21/22 week bump-date

I suppose third baby equals much less documentation. I truly don't mean for my blog and third-baby-documentation to be so poor and lackluster, but life has been so busy, and boring, it has just happened! And I suppose that is precisely why the baby of the family gets lost in the shuffle. Plus, I am struggling with the fact that I am more than half-way thru this pregnancy!

A couple weeks ago I had my 20-week "big" ultrasound to look at the baby's growth and anatomy. It took a sweet forever and the tech took a million-and-three pictures of every part of the baby, but I haven't been contacted by the high-risk OB who looks over the ultrasound so I guess all looked good! No news is good news! :)  She did note that I had a contraction during the ultrasound, and I told her I actually had several. But they were the Braxton-hicks kind so she wasn't too worried. I have actually been having the BH contractions since the first trimester, and have polled other multiple-pregnancy-mommas and apparently this is quite common. She did say that baby is head-down, and very head down. And my placenta is very close to the cervical opening so they are gonna have to watch me a little closer as we near delivery to decide if I will have to have a C-section or if I can VBAC again. I am not too torn up about this, what will be will be.

The tech couldn't get many pictures because the baby was crazy-active. And I guess we weren't there to get great pics but to make sure baby was healthy! So I left with a few in hand, but they are very similar to the ones I got at my 16-week ultrasound.

Baby looking at You! (kinda creepy)

 Sweet profile with a hand over its head.

  A little foot!

At 20-weeks:

• weight gain: 9 lbs
• nausea: still present at night (though even that is improving, now that I am nearly 22 weeks)
• this baby feels like the most active of the three and will actually wake me up with the movement and kicks (the ultrasound tech said I am feeling more movement because of the posterior positioning of the placenta)
• I have the most atrocious and throbbing varicose veins all the way down my left leg. Keagan saw it last night and flipped out! It is U.G.L.Y.
• I have sciatic nerve pain, alternates between sides. This is new, never had this with the others.
• cravings: sleep! apple juice, fruit, Wendy's BBQ Ranch chicken salad, Caprese salad
• aversions: plain water, Mexican food

We have done very little in the way of planning/prepping for this baby. We don't really have names picked out, though we are close. I have bought a swing from a friend, and a onesie and a cute pair of baby moccasins. Gender neutral, of course. The boys are unbelievably loving to my growing belly, wanting to kiss it at night, laying on it, and pretending that they can feel the kicks. I think Keagan did feel it kicking the other day, he is much more patient than Finley. 

I had Josh take some pics of the bump a couple days ago, right between 21 and 22 weeks. The boys saw what was going on and immediately jumped into the picture. Why not? Impromptu photo shoot! It thrills me how excited they are about what's about to happen.

heartthrobs

In case you were wondering, I have two heartthrobs. Well, really three...but this posting only counts the two smallest. These little boys really know their way into their momma's heart.  From telling me that they like my "pwetty dwess," which is really a very old nursing nightgown, to being unable to leave my side when I actually do get pretty for church to telling me that I am who they are going to marry. They make me swoon and though I welcome their snuggles anytime and embrace them even when they are at their most sticky and boy-smelly, I absolutely adore when they are all clean and fancied-up.

At Valentine's Day, their preschool has a Valentine's Tea and all the kids are encouraged to wear their most fancy attire. I love the pictures that the teachers post on Facebook of all the kids all gussied up. The little girls come in all their frills and gloves and fancy dresses. The little boys are all dapper in ties and hats. Of course I am terribly biased, but I do think my boys are the finest looking! I attempted to snap a few pics before their party, and I got a whole lot of cheese! But there are some pretty cute ones, too. Be still my heart. 

Am I a lucky woman, or am I a lucky woman?! :) 

(little) Baller

Keagan is playing Upward basketball and it is a lot of fun!! He is all about it and has surprised us with how he is doing. If you don't know what Upward basketball is, it is Christian-based and while it teaches the fundamentals of the game, they take time out of games and practices to pray and learn about core value such as respect and gratitude. They also do a devotional at half-times of games and it is an all-around positive attitude. The kids receive a star for each practice and then after their games, coaches award the kids a different colored star based on their performance in the game. The boys on Keagan's team are Pre-K to Kindergarten aged.

Keagan still has a long way to go with learning the techniques but he has heart. And he is super aggressive. Almost too aggressive...but we will refine that with time! The big thing is he LOVES it. He told us the other day while we were watching the UK game on TV that he was gonna play basketball on TV someday. Oh baby, then mommy will be in the stands watching you!!!

Here are some pictures from one of his first practices:

At the start of every game, they announce the kids individually and they get to run out to a cheering crowd of fans!

Starting the games off with a coin toss and a prayer. (Keagan is #5 in the blue) These pictures are from the first game and there was a lot of coach involvement on the court. Now, the kids pretty much get it and the coaches direct from the side! (and don't think some parents don't get a little...um... loud...ahem...)

Look at my tough little boy! :) I'm pretty sure he refused to smile for me!

I have taken a lot of video of Keagan playing, but to be honest the quality is poor and there are several instances where I am either yelling at Keagan to pass the ball or yelling at Finn to get out of the way! And then there are lots of moments where I am clearly watching the game with my eyes and forget to move the camera to follow the game. Too much going on. So I have no video to share!

BUT I did snap this super cute picture of Keagan and his buddy Nick, who is a little boy of some friends of ours. Nick's and Keagan's teams played each other this past weekend, and though these two are good friends, they made sure to stick to their teams and enjoy their friendship off the court! These two have also played each other in soccer!