Well, we are one day into the school year over here — and officially have a preschooler (in the three’s this year!) & a FIRST GRADER!!!  I remember thinking about this day months back, after we had bought our house and knew that Waverly would be a walker this year, plus knowing that my due date was a few days before so I would be off work and able to really focus on the girls first day without rushing to my own.  I had the sweetest visions of walking the baby down in her stroller with the big girls next to me walking with their bookbags, and ultimately instead, I waddled them down the road, with a huge belly, three days overdue.  

Not quite what I envisioned, but I’m feeling grateful that I was able to be there for them (not in labor or at the hospital) and that it gave us time to have some special moments and sweet memories before baby sister arrives.  Waverly & Avalon were sooooo excited, look at their sweet, happy faces — this was the first year with no tears from anyone!

Waverly is of course at a new school, one of the main reasons that we moved, we love everything about her school and are so excited for all of our girls to grow up there!  Avalon is still at the same preschool, two days a week!  She can be shy with new situations at first but since she is already comfortable with the school this time around, she walked right in, turned to look at me and said “I love you, mama”, then didn’t look back.  I was so proud of them both, picking them up to hear all about their day was my favorite part!

For the memory book, we asked both girls some questions again this year the other morning:

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Waverly — A cowgirl, cheerleader, and lifeguard.  Avalon — A dragon.

What is your favorite color?  Waverly — Pink, gold, and silver.  Avalon — Blue.

What is your favorite food?  Waverly — Spaghetti & Meatballs.  Avalon — Cinnamon Rolls.

What are you most excited about for school?  Waverly — PE.  Avalon — Snack.

Happiest new school year to my darling girls, we love you and are so very proud of you! 

Aaah, we are one day away from our due date, TOMORROW, September 1st!  We are anxiously awaiting baby girl’s arrival, I had been wondering for months if we would have an August or September girl and it looks like she will hang on until September (the first of all five of us not to be born in the summer months!).  It’s been really important to me to document as much as I can of this pregnancy, just like I did with the first two — both Waverly & Avalon love looking back on pictures of when they were in my belly and I want this baby to be able to do the same.  So here goes, an official last pregnancy update with Baby B three!!!

The last couple of weeks have been WAY different than the last weeks of either of my first two pregnancies.  With both big girls, I hardly had any signs of labor at all, didn’t feel different than the weeks before, and other than some hopeful feelings that my water would randomly break — I really didn’t think I would go into labor.  This time I have had alllll the signs and have literally thought I was in labor a few different times, only for everything to stop all at once.  Which I’m sure others can relate (especially since I have googled it 300 times), is so mentally & physically exhausting!  Ultimately though, I am trying to embrace these last few days with her in my belly and to just be at peace with when and how she gets here.  Also on the upside, apparently my belly makes the coziest, happiest little place for my babies to be, and if I am induced for the third time, it must be that my girls recognize my need for planning everything and just want me to be able to do that.

In other news, I celebrated my 35th birthday this week!  The girls were the cutest about it, Waverly spent an hour the night before decorating the house with happy birday mommy and it’s your day signs, she told me at least three different times that she “takes birthdays very seriously”.  My husband leaves for work super early so when I woke up, I could hear both girls all by themselves downstairs whispering and making me breakfast.  They came up to my bed singing happy birthday a few minutes later with a plate full of cereal (no milk), an apple, two strawberries, and bread (not toast) with two unicorn candles leftover from their birthday party poked in the middle of it.  I literally could have died from the sweetness.  Most of the rest of the day was typical, everyday stuff (and still plenty of sister arguments & little girl drama), but goodness I feel incredibly grateful to be where I am at 35 and cannot believe I will have THREE little girls to celebrate with next year.

The nursery is completely done, we have tons of diapers from the sprinkle and hand-me-downs from the big girls, some new stuff special just for baby girl, and all the hospital bags are packed!!!!  I was having major anxiety a few weeks back about getting everything done but of course like everyone always does, we made it work!  She actually does not officially have a name yet, we are about 95% sure of her first name and have not decided on a middle name, but hoping that all becomes clear once we meet her!  Cannot wait to share pictures and the good news SO SOON!  Cannot believe it.  XO