The waiting game...

So, today is my official due date. The date that when asked from the grocery store clerk, "When's your due date?" I firmly answer September 15th. The date that you count down to. The date that for 9 full months you look to. That date that on the family calendar says... "Rose Hot Lunch" "Karate 6:00pm" "Bathroom Final Inspection 4:00pm" ... you see writing down "Baby Due" would be to permanent. And I know that nothing about babies arriving in this world could be written down on a calendar like all of the other appointments in my life. Honestly, how could it? So, as an expectant mother I wait by filling up the calendar and trying not to be to concrete about anything...

I feel fine no pains to really slow me down, well besides the 40 pounds I have gained. (That when lost, Lily is going to be in total shock that I can finally beat her in a race to the car. I'm so tired of being the rotten egg!) But, it's just the waiting game, the wondering game, the known fact that in a few days our lives will change. And wondering about all the beauties and struggles it will bring with it.

I have totally enjoyed my third pregnancy all the little and big kicks. The girls have been so sweet I will never forget their hands on my belly anxiously waiting for the baby to move. Or all of the kisses they've given to the baby. (They are at the perfect height to reach my belly for a kiss.) But, we are ready. And from all the calls from my family and friends they are ready... my brother Vern called yesterday asking about the baby. So, it must be serious now.

As for due dates. This one is almost over, and the C-section date is the 19th. Which I will be taking more seriously now. I honeslty, just want the safest and healthiest delivery possible. So, what does the calendar say for tomorrow? "Rose Mass- Wear Jumper" "Afternoon Playdate?"

Getting Ready for Baby

The dreaded snot sucker.... good thing Lily will help out with that. I hate to use it.



Rose learning the fine art of diapering a dalmation.


What a gentle holder!


In preparation for the baby our hospital offers a Big sister/ Big brother class. I did it mainly so the girls could see the room and the bed, and let their little minds know what was going on and what to expect. As you can see from the pictures they got to have a little crash test on what the experience will be like. They were so wide eyed and eager to do everything that I think the experience went very well. It is crazy to see all of the advancements that hospitals have made it just the last 4 years that we might as well take advantage.
With the countdown to the new baby just days away... 8 days to the due date as I write this... we all hold our breath with anxious anticipation. Knowing that each birthing experience is such a wild ride I have no idea honestly what to expect; much less after our newest little girl arrives what our lives will be like.
Right now my prayers are focused on a healthy baby with a safe delivery... but daily I pray that Rose and Lily embrace their new little sister... and that Jack and I can smile and laugh through the daily stuggles of a newborn.

Beach Vacation

Yep, that's my girl!













The girls playing some beach golf.













Stopping by the sea oats for a quick picture.





Our family....


So, another summer has come to it's official end. What a whirlwind! I know that we went to WV and the beach for a total of about three weeks, but for the rest of the time we really stayed put at home. The girls are really such a joy... they honestly are laid back and content to go to our neighborhood swimming pool for the afternoon and enjoy splashing in the hot NC sun. So, the beach was suprisingly easy this year. Rose loved loved boogie boarding, and thank goodness so does her Aunt Miki. Lily could find joy in a sandbucket and ankle water, and I was able to be a pregnant beached whale at the water's edge. The weather was beautiful and we have such a large family that comes to the beach there never was a shortage of conversation. Especially, when you get my Aunts and Uncles together... I honestly don't think there is a conversation topic that is taboo for them.... Political Candidates. Check. Religious Freedoms. Check. FEMA. Check. Teenage Growing Pains. Check. War. Check. What is the best beer to drinkat the beach? Check. (Jack's answer is Landshark. Uncle Franks is Coors Light any time.) Check. And where does one put a fart machine to impose maximum laughter. Check.
Needless to say I enjoy my week at the beach not only for the awesome view and relaxing beach time, but for the ever changing dynamics of family! Until next year.

At Mom's

Here's the entire family at my mom's. We got to enjoy an evening of togetherness poolside. The girls played in the pool most of the time. The guys sat and talked about WVU sports and made predictions about the Steeler's up coming season... not to mention later on that night they watched the Buccos rally from behind to actually win a game. And of course we had the dogs: Maggie, Abbi, and Bomber to entertain us as they chased deer.... Well, Maggie and Abbi chased deer my Dad made Bomber stay at home. Poor guy.
My two bathing beauties haning out in the pool.


Lily making a splash off of the diving board. What a summer for her and swimming. She is a little go getter and soooooo fearless. "No, Mommy I can do it!"

Friends at Valley Falls

Check it out. This is a rare picture of me pregnant... I don't do so well being photographed in general. I normally prefer the other side of the camera. But, here's a pic of the girls and I that Stac snapped!




Ok. You all know how much Valley Falls means to mean. I love it here. So, I always try to take the girls on a trip out to share my love of this place with them. This was the first time they were really able to explore the area, but if I could have had a string tied to them to make sure they would not float away I would have been happier.




Stacy and Iona soakin' up the life... As always Stacy too is ready to head out an enjoy time here. So many memories ...




It was great being able to see Matt. Here he and Rose are having a swinging contest... I do think Matt got a little higer than Rose, but I'll never tell her!

More fun at Deep Creek

Here's a few more pictures from our beautiful week .





Ama and the girls cruisin' the lake.




Rose and Ryan cooling off after a whirling around the lake. No doubt Ryan is angling how to get Ama or Brian to take him on the jet ski. Which by the way is one of the favorite past times for all the kids at the lake.





Here is Maggie's first attempt at sailing. You can see Jack is helping out here. She totally got the hang of it after spending some time figuring it out.
I must say being pregnant at the lake does take a little fun away... I never got to do some really cool stuff (That was just a tiny pitty party for me).









A quiet moment sitting by the shore. Our family did take the canoe out on the lake for a brief spin, but it was a pretty bumpy ride. Any time the girls moved or slightly shifted I had the feeling we all were going on the water! And of course they had to paddle a bit too... which again left Jack and I helpless to their movements.

Deep Creek

Here I am playing catch-up on my summer. This bloggin' thing is harder to keep up with than I thought.

The pictures I have here are a few from our Deep Creek week with Jack's family. We had a wonderful time and the weather was perfect. All the things that you could wish for at the lake. We enjoyed a hike to Swallow Falls that made me want to freak out due to the amount of rushing water and the age of my children. We went on many cruises in the boat and got to watch Maggie work her new boat toy as well we got to see AMA water ski was such ease it was amazing. To bad Jack did not have the same experience. We also got to have campfires and watch an spectacular (and legal) firework show that was put on by Ama's husband and little boy.

The pictures here are from one of the last nights at the Creek. We went on a little sunset cruise after dinner. Which in my opinion is the best time to be out on the lake.



My little poser.












Rose and Lily with Grammy getting ready to set sail



Both of the girls get to sit with the Captain and drive a bit.













Ahhhh..... sunsets.