Sweet Surprise

Sweetheart #4 due to arrive Valentine's Day 2015.  Surprised?  So were we!!!

In fact, two weeks before I took the pregnancy test I told Lance that I thought we could be okay with only three kids.   I had just begun to feel like I am getting the hang of the craziness three kids six and under brings.  But, as always, I am reminded yet again that God has a plan that doesn't necessarily fit my own.

I have been more sick around this time and have spend most days barely functioning.  For the first time in my life I had to cancel giving a talk in church because I have been so sick.  I think the fog is beginning to lift, though, and that I am returning back to my normal self.

One thing is for sure - I can safely say our "infertility" is cured after having two "surprise" pregnancies in two years.  We feel very blessed indeed.

Now come the prayers for a healthy baby.  I really feel like I am getting too old for this!!!

Nine for Nine

This little darling turned nine months the end of October.  Her life has been a blur to me - I love every moment with her but am horrible at documenting it.  

1.  Our super baby.   She is super easy going, super happy and super, super busy.  Not a moment do I set her down then she is off exploring.

2.  Our foodie baby.  True to Smemoe genes, she loves food.  Her little feet kick excitedly as soon as we drop peas on her tray, spoon baby food into her mouth, and give her apple slices to chew on.  So far we have only discovered one thing she doesn't like - grown up oatmeal.  That and antibiotics that she has to take for a horrific ear infection she got this past week.

3.  Our book worm.  Also true to Smemoe fashion, she loves when we read her books.  The touch and feel ones are her favorite.

4.  Our one with few words.  She just learned how to say "mama" and "papa" and babbles with dadadada quite a bit.  She refuses to do baby signs.  Even though it has been at least two months that we have had her do the signs for "more,"  "all done," and "milk."  She just laughs at us as we do them for her.

5.  Our early riser.  She still wakes up for a feeding at 5:00 am every day.  I know I should sleep train her so that she sleeps all night but honestly . . . I don't want to.  I love the snuggle time we have in the wee hours of the morning.

6.  Our tiniest baby.  She is in the 85th percentile for height and only the 50th percentile for weight.  Compared to the 98th percentiles our other kids were in for weight, she is a teeny thing to us.

7.  Our tough baby.  Her brother is rough.  50% of the time when he isn't "gentle-ing" her.  And she puts up with it like a champ.  You can't help but love her even more when she still grins from ear to ear when he comes into the room.  Like she instantly forgives him and can't wait to see him.  She knows it's a phase.

At the Zoomars petting zoo with her brother.  Right before he pushed her off the bench.
Oh the love hate relationship here.

8.  Her mama's twin. Well - almost.  Glad to say that I have one that looks a lot like me.

9.  Our sweet blue-eyed dolly.  Her wide, bright blue eyes are striking and people comment on them where ever we go.

My cup runneth over.  So grateful this blessing and miracle baby came into our home and stole our hearts.

When you are busy making other plans . . .

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
                                                                - John Lennon

As you remember, on January 20th I was planning to be running in this:

Instead, on January 20th I am due to have this:

Definitely an absolute unplanned, unassisted, unexpected but thoroughly welcomed miracle.

Here's a little background. . .
 Back in January I felt a distinct impression it was time for us to have another baby.  Why?  Not sure.  I mean I can barely manage the two cute yet crazy ones I have.  I remember eating the best pulled BBQ pork sandwich in the world at a swap meet in Oahu with Lance, telling him I was going to call our infertility doctor that day and set up an appt. for when we got back from our little love vacay.  He agreed it was time.

But it never worked out.  I drug my feet to get the blood work done needed to start the process. We soon found the house we just purchased.  Just like the last six years we had to make a choice - Do we do infertility treatments?  Or do we buy a house?  A house won out.  Surprisingly, I was at peace about it.  Another baby would have to wait until 2013 or even 2014.  I had a house to decorate, a budget to keep, two little ones to raise, a little more weight to lose and a half marathon for which to train.   

When we were packing to move, I came across a pregnancy test.  It was about to expire and I did not want to pack it.  I didn't even suspect I was pregnant but I figured I wasn't going to throw away $15.   I took it on a whim.  Imagine my surprise when I saw two lines.  After texting a picture of it to my friend Amber in disbelief, she insisted I go buy another.  The three digital ones I purchased and took that same day all spelled out in bold letters the unbelievable answer:  PREGNANT.

