My Day

Well, I could tell everyone about the snow... how we were snowed in for 3 days, needing to go to the grocery store but couldn't because the snow plows did not find us a priority. When 4 wheel drive vehicles are spinning out on our street, I am not about to go out in my 2 wheel drive van - pregnant and most likely with 2 kids.

I could tell you about the plethora of Christmas gifts that both we and the kids received for Christmas, only to be at a loss of where to stick everything.... (any ideas?)

But... I will tell you about finally making it to Wal-Mart to do my grocery shopping. As a Stay-At-Home Mom, it is cheaper to do all my grocery shopping at Wal-Mart than the grocery store. When I have to buy diapers anyway, it is easier to do it all in one stop.

So we have a list full of things to buy... meals for the next 2 weeks as well as necessities for the house. Alex keeps wanting to sit in the back of the cart, then wanting to walk... then trying to sit up front with her sister, half on Taylor which does not work well AT ALL. About 1/2 way through, both girls get tired and both are walking... or running and coming back. The store wasn't too busy, so as long as they are in the aisle I am in, I was okay with it. So, we are 3/4 the way done and have a cart full of groceries already. I throw a can of soup in the cart and POP! It turns out that the can of soup hit a bottle of sparkling cider and it exploded.

Mortified, I turn to a Wal-Mart employee in the aisle who calls for a clean up and goes to get me a new cart. We move all of my groceries to a clean cart... but all my groceries are now sticky with juice. The girls hats are wet, coats are a little damp and my purse is SOAKED! The dear Wal-Mart employee also went to get me another carton of eggs since a wet cardboard container may not hold my eggs so well.... At least the cart looked organized then. During this, I opened the fruit snacks to tide off my girls... I have never let them eat anything in the store, before paying for it - but did this time... it was desperate measures for desperate times.

So, after about 2 hours we finally check out and get out of the store. Lunch was late since shopping took longer than expected and everything that got put away was sticky. I even bought the girls each a ring pop to get through my extra long check out painlessly.

So, lessons learned.
1) Do not wait until groceries are so low that you need to spend $300 to buy everything to restock the whole house.
2) Do whatever I can to avoid grocery shopping with the kids. Seriously, I think it could resort to trading services with a friend - OR PAYING - to avoid shopping with them.
3) Do not throw a can of soup in the cart if you have a bottle of sparking cider in there. It makes a wet, sticky, yucky mess.

A lady in Wal-Mart did ask if I was expecting again. She asked if I knew what it was (we don't) and what I preferred. I told her that as long as it is healthy, that is all that matters.... Really though, why does a pregnant belly make people think they need to know this about a person. At least she didn't ask if it was planned..... (heard that when I was PG w/ Taylor).... I guess people don't think before they talk AND may think that 2 years apart is too close to have kids. Oh well...

I am off to do the elliptical now that I got a new Ipod for Christmas... maybe it will keep my weight gain to a minimum - or not, but I get to play with it!

19 week belly

Here is my belly in all it's glory. I am really shocked looking at the last two pictures how far out my belly is sticking. Honestly, the other night when we did Christmas #1, was the first time I felt pregnant. Hauling a clingy 2 yo around with this belly... she also kept trying to sit on top of my belly which after a large meal really just made me feel sick. :op
Feel free to enter your guess on Expectnet by clicking the above link to guess what our baby will be! We will find out baby's gender on or about May 15th, 2010.

Happy Birthday Taylor (a few days late!)

Happy Birthday baby girl!

I cannot believe that Taylor is 2 already. Where did time go?!

Here are th cupcakes for her party. I tried to rotate the pic, but... enjoy!

I should share that at 2 birthday parties in the last 2 weeks, Taylor did NOT want to touch the frosting. This is why we had 2 w/o frosting... okay - one was for the pregnant Mommy who cannot handle sweets (but then my H gave it to someone else making me grouchy!

Baby Girl in all her glory blowing out the candles on her cupcake!!

Post blowing out the candles

Her favorite part, eating the ice cream! YUM!

Another Santa Sighting!

