March Madness

All day. Every day. In my living room.































I'm so happy that he's loving playing basketball so much. Hearing the ball slam into the goal over and over again and flinching as the ball flies over my head are not things I'm loving, but he's getting exercise and enjoying himself thoroughly.

We have watched a lot of the NCAA tournament over the last few weeks. A few interesting things have come out of this.

1. He is obsessed with who everyone in the room is "pulling for". He usually picks the team that's winning at the moment we turn it on as his team. He sticks with them to the end, and hell hath no fury like Jacob when "his team" loses.

2. He's also familiarizing himself with different teams that progress in the tournament. Yesterday we turned on a game and before any announcer said the names he asked, "Mom, who are you pulling for, Butler or Kansas?"

3. Watching college basketball has also informed his own bball playing. He typically plays against his "brothers". He is either BYU or Alabama and his "brothers" are usually Florida. He really wants to know who I pull for in these matches. Incidentally, his brothers never win!

4. He is learning terminology like fouls and rebounds. He is always so proud of himself for getting the rebound after he misses a shot, but when he's playing by himself I can't help but wonder why he's so proud.

5. He is still learning how to dribble, so he just holds the ball as he puts his moves on his imaginary opponents.

6. My favorite basketball phrase: "Nothin' but air!"

I think I am pretty close to developing a nervous tick from all of this basketball. Again, ALL DAY LONG. I am just hoping he'll get really good and pay for his own dang college education.

Consequences

Nicholas has become my little artist. He loves to color, paint, sculpt, cut, you name it! I forget how much he enjoys it during the rush of the day, but when I remember I sigh in contentment to see this happening:

























And then this happens:













Ha ha. That marker swipe went a good two inches into his hair. Very weird and a little bit Frankenstein-ish. It took quite a long shower and a lot of scrubbing to get that to come out. He makes me laugh. Such a sweet, silly boy.

And Baby Makes Five

In about a month and a half lil' baby Hutch will be making his (or her) appearance. We are genuinely excited to have a newborn again. I love my newborn babies. Both Matt and I do. And that's saying a lot because there were a number of reasons not to enjoy them (emergency c-sections after long labors, nursing problems, colic). But they were delightful in their own ways and I cherish my memories of those first few months. A truly miraculous time.

I'm getting so excited to meet this baby. I just can't wait to see their face. To know if it's a boy or a girl. To have a name figured out. To feel that beautiful, smooth newborn skin. To know if it will have hair or not. I will be a little shocked to have a bald baby. A precedent for hair has been set and I'm comfortable with it.

Additionally, I'm feeling nervous about adding a third child to our family. What the heck is it going to be like? Um, I guess I can answer that: crazy. It will be crazy. For a while. Standards will be lowered. Sleep will be missed. And it will be OK. It will be great. Crazy, but great.

For now I'll focus on enjoying these last weeks of pregnancy. All of the kicks, gasps for breath, and trips to the bathroom. Preparing our house for a baby and then an imminent summer internship move. Preparing myself physically and emotionally for what's headed my way. Preparing the boys for their new addition. And enjoying sleep. Lots and lots of sleep. And hopefully a few good dates with Matt.

So, here's to baby number three! We are so very excited to have you coming our way.

Here I am at 32 weeks. Hugeness has come. More is on the way.