There's a New Baby in Town

Join me as I continue my blogging walk down memory lane. Just can't get enough...

I'm sorry, when did this happen? Whoah.

September 2008














November 2010













Whoah!!!































And you, my little toothie wonder, weren't even a twinkle in your mother's eye.













Whoah indeed.

One Year Ago

We visited the beach with Matt's family. As a family of four.

I also took a pregnancy test at 1:30 in the morning on that trip. I then woke Matt up at 1:31 am to tell him the results. Benji was on his way.

After an incredibly full year, we are here again. All five of us. It feels pretty good.

Meeting Benjamin

Last night the boys came with Grandma to meet their new little brother.













Jacob was all curiosity and excitement. Nicholas was decidedly prim and serious. I guess the usurper has become the usurp-ee. You can't see it in this picture, but Nico kept his hands in his pockets almost the entire visit.













He pulled his hands out long enough to hold Benjamin and bestow some kisses and hugs (pictured) on him.













Doesn't Jacob look old here? Oh wait, he is! He loved holding Ben.

















Here's mom holding little Benjamin as payment for taking care of our two bruisers. What a good sport. Thank you for everything mom.













And here is the quintessential "new family at mom's bed" picture. Note again, Jacob looking happier than happy and Nico looking super confused.













Despite his hesitancy, when Matt told the boys that Mommy would come back home on Thursday Nicholas chimed in, "and Benjamin?". Jacob got upset that I wouldn't be coming home last night and so we said a few more times that I would be home on Thursday and each time Nicholas said, "and Benjamin?". Just had to make sure. I'm not sure if he's happy or sad Benjamin will be coming home with mommy, but I'm sure happy he's coming home with me.

Do these stripes make me look fat?

No, really, do they?



















I know, it's a lot to take in all at once. I'm pretty much a little heavier than I was with Nico and a little lighter than I was with Jacob...however, maybe the stripes are bulking me up. Or, maybe that's just the baby.

My mom is here. The baby is almost here. We are excited.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

How I wonder what you are...

Pink?













Or blue?













Today I had my last OB appointment. The baby's coming in one week. ONE WEEK! I feel split between joyful excitement and genuine fear. Since we're coming to the final stretch it's officially time to make some guesses. Care to join in? Here are three unknowns to guess on.

1. Gender

2. Weight

3. Lots of hair, a little bit of hair or no hair

A few bits of information to inform your guesses. Jacob was 7 lb. 4 oz. Nicholas was 8 lb. 13 oz. And they both had full heads of hair. Oh yes, and they are both boys.

I'd love to say you'd get a prize or something if you won, but we all know I probably won't be on top of it enough for that. But you will probably feel really good about yourself if you're right.

We are so excited to meet this little one. And regardless of who comes our way, he or she will definitely be able to wear this beautiful sweater my dear friend Tracy knit. Just for lil' baby Hutch. Thank you again, Tracy. (The picture doesn't do it justice, and there's a hat to match!)

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.

Fifty Percent

When I posted on my blog last night Matt pointed out that that this year I posted about 50% less than I did in 2008. At first I sort of shrugged at his comment and mumbled something that had the words "pregnancy", "busy", and "dishes" in it.

I don't know why, but we started looking at old posts from when we lived in Atlanta. Then the guilt came. Those archives were magical. There were so many little things about our old life that I had loved and since forgotten. My sunshine-filled kitchen, the view out of our back windows, the driveway/play area, the lovely road we lived on, so many things. To say nothing of the joys of when Jacob was our one and only, to when he became a big brother, to sweet mop topped Nicholas, to learning how to be parents of two. I loved looking back at the pictures AND the stories.

In all of the living we've been doing I had forgotten that Jacob wasn't always a questioning 4 year old. Completely forgotten. And Nicholas' perfectly round baby face and eyes had been replaced by his more grown up current shape. We spent a while clicking through and while we did we found ourselves laughing and reminiscing a lot. I actually cried a little bit I laughed so hard at this post.

Now, I really have been busy and pregnant and doing a lot of dishes in '09, but we've also been having a lot of fun. Fun vacations, fun visitors, fun trips to the park, fun times at home, and other fun stuff (fun). And really, that "fun" is indicative of our blessings. Blessings fit to record. Even the not so fun is something to be remembered, learned from and laughed at later. I've always believed this about this blog, but the "fruits of the blog" really hit home last night.

With this season of our life with only 2 kids winding down and the promise of a darling new baby on the horizon I am, ahem, resolved to post more. I realize again how much we benefit from it. So, expect more blogs, more "fun" and some major catch up from '09 in the coming months. Oh, and more pictures of these fellows.

What a Coincidence

The other day Nicholas did this:


















and then told me that he had a baby in his tummy. Which is a really funny coincidence because I have a baby in my tummy too! Like, a real one, not just one wrapped in my shirt. Ta da! The baby will be coming in May. We feel very blessed and excited.

We told Jacob and Nicholas about the baby a week ago. I feel like a living science experiment. Every day Jacob has asked, "Mommy, how big is your baby today?". I'd better start eating a lot of twinkies, because he's so excited for me to have a big tummy. And frankly, because of his enthusiasm, so am I! (Except, I'd rather my big tummy be made of baby and not twinkie.) I think Nicholas barely grasps the baby in the tummy concept enough to think up the above gag...but he'll get there.

We are thrilled. Because really, who wouldn't want more?














I realize that we are totally counting on the most beautiful baby in the world. Oh I love my new babies. The boys set the cute baby bar ridiculously high. Just after looking at these old pictures Matt and I can't wipe the smiles off of our faces.

Here's to a family of five!