These boys.

All they needed yesterday were matchbox cars, sidewalk chalk, their imaginations, and a little sunshine.
That's all it took to keep them entertained for more than 3 hours.
Love these little dudes.

Life as of now.

This week and the last have been just a bit stressful on this 'so over being pregnant' lady.

-- Lee has had about a million doctors appointments every week, and between his and mine I feel like we have pretty much been living in the car. We wake up, drop kids off at school, then go.. go, and go some more. If the third trimester isn't exhausting enough? Just add having to be gone from home almost all day, almost everyday. It's enough to make me want to scream. No wonder I have been a total grumpy ass lately.

-- Speaking of Lee and his doctors appointments. I should probably give an actual update on how things are going with his recovery. He has back-to-back physical therapy sessions scheduled out for 6 more weeks, twice a week and recently was referred to a orthopedic specialist for further tests on the damage done to his knee. We went in yesterday for him to be fitted for a new brace; one that he can actually bend and try to get around in better. He is still trying to get used to it but has said that it feels so much better than the one he has had to wear for the last two weeks.

-- I have been having contractions everyday at some point for the last week and a half and it is enough to drive me insane. Some of them are down-right painful to the point where I think to myself 'okay, this has to be the beginning of labor' only for them later to subside. I cannot express how frustrating they are. Ugh. I know, I know, I am probably complaining too much about it but it totally pisses me off. I feel like if I'm going to be hurting this bad, can I please just have a baby already? What is going on in there Ava? Give your mom a break. I'm dying to meet you, so hurry up little one.

-- I keep waiting for the whole nesting thing to kick in also but, that's so not happening around here. At. All.


-- We had conferences for Kaylee last week and she is doing really well in school (DUH.) However, because of her struggles with math, they want to try her out for summer school to help her be more prepared for middle school next year. Let me just say that the girl is not so happy about that idea. Oh, well. Life sucks sometimes. She's going.

-- We went and saw Stacie perform in her play on Wednesday. It was great. The kids loved it and it was highly entertaining. I was pretty proud of my oldest niece.

-- That bestie of mine has been amazing lately. (Well, she always is - but you know what I mean.) She has been a huge reason why I haven't lost my mind in the past couple of weeks. Always there to listen and always there to make me laugh my butt off when need be. She even got ahold of friends and family and got a meal plan set up for when baby arrives. Oh and my favorite thing that she does? She calls me everyday before she goes anywhere out of Keizer to make sure I am 'feeling okay.' Ha! Love her TONS!!

-- I know life has been a little bit out of sorts for the last couple of weeks and obviously it will be more so in the next few. But, I'm ready for it.... well, I think I am anyway. In about a month? I may be singing a different tune.

The weekend.

Along with it came the sunshine and along with that came the bruised up legs and scrapes up knees - just a little taste of summer being right around the corner.

We spent Saturday BBQ'ing with great friends and having a ton of kids running wild on Becca's street.
It was such a nice break from the crappy rainy weather that we are so used to and now, I'm just crossing my fingers that it decides to stick around.

[[Although, this is Oregon, so I kinda already know how that's gonna go.]]

Month: Nine

-- I think Ava is already trying to show me who is boss. If she doesn't want me to relax, I don't. If she doesn't want me to sleep, I don't. It's like she is giving me a heads up on how things are going to be once she makes her debut. Um, I can't say that I am liking it.

-- I know most people would tell me to 'shut my face' for saying this but I am going to say it anyway. I. FEEL. HUGE. When it suddenly hurts to walk, sit, or lay down? I think that I have every right to complain.

-- New craving (and may I just say - I have had more cravings with this kid than the other two combined.) It's like, I will want something specific for a month or more and then it is on to the next. Crazy weird.
Orange Fanta soda is my absolute favorite right now. Not Sunkist, (eew) not orange Crush, (double eew) it has to be Fanta. It's yummy-yummy-yummy and unfortunately only a few places have it in fountain form which is the only way I like it really. But, please believe, I now have those places on auto pilot.

-- Lee has been such a help lately. He has a new job... putting on my socks, and tying my shoes. Lucky him.

-- I have now entered the 'okay, I'm over this' stage of pregnancy. Contractions have started, making me uncomfortable all the time. We actually even made a trip to the hospital this week with them coming every 2 minutes only to be sent home because there was no change to my cervix. Super frustrating (and kind of embarrassing being that this is my THIRD kid.). I continue to hurt and just wish she would come out already.

