I was standing by the back door watching my three little boys play in their tiny little blow-up pool yesterday - having the time of their lives - and I just felt such happiness. I mostly blog about my horrible experiences or adventures with my kids, honestly because I think those are the times that I feel the most need to vent and get things off my chest. But more often than not, my children fill me with a deep sense of joy. I love being a mom. When I hear Erin and Zach playing a little duet together on the piano, when my little one year old squeals as Scott pretends to chase him around the kitchen, when they all run around screaming and squirting each other in the backyard, when my boys battle each other with their noodle swords, and even when one of my kids throw themselves on the ground crying in despair, it makes me smile -- because I see myself in them and I remember my own childhood now long gone, and it brings me this deep joy to see part of myself continuing on and beginning again.

With all of this reflection, I move on into my next line of thought... A word about myself has managed to get out and start quickly spreading, so instead of trying to reign it in, I am just going to say it myself and be done with it. The word is pregnant. Yes, my friends, Scott and I find ourselves once again expecting a new addition to our little family, baby number SIX!!

In so many ways it is strange to think that I am going to be the mother of six children... I mean, that is a lot of kids!! I swear, I was just in high school yesterday, so young and innocent, going to pep rallies, running cross country, playing volleyball, cheering for the basketball team, going to prom... It's weird that this part of my life is not only gone, but long gone.

And then in another way, it feels so normal and right that I will have six children. I have seen this day and imagined it since I was a very little girl. I always knew I would have a lot of children running around. I loved my life as a child with 7 brothers and sisters. I loved the chaos and the forever friendships you can only have with a sibling. I loved watching my mom and always wanted to be just like her.

I am truly so, so excited to have this baby! I am not very far along yet, only about 9 weeks, not long enough to "show" in theory... but in REALITY I am showing about as much as my sister at 5 months along. I can't be for sure, but I swear, the very first week of my pregnancy I think my pants started feeling tight. I have decided my body knows exactly what to do and is just kicking it in gear early. It's a little depressing to be showing this much so early because it probably means I am going to get HUGE, but then again, I always get huge. lol -- Just writing this makes me laugh. I like being pregnant in a lot of ways because I don't stress anymore about how big I get. I just enjoy the pregnancy for what it is (getting huge and fat and carrying a gigantic watermelon around in my stomach) and I will worry about repercussions afterwards. Maybe not the best way to live, but I have to feel it isn't the worst way either. :)

I haven't even had my first doctor's appointment yet, although I will in two days! I think I will be due mid February. That means we should be able to find out the gender in October sometime. I have never understood those people with patience enough to wait until the baby comes to find out the gender. I am, of course, hoping to finally get a little girl Mouritsen in this household and Erin desperately needs a sister in this house of crazy boys!!! Please everyone... pray for us. ;)