We had a wonderful weekend. We came down to see family this weekend. Nick spent his time helping his Dad with Rebuilding Together, and on Saturday was able to help rebuild, remodel, and clean up 50 homes around the Portland area. This is something Nick has helped with for the last 19 years or so, with the exception of the time he spent in AK. (But even then, he came down for one year just for Rebuilding Together.)
While Nick was busy rebuilding Portland, the boys and I were able to spend time with the family. On Thursday evening, we went over to Grandma Mary's where we had dinner and celebrated Joey's birthday. Aunt Angie was there and made some delicious cupcakes. We all had fun spending time with them.
On Friday, Sarina came over after school to play with the boys. This gave me an opportunity to do some birthday shopping, since we hadn't done any before coming. I took Ethan with me, since I don't get to spend one-on-one time with him very often. He wore his sunglasses everywhere we went, and everywhere we went I got smiles and comments about how adorable he was. All I could do was smile, try to keep my chest from bursting, and say humbly, "I know."
Saturday, we celebrated Sarina's birthday at Pump It Up. The boys had never been there before and had a blast. Ethan was a little overwhelmed, but seemed to have fun anyway. Especially when he discovered the baby he could give loves to. He is going to be just as wonderful of a big brother as his big brothers are. Sarina and Jesse came over to play for a little while after the party, to the complete enthrallment of my kids.
Sunday, after church, we had Joey's birthday party. I know it's a little earlly, but since we were in town, it seemed logical, especially since it is illogical just to spend the money on coming down the next weekend just to get closer to his actual birthday. Since we won't be doing anything to celebrate Joey's actual birthday, Daddy will probably take him to a movie at the theater for a treat. Joey had a great time at his party and came away with some really cool stuff.
One thing he got was a Zhu Zhu Hamster, which he kept on his lap throughout the drive home. We stopped and grabbed McDonalds for dinner on the way home. Since Joey already had something to play with, I suggested Nick hand out the Happy Meal toys to Nick and Ethan. Nick reached into the first two bags and pulled out some sort of charriot toy from each and gave them to Nick and Ethan. Joey didn't think that was fair, even though he already had a toy to play with, so he asked for his Happy Meal toy. After reaching into the third bag, Nick discovered that we were given a pink and purple Princess tiara! Poor Joey. I couldn't stop laughing. It's not like we asked for any girl toys. I think they just grabbed the wrong toy. It struck me as funny though, that I want a daughter so bad, but that doesn't mean I want one of my boys to act like one!
Now we are back to routine and the process of settling down after an excitement packed weekend. We are already looking foward to coming back down again. I don't know when that will be yet, but I can't wait.
The countdown is on; just eight more days until the scheduled ultrasound. Hopefully, we will be able to know in eight days whether we are having a boy or a girl. Nick is determined to believe that we are having a boy, so that he is not disappointed. I know that he wants me to believe the same thing, but I just can't stop myself from hoping that I may possibly get my daughter this time. I am not one of those women who are so "in tune" with their body that I can just "know", so I don't have any idea whether it is a boy or a girl. I will just keep hoping until I find out for sure. I will keep you posted.
Well, I have three kids who have claws on hands and feet, so it is time I start cutting 60 nails. I should trim my own while I'm at it, but I think I will wait on those.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Crush
"I'm in a crush with Isabella." Joey said when he got home from school.
I'm not sure what my face looked like, because he felt the need to further explain. "That means we're in love."
I couldn't help it; I laughed out loud. Then I tried to compose myself so Joey wouldn't feel like I was making fun of him. "When did this happen?" I asked him.
"Today. She sat by me and made me love her." Joey stated.
"How did she make you love her?" I inquired.
"She smiled at me." Joey responded.
Oh, the whole thing was entirely too precious and too funny. He's a couple weeks away from six years old...I thought I had a few more years before this. I hope that in the future, I will learn a little self control. I don't ever want him afraid of telling me his feelings, even when he gets to the point when he won't WANT to tell me his feelings. I always want him to know he can come to me if he wanted to.
I'm not sure what my face looked like, because he felt the need to further explain. "That means we're in love."
I couldn't help it; I laughed out loud. Then I tried to compose myself so Joey wouldn't feel like I was making fun of him. "When did this happen?" I asked him.
"Today. She sat by me and made me love her." Joey stated.
"How did she make you love her?" I inquired.
"She smiled at me." Joey responded.
