Easter week

Easter always sneaks up on me, but this year I planned to celebrate Holy Week, or Easter Week and to put more focus on Christ. On Sunday we read some verses about Christ's entry into Jerusalem. I showed the kids a video of Jesus riding in on a donkey. Then we made palm branches by tracing the kids hands on green paper and attaching them to sticks. I had the kids wave them and Rose seemed to understand that fanning someone is something you do for a special person. 

On Monday night we read some verses about Jesus going to the temple and throwing out the money changers. We talked about why the temple is a special house for God, and drew pictures of our favorite temples.

Don't you love Rose's Salt Lake Temple? (The one by Mimi's house).

On Tuesday we dropped the ball because I had work, but I took the kids in the hot tub when I got home so ... Fun mom points. Wednesday we had more time so we did a special Jerusalem dinner with pita bread and hummus, turkey, olives, grapes and cheese. We lit candles and ate picnic style in the family room- the children were so excited about this part, and ate mostly pita bread and grapes. They were very cute. While we ate we watched a video of Christ washing the feet of his apostles and the last supper, and then of Gethsemane. Then Raimo and I washed the kids little feet. The first time we did this, Finn was a newborn and Rose was just 2 years old, and it was so poignant and amazing and both of us cried out eyes out at this simple service of love for our tiny children. Doing it again this year made both of us cry again. The kids were a little older and looking at us with wonder. Rose said to me, "You're like Jesus!" And I said, "No, I'm your mom" :) And Finn said, "That tickles!" It only took a few minutes, but it is something I'll remember always. Later we had the kids dye Eater eggs.

Thursday I had work and a baby shower so I was not home, but on Friday we watched lots of videos about Christ's atonement, crucifixion, and the resurrection. The videos kept their interest for quite a while. Afterward, I showed them some items I'd collected from the front yard and they had to identify them (they were miniature). A cross of sticks, palm leaves, crown of thorns, a stone that rolled away from the tomb, and a flower to represent new life. The sharing time in Sunday had a similar activity, but she put the items in Easter eggs, and left one egg empty to represent "He is not there." 

Saturday was a busy day. Rose had ballet in the morning, and we had the ward egg hunt and lunch from 11-1. 

Finn was so into the egg hunt this year- he was so cute. Rose got plenty of eggs too-she still wanted me to be close by.

Then I had to run errands all afternoon, buying jumper cables for my car, groceries, Easter treats, etc.

Easter morning was exhausting. I only slept like two hours the night before because Finn woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep. But the kids were super excited to find the Easter bunny had come and left eggs and baskets of treats. Also, the bunny left a third basket for their new baby BROTHER! 

We just found out we are having a boy. Rose was set on a baby sister for the first part of my pregnancy, but a few weeks ago she started saying she wanted a brother. Crisis averted. She must have intuition.

Rose was very excited about the new fancy high heeled shoes the Easter bunny brought. She was also finally old enough to wear this smocked green dress that I've had in the closet for 4 years.

 My parents had us for Easter dinner and an egg hunt. Finn was just eating all the candy in each egg as he went. They were both really excited about it

I never want her to grow up

18.5 weeks

Here's a picture at 16 weeks. I've been having a lot of bouts of insomnia from 2:30-7am and then feel totally trashed the next day. I always feel extremely tired when I'm pregnant, like I have been doing heavy workouts and not eating enough food. The fact is, I don't get much activity at all when I'm pregnant. I cancelled my YMCA membership in the early weeks because I knew I wouldn't be using it enough. These days I can lay down and take a nap pretty much every day, especially since my night sleeping doesn't go so well. Anyone who knows me knows that I normally can not nap, even when I'm exhausted. Usually the extent of resting for me is watching some tv. Today I sleep two hours and could have kept sleeping if Finn had slept longer. Rose is getting more afternoon tv than ever and she is not sad! I am glad she will be going to afternoon kindergarten because I will be able to give her more of my attention in the mornings when I seem to be more productive. I even took a nap in the car on the way to my parents house. Napping in the car in pure daylight. Yep I zonked. When I'm not exhausted or sleeping I feel pretty healthy and I'm glad. I seem to be staying small in this pregnancy, which is nice because I will be comfortable longer. I can still hold Finn ok and get through house chores. Making food is one thing I never feel up to these days. It seems like so much work. I think in partially burned out from trying to think of new things to feed my picky little kids and partially just not as hungry myself. My appetite is smaller right now so I think I turn to easy snacks and therefore junk food rather than make a big meal. I try to still make dinner when I can because I know the baby needs nutrition and healthy food will probably help with my low energy. But it's not very motivating when I don't feel hungry. 

Overall I feel very blessed. I think I expected 2nd and 3rd pregnancies to not be quite as exciting as the 1st. And it is true that there's something special about the first one, however I am surprised by how much the second and third experiences have meant to me too. I happen to be in a ward at church that is full of young families, and all of the women around my age have shown so much excitement for my pregancy these last few months and I so appreciate it. It makes it more fun. You'd think it would be old news since we already have two children, and since Mormons tend to have a lot of kids. But I am so excited and happy to be pregnant even the third time around. I feel blessed to be healthy and that my babies have been healthy. I think I am more aware as I get older of all the things that could go wrong and I just feel lucky. I also feel very excited to meet my new child and to hold him. Those first few moments with a new baby are some of the best of my life and I can't wait to feel it again. This pregnancy has got me thinking of our present family and future family a lot, of our current children and children unborn. I feel a strong connection to them and I'm getting excited thinking about things like bunk beds and putting together a play room one day and eventually having a back yard with lots of kids stuff. There is a lot to look forward to. These are the things I think many people of my generation do not understand. One or two kids is usually the goal, and three kids, to many people, makes a ginormous family. But to me it is happiness. Of course it is tiredness too. I plan on being tired for about 8-10 more years. Just in time for early morning seminary to begin! Ah!

When we saw this baby in the ultrasound, he was wiggling up a storm and had long legs and feet and little fists. I could kind of tell it was a boy right away.  He was just the cutest and it made it more real for me. Love him!