-- Lee has actually been obsessing lately with ideas of how we could help coax her out. He has traded places with me by googling every possibility. Yesterday? I actually bounced on a trampoline for 20 minutes. Ummm, so yeah. Why do I agree to this stuff?

-- I have been having constant dreams about her. It's weird though, I never really get a good idea of what she looks like in my dreams. She's just here. Last night I dreamed about her first photo shoot. (which I have to say that I am SUPER stoked about.) Ideas are in my head non-stop. Poor girl has no idea what she is in for.

-- I am now done with work until after the delivery. No more cleaning and no more photo shoots until June. I had to stop because I was seriously running on fumes.

-- I have literally started counting down the days until our due-date: 25 as of this morning. I honestly can't believe that. All that we have been through in the last 3 years to get to this point and we are just 25 DAYS away from meeting our little girl? It's going to be one emotional event. One that I can hardly wait for.

Okay, baby. You've got a place to stay.

Happy to say that the nursery is finally finished.

I was so thankful to the bestie and Sarah for helping me paint (okay, that's a lie) they pretty much did all the work. I happily snacked on jo jo's with ranch while I watched them. (Sorry, ladies.) But, you both totally rock.

Lee and Pete assembled her furniture and I spent a few days getting all of her things organized and put away.
I cannot believe that we have everything ready for her.

[[You hear that little girl? It's all done. You can come out at any time now!]]

#8

He is funny, smart, and all boy.
He makes me laugh on a daily basis and somehow comes up with the funniest jokes all on his own.
He is loving, affectionate, and gives the best hugs.
He cares about people and is polite, thoughtful, and caring.
He is sensitive at heart, but tough when it comes to other things.
He is a true little gentleman, who melts my heart with his kindness almost everyday.
He is opinionated and a lot of the times thinks he knows just about everything. 
He is a talker but he is also a good listener.
He is a mama's boy (and I LOVE that) but him and his dad are totally best buds.
He is outgoing, loves football, and lately? Skateboarding is the coolest thing to him.
He will argue his point if he feels the need. (Hmm, sounds like he has a little bit of Lee in him, eh?)
He loves music and video games.
He is determined and doesn't know the definition of 'quitter.'
He looks up to his big sister (more than she will ever know) and will be the best big brother to his little one who is on her way.
He is silly.
He can be loud and obnoxious at times, and these times? They totally make me want to ring his little neck. Ha!
Sometimes his interest in his appearance scares me. This kid cannot have enough shoes. He is seriously worse than a girl when it comes to what he wears on his feet.
He is his own person who doesn't care what others think.
He is truly sweet, charming and by far the most awesome-est boy I have ever known.
Plain and simple.

Happy Birthday to my perfect little boy.
You have blessed me in so many ways.

The strike.

Lee's union is on strike - has been for the last week.
What we thought would be short lived is turning out to look like it may drag on for awhile longer.
Lee has been out on the picket line for everyday that he would be working showing his support.
I even went out to a rally with him last week that they held to show mine.

The timing of all this couldn't be much worse with the baby being due at any point.
If that wasn't stressful enough, on Thursday, one of the security officers that works for the comapany tried to move Lee out of his way with his car. Lee was crossing the driveway and this guy decided to try and 'nudge' him out of his way with his bumper causing Lee to hyper extend his knee. Yep. Awesome. The added stress has been a lot of fun... NOT.

He goes in for his follow-up on Monday.
Let's just hope that his injuries aren't too serious.
I really don't want him sitting next to my hospital bed - in a wheelchair while I push out Miss Ava... and I would really like him to be able to drive us to the hospital and home when she arrives.
I'm gonna be one sad wife, if that isn't possible.

Negotiations continue on Monday.
Fingers crossed that they come to an agreement... and SOON.

Easter day.

Lee has been wanting to paint my big ol' belly.

So, that's what we spent some of the day doing (since we had a boy with a high fever and no plans.)

What can I say? We are easily entertained.

Add-on: ALMOST complete.

We are so close to being done that I have began to freak out a bit.
Walls are up, painted and the flooring in the hall will be done this weekend.
All that will be left is molding and then? Decor. [Eeeek, EXCITED.]
Ava baby also has a wall in her room (with a cute little shelf on top to boot - thanks to my witty husband) and this Friday we paint the accent wall and start filling it with her stuff.
I CANNOT believe that we are only days away from being totally finished - way ahead of schedule, and super happy about that.