41 weeker

Never thought I would find myself here... I am 40 weeks 6 days pregnant... I am going to say 41 weeks. I think I deserve to round up. This picture is me on my due date. (last Thursday)

It has been a rough couple of weeks. Since about 38-39 weeks, I have been in and out of "labor" I dont even know that you could call it that. I have contractions, timeable, crazy intense contractions, for hours. then, its like a magical thing happens. They go.. AWAY! When I say magical, I mean totally and completely maddening.

Tonight at 8 pm, I go in for an induction. All my false labor contractions have not changed my cervix at all. So tonight is the night. FINALLY!! I cannot put into words how excited I am to be done.

Okay, that was my rant. 

I really am so excited about meeting this little guy. As hard as the past few weeks have been, I know that when Im holding my baby boy, It will all be worth it. I have been home from work because of all the contractions. So I have been trying to enjoy my last days of pregnancy. Looking back, it has gone by so fast, yet is probably the longest thing I've ever endured.. 

no. Im not crazy.:)

Today I am filling my day with finishing things. House is clean. laundry done. Update the blog, and making sure the bag I packed really has all we will need. I am also making it a point to really focus on Ryan, really feeling all his movements, and knowing it will all be over soon. Im so excited to finally have him in my arms, but I know that today is the last day he will be inside me. My last day being pregnant. .

Ryan, Mommy loves you so much and cant wait to meet you. the past 9 months have been such an amazing experience and I will cherish the memories you and I created while you grew inside of me. I love you my boy.

grateful

Im putting on my Grateful pants today. I need to wear them more often. Seeing how it is Thanksgiving, I want to write down some things I am grateful for... I am a bit anxious to get this baby out of me, and thinking about it, I really thought this would help me with my anxiety about the coming delivery and all the changes that are going on.  

1. FAMILY- Cliche right? A lame one that everyone uses. but seriously have you met my Husband? My sweet kids, this miracle growing inside me. I love him too even though he kicks my ribs like there is no tomorrow. Which, by the way I am grateful for, even though it hurts like crazy sometimes! Also, my parents, mother in law, and all the other amazing people I am lucky enough to say belong to my family.

2. The Gospel- How in the world would I ever survive without it? How would Bear and I raise these kids? How would we be able to cope with the many things life throws us? I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and His truth. Plain and simple.

3. Our jobs- I love my job, working with cute babies and mommies every day is such a blessing. It really has taught me alot about parenting a newborn too. Its like my very own prep class. Im grateful that my husband loves his job, too. For a while, it was so hard as a wife to see him come home every day totally miserable and ticked. Yet willing, to provide for his family. Now its amazing to feel happy to go to work every day. Both of us.

Only 3 things. Simple things. Yet powerful when I can take a step back and look at all I have..
I am going to make it a goal that with every post, I will write something I am grateful for. Even if i just mention it.

Happy Thanksgiving 

Slacker

Its been a while since my last post. I need to get better. I keep saying that. I want this blog to be something I can look back at for memories. How can I do that if I dont post often enough! October was a fun month filled with cute kids, costumes, baby showers, and restless nights with an achey back. Halloween was really fun. Lauren was a Cheetah Cat, Meggy was Wonder Woman, and Ethan, well he said he went as a "gamer" he wore his normal clothes and just went to a buddies house to play Xbox. :) We also had some fun with the costumes this year. We went to a murder mystery party where we were asked to dress up as Professor Plum from clue and his wife. It was great. Our actual Halloween costumes were a hit at the ward party too :)

How cute are they? two additions- megs friends mae and jaymee. check out meggys guns in the back! she really is wonder woman :)

Basketball Player and the basketball. I am so glad we did this. although Bear had an awful cold this day, he was a trooper and dressed up with me. love my hubby.

