Sophie is here!

She's here! Sophie Evangeline was born on Wednesday the 26th! She came weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces and 19 inches long. Smaller than my older two-which I think is strange, but I'll take it. She's sweet and adorable and everyone here just really really likes her! We came home from the hospital on Friday and have had a good transition coming home. My mom is here-she got here Tuesday night-and is really helping out and doing a ton of stuff. She and I and Bella went to my doctors appointment Wednesday and I told him I thought things were beginning. He kind of laughed and told me to make an appointment for next week any way, just in case. Well, we left from the doc's and went to IKEA to shop and next thing I know, I am having contractions every five minutes or so. I figured they would stop if we ate lunch, they didn't. So I had my mom bring me home, we tried to call Nate on the way using her OnStar-and it didn't understand me! I couldn't believe it, it kept giving me instruction to say his number then it would repeat it back differently that what I said. It is comical now-but at the time I felt a bit panicked I must say. Luckily he was home when we got here. He was going to leave in about 10 minutes. But I changed his plans for the day and instead had him take me up to the hospital while my mom and Bella stayed behind waiting for Jack to get home. We got to the hospital at about 3:30 and I was already at a 7! Yikes! But there is relief in knowing you won't get sent home! So we were there just over two hours before she was born. I know it sounds fast in hindsight, but at the time, everything felt like it was moving very slow. So far, we have had smooth sailing. I am still a bit loopy from my pain meds-so I am sure this whole post seems scattered, but such will be my brain for a bit I am sure! I feel so blessed and so amazingly lucky to have this new little girl. She is so sweet and I can't believe how in love with her I am. I can never express how thankful I am for my little family and how much they mean to me. I can't imagine that I have ever done anything to deserve a sweet husband like Nate who takes such good care of us all, a dear son like Jack who is my constant helper and example, and sweet daughter like Bella who just wants to let everyone know she will be their friend, and our new little Sophie who has us all mesmerized!

Laundry

Today is a huge laundry day here. I stripped all the beds and am washing all the bedding and blankets in the whole house. I love the feeling of newly washed sheets and blankets! It was sooo cold in the house this morning, that I really just wanted to wrap up in a blanket fresh from the dryer as it were. Then I realized if I was cold, everyone else in the house must be freezing. So I got up and sure enough it was under 55 degrees in the house! We just turned the air conditioner off and I was thinking we would have a week or so before needing the heater, but alas, no. There was frost all over the car this morning when I walked Jack to school, and that was nearing 9 o'clock! So all of the sudden it seems I need to evaluate my methods of keeping this new baby warm. I think I had a hard time visualizing cold weather with and infant because it has been so warm. I think the area I need to really jump on is little hats and socks. I really didn't use those with J or B, and I am not sure where I am with either.

My mom is going to arrive sometime later today. The kids are ecstatic! Bella keeps asking why it is taking her so long to get here. She must have amnesia about the ride from here to Oregon. My mom hasn't driven here herself since Bella was born, so I am sure it will seem like a long day to her as well. I spoke with her yesterday and she is bringing half her house, so I have been trying to make sure there is enough space for her to bring it all in. She is going to be here for 2 and a half weeks, so I am sure she wants to prepare for any eventuality, and be comfortable while she is here. She is bringing me a new nightstand. I have been using a magazine stand with a lamp coming out of the top and really wanted something with drawers, so she had one on sale at the store where she works and the price was right. I am thinking we will go to IKEA tomorrow to find a lamp to go on top of it.

My room is still a bit of a disaster. Nate noted that we still haven't brought the pack n play up from storage. I figure at this point he may have to put it together himself anyway, so I am not all that worried. I did wake up this morning to some fairly painful contractions, but I could tell they were just warm up ones. But maybe it means we are getting closer to the real thing. I still have a list of stuff I want to do, and last night I dreamed about making banana bread, so I may add that to my to-do's today.

