sickies.

These past 2 weeks have been so incredibly stressful for me. I’m overwhelmed with keeping up with everything. Nesting, organizing, cleaning, trying to keep the house clean once I clean… When I was pregnant with Lillian, once I finished cleaning and organizing something, it was done. When I was pregnant with Shepherd, it was a little trickier, but still easier. This time, it’s not so easy. I clean and clean and clean the same things over and over again. I know it’s lame to make this comparison, but I feel like a hamster in those little wheels they run in. Those dorky little hamsters are getting no where. That’s me. I’m the dorky little hamster.

Not only am I behind on my regular housework like laundry, dishes, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, but I’m way behind on my nesting chores. I’m behind on photo editing. I’m behind on planning Lilli’s birthday party. Stephen and I promised each other we’d go on at least 3 kid-free dates before the baby gets here, and we have been on zero. And, my grass is dying. For some reason, this bothers me and makes things seem much worse.

I want to savor and spend time with my two kids. And I just feel like I don’t have the time to make things really special or fun. Things are about to drastically change for all of us, and I want them to know how loved they are and that they are not getting replaced by their new baby sister. This week, my kids somehow caught colds. Coughing, sneezing, fevers, sore throats, and lots of boogers. In the middle of summer. 2 weeks before my due date. It feels a little bit like a cruel joke because I hate when my kids are sick, and now I am terrified of River catching a cold as soon as she’s born. I will already be incredibly emotional after I have her, and I absolutely do not need that added stress. I’m hoping that she’ll stay in for 3 more weeks while the sickness clears up, and we’re just praying that we (Sephen and I) don’t catch it in the meantime.

The other day we went outside for some fresh air. I figured the babies could use it since they’ve been inside all week, and I knew I needed it. I had a headache from basically trying not to breathe all day. Outside they could cough and sneeze all they wanted without me freaking out and giving them masks to wear. I’m totally serious.

Disclaimer: Don’t let these fun photos fool you. I called Stephen crying all day. He finally came home early to give me a much needed break. I adore him.

Our ridiculously colorful umbrella:

I love Shep’s silly feet.

They have been on this kick of being “bad guys.” Basically, they sword fight, make mean faces and say, “Bad guy!!” It’s funny. Lilli often says things like, “I like to eat bugs! Cuz I’m a bad guy!!” Sometimes it gets a little out of control and I have to convince them that it’s way cooler to be a good guy. They argue with me, so I tell them that real bad guys need timeouts and that they have no toys because they choose to be bad. Here are their ”bad guy” faces.

In the photo above on the left, he is actually saying “bad guy.” He just looks like a handsome little stud though. He could never be a bad guy. Neither of them could be, actually.

Since they had been making so many silly faces I told Lilli to make a ”princess face.” Apparently, that’s what a princess looks like.

… I told her how beautiful she was, and she decided to slip this face in there:

I love her for that.

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Yesterday I reached week 38 of this pregnancy. This pregnancy has been incredibly difficult physically. I am so ready to have this little baby. In 3 weeks. After my house is clear of sickness… but yes. I am ready for it to be over. Stephen took some photos of me yesterday because we keep forgetting to keep track of my pregnancy in photos. It was my original plan to take one every single Wednesday when I cleared another week. We’ve basically forgotten every week. But yesterday I remembered because week 38 feels monumental for me.

I was the only dressed up one. I kept hoping nobody could see my family. Stephen was in his undies, Lilli was wearing her undies and boots, and then there was Shepherd.

This looks awful. Like she’s choking him. She was in fact, trying desperately to save him. Giant shoes are hard to walk in.

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