As weird as this story sounds, Taylor saw Santa at the doctor's office! She saw him walk in and immediately said, "Santa, Hold me!" Well, Santa came and set down next to us after checking in. Taylor wanted Santa to indeed "Hold me." She told Santa that she again, wanted a Barbie for Christmas, in a box! :o) Santa was nice enough to allow Taylor to get a picture with him. The nurse even came out during our photo session and just laughed. What are the chances?! So, 11 photos at $11 last Saturday while enduring a weekend, pre-Christmas mall crowd and NO good pictures. But one day at the doc's office and one picture and wonderful (plus, it was FREE)! I guess there is a Santa because this one made one little girl's day! What can I say, she loves Santa! Her sister was walking around the mall with her Daddy while we went to the appointment and she was a little jealous - of Taylor's Santa sighting and her sucker from the doctor!

Taylor's First Love?!

Santa Claus was in town!

So, Santa WAS in town! We got to see him as proof! Here are the pictures if you don't believe me!!! Alex asked Santa for a ballerina Barbie which Taylor copied and also asked for a Barbie. She didn't cry as the photographer thought she may, but she wasn't as excited to see him in person as she is to see him in movies!!

The girls talking with Santa

The girls were showing Santa their pretty shoes.... only girls!

Another shoe shot... oh my and she is only 23 months, 3 weeks and 5 days!

I think Taylor was picking her nose. Classic!
Want some Santa?!

A final hug good bye from the jolly man himself!

"Wait, are those kids having more fun than me?!"

Sharing their wants with Santa....

The best close up.... still not good though!

"Cheese! .... are we done yet?"

"That's it Mom... now where's lunch?!"

So we went grocery shopping, leaving the house at 9:30, then to see Santa at the mall at 11. We get in line only to have to leave to make a potty run.... Grrr! Get back at the end of the line and wait for Santa... wait to have our turn for pictures.... wait for our CD.... then have to dash to get lunch (yes, I bought instead of made), dash home to eat quickly while calling the pharmacy and unloading groceries. Then, clean up the kids and dash off to a birthday party. Then run to the pharmacy after the party which did I tell you I had to drag my 4 yo up the stairs kicking and screaming... not quite, but I almost had to and threatened withholding all cartoons tonight if she didn't walk up the stairs herself. FUN TIMES! I can't wait to drag 3 kids out of anywhere!!!

Almost 18 weeks

Yikes, where did this belly come from?!
No wonder someone noticed I am PG today. (I thought it was a secret!)

What do I have to say?

Okay, so I really don't have anything to say.... I *think* feel smaller this pregnancy than I did with Taylor, but I cannot really tell looking at pics. Here are two within a week of each other.

Well, maybe things are just lower this time and less of a ball.... Maybe I'll put on the shirt I wore in pic #1 and post a pic of it tomorrow.

16 weeks PG

I had my doc appt this morning and baby's hb was a strong 140's. It was a quick appointment, so nothing to stress or worry about.
Just to be lame, here is the latest info about baby #3:

Week Sixteen: Facial expressions are possible

You are 16 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 14 weeks)
The fetus measures nearly 5 inches (12cm) from head to buttocks.
The fetus weighs about 3.5 ounces (100 grams).
The fetus is covered with a protective soft down to regulate its temperature.
Fat begins to form underneath skin.
Baby hears external voices, sleeps and dreams.Your baby has learned to breathe. This is apparent from the regular movements of his chest, inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid. These actions help the lungs to develop and grow. More developed facial muscles may lead to various expressions, such as squinting and frowning. Your baby nows weighs more than their afterbirth. The baby can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.You are showing more now and have an obvious swelling in your lower abdomen. The rest of your body is still changing. A total of 5 to 10 pound (2.25 to 4.5 kg) weight gain by this point in your pregnancy is normal.The crown to rump length of your baby is 4.4 to 4.8 inches (11 to 12 cm). Fetal weight has doubled in 2 weeks and is about 3.5 ounces (100g).

That's all for now, just happy to be fat and healthy!

I'm Sick!

Yes, I am whining. I have a sinus infection and I am pregnant so I cannot take a damn thing other than the huge pink horse pills I was prescribed. Hopefully this helps and I am better in no time.

