Change is coming...

As we anxiously await the arrival of baby boy #3, I am keenly aware that life is about to change dramatically. I have spent the past few weeks reflecting on our family and the stage we are in right now. Yesterday Doug and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary,which hardly seems possible. Lucas is 6 years old (in kindergarten) and Sam is 3 years old (in preschool 2 mornings a week). Though we just moved halfway across the country six months ago, we feel settled into our new life in Texas and have developed a routine in our family life. I commented to Doug this morning that everything is about to change. The boys are in an easy stage right now, but we will soon be back in "baby mode" again. I have been talking to the boys a lot lately about the baby and things that will be different when he arrives. I have been watching them and thinking about how it will be for them. It's an exciting time, but I must admit that for me, it is also an anxious time. How will I make sure they all get enough attention from me? How will they adjust to the baby? How will it be for them while I am in the hospital? Lucas already asked me if I have to stay in the hospital again this time (he didn't like that part of Sam's arrival). I want this special time to be positive for all of us and I spend a lot of time thinking about the things I need to do to achieve this goal and prepare the boys for the changes that will come. And I spend a lot of time savoring these moments "right now" that I don't want to forget. The past few weeks have been filled with lots of play dates and time together as a family. I know that I blog less since we moved to Texas than before. Every year I have our blog printed into a hard cover book. I received our 2011 book last week and the boys have been looking through it a lot. I am grateful that I have done this - we experience a lot of joy in looking through the books and "re-living" memories together as we talk about them. This morning I heard Lucas reading the blog book to Sam as they looked through it together in the recliner. Then Lucas came running into my room crying because he found a picture of Sam's friend playing with one of his favorite toys. The boys love these books:



Lucas and Sam love collecting rocks from the backyard and "observing" them:


Sam is getting older. He talks like a big kid now and adamantly says that he is "a big boy," unless I ask him to put his shoes away and then he says, "I can't. I'm too little." His mind is active and he has lots of questions about everything. He idolizes his older brother and they are best friends, something that brings me a lot of joy. Sam has had some fun play dates this past week:



Sam even managed to stay up late one night and get some special snuggle time with Daddy (and play on Daddy's phone which is something the boys love to do):


Lucas is getting older and he amazes me with his school work. He writes elaborate stories and his creative mind is very active. Our dental visit a few weeks ago was not easy for Lucas (he was extremely anxious), but he was very brave. This came home in Luc's folder from school this week:



The boys are both in a stage right now where they love Primary and go willingly (they are both in Junior Primary together which helps). It is so nice. There are only two other kids in Sam's Sunbeam class, but Luc's class was split recently because they had twelve or more kids each week. They have great teachers and I am amazed by how much they are learning each week.


The boys have lots of funny things to say as usual. I especially love hearing Lucas explain to Sam (while I am in the other room) how the baby will come out and about interesting things about babies (some are accurate and some are not). In his prayer the other night, Lucas said, "Dear Heavenly Father, please bless the baby to come out soon because Mommy’s shirts don’t fit her right anymore.”

Sam has had a lot of play dates lately as the great women in my ward have taken him for many mornings so I can rest. After each play date, I always ask Sam if he was nice. Sometimes he says yes and sometimes he says, "Mommy, I didn't be nice this time." Then last week he had a friend over, and in front of the friend's mommy, Sam said, "If you don't be nice, my mommy will spank you." Also, lately, Sam has been calling Lucas, "Lucas brother."

I love these boys. They are the light of my life and their funny sayings make me smile. I know I blog mostly about them because I am creating a journal of our life for them, but I am also so grateful for Doug. He is an incredible partner and my best friend, a wonderful father, and I know that everything he does, he does for our family. I know that I would not have these precious boys without him nor would I want to have this journey without him either. I look forward to bringing this new baby into the world with Doug, and witnessing three brothers in action.