I began this blogging adventure over four years ago. I really started blogging to have a place to keep track of my kid's milestones. It rapidly became a place where I found community. I had just moved to a new town and started a new job of being mommy. 

Over the past four years and almost four hundred posts, I have put together a list of what I would consider my personal favorites:

1. This first post was how we decided to reveal the gender of our first child, Grace, to our families. I remember that day like it was yesterday! I was so convinced that we were going to have a boy, I even wore a blue shirt that day. In our backyard we set up the self timer on the camera and had so much fun! I will always look back on that day with a smile and fond memories!

Grace's Gender Reveal

2. This next post is a rather lengthy list of things that I want Grace to know. But... even though there are some good things on this list, ultimately as long as Grace knows our Savior and Lord then my job is complete. As I have grown and now have more children and have been married longer there are some things that I might change and add or take away from this list, but overall a good list of things to remember.

 A List of Things I Want To Teach Grace

3. This next post actually drew some positive and really more negative attention. I never really intended those feelings and disagreements from my reader, but as a first time mom I was truly sharing my feelings. There are a lot of changes that new moms go through.

10 Things That New Daddy's Need To Learn About New Mommy's

4. David Michael is such a blessing to our family! It is so neat to look back and see how far he has come. God is truly amazing and we thank Him everyday for our little "Hunkster".

David Michael's Medical Troubles 

5. I wrote this last post not too long ago. I tend to share a lot of my woes on the blog, but I really struggle with not seeing all the blessings that the Lord has given me. The day I wrote this post I was really feeling down. I needed to change my mindset and this post helped me do that.

 3, 3 & Under

I hope you have enjoyed my little walk down memory lane. I always love looking back and seeing what the Lord has done!

Once Emma was here, I was so relieved and exhausted! My heart was so full! Emma was able to meet her Papa and her Aunt Meme shortly after she was born.

Once we made it to our recovery room, Emma had her first bath; while momma ate a long awaited sandwich!

When we had finally completed all of our tests and recovery, daddy and mommy just wanted to sleep! Unfortunately because Emma went through the birth canal so quickly she did not have time to clear all the amniotic fluid out of her belly. Which made her spit up/cough up amniotic fluid all night. This really worried her mommy; so mommy and daddy took turns staying up all night listening to her and helping her clear the fluids.

The next morning Emma's big sister and big brother were able to come and meet their baby sister for the first time!

Grace immediately latched onto Emma and was the sweetest thing! She wanted to hold her and not let go. Emma began crying and Grace on her own began singing Jesus Loves Me to her. This brought tears to her mother's eyes! I am so blessed!


David Michael also was immediately in love with his baby sister! He "pets" her constantly. He also gives her kisses all the time. The interaction between my three kids is the sweetest thing!

 





Michael, Emma and myself stayed one more night in the hospital and returned home Saturday before lunch. We were greeted home that day by: Papa, Aunt Rara, Aunt Callie (and friend), Aunt Meme, Uncle Justin, Aunt Jessica, Cousin Luke, and Cousin Aveley.

That evening was exhausting, but we were glad to be home!

"We sing for joy at what Your hands have done" - Psalm 92:4

Check out part 1 here.

Photo Credit: Rebekah Cross

Well I have definitely gone a lot longer than I ever thought I would! I always heard that the more babies you have the quicker then come... well that is NOT true in my case. I have now been pregnant longer than I have before. I am extremely nervous that she is also going to be my biggest baby. I really hope not, but we will see? I went this morning to the doctor and was told that I was 4cm. Emma was definitely really low and for me to go home and wait till either my contractions were 5 minutes apart or my water broke. I really really tried to stress to her that this was my third baby, I live atleast 35 minutes away from the hospital, that my last baby was born within minutes of my water breaking, and I did NOT want to go home. She didn't really care... so I climbed back in my car and went home. Thankfully nothing has happened yet, but I already have plans to head back up there first thing in the morning, see another doctor, and see if they will go ahead and send me to the hospital. If anything for peace of mind! I do NOT want to have this baby at home or especially not on the side of the road! Thankfully I have two wonderful sisters who are coming tonight, since my poor mom has the flu and can't be around my kiddos, but since my sisters will be here if we need to rush out tonight we can! My contractions today have pretty much consistently been around 6-7 minutes, they are definitely growing more intense too. As excited as I am to meet our new little princess, this is the part where I start to grow anxious. Thankfully I know there are a lot of people praying for Emma and myself. 

