Nearly 6 Months Pregnant

We are so excited to have a little boy. Heber talks about how "cute our baby is" and the different things that he gets to do with his little brother. Olive often asks if she can kiss the baby i.e. my belly. She still mentions that she has a baby in her stomach too. And Hannah often asks questions about how the baby gets out. And they all have questions on what the baby will eat, drink, sleep, wear, etc and his eating, sleeping, clothes (or lack there of) now. 

I plan on doing an all-natural, at-home birth this time. I found two really great midwives that seem to be more mentally aligned with this than my last doctor. I am grateful that they were willing to take me on even though they don't normally take on VBACs. The Ina May's Guide to Childbirth book has been my go-to book lately and I think it will be replete with markings by the time the baby comes. I am still not sure about doing a water birth though because they don't want me to actually birth in the tub (I think it has something to do with losing too much blood and not being about to notice it because of all the water??). 

I have tried to eat really healthy this pregnancy. I am really concerned about gaining too much weight too quickly because of the umbilical hernia that I have which is aggravated each pregnancy. But that being said, the baby is weighing more than average. What can I say, my body is used to making lots of baby (never less than 9 lbs). I also notice the more rested I am, the better food eating decisions I make. Just an incentive for me to rest.

I have tried to stay very fit this pregnancy and think of birth as training for a marathon. It really motivates me. Although I am not doing anything as hardcore as someone training for a marathon, lately I exercise about five times a week for 30-40 minutes.

I look a little crazy/mad scientist like in this photo.

I feel very busy this pregnancy. I seem to go and go all week and than I seem to crash and burn slow down a lot on the weekend.

Wednesday Evenings/Nights

On Wednesday evenings are refrigerator looks like this.

That's because on Wednesday nights Rachel goes grocery shopping. It took some persuasion on my part. She lovingly would go during the day with 3 rambunctious kids and a popping-pregnant pooch, so that are short time in the evenings together wouldn't be separated. But it got to be too difficult and this has been the routine for a couple of months. It's nice to have an evening with the kids for me to (both to have fun with my kids and keep me honest as a dad).

Needless to say, on Wednesday nights our refrigerator looks like this.

You could say we live from grocery trip to trip. Harhar.

Easter At the Hansens

Coolest Dad Ever

*This was not posted by Talmage nor would he be so self-promoting of his (limited) fathering capabilities.

Sonogram

Can you guess what we're having?

Over-read

Background (names and numbers have been changed to preserve our bank account)
Sometimes life requires the memorization of numbers. In order to help Rachel remember them when occasion permits, I like to let her use a trick that has always helped me—i.e. associate the numbers with a famous athlete's number.

Example:
Rachel: "What's my new PIN for my checking card?"

Me: "It's easy just remember Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher."

Rachel: "I can't even remember those names let alone a number that they mean."

Me: "Just trust me."

So today I got a text from Rachel.

Rachel: Do you remember my new PIN? All I can remember is that it is a football player's number and it might have a 5 in it.

I busted. Up laughing.

Sleeping Girls