Remembering Those Days...

Have you ever read Sarah's blog? It's one of my favorites. I've been reading it for a while now. And I've blogged about Sarah before. She is expecting her first baby, baby Jane. Any day, Sarah's sweet girl, will be here. But when I saw this picture, it got me thinking...



I was thinking about that time, right before Lauren was born. I was super excited! I knew that I was having a little girl. And I would dream about her. Dream about all the fun we'd have. The time we'd spend together. All the cuddling we'd do.

At the same time, I was miserable. Everything hurt. I was beyond uncomfortable. I wanted to have my baby. I wanted to feel normal again. To see my feet. I was getting anxious. I started to think, about all the things I didn't know. How in the world, was I going to get through this...

Those last few days, were the hardest. I didn't know what to expect. I was feeling horrible. I was silently, having these meltdowns in my head. I was somewhere between being pregnant, and being a real mommy. I'd felt like a mom, since the day I found out I was pregnant. But I really hadn't experienced everything that the label meant. Not yet.

I've been thinking about Sarah a lot. Praying for her. I don't know her. I've posted a comment here and there. Sent her a handful of emails. But I really don't know her, beyond her blog. But being a mommy, just makes you want to support, the newest members, into our little club.

It's funny. Those last few days, before my baby was born, seemed like forever. But there's something about them, that I'd like to experience again. Something that was so magical. Unknown. And peaceful. I hope that Sarah, can find some of that same peace too!

~Manders

3 Years Old!

I still can't believe it. Lauren is 3 years old today! She's not a baby anymore. But a little girl. One who is praying for "her babies" to be born today. Don't tell her, but they're happy inside their mama's tummy. I'm hoping they come soon, but I really don't think my 3 kids are all going to share the same birthday.

But my little girl, she looks and acts so big now. I love how she packs her little dance bag every night before bed. The way she scrunches up her face when she prays. Lauren makes bedtime prayers last at least 30 minutes, that's how much love she has to give. And all she has been able to talk about for the last month is "her babies." Lauren is so big, that she likes to help me fold laundry now. And honestly, my favorite time of the day, is the morning. When Billy leaves for work, Lauren snuggles her way into our bed. Snuggling with my tummy. Rubbing little circles over her brother and sister. I haven't to admit it, I lay in bed for an extra hour just to get her love.

My little girl is the most lovable girl I know! Those big green eyes make me smile every single day. And her love of lipgloss, well she might have gotten that from me. I just feel so very lucky to have this beautiful girl. I love hearing her call me mama. These 3 years, they've just flown by! I can still remember holding this precious pink baby in my arms. Just seconds old. And knowing in that instant, she had my heart!

When Billy and I asked Lauren what she wanted for her birthday, she told us all she wanted was "her babies." When we asked what else, she wanted some dolls. My girls is easy peasy to please! But being 9 months pregnant with twins, well it hasn't allowed for me to do much. Daddy went shopping. And he wrapped all the presents last night. I have no clue what we got Lauren. Except for a few things that I ordered from Etsy. Billy even took care of the cake! And her birthday party this weekend, we're just praying it happens. :)

Today, we're just going to enjoy Lauren at home. We're having a special day of cooking by Billy. He's such a good daddy! And tonight, we'll have cake and ice cream. I'm so excited to spend the day with my Big Girl!

~Manders

Congratulations to Familia Mexicana!!!

I just have to smile. My friends had a doctor's appointment yesterday. I was watching their 2 younger daughters. Selena is due about the same time I am. Lauren and Maribel are just 2 days apart. And it looks as though our due dates are again, within a few days of on another!

We see each other everyday, Monday-Friday. The girls are in dance together. Either I take them, or Selena does. It is a little ways from where we live. Carpooling is ideal of us. And it gives us each a little break.

Selena is always joking with me because I am definitely showing. And started showing pretty early. I am slim. But I was pretty quick to show. Then we found out we were expecting twins. That explained a lot.

