I love Fall

This fall has been so beautiful. We have had absolutely gorgeous weather. 50's in the day and in the 20's at night. I love it. We haven't had the crazy wind so typical of our area this year. So our fall colors stuck around for a long time. My fabulous friend Nancy has taken my children to the park so many days so I could have a break.
We've enjoyed some wonderful days at the St. John's park with our Home Schooling Friends. The kids have played kickball and relay races. I have loved being able to be a part of it all and NOT on bedrest.
I had a lot of fun putting together preschool and kindergarten home school  curriculum for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I used up all my ink putting it all together! Plus putting together Christmas gifts for extended family.
I got to go see a movie with girlfriends last week and go out to dinner.
Abby and Rachel both had birthdays and we took them out for lunch. Rachel chose Arby's for her birthday meal and we made Pumpkin Shakes for desert. Abby chose a local Mexican restaurant and then had a mint chocolate chip blizzard.
I put together some freezer meals for after the baby and lots of yummy pumpkin bread for breakfasts.
I've had bursts of energy and days of complete exhaustion.
Made a cover for the baby's car seat. I was so nervous about doing this, but it worked out in the end. 
Lots of trips to the doctors, Dentist appointments for all the family. 
Jacob found a kitten in our woodpile and made it part of the family. Even Winslow thinks it's cute. And after some persuasion, our orange cat has decided it too likes the kitty.
I've been putting together Christmas so it could be all done before Baby's arrival. *and we finally have a name decided on. Halleluiah!

I tried to burn the house down by leaving a pot of beans BOILING ON HIGH while we were at church. Thankfully, I remember after sacrament meeting and not at the end of church. Raced home to find the entire house filled with smoke. Three days of cleaning everything in the house, including, but not limited to, ceilings, walls, light fixtures, light bulbs, furniture, carpets, bedding, curtains, clothes in every closet, cabinets, floors, and more, and we are finally getting most of the smell out. Every time I think we have gotten rid of the smell, we leave and come back and there it is. Hopefully people don't think we've taken up a new habit! The smoke damage was quite extensive. We have been incredibly blessed with friends who have come and spent hours helping clean, watching children, washing laundry, bringing in dinner and treats, and fixing my clothes washer when it started leaking!!! I admit there were a few times when I felt so overwhelmed by the task at hand. And Winslow was super sick through the whole ordeal and unable to really be of help (Fever, coughing, miserable Daddy, no fun!). I have been so blessed by all the helping hands.

Thanksgiving Day was eventful. The turkey wasn't all the way dethawed so lunch turned into dinner. I did make rolls and pie ahead of time. We watched the Macy's parade and football. Had a whole bunch of contractions and then nothing.... Abby and Rachel helped make the green bean casserole and the mashed potatoes. And I was so glad to have a day of relaxing!!
Today we got to go visit with my brother Matt and his wife Alyssa and their kids. Can I just say I love my siblings and their spouses. I have the best family ever!

We are in the final countdown for baby. Dec. 3rd is our c section date. We'll see if baby decides to wait that long or not. I'm planning on him waiting. But everything is all ready to go just in case he decides to make an earlier entrance. The kids are excited. David thinks the baby's name should be Alcoa. What!!! 4 year olds always have the most interesting things to name babies. Thankfully I am actually feeling less uncomfortable. I am trying hard to stay away from Winslow's cough. Coughs and c sections don't go well together. He's no longer contagious, but he sounds terrible, poor guy. Praying the family stays well.

Getting it all together, NOT!

4 weeks left until our scheduled c-section. In some ways I want this baby to wait until the scheduled date. The Biggest being that my mom can't come until then. In other ways, I hope he comes just a little early. The biggest being that I am just so darn UNCOMFORTABLE! How is it that I always forget how hard the last month is. Mentally, I just don't think I can do another minute some times. My skin is so so so itchy(love having dry skin and lovely stretch marks), my hips are so miserable, I can't breathe thru my nose (every night) and I get into my jammies as soon as possible every evening! And yet, it's worth it. Just uncomfortable. Right now I am trying to concentrate on Thanksgiving week. 2 weeks until the Monday of that week, when I will be 37 weeks. Then only 2 more weeks after that. We have been keeping busy and there is lots to do. I've been baking and stocking the freezer with breakfast and dinner items. Hoping to make things a little easier post c-section. We have a chunk of Christmas done. I still need to finish a few sewing projects this weekend. In between having Abby's friends over for her birthday. Last Saturday we had Rachel's friends over to make cupcakes. They had a good time and played an Xbox Dance game. Next weekend we are hoping to spend time with family.
I'm trying not to have an anxiety attack when I realize the things I haven't done yet. Most of them are Christmas, so really I need to relax.
I do have to say how THANKFUL I am to have stayed OFF of Bedrest this pregnancy. No drugs has been SO NICE. I tried hard to take it easy. I did have contractions on and off in the second trimester, but we were able to keep it to a minimum. I used a natural progesterone cream and that seems to have made a big difference. (This is also what I did when pregnant with Rachel...who we also had NO BEDREST with.) It has been so nice to be able to keep doing all the things that needed done on a daily basis.
I do have to say I am so tired, and despite the long to do lists I keep doing, Some days I would really like to just curl up and take a nap. No such luck. Some days I have to though. Any time I have to drive somewhere (more than a half hour) I am totally wiped out.
My two week menu is saving my life with meals though. If I didn't have it planned out, my family would totally be eating pb and j every night. 
This baby is a mover and a shaker. He likes to roll, which makes me a little queasy! We are still working on a name. We both have names we love, I am hoping we can decide on one that we BOTH like. Good thing we still have some time.