Hunter said the cutest thing tonight as I tucked him in bed. He held on to my cheek and said, "Just one more hug and kiss mommy?" Melted me.
Today was a pretty good day. I had a break and it was relaxing. Well, parts. I wasn't too relaxed finishing Harry Potter. That's right, its over! Whew! The stress! The boys were up at 6:20 this morning, and so I was all set for it being a long day, but I decided to go on a walk with a friend around 10:30 and gma Debbie called and asked to get the boys, so I walked them over after the walk. So from 11 to 4:30ish I had the house to myself. I spent the majority of it finishing Harry Potter. It was SO nice to have a good chunk of free time where I wasn't off to any appointments or anything. I had also lost my keys. I discovered them gone on Sunday morning, and we had looked everywhere. Brent even went through three bags of trash since Tate is going through a "throw everything away" phase, but he never found them. I was sure we weren't going to find them, but I retraced my steps and thought the last place I'd had them was the library, and I called there this afternoon and asked if they'd found any keys, and praise the Lord they had! So that was a great relief. We had a date night tonight, also. Brent and I had our friends over to play cards. It was nice and relaxing. This week is much more low key than last week. We are taking Hunter to a sibling class at St Joseph's tomorrow night to learn about babies and to tour the Family Birthplace with him and make the baby a gift. I am excited for that and hope it goes well.
Debbie told me something funny Hunter said to her. Whenever Hunter asks why when I tell him something that there really isn't an answer to, instead of saying "Because I said so," I've been saying, "Because I'm the boss." He doesn't like it I don't think, but today he asked Debbie if he could ride in the front seat of her car. She said no, that the policemen wouldn't like it and they are the boss. Hunter looked at her and said, "No, mommy's the boss." I thought that was hysterical. He is listening! Here are a couple pictures from yesterday. It was so winter nice out!
Shots are over for now. It was a long day and I'm tired. I'm sure glad I got everything ready the night before b/c it went pretty smooth this morning. We had to wait a total of an hour in the doctor's office, and the kids were definitely antsy, but I was really blessed b/c I think it could have gone worse. I have good kids. I got some raisins that are in little Cars movie boxes, so the boys ate those while waiting and Hunter looked at all the books in the office. While we were waiting for the doctor to come in Hunter got up on the stool and said he was the doctor. He made me call him Dr Hunter and he checked Tate out himself. He felt his back and his chest, then looked in his ears and had him stick out his tongue. I asked if he was healthy or sick and he said sick, and I asked if he had a fever and Hunter said after feeling his head, "He's hot and cold." It was pretty cute. The doctor came in and told me that Tate looks really good, and is developing right on schedule. He was only in the 25% for height and weight, which is weird b/c I consider him to be really tall for his age. Then came the ugly shot part. I had to hold down his arms, which can I say is the worst thing ever, while they gave him the shots. He cried quite a bit, but was brave. After they were done I was putting his pants on him and I noticed Hunter in the corner watching me and kind of crying. I asked him if he was sad for Tate and he shook his head yes. He is so caring and sensitive. As soon as we got in the van he got Tate's blanket and gave it to him. He told Tate again right before the shots that he would protect him. Tate of course has had a runny nose ever since and feels warm. We gave him some Tylenol before an early bedtime and hopefully he sleeps well. He woke up at 1 last night crying, so I had to go and get him back to sleep. I haven't done that in awhile. He's also having nasty poops from the shots. I changed 2 and Brent changed 1 tonight. Hunter wanted to see the one and as he saw it he said, "Holy ketchup!" I'm not sure where he got that from! I finished my mom book and got Harry Potter from the library today, so you can guess what I'll be doing next. Well, probably for about 5 mins, I am wiped out. Oh, and Hunter pooped on the potty again today!! He's been trying really hard!
Yuck, shots, I hate shot days! Tomorrow Tate is to get his shots. We have to be down to Brainerd by 9 for them. I get so nervous when they get shots. There is so much controversy about shots and health problems. It is by far the most stressful thing of parenting I've come across so far. He seems to be healthy, which I always make sure of before he gets shots. After reading a section in the book I'm reading about anger I decided to get any and every possible thing ready tonight since we have to leave by 10 after 8 tomorrow. She talks about "Failing to plan is planning to fail," and how as moms we need to anticipate what could make US or our kids stressed out in any given situation. For me having to rush around in the morning gets me nice and stressed. So, I got sippy cups ready in the fridge, clothes for all three of us picked out, the diaper bag is loaded, snacks included, I even have my hot chocolate packet out sitting by my mug to make right away in the morning. The boys and I made some cinnamon bread this morning, so that is ready to eat, too. I am hoping this saves me some running and stress in the morning. I'm attempting to go to Wal-Mart after, too, so we'll see how that goes. Hunter likes Wal-Mart, esp when I say we can look at the lobsters.
MAC was cancelled this morning and so the boys and I stayed in. It was nice not to have to run anywhere. I got some cleaning done. Here is a cute picture of our vacuum cleaners. Hunter parked his right next to mine after we vacuumed. Tate went around with the attachment pretending to vacuum, too. My boys are good helpers.