Weight: 41 lbs. 

Sleep: Lets just say not good. I was so tired today too! I can no longer get comfortable. I have terrible indigestion. I get hungry usually at one point in the night and I try to ignore it, but that makes it even more difficult to sleep. Also my hips feel as if they have separated.

Cravings: Really just anything besides water to drink. I am so tired of drinking mostly water all the time.

Miss Anything: SLEEP! Even though I know I won't be getting anymore sleep anytime soon.

Looking Forward: to meeting our little girl VERY soon!

Well I went this morning to my doctor and was really hoping that I had progressed; sadly, I was only 2 cm.  I was a little disappointed, but I know God's timing is right and she will come when she needs to make her appearance. However, my bags are packed, car seat in the car and all the lists are marked off.

We have arrived at full term! I feel so blessed to have carried all three of my babies to full term now. 

I went to the grocery store yesterday and stocked up just in case something happens soon. When I went last week to the doctor he said I was just a little bit dilated, so it won't be too soon. My next appointment is Monday and I am anxious to find out if I have progressed any at all. I have said that I would like her to hold out until the 30th, but the way I feel lately I don't know if I can hold out that long!?!? I have been experiencing quite a few contractions, but they are really dependent upon how much I have been on my feet and how much water I have been able to consume.

Emma's room is finally complete and ready! We are still looking for a dresser for her, but until we find one her big sister has graciously let us use her dresser for the time being. Hope to share some pictures on the blog soon, as soon as I finish washing the last few things and hang some pictures.

This week the swelling has hit in full swing! I am swelling daily in my hands, face, feet, ankles and even calves. My wedding rings had to come off due to the swelling too. I hate it when that day comes, however, it came a lot later with Emma than it did with the other two, but I think the time of year has a lot to do with that.

I have been able to get several things done for Emma this week: her crib is made, the car seat is washed and ready to go, the swing is washed, her Uncle Elliott and Aunt Brittany bought her a diaper genie for her room, the crib is set up in her room and all her sweet little clothes are washed and hanging in her closet.

This week actually flew by! I feel like I was just writing my 34 week post. I think I can contribute most of that because Saturday we had a family fun day in Greenville.  Most Saturdays for the last few years usually consist of me in my bedroom working on school work and Michael being a single dad for the day. Knowing that our weekends are becoming fewer and fewer as a family of four we decided to take the kids to the zoo, park and just soak up the sun. We all have a wonderful day as a family! 

This week I officially feel BIG! I am even getting to the point where some of my maternity clothes are no longer fitting. I know I still have a few weeks left, but I feel as big as I was when I gave birth to Grace and David Michael. I really hope she isn't bigger than them!

Went to the doctor this week and found out that Emma is definitely head down! That makes this momma happy!

7 weeks to go!!! Where has the time gone!!! This week has been pretty busy! I was in the classroom three days this week, but thankfully I can now say that I have completed my hours and lessons in the classroom until August! However, now I have a lot of paper work to complete before I can really say I am done, but I am done with being away from my kids for days! Valentines day was also this week, you can check our day here.

This week I have been experiencing incredible tailbone pain. While delivering Grace I broke my tailbone and it has come back with vengeance this past week. I started feeling it too while pregnant with David Michael and I would go to the chiropractor and she would definitely relieve the pain, but sadly after about two weeks the pain would come back.  I have thought about going to see her again, but sadly with my school schedule I don't have a lot of extra time.

 

This week we officially put three car seats in the back of our car. We weren't completely sure they were going to fit, but thankfully they did! We have been looking at other vehicles for our new little addition (which is quite expensive!) but we were not sure where the funds would come from, so we were really wishing and hoping that all three car seats would fit! And they did! Right now they fit pretty well because David Michael and Emma are still rear facing and Grace is forward facing. We will try to make this work as long as possible! 

