definition of a REAL superhero

What is a superhero? Someone who possesses superhuman strength? Someone who protects the public by defeating the villian hurling them into outer space or binding them with a spider web? Someone who wears a mask, cape, and tights to conceal their identity?

Maybe when we were 8.

With age and life experience I have learned what a superhero really means. It is someone who can swoop in when you need them the most and help you with the big problems as well as the small, everyday things. They make you feel important. And loved.

Jayden has been in a wear-my-spiderman-costume-everywhere-all-day-every-day phase. In fact he wore it to the hospital the day we had our ultrasound. All the radiology techs got a kick out of seeing spiderman at "the office" that day. Last week--I think Wed. afternoon-- a spiderman-clad Jayden noticed me sprawled out on the couch. I was tired and dying for a nap. He came up to me and asked, "Mommy, you're tired. Can I use the vacuum for you?"

Oh. My. Gosh. I was blown away. I thought to myself, I need to write a letter to all those big brain psychologists who study the Nature/Nurture debate and cite this example in favor of the Nature side because I know he has not learned this skill set (the ability to discern others' needs) from...eh hem...the other male member of the household. My husband is always happy to help in any way I need, and he provides a ton of help with the house and kids, but, as it is with 99% of the male population, we need to ask.
Without being asked Jayden got out the vacuum, plugged it in, and proceeded to do this:

And then later that evening while I was making dinner Jayden asked if he could help me cook! He even ran and got a chef's hat to wear for the occasion. ;-)

And this, my friends, is the true definition of a superhero. A man who steps in and does the cooking and cleaning without asking!

a mother's intuition

A little over a year ago I came to Josh and told him that I felt deep in my heart we should have another child. He was quick to shoot me an eyebrow-cocked glare and tell me I was crazy to want to add to the craziness that already existed in our home. But "something" was telling me over and over again for months that our family was not yet complete. And not only was I convinced that we should add to our family, I felt very strongly that it was going to be another boy. After a few months of discussion and prayer, we decided together that we'd take the baby plunge again. Besides, since I am the neck I was able to turn the head to see things my way.  ;-)
After I found out I was pregnant, my symptoms and cravings further convinced me of the fact that we were, indeed, going to have that boy I'd been anticipating for a long time.  Cravings of meat n' potato type food for every meal, acne breakouts, crazy, intense dreams every night, chinny-chin-chin hairs to pluck (oh yeah! probably my favorite symptom!).....it's been my pregnancy w/ Jayden all over again.

So Thursday's ultrasound left us all feeling pretty shocked to say the least when the ultrasound tech told us that we are having our 3rd GIRL!! I'd completely convinced myself...and Josh...and the kids...and everybody else...there was a little male floating around in there.  If I've talked to you in the past couple months personally, you can vouch that I've been telling the world this was going to be a boy!
HA.  So to hell with my "mother's intuition"!

I am beyond excited to have one more girl. I've already pulled out all the pink, girly baby clothes we'd saved; just to look at them again!  And do you know who's really, really happy this baby is a girl??  Josh! Yes.  He is.  You see, he has a soft spot for his girls and sometimes I think he views Jayden as a spinning, 3 foot tall dervish of destruction.  So the thought of not having one more human tornado in the house brings a sigh of relief to him. ;-)

So now it's time to come up with another "J" name, isn't it?!

upcoming ultrasound

Don't we all get so excited for that 2nd ultrasound so we can "see" the baby again, count the fingers and toes, see the beating heart, and probably the most funnest part of all, finally find out what we're having?!!  I am convinced that this baby is a boy, but we will officially find out this Thursday.  If you vote, don't let my opinion sway you.  I've been wrong guessing the gender before!  But all my symptoms and cravings so far have indicated 'boy'.

some thoughts on pregnancy

• First trimesters, for me (as I know it is for many women), are a time when I wish that I could die a speedy death instead of enduring 24/7 nausea and throwing up.  Or maybe happen upon a time machine that could simply skip over the next month of my life and land me in February. I know that when the curse of "pain in childbearing" was placed upon mother Eve that meant that we'd suffer through the labor and delivery part, but c'mon God.  Really?  REALLY?  Did the sweet, darling baby package also have to include feeling like death warmed over for 3 months solid?  
• Why is it that when I'm not pregnant I have a desire to eat and prepare healthy meals, loaded with whole grains and vegetables, and then when I am pregnant (you know, when one's nutritional intake truly matters) I crave stuff like top ramen, canned chili, Oreos, sour cream n onion potato chips, and Taco Bell?  And I am too exhausted right now to even care about preparing a meal that requires more strength than the push of a microwave button.
• Why does my husband's deodorant/cologne/general male scent utterly repulse me right now?  Oh wait, I know.  It's my body's way of saying, he's the one that did this to you!!!  Keep him far, far away.  I don't really mean that, of course.  It's just funny how pregnancy turns us into human bloodhounds.  Today the girls were eating some now n' later taffy at the table and the smell of the candy was making me nauseous...from the other room.
• Josh has been SO attentive this time around.  He seems to have much more compassion on me and has even taken an afternoon off here and there on my really bad days, to take care of things so I can be a blob on the couch.  In the same breath, he's also the male that keeps saying, "I'm so glad I don't have to go through that!"
• Does a pregnant woman have the right to slap a man when he makes comments like the one aforementioned?  Yes I hear you say?  Alright then.  Be right back.......
• This pregnancy has been such a new experience for me in that the kids are all old enough to understand that they will soon have a new baby brother/sister.  When I had Jayden, Joanna was barely 3, and Jaclyn 1 1/2, so obviously they didn't get it at all.  Jayden especially has shown such compassion for me whenever I'm in the bathroom feeling sick.  He comes in, pats my back and says, "it's ok mom, you'll be ok."  He even brought me a glass of water one time. "Here you go mom, drink this and you'll feel better."  What a sweetheart!! 
• I have a new-found respect for people who endure daily health problems that make it difficult to function.  I am so grateful to God for blessing me with a healthy, whole body that can conceive and carry a baby, as so many desiring women cannot.  I am grateful that I have never had a long-lasting illness or condition that makes daily activities a struggle.  I can barely handle 3 months!
• Eyes on the prize.  Eyes on the prize.  At least I'm gettin' a cute little baby to snuggle when I reach the finish line!

Family Pictures

I'm not the best at having our family pictures taken.  The last time our family was altogether--in one picture--for a more formal picture was when the kids were 4, 2.5, and 9 months.  I know.  Sad, right?  Since they are now 6, 5, and 3.  ;-(  Sad by today's standards, I guess, since this is 2011 and it's so easy and inexpensive to take a picture.  For the moment, judge me through the lens of a photographer in 1922, who would think that taking family portraits 2 years apart was both unnecessary and extravagant.

Here are some of my favorites from our Sunday photo shoot.  Pay close attention to Jayden's sign.  No reason.  Just sayin'. 

 Looks like somebody is not so happy about 

relinquishing the "baby-of-the-family-throne" soon.

So, there you have it.  Cat's out of the bag.  We decided to make one more of these cute little minions.  I'd tell you how far along I am but I don't even know.  Haven't been to the doc for an ultrasound yet and I have NO idea, not even an educated guess, as to how far.  Gotta thank my always irregular cycles for that.  Curses!!!  Based on my symptoms with the other pregnancies I'd say I'm about 7-8 wks along because that's when I started puking with them.  And I threw up for the first (but, alas, not the last) time today.  All I can say it, let the countdown to 2nd trimester begin!