OVERWHELMED!!

I am one that is normally very good at keeping my emotions in tact and I handle stress fairly well. My mentality is that God never doles out more than you can handle, but..........right now I am so completely overwhelmed that it's not even funny! I've never felt this way and I don't know how to handle it. I can't explain it either...Brian tried to talk to me about it last night and I just couldn't explain why I was feeling this way. I just laid there in bed next to him and let the tears roll slowly down my cheeks and couldn't say anything because nothing could really explain why I felt this way. We have so much going on in our lives right now, but it's all working out so I don't know why I just feel so overwhelmed. Can anyone explain this?

For those of you who don't know what all is going on here we go...1st, my children cannot get along right now, everything is a fight with screaming, hitting, pinching you name it and the 2 year old is worse than the 5 year old. The only time they seem to be remotely good is when Daddy is home, so needless to say I'm the one who is almost in tears when Brian leaves for work. 2nd, Last Thursday my van got plowed into while parked out on the curb at my in-laws house...the insurance deamed it totaled, but of course we were upside down in the loan and so we not only owe the remaining, but we will have to roll it into another loan when we find a new car. Finding another car...not totally hard, but just add that to the "to do" list and make sure it is within the budget. 3rd, the realization that my oldest is going into Kindergarten next year hit me this week when I turned in all her paperwork and made a Kindergarten Registration appointment for her. I know that one is silly, but not for me! She is still so little and I don't want her to be bullied or worse be the bully and so I go through everything we've taught her in my head about how we treat everyone we meet the way we want to be treated, always share, greet people with a smile always, always use nice words, if you ever have a problem come to Mommy or Daddy or any adult you trust, etc. It's so scary...is she ready?? Academically...YES, Socially...that's a big fat ??. I know I am totally starting to sound crazy...bare with me. 4th, all that nesting and spring cleaning I did...all went to the way side. My house is a mess again and I'm worried that something will happen and I will have the baby way to early and come home to a messy house. I so don't want to do that because since both the other two girls were born during the Holidays when I came home from the hospital the house was a disaster with stuff all over. I just want to come home stress free this time and sit with my three girls on the couch and enjoy the miracles God has blessed us with. Is that really too much to ask?? And finally 5th, I HAVE A BABY DUE IN ABOUT 8 WEEKS! and I have done nothing for her. Is this a sign of how it is going to be with another one?? I vowed always to give/do the same for all of my kids, no matter how many there end up being. Afterall, I am a STAY-AT-HOME MOM, that is my job! How hard can it be for goodness sake?? Just kidding, don't answer that! I just want her room to be put together, but I can't because Hailee is still using the crib for another couple of weeks and I want to go through and organize the clothes we saved and get those washed and ready, but Hailee's clothes are still in the dresser. However, I don't want Hailee to feel like we are pushing her out of her room...granted she is way excited to be sharing a room with Chloe, but with Hailee you have to transition slowly or she gets totally overwhelmed and it can get ugly. Oh my goodness I love my kids so much it hurts!!!

I just need a break away from everything and be able to have a good LONG cry!! Right?? I don't know.

Anyway, like I said nothing to major and everything will work out, but it's still making feel overwhelmed and out of control of things, something I've never really felt before. I'm so sorry for such a long post, but if I didn't write it down and get it out I think I might have burst!! It truly is going to be a good year for The Simpson's...we just need to get through these next two months. Love to all!!

28 weeks!!

A Chinese Cabbage...which is about how big you are

Hello my precious little angel!! It has been a while since I wrote about the pregnancy and to you. A lot has changed since that last 12 week post...the size of my belly being the number one! You are growing like a weed and must say you are definitely a mover and a shaker...however, could you please find another place to lay beside inside my rib cage?? I know the lung is a great foot rest and the rib cage is a very good protector, but it is mighty uncomfortable. Here is what Baby Center (my pregnancy Bible) said about you this week...


By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open and close her eyes, which now sport lashes. This movement is more of a reflexive blink than a deliberate opening and closing, but it won't be long before she's batting those beauties at you.



