Baby Holi Numero Cuatro!!!!

Here we are again! Can you believe it?! I'm sure you can, lots of people have four babies (not so many these days, but still)! And yet, to me, it is still so surreal. I can't believe my family is growing again. I feel very, very blessed.

Since I'm starting with cliches, should I keep on that route for a bit? If you're reading at all (and it might just be me following along this time...which is A-OK!), you're a good sport. And probably prepared for cliches because, well, so much of being a parent is one big cliche! So, here we go.

My big girl Kiki!

Goofs on the couch.

Kiki and her Lala.

Big sister Eileen!

The family at Easter!

Sweet Maeve on Easter morning!

My gang on St. Patty's Day!

Stroller buds.

Bathtime babes.

More couch time!

Finally some nice weather (and matching)!

Sweet girls enjoying a birthday party!

Easter photos!

Leenie being a great big sister.

Everyone here is doing well, and everyone here is getting SO BIG! Eileen is almost 4.5, Charlotte (Kiki) will be 3 in a few weeks, and Maeve is 15 months! Time really does fly. 

Eileen is an amazing, sweet, creative, maternal, lovely toddler who helps me so much and only OCCASIONALLY has her sassy moments. Loves her tutus and glitter, and being "fancy." Such a good girl. Seriously, she is a dream. 

Kiki is wild, stubborn, playful, dramatic, energetic, and goofy. She is definitely in that tricky "terrible 2's...moving towards a terrible 3?" phase and loves a good tantrum. But she also loves to diffuse a bad mood with a silly dance, a joke, or a big hug. I think we'll keep her!

Maeve is feisty, tough, HUNGRY (always), curious, so sweet, so cuddly, and so so fun. She is finally walking, and it's like a whole new world has opened up to her! I love to watch her toddle around the house exploring and trying to keep up with her sisters. She is the BEST cuddler and, after a loooong year+ of sleep training, is finally an excellent sleeper to boot. We're lucky to have her as part of our gang.

Onto baby #4, affectionately nicknamed "baby snug."

This is how I told dad!

Does anyone else LOVE hpt progression pics?! If so, here's one for you! My tests got darker at a slower rate this time, so I was FREAKING OUT at first...but all good!

And another, because I'm crazy.

And one more, because seriously y'all, I'm crazy.

4 weeks. Cmon. Tell me I DON'T LOOK LIKE I'M IN THE SECOND TRIMESTER!

5 WEEKS!

6 WEEKS!

BABY'S FIRST HEARTBEAT AT 6 WEEKS!

7 WEEKS!

8 WEEKS AT EASTER! HUGE BUMP.

8 WEEK ULTRASOUND!

9 WEEKS!

10 WEEKS!

A STILL OF MY 10 WEEK ULTRASOUND! I GOT TO SEE YOU WIGGLING, BABY!

11 WEEKS!

12 WEEKS!

and...

HI BABY! MY 12-WEEK ULTRASOUND!

A quick recap on all things. Yes, we wanted another baby. And yes, we are SO EXCITED to be having another one! No, we are not necessarily **hoping** for a boy! That would be thrilling of course, but we will be so happy with either (I've been asked this question at least 100 times already, haha!). Normal pregnancy thus far, other than a bit of dark/pinkish spotting in the beginning and pretty nasty morning sickness (way worse than I usually have). That's still hanging around, actually. Hopefully it lifts soon! I have been on progesterone since pre-conception and am weaning off now, so that may help!

Baby snug, I love you SO SO SO MUCH and I will try to do regular updates like I did with your sisters. But I also know that I am way busier than ever before, so I am going to aim for every 2 weeks! I hope that's okay! Good news is...I quit my job as editor of my local Village newsletter today, which is a HUGE blessing and relief to be done. More time to "mom." Never enough time for that!!!

Onto the bumpdate!

How far along? 12 weeks + 1 day (although baby is consistently measuring about a week ahead)

Clothing? Already in maternity bottoms and have been for weeks. My stomach ain't messing around this time. HA.

Stretch marks? At this point, yes, probably for the rest of my life.

Sleep? Still in the exhausted phase! Sleeping a lot at night and napping if/when I can.

Best moment of this week? My 12-week ultrasound! Baby, you looked WONDERFUL and I am so so so excited to move into the second trimester!

Worst moment of this week? Not this week per say, but the girls have been sick pretty much non-stop for about 2 weeks prior. Hopefully we are all on the mend and ready for spring!

Miss anything? Not really! Even alcohol does not sound appealing right now, ha!

Movement? Not yet. So curious when I will feel my first kick this time around. I can't WAIT.

Symptoms? Tired, nauseous, terrible gas pain/heartburn, but also so so so happy.

Food cravings? I have actually only gained 3/4 pounds so far, which is normal according to a lot of people, but not for me. Usually I gain like 10 lbs. right away! The nausea has definitely kept that at bay. Cravings are pretty much whatever I can stomach at the moment.

Gender? I'm gonna start out predicting boy, just because this morning sickness is out of control!

Labor Signs? Nah.

Belly button in or out? Outie, already!

Wedding rings on or off? On! 

Mood? Tired. A little moody. But over the moon happy.

Looking forward to? My next OB appt. in 4 weeks, my sweet Kiki's birthday on the 31st and party the next day, and my own birthday on June 8! So many fun things!

Until next time...HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

Em