Busy Busy Busy

Wow, I certainly have let time fly. I can't believe that Christmas is 2 weeks from today and Hannah Grace will be making an appearance anytime after (hopefully) that. I feel like it was just yesterday that I found out I was pregnant, and so excitedly told the world. And now, 9 months later here we are ready to meet our sweet girl. I thought at one point that I could be pregnant forever. My pregnancy has been relatively symptom free, no morning sickness, lots of energy. Yes, I may have the occasional heartburn, indigestion, cramping, fatigue, pain in my hips. But honestly it seems so menial to the miraculous creation being formed inside of me. It's hard to believe that just under the skin of my stomach (and a few other parts) sweet Hannah is there preparing for the world. She is even about the size she will be when she makes her arrival minus a few pounds. None the less I can't believe she will be here quicker that we can imagine. Everyone complains that the last weeks just seem to drag on, but I am feeling quiet the opposite. I can't believe it's almost over. With all the holidays these last few months literally flew by. I truly have enjoyed every moment of bonding with my sweet girl inside of me. Every push, kick, jab, hiccup has made me fall more and more in love with her.

So as far as the last few weeks have gone here is a brief "catch-up!"

We drove to my families house for thanksgiving knowing it would be our last travel before her arrival. It took a few bathroom stops, and moving my legs but we finally made it. We had a really great time. I laughed more in those four days than I had in months. There is something about spending time with your "mommy" that makes the world seem better. I will always be her little girls, and I don't mind being reminded of that. Of course all the cousins spending time with Nana is always the highlight.

The following weekend was a shower at the home of my very dear friend Berenice. A group of 7 of my very closest friends threw me a shower that would have made pinterest envious. These girls have enough craftiness in their bones to make anything you could imagine. The shower was an open invite to our church and we were blessed with so many friends and family members. The house was full and love was in the air. I truly felt blessed to have all these strong sisters in Christ praying for me and showering me with love.

 

Some of the decorations in the back you can see. But I was able to take everything home and make Hannah Graces room a truly beautiful place. From the left Jennifer, Berenice, Vanessa, Myself, Toni, Wendy, Katy, and missing from the picture was Marriane. It was such a beautiful day.

Of course very proud Auntie V and a very excited Oma!

 

The very day after my shower Hannah Grace "dropped." She is getting ready for her arrival! My stomach is about 4 inches lower! Since then, we have been as busy as a bee with Christmas fun. Parties, tree lighting's, shopping, decorating, baking. And I wonder why I am so beyond exhausted!

SMBC Children's Christmas program!

And this was one of the lovely gifts my girlfriend Jennifer made. Sums it up completely.

"For this child I have prayed." 1 Samuel 1:27



Capturing the moment

We did just that. We captured the moment this past weekend. There are absolutely no pictures to be found of my previous pregnancy... (on purpose). With all my medical issues and the fact that it was twins, it wasn't a pretty sight. But I want to remember this pregnancy and the ease that I had. Except today my hips are killing me again. Time for another massage!
I am style challanged so luckily I had Vanessa to save the day and dress me and the family! The pictures were taken from our camera by Zack or Vanessa.  (obviously not Zack on the ones he is in!) And edited by Zack. They came out quit lovely and I am so excited to have maternity pictures. So here are a few.

 

 

It's coming....

