And then there were 3!

So, as you all read a few months ago, we are on to baby adventure #3.  We had our 20 week ultrasound today (1/2 way there!  yay!!).  Jon and I decided that we wanted to find out the sex.  We did with Braxton, didn't with Kyler, and, well, thought "why not"?  Besides that, we were both 90% certain it was another boy.  And, honestly, we were both OK with that.  I have been spending the last couple of weeks planning paint colors, imagining my three little guys running around.

Well, imagine our surprise today, when the tech says "You can see right here - it's looks like a GIRL!"  What?!?  I just started laughing.  You are kidding, right?  "No, you see these three little lines here?  That's a girl."  Oh, my!  I couldn't believe it!  Neither could Jon - he made her check twice just to be sure :).  (On another, more important note, as far as the tech could see, she is a healthy, active little girl.  The most important thing!)

So, Jon and I both walked out of the clinic today feeling a little shocked.  Now that I've had the day to wrap my head around it, I'm getting more and more excited.  I have now started imagining ruffles and bows and all of those things I haven't gotten to experience yet.  And Jon, well, he'll come around ;).  He seems to have significant concerns about 1. how to change a baby girl's diaper, and 2. what happens when she starts dating.  I assured him that the nurse in the hospital can help him with the first one and he has a few years before he has to get too worried about the second.  I'm not worried.  A few weeks into this world and she will have her dad and  her two big brothers wrapped around her little finger!

Conversation in the Car

On the way to daycare, Braxton and I had the following conversation:

Braxton: Mom, who will I find to get married to?
Me:  Well, you have to find a girl that you like and then ask her to marry you.  Do you think you will find someone like that?
Braxton (after brief pause):  I did.  Her name is Nora.  She's 5.

And so it begins...

Perkins Baby #3!

There he (or she) is :).  This picture is actually pretty old - taken November 21st, 2011.  I was about 9 weeks at that point.  Now, I am at week 16.  I think Jon and I are still trying to wrap our heads around the idea of a third baby in the house.  About once a week, especially when the boys are having one of their "moments", Jon looks over at me and says "Can you believe we are going to have another one?". Makes me laugh every time :).

I am due June 22nd.  Right in the middle of the boys' birthdays.  I was originally due June 11th, based on that little calendar they use.  But the doctor and I talked a bit about my two previous experiences and decided to have an early ultrasound just in case.  And, well, what do you know?  My theory was right.  Unfortunately, I unintentionally added 11 days to my pregnancy.  And with the last little guy coming in over 9 pounds, yeah, I'm a bit nervous I'm going to give birth to a 10+ 'er.  Here goes nothing...

I am more than certainly showing, and so I am starting to get lots of comments from people.  And the big question everyone wants to know - "Are you hoping for a girl?".  My answer, "No, not really, I guess."  Jon and I have both decided that this will be the last baby.  And I always pictured myself one of those moms with all the frilly dresses and ponytails.  But I can honestly say, no matter what the sex, knowing it is our last baby, I will be very happy, and a little sad, either way.  I absolutely adore my little boys and can easily picture the little threesome running around together.  But I also know that I will always miss a little bit of that girly-girly thing.  On the other hand, I can also easily picture those mom and daughter shopping trips and two brothers playing protector of their little sister.

The boys have started to talk about the baby.  Braxton is very concerned about "Where will the baby sleep?  Where will the baby sit at the table?  Where will the baby ride in the car?"  And Kyler has proven to be a baby-lover beyond a doubt.  He has a few baby cousins that he oogles over every chance he gets.  He loves to pet them, kiss them, talk to them in this funny little baby voice.  So, I am certain he, too, will make a great big brother.  He told me the other day, "Mom, I want ALL the babies".  Well, he's going to have to settle for just one. :)

I think we've decided to find out what it is when we have our ultrasound next month.  So, that will give both Jon and I a little time to wrap our heads around the new little addition, no matter what it may be.  Regardless, all I can say is that we are truly blessed!

Merry Christmas to all... And to all a good night!

Man, do I love Christmas!  As you can see, it was a crazy night at Grandma Hunt's on Christmas Eve (as it always is!!).  And Christmas morning, a few shots of the boys celebrating our little family's Christmas.  Needless to say, it was a weekend CHALK FULL of fun.  Perkins Christmas Saturday morning (complete with a full course breakfast, thanks to my amazing in laws and awesome sister-in-law-to-be Mollie), Christmas Eve Mass, a visit from Santa at Granny's Saturday night, a mini- Perkins gathering Sunday morning, and then an amazing prime rib dinner back at Granny's that afternoon. 

I can never say enough how thankful I am for the wonderful family that I have and the wonderful family I married into.  I am so blessed to have my amazing boys (including that big, goofy one) in my life.  And to have all the other family that comes along with it is icing on the cake.  My boys so much enjoy their time with their uncles and aunts, their grandparents and their Granny, not to mention everyone else.  I know right now, they love each and every person, but they don't truly understand how amazing it is to be a part of such a great group of people.  Some day they will.  And someday they will be so thankful.  I am certain.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

As the Perkins household gets ready for the wonderful Christmas season, we took some time this week to decorate the Christmas tree.  We went out and bought our tree last Friday, but Monday was the first chance we had to actually decorate.  And boy, does it look nice!  A little heavy with ornaments on the bottom half, but nice none the less.

When I was growing up, one of the holiday traditions that sticks out most to me was going out to buy our Christmas tree.  I realize that many families actually buy just ONE, beautifully shaped (and often lit) tree and pack it up every year.  And now, as one of the responsible members of the household, I can see some serious benefit to that.  But, at this point, it is a tradition I am not ready to give that real tree up.  Yeah, I know they don't smell amazing for long, and yeah, I know they make a great big mess.  But, it's TRADITION!  To choose the "perfect" tree every year is an art.  And one that I am passing on to my children.  Hopefully, some day, when my kids have kids, if they are still selling Christmas trees then, they will pass this tradition on to them.  And they will remember as fondly as I do going out with my mom and dad to seek out that "perfect" tree.  I think I've even converted my "fake tree" husband :).

Out-takes

I bought a new photo backdrop a few weeks ago and had a couple of chances to use it this weekend.  So, as always, I had to put my two guinea pigs out there to test it out.  So, please forgive the lighting, color, etc.  Like I said, these were PRACTICE shots, and they are unedited.  I wanted to put them on here for everyone, though, because I always think it is so fun to see what the boys do when I tell them "just sit there so I can take your picture" :).  (Oh, and PS - they are getting hair cuts this week.  Holy smokes that's a lot of hair!)

The Epic Haircut

I can't believe that I haven't posted these earlier.  But here they are.  Pictures of the tragic day that my Kyler Pauly lost his beautiful red curls.  So, I promised Jon that after Kyler turned two, I would cut his hair.  Well, he turned two.  And, I just COULD NOT do it.  So, I promised Jon that after his two year pictures, we would cut it.  So, that day came and went...  Finally, the last day of August (his birthday is July 21st), we sat down and did it. 

I have to say, it was an emotional experience. Well, at least for me.  I have no idea why, but I had grown extremely attached to these little red ringlets.  I loved the way they bounced around, how they hung over his collar, how they got all curled up after a bath...  Though I knew we couldn't let his hair grow forever, I have to admit I did shed a few tears.  Jon, on the other hand, was getting tired of little old ladies asking how old his little girl was :).  He had had enough! 

So, here you have it.  The before and after.  I do have to admit, looking at it now, though he is no longer my little "baby", he does make a pretty handsome big-boy!