These past two weeks I am been experiencing a lot of Braxton Hicks. I have not really been able to see a pattern of when or how often, they are very random. Just means that Emma is getting me ready for her arrival!

Single digits we have arrived! 9 Weeks to go!!

This past week has been pretty difficult for me. Out of the last five work days I have been gone for the entire morning away from my kidos for school. Emotionally and physically this has been really difficult for me.

Home stretch we have arrived! Officially in the 30s! 10 or less weeks to go! (No I am not going to say more because both of my kids so far have come at 38 weeks, so selfishly I am thinking less!) I am so excited to meet our precious Emma!

I started my pre-clinicals for school this week. Thankful my mom and sister came in town to help out with the kids this week so I could log some hours in the classroom. I have been blessed once again with a wonderful, Godly cooperating teacher! I am excited to see what is en-store for us over the next 10 months. (PS then I am done- and have a master's degree!)

My left hip began really bothering me this week. I would be walking and it would just go out on me, so I decided to go to the chiropractor. She fixed me right up and have felt 100% better. It is amazing how quickly my hips got slack on me, especially carrying around a hunk of David Michael.

One of my very best friends, definitely my oldest friend, came to visit this week! She is pregnant with twins! It is so fun being pregnant at the same time. I can't wait for our girls to grow up together.

Weight: 22 lbs. Yes the scale keeps going up. I am glad Emma is healthy, but ready to see the scale go in the opposite direction.

Sleep: Not bad this week. I have hit the sack hard at night after standing all day in the classroom. 

Cravings: Really I can't think of anything this week. As time goes on, it becomes more and more difficult to eat due to the fact that there is a baby in the way. I also get indigestion pretty bad even when I just eat a little bit.  

Miss Anything: Being able to move around freely. Just rolling over in the bed seems like quite a feet here lately. 

Looking Forward: to my doctor's appointment tomorrow. I love going and hearing Emma's heartbeat! (the most precious sound in the whole world!)

Here is David Michael at 30 weeks.

11 weeks and counting! Last week at my doctor's appointment, my physician told me I had gained too much weight too quickly (which no woman, pregnant or not, ever wants to hear!). With that said I have really been trying to cut back on my food intake, which is easier said than done. I have been successful at not snacking after dinner, even though I wake up in the morning starving! I have continued to walk throughout this pregnancy. With the other two kids I ran too, but I quit running fairly early in this pregnancy due to some bleeding that I was having, nothing was worth that risk! So I have been walking as much as I can and stretch. On the upside I did pass my first glucose test!

The every two week appointments have begun! I enjoy going to the doctor, one because I get to see and hear how my precious Emma is doing, two because Michael stays home with the other two kids so I have an outing all by myself and three it means Emma will be here before we know it! 

Third trimester we have arrived!!! I can see the end is near. This is both overwhelming and exciting at the same time for me. School begins this week for me and I have a lot to get completed before little miss Emma makes her debut. Hard to believe that we only have 12 or fewer weeks left!

We have officially arrived at month 7!! Pretty exciting to know that we are getting closer to meeting our little girl! 

 I can't believe that this is the last week in the second trimester! Wow has time flown by! However, I can definitely feel that the end in near. The dreaded braxton hicks began this week, I don't know if it was due to stress or it was just time for them to begin? I am going to be honest for a little bit... this week was extremely difficult because some individuals who I really want to be excited for Emma's arrival have shown zero excitement or interest in her. This literally breaks this pregnant momma's heart. I know I should not let things get to me, but I can not help it. I guess not only when difficult times hit, but also when the best times hit you find out who really loves you. Thankfully I have a wonderful group of friends who have been very generous and loving and excited for us!

111 days left! I had my doctor appointment this morning. Pretty uneventful, but that is always good because that means momma and baby are healthy. I always love being able to hear Emma's precious heartbeat! 

Hard to believe we are already this far! She will be here before we know it! 

We have made it to month 6!!! I have been starting to feel more movement here recently too! Feeling Emma move is the best part of being pregnant! I love to know that she is growing and moving!