Happy Mother's Day to me. 

If it weren't for these little people of mine I wouldn't be celebrating this day. 

They made cards for me with words like 

"If all the moms got together you'd be the best" 

and 

"I love helping you". 

I love being their mommy. 

And I'm thankful for Adam who makes my job as a mommy a little easier.

He was up early this morning making wild rice soup, 2 salads, dessert, breakfast sandwiches and ironing clothes for the boys.  

What a guy.

 I feel very blessed. 

Cruisin'

Its been awhile....a LONG while since Adam and I took a REAL trip by ourselves. Yes, we had overnight type get aways sprinkled over the last 4 years but that was it. When we went to Chicago I swore to vacation with my hubby more often but such has not been the case. Having and taking care of babies keeps one verrrry busy and I hate to leave my kids before they are two. SO, Megan turned two and we were outty!

(I was also 20 weeks prego and therefore needed to squeeze a trip in 

before this little girl rocked our world!)

We got up at about 3:30 in the morning to get ready to catch our 6:30 flight to Long Beach airport. Too, too early but at least our flight was cheaper...

This was mine and Adam's first cruise and we were super excited. I was really anxious about leaving our kids and embarking on this new adventure but when I saw new home away from home docked at Long Beach harbor, I was very excited. This trip was about 8 month in the making. We were invited by Jason and Kim Bailey and we are so glad they did. I don't think we would have done it on our own. We'd joked with some other friends that for 10 year anniversaries we would go on a cruise but never really got anything planned. This was perfect since yes, we are celebrating on 10th THIS year.

Pulling away from the dock to start our 7 day/night trip to Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

We only had 3 days on land (2 ports) during our cruise so we and our friends did our best to get involved in the ship activities during our "fun days at sea". Adam really got into it by wearing blue eye shadow for a picture scavenger hunt. Unfortunately, it was all for not. We still (unfairly) lost the game. :(

Adam also auditioned for a part in a show on the ship. We were up until midnight. This was late for this 20 week prego mama! In fact, I'm not sure why I look so perky in the pic above.

Some of our friends and Adam participated in a game show. Mike and Megan won a coveted golden "ship on a stick" but alas, Adam lost. 

Karaoke was popular especially with my attention loving man. Here he is singing and grooving to Elvis's Jail House Rock getting the attention he craves from a very appreciative crowd. He got stopped on the ship a few times by people who recognized him from karaoke.

Us girls sang Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. As you can see from our stiff posture, we are having SO much fun....

Day one in Cabo

We mostly just hung out on the beach and enjoyed the scenery. The guys rented wave runners but I wasn't about to put my pregnant body on one. The water was really choppy and cold. So I got myself a big umbrella and sat myself down in the shade with my friends.

Day 2 in Cabo

I fell in love...

I love tigers so when I was told I could go catch a glimpse of a BABY tiger I just followed. Turns out, Megan is a big fan herself. Of course when we got there all they would allow us to do was look. No touchy. No pictures. Just LOOK. After seeing these precious babies I needed more. So for a small fee (of course!!) of $25 we both got to hold the sweet little baby girl tiger. It was a neat experience and I'm glad I got to have it.

Lover's Beach

I regret not taking an excursion to spend some time there. It was beautiful especially in real life.

We took a snorkeling excursion out to a little cove. We only got to snorkle for about 20 mintues and then we had lunch on board. I was sad not to snorkel longer even if it took major courage on my part to jump in because the water was really cold. Have I mentioned that the water was cold?

The girls.

Puerto Vallarta

This was our favorite day because we got to do a lot more exploring.

We started our day off with 13 ziplines through a lush river valley. They don't allow pregnant women on the tour but I was feeling rebellious and just dared someone to question my pooch. (Side note: On our friends excursion, this actually DID happen and the woman wasn't even pregnant!)

Lunch at the end of our tour. It was some of the best food we had in Mexico.

There was a house for sale that was wide open for all to walk through. Including small rodents, bugs, whatever. It was very bizarre but interesting to see. Very different from the American real estate market.

After our zip line tour we met up with our friends and went on a city tour and hunting for churros. Yes, I said hunting because they aren't as easy to find in Mexico as you would think. But when we found them it was worth the hunt. They were so good if not ADDICTING!

On the busy, busy boardwalk.

One of many dinners with our friends.

