Pregnancy Pic's with the kids

I've had pictures taken with each pregnancy so I wanted to make sure I got some with this baby also.  Kraig took some pictures of us this weekend and I think they turned out pretty cute!  Thanks babe!

38 weeks and 3 days pregnant with baby #3

Lauren Swim Ranch Videos 2012

Happy 37 Year Anniversary Mom and Dad!

We love you!  Congrats on 37 years!

38 Week Checkup - Baby #3

Yesterday was our 38 week checkup and everything looks great.  Dr said "oh you are right there...if you wanted to go into labor today it wouldn't take much" and I said "maybe next week but I would like for baby to gain some chub".  Currently everyone is back in town so I would be ok with baby coming anyday as long as he/she is healthy but Saturday Kristen is going out of town for her anniversary and won't be back until Thursday the 5th so she would prefer we waited until she got back; however baby has been in the works for 9 months and her trip was planned 2 weeks ago, so she understands if baby comes before she is back.  Spencer is also leaving for a mission trip on July 3rd and won't be back for 2 months so there is a pretty good chance he will miss baby being born as well.  :-(  That's ok...they will see baby when they all get back and we will send them pictures and text letting them know if baby is boy or girl!  There is a full moon on the 3rd AND my dr is on call that day too so we shall see!

My helpers this morning giving the baby some love!

Stats
How Far Along: 38 weeks

Dilation: 1-2 cm (dr said almost 2)

Effacement: 50% (same as last week)

Baby's station: Dr said "baby is right there and lower than last last week" but I didn't get a # and head is still down

Size of baby: Watermelon (19 to 22 inches long and about 7 lbs)

Baby's Heart Rate: 145

Measurement: 37 cm

Blood Pressure: 110/72 (mine is always low)

Weight Gain: 2 pounds so a total of 23 pounds so far

Maternity Clothes: Um Yes!

Gender: It's a Surprise!

Movement: All the time and in my ribs!  Ouch!

Sleep: Not great but that is to be expected.  I've been having lots of braxton hicks contractions (including in the middle of the night) but they are not regular so nothing to worry about...but it does keep me up and then I can't go back to sleep.  My internal alarm clock is still waking me up at about 5:30 or 5:45 each morning.

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions, acid reflux, heart burn, sore ribs and some nerve that feels like a charlie horse down the inside of my leg when baby hits it just right...but that's all to be expected and I try not to complain since this is what I wanted.  :-).

What I miss: Being able to bend over or stand up normally...but this too shall pass!

Cravings: This last week it's been ice cream!

Best Moment this week: Last night we felt a knee or elbow or something very pointy poking out of the side of my stomach.  It was crazy because you could just tell baby was trying to get comfortable but is just out of room so it was neat to know what we just felt!  Also Lauren and Colton are getting excited for baby and Colton is starting to understand more and said "can we play with it" when Kraig said that baby would be here very soon.  So I thought that was sweet!

What I am looking forward to: Seeing my baby for the first time!

Lauren's Swim Lessons at Swim Ranch 2012

Lauren's swim lessons are M-F from 3-4 pm this week.  Once you turn 4 they don't offer the weekend classes so I took her Monday and Tuesday and Kraig is taking her Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

We no longer get in the water with them either like we still do with Colton.

This is the 2nd year she is in lane 1 and she is doing great!

Floating

Watching the teacher with the other 3 kids in her class

Swimming with the kick board

Swimming by herself

This girl LOVES to jump in and now wants to jump without anyone catching her because she is not afraid to go under the water this year.  Actually that's one of her 'tricks' this year..."hey mom watch this".  :-)

My mom came to watch so she took some photos for us.  It is over 100 degrees outside this week so needless to say being 9 months pregnant I was a little sweaty even sitting in the shade!

Day 2

Floating on the kick board

Swimming with face in the water

Jumping in again!

Jumping off the diving board!

High Five's from the teacher 

At the end of class each day they go to the board and mark their accomplishments for the day.