Shock is an understatement.


Ten years of trying with losses and no success on our own.  And here we are - stressed from buying a house and not even planning or trying and I am expecting baby #3.
 
I know this is early in the game to be announcing anything.  Isn't there an unsaid rule you should wait until you are in your 2nd trimester to share with the world?   But I just can't keep it a secret.  I am so excited and feel so incredibly blessed to be carrying this miracle.  I am so tired of having to be cautious about everything when it comes to having babies - chosing carefully who I tell when I am doing fertility treatments and when I am newly pregnant because I am so worried I am going to lose my baby.  I want to be excited about this baby and believe that everything is going to be okay.  Because as far as I know, everything will be.

Besides, any prayers from those we love can't but help. 

Nine at Nine

Nine months is a wonderful age for this boy.  What I am saying?  Every month is a wonderful age for him.  Here were his stats at his last check-up:

9 month photo with his bear

Weight:  20 lbs, 3 oz (45th percentile)
Height: 28 1/2 inches (60th percentile)
Head Circ.:  17 3/4 inches (45th percentile)

He has really chunked up these last two months, providing a tasty little neck to smooch and chunky thighs to squeeze.  He only started wearing 6-9 month clothes a month ago and he is just about grown out of that size in 6 weeks.  Here is how else he has changed:


1.  Pass the peas please.  And the watermelon, the cereal, and whatever else that you have for me to eat.  He likes to especially steal french fries.  Sometime between 7 months and 9 months, Carsten has decided he LOVES to eat.  And eat.  And eat.

Watermelon season.  His favorite.

Don't mind if I do.  (Stealing french fries off of someone's plate while we were on vacation.)

2.  Movin' and Groovin'.  Carsten is a crawler, though he prefers to do the army crawl.  He hates to be held for extended periods of time unless he is sleepy and wants to snuggle.  He is close to pulling himself up.

Look at me!  I am crawling!  (And you obviously haven't childproofed yet, Mommy!)

3.  Throwing caution to the wind.  Electric cords?  Good teethers.  The beagle's tail?  A tasty snack.  The stairs?  A good place to crawl down.  Now that he is mobile, Carsten has a crazy sense of adventure.  Does anyone want to explain to me why, if my little boy has access to lots of toys and open floor space, is it that he always heads for the dangerous stuff?

Loves when his dad carries him around this way.

4.  Little voice.  Our little man has discovered he has a voice.  And he isn't afraid to use it.  Between his growls, raspberries, high pitched screams and the crooning he does in the car to the music we are listening too, we have affectionately started to call him "Lil' Pterodactyl."  He calls me "Mama" and has said "Papa" once or twice.

5. The charmer.  He still has a way with women.  He still openly flirts with any female that will look his way and he will often stare down any woman who isn't looking his way, in hopes she will give him a smile and the attention he deserves.

How can the ladies resist this?  I know I can't! 

6.  Self-entertaining.  I have been blessed with children who are good at self-entertaining.  Carsten has just discovered the joy of toys.  Mainly, he likes to empty toy boxes, throw balls and crawl after them and empty out our DVD shelves.  He can entertain himself for long periods of time and does so with a huge grin on his face and squeals of delight.

Emptying out the DVDs.  Again.  For about the 5th time that day.

7.  His sissy.  He loves his sissy and is happiest when he is in her presence.  He also loves to play with her things, much to her dismay.  However, despite how protective she can be about her toys, she takes the responsibility of "teaching" him how to play seriously and he eats up every bit of attention she will give him.

Playing together. 

8.  Water baby.  This boy LOVES to swim and about propels himself out of my lap and into the bathtub the moment I turn on the water.  Good thing we live in a climate that allows you to swim almost year round.

Bath time for baby.

9.  Practically perfect in every way.  He is still the happy-go-lucky, lovable, baby who will is ticklish beyond measure and lights up the room whenever he enters.  His patience is never-ending and his soul as tender as ever.

On a side note...I really need a better camera.  Any suggestions????

New arrival

She's here! Mom and baby are doing well. We were moved into a recovery room Sunday afternoon with only one bed, and so I came home that night to sleep and post some pics. Enjoy!

Elisabeth

May 4, 2008, 7:49 a.m.

7 lbs. 3 oz.

18.75"

Dr. Kaminskas, Kristi, and Elisabeth (bottom left)