Merry Christmas!

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."  "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"  The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 

LUKE 1:30-35

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

 Isaiah 9:6

Pregnancy Thoughts...3 Weeks Out

I am nearing the end of my pregnancy.  I have 3 weeks left to go unless this little guy decides he wants to make an earlier appearance.  It has flown by but has seemed like forever at the same time.  I still can't believe I'm going to have another little nugget!  I have moments where I am freaking out and don't really know how I'm going to take care of 3.  I also feel very blessed and am anxious to meet this little one.  I have the nursery complete now and feel ready for the most part but are you ever really ready?  I just love walking in his room and looking at all the baby clothes and teeny tiny diapers.  On the other hand I am dreading the lack of sleep and feeding what seems like around the clock.  I know we will survive as we did last time! Even though I am just carrying one, this pregnancy has definitely been harder!  I think it may have something to do with having to keep up with twin toddlers.  ; )  You can't just lay around as much as you want and put your feet up.  Thank the Lord for my wonderful hubby Adam.  He has been so great at taking over the boys once he gets home from work so I can rest.  Let's be honest he doesn't have a choice most nights because I have x's over my eyes and can barely make complete sentences I am so tired.  I did pretty good until 3rd trimester but am slowing down by the day it seems.
Fitness Y'all know I love a good workout.  I did take the month of December off from teaching.  At first I thought I could still teach and I probably could have, I just didn't want to be tied down to teaching just in case the babe came early or I physically couldn't do it.  My pregnancy with the boys was quite different since it was a very high risk situation.  I had to take it a lot easier so this time around I am trying to stay active as long as I can.  I am averaging 3 workouts a week.  I use the term "workout" loosely because it's usually a walk outside or on the treadmill (hate!), riding the bike at the gym, or a pump class.  Although I did make it to a combat class this week but had to make a few modifications.  I also did a step class last week and it felt great!  Even 8 months pregnant there's nothing like moving your body and sweating a little bit to make you feel better all around.  You just have to know your body and your limits.  I am a firm believer in the power of exercise.  That being said, I am so looking forward to getting back to lifting heavy, high impact classes, and running!
My puny lil muscles at 34.5 weeks.  Muscle atrophy...sad.
And the belly...I think I see someone else lurking too...

Nutrition (or lack thereof) and Weight Gain My taste has been off this pregnancy.  I really haven't craved anything out of the ordinary.  Honestly I don't even crave the foods I normally do.  I usually just eat to eat and a lot of time it's whatever I can grab quickly.  I eat a lot a lot of sandwiches.  I will admit to eating a lot more sugar this pregnancy.  My sweet tooth wasn't as strong with the boys but this time around it is!  It may be more of a comfort thing but I have enjoyed some sort of sweet almost everyday.  It's my treat to myself once the boys are down and I can relax.  I am enjoying it now because once the babe comes it's back to my almost no sugar diet.  Other than the sweets, I eat pretty healthy I guess.  I do indulge on the weekends.  Y'all know about my weekly burger and fries.  I also eat a lot of Chick Fil A.  I blame the boys for that one, ha.  I am by no means the picture of a healthy pregnancy diet, but I could be doing a whole lot worse.  Plus this is my last pregnancy so I am going to enjoy!
I have gained a little over 20 lbs.  Trust me, it seems like so much more!  It may be due to the fact that I lost muscle.  I dunno.  With the boys I gained around 30-35 lbs but there were 2 of them, I laid around a lot more, couldn't workout towards the end, and had a lot less stress.

Lil B We do have a name picked out...finally.  And yes it does start with a B.  I've been calling him "Lil B" short for Little Boy.  I have a feeling this one may be a little spoiled.  His is my last baby and there is just one of him which is a new concept for me, ha ha.  I know his older brothers will look out for him, and I will be super overprotective.  The boys always have each other.  This little guy is on his own.  Does that make sense?  I know he's already a tough little guy though.  Having endured all the kicks and jumps to my belly from the boys (not really that many) but I still have to lift the boys, fight them to get dressed, and carry them around sometimes.  Having a big belly tends to make those things a little harder.  He is so active.  I feel him kick constantly!  The boys weren't as active, but I am guessing that would be due to the fact that they psychically couldn't move, ha.  I still don't know how I carried 2.  Lil B is jam packed in there as it is.

35 weeks

Birthdays, Grandparents, and a Night Away

We had a wonderfully busy weekend.  The boys birthdays are actually today and they are 3!  My how time flies.  My parents came in this past weekend to help celebrate.  Adam and I got an early Christmas gift too.  We got a night away.  Thanks Mom and Dad!  This will be the last time for a long time I am sure.  We got all of our Christmas shopping done and were able to eat some great food!  What we like to do best.  ; )

We have spread out birthdays over the past few days.  It's more fun that way, right?

The boys opened their birthday from Grandma and Grandaddy Saturday morning.

