The Last Pregnant x3 Photos

These photos were taken July 18, 2009 at our "It A Boy" party for Megan and Ryan. This weekend is probably the last time all three girls will be together pregnant. The next time Megan and Ryan come over from Tri-Cities, it will be to see one of their new nephews. So it was important to me to record this moment in time, of all three of my older children expecting. This will probably not ever happen again in our family or in my lifetime. God has blessed us, times three, and that is abundantly! As one of my favorite songs says "and I could not ask for more."

These are the moments

I thank God that I'm alive

These are the moments

I'll remember all my life

I've found all I've waited for

And I could not ask for more.

These are the moments

I know Heaven must exist

These are the moments

I know all I need is this.

I've found all I've waited for

And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together

I could not ask for more than this time with you

Every prayer has been answered

Every dream has come true

Yeah, right here in this moment

is right where I'm meant to be

Here with you, here with me.

Lyrics from These Are the Moments, sung by Sara Evans.

These words so describe how I feel these days about being with my family. The simple moments of listening to the girls compare notes about pregnancy and baby products and parenting, these are so precious to me. I am so grateful to be here to share in them. Getting to watch Kelly and Megan become moms, and seeing Shauna learn to be a mom to two, those are moments I thought I wouldn't get to experience. They are all the more sweet because of the tough times we went through. Like the rainbow after the rain. Thank you so much Lord.

Showering Caleb with Love

On Sunday, July 19th, Megan and Shauna hosted Kelly's baby shower at my house. We had a "King of the Jungle" theme to go with her "Jungle Babies" theme in Caleb's nursery. It was so much fun to have Kelly as the guest of honor this time, after all the showers she has helped plan for the other girls. She was so cute as the mom-to-be! I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did!

I remember when it was Christmastime and we were so excited about planning TWO baby showers in the summer. Now we have had the fun of the showers, and it is only a few weeks 'til the babies arrive! And as we anticipate the arrival of our little blessings, meanwhile, we have started plans for Megan's baby shower in November. Whew! These babies are keepin' us busy!

I just had to post a picture of Kelly and Matt on the porch after the shower, so I could have a picture of the proud daddy too. We are still so amazed that our first son is having his first son. It was just yesterday that we brought home our firstborn, wasn't it?

The Official Picture

Okay, here is the official picture taken with our crazy "It A Boy" banner. I now have photos of each couple with the banner we got for Shauna and Noah when they found out Cooper was a boy. The banner was made in China, probably by a little Chinese worker who doesn't speak English. I was originally going to take it back to the store, but we thought it was so funny that now it is a family joke and tradition. If I ever get to use my It's A Girl banner, I may have to remove the S, just to keep up the tradition!

Shauna's Baby Shower

What a fun weekend! Megan arrived early Friday afternoon and got to spend some time with Cooper and I. Friday night, Ryan arrived from the Academy and we went out for Teriyaki with Matt and Kelly and the Heberts. It was there that Megan and Ryan announced that Megan's ultrasound on Thursday (for a fall she took at Agility) had revealed some news a little early. News we thought we would have to wait for until her regular ultrasound July 22nd. Fortunately, all was fine with the baby, and..... (drumroll) It's A Boy! Three little grandsons! Imagine the fun, the mischief, and the adventures they will find together! With big brother (and cousin) Cooper along, it is going to be a wild ride for our family! We can hardly wait!
On Sunday, it was the first of three baby showers for our little grandsons. Even though Kelly is due first, Shauna delivered Cooper three weeks early, so we thought we better have hers first, just to be safe. We had a monkey theme for Keegan and it was just too cute! We held it at my house and a fun time was had by all. Shauna's friend Carla brought her two week old, Alexander, and we all got to ooohh and aaah over his incredible cuteness. He is so adorable, and made us more anxious for the day we get to get to hold our little ones! Next Sunday is Kelly's shower, also at my house. We are becoming excellent, and quite experienced party-planners! We could go into the baby shower business if we didn't have so many babies to keep us busy!

My Grandbabies!

Well here they are! Kelly carrying Caleb, Megan carrying Baby French, and Shauna carrying Keegan, taken July 3rd, 2009. Isn't that amazing? Shauna has been having so many contractions lately that I practically demanded that we all must get together for pictures before it is too late. Fortunately, things have calmed down a bit with some medication and more rest. Keegan is only 4 pounds and really needs to cook a bit longer! I did get to see my little grandson Keegan at his ultrasound on Thursday, July 2. It was very exciting, even though he is so squished in there now that we couldn't see a whole lot! He needs to stay put at least until his shower is over next weekend. And hopefully until after Auntie Kelly's shower too, which is the following weekend. Yes, lots of fun in store for us!

Behind Again!

How is it that I just keep getting "behinder?" I can't seem to stay current. Why is my life so busy? I guess because it is so full and rich. And I am so grateful for that. And for all the great, fun stuff we are keeping busy with. We are finally getting to enjoy our Fifth Wheel! We went to Tri-Cities over Memorial Day Weekend and spent time with Megan and Ryan. Great weather, lots of sun, a trip to a scrapbook store and a maternity store (both great fun!), good food, DQ blizzards, wonderful company, what more could you ask for?

Last weekend we got to take the Fifth Wheel to Lake Chelan with most of Kirk's extended family, Megan and Ryan, and Shauna, Noah and Cooper. What a great way to spend my birthday! Before, I had thought this might be my last birthday, if I even made it to 53. But instead it was five days of fun and family. How blessed I am!

Next week, the four of us take the trailer to Oregon for three days, then Long Beach for two. Then it will be the Fourth with all the kids, then two weekends of baby showers, then a trip for just Kirk and I, before we begin the days of staying home waiting for our two little grandsons to make their debuts. And in between there are summery days of sunshine, swimming at Grandma De De's pool, days of sprinklers, baby pools, and swings with Cooper, working in my organic vegetable garden, making jam, catching up on some good reading, and scrapbooking, of course! I love my life!

Mother's Day 2009

Here we are on Mother's Day--all the mothers and mothers-to-be--Shauna, Kelly, me and my mom, Grandma De De. Except there is one missing....it's Megan! Yes, she is a mother-to-be also! The secret is out now! Thank Goodness, because I have been just busting with this exciting news! Megan and Ryan are expecting around December 10th. They are going to be terrific parents! That means three grandbabies in four months! Could anyone be more blessed?!!!

What an amazing Mother's Day this turned out to be! Of course, our BBQ did bring in the clouds, as always. But it didn't rain until dinnertime and it was warm enough for appetizers on the deck. We didn't get to play bocce ball, but had fun anyway. It is always a great day when I get to be with my kids, and I am blessed to still have my mom with me too. I love them all!