30-30-30

Pregnancy update! It hit me today as I woke up and hit 30 weeks pregnant (!!) that I am 30 years old, 30 weeks pregnant and I ran 30 miles this week with my 3rd baby in tow! This all feels like such an accomplishment to me especially in this pregnancy! There have been differences with this third pregnancy and the most notable is the achiness and the exhaustion! Some days I'm not sure how I'll make it to December but somehow I will and it will all be worth it! I've also been a little crankier this time around (sorry Joe) but he is handling me like a champ! 

Running this pregnancy has been good and bad! I have to push myself out the door a little more this time around but I luckily have some awesome running friends that push me to go harder and faster and longer and I am forever grateful for them! I have run my way to the end with the other pregnancies but I find myself focusing this time on 35 weeks and feel like everyday that I make it closer to

35 weeks is a success! (And who knows maybe I'll waddle jog after that!) All in all running is my sanity and my normal and without it I just wouldn't function as well - so waddle on! 

I got to be in my beautiful friend Julie's wedding this weekend and it was a weekend to remember! She looked absolutely stunning and her and Tad put together a truly classy and outstanding event! 

 

 

 

This pregnancy has flown by just with the busyness of toddler life and summer festivities! We are now full into fall and the weekends just keep filling up with events (fun stuff though!) Joe is rushing to finish our third floor/playroom space and I am studying like a mad woman for a big independent licensure exam I have coming up next week! We have a few more weddings, a few more trips to Cleveland and few more holidays to celebrate before the arrival of this sweet sweet baby!

The kids have been the cutest lately! Just snuggling them any chance I get as I soak in life with just 2 kids! We have had some tough days with changing personalities and a tired Mama but their smiles and sweet comments can help center me again!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Hot Chip Cheetahs!

Jack has been enjoying playing on a soccer team this fall! It's a short season that just lasts a few weeks - plenty long for his age! A few nights a week these last few weeks we pack up our stroller, carry our lawn chairs and head to the field to cheer on the Hot Chip Cheetahs (the team name one of the girls came up with 😂). 

 

 

 

 

Soccer at this age is a total hoot - kids randomly sitting on the field to rest. Jack waving at me from the goal and yelling "hi mama! I love you!" Kids running off the field because they have to pee. Jack running around the field always in the opposite direction of the ball!  Ha it's just hilarious. 

 

 

Elisabeth totally thinks she is part of the team! She joins in on all the stretches, asks joe to warm her up with her own ball pregame, and sits on the sidelines shouting and clapping "go jack go!" And of course waits alongside all the other kids after the game for the snack she worked so hard to earn!

 

 

Jacks coach is so great with the kids and is always coming up with fun games and ways to make each player feel important! Coach Amy -or As Elisabeth calls her "Tante mamie is my toach."

 

 

German School 🇧🇪

Jack started German School on Saturday! He did a great job on his first day! He attends a school through the TriState German American Society. They meet at a catholic high school in Covington, Ky on Saturdays from 10-12:30! There are 12 kids in his class and his teacher is so sweet (a long time friend of my Oma's - Frau Leuker) 

When I brought him on the first day he seemed excited but nervous. He ended up being very tearful when I was getting ready to walk out of the classroom which was new for us. I was surprised that he cried but it was good for him and I was so proud to watch him wipe his tears and be so brave! (So hard for me to walk away as it took me back to my days of extreme separation anxiety!) When I came back he was smiling and was able to name a few kids in his class so it seems like it went ok! 

 

 

 

 

 

You look so grown up sitting in that desk buddy! Happy learning!

Our Sweet FOUR Year Old!

Our first baby is another year older! Where has the time gone!? Four feels like a big kid all of a sudden - and makes me a bit sad! Jack could not have been more excited for his birthday! We had a countdown going for many  months! Four was "when I get my bunk beds!"   He told everyone he could about this and It was so fun to set up the bunk beds this weekend to celebrate him!! Someone in the neighborhood was giving the beds away about a year ago and Jack has been anticipating his birthday gift ALL year - so cute!

