Merry Christmas!

Evelyn didn't anticipate Christmas this year but we had a great time the day of! She woke up to find santa's crumbs everywhere and had a great time eating the cookies for breakfast (I can already tell that this is not going to be my favorite tradition, cookie crumbs are everywhere. After that she dug into the presents. my favorite memories of the morning

Evelyn would put the scraps of wrapping paper in the box provided (we gave her a box so that we would not have to wait for her to run to the trashcan every time she tore a piece off.

When she missed the box she would say "oopse I miss" and reach for the piece often falling over (from sitting) and continued to reach for the box while lying down to throw the paper in.

After opening an outfit from grandma she immediately sat down and started to put the pants on.

After opening clothing for William she would gently place it on his belly and say "baby's" before moving on with the exception of one outfit where she said mine and hugged it!

A secound showing.

Tomorrow one of the two people that looked at the old house are going back through. this is a good sign (though not a guarantee). I continue to try not to get my hopes up but it is hard not to at least hope that soon we will find someone who wants the house. It does seem like we have been wanting to sell it forever but it has only been on the market for a few days. Lets keep our fingers crossed!

Tonight Jason will go to the old house to get more of the stuff out of the house and clean a little. I hope we have a good night.

It's beginging to feel a lot like Christmas!

Today we dressed up the kids and took them to meet Santa! we talked it up to Evelyn as much as we could and I have been reading Elmo's night before Christmas to her in hopes that we would not have screaming again like we did last year (though the pictures are priceless!) As you can see Evelyn was not too sure again about Santa and was not so happy on his lap but I think we got an ok picture out of her and William did great. Unfortunately I got in the way so that we were unable to get a picture of just William and Santa but I am hoping that we can try again on Christmas Eve. We shall see if we have the time.

After the trip to the mall which Evelyn seemed to enjoy we went to the tree farm down the street and picked up our Christmas tree! I told Jason that we would just get a small one - somehow they always look smaller at the lot than they do in the house :).

William's first day.

Today was William's first day at daycare and I'm sure he did better than I did. I brought in one of the swaddling blankets and he went to sleep with out a problem. He was a happy and cheerfull baby all day.

Back to work

Today was my first day back to work. It was not as bad as it was with Evelyn but I am still working on being happy to be there. It was an interesting day to say the least. There have been lots of changes in the last three months not the least of which is my job title and description. the change in my job has been coming or at least talked about since my hire date so although it is not a surprise it was rather sudden.

It was good to see everyone though trying to get organized was difficult and I still have a ton of e-mails to go through. Monday I hope to get to the swing of things and start looking at my new job and what I will have to do and what I will want to do with the position. one thing is certain I will need to learn access. though I am thinking I will practice at home maybe with my recipies I would love to get them organized it's just a mater of time.

Going back

Tomorrow I go back to work and I'm just not ready. Having Evelyn home yesterday and part of today (J didn't want her home the whole day due to the pending arrival of our new washer and dryer.) made me think that maybe I could stay home and be a good mommy. Though I'm not sure I would ever manage the good house wife part. Still I am getting better at cleaning as I go and have made progress.

At any rate mom and dad take care of William tomorrow and though I know he is in good hands he will not be in my hands.

Really?

Sometimes I wonder if Jason and I have the same conversations because we frequently walk away with different conclusions. Tonight J had lit a fire in the stove which lead me to asking about the position of the gate which keeps the kids away from the fireplace. He said he wasn't sure if he was going to move it and I said I thought it would be good to do before the party. Party? he said.

Evelyn's birthday party is at our house in two weeks. He was the one that wanted it here rather than at my parents house. I swear I even double checked with him before filling out the invites, but no tonight he was supprised to learn that it was going to be here. We clearly need some help in the communication department.

The good news is he still wants it here though after this weekend I'm hoping not to leave him home alone much leading up to the party as I don't want the house to be a disaster - I'm going to have too much to do anyway. Wish me luck!

Doctor's appointment

Today William had his 2 month check up! It's hard to believe that he is two months already and then again looking at him it is hard to believe that he is only two months. He weighed in at 13 lbs 10 oz and is now 23 inches long. he was a bit upset at the appointment because he wanted to eat and I didn't want to get him started then take him off though maybe I should have. He didn't show off his mad tummy time skills for the doc but I assured her that he was doing well with his neck strength. Today he also got his vaccinations poor guy though he actually settled down fairly quickly but then I also had to feed him after the shots so that may have had something to do with it too.

After the appointment he slept off and on while I ran some errands and got my oil changed.

Disapline issues

between J and i that is. Jason got smacked in the face quite a few times today (she tries to take his glasses and ends up hitting him) and so he now wants to start hitting (well swatting but still). Evelyn in punishment. We had quite the disagreement about this as I am apposed to even gentle hits as punishment for several reasons: I mean really trying to teach a kid not to hit by hitting??? J is apposed to a time out as he feels that isolation is not a good punishment. Sigh I asked him for other options and he just walked away saying we would talk tomorrow. J has a habit of doing that and I would be willing to put down a large wager that we not only don't talk about it tomorrow but will not talk about it until I bring it up and since I don't see him much these days who knows when that will be.

Rolling over

William rolled over today for the first time. I'm thinking it was the way I put him down rather than him figuring it out because he has only done it once and it was right after I put him down. Still it is the first and we shall see if he does it again.

The party day!

Today was a busy day for us. We went to Grow more farms to find a pumpkin patch which they didn't have. but Evelyn enjoyed seeing some of the other stuff that they had like the goats :) After a short stay (we left really late) we went home and put Evelyn to bed for a nap. She didn't go down well because dad didn't give her a nuk or her lovey. Apparently he is trying to get her off the nuk and didn't mention this to me. I had already snuck in and given her the lovey and nuk when he told me the latter was on purpose.

I'm not sure if she slept at all or not but she cried at 2"30 so we got up and headed out to the house warming party. we arrived a little late because Evelyn didn't want to go initially so I had trouble getting her out the door (making me think that she didn't actually sleep), on the way she was fussy and asking for milk. Once at the party she was a little on the shy side and didn't want to be put down. She was happy after she got her milk and went to play inside along with Kensi's toys. which gave me a chance to catch up a little with Kensi's mom. It was grate to see her as since she moved day cares and we have both had so much going on I haven't seen her in a while.

Evelyn and Kensi played very nicely together putting beaded necklaces on each other which was fun to watch. I have never seen Evelyn share that well before apparently Kensi is a good influence.

After not too long we were off to Zoes birthday party. Evelyn didn't want to leave but didn't fuss too much. and as a bonus it didn't take her too long to warm up at Zoe's house though she did play alone quite a bit.

We have internet!

So I am back to being the spotty blogger that I am. William is sleeping so I thought I would update a few posts that I put into a word doc for the time being. William and I are doing well still sleeping alot but William is starting to be awake during the day more which is great. though we still need to work on the sleeping at night thing.

Right now I should be unpacking stuff and going through the pile of junk that is in the living room. Sigh I can't wait to be settled in to this place. I am hoping next week mom and I can go to the old place and try to get some of the rest of the stuff out I have no Idea what is left over there. I also want to give it a good cleaning. Though I need to clean things up around here as well... So much to do so little time.

meeting the neighbors.

why is it that when I am too tired to get up and get dressed in a real outfit and wear a junk tshirt and shorts I manage to meet the neighbors and yet when i have the energy to get dressed I don't run into anyone?

Today was one of those days. I ran into one of the neighbors on my walk with william. she has two older kids but is about my age. we had a great time talking about our pregnancy's and births (ok it was an odd topic but was brought up by her because of William). I'm sure I have seen her daughter ride her bike around the circle though I'm not sure which one she is. Well I am sure I will figure it out.

Then when I was playing with Evelyn (we went for a walk - thanks for the double stroller mom!) and came back when the neighbor was saying good buy to her parents. she walked them over and introduced them to us. (and they got to meet William). It was really nice to meet them but I wish I had taken more time to get dressed - I wonder where my jeans are...

Week 37!

