On the Verge...

Some friends of ours brilliantly and graciously offered to organize an exercise time for our 3-5 year old kids each week. At first I wasn't sure that it was something else I wanted to add to my list of things I had to try and do each week, while feeling less and less like I could really go anywhere.  But then they offered to come and do it at our house. So we readily agreed. Today was the first day and Randall (our Crossfit expert, cool uncle housemate) and Ken (our athletic, swimmer friend) supervised a short Crossfit kids workout for Siena (5.5), Luca (4) Augie (3.5), and Abram (3). George and Selah (almost 2) were there and tried to do some of the exercises, but for the most part we just tried to keep them out of the way of the other kids. It was a big success! The kids attention spans are obviously pretty short, so it's not like a real Crossfit workout at all, but I think it will really help their coordination and instruction following abilities as we continue. Stre...

Since the beginning, we knew that Simon's due date might be off.  It is being calculated the traditional way, assuming the timing of everything the first month was pretty standard.  But we knew that it wasn't.  That's how we accidentally (yet excitedly) ended up with him to begin with.  Based on the actual  timing, he would be almost one week older than the predicted due date would indicate.  But no one (me or my doctor) have been quick to change the due date because a) he was measuring almost exactly with his due date up until this point and b) we didn't want to get my hopes up for an earlier delivery and then be disappointed if he went later. Then, this last "32 week" ultrasound was measuring him at 33 wks 4 days - abdomen, 33 weeks - head, and 32 weeks - femur.  So he was averaging out to around 33 weeks and the ultrasound tech thought I was farther along than predicted.  But my doctor said she still didn't want to change my date, just to be...

Poor Simon Smith. His big brother and sister have had so much written here about them, both outside and inside my body, and I am able to look back and compare and reminisce whenever I want. But I have barely posted anything in the last few months, especially about him. I attribute this to: 1. A lack of time. Having two kids under three and living in a different country which requires me to cook more, clean more, and overall DO more than I had to while I was pregnant with either of the other two leaves little time to blog. Or shower.  2. Feeling huge. I haven't been anxious to take and share pictures of myself with this dude because I've felt waaay bigger at any given point this time around than with the others. That makes sense, though. Everything has already been stretched to 38 week baby size, so why wouldn't it get there faster this time?  3. Being exhausted. It's the having more to do, but it's also that I've been more tired this time around and end up needi...

It's 5:30am. Let me do a quick recap of our day today: 8:00am - Abram, Quinn and I wake up 9:00am - Selah wakes up 10:00am - leave for Dubai with Quinn's dad and his suitcase 11:30-7:30 - Do lots of walking around malls in Dubai, looking at stuff, no one sleeping even one wink of a nap, changing blowout poopy diapers with freshly purchased diapers because I have my child's regular pooping figured out, but did not plan for anything out of the ordinary, heave myself into car with frequent, strong, and regular Braxton Hicks contractions wondering if we will be taking a trip to the hospital after the airport.  7:30-8:30 - Stuck in Dubai traffic, Abram falls asleep, Selah squealing and crying because she is so over tired, mcontractions slowing down.  8:30 - Drop Quinn's dad off at airport 3.5 hours early for his flight (poor guy). 8:30-10:30 - Drive home. 9:00 - Selah finally falls asleep.   10:30 - Seamlessly transfer sleeping kids into bed. 11:00 - Fall asleep.  1:30 - ...

It's that time of year again!  Abram's birthday, Thanksgiving, and... Nana's birthday!!! Here is a special message from your favorite (at least for now) grandson, Nana: We really do hope that you have a greeeeeeaaaaat day.  Gotta go.

We celebrated Abram's third birthday today. It is November 17th here, but technically he won't have been on the outside world for three years until 1 am on November 18th because of birth time and time zones. So I can still say he's on the verge of three. Today was an epic adventure of a day for our three year old and his sister. We started out at Build-a-Bear. His grandma and grandpa (GiGi and Boppa) have just arrived for a visit and they have been talking about doing Build-a-Bear with Abram since he skyped with his cousin who had done one a few months ago. Abram eventually chose a lamb and dressed him in a Superman costume and Selah chose a bear and we put a sparkly pink tutu and sequin bow on her for our girl with a new found love for dancing attire.  They both love their animals (who Abram named Leon and Mya) and I have glitter all over me from Mya's tutu. So overall, a success. Then we had lunch at Ikea and bought a few necessary items for our guest room. A...

It's 1:30am and I can't stop thinking about how God is so good. So I thought I'd write about it and then go to sleep. God is SO good. Even through bed bugs. And having to throw away furniture. And hand foot and mouth. And lack of sleep for the whole family and just overall busyness. I am overwhelmed by the blessings in my life right now. I can't begin to doubt that He even uses the hard things to show us His faithfulness. These are a few of the things I am thankful for right now (think of it as a big chunk of "30 days of thankfulness" a little late): - Mr. Unexpected Simon is getting so strong and feisty in there at 19 weeks. Loving him and getting more and more excited to meet and hold him every single day. - Quinn's parents coming for a visit in 8 days. Love those people and excited to see them after over a year. - Friends from our church in Austin coming to visit and going on an adventure to the Dubai Creek and spice souk. Then for a ride on t...