Baby Update: 37 Weeks

Today I am 37 weeks. 

I have officially carried this baby longer than I carried the boys (who were delivered at 36 wks. 6 days). 

3 weeks from today, a little after 7:30a.m., I will get to see the face of this sweet baby.

I am so excited to meet her.

I am so excited to hold her.

I am so excited to start this next chapter in our lives.

I have some anxiousness too...

becoming a mother to 4,

the c-section & recovery,  

the lack of sleep a new baby brings,

meeting the needs of my children.

But, I am ready!!

As of last Thursday, she was head down but not yet engaged.

I am still not dilated or effacing.

I go again on Thursday, we'll see if there is any changes.

From last week to this week, it looks like she's dropped a bit and I am sticking out farther. 

Matt's hoping we make it until our scheduled c-section,

but I'm ready when she is!!!

Baby Update: 36 Weeks

Well, it's official.  I'm in the home stretch of this pregnancy. 

At the most, we have 28 days left until we will be holding a sweet, fresh, brand-spankin' new baby girl!!  Last week at my appt. my doc checked me and I wasn't dilated or effaced yet.  I'm now scheduled to go every week until she's born.   We're still doing great!!  I'm happy with the amount of weight I've gained this pregnancy.  She's still moving and groovin' in there...lots.  I swear she's never still.  She's starting to bulge out in weird places, but it's been fun to try to guess her body parts as she's bulging!!  The kids are thrilled to meet her & so are we!!!  My nesting urges are kickin' into high gear.  I think I have most everything that I want done before she's born checked off my list....well, maybe cleaning baseboards, staircase, and a deep clean of the master bath is still on there.  Maybe I'll get to that this week!! :)  I've made 3 freezer meals so far to keep for once she's born.  I still have three more meals I'd like to make. 

 Here's a comparison from last month to today...

I think it's safe to say I'm stretching out that shirt to the max!!!

Happy Monday, Friends!!!

Baby Girl's Nursery

After dragging my feet on decorating the nursery and changing my mind two weeks ago, we've made lots of progress on Baby Girl's (who still doesn't have a definite name) nursery.  Matt repainted the walls a soft grey, I ordered bumper pads, bought curtains, rods, and pink finials.  My mom helped me out and made some pennant banners, a throw pillow and a dust ruffle and she had our glider pads re-upholstered to match.  I made a bow holder for all her little pretties....

I can describe her room in one word...

L.O.V.E.

I just love this room!!!

I still have a few small projects to whip up...but for the most part, it's done.

I need to paint & put up a few small bookshelves, make a pom-pom mobile for above the glider, and put her name or monogrammed initials above the crib (once we decide on a name)....but I'm so happy with the way it's turned out!!!

Taffy the Penguin

A few weekends ago, Jace got to bring home Taffy the Penguin from school.  He's their classroom friend.  Every child gets to bring him home for the weekend, in a special bag filled with Taffy's favorite books.  Jace was so excited to bring him home.  He isn't much of a "cling to a stuffed animal" type, but with Taffy it was different.   He had so much fun with this little fella.

 He played with him non-stop.  He took him in the backyard and rode bikes with Taffy.  He even took him to the dentist for a check up!!!

And every night, Taffy slept soundly in bed with Jace.

He was a bit sad to take him back to school after the weekend was over.  But, there is good news!!  Taffy will get to come to our house again when it's Quinn's turn to bring him home!!

M.I.A.

I've been MIA for a few weeks, I know.  Matt even told me I need to get "on my blog because it's been too long".  The thing is, I haven't felt too exciting lately.  I've been preoccupied with a few things...like, with this tummy that feels like it's going to burst at night, getting all my ducks in a row before baby sister makes her appearance, returning/exchanging Christmas presents....you know, fun stuff like that!  I'm going to ramble a bit here, so if you're into rambling....keep reading!!!

I am almost 35 weeks pregnant.  I have a c-section scheduled for 2/20.  So, at the most I have 35 days left of being a mommy to three little ones.  I'm very excited to hold this sweet girl.  She still doesn't have a name, though.  I have a strong feeling that she wont make it until my scheduled delivery.  She moves CONSTANTLY and pushes out so hard that I swear she's going to rupture my water one of these days.  With Mackenzi, my water broke at 38 weeks.  With the boys, I went into labor at 36 wks 6 days.  If history repeats itself, we'll be seeing her before February 20th.  Hopefully not on 2/19 though, that's Jace & Quinn's 4th birthday.  I'm hoping to spend that day with them and not at a hospital!!  But, It's out of our control, so what happens...happens!!  I've started packing my hospital bags.  I'm hoping to make some freezer meals for my postpartum days.  I've been busy trying to get February "things" squared away so that I'm not stressing if she comes early....Valentine's Day presents/projects, the boys birthday party things & presents, etc.

Matt thought I lost my mind last week. Let me explain...

 From the time I found out we were expecting, I had a pink and grey nursery set in my mind...just in case it was a girl.  Then, one day on a whim, I saw some bedding at the store and loved it.  I had a one day only coupon, so I bought it.  Matt painted the nursery an eggshell color to match and I put the bedding on the crib.  The nursery stayed undecorated besides the bedding and furniture for over a month.  I couldn't find any inspiration or motivation of what I wanted to do with her room. I decided it was because I really wasn't happy with the bedding. So last week, I packed the bedding up and took it back.  We're back to square one and Matt is re-painting the room grey for me this weekend.  What a guy, right?!?  I just love him!!  This week, I have been on a mission for decor/bedding for the nursery.  The bumper pads should arrive next week, the knobs on the dresser are changed, the material for the dust ruffle, bow board, and pennant banner are bought.  I am going today to get the curtain rods.  Once the paint is complete, we can start hanging things and putting it all together.  I'm thrilled.  I think it's going to look adorable!!! 

