Surprise!! Baby #3 is on his way!!!

Can you believe it? Little Mara Lew is going to be a BIG sister?! It's true! We don't know how it happened okay we know how but still it was a very big surprise to us as well! We are very excited though and can't wait for our little boy to join our family! We are looking forward to having the biggest party in the hospital on New Year's Eve when little brother will join our family! It has been a fabulous five months and so maybe I should do a little filling in on what's been going on...

Preconception:
March-- Ty and Nate had a wishbone and decided to break it to make a wish. Well, Ty won and made his wish: "I wish for a new baby!" What?! Where did this come from?!! We don't know!

Two weeks later--One day I was a little curious what Ty might name a new baby, so I randomly asked him what he would call his new baby. Without even thinking about it for a second he answered, "Christmas Baby!" What in the world?!!

Pregnancy
April 1--I missed my period! April Fools! Jokes on us right?! Wrong! Baby #3 is on it's way!!

Week 9--Our first visit to Dr. Gerkin. We love our doctor! She is awesome! She asked Nate if he had any questions! He sure did:

• How did this happen?
• Who's the father?
• Can she tell us the personality of the child before it's born?!
  

At this first visit Dr. Gerkin could not hear the baby's heart beat or see anything on the ultrasound. This made us a little concerned but we had faith and hope that all would be okay.

Week 13--Another trip to the doctor and once again no heart beat, but this time we saw our little baby moving around on the ultra sound. We started to wonder if this little creature even had a heart!

Week 17-- Third trip to the doctor and this time we heard music to our ears: the baby's heart beat! Finally! There's nothing quite like that rustling, wooshy, staticy sound!!

Week 22--Over half way through! Yay! We had the BIG ultra sound this is what we've been waiting for! Is it a boy or a girl? As the tech scans the tummy and checks out the baby I see little boy parts three times, but the tech doesn't say anything so it kind of makes me wonder! Finally he asks if we want to find out and we both are holding our breath saying 'YES!' He says, "If you haven't noticed already it's been pretty obvious! You're having a boy!" "YAY!!" was my response! That's exactly what I wanted, but hey we have one of each so it doesn't really matter! As long as he's healthy! Nate was hoping for another sweet like Mara-mellow! But maybe with any luck we can have a sweet little cuddly, mellow, perfect in every way little baby boy!!

How have I felt?
GREAT! Without any complaints! I have been very blessed to feel so good and full of energy! I really don't know what I would have done had I been sick and had to chase two other little kids around! I have felt a little nauseous at night but nothing a pickle and bowl of cereal couldn't cure!

When will our little guy arrive?
Well my due date is actually January 6 but because of my scheduled c-sections (which I absolutely love!) he'll be a week early so that is around December 30 or 31. I asked my doctor if there would be any possible way for a New Year's Eve baby to keep up the tradition of all my kids being born on holidays and she doesn't see any problems with it, but we will have to check with the Operating Room and see what is scheduled for that day. One concern Nate and I just encountered was last week at our ultra sound the baby was actually only measuring at 20 weeks instead of 22. So he might not be ready to come on New Year's Eve and we will have to check with out doctor when the time gets closer! But for now we will cross our fingers and hope for a New Year's Eve baby and be able to have one more tax deduction for the year!

Why did we wait to tell our news?
Because we could!! I just barely started to show a couple weeks ago and so we've really been able to keep this a secret from our friends and ward family here besides all of our family and friends away! It was fun to find out what we were having before we made the announcement! Plus, nine months is a long time to wait for anyone! So it sure sped up the pregnancy for others right?!
How does Ty feel about the new baby?
We haven't really told Ty until last week because we didn't want him 'spill the beans!' So last week when we found out it was a boy we said to Ty "Ty you are going to have a new baby brother! Yay! Isn't that exciting!" He looked rather shocked and said, "Why? I already have one little sweetie and that's all I need!" Cute huh?! So it may take a little getting used to for him, but I know he will be a great big brother to this baby and I'm really grateful that he'll have a little brother to wrestle with and teach how to play football and catch!

What does Mara think of a little brother?
Let's just say Mara loves babies--as long as Mama isn't holding them! Every time she sees a little baby whether at the store, church, where ever she waves and says in a high pitched little voice "Hi baby! Hi baby!" She loves babies! She will be very loving and give many kisses to her baby brother, but I'm sure she will have the shock her her little life when the baby is here to stay!!!

This is the place our little guy will be delivered! We took a tour of the hospital's baby depot and were quite surprised how nice it was! The rooms have all been remodeled and are very spacious and Nate is looking forward to having a full reclining chair with a TV to spend New Year's Day the way it's suppose to be celebrated: Watching football with his sons!!

Just in case you are wondering what the belly looks like at this point here I am at 22 weeks still not wearing maternity clothes (thank goodness!) It's the only belly shot I really have and some belly! I only have a tiny bump to show for it! More pictures to come...