annnd professor and Mrs. Plum - and their baby plum on the way

As I get closer to my due date, I am more and more in awe of my Heavenly Fathers plan for families and His love for all of us. I cant believe we were able to conceive so easily, and the joy Ryan has brought us already. not just Bear and I, but our kids as well. I know that a new sibling is a HUGE adjustment for everyone, but the kids are just so excited. I know that the Lord has been a huge part of their acceptance and love for their brother. And I couldnt be more grateful. I am 37 weeks now. Although my due date is 3 weeks away,I am now FULL TERM. Baby boy could come any day now. I have been making all the last minute preparations. Buying the diaper bag, packed and car seat/ boppy all ready to go. and, Christmas decor up/ about 75% of shopping done. I know it may seem like overkill, but I know I wont want to do any of it after. I want christmas to be about our family this year. I am so excited to celebrate Christs birth with ALL of my family. Little Ryan included. 

GULP. 37 week belly pic... dont mind the messy bathroom. I would be lying if I said Im not nervous at all for delivery. I am terrified. which is irrational, I know. But, I think a little fear is healthy :) as much as I want this kid here already, I am trying to enjoy these last few weeks of my pregnancy. I love feeling his little wiggles and hiccups inside me, and I know all too soon I will be even more sleep deprived than I am now.

Here's to a healthy last 3 weeks.

baby showers

I am so excited as the weeks fly by in this pregnancy. Finally Baby shower time! The girls and I posing at my Moms shower... The girls put balloons in their shirts to look like bellies. They make me look wayyyyyy less preggy. I have a few more showers to go. I am so lucky to have such a huge family/ward/friends that love me! It was really fun to see a bunch of cousins/ aunts that I dont see much.. also... Baby clothes and presents are SO FUN! I cant wait to start washing, folding and matching little socks and clothes. I think my nesting phase is beginning. We are painting an older dresser and jazzzing it up a bit for all Ryans clothes. I think that should be my project this weekend. It will be cute when its done. I will be 31 weeks this week. It is so crazy to think that Im almost done... 6 more weeks and I will be practically term.. But no delivering until after thanksgiving! My doc will be out of town. Hopefully he wont decide to come until after thanksgiving. Momma wants her turkey dinner! :) More pictures.........

Me and my mommy. Had a great time with her and catching up with everyone. You can kinda sorta see my resemblance to my mom in this picture... I think our noses are alot alike..

Me and Meggy at home before the shower. How cute is she?? she pretty much has better style than me already. I tried on a bunch of stuff and she picked out the cutest outfit for me. plus we were kinda matchy... which is always fun.

Happy Tuesday:)

Busy Busy

I need to be better at posting more frequently. but boy this month totally got away from me! Had a TON of fun, we celebrated Ethans birthday and Ordination. Chad ordained him a Teacher in the Aaronic Preisthood. Man, I am so proud of both of them. Ethan has totally passed me up in the height department. Don't mind baby Ryan. His mommas whale of a belly takes up most pictures he is in...

                                                   

Probably one of my favorites of the girls... this is totally them. we just said, ok now pose! and this is what we get... they are seriously hilarious.

Birthday Boy with his Bazinga Birthday cake. He loves Big Bang Theory,(the episodes we let him watch, lol) and thinks the whole Bazinga thing is hilarious... so we decided to make him a bazinga cake... well I thought the caution tape was hilarious(from the elevator if you watch the show) but no one really got it... lol... but thats ok. Ethan liked it and thats all that matters. Im kinda sad all my kids birthdays are over for this year, I love doing their cakes.. yet Im also really happy. I have mixed emotions about caking.

I tend to make a huge mess while caking....

Last weekend, the girls and I did a little project for above Ryans crib... I thought it'd be fun to have a pic of each of the kids when they were babies above the crib, along with a cute R for ryan, and Im waiting on a sign from etsy that says I am a child of God... should be really cute. Im excited. I will post a few pics when its closer to being done:) 

Lots of baby showers coming up... I cant wait to see all the fun little outfits and such he gets.