So tired of being at home!

So, as most of you know, I enjoy being out of the house. I enjoy all of you and your kids who occupy MY time and my kids time. We have not been anywhere since we got home from our weekend away last weekend. We tried Tuesday just to puke in the parking lot (my daughter, not me). I guess we did go out for Turkey Day but that was just family.... Read: husband visiting w/ family and me running after the kids. Well, except for he got Taylor to nap in his arms.... I miss all my friends and really need to get out of the house. Hopefully we will all be healthy soon!

So tired of sickness!

First my dear husband has been sick for the past month or so with a cold that he just hasn't kicked. Then I get his cold 3 weeks after him.... I don't think he understands because he can at least dope up with dayquil & nitequil - I can't! Then we get back from our weekend getaway on Monday evening and Tuesday as I am taking the girls to a Moms Club lunch, Alex begins puking (in the van - YEAH!). She only has the stomach bug for that day and she is now old enough to run to the bathroom to puke, even if she really didn't puke, she never missed and puked anywhere else other than the first shot in the van. That was Tuesday... Friday night Taylor pukes too. She went to bed as normal but wakes up at midnight, puking in her bed. I put her in the bath, wash her bedding (which I hate to run the washer while they are in bed since it is across the hall from their room - but desperate times call for desperate measures!). Well, I lay back down and hear her puking again... this time I have to change her shirt, pillowcase and just clean the puke off her sheet (it wasn't much - and we only have 1 spare sheet which was on the bed!!!). We lay back down.... same thing... so this time I rock her until she is asleep, it is around 1:45 or so... my stomach is growling!! I ignore it. It is too gross to think of eating right after cleaning so much puke. We sleep until the H gets home from work about 7:30. She ate 1/2 a banana and 1/4 slice of toast for breakfast and has had no problems so far....
Pray for our health!

15 week Baby belly

So here is my baby belly. It feels huge for only 15 weeks. What can I say? I breed big babies. Alex was 8 lbs, 14 oz, born on her due date (but induced due to size). Taylor was also induced, but 16 days early. At 37 weeks, 5 days she was 8 lbs, 2 oz and face up - OUCH! So, any guesses about boy or girl? There is a game a I set up through ExpectNet that you can guess, click the banner to the right.

Thankfulness

I am sure this is the topic on everyone's mind lately....
I am thankful that I got a weekend away from my kids.
I am thankful that I am back with my kids! (Love how that works!)
I am thankful that my daughter is healthy after a bout with the stomach bug yesterday.
I am thankful for 2 happy, healthy kids.
I am thankful for a great husband.
I am thankful for my husband's stable job.
I am thankful for 2 dependable vehicles.
I am thankful for our roomy, warm house.
I am thankful for enough food to eat.
I am thankful for friends who keep me sane.
I am thankful for a baby in my tummy.

I am the winner!

Okay, I am a huge dork if you did not otherwise know this about me. :o) I had a gut feeling this morning that I would not take anything out for dinner because I was going to win the dollar dinner at our Moms Club business meeting. Well, I went to the meeting and WON DINNER! I am very excited to have a whole rotisserie chicken (that I have not touched in the 2 hours I have been home!), potatoes, rice and cookies. Cookies and sweets tend to make me sick right now, but I did have one after lunch - the key is to pair the sweets with protein to even it all out. I have already put the rice in the cupboard and will make a veggie instead to balance out the carbs so my ass doesn't get even larger than my belly. :o)

On another note, I ordered my Christmas cards last week through Shutterfly. I had a tracking number and looked today since it said delivery was Mon-Wed this week. It said that it was delivered last night IN CALIFORNIA! So, I called Shutterfly and they issued a free re-order. I called UPS freaking out a little that someone has 100 photo cards of my kids. Turns out that the tracking # had been reused and my order is indeed out for shipment today in ND. (I hope what he said is true!) SO, I had to call Shutterfly back and cancel the reorder since I really, really do not want 200 Christmas cards since I probably do not know 200 people - unless I send one to each family member seperately! Ha!

