Well goodness knows I haven’t been the worlds best blogger lately – but it isn’t just that, designing has been slow going, and cleaning and cooking have been like pulling teeth – all the while I’m feeling super uber antsy to get stuff done – I think it is hormones or something but I find myself looking at the house and our stuff, and the kids rooms and all the toys and the disorganized kitchen and garage and closets everywhere, and I’m feeling the incredible need to REALLY get all my ducks in a row…. In 6 or 7 months, I’ll have a new little duckling, and I think realistically I know what a challenge it is going to be to keep the house running with four little children, one of them being a needy nursing little infant – and one of them being a second grader too, with activities and homework and a bus to catch every morning…. In addition keeping my business going strong… I just feel like I need a really good plan and a super smooth system and then it will all go flawlessly (yeah, right, I know, but this is pregnancy brain talking here, so indulge me!)

I know I’m getting ahead of myself, but for some reason, when I get pregnant, I feel the need to get it all figured out AS SOON as possible – I’m perpetually late by nature, but with new babies I feel like if I’m not ahead of the game I might go crazy! Honestly if we had a car seat already, I would be hard pressed not to buckle that puppy into the car right away (or at least buckle it in and make sure that everything fits and works)… Any of my local friends, if you see me wandering around town with my cabbage patch kid in my snuggly, please don’t think badly of me! I honestly just feel the need to feel like everything is ready to roll. My poor husband will tell you, even the baby names had to be decided the MOMENT we decided to start trying to conceive.

To boot, all of my lovely baby supplies from when Reecey was little has been out in my back yard shed (in hind sight this was a very bad idea) is now covered in MOLD, so after scrubbing and failing for the most part on everything, we have a new list a mile long of baby gear we need to get AGAIN for baby Clingerman number 4. Plus we are going to be doubling up the bedrooms, two kids in each, so I need to figure out the perfect plan for bed placements and organization….

All of this is what is tumbling through my brain as I’m holding back the need to gag and fighting for the strength just to function in early pregnancy…. I’m at 10 and 1/2 weeks now though, so at least I know some second trimester energy will be coming soon enough…. Or so I can hope!

So – Trying to rock but mostly failing… I hope I can figure out the way to fit it all in, or maybe I’ll find the peace to lower my expectations just a tad! Who knows… maybe this rush of need structure and organization will be great for me and our little family.

And speaking of the new little family member – I thought everyone might like to see baby’s first photo!

When I had my ultrasound last Friday it brought tears to my eyes to see this little “guy” (sorry, can’t help it, I just keep calling it a little guy, we will see if they surprise me!). It was wiggling and squirming around SO much, waving tiny tiny stubby little arms, looking completely…. ALIVE, for lack of a better word. It was both relieving and moving to really see for sure, that there is a little person growing in me. Although I’m tired and anxious and nauseated all the time, I am also walking on air, this is what I’ve been dreaming of for a long time (maybe I’ll post more on that another time)! The tech tried to see if we could sneak a peak at teeny tiny gender specific organs, but baby was NOT having it, this little one was really on the move – Dr. said she was really surprised to see how active it was, that I may be in for some trouble!

Okay, I’ve got two pages finished up from the past few weeks, and one in the works that is kicking my butt – I may have to buy a multi-photo frame type thing to help me out, but I will be showing those off soon I hope.

So – now you know what I’ve been up to – basically a whole lot of obsessing and a very little bit of actual progress… But such is the life of a sick, tired, overworked, hormonally deranged pregnant momma! hehehe!

Yesterday it happened, my baby turned THREE YEARS OLD! – this is the first time that three has been the youngest age of one of my kids, and it feels so strange! I have to say I’m taking a lot of comfort in the fact that we have another little one on the way – because this is like giving up the baby stage completely!

We had a little family party for him, it was so sweet, he was just super excited about having a birthday party, he’s been watching all the rest of the family celebrate our own birthdays, and FINALLY his has come! He kept saying “this is MY birthday party – not yours!” He’s a stinker!

Here is the little “Birthday Party Dance” he did for us:

Present time!

We broke down and got him a drum, because this kid LOVES to drum on things, I have to tell the trueth and say I’ve been avoiding this gift at all costs because it is NOISY – but you know, my eardrums can sacrifice a bit for the sake of Reece’s creativity. He was really thrilled too – so i think my ears can cope!

My parents found him this teddy bear that actually says his name, it is so cute and Reece was just amazed! I think this particular picture is after the bear told reece he is his “best friend”

Cake time!

My little man, seriously enjoying his cupcake:

It was a really fun time for us all, and Reece was in heaven having a day all about him! I’m working on scrapping a page with this last picture – here’s hoping i can actually FINISH it
Okay more later – gotta get back to life around here!

Well if you are wondering where I’ve been the past week, the answer is really quite simple:
Shark Week

The Discovery Channel did a week long thing where all day (and all night) they showed shows about Sharks. And I’m telling you, the boys and I got quite sucked in. Everyday we would find our selves curled up on the couch together watching shows about the tiger shark, the great white shark, reef sharks, all sorts of sharks. It got even worse because this week morning sickness started hitting me at night time, so instead of going to bed, I spent WAY too many hours, awake on the couch watching sharks eat things.

Today, I was pretty sad when I turned on The Discovery Channel and the sharks weren’t there…. I’ve grown accustomed to spending my time with their sharp jaggedy teeth.

I did buy myself my own kind of Shark this Weekend, so maybe that will help to ease the pain a bit.