Total weight gain/loss: Lots

Maternity clothes? of course!

Stretch marks? Not that I have seen... lately

Sleep: Intermittent, I seem to wake up at least three times per night.

Best moment this week: Starting this week I will have weekly exams. also we set our date to move we will officially be in the new house on Friday.

Movement: Tons of kicking and squirming going on!

Food cravings: Chocolate, Sweets and Ice.

Symptoms: hip pain, cramps shooting down my leg, fatigue (that could be a sleep issue too),

Gender: still asking this one huh?

Labor Signs: None yet baby has not dropped at all. Dr said I was soft but didn't want to push it to see if I was dilated. She said as I was leaving that if I went into labor this week it was my own fault not hers... I may be having braxton hicks because every once and a while my tummy gets very hard but they are not uncomfortable and cause no pain.

Belly Button in or out? Flat though J did mention once that it looked like it was out.

What I miss: Running as it is the easiest exercise to do without equipment. Last time I ran 2 feet I felt like the baby was going to fall out!

What I am looking forward to: Meeting my little boy and eventually having the energy to play with Evelyn again.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't ever move when you are 8 months pregnant.

Milestones:Weekly doctors appointments! and not so exciting my first internal was monday.

M minus 6 and counting...

We officially have movers and have a date in which we will be in the new house which means that we are trying to cram all the last minute stuff into the weekend and hope that we do not put too much stuff at the new house that we can't cook dinner and do what we need to do during the week. Once we are moved and settled I will feel better about everything. This week starts my weekly check ups (I will be 37 weeks) I hope that by the end of next weekend I will be in a place to feel like it would be ok to have the baby. this means that Evelyn's room is done; and it better be done this weekend. I really want to put her closet together Sunday morning. and the banister is secure on top of the stairs so that we can use a baby gate up there. I would also like by the end of next weekend to have the flooring in the baby's room in but I'm thinking that would pushing my luck. Jason was working on molding today and I don't know how far he got in the process. With everything going on and how hard his parents pushed him I am almost afraid to ask. I just can't wait for this to be over - I hope I have a week or so in the new house for Evelyn and I to settle before the baby comes. If we do get in next week that should be the case unless the little guy decides to come early and i think i am the only pregnant person on the planet that does not hope that he comes early.

Week 35!

Total weight gain/loss: Lots of weight gained

Maternity clothes? Yes wearing dresses mostly now as they are more comfortable.

Stretch marks? Not that I have seen

Sleep: Still getting up a few times per night.

Best moment this week: Not having to go to the doctor next week.

Movement: Tons, I love feeling him kick and move.

Food cravings: Almond pastry from Malik's bakery - I really need to stop this craving!

Symptoms: Hip pain, waddeling, fatigue...

Gender: male

Labor Signs: none yet!

Belly Button in or out? I have no belly button

What I miss: Having the energy to play with Evelyn.

What I am looking forward to:

Weekly Wisdom: Don't move while you are pregnant it just adds too much stress!

Milestones: We are at 35 weeks which means only 35 days left.

Week 34!

Total weight gain/loss: still high :P

Maternity clothes? I hate maternity pants, they don't seem to want to stay where I want them too.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: Waking once or twice a night doing ok.

Best moment this week:

Movement: Regular and strong!

Food cravings: Yogert covered raisins and cranberries, Ice cream.

Symptoms: Fatigue, Hip pain, waddeling, difficulty standing up from sitting.

Gender: no change there

Labor Signs: None yet but it is early.

Belly Button in or out? what belly button

What I miss: My energy.

What I am looking forward to: Being pain free, being a better mother to my little girl and little guy.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't cross your legs it is a really bad habbit.

Milestones:

Paint

Jason started to paint the new house yesterday so I need to have all of the colors chosen for the room. I have teh room with the fireplace picked out the nursery and our bedroom. I sitll need colors for Evelyn's room, the living room and the hallway. I would love to do a ragging or another texture for the hallway but that would just take too long. I am goign to decide tonight and Jason is going to pick out the final colors of the flooring tonight so that he can get it ordered. He said he wanted to do all one color upstairs though with the difference in lighting in the rooms that may not be the best idea. I told him to put the samples in the rooms too see how they looked though they will not be painted the proper color yet. I hope he will have everything painted by this weekend (providing I have the colors picked out tonight and he orders them...

So do I do Evelyn's room Purple or Yellow?

The Rock Garden

Every day after daycare for a while Evelyn would get excited to pick up a rock from their landscaping. After I would get her to my car I would get the rock from her and put it somewhere in my car to return at a later date. Some of the rocks I actually kept separately because they made good worry stones due to the shape and texture. This was a great plan unfortunately I didn't always remember to return the rocks to their proper owner. Jason after fixing my breaks yesterday picked up evelyn and remembered to return all of the rocks (Okay there are two left on the floor on the passenger side). I kind of miss the rock garden but am also glad that it is out of my car again. Having rocks rattling around really isn't that safe.

I'm sure Evelyn will rebuild the garden again unless I get better at returning them.

I knew it was a bad idea.

I knew it was a bad idea to bring the kitten home and yet I did. He is a very good kitten and has done so well with Evelyn I don't want to give it up - even though I know I have to. The harder I try to find him a good home the harder it is for me to imagine giving him up, maybe the hormones are to blame. I hope we find a good home quickly or I will be very upset when he goes. Likley this will already be a problem.

Week 33!

The Kicker is now a honeydew with 7 weeks left! His senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

Total weight gain/loss: Lots.

Maternity clothes? Yes and the pants are mostly driving me nuts.

Stretch marks? Not that I have noticed lately.

Sleep: Getting harder and harder. I routinley wake up two too three times in the night already.

Best moment this week:

Movement: Strong and regular. :)

Food cravings: anything sweet but especilly almond danish from Maliki's Bakery in 12 corners.

Symptoms: Hip pain, mood swings - again. Some fatigue due to waking up a few times in the middle of the night.

Gender: Still a boy.

Labor Signs: None yet

Belly Button in or out? What belly button?

What I miss: Not having to worry about what I do and it's effect on the baby. I really need to live in a bubble.

What I am looking forward to: I don't know.

Weekly Wisdom: Don't move while pregnant talk about stress!

Milestones: Another biweekly appointment done though I'm glad we are not doing internals yet!

Mowing the lawn.

When you use a reel mower you need to keep up with the mowing. When you wait too long between mow jobs it just does not work well. I definitely waited too long and added to that I think the blades need to be sharpened. Unfortunately neither of us has the time to sharpen them at the moment. The back yard didn't look too bad however I ended up doing the front twice because it looked that bad, and It still looks like it needs to be mowed. Sigh maybe one of the neighbors will take piety on us and mow for us...

The Fireplace

This morning I took two hours off of work to let the people in to install the fireplace (wood burning stove insert)! While I got a little lost getting to the house (I went a different way than I normally do) I made it early - just not as early as I wanted to. Once I got there I got strait to work and managed to get the paper off of the rest of the pink room (what I could reach anyway) and two of the walls in the hallway. The guys who were doing the install came on time, I have never had anyone for an install or service call come on time before. It was a nice change.

I finished what I had started and went in to work!

Relaxing

There is nothing more relaxing than taking a bath with a kitten purring on your shoulder - trust me on this. I have had cats and kittens before and non of them have liked the water or wanted to be around it in any way. The kitten that I have at least temporarily taken in (yeah ok I want to keep her) sat on my shoulder purring in my ear for a good half hour while I took a bath tonight. She even got her tail wet and didn't seem to mind.

Changing plans

Taking in the kitten means that I could not stay at mom and dad's as planned so that we could work on the house. So instead they came up to our place and dad watched Evelyn after we got her ready for bed so that mom and I could take down wall paper at the new place. After all was said and done we had about an hour at the new place. We did manage to get 3/4 of Evelyn's room done! I'm glad I got to help out a little and mom and dad will watch Evelyn on Sat for our "Stripper" Party so I can help some more. I'm hoping that we will be ready to paint on Sunday though we still need to get the paint.

