Twenty Eight Weeks

Almost two weeks ago, I had Ammon take a pregnancy picture for me.  I always get embarrassed doing this, especially in my current state, but someday I want this baby to know that she was anticipated and that we looked forward to her birth and how she looked in my tummy.

Twenty seven weeks here

Pregnancy for the sixth time around has been interesting.  We have so much on our plate this year that it's been a little hard to be pregnant due to the fact that there have been so many three day school weekends, snow days, and times with all the kids home, that I feel like I haven't been fair to any of my kids lately.  Pregnancy has taken a lot of my energy away from me and I haven't had the drive to get out of the house as much or do anything with the older kids on their free days.  I feel like I've been cheating everyone a bit, but knowing myself, when I push it too hard, I pay for it majorly the next day.  With Ammon gone so much, I can't afford to be down for a day anymore, plus I don't want to harm the baby either.  On the flip side, Ammon and I are having to make so many grown up, life changing decisions this year and the kids are so busy, that pregnancy has taken a back seat in many ways too.  I can't set up a nursery and it's been so cold/freezing (like around 20 degrees for months) that I haven't been able to love being pregnant as much because I can't get out and take care of me as well as I'd like.

That being said though, we are so excited for this baby to join our family.  We think about her all the time and have planned her into our lives and into our future.  I'm almost 29 weeks now, which means just a little over ten weeks to go.  My induction is scheduled for Friday, May 10th.  Here's the thing though.  When you are the sixth baby joining the family, plans for the week before and after your birth may (ok are) looking like this: Ethan's birthday is May 4, Karli's is May 7th, Baby coming May 10, Mother's Day is May 12 and Ammon is having a major surgery Monday morning-May 13, which should put him out for five days or so.  And to top it off, the Fifth Grade Musical Ethan is in will be Wednesday, May 15th!!  That week will be busy, plus graduation four weeks later and a move across the country two weeks after that.  At least we aren't busy! ;-)

Pregnancy and health wise though I am feeling good.  I hit another growth spurt this last week and people have been coming up to me all the time now and telling me how pregnant I'm looking. ;-)  I am defiantely feeling very pregnant and things below by waistline, like picking up toys, folding laundry and painting toenails are all getting very difficult to do.  I feel pretty good though and am getting sleep, not feeling too morning sick and still can manage most everything.  Here's my flattering view of what pregnancy looks like to me!

My view looking down!!

This baby's name is proving to be a difficult choice right now.  We've never had a problem deciding the kids' names until now.  Ammon and I have relatively agreed on everything but this time around, it's not as easy.  Maybe it's knowing that this is more final than in the past.  We are sticking to the "lee" ending that we have with the other girls but I haven't totally fallen in love with THE name yet.  We've been toying with 

Rylee Nicole, Ashleigh Elvira, McKinley Emma and Kylie Emma.  My sister's name is Ashley Nicole and we've thought of using her name, although we haven't asked her yet. ;-)  Everyone has gotten involved though and it's been kind of fun.  Our school secretary, Mrs. Sealer, even called me three times last week to suggest names for the baby and it's been keeping her up at night. LOL! I love it and think it's awesome that people are eager to "help" us with this decision.  Our friend Beth even suggested "Ellie" a couple of days ago for my Grandmother.  We've been trying to incorporate my Grandma's name somehow.  She was one of the most influential people in my life.  The only problem is her name was Gladys Elvira (she's was born in Argentina) and that name is hard to use in this day.  Her mom's name was Emma Jones so that's where we've pulled the Emma from.  And Beth suggested Ellie, short for Elvira, which is cute too.  Oh, I don't know!! Hopefully like everything else that's up in the air right now, it will all just naturally come together.  I just want to be in love with it like I have been with all of our other names!  Had she been a boy, this would have been a slam dunk! ;-)

Anyway, we are excited about her and to enjoy and savor having a sweet baby all over again.  The baby smells, the tiny fingers, the innocence...all of it and I'm sure Paisley is going to love having a side kick in about a year.  That child is in to everything these days and no doubt these two girls are going to be my little twin tornadoes around the house next year!   Here's a picture of the cute little tornado last week. ;-)