One More Date

Tonight was great. Kale decided to take me on one more date before baby arrives. I am glad we did. We enjoyed talking, being romantic  ( this means Kale tying my tennis shoes because I can't reach them myself ), and stuffing our faces full of food.

We went to my favorite restaurant - Zuki. It's a Japanese Hibachi Grill and Sushi bar. I love, love, love sushi. I always have and always will. Nothing I ate was "raw" so it was delicious and safe for baby. She was actually kicking the entire time.

A little quality time was much needed and I love him for putting up with me for 9 months!

"Cheese"

My Watermelon - 38 Weeks

38 Weeks with Ladybug

( taking my own picture)

Some lady at the store walked up to me and said, "You look like you are about to pop". I wanted to smack her!!! But I kindly replied yes, yes....I am ready to pop!

Ladybug Update:

Baby is doing well. She is still moving around a lot. Elbows and knees and all.

Heart rate is around 130 BPM.

Had a baby appointment last Monday. According to my doctor she is going to be the biggest baby I have ever carried. She said this because baby has dropped completely. But her butt is still right up against my rib cage when being measured. Both of my boys were 6 pound babies

( Colten: 6 lbs 1 oz and Tyler  6 lbs 0.7 oz) . My doctor told me last Monday that if she had to guess that baby was at least 7 pounds. I think she will be around the same size as my boys but I guess we will see.

Miss Ladybug is killing me :) I don't go to sleep until around 4am. It's been like this for a week. She decides that she is going to go on a 3 hour spree of rolling her feet into my ribs. I am so uncomfortable. She pushes at both ends at the same time. I always wonder if she is trying to stand up inside me??? I almost started crying last night. Everyone was sleeping but ME. I don't look forward to getting any sleep tonight either. Only a few more days and this will be over.

I miss miss miss being comfortable when I sleep. I can't wait to be comfortable again!

Just for grins: Kale and I ( being competitive as we are ) decided that we would have a go at each other. We are guessing Ladybugs birth weight. Why? Dunno. It's fun though. 

Kale's guess:  7 pound 3 ounces

Sharin's guess : 6 pounds 10 ounces

We will find out soon!

Mommy Update:

I haven't gained any weight this last week. I have gained right at 30 pounds total with this pregnancy.

My feet get a little swollen but not too bad. I can't shop. I have tried for days to run some errands and it just isn't working out. What I can usually get done in half a days time has taken me over a week to accomplish.

I have also NOT done anything more with my preparing for Ladybug list. I just don't have it in me to finish some projects for her. I find that I barely make it through the day doing absolutely nothing at all. It's depressing a little because I thought I would be able to complete my list for her but unfortunately- I don't. Maybe one or two more preparing for Ladybug posts and that's it until after she arrives.

My face looks tired. I am always really tired. I know..I know...I'm pregnant. :)

I'm getting to that point of "GET HER OUT OF ME" I honestly can't wait until she is out.

My thoughts this week:

I'm excited to finally be in my last week of pregnancy. Woo Hoo. This is awesome. My entire body hurts. No fun! But not too long from now it will be over.

I can't wait to meet our daughter. I keep wondering who and what she will look like. I imagine her sometimes. Is she going to be small and tiny? Big and chubby? I just can't wait.

Will she have any problems? This one is definitely one I have been turning over to God. I trust him with all my heart! I pray for a safe surgery without complications. I also pray for a healthy baby!

I keep thinking about the surgery. I can't get it off my mind. I have been asking the Lord to take this anxiety/fear from me. I am truly terrified. I really need to get more positive! I am praying for this too.

Daddy Update:

We have had a few talks about our feelings on baby. It's nice to talk about her. WE both can't wait to meet her, hold her, and take care of her.

Kale has been supportive as always. He has been a great husband and father. He continues to help me so much. I love him for all that he does.

I can't wait for her arrival!!

Love

The Shank Family

Tyler Makes French Toast

Kale has some-what taken over my mommy duties (when he can) so that I can rest as much as possible. This includes a LOT! Cleaning, cooking, and being my taxi. We work well as a team and this has helped me so much. 

Kale has always loved the help of the kids. Anything that he can do - he believes with a little guidance - the kids can do too. Why not throw cooking into the mix?

Last night was fun. I wanted french toast for supper. Yes - french toast for supper! So, Kale had Tyler help him make french toast.

Tyler did a great job! Kale showed him how to do something once and Tyler caught on quick. I loved watching them and taking these photos (even though I was supposed to be sitting down and getting off my feet). I couldn't help it. This is our last week of being a family of 4. With the new baby coming - we have been trying to spend as much one on one time with our kids as we can. 

