On Your Due Date

Dearest Dulci,

Today marks your estimated time of arrival which we all saw come and go. Although it was a pretty typical day, here's what you missed because you're still baking away in Mama's womb...

We all took Papa to work this morning because he was tired and it was so cold. Then your brothers and Mama stopped off at the park to do more laps in the hopes that it would encourage you to come out and join us. Immediately after, we headed over to the doctor's to check your heartbeat and to tell them you were still cooking. 

Back at home, we had a lovely visit with a friend from church, ate lunch and had naps. Then you helped Mama prep dinner {"chicken-pot-pie-and-I-don't-care"; a family favorite} and hung out with the boys while they watched Mary Poppins. Papa biked home, we had supper, and off the boys went to bed. 

Mama and Papa caught up on shows while you danced in Mama's tummy. And helped us check on Theo since he's been having trouble sleeping with his sickie congestion. Poor brother. Maybe you're wanting for everyone to get over their colds and for your parents to get better sleep at night?! If so, that's very thoughtful of you, but we're ready to meet you. And figure lack of sleep will be the new normal for awhile. We'll make do! Please come out and join us soon!! We are all very excited to meet you and love on you!!  

We looooove you already,

Papa, Mama, Big Brothers Ezra + Theo

Family Babymoon {Monterey}

At the end of last month, we took our first "real" {church camp doesn't count} vacation as a family of four....just in time to become a family of five.

My girlfriend told me about Monterey Bay Aquarium's homeschool free days awhile back and I booked late January in the hopes that we could make a family trip of it. I love the aquarium, but dang, is it expensive! The last time we went, E was three months and we used a family friend's annual pass. I was so excited to get to experience it with both boys, especially being older.

So, this time we got a hotel right on the beach and stayed a few nights in Monterey. We hit all the local attractions including the beach, Dennis the Menace park and the Aquarium. As well as the family trip to Target since we forgot some essentials like shoes. We also forgot the dozen sandwiches I made to cover lunches while we were there, so we ate out a few more times than planned. All apart of the adventure, right?!

Come Join Us

We are finally ready for this little one! Well, okay, we still need to put that car seat in, but other than that, we're ready. I had my 39 week doctor appt. last Tuesday and he was really rough with the cervical exam. Definitely sent my body into pre-labor status for the rest of the afternoon and into the night. By morning, all had quieted down. But since we weren't sure, we finally got the rest of the baby stuff from the attic and had our midwife on call. 

W also unpacked our birth kit and laid everything out on our dresser for her. Makes it easier for her to grab and go. It amazing how much your brain graciously allows you forget...all the soreness, extra absorbent supplies, and time it takes to recover from such an event.

Even though we've done this twice already now, it surprises me just how tiny they once were. I loooove seeing all her tiny outfits and newborn diapers taking over our room.

Third pregnancies definitely make you feel like an old lady. My body has been so much more achy all around this time, even though I'm measuring the smallest out of all my previous pregnancies. My pelvis, hip bones, and surrounding areas feel like they're being stretched and pulled in ways that normally shouldn't hurt so much. Like I'm either severely out of shape {which I am} or I'm like 80 years old. And the exhaustion has been hightened the past few weeks; making mothering to my other two loves that much harder.

I'm anxious to meet our little girl and give her a name and lots of love. I'm ready to not be pregnant for a looooong while. I'm excited to even the score and get some estrogen back in this house! I'm sure the initial transition won't be smooth, but we're praying that we can take it in stride. We also continue to pray for a healthy and smooth delivery of a healthy and adorable baby girl. And that I don't labor and have her at night... I know I know, Theo's birth was like a fantasy birth, but I'm really hoping not to lose too much sleep again. ;) A pregnant, hormonal girl can still dream, right?!

We've Been Busy!!

Projects. Projects. Projects have been filling most of our weekends. We tackled quite a few since I've been on a nesting kick to get things done before I pop. One such project was our downstairs tv situation. It had become quite a situation...

{the before... all manner of bad.}

We got a tv as a birthday gift a few years ago from my parents. We don't have basic tv but sure enjoy movies and hulu. So, it's been sitting on this small entertainment unit right from the beginning. One of those "temporary solutions that quickly turned permanent" as the years piled on. Enter Theo: our tornado toddler. He would get into the DVDs and fiddle with our player every.single.day. It was getting old. Quickly.

So, W found a great deal on Amazon for a tv wall mount and I hunted craigslist {like it was my part-time job} looking for a dresser that would fit our mini-wall's dimensions without being a road obstacle for foot traffic. Found a dresser, but didn't love its look so I knew immediately when we bought it that I'd be re-doing it. But it had a veneer finish. My quick search online led me to chalk paint.

I'd heard of the stuff but didn't really know much beyond the words "chalk paint" "shabby chic" and "Annie Sloan". So after a mini-lesson {there are a lot of posts out there on it}, I learned about its "chalky" or thicker properties, zero prep-work benefit, and that it adheres to pretty much any surface without hassle. I also learned the price point of AS chalk paint. Yikes! So when I found I {Heart} Naptime's homemade recipe, I figured "why not?" All I had to buy was my normal paint in the colors I wanted + plaster of paris. Easy enough.

4 T Plaster of Paris to 2T HOT water

Mix in container until all the clumps are gone

Mix into 2 cups of paint

At the store, I bought my Plaster of Paris {$6}, my normal gallon of classic white, and then four sample sizes of a paint card I liked: graduating shades of mint. I went with a half batch of chalk paint in each of the five colors because my dresser had so many different colors and not much of each. Worked like a charm.

