Baby Updates!

At 15 weeks, my doctor said the baby looked like a boy. He wasn't 100% sure since it was still early and he was using an older ultrasound, but he said we would find out for sure at 20 weeks. Well, at 20 weeks the baby was turned away and he couldn't check. So for the past 8 weeks we've been waiting for another ultrasound so we could know for sure. Today was that day! The doctor said it's 100% BOY!

It was also the day for the glucose test to make sure I don't have gestational diabetes. The test came out perfectly normal. My doctor is my favorite yet, he is just SO nice. I think it makes a big difference to like your doctor. Both of my other doctors have been really good, but my doctor now really spends time with me making sure I'm doing well and listening to all my questions. Between doctor visits I'm also seeing a midwife. She will be with me during delivery and come to my house after delivery to help with nursing and see how I'm doing. Medical care in Germany is just amazing.

The baby is measuring a week ahead, but my doctor isn't changing my due date. I am just grateful for 3 healthy pregnancies and 3 healthy (big!) baby boys. We can't wait to meet little Landon! The first part of the pregnancy went by so fast, but now it seems to be dragging a little bit. I'm trying to be patient but anyone who knows me understands how hard that is. lol!

Moving is going well. We get the keys to our new house next week and we're trying to paint before we move our things in. So for right now, we're trying to get everything packed and choose paint colors. I'm a little nervous about the stairs, since there are 3 sets of them. Being 7 months pregnant, I get winded going up just a few stairs so it will be hard to get used to.

Our sweet Tristan is walking! He still crawls if he wants to go somewhere far, but he'll take a good 10-15 steps! He looks so cute walking around. Tommy loves it too, he says Tristan is a big boy now. lol Tommy is talking SO much. He is just a chatterbox. He wants to know everything and is constantly asking us "why?" He's also become really shy. It reminds me of how I was when I was little. I was really shy too. If I stare at him he turns away and says "stop looking at me Mommy, go watch tv" He is hilarious. We're signing him up for soccer soon, and I can't wait for him to get started. He is going to be so cute on a soccer field!

Life is good but we miss all of you! We're trying to plan on a visit to AZ and UT in February. Hopefully that works out and we can see our families and introduce them to Landon!

We're Moving!

Justin and I live off post and haven't ever really wanted to move onto the army base. We like living as a German family would because we think it really adds to the experience. Not many people can say they've lived in a foreign country, and we're going on three years!

But, with a new baby coming soon we really need a bigger place. German houses are really small usually and it's hard moving here. So we decided to see what was available on the army base, since they have bigger houses and apartments. Justin went in to talk to the housing people, and they said to come back later that day and they would have "something really nice" for us. So we went in later and they gave us the keys to our new house. We went to take a look and were amazed!

It's a 4 story, 4 bedroom and 3 bath house! Usually such a big house is reserved for higher ranking officers, but they have an overabundance of these houses available and so are letting specialists and sergeants move in. (Justin is a specialist)

We're so excited!! I'm not sure what we're going to do with all the room, but I'm sure we'll think of something! It even has a front and back yard. We move in just two weeks so we're kind of rushed, but I cannot wait to get into our new house. It will be so nice that all the kids will have their own room, I always worry that if the kids share a room they won't sleep and we'll be up all night. Glad I won't have to find out, at least not for now. :)

Pictures will be up soon once we're moved and settled in! Can't wait to show all of you!

Monkeys!

Tommy is a ridiculously good climber. He climbs absolutely everything. At the park they have a "big kid" playground and Tommy loves it because they have big wooden walls with a rope hanging down that you can climb. He gets to the top in no time and is just fearless. He has yet to fall down, too!

Well recently, Tristan has been climbing too. It started with Tommy's bed, then the couch, then our bed, and now:

The entertainment center! This boy is a monkey! He was so proud of himself. I walked into the room to see this and he gave me a cute little giggle. The only problem is, now he can get to everything on shelves! Time to move them until he gets out of the "I want to touch and taste everything" stage.

And my new favorite picture of Tommy. I just simply adore his smile. This one was taken at a BBQ party for Justin's unit. They had a big jumpy obstacle course for the kids. Some of the older kids couldn't climb up it, but Tommy did it with no problems! Monkeys, the both of them. :)

Fugitives.

Wanted: Two toddlers, last seen commandeering a blue semi. They are believed to be highly dangerous, as neither of them have a valid driver's license.

Upon further investigation, an unknown accomplice came out of the woodwork. He gave himself up with very little resistance.

However he claimed to not know the whereabouts of the toddlers in question.

More details will be released to the public as further knowledge about these fugitives are found.

Waiting, Wishing, Hoping...

Waiting for:

September to come so we can have Landon and I can look forward to NEVER being pregnant again.

For August of next year so we can leave Germany and get out of the Army.

