Proof of Pregnancy and Pictures of the Kiddos.

So, Spring Break this week has felt a little bit more like Summer Break. Yesterday, by late afternoon, it was just plain hot. I'm NOT complaining though. It was blissfully wonderful to sit on the porch and watch the kids play... to see their little bodies soak up the sunshine and revel in the June-like warmth.

My sister came up for the day. Collectively, we have eight children, which seems like a lot to have running around. But they play really well together, so in many ways, it's actually easier than being in your own house, on your own. Especially when the weather is beautiful and you can lock them send them outside all day.

I've got pictures to share, but first... because so many have asked, and because I regret not having one single picture of myself when I was pregnant with Henry, here's me... 8 months and 3 weeks pregnant with Ivy. Baby day is one week from tomorrow. Isn't that glorious? ONE MORE WEEK!

We can learn many things from this picture:



First, all weight gained during this pregnancy has apparently collected in my arms. Lovely, lovely.

Second, I live in the woods. And there is a backhoe in my driveway. (Or some other large piece of machinery. I don't know what they're all called, so don't hold me to the whole backhoe thing.) You see it? Down there behind me? We're doing some grading behind our house to turn our weed filled wilderness into actual grassy yard. We're excited. We like grass.

Third, I can fix my hair curly. I'm sure many of you were spending hours doubting and wondering the reality of such a thing. Even my own mother looks at me weird whenever I wear it this way. It's okay. I look at myself weird too. (That really doesn't have anything to do with my hair though. It's just cause, well, I really am weird.)

 

Moving on to much cuter images... this is how we spent our afternoon.



Sam's holding his nose, AND covering his eyes. You know how overwhelming those sprinklers can be.



Then there's this. I don't really know what this is.



The heat made the dog lazy. She did a lot of sitting around. (I looked at this photo, and thought, Oh, what a cute face! My sister on the other hand, said, "She's not the ugliest dog I've ever seen." I could tell Carmen was insulted. Really. I could.)



Henry wasn't big on the sprinkler. He did a lot of this.



Some sunbathing...



Lucy and Inkmom's Conman. They love each other.



And finally, Inkmom's Gdog. I love this child's smile.



When we weren't hanging out on the porch, Inkmom and I worked to stock my freezer for after baby is born. Casseroles, soup, precooked chicken and ground beef... I'm not sure anyone will shower or brush their teeth or anything else after baby NUMBER 5 comes home, but at the very least, we will eat!

So, the next eight days are all about endurance. I think I can, I think I can...

And just in case you feel tempted to suggest that maybe baby will come early... she won't. I promise. Naturally occurring labor is not something any of the women in my family have ever experienced, though not for lack of trying. I mean, I carried one kid two extra weeks, and carried the twins until they were well over fourteen pounds together, and still... nothing. I see no reason why things will be different this time around. So. Endure, I must.