More hardwood samples are on the way and we should get them soon. They are stronger than the others that we had picked out and not too much more money. I'm thinking this is a good idea I hope I like the colors but I think Jason knows what I like and will get samples accordingly. The good news is the place that we will get the paint has at least one of the samples so we may be able to get it local.

Week 32!

Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

Total weight gain/loss: Same as last week!

Maternity clothes? Ugh yeah I still like the shirts but the pants are driving me NUTS!

Stretch marks? not that I have seen lately

Sleep: I do ok as long as I don't drink too much water at night or eat too many ice cubes rather. waking up with some soreness though

Best moment this week:

Movement: He's kicking like crazy

Food cravings: Ice cubes and ice cream. I really need to start craving veggies.

Symptoms: hip pain, some cramping that seems to be sporadic, fatigue (that could be the anemia),

Gender: Can I just delete this one?

Labor Signs: Nothing yet but it is early.

Belly Button in or out? what belly button?

What I miss: Being able to clean

What I am looking forward to: Non pregnancy related - My Grandmother, Aunt and Uncle's visit!

Weekly Wisdom:

Milestones:

The House

The new one that is... is coming along. Jason is spending lots of time there trying to get it ready for us. the wall paper is coming down and as Vinegar and water works i am likely going to be able to help unless he gets it done by him self. I think he is going to clean the carpets today (he's coming home to get the cleaners). for us to move in he has to

taking down wall paper
paint the bedrooms
put new floors in two of the rooms which are picked out (pictures below)
put in recessed lighting in the kids rooms
fix the railing on top of the stairs so that we can put a baby gate up.
clean the carpeting

So far he has
worked on the wall paper
fixed the sump pump
fixed the electrical ( I think)

I know it doesn't seem like much however taking down wallpaper is a HUGE task and has taken a majority of the time (as well as lawn care) plus we still have upkeep on this house. Having two houses is a major pain in the butt!

Evelyn's room

The den

The New House

It has been a while since I have posted about the new houses so I thought I would give some updates. J has been moving stuff over (we have lots of stuff) and trying to get a lot of the work done (removing nails etc). He also has replaced the sump pump so we are making progress.

Week 31!

There is a belly shot I just need Jason to get it to me.

Total weight gain/loss: 40lbs - yes already. the good news is that in the last two weeks I did not have a weight gain! I am trying to be good (eating ice seems to help) and not gain too much more weight in the next 9 weeks (I can't believe we only have 9 weeks left already!)

Maternity clothes? Yes though some fit better than others. I don't remember the pants fitting so poorly last time though I do rememver the jeans sliding down a little.

Stretch marks? still the same.

Sleep: Between occasional cramps and my bladder i think I am going to have to get used to little sleep again. Poor Evelyn I hope I am still a good mommy to her while I am sleep deprived.

Best moment this week:

Movement: Like a crazy guy! We are starting the kick counts this week though I don't anticipate a problem.

Food cravings: Ice odly enough this should help my weight gain. and ice cream with sugar cones which will not.

Symptoms: leg cramps are occasional the banana's seem to help. trouble sleeping as I have been having a little heartburn lately usually in the early morning. Mood swings are still around too I can't wait to be a little more stable emotionally.

Gender: The gender hasn't changed I promise you!

Labor Signs: None yet there is time still.

Belly Button in or out? I have no belly button.

What I miss: Rolling on the floor with Evelyn and running around with her. And I am actually looking forward to running a 5k next summer and hopefully doing the Aids Red Ribbon Ride again.

What I am looking forward to: Grandma, aunt and uncle are coming to town mid august - I guess we never really grow up because I am super excited to see them. And I am actually looking forward to running a 5k next summer and hopefully doing the Aids Red Ribbon Ride again.

Weekly Wisdom: Be weary the sleeping tiger.

Milestones: My first bi weekly appointment is tomorrow!

Oh the irony.

The menu at daycare always has some article relating to child nutrition and a recipe for a snack. This month the article is about childhood obesity the snack - rice krispie treats. Mind you the snacks are not always healthy but still you would think they would do a little better when they are trying to get parents to be more mindfull of obesity and how to feed your child.

Single Mom Day 2

With J out of town I am playing at single mom for the day. the morning went well despite me not turning on the alarm after I set it. I got up early and got everything done that i needed to do in the morning before Evelyn woke up. When I went to get her out of the bed she was just flopping around and getting ready to get up. We had a good morning and she only looked for daddy once before we headed out of the house.

When I picked her up from daycare she was as happy as can be! We took our time getting home because there was no daddy waiting for us. Once we got home however she asked for daddy and got a bit fussy when I told her that he would not be home until tomorrow. She didn't eat a great dinner and though she enjoyed her shower she was fussy on and off all evening.

I like to think we managed fairly well with out him though Evleyn is definitely daddy's girl and wants him around.

The Penn Welcome Center

The rest stop when you enter Pen state is the best welcome center ever. asside from being clean there were child seats in every bathroom stall - If you have ever had to hold a child while going to the bathroom you will pareciate this. They also supplied their own liners for the diaper changing station. There was also lots of room inside for evelyn to stretch her legs so we could let her run with out worrying about her dashing in front of a car.

There was staff on hand despite the later hour. One was a nice woman (i'm not sure if she and her partner were custodians or security or both) who chatted about Evelyn and how cute she was. She asked if she was a daddy's girl which she clearly is at this stage of the game.

I'm one of thoes mothers

I don't see the point in giving evelyn sweets and saycare has quite a few items on the menu that I don't care for her eating for nutritional reasons and sugar content. Jason admittedly lets her eat alot more than I do and will make pancakes on the weekends fairly frequently though he does not give her syrup. they have pancakes french toast and waffles once a week (each) and though once a month they do whole wheat pancakes I'm not sure that it is much better. and I have seen the teachers put on lots of syrup. So I still bring in breakfast almost every morning (usually pureed fruit, oatmeal or musli and yogurt. I also hae a bos of crackers on hand (Kashi roasted veggie, amy's grham bunnies or veggie goldfish) for a snack in case they are having cookies as a snack which they do way too often. Really she is not old enough to know the difference and she loves her crackers. Really I wonder why the daycare of all plases makes such bad decisions for the kids food. I figure Evelyn will soon eat enough junk on her own and there is no point in getting her started now. My hope is that better choices now mean that she will still eat some of the good stuff with the junk when she has the decision to make.

Week 29!

At 29 Weeks she measures about 10.4 inches from crown to rump, or a total length of about 16.7 inches from head to toe, and weighs about 2.7 pounds. At this stage her eyes are almost always blue and can distinguish bright sunlight or artificial light through the wall of the uterus. She is performing fewer acrobatics as conditions in the womb have become cramped now that she is getting bigger (someone should have told him that she is still very active). The exciting news is that if she is born now, your baby could probably survive outside the womb -- although in a neonatal intensive-care unit. I'm hopping she will go full term and have no reason to believe otherwise.

Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though -- as you’ve also probably noticed -- they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

Total weight gain/loss: surprisingly the same as last week. and other than a big spike mid week two weeks ago I have only gained 1.5 lbs since June 17th so it's not really that bad. I'm right where I was with Evelyn at this time.

Maternity clothes? Absolutely! And I still like them :)

Stretch marks? Still the same though I haven't checked too carefully...

Sleep: OK some nights are better than others.

Best moment this week: Evelyn put her hand on my belly when I asked her if she wanted to feel her brother move :) he of course stopped moving and she hit my belly - I see sibling revelry in my future... Grandma K and Aunt Sarah also got to feel "the Kicker" move :)

Movement: We have a fairly established pattern and he is getting stronger and stronger. I can't believe how strong his kicks are already.

Food cravings: Ice cubes - I've been chomping on them a lot lately.

Symptoms: Ah yes the fun stuff. The pain is mostly what is going on now (hips mostly) though there are times that my leg muscles feel really weird (achy tight) stretching helps.

Gender: Still a boy :P

Labor Signs: none though I may have had a Braxton Hicks or two... Still it seems early for them.

