It's been too long since my last post

I know my last blog entry was right after Jane was born. And yes, she's now 8 months old! I had originally intended this as a journal and a way to share prego and newborn pictures. I get emails from quite a few family and friends asking "where's an update?" Between the 3 kiddos, work, and just life I've been soooooo bad. So I'm not even going to go back and try to recreate pictures from October forward. So here it is.

Jane Jane (as she's known in our family) is sitting up. She wants to crawl but I say what's the hurry (means more work for me :) She's eating jar food but wants desperately to eat what her sisters are eating. She's starting to us her pinchers to pick a few things up so we're moving onto that soon I'm sure. She is such a sweet easy baby (now! the first few months are always rough I don't care who you are, and if you say they weren't you were either still high on hormones and delivery drugs or you've blacked it out). She's sleeping pretty much 8 to 6 with a little bottle and back for an hour or so. I'll take that. 3 or so naps a day but random thanks to the schedule the rest of the girls keep with school, etc. I just want to kiss her chubby cheeks all day. I can't get enough.

Reese graduated from preschool on the 2nd. Just like me she hates when things are over. The teachers had pulled me aside the past few weeks telling me she'd been upset. She had also been saying the same things at home. She is "sad" to leave Noah's Ark. "Not scared" about kindergarten just misses her teachers and friends. They said it was great she could articulate it and that most others don't- that's my talker! Wonder where she gets that?

Lucy is so funny right now, she makes me laugh outloud just thinking about her. Super sweet and funny. I don't think I've ever gotten a normal smile out of her in a picture, always this goofy look that is so her. If she beats Jane up in the morning she can hardly wait for Jane to get up so we can sing our morning song to her. Definitely different than Reese, apprehensive about starting preschool in August. I always wondered what was wrong with those kids whose parents had to stay in the classroom the first few days. I think I'll know in August- nothing! I love when I feel one way and along comes one of my kids to knock me down and keep me humble.

Brady and I are too boring to write about :) Just kidding. Things have been really fun lately. Taking 3 kids to Maui for a week was awesome but we never sat down. Lots of beach, pool, BBQ, more beach and pool. Brady rode up the volcano 38 miles, 6 hours uphill. Not my idea of fun but I'm so proud of him. He has two other "mini" triathalons planned for later this summer with buddies.

A few weekends ago I ran in my first ever anything. The Mud Run down at Camp Pendelton in San Diego. About 20 of my cousins and friends were running and I signed up back in January. I'd been running about 3 times a week to prepare- which was a first. I'd always liked to work out before kids- but running not so much. I just wanted to finish. The 6 plus miles is a mix of sand, rivers, lakes, mudpits, tires, tunnels, 2 miles uphill, and mud, mud, mud. I finished in 1:18, 50th in my age group and 883 out of 4,000. I know I can do better next year and can't wait. I'll post pictures of that day when the guy we ran with sends them on.

Jane Frances Hobby

So she's here. I can't believe she's 5 days old, it seems both like she's been here forever but it's also flying by. I guess I could technically still be pregnant since she was 9 days early.

It was so weird there at the end waiting for something- ANYTHING- to happen. I wanted to feel some contractions or something that meant we were on our way, but every time I felt anything I thought "just kidding, let's do this tomorrow, I remember this hurts." I was sleeping on the couch because sleeping in our bed hurt my side, when around 3:30 AM I felt my water break. Just like with Reese I went to tell Brady who said "Maybe you pee'd your pants." Then I had a few contractions and I knew. I started shaking and crying because there was no turning back now. I called my folks and they arrived to watch the girls around 4:30.

Little did we know Kaiser Walnut Creek was having their busiest month ever, and one of their busiest mornings ever. After being checked out- I was a keeper and they set us up in a delivery room. I wasn't having too many contractions so by 11 or so they started the Pitocin. My contractions were moving when they came in to tell me I was about an hour and half away from my epidural. She kindly turned the drug down and I willed my contractions to slow down (not really just luck I guess). By 1 or so hooked me up with an epidural and I was on my way again. Unfortunately it didn't work 100% and I still felt things. By 3:15 I was 5 centimeters, then 8, then 10. Just like with Reese and Lucy once I hit 5 it's all over. I pushed from 4:01 to 4:06 and out she came.

Brady was first to see and finally said "Do you want to know?" Yes! "It's a girl!" I was so excited. I'm glad we waited because it was fun to try it differently this time after knowing with both Reese and Lucy. Plus I was in love with her from the instant I saw her. Now it's hard to imagine having anything but another girl.

I feel really good! Surprisingly better than with the first two. After a day or so nothing even hurts. Except nursing of course, always my challenge. I think I have great pregnancies and deliveries so I can save my energy for the breastfeeding. But I'll keep hanging in.

Now it's hard to believe it's over and she's here. I felt a little sad that first night, I half expected to have two babies because in my head there was the possibility of a Jane Frances or a James Joseph- and only one would come to be. I know we're done and I'm glad to move on from pregnancy, etc. But I've enjoyed all three pregnancies and even the newborn thing. I love the shock when the pregnancy test turns positive. The way it feels to see the heartbeat the first time on an ultrasound, the anticipation for 9 months. But it's official- this is it! So I'm doing my best to suck up each and every precious day. Even the sleep deprivation.

