We're getting close!

I have hit the 38 week mark and am feeling great. I am truly looking forward to meeting our newest addition but appreciating every lasting moment being pregnant. I continue to work but I have made it a priority to dedicate every other minute to having fun with James and the girls. We have been enjoying living in paradise with this beautiful Scottsdale sunshine and 100 plus degree heat that allows us to swim everyday! Who needs Hawaii when all we have to do to escape the desert life is to visit one of the many resorts that have a gorgeous display of palm trees, greenery, water slides, and pools galore (only thing that is missing is the ocean)! My mom is flying into town this weekend and will be staying with us for a month to help out with the new baby. The girls will get to attend bible school for the next couple of weeks with Grandma Janice as the volunteer. We are hoping Grandma Sandra will be here as well for the birth. We are missing our Cuyjet family so much but we plan to be in San Diego August 20th to see everyone while Summer starts her first day of college at San Diego State! So many exciting changes to take place. Here are a few pics from the last few weeks.


Making Smores for the 4th of July celebration at the Marriott

 


On our hike

 


Our silly Nora trying to touch the fish



Leia in her everyday attire

Leia reminds me of myself--I can't keep my lips off of babies

Nothing better in life than the friendship of a sister



Nora contemplating getting in



Leia playing "Daddy" on Father's Day starting with the morning chore of cleaning the pool

Daddy's "mini-me's"

Leia said "Did Daddy look just like me when he was 4 years old?"

Leia's representation of our family (I love how the grandma's are always included)



This is how we sleep in our house



Celebrating the 4th of July at the JW Marriott

Forget about a baby registry--all we purchased so far was this new Nissan Armada
so we can fit 3 car seats--now all we need is to buy the infant carseat

 I gave Leia and Nora $20 to spend at a consignment store to buy new baby outfits (both boy and girl).
Here is their selection. You can see their gender preference. Only one little boy outfit among all these girlie clothes!

Sisters in deep conversation about the important things in life--babies and purses

Daddy-daughter movie date for Fathers Day

Mommy-daughter date night just because!

Nora loves bird watching. She stood there for more than 30 min!



Feeding the ducks at the Fairmont hotel



We could live at the Fairmont resort!



Enjoying the sunset in Sedona where James and I had a special 3 day retreat

Funny quotes from Leia: "I jumped into the cold pool and it did the trick--it got my "crazies" out. Now I will be calm the rest of the night." --While Auntie Gina and Grandma Sandra and I were discussing gender selection during fertilization, Leia screams out without understanding the true context of the conversation "I really did beat out all the boys and swam faster than everyone else to get the prize". You sure did Leia--you were the winner!!

8 month pregancy update

I woke up this morning with two girls that managed to weasel their way into my arms in the middle of the night. With 2 sets of arms hugging my tummy combined with the rhythmic kicking of the little one inside me, I can't help but wonder if I am the luckiest person on earth! I feel great these days and am so excited to welcome another little miracle into our lives. Now that I am 8 months along, the weight of uncertainty regarding preterm labor has discipated considerably. At about 22 weeks of my pregnancy, they discovered what they call a subchorionic hemorrage which essentially can lead to placenta abruption and preterm labor. I was put on modified bed-rest which has prevented me from keeping up with my fitness routine, but I have been able to contine working. With an ultrasound done a few weeks ago they confirmed the hemorrage has decreased and the baby is doing perfectly fine!! We feel so blessed and everytime I feel this baby move inside me I am reminded how amazing and intricate this pregnancy journey really is! James and I plan to take a babymoon at the beginning of June to Sedona and Grand Canyon. It might be the last trip we take just the two of us for a few years so we are definitely looking forward to it. Our family in La Jolla is planning a little baby shower brunch for the little one in late June in San Diego. In the meantime, I contine to have the need to "nest" and get our house ready for baby # 3. Poor James, he is probably tired of this "nesting" syndrome that I take ownership of every 2 years during my pregnancies :) This is definitely my favorite time of pregnancy. The girls are so excited too. They have to kiss and talk to the baby all day long. It's amazing what a special bond they have already.



8 month ultrasound





8 month pregnant



Fun at the Robertsons

Auntie Gina and Grandma Sandra flew out to visit and stay with us while the kids were on school break. I literally cried when they left. We had the most fun laughing, playing, and enjoying each other. The girls instantly fell in love with their auntie and Grandma and Leia is still asking me why they don't live with us. I would give anything... Here are a few memories from the trip.

Our May Birthday Celebration Month

Since May is our designated birthday month for both Leia and Nora, we decided to continue the tradition of celebrating both of their birthdays combined with Mother's Day at Disneyland. My mom, the girls and I had the adventure of a lifetime!! I can honessay it was the one of my most happiest moments. Although our trip was quick, we made the most of every single second. The girls lit up seeing the Princesses and enjoying the ammenities of the Disneyland Resort. For me the most incredible part was sharing this experience with my mom. I love reflecting on how the cycle of life repeats itself. The 3 generations of women soaking up life's greatest gift: each other. 