The kids have been playing SO nicely together lately.  They run through the house with their imagination running wild.  Wild animals, hot lava, or bad guys are constantly chasing them and they save each other non-stop.  They are enjoying the weather and the backyard.  We received a new patio cover for a Christmas present (WE ARE SO EXCITED and LUCKY) and they've been enjoying the shade of the patio.  They are always running around out there, riding their bikes, playing catch or driving their remote control cars back there.  Mackenzi just brought home a progress report from school and did OUTSTANDING on it.  Out of everything they tested (math-vocab concepts & number recognition, Sight words, ability to write upper/lowercase letters, and much more) she only missed 1 thing.  She wrote "30" like "03".  Other than that she would have had a PERFECT report!  She was above the benchmark on everything tested.  She's one smart cookie, we're very proud of how she's doing in school!!!

Matt's helping a friend move some furniture this morning.  The kids slept in and just woke up and are requesting donuts....so I think were off on a donut run!!  Hopefully I will find the time/motivation to update my blog with something exciting (and include some pictures) soon!!! 

Have a lovely weekend!!!!

Big Bear Getaway 2011

Every year, right after Christmas, Matt's family gets a cabin in the mountains for a few nights.  Sometimes they choose Mammoth or Tahoe, but the last few years it had been in Big Bear.  We were fortunate enough to join them for a few nights.  We've had some really warm weather lately, so there wasn't much snow, but the kids still had a blast.  We took them to a tube-park for a few hours.  Matt braved the lines and took the kids one at a time down the tubing hill.  Jace didn't want to try it at all, but Mackenzi and Quinn had a blast.  We had a great time enjoying the company of family and friends (they rented a HUGE house so there were LOTS of people there too).  Here are some pictures from our trip.

Jace & Daddy

Quinn

Quinn & Kenzi

Ringing In The New Year

For the fourth year in a row, we spent New Year's Eve with our closest friends at the Ware's house.  They throw a rockin' p.j. party.  Kids and Adults alike have a super fun time!!  The adults chatted the night away while the kids ran wild!  Dance Party (on the Wii), toys, and food were all enjoyed. 

Time for silly faces

 We celebrated New Years at 9:00 p.m. for the kids.  They had fun screaming, banging pots and pans, & running around the front yard with their streamers and blowers. Then we put the kids to bed.  All the Daddys and Mommys enjoyed talking about our resolutions, playing cards, and games.  

2012 will bring two baby girls.  Our c-sections are scheduled 2 days apart. 

 And just for a little comparison, this is what our kids looked like at the first annual New Year party celebrating 2009.

 We spent new years day playing in the yard with our favorite friends and enjoying the beautiful weather.  We feel so fortunate to have such a special group of friends with kids of the same ages of ours.  We always have such a blast hanging out with them.

Happy New Year from The Rogina Family!!!

Baby Update: 32 Weeks

Here I am at 32 weeks.  I can't believe that I am this far along.  (I'm actually 33 weeks now) I have (at the most) 48 days until we meet our baby girl for the first time.  I have a c-section scheduled for February 20th.  I'm not sure I will actually make it that far, so we'll see!!  I'm feeling pretty good.  I'm having some minor aches and pains that I never experienced with my other two pregnancies.  Achy back, restless legs, achy hips, LOTS of ligament-stretching cramps...to name a few.  Nothing too serious.  She still moves around like CRAZY, I swear this girl never sleeps.  Every night when I lay down for bed, she thinks it's party time...tap dancing in my belly.  Hopefully that isn't a preview of how she'll act once she's born!!  She still doesn't have a name.  We are having a really hard time deciding.  Her name will either be Ashtyn Richelle or Bentley Reese.  The kids all like Bentley.  Most people have told me that they're voting for Bentley....so we'll see! We may just have to see her face before we decide!!

Here is a comparison from last month to this month.

 

Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  Our festivities started out mid-day on Christmas eve.  We got all dressed up and went to church with Matt's family. Then, we headed over to my sister's house to celebrate with my family.  We visited with cousins, played, had a wonderful dinner and opened some presents. 

 When we got home, we put on our Christmas jammies and set out cookies and milk for Santa.  We read T'was the Night Before Christmas before going to bed.  The kids were so excited for Santa to come.  They woke up to stockings filled to the brim and exactly what they asked for.  The boys wanted "the real" McQueen Remote Control Car and Mackenzi wanted a big girl bike with NO training wheels.  They must have been good this past year because they got it!!!

 Matt's Mom came over for breakfast and we opened some more presents.  It's nice that she comes to our house on Christmas morning.

 After we got dressed, we headed to Matt's parents house where we opened more presents and visited for a few hours.  We finished off the day at Matt's Uncle's house for dinner.  What a day!!!

We were very busy but we enjoyed every minute visiting with everyone who is so special to us.  We are so lucky to live so close to our families and that we can celebrate with everyone we love!! 

Angel, Angel, What do you see??

The boys participated in a holiday performance at their preschool.  It was called "Angel, Angel, What do you see?" and it was adorable.  I was so surprised that they went up there in front of a HUGE crowd of people and sang.  Sure they played with their ties, played with their friends, and spun around...but they were still adorable!!!