We just got back from a short, but fun-filled weekend in the Dallas metro. Once we got there (after I endured the seemingly long, UNCOMFORTABLE 4 hour trip), we had a great time with all our friends and family who are so loving and generous to us and this new life on the way. Thanks to Tyler's crazy travel, we get the perk of the occasional free hotel stay and this time we even got bumped up to a huge suite! Some friends and fam threw me a perfect shower on Saturday. It was so wonderful to see so many people come to honor Payson and us. My mom even came in from Kansas. We got tons of stuff we need for the babe (have I mentioned we gave EVERYTHING away that we had from the twins???!!!). So, thanks to everyone who gave us baby goods AGAIN:) The food and fellowship was great - I didn't want it to end. And let's mention the cake...THE BEST SHOWER CAKE EVER - even after a mysterious child poked his/her finger right in the middle of the boob that Angi quickly covered with flowers. Smart move. To top the day off, we got to have some Uncle Julio's (yum!) with our favorite party of 17:) The drive home seemed shorter (thank God!), but sadder. We miss everyone, and again - are so thankful for them all. No more travel for this mama until Payson is a few months old. But, people are still welcome to visit us. I have lots of gifts to organize and soon will have lots of diapers to change:)
The belly is a fast growing thing out of my control! I keep comparing it to pictures of when I was preggo with the twins hoping for relief because I was so much larger with them. But...I'm not so sure. I think I'm just destined to be a big bellied mama. Oh well...the countdown is on. 10-12 more weeks!!!! The actual due date according to the doc is Nov. 25th (Thanksgiving Day!), but I'm thinking they're overshooting by about a week or two. We will see. Other than the bigness, the symptoms are just the norm...
Well, except for day 3, we were happy after all! I even volunteered a bit in the class one morning and one afternoon and that seemed to help us all:) I think I'll have lunch with them next week. The weird thing is that getting up and ready early has been a bigger struggle for Porter than Piper and I thought for sure it would be the other way around. When I can finally get him to eat his breakfast, though, he's cheers up right afterwards. 
The kids didn't cry this morning, but they had very sad faces and wanted me to stay with them. Piper also asked this morning if we have to go to school EVERY day. Yes, dear...for the next 13 years at least. The kicker was when I went grocery shopping at 8:30am this morning without them. I never really complain about taking them to the store with me because for the most part, they really behave, eat free samples, get balloons, help put stuff in the cart, etc. So, to not have them with me hanging off the buggy today overwhelmed me with emotion and the tears came with a vengeance. I'm sure everyone was staring at the crazy pregnant lady. I couldn't even shop at first...I was just wandering around the store with an empty cart and tears in my eyes. Ugh. Mommyhood is heart wrenching and the hardest job I've ever had. But, despite it all, the joys are indescribable and so worth it all. Waiting for baby Payson to be here so we can start from scratch again!
So, we conquered today...the FIRST day of Kindergarten for the P's. Up at 6am (waaay too early from sheer excitement!), breakfast eaten, dressed and shoed, teeth brushed, hair fixed, backpacks and lunches grabbed. Then, out the door before I could barely get pictures! I should have been ecstatic that they were so ready, but I expected a little more "I love you and will miss you, Mommy, hold my hand" action. We literally just walk across the street to school, so it is so nice. Porter took the lead all the way to the classroom. Once inside, the teacher had brought a guinea pig (genius idea) so all the kids flocked to it in distraction. I forced them to give me some last words, hugs, and I love you's, and then I had to leave! I actually was not too sad because I saw how happy they were. Like I was reminded today, they are not mine no matter how tightly I want to grip them. God is their perfect Heavenly Father who loves them more than me and watches over them when I'm there and when I'm not. So, no matter how weird it seems that I have to hand them over to strangers for the next 13 years between the hours of around 8am-3pm, they will be ok, right? I'm trusting the Lord that they will. However, Wednesday when my mom flies home and Tyler is still in Napa, I may have a mini breakdown.
In other news, the P's start KINDERGARTEN in ONE week! Unbelievable, really. It will be bittersweet, I know. I will miss them and worry about them, but they will be learning and growing so much and I will get lots of rest and lots of baby-prep done! I always thought when they started school, I'd get a part time job. That may be delayed for about 5 years.