So, I am printing my Christmas letters and waiting for my cards to arrive so I can address them and mail them out right after Turkey day!!!

It's a start....

I started physical therapy yesterday. It turns out that it is not sciatic nerve pain. I have a weakness in the SI joint - this is the joint of your spine and pelvic bone. The ligaments have loosened which we all know if common in pregnancy. However, the muscles are overcompensating for the ligaments and tightening - thus giving me pain and limited mobility. So, as of right now I have to do PT twice a week and exercises at home 4 times a day to strengthen this area. It hurts to do them, but if it pays of in the end, it is worth it - right?

Just a little vent....

I am sure that no one cares, but the only people home are 2 & 4 - or close to it. They certainly do not care, so here it goes.

I made the plunge today and called my doc's office to get a physical therapy appointment. With Taylor, I had terrible sciatic nerve pain which walking helped. I never did anything about it. Well, at almost 14 weeks this has me terrified that I won't be able to walk here in 4-5 months.

Other than that, I have been feeling good. Baby likes me much better if I eat every 2.5-3 hours. I haven't felt sick unless I try to space out my eating more, or eat carbs and sugar when I do eat. Baby likes protein!! So... if I can just get my back to feel better life will be good. I will have to shop for snacks that I can take to the hotel next weekend... hmmm.... what kind of protein snacks are good traveling? Maybe some nuts.... Wonder if I can talk the H into taking a few bottles of chocolate milk in the cooler which no doubt will be full of beer?? Ahhh.... what an experience to go to a game pregnant (not that I didn't do this before, but I wasn't as far along!).

Is our house finally healthy?!

I use the term "house," but it refers to only one person in our house thankfully. My dear husband came down with what he was sure was a cold last Monday- yep 11/2 and today is 11/12 - ten days ago. He took dayquil/nyquil and still went to work, went deer hunting, etc. He came home from deer hunting WAY worse than he was when he left. Plus a popped blood blister on his foot from walking a ton in relatively new boots.
So, I can say I have not slept in bed with my husband for the past 10 days because he is scared to get me/us sick. Of course, then he seems that it is fit to take a nap in our bed vs the spare bed he has slept in.... (Hello, doesn't that spread germs into the bed where I sleep?!) But, he says he is going to work tonight. He will work 1 night and is scheduled to be off the next 4, but that depends on overtime.... he has to work it this weekend if there is any, to be off next weekend so we can take a trip to Minneapolis for a much needed weekend away from the kids. Oh - and a football game!

He got it!

I don't care whatever you think about the size of this deer. I am just very happy and proud of my husband that he got one this year. This is only his 3rd year in his 36 years of life that he has gotten a deer tag. Last year, he went out twice and his cousin got upset with him because was not a very good shot. However, if you are not raised hunting - what do you expect?! I emailed this pic to my parents and my Dad commented that it looks like a small dog. I am not sure why this bothered me - but I will skip telling my husband. I am just proud of him for getting one no matter how small. Now.... how to cook venison.....

So, this is my 13 week pregnant belly from yesterday. OMG! I have 27 weeks still to go and look at that belly! Prior to this picture Alex and I had raked leaved. 12 bags to be exact. I dragged 18 bags of leaves to the composite site which was overflowing. I guess everyone else in town had the same thoughts during these nice days.

Okay, here is my vent for the day. I was woken up twice last night by two fairly adorable girls who just so happen to live in my house... so I can't be too mad at them - can I?! The little one came in my room at 6:30 which she thought was time to get up and my rule is "not until the 'shine is up." :o) So, she laid in my bed and snuggled until her sis got up at 7.

I did wake at 5:30 this morning by a not so cute factor.
See picture below:

Yes, my girls have a toy espresso machine.
The only problem is that it is noisy.
If it gets left in the ON or BREW modes, it randomly goes off whenever it feels like it.
If we live in this house another 10 years we WILL sound proof and insulate between the floors.
I heard this lovely toy once during the night, but went back to sleep.
I do not think I slept really after I heard it at 5:30 - which it played almost constant until I hauled my ass downstairs to turn it off about 6.

