Wow - only 10 weeks (more or ‘hopefully’ less) to go!! Due to the fact that I’m not completely miserable, I’m still guessing this is a girl. But then there’s the big basketball belly that makes me doubt myself - since that’s boy….

Things have pretty crazy here lately, mainly due to Sonbeams. The cd I’ve been working on for almost a year and a half is finally done and going to be released this Sunday. This has had me working day and nights pretty much for a couple of weeks. 6 hours of sleep isn’t much to go on with 3 little ones AND being pregnant - it used not to be enough just me!

Yes, children have changed my life. I cannot see how in the world I had free time before - sleeping 10 to 12 hours (lazy!!), watching hours of tv a day (again, Lazy!), being ?? what’s the word - bored!!? (LAZY!).

We’ve had our house on the market, though not actively trying to sell. Although we do have our new land, I’ve lost interest in moving now. I think part of it must be the nesting instinct, knowing the baby is so close now - it’d be too much to pack up and move/ build. We had hoped to have a garden this year, but I’m starting to think about container gardening now instead.

Although, we might could try a garden on the land - visiting on weekends and maintaining it. No goats though, so we’ll have to keep paying $3.36/ quart for that - yuck! For new readers, I discovered that cow’s milk was what was causing my children’s reflux issues. This is a very handy piece of info for new moms - don’t trust drs. all the time, sometimes meds AREN’T needed - just a change of diet!

I am excited about getting an email today. The ‘new’ thing in baby land (at least in my world) are nursing covers. Not some that I knew of years ago, but these are cute! The pattern I got was more basic than some I’ve seen at church, but will still serve the purpose. Once I get the time, I’ll save it online and put a link to it in case any of you are interested in making one.

This baby has me wanting only certain items, and a nice nursing cover was one of them. Of course, now I still have to find the time to make it - ha!! Since our oldest is a boy, and will be close to 5 when the baby is born, I figured it was time to start being more covered for nursing time.

My other biggee that I’ve kept my eyes open for are cloth diapers. Again, these have come a LONG way! I do know from past buying that I don’t want ones with velcro - they stick to everything nice in the laundry.

In my mind, cloth diapers are rectangles held together with pins…. but now… WOW! They velcro, they snap, they buckle! The snaps look the most interesting, and from what I’m hearing from other moms, the one in alls aren’t as good of a route to go as the individual pieces. But then, how in the world do I know what all is needed??

There are inserts, wool and hemp, covers, etc… But when I read all the info coming out about the chemicals used in diapers - I feel I have to try these. What if it IS true that these chemicals have caused a spike in cancers? It only makes sense to me!

Well, the final 10 weeks are here - and look busier than ever. So much to get done and so little time to do it! I am about ready find someone to maybe swap children for a little bit - to at least give me time to get some stuff done around the house. It seems these 3 here can demolish more - quicker than I can clean up now!

“Little Mommy”

Welcome to Day 7 of our Blogging Giveaway Week! Each day will bring a new contest - each being open for 7 days, so check back daily! Be sure to check out our giveaways at www.HeavenInOurHomes.com and http://Sonbeams.com blogs as well!

Today’s Great Giveaway: Nursing Cover

Offered by: Beana’s Place

The Sweet Pea Nursing Cover™ is the perfect addition to any diaper bag!  This breastfeeding cover allows mom to have a little privacy while she’s in public.  This cover is made with cotton, and has a terrycloth pocket in the lower left.   The neck strap has a D-ring making it adjustable and taking away the fear that your baby may pull it off!  Having the 14” rounded viewing area in the front is the best feature of this cover.  It allows mom to see her baby while she is nursing.  It is also helpful to be able to let some of that heat out!

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Alright, How this contest works! Each contest is open for one week (from starting date of that contest). You can receive entries based on the following:

*1 entry for leaving a comment about something you love on the sponsor’s website

*1 entry for adding the Nine Months or Less text link to your blog or website (Leave link back in comment)

*1 entry for blogging about this contest on your blog (Leave link back in comment)

*1 entry for each $5 purchase from our Baby/ Children’s Product Page (Before tax and shipping charges)

*1 entry for joining me on Facebook (Mrs. Candace)  and plugging our site on your page

You MUST leave a separate comment for each entry. Comments will be totaled, and Random.org will choose the winning comment number! This contest ends April 2nd at 11:59 PM (CST).

Let the fun begin! Thanks for visiting!

“Little Mommy”

Don’t forget to check out our other giveaways here this week, as well as www.HeavenInOurHomes.com/blog and www.Sonbeams.com.

Last night, suffering from low back pain/ hip pain all day, I heard laughter as I walked through the room. What a kind, dear husband I have - for here he was - LAUGHING at me!