Is it obvious that I have been feeling less than fabulous lately by my lack of posts... Well I have. As my pregnancy winds down I find it harder and harder to accomplish things I need to accomplish. Simple things..... like tying my shoe! I spent the past week battling a horrible cold. Four boxes of tissues later I am feeling much better. My cough however, is still lingering. As if waking up every two hours to use the restroom wasn't enough I am waking up in between with a cough that sounds like an 80 year old smoker. Luckily I was hit the hardest, Kenzie got a small taste of it, Zack just started sneezing, and Madison has dodged the bullet.... so far.
As I was forced to lay in bed I was exposed to daytime t.v. that I wasn't prepared for. I know I could have been doing something useful like reading a book, catching up on my bible studies or something of the sort. But No! I was dragged in by the "Lifetime Movie Network." Now some of these shows were a little much for me. But what really got me going was the Christmas movies. I know that some believe that Christmas (gasp I said it) shouldn't even be mentioned until after Thanksgiving. Personally I think these people are Grinch's. I see nothing wrong with preparing our hearts for the celebration of our saviors birth at anytime. Now I agree it was slightly difficult for me to get in the mood last week when it was 80* last week. But it's 55* now and I am listening to CHRISTmas carols and drinking peppermint hot cocoa! So there. All you Grinch's who complain that Christmas has slowly crept into our lives I say bah humbug. So it has taken over our commercials, stores, and Starbucks. What is the use of complaining about it? It's here, embrace it. Celebrate the reason for the season. Don't complain about it.  I understand why non Christians might feel overwhelmed by the pressure of purchasing gifts and going into debt. As a Christian I feel nothing but love during the season. I am proud that my girls know it's not about the gifts, it's about so much more. Each song I hear brings a tear to my eye.  (and that has nothing to do with pregnancy). It truly is a magical time of the year and I think it's wonderful that people are able to embrace it longer rather than shorter. Now, I don't think Thanksgiving should be canceled because boy do we all have a LOT to be thankful for. I am thankful all year, all day, every minute. Should I limit my day of Thanksgiving to just one small day like these Christmas naysayers think? I think not. I am thankful all year long and I will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as long as I feel necessary.

On another note. I went to the Dr.'s this week and he is pleased with Miss Hannah. She is growing (and growing, and growing) very well. She is aproximately 3.5 lbs, and about 15 1/2 inches long. He said she is measuring a couple weeks bigger but will keep a due date of Jan 13th since due dates don't mean anything anyway. Obviously he is monitering me and if she is getting too big or things are not going as planned he will make decisions at that point. But for now she is as snug as a bug in a rug! He is not concerned with my size or hers. I carry very large and straight out. (thanks mom I have seen pictures of you pregnant). My BP is nice and low, and my blood tests and sugar tests came out perfect. And so far no HELLPS!!! Praise the Lord. Continue to pray for my health!

Oh and thanks to a very generous donation from Auntie V. (My sister) Hannah Grace has a new light fixture in her room! I am so in love with her room. I can feel the love and calmness everytime I walk by the room.

Here is a picture of Hannah's foot. I know it's impossible to see but use your imagination. This little foot has been kicking my ribs non stop!

 

 

"Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift" 2 Corinthians 9:15

 

Showering Miss Hannah Grace

I was joined this past Saturday with family and friends at a lovely shower hosted by my Aunt Claudia. It was absolutely beautiful. The weather was a perfect 70, which was a wonderful change from the 90 degree week previously. (I don't think there is any pregnant woman alive that enjoys hot weather.) I felt wonderful and energetic which was a nice change. Everything was perfect. Hannah Grace was showered with such lovely gifts.... Now to decide her first outfit! I must find a ridiculously large bow first and then match her outfit accordingly!

Some sweet clothes for Miss Hannah Grace

 

Hard to believe I am already in my third trimester.

 

Guess the twin game!

 

Momma and her Three Girls!

 

Proud Nana and Oma

Trying to feel Hannah kick

 

Sarah and Patty

 

Lovely drink area

Diaper Cake

 

My shower Hostesses

 

 



It was such a wonderful shower. I am so thankful to all my friends and family that attended and were involved. I was able to spend time with my girlfriends of 20+ years and some really great quality time with family. Hannah Grace is already so loved. I feel the blessings pouring down upon me.

 

Blessed be Your name!

