My Belly Is So Big That...

At 34 weeks pregnant my belly is so big that...

...I have come close to knocking Landen over with it. Poor guy is level with the belly. On the plus side, when I am trying to get him going and have my hands full I just give him a light belly bump to nudge him forward.

...when I cook on the stove I have to stand sideways so my shirt doesn't catch on fire.

...getting out of bed requires momentum and a need for me to roll.

...Lana can no longer sit on my lap comfortably.

...Lana can use it as a seat when I am carrying her while standing.

...it is now easier to crawl around the floor to pick up toys than bend down for each toy and risk falling on my face.

...I am officially the Weeble that WILL fall down.

...putting on my boots has become a workout that leaves me out of breath.

...Lana can hide from me just by standing directly in front of me.

...I caught myself waddling last week and according to Neil it wasn't the first time he has seen me do it.

...every other thing Neil says to me these days is a fat/big/chunky/heavy joke. For example at my OB appointment while the nurse was measuring my fundal height he asked her if her measuring tape went up all the way up to "big." Nice.

...Landen told me I'm as big as a hippopotamus.

...when I wash the dishes my arms are completely extended to reach into the sink.

...I can't breathe if I lay on my back.

...even though I squeeze myself into my old ISU t-shirt Neil reminds me they don't make college shirts to fit preggos.

...after helping Lana use the bathroom at a restaurant today I almost got stuck in the stall. The door swung inwards and until I figured out that I needed to put my back to the door, I contemplated calling for help.

...Landen told Neil he loves me more. While I sat there smiling smugly that I am the favored parent Neil asked him why he loves me more and Landen explained, "I love her more because she is the biggest." Nice.

Neil here helping out!

Her belly is so big...

...when we play hide and seek the best place she can hide is in the garage.

...we can see her coming around the corner long before she enters the room.

...it busted the stitching in her maternity pants.

...she gets stuck in the most unlikely places.

...she can't zip up any of her coats.

...the kids don't even try to hug her anymore, they just hug the belly.

...this is my new ring tone when she calls me.

"We all live in a yellow submarine..." The Beatles (Quote chosen by Neil)

Sledding!

Right after the season's first big snow Neil and I bundled up the littles and took them sledding. Getting bundled up into cold weather gear-not so fun. Getting strapped into the carseat in cold weather gear-not so fun. Walking from our parking spot to an empty spot on the hill-not so fun. Going down the hill really fast on the sled-FUN!...at least for Landen and Neil. Lana wanted nothing to do with trying out the sled, and I decided that while going down the hill in the sled looked like tons of fun, walking back up looked like no fun at all. So I opted to stay on the top of the hill with Lana. Which we did for about 5 minutes before heading for the van where we ate graham crackers, listened to the radio, and waited for the boys. After about 20 minutes of sledding Neil told him it was getting dark and cold and asked if he was ready to head back to which Landen replied, "Um...how about 8 more times?" Sounds like he had fun to me!

I swear there is a sled under their tushes...


Lana loved getting a chance to sit in the drivers seat...

"We would be warm below the storm...Oh what a joy for every girl and boy..." The Beatles

Very Pregnant

10 days between posts is kind of a lot for me and I apologize to my blog readers. But I have a good excuse...I'm very pregnant! Very. Pregnant. 33 weeks pregnant! Plus I have two little ones under my care. Which has been leaving me very little down time between getting the house ready for our new baby and trying not to fall over from sheer exhaustion. Neil of course has been a huge help, but between his work, independent study, and okay I'll admit, my need for things to be done a certain way to the extent that I'd much rather do most myself, I've been literally moving non-stop. I'm not really complaining though. Quite honestly this is the best I have felt during a third trimester of pregnancy. (My recent pregnancy massage, haircut, and pedicure today may have a bit to this with this- thank you hubby!) I've had a bit of back pain here and there but there's no time to think about that. We have a baby coming in as little as 4 weeks (full term is 37 weeks). And I'm sure you have all heard of nesting- "uncontrollable urge to clean and organize brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby." I take this to a whole new level. Once again, I'll admit it; to an almost irrational level. Like I know the carpet need not be lint rolled, but that's what I did when pregnant with Lana. And I know my closet doesn't need to be organized by color before the baby comes (ROY G. BIV order of course), but hey if this is what makes me feel ready for baby, I'm going to do it! So the posts may be farther apart these days, but that's just because reorganizing the baby's room for the 15th time has to be done by somebody...okay by me, because you won't do it right. ;)

32 weeks...

33 weeks...

"Try to see it my way, only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong..." The Beatles

Thank You Cards

Anyone watch Late Night with Jimmy Fallon?...

Thank you, little girl high heel dress-up shoes. Not only does my daughter love you and wear you around every waking moment, but you have given me motivation to exercise despite my very pregnant body. That is if following Lana around the house in her heels to make sure she doesn't fall and hurt herself counts as exercise.

Thank you, Diogy, for only going outside long enough for me to just barely have gotten comfortable on the couch before you decide to ask to be let in making me have to hoist myself back up again.

Thank you, online retailers, for sending me promo codes to fantastic sales at the exact time that I am trying to get a good handle on my spending with the new baby on the way.

Thank you, inside baby, for the night time dance parties in my uterus that I'm sure are meant to prepare me for the countless sleepless nights ahead of me after your arrival.

Thank you, free valet parking at my new OBGYN's office. Seriously, thank you!

Thank you, fat pants, for that unmistakable thread snap that has reminded me I'm even too big for you right now.

Thank you, Swiss Cake Rolls, for being twin packed, because let's face it, one just isn't enough.

Thank you, My Little Pony accessories and little Legos, for being small enough to not see on the floor when cleaning up, but just the right size for causing extreme pain if accidentally stepped on.

Thank you, Hungry Hungry Hippos, for being the loudest game in existence. It's quite the accomplishment.

Thank you, disposable wipes, for not appearing to be that much different than regular wipes, but costing 3x more.

Thank you, icicles, for being both very pretty and immensely dangerous at the same time while glistening overhead.

Thank you, husband, for making the song "Big and Chunky" my personal ring tone on your phone. Others will think you have embraced all of my extra inches while only I know you are making fun.

And lastly, thank you, blog-readers, for giving just a small part of your day to seeing how we all are! :) Here's some eye candy for your enjoyment...





"And all I gotta do is thank you girl." The Beatles

Twenty Ten

Happy New Year! Can you believe it? 2010! At midnight Neil and I began our 7th new year together. And we began it here in our home, with 2 little sweet loves in bed sleeping, one little love in my belly dancing, and the two of us on the couch enjoying each others company. Very low key and mostly perfect. I only say mostly because I managed to accidentally freeze the champagne we were going to toast with (relax- I was only going to take a sip). I'm not sure how I didn't know that it would freeze after 12 hours in the freezer. Oops. :/

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to a new year filled with new life as we welcome a new baby, new memories with Landen and Lana, and new hope for what is sure to be a wonderful year with Neil. I have a couple of resolutions this year that I am confident I will stick to as well. By the way, after explaining new year's resolutions to Landen, I asked him what his will be and he responded, "I'm going to eat more robots. But not real robots, cookie robots." This led to another explanation of what new year's resolutions are, and he finally settled on being the best big brother ever. It's a good one I think.

Hope everyone has a great year! Cheers to health, happiness, life, and love!

"Love is old, love is new. Love is all, love is you." The Beatles