Ok, there, I said it.

I tried to think of a cute way to say it, but as a mom of three boys aged at 4, 2 1/2 and 14 months, a booming business, and a household to manage, I didn’t have the time or energy to come up with any cute teeshirts or fun little cards to send to people. I haven’t even gotten my Christmas cards out yet (though I do have a rough draft on our Christmas letter, and the family pictures are currently being printed…), and the gross bathroom mess that Patrick did on Saturday night? Let’s just say we locked up that bathroom and haven’t used it in several days. I will be getting to that today before I pick up Patrick from preschool and take him and Ethan down to the doctor for their shots, but as for the laundry, the backup on dishes, taking down the Christmas garlands and lights, and cleaning up the toothpaste mess in the other bathroom that the boys did yesterday?  I’m behind on life and pregnancy certainly isn’t helping anything!!!!

Normally I don’t like to share about my pregnancies until I’m at least 13 weeks and out of the first trimester, but for some reason I just had an urge to just break the news today and just get it over with. With Patrick I broke the news at 8 weeks, though some of you may not know that the reason it took me until 16 weeks to announce my pregnancy with Samuel was because I had a miscarriage in between those two boys. With Ethan we announced things at about 13 weeks, and this time I’m taking things a little soon and announcing at 11 weeks, 2 days. We have already had one appointment with my wonderful OB at 8 weeks, where we had an ultrasound and were able to see the baby and his/her heartbeat, and my next appointment is on Monday. I had originally planned to wait until after that appointment, but I’m getting so tired of trying to hide the news from everyone.  So, I’d appreciate prayers for Monday that we’ll be able to hear the heartbeat and that Baby #4 is doing well!

Anyone who was at church on Sunday night may have noticed that little pooch in front that I’ve had more and more trouble hiding. It was my first time in maternity clothes and, gosh, I looked FAT. Officially not fitting my normal clothes, and finding half my maternity clothes way too big, I’m at the awkward stage where I pretty much wish there was nothing wrong with going everywhere in lounge pants and a fitted tee. Last month was rough. Not only have I been dealing with strong morning sickness, but I’ve also had almost zero energy. I have never seen our house in such disarray as it’s been lately, and I even took the month off from the business to give myself time to relax and prepare for the holidays! In addition to being soooo sick during the mornings, when I’m not feeling sick I have a voracious appetite that will not be satisfied. I have never been this way before now. I will eat a big meal and be totally stuffed, but less than an hour later I will be starving hungry again. The instance that took the cake, however, was when the sisters, Andrew and I went out to get sub sandwiches at Jimmy John’s in Tacoma, and before we had even left the parking lot I began to complain that I was starving again. It’s been absolutely insane… but at least this time around I’m actually gaining weight, so it must not be too much of a bad thing. In my last three pregnancies, I had my doctors telling me for the first 20 or so weeks that I wasn’t gaining enough weight. Nope, I don’t think it will be a problem this time!

Well, I better run… I need to start working on business taxes for the state of Washington (yuck, yuck, yuck..) which are due by the end of the month.

Oh, I guess before I go I should mention the details though… Due July 26th (remember, Sam’s b-day is the 24th!), but Dr. Eun says to expect a late June/early July baby. My bet is July 1st, when I’ll be exactly 36 1/2 weeks, though if Baby #4 comes a day earlier, I’d appreciate it so I don’t have two July babies. Or, if baby really wants, he or she can also stay put until August. That would be fine too, though I somehow doubt that would ever happen. If baby is born at 36 1/2 weeks, it will put him/her and Ethan at 20 months apart. Patrick and Sammy are 21 months apart, and Ethan and Sam are 15 months apart. So, yes, I will have 4 kids under the age of 5 when this is all over. We are in sooooooo much trouble!!!!!

I’m so glad we found a good deal on a Rug Doctor on Black Friday!!!

Patrick helping Daddy with the new Christmas tree that we cut down

Watching as they trim the tree at the bottom

The boys enjoyed watching the tree get put through the shaker

All decked out… yes, the tree was too big this year yet again, and we could not squeeze the angel on top!!!

First snowfall of the year and the boys are timid in the snow

One of Sammy’s shoes after being out in the snow… he had snow platforms!!!

What Ethan did while his brothers played away: Sat at the door and expressed great displeasure that Mommy wasn’t letting him go out, too.

The Gingerbread house that Mommy and Patrick made together

Patrick is quite the character!!!

Our house in the snow

A nighttime walk in the snow with three boys and a brand new sled

The sled was a little squishy, so we ended up having the boys take turns :o)

Sammy held on to Ethan very well while they were in the sled together. Ethan loved it!

Our house, minus the snow

Kitchen decorations

Patrick carefully decorating cookies at Oma’s house

Sammy not so carefully decorating one (and only one) cookie at Oma’s house

And decorating his one cookie some more, accidentally spilling a bottle of red sugar crystals

Sammy and his cookie

The finished cookie- pretty gross, huh???

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering: While I normally like to get my Christmas cards out by the beginning of December, I won’t have them out until probably January this year. We decided to wait and do family pictures once the girls were home from Iowa, so we have our picture sitting set for Dec. 27th. Once we get the pictures done we’ll finally have those cards out on their way :o)