Ready for the Weekend

It seems like it has been a busy week here and everyone is ready for a lazy Satuday. Little do they know that I have big big cleaning plans they will need to assist me with-bwhahahahaha. We have to get the bedrooms all organized and neat before my mom gets here. She will be here on Tuesday, so we have plenty of time to get everything put away and done since the big room switch. I also need to make a space in my room for the pack n play to go. Right now there is a huge pile of clothes that need to be hung up sitting where it will go. I have just been lazy about hanging them.

Jack finished up swim lessons yesterday. He passed and moved to the next level! Yay! I knew he was doing a good job, he is really starting to swim! I love watching him do the backstroke, he forgets to alternate arms quite a lot of the time, but still manages to get from point A to point B.

We also had a soccer game last night, Thursdays are busy. Jack did really well at all the stuff they have been working on in practice, passing, getting to the middle. He is having a ton of fun and is sad the season is just about over. I can't believe the season is just about over. It went by so fast this year. Of course, Nate has taken him to more practices than I have, so I haven't put in quite as much time this year. I can't believe Bella will be old enough to play next fall! That seems crazy!

Nate's team lost their game last night-so that was sad, we are hoping the varsity does better tonight. He will be ready for a lazy weekend for sure! They are just starting Region Play, so these games really count, and it would be a great confidence booster to win a few this year.

I have been sewing a lot. I bound a quilt, made the kids some pillowcases, made a few bibs and finished up a few projects. I also made another knit gown with a matching blanket and burp rag. I would really love to get a serger one day. I love sewing on knits, but my machine isn't the best for it. I also cleaned out some fabric and old projects that I realized I am never going to finish. I had Nate take them all to the DI before I could change my mind. Why keep things around that I have lost passion for I figured. And it feels so nice when the sewing room is organized.

Coach Miskin

The kids and I finally managed to see one of the games Nate coached this past Friday. The other ones have been away or we have had a soccer game to get to. This one was against Pine View, and Lehi didn't win, but it was super fun to see him out there. Can you believe those kids by him are fifteen! I tried to get a lot of pictures, but most are of him with his back turned. I didn't want to be super conspicuous and dart out on to the sidelines to take pictures, I don't even see parents doing that. Hopefully I can get a few more pics before the season is over though, I want to document the football coaching career.

I did finally get some good shots of Jack's soccer game. He has the splint on his right wrist as you can see. I don't think it is bothering him really, but I am insistent on him wearing it while he is playing soccer, I don't want him to land on it and break it. Sometimes it is hard to not make him wear full body armor all the time actually. The kid really puts his whole body on the line all the time. I love this action shot I must say. I haven't been as bold about getting soccer pictures this year either. I am afraid if I try and crouch by the sideline I will fall and not be able to get up.

Yesterday Nate did a ton of stuff around the house, he mowed the lawn, did some dishes and loaded some stuff under the house that needed to be put away. He also played in a ward football game, helped clean the church, and made sure the Lehi Stadium had gotten picked up after the game on Friday-his team is responsible for that. I went to the grocery store, made sweet and sour chicken, and made a knit baby gown. Both of us were pretty tired and slept pretty well. It was a pretty busy Saturday, but it felt like we got some good things accomplished.

We have been watching Season three of the Office, getting ready for the next season. We only have three episodes to go! I can't tell you how much this show cracks me up. Nate laughs at how hard I laugh. Last night was the attack on Jim from Roy, the bat in the office, and the inappropriate water mark, and safety training. I don't know why I am so amused when they throw the watermelon off the roof onto the trampoline and it bounces on to Stanley's car. And Jim catching onto Dwight and Angela's secret relationship. Who all knows about this, and what scandal will ensue as a result! Very excited for this next season to begin.

Busy Thursday!