My hair to grow back out already. (I will never cut my hair again, lesson learned.)

To meet my soon to be stepmom finally!

Wishing for:

A maid/nanny.

Justin to have a big fat raise/bonus.

Unlimited chocolate without the calories.

Hoping for:

Landon to be a really good sleeper.

An easy upcoming move. (We're moving to a 4 bedroom HOUSE soon!)

A spacious backyard for Tommy.

... just one of those days.

The Sweet Escape

When I was pregnant with Tommy I was due mid October. So I spent the last couple months of pregnancy during the summer. In ARIZONA! Those of you in good old AZ know that summertime is the WORST time to be pregnant. It's HOT!

At the time, we were house sitting for Justin's aunt and uncle. They had a big pool in their backyard and I lived in it. I remember it was the only time I was really comfortable. Being weightless while you're 7, 8, 9 months pregnant is quite priceless.

That was the summer that Gwen Stefani's song The Sweet Escape was all the rage. I would get in the pool and turn on the radio and the song would play about 10 times before I finally got out. (Seriously, I would stay in practically all day!)

This morning that song came on while I was doing my makeup. I had to stop for a minute and just listen. It brought me back to a time before I wasn't quite a mom yet. I remember being a little nervous, but confident that I would be a good mom. But I wasn't quite prepared for the changes motherhood brought. I think being prepared for parenthood is impossible.

The first time you see your baby is just indescribable. To say you love them just doesn't seem enough. You love and adore absolutely everything. Head to toe, your baby is perfection. As time goes on, that love only gets stronger. I think if I had been able to comprehend that before having Tommy I think I would have been scared.

You know they will experience all the joys and sorrows of life. You can't block them from the sorrows. You can only be there for them through it. You know that when life doesn't go their way they will hurt, but the hurt you feel for them will be even greater. What happens when your heart is no longer inside you, but in every one of your kids? Sometimes it can feel very vulnerable. It's scary, loving someone that much. Knowing if anything happened to one of them, your heart would break in a million pieces.

It wasn't until I became a mother, that I could truly appreciate all that my parents did for me. You love your parents, brothers, sisters. You love your husband more than you think you can love anyone else. But nothing compares to how much you love your babies. They will always come first. Knowing my parents love me that much, makes me see them completely differently.

When we decided to have another baby, I wondered how I could possibly have enough love for two kids. I loved Tommy so much, I just didn't think it was possible to love another baby as much. A person can go crazy loving so many people that much! lol But sure enough, seeing Tristan for the first time and having him lay in my arms was just breathtaking. Just as special to me as when I held Tommy for the first time.

Having two brings on a whole new set of joys and challenges. When they wrestle and play together, I don't think I've ever felt so happy. Knowing Justin and I gave them that gift, to have a brother, is just incredible. It's surreal, to think we made them. But then when they fight, or Tommy doesn't want to share his toys, I see they won't always get along. They may never fully appreciate Justin and I or each other until they become parents themselves.

But isn't that what being a parent is all about? Patience, firstly. Knowing they will make mistakes (probably the same mistakes we did as kids and teenagers), and you have to let them. You can't tell them you know best, and expect them to not see for themselves. Ultimately, you have to let your kids make their own choices. Unfortunately, you can't lock them up forever and protect them from everything. (Though sometimes you wonder, why isn't that an option?!?)

Being a parent is the best and hardest thing you'll ever do. You'll make more sacrifices than you thought you could, put your needs aside each and every day. But somehow, just one little smile or "I love you" from your baby, makes it all worth it and more.

I want to say to my mom, I appreciate the sacrifices you made for me. I'm so very thankful for all the brothers and sisters you gave me. For spending a fortune on my braces even though I hated them. (My dad deserves credit for that too. lol) For watching me make mistakes and not locking me up in a box like you probably wanted to. For trusting me to marry who I knew was right for me. For crying when you read my Mother's Day cards. I love you.

And to my two rambunctious boys, I will always love you. I promise to always do the best I can, no matter what. I promise not to lock you up in a box when I'm afraid of the decisions you might make. You mean the world to me. You are my Sweet Escape.

TGIF!

Justin got off work early today, and he brought home strawberries to plant on our balcony! Friday doesn't get any better than that!

It's gotten so sunny over here, Tristan's eyes haven't quite adjusted. lol! Poor baby!

Justin and I always joke that Tommy is a vampire, he's always closing all the window shades and telling me the sun is hurting his skin. So of course, he spent his lunch under the chair umbrella. :)

Tristan was going for those pliers and I said "No, Tristan!" and he turned and gave me this look. I imagined him thinking "Are you REALLY telling ME no?!?"

Justin planting and fertilizing our strawberries! Can you grow strawberries in a planter box? We shall find out!

Lovin' my boys!