Stretch-A-Buck Ultimate Holiday Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

• 6 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• Salt
• 2 tablespoons EVOO - Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 1/2 pounds coarsely ground sirloin
• 1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, quartered
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 2 ribs celery, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 to 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• Ground black pepper
• 9 to 10 sprigs (about 2 tablespoons) thyme leaves, removed from stems
• 5 tablespoons butter, divided
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 4 cups beef stock, divided
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese, divided
• 1/4 cup chives, chopped
• 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 teaspoons paprika

Yields 6 servings 

Preparation

Preheat broiler.

Place potatoes into a medium saucepan with a dash of salt and enough cold water to submerge them completely. Place the pan over medium-high heat and bring the liquid to a bubble. Reduce heat to medium and simmer the potatoes until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain the cooked potatoes and reserve them in the same pan they were cooked in.

While the potatoes are cooking, place a large, cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add the ground sirloin to the pan and cook until browned, 5-6 minutes.

Add the mushrooms, carrots, onion, celery, bay leaf and garlic to the pan and season everything with some salt and pepper. Cook until the veggies are tender, 7-8 minutes, and then stir in the thyme leaves.

While the veggies are working, place a medium saucepan over medium heat and melt 3 tablespoons butter. Sprinkle the flour over the butter and cook for about 1 minute. Whisk 3 cups of the beef stock into the roux and simmer until thickened, 2-3 minutes. Whisk the Worcestershire and Dijon into the gravy. Season with salt and pepper and reserve warm.

When the veggies in the skillet are soft, add the remaining 1 cup of stock to the pan and stir to remove any bits stuck to the bottom and cook away most of that liquid. Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the peas. Stir the prepared gravy into the mixture and reserve.

Mash the cooked potatoes with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, milk, about 1 cup shredded Gruyere, chives and horseradish. Stir the egg into the mixture at the very end and stir well to fully incorporate it. Season with salt and lots of pepper.

Slather the mashed potatoes over the mixture in the skillet and top with the remaining Gruyere cheese. Place under the broiler to brown.

Garnish the shepherd's pie with paprika and serve straight from the skillet.

Kid Updates

Lauren - 5 years

• Now that you are 5 you think you are too old for certain things.  For example you told me this morning "mom why do we still watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?  That's a baby show" and the other day you said "mom when are you and dad going to stop telling me what to do? I am 5 now!"
• Loves Bright Haven Preschool and can't wait for Kindergarten in August!
• Wears a size XS (4-5) or 5 in clothes and still prefers dresses over shorts or pants
• Weighs about 42 pounds
• 43 1/2 or 44 inches tall
• Waist size is 21.5 inches
• Hips are 23 inches
• Wears a size 11 or 11.5 shoe
• Can count up to 30 or 40 (I can't remember)
• Knows how to write all her letters and can spell anything if you just tell her what letters.
• Knows how to spell & write her name without assistance.
• Is learning to add and subtract things
• Loves to sing all type of songs (Taylor Swift, Adele, Eli Young Band, etc) and knows more words than I do!
• Loves to help Colton with anything (even when he doesn't ask for her help) but just this morning said only people 5 years old and older can go in her room!  Geez...is this really starting so young?
• Doesn't really like to nap anymore...but will still sleep when we make her have 'quiet time' in her room.
• Loves being the older sister and getting to do things that Colton doesn't get to do yet. Most of the time we have to do these secretly...so Lauren thinks that's the coolest thing ever and will whisper things to me about it (with a huge smile on her face) so Colton doesn't hear!
• Asks "what are we doing today" everyday! When I say "go to school" she follows it up with "what about after school" when I tell her we are going to come home and play she says "NO I want to go somewhere!" Apparently our house is boring now. :-)
• Loves to put on lip gloss and perfume!
• I think one of her favorite activities outside of the house is to go to the movie theater.
• Goes to bed around 8:30 and sleeps until 6 or 6:30.
• Is already having the "this person said they don't like me" at school issues! Really people...she is 4?!?!?! This scares me for what my future holds.
• Is excited about baby #3 and just says "I hope it's a girl because I already have a brother"