Nesting

So there I was relaxing on Saturday afternoon. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I needed to work on Hannah Grace's room "NOW." So I did. I had a strength that over powered me and I moved mountains, well maybe not mountains but I moved furniture. (And got yelled at for it afterward.) But it had to be done right then. Well, that's what my brain convinced me of. So I did. I moved the bed, crib, dresser. I moved it all. Not that Zack wouldn't have done it because he would have. But I simply couldn't wait. It had to be done now. And now I can rest. For the time being. Hannah's room has begun!

I never knew

I never knew I could love you so much with out even laying eyes on you. I never knew you could make me smile before I even held you for the first time. I never knew how much I could worry about you while you were still growing. I never knew how much more I would love your dad each time he rubbed my belly or whispered softly to you. I never knew how a kick and a jab could possibly bring pleasure to my day. I never knew how much I would forgive you before you even cried for keeping me up at night. I never knew how enjoyable watching my belly move and shake could be. I never knew any of this until YOU, my sweet Hannah Grace.

I can so do this

The wedding is over, my sister in law is married. It was the most beautiful wedding and the perfect day.

 

 

We left Thursday for the festivities and crammed in as much family time as possible. Zack works his behind off so we enjoyed blowing off some steam at the beach. The weather was mild and cool, everything Shafter is not. We soaked up the morning fog, and enjoyed some amazing food along the way. I ate enough clam chowder and fish and chips to last me till my next beach trip. (most likely not, I am already craving Splash!) Growing up by the sea you take advantage of everything that it has to offer. It wasn't until I moved away from the beach that I truly realized how much I missed it.

It wasn't all free time, we (or shall I say Zack and the girls) helped set up for the wedding. Hanging chandeliers, setting up chairs, Vanessa had a vision and I am honored we were part of the experience!

The wedding day was absolutely spectacular. We laughed, we cried, we ate delicious food, and we danced our behinds off. During dessert I drank what I thought was a cup of decaf coffee. I am just going to say, I am pretty sure it was switched with the caffinated, because I danced, and danced, and danced. I had such a great time, despite not sleeping from all the caffeine.

When I woke up Sunday morning I felt as though I had been run over by a truck. The long weekend caught up with me. I was done. My body shut down. I spent the next 3 days in bed so weak I couldn't move. It took every ounce of strength to get out of bed to pick up the girls from school. It's hard having the mind and body not matching. I felt like I could do anything, like I could run a marathon. My body doesn't agree. I can so do this. I can take it easy. I can relax. Breathe. So here I am, on my couch, forcing myself to do nothing (for today). Today Hannah gets a break. Lucky for me, I have an amazing husband who will help with anything I ask, and girls old enough to take care of themselves. I could not have gotten through the past few days with out them.

"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

Not MY plan!

It's starting. The dreaded swelling has begun. I dreaded this moment from conception, but I knew it would come. And boy did it come quickly. Just as Cinderella's carriage turned to a pumpkin at midnight, my hands and feet turn to sausages at 3pm.  It's clock work, 3pm I swell. This should make for an interesting evening wearing 4 inch heals at my sisters wedding! I think it might be a "heals for the pictures and ceremony than straight to flats" kind of night! (don't worry I'll take pictures!) I am okay with this. I have come to terms with the idea that my hands and feet will be looking "pleasantly plump" for the remainder of my pregnancy.
Who am I to complain?  My small complaints are so minor to the miracle that is being created inside of me. She is probably writing a blog in my tummy complaining that "Mom doesn't ever take time to put her feet up." And so it is. Maybe the time has come when I allow myself to rest instead of pushing, pushing, pushing, myself. It's hard, my energy comes back but my physical restrictions kick in. For instance; I can no longer open the window behind my sink, reach the paper towels, lift the trash out of can,  reach my top cabinet where I have always kept my olive oil, paint my toenails (whaaa, time for pedicures), file papers in the bottom filing cabinet of Maddy's classroom, wear much jewelry past 3 pm (the old swelling thing), or touch my toes. The list will get longer I promise. All this and only 6 months!
 I was at the car wash yesterday because something must have been spilled in my car and it wreaked of mildew (not a fun smell when your nose is that of a bloodhound). So at the car wash this kind elderly lady tried to convince me that there was no way I could only be 6 months. "8 months" she said. "you must be further along!" After I assured her I was only 6 months I informed her that I was so large because "the good Lord had blessed me with a healthy baby." She smiled and said "God bless you and your children." I don't think she was expecting that answer. But what a great way to show this kind lady that I had a powerful creator om my side that made me to carry babies just the way he had designed me to. She may not have thought twice about it. But I know that at that moment I changed my perspective on my growing body. The Lord was gracious enough to give me a body able to carry 3 children. How could I curse that. What a blessing. It was at that moment I remembered a nurse telling me when I delivered 35 week old twins at 6lbs each. "God has a unique way of working, if your body hadn't gained all that weight your babies would have only been about 4lbs and most likely in the NICU." What a reminder that God has a plan far greater than mine, or my Dr.'s.