 

 

Jack has grown up a lot this year. He is potty trained. He has become very adventurous. He plays well with friends. He's developing a great imagination and is always creating a new game. He stays up way later than we like reading books in his bed. He climbs trees and rides his bike. He looks after his sister. He identifies his emotions. He knows appropriate times to use deep breaths to calm himself (sometimes!). He has developed quite a temper. He's testing his words and gets the occasional lesson on what it means to respect others. He's continuing to develop his empathy. He's learning what scares him and what can be dangerous. He's asking for explanations of bigger words and more complex ideas. He can play by himself, read to himself or entertain himself for a long time.  He's able to write all the letters of the alphabet and his artwork is becoming more detailed. He's so fun to watch!

 

 

 

He fell in love with the pool this year and he started playing on a soccer team a few weeks ago! 

 

 

 

 

 

He got to go to birthday breakfast with Joe again this year which is quickly becoming a birthday favorite! And he closed his eyes so tightly when we told him we had a surprise for him for his birthday! He got a bike with training wheels!

 

 

 

 

He's so sweet to us! He loves to cuddle and would snuggle on my lap any chance he gets! He's a major thumb sucker. He is obsessed with his blankie and finds so much comfort in one certain corner of the blankie. He asks us great questions and I can always count on him checking in on me each day - "mama, how was your run today?" "Mama, did you sleep well last night?" "Mama, how's the baby today?" "Mama, where are we headed today?" "Mama, I just love you so so much!" "Mama, you look so pretty." "Mama, how was work today?" I hope he never stops being so sweet and loving to us - it just melts my heart!

 

 

 

 

 

For Jacks birthday dinner he chose blueberry pancakes followed by a walk to graeters for some sorbet with sprinkles with his cousins! Such a special day!

 

 

Jack, you are the perfect combination of sweet and challenging! You keep us on our toes and keep challenging us to practice new parenting techniques. Each day we watch you grow older we become more proud of the little man you are becoming! Thank you for being in our lives - you bring so much joy! Happy 4th Birthday Jack Clemens!

 

 

 

 

Singing Fanatic

Oh Elisabeth Jane you are just a hoot! We cannot get enough of you! One thing about you right now that I just love is your love for singing! You have your own version of a lot of words and you sing all the time with that cute voice of yours! You can always tell what she is singing because she has the tunes down but her tends to talk and sing so fast she just jumbles all her words! Some of her favorites to sing are ring around the rosey, rain rain go away, 5 little pumpkins, and BINGO

 

She will pretty much do anything for a laugh and when she gets extremely excited about something she will flap her hands, fall to the ground, then turn into a dog and start licking everyone and everything out of excitement! Ha!

 

She is full of energy and it was just the other day that I sat back to watch her and realized that she does not stop ever! She runs from thing to thing, talks at a crazy fast speed and is always on a mission! Girl you are just too much and we love it! 

 

Her current obsession is trains - henry the train goes everywhere with her and she is often heard crying for "enri the choo choo" at night in bed! 

 

She is very into playing make believe and likes to play tricks on us. Elisabeth you make my days so full of joy and laughter!

 

Triple the Blessings!

Baby March #3 will be joining our family in December and we could not be more excited! We feel so blessed to be gifted with another little one! I am currently 23 weeks along and am feeling really great! The first 18/19 weeks were particularly rough this pregnancy, but for some reason once you start feeling well you seem to forget about that! 

The kids are soo excited! They constantly ask how much longer until the baby comes. Jack woke up the other morning and looked at my belly and said "oh mama I'm so glad that baby is finally growing!" Elisabeth wants the baby to have everything she has "baby have eggs" "baby have bookie" (which is what she calls milk" "baby have pociple" (Popsicle) "baby read books with us" "baby come to the zoo." She covers any baby we see with kisses and spends lots of time caring for her own baby doll. Not sure how this will all translate once baby actually makes an appearance!

 

The baby is due December 22nd. We won't find out the gender again and are counting on a pretty excited Christmas season! Both Jack and Elisabeth think the baby will be a boy - so we will see! We can't wait to meet you little one!!

Growing belly at 23 weeks!!