38 weeks

Woohoo the end is near! I feel like my belly is bigger this time than in my previous pregnancies. I've been feeling pretty good except for sciatic back pain and sleepless nights. There has been no time to slow down so I haven't! I've been going to weekly yoga at the Y and kept it up through last week. The next couple weeks I have dr apts on Thursdays so it conflicts with the time. I have had to modify a bit in the last couple weeks in yoga. I can't hold plank or do downward dog splits like I could before so I just drop to table top and do what I can. I definitely think it's helped my back pain. We still have no names for this baby and Josh is driving me crazy by refusing to even have a discussion about it. Can you take the baby home from the hospital without a name?

38 weeks

Big belly

I was going through a baby name website and texting Josh suggestions. He didn't reply until I sent the last one!

Ready to start School

This year all 3 of my babies are heading off to school. Isaac is beginning his 10th grade year in High School, Eli is starting Kindergarten, and Olivia will be going to pre-school 2 days per week! 

Isaac's schedule is jam packed right now. He finished up his 9th grade year with a GPA of 4.25 so hopefully he can keep up the good work this year. We ended up re-arranging his schedule a bit because he's got football everyday after school and doesn't get home until 6:30. Thursday's are game days so it's super late on those nights. This semester he has Honors Chemistry, Weight training, Honors World History, and Honors Personal Finance. So far he says his teachers are great and he has a lot of his friends in his class. 

Eli got in the K-2 class at his Elementary school and I really think it's going to be great! He will keep the same teacher for the next 3 years. Whereas Isaac was the perfect student, (every single parent conference since kindergarten we heard the same thing- I wish we had a whole classroom of Isaac) Eli is a different but equally as wonderful child! He is super smart but energetic and constantly pushes the bounds. He asks complex questions that I don't always know the answer for. I think this K-2 class will really push him and keep him from being bored.

Olivia had her first day of pre-school on Thursday and loved it. She's never been in daycare or pre-school and is only away from me (with her grandparents) on Tuesdays when I work so I was a bit worried on how she would do. She has been begging to go to school for a year or more now. The first day she walked right in, got in line to wash her hands, sat on the carpet as asked and said "Bye Mom, are you going to work?"  Hopefully she's going to have a great year. 

It felt so strange not having any of my babies home on Thursday. I definitely was not looking forward to school starting this week. I'm going to enjoy my two days solo (maybe take a nap) because we've got 2 more weeks before Baby Brother will be here! 

Maternity pictures

I decided to have maternity pictures made since I've never done that before and since this is our last baby. I had them made around 33 weeks before I turned into a giant whale :) My friend Sarah took them and I was so pleased. The Littles have been so enthralled with my belly and Baby Brother and I'm so glad we were able to document the sweetness of this time. They love to talk to him, hug my belly, and give him kisses. Olivia will bring toys and stuff them under my shirt. I hope they are as happy as they are now when he is born! Baby No Name Allison you sure are loved.

Isaac turns 15

Isaac hit 15 this year and we had a family dinner at the Japanese Steak house with both mine and Josh's families. Monday after his birthday we went to the DMV and he got his permit. EEEkkk!  Right now we are only letting him drive when the Littles are NOT in the car. He is doing really well. Let's hope he's a better driver than his mama!

Holden beach 2015

The kids loved the beach this year. We went down to Holden (a quaint family beach) with Josh's brothers and their families. Isaac and his 3 cousins had a blast kayaking, playing in the ocean, getting daily slushies from Sunset Slush, and hanging out.  Eli loved the ocean. He wanted to jump waves the entire time. I lost track of how many times I motioned or yelled at him to come in closer to shore. Olivia is my little sand and water bug. She was content to play in the sand and jump waves with her older cousins (both are in college and were a huge help).  I told Josh this will be the easiest beach trip for a while with the new baby coming.... the kids are all at such good ages to play at the beach. Plus it was nice not having to pack much but snacks and sand toys.

We had huge tidal pools every day because of the sand bar... which was nice to keep sharks at bay!

32 week baby bump. I bought this maternity bathing suit because I was afraid my bikini would fall off :)

Playing in the water. 

Isaac and Braedon hanging out

Liv playing in the sad. She turned so brown this week. 

My little man. Look at those guns!

Chilaxin in the kayak

My sweetie

Isaac. He's so grown up... sniff sniff

Josh pulling the littles around in the tidal pools

Trip to Broadway and watching fireworks.

The beach wore her out

E and O

French braids are the way to go for beach hair

Eli cheesin'

Riding a 60 year old tortoise

Eli

Olivia

Beach trip isn't complete without Go-Carts

He loved it

She figured it out super quick and lapped Eli multiple times

All the big guys had to ride too

Josh looking super happy. He's not a beach guy but he toughs it out for us :)

Ruffle butt

3D ultrasound and 26 weeks

I scheduled an optional ultrasound so we could see this little guy again. Josh and I were the only ones that went to his anatomy scan so I really thought it would be nice for the kids to be able to see him. He didn't disappoint us and showed off his little face and boy parts. There is no denying this child is a boy. I looked back and he looks a lot like Olivia's 3D ultrasound pictures but then his pictures also look like Eli as a newborn as well. Who knows what he will look like....but we are pretty sure he will have dark hair and dark eyes!  My dad and both grandparents had blue eyes so I guess I do have a recessive gene in there somewhere.

28 weeks!

Sucking on his fingers

Little hand

Feet

Sweet little face. I think his lips look like Eli's

I love how his little hand is near his chin

Sticking out tongue

Braving the bikini

Olivia's 3rd birthday!

This year's theme was Strawberry Shortcake! She had the perfect dress so that was my inspiration :) We went all out with strawberry goodies. She had such a good time at her party. As I was decorating, every time I put something out on the table she exclaimed "Thank you Mommy!" It was so worth it! Her favorite present was a HUGE horse that she could sit on from my sister. The child absolutely loves horses so she was all about it that stuffed horse. We had lots of friends and family come celebrate and a special visitor... my friend Amanda that's been battling Leukemia was able to come with her kids.

Strawberry and Grape skewers & Strawberry Sticks dipped in white chocolate and sprinkles

Strawberry table

I loved her cake!

Strawberry shortcakes in mason jars

Strawberry bunch and Strawberry lemonade

Strawberry and Friend's juice boxes

I'm THREE

Nanny Fender

Mawmaw (Josh's mom)

We painted strawberry cookies

Allie painting faces

Nana painting faces- Olivia wanted a strawberry

E being silly on the bouncy house

Pawpaw chillin' (Josh's dad)

Sweet friends

Audra, Camden and Kason

Allie painting a Ninja turtle for Carter

So glad Amanda was able to come and is in remission.

Strawberry basket favors

Riding her new horse from Aunt Day

The birthday girl