Less than 12 hours.. and Andrew will be here!!!

Hey!!!

This picture was taken this morning by my mama..... I am huge! But I feel so beautiful pregnant though!! I love having this baby inside me and I will miss being pregnant very much. I realize that I am lucky to have had this 3rd baby... more than likely my last... although one never knows what the future brings....

I am 18 lbs heavier.. and I am 49 inches around the biggest part of my belly. I am 38 weeks, 2 days and I am going to deliver a baby in the morning that I am guessing will be around 7 lbs... maybe 7 1/2 lbs.. but I don't think any bigger. My cravings have been for sweet foods and drinks.. which has led me to gain most of my weight in the last month.... which is a good thing!! I am thankful it is only 18.... it could have been a lot worse with me being off work and being home with the girls!

Tonight we packed the girls bags and we sent them and the dog off to GG's house. Chris took me to dinner at Cooper T's... a nice resturant which we will have to go back to.. it was delicious food! I had crab cakes and he had fish... and we both came home so full we could barely move! I feel like it was (in a way) my last meal. why is it that when you know you can't eat or drink after midnight you feel like you will be deprived!? I never eat that late..or drink.. but you would think it was horrible for me! I only have a short period of time to drink now! oh no... let me go get some tea!! (haha)

I created my phone list tonight... the last thing I had to do..... so, who knows who will get called.. haha... I am sure Chris will make me proud and do what he does best!!! I have the nursery done... and my bags are packed... I feel like I am ready, even though I am a bit nervous... and the thought of no sleep for the next month is overwhelming me. I know that life will be okay though... I keep telling myself what a wonderful family I have to support me!!! The girls are excited and Olivia is too happy and excited to meet her brother... Ainsley likes to kiss the belly and rub it and say "baby". Olivia likes to ask me where "Andrew's butt is"... imagine that! Speaking of which.. baby Andrew is trying to bump his way out now!!!

Just think... before too long.. we will be a family of 5! This fabulous five is seriously out growing our house too! Chris and I are looking into getting a bigger house before too long.. but it has served us well.. and I love living here! This picture was taken by Olivia today... she asked to take pictures and we walked outside.. what a beautiful day! (too hot for October though!-- in the 80s!!!

Well, the nursery is ready.... and pictures of that are included for those that can't just stop in.... I am so blessed to have had the help of Pat to get the nursery completed! She did the bumper... and thank goodness... I could have never done that!

This picture shows you the quilt that I started for Andrew.... I ended up delivering it to a woman today to finish for me so I know it will be completed.... I really am happy that Andrew has a special little nook of a room! I love the colors of baby blue and lime green... and even though I still need artwork over the dresser, it really has come together and looks really cute!

These pictures were actually taken last month... I will take a few more in the morning just to have a picture of his room for when he comes home.. but honestly, he will be with me and Chris in our room for the first 2 months in a bassinet.. the same one his sisters used and the same one his own father was cradled in when he was just a little baby too! I am so blessed that Pat saved such a wonderful piece of Chris' childhood!

Well, we will meet little Andrew tomorrow!!

Good night!! And I will update this blog once I am able to!

Larissa~

Tomorrow is the big day!

My girls just days before Andrew's big arrival!

Oh goodness what girly fun we have had!!

We have really been busy lately! Last night Olivia and I made cream cheese sugar cookies for Halloween! We made pumpkins, bats and ghosts! It was so much fun to do this with her and she did a great job of decorating too!

It was fun to watch Olivia get involved and help me like she did! Of course, this was after Ballet and tap and so she was really tired... bless her heart!!

I have a lot of things to do it seems, just to get ready for Andrew and make sure that the house is ready for a baby to be brought inside! I cleaned today a bit and I am getting laundry caught up so I can pack the girl's bag for GG's house tonight. They are going to be with both of their grandmothers over the next couple days... I am not worried about them because I know they will be happy and taken care of... I just want the girls to be happy and everyone taken care of!!

Today I went to the doctor's office and I am officially ready to have this baby! I gained 4 lbs this last week! I am up 18 lbs, which is good, but wow! I have gained so much weight in the last couple weeks!!! I am glad I saved up!

Well, I will attempt to write more and send more pictures tonight so I can show everyone what we have been up to! I have to get the girls ready to go and I have to wrap up a few loose ends here! I am really excited about having this baby and sooooo excited that it is tomorrow.... Don't get me wrong.. I love love love being pregnant.. and this is the best pregnancy by far... but I just want to hold Andrew... and see my son!