Baby Names

Why is naming a baby so damn hard?! When Taylor (our little one) was little we knew the next name choices for baby #3. Ryan for a girl and Evan for a boy. Well, then our neighbors have a boy last summer and named him Ryan. I love the name and am a little one the fence if we could still use it. However, do you want your child to grow up with a kid the opposite sex with the same name? I know that is possible with Alex or Taylor - but to knowingly do this when you KNOW the kids will grow up 2 houses down from each other?!
So, I guess I should just pray that this baby is a boy because I think we used up our girl name options with #1 and #2. Really, the only options I have thrown to my husband he was said no.... He tossed me a couple and one is probably a no - because it is too close to another family member's name. Why does he have to have such a large family?
Why do I feel such an importance to name this baby either way? We did not find out either girl's gender prior to birth and we do not plan to this time either (I am a terrbile liar and if we found out but decided not to tell I would crack). So... I guess we will just have to keep thinking about names. Feel free to give your lists!!!

We heard it!

Baby's heartbeat that is. The PA guessed the heartbeat to be 160 BPM, but since baby was moving around so much, it was hard to get a constant read. Everything looked good and I go back in December.

So, I took all my spring/summer maternity clothes to Once Upon a Child and am waiting to see if they want them. I was a shopping freak when I was pregnant with Alex. I worked overtime so all my OT checks (it was a grant, so it was a seperate check), went for spending money that bought new clothes! So.... despite the season, I am hoping that they keep them since they are good clothes in great condition. Maybe with summer due dates now being found out, they will keep them..... maybe it is wishful thinking. Also the thought that maybe we will have a warm spring because I am selling my summer maternity clothes.

Good Vibes & Prayers

As the date of our 12 week doctor appointment comes, anxiety is filling me. After my 1st m/c, my wonderful doc did an u/s at 7 weeks with Taylor just to ease my mind. Of cours here, different doc and they do things differently. So, here I am 12 weeks, 3 days and I still am not 100% positive that there is a baby bean in there. I have an appointment Thursday to hear it for sure.

Last night my husband came home feeling like crap. Either a bad cold or the flu. Either way, he took medicine and slept on the couch. He must have felt okay since he went to work this morning. We are off in a bit to get more medication for him.

Prayers that he does not have the flu and we hear the hb in Thursday!

Trick or Treating

Okay, of course this first picture is of my wonderful husband goofing off, trying on Taylor's Elmo costume. I am not quite sure it fits him so good.

Here is a shot of the neighborhood kids that we trick or treated with. From left, my two Princess Alex and Taylor as Elmo (in the stroller). Almost 4 month old baby Jaci in the next stroller, Brody as some transformer or something in the wagon and 4 month old baby Ryan in the end stroller. In this picture, you get Noah who is attached to his Mom.

His Dad battled him and made him change costumes, so this was the aftermath of it.

Here is my girls with someone's ass in the way.



Now that Halloween is over, I am exhausted. Wade is usually off 4 days, then works 4 days. Well, he was off Wednesday and helped his uncle shingle his roof before it snowed (thankfully we got more rain than snow). Thursday he was off and home with me, but slept until 10:30. Friday he had to work. Saturday he was off and I was able to grocery shop alone. We also did a GTG w/ our neighbors after Trick or Treating, so I made a 7 layer dip and a pumpkin angel food cake to share with them.

I would like to thank everyone (in my neighborhood or not) that gives toddlers crackers, pretzels, or even suckers. I know big kids want candy but these are great for my almost 2 year old.

This morning, I woke despite the extra hour of sleep, exhausted. Tay woke up once needing her "Blanket, Elmo and other Elmo." Alex woke up once and wanted to sleep with me - which I cannot do. I do not sleep well with anyone touching me. Oh, and then I went to the couch too because my husband was snoring. Just to be woke up at 4 am when we got up to go to work. Yawn! However, I have already folded 4 loads of laundry and have more in the washer and dryer plus one more to go. YUCK! I also had to unload the dishwasher and do dishes from the sink. I HATE an unorganized house. Maybe I'll treat myself to a snickers later for my good work. The girls each got one full size one (for me!!!).