"For I know that plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

And she is a kicker!

It was the perfect Friday night. The whole family snuggled in our bedding watching T.V and laughing! Hannah Grace didn't want to miss out on the fun and started kicking away. Zack had been trying for weeks to feel her, but she is most active in the evening when he is, well, not so much. So last night as she began playing soccer I grabbed Zacks hand and he felt it... and then Kenz, then Maddy. The whole family got to feel her hanging out with us. She is already so much a part of the family.. However I am a tad bit worried that she chooses the night time to get crazy. I hope she decides she is an early bird like the rest of the Toews clan.

Half way there

So at 20 weeks, Miss Hannah Grace was 10 1/2 inches, the size of a banana! No wonder it feels like a dance class is taking place in my tummy. She loves to move and grove in the evenings, or all night long for that matter. Sleeping has become much more of a task. I have to sleep on my sides now, I don't have an option. Which becomes a bit of a task when you are a habitual stomach sleeper.  I awoke one night to Hannah kicking me so hard, apparently I was squishing her because I was laying slightly on my stomach. That was the end of that. I am trying the technique of lying with a pillow between my legs. It seems to help a bit. My hips have begun throbbing at night. I hear from a mixture of stretching muscles and sleeping on my side. So my night goes as follows; fall asleep, roll over, roll over, throbbing hips, potty, wide awake, roll over, throbbing hips, roll over, potty, wide awake, throbbing hips, potty, WIDE AWAKE. Then Zack gets up for work at 5 and I am up for the day. Oh fun times. However, I just seem to enjoy every moment of it. (although I admit I complain just a tad to my poor husband. OK a lot.) But in all honesty. This has been a wonderfully amazing blessed pregnancy. I truly am enjoying every second of my pregnancy, sleepless nights, frequent potty trips, and sore thighs included. It is such a difference from this pregnancy than from the twins that I can't help love every minute of it!

 

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. John 16:21

First day of school

How can anyone forget the excitement of the first day of school. I know I remember it clearly. The thrill of a new outfit, new shoes, new backpack, new adventures. And who can forget posing in your new outfit for a picture ready to take on the world. Watching through a child's eyes is almost equally exciting. I can't believe I just sent my babies out into the world of third grade. And even crazier, I can't believe I will be here again in just 8 short years. It seems like it will be forever before baby Hannah will be in school. But as a parent of growing children we all know I could practically blink and she will be starting starting 3rd grade, and even scarier, when that day comes the twins will almost be 17. GULP. Can I freeze time? Can I stay here in this moment forever; an incredibly easy and wonderful pregnancy and two of the sweetest girls in the world? Yes, I have decided if I could, I would freeze right here in this moment. I love my husband. I love my girls. I love my life, and I praise God for all the glory!

Miss Maddy on her first day of THIRD grade!

Miss Kenzie ready for 3rd grade!