Thursday seems to be our busy day of the week. It makes it kind of nice because before you know it, the day is gone and much has been accomplished. Today I have already been visiting teaching, done two loads of laundry, cleaned the sewing room, put together the car seat, and done a load of dishes. I got Jack off to school-cold lunch today. Bella went to Preschool and Nate worked. We still need to go to swimming lessons, a soccer game, pack meeting, and get homework done. Hopefully I will get a few more loads of laundry done. I would like to change every one's sheets and bedding this week. And I need to wash a few baby things so they will at least be ready to go. I did put together a plastic bag full of toiletries to take to the hospital so Nate won't have to locate the extra shampoo or nursing pads.

On Tuesday, Jack sprained his wrist at soccer practice. We thought it may have been broke because he was pretty teary and in pain. He is usually pretty focused and views injuries as an inconvenience. So we visited Instacare and they said no breaks or fractures. I was relieved to say the least. Poor kid, it's his right hand, so he is having trouble writing, and he really fights me on icing it during they day, but it is such a relief we have no cast!

I had my weekly doc's appointment yesterday. I am more dilated and effaced than last week, so that is good. And he said I am at a +1 station. I had to look that one up when I got home, you would think I would know what after three kids. Basically it's a scale that goes from -4 to +4, when you are at a +4, the baby is crowning. So, I guess it is good to be on the plus size of the scale. But all in all a pretty uneventful appointment. I would guess we have a few weeks to go regardless of what he says.

After the appointment, Shelly and I went to Old Navy, Babies R' Us, Jason's Deli, Sears, and Sam's Club. We managed to do all this and I got home well before Jack. I picked up the car seat for the baby at Sears. That was one of the major things I really needed to take care of and I feel a sense of relief now that it is done. Now if I can get the upstairs organized, I am sure I will feel like I have nothing else to do before this baby is born. Good thing the upstairs is a huge disaster. I am sure it will take more than two weeks to put it all in order.

I do have a lot of sewing stuff I want to get done, but if I don't finish it all, I don't. Everyone will survive. And I have some little projects that won't take long to accomplish, and some big ones that are almost finished. So I am sure they will occupy me.

Nate and I got Season 3 off the office on DVD and have been trying to watch it before the next season begins on the 27th. We are almost halfway through, so I am feeling optimistic about that. However, there is a huge chance watching it will throw me into labor, I laugh so much that I have those pesky Braxton Hicks contractions. There were some episodes I missed last season, and I can barely breathe for laughing. We both are speculating how this new season will go, I mean, they can't have Pam and Jim really get together at this point really. They need that relationship to drive the show. I must say, I can barely wait to get to the episode with Pam's beach speech though, I recall it was great.

Anyway, better get organized so Jack will have all his stuff together this afternoon, and none of it will be sitting wet in the washing machine. Though I never have failed to have all his gear clean and ready to go on time, he is pretty sure this will happen. I need to put him in charge of his own laundry if he's so worried about it I suppose.

Favorite Things Swap!

I love getting packages in the mail and this one is fabulous! Crystal set up a favorite things swap with all the bloggers she knows and it was so much fun. She had me and sent me some lovely lotion, which I desparetly need right now due to my skin being stretched to its limit! A fabulous spatula-I always need these-I have a tendancy to lose them-where I don't know. Some minty lip gloss, which I am so excited to try. A new kind of mascara I haven't tried before-I love new makeup! And I think my personal favorite-some bright and fun knitted washcloths! These are so soft and lovely-I can't wait to use them! Thank you so much Crystal! It was like having Christmas at lunchtime here today! I love all the tags she had attached to each thing, very cute.

Finished!

I always feel a bit relieved after my turn at sharing time in Primary. This time, I felt even more relief, not my turn again until November! And November seems a long time away at this point in time.

Really, it shouldn't be too big of a deal, I only do sharing time once a month, but it seems like I crash and burn more often than not. And, it's just one thing to check of the long long list of things I must check off before this baby is born, which is bringing the most relief.

