Back to Babies, Back to Colorado, and Back to School!

Okay, okay, okay... Now that we're back in Colorado, and I'm well on my way to being almost 16 weeks along, it's time to make it official:

WE ARE EXPECTING BABY CARDON #4

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know, right?!? To say this baby came as a surprise would hardly justify it. Total S-H-O-C-K, is more appropriate... When I took the pregnancy test (just two weeks before our move date), I literally had to lay down on the bathroom floor for 30 minutes before I could even call Jonathan to tell him-- every time I tried to stand up I'd almost black out again! Ha!

We certainly weren't trying for a baby-- and mind you, this was all taking place in the midst of buying our first house (so STRESSFUL), Jon exiting the military and preparing to start a practice with his brother in Colorado (so STRESSFUL), packing our whole house and getting ready to move across the country (so STRESSFUL), the kids finishing school, and the emotional weight of everything that goes along with all of the goodbyes, trying to find schools and doctors and church information in Colorado, and cleaning and preparing our rental house so we could check outta there... Sooo, why not throw a new baby into the mix, and do ALL OF THIS while battling migraines and morning sickness?!? Ha ha. Life is sure funny. Seriously, just read through the last 5 blog posts or so, and picture facing all of it sick, tired, feeling crummy, and being a hormonal wreck. BUT, we did it! And that's what counts. Now that things are FINALLY settling down a bit, and I was able to figure out our insurance and find a doctor, we can actually focus on how exciting it will be to have a new little baby, due February 4th!! This baby was ready to come and we are ready to welcome HIM or HER to the family!!

Although there was about an 85% chance this baby monster (Leah) was going to be our last baby, we are officially heading BACK to babies, and we're also now BACK in Colorado. The morning after we got home from Idaho, Jon's parents flew to Colorado to visit again. We picked them up from the airport and they took the kids to Cold Stone for some ice cream. I think Leah was a little overtired and in need of a nap, don't you? Look at that pouty face! 

They spent the first week at Jeremy and Kylene's house babysitting cousins Sophie and Isaac, while Auntie Kylene was out of town. While we'd been in Idaho, the carpet guys finally delivered our brand new, beautiful, clean, cat hair-free carpet to the entire first floor. Woohoo! That meant we Jonathan (I couldn't lift anything heavy) could finally move all the furniture up from the basement and into the bedrooms. After 2 months on an air mattress, my bed never felt so good! We headed to IKEA and bought Zach and Leah-- who are sharing a room, some brand new bunk beds.

Jon's parents came to stay with us for the second week, and were so good to let Jon and I go on some much needed dates. Monday night we went to the new Mission: Impossible movie, and Tuesday afternoon we went to the Denver temple.

We hadn't done a session together in a long time! It was great to see a temple we'd never been in before, and of course, get dinner at Cafe Rio on the way home!

Wednesday morning we got to use Kylene's Science Museum pass and take the kids to the many fun exhibits. Leah was feeling very brave to climb up on this dinosaur in the kids' play area!

They have a really cool exhibit on Mythical Creatures, and my kids love all things fantasy like Harry Potter and dragons and unicorns. 

 Zachary with the dragon! He's not afraid!

 Lucy and Sophie wanted to take a digital picture with JUST them, nobody else. They are so cute together and get along really well.  

All of us being burned up by the dragon! Yikes!

Thursday evening we (except for poor Jon who was working) all met at Chili's for one last dinner together. Jon's parents left back home for Washington the following evening and I'm sure were glad to get back home. They've spent the whole summer traveling! Aren't these cousins sure cute together?

We've been adjusting to all the new things at our house-- including the garden that the previous owners had started. They left us some amazing raspberry bushes and Lucy recently picked our very first ripe one!  

Some very playful prairie dogs right by our house. My kids think they are so cute when they pop their little heads out of their holes and look around. They want to catch one for a pet. (Yeah right).

Last weekend we finally got everyone in for a check-up and cleanings at Jon's new dental office. It was pretty fun to go see the dentist since it was their dad and all. No cavities for anybody!

We followed up our dental appointments with a trip to a local pool with a couple different water slides to try out. We just had to celebrate the end of summer! The kids had a blast as they kissed their very last weekend of freedom good-bye. Man! It went by SO fast...

I had been thinking and thinking of how I could tell the kids I was pregnant, and I finally decided to bake some cupcakes and put little plastic babies inside each one. When they ate them and discovered the baby, I asked them why they thought there was a baby inside, and then asked who they knew that might also have a baby inside???

Lucy thought about it for a second, and then exclaimed, "Mom! You're pregnant?!?" They were TOTALLY surprised! They've been pretty excited since then and have had lots of questions, and every day Zach asks me "how big is the baby today?" He is such a sucker for babies! They are all SURE it's going to be a boy.

Bright and early (well, not as early as in NC, thankfully) Tuesday morning the kids started their very first day of school at Frontier Valley Elementary. I love the way Leah is looking up at them in this picture! She misses them so much while they are gone all day. I think I am a poor substitute for a playmate.

My sweet Lucy started 3rd grade with Mrs. Younge, and loves it so far!

This handsome fellow started 1st grade with Mrs. Gerace. He has come home with lots of funny stories and has already made new friends. I'm so proud of how brave he is and how well he's adjusted to his new school and just gone with the flow... 

And this little Wee-Wees stays at home and keeps mom company! I'm glad to have her. I think if she was in preschool already I'd be lonely at home all by myself! I don't know what I'd do with myself after 9 years straight of babies and toddlers and kids at home. She'll be in school herself before you know it, just like the other two and growing up way too fast. Happy BACK TO SCHOOL wherever you are too!