Belly Button in or out? What's a belly button?

What I miss: not being achy and being able to play with Evelyn on the floor where she tackles us.

What I am looking forward to: Playing with both babies

Weekly Wisdom: Excercise really does help you to feel better - no joke. I really am trying to be more active.

Milestones: We now officially start bi weekly doctor appointments!

The fire place...

http://www.heatworks.com.au/wood-heating-in-built-lopi-freedom-bay-product-107.html

Today we had contractors in to discuss the fireplace at the new house the link above is the wood burning stove that I want it is a little more pricey but I really like it. I don't have the link to the other so you will just have to take my word for it - it is nicer. J will give them the final decision soon so that they can get started. I am very excited about getting this done but it is only one step and I think the larger step is going to be taking down the wall paper and painting the walls.

My sister is a good influence...

Today Evelyn jumped in the stroller and said she wanted a walk when asked. So I told the family that if they wanted to come they should hurry (least Evelyn get board in the stroller and change her mind.) We went down the canal and had a great walk until just about when we were going to turn around we noticed that Evelyn's arms were quite red despite sunscreen. we turned around immediately and hoped that it was just that she was hot but we still got in a few good miles. she drank some water though not as much as I thought she would and once she was cooled down her arms were ok - no warmth or residual pink. She didn't eat too well but went right down for her nap.

Once I got home I worked on some layndry (after Evelyn was in bed) and the neighbor came over for a walk again. we didn't make it to the door in time (I didn't even hear it) but J saw that it was her so I ran down the street to catch up ( luckly most of our walks start the same way). I doubt I ran a quarter of a mile then took a short cut to head her off. We continued our walk (3.1 miles) and I felt great though a bit tired when I got home.

Slowly but surely

The stuff is getting out of our house. mostly books for now but everytime J goes over to the new place he brings a load of boxes. It doesn't look like much is missing yet but there are definite holes where stuff had been in storage. As far as work is concerned Jason has installed more light down in the basement, mowed the lawn, and put in the garage door opener. There is still lots to be done but after the fireplace and painting is done we can move in (with sufficient time to air out the house). I just can't wait until it is done.

Mom came over today and helped me pack up some books and do a little cleaning, really my parents are the best!

Happy 4th of July!

What a beautiful day it turned out to be! We had great weather and had a great time at my parents house. That is untill Evelyn woke up screaming from her nap (usually if i don't check on her she will quietly play in her crib until I come to her). It was downhill from there as we tried to get her to eat a snack which she declined to do (though she did try) she just kept screaming but would calm down for a bit then back to crying. Eventually we did get her to eat something by letting her sit in my lap as she ate. I called the oncall doctor (not something I like doing) and they said to just bring her in tomorrow. she had no fever and no drainage.

not 30 min after that call she her ear started to drain - Fun stuff let me tell you. we convinced the nurse that was on call to let us talk to the doctor and the doctor called in ear drops when I promised to come in for an appointment first thing tomorrow. It was a pretty miraculous change although she hated the drops the puss stopped fairly quickly and she was a little less temperamental. Poor girl.

a run and a walk

I use the term run very loosely here but seeing as though I have been out of it for a long time and it was hot out I think I did fairly well. My sister (being the good influence she is) talked me into a run midday (It was HOT) it was only .7 of a mile and I didn't make it that far. I made a third of it before I was stopping to use a restroom and I had gone before we left. We ran a bit farther and I had to walk for a while. All in all it wasn't bad though I am in terrible shape for running, I think I lost all of my stamina.

Then after I got home my neighbor came looking for me so we did a two mile walk with Evelyn in the stroller. It was mice to get out with her and talk to her about baby things. I will miss having her to walk with when we move though I am trying to figure out how to set up walk or even run date. I miss having someone to exercise with.

We have a nephiew!

Last night at 1:01 AM my SIL gave birth to a beautiful baby boy! He was three weeks early but still has a full head of gorgeous blond hair. I can't wait to meet him

Walk Through

Today was the final walk through on the house that we are purchasing. J said that there is a stain on the linoleum (it looked to be in good shape so it must have been under the rug, sigh). maybe it just needs to be washed. The paint and wall paper are also in bad shape (the wall paper we knew about) and were planning on painting anyway so that's not such a big deal. I am a little irked about the linoleum. I didn't want to have to put a rug down under the kitchen table as I thought the linoleum will be easier to clean when things get dropped. All in all I am still happy even knowing that and I can't wait to close on the house and get things started. I am hoping to bring Evelyn over to the house to see it sat morning to run around and maybe get a little used to it. I also want pictures to try and figure out where things are going to go though I do have an idea for some of the stuff.

Although this is a holiday weekend and it will be late notice I also hope some friends will be willing to come help tear down wall paper. We have lots to do but will start moving stuff over fairly soon. I think the first order of buisness will be to put up the new garage door opener. It is going to be a busy weekend I just wish I could do more to help.

Rough Nights

She started balling at 7:30 - not her usual I don't want to go to bed cry and kept at it until 9:30 We couldn't get her to stop. At 9:30 she fell asleep in our bed for 45 min or so then woke up screaming again. So we called the doc and told them what was going on they said go to ed (I had just gotten her calm again) but they thought it could be twisted bowel... We got to the ED and she was fine - happy alert and perky. We were there for two hours and didn't get seen (they were slammed) other than being treaged. At 1:30 she was still happy so we went home.

She slept ok and we went to the doctor the this morning. The doctor said she didn't think it was a twisted bowel (which is what the on call was worried about) but she was wheezing (probably the bronchitis) and that I should stay home to observe her just in case. She ate a great breakfast (almost two eggs, 1/4 piece of toast and some yogert) at 9 and still ate a decent amount at lunch. When I put her down for her nap she played for a little while then went to sleep.

We both had a nice long nap and had a great time playing for the rest of the evening. She has been her happy self ever since the ED visit. though she hasn't pooped since yesterday in the morning which is a bit unnerving. but she seems happy so I gave her some prunes for a snack to help move things through. I'm guessing she had heartburn but I'm not sure what caused it - I just wish we knew for sure.

Medicine problems...

I am always very careful when giving out medication to Evelyn. This morning as I gave Evelyn her antibiotic I realized that I had given Evelyn the wrong dose of medication yesterday morning. When I gave it to her I thought to myself this is a very small amount but it is a strong antibiotic... I This morning I realized my error and gave her the full first dose (with the medicine you give more the first day then the rest of the 5 days). so she essentially started the meds today. I guess it was the 4 hour nap that made her feel better not the medicine but I'm guessing the medicine did help her fever to drop even in the small amount she got. Sigh... at least it didn't hurt her but my lesson is learned I will double check from now on especially when something seems off.

Getting fat...

Today was testing day at work. It is the day where we shut down the clinic for national testing day and basically run tests all day long. We had a decent turnout though I don't know how many tests they did it seemed like they were always busy. I was stationed at the bike ride table trying to promote our fund raising bike ride ( www.aidsredribbonride.org ) talking to everyone about the ride trying to get interest and more riders involved.

One of my coworkers did the 40 mile ride last year and was talking to me about the ride this year. We were looking over the routes...

Me: Yeah it's too bad I will be 8 months pregnant at the ride this year.
Doc: You did the ride last year...
Me: I wasn't 8 months pregnant last year.
Doc: yeah...

Later a co worker came up to me and said she talked to the Doc who asked her if I was pregnant and when she said yes he replied to her that he thought I was just getting fat.

Earthquake...

Today we had an Earthquake - in Rochester. Apparently it was a 5.5 J was driving at the time and felt it for 10 sec. I didn't feel a thing and I'm pretty sure that I am not so oblivious that I could have missed it but then again I did miss it. Anyway my day was filled with conversations about the earthquake including my conversation with Jason where I thought he typed that he had gotten rear ended - what he said was he felt like he had gotten rear ended.

The good news is no one that I know of was injured but it makes for an interesting day.

Week 27!

Yes an eggplant again. He is not growing a lot length wise but there is still plenty going on! He is now about 9.6 inches from crown to rump and weighs a little more than 2 pounds. His hands are active and muscle coordination is such that he can get his thumb into his mouth. Thumb-sucking calms the baby and strengthens his cheek and jaw muscles. He can cry now, too. You may see stretch marks as your uterus continues to expand. Balance and mobility also may be changing as you grow larger.

Total weight gain/loss: Yup gaining weight *Whistle*

Maternity clothes? Yup got some new stuff from a co-worker though She is a little shorter than me and well a little bigger so I'm not sure if it will fit or not. Still haven't tried it on.

Stretch marks? no change here.

Sleep: Doing ok as long as I don't drink too much water at night.

Best moment this week:

Movement: Holy cow he's hit my ribs already....

Food cravings: chocolate, waffle cones and soft serve icecream (I've avoided two of three and am doing better on my diet - mostly)

Symptoms: Hip pain when sitting for too long, small bladder syndrome, irrational mood and no control over my appetite. But the leg cramping went away for the week!

Gender: Male :)

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? What belly button?

What I miss: Not getting the side eye when I do stuff that I want.

What I am looking forward to: Evelyn feeling her brother move and her reaction!

Weekly Wisdom: Exercise is as important as oxygen.

Milestones: getting to the third trimester :) Even by teh most conservative sources I am in the home stretch!

Productivity

Today was a great productive day for me. While Evelyn napped I took out the reel mower and mowed the lawn. I ended up taking a break after the front yard for sunscreen and water. I even put away the laundry while I was inside and only checked the time a few times hoping it was almost time for Evelyn to get up and play. Then as I was finishing up the back yard mom came over and we cleaned up the back bed! She did a great job edging as I pulled leaves and weeds out. The bed looks a lot better we still have some work to do (I should have weeded the front bed as it is harder to do with miss Evelyn to watch, but will probably start that after she goes to bed some night this week.

After Evelyn got up I put my last load of laundry away and we went to find some garage sales that were close to the house. Unfortunately they had all seemed to close up shop as we couldn't find any of them.

We had a great time at G/G K's house at the fathers day dinner.

Happy Fathers Day to all the daddies!

Incredable find

Today while Evelyn napped mom and I went out to run some errands. We got a lot done (some returns and checking out a sale that ended up not being worth it). and ran into a garage sale on the way home. We found a little tots toy storage chest with book shelf for $5 and it was in excellent condition! I usually don't do so well when I go to garage sales - It must have been mom's luck but I am excited to have the storage for the toys as our current system does not work well (or is not neat). J approved it though he didn't want to take it to the house until after we close on the new one. My hope was that we could put what toys will fit in it and organize Evelyn's toys and make the house sell-able by moving stuff out after we close but before we officially move out. Apparently not what Jason wants. oh well...

Sugar addict

Ok I'll admit it I'm a sugar addict. Well not so much the sugar as chocolate. Anything to do with chocolate. I managed to limit myself for a little while but have gotten back on the band wagon some how. As my weight seems to be going up quicker I keep telling myself that I need to lay off the junk but can only seem to manage it for a few days then I get a craving and purchase what I want and it all goes down hill. So I am going to stop getting the junk that I am craving so that when the stuff from my desk is gone I have to be good. I typically do better at night when I am home than I do while sitting at my desk so not having it at work should help a lot. We shall see if my limits do any better this time around.

Getting out!

Every once and a while it is nice to get out of the house. Tonight we got a call from a friend who was BBQing and having some people over and J wanted to know if we wanted to go over there (um yeah!). Usually I have to drag him out so when he is willing I am all for visiting friends. It was a small group which is good for me and Evelyn had a blast playing with their dog and eating their chips and guac!

Week 26!

>
Total weight gain/loss: 30lbs - yup already but I am at the weight I was at this point with Evelyn so if I don't go above my max with her I will be happy.

Maternity clothes? Yup my co-worker just gave me some of hers as she is not planning on any more kids so Yippee. Only problem is she is a little shorter than me... I'll try them on anyway - There were some cute dresses.

Stretch marks? Nothing new to report here!

Sleep: I've had a few good nights with out cramps.

Best moment this week: Not falling down the escalator?

Movement: Tons and getting more regular!

Food cravings: Chocolate and Cocoa Krispies - I had to go to the store on the way to work yesterday to get some so that Jason wouldn't know...

Symptoms: Leg cramps (usually at 3am) - I guess I didn't get rid of them after all, Shoulder pain at night, fatigue, waking in the middle of the night, mommy brain and small bladder syndrome.

Gender: Still a boy...

Labor Signs: None!

Belly Button in or out? Flat as a pancake.

What I miss: My energy!

What I am looking forward to: No more aches and pains!

Weekly Wisdom: What ever you do don't give up your exercise...

Milestones: Double digits! Yesterday my countdown went in to double digits today only 98 days until we meet our little guy! Giving up my high heels.

Escilators are dangerous.

Especially if you are wearing high heals. Yesterday on the way to a meeting I was walking down the escalator (I'm too impatient to wait for it to get me to the bottom I always have to walk up or down) my heal caught and I tripped. Luckily I caught myself and didn't fall down the stairs and a side from two small wounds on my hand from rubbing on the railing I didn't get hurt. I have however decided that it is a good time to pack my heals and retire them for the duration of the pregnancy.

I miss my computer...

Although it is fixed Jason is still working on everything to get it ready for me to use again 9transferring files and making sure that all of the pictures are on the computer and not duplicated. Which makes blogging pretty hard. Then when I had access to a computer yesterday when Evelyn was sleeping I couldn't log in to the google site... I swear I was doing the correct password. I keep telling myself soon it will be back and then I will just be to lazy...

So goes life.

Moving out...

The moving date and closing date are moving up though we are not sure when. The paperwork has been sent in and we essentially just need that to go through before we close. It is a bit odd to me that they were going to need the rent back and all of a sudden they seem like they are in a hurry to get out. But that means more time to settle in before the baby comes so I am happy! I hope Jason will let our friends help with the tearing down of the wall paper - I know at least one will. I wish I could help.

I am considering the idea of hiring someone to come and clean the kitchen and bathrooms thoroughly before we move in. Jason does not like me using chemicals and I want it good and clean before we put our stuff in. I guess I'll have to look into how much this will cost... and see if it will fly. I figure the carpets I can borrow a friends steam cleaner (I hope) then we should be in good shape. Maybe I'll take a vinegar solution to the walls I'm not sure but I'm getting a little ahead of myself as usual!

Moving up the closing date

So we heard from our REA (real estate agent) that the sellers are moving earlier than they expected too and that if we wanted to we can move up the closing date. I'm not sure how much earlier they are wanting to close but I definitely am a fan of this idea and just the idea of it happening has me excited. So although I have some good news I don't know the extent of it at the moment. I hope this works out and that we can get into the house quickly I am anxious to sell the old and get settled in the new although we will be doing this in the opposite order.

Week 25!

At 8.8 inches from crown to rump and 1.5 pounds our baby boy is an eggplant. His skin is now becoming opaque instead of transparent. His body is still covered with folds of skin like a puppy that need to grow into its skin and the formation of tiny capillaries is giving baby a healthy pink glow. He is also soaking up my antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those cute little eye lashes.

Total weight gain/loss: Lots I'm in denial at this point though I am doing better at controlling my sweets. And now that the birthday celebrations are over there will be no more cakes for me to pig out on.

Maternity clothes? Yes and I am starting to remember why I don't like maternity jeans. As I keep hiking them up when I stand up sigh.

Stretch marks? Still only a few on my outer thigh.

Sleep: ROFL what is this? I had been getting cramping in the middle of the night which was helped by heat (throwing on the comforter) and maybe the addition of more banana to my diet.

Best moment this week: Celebrating with Sarah!

Movement: getting stronger and more regular. He has already given me a few good kicks. I'm going to have to get a video!

Food cravings: Chocolate with almonds. (Thanks Sarah!)

Symptoms: Leg cramps at night, Shrinking bladder syndrome ;), some cramping with walking but I think it is because I am out of shape and mood swings/bad mood.

Gender: Do I have to answer this again I swear it has not changed.

Labor Signs: none

Belly Button in or out? I have no belly button...

What I miss: Sleeping past 3:30 am and not waking to pee.

What I am looking forward to: Oddly enough I'm looking forward to breastfeeding again (minus the mastitis) it was a very relaxing and bonding experience for me and Evelyn.

Weekly Wisdom: There is a good reason that people believe pregnant women are tempermental and have mood swings. Please treat them accordingly.

Milestones: another week gone...

Stalking the Neighbor

When I want to go for a walk there is a neighbor that likes to go with me unfortunately tonight she was out I know because I checked like 10 times I guess I was anxious to walk but just didn't go alone. I guess it is a good thing that I walked at work. Though I don’t have trouble keeping up with my co workers usually today I got a little crampy at the end of the walk. I was very glad to see the end of the walk and sit back down to eat. This tells me that I am in terrible shape and need to walk more often. If only I didn’t go to bed so early!

Strange sleeping behavior…

I went into Evelyn’s room this morning to see if she was ok because she was crying. She was sitting up and awake so I picked her up and stroked her head asking if she was ok. Then I told her to go back to sleep. Immediately (like she was hypnotized) she shut her eyes and fell back words. I caught her and put her in the crib when she rotate onto her belly not making a peep. If only that always worked to get her to sleep!

It doesn't matter...

It does not matter what you do a sleepy baby will fall asleep. If you mess up the schedule in the morning it messes up the whole day. Evelyn finally fell asleep on the way home from the library/play date at 4ish in the car. Unfortunately this is too late as it will completely mess up bed time – no sleeping in tomorrow! I have a feeling this evening is going to be a rough one.

How long?

How long do you leave a toddler in their crib before deciding that they are not going to take a nap? Today Evelyn was in her crib for an hour and a half before we gave up. Mind you she was not crying she was alternating between talking and being quiet. Usually she would be quiet for a while then something would happen (mommy going outside, phone ringing ect) then she would talk again for a while. Before putting her down I asked if she were ready for her nap and she said yes and went over to the crib, I guess she just wanted to get in. She did sleep in today until 8 which never happens and on a weekday we would not let happen (and If I had woken up first it wouldn't happen either but since I keep waking up in the middle of the night I'm surprised I even woke up at 8 since she was chattering and playing but not crying. So it looks like today is a day without a nap and I need to get out that book on sleeping again to look into the toddler years although I know my first mistake was letting her sleep in.

A Night Out!

Tonight I got to see one of my friends that I haven’t seen in about 3 years. (He lives in Ireland) It was nice to get a night out of the house. We meet up at the Otter lodge (I don’t know why I suggested it or why they took me seriously however it had the benefit of being quiet enough that I could hear the conversation. While we were there a bachelorette party came in which was pretty funny. They had a treasure hunt of sorts where they had too look for things (or people with certain characteristics or qualities). One of the girls came up to our table with their list looking for someone named Brian. I guess they had to see proof of the name as she asked to see his license. He pulled it out and She said “Wow your so much cooler than… everyone else’s” yeah we are all pretty sure she was going to say cooler than I thought you would be, Pretty funny. I guess if you are living in Ireland you have to be cool. Brian clearly moved to the right place. We had fun though Sarah and I cut out early (10 pm which is the latest I have stayed up in a long time) I wanted to stay later but was tired and had to consider a 30 min drive after getting Sarah home. Still I should get out more often.

Sleeping Beauty...

So since Saturday I have been going to bed between 8:30-9:30. I am completely exhausted though I don't sleep through the night. I usually only wake once at 4 am and have trouble getting back to sleep. I don't know why this is lately though I would love to blame my diet which has take a turn for the worse and lack of exercise (though this weekend Evelyn and I spent a lot of time outside playing with Aunt Sarah and G/G K). I guess it's just hard to get out and even walk when I am ready for bed before Evelyn even goes down and walking with her in the stroller before bed does not work because it pushes her bed time too far back. As soon as I get some energy back J and I are going to work something out for exercising. I don't remember sleeping this much last time around!

What a Great way to start the day...

Evelyn has been super interested in the potty lately. She insists on sitting on it before leaving daycare everyday (she usually does not go to the bathroom but sits on it and pretends to flush - she can't really flush as it is hard for her and scares her anyway). So this morning when we were getting ready and she refused to have her diaper changed I thought what the heck lets just take the thing off and have her sit on the potty for a little while the out a new one on. She usually likes to sit on the toddler potty that we have but not so much this morning. Today she was just not interested in sitting on it and of course she ended up peeing all over the (tile) floor. I can't say I was too upset because I really was not surprised and it did not take too long to clean up.

I did however think it was funny when she looked down and said "Bye-bye" to the pee that was on the floor and waved to it...

Giving her a bath...

Makes me want to cry especially tonight. As soon as we put her in she started crying. When I washed her hair (w/daddy’s help) she started screaming “ma ma” along with crying. Unfortunately it is so hot outside and she gets so sweaty and dirty that she needs to hve a bath and hair wash pretty much daily now. Tonight we used Selson Blue hoping that would make her skelp feel better (she has bee poking/pulling at her hair a lot so I think it was itchy) This is about as fun as it sounds. Getting this stuff in her eyes would really suck. Luckily with J’s help we avoided that despite her crying and squirming. It was a quick bath and early bed with little crying thankfully as I couldn’t deal with much more crying. I still don’t feel like myself I guess I’m tired too.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Happy Birthday to Sarah - well and me too! I had a great birthday complete with a call from Grandma :) at work I left my desk to get something done and when I got back I had a card, cake (Wegman's Ultimate Chocolate) and flowers from a coworkers garden on my desk! My co workers broke into a great rendition of "Happy Birthday" when I walked back in. It was so sweet and made my morning.

Once I got home J was there which was nice I really missed him. We all spent a lot of time playing and even though Evelyn resisted getting in her high chair she ate a great dinner. We still need to get her a booster! After Evelyn went to bed I ate my dinner and Grandma called which made my night! All in all I couldn't ask for a better birthday!

Moving forword

We have decided to go with the house even with paying half of the cost of the flu fix. I am excited but still a little sad we didn't end up in a better school district. Though some of the schools in the area have better ratings than the others. Some are close to the rating of the better school districts so hopefully they will work out for the kids.

We sign the paperwork tomorrow and send it over.

Week 23!

He is still a Papya - He is not growing as long now and is filling out instead. He is around at approximately 11.8 inches and 2.2 pounds - Depending on where you get the estimates from! He is starting to produce white blood cells, an important component of blood that is responsible for combating disease and infection, and may respond to touch or sounds. Expect to gain about a pound per week this month.

This has been a busy time for our little guy - nipples are starting to sprout, and that cute little face is fully formed, including functional ears! So Watch what you say -- baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing, though he has heard quite a bit from his daddy so I'm sure that is comforting as well. She is also starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day.

Total weight gain/loss: Lots

Maternity clothes? Yes - this question is getting redundant...

Stretch marks? No - I hope this one stays redundant.

Sleep: When Evelyn lets me :)

Best moment this week: Seeing movement from the outside.

Movement: Starting to see the moment on the outside. When it is more regular I will post a video :)

Food cravings: Nope tough I am still eating too much sugar - I cant seem to escape it it follows me everywhere and I of course can't say no.

Symptoms: Shrinking bladder syndrome especially when baby moves.

Gender: Still a boy.

Labor Signs: No thank goodness.

Belly Button in or out? Still in for now.

What I miss: My body I'm feeling fat and blubbery this week :P

What I am looking forward to: Holding our little boy and seeing Evelyn interact with him!

Weekly Wisdom: Long days lead to short nights.

Milestones:

The Inspection

The inspection on the house went well there is one major repair that the sellers are going to have to do and several minor repairs (a few of which I wanted J to ask them to do but he didn't want to) but they are minor enough that J will (should) be able to do them himself. I would have been willing to ask them to do a credit of some sort just to see if they would go for it. We got our one request in and they will be making the fix which should not change our current close date. We still have to do the radon test this weekend but as long as that goes well I don't see any further problems. I am starting to collect boxes and trying to get things ready at casa de Hirsch as I want to push our house on the market ASAP! I'm just not sure what to do with all of our stuff - we have way too much!

Week 22!

Total weight gain/loss: I am now even with what I gained with Evelyn at this point. I am going to work hard to make sure that I do not exceed the high weight from my pregnancy with her.

Maternity clothes? Yes I even had to get another pair of jeans so I can have a play pair for running around with Evelyn.

Stretch marks? not yet!

Sleep: Doing ok still but tired though that may be because of the lingering illness.

Best moment this week: Putting in an offer on a house and having it accepted (ok not really pregnancy related but still exciting!) I also did lots of clothing shopping :) also refuring to the baby as "ours" rather than mine to Jason!

Movement: More and more regular and if i really want a kick I can eat some sugar and he goes nuts!

Food cravings: none really though still eating lots of ice cream with Carmel and walnuts and made brownies this weekend (this may be the reason behind the weight gain).

Symptoms: my bladder is shrinking :), my belly is growing and I am having mood swings which usually include being very irritable pretty sure Jason is going to start avoiding me soon.

Gender: baby boy!

Labor Signs: None thank goodness!

Belly Button in or out? Still in

What I miss: There are lots of things that I wish I could do cleaning wise and carrying wise (J would kill me). I'm sure I will miss it even more in the weeks to come as we prepare

What I am looking forward to: Moving into the new house and having it set up for the kids! Holding the new little baby and cuddling with him since Evelyn is more into playing than cuddling now.

Weekly Wisdom: Sleep is over rated!

Milestones:

Offer accepted!

So tonight while I was on the walk with the neighbor (and Evelyn) J called on my cell the reception sucked so I couldn't hear him but I was pretty sure he said the 30days was not needed. meaning they accepted our offer. We continued our way home and talked about what he said and the neighbor agreed that it sounded like we got the house. we continued walking and J came up on his bike and said that they accepted our offer! And the neighbor offered to help take down the wallpaper :) I'm definitely taking her up on that since we couldn't make the owners take it with them (we joked while writing the offer to have that dis-included) So now we start the legal process and do what we can to get our place ready to sell!

Blur...

Time is going way to fast. I don't know what happened to it! I barely remember what Evelyn and I did with our weekend. Let alone 2010 - how is it May already?

More Rollercoasters.

Today had some good points but also the bad. Evelyn decided she didn't want to go down for her nap today. We had a hard go of it and after an hour and a half we gave up and went to see our Realtor. Hoping that she would fall asleep in the car and she didn't. Lately as we are putting her down to sleep she is saying that she wants to eat. I'm thinking that we may need to delay dinner in hopes that she will eat more at the time but I'm not sure that will work. anyway she did that at nap time (after eating a decent lunch). So we played and she ate 2 carrots, some veggie puffs and some graham cracker bunnies for a snack (big snack for her) and she almost fell asleep on the way home. J put her in her crib and she was asleep. I am very worried about bed time tonight and hope that we can run her ragged so that she will still sleep on time. and hope that she will eat a good dinner and not be asking for food as I read her good night story.

Right now I am just feeling anxious and sad for some reason.

The Offer

Today we went to put in an offer on the house. This is a process that I have never been through before and it proved to be interesting. I ended up playing with Evelyn and swinging her for a lot of the process so I missed well alot of the finer points but I trust Jason to make sure it is all in order. I think the offer that we made on the house is a good one and well if they don't take it there will be another - it is still early in the season...

Today should have been a great day

and it was until I had a mood swing at the end of the day.

We started the day trying to let J sleep in but that didn't work so well. Evelyn did sleep until 7:15 after waking up at three. It seems she had a night terror as she was crying in her sleep - poor girl. Around 10:00 we went to see the house on Iron stone and I liked it so we are going to put in a bid! There are a few things that I would or would like to change but it is a house that we could move into with out doing anything. Though I am Hoping that J takes down the wall paper instead of just painting over it as he said he wanted to do. And there is the issue that we would not get occupancy until mid august. The positive outweigh the negative so we are going to put in an offer.

After viewing the house Evelyn and I went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for lunch and a nap so that I could run my errands. I went to Kohls and switched out the clothing that I bought for the bigger discount. (with no hassles - one of the reasons that I like Kohls is I never seem to have a problem there). then on to carters to check out their clerance sale. I got lots of great clothing for fairly cheap though I'm sure J will be surprised when he sees the credit card bill. still clerance plus 30% off with an additional 20% off coupon is totally worth it in my eyes. also I found out that at carters if you have your receipt you can return the purchase NO MATTER WHEN YOU PURCHASED IT! This includes clearance items... carters already was a favorite store and is even more so now!

After that I gathered Evelyn and came back north to discuss the house and we did a lot of playing and went for a long walk. Evelyn can now get in and out of the stroller all by herself and I think she spent a good half hour or so getting in and out of the stroller... good times. we put her to bed and that is when my mood tanked. Hopefully a good night sleep is all I need.

Week 21!

That's right our baby boy is a banana! He is now 10.5 inches and 12.7 ounces but I have gained more than that! The baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, for hydration, nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Meaning, my baby is going to love fruit (especially strawberries), chocolate, ice cream and spicy foods like jalapenos (sorry honey).

Total weight gain/loss: More than I care to admit publicly.

Maternity clothes? Definitly though I do have one pair of jeans that I fit into comfortably that is not maternity.

Stretch marks? None yet (knocking on wood).

Sleep: We slept well this week though Eveln has been sick the last few nights waking us up. Poor girl!

Best moment this week: Ultrasound Thursday (It's a BOY!)

Movement: More and more though no real pattern yet.

Food cravings: None though I will eat whatever you put in front of me no matter how much it is.

Symptoms: None!

Gender: BOY!

Labor Signs: Not Yet!

Belly Button in or out? Still in.

What I miss: Exercising - Not that I can't now I dropped my gym because I hated it so the only exercise I get is walking with Evelyn I miss my cardio machines and weights.

What I am looking forward to: Having Evelyn feel the baby move for the first time :) kind of hope I get it on video!

Weekly Wisdom: "An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory" Friedrich Engles

Milestones: The big ultrasound!

Daycare vs. Staying Home

I never thought it would get harder to leave Evelyn at daycare. I know she has fun and only cries for a little while. After I leave but days like yesterday (even though she was sick) make me wish I stayed home with her. I know if I had not all of the days would be as great and I'm sure I would need to get out more often for me time but I just hate to leave her everyday. When I first left her I cried It was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I don't cry anymore (she does enough crying for the both of us) yet it seems to be harder and not just because she cries. Sigh I just wish there was another option...

Great days

Ok I know Evelyn was sick but other than not eating you really couldn't tell. We had a great day playing and I even napped when she did giving me the rest that I needed. I rocked her to sleep because she resisted her nap and it felt great to have the cuddle time. I know this is not going to be a trend as she normally does not like this but it is nice for both of us when she is not feeling well.

My cough is virtually gone though I am still congested - I feel a lot better. I am so happy to be home with Evelyn today though I wish she didn't have to be sick in order for me to be with her.

Mothers Day

I can't say that today was the mother's day that I thought it would be. Jason took Evelyn and let me sleep in. I woke up thinking that J must have taken Evelyn on a walk to keep her that quiet. nope she was not feeling well and went back to sleep 10 min after she woke up. She slept until 9:30 which she NEVER does! The rest of the day she wasn't feeling well so we did alot of reading and cuddling (before her nap we read Polar Bear, Polar Bear What do you hear 4 times! Then I rocked her to sleep, which also usually does not happen.

Poor thing had another 2 hour nap. The rest of the day was just like any other though she was acting better a while after her nap (initially she was fussy and crying). We ended up canceling on mom and dad, which I feel bad for (and was disappointed about) but I know they understand. I can't say it was the mother's day that I was hoping for though I did enjoy the cuddling and I loved the card that Evelyn made for me!

