Insomnia

With this pregnancy I have not been able to sleep all through the night quite yet...and I bet once it passes, then my restless legs will start acting up in the 3rd trimester, so that's why I'm up early most days. I guess it is sort of nice to be up before anyone else is! This little baby is extremely active during the night too so it's hard to fall asleep when you have a little body inside rolling around. :) So that's why I'm up so early writing this before I forget to do it! 

Yesterday Crew and I had dentist appointments (my husband is so good at setting those up. Seriously.) There were so many things that he said during the appointment that almost had me in tears laughing! When we first got there he wanted me to hold him up on the counter while I checked in. He said, "hey pick me up please...Hi, my name is Crew." Then when I laid down for my cleaning he scooted his rolling chair right up to my face and kept saying, "it be alright mom. It be ok." All while staring at me and raising his eyebrows up. A few different times he would place his hand on my tummy and say, "oh! The baby kicked!" (which it totally didn't) A song would come on and he would stop whatever he was doing and start dancing. WHO IS THIS KID?! He would not stop asking the hygienist what every single tool was either. 3 year old's are the best. Honestly...this has been a little better than 2 was for us. (but hey it's only been a month) 

 When it was his turn he was totally skeptical of the entire thing. He laid so still. Man it was so funny. 

 I feel like I have had a lot of "laney time" the past few days. One day Crew was with Grandma so we jumped on the chance to do some furniture shopping with only one child. So much easier than with 2! Not sure what I'm going to do when I have 3 running in different directions :) Laney knows when she has all of our attention and she sure eats it up. She loved trying out every single chair in the store...goodness! And she is quite the fast little runner these days. A few face-plants, but she was good. 

The other day I heard her knock something down and came to the stairs to find that she pulled the gate down and climbed over! Little stinker! Maybe it wasn't on so tight but she sure was proud of herself. 

 The weather was incredible yesterday. Laney is usually pretty happy but around 3 or 4 she becomes very irritable inside. Whenever I get the chance to let her roam around outdoors...that's what we do! Crew fell asleep inside so we went on a little walk so it was quiet while he slept. (her favorite thing to do when he sleeps is touch his face and scream at him. So we had to leave) 

 Her happy faces kill me! The outdoors seriously make her giddy. Also-I think that they should start making baby/toddler clothes in my size. So cute. 

We brought her baby and stroller along so she had something to play with. It was a hit. She loves that little doll of hers! She would stop to give it kisses and then it looked like she was trying to put the baby on her shoulders. Her brother does that a lot. We had a great day yesterday and we sure need way more of this nice October weather! I hope it's here to stay. 

Almost November

I am in shock that October is nearly over. 

The past few weeks have been filled with so many things keeping us all pretty busy, which I love...sometimes. A lot of photoshoots keeping me on my toes and forcing myself to become more educated in this little field of work. It's quite challenging and takes up a lot of time, but I love it. It's probably only going to be for a "season" and I'm sure I'll move past it someday to take on another challenge, but for now it fills my time well. 

Last week I listened/watched a mom's conference held online and it was something I needed. I was overwhelmed with how many speakers there were and each interview was an hour or longer! Needless to say, I only listened to some...but I needed to hear them. Now will someone do a "wife conference?" ha! I'm honestly curious to hear these amazing mothers talk about their marriages the way they talk about motherhood. Maybe that's too personal but I think people would benefit from it. I'm not worried about being stretched further this next year with another little person needing me, but I'm just amazed with women who have a ton of kids and seem so put together! So many different demands and schedules. Impressive. 

Our sweet baby #3 is still doing well and getting stronger everyday. Their kicks are unreal! Everytime I do this I am amazed that I have little limbs inside of me. The kicks, hiccups and movements will never get old. We are down to the "teens" in weeks until this baby is born. I'm trying to lay low about the whole delivery process because I don't want to jinx it...but my heart is just really set on a natural birth for this little. I want to feel every ounce of it....but my head says otherwise. I know that physically I am very capable of it...just not sure about it mentally. I know how good those drugs are. Trust me. Send some little cheers and good vibes my way...meaning pray that my labor is so short that I won't have time for an epidural :) Best case right there. 

Anyways we are just too excited to meet this surprise baby! ("surprise" as in gender...the baby was totally planned. I've gotten that question a lot ha ha)

Laney doodle always gets her leg stuck in the bumbo. Cracks us up! I don't think she will be happy sharing that with a little brother/sister. 

These two in timeout at church. No it didn't last long...we just grabbed the car keys and went home. Sometimes you just gotta do that with multiple kids. 

He finally took a Sunday nap. I cannot express how much I love this boy. He has stretched me so much over the years and I'm so grateful for him. (he had his first dentist appointment today and I'll have to do a whole separate post. He is just so funny.)

Sneak peek of this darling girls halloween costume that I love too much. I love it even though it is far from flawless or perfect. It's my first little dress I made for her and I hope to make more someday! 