Oh, the whole thing was entirely too precious and too funny. He's a couple weeks away from six years old...I thought I had a few more years before this. I hope that in the future, I will learn a little self control. I don't ever want him afraid of telling me his feelings, even when he gets to the point when he won't WANT to tell me his feelings. I always want him to know he can come to me if he wanted to.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Chicken Soup
I haven't read any of my "Chicken Soup For the Soul" books in so long, so the other day, I pulled one out. Last night, I read a story that had me laughing and shaking my head at the truth of the subject. I wanted to share it with you, so the remainder of this post will not be my words, but those of Dave Barry.
What Women Don't Understand About Guys
Contrary to what many women believe, it's easy to develop a long-term, intimate and mutually fulfilling relationship with a guy. Of course, the guy has to be a Labrador retriever. With human guys, it's extremely difficult. This is because guys don't really grasp what women mean by the word relationship.
Let's say a guy named Roger asks a woman named Elaine out to a movie. She accepts; they have a pretty good time. A few nights later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy themselves. They continue to see each other regularly, and soon neither is seeing anybody else.
Then one evening when they're driving home, a thought occurs to Elaine. She says: "Do you realize that we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?"
Silence fills the car. To Elaine, it seems like a very loud silence. She thinks to herself: "Geez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he feels confined by our relationship. Maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him into some kind of obligation."
And Roger is thinking: "Gosh. Six months."
And Elaine is thinking: "But hey, I'm not so sure I want this kind of relationship either. Are we heading toward marriage? Toward children? Toward a lifetime together? Am I ready for that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person?"
And Roger is thinking: "So that means it was...let's see...February when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's which means...lemme check the odometer...whoa! I am way overdue for an oil change here."
And Elaine is thinking: "He's upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I'm reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship-more intimacy, more commitment. Maybe he senses my reservations. Yes, that's it. He's afraid of being rejected."
And Roger is thinking: "I'm going to have them look at the transmission again. I don't care what those morons say-it's still not shifting right. And they better not try to blame it on cold weather this time. It's 87 degrees out, and this things is shifting like a garbage truck, and I paid those incompetent, thieving cretins 600 dollars!"
And Elaine is thinking: "He's angry, and I don't blame him. I'd be angry too. I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm just not sure."
And Roger is thinking: "They'll probably say it's only a 90-day warranty. That's what they're gonna say!"
And Elaine is thinking: "Maybe I'm too idealistic, waiting for a knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I'm sitting next to a perfectly good person who's in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl fantasy."
And Roger is thinking: "Warranty? I'll give them a warranty!"
"Roger," Elaine says aloud.
"What?" says Roger.
"I'm such a fool," Elaine say, sobbing. "I mean, I know there's no knight and there's no horse."
"There's no horse?" says Roger.
"You think I'm a fool, don't you?" Elaine says.
"No!" Roger says, glad to know the correct answer.
"It's just that....I need some time," Elaine says.
There is a 15-second pause while Roger tries to come up with a safe response. "Yes," he finally says.
Elaine, deeply moved, touches his hand. "Oh, Roger, do you really feel that way?"
"What way?" says Roger.
"That way about time," Elaine says.
"Oh," says Roger. "Yes."
Elaine gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves a horse. At last she says, "Thank you, Roger."
"Thank you," he responds.
Then he takes her home, and she lies on her bed, a conflicted soul weeping until dawn, where as when Roger gets back to his place, he opens a bag of chips, turns on the TV and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a tennis match between two Czech players he never heard of. A tiny voice in his mind tells him that something mayor was going on back there in the car, but he figures it's better not to think about it.
The next day Elaine will call her closest friend, and they will talk for six straight hours. In painstaking detail they will analyze everything she said and everything he said. They will continue to discuss this subject for weeks, never reaching any definite conclusions but never getting bored with it either.
Meanwhile, Roger, playing racquetball one day with a friend of his and Elaine's, will pause just before serving and ask, "Norm, did Elaine ever own a horse?"
We're not talking about different wavelengths here. We're talking about different planets in completely different solar systems. Elaine cannot communicate meaningfully with Roger because the sum total of his thinking about relationships is 'Huh?'
He has a guy brain, basically an analytical, problem-solving organ. It's not comfortable with nebulous concepts such as love, need and trust. If the guy brain has to form an opinion about another person, it prefers to base it on facts, such as his or her earned-run average.
Women have trouble accepting this. They are convinced that guys must spend a certain amount of time thinking about the relationship. How could a guy see another human being day after day, night after night, and not be thinking about the relationship? This is what women figure.