FRENCH TOAST ANYONE?

EGGS

STIR AND DIP

COOK

AND SERVE!

These were delicious by the way. I am looking forward to eating more french toast made by Tyler!

Snuggle Time

I love spending time with my boys. Lately, I just haven't had the energy to do a lot of running around with them. I am lucky if I get my kitchen clean after supper. So we have been doing a lot of snuggling and watching movies before bed. 

Kale decided he was going to surprise us with the camera. They are definitely NOT shy!

They laugh when they see baby moving around.

Tyler LOVES to kiss the baby

I ( hope) believe they will be this loving when baby comes! I can't wait to see my boys hold their new baby sister.

My Little Sleepers

Every day of the week is an early to bed-early to rise kind of day. We all hit the sack early so that we can all be functional around 6am. Just recently, Kale and I decided to start going to church on Saturday nights so that we could have at least one day to sleep in. So Sundays we usually enjoy sleeping in until we hear our kids feet hit the hard wood floors of our home. Then, Kale and I look at each other, sigh, and get up to fix everyone breakfast. This last Sunday was different. I woke up and to my surprise the house was silent. I didn't hear any kids. No talking, no little feet running around, and no t.v. playing a Disney movie. I heard nothing! I went downstairs to check on the kids and they were both sound asleep. I was very surprised! I should have stayed in bed but couldn't resist my own curiosity. 

This was the perfect time to snap some photos of my little sleepy heads. 

Colten

Tyler

I decided after staring at my own children for a minute or two that it was indeed time to wake up. After all, I was hungry. It was definitely time for some pancakes! 

I woke up the kiddos and they woke up well. They both gave me big smiles with their half awake little faces. I also got lots of hugs and giggles. They wanted to know what I was doing. I told them I was just being a mom.

A little scary but cute!

#17- Decorate at least 5 onesies myself

Task Complete. I have actually had these onesies complete for a few months. I forgot I had created these cute little outfits for Ladybug until I was organizing all of her clothes into her dresser.

For the applique process- I just googled 'how to' and read through several tutorials. This was fun and my first time doing this.

Here they are:

Onesie #1: 

I used applique process and then I hand stitched around the letters. On the back of this onesie are cute ruffles.

Onesie #2:

  I made these fabric flowers using a felt flower tutorial a few months ago. For the life of me I can't find the tutorial to post. This was fun though. I hand sewed the sparkle buttons in the middle of each flower for some bling

Onesie #3:

 I used the applique process for this onesie as well then hand sewed around the letters. I saw a little boy named Sawyer (my sister-in-laws son) wearing a cute shirt with his last name on front. I thought it was adorable so I made Ladybug a "Shank" onesie with ruffles.

Onesie #4:

This onesie was fun. I just drew a flower on paper and copied it to the web backing. Each flower was just a larger tracing of the first. I used applique process to create this onesie as well. Then I hand sewed sparkle buttons to the center adding some more bling.

Onesie #5:

I used applique process for this onesie as well. The material came from an old scrub top I had boxed up. It was cute and I love black. I hand stitched the stem and the ruffles to the sleeves. 

#20 Recover Glider Rocker

Task Complete. Finally!

Our $50.00 Craigslist find

This was easy and fast. I tore off the old covers and replaced with new material. Loved doing this little project with the hubby. Kale did all the sanding and painting and I got to be crafty.

THE OLD GLIDER ROCKER: (YUKKO)

THE NEW GLIDER ROCKER:

New material and fresh paint makes any old chair look good.

I can't wait to rock the baby in this comfy glider

Happy Halloween 2011

(Sorry for the post delay)


This year was different for the Shank Family. Kale and I decided not to dress the kids up in costumes, paint their faces, or go trick-or-treating. We had some alternative plans that didn't include spending too much money, sugar-high's, and a dark night walking the streets of the west side.

Our first Halloween adventure started with an invite from my girl Beth to a Halloween party at her mother-in-laws house.

We enjoyed LOTS of food, candy, games, bonfire, and of course a hayride.  I brought the camera thinking we would gets lots of pictures. This didn't work out too well because we were actually having too much fun to worry about the camera. There was fortunately only a few occasions where taking a picture was absolutely necessary!



The game: to cover a team player up with a trash bag - covered in shaving cream - and then launch cheetos at them. The goal: to cover your team mate with as many cheetos as possible. We so lost! The high score was over 130 cheetos and we came in with about 60 cheetos. LOOSERS! But it was so funny and so much fun. Of course I was the volunteer for this event. I figured more surface area!!

The preggo covered in cheetos!

