Life moves fast!

So here we are a month after Christmas and I STILL haven't posted my holiday pictures. I haven't even downloaded them off my camera! Guess I'm pretty distracted with 9 million other things going on in my life. (((just breathe)))

We are on the countdown to baby... Twelve and a half weeks until I get induced. I am busily making blankets and burp cloths and other fun things for him (will post pictures when they are finished). The baby is getting much bigger and his kicks and punches are starting to hurt! It's becoming harder to get comfortable at night; I can't remember the last time I actually slept the entire night all the way through... guess I'm once again getting prepped for those middle of the night feedings.

Our town home is still for sale and we are SO anxious to get it sold and move on with things. It's been such a frustrating situation, but hopefully spring will bring on some motivated buyers and we can get it done. We have NO idea what to do after it sells. The plan was always to build, but we are thinking that moving right into a house would be great for all of us, so if we can find the right home at the right time at the right price, we would try to go that route. Just have to wait and see and hope the stars align I guess.

I'm rambling... which is boring. I will post pictures about our lives very soon. Just wanted the 3-4 people who actually read my blog to know I am still alive.

BIG ultrasound

And when I say big, I don't just mean the ultrasound itself... we have a big baby. Our little bundle is measuring a full week and a half ahead of where he should be. He's supposed to be just reaching his one pound mark, but they say he's more than likely already a pound and a half. That doesn't sound like much of a difference, but when his weight is supposed to double over the next 4 weeks... and then double again, you see where this is headed.

Other than being bigger than we expected, he's forming beautifully. Everything looks great and all systems are where they are supposed to be. And he is FOR SURE a boy... NO question!

He's laying head down with his legs up above his head, almost in a yoga position. So I get kicked up high, and punched down low... and he REALLY moves a ton now. Not too painful yet, but soon he'll be packing quite a punch I'm sure.

Here are a few ultrasound pics....

Black Family Christmas Party

Last Saturday we trekked up to Heber for a fun Christmas party with Spencer's family. We had a yummy lunch, the kids all participated in the nativity reenactment, and we opened some gifts. We hadn't seen most of his family since summer, so it was fun to visit and catch up. Out of the blue, Hallie climbed up on Spencer's mom's lap, threw her arms around her and said, Oh, grandma, I love you so much! His mom was SO thrilled! I am really happy with how well my kids are blending in with his family. They are all very welcoming and sweet. Again, I just feel SO blessed...

Half Way!

I am half way to getting this little guy here... his movement has really picked up this week. I can feel him kicking and bumping around inside. And Spencer has finally felt him thump a few times. Hallie and Audrey are obsessed with hugging and kissing my belly. We are getting past the shock and becoming much more excited. Big ultrasound scheduled in 2 weeks.

Here's a belly shot from this week... can't hide the fact that I've got something going on!

Movement!

I started feeling my baby moving this past weekend... I love this milestone. Up until now pregnancy always feels so surreal, but feeling the fluttering and squirming inside makes it suddenly very real! I'm sure I won't feel quite the same about him moving and groving once he's kicking me in the ribs and keeping me up at night, but I love the reassuring feeling right now that he's really in there.

This pregnancy is really moving along quickly... and with the holidays over the next 5 weeks, it will zoom by even quicker. Looking forward to 2011 and his debut in April. It will be here before I can even think about it. Yay!

Locks of Love

Last week Hallie was complaining as usual while I brushed her long hair and pulled it back into a pony tail. She wanted to wear it down, but I explained how snarly it gets when she wears it down to school. She pleaded, "Mom, can't I just please cut my hair shorter so i can wear it down?" Well, duh... why didn't I suggest that! I said, well sure you can if that's really what you want... and you know, you can also donate it to be made into a wig so someone who is sick and doesn't have hair will have beautiful hair to wear. That was it, she totally wanted to donate her long hair. I waited 2 days to make sure she really wanted to go through with it. Thursday morning we took her to Fantastic Sams (who is awesome by the way, free haircut if you donate your hair) and the transformation began...

She was thrilled with her new short hairdo and so excited her hair will be used to help someone in need with Locks of Love. Proud mom is a complete understatement. I love this kid!!!

We are having a.....

This morning we had a gentic screening ultrasound because according to all the stats I am old and at a slightly increased risk for genetic abnormalities. It isn't anything I am super concerned about, but just want to be on the safe side and have as much info as possible about this little baby. After a meeting with a genetic counselor and getting some blood work (and a HUGE wait because as usual they were running behind), we got to take a peek at our little baby again. As all the measurements were being done, the ultrasound tech was talking with us about our other kids and asked us what they were hoping this baby would be... then she asked if we wanted her to look and see if she could tell. Um.... YES!!!!! So she scanned under the baby and it was immediately obvious what we are going to have... it's a BOY!!!! His parts are so obvious and even the tech was surprised. She said she's never seen a baby so obviously a boy at this early of a stage in pregnancy. I'm just shy of 13 weeks, but measuring a full week ahead. There's no question he's a boy and we are very excited! He looked good and the heartbeat was measuring normal. We'll have preliminary results about the genetic screening soon and then some more bloodwork to follow-up and so we should have some good info about his health. We are both really happy he's a boy... this is awesome for our family! :)

Going Nowhere...

So, have I ever mentioned how much this housing market sucks??? Maybe a few times. Now I really hate it. Our buyer's financing fell through yesterday. Yep, THREE days before we are supposed to move. We are packed, we had our rental home secured and deposit paid, we had met with our builders to get the new home started (luckily had not paid them any money yet), and now we are beyond frustrated...

We were SO close to finally progressing with this whole housing situation. Now we are back at the starting line. It really sucks and we are pretty upset. So our house is going back on the market and we are staying put. And now we are going into the hardest time to sell a home... the holidays. I just can't believe this has happened... are we a bullseye for bad luck or what? Sheesh!!!! Somebody throw some good karma our way! PLEASE!!!!

SOLD!!!

Our townhome is under contract and technically sold. 99% sure the financing will be fine for the people who want to buy it, so in less than 3 weeks we are going to be homeless. They want us out by October 15th...

We've found a couple rental homes we are trying to look at and hopefully one will be able to agree to our terms of a 6 month lease while our new home is being built. If all goes well, we will be applying for permits and getting things underway with construction very soon... hopefully getting our basement dug out before the ground freezes for the winter!

We are VERY excited and honestly totally freaked out at the same time! Stress levels are super high at our house, but we're taking it a day at a time and happy that we are moving onto the next phase with getting into our dream home. YAY!!!

Are you serious??? It's +++

Yes, this is exactly what is looks like... an ultrasound picture of our surprise pregnancy. Okay, so it looks like a blob, but it's a tiny little baby complete with a very beautiful and healthy beating heart.

Just FYI... The pill is seriously only 99.7% effective people... we are living proof!!! I'm now about 9 weeks along... due the end of April. We've known for about a month and are still a little shell-shocked, but the kids are pretty excited and we are starting to get more excited as well (just needs to sink in). Wow, seven kids... I'm shaking a little just typing that! This little miracle will be VERY loved... ♥ Hoping for an uneventful pregnancy and a healthy baby. :)