The sling saga continues...

So today I got a visit from CPSC to sign my story about what happened. Apparently they reimburse you for the product so no money is lost :) They guy was very nice and appreciative of the contact (rather then us just returning the sling). So I think this is the end of our involvement however he did say that he will be talking to the stores to be sure that they are in compliance. It was great to hear what had been happening and what was going to happen in the future. I feel like I accomplised something by letting them know even though it was Jason that did most of the work ;) So that ends the saga I'll let you know my decision about getting a wrap...

The Big Ultrasound!

What a great day today was after getting in to work early for a breakfast meeting (and a great breakfast) I cut out to get my ultrasound and doctor's appointment. The doctor's appointment was first it was only a "belly check". She said I am right where I am supposed to be! Then we quickly listened to the heart beat which was perfect at 150!

Then it was time to wait for the Ultrasound. I was drinking more water because I wasn't sure I had had enough - Then it hit me! I didn't have to wait too long but Jason was well on time and we were early. the tech was great and did the not so fun stuff (non baby views and some measurements) while we waited for him to show up. We didn't have to wait long :) The tech was great she even let me go to the bathroom after the stuff that needed a full bladder was done.

We got some great pictures of the little guy! GUY you say? Well yes we are having a boy!
He was so cute kicking around and even moving his mouth and tongue (we thought for a little while that he may stick his tong out at us but he didn't). It the ultrasound took an hour so we got to see lots of our little guy. I left ecstatic that we are having a boy :) Though truth be told I would have been just as excited for a little girl. He is very healthy and seems quite content. He even gave us a great view of his parts so there is no doubt that it's a boy! And now I get to shop!

The sling saga continues...

So tonight after the meeting for the AIDS Red Ribbon Ride J was on the phone with CPCS. They had sent someone to the TJ Max in this area with out telling him which one had sold the sling. So apparently he went shopping but didn't find anything but after the first store he had to say who he was and what he was doing. which probably did not help. In the mean time we can't return it because i guess it is proof that they sold it to us and the guy is worried that they will not let me keep the receipt. Jason is pushing this along and taking it as a personal insult/injury so something should become of this other than me just loosing my $20 - maybe I can contest the charge. Oh well...

Half Baked!

Belly bump was taken last night on J's camera so it will be uploaded ASAP!

That's right at 6.5 inches and 10.6 ounces our baby is the length of a cantaloupe and officially half baked!. This week Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells) Yummy! This will fill the first diaper after birth (and what a great diaper it is to look forward to!). And, speaking of the diaper situation... baby's genitals are now fully formed! That's right Thursday at the ultrasound we are hoping to get a glimpse of the goods to tell us what gender our baby is!

Total weight gain/loss: 19 lbs - yes already that's 1 lb per week! I think I need to stem my cravings a bit.

Maternity clothes? Definitely!

Stretch marks? None that I have seen so far (fingers crossed!)

Sleep:Wake once or twice to go potty most nights but not consistently yet.

Best moment this week: Jason feeling the baby move on Thursday! Also me seeing the baby kick my stomach during the weekly meeting yesterday. (We have one strong baby)

Movement: Getting more frequent but still not enough for me to know his/her schedule yet.

Food cravings: Ice cream and soft pretzels with natcho cheese sause - no not at the same time ;)

Symptoms: None!

Gender: Unknown but the big ultrasound is this Thursday!

Labor Signs: Not for a while yet!

Belly Button in or out? Still in.

What I miss:

What I am looking forward to: Surprisingly enough I've been looking forward to delivery (though I hope it is a long time off!). I have even been reading birthing stories again.

Weekly Wisdom: Time flies try to make the most of it!

Milestones: Jason felt the baby move on Thursday night!

Problem Solved

The sling that I found and purchased is one that was recalled. So Jason has contacted the SBC and is actually pretty pissed about the whole thing. He said that I am not supposed to return the sling to the store. When asked how I would get my money back he said not to worry about it - I think I will end up taking it back. It was cheap but not that cheap. He mentioned liking the moby wraps but I'm still not sold on them they are expensive and I would worry about not wrapping it correctly. I've seen instructions on making your own (it's just a long section of cloth anyway) but don't want to hassle. Besides what type of material would work best?

Maybe I will get one we will see. I really think that a sling will end up as a necessity as I chase Evelyn around. The carrier we have for her I love but can't be used for 4 weeks at least.

Sling carrier

Today I found a sling carrier at TJMax for $20 which is very cheap. I just goggled it and found that the company had recalls on some of their slings (I remember this it was just last month that it was announced). Since It is illegal to sell a recalled product I think we will be safe but I'm going to check the info once I bring it in to be on the safe side. If it is recalled I can send it in for a free exchange plus they send you a rattle.

Yeah that seemed a bit odd to me but hey why not? In the mean time it took the sling 7 years to get recalled sigh I wonder what products are going to be recalled when my babies are 7... maybe I should rethink this purchase. But it just seems that with Evelyn around it may be nice to have both hands free sometimes and the pack like carriers really can't be used until the babies can use their necks and hold their heads up. Well it is something to think about first to check the recall list.

Baby Talk

Jason felt the baby move last night for the first time. The baby had been quiet but I thought what the heck and put his hand on my belly. not 30 seconds later the baby gave a whooper of a kick!
(S)he was active for a little while and J tried to play but the baby didn't respond to Jason's pokes too much it's a little early for that yet but he had a great time trying!

House hunting

Things have been quiet on the house hunting recently. we have been looking but not seeing anything that we really like. Today Jason sent me one that he really liked. You could tell he liked it a lot because he sent it to me even though it was in a place that he didn't want to purchase a house. There were several problems that I saw with the house the largest being there was ONE bathroom - and 4 bedrooms. Really who builds a house with one bedroom and four bathrooms??! not even a half bath. So I mention that and look up where the house is in the town. IT IS RIGHT DOWNTOWN - I used to drive pretty close to it to get to work. I did a walk near there and J was concerned that I would be in the park in that area - and he wants to move there. Yeah great location babe, So I said no. Hopefully this will be the end of it.

I did send him one that I liked though it was on a busier road than I would have liked. He never commented on it so I'm pretty sure that it got the axe - too bad it's in a good school district (Penfield).

On the plus side one (and only slightly off topic) of my friends found a house and are moving! I'm so excited for them though we will miss their daughter at daycare. Luckily it is locally so we can still do play dates. Evelyn needs more play dates!

Week 19!

This week my baby is a


A protective coating now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might actually get to see the vernix (the protective coating) at birth, especially if baby is premature (I hope not!!).

Total weight gain/loss: up a lot definitely gaining quicker this time though I am still behind my weight with Eve because I started much lower.

Maternity clothes? Yes.

Stretch marks? No.

Sleep: Sleeping pretty good depending on Evelyn!

Best moment this week: Movement has been getting more regular.

Movement: Starting to feel him/her a little more frequently!

Food cravings: soft pretzels and nacho cheese.

Symptoms: Still symptom free!

Gender: I think it is a boy and J has not said. If you have a guess vote here :)


Labor Signs: No thank goodness baby is being good and cooking ;)

Belly Button in or out? Slowly flattening out.

What I miss: Being able to clean.

What I am looking forward to: Anatomic Ultrasound 5/6, getting closer!

Weekly Wisdom: Eat what you crave - it means your body is lacking a nutrient that the craved food provides :)

Milestones: Feeling more regular activity! I love the little love kicks and punches :)

Nutrition

Nutrition is a constant battle in our house. Jason is big on salt intake which is not necessarily a bad thing however he does not seem to believe in moderation in anything else (well ok veggies). This causes constant problems between us. he is willing to let me eat half a gallon of ice cream with out commenting (Ok I have never really done this) but If I eat something with 500 mg of sodium I'm not eating nutritionally and I get a lecture on how I need to take care of myself and the baby and eat more nutritiously. Sigh I can't even have cravings with out feeling guilty. This would be a lot easier to take from him if his diet was at all healthy.