As a mother of twins, I get to deal with things that only mothers of twins will ever understand. For starters, the disappointment when your twin gets the teacher you wanted. Or ALL your friends are in your twins class. I had to convince the girls that God knew what class they needed to be in and put them in that class. But boy was there disappointment in my household on the day we found out our teachers. I kept trying to convince them to try it out a week and if they still weren't happy they could just pretend to be each other and switch classes! They thought I was crazy and i am pretty sure they thought I was serious!

And for all you non believers out there, I can assure you I didn't cry once. Blame it on the pregnancy hormones, but this proud momma held it together! I almost lost it a few times. First, when it was time for the girls to separate into their classes they hugged each other. This wasn't an ordinary hug. This was a hug that said so much, an "I don't know what I'll do with out you" type of hug. They have spent every waking second attached at the hips this summer as well as some nights when they begged me to let them sleep in the same bed. They held each other for what seemed like an eternity. I could sense the fear in that hug that their best friend and sister would be a whole classroom away. It broke my heart. They spent all last year fighting, it was amazing to see the unconditional love these little ladies had for one another. But rest assured I held it in! Second, the darn pledge of allegiance. It gets me every time. I don't know what it is, but everything patriotic sends me into a crying spell. I blame my great grandpa! But for the first time in my life I DIDN'T CRY during the pledge of allegiance. I couldn't say it, and I had to think of other things while they said it, but by golly I didn't shed a tear! So today starts the beginning of a lot of new adventures. A new school year, a new baby, and only God knows what else. I have great confidence in knowing He will be leading the way!

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Summer Vacation

It's hard to believe that in just 2 short days my widdle wady bugs will be in THIRD grade. Summer vacation came and went in the blink of an eye. We had a blast. We spend the last week of summer as busy as can be. The week long extravaganza started with the girls Melodrama Production of "The Wizard of Oz." My little munchkins had fun preparing 4 days a week for 6 weeks to be the best possible munchkins they could possibly be. Until the last performance that is, when Maddy lost her voice and quiet possibly sounded like an actual munchkin.

The Lullaby League Kenzie

Coroner Maddy

The End!

The night ended with Daddy's 30th birthday. It was an exhausting day. Temperatures reached 110, and boy was my pregnant belly in no shape to handle the heat. But like always you do the best you can! We had a great dinner party with 20 of our closest friends and family. 

Happy Birthday Daddy!

The following morning we got up and headed down south to Nana's house. Zack had been working his buns off and needed a break! We had a ton of fun. We did some swimming, LOT'S of fishing, beach time, eating and relaxing.

Zack took some amazing photography!

And I took a stab at it as well!

And yes, much to every ones disbelief we went deep sea fishing. I heard it from EVERYONE. You can't go deep sea fishing pregnant, you will get sick. I grew up on fishing boats so I wasn't afraid at all. We had such a fun time together. We laughed, fished, and had a blast!

We also did a little bit of lake fishing. We wanted to do a lot more it was just so darn hot! (and we got enough sun on the all day deep sea boat to last us a few days!)

I was able to catch up with my best, and longest friend Patty at the beach. We grew up at the beach together so it was a really fun time to bring the girls to go what we did at their age.

Maddy and her giant sand crab!

My brother and husband were even able to sneak away one night to do another deep sea fishing trip. This was just an evening twilight boat but by the pictures they kept sending me it looked like they had a blast.

Which left me and mom with a bunch of wild monkeys! We went to the movies and had some fun playing in the backyard before dinner!

Cousins and best buddies!

The three amigos. Wishing Kailey and Ava were here!

What an amazing summer we had. It's hard to believe it's over. All we have left is our memories. It seems like just yesterday I was their age playing in the grass. Now, I'm taking pictures and creating the memories for these girls. I can't wait for Miss Hannah Grace to join in on the fun! God has been so good to us. Zack and I are truly blessed to have each other, two beautiful, respectful, well mannered children and one more sweet baby girl on the way. Life couldn't be more grand!


"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19