They are wrong. A guy in a relationship is like an ant standing on top of a truck tire. The ant is aware that something large is there, but he cannot even dimly comprehend what it is. And if the truck starts moving and the tire starts to roll, the ant will sense that something important is happening, but right up until he rolls around to the bottom and is squashed, the only thought in his tiny brain will be 'Huh?'
Thus the No. 1 tip for women to remember is never assume the guy understands that you and he have a relationship. You have to plant the idea in his brain by constantly making subtle references to it, such as:
"Roger, would you mind passing me the sugar, inasmuch as we have a relationship?"
"Wake up, Roger! There's a prowler in the den and we have a relationship! You and I do, I mean."
"Good news, Roger! The doctor says we're going to have our fourth child-another indication that we have a relationship!"
"Roger, inasmuch as this plane is crashing and we have only a minute to live, I want you to know that we've had a wonderful 53 years of marriage together, which clearly constitutes a relationship."
Never let up, women. Pound away relentlessly at this concept, and eventually it will start to penetrate the guy's brain. Someday he might even start thinking about it on his own. He'll be talking with some other guys about women, and out of the blue he'll say, "Elaine and I, we have, ummmm....we have, ahhh....we....we have this thing."
And he will sincerely mean it.
What Women Don't Understand About Guys
Contrary to what many women believe, it's easy to develop a long-term, intimate and mutually fulfilling relationship with a guy. Of course, the guy has to be a Labrador retriever. With human guys, it's extremely difficult. This is because guys don't really grasp what women mean by the word relationship.
Let's say a guy named Roger asks a woman named Elaine out to a movie. She accepts; they have a pretty good time. A few nights later he asks her out to dinner, and again they enjoy themselves. They continue to see each other regularly, and soon neither is seeing anybody else.
Then one evening when they're driving home, a thought occurs to Elaine. She says: "Do you realize that we've been seeing each other for exactly six months?"
Silence fills the car. To Elaine, it seems like a very loud silence. She thinks to herself: "Geez, I wonder if it bothers him that I said that. Maybe he feels confined by our relationship. Maybe he thinks I'm trying to push him into some kind of obligation."
And Roger is thinking: "Gosh. Six months."
And Elaine is thinking: "But hey, I'm not so sure I want this kind of relationship either. Are we heading toward marriage? Toward children? Toward a lifetime together? Am I ready for that level of commitment? Do I really even know this person?"
And Roger is thinking: "So that means it was...let's see...February when we started going out, which was right after I had the car at the dealer's which means...lemme check the odometer...whoa! I am way overdue for an oil change here."
And Elaine is thinking: "He's upset. I can see it on his face. Maybe I'm reading this completely wrong. Maybe he wants more from our relationship-more intimacy, more commitment. Maybe he senses my reservations. Yes, that's it. He's afraid of being rejected."
And Roger is thinking: "I'm going to have them look at the transmission again. I don't care what those morons say-it's still not shifting right. And they better not try to blame it on cold weather this time. It's 87 degrees out, and this things is shifting like a garbage truck, and I paid those incompetent, thieving cretins 600 dollars!"
And Elaine is thinking: "He's angry, and I don't blame him. I'd be angry too. I feel so guilty, putting him through this, but I can't help the way I feel. I'm just not sure."
And Roger is thinking: "They'll probably say it's only a 90-day warranty. That's what they're gonna say!"
And Elaine is thinking: "Maybe I'm too idealistic, waiting for a knight to come riding up on his white horse, when I'm sitting next to a perfectly good person who's in pain because of my self-centered, schoolgirl fantasy."
And Roger is thinking: "Warranty? I'll give them a warranty!"
"Roger," Elaine says aloud.
"What?" says Roger.
"I'm such a fool," Elaine say, sobbing. "I mean, I know there's no knight and there's no horse."
"There's no horse?" says Roger.
"You think I'm a fool, don't you?" Elaine says.
"No!" Roger says, glad to know the correct answer.
"It's just that....I need some time," Elaine says.
There is a 15-second pause while Roger tries to come up with a safe response. "Yes," he finally says.
Elaine, deeply moved, touches his hand. "Oh, Roger, do you really feel that way?"
"What way?" says Roger.
"That way about time," Elaine says.
"Oh," says Roger. "Yes."
Elaine gazes deeply into his eyes, causing him to become very nervous about what she might say next, especially if it involves a horse. At last she says, "Thank you, Roger."
"Thank you," he responds.
