Flying through January

Can't believe January is almost over. Next week is February! Which means Valentine's Day! And Z starts swim lessons! Valentine's Day is perhaps my favorite holiday - mostly because I'm a mother and I absolutely love lavishing love on Z/A for no reason. I'm trying to think of a very fun V-day activity for us to do. 

I'm very sick of going to the specalist! Ben is too. He has started hiding his face. I'm enjoying this quality about my unborn son. He wants those crazy specalist people to get over it too. Stick it to the man, Ben! The past two times it has been really difficult for them to get a good shot at this beautiful face:

He finally let the Dr. himself snap this shot. Can you tell what that blob is? His nose in the center and the cleft on the left (his left). I love how clear his lips are here. I want to kiss those sweet little lips! And that chubbs little hand! 

I found this blog. This lady I don't know is restoring my soul. She writes beautifully about her faith! It's so encouraging. I pray often, every day, for Ben's health and peace about his birth. Also wisdom about if I should be induced, get an epidural, etc. But I love reading and rereading her take on her pregnancy/little man. She wrote out her birth story and said, 

" Time stood still.  My whole world changed in an instant.  All I could do was cry.  Every anticipation, every fear, and every question was evaporated and swallowed up in that single moment by a love for this tiny being that overwhelmed me to my core.  Nothing else mattered.  "

When I got to that part of her story I just started weeping. I mean, actual weeping. I so, so, so, know what she is describing and I just thought about how I can't wait for that to happen to US! Soon. Hopefully. I'm twirling my thumbs.

Speaking of twirling - check this out:

Ana wakes up with at least one of these bad boys every. day. of. her. life. Sometimes in the front, sometimes in back, sometimes multiple ones all over. That girl twirls her hair furiously during her sleep and sometimes we can't brush them out - we have to just cut her hair. Ana's hair looks very layered if you see it in person and that is due to the dread cutting that takes place every now and then. I love her! Also, for the record - she is the best little sleeper ever. You tuck her in bed with her THREE lovees and she beams and hugs them close and then twirls herself to sleep. Once I forgot her lovee bear when we went to Ft. Worth. That produced a lot of not happy sleeping. Saddest night ever actually because we were all in the same room and Ana woke up in the middle of the night and was crying and crying saying, "where bear, momma? where bear?" The bear was not with us. We quickly got a new bear. Like, within 10 hours of that night awakening.  New bear was added to the lovee mix when we returned home. 

This is also awesome: 

That would be Zoe and Ana just entertaining each other. Zoe is "reading" that book (word for word) for Ana. It's awesome! Have I ever mentioned that these two are best. friends?! I love overhearing their conversations. 

- "Ana, I'm going to go play in Jordan's room - want to come?" "Yeah!"

- "Ana, do you want to do this puzzle with me?"

- "way to go Zoe! Yay Zoe!" - upon completing said puzzle

- "Ana, do you want me to read that book to you?" "Ana, which book do you want?"

- "Ana, do you want to cuddle?"

- "Here ya go, Zoe. Share with Zoe!" 

I feel like outsiders don't get to see this dynamic as much - because if Mimi or Tia or Link is around Z is usually excited about spending time with them. But I'd say 97% of the time these girls are playing together and happily. I am so beyond thankful for their friendship. Not only do I feel like God picked the two best big sisters in the world for Baby Ben, but their ability to self-sustain takes a great load off the idea of my hands being so full with bottles/pumping. And because I'm a sister - so I know that loving your sibling is awesome. 

And here we are...

around 34 weeks (and 19 months)

That is basically Ana's favorite spot. Being pregnant with Zoe I remember watching as Ceci once carried both Asher and Noah out of the sanctuary on either hip while being this pregnant. (She, of course, did it gracefully beacuse Ceci can make any feat of motherhood look amazingly beautiful.) I also remember being pregnant with Zoe and thinking, "oh no I can't lift that..." or "oh gosh, Matt just accidently elbowed my stomach, is she okay in there?!".... HA! Ana literally climbs, sits, jumps, pounces on Ben all throughout story times and I remember Z doing the same with her. Just so different! Also, please note - the shirt pictured is the best 3rd trimester shirt in the history of the world. It isn't maternity - but rather a 3x from some company. This was hand picked by Amira when pregnant and bravo my friend - because it does not cling one bit and I truly feel giant while wearing it - but oh so comfortable (for a huge preggo lady).

on a final note I would like to say that Matt is doing an amazing job as husband-to-the-usually-discouraged-and-tired-pregnant. He showers me with, "you look beautiful"s and "i love you so much"s and "you are such a great momma"s. Possibly this is my reward for keeping my hair long. But also he says very comforting things like reminding me how much of a visual learner I am, which is why -not- being able to visualize what exclusive pumping looks like is so hard on me. And he also recently told me that he thinks I'm capable and I need to just trust my future capable self to tackle any upcoming challenges.

He is also dewallpapering our bedroom and is almost done (much further from this picture! only 1/2 of the last wall left!)

Ben almost has a place to land!