{slowed down}

I finally feel like life has slowed down for us for a little while, even with the holidays approaching. We've had two pretty low key weekends in a row and I'm not going to lie, I kind of liked not having any specific place to be or anything in particular that needed to get done. We've just kind of relaxed and worked around the house a little bit, enjoyed each others company, and got a few things done. And to be honest, with the cold weather that we've been having, who really wants to go outside anyways?! Not me! Although, Alexis spent quite a bit of the weekend with us and the kids did go sledding. (There really is a perk to having the high school football field right behind your house.) I didn't go sledding, but I went with them to watch them and took Drake with us, but we didn't stay out too long because he got cold fast. Poor puppy. But he needed some outside time. After a few times down the big hill, I shoo'd the kids to the smaller hill that is closer to our house and I took the dog home and watched them sled from the warmth of my living room couch. They were essentially in our backyard (if we had one) with only a chain link fence separating us. They had fun and I think it tired them out a little bit as well.

 

Overall I continue to feel alright. Not great, not horrible. Tiny man continues to grow and I'm feeling kicks and punches regularly now. The best part of my day by far. I sit and look at the belly and wonder how it can get any bigger and know that it is going to. How did I ever make it through my first pregnancy with Ayden. I don't think I'm a good pregnant lady, haha! I think one of the worst parts now is feeling so full all of the time and feeling like I can't get a full deep breath. The outcome is wonderful, the duration of the cooking, I'll make it through... but I probably won't enjoy it as much as the next woman. But the weeks continue to fly by and I know that January is going to be here before I know it, then February, and March, and then April. Because seriously, time does fly these days! It seems like one week is just starting and before we know it, it is over! And usually I am all for time to slow down, but right now I'd rather it speed up a little bit. I am anxious to meet our little man, but I'll let him cook for a couple of months yet! For the time being, I'll live vicariously through my cousin who just had her baby last week and her sister who has a four month old and enjoy the pictures they share! I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I'll have children and not just Ayden. Another plus... I think Jay and I have come to a common consensus on a name. I'm kind of excited about that. I know it's a pregnant lady thing, but I find myself constantly rubbing the belly these days, just wondering about the tiny man floating around inside.

 

I finally broke down and purchase a pregnancy pillow. Best purchase so far if I don't say so myself. This thing is huge and I love it so far. It props me up in all of the right places and I don't have to wrestle with extra pillows or blankets all night long. I do tend to flop back and forth from side to side quite a bit during the night, but once again, I think that's a pregnant lady thing. One thing I wish we had at our current place was a master bathroom or another bathroom on the second floor. I tend to get up at least twice during the night to go to the bathroom and I can imagine that that is only going to get worse and it's quite the haul to go all of the way down the stairs at 2am. Thankfully, at this point the dog has stopped whining every time I come down stairs so I'm not feeling quite as bad, haha!

 

Speaking of Drake, he continues to do well at our house. He is growing like a weed and we are getting better at this potty training stuff. We still have accidents in the house, but fewer and fewer. I couldn't ask for a better son or husband to help take him out when they are home, especially in the winter weather. Even after a month and a half of having the dog, Ayden has yet to really complain about taking him outside to go potty (and people, it's not warm in Wisconsin right now, so that means, putting shoes and a coat on every time). And the little man continues to help! He is going to be such a great big brother... I just know it! He is SO helpful and such a great kiddo! Sometimes I wonder how I lucked out with him! Don't get me wrong, he is certainly not perfect all of the time... his toy room is a MESS right now and has been for the last several weeks, but for the most part, he's great! Sometimes in the last few months I've felt like I haven't been the best mother that I could be to him because I've been so out of sorts, but then something will happen and I know that I'm doing everything right. And sometimes, I just sit and stare. I have a nine year old... an almost nine and a half year old. How is that even possible? How have I had a child for the last nine and a half years?! I mean, really... it is just crazy! We made it through the newborn stage, we made it through the toddler stage, we made it through kindergarten... hell, I'm going to have a freaking middle schooler! Um, NO! Haha!

 

Okay, now that I've probably just re-written everything I've written in the last how many blog posts over again for the umpteenth time...

 

CIAO! LOVE ME!