Our pumpkins

I realize that Halloween was yesterday, so here are our pictures to summarize it all!

Here are the girls pumpkins. Alex's is Cinderella. I did this, so feel free to tell me it sucks. You will not hurt my feelings. Wade carved Taylor a Blues Clues pumpkin. Of course we both had templates. I think the Blues Clues one is better personally, but Alex is such a girly girl she loves her Cinderella!

Wade and I are big Minnesota Vikings fans and ever year since I met Wade, I have carved the Viking head on our Halloween pumpkin. Wade did the Viking football helmet.

I guess I am feeling better!

I woke up at 5 am this morning, needing to pee. Unfortunately, at this hour the chances of me going back to sleep are slim. So, I laid there for an hour before getting up and grabbing my workout stuff. I completed 20 minutes on the eliptical. I know I will be hurting this afternoon, but it felt good to burn 200 calories! If I am to stay under 25 lbs weight gain in the next 29 weeks - okay realistically probably 26 or 27 weeks, I know that I will need to workout. That and potty training are on my list for when increased energy strikes me.

Milestone

Well, today is 11 weeks, 1 day. (I had two natural m/c's one at 6 wks, one at 11.)

Here I am looking foolish in regular jeans (which are still actually too big) and a regular shirt.

I need to clarify that this isn't just ANY shirt. This is my Favre shirt that I ordered in a women's size since I had lost weight prior to this season starting. So, it is skintight now. :o) I did not know I was pregnant when I ordered it or even when it arrived. The first game I was 5 weeks PG though! I have worn this shirt every game for 6 weeks and so far the Vikings are undefeated. My H says that I need to wear it for 15 more weeks (until the Superbowl). I am not sure how that will work at 26 weeks when it shows belly if I move wrong at 11 weeks!




Well, my PG Mommy moment of the day today is that I made coffee for myself, but I wanted about 1/2 a cup coffee and 1/2 milk. Well, it is weaker than that because I forgot to put new coffee grounds in. At least what I used was only 2 days old not 2 weeks! Oh - and in making coffee (nuking the milk), making pancakes on the griddle- apparently all of that cannot be running while the fridge is because I blew the breaker and it took a while for me to figure it out. (Had to have a conversation with a naughty girl in the meantime.) Thankfully we have current breakers not like the fuses I grew up with. Everytime one broke you had to have extras to put in or run to the store a buy them!

Fall pics

Well, I felt inspired to share a few of the girls fall pictures!!

This first one, is Alex's first Halloween. She was 3 weeks old.

I just gave this outfit to a Moms Club Mommy for her baby to wear. *sniff!*

This obviously is a scanned pic. This was Alex's 1st B-day pics.

And here is Alex at the pumpkin patch in Kansas.
Here is Alex at age 2 when we moved here!!!

This is the girls last year. OMG! Look at the baby baldy!!!
Yes, I am a HUGE dork and bought them matching shirts.

Forward a year and here is baby redhead WITH hair! Notice she is wearing the shirt that Alex did at 2. I'm partial, but what a cutie!!

Just to be fair, here is a picture of Alex this year. This is as good as it got for her.

Sadly, here is the best pic of them together this year. They did not cooperate so well. Maybe next year!

Who functions in darkness?

This has been a thought of mine a lot lately. I am so thankful that I am a SAHM and do not HAVE to get up early. Once fall hits and the sunshine does not wake early, either do I. Okay, that is if 1) my husband isn't snoring, 2) my kids do not wake me up and 3) my back is not hurting from being insane and walking after 5 weeks of little activity. I definitely notice a difference here in ND versus 3 states south in Kansas. That said, I could never live in Alaska and have months of darkness. Not having sunrise until 8:30 am is bad enough! I have never been a morning person and to get up before the sun is not my style.

I have been feeling better lately. It makes me wonder if everything is okay.... 12 more days until that vital heartbeat appointment. I have had a few days this week that I do not feel so big - like the bloating has went away for a while.... then I see myself naked and remember. Please pray that we hear this baby's heartbeat November 5th.

Busy Morning!