Larissa~

Ready to Pop!

I offically started to have contractions last night and called the doctor. I guess since they are not 5 minutes apart and lasting for at least an hour I just deal with the hard tummy and the pain that wraps from my lower abdomen to my lower back whenever it feels like coming and going! I am actually doing quite well.... Last night I did the girls some t-shirts that say "I'm a big sister" and they turned out really cute. I put a bag together for them so when they come to the hospital they have a gift from their brother. I decided against buying a doll for them.. I figure one new baby is enough right now!!! (haha)
Mimi and Grandpa have had the girls. Chris and I are about to go pick them up. I am really getting excited and I feel really good about having things ready now. I have the bags packed and the diaper bag packed and everything I need, short of a phone list, which I will make tomorrow.... I will be in Springhill Hospital for approximately 5 days. I think everything will be great and I am not really scared. I am a bit nervous.. but I think with any major surgery you would be!
I am so tired lately! I can't sleep at night unless I take something to sleep and I think of a million and one things I want to do!! I honestly have a list a mile long!! I guess like Mary says, "It will always be like that from now on."... Your right Mary!!!! I have decided... not necessarily to give up... but maybe take a few deep breathes and step back and enjoy this time... I am thankful for good friends that help put a positive spin on a crazy life!

Larissa~

38 Weeks pregnant today!

Okay.. so I am up really late.. or early (which ever way you want to look at it). I am really sad because I can't sleep because I am offically counting down.... I have 4 days and 5 nights before this little ray of sunshine comes creeping into our life... okay, who am I kidding?!! It's not like I have a cruise for the next couple days! And the fact is, he is not going to creep in.. he will be pulled--- screaming--- into a world of unknown!!! Bless his heart, he already has to contend with not one, but two sisters!!!!! Actually, I can't stop thinking about all the things I want to do to prepare for his arrival, but Chris keeps saying, "stop already!". I think its just my way of nesting. I mean, here I am finding things to do at 3:30 in the morning!! At least I can say that I have a bed to go to...without KIDS!! Yep, they are both cuddled up in their beds! I wonder how they will do while I am in the hospital. They are so used to falling asleep with us... What a horrible habit we started!! But honestly, I love them with us.... I know that time is short and soon enough the thought of crawling in bed with us will be repusive! (okay, maybe not, but this is my way of dealing with no room and the kicks into the late hours of the night!)

Chris let me sleep in Saturday.... he fixed coffee... entertained the kids.. baked muffins with Olivia... boy, he just really stepped up! Not that this is entirely unusual.. it's just that my heart smiles at the thought of my husband. I am very lucky to have this family.... I know he loves me and I love him. We really have a great life and family!

I have gained 14 lbs with this baby so far.. I feel like I have gained 35 lbs.. I feel huge! Today I keep rubbing the same spot on my stomach thinking about how much I am going to miss the baby inside me. I rub and he moves a little.... and then I cringe a little with discomfort... I really am so happy and blessed to have this pregnancy. I can not believe I will have a son!!! I am still in disbelief!!!! I think that Chris is feeling really proud to have a son too. He doesn't talk much about it, I am sure it is stressful just knowing you have a wife and three kids to support, (wow, never said that or wrote that before- he has 4 people to worry about!) but he says he is happy and his actions are genuine.

The basics of our family right now--- Ainsley enjoyed the Military channel and all the airplanes on Saturday. Chris bought both the girls little toy airplanes to play with (of course Olivia lost interest in that soon after the package was opened) and Ainsley held on to hers FOREVER! She loves airplanes and it just amazes me that that child has a fascination with them. She also loves to see the moon. Each evening we have to go out and look for the moon. It has been hiding from us behind some trees, so she says that the moon "has already gone night-night". It really is funny to think that my little girl loves whatever she can spot in the sky. Don't get me wrong, she loves dolls, animals (especially the neighbor's cat), but she is really happy and gets so excited when an Airplane flies overhead... I wonder sometimes what she will be when she grows up.....a pilot? Who knows!
Olivia loves anything artistic... she is already pointing out things she wants (thanks to all the commercials on tv). Anything that deals with creativity.. paints, drawing, etc. She is absolutely amazing! In fact, today (I imagine after I sleep in late since being up so late tonight) we are going to make pumpkins for the fridge and the door. She loves arts and crafts.. I want to foster that because she is already talented in my eyes....
Saturday we fixed their hair and put make up on. I painted Ainsley's fingernails and fixed Olivia's nails since she had a couple chip (cheap 60 second polish doesn't last too long, if you know what I mean!) It was really cute to watch Ainsley run into the living room and say, "me! Daddy, me!!" Her way of saying, look at me I am pretty! Both girls were so cute. We played on the swing set outside and other than that, had a lazy day. I really am enjoying the weather now since it has cooled a bit. I can't wait for "sweater weather"... and then I think.. well, it is only a couple weeks away!!

