My heart is full

This weekend is Labor Day weekend, and two separate family plans fell through.  The first was camping, which just didn't work out for a number of reasons, and the second was to join my parents and brother and his girlfriend in Idaho, staying at my grandma's house, which also didn't work out. Saturday (today) came around and we still didn't have plans.  

I had had a hard night.  Really, I've had about 6 weeks of hard nights.  I don't mean to sound like a whiner, but can I just say that pregnancy is hard?  It takes such a physical toll on my body.  I've been sick and nauseated for weeks on end, and then to try to cope with it like a decent human being with no sleep is almost more than I can bare.  Most nights lately I haven't even gotten 2 consecutive hours of sleep.  Anything and everything wakes me  up and then it sometimes takes hours to fall back asleep.  Most nights I wake up 5-10 times, and then morning comes and I ache everywhere and need to throw up.  Last night there was a huge thunder storm, which normally I love, but it kept me awake for hours. 

ANYWAYS, I really just wanted to give some background as to why I woke up so grumpy today.  I just felt super crappy.  It really wasn't fair to my family, but I didn't want to do ANYTHING.  Finally I just went and laid on my bed without saying anything and fell asleep.  Jess took the kids out to play, and then for a drive.  I woke up while they were gone, had a Mt. Dew (I know, I know, but seriously....it was needed) and was feeling much more cheerful when they got home.  I did some laundry, helped Jack clean out his disastrous room, and then Jess and I decided we wanted to take the older two on a date.  

After arranging a sitter for Xander baby (thanks Grandma Kristy and Grandpa Rick) we took Jack and Jayci to their favorite restaurant, Chili's.  I don't think I've ever seen them so well behaved in a restaurant before, which made dinner that much more enjoyable.  After dinner we still had about an hour before our movie started so we went and browsed Target, letting the kids pick out a movie treat, and dad and Jack of course found the video game tester, then we headed to the Water Garden's theater. (That was our first time going to that theater.  Anyone else go there?  It's awesome!  While the ticket prices are a little bit more than most dollar theaters, it's really clean (no sticky floors!) and the concessions are SUPER cheap.  Nothing is more than $3, not even the huge popcorn bucket, and there was a lot for $1.  If you live around here you should try it out!)

So normally most people in a movie theater would be super annoyed if the person they were sitting next to laughed really loud throughout the entire movie, but when it's the cutest pig-tailed five year old in the world it just makes the movie that much funnier!   We saw Madagascar 3 and Jack and Jayci LOVED it, and both of them laughed out loud through the whole movie.  They had everyone around them laughing too because of their genuine belly-laughs.  They were still laughing as we walked out to our car, and Jess and I were all smiles.  We both agreed that while we love our dates with just the two of us they just aren't this fun.  Kids make things so much fun!

After we picked up baby boy we came home for bed.  Xander was pretty wound up and was being really silly, but as soon as his lights went out and fan turned on, he snuggled in my arms with his binky and blankie and was asleep before I finished "twinkle, twinkle little star", his favorite song.  For me that was the cherry on top of an already great night.  As I rocked my sleeping boy I was very aware of how fleeting these precious times are.  Jess told me today that as he and Xander were walking through Home Depot, he had the thought that even though we have our family for eternity, we only have them as babies and children once.  We only have Xander as a baby for such a small time.  It made both of us sad to think about.  

  Last week I had similar thoughts as Xander slept on my chest in the same spot as he did tonight.  I knew that with him growing so fast, and my ever-expanding belly, that such an occasion might not happen again so I asked Jess to take a picture. 

( What's funny is that Xander and I are both wearing the exact same things in this picture as we are tonight, in the same position in the rocking chair, so I thought these pictures were most appropriate tonight. )

Tonight I'm grateful for such a great night with my family.  I love them all more than I ever thought possible. 

PS-Thanks sweet family, especially Jesse, for being patient with me and still loving me!  I can be a bit much to put up with, especially when I'm pregnant.  Sorry!  Before we know it though we'll have another little one to snuggle and love, so it will be worth it.