The list includes a huge amount of sewing, things that may or may not get done. Cleaning the whole house really really well. Pretty sure this will happen, I have some other things that motivate me here. I really want to get the carpets cleaned, but I am not sure if this will happen before or after baby. We have a lot of soccer, football, and school things to do in the mean time. There is the Primary Program, a big trip to Costco with my mom, at least one more dinner with Nate's family. I need to buy a car seat, and I would like a baby monitor. I need to get some onesies-how do I have none of these. I need to wash a few baby clothes. I now have some diapers and wipes at least-due to my lovely friends who had a baby shower/dinner with me last week. That was a ton of fun and they all got me so many cute cute things! Anyway, there is more on the list I know, but it is getting all rambly and I feel a bit overwhelmed as I look over it.

Jack scored his first goal of the season last soccer game! I am so excited for him. It feels good to get at least one a season under your belt. Nate and I both missed it, but we got a pretty good play by play. I think the kids could be a sports announcer if he wanted to. He is always doing play by play with the pros whenever we watch a game of anything anywhere. Nate's sophomores won their game on Thursday as well. I feel so happy when they win and his defense does well. It's pretty much like having another kid in sports! And the varsity team won their game on Friday night, breaking a two year losing streak. The kids and I went to this game and had hot dogs and hamburgers. Bella liked the hot dog, didn't like the game.

Bella started preschool this week. A few other moms in the neighborhood and I are getting our kiddos together and rotating. She was pretty excited, it's only once a week for two hours, but I can tell she loves it and feels like such a big big girl. I think it will help her to have something of her own to look forward to each week.

I had my first in a series of weekly doctors appointments this past week. When you get to your third pregnancy, these appointments are just annoying. I am fully aware I could walk around dilated and effaced to a certain number for several weeks. And I know that any new aches, pains, or symptoms are likely to be met with the response-you will feel better when the baby is born. I really like my doctor, and the tech is just a sweet thing, and with your first baby all these appointments are exciting. But now, I just think of them as an opportunity to go see my friend Shelly and go shopping up north. That alone makes it worth the trip.

Booties!

I found a pattern for these on stardustshoes blog the other day and really wanted to make them. I had some leftover scraps from my freshcut quilt that I couldn't bear to throw away, so I pieced them together and then used the pieces for these. They are lined and the soles have some super soft terry cloth in them. I plan on making all sorts of these know that I know how easy. I just need to make the pattern a bit bigger for bigger sizes, these are 0-6 months, but I think my kids usually have big feet, so I may go bigger. But I love the way they turned out and how very tiny they are in person!

We met Kim and Elsie at Applebee's on Saturday. They are down on vaca this week. Jack and B loved Elsie, they talked about her the rest of the evening. It was a ton of fun catching up with Kim! Elsie is a little pixie of a thing. She is really a good baby. Kim updated me on the latest baby gear, it really has been a long time since I have carried a diaper bag or bought a diaper for that matter.

I did go to Target today and get Isabella a booster seat. She was very very excited when I brought it home. It is a very bright hot pink and has crowns all over it. On the back it says Very Important Princess, she is thrilled. I scored double because I brought Jack home the latest Magic Tree House book. He is probably half way through it by now! I love that he loves to read.

I can't believe we are already at Labor Day in September. We didn't do a lot today really which was kind of nice. Nate let me sleep in! I got up at past 8:00 which has been a rarity these days. I must say, sleep isn't really going so great. I don't really know how many times I get up in the night, it could be just once for all I know. But I am really sore in the hips and round ligament. So I feel like I sleep restlessly. And I keep getting attacked by heartburn in the middle of the night! It seems so rude, I have tried taking tums before bed, but it doesn't seem to matter. I suppose it means I am just running out of room, which is true. My grandma asked if I was carrying high or low, well, I am so short waisted, there is only one place for this kid to be and that is right out there. I don't think anyone would be able to tell high or low at all. She is still quite a wiggly baby, so I know she has some room, but not much.

We are embarking on a very busy September. Between soccer, football, swimming, school, and the primary program, we have something almost every night. So I suppose today is kind of our last lazy day for a bit. I also have a list of my own stuff to do along with everyone else's, so the time will probably pass a bit too swiftly. If only I could move a bit more swiftly.....