Then he takes her home, and she lies on her bed, a conflicted soul weeping until dawn, where as when Roger gets back to his place, he opens a bag of chips, turns on the TV and immediately becomes deeply involved in a rerun of a tennis match between two Czech players he never heard of. A tiny voice in his mind tells him that something mayor was going on back there in the car, but he figures it's better not to think about it.
The next day Elaine will call her closest friend, and they will talk for six straight hours. In painstaking detail they will analyze everything she said and everything he said. They will continue to discuss this subject for weeks, never reaching any definite conclusions but never getting bored with it either.
Meanwhile, Roger, playing racquetball one day with a friend of his and Elaine's, will pause just before serving and ask, "Norm, did Elaine ever own a horse?"
We're not talking about different wavelengths here. We're talking about different planets in completely different solar systems. Elaine cannot communicate meaningfully with Roger because the sum total of his thinking about relationships is 'Huh?'
He has a guy brain, basically an analytical, problem-solving organ. It's not comfortable with nebulous concepts such as love, need and trust. If the guy brain has to form an opinion about another person, it prefers to base it on facts, such as his or her earned-run average.
Women have trouble accepting this. They are convinced that guys must spend a certain amount of time thinking about the relationship. How could a guy see another human being day after day, night after night, and not be thinking about the relationship? This is what women figure.
They are wrong. A guy in a relationship is like an ant standing on top of a truck tire. The ant is aware that something large is there, but he cannot even dimly comprehend what it is. And if the truck starts moving and the tire starts to roll, the ant will sense that something important is happening, but right up until he rolls around to the bottom and is squashed, the only thought in his tiny brain will be 'Huh?'
Thus the No. 1 tip for women to remember is never assume the guy understands that you and he have a relationship. You have to plant the idea in his brain by constantly making subtle references to it, such as:
"Roger, would you mind passing me the sugar, inasmuch as we have a relationship?"
"Wake up, Roger! There's a prowler in the den and we have a relationship! You and I do, I mean."
"Good news, Roger! The doctor says we're going to have our fourth child-another indication that we have a relationship!"
"Roger, inasmuch as this plane is crashing and we have only a minute to live, I want you to know that we've had a wonderful 53 years of marriage together, which clearly constitutes a relationship."
Never let up, women. Pound away relentlessly at this concept, and eventually it will start to penetrate the guy's brain. Someday he might even start thinking about it on his own. He'll be talking with some other guys about women, and out of the blue he'll say, "Elaine and I, we have, ummmm....we have, ahhh....we....we have this thing."
And he will sincerely mean it.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Baby Appointment
I had another appointment today. Everything is looking good, baby's heartbeat sounds nice and strong. I have been feeling some movement, but they are still few and far between; usually just when I'm about to fall asleep, or just before I fully wake up, when I'm still not sure if I'm really feeling the baby. But here in the next few weeks, I'm sure that will change, and I'll be able to feel more. That is the best thing about being pregnant, feeling the baby move inside.
I have scheduled my ultrasound appointment. I am looking foward to it with excitement and a bit of trepidation. Finally knowing will be a relief, but the 'finding out' is a bit nerve-wracking.
As far as the baby's developement, this week: Baby's crown to rump length is 13.5 cm or 5.3 inches. Baby weighs about 150-200 grams or 5.3-7.0 ounces. Fine hair called lanugo is starting to appear. Baby's fingerprints and toeprints are forming. Baby's teeth beginning to form enamel.
Pretty exciting developements in the baby department. I will make sure to let everyone know whether we will be meeting Breanna Rose or Andrew Kyle as soon as I can. Unfortunately, Mom will be off sailing again, and I would really like to be able to tell her before letting the whole world know. We will do our best to contact her if possible.
I have scheduled my ultrasound appointment. I am looking foward to it with excitement and a bit of trepidation. Finally knowing will be a relief, but the 'finding out' is a bit nerve-wracking.
As far as the baby's developement, this week: Baby's crown to rump length is 13.5 cm or 5.3 inches. Baby weighs about 150-200 grams or 5.3-7.0 ounces. Fine hair called lanugo is starting to appear. Baby's fingerprints and toeprints are forming. Baby's teeth beginning to form enamel.
Pretty exciting developements in the baby department. I will make sure to let everyone know whether we will be meeting Breanna Rose or Andrew Kyle as soon as I can. Unfortunately, Mom will be off sailing again, and I would really like to be able to tell her before letting the whole world know. We will do our best to contact her if possible.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Naked Nap
There will be no picture for this; you'll just have to use your imagination.
After eating Noodle Soup for lunch (my boys' name for Top Ramen), Ethan was stripped down to his diaper for nap time. Nick was having a difficult time settling down for nap, as he has been lately. For over an hour, he and Ethan played around intead of sleeping. Finally, they settled down and it was quiet for awhile.
I went upstairs to check on them, waking them up in the process. Since it was after 4pm, I was okay with them waking up; I do want them to get to bed at a decent hour. As I walked further into the room, I noticed Ethan curled around a great big wet spot.....completely naked! Yes, he had stripped his diaper off and slept in the buff. This was the first time he has ever done that.
I had Nick come upstairs to observe his son, and then take him downstairs to get him changed while I changed the sheet. What a goofy boy!
After eating Noodle Soup for lunch (my boys' name for Top Ramen), Ethan was stripped down to his diaper for nap time. Nick was having a difficult time settling down for nap, as he has been lately. For over an hour, he and Ethan played around intead of sleeping. Finally, they settled down and it was quiet for awhile.
I went upstairs to check on them, waking them up in the process. Since it was after 4pm, I was okay with them waking up; I do want them to get to bed at a decent hour. As I walked further into the room, I noticed Ethan curled around a great big wet spot.....completely naked! Yes, he had stripped his diaper off and slept in the buff. This was the first time he has ever done that.
I had Nick come upstairs to observe his son, and then take him downstairs to get him changed while I changed the sheet. What a goofy boy!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Oldies But Goodies
The kids and I have been looking at old baby pictures of each of them and I was reminded of some of my favorites. I thought I would share a few.
It all started the other day when Joey asked me what the bump next to his left ear was. This, of course, is what is left of his skin tag he had at birth. It has been so long ago, sometimes I forget that it was ever bigger than the little bump he has. Last night, when I brought up Joey's question to my husband, Nick asked Joey why he wanted to know.
Joey said, "Cameron (a boy in his class) touched it and wanted to know if I wanted him to pop it."
Oh, my goodness. I laughed so hard. I never thought that there was a reason other than curiosity that made him ask.
So here are a few of my favorite pictures of the boys' early days.
There is no better day in my life than the day each of my boys was born. This is one of my favorite pictures of Joey right after he was born. I don't think I had even held him yet, but I love how scrunched up his face is. He is saying, "I'm cold and I want my Mommy!"
This is probably my most favorite picture of Joey when he was really little. He is so peaceful and soft looking. It is also the one picture I think of when I want to see, or show, how big his skin tag was before we had it removed.
Here is a picture of Nick when he came "home" from the hospital. I put quotations around home because we were staying at Mom's at the time while we were in transition to Alaska. I love how tiny Nick looks, and he was compared to Joey, but he was not a tiny baby by any means. I love how the clothes look like they are about to fall right off.
This one of Nick is probably my all time favorite of Nick. It cracks me up each time I look at it. I love the expression on his face.
And here is a darling picture of Ethan when he was born. I love his cheeks, and though he has grown into them a little, they are still one of my favorite features on him today.
If I were totally honest, I would say that I have hundreds of favorite pictures of my boys, because I love looking at them and remembering all those days with them. They are my favorite people in the world, even if I don't remember that every day. But since I can't put hundreds of pictures on a blog post (and nobody is as interested in looking at all of them as I am) I will limit myself to these few. Maybe I will post some more at a later date. Spread the wealth a bit.
It all started the other day when Joey asked me what the bump next to his left ear was. This, of course, is what is left of his skin tag he had at birth. It has been so long ago, sometimes I forget that it was ever bigger than the little bump he has. Last night, when I brought up Joey's question to my husband, Nick asked Joey why he wanted to know.
Joey said, "Cameron (a boy in his class) touched it and wanted to know if I wanted him to pop it."
Oh, my goodness. I laughed so hard. I never thought that there was a reason other than curiosity that made him ask.
So here are a few of my favorite pictures of the boys' early days.
There is no better day in my life than the day each of my boys was born. This is one of my favorite pictures of Joey right after he was born. I don't think I had even held him yet, but I love how scrunched up his face is. He is saying, "I'm cold and I want my Mommy!"
This is probably my most favorite picture of Joey when he was really little. He is so peaceful and soft looking. It is also the one picture I think of when I want to see, or show, how big his skin tag was before we had it removed.
Here is a picture of Nick when he came "home" from the hospital. I put quotations around home because we were staying at Mom's at the time while we were in transition to Alaska. I love how tiny Nick looks, and he was compared to Joey, but he was not a tiny baby by any means. I love how the clothes look like they are about to fall right off.
