It seems not everyone is involved in the world of social media, and while it's a great way for us to keep up until blogging can return to some regularity, it also leaves many people not on social media waiting for the ever elusive, few and far between posts on here. With those not keeping up with us there it seems word has still made its way around in the blogging world, friends, and family. The most popular question in life right now seems to be.....
...is baby 13 really on the way???
In order to curb the intense curiosity I thought it time to let the world of bloggerdom know...
...the rumor is true.
Baby 13 is indeed growing along at a rapid rate. I waited to announce this news for many reasons...primarily being that it took me quite awhile to wrap my head around the reality of this new one. What has worked for an entire year with very good results suddenly did not work so well one month and we received the shock of a lifetime about 8 wks later when a pregnancy test glowed neon.
You'd think after 12 there's just not much shock factor to be had in this area of life...but indeed this was more of a shock than any other pregnancy, sans receiving news of twins.....twice! And while we knew we eventually wanted to make our crazy crew into a baker's dozen we definitely knew this was not exactly optimal timing, by any means.
So, despite our best efforts, 2 different forms of birth control, and a year's worth of everything going along according to plan, this baby's time to come into existence is now.
But I have lived long enough to know that there is always indeed a greater plan of which I do not always immediately see the bigger picture. So, after many weeks of struggling with the reality of my seemingly perfectly laid out plan going "awry"....we have settled into a place of peace and balance knowing this baby has been perfectly planned since the beginning of time. I continue through school and we have reached a place of quiet contentedness as we anticipate sweet baby's arrival.
We did not discover our little surprise until I was already 2 months along. In the ultrasound room we expected to see a 5-6 wk fetus only to find a thriving, jumping, moving, entirely healthy, BIG 9-10 wk baby. Although we were shocked to find I was almost out of the first trimester I was also diagnosed with severe hyperemesis...a first for me...for which I was the recipient of about 4 liters of fluid. At 14 wks, with second trimester in full effect, the reprieve finally came and catching up with schoolwork began.
Of course, there is always negativity that can surround such news. Some family continue to believe that irresponsible behavior and utter calamity has stricken again while others embrace the news with enthusiasm. How GRATEFUL we are for the friends and family and the expanding world of blog readers that surround, encourage, support, know our children well, and express their EXCITEMENT for our family.
The good news is that ultrasounds continue to show a thriving healthy baby right on target for a much earlier due date than expected.
We have decided that this is definitely going to be a SURPRISE baby!! So....if you wanna know gender you're gonna have to hang around until May!
AND I suppose with little 13 now on the way it's about time I tell Lillye's birth story. With a wild and crazy labor, the rupturing of water at the most inopportune place, and a hurried drive to the birth center...I kinda never got around to writing out her story. So yeah...I should do that.
In the meantime....the picture journey of Baby 13. Due in May.
20 weeks!
The half way milestone! And yes...it is just 1. Confirmed 3 times over now. :) Only 10 lbs gained so far!
The old faithful trusty jeans stashed away for comparison pics of every pregnancy. They've only been around for 11 yrs.
And here's lots more pics just for fun.
Football lovin' kids.
Thanksgiving day lunch!!! So maybe we cheated a little this year, celebrated and went out for the annual feast. Because none of us could imagine cooking a feast on this order of magnitude in the crazy confines of our tiny kitchen....and honestly....we all just needed a day off. So.....we took one!
The seasonal decorators. Thankful for a crew who goes into excited action, collaborates as a team, and gets the job done. With oldest two gone for the day this crew did pretty well....and were crazy proud of it....despite the bad attitude that hairbow girl has going on at the moment.
The annual making of the ornaments! L for Lillye-bug. She's just a little bit loved.
Before heading out on the town. The dog cracks me up. She wasn't technically supposed to be in the pic. But she saw everyone taking their place so she took a seat as well.
Her first year to be super excited over the tree. Squeals, laughs, tons of new words, and a lot of little girl happy.
All the uses for dollar store paper lanterns. Who knew.
Consumed in their own artistic wonderland.
Easy enough for the 11 yr old to mix and be in charge! Recipe to follow in a separate blog post.