I have done great this pregnancy - not even looking pregnant to people. I was just told this past Sunday at church that I am finally looking pregnant! Of course, this lady is 5 weeks ahead of me and has already begun the late pregnancy growth.

But now, my “you’re pregnant?” days are over I’m afraid. It’s time to prepare for all the snickers of laughter at what is called - “The Duck Waddle”….

I must admit though, I think it will be worth hearing this in order to be able to walk a little funny to help this joint pressure. See, when I walk like this, the pain is greatly… reduced!

I’ve tried, since yesterday morning, to walk like I normally would - and it’s just not going to happen again til this little one comes out. But ahhh… the waddle - I can walk nearly pain free.

So now, all I have to do is buy a bright yellow outfit to wear - and next time you see a big, waddling duck in public - wave, it’s me!

“Little Mommy”

Ha - the title of this post reminds me of being 29 years old, and now I’m 30! It’s funny how it seems (in a good way) that life kinda froze when I met and married my husband. In my mind, what I was doing 8 1/2 years ago seems like yesterday.

I can remember friends, people, jobs, very conversations and emails!! Then it seems like there’s no way possible that I could’ve met him, got married, had three children, lost one, and be pregnant again…. wasn’t just yesterday that I thought I’d never meet someone to marry??

I look at my children… my oldest will turn 5 this June. He’s gotten so tall, so smart, so grown-up! I’ll admit, I still love that he calls me “Mommy” and just likes to cuddle close at times.

My 3 year old daughter is constantly proclaiming how ‘I’m not little anymore, I’m BIG now’. And that she is…. Potty trained (except at night, and when I’m too lazy to take off her diaper in the mornings), dressing herself, and always being a great mommy to her baby dolls. She is SO ready for this baby!

My 17 month old ‘baby’ - wow! He’s starting to talk a little more now, though not as much as I remember my other son talking. But he can get his point across very well (though not in the most desirable ways at times).

He still LOVES to be held, hugged, and kissed on all the time - mostly by me. If I don’t offer enough kisses, he’ll just drop his head into my face until I do kiss him! And oh, the sweetest little pats on my back or shoulder while I’m holding him…

And to think, in 11 more or less weeks we’ll be welcoming another precious life to our family. What will they be like? Who will they look like? What will we call them?

Now that my older ones are older - I’m afraid we’ll have some competition for holding the new one - me included! I SO love to hold new babies, to hold them close, smell them, kiss their soft little heads.

We will soon have to be getting a little prepared - packing the suitcases, washing some clothes and sheets, setting up the playpen.

I’m not sure, but I’m thinking we might have to use this the first night or two. Since we haven’t found out the gender of the baby, we don’t know which room to set the crib up in!

I haven’t ever liked the thought of having a baby sleep in our room. One, we hear every little noise they make (and want to!), so we don’t sleep as well. *YES*, I still hear the tiniest little whimper when they wake up at night, even though they’re on the other side of the house. God instills something in moms!

*NOTE* This doesn’t last forever, as my husband can attest to. Many times I never hear our children wake up - crying, throwing up, etc… - at night now, or even know he’s been up with them for 30 min. to an hour! He’s great to allow me to sleep (but I do occassionally get up with them when I actually do hear them!).

I’d rather the baby get used to sleeping in one place, rather than get used to one bed/ bassinet, and then have brand new surroundings a couple of months later. I can’t help but think they know it’s somewhere different.

Oh! My lunch is done cooking - til next time -
“Little Mommy”

I had my 28 week visit today, and was thrilled to find that despite ALL the contractions I’ve had over the past week that I haven’t dilated AT ALL!!

I know there have been many prayers sent up on behalf of the baby and myself, for which I am very grateful. As I mentioned to someone today, there’s no better place that I can be than God’s Hand!

My weight gain is right around 19 lbs. now. I’m not sure how much is really baby weight, since remember, I was nursing when I got pregnant. So, some of this weight was just starting to keep my own calories!

The baby is measuring perfectly, and each day moves more and more (that I can feel). Today was the first time I could really feel it moving a lot while I was standing up.

You’d think by this 4th baby, I’d have things pretty well under control in the mothering/ keeper at home areas, but I’ve really been feeling the extra stress this past week. Yes, I do have an overfull plate - seems I like it best that way! But really, how in the world am I going to be able to care for 4 children, 4 and under??!!

If there are any moms reading out there that have once been where I’m approaching, I’d LOVE some advice!

Our Blogging Giveaway Week begins tomorrow - Friday, March 20th!! You don’t want to miss out on these great giveaways, I only wish I could enter.

Since I’m only one day out - here’s my 37 week update!

I woke up with contractions, and was kinda getting excited! They’ve backed off, which I’m also okay with, since the baby would still be 3 weeks early. Still, this is better than the preterm I had just before 33 weeks!