Well, we have an apple tree in our backyard. We don't have much of a backyard other than our deck and hidious bushes on two sides of the yard.... But we have an apple tree. My darling husband threatened to take it out because of picking up apples every time he mows, but I want the tree. Two years now we have gotten tons of apples. Wade finally picked the apples off the tree. I say finally because it froze several nights before he felt like getting around to it. He also left overnight when the apples were ready which they got snowed on instead of picked. :o) Odd sight!

So, this morning I was faced with a HUGE bag of apples (we have given some away!). I started to tackle them to get them out of my kitchen. I canned 10 quarts of unsweetned applesauce and 5 quarts of apple pie filling. If you are my friend, just let me know and you can have some! I should add that we also canned 14 quarts of apple pie filling last week. I am hoping to can 5 more quarts of apple pie filling tomorrow morning (if I can bribe the girls to be good again), then probably just make applesauce with the rest.

Here is a small amount of what I did:

So, while I was finishing the last of the apples, it was approaching lunch time. I asked Alex who just turned 4 if she wanted to make lunch for me. I gave her mini bagels, tomato sauce, cheese, olives and turkey pepperoni.
This is the first lunch she has ever made:



I thought it was good. That said, tomoto based products still are making me gag. Yes, I did gag after I ate this. The girls ate the cheese and olives off and were done. I am super-duper envious of Moms who have good eating kids. I think that if the eldest eats well, then the younger sibling follows suit. In my case, the eldest is a terrible eater and at times this behavior is influenced on my younger one. One meal that Alex generally eats is McDonald's Chicken Nuggets. She will eat 4-5 with no problem - however she does not eat like that AT McDonald's - just when I take it home. *Sigh!*

She was 37 lbs and 41.25 inches at her 4 yo appt though. They told me she was 75% for both height and weight. She has gained 4 lbs since her ear infection in May.

No secrets here

Who is that girl in the mirror?
When did she get such a belly on her? Oh wait, that is me - TODAY. Yep 9.5 weeks pregnant and I look like I should be 15 weeks or so. I guess that is what happens the third time around. No hiding the belly today.

9 weeks!

Well, I have broken the curse of my last pregnancy. I miscarried at 6 weeks in March and I am 9 weeks today. So, I feel that is a milestone. Of course, it is also 3.5 weeks until our doctor's visit that we get to hear the heartbeat.... but small steps now. I did get medication from the doc (well, PA) to help with nausea. It is a gel that you rub on your wrists.... The jury is still out on it. I have used it twice with one good and one less than desireable result....
So, with this pregnancy I am experiencing extreme nausea (no vomiting TG!). I had some food adversions, some intermitten nausea with the girls but nothing like this - and it has been going on for 5 weeks! I hope I am nearing the end of this.... I made dinner and have a small helping and feel like vomiting.... Thankfully I participate in our amazing Moms Club's freezer cooking nights or my family may starve. A little overdramatic maybe.... I do not feel like cooking anything and nothing sounds good.... I am also super-duper exhausted. I take down time at least once a day to sit and attempt to nap.... not too easy with a 4 yo and a 21 mo old running around. The other day my eldest layed on the couch with me (her choice), but her sister ran around me and talked the whole time! Ahhh!!! I just need a break. My loving H tells me that if I get too tired of it all, I can get a job. THANKS! Men just don't understand. SAHM's need off time, down time and breaks just the same as any other person, maybe more!!!

Nothing to say....

Well, nothing has really gone on since my last post... I am tired all the time, I feel nauseated most of the time and generally have a tough time keeping up with two busy girls already.... Aw! I am in for it! Life is very different being PG w/ the 3rd. For the 1st, you are so excited, everything is new and exciting. You are looking at baby things every chance you get, want to be in maternity clothes, you eat when and what you want to, etc.

With baby #2, you can nap when your child naps (assuming like mine they are under 2!). You can relatively sway them into doing what you want to just so you can rest. Food may be a slight issue.... also changing poopy diapers while you are pregnant is an issue.

