Tickled Pink

I am SUPER blessed with the best girl friends in the world! On Saturday they threw the sweetest PINK filled shower for C & I! I wish I had more pictures but the few I do have will do the job.

A pink tutu wreath welcomed the guests at the door,

a pink C adorned the table &

countless other pink treasures were scattered about. Mary Beth made these adorable pink dishes that had washcloths, bibs and little hats wound up in lu of ice cream and put her amazingly creative party planning touches every where.

Erin hosted the whole event in her beautiful home and made the most delicious chicken avocado salad that was a HUGE hit! (Everyone wants the recipe)!!!

I even heard they stayed up till like midnight one night making these little puff balls to hang from the chandeliers. Every little touch was adorable and...

delish!!!!

...they are seriously the greatest!

And this was me and you C, almost 36 weeks.

I am HUGE, and you must be ready to come out because I started having contractions when I woke up the morning of the shower and they continued the whole time. It was the only downer of the party! Ry took me to Labor & Delivery right after the party and we stayed there for a few hours listening to your sweet little heart thump thump away while I contracted. I eventually got released, put on moderate best rest and was forced to promise to come in Monday for some follow up. We would like at least 2 more weeks little girl to get those lungs ready!

Ryan and I were over whelmed at the generosity of our friends. C got loaded up on clothes, socks, some things for her room & I even got some nursing essentials for after the babe comes! God continues to blow us away with people in our lives to surround us and our children with love and kindness. We are very blessed and can't wait to welcome our daughter into our "family", blood and beyond!

Thanks Erin, Mary Beth & everyone else who made this such a sweet day!

Parents Day & Flash Backs

Every Thursday for the past 7 months we have found ourselves at soccer for Griffy. At the end of each session is a parents day and I am sure there are pics on the blog from previous ones. Griff finished out another session this week and what made this parents day SO special is that DADDY came!! Everyone was THRILLED, especially mommy who can no longer participate in the activities parents day requires. It occurred to me that this was my 3rd parents day pregnant. One for each trimester. The first one I did all the races and games and dry heaved in the bathroom afterwards. The second one, I did as good as a girl in the second trimester could do!

And this one I was way too preggers to do more than watch and wave, which I happily obliged! Thank you Daddy!

Ry & I were both very proud of G! He listened and did all the tasks he was asked to do and he has improved a lot! He of course LOVED the racing and game the best and even scored a few goals!

Daddy did great too, and I could tell he was in his glory playing with both his boys! I am telling you neither of them could ever get enough of playing with their dad!

And the whole time we were in that hot sweaty gym I kept having flash backs of a very young Ryan, who at the time was my boyfriend, playing intermurals with his college buddies. A LOT of time in college was spent playing or refereeing intermurals for Ryan, thus a lot of my time was spent either playing with him or watching him. At soccer the other day I couldn't help but hearken back to those days and I just wondered how big the smile would have stretched across my face then to know that someday this guy would be my husband and be playing in a hot sweaty gym with our boys. I absolutely LOVE it. My best day dreams back then couldn't hold a candle to this reality!

And this reality has energy, a lot of energy. What a ham! He was thrilled that the kids "beat" the parents in the ultimate challenge...the game of the century according to Griff. The kids earned the medals since they came out victorious!

And we loved play time all together!

TIME: Standing Still and yet FLYING BY!

It is now about the middle of March. In December I would have thought, WOW, that is so close to baby, almost there. Yet from where I stand now, it still seems FOREVER away. The phrase, "I can't do that until after I have baby C" is one I use over and over again to all 3 of my boys, poor guys. They are hanging in there though. We have doctors appointments and low key time at home and crazy errand days so we get done all of our "TO DOS" before baby. I know the weeks are flying but it also seems like time is kind of standing still until she gets here! Griffin said this morning that he can't wait until his sister is here! I was so relieved to hear not only that he isn't resentful (yet!) but he is also excited! He is such an easy going guy and I am lucky he just rolls with everything. In the midst of all things baby prep we have managed to find some fun things to keep us going as well. Here are just a few pics from my phone that give a small highlight of life lately. I've been bad at taking pictures and blogging but at least I have a recap stored in that little machine!

Here are the boys with Graham Tigulis, my best friend since Jr. High's little guy! Andrea & I try and get together as often as we can (which isn't nearly enough) but keep up through the more than occasional texts that always seem to start with, "if only you were my neighbor..."! They live in Indiana! It's always so fun to catch up & see our boys together, who would have thought!!???!!

Things at Griffin's school have also kept us rocking and rolling. We made pirate Valentines for his class this year and he had a blast at the party passing out and receiving cards!

He's also been super busy working on all his letters and for Valentine's Day he brought us home one of the sweetest things we'll ever receive on paper....

our first written "I LOVE YOU"! He's also doing awesome on his name! His teachers have sent home a few notes and told us how proud of Griffin they are for all the he has achieved this year, how great he is progressing & for what a good listener he is. It has made us very proud too! Now we just gotta get in those listening skills at home:)!