David, Selena's husband wants a boy. They have 3 beautiful little girls. Selena was very happy with the 3 girls. But David really wanted a boy. He continued to talk to Selena, and they agreed to try once more. David is praying for a little boy. Not that he doesn't love his girls. Because he is such a great dad. But he really wants a boy. We laughed when we heard Selena tell him she would name the baby if it was a boy. After David. But he has to come up with a girl's name. Because she can't think of another girl's name that starts off Mar...

On Monday, I noticed Selena had a sizable bump. We joked about it. But she said she just woke up on Sunday with a bump. That really does happen. One day, you aren't showing. The next, well you know you are pregnant! She was a little nervous though. I could tell.

Lola, our good friend (aka T-Lo) was scheduled to do their ultrasound on Friday. She happened to run into Selena earlier this week. And made a joke that they were having twins. Selena just laughed it off. But she asked me about it. I really didn't know what to say. I am not an expert. That's Lola's job.

Yesterday, they had their ultrasound. And baby, oh baby, they are expecting twins! Lola happened to hear or see something. And the doctor confirmed it. David was so excited when they came to pick up the girls. He said his chances of having a boy have doubled now! What an excited daddy he is!

I'm very happy for them. I think Selena is slightly in shock. But I know I was when I found out our happy news. Maybe there is something in the water. Either way, our twins are due in March. And we are all over the moon for these special additions!

~Manders

Our Exciting News!

Now that our families know our news, it is time to tell our friends. On Friday, we found out we are having twins! Yes, TWINS! OK, so the picture maybe a little deceiving, we don't know yet if they are boys, girls, or a boy and a girl. We will find out next week whether they are fraternal or identical. Sometime between 18-20 weeks, we will find out the babies gender.

We are so excited! All of our families are excited too! Lola was just too happy on Friday. I know that she has been bursting at the seams to tell everyone. So have we! Lauren is happy to know she is getting 2 babies now. This also answers my question, "Why am I already so big?" My belly popped a couple of weeks ago. Yes, I have been showing. I know I am slim, but this explains a lot! I guess I also have to change my label from Baby to Twin Babies. We are excited to meet out twins. Just 28 weeks to go!

~Manders

Wonderful News!

We got some pretty great news yesterday. But we are going to wait a bit to tell everyone on here. There are some very important people that need to know first! Lola knows, because she was there when we found out. Sorry about being so cryptic. We just need to talk to some important people in our lives first.

For now, we are headed to visit my parents. It should be a nice weekend. There is rain in the forecast, but not too much. Mom and I already have some plans to go shopping. I just hope the crowds aren't too bad. Because it is a holiday and my hometown is a bit of a resort town, it usually gets flooded with people over a holiday weekend.

In any case, we are excited about heading to the mountains. We only have a few short weeks before the snow begins. And when it starts snowing out this way, our trips become less frequent. Until then, we will make a couple of more trips. And love every single one!

~Manders

Friday Fill-ins

1. I feel anxious and excited.

2. Trips and friends are always fun.

3. Right now, I can hear these things: Billy in the kitchen and the TV.

4. It's September and I'm glad that the hot weather is almost behind us.

5. The last time I went to the doctor was 2 weeks ago.

6. We are going to my hometown this Labor day weekend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a dinner with friends, tomorrow my plans include traveling to the mountains and Sunday, I want to do a little shopping!



What a week we have had! But in a good way. Emmers and Paul are in town. A nice change of pace for everyone! We got the good news that they are moving back. That is really exciting! From what I hear, Vi and Scott will be here, or they might already be here. It is really a good time when all of our friends come to visit. I don't think the 4 of them have ever been here at the same time. We have having a good time though.

Today, we have a doctor's appointment. Just a check up. But I am excited to hear the baby's heartbeat. For me, that solidifies that there is a healthy baby growing in there. Billy is really excited too! We decided to make it a day in town. And Lola had offered to watch Lauren while we are in our appointment. She works at the hospital were my OB/GYN is located. They actually work together. I am just a little anxious this morning. Just ready to hear our baby's healthy heart beating away!