This one of Nick is probably my all time favorite of Nick. It cracks me up each time I look at it. I love the expression on his face.
And here is a darling picture of Ethan when he was born. I love his cheeks, and though he has grown into them a little, they are still one of my favorite features on him today.
If I were totally honest, I would say that I have hundreds of favorite pictures of my boys, because I love looking at them and remembering all those days with them. They are my favorite people in the world, even if I don't remember that every day. But since I can't put hundreds of pictures on a blog post (and nobody is as interested in looking at all of them as I am) I will limit myself to these few. Maybe I will post some more at a later date. Spread the wealth a bit.
Tuesday, April 06, 2010
Baby Update
I have officially completed my fourth month of pregnancy and start my fifth month today. Remember, we are talking a ten-month (28 day month) system here. Here is what is happening with baby at this stage:
Baby's crown to rump length is 11 or 12 cm or 5 inches. Baby weighs about 100-150 grams or 3.5-5.3 ounces. Baby's eyes and ears are in their proper place now. Baby's circulatory system is completely functional. Baby's sweat glands are developing.
Pretty exciting, huh?! My next appointment is a week from tomorrow. I always look forward to hearing the heart beat. The other exciting thing about this appointment, is that I get to schedule my ultrasound! It's coming up fast. The less exciting thing about this appointment is that I will probably have blood work done. I don't detest having blood drawn, but it isn't my favorite thing.
Baby's crown to rump length is 11 or 12 cm or 5 inches. Baby weighs about 100-150 grams or 3.5-5.3 ounces. Baby's eyes and ears are in their proper place now. Baby's circulatory system is completely functional. Baby's sweat glands are developing.
Pretty exciting, huh?! My next appointment is a week from tomorrow. I always look forward to hearing the heart beat. The other exciting thing about this appointment, is that I get to schedule my ultrasound! It's coming up fast. The less exciting thing about this appointment is that I will probably have blood work done. I don't detest having blood drawn, but it isn't my favorite thing.
Face Plant
Ethan is very good doing face plants. He will be getting himself up off the floor when his arms will give out and he will land his face right there on the floor. Most of the time he is fine, it doesn't even phase him. Other times it is absolutely hysterical! Like the other night, Nick and I were both laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face.
Picture a toddler getting to a standing position: They plant their hands and their feet on the ground, then push off with their hands until they are in a full standing position. This is not exactly what Ethan did the other night. He got his hands and feet on the ground, but instead of pushing off with his hands, he jumped up using his feet, causing his arms to buckle, and....well, I'm sure you can imagine. He wasn't hurt; in fact, I don't think he even noticed, which gave Nick and I license to laugh.
Then there are the times when he hits something that causes him to get hurt. Yesterday was such a time. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan do a face plant. So when he came up screaming, I didn't at first understand why. I pulled him onto my lap to comfort him. He sat up with me, facing away, for several minutes. Then he decided he was ready to get down. He sat down on the floor, this time facing me, and I saw for the first time the huge goose egg that had surfaced on the bridge of his nose, between his eyes. I don't know if I have ever seen a bigger one.
He seemed to be acting normal, maybe a little calmer, but nothing to make me worry that something worse than a bump had occured.
I took a couple pictures for proof. By the time Nick got home from work, the swelling had gone down by half, but was still quite significant. This morning, the swelling was all gone, but he has a nasty bruise that I know will get worse before it gets better.
Picture a toddler getting to a standing position: They plant their hands and their feet on the ground, then push off with their hands until they are in a full standing position. This is not exactly what Ethan did the other night. He got his hands and feet on the ground, but instead of pushing off with his hands, he jumped up using his feet, causing his arms to buckle, and....well, I'm sure you can imagine. He wasn't hurt; in fact, I don't think he even noticed, which gave Nick and I license to laugh.
Then there are the times when he hits something that causes him to get hurt. Yesterday was such a time. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ethan do a face plant. So when he came up screaming, I didn't at first understand why. I pulled him onto my lap to comfort him. He sat up with me, facing away, for several minutes. Then he decided he was ready to get down. He sat down on the floor, this time facing me, and I saw for the first time the huge goose egg that had surfaced on the bridge of his nose, between his eyes. I don't know if I have ever seen a bigger one.
He seemed to be acting normal, maybe a little calmer, but nothing to make me worry that something worse than a bump had occured.
I took a couple pictures for proof. By the time Nick got home from work, the swelling had gone down by half, but was still quite significant. This morning, the swelling was all gone, but he has a nasty bruise that I know will get worse before it gets better.