Mommy and Daddy got some time away Saturday.

Our attempt at a "selfie".  We haven't quite figured it out.  Bless our hearts.

A peaceful Sunday morning with coffee in bed.

Sunday the weather was so beautiful, we decided to take the boys to the park to hike and play on the playground.  

 

After naps on Sunday we continued the birthday celebration.  

We had birthday cupcakes.

The boys opened their gifts from Mommy and Daddy and Grammie and Poppy.

Eli got a big bulldozer.

Van got a tool belt.

Tool Man Van!

Daddy's work gloves completes the ensemble.

I would say the boys had a great birthday!  

I am trying to enjoy these last few weeks with them while it's just us.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Christmas has arrived at our house!  I resisted the urge to put up decorations way before Thanksgiving but we are now finally decorated!  I have to admit this year we borrowed one of my in-laws artificial trees (gasp!) just to make things a bit easier this year.  This is the first year since we've been married that we haven't had a real tree.  As much as I love a real tree, it was so much easier not have to go get it, tie it up on the car, get it in the house, clean up all the needles, etc.  I am quite pleased with the result too.  It looks beautiful!  I'm sure we will go back to a real tree in the future but I am loving my "faux" tree this year. Pop in a Christmas Tree scented plug-in and it's almost as if it were real.  I even sprayed it down with some Glade Christmas tree scent.  Y'all know I love things to smell good!
The boys love all the lights.  They were thrilled when I turned it on for the first time and it lit up.


I did add a touch of live greenery on our mantel.  Thank you overgrown backyard shrubs.  I would love to find some magnolia leaves or boxwood to put on it instead but don't think that's going to happen this year.

Our entryway

The dining room


Christmas Cheer anyone?

The Nutcrackers and Mr. Snowman "watch" the boys while they eat.

We also have added a new little friend to our Christmas this year...
Meet Jingle or Jingle Bells as the boys call him.  You better believe I mention Jingle every time the boys start to whine or misbehave.  I'm still not sure if they understand it completely though.


Remember Santa's always watching!

A Lot to be Thankful For and My Goal This Christmas

I'm a little late on the Thanksgiving post, but here it is.  Wednesday we made our way up to TN to be with my in-laws in Kingsport.  My parents were able to make the short trip up to be with us on Thanksgiving so it was wonderful to have everyone together!  

I know I have complained a lot lately about feeling tired and exhausted and about the boys driving me crazy with their antics, but I do know that I have so many blessings that I can't even count them all.  I am so grateful for my precious little family and all that the Lord has provided us.  I am also blessed with 2 sets of wonderful parents that are so willing to help.  I really don't know how I'd do it without them.  And we have been blessed with another little guy that will complete our family.  I feel so fortunate even through all the pregnancy hormones, aches and pains, tiredness, etc that I am able to give life to another precious little boy.  Lil B, I can't wait to meet you in a few short weeks!
Even though the days are long, the years are seriously flying by.  I hope to slow down a little more and enjoy these precious moments with my babies as hard as some might be.  That's my goal for this Christmas season...slow down (as if I had a choice with my belly growing larger by the second, ha ha).  No seriously I want to focus on the important things and not be so concerned with completing my never ending to-do list or with buying a bunch of gifts that aren't really even necessary.  
Christmas commercialism has gotten way out of hand and I am totally guilty of falling into the trap.  It really is ridiculous.  The past few years I have gotten away from what Christmas is really all about.  It's so easy to get caught up in the secular "hoop-la" of feeling like you need to buy all these gifts and do all these "Christmasy" things.  My goal this Christmas Season is to take a step back and remember what Christmas is truly about...our Lord and Savior's birth. Jesus didn't come into the world with glitz and glamour.  He wasn't wrapped in ribbons and bows or had all the bling of 1000 Christmas lights surrounding him.  Thinking about his birth humbles me and that's what I need to focus on.  Let's be honest though we are bombarded with unnecessary commercialism everywhere we look whether it be checking email, watching TV, etc.  As one who loves shopping and even has a degree in retail, I am definitely a sucker.  I love to shop and love all the hoop-la. This year I am really trying to not get caught up in it and get "clicky" fingers or that itch to go out and buy a bunch of crap that we really don't need.  I am going to enjoy the moment with my family and prepare for the new life that I will be bringing into the world the beginning of January and most importantly focus on Jesus!

I will leave you with a few pics from our long Thanksgiving weekend.
The boys loved watching Grammy cook.
Ready to eat!

I am growing bigger by the day.  I was 33 weeks on Thanksgiving.  Only 5 1/2 more weeks to go!  

 We had a wonderful visit in TN but were exhausted when we got home.  Van was ready to relax.

Too much Thanksgiving for both the boys. (Mommy and Daddy too)

 

 I think there's an Eli somewhere in there ; )

This is random but Van has taken over my new robe.  Love that face!

Much love to you and your family during this sacred season!