Unitl next time!  

High flying fun

This was a really fun weekend. On friday night, we went to see Despicable me 2, and on saturday had a fun day at the park flying kites. We stopped at the store to grab lunch and a dowell for our kite. (we were missing one) and couldnt find any kite string. I'm guessing that since its september and not kite season, no other family is out looking for these things, so it was a bit challenging to say the least. \

Cute Bear and meggy at the walmart. I told them they were twins this day. I love how megs hair is exactly her dads color. I hope Ryan is blessed with this amazing red.

So once we had our lunch and started to get the kite up in the air, SNAP.... aaaand our brand new fixed up kite.. broke. Bear was pretty sad about it. so sad he went to get another new dowell. so, the girls and I sat in the grass and enjoyed the sunshine:)

Me and my silly girls. it was seriously a beautiful day. Im so grateful for them. Ethan never lets me get a good picture of him, but I will try again next week. lol

You would not beleive how high we got this kite to fly. I couldnt even get a good picture. There was no kite string.. so we did what any desperate to get our new kite in the air family would do.... we bought fishing line. yes. I said fishing line. 1,645 yards of fishing line to be exact. thats about 3/4 of a mile. crazy. and yes, we used all of it. When we tried to pull the kite in, the line just broke. so unfortunately, our beloved kite was lost. ;( It was really a fun day though, and the kids thought it was crazy to see how high we could get it. as for a baby update... baby ryan is about 27 weeks now. I did my glucose tolerance test today and passed with flying colors. WOOHOO! no needle sticks or metformin for me! we are growing and growing. so excited to meet him. OB appt next week!

First Timer

I've got to say that I am very excited to start this blog! Welcome... to whoever really reads this. I am starting this blog to document our many family adventures.  Let me introduce you to the characters in my story that I call life...

First of all, my amazing, sweet hubby, Chad. AKA- Bear. He has been called bear since he was a baby. Our family has a thing with nicknames and this is where it all started. We were married on May 11th, 2011. He is the love of my life and I have no idea where I would be without him. He is hilarious, loving, an amazing dad, and to boot, an excellent hubby. I am one lucky gal.



My 3 amazing too good to be true step children. (no, Donald Duck is not a part of our family... dang.)
Seriously I cant believe I was so blessed to have these kids as a part of my life. Ethan-(left) AKA Cub. again with the nick names.:) will be 14 this month. He has grown up SO MUCH since I met him a little over 3 years ago. He has his dads spunk, and sense of humor. He's hilarious. Every time I see him, there is always a new joke. He is such a great kid, and so smart. I learn so much from him. Love this dude.

Megan-(right) AKA Mouse. Just turned 12. She, too has grown immensely, and is such a beautiful girl, inside and out. She is so talented in so many ways. She is an expert at all things hair, makeup and nails already, and has the kindest sweetest heart. She is my shopping buddy, and partner in crime. She is always willing to help with whatever I need. We have tons of fun jamming out in the car, getting ready together, and getting chocolate milkshakes from mcdonalds. She is truly special to me. Love you meg.

Lauren- (middle) AKA Peanut. The funniest 10 year old you will ever meet. She is so much fun. Lover of all things pink, disney, and fairies. With faith, trust and pixie dust this little peanut can do all things! She makes life fun and magical, and I love the kid she brings out in me. She is always willing to bring a smile to her siblings and family when needed. I love my pea..

And last but not least, Baby Ryan- (nickname yet to be determined) This is the newest addition to the Fitzgerald clan. Ryan Randall Fitzgerald. He is due December 12th, 2013.  I am 26 weeks ( about 6 ish months) today, and he is growing like a weed! I love his sweet spirit already, and cant wait to see what he looks like. His siblings are so excited and I cant wait to see all of them play. He is such a blessing and we are soooooo grateful for him.




And that's all of us! I am so excited to start documenting all the amazing adventures and blessings that come.