Easter Sunday
Easter was a really nice day. The sun was shinning, as was the Son. It was a bit cool, and when the breeze blew, it was down right chilly.
The boys and I had a nice time at church. It is not always easy to get up and get us all ready to leave by 8:30am, but it sure is nice to be home by 10:45 and have the rest of the day ahead of you. I was able to get Easter dinner cooking early so I had time for it all.
We had a honey glazed spiral ham, scalloped potatoes, salad, and rolls. It turned out delicious and we ate too much. Then, of course, we found we had room later for a small slice of caramel apple pie. No, I didn't make it...we got it from Freddy's.
Joey and Nick cooperated for a picture, although Joey was being goofy. (The other picture I got was of Joey making a funny face.) It's too bad we can't use the same threat that our parents used....."If you ruin the film, you buy it!" At least with a digital camera, you can erase any picture that doesn't turn out.
Ethan didn't want to take a picture with the other boys. He was interested in getting a snack first. Finally, a dog started barking next door, distracting him long enough to get a couple pictures. I can't believe how big he is getting. I had to get the 2T clothes out for him to find him something to wear for Easter. I don't know if the pants will fit him quite yet, but he fits very well in the next size shirt.
After nap time, we took the boys out to ride their bikes. Nick got on his trike and just took off. He is really getting the hang of pedaling. He enjoys pretending he's going to work and coming back home. I love watching his imagination and creativity blossom. He really is talking very well now, considering he has only been talking for a little over a year.
Joey likes riding his bike, but it takes great concentration. He still has to remember that he has to keep pedaling to keep the bike moving. He tends to get frustrated pretty easily if something doesn't come easy to him immediately. Can't imagine where he gets that!
Ethan just loved running around, getting in everybody's way and trying to climb on the big boys' bikes. He loves being outside, even if it is cold. I love watching him copy his brothers. He seems to have no concept that he is anything but a five year old.
Well, I should go for now. The boys are being good, but I have been away from them long enough. I will have more to post later.
The boys and I had a nice time at church. It is not always easy to get up and get us all ready to leave by 8:30am, but it sure is nice to be home by 10:45 and have the rest of the day ahead of you. I was able to get Easter dinner cooking early so I had time for it all.
We had a honey glazed spiral ham, scalloped potatoes, salad, and rolls. It turned out delicious and we ate too much. Then, of course, we found we had room later for a small slice of caramel apple pie. No, I didn't make it...we got it from Freddy's.
Joey and Nick cooperated for a picture, although Joey was being goofy. (The other picture I got was of Joey making a funny face.) It's too bad we can't use the same threat that our parents used....."If you ruin the film, you buy it!" At least with a digital camera, you can erase any picture that doesn't turn out.
Ethan didn't want to take a picture with the other boys. He was interested in getting a snack first. Finally, a dog started barking next door, distracting him long enough to get a couple pictures. I can't believe how big he is getting. I had to get the 2T clothes out for him to find him something to wear for Easter. I don't know if the pants will fit him quite yet, but he fits very well in the next size shirt.
After nap time, we took the boys out to ride their bikes. Nick got on his trike and just took off. He is really getting the hang of pedaling. He enjoys pretending he's going to work and coming back home. I love watching his imagination and creativity blossom. He really is talking very well now, considering he has only been talking for a little over a year.
Joey likes riding his bike, but it takes great concentration. He still has to remember that he has to keep pedaling to keep the bike moving. He tends to get frustrated pretty easily if something doesn't come easy to him immediately. Can't imagine where he gets that!
Ethan just loved running around, getting in everybody's way and trying to climb on the big boys' bikes. He loves being outside, even if it is cold. I love watching him copy his brothers. He seems to have no concept that he is anything but a five year old.
Well, I should go for now. The boys are being good, but I have been away from them long enough. I will have more to post later.
Friday, April 02, 2010
God Listened
God read my blog, heard my despair, and my comment to Megan that snow in April was "of the devil." So He sent the rain to wash it away. After the rain, He sent the sunshine and clear blue skies.
YEAH!!!
YEAH!!!
A "Thank You" To My Mom
The boys had peanut butter and honey sandwiches for lunch today. Not something I give them often, but every once in awhile.
As I was making the sandwiches, Joey asked me if I would squirt the honey in thier mouths. I said no.
Joey, "But that's what Nanny does!"
Mom, "That's because she's Nanny and not Mommy."
Joey, "And Mommy doesn't do things we like."
So, thank you mom for being a very special Nanny to my kids.