Last week in honor of the GREAT Dr. Seuss's birthday there was something fun each day! On Monday it was silly sock day, so naturally we made super hero socks and Griff wore his Green Lantern shirt (which by the way, is his FAV! He requests either this or his Bulls shirt everyday and is devastated when both are dirty!!)!

Wednesday was PJ day and I got to come in and help in Griffin's room! It was really fun to see him and his class in action and Friday it was hat day! We also had some green eggs one night after he read the book in class that day and had a very colorful chat about where the green eggs had come from!:)

And we got to see Coop in this last month a few times! His mom & dad were in and out of town for several wedding showers so we got in lots of good Cooper smiles. We love our cousin and can't wait to play more!

And lastly, I ran across this book and had to take a pic of it. I need to read it and let it soak in. I have realized that no matter how hard I try, one me isn't going to accomplish all that needs to get done in 24 hours. Especially when I add one more, so I am just trying to do and enjoy what I can. It isn't always easy to let things go, but some things just aren't as important as playing

"I SPY" and watching your boys laugh together! Here's to hoping the next few weeks go by smoothly and in the next few posts we have a baby!

Still Cooking Away

There are LOTS of signs pointing to the arrival of our newest member:

These came out of our wash the other day. A whole load of tiny pink things. I never thought I would see this in my laundry basket to tell you the truth, it makes doing laundry not so bad:)!

This is what I see when I look down, a giant belly (which now hits the steering wheel), with usually some little arm or leg poking out.

My week count down ticker is getting smaller, in fact it now says 5 (until 40 weeks)!!

My dear friend Marie knitted this ADORABLE little ray of sunshine for C and I just look at it every time I feel crazily trapped in this giant pregnant body and imagine dressing her in this!

Pink & orange, she knows us well!!

With my mom's help I girlied up the bassinet and it is all ready for her to snuggle up in next to our bed when we bring her home!

And I have hit that time in my pregnancy where I see a lot of the doctor's office. I see the perinatologist Monday's for an ultrasound & NST, the regular OB Thursdays for another NST & the endocrinologist in there every couple weeks to check blood sugars. These two here are my new best friends as I usually need some help to find her heart beat when I go in and ice water & coffee seem to help get her cha cha sliding in there...

Although she doesn't need much coaxing to get grooving, she's ALWAYS moving and poking out so we're never worried she's not still plugging away in there, it's just getting the machine to pick up her heart rate and for it to stay on long enough before she kicks herself off. Apparently with the combo of my placenta being in the front of my tummy and her sheer "stinkerness" we have a deadly combo for getting an easy NST done! But so far all looks good and she is growing wonderfully! At 30 weeks she was 4 lbs 8oz approximately & at the 34 week growth scan she was 6lbs 13oz. So she's going to give her big brothers a run for the money on the weight front. I had a 10lb 14ozer (Griff) & a 8lb 14ozer (Bean) so I am going for 9lb 14oz!

Other signs we're getting all cooked that I will not show pictures of...

-many of my shirts now let my belly jiggle out the bottom

-It is painful to eat, sleep, walk & breath

-It feels like a just ran a 10K getting up the stairs

-Rolling over in bed is also feels like a ridiculously vigorous exercise

-I am starting to make crazy deals with myself to motivate me to get through to the end

-I get asked numerous times per day if I am overdue, going to pop any second, or if I am having multiples...answer to all: NO!

No more than a month left any way I shake it and even though I will trade off for the sleepless haze of a mother with a newborn, I am ready to have my body back and this babe in my arms!

Suz, My Mom

This past week and a half hasn't been my favorite. It has been busy with "busyness" if you know what I mean. Plus, we've taken out stock in Kleenex, toilet paper & anything else around to wipe runny noses. I got the ever so common cold topped elegantly with a yeast infection, oh and did I mention that I am pregnant with a very LARGE baby?? Poor Beanie went to the doc only to come away with pneumonia, a double ear infection and medication that induces diarrhea. So we have that going for us. All this too say, I've been a little down. And you know what, suddenly my mom showed up. In the midst of several things going on in her life and not to mention the fact that I haven't been exactly the little ray of sunshine I am sure she would prefer, she asked me to text her my grocery list, came to my house to bring me them so I didn't have to go out & then took Griffin for the afternoon so Beanie & I could get some rest. I can't tell you how much I needed that. I feel so much better after an afternoon "off". My dad always says, no body loves you like your mom, and he's right. Who else can be there for you like that but your own mom??