I did minimal sanding since I didn't really want a distressed look for the dresser. I then covered it in a polyurethane protective coat that we already had on hand. I would love to try the wax finish sometime. Heard it really finishes off the piece nicely. Next time. ;)

We mounted the tv, put the dresser in {after drilling a hole in the back of the top drawer for cords}, and mounted my antler project: ebay antlers + white spray paint + gold craft paint

We are loving the extra storage {currently the bottom two drawers are still empty! So huge for us. ;)}, and the simple fact that T is not creating a mess nor are our movies out for all to see {tacky!!} Definitely one of those "feels so good" projects.

Celebrating 5 Years

{attempting to catch-up before something big happens..like a baby arriving. hopefully, we'll be up to date soon and back to regularly scheduled blogging. Ha!}

This year was a fabulous anniversary year! On our actual anniversary, we swapped gifts {of wood, since we follow the traditional gift list.} and went to eat at a lovely place downtown {read: it pays to hold on to gift certificates until you can actually use them}. 

Then the first weekend of this month, we headed into the city for a combined anni/babymoon getaway. We've been wanting to see the Lion King for.ever. I'd seen it when I was in 8th grade on Broadway with my parents and remember how AMAZING it was. So, we splurged and got great seats a few rows back from the stage. Worth.every.penny. And then some. 

Beyond the performance, we ate great food, napped, and enjoyed the simple pleasure of just being the "two of us" {+ baby in utero, of course}. It was absolutely marvelous and I'm glad we sneaked it in before she comes.  Count down has definitely started!

Christmas 2012

Christmas Eve was spent watching White Christmas and eating a yummy dinner of omelets, bacon and toast. My parents joined the festivities and we exchanged gifts as well. Of course, nothing could top the already gifted Utilikilt which was an early Christmas gift, but we certainly tried. ;)

Christmas morning was just the four of us. Ezra came down to all the gifts under the tree and exclaimed, "Oh, BOY!" in the cutest way imaginable. We opened gifts, had breakfast, and played.

The sword and shield were E's favorites and T could not get enough of the tambourine {that cost a whopping $1.50} we got him. That boy has some musical talent in him {which he did NOT inherit from my side}.

Evening was spent at my parents--having a delicious meal. I took a solid 2 hr nap during the afternoon while the boys did the same. Utterly exhausted! This Christmas season has been absolutely wonderful and full. It was truly merry and bright! But I'm sure I'll be paying for it with recovery for weeks...{doesn't help being 7 months pregnant either}.

We have a few more things to look forward to including our 5 year anniversary and a family trip in January. Hoping these will take the edge off of those "boring/restless" winter months post-Christmas time. January always seems to eek by after all that excitement.  Then again with the up-coming arrival, January could just blow by this time. AH! :)

Goin' To The Chapel

Over the past weekend, one of my cousins got married! Since it overlapped a bit with our visitors, only I joined my grandma and parents on the drive up to Sonoma. Within this coming year, all but two of my cousins {both sides included} will be married. Danielle and her long term boyfriend, Forrest, tied the knot at a sweet little chapel with about 80 people attending.

Her dress was gorgeous and she made a beautiful bride!

Wintery reception details...

{the cousins that were present}

My dad and his sister, Gayle. {mother-of-the-bride}

And can't remember the last time we got one of just the three of us.

We ate, drank and were merry before heading back home. I promptly passed out on the way home. Yet another family milestone to celebrate. We wish Forrest and Danielle nothing but the best on their marriage adventure!

A Very Merry Christmas

From us to you!!

Hoping you have a splendid day remember our Savior's birth and savoring time with loved ones!

xoxo,
W & J + three

Tour Guides

We had the delight of having our friends visit from Austin last week! The last time we saw them was when Isaac was only 4 weeks old and I got to carry him {while at the very end of my pregnancy with E} in the moby wrap! Hard to believe that was over three years ago.

 So the three Texans joined us for a full and rainy adventure in the city on one of their days here. We did a quick stop at Union Square to check out the giant gingerbread castle then the rain died down for us to play at Ghirardelli Square.

We walked from there to the Wharf and Pier 39. Some snap-shots of the rest of our adventure include:
silly faces, sword-fighting with umbrellas, ice cream in waffle cones, crepes, a CBS reporter interview, lots of wet wet wet rain, and good times with friends!!

We were so glad W could get the day off work and have a consecutive five whole days at home with us! My man in action: holding two exhausted boys AND taking a picture for a couple of tourists. Serious would be lost without him.

Bump Progression {31 weeks}

Slacker. I know it. I have yet to take one picture of miss Dulcinea's growing bump with my fancy camera. Oh yeah, I haven't even mentioned she has a nickname already. All thanks to my parents' trip to Spain. It means "the sweetest thing" and is the name a sweets bakery there. And of course it's stuck because they were in Spain when we found out and like to suggest girls names to us every once in awhile. 

So, in a last ditch effort to save Mama-face, I've compiled all the phone bump pictures I've taken so far. Here she is...

 Woot woot! 

I'm feeling ever so EXHAUSTED these days. I want to sit on the sofa with my feet up, drink a hot beverage and eat sweets. I don't want to clean, cook, discipline, or anything remotely work-related. Oh well. Not gonna happen.

I definitely feel less motivated to actually birth a baby right now too. And I'm acutely aware that this is a mental sport. :/ Please join me in praying for mental strength and motivation when the time comes. {Cuz I just did all this hard work not all that long ago, yo!} And that I'll magically bypass all the normal, horrible recovery {read: nursing issues} that I face each and every time for the following six weeks.

Other than that, things are pretty normal around here when a baby is just a few months away. Still loads and loads to do while time keeps ticking.

Seriously can.not wait to meet this little girl!! Praying for curls a second time around. ;)