Here comes #3!

Baby #3 is on the way! And we are just so excited about it! Baby is due on March 22.

This pregnancy has been a lot different for a couple of reasons. #1- Diclegis. In the past I've been on Zofran to deal with terrible morning sickness, but now this fancy new drug called Diclegis is on the market and it has been a total game changer for me! It has worked really, really well for me. Usually morning sickness leaves me despondent and barely functional. Between diclegis and eating very often, morning sickness has felt much more manageable this time around. I am so thankful! And diclegis is proven safer and has less side effects.

#2 We didn't tell anyone I was pregnant for a long time. We decided this early on, for many reasons, mainly that we didn't want to tell anyone until we'd told our boys- and once the boys knew it obviously wouldn't be a secret from anyone anymore (our boys love to share any type of news with everyone they meet). So we just kept it between us for 15 weeks. It's probably the first secret I've ever kept in my whole life.

Because we didn't tell anyone we were pregnant, I felt like I had to just toughen up and carry on with normal life. This was easier this time around, since I was just mostly experiencing some annoying nausea instead of my normal debilitating nausea. My energy levels have been so low- I always forget just how tired I am during the first trimester. So I haven't been running at usual speed, but for the most part life has gone as normal. I even planned (and went) on a road trip to Yellowstone right in the middle of my first trimester (I was 9 weeks then) and did just fine. Our yard, however, I pretty much gave up on. I have only had so much energy and weeding just hasn't been a priority.

I was so nervous to have another baby. There will be a little over four years between this baby and Hudson. The last four years with just two kids have been so fun, so manageable and just pretty comfortable. We never really thought we were done, but it never felt like the right time for another baby- and for most of that time I wasn't really baby hungry either! My cute boys filled that need completely. We were starting to feel like it was about time to have another one, when I got a very distinct impression in the temple that now was the time. I think I needed that prompting to give me the push- as much as I wanted another baby in our family, I was dreading another pregnancy. As I wrote above, this pregnancy has been much smoother (although I'd love to just forget the whole month of August and have it stricken from my record forever- it was no picnic). Mostly we are just so happy to be having another child join our family!

At 15 weeks we were able to get an ultrasound and found out that the baby is a ...... Another boy! Right after our appointment we told Chase and Hudson they were getting a baby brother. They were ecstatic! They both immediately ran up and hugged and kissed my belly and told their baby brother how much they loved him. It warmed my heart to see them so excited about this new little member of our family. Ben and I feel so blessed to have another healthy little son to add to our gang!

Welcome Fall!

 We had a magical night tonight. We packed up a simple picnic and headed for the mountains- well, a trailhead about 10 minutes from our house. We ate and watched the sunset and took in the beautiful fall colors. The boys played in the dirt, Ben and I got a few quiet minutes to talk, and we all watched in awe at the beauty surrounding us. We live in a beautiful place. Life is good.

Labor Day Weekend

Our Labor Day weekend (and the week leading up to it) ended up being super crazy and fun and full of family activities! On September 1st, Nate and Halie got married. Since they were in town for a week before the wedding, it was full of family activities, showers and parties! We got in a lot of family time. Aunt Heidi was here from Boston as well- which the boys really loved. This was also Chase's first real week of school, so there was a lot of excitement (and late nights) going on at our house!

The wedding was beautiful and the boys were the cutest ring bearers there ever was. Hudson was fairly uncooperative all day (like we changed him at the venue from his PAJAMAS that he refused to get out of all day into his little suit- at 5:00 pm), and luckily they had a "kid room" at the venue where he could play with toys, watch a movie and eat brownies to his little hearts content! Chase went back and forth between the dance floor, greeting various guests, and the kid room. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but here are a few I got. 

 Saturday and Sunday of that weekend we got together as a whole family again (minus the honeymooners) and had two BBQs and hung out all together. By the time we got to Monday, the actual holiday, we were all exhausted and kind of partied out. I wanted to do something to make Labor Day at least a little special and unique, so we went on a hike. My mom and Heidi joined us and we had a great time!

As fun as it was to have family in town and multiple nights of parties, it was nice to get back to our normal routine. Now we are in the groove of school for Chase and preschool for Hudson! We started a little co-op preschool, and I'm teaching for September and October. Right now we only have three kids (we are still hoping we will find another kid or two to join) and it's been really fun. Hudson has thrived and is learning a lot. He learns so differently that Chase does, which has been fun for me to figure out.

Here he is on his first day of preschool- my baby is growing up!

Back to School

Years ago I read about a tradition many families do for a back to school feast- some type of special meal to celebrate starting a new school year. Since we officially started real school this year, Ben and I decided to start this tradition in our family. Since we were just getting back from vacation (and I didn't want to spend a ton of money) we kept things fairly simple, but we still wanted to make it special, a little different from our usual family dinner. I made crowns for the boys to wear (Chase loved his, Hudson was not quite so sure) and a back-to-school banner for our backdrop. 

 For our menu, I wanted it to feel like a party, so we decided on kabobs! They always feel festive to me. I cut up and marinated chicken, zucchini, red onion, grape tomatoes, bell pepper and pineapple and Ben grilled the skewers. I made a tomato-bread salad, that I loved (turns out I was the only one). We finished off with fresh peach pie, made from peaches from our trees, and vanilla ice cream. It was a delicious meal!

After dinner (and baths and haircuts), Ben gave Chase a special father's blessing. Chase was very reverent. Afterwards, Ben asked Hudson if he would like one too. Hudson said, "Yes, but only if mommy does mine." We explained it didn't work that way, and then Hudson said, "Okay dad, but make it short, okay?"

Then it was the first day of school! He was so excited to go! He wore his brand new Nike's and the shirt he's been saving all summer for the first day of school. I walked to school with him, he held my hand the whole way, and I couldn't believe my baby was heading off into the world!

 He got Mrs. Miller in the morning kindergarten class- which is just what we were hoping for! He has his little friends Ella, Luca and Paisley in his class. In fact, on the second day (when parents didn't stay) Chase and Paisley nervously walked into the school together, holding hands, and my heart about burst! I know he will make a whole slew of new friends, but I'm so glad he has a few little friends to start with!

We are "carpooling" with Luca. I walk the boys to school in the mornings and Luca's mom picks them up. We both only have room for one extra kid in our cars, so it worked out perfect for us. Walking to school in the mornings has been fun. We live about one mile from the school, so it's totally doable. We are going to try to do it every day until the weather gets bad.

So far my reports from school (after just one week) is that he's working on cutting with scissors (something I never do with him at home), writing his name (he's learning to turn his "s" around) and he loves recess, computers and library!

So far Hudson seems to really enjoy his one-on-one time with mom while Chase has been in school (although sadly, life has been so busy this special time has mostly been running errands or Hudson watching a screen while mommy was busy with other stuff. This should start getting better!) However, Hudson is always very excited when his brother gets home from school! Hudson will start our little co-op preschool next week.

We are doing this thing! Real life with a kid in school! Our life suddenly feels so structured! We started Chase doing a job chart each morning before school to work on earning a little allowance. His jobs are making his bed, cleaning up his room, emptying the garbages, and setting the table. If he gets all his "x's" each day he gets a dollar at the end of the week. So far he's been very motivated. Right now I remind him to get his chores done, but if he whines about doing them he doesn't get a x. We are going to work up to him remembering to do it all on his own each day. It feels so good to have predictable, happy help with cleaning up in the morning! I think school is going to be great this year!