Getting ready! Cruisin in our new ride :)

It's official; Mama has a new ride! :) And we are now officially ready for you!!
Never thought I would drive a mini van, in fact I refused to do so for years! :) But then I started noticing how all of our friends could just press a button and their kids could hop in to the car, jump in to their seats. There was no worry about how to fit the car seat in the back door if the person next to us parked too close!
So I said I would consider it....and your Papa did the rest :)

The new Leonardo mobile home :)

My spaceship command center :)

And I will be the very first to admit that I was a fool all these years; there is a reason so many moms love these cars and so many families have them! This new ride is AMAZING!!! I feel like the captain of a space ship :) And I have perma grin every time I walk up to the car and the trunk opens as I am approaching so I don't have to lift a finger to put those groceries in :) Your brothers think it is beyond cool to have the door slide open as we approach and they can close it themselves :) We are riding in style!! :)
And, we are now officially ready for you my little one! Your Papa installed your new car seat and we are ready to go! Your big brother Christian is very proud he gets to sit next to you and your big brother Benjamin already has plans to make you smile from his new spot in the back seat (on a booster seat.....oh my goodness!!).

We are ready to roll! :)

Best Papa Ever!

You already have a number of posts on your blog where you get to see all of the fun you have ahead with your Papa (mowing the lawn, riding on the tube, eating ice cream; your brothers will tell you the adventures are endless! :)).
But I just can't wait for you to meet him in person! He is the most amazing Papa and your Mama (and brothers) feel so very lucky!
I don't know another Papa who wants to be with his boys ALL of the time, every single day! Rather than miss a minute when he is out doing chores, he just holds them tight while he's riding his new lawn mower :).

We LOVE you Papa!!! You're going to need another leg or a side saddle seat when you've got your third little duckling :)

HOLY NESTING!!!!!!

It's official....Mama duck is on a nesting frenzy :)
I started a few weeks ago going through little places and getting the nursery finished. But as of today, full scale nesting has kicked in! :)
All baby bottles, milk containers, pacifiers, future teethers, breast pump pieces, etc. are now boiled, sanitized, dried and organized.

This morning alone while boiling everything Mama cleaned out one of our pantries, cleaned out the gift wrap closet, and cleaned out the guest room closet.
New baby mobile is done and beautiful :) (made by Mama! :))
The first of many freezer meals has been made, marked, and stored :)
Pac n play and changing table are set up on first floor and bib drawer is stocked full :)
Majority of maternity clothes (beyond those I am wearing right now) are washed and packed in to bins. All baby clothes are washed, folded and in their proper drawers or closet bins :) And of course, your going home outfit is ready and packed in Mama's bag!
Phew....my feet are the size of boats :) (can I tell you how much I love nesting?? :) It fits your Mama's personality :) and gives me an excuse :)). But for now, I'm going to lie down...

My babies....

Your Mama is an emotional roller coaster these days....
Your big brother Benjamin had his first day of kindergarten and it doesn't feel possible that 5 1/2 years have gone by since he was our miracle. I remember our first moments with him at the hospital just as I do with your other brother Christian! And he is turning three in just about 2 weeks. What happened to my babies!?!?
Time goes too quickly!!

And Mama knows you will arrive and grow and grow and make me so proud! And I will LOVE every minute of it even though I weep because you are getting too big too fast and I can't freeze time!
Just know I am going to eat you up every single minute as I have done with your brothers so as not to miss one single bit of this precious time!

Popping up 3's

Things seem to be popping up in 3's these days :)

Or maybe that's just where Mama's brain is! There were even three goldfish baked together for snack today :).
My three little duckies (sigh)....Mama is so happy!!

Your first 4th of July

Happy first fourth of July little one!!!
We celebrated this year in Raleigh - your Mama's very FIRST fireworks not on 4th Lake in the Adirondacks...her entire life! The only other time Mama hasn't been in the mountains for this holiday was when your brother Christian was born. And I was so enormous and uncomfortable that Mama didn't even attempt to see the fireworks that year!
But this year we had so much fun listening to the great band and watching your brothers giddy with excitement that they were up WAY past bedtime :). This was your brother Christian's very first fireworks too.
And I am certain you enjoyed the fireworks display!! You were booting Mama like there was no tomorrow :). Papa said you probably wondered what I had ate that gave me such "explosive gas" :). I promise that wasn't Mama's bowels :)

Baby Love continued....

Dear little one,
Oh how your brothers love you! Your big brother Benjamin kisses you and talks to you every chance he gets during the day.

This morning he brought you one of his favorite cars and had Mama sit still for long enough that you would be able to "feel" it :). He also likes to"decorate" you whenever he gets the chance as he did with my pants ribbon this morning.

From the moment Mama and Papa surprised Benjamin and Christian with the news that you were joining our family, they have been smitten with you! They love you with all of their hearts!