Bambino #3 is a .... GIRL!

So, really it's a bambina! It's so surreal still! I would have been so happy for a boy, too. A little pack of three boys running around together is pretty sweet. But to have a girl is it's own kind of wonderful. A chance to experience a different gender, the special feeling of having a daughter- it's all so different and fun. We are very surprised! We're so in the boy zone with Charlie and George- we have *boy toys, we are rough and tumble and in the mud- to consider that we'd have a girl was preposterous!

(Feminist/humanist tangent: I almost hate to think of "boy toys" and "girl toys" but since having children, I have observed how kids just come the way they come and many baby boys are into trucks and balls and many baby girls are into baby dolls and dress ups. I gave Charlie a baby doll and a stroller when he was just barely walking and he would take the baby out of the stroller, throw it on the ground, and put all his trucks in the stroller and push it around. I know I'm in for a different experience with a girl!)

Calling the baby "she" still makes me smile. Charlie (and everyone else) thought the baby was a girl all along, I guess we should have listened! I love finding out the gender of the baby halfway through because I feel like it helps me bond with the baby better. If we ever have a fourth (haha!), I could consider not finding out now that I'll have both boys and a girl (!)

I felt like waiting to announce this pregnancy on social media until I knew the gender, so for many of our friends and family, this was their first time hearing about the baby. Everyone was so happy for us and excited that we'll have two boys and now a girl- over 250 "likes" and 82 comments on my post on Facebook. Reading all the comments as they came in the other day was so much fun and the reason why I like staying connected in that way. (I just have to put this in here for posterity's sake- who knows what technology will be like for my kids one day! Will this seem so old fashioned and quaint? I have no idea, but it makes me laugh a little bit.)

baby girl at 19 weeks gestation

Bambino #3

Today I am sure I can feel the baby moving around gently. I can picture little punches and kicks from someone that's only 3 inches long.

I think I'm about 13 weeks but based on the early ultrasound I had last week, I could be as many as 14. I still feel sick (and the last few weeks I've been actually throwing up), but improving each day. Today was my best day yet so far. I hope I continue to improve and I'm grateful every moment that I don't have hyperemesis gravidarum like so many of my friends do. 

Charlie, my mom, and John's mom all think I'm having a girl. I am convinced I'm having a boy! But I will be thrilled either way. I'm feeling less anxious and more excited all the time- more slowly than with the other two, I'll admit. I feel like that has to do with the overwhelm of my current two kids and the surprise nature of this pregnancy much more with the thought of this actual baby. 

I'm grateful that I can get pregnant and I have healthy pregnancies. I'm using a midwife and birth center this time around and I know that's a choice many women can't make for medical reasons, so I feel lucky. 

We've started to tell more people and their excitement fuels mine, as well. That's been fun!

It's so amazing that Kate, Chelsea, Meg and I are all having babies one right after another this spring and summer. What fun (and chaos) that will be! 

As usual, life is CRAZY but oh, so good. 

October 2013

Trying to wrap up my posts for 2013... it's slow going but I love looking back through these pictures! Here's a look at the rest of our October. It was warm and beautiful!

I love this big 2 year old boy. He's growing up so fast! 

The boys put these hampers on their heads and pretend to be robots...

The hottest new DJ in town- One Boot No Pants

For Grandma Sue's birthday she requested a bowling party. We gathered at Fat Cats and the kids had the time of their lives bowling and playing in the arcade. Charlie talked and talked about it for months afterward. 

Jude, Anne and George

Charlie LOVED this little rocket ship ride- look at his face! Pure joy. 

Trying to figure out the joystick controls

George is so sensitive to bright light and loud noises- he's always covering his ears and saying "ears", which means it hurts his ears or saying "bright" which means it's too bright. 

tower of books- he actually built the first few layers all by himself

Sweet boys from our boys playgroup- Charlie and some of the neighbor boys have a weekly playgroup. It's always so fun and chaotic and George is right alongside the big boys!

One night we took a family outing up to the park we call "path park". The light was gorgeous and we had so much fun just playing and exploring. It's times like this that I feel so lucky to have this little family of mine. 

the beginning of the paths 

this park has a baseball field, too, and as the sun was setting, the boys ran around the bases a few times. Charlie would beat George to home base and then turn around and encourage and cheer for Georgie. 

Jumping down the bleachers, of course

this picture doesn't capture the sunset but it was so beautiful

we found the last few dandelions of summer and had to blow them

October marked 10 years since John and I met. Can you believe it?!

Love this little pal of mine

Last signs of summer and first signs of fall

Just a candid iPhone shot of Charlie, but it encompasses him perfectly! I think it's one of my all-time favorite pictures I've ever taken of him. 

twins!

Trying to attempt a family picture- just the iPhone on the front lawn before church. Not the highest quality but I love it so much.

Charlie's luscious curls are starting to get thicker and more relaxed. SOB! This is after church, a few hours after a fresh bath and hair product and the curls are still there. Most days he looks like a total ragamuffin AND he hates to have his hair done, so I'm going to cut it short just to keep him looking presentable. I wish we lived in a humid climate!

A beautiful fall day at Anderson library exploring the grounds

I had to sneak this picture of Charlie at school with his amazing teacher, Austin. Most days are still difficult dropping Charlie off, but he loves Austin so much. This day, Charlie wasn't crying anymore, but he did want to be carried. And bless Austin's heart, he was carrying Charlie (just to the door) and also helping another little girl who was having a rough day. These teachers are SO amazing- completely unflappable. 

Park outing with cousins to Sugarhouse park

James

Emma- she kept saying, "Watch me, Barb!"

Beautiful fall day at preschool

 Steve, Sam, Johnny and I went to an Imagine Dragons with Fictionist concert. It was so fun to see all the fans packed in there and know many of them were being exposed to our friends Fictionist for the first time! And Imagine Dragons put on an amazing show as always. It was Sam's first concert!

Sam giving Robbie from Fictionist a high five 

with the lead singer of Fictionist, Stuart Maxfield (Johnny almost made it in that pic...)

with Brandon Kitterman, who blew me away by playing his guitar with a bow for one of their songs. What?! It was super cool. 

I kind of geeked out when I ran into Justin Hackworth in the hallway. He's an incredible local photographer who was there to shoot some pictures of Fictionist. I totally fangirled out on him. And I also gave him some peppermint oil to take home so he would stay awake- the concert was in Ogden and he lives 2 hours away in Provo. 

our pal Robbie Connolly from Fictionist

We continued progress on the backyard. One of the last projects of the summer was this massive sandbox that John built. The pavers were the base layer. We were racing against the clock and were grateful the snow stayed away as long as it did!

little pals holding hands- George will hold Charlie's hand when he won't hold mine. 

 We had a few cousin playdates with James and Emma this month. Chelsea is expecting (hooray!) but she is very sick (boo!) the first few months so lots of family members helped by hanging out with darling James and Emma. It wasn't a hardship by any means because they are so sweet and fun.

lots of fun with dress up hats this day

Emma found a nice little spot to sit :)

and when needed, we take a break with snacks, coloring and a show

 Grandma Sue puts together a fun photo/quote calendar every year and I realized we didn't have a lot of family pictures to represent our family in the second half of 2013. I asked Sam to snap a few and these were our favorites.

Whew! One more month down of catch up! I'm so grateful for this family record every time I look back on it. Thanks to anyone who also follows along. :)