I have to hit the bed... I think I am going to pay for not sleeping tonight.... oh well.. It has to be God's way of preparing for a newborn!

Larissa~

37 weeks pregnant today!

Hello!

We are managing fine... just fine.. except that I am offically miserable! Yep.. it's true... last night I didn't sleep till 3:30am.. and then the whole not sleeping put me having a rough day today... it's okay though.. I know it's almost over.. the whole being miserable with a little "butt" poking out of my belly!! I was talking to Chris on the way home from a birthday party we were invited to... and I said.. Andrew will be here next Thursday. (wow) It hit me that next week we will be a family of FIVE. Yep... crazy. Chris asked me if he could video tape me now so he could play it back when I wanted another baby. I told him no.. but the more I think about it, umm.. this really may be it. I hurt, I am miserable... I can't sleep, I have to go to the bathroom all the time, I have so much pressure "down there". Yep... it's not fun.... At least my reflux was short lived. I don't think I could deal with that all through a pregnancy.
Okay...... so that is my daily vent!!!
I have something cute to report on Ainsley.... I sneezed in the van and I heard a little voice pipe up over the music, "bless you mama". I looked at Chris and said.... "oh how sweet!!!" of course I said "thank you" to Ainsley first.. but just that the thought of my 22 month old blessing me... melted my heart!
Olivia was in a great mood today. She helped me go through clothes and helped me bag them up for Goodwill. She was so willing to help me... such a good little helper! She likes to help and feel needed. I am so lucky to have a "big" little girl!

Well, that is about it for today. It was a relaxing day and much enjoyed by the family. In fact, the whole weekend was nice. I love family weekends!!!

Oh, I did finish the toy bag for the crib last night. I will post pictures of the nursery this week. It is done.. and I actually have some things in my hospital bag!! I actually may be packed by the end of this week!
Larissa~

The baby shower photos!!!

This shower would not have been possible without Chris' help. He did so much.. and I am so thankful I was able to do something special for such a sweet friend!

She is having her third girl!!!

Enjoy the pictures!

Larissa~

Two weeks from today....

Oh Goodness... Yesterday I went to the doctor and I have gained a total of 12 pounds with Andrew. I am excited about it.. but seriously think its funny because half of that weight has been gained in the last 2 weeks~ so.. mac and cheese and two pieces of cheesecake for dinner really ISN'T a good idea, huh?!

The baby is head down, and at 36 1/2 weeks.. well, let's just say that I am feeling like I would like it over, but it could be that I feel bigger than I did with my girls. I actually think I am more round.... cute.. but round.. haha. The girls are getting excited about "chop" and they like to go into the nursery and climb up on the bed and look in. Olivia has already bought a taggie duck that plays music for him (thanks to Mimi!) and she reminds me daily that he already has a toy to play with when he gets here.... I guess she doesn't remember that Ainsley didn't do much for about 4 months... GiGi stopped by today and told the girls that they better enjoy me now because I will be tired once the baby comes. Livi looked a little worried.. but then promptly decided to call her "Granny" and forget that nasty little part of mama turning into a zombie for a month after the baby comes.

Good news... at least I think so.... we might have a nanny when I go back to work.... I hope it all works out, so lets just say for now that it looks promising. Wouldn't it be nice to have two loving arms for a newborn rather than be in a room with nine other babies vying for attention? I certainly hope that it works out.. we will know soon!!!

The picture that I will include on this blog (yes, I plan on trying to attempt the whole picture thing Mrs. Kati!!) will be of me and my friend that is due on the same day... at her shower (just so happened to be at my house last Sunday.) I was exactly 36 weeks pregnant.... Stephanie is on the left.. I am the one on the right.. yeah.. the one that is supporting her poor hurt back!!!

I am exhausted and thankfully my friend Mary is watching my girls tomorrow so I can get some last minute things done that I can't focus on with the girls running around. (She is a God-send friend whom never asks for anything... I am so thankful for my girlfriends!!)

October 18th is coming around the corner and little Christopher Andrew will be in my arms before long... I am really excited... tickled.. elated.. all the feelings a mama has, I suppose... well, good night!!!