tired days, but still good

I haven't been able to sleep well for the past 3 days, seems like the worst sort of injustice one could inflict on me right now.  Overall, this little phase, this final stretch of pregnancy, has seemed better than ever.  I've been caught up in Christmas preparations so I haven't been anxiously awaiting labor, as I was with my last 2 boys.  Also, my sisters are up in Washington for another week, so I don't know what I'd do if he came in the middle of the night until they're back.  This is all good.  It helps me stay patient.

But then I stopped sleeping.  I wake up around 2 and can't sleep until 6:30 or so and I'm exhausted.  I don't want to be exhausted yet.  I know it's coming, but can't I have just a few more nights of semi-peaceful slumber?  To wake up for a baby is one thing, but for nothing?  To make matters worse, my eyes are puffy.  I hate it when my eyes get puffy.  At this point, pretty much all of me is puffy...and now my eyes too?  Injustice, I tell you. 

Well, enough of that.  There are many good things happening around here.  Austin is so adoreable right now.  Seriously.  On Christmas morning, after gifts and excitement, he came and found me on the lovesac and stayed there with me for 20 minutes.  So sweet.

He's also won Kevin over again, after they had a little falling out a while ago.  Austin was pretty snotty to Kevin for a while, hitting him and refusing to go to him, etc.  But now he is thrilled to see Kevin when he comes home each night and seems to prefer him over me much of the time.  I love this picture:

They pretty much adore eachother.

And Austy is talking now.  Suddenly his language skills boomed and his brothers think it's hilarious.  Tonight I helped him say our family prayer, he would repeat whatever word I said last and the other boys would all crack up into gails of laughter. I love it.  As I type this, Austy is sitting next to me, pointing to the pictures and saying "mommy!" "daddy!" "Au-tin!" "book!"  He really is delightful.  Sometimes he wakes up a little cranky, but he warms up quickly, though he does love to say "do way!" (go away) "no, no, no!" and "dopit!" (stop it) when his brothers (or his mom) make him mad.  Funny boy.

And overall, things are just great.  The boys are loving the playroom.  For weeks before Christmas, Kevin and I were counting down the days and it has been all that we hoped.  They do fight every now and then, but most of the time when they're down there, we just hear happy playing.  If they do fight, I have them come upstairs and set the timer for 5 minutes.  When the time is up, they can go back down and play.  So far, it's been working well.

Now, if I can just sleep tonight, all will be right in my world.