This is only half the group since we had to divide between two tables.

A few of the many towel animals we were presented with every night. A few of them had us stumped and even made us blush. (see botton pic)

Adam and Cody. Not sure what is happening here...

I was pleased to find out that our room had a nice big window and not a porthole like I had originally thought. I was big enough for my big guy to stretch out in. And get a good look at the sunrise as well.

We had a really good time on our cruise and went with some really fun people but when it was over we were more than ready to get back to our babies.

Mama's Girl

To Megan, her shirt says it all.

She is one of three of my extreme mama's babies.

But she definitely takes the cake as the the worst.

She started at about the age of 2 months! Not even Daddy could hold her just right.

All I can say is, I love you too, baby girl.

{I bought the shirt before she was born. I hope I didn't jinx her...}

Oh Baby

I am now 3/4 of the way before before I get to meet my tiny girl. Despite the fact that I've felt sometimes extreme exhaustion (two little boys'll do that to you), mild insomnia (yeah, based on my afore mentioned problem, I don't get it either), typical pregnancy aches and pains, moodiness (this word doesn't do it justice), anemia (first time), *ahem* gas (we'll stop here), despite it all, I have enjoyed this pregnancy.

This baby girl is very active and always has some body part poking through my belly. Sometimes if I'm lying on my back I can feel her entire body. I can literally give her a massage because she is so close to the surface. This is so different from my boys so we mentioned it to my doctor. He said that my placenta is posterior this time which means it's in my back. There is nothing blocking me or anyone else from feeling every little thing she does. Its fun but the drawback is that any kicks to my ribs are felt more acutely. Something I never suffered with my boys.

She has had and will have a few extra ultrasounds because she has a little more fluid on her kidneys than is normal but my doctor isn't at all concerned. So we will just enjoy being able to see our girl a few more times before she is born.

She is measuring right on so it will be fun to see how big she ends up. Kyle and Noah both measured about two weeks big. They were both big boys.e still have a lot to do to prepare for her to come but we are waiting for the craziness of Christmas to end before we start the craziness of Megan. I'm looking forward to it.

Random iPhone Pics

These are pictures I have taken with my phone camera when I didn't have or had forgotten my regular camera. I always mean to download and blog them but just never have. Some of these pictures are priceless and NEED to be seen. So now you get to enjoy a random, conglomeration all at once!

One of my all time favorite Noah pictures. He looks like a little elf.

I believe this may have been the first time Kyle ever sat on Santa's lap (deaf center party). Poor deprived child.

'Nuf said. (This shirt is actually referring to Jazz player, Kyle Korver)

My hottie

Angel boys.

We went to a friends house and had some great ribs. Kyle shocked us by gnawing the bone CLEAN. We all had a good laugh. He sure doesn't take after me!

Cheese!!

So if I take a picture with my iPhone turned the wrong way this is what happens. And no, I can't simply rotate it. But these upside down pics are still so cute I had to post them. (If anyone knows how I can fix this, a quick comment in my comment box would be greatly appreciated.)

Even big boys like to bounce!

Noah and Reagan enjoying a good bounce.

The chubby Kyle I never had.

Cool dude.

Kyle's first trip to the dentist. Movies on the ceiling? Sa-weet!

Yum.

Wal-mart bikes are for sissies. Power Ranger bikes rock.

Beautiful brothers. It has been so fun watching these boys become friends.

Reagan, Noah and Ava. 3 of the 5

This elephant made Will a little nervous. Just another excuse to give each other a snuggle.

Hogle Zoo- Aug. 2009 @ the bird show

Noah, his name sake and their boat.

Ahhhhhh. Lily, Madison, Kyle and Noah

Kyle's first day of preschool.

Me trying but not really succeeding in taking a belly pic. About 15 weeks.

What can I say. These boys appreciate a good lovin'. :)

Lyndsee and Ernie

Kyle is in the middle of telling me just what he wants for Christmas. (Pretty much everything in the ad.)

Thanksgiving chaos. The toddlers were keeping us entertained with their dancing shenanigans. It was really cute.

I'm actually really grateful for my phone camera. I remember when they first came out with them, I thought they were lame but obviously I have now seen the error of my ways. There have been plenty of times where having my phone camera has saved my hide since I am good at remembering my phone but not my camera.

*These pics are in chronological order starting in Nov. 2008 to Nov. 2009