Meet Crew...

 We are over the moon with share with you our third little blonde boy, Crew.  I can't believe it has taken me almost 7 weeks to update my blog, but 3 kids 5 and under its hard to keep the fridge stocked  and the laundry some what caught up.  Crew arrived two weeks before my due date.  I was trying to wait atleast three more days but I had the feeling he would come the weekend he did.  Everyone was on fall break...including my OB:)  My water broke at a bouncy house place which makes me laugh.  I called my husband who put me straight to voicemail.  So I loaded the boys up in the van and drove home!  David called me back and then met me at home.  I attempted to finish up packing my bag and found that David had already put it in the car.  I remember I "had" to put Bennett down for his nap before we left for the hospital.  I think I cried the entire time I sang to him knowing it would be his last moments as my "baby."  He loved being the baby and I loved babying him.  I then came down stairs and hugged Ethan bye.  He kissed my tummy and said "I can't wait to meet you baby!"  Yep- more tears!  In the meantime, David is sitting in the car anxiously waiting on me.  I think knowing its your last pregnancy and last baby...I wasn't in rush.  Yes,  I was exhausted from all the steroids I had been on, but I was soaking up all the sweet kicks.  

I was shocked to have a long, slow labor but overall everything went well.  My first thought after he was born was just how blonde he looked in the open bed warmer across the room.  He was one of the blondest babies I had ever seen.  Crew had to transition in the NICU for a few hours after he was born.  David stayed with him and I found myself alone for 2 hours just sitting in the dark.  It was the strangest 2 hours of my life.  Exhausted, concerned, elated, and everyone was asleep as it was in the wee morning hours.  I was dying to tell my friends and family about our newest sweet boy.  

Later that day my mom brought the boys to meet their little brother.  That was one of the sweetest moments.  We went home the next day and life never skipped a beat.  By the third baby you have a baby and two days later are in car rider line at school and making lunches.  

We have been blessed by our friends, family, and neighbors who have shown more love for us than one could imagine.  We are still over the moon to have three little boys to love on.

8 pounds 7 ounces, 21 inches

Ethan and Bennett meet Crew

in the hospital ready to go!

St. Thomas

We recently took a family vacation to St. Thomas.  I was so eager to sqeeze in a vacation before Kindergarten started (more on that later) and looking back I'm so glad we did.  We all loved St. Thomas!  You will see from the photos it was a boy paradise from all the snorkeling, sea life, sailboats, hobie cats, skim boards, paddle boards, boogie boards, and sea kayaks.  Ethan and David kept each other on the move, while Bennett and I took a more relaxed approach.  I was starting my third trimester and found myself a little more cautious since the island did not have a hospital.  Bennett didn't mind!  We have the more relaxed beach approach where as David and Ethan were all about conquoring the water!

In the photos above we found an 80 year old Wooden Sailboat, The Catania, and chartered it for a day.  The Captain was born on the boat and the closet thing to Jack Sparrow I'd ever seen.  He had sailed around the world on this boat with his parents and brother.  He now owns the boat and takes it out on private charters.  We had quite the day when the wind riped the sail right in half as our morning started.  No worries a good sailor always has a back up sail.  We snorkled off of two islands and had lunch on the boat.  The first mate(the guy with the dreads) kept us quite entertained with his islander stories.  

Ethan and David took these Hobie Cats out every day.  They loved sailing!  I enjoyed watching everyone else flip theirs over and getting rescued:)  Beach entertainment people!

Puffer fish caught by Dad

sea urchin caught a little too close to shore!

pool and ocean view 

Ethan made friends with two older boys who gave him a quick skim board lesson.  

Ethan was determined to learn to paddle board!  He did a great job.   

Dinner View

My beach boys!  

Bennett's first time on a sea kayak

hammock on the beach...yes please

We took an afternoon sail on this catamaran the Ritz owns.  Ethan showed everyone his snorkle skills as he decided to jump off the boat verses walking down the steps to snorkel in the middle of ocean.  He can snorkle and handle his fins better than most grown men we've learned!  Hopefully my gopro video will upload later!  

Last night!  

baby bump photos...

I can't believe I am two short weeks away {or less} from meeting this sweet baby boy.  Pregnancy was slow initially, but as soon as the morning sickness subsided it has flown by.  Unlike with my pregnancy with Ethan everything was documented week to week, I haven't with this one.  My sweet friend Tarrah took a few baby bump photos for us.  So here is what I will remember about this pregnancy:

CRAVINGS  initially- the more salt the better.  Now I just want milk:  cereal or french vanilla yogurt

KICKS This little man moves way more I than ever remember his big brother moving.  Ethan has belly laughs watching my belly move at night.  I can't wait for them to laugh together:)  He is very active every night around 9:30pm so I am expecting him to be wide awake at that time after his arrival.

SLEEP  I have napped every given chance.  But this time around reflux has been there especially after I drink my nightly cup of milk.  So far still snoozing into the night

POSITION  Towards the end I am almost certain I have a little baby booty right up under my right ribs--- just like big brother was.  

NAMES  I believe David and I have finally picked a name this week.  Not a minute too soon either:) 

SIZE OF THE BABY:  I had a bump what seemed immediately...then it slowed down.  Ethan was a surprising 9 pounds 1 ounce.  I am thinking this baby won't be as big--- but we will see!

BELLY BUTTON:  out and has been 

BIG BROTHER/LITTLE BROTHER  One question I get over and over is "if Ethan gets it."  Yes, I would say he does for sure.  He randomly comes up and asks if "baby brother moving or sleep."  Or he will start taking to my bump in his form of baby talk.  In the morning little brother already get a kiss good morning as I stumble out of bed.  As a mother my heart couldn't be any warmer to already see a bond there.  I never expected Ethan to talk so much about "baby brother" every day.  

NURSERY  We are still finishing up the nursery.  I think it took a while to get it together because we needed to transition Ethan out of the crib and into a big boy bed.  No worries--our sweet bassinet is ready and waiting on the baby and baby boy has more clothes than one baby could wear.  

WAITING:  Ethan asks almost every day if the baby is coming today.  I wish I could say my bags are packed but they aren't!  Maybe, I'll do that today...

a good soak...

As I finish up my third trimester of pregnancy I have a new hobby:  soaking in my tub.  We recently added these new shutters to our bath...which came in several boxes via UPS for my hubby to assemble.  Yes, he was thrilled.  Give me a good book, bubbles, and smell-good lotion and I am off to a good night.

whew....

I can't seem to get motivated today to accomplish anything....except maybe growing a baby!

down and dirty...

I just had my first cleaning service to come help scrub my floors and tubs.  I feel so guilty doing this....and I then I try to bend over my bump!  Any other mommas use cleaners?  I have a feeling Mrs. Beckham does...

I'm having a ....

That is right!  Our little peanut is a boy!  Ethan is going to have a little brother soon:)  My heart melts every time I think of Ethan as a big brother.  I always get really nervous at ultrasounds, so I am blessed to say that everything looked great.  Let the shopping, lists of names, and organizing begin...

I can't wait to have two of these little guys running around!