Pop pop's house and it's sad to say we won't be going for a while.

Pop Pop in charge of craft time. They brought all sorts of crafty things with them for all the girls to do. They all had lots of fun but we didn't take enough pictures as usual.

Carved pumpkins, a little early and we already had to throw them out but it was fun to do with everyone.

Cookies.

More crafts.

Mom and I got to shop for this new little guy who is coming pretty soon. It was fun to start buying stuff since I hadn't really bought anything "boy" yet.

Rachel dressing up Grandpa.

Happy early Halloween! Thanks for coming guys. We love when you do and we had a great time. Come back soon. Love you tons!

Potty Training

Two weeks ago tomorrow we started potty training. Richie and Erin came down to visit so I figured I should take advantage of the help and we started the day they got here. They were good sports and didn't mind a bit! They were trapped in the house the whole week they were here making tons of potty trips a day and cleaning some accidents all with a smile! Thanks guys, you really made my week so much better than I expected it to be!

Rachel has a small obsession with Richie. Every second she wasn't with him she was asking where he was or if he was OK. She was dragging him all over the house to do stuff with her all week too. BFF.

There weren't nearly as many accidents as I expected there to be so that was good. I expected them to pick it up quicker where they would tell me they had to go but that wasn't happening. Just the last two days they have started telling me once in a while if they have to go. If I stay on top of them and make them go every once in a while it is no problem. So it's not as bad as I thought it would be. Although some times it would definitely be easier to have them in diapers, I am so glad the worst part is over with and we can continue to get better at it before the baby gets her, hopefully!

They took turns "reading" to each other too.

How much longer do I have on here? A little ducky rub to pass the time!

 Sharing lipstick, one of their potty prizes. We hung here at the house all week for safety but they didn't seem to mind.

So it's still a work in progress but I am happy with where they are. We can go out now without too much fear so that's good.

Prayers and play time. All half naked.

I had lots of funny naked bum pictures but I'll keep those off of here for now. My book said to have day 2-4 naked days. No panties just shirts. So we did. It worked mostly I guess but it made for some funny pictures. Their naked bum prayer pictures are my favorite!

Looking at our potty sticker charts. Rachel picked princesses and Livy picked Thomas the train.

Baked banana bread twice that week to kill time. I need to do more baking because they love to help do it.

Chatting with Grandma on the phone in her big girl panties! Or boy panties, she likes the truck ones!

More fun with Uncle Richie.

Cutie pies!