I'm 30 weeks today!  

So can you tell any difference in the photos above? My shirt looks a little tighter, but I can't really tell a difference other than that.

My pregnancy care this time has been all over the map. I was really excited to go with a homebirth when I was newly pregnant and we thought I would give birth in Sacramento, but we have moved and plans have changed. I'm back with the midwife who delivered Eli, but I really wasn't happy with the way she handled things last time, so I've decided to switch to an OB I've heard good things about. I'm seeing my current midwife for the last time on Wednesday. She'll be doing a cervical length ultrasound and a fetal fibronectin test, because of my risk for preterm labor. It will be very interesting to see what these tests show. I really haven't been having many contractions yet, so I'm not anticipating anything. The past 2 times, labor has started around 32 weeks. I'm glad that the new Dr. I will be seeing is going to be monitoring me more closely from now on.

Did I already post about all of that?  I get very dumb as the pregnancy progresses and often stop mid-sentence and completely forget what I was saying. Or I'll ask Chad about something, he'll answer me, and then about a minute later I'll ask him again. Thankfully I have a very sweet husband who patiently answers me again and doesn't even say anything until I ask "did I just ask you that?" Or I'll leave my purse at church and not even realize it for a full day. Things like that.

OK, going to bed now. Along with becoming more dumb, I've also become increasingly more fatigued. I'm just buckets of fun lately.

My baby is WALKING!!!!

At 17.5 months old!   

Carter was a late walker too. In fact, he started walking at around the exact same time as Eli! I never pushed either of them. I knew there was nothing "wrong", they just weren't ready! Both were completely capable of walking long before they actually did, they just lacked the confidence in themselves.  

I was sitting on the couch and Eli came up to me like he often does and wanted to cuddle and crawl right over top of me. He put his face right in my face and made sure I was looking at him, then he stood up and balanced himself on the cushion next to me with this little smile on his face. I made a big deal over what a big boy he was and he giggled and wanted to keep showing off how well he could balance. Well Daddy knows an opportunity when he sees one, so he brought him down on the floor and had him walk to him from the couch (just a step or two). Eli gleefully complied, and everyone went wild, even though he's done this several times in the past. Then Daddy moved back some, and he walked to him again! Then he moved back even more, and Eli was walking halfway across the room! We were going crazy and clapping and cheering and he was loving it  

(Don't mind the floor, we had just finished movie night and the kids had fun with the popcorn)

Within minutes, he didn't need anyone to walk to, he started walking all over the room, all by himself!

Love those hands held out like that.....

He's my doll baby

Being a parent is so fun.

My Mother's Day was wonderful.  Big Daddy took us out for a steak lunch at Outback (yummy!) and he and the kids gave me really sweet cards. After we got home, he took the pictures I posted below. I think some of them turned out really well, and the most exciting part is that they were FREE!!  When the kids woke up from their naps, he helped me rearrange a bunch of stuff around the house. Something I've been wanting to do for awhile, and I felt okay asking for his help since it was Mother's Day and all.  He forced me to sit down while he did all the work. It is so nice to have things less cluttered! For dinner, he made his signature blueberry pancakes which we devoured, then we went over to my sister's house for some dessert before the kids went to bed. I really wish I had brought my camera. We got to see our little kitty again and the kiddos had so much fun playing with their cousins.

It was a wonderful day, and I felt very loved.  I hope all of you mommies had a great Mother's Day too!

As Chad said, each Mother's Day we have even more blessings! It's wonderful. I feel very blessed to have such a loving husband and my soon-to-be 4 wonderful children. God has been so good to me, and I am so undeserving. I am amazed everyday with just how much He has blessed me.

Here are some of my favorite verses on mothering:

 9 He settles the barren woman in her home
       as a happy mother of children.
       Praise the LORD. -Psalm 113:9

 3 Children are a gift from the Lord;
      they are a reward from him.
 4 Children born to a young man
      are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
 5 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
      He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. -Psalm 127:3-5

 1 How joyful are those who fear the Lord—
      all who follow his ways!
 2 You will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
      How joyful and prosperous you will be!
 3 Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine,
      flourishing within your home.
   Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees
      as they sit around your table.
 4 That is the Lord’s blessing
      for those who fear him. -Psalm 128:1-4

48 Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. -Luke 9:48

 42"And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." -Matthew 10:42

7But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. -1 Thessalonians 2:7

 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
       He gathers the lambs in his arms
       and carries them close to his heart;
       he gently leads those that have young. -Isaiah 40:11

Me with Audri:

Me with Carter:

Me with Eli:

Me with Nathan: