Christmas 2010

Well, I made it! That panic that was setting in a couple of weeks ago is gone. Christmas cards were sent out, the house was decorated (although, not as much as usual,) gingerbread houses were made, Christmas programs were attended, and gifts were bought/made and wrapped. Whew! I feel tired again just telling it all! Thank you to my wonderful sister that helped with my boys on Christmas Eve day, while Santa's elves brought this cool, new swing set/fort for the boys. What a surprise on Christmas morning to find this big item in the backyard that wasn't there the day before!
Now, on to Phase II of Christmas break ---taking all this stuff down! Oh, and there's that little project of a nursery that has to be done this week! Yes, that's right folks, we're in week 32 and the countdown to baby is on!

The Panic Is Setting In

As I opened that first Christmas card today, I felt the panic setting in, knowing that I haven't ordered my Christmas cards, yet. I haven't bought the first Christmas present. I haven't even finished decorating. I feel suddenly compelled to make lists ---it's a coping method that makes me feel a little better. And, with only 2 weeks left before teachers get out for Christmas break, I feel even more overwhelmed thinking of what I have to get done at work! Not to mention the fact that there will be a new baby not long after Christmas that I don't have a nursery finished for! Okay, breathe.......I can do this.....tonight's mission ---order Christmas cards!!!

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men Often Go Awry

Well, it's Thanksgiving Break and the first week of my third trimester and these were my plans.

Plans for Thanksgiving Break:
1. Clean out closets
2. Put up Christmas decorations
3. Get some Christmas shopping done
4. Work on baby's room
5. Order Christmas cards
6. Spending time with my family

Not in the Plans
1. P having the flu the whole weeek R was in Canada (last week)--still trying to get better.
2. E getting pink eye
3. Both boys missing their school Thanksgiving programs :(
4. Now I'm sick ----going to doc today
5. Not getting ANYTHING accomplished b/c I feel miserable
6. Not sure if I'll be able to join family for Thanksgiving (depending on what I have)

Well, you know what they say...."the best laid plans of mice and men...."

Tell Me Your Favs!

Wow, I can't imagine how someone feels who is having a baby 7 or 8 years after another child. It's been 5 years since we bought baby items (baby #2 came so quickly that we never even put up the other stuff.) I'm not really sure what we need to replace or what is just so cool that we can't live without :) We are definitely looking into a slimmer infant carrier now that we will have to squeeze 3 car seats across hubby's bench seat. Anyway, any advice will be appreciated, so tell me what's hot and share your favs!

Dear Diary.........

I went for my 16 week check-up today (it feels like it should at least be my 30 week visit.) Baby's heartbeat was a little hard to find at first, but then popped up (exhale.) 150 beats per minute. I can't remember which way the old wive's tale says --boys fast and girls slow? Anyway, I have lots of fears this time that I don't remember having with the boys. I talked with my doc about the experiences I had last time with my spinal block. Kind of scary. He wants to set up a consult with anesthesiologist when closer to time. General anesthesia was mentioned and I feel myself being even more nervous. Are these fears completely irrational? I feel panic setting in....help!

Safari --Tennessee Style

Some friends told us about the drive-thru "safari" in Alamo, TN and we decided to give it a try this weekend. We had so much fun! The animals come right up to your car and you can feed them with feed bought at the entrance. Some were a little too close for comfort for me! An ostrich thought some interior parts near the steering wheel looked edible and he kept popping his head in the window. An over-eager bull that Ryan nick-named "Leroy" was a messy eater and had his whole head in the window, but other than that most were timid eaters. At the end, you can park and go up to the petting zoo where you can feed goats, a giraffe, camels and see monkeys and macaws. And, as always, there's a gift shop! If your interested in going, see there website www.tennesseesafaripark.com and check for 1/2 price days.

Don't People Just Say Anything These Days --Take 2

Apparently, I posted the title to this, but never the story. All you moms know how crazy it is! Anyway, here is the story behind the title.

Have you ever had one of those days where you just had to sigh and shake your head because CLEARLY people have no idea how they sound when they comment on you? Well, I had one of those days not too long ago.

A lady at work asked me if I'm having twins and when I responded, "Nope, it's just one!" she replied with, "Are you sure?" As Stephanie Tanner would say, "How rude!"

Then, a FIRST GRADER commented on my hair (which I had just cut off the day before) by telling me that it was "kind of fluffy" and that she liked it better the other way!

Last, but not least, my wonderful hubby, that same night, asked if I've ever tried putting V05 on my hair to smooth it down. You know, like the girls on those commercials? When I told him that, in fact, I had, he had the nerve to ask if I did it correctly?!?

I'm seriously developing a complex about weight and hair!!! Anyway, I apologize ahead of time to anyone that I might ever make a remark to or have made a remark to, that in any way hurt(s) your feelings or makes you feel bad :) Sorry!!!

New Name

My blog name may be changing soon. I'm thinking, "My Three Sons." Yep, looks like we're having another boy. This week's doctor's appointment involved a screening that uses ultrasound. The ultrasound tech asked if we were planning on finding out and what I had at home already. When I asked her if she could tell anything yet, she responded with, "I think you're going to be surrounded by boys!" While we know she can't be 100% sure this early (I'm only 12 weeks,) she seemed pretty confident in her prediction. But, don't worry, I'm not buying anymore blue just yet! If you have a better blog name idea, please share!

True Love

E, you never cease to amaze me........
You make me tivo "Great White Expedition" on the National Geographic Channel. You, like your father, are so very scientific and curious. You will sit, watching open-mouthed at all the wonders of the world and quickly tell me when I'm watching a "girl" show ;)
You surprise me constantly with your vocabulary. Today, Dad asked you how you liked the peach you ate from the Farmer's Market and you replied, "It was delightful and delectable." I'm not sure where you even heard "delectable!"
You are truly "fearfully and wonderfully made" and I love, love, love you.

Our little peanut

For those of you who haven't heard, we are expecting another child. Here is our first ultrasound of the little peanut --- literally, the size of a peanut!
I really thought we'd wait a while to tell, but my body had other plans. Although, he/she is only the size of a grape, I feel like I'm 5 months. This may be the longest 9 months of my life!

Firsts

Child rearing has made me very aware of all the "firsts" that occur and how memorable they will be ---and that everything needs to be caught on camera! There was that first coo, then first steps, first time at the beach (tear), first year to play t-ball, etc, etc. I do have to say, though, that my small mind sometimes envisions something so perfect and special that I am often let down. Why do I do this to myself? I just can't help it!!! But, don't you think that's part of our jobs, as mothers, to try to make everything special?
Here is our most recent first.....the boys first time fishing. There was a local fishing rodeo this past weekend & every time we passed, the boys begged to go. Daddy was helping on a project most of the day and promised to take them Monday. Well, as is usually the case at my house, we are trying to squeeze too many things into not enough time. After R worked all day, mowed the lawn, and took E to the ballfield (yes, we had a game, too.) P and I packed a wonderful cooler picnic for the night's dinner at the pond. All seemed right in my mind, until I got to the ballfield. E was coming out crying that he wasn't going to get to go fishing & Daddy was mad because E cried when he didn't get the ball. Aarrgh! I hate walking into that!
Well, we FINALLY made it to the pond. No time to eat the picnic while you continuously bait crickets. Oh, well. Every one (except me) left happy. And, I got over it. Especially, when I looked at my pics the next day :)

Time flies.....

Well, it's been 2 months since I've posted. Things have been extremely busy! I took another class that was a "summer term" course. It was only 1 month (May,) but every day in Jackson :( Another one down! Here are a few pics to remember these last couple of months :)


First year of t-ball!





P's Batman 3rd birthday!





Making lots of end-of-year and birthday gifts for people!



Redecorating P's room.....this will be a full post later!