Colton - 2 years and 8 months

• 'Mr Independent' 
• Wears a size 2T
• Weighs about 30 pounds
• Is 36 inches tall
• Waist and Hips are both 19.75 inches
• Wears a size 6.5 wide or 7 shoe
• Wears a size 5 diaper or a 2T-3T pull up
• Still sleeps in a crib (only because you don't try to climb out and this is easy for us)
• All your baby teeth are now in and you LOVE to brush your teeth!
• Loves to be goofy and say "Whoa, Whoa" while moving around acting like he is about to fall
• Gets silly when he is tired (which is what I used to do) so he just laughs at random things when he is tired (then of course the crying follows if it's too late afterwards).
• Has started singing songs from the radio like Lauren does (Eli Young Band's Crazy Girl is your favorite song...or any 'guitar' song as you call it)
• Can count to 20 with a little slip up around 17 usually
• TALKS constantly now!
• Favorite thing you say that makes your daddy and I laugh is "Huh? What'd You Say?" and "What'd you JUST say?" with a smirk on your face when you say it.
• Goes pee pee on the potty a lot but I still have not fully potty trained you yet using the 3 day method we did with your sister.  You have gone poo poo on the potty once but said it scared you
• LOVES Team Umi Zoomy, Spongebob, Dora, Diego, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on TV and will dance and sing to all the musical parts
• Still loves trains and cars
• Loves to push a car though the house and then make a sliding stop.
• Keeps randomly coming up to us and will say "hug and kiss" so of course we give you what you want!  Love that!!!
• Crys when he gets his feeling hurt or gets in trouble like "mom are you mad at me?"
• Likes to talk to my belly and say "Hi baby"
• Loves to drive around the block when we get into our neighborhood.  You would think this would get old to him...but no he wants to do it everyday!
• Loves to chew gum even though we keep telling him to "just chew it don't eat it" he eventually eats it and then wants another piece or wants a mint.

37 Week Checkup - Baby #3

We had our 37 week check up Tuesday morning and all looks well!  Dr said to take it easy this weekend just to get a little further along, but we are now officially full term so baby could arrive anytime.  I'm not expecting him/her to come this early as Lauren and Colton were born at 9 and 10 days early, but not a bad idea to take it easy as a precautionary measure.

37 weeks with Lauren, Colton and Baby Williams

Stats
How Far Along: 37 weeks

Dilation: 1 cm

Effacement: 50% (last week I was at 0)

Baby's station: Still high but lower than last last week.  Dr said -3 station and baby is head down

Size of baby: Watermelon (19 to 22 inches long and about 6.5 lbs)

Baby's Heart Rate: 152

Measurement: 36 cm

Blood Pressure: 102/70 (mine is always low)

Weight Gain: 0 pounds so a total of 21 pounds so far

Maternity Clothes: Um Yes!

Gender: It's a Surprise!

Movement: Poor guy or girl is running out of room!  Sometimes I bend over and think I hurt him/her because it hurt some organ on MY inside!

Sleep: Not great as I wake up often to either go to the bathroom or change positions because of my hips/acid reflux/heart burn but I would still consider this normal for someone at the stage I'm at.  My internal alarm clock wakes me up at about 5:30 or 5:45 each morning.

Symptoms: Acid Reflux and heart burn are still lingering and I'm still feeling some light cramps every once in a while.  The baby is also hitting some nerve in my legs every once in a while because this stops me in my tracks at times and feels like I'm getting a charlie horse down the inside of my thighs.

What I miss: Being able to bend over or stand up normally...but this too shall pass!

Cravings: This last week it's been ice cream!

Best Moment this week: Watching my belly just roll around and hearing my baby's heart beat! 

What I am looking forward to: Seeing my baby for the first time!

