Six-ish Months

Here we are at 28 weeks~

Last week, the persistent Braxton-Hicks contractions reintroduced themselves.  Earlier than expected, and they are not welcome.  Every 5-8 minutes for a few hours on Wednesday.  The conundrum is-- do I recognize that they are most likely false labor and try to ignore them, or do I act like a responsible pregnant lady and go in to the hospital to be monitored (which is recommended if you get more than 4 contractions in an hour before 37 weeks).  After my experience with Jane (lots of false labor and 3 longs stays in hospital triage for monitoring) I tend to go for the first option.

Worst of all, I just got the results back from my glucose test, and my blood sugar levels were a mere  4 points higher than the maximum, meaning that I win the prize of sitting though a 3-hour follow-up glucose test, including several blood draws, sometime next week.  Ugh.

Besides the distracting contractions I'm feeling well, and Grace especially is enjoying my patting and talking to my "huge belly". I'm not craving anything in particular and am feeling lots of baby movement all day and all evening long!

House projects are slowly but surely getting done-- next on the list is to finish our garden beds, get plants in the ground, and finish the Great Bedroom Switch here in the house.

Compare six-month baby bellies here, here (same shirt!), here, and here!

The Azaleas are Blooming

We just love the humongous azalea bushes in our yard.  They make you stop and stare at the beauty.  Add two cute sisters and it gets even better~

Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

Happy Easter Sunday to our family and friends!

Sometimes you can only do so much when trying to get a photo of four little kids:

Easter baskets:

Poor Grace couldn't find her basket.  If the playroom wasn't so messy it might have been easier!  

Five Months With Number Five

I just got home from a wonderful, restful, mostly sedentary weekend women's retreat and the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, MD.  Mom and April joined me and it was really a much-needed getaway for me.  Not only was I recovering from a month-long bout of asthma and sickness, but Nancy Guthrie was the speaker and there was so much good Truth presented for us to soak in.  

We're grateful that our family is emerging from a short but draining season of illness (double ear infections, two cases of Strep, asthma attacks, sinusitis, and croup between the six of us) and I'm praying for the blessing of being able to be more active and focused on building up and taking care of this baby-making body of mine as spring weather arrives.  We are so thankful for God's care for us through the month of sickness as many friends delivered meals and family members did some laundry and extra childcare for us.  And many more prayed!  Thank you!

And so here we are at 23 weeks!

Grace, Leah, Avery, and Jane at the same age:  here, here, here, and here.

"Well, no, actually…"

Today it happened for the first time, for this pregnancy.

I was strolling around Charming Charlie at the mall, waiting for Steve to order me a grande vanilla macchiato at the Starbuck's across the way (great way to spend a morning, by the way), when I turned around in front of a nice saleslady.

"OH, I didn't see that cute baby belly at first!  How many weeks are you? [20]  Is this your first?"

"Well, no, actually, it's my fifth!"

I have to admit, it's so funny to see people process this bit of information.

Averytards

Avery dances all the time.  Every day.  And usually in a leotard (unlike in the photo above).  

The funny thing is, when someone says "leotard", Avery thinks we're saying "LEAHtard."  And she always says, "I not wear a Leahtard, I wear an Averytard!"

Baby 5's Little Face

That's our girl!  Well, I guess it could be our boy, too, but I think we have another girl.

Did I startle you just now?  Take a deep breath… the gender is still a surprise!  

Sorry.

No, not really.  Here's to August 1st!  Or maybe July 30th.  The baby measured at 19 weeks 0 days, which would bump the due date up a bit.  Whether or not my OB decides to change it, he or she is measuring right on target and is estimated to be 10 oz.  The baby was flipping and twisting and kept putting hands and arms over the face, so it was hard to get a good profile shot.  I'm a little disappointed in the sonogram pictures we got, but the one I shared here is the best.  There will be plenty of pictures after the baby arrives to make up for it!  

Girl names?  Claire is in the top spot for now, although Avery told us this morning that the baby should be named Belle, like a Princess.