P's Post

Yesterday was the first day of Spring Break and P's surgery. I'm hoping that one day I'll look back at this post and be glad we made the decision we did. P had a frenulectomy. He was what is known as "tongue-tied." The frenulum (skin that attaches your tongue to the base of your mouth) was too tight. It causes individuals to be unable to clear out the back of their mouths, sometimes speech problems, inability to lick an ice cream cone like most do, etc. It makes the tongue appear heart-shaped. It's just one of those funny hereditary anomalies :) What was surprising is that the more I started talking about it, the more people started telling me they or their child had it. I didn't realize how common it is.

Anyway, so we decided to clip it. R told him he was going to get a magic tongue at the doctor. Okay, that would have scared me! But, he was so brave. He went back without even crying (shocker!) They said that once they got him back, he began to whimper a little, but went under quickly. They came to take us back to see him. Many of you know the temperment of a child coming off anesthesia and it's not pretty! He wanted to know where his balloon was! I thought he was loopy, but the anesthesiologist had him "blowing up the balloon" that is attached to the gas mask. When I asked him about what happened after that, he told me he smelled orange juice! Again, I thought "loopy," but we were told the gas was fruit punch flavored! That's one good memory!

I was so impressed and grateful to the staff that took care of him. Our ENT prayed with us before the surgery, the anesthesiologist talked to him and joked with him, and the nurses just loved on him :) I was a little nervous on Sunday about it all, but after meeting with all the staff, I felt much better. No tears!

What a Difference a Day Makes

Thank you, Alexander Fleming! Penicillin rocks! Woke up Sunday morning with a sore throat. 8 hours later, I was in bed with fever. By the next morning, I was in the doc's office with strep. Yuck!! Monday was awful, but by Tues. afternoon, I was feeling 75% better. What a difference a day makes --with meds!!! Praying my family doesn't get it :)

Red fish, blue fish, green what?

In honor of Dr. Suess' birthday, we decided to have green eggs and ham. While I thought boys would love this idea, they thought it sounded gross. I let them help me so they would see that they're not really green eggs, we just color them. I even read the story at the table to encourage trying different things. Still, no sale. They ate everything, but the eggs! Oh, and notice that I didn't have ham, so bacon was the next best thing :) So much for being adventurous!

Favorite Pic of the Year.....so far!

I looooove this pic from our recent snow days! I took the boys out to my mom's house (since our yard is completely flat.) We had so much fun and I loved hearing my mom laugh like that. It's good for the soul :)

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye......

NEWS ALERT.....This is a MONUMENTAL post.....there will be no more pull-ups at this household....I repeat...No more pullups!!!!
My little man is officially potty trained!! What will I do with the extra cash I save each month? Manicures? Buy myself flowers? Go out to eat? Nah, as most of you parents of boys know, it will probably funnel over into buying Clorox wipes!

Vices

What is willpower? Is it the ability to drag yourself out of the bed at 2am to give another feeding? Is it going out into the 20 degree weather looking for the dog when no one else will? Is it coming home from an exhausting day to cook dinner for your family when you really just want to drive through McDonalds? Apparently not. Apparently, willpower is the power to restrain yourself from doing something. And, apparently, I have none because I REALLY want that chocolate, glazed donut my kids are eating. Yes, I'm venting. Is there something wrong with me that medication can fix? Psychiatrist? Hypnotics? R has the metabolism of a 15 year old boy and eats any and everything he wants. After I told him I was dieting, he wants to order chinese! Uggh! Anyway, as I begged him to eat the last chocolate donut this morning so that I wouldn't be tempted (I only bought 3 so that I wouldn't have one,) he lectured me on willpower. Do I really lack that much willpower? Yes, I have a hard time dragging myself out of the bed to workout, but I get up all those other times when no one else will. Doesn't that count for something? Now, that I've vented, I feel better. Thanks, bloggers:) Please share vices!!!! Misery loves company :)