The hayride:

During the hayride 3/4 of the way back to the house we were scared to death but a leaf blower! Yes a leaf blower. It was the host's husband dressed up as a crazy clown outfit and a leaf blower ( which actually sounded like a chain saw for a second) I believe a few people claimed to have peed themselves. It was good and all the kids screamed!



The second event that we attended was through our church. They hold an annual celebration called Autumn Fest. We have never attended Autumn Fest before. We thought this would be so much fun for the family. The cost to get in was FREE! Even better. The only expense was food. Which we were able to get out of by eating prior to the event.

This was fun of course for everyone BUT the preggo. I couldn't stand being on my feet the whole time. I felt like a cow walking around this event. But it was fun to watch the boys having so much fun.

Getting ready to climb

Daddy makes it to the top

Tyler is ready to go

He actually does really well. He made it 3/4 of the way to the top

Bull riding. He lasted about 4 seconds

Daddy being silly

Colten being his cute self

A little tractor pull competition

This was a lot of fun. It definitely beat trick or treating and the boys had fun. I am looking forward to this next year

Counting Down - 4weeks

4 weeks until we meet Ladybug

Do I really only have 4 weeks left until this precious miracle comes into our lives? I'm stoked and scared all in one.

Kale and I had our hospital tour last night. I walked the halls of this new place where I would be delivering with goose bumps covering my arms. I'm terrified and overjoyed.  We were able to see the surgery wing, the room in which we would be staying, the nursery, the NICU, the food court, and the cute little boutiques. 

I wish I would have noticed the boutiques. All I could think about was this upcoming surgery. After my fear of surgery dissipated, I kept thinking about how small and tiny and cute my little Ladybug would be.  

I asked Kale if he was ready for this. He said, "I don't think I will ever be ready". I couldn't agree more. 

This pregnancy has definitely gone faster than I expected. Sometimes it seems as if I have been pregnant forever, then I look at the calendar and time has flown by so quickly. It seems just yesterday I was only 4 months pregnant on a houseboat enjoying the sunshine. Now I am having a baby this month. 

My thoughts this week:

I really am not looking forward to this surgery BUT it's the only way.

I am so glad I have Kale! He is so supportive. He comforts me until no end. He tells me only positive things when I am down and makes me laugh all the time.

Am I really going to have 3 children? WOW. This is amazing. I have (almost) 3 beautiful children! What a gift from GOD.

Will I be able to handle all 3 kids? Sure! I handled two and I am positive I will be able to handle 3. Will it be easy? NO. I already know the challenges that lie ahead of me today. 

Will this experience bring me closer to HIM? I hope so. I have been doing a lot of praying lately. For one of the first times last night I saw Kale bow his head to the Lord and pray. I have no idea what he was praying but I guess I don't need to. This is normal for Kale while we are in church. He does this a LOT. But at home...very rare and surprising.

Am I really ready? No. But my body is !!!

My ribs are NOT a punching bag Ladybug.

I am so thankful today for all the wonderful family and friends I have in my life. I cherish all the gifts, support, and LOVE that comes my way. This is truly a remarkable month in my life and Kale's life too I am sure. This is the last month we will be a family of 4!

WE love you all.

Mr Fix It

Being a homeowner means LOTS of things. Some are good and some...well....you just have to accept.



Just a few weeks ago Kale was replacing the insulation in our attic. We are hoping our energy costs of a cold winter will improve after completing this home project. The insulation was not so good when we purchased our home.

I'm in the office, kids are playing in their rooms and Kale is in the attic hanging insulation.

All of a sudden I hear a crash coming from my dining room. I jump up immediately when I hear the sound of boards hitting my hard wood floor.

I walk in the dining room to a cloud of dust followed by wooden slats and old crumbling insulation all over. I couldn't say anything. I just stood there in disbelief and looked at the mess. I heard Kale with a few choice words from the attic. At first I just kept yelling "are you o.k.?" and he wouldn't respond. I yelled again and finally I heard him say he was o.k.

After knowing that my husband was alright I didn't know what to do. The first thing that came to my mind was the fact that another home project for the dad-to-be was just added to Kale's to-do list. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Here is a visual for you.....

I couldn't believe it.

Just a few days later Kale had an enormous bruise on his thigh. It was terrible. I asked him where it came from and he tells me so sarcastically - "remember when I fell through the ceiling?" I do remember but I had no idea his entire leg fell through! 

He was able to repair this on his own. I am kinda proud of him. Not only has he never attempted a project like this before but our dining room ceiling happens to be plaster. So, go Kale! Another beautiful repair but Mr. Fix It!!

The end results:

You can't even tell that a man fell through this ceiling!

Thank goodness he didn't get hurt. Thank goodness he was able to fix it!