I love that your eye lids now sport eye lashes because that is the one trait that both your Dad and I have and we have past it down to both your sisters...who, I might add have the most beautiful eyes. I can't wait to see yours! We are so anxious to meet you...we are at about 2 1/2 months until D-day and it seems so close yet so far away. For Chloe it's like it's years away! A lot is going on in the house getting ready for you. We have to organize the play room and get all the toys up to Chloe's room, which will be Chloe and Hailee's room as soon as you arrive, so that we can move the computer and desk out of Mommy and Daddy's room so there will be room for your bassinet. Also, we have to integrate Hailee's stuff from her room into Chloe's room so that we can make room for all of your stuff that we will accumulate. CRAZY!! Our house is way too small for all of this, but we will make due. There will just be a lot construction going on as we make TV nooks and storage cubbies and all sorts of fun things!!



We had a doctors appointment this week...they drew blood for my glucose test and gave me a shot so that when you are born if our blood were to mix it would keep us safe. He also told me that my nice little hernia has gotten bigger and that instead of it probably going away after delivery I will definitely have to have it fixed...yay!! Then we got to hear your beautiful heartbeat...it is the most soothing sound for me...thank you!!



Well my love I must stop for now...although I could talk to you for hours...things must get done!! We love you so much!!
Daddy, Mommy, Chloe and Hailee

A look at Mommy's belly at 28 weeks

Nesting????!!!!!

Let me just start by saying my house is looking so amazing right now...I am so proud of myself! I am very excited because I seriously thought people were crazy when toward the end of their pregnancy they say "oh my goodness I am totally nesting right now"...what???...never once with either of my first pregnancies did I nest. I completely get it now...I get the feeling...it is real! This has made me so...just...happy and I have no idea why, but it is a great feeling and I can't wait to bring this little bundle of goodness wrapped in my tummy home with me. I also went with my friend Ashley to Babies R Us the other day and registered for some things because my Mom mentioned wanting to throw me a baby shower. It just feels like things are lining up right now and it is taking A LOT of stress and weight off my shoulders!

Anyway, thanks for listening to that little rant...I had to share my excitement!

Kami's Day

This last Saturday I went to the most amazingly decorated baby shower I think I have ever been to. It was for my dear friend Kami who is expecting her second baby at the end of March. The theme was "Love you Baby" and everything was red and white and hearts and sparkles and it really just looked like an extension of Valentine's Day!! It was amazing and so it definitely deserved to be blogged about!! Besides the decorations though, it truly was a fun shower with great food and great company! Kami came away with so much stuff and I believe she truly deserves it. She is an amazing mom to her daughter and is going to be just as amazing with her son. We love you Kam!!

The treat table...seven candy jars, iced heart sugar cookies on the table and then more sugar cookies in cute little goody bags hanging from the little tree there. Sooooo cute! To the left in the window seal were little candy boxes and for favors you just grabbed a box and filled it with candy and cookies! Oh and all the candy was red and white as well...darling!!

The food tables

Malia and Chloe...Malia is Kami's daughter and Chloe just loves to play with her.

Baby Madness...Terren's Baby Shower!

A couple of weekends ago our cousin, Terren, who lives in California, came to town and we threw her a baby shower since all of her mom's side of the family is here...that's us, HAHA! This is Terren's first baby and we are all so excited for her and her husband, Bob! They are going to be great parents and you can truly tell how excited they are as well! The new little baby boy who will be named "Collin" is expected to arrive at the end of March...it's getting close. It was so fun though to talk and catch up with Terren and to get to see her all cute and pregnant and we are all anxiously awaiting the call letting us know she is in labor. Congratulations Ter...we love you!!

The cute Mama

The blanket Great Grandma make for Collin

Terren and Aunt Patty

The Three Amigas

Winter Fun!!

