Becoming a mom of 3... very soon

As the last month has arrived, and I’m about to go from a mom of two, to become a mom of three, I’m overwhelmed with emotions. 

Sad: Olivia will no longer be the baby of the family, and I’m beginning to notice my sadness with realizing she will be a big sister. As I sat and cuddled with her tonight giving her numerous kisses, I know my time is running out with her being the youngest and it’s quite bittersweet. 

Exhausted: My body has hit 9.5 months of pregnancy now, and it’s pushing until the very end. The days of preparation are exciting and yet exhausting because, well, you’re nesting and cleaning everything possible in your home! My body does exceedingly well most days, except it’s preparing for labor, and so it also can have challenging moments. 

Anxious: To push through and endure in labor, which I know will be a battle in and of itself, but worth it to have my son in my arms. I’ll finally be able to see what this little guy looks like, his personality, and to learn all about him! 

Excitement: Just wanting to finally meet the little one who has kicked me for so long & enjoy him within our family. Getting to watch Leeana & Olivia enjoy him and spoil him with love. To know that all the work in preparing will be worth it when we can finally hold him!

Thankfulness: That the Lord saw fit to add another precious life into our family. To begin this journey of parenting yet another child with my wonderful husband! To have the family and friends we have, that loved us and supported us along the way and are just excited to meet this little boy!  

Overall, pregnancy is such an amazing gift and I’m beyond grateful to have made it thus far. We’re almost at the end, and yet everyday seems so surreal to know that we’re going to have another baby in our home here in a few short weeks. It’ll be exhausting with a newborn, yet I’ll love every moment of watching him nurse and sleep and everything else that comes along with this amazing journey! God has been gracious to us, in continue to fill our home and hearts with children! Something I would’ve never imagined years ago would be having 3 kids at this point in my life! Gods plan is always better than my own, and I’ve learned to trust in His Will and not my own throughout all my pregnancies. 

We cannot wait to meet you soon Baby G#3! Your two big sisters are going to love spoiling you, and so will your daddy and I! Olivia continues to point to her belly when I ask her where the baby is, and also come up and give you kisses on my belly all the time! Leeana loves to feel your movement and give you kisses too! She frequently will talk to you and remind you that she’s your big sister and loves you! See you soon sweet boy!!

Love, 

Mama 

9 months (out) of loving you!!

**This was meant to be posted on 3/10/16**

Olivia Nicole,

My love has grown for you so much since you're arrival 9 months ago on June 9, 2016! Can't believe that it's already been 9 fast months!!! You light up our home with your giggles everyday, and are your big sisters favorite person, and vice versa! You two truly have a connection that's indescribable! 

You've changed so much since you were first placed in my arms as a helpless little baby. Here are all your current updates:

-you've begun crawling about 2 weeks ago, and you won't stop moving now when you see something you want

-you sit up for extended amounts of time without any support

-you're cutting your first tooth

-you still take 2 solid naps a day and sleep through the night 

-you say "mama" "dada" "baba" and "nana"

-you love making silly noises with your hands on your mouth

-you wave to people

-you LOVE to eat solids: sweet potatoes, applesauce, peas, corn, carrots, bananas, mango are your current favorites

-you reach for people who you want to pick you up, which is so sweet when you reach for me 

-you still love nursing!!!

I love watching you grow my sweet girl! You truly are such a blessing in my life! Can't wait to keep watching all the sweet changes that you make in the upcoming months and years!! 

Love you baby girl,

Mama 

7 months of lovin'

Olivia Nicole, 

What can I say to wrap up the last 7 months of being your mama? One word. Amazing! It's been amazing being your mom!!

You've brought so much joy to our home everyday with your sweet giggles, happy smiles, and belly full of laughter. You have enriched my life as a mom even farther than I thought it could go. I never knew I had more room in my heart to love another child like I loved your big sis, and then you came along! You changed my world yet again! First marrying your daddy, then having Leeana, and then you! 3 times my world has flipped upside down, changed tremendously, and given me the greatest moments possible! 

I remember the day that you were born quite often. What a whirlwind of emotions I went through, your daddy went through, and the rest of the family, as we waited for you! It was a chaotic day that I figured would go smoothly, despite the incredible pain, and yet almost losing you seems like such a faint memory, but so vivid in my mind. So thankful that God saw fit to spare both of our lives, so I could continue being a mom and wife, and the world could be blessed with your sweet self! 

Thank you for making me smile everyday and even when I don't want to wake up in the middle of the night (thankfully it's now VERY rare), your sweet cuddles make it worth it! You truly are such an amazing child that I couldn't imagine not having the joy of raising!!!

I love you Olivia Nicole!

Let's review how you've grown these last 7 months:

-you laugh and giggle all the time

-you look when we say your name

-you babble and do lots of baby talk (bababa is the gist of what you've said)

-you've very observant (like your daddy), and then get comfy and love to chat (like your mama)

-you've officially moved to your crib in your room with your big sis at night (6 months)

-you sleep through the night again, which I've missed since you were 4 months old! 

-You're finally napping again during the day, thanks to some lavender oil, though not consistent lengths of naps, they're still happening!!

-you're sitting up now for a good minute, until you see something of interest, then you reach for it, and it's all over from there

-You've officially only been nursed up until Christmas Day when Grammy decided to give you some cheesecake. You began solids 12/27/16 and first had sweet potatoes and love them! 

-you love to hold a bottle when you get one

-you grab anything you can get your little fingers on, and boy do you have a grip!!!

-you're a sweet baby, and so many compliment you on your calm, quiet, and sweet behavior 

-ripping your socks off and pulling hair on others are two of your favorite things

-you're finally getting on your hands and knees, and have begun to rock a bit.... I think by 8 months you'll be crawling!!

-you have begun to put your arms up when people reach out to hold you

-we took your first little trip away from home, and you had your first night stay in Ohio at Uncle Jon & Aunt April's house in Ohio in November 2016

-you celebrated your first Thanksgiving, Christmas, Daddy's birthday, and New Years!

-we took our first day trip to meet with the Scheunegrab family in January 2017 in VA for the day

Snuggles on Grammy

Meeting with Ms Hannah

4 months old 

5 months old

6 months old

7 months of pure fun

Christmas pic by Grammy

Snuggled with big sis in the stroller

Prepared to eat

Celebrating Daddy's 29th Birthday

Hanging with the Gulliford's/Arpasi's 

Pics with big sis & Auntie Lauren while she was home for Christmas

Meeting your little cousin Alexis for the first time

Christmas outfit from Grammy

Haha! You weren't really like Uncle Jon during the weekend in Ohio

I love watching you grow! Can't wait for what's in store next! Love you sweet girl!

Love, mama