I got my order of cloth diaper supplies from Hope’s Cloth Diapers yesterday and was so excited! The bamboo diapers are “OH SO SOFT”, and some of the covers don’t seem near close to the right size. Since they seem larger than I would think they should be, that’s good with me - I can use them longer.

It was so funny, DH didn’t realize until HOURS later from first looking at them that there were 2 pink ones in the mix! HA HA!! He’s already told me that NO boy of his is wearing a pink diaper - even if he’s not home to see it.

I tried to justify using it if needed, by saying that “he” would only be pooping on the pink - wouldn’t that be a good thing?? Apparently not. Oh well, I’ll have pink for the future should this be a boy.

I’ve been nosy looking at some online pics of other preggie moms like myself, and can’t believe how big their bellies are when mine is still so small. Hubby is trying to remind me that I don’t usually  get big (explode) until the last 2 or 3 weeks. This IS true, but still I worry. I don’t know why, I’m completely happy with a less than 8 lb. baby coming out!

I am having to look into laundry soaps now, as I saw on some of my new covers that you can’t use concentrates. I’m not sure if ALL comes in anything but concentrate? I hope so, since the Free and Clear is all we’ve been able to use on our’s plus the baby’s items.

I finally gave into my craving for something OTHER than water for breakfast this morning - turning my diluted goat’s milk into chocolate milk! Now that I think about it, I did have a lot of chocolate milk with one of my past pregs, as well as drinking a gallon of milk every 2 to 3 days (by myself). This in addition to having eaten daily honey buns back then is probably why I gained 33 lbs. with those pregs vs. the 25 lbs. I seem to be stuck at with this one.

Alright, I’ll see you back tomorrow - be ready to win some great stuff! Oh, these giveaways are pre-written, in case I go into labor (well, I’m still working on a few), but they SHOULD all be done. If I go in and have the baby early, the winners announcements might be a little delayed FOR THAT REASON ONLY!

“Little Mommy”

Well, it seems I might’ve overdone a little this past week. I awoke this morning to an unusual back pain - some mid back, but mostly upper back pain. I hadn’t hurt like this since my food sensitivity to hydrogenated oils after having my last baby.

I took it easy today, with the pain easing until evening - but contractions on and off all day. I’m writing this just in case it’s a few days before I get back on here. I noticed as I was making yet another trip to the bathroom earlier that at some point in time this evening I began spotting a little.

Ughh… I don’t have time for this!! My appt. isn’t for another week, I’m not wild about the dr. I’m supposed to see - but if the spotting and contractions keep up, I’ll have to tell him and he’ll have to do an exam.

My biggest dread being that he’ll put me on bed rest. I have NO time for bed rest! Sure, it was easy with my first. I was 4 cm at 32 weeks, and on bedrest for the next 6 weeks. But now I’ve got a 4, 3, and 17 month old that don’t stop just because Mommy does. Nope - that won’t work.

Please keep us in your prayers as we enter this last trimester. I’m usually 2 to 4 cm by 32 weeks, but don’t usually start having contractions like this this early.

Also note, I’m not going to jeopardize the baby’s health for my own convenience. If this keeps up I WILL be going to the dr. BEFORE my appt. in 9 days. There’s just so much to do, and I’m the only one to do it!!

I’d probably feel better about it all had I not just watched a clip online about a woman at 30 weeks going to the bathroom and the baby’s feet coming out of her! Her mom called 911 and the EMT dispatcher walked her through the premature breech birth. The baby wasn’t breathing and had the cord wrapped around her neck, but she’s fine now.

It was neat to see how God worked in that baby’s life! If she hadn’t come early, she very likely wouldn’t have survived with the cord wrapped around her neck like that! Isn’t He Great! Sidenote - She’s named ‘ Nevaeh ‘ - Heaven spelled backwards.

PS - Special thanks to DH for washing up the dishes for me this morning and allowing me a long afternoon nap!!

“Little Mommy”

It’s been a while since I’ve read any baby books, so I’m not really sure if the 3rd trimester starts now or next week - but either way, AGHHH!! I’m not ready for the due date to be so close!

Last night was the beginning of the end (so to speak). That meaning that the first of the last pregnancy signs showed itself - and boy did it ever. I woke up around 12:30 or 1 with the dreaded pregnancy feeling - restless legs! Oh boy - do I ever feel sorry for people that suffer with this constantly.

I am guilty of making a little noise, partially awakening DH…. and he was very nice about it and helped start rubbing out the muscles. I’ve noticed my leg muscles getting tight the past week, and my calves were especially tight yesterday. Part of this due to the nesting instinct which is starting to kick in.

Due to having a short notice house showing last week, I’ve determined this week to get back in my routine - staying on top of things. This has put me on my feet a lot more lately, and it doesn’t help that our house is on a slab.