As I was making the sandwiches, Joey asked me if I would squirt the honey in thier mouths. I said no.
Joey, "But that's what Nanny does!"
Mom, "That's because she's Nanny and not Mommy."
Joey, "And Mommy doesn't do things we like."
So, thank you mom for being a very special Nanny to my kids.
"You Want To Hear Something Depressing?"
These are the opening words to my husband's first phone call of the day. Of course, the first thing I want to hear in the morning is something depressing. His next words brought a chill to my heart.....
"It's snowing!"
WHAT?! How can it be snowing in April. I left Alaska for this very reason. Am I doomed to live in snow-infested lands for the rest of my life?
At first it was snow/rain mix, then mostly rain, and now it is mostly snow. We could get a couple inches, Nick said. They are thinking to get 1-3 feet in the mountains! This is completely unacceptable. Even if it doesn't stick around for long, I don't want to see that icky white stuff around me. I survived the winter because it was relatively short and mild comparatively. My Spring should not get ruined.
Okay, I'm done venting.
On the upside...I'm only a few days away from starting my fifth month of pregnancy (counting on a ten month schedule). Which means, of course, that I'm only four weeks away from being half way through.
I have some very whiny kids...mostly just one. He is driving me up the wall and its not even morning snack time! I better go.
"It's snowing!"
WHAT?! How can it be snowing in April. I left Alaska for this very reason. Am I doomed to live in snow-infested lands for the rest of my life?
At first it was snow/rain mix, then mostly rain, and now it is mostly snow. We could get a couple inches, Nick said. They are thinking to get 1-3 feet in the mountains! This is completely unacceptable. Even if it doesn't stick around for long, I don't want to see that icky white stuff around me. I survived the winter because it was relatively short and mild comparatively. My Spring should not get ruined.
Okay, I'm done venting.
On the upside...I'm only a few days away from starting my fifth month of pregnancy (counting on a ten month schedule). Which means, of course, that I'm only four weeks away from being half way through.
I have some very whiny kids...mostly just one. He is driving me up the wall and its not even morning snack time! I better go.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
No, Seriously
I will try to blog again. It's not that I don't want to, or don't have anything to say, or that the kids don't provide enough material, I just can't seem to get motivated.
First of all, I am feeling better. The doctor gave me anti-nausea pills that helped, but I haven't had to take any for a few weeks. I still feel "off" in the evenings, right when I'm supposed to be getting dinner (not very motivating), but other than that I'm doing well. It may be my imagination, but I think I have felt the baby move a couple times....just tiny movements. Last appointment I finally heard the heart beat, and I can't wait until next time. Only a few more weeks until I can find out what the gender of the baby is.
The kids are doing well. The other day, the boys were playing upstairs while I "rested" in bed before getting up. Nick and Ethan were rubbing each other the wrong way, Ethan ended up hitting Nick, and I called out to him from the bedroom to "not hit". Ethan jabbered something unintelligible at me, and Nick said, "Ethan said you were a bully, Mom!" I had to hide my face in the pillow to laugh. Nick has started "translating" Ethan's language and putting his own opinions in. It was so funny.
Well, I have a kitchen that needs cleaning, and if I don't get to it now, I will keep putting it off until it doesn't get done at all.
Hope this April is a blessed month for everyone. I may not get on every day, but I will do my best to post a blog every few days to keep you posted about the happenings in this household.
First of all, I am feeling better. The doctor gave me anti-nausea pills that helped, but I haven't had to take any for a few weeks. I still feel "off" in the evenings, right when I'm supposed to be getting dinner (not very motivating), but other than that I'm doing well. It may be my imagination, but I think I have felt the baby move a couple times....just tiny movements. Last appointment I finally heard the heart beat, and I can't wait until next time. Only a few more weeks until I can find out what the gender of the baby is.
The kids are doing well. The other day, the boys were playing upstairs while I "rested" in bed before getting up. Nick and Ethan were rubbing each other the wrong way, Ethan ended up hitting Nick, and I called out to him from the bedroom to "not hit". Ethan jabbered something unintelligible at me, and Nick said, "Ethan said you were a bully, Mom!" I had to hide my face in the pillow to laugh. Nick has started "translating" Ethan's language and putting his own opinions in. It was so funny.
Well, I have a kitchen that needs cleaning, and if I don't get to it now, I will keep putting it off until it doesn't get done at all.
Hope this April is a blessed month for everyone. I may not get on every day, but I will do my best to post a blog every few days to keep you posted about the happenings in this household.
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