It seems like winter has come and gone already!! I am a lover of winter...just the thought of snuggling up in a warm winter sweater with a warm blanket makes me excited. I love to be all bundled up out in the cold and breathe in the cold, fresh air. Then of course there is the fun activities such as going up to our family's cabin and sledding and warming by the fire with Hot Cocoa afterwards...I just love it!! It has definitely not been long enough for me, but I guess I can't control the weather. Here are few things we have done in the last couple of monts...

We got all dressed up for a winter wedding...some friends from church got married in January and so the girls wanted to wear a more formal type of dress. So I let them and did their hair to match. I think they were on top of the moon to be all dressed up and they did look beautiful!!

We went ice skating with Brian's side of the family and it was the first time ice skating for both the girls...so fun! Next time though Mom can't be pregnant because Dad had to handle both girls on ice in ice skates and it was a workout for him!! They did great and had a good time anyway!!

Look at how little the ice skates are...sooooo cute!!

Monkeying around at home. Chloe likes to let Hailee ride horse on her back, but Hailee can't herself up all the way on to Chloe's back so she just lays on her back and walks as Chloe crawls. It's the funniest thing to watch and we are all usually rolling on the floor with laughter!!

Some good friends of ours ended up moving to Alaska and so we went and had a "goodbye" dinner with them and let all the kids play. Our kids get along so well together...it was so sad to say "goodbye". However, you will see how goofy they are together because I couldn't get a good picture to save my life. This first picture is of the two two years olds...they are a week apart and they have the same name. For such good friends their Mom's never once talked about names...Crazy!!
Hailey and Hailee...they don't like to share, but they truly do love each other!

The older ones...Makenzie, Chloe, and Tucker

Trying to get a decent picture

The girls!!

We are really bad, but we have only made it to our family's cabin once this year and it was for only one night...boo! It was a blast for the girls though and I can't wait until next year when Mom can slide down the hill with them...so far this year Dad has got to have all the fun with them. So here are just a few pictures from the cabin...the sledding, their snowman, the snow cave, their snow angels and then our Aunt, Uncle and cousin showed up as well.

Chloe's 5th Birthday...Holy Crap!!

I can not believe that I have a 5 year old!! So many things are going to change this year and I'm not sure if I'm ready emotionally to handle them...just kidding we'll make do. I promised Chloe that when she turned 5 that she could have a "friend" birthday party and she could invite all the kids in her preschool. So we did just that and we had the party at Chicago Connection Pizza where Mom wouldn't have to clean up the mess...yay!! It was very hard for me to put the party together because of course she is a very girly girl and wanted a Strawberry Shortcake birthday party, but there were going to be boys there too and I wanted them to have a good time as well. I ended doing just one game and it was pin the jewel on Strawberry's crown and then for favors I just did little bags of candy...yes, I'm sure their parents loved me! However, like I was afraid of it just wasn't neutral enough because I heard about it from the boys...they're 5 they're going to be brutally honest. I do think they had a good time though because everyone left with a big, sticky, slobbery smile on their face...awwww good times!

Chloe right before blowing out her candles

Malia

Blowing out candles

Chloe and Olivia showing off their cupcake smiles

Beautiful

Chowing down

Easton and Yale...Yale is Chloe's absolute favorite, it's so funny!!

Noah

YAY...presents!!

The whole Birthday gang!

To my little, girly 5 year old princess...I can't believe how you've grown! I look at you and still see the tiny little baby you used to be, but at the same time I see this little girl who has shed all that is baby and turned into such a beautiful, spunky, independent, outgoing, friendly person. My hope for this year is that you take all that is you and run with it...you will be starting Kindergarten in the fall and I can't wait to see the school girl side of you. The side that has to deal with her own struggles on the playground or in the classroom and her own triumphs as well. Always knowing that Mom and Dad are right there if you ever need us to lean on or talk to. You will also become a big sister again! It will be so fun to see you welcome our new little baby into our home. It will be so different from when Hailee came home because you are much older now and actually want to help and be a part of everything...I can't wait to see that! We love you so much and have an amazing 5th year!! ~Mommy and Daddy