40 Weeks, 3 Days

This baby is now officially as late as Sam was (my only late baby, by the way). She is apparently interested in becoming the new family record holder for late deliveries.

At least I was able to enjoy a beautiful Thanksgiving at home with our family and good friends. I wouldn't have wanted to miss that, so it's not all depressing around here!

In all seriousness, I am feeling fine, my blood sugar is good (even relatively so on Thanksgiving), and the baby seems fine, so I suppose there is no hurry. I am definitely ready to meet my new daughter, but in the meantime am enjoying this long weekend with my family and friends.

After all, it's just a few more days of waking up and saying, "I wonder if I'm going to have a baby today!" And you can't say that every day, now can you?

Further Evidence I Married the Right Man

He's prepared for anything (as a good Cub Scout leader should be)...


He goes to great lengths to ensure his children have a variety of positive childhood memories...


And, he looks fabulous, even covered in whipped cream!


Thank you, Jay, for being such a wonderful father.


Late Addition from Lindsey: "Make sure you tell them the kids were falling on the ground in laughter and that he got the most pies in the face."
OK, I will!

2008 Superbowl Champions

Congratulations, West Valley Rebels, on your 18-12 Superbowl victory over the previously undefeated Jets!

This was, hands down, the most exciting football game I have ever seen. I jumped up and down, I stomped my feet, I yelled until I was hoarse. Both teams were truly excellent.

The game was tied 12-12 in the 4th quarter with 56 seconds to go. The Jets got the ball due to an objectively bad referee call (really, we're not biased here) and we thought it was over for us. But then the Jets passed the ball, we intercepted it, and ran it in for the winning touchdown. It couldn't have been closer or more of a nail biter. Now that's football, baby!

I am truly sorry for the Jets who are nothing but stunned right now. Several of the boys were crying after the game. Many of them have played for 3 or 4 years and never, ever lost a game. I don't think it occurred to them that they could possibly lose. Which is exactly why I believe we won. As the Rebel coaches said afterward: You wanted it more. It showed from the minuted you walked on the field. I'd like to think that our boys would have been happy with the way they played even if the game had gone the other way in the final minute, as it very well could have. But I'm also glad we don't have to know for sure.

Well, if all that jumping, screaming and stomping doesn't bring on labor, I fear nothing well. Or--scary thought--perhaps I scared her into staying another week! Ah, well, if I did it was worth it. Almost, anyway.

And Yet Another Pregnancy Update

39 weeks, 3 days. But who's counting?

OK, I'll admit it, I am.

But so far, to no avail. I just returned from the doctor who reported that there are no signs whatsoever that this baby has any intention of leaving my body. Ever. (OK, I added that part). But since she seems to be the right size and perfectly healthy, this is not yet a problem. (For her, at any rate!)

Well, on the positive side, it looks like I'll make it to Joey's Superbowl tomorrow. Go Rebels!

Superbowl Bound!

Here is Joey's football team, who SHUT OUT (look at the score board!) their competition in the divisional playoffs this morning. The Rebels are headed to the Superbowl next Saturday with a 8-1 record to play the only team they lost to all season: The Jets (who come into the game with a record of 9-0).

My favorite part? Not the win (although that was fantastic). Not the shutout (although it did boost the boys' confidence tremendously). It was when the boys were huddled up after the game and the coach was congratulating them. I noticed that rather than giving the coach his undivided attention, Joey crossed himself and moved his lips in a prayer of thanksgiving for the win. It was his first instinct to thank God for answering his numerous prayers for a favorable outcome of this game. Afterwards, he simply and humbly said, "God did this."

What a joy it is to see my son turn to God not only in times of fear or need, but to remember to give thanks in good times as well. Witnessing this was worth more to me than a thousand Superbowl triumphs. But who knows...maybe we'll get one of those next week on top of it all! I'll let you know.

Possibly My Favorite Question of All Time

Submitted by Sam this morning:

Mom, if you feed a chicken TNT and it lays an egg, will that egg be a bomb?

Correction

The baby will be baptized on December 20th (Saturday), not the 22nd as previously reported. Apparently, I was living in a different year but am now clear that it is 2008.

All are welcome!

Another Pregnancy Update

Nothing to report except that there is nothing to report!

I am 37.5 weeks and all looks fine. Baby doesn't seem to be planning an early exit and, for now, I am OK with this. Normally I am quite impatient by this point in the pregnancy, but for some reason I am in no hurry to get to this hospital with this one. Perhaps once the Fall Luncheon is over on Tuesday I will feel differently...

I will have an ultrasound next week to be sure the baby isn't growing too large. If she isn't, my doctor does not feel compelled to induce me early, and for this I am thankful. Happily, the diabetes has been well controlled this time all the way through so I am not enduring the non-stress tests and certain early induction I had to go through with Isabella.

I'll keep you updated on any developments. In the meantime, here's to another uneventful week!

It Has Come Down To This

I never thought I'd drive one of these big honkers, but today we welcomed this beast into our family. It is my new ride and I am stylin'.

I didn't have a lot of options, no matter how hard I tried to find them. Fixing up the limo wasn't practical, at this point, for every day use. It needs too much work and, while it will be a really fun project some day, I need a car now that is reliable and safe. Adding a jump seat to the minivan proved to be too crowded. And, I needed something that would fit in the garage for the inevitable sleeping child, so a fun conversion was out. This was the only choice I had, so I have decided to love it.

And you know, so far, loving it isn't hard! We found a fantastic deal on a gently used 2008 with only 15,000 miles on it. It was used as a fleet vehicle so there is no evidence of the wear my family is sure to leave in due time. It drives really nicely, it is fun to be so high up, and best of all, there is enough room for the kids that they can have some space between them. They have been on top of eachother in the minivan and this has been causing misery for us all. Now my pincher can have kid-free space on either side of her!

Although it doesn't show in this photo because they all came forward (except Tony who is in the back corner), when they are all spread out it doesn't feel like we have so many kids. I kept thinking someone was missing!


At any rate, my nervousness at not having a seat for the new baby has been calmed and I am now ready to welcome her...as soon as I get the clothes out and pick a name, that is!