My mom has her faults, just like we all do but sometimes I just can't believe how blessed I am to be her daughter. My mom is a gracious host and more generous with her time, talents & possessions than I can believe (when I feel like being selfish and stingy with things I ask myself, WHAT WOULD SUZI DO??). She is great at making people feel special, she is faithful, kind, a shelter for all of her kids. She loves our friends and their kids and their parents for that matter. She makes it to/has made it to as many activities and events over the years as possible, and there have been some real dosies...track meets in the pouring rain & badmitton (Ali:)!!). She's a volunteer, a helper & a good friend. She lives the importance of putting God and then my dad first. Not only that, she has always pushed me to extend to my fullest potential. She made me do and try things I totally didn't want to, and you know what...I liked most of them. She's not my problem solver, but she will pray and help me when I have a problem. She never let me give up on things just because they were hard. She never said, just come home and I will fix this, she always said, you can fix this and I will be there to pray along side of you. She raised me to be independent, to live on my own, to raise my own family in confidence. She let me go knowing that doing so would bless my life. She guided me in to adulthood, but I still love her and need her like a child at heart...and that I know will never change. She does little things for me that bless me all the time, just because...lunch out, water bottles & easy mac at her house stocked up for the boys & the occasional grocery run. I could run out my whole blog with stories and toasts to her.

For now, I will just say this. I am about to become a mom to my 3rd child. I have a lot on my mind about how it's going to go...can I love them all enough?, can I do this?, will it all come together?? I can already hear my mom saying, yes of course you can. And then in the beat of my own heart, I can hear myself saying yes you can, and you have a great example of how to do it. And you can because she gave you all the right tools, love, pushes & shoves where need be & confidence to live out your life the way God planned for you to.

Thanks mom. I really can't tell you how much I love you or how thankful I am to be your daughter.

My 30 year old Valentine...

2.14.12 marks 30 years since this photo...

and since this precious babe was born. Do you know who it is? This is the sweet face of the adorable little love bug, best buddy & husband!

and it just so happens that this little chubby cheeked bundle was born 6 days later (2 weeks late), you aren't surprised are you??

It's me! The future wife of that little boy above! It only took another 19 years for us to meet and spend a birthday together, and we haven't been apart since!

In honor of my hot little hubs 30 years of life I have made a list of 30 "facts" about him! Enjoy!

30. (all about my very own "he")

1. he has ridiculous enthusiasm for the small stuff.

2. he is a jack of all trades, including but not exclusive to pancake making, renovation, fixing anything i break, directions, keeping me from getting too worked up & knowing what it takes to make the us smile!

3. he is geek sheek. he loves super heroes, clothes, off beat yet cool music. (the avett brothers...ohhhhhhhh!!!!)

4. he has a wallet that gets washed way more than any wallet should, because he forgets to take it out of his pocket & I forget to check them before the wash.

5. he helps out with my crazy whim of projects, even when he doesn’t really want to.

6. he loves me even though I forget to put the lid on his toothpaste.

7. he likes to cook & always follows the directions!

8. he does amazing voices, LOVE when he reads to the boys.

9. he is patient beyond the call of duty with this little family, me especially.

10. he loves the packers, and even though this isn’t a redeeming quality to me, he is a true fan.

11. he has however, come around to some chicago sports and we do share a love of the bulls & the cubs.

12. he likes looking at fonts & decorating magazines (& LOTS of manly stuff too!)

13. he loves desserts and is always willing to make and eat them with me.

14. he gets up in the night to get me juice boxes when my sugar goes low without a thought and he will go get my supplies whenever i forget or just can’t go grab them myself.

15. he listens (or at least pretends really good), to all the days’ events that i love to document and tell in great detail, with a smile.

16. he loves the huskers, loves to wear red, and convinced Griffin to feel the same.

17. he prays with me and for me.

18. he is the boys’ favorite playmate and the sound of their wrestles is the best sound.

19. he’s dedicated to us no matter what.

20. he loves the summer and the lake.

21. 10 years ago this valentines day we ate our first piece of cheesecake together (just as friends…haha) for his birthday and we’ve done it every year since. i even attempted key lime cheesecake one year since we were going to florida right after (MAJOR flop) but he still appreciated the gesture!

22. that same year he brought me tulips for my birthday (in attempt to get me to ditch the “just friends” title and it started to work.)

23. that year we also spent easter together and i put a little note in a egg asking him to be my boyfriend, and he saved the paper saying, “I’m gonna show this to our kids one day!” and he will.

24. he is my best friend. i miss him when he leaves every morning for work. seriously.

25. he finds humor in my quirkiness and i find it in his, so we work.

26. he’s always up for an adventure.

27. he loves Jesus first.

28. he knows just how to encourage and coach.

29. he is always up for a party and convinces me I am too!

30. he is the answer to my prayers & the one I am sure God made for me to do life with on earth. life without him isn’t imaginable…there’d be no beat to my song or pumpkin to my pie.

I love you Ryan Patrick Eccleston. Here’s to many many more years of things to love & laugh about. Happy 30^th Birthday!

We got to celebrate with some friends and family last weekend and have many happy memories to carry us into the 30's! It's going to be a great decade, we can already tell! 30 and almost 3 kids...so hopefully "3" takes to us well!

Happy Valentines Day 2012!

Love our little buddies,

Griffin, Sawyer & Baby