Our favorite moments: coffee time in the hotel room

At California Adventure dining with Sleeping Beauty

This is how the Robertson girls pass the time while waiting in line for the Princesses

At Disney Resort

Face painting with Frozen characters

Dining with the Princesses



License to Drive



Most adventuresome Grandma

23 week pregnancy update

So happy to say this pregnancy so far has been nothing short of amazing. I feel so fortunate that I have been able to enjoy the unbelievable journey of pregnancy again. I am in the blissful stage of pregnancy where I am over the nauseous and fatigued part, and now into the enjoyable and energized phase when feeling the baby kick reminds me all day how incredible it is to have a person growing inside me.  Of course that is NOT to say that my 3:45am wake-up calls to go to work every morning are easy, nor that juggling 2 little angels at home and working full time is not exhausting.  On the contrary, it been has been extremely difficult to motivate my body that early to get to work. But I am motivated by the idea that after baby arrives, I will be cutting down my hours at work so that I will only have to go in 2-3 times/week.  In the meantime, I am enjoying every second with my little girls. I really didn't realize how much fun it would be to raise girls--they are my very best friends and it is awesome to watch as their relationship deepens as soul mates with each other. We will be waiting to find out the gender of baby # 3 but I can't stop dreaming of 3 little girls growing up together. We will wait and see--I love the element of surprise! I have been trying to stay fit by swimming in the outdoor pool at our gym. The anticipation of my water birth at the birthing center motivates me to find my inner Zen each day. I really would like to have another birth like Leia's where I was in a complete hypnotic state of peacefulness; sleeping through the entire labor. I really want both girls there with me during the birth. They are not only my source of strength, but also such a huge part of me and I want them to be part of this journey.  I might be idealistic in my thinking, but it's nice to know that the birth center has a play area for the children in the little cottage if need-be.  I will continue to have positive thoughts that all goes well with baby so that I can deliver this baby as planned in the birthing center.

Baby Robertson 18 weeks

18 weeks pregnant

Notes to Nora

Nora, you may in fact be the happiest human being I have ever met. Your giggles can be heard throughout the whole house at any time and your contagious smile lights up every room. I just can’t believe how much joyfulness can be bottled up in a 1 and a half year old. You are Daddy’s little sweet heart. Every single night when I am putting you and Leia to sleep, you wait until I finish reading our bedtime stories, then you strategically sneak out of bed and spend the rest of the evening laughing, playing, and bonding with your Daddy until you are fast asleep against his chest. He will never forget those special moments with you.  You have truly wormed your way deep into his heart and when I see the way he looks at you, my heart melts with happiness. This is what I have dreamed of my whole life. You really have made me fall more in love with your Daddy, just because of your beautiful relationship.

I will never forget the look on your face when I pick you up from school and you run into my eyes smiling and giggling. I swoop you up in my arms and you give me about 20 kisses all over my face. You never forget to say Thank you to all of your teachers before we leave. Your teachers can't stop talking about how happy you are all day and how you spend your days making the other children laugh. You have been hard at work prepping yourself for your future role as big sister as you stroll your baby throughout the house, feeding her, changing her, reading to her and putting her to sleep. I would say you are the MOST easy-going person UNTIL someone tries to snatch your baby from you, then you scream "MINE"!!!!! as if you are protecting your baby from harm. :) I love how you look at your sister so adoringly and constantly follow her everywhere she goes. You play so nicely together. You genuinely know her soul and how to make her happy. If Leia is sad, you run up to her and hug, kiss her and give her one of your most prized-possession toys. You two are soul-mates and I can see how the differences in your personalities will lend you to being best friends as you grow up. When I talk to Leia about the baby growing inside me, she pleads and begs that this baby is EXACTLY like you--she even requires that we name the new baby Nora! That's the effect you have on us.
You even put on dresses to look like Leia and grab a microphone and sing like her. You are always holding onto your jeweled dog purse. It makes me wonder "is the girly-girl gene innate or is that the strong influence from your big sissy?" Either way, I am in heaven watching you two. I count the minutes while I am work until I get to see you everyday; as if you are so addicting that I can't ever get enough of you.  I wish I could spend every waking moment with you. Thank you for making me the happiest Mommy in the world. You are my miracle, my heart, my soul and my best friend. We are SO lucky to have you in our family. Thank you Nora for all the happiness you bring to us. We love you so much!!

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RQVjuY6_8g&feature=youtube_gdata_player

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM5pP6mg7LU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

So excited she can't stand it!

Sister Leia reading you to sleep

Silly girls playing in the fountains

You can never have enough babies

"who stole the cookie from the cookie jar?"

Matching Princesses

Still always matching at school