a Nessie sighting....

yes, I'm huge. I'm betting the baby isn't though. How can I get any bigger without exploding?

As uncomfy as I am, I don't ever want to forget these feelings. Pregnancy and childbirth is such a gift. I realize this...please don't ever think I don't thank the Lord for this time of my life. (I'm writing this to myself because I know, strangely, I will miss this! I WILL)

I covet your prayers.

The frump of which I spoke...and a very cute baby boy

I. hate. getting. MY. picture. taken. that's it. so I tend to make horrible faces...my coping mechanism. this is me, 21 years old, 3 weeks exactly before giving birth to Will Franklin. not sure what my hair is doing here. I love my belly and the big old 8 pound + baby inside! Where did this time go?

Will's big moment...you know what I love best about this picture from nearly 14 years ago? my white head band. so vain.

This is a fun one for a few reasons...is it ok if I reminisce here? ok, thanks...Moms, you know that exhilarating feeling you get once you deliver your baby, especially with no pain meds? that is what is happening here. I felt like I was Queen of the world. So glad to be alive, to have lived through the act of transition and childbirth...Mary Ann, awesome midwife, is examining our sweet 8 lb. 11 oz boy to the left. I'm talking to some mysterious person behind her (I was probably hallucinating). My brother Andy is trying to feed me some scrambled eggs. ick. I also love my extremely swollen feet (they were horrible with Will). I can still remember all these details...all the people coming over after church to see what had happened. and the midwife sitting by me, getting agitated because I wouldn't stop talking or showing off our fresh new son! Will, whatta nice introduction into parenting you were for your Dad and I. I can't believe I'm not that 21 year old chick anymore. where was David? probably straightening up, vacuuming, pacing, freaking out.

here's what goes thru my head when I see this picture...ummm, take a bath, greaser. and lose the white headband and weird shirt. And then the sweet thoughts turn on...oh, look at that cherub baby...he is ONE DAY OLD here and so perfect and chubby...I want to sniff that little head one more time. kiss his too soft but very red cheeks...remember this Mom, Beck??

These pix are for u, Tory dear...I get really disgustingly nostalgic...all the time...but especially when Will's birthday rolls around, since he was my first kid...what is it about that? I think it must be the autumn season...dunno.

David and I have been sooo very blessed with incredible birth experiences, each and EVERY time. On top of THAT, each kid has been extremely healthy, beautiful and for that, we thank the Lord, and do not take that for granted one bit. I am so honored to have been pregnant with each of my beautiful children. Will, Ethan, Melanie, Levi, and Molly...you complete me, us. You each are exactly how I imagined my kids to be when playing that fun game of LIFE, when you graduated, married and filled your little game piece car up with blue or pink pegs...

Excuse the drippy nostalgia...I just don't say it enough....I love you, WEMLM! more than words can say.

Ok, nighty night...love and peace to you, whoever you are. :)

A blast from the past (well, for me anyway...)

This one's for you, my sister!

Here's to being pregnant when it's 95 degrees with a heat index of 105 to 109...and although I KNOW how miserable you have got to feel right now, you look fabulous, beautiful and I know most women would kill to look as good as you do in your ninth month of pregnancy. Hang in there, girl...the end is near and you will soon hold your sweet Nora in your extremely tanned arms! You Rock, Rebecca and you are beautiful!

This pic was taken by my bro in law Scott (Happy Birthday tomorrow big guy)...on June 30th at the local fireworks...Beck, I was a blimp compared to what you are at the same point in your pregnancy!!

I'm still aiming to get a pic of all FIVE of my kids on here yet...I have not forgotten but it's amazing how busy one can get. Stay tuned! otherwise, all is well here, waiting for my sis to pop, staying cool, swimming, schooling, enjoying the end days of summer (I hope that is what these are...ha ha, I'm a spring/autumn kinda girl). Molly is doing really well..she is quite chunkalunka...her nickname is Fatty Patty which turned into Fatty Patricia (her in trouble nickname) and also Fatty P...which we will have to change because that is politically incorrect and will give a girl a complex! Gotta run...chicklet needs to nurse. We shall return!!

I'm still here!

Yeah, ouch.

No baby yet...my 4th of July prediction was off...which is pretty unusual for me. But I did also predict July 7th...and the way I feel today, it will most likely be BY then...I woke up at 5:45 this morning with some pretty consistent, not so comfy contx. Timed them a little then got up to "nest" a bit...do some dishes, laundry blah blah blah...they slowed down...dang it. I decided to go back and lay down and slept SOME MORE and woke up a bit ago. What's a girl to do to have her kid come out?? (yes, I know all the old wive's tales and we've tried a lot of them) I've done this 4 times already, you'd think this kid would just fall out. Fall out girl. c'mon...

Soooo, my loving sister and momma called a few times to check on me, see if I happened to have the baby in the middle of the night (remember, a watched pot never boils:):))and I've been instructed that I will be hanging out at mom's house when David leaves for work, in case baby #5 gets her act together and heads out. That way, loving hubby can leave his job (down south of us, an hour away) and mom can get us up to the birth center (such a weird concept to me...can't I just have it at home?)

Hope y'all enjoy the extremely pregnant pix of me up above...I look painful, don't I?? youch.

Sorry to dwell...it's getting old. soak it up, soak it up...cherish these moments...I'm trying.

I will get any new news on this blog as soon as I can...we only stay at the birth center for four hours after the baby arrives so you know I will be blogging as soon as we get home.

Have a super day, keep me in your prayers...I appreciate it!! Lots of love coming your way!