Even DH has been having leg cramps - though he doesn’t believe it’s sympathy pains. He has had those in the past, even sympathy weight gain on one pregnancy - ha!

It’s been so funny feeling the baby getting bigger. I find myself yelling out loud when it all of a sudden kicks or elbows me - only to laugh afterwards.

I read on the baby ticker yesterday about possibly being able to hear the baby’s heartbeat through my tummy. Of course I doubted that, but did pull out our baby heartbeat monitor. For any of you on your first pregnancy, I wouldn’t recommend one of these.

We did hear our first two with it, but never really could find the last baby. Last night was no different - lots of tummy gurgles and my heartbeat, with an occassional kick/ thump - but no baby heartbeat.

$20 or more seems like a lot to pay for no more than you really get to here. It picks up every little outside noise to - like talking, the tv, even your hand holding the device or the cord rubbing on your clothes. Overall it’s pretty frustrating - just my 2 cents - I’d save my money.

The little ones did really enjoy it though - even though they didn’t hear the baby, they were excited to hear what it sounded like in my tummy - to hear what the baby could hear.

“Little Mommy”

Ha - We showed our house this afternoon, and the couple knew upfront that I am expecting this baby at any time. It was so funny, the wife had asked the husband to call before they came, just to be sure we weren’t at the hospital. She knew that I might would forget to call in a mad rush out the door. I assured her, I had her number on the counter to call before we left…

But when they entered the front door, one of them said to the other - “Yep, she’s still perkin’”. TOO FUNNY!

The showing went very well, they seemed very interested. Of course, no matter the outcome, we are at peace - we know Who will sell our home!

Baby update, not too many contractions today. Baby looks really high in my stomach. We took pics this afternoon, but haven’t loaded them. I have my next OB appt. tomorrow - will post results when I get back (from the visit or the hospital!!).

“Little Mommy”

Alright, it’s very safe to say that I’m finally feeling the effects of being pregnant! Fatigue is hitting hard, but partly because we’ve been going non stop for the past week!

I had my sugar test last week, and didn’t hear anything back - so I’m assuming it was fine! This was my first time actually eating something before the 1 hour test. It was scheduled for 10, and I KNEW that I couldn’t make it until 11:30 to eat.

1/2 a piece of buttered toast with 2 scrambled eggs w/ salt was my lovely feast. That was the best 1/2 piece of bread I think I’ve ever eaten.

Several days out of the last week have been spent in 3 hour recording sessions for the Sonbeams Bible Verse CD. I’m very… happy to report that we finished up today, and will only having touch ups (if needed).

DH had to work his first weekend rotation this past weekend - Saturday and Sunday. It was really tough having to answer the children’s asking why Daddy was working on Sunday. This is something I shared with him early on in our relationship - that I didn’t feel comfortable with having a ‘job’ on the Lord’s day.

He agreed, and hasn’t had to work a weekend for years! This new job finally brought it’s down side in that respect… The kids and I still caught church on tv though. Taking 3 kids to church at this point of the pregnancy was just too much. Bathroom breaks, hungry stomachs, naps needed, all wanting to be held - you get the picture.

My biggest news being that as I was preparing to go in for another recording session yesterday afternoon when DH got back home, I went to the closet and grabbed a pair of jeans. Not just any jeans, but some size 8 stretch jeans that I’d bought on clearance at the end of last season.

This have been much more comfortable to wear than my maternity, simply because they are softer. Well, yesterday was a sad day - I couldn’t button them closed! I know, I shouldn’t complain - 26 weeks and just now getting out of my last ‘pre-pregnancy’ clothes. I’d long since been able to wear many other things, but somehow these still fit.

The baby is much more active now, especially in the past few days. Oldest son really felt it tonight, his eyes lighting up when it moved - and him asking ‘Is THAT the baby moving!?!?’ He was really excited.

We resumed our name list last week, only to quickly just let the older two tell us names they liked. We’ll have a little screening to do on this list! I’m not sure the baby will appreciate some of the ‘lovely’ names picked out for it.

I can’t believe it’s only 13 1/2 weeks left, time has flown by so quickly! I’m SO ready to hold this little one in my arms, but in other ways seem so far away from being ready to add a 4th little one to my already full load.

As life has only gotten more stressful, I’ve had to begin dropping things that only add to my stress levels. (Interrupted… Don’t visit and expect a clean house all of the time!)

No, I’m still in a cleaning out mode - we just still have TOO much stuff! And thanks to a new child safety law, we won’t even be able to sell this in a consignment sale or anything without breaking the law. The worst part about it being that, unless they do something about it, even thrift stores won’t be allowed to sell children’s items! Where will we find all of our good bargains anymore??

“Little Mommy”