Baby 3.0: 30 weeks

29 weeks pregnant with Presley, 30 weeks pregnant with Molly, and 30 weeks pregnant with Crosby

Things on the pregnancy front have still been great lately. Though I'm a few weeks into my third trimester I haven't hit the disparity point yet where you're just ready to be done! I feel pretty huge but honestly not horribly so yet. Sleep is weird lately but I'm still able to get a decent amount. (For example, I've been sleeping upright a lot as well as sleeping with my lamp on... both very weird for me.) My energy is still hanging in there. It's super hot outside but thankfully that hasn't been awful... we just haven't spent a whole lot of time outside this summer. I'm dreading the tail end of a pregnancy where you feel like you lack the ability to move comfortably because this time around I've got two little ones to chase around as well.

This is how I REALLY feel when taking these pictures, sometimes.

All that considered, I do feel like I've been pregnant forever this time around. I suppose that goes with the territory of finding out you're pregnant before you miss your period. I'm also very ready to meet Crosby!!!! I know the girls' excitement is especially influencing me to feel this way. The thing I can't wait for is for the girls to come visit us in the hospital and to see them meet Crosby for the first time. My heart is bursting just thinking about it!!!! And maybe even more than that I can't wait to see Tony be one of the first people to ever hold Crosby and to have that special small amount of time where it's just Tony, Crosby, and me. I've already decided that once I hit the 37 week mark I am going to start making eggplant parmesan at least once a week in hopes that the tall tale that it'll help induce labor is rooted in truth.

One of my recent cravings is the Reese's blizzard from Dairy Queen. I can't even tell you the last time we've been to DQ or even the last time I wanted to go there before now! I had a mini Reese's blizzard this weekend and it was exactly everything I dreamed it would be!! It's also pretty awesome to feel just a tiny bit closer to my dad through this somewhat bizarre craving, seeing as he worked for the DQ company for something like 20 years.

In other news... Tony and I went bowling (I'm pretty sure for the first time SINCE BECOMING PARENTS) with some friends last week and had a blast. I forgot how much of a challenge bowling is! I bowled a 100 so I felt pretty accomplished there and I also got to know two of Tony's coworkers' significant others which was so nice! He always seems to work with some of the best people. And I'm absolutely looking forward to going again. We went to the same bowling alley we used to go to just about every weekend when we were younger.

...and no. I don't think I'll ever be able to stop the reminiscing!

And before that we got to meet sweet baby Carter! Our cousins Shelby & Cory brought him into the world just a few weeks ago. Crosby & Carter will both share the same middle name (which makes sense as it's a family middle name) and they'll be about 2.5 months apart in age! It'll be really awesome to see how both boys are as they grow.

Over the weekend we made a short trip to Nashville to celebrate Anne Marie's 4th birthday. We celebrated at McAlister's and the Discovery Center but I think the kids had the most fun just hanging out at the Carrico house.

The two smallest girls

It is surprisingly difficult to orchestrate a photo like this considering they're all on different schedules (eating, sleeping, potty breaks, etc.) and not to mention they're busy bodies going in all directions!

The two biggest girls 

So incredibly sweet seeing this

Goodbye hugging turned to wrestling

It was a lot of fun but it was all jam-packed into a day and a half. It's great to live close enough to be able to do this one a semi-regular basis and I know no one enjoys it as much as the kids do. As hectic as I always think it'll be to get together with so many little kids, it went really smoothly and we all really did have a great time. Not to mention, every time we visit the Carrico's we get some super yummy meals!!!

It also seems like the only time we'll successfully get a family photo anymore these days is when we're all four in the van.

Um, have I mentioned lately how much we love and appreciate this van?!

And I couldn't finish this blog without including a picture from Molly's most recent mess - which was her getting into my mascara and putting it on her face!

That is a face I can't be mad at right there! Hope everybody has a happy week!!!

Twin Cousins.

While I was growing up, I felt lame because my favorite people (and best friends) were family members.

And now, I couldn't imagine my life any other way. Nor would I want it to be any different.

Most of the people I considered my best friends over time who I wasn't related to have come in and out of my life and they are ALWAYS a warm & happy part of my memories. At the time, though, I couldn't imagine my life without them.

I can see now what a supreme blessing it has been growing up next to my siblings and cousins... we're stuck with each other! And thank goodness for that.

The really great thing to look back on is how much our parents made sure we would get together as often as possible so that we could spend time with our aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins. I have to give credit to my mom and Aunt Jill for all they did to get us kids together... if they hadn't done that I might not be so close with my cousin Breanne. It's true that you don't fully understand or appreciate the things your parents do for you until you're a parent. Then it all begins to dawn on you how lucky you are to belong to the family you are part of.

It's Breanne's birthday today and it's days like these that cause me to reflect on just how thankful I am for her. I have taken our friendship for granted so much over time because it's just always been there because she has always been there.

She's always been a force for good in my life. Whether it was someone to just laugh with - which we have done a LOT of - or someone to sit, listen, and give advice from the heart... Breanne is someone who always seems to get me out of my own head and comfort zone. Heck, she even successfully talked me into dating Tony a million years ago! It also helps that we're so close in age and able to relate to each other so closely in that regard.

And now that we're moms - with two sets of kids that are just about the same age apart as we are! - we get to bond about pregnancy, labor, childbirth, breastfeeding, parenting, marriage, etc!!! (Bond... AKA vent!!!) I don't know what my life would look like without her and I'm glad to not know.

So... definitely photo overload on this post... but I couldn't seem to pick just a few of my favorites. Anyways, happy birthday to one super special person in my life... hope we're around to enjoy 27+ more years of each other! (Preferably a LOT more than 27 more!) Thank you for keeping me sane at every turn and for your friendship. We got lucky by being family but no one ever forced us to be friends and I promise to always be here for you, too.