Hallie's favorite uncle Dave (who also appears to have him wrapped around her finger...:) right, dave?:)

Movie night (Karla rented "How To Train a Dragon" and bought Dunkin Donuts--pure bribery Karla:) they loved it!

Two cute little people....Thomas and Sydney

Our puppet show during FHE

So...we kind of like having family semi close. It really has been so wonderful! Karla and Dave in Boston and Amber and Doug in Jersey. Amber and girls and Karla and Thomas came for the week this past week while Aubrie had winter break for school. 3 moms and 7 kids 6 and under=FUN CHAOS. Amber and Karla made over 40 freezer meals for us to have over the next few months as well as did everything under the sun around the house and played with the kids (crafts, sledding, building forts, coloring, movie nights, legos, read books, etc). They are the greatest! It was a little weird waking up this morning for all of us. No Leah and Paige to run down and play with for Robbie, Aubrie and Hallie and it was so quiet all day it seemed like. Already missing them. Thanks for coming and making it a great week ladies!

1.5 weeks to new baby.....

Update: now only the .5 left :) Mom is coming Tuesday (dont forget the honey :)) and we cant wait.

Laura--you requested some pictures. Crib...Have to do that later. Here is the only picture I can find of me recently.

and as for names....well, we are down to Zach Paul Jensen or Blake Stephen Jensen and I really like Emery--but I dont think that is making the list as far as Ryan is concerned. And we are still VERY open to adding names to the running. :) (please....)




Checklist--

-Massive organization/cleaning with the family today
-Painted and cleaned the crib (as well as Robbies bed since they share a room)
-Retrieved (from the bins in the garage) all of the boy baby clothes as well as baby paraphernalia--blankets, bumbos, baby toys that have done unused for a few years, etc, etc. Washed and sanitized it all
-Got a pedicure (one of Ryans gifts to me for Christmas was a certificate to go get one before the baby was born--and my VT was very willing to go with me)
-Narrowed names down to 2 (NOT three, Ryan)
-Waddle and have serious heartburn

READY!

We were all driving in the car tonight coming home in a blizzard from visiting teaching (now that is dedication I tell ya--ok, ok, it wasnt even snowing when we went). This was Aubrie and Hallie's conversation in the back seat...

Aubrie: Mom, did you know... (meanwhile Hallie is LOUDLY whining about being hungry and needing a snack/dinner). Mom, did you know....(repeated 3X)

Hallie: I neeeeeeeeddddddaaaaaa snnnnnnnnnnnnaccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkk. I's hungy.

Aubrie: Hallie, can you just stop crying for a second while I tell mom something and then when I am done you can start crying again.

(Hallie stops immediately)

(Aubrie spends the next 5 minutes telling me about how castforsts (forecasts) are not always right and that is why we are having a blizzard and we didn't even know there was one coming.)

(Aubrie finishes)

Hallie: Aubrie, sit (is it) okay if I cry now?

Aubrie: Yes

(Hallie resumes "IIIIIII NNNNNNEEEDDD aaaaaaaaaaaaaa SNNNNNAAAACKKKKK)


I quickly asked Aubrie what else she had learned today in school.

The Hard Truth

Ryan: (talking to the kids) Guys, don't you think mom is so pretty....
Aubrie: She's medium.


Ryan was telling all of the kids how they looked when he went in to check on them last night before going to bed, then he got to me. I had fallen asleep on the couch watching the BB game with him (which happens 100% of the time lately even though I try so hard).

Ryan: Mom was sleeping like this (demo)
Aubrie: And she wouldn't wake up?
Ryan: No, she was really tired
Aubrie: Well, did you carry her to bed?
Ryan: (to his credit he usually offers) Well, if I carry her in my arms it would squish the baby.
Aubrie: Yeah, it would squish the baby. And, you'd have to be Hulk to carry mom. Robbie, did you know that dad is Hulk (and her and Robbie went off to talk about how strong and Hulk-like Ryan is, leaving me wondering why I woke up early to make breakfast for the munchkins).

Rekindled Love

except I have a big basketball sticking out of the water around the midsection:)

A few weeks ago my sister Sydney raved about all the pros of swimming while pregnant. After getting off the phone I couldn't wait to try it.
Our family has always loved to swim--maybe because that is all you can do from May to August in Florida. We swam for our high school as a way to get in shape for soccer season. We had a pool in our backyard. We sent to the beach as often as often as possible. And now...I am hooked again. I want to go everyday. I wish that I could. We've been going to the YMCA for the last few years 2-3 times a week and although I know exercise is good and mentally I have loved going while pregnant, unfortunately this 4th pregnancy I feel like I just spend the rest of the day hurting. Enter swimming. Now we go to the YMCA and I swim and I never want to get out of the water. I feel so much better pregnancy-wise for a couple days after as well. My body feels more limber and stretched out. I don't feel as fragile and my lungs feel great. And, I get to meet every person 65 years and older in the jacuzzi afterward. I LOVE it!!! Thanks Syd!!!