Our Family Song

I feel like this song from the Eli Young Band is our family song.  :-) 

CRAZY GIRL:
Baby why you wanna cry?
You really oughta know that I
Just have to walk away sometimes

We're gonna do what lovers do
We're gonna have a fight or two
But I ain't ever changing my mind

Crazy girl, don't you know that I love you?
I wouldn't dream of going nowhere
Silly woman come here let me hold you
Have I told you lately I love you like crazy, girl?

I wouldn't last a single day
I'd probably just fade away
Without you I'd lose my mind

Before you ever came along
I was living life all wrong
The smartest thing I ever did was make you all mine

Crazy girl, don't you know that I love you?
I wouldn't dream of going nowhere
Silly woman, come here let me hold you
Have I told you lately I love you like crazy, girl?
Like crazy, girl

Crazy girl, don't you know that I love you?
I wouldn't dream of going nowhere
Silly woman come here let me hold you
Have I told you lately I love you like

Crazy girl, don't you know that I love you?
I wouldn't dream of going nowhere
Silly woman come here let me hold you
Have I told you lately I love you like crazy, girl?

Like crazy
Crazy girl
Like crazy
Crazy girl

Here's the link to the video - http://www.cmt.com/videos/eli-young-band/622028/crazy-girl.jhtml

36 Weeks - Baby #3

We had our 36 week checkup yesterday morning and everything looks great!

I can't wait to hold my baby boy or girl in 4 weeks or less!

(We didn't have any 36 week belly shots to compare for Lauren and Colton.)

Stats
How Far Along: 36 weeks

Dilation: 1 cm

Effacement: soft but Dr didn't give me a %

Baby's station: Still high and not engaged in the pelvis yet

Size of baby: Watermelon (19 to 22 inches long and about *6.5 lbs)

*probably a bit smaller than 6.5 pounds by the end of this week since both my babies were just under 7 lbs at birth (39 weeks)

Baby's Heart Rate: 149

Measurement: 36 cm

Blood Pressure: 108/76 (mine is always low)

Weight Gain: 0 pounds so a total of 21 pounds so far

Maternity Clothes: Um Yes!

Gender: It's a Surprise!

Movement: Poor guy or girl is running out of room!  Sometimes I bend over and think I hurt him/her because it hurt some organ on MY inside!

Sleep: Not great the last week.  I wake up often to either go to the bathroom or change positions because of my hips/acid reflux/heart burn but I would still consider this normal for someone at the stage I'm at.  My internal alarm clock wakes me up at about 5:30 or 5:45 each morning.

Symptoms: Acid Reflux and heart burn are still lingering and I'm still feeling some light cramps every once in a while.

What I miss: Being able to bend over or stand up normally...but this too shall pass!

Cravings: This last week it's been ice cream!

Best Moment this week: Feeling rolls instead of just kicks and guessing what body part that was that just hit my ribs, etc. 

What I am looking forward to: Seeing my baby for the first time!

Happy 5th Birthday Lauren!

We celebrated Lauren's 5th birthday Sunday with her closest friends at Boingo Bounce in Fayetteville.  The party was a success and the best part was that we were there, had fun and got to go home without any clean up for mom and dad!  Great place to have a party!

Family shot

Group shot of all the kids minus the babies and Colton as he was hiding behind Kieran
Cousin Ava was not able to make it to the party because she had a flu bug.  :-(

Singing to the birthday girl!

Baby Central

(Cyler Skarsten, Ava Pianalto, Ryan Rogers, Austin Farmer)

And their beautiful mommies Casey, Lindsey and Lori (minus Tracey and Austin)

If we ever had a brown eyed kid this is what he would look like!  This is Kraig with Lori and Keith's BIG boy Ryan!

Had to show that baby brother or sister was there too :-)

We will meet you soon baby Williams!  Only 4 weeks to go!

Chad and Julie

My mom Rhonda, my sister Tammy and Kraig's mom Sue

Once we got home the kids were excited about their goodie bags so they both put on their glasses and I of course had to take a photo since they are so cute!

We love you Lauren and are so proud of the little girl you are becoming!  God truly blessed us when he gave you to us!  We look forward to all the years to come!

Love mom and dad