37 1/ 2 weeks

37 Weeks and Counting

So I wanted to make sure and blog, just in case I'm lucky enough to have this baby early. But I had an appointment on Tuesday, nothing exciting to report. Measuring 37 weeks, gained 23 pounds to date (same as the girls), blood pressure 103/52, head down. I half hoped they'd say something was unusual and we could get this thing going. With both girls I wasn't too anxious but this time I know what I'm in for, so I just want to get this thing going.

With Reese I was convinced I'd be late so at 10 days before my due date when my water broke I WAS SHOCKED! Then with Lucy I was 5 days early. I can't help but hope this one will be early too but I joke it will be on it's due date or late. I have such mixed feelings. I know what I'm in for with a newborn: sleep deprivation, nursing, etc. And as long as it's in me it's easy to carry about. But once outside it's forever.

I'm excited to meet the baby. It still feels like it's happening to someone else. I feel like I've been pregnant forever so I'm ready to be done, but it's also flown by. In some ways I'm sad. I know this is the last time and I've enjoyed being pregnant. This has probably been the best so far, I feel blessed. I'm just starting to get to the point where sleeping is harder and my stomach is big and uncomfortable. But I only have a few weeks to go so I'll take it now. I'll miss feeling a baby kick inside me. I'll miss the excitement of waiting for something so amazing. I'll miss my mini celebrity status as a prego chick. But I can't be pregnant forever or just keep having them. Although I enjoy pregnancy and even have the little rascals around, we have to stop somewhere.

So when we head to the hospital I expect to be sad that it's almost over, excited to FINALLY find out what we're having, and scared. Labor was fast with Reese, no epidural, even faster with Lucy, thank goodness for the epidural. I just want to make it there this time. I'm also kind of scared to find out what we're having. There are so many people waiting. I almost just want Brady there only and some time to adjust either way. If it's a girl we will be so excited! But part of me knows people want a boy for us, like it's winning the lottery or something. I truly believe that God will give us what we need. I'm just excited to find out!

I HAVE THE BEST FRIENDS!

I have the best friends in the world! They threw me a shower for a third time. I promised them this was the last one. They had arranged a night out at Now We're Cooking in downtown. They each made meals for me for after the baby arrives. My sister-in-law Michelle even called ahead to order a few extras. I walked away with 10 meals for my freezer. So cool.

And then they spoiled me with a new diaper bag. Now I'm all ready. The next morning Lucy and Reese were excited to help me pack it. Now I just need to pack myself and wait. Yikes, this is coming... here's hoping it's a few weeks (but most likely more like a month).

35 Weeks

This past weekend was Lucy's 2nd birthday party, complete with a family party and a swim party the next day. I'm 34/35 weeks here. Getting things organized now. Lucy has "officially" moved in with Reese, or at least all of her stuff has. She has a bed in there but I'm keeping her in the crib in the "baby's room" as long as possible. I have the room set up for the baby, items washed in drawers, equipment ready to go again. I still need a few things, pack a bag in a few weeks, put the carseat in, etc. I like to feel ready.

The only thing we don't have is a name!!! This is so unlike us. We had Reese picked before we were even married, then Lucy before we even got pregnant the second time. This time we have like 10 boy, 10 girl names. And lots of reasons each name isn't perfect. Plus we keep adding names rather than narrowing down. I'm looking for one that doesn't belong to a close relative or friend, works with Reese and Lucy, and of course the last name Hobby. Plus I feel like this is our last name so I'm being too picky. In reality any of these will work. I don't really care what other people think so it doesn't hurt my feelings if you don't like them. Reese and Lucy weren't popular with everyone.

Boy- Sam, Max, Davis, James, Anders, Anderson, Jake, Jonah, Oliver, Walker, David, Thomas, Griffin, Ryan, Noah, Brooks, Everett, Miles, Tyce

Girl- Cameron, Reagan, Jane, Caroline, Maguire, Maggie, Alice, Beatrice, Maisy, Ingrid, Frances, Anderson, Mae, Natalie, Juliet, Tess.

YIKES!

32 Weeks and Counting...

So I'm probably the only woman crazy enough to post a picture of my pregnant self in a swimsuit. But believe it or not this is only the second picture I have while prego this time (and my neighbor took it and emailed it to me). I think I'm around 32 weeks here. I went to the doctor that week and I'm right on, one pound more than with Lucy, one pound less than Reese. Belly measures exactly same size to the due date. Too weird. She loved my chart because it was essentially blank (meaning I don't complain I guess). I know I shouldn't but I try and push it to five weeks in between appointments because all they do is measure, weigh me, and make me pee in a cup. I either have to take the girls with me (yuck!) or find childcare. So I try to stretch the time in between :)

I'm starting to get really excited. This baby moves every night from 9:45-10:30 or so, reminding me they are there. The girls love to feel my tummy but it kind of creeps Brady out. We're not that couple that stares into each other's eyes with our hands on my belly discussing the wonder of life inside my belly. Instead we're practical (okay mostly me). I have been finally making progress on moving Lucy into Reese's room to share and getting the baby stuff out again. I have to say it can be exciting at times not knowing what we are having but soooooooo inconvenient. I have a to do list if it's a boy that I wish I could just knock out right now if I knew. I can see myself with a newborn, 2 year old, and 4 year old running errands all over the valley. And I have a drawer of clean newborn girl clothes and a drawer of clean newborn boy clothes. Creates a lot of extra work doubling up. But everyone swears the day when the baby pops out is so much fun!!!