The end of October is lookin' real good! My family is coming to visit and we couldn't be more excited. I get to finally hang out with my soon-to-be sister! It will be great just being around them before all of the wedding stuff happens. Halloween will be so so good. Crew is so excited. Laney and her cousin Haze are matching this year and I cannot wait to just kiss their faces off in these costumes! Haze cheeks are just too good. We have loved being around family, and feel so lucky to see them often! 

Year 4...

I haven't been meaning to put of this post for any reason other than I just don't know how to put my feelings into words very well. A few weeks ago Alex and I celebrated 4 whole years of marriage. Honestly to me, it doesn't seem like a very long time considering how many moves we have made in that time and babies! (ha ha) and other things we have done. (kinda wish I could add a graduation to that list of accomplishments...but maybe by year 8 we will have one. Who knows.) 

Everyone says that the first year of marriage is a tough one but for us it really wasn't. It was a fantastic year! Every year after that has been pretty awesome too. Year four has been pretty great too but maybe a little extra challenging than the rest? I don't really know exactly why but this year we both had a reality check and found out that marriage is a lot of hard, hard work. It was something that we both needed and feel so grateful to have figured that out after only 4 years. Marriage takes constant love and attention and honest evaluation. 

I feel that I can be a pretty good mother sometimes but it's been hard for me in the last year to continue to be a good wife as well! Maybe both roles come naturally to you and that's wonderful, but for me, one of those takes a little more work and effort than the other:) 

To celebrate our anniversary this year Alex took me to a resort in Sedona, Arizona. Goodness it's beautiful up there and was exactly what we needed! My mother-in-law watched the kids for a few days and I think they were pretty good. 

Our stay there was pretty low key. Good food, a spa day, and a lot of time to just talk. We played tennis together one morning and that was a blast. That's a sport we are trying to take up and become better at! It's just so fun and something we can play when we are all old and wrinkly...

We feel so blessed for everything we have been given. So thankful for our friendship and the cute kids we have. 

Year 5 will be a good one with the addition of a new baby, a new outlook on the job we have and a refreshed view on our marriage. 

Target Trips are Exhausting

This week has been pretty long for us-trying to stay positive :) 

Today we went to Target...again to look for some blankets/throws. I'm trying to start a collection for photos but also to have around the house. Maybe in a cute basket or something like that...

There was a time in our life when taking these 2 to the store was actually no big deal. I kind of liked it. Now we have a 3 year old who doesn't like to sit in the cart AND he loves to run around and grab all of the books, toys and clothes he wants. I try to avoid these spots at all costs...but somehow they always find us. 

Today it was a Paw Patrol piggy bank that caught his attention. He grabbed the bank and ran straight to my purse to try and find money. He then proceeded to say, "Mom! Thank you so so much for my bank! I love it." (I was not planning on buying it nor did I) He just knows how to assume the sale. Honestly though if I could and if I knew it wouldn't damage him...I would buy him anything he wanted, but for now it just get's added to next years birthday list. But I do know how he feels to see all of his favorite things in one awesome store. (I have to hold back too buddy and add things to my birthday list next year.) 

Laney doodle is just a sweetie pie at this stage. Except for when she screams all day and drives her older brother nuts. It's not the crying screaming...it's just high pitched yells that make us all want to run for the hills. Since Crew hates loud noises (especially unexpected) he decides to scream back...because that's how you solve problems. Then she screams back and laughs. Then he is even more mad. It's a little cycle we go through a few times a day...sometimes it's funny. She's already mastered driving him crazy. 

I'm honestly so surprised with how much she can handle him too! He will tackle her to the ground and roll around. I cringe because I swear her arms are going to be crushed...but she giggles the entire time. She even throws herself onto him again. IF she is sandwiched between two brothers then I know she can handle it. 

(we are already saving $$$ for this girls braces-not. Her teeth are way too cute but ya, some braces will be in order for sure.)

I love these little people. It's hit me a lot this week with how fast time has gone and how fast I have grown up! I'm already a mom to 2 almost 3 kids-and have been married for as long as someone is in high school for. It's super weird to truly think about. It just makes me want to bottle up my kids and never let them leave my sight.

You can probably bet that these pictures are getting blown up and put on one of the many blank walls in this house because I just love them too much. 

Fall is in the Air!

I had plans for this long detailed post about what we have been up to the last few days but I'm honestly too exhausted. 

We bought a pass to a local farm for the month of October and it was the best purchase yet. The kids love it and the weather has been so nice the last few days. 

Grateful for good good friends that live around the corner from me. 

Our kids are literally the same ages and love playing together. 

I need friends close by to hang out with a lot especially when the mister is out of town again...

Here are some photos I snagged at the farm. 

It's so hard not to get down on myself about photography--but I have come along way in the year that I have pursued it. Can't wait to see where I am next year. Progress feels good...just gotta stop comparing myself to others who have been doing it for years!

Anyways--it was a good day. We are tired around here a lot, and almost everything smells like toddler (aka pee) in our house. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant...or maybe it's because it truly smells like pee. HA! That's 3 year olds for you.

Hopefully I will get around to documenting the important events that have happened soon! 

Plan on us being here everyday of this month!