The Time Has Come...

Yes, folks, it's true. Tomorrow is the day. All I have to say is that Sophie coming 3 weeks early set me up for MAJOR disappointment. I never would have thought I'd still be pregnant 2 days before my due date this time around. NONE of my other pregnancies ever made it to this point, and as much as I'd prefer to let nature take its course here, I've decided for my peace of mind I need to be induced tomorrow morning before my sister Amy has to leave to go back to BYU. After stressing out for the last 2 weeks about what to do if the baby doesn't come while she's here, I finally decided to just take things into my own hands and schedule it so that she DOES come before Amy goes. I am a bit apprehensive -- especially because Ethan's induction experience was such a nightmare -- but I'm hoping that this time around things will go a little more quickly and smoothly.

The kids are excited (I think) and as Ethan commented this afternoon, by tomorrow I'll be able to bend over again and reach my toes -- so I'm excited, too. My biggest curiosity of all about this baby girl is how big she is going to be. My guess at this point (based on the sizes of the others vs. how early they were born) is that she's already between 8 and 8 1/2 pounds -- which would make her my biggest baby of all. We shall see, though. I certainly hope that she's contributing significantly to the bulk I've put on during this pregnancy. Hahaha. But then again, I thought the same thing with Ethan, and let's just say that I was in for a rude awakening after I had him and realized that gaining 50 pounds in a pregnancy was more MY bulk than HIS. Hahahaha.

Well, the only other major happenings of the last few weeks were the arrival of my favorite youngest sister, Amy, and the start of a new school year for Ethan. Amy got here a couple of weeks ago and has been super nanny extraordinaire. The kids LOVE her, especially Ethan who has a special bond with her -- quite possibly because they are two peas in a pod -- and having her here has been such a help. We'll be so sad when she leaves this Saturday. :(

Ethan and Amy playing a little B-Ball.

Ethan's 1st day of school came and went on Tuesday, and I have to say that having him in school all day long has been fabulous. Not that I don't miss him, but the half-day schedule of Kindergarten made it so difficult to get anything done before it was time to pick him up at the bus stop once again. To celebrate the first day of all day freedom to run errands, us girlie bugs went to the mall and ate lunch together at The Cheesecake Factory. Sophie chose the restaurant. She just has really good taste, I guess. Hahaha. Actually, she went there with me and my mom at the beginning of the month and has been wanting to go back to "the restaurant" ever since. I was only too happy to oblige, since I love it there myself.

The Classic 1st Day of School Picture.

Here is his new "smile" he pulls out these days.

Amy and Grace-Face at "the restaurant."

Me and the Muppet (Stacy and Clinton would have had a field day with what I wore out in public that day -- but hey NOTHING fits me anymore! Hahaha.)

Cat nap in the car.

Of course, the day wasn't all smooth sailing as our outing caused Sophie to miss her nap -- the last 10 minutes of the car ride home don't exactly count -- Ethan mistakenly thought I was going to pick him up at school and I experienced a few moments of panic when he didn't get off the school bus with the rest of the kids at his stop, and then once I retrieved him from the school office and took him home, he threw a fit when he found out that we did something fun without him and demanded that I take him back to "the restaurant" for dinner. That clearly wasn't going to happen, but I think I appeased him by telling him I'd take him there next month on a date with just him and Mom.

The rest of the week has gone by just fine, and his favorite things about 1st grade so far are eating lunch at school; being able to go to gym, music, art, and library; and the popsicle they get every afternoon at 2:15 in his class. All in all, I think it will be a great year for him.

Grace is getting excited to start preschool in a couple of weeks, herself, and was able to meet her teacher today when she came by for a visit to introduce herself. Apparently Sophie is also getting excited for school seeing as to how she tells me almost every day that she will go to Kindergarten when she is 5.

Well, that's basically it. I can't believe how quickly this summer has gone by. And I really can't believe that this is my last night as a mother of 3. I don't quite know how I'm going to manage 4, but I guess we'll figure it out as we go along, right? Hopefully all will go well tomorrow and I'll be able to post pictures of Jane as soon as possible. Until then...

The Last night as the 3 Little Kiddies.

I love these little faces.

And finally, here is a picture of what happens when Ethan can't fall asleep at bedtime:


That's all folks...