Who is that girl?

So for fun, my family encouraged me to "yearbook myself." This is what I would have looked like if I graduated in the year 2000. It would be pretty similar to myself if I had bangs. What do you think?

Going back a ways....here is 1960.

1972

How about 1984?

Ryan said he wouldn't have married me if I looked like this back when we met. Here is 1994!

The Big Girl Bed

Ever since we found out that we were in need of the crib for baby Kaden, we've been hyping up Abby's new big girl bed. We bought some really cute bedding while my Mom was here visiting and Abby LOVES her new bed... although she actually hasn't slept in it yet. I'm a little nervous for that. She's been struggling the last few days with taking naps in her crib. I'm just afraid that the moment she's out of her crib, it'll be all fun and games and no more naps. Josh was the same way. No more naps once he hit 2 years old. Scary thought. We bought a door lock so I guess if she does decide to play and not sleep, she can have an hour of quiet time in her room. I need the hour if nothing else. Wish me luck!

First Day of School

I love the first day of school. It's like only one of a few days a year that the boys actually get out of bed without complaining. In their defense, I don't like getting up at 6:20 either. We're not morning people around here.

We met with the boys teachers last night. Josh starts 2nd grade with Mrs. Brooks and Ethan in 1st with Mrs. Buckner. Both of their classrooms are outside in portables so they might see each other every now and again.

So this morning I was trying to take a picture before we headed down the street for the bus and Josh wouldn't smile. Then he would squint. Then he would make a funny face. I told him to smile normal but he said that he didn't know how. 2nd graders! So not the best of pictures but at least you can see what they looked like on their first day of school!

I hate not knowing

So you'd think that this being my 4th pregnancy and all, I would have everything all figured out. Such is not the case. Last night while Ryan and I were at the movies, I was starting to have the worst backache. Sure, I can attribute that to sitting in the same spot for 3 hours...it was a long movie. But then I starting having cramps and contractions along with the back pain. So, I'm sitting there thinking "is this it or not really?" Once we were in the car, I started timing them and they were coming 5 mintues apart. I've been reading up on babycenter.com all about braxton hicks contractions since I've been having tons and tons for weeks and weeks. Plus, I tend to have babies a little early so it's always good to be prepared. Let me just say that I don't feel prepared. I just want a baby on a schedule. Induce me and I'll be fine. I don't want the wondering and waiting. After a while, the contractions slowed down so we were all good. I guess that I was a little sad, but a little more relieved because I'm not prepared. I pray every night that I won't go into labor during the night because I don't want to have to call my neighbor to watch the kids. Of course she said that she was more than willing day or night, but still...who really wants to wake up their neighbor at 3:00 in the morning?

So I go into the doc on Monday and Ryan says that I MUST come out with a date to be induced. That will surely end all the wondering. That's the way that I like it.

The Big 10

Holy Cow! Yesterday was our 10th anniversary. Have we really been married that long? It sure doesn't seem like it. I've got a picture on my bedroom wall with a bunch of our engagement pictures in it and I don't look any different. Same old Mary. Same smile, same hair style, same everything. Maybe that's why everyone everywhere always asks me if this pregnancy is my first. I just look young still. I feel young still. Ryan definitely has changed. I'm sure that his body reminds him that he's not the young newly married 22 year old whenever he goes to play basketball. He's filled out. Being married does that to you! But I love him just the same. Doesn't he look so handsome in this picture?

We celebrated yesterday by having a nice big breakfast. I'm all for cereal and milk on most days. Truthfully told, I probably pulled out the pancakes, eggs and bacon because we were low on cereal. But I'm not sure if Ryan knows that or not! We followed up with a trip to the store, eating out at Olive Garden with the kids, and a night out watching Batman at the movie theater, happily paying a babysitter for the evening. Sure turned out to be a wonderful day all around.

Sleeping children

I thought I would send these pictures because they represent the oddest places that I've found the kids asleep. Ethan usually drops where ever he is tired. At the computer, the dinner table, my rocking chair. I think that I found him under the table once too.
Josh, on the other hand, doesn't just crash where ever. He is a night owl like his daddy. He can stay up past midnight and still complain when it's time for bed. In this picture, he decided that he didn't like always sharing a room with Ethan so he made his own "room" in the kitchen island cupboard. He brought some clothes, his pillow and a few toys. That night Ryan and I were on a date and when we came home, our babysitter pointed out that Josh had fallen asleep in his new room! Quite uncomfortable. He claims that he was faking asleep while I took the picture, but he was OUT!
Lastly is Abby. She, like Josh, usually doesn't just drop when she's tired. She just gets cranky. One day she was being too quiet so I decided to investigate. Whenever things get too quiet at my house I start to worry. It took awhile to find her, but I had to laugh when I saw her.

Testing, testing. 1..2..3..

So this is the test picture. Not a great representation of the family since we're missing Abby, but that's about how I look now with with baby #4. Quite large and very uncomfortable. You notice the grimace on Ryan's face? Does he not like his family? Does he hate having his picture taken? Actually, he went fishing the night before with his brothers and he came home swollen up from allergies. Let's just say that he wasn't too happy about having to pose for a family picture feeling as crappy as he was feeling.

Umm, this is harder than it looks

OK! Blogging looked easy. Some even said that starting a blog was no big deal at all. I'm starring at the website not sure what I'm doing or how to add this or that. Geez, my blog might be boring and no fun at all. I need a blogging tutor. I guess we'll experiment in the next coming days. Considering the boys go back to school in a week, I should have free access to the computer. Right now I have to fight them for it.