Then with #3, you suddenly have a 4 year old and almost 2 year old. The oldest will never nap - so you never get a break. You don't look at maternity clothes because you know what is being modeled in stores 1) you can no longer afford and 2) It really won't fit when you are at the end of your pregnancy anyway! There is no need to look at baby items because you have everything anyway.... plus too much. You have the little ones poopy diapers to change and the older ones butt to while when she poops.... Plus you have to make what they want to eat which may or may not smell, taste or sound good to you....

My first doc appt is in the morning and we are supposed to have snow for me to drive in to get there. Lucky me. Not always do I love living in ND - I do love the friends I have made here though.... just come to my house ladies so I never have to get out! (Oh and bring food so I don't have to shop all winter either!) :o)

Update...

Well, I stopped doing WW in mid-July after I exceeded my goal. I was 161.4 or about there. After gaining 5 lbs on vacation, I have hovered around 165-168 or so. This is where I still am. I have eaten what I want for the most part and attempted to exercise usually 3-4 days a week. So... I don't think I am doing too bad since it is the end of September.

Well, I guess that was before a couple weeks ago....

then this:

Yep, I am pregnant! I know the bottom one looks faint, but there really is a line. I took another last week just to be sure and it is brighter than the control line.

I am due May, 15, 2010. I have yet to gain weight and have still tried to exercise, though I really want to sleep. I have yet to puke, but had a few close calls. By May, I hope to still see a 1 at the beginning of my weight.... Please pray for a healthy pregnancy and baby!

I didn't forget ya!

I figured that I should update my blog.... I didn't forget I just really have nothing to tell anyone about!
I haven't been getting up early to work out. Most days I have been walking with the girlikins. Friday I walked 5-5.5 mi, Saturday about 4. Today I took the day off to take Alex out and do pics for her 4th birthday. How did my baby get so old?!

Well I was nice Friday night I allowed the H to go to a fantasy football draft, then gave him tickets to the Mary game (got free at the store!). So, I again allowed him to go Saturday to the football game. I was craving White Chicken Chili, so I made it for dinner - we had my SIL, BIL (who accompanied the H to the game) and their kids over to share it. I was surprised that the kids seemed to eat fairly well. My kids love White Chicken Chili, but the cousins can be a little picky at times.... or pickier than my kids!

I am making herbed sandwich buns again for the 3rd time in 10 days now. I am addicted to those and I think I am making 3 dozen or so for our football party we are having next weekend.

Our Princess Room

We redecorated the girls room this week after finding used bunk beds for only $80! We did not plan to get big beds until winter, but with this deal - we HAD to! So... here are the pics of the girls room. The is the before! Look how little Alex looks. This was Nov/Dec 2007 when we moved into our house. The polka dots were cute but a PITA to cover!
These are the girls new beds. Not pine as I would have liked, but $80 not $500! I made the girls tie blankets out of pink princess fleece on one side and hot pink on the other.
(2 1/4 yards makes a twin) Who can resist a soft feelce blanket?! The toy box was Christmas gift, but matches great! I made sheer pink curtains that are a pale pink shimmer. They are bearly visable.

This is the view when you walk in the room. Taylor's dresser is also pine and will go next to the doll house. The doll house was a Birthday gift last year made by my in-laws.

This is the wall when you walk into their room.

I had to put the night stand back in the room, as much as I hoped not to. Alex has to have access to the CD player or she will climb the dresser to get it. They have many song CD's and books on CD that Alex plays for them.

I painted this when we first moved her, 21 months ago. I have marked Alex's height as she has grown.

I know this doesn't match, but they aren't the same either! Here is Taylor's name. I have marked her height at the bottom of the wall since she was 13 months.

This is the view of Alex's dresser and doll house. I have porcelean dolls she got for gifts sitting out. Above her dresser is the "Baby's First Year" frame with pics from 1-12 months.

Also the shelf above that with 3 photos are ultrasound pics that were from her baby shower.

This is the same view, but shows Taylor's ultrasound pics, matted in green (7, 12, 19 & 37 weeks) Also next to that is Taylor's "Baby's First Year" pics in the frame.

This is a close up of thier beds. Under are 6 drawers that go all the way to the wall.