~Manders

Pregnancy Brain

Yes, I am certain that there is such a thing as "Pregnancy Brain." Because I have been very forgetful since I got pregnant. And very indecisive. To the point that it takes me an hour to figure out what I am going to wear. Or I do Lauren's hair 4 times before I am happy with it. I walk around looking for my keys, and they are in my hand. Billy tells me about a story he read in the paper, then I see it on the news. I don't even remember that my dear husband just told me about it.

Is "Pregnancy Brain" real? Lola said that it is. I trust her. She works in fertility health and prenatal care. It is one of the specialties that she is considering. So I believe it when she says it's true. My doctor also said it's true.

What in the world am I going to do until March? I don't remember having "Pregnancy Brain" the last time I was pregnant. Then again, I also forgot about labor and delivery. Does that just happen? You forget about these things. Because if you remembered, you might not have more kids. I just wonder. It could just be the "Pregnancy Brain."

~Manders

Feeling Crafty!

Today Lauren and I went to Hobby Lobby. We didn't have anything that we needed to buy. We also didn't really have anything on the mind to look at. We were just killing some time while Billy, J, and Lola were working on a project. But I soon found myself in the fabric department. I just wanted to look at the nursery fabric. We are far from knowing whether the baby is a boy or a girl. But I thought I would take a jump start on the fabric selection

When I was pregnant of Lauren, I picked Raggedy Ann and Andy or Little Cowboys as our nursery themes. Lola agreed to decorate the nursery for me. Partly because Billy and I were in Texas. And by the time we would move back, Lauren would be a few weeks old. The minute we knew we were having a girl, I called Lola. And she got right on it. She had just finished J's house and was all creative. When we got back, we had this amazing nursery. With Raggedy Ann and Andy sprinkled throughout. She even put in pink boots and a toy box that looked like a little red wagon. Joe had made it. Not that I didn't love the nursery that my mother-in-law and I had put together in our Texas house. But this one was absolutely amazing!

Today, Lauren and I got completely lost in the rows of fabric. And I have absolutely no clue what I want to use. I am thinking about the Little Cowboys again. But for a girl, I have absolutely no clue what to use. I like that I used Raggedy Ann and Andy for Lauren because it is a room that she has grown with. It was not exclusively a baby's room. And she absolutely LOVES the rocking chair with the big Raggedy Ann that T-Lo made her. I find her wrapped up in her Raggedy Ann arms when she needs quiet time. Gently rocking back and forth.

After an hour of looking, I am kind of leaning towards Strawberry Shortcake. The original one. But I am not sold yet. I am still open to something that sparks my interest. We are also very lucky that T-Lo has agreed to decorate the baby's nursery. And after all that fabric searching, Lauren and I bought some cupcake fabric. She wants T-Lo to make her an apron!

~Manders

The Little Things

I'm convinced that it is the little things in life that make life worth living.

After Lauren's nap today, she brought me a book. Her favorite one. T-Lo gave it to her when I was still pregnant with her. The Farm Animal book. She climbed onto the couch and sat on my lap. Her head lay on my heart.

I won't lie here. I hadn't been feeling well. I had actually been having my worse day of morning sickness. S had taken the girls to dance practice and had fed Lauren lunch before bringing her home. And as soon as she got home, she wanted to nap. I was half relieved, half grateful to God. And I lay on the couch, eyes closed, with GH on. Praying that Billy would get home early from my parents' house. He had left to help my dad remove some dead trees. And he figured he wouldn't be home until late.

And all at once, my daughter brightened my day. We read about her animals. And she told me that she loved me. And liked to hear my heartbeat. Then with no real thought behind it. She kissed my head and told me I would feel better soon. I almost started to cry.

Then the thing I would pay a million dollars if Billy could have seen. Lauren bent over and kissed my stomach. And started talking to her "new baby." "I love you. I want to play wit you. An kiss you. Be good girl for mommy. I love you." She kissed my stomach again, then rubbed it softly as she lay her head back on me.

By this time, the tears were slowly coming out. I know that my daughter understands that we are having a baby. She understands the love I have for her. And she loves her new baby, even if she has never met the baby. Even if my stomach is not yet a belly. She knows.

~Manders

A Sign?

After dance practice this morning, I took the 2 little ballerinas for ice cream. It was close enough to lunch time. :) And while we were at the Plaza, I decided to buy them each a gift at the toy store. Their teacher said they had been doing really well. Listening to her, and learning all of their dances. With my 2 "Lerinas," as they call themselves, we walked across the Plaza to the small toy store.

Lauren was set on a pony the minute she seen it. It is pink. Of course! What else would you expect from my daughter? Little M picked out a monkey. Which was too cute! It had those long draping kind of arms and legs. She was in love! This toy store is very hands on. The girls were able to play with the toys. And the shop owner even gave them each a big lollipop. The kind that is round and swirled with a bunch of colors. They could be bigger than the girls themselves! Something like this...

While the girls had fun, I wanted to look at some baby things. I know in my head that it is early to be buying things. But I can't help myself! The toy store is in the Plaza. Every building in the Plaza used to be a home. So there are a lot of little rooms in there. Each one is themed. As I was looking at some little picture frames and baby books, Lauren came up to me with a pink teddy bear in one hand and a baby doll in the other. "For my new baby." She said it so proudly. And she really, really, really wanted to buy them. I couldn't say no.

Do you think Lauren knows something we don't? I kinda wonder that. Billy was thinking the same thing when I told him the story after dinner. And after Lauren showed him what she bought her new baby. They are on the bed in the guest room. The room that will soon be a nursery.

Do kids just know? S is completely sold on the idea. Her oldest daughter has told them each time she has been pregnant that she was getting a new baby sister. And well, they have 3 girls. I wouldn't mind another girl. And I think Billy is sold on another daughter. I guess we will just have to wait to see if Miss Lauren is right.

~Manders

A New Baby

Yes, we are having a new baby!!!

Billy and I hadn't really started telling people. Just a select few. Like our parents, Lauren, J, Lola, the G Family, and my sister. Then I realized that I may have let it slip out. Well, kinda. On the blog yesterday. Then when I was talking to Anna Marie, I said something about morning sickness. And then when I talked to Cole this morning, I mentioned I needed maternity clothes. Oops! So much for waiting until after our anniversary! :P

We figure that we should just put it out there. We are pregnant with baby #2! My due date is March 25th. How exciting is that? Lauren keeps holding her baby doll saying, "New baby mommy." I think she might be a little confused. When Billy and I told her we were having a new baby, something tells me she thinks she is getting a new baby doll. It's a good thing we still have 7 months to explain it to her.

I am also very lucky to be pregnant while 2 of my close friends are expecting. Anna Marie looks too cute! She is due in November. They are having a little girl. That's 2 daughters for Joe. He is over the moon. Have you ever met a man that only wants daughters? And S is having baby #4 in March. We are pregnant together again. Due dates are days apart again! D is praying for a boy. But something tells me they will have another little girl! :)

I have been having some pretty strong morning sickness. Somehow, I forgot about that when I was thinking about my pregnancy with Lauren. I haven't been eating much, other than toast for breakfast. Around 2PM I get hungry and can keep food down. To date, I have lost 6lbs, and gone up 3 bra sizes. The doctor told me that is completely normal and not to worry. The memories are all just beginning to come back to me. hehe

This pregnancy should be a little less stressful than our first. The first time, we were moving between Texas and here. Getting adjusted to Billy's work. And traveling with the band. Since then, we have gotten settled here. We still go to Texas, but not as often. Or for as long. And the band has slowed down on their gigs. The only gigs that they have scheduled are 1 in each month, between Oct-Dec. Now I just need to figure out how to be pregnant and how to chase after Lauren!

~Manders