Hunter gave us another comedy show today. He stands on his drum and makes up stories usually about things falling on his head. I don't know where he comes up with them, but after he says we have to laugh at him. He is an entertainer! I got a fun picture of him jumping off the drum.
I had an epiphany last night. I don't know whether it was going to Brent's appointment yesterday and realizing the finality of no more kids after this one, but I got really excited about the baby. Honestly, the things I have thought of most so far this pregnancy are how I don't want to do the whole newborn thing again. With no sleep, nursing constantly, new routine and having to still make time for the other two. Those were the overwhelming thoughts, and I feel bad for thinking them. I am excited to see what the baby looks like, esp if its a girl, and what the personality will be like. I've always been excited for that, but I feel like I finally realize that, hey, I'm going to have a baby! Another feeling I've had constantly is the shock of getting pregnant, and I guess I might be finally getting over that and on to the excited part. I decided last night that I'm going to try not to complain about how much longer of an eternity I'll be pregnant and just enjoy these last few weeks. I only have around 6 more weeks! Seven sounded like forever, but 6 is much sooner sounding to me. I'm going to try to enjoy theses weeks b/c I know it will be the last time. I have to say that I am really happy and content with the idea of three kids. I never pictured I'd have three, but I sure am excited!
A couple funny Hunter sayings and then a picture of Brent and the boys. Tate looks ornery. -I told Hunter this morning at breakfast that we were taking Tate for his shots tomorrow and his eyes got big and he said, "Oh no!" Then he looked at Tate and patted his arm and told him, "Its OK, Tate, they might hurt but mommy and I will be there to protect you." -Hunter was saying how he doesn't take naps, but Tate does. I said that he still had quiet time, though, and Hunter said, "And you have quiet time and you eat dessert popsicles." I had to laugh. He came out of the playroom once last week and found me eating an ice cream pop.
Brent is sleeping in our bedroom right now that holds my library book and youth lesson, so I guess I will blog. I decided to put Hunter down for a nap today, b/c he woke up at 6:30 this morning and was very crabby. He woke up at 6:30 b/c I woke up then. Brent will get up at 6:30 on Sunday mornings to get ready for worship practice, and he will stay asleep even though Brent isn't quiet. I tip toe downstairs being as quiet as I can and he wakes up immediately. I don't get it. We had to go to Brainerd this morning for Brent's appointment, and it was at 8:20. I wanted to drive him since he didn't get home from work until 4am. We let our van "warm" up before, and drove with it on the highest level the whole way to Brainerd, kept it running while we were in the office and ran it all the way home and it was still freezing in there. I brought blankets for the kids to cover up with. I have been chilly all day since. We are going to need to get that fixed. Brent has been looking on the Internet for parts in hopes he can do it himself.
Yesterday was really busy. MOPS in the morning, followed by directly going to Brainerd, followed by directly coming home to watch our friends kids for date night. I was wiped out by last night. My appointment was uneventful. I mentioned again about my gallbladder, and the doctor didn't say much. He said not to worry about the baby gaining weight, it will be fine. He said I was tall and could still look small with a 10 lbs baby inside. I hope the baby isn't 10 lbs! I will be having another ultrasound on February 8. I think I'll take Hunter along to that one. He is just so into having a baby!
The library book I was talking about has been really helpful. It is called "She's gonna blow!" about moms and anger. I always thought that if I was angry at my kids then I was mad at them or about them and then I'd feel bad about it, but this book has been talking a lot about the real reason we get angry at our kids. She talks about the piling things that get us to the breaking point to where we take it out on those nearest us(my kids) She gave a list of stresses such as laundry, chores, finances, time and so on. I have been practicing lately when I've found myself becoming angry to ask myself what I am really mad about and it has been very helpful. I cut myself some slack AND feel better b/c it is mostly not about the kids. I have really liked the book. That said, I'm ready to be done with it so I can finish Harry Potter!!!!!
Speaking of library books, I am starting to worry that we will be banned from there soon. I don't know why he does it, but Tate rips pages out of the library books. Nice new books that have no rips in them. He can sit for hours and look at our books and not rip a single page, but if he finds a library book, "RRRRIPP!" Of the ten books we got(I am now getting 10 so I know if any are missing) he has ripped 4. It is quiet irritating.
Hunter today was asking me if I remembered going to the park with grandpa BJ and gramma Mary. He said it was by the "story store". It took me a minute but I realized he was talking about the library. I thought that was hilarious. I suppose it would seem like a store to him.
I've been looking over the "Deceptively Delicious" cookbook. It is about pureeing veggies to hide in regular meals so your kids will eat them. I'm excited to try some of them out. Lots of carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach and beet purees. My kids hate all veggies. She also suggests putting out a tray of carrot or celery sticks while she makes dinner b/c her kids usually come and say they are hungry(mine do) and so if they really are hungry they'll eat the carrots. I'm going to try that one, although I'm skeptical.
I lead youth group tonight and I am very nervous. Its my first time doing it by myself in front of both the guys and girls. Its the only time I have to do it, but I'm still nervous. Especially since its in my room with no way to get it to practice.
Tomorrow we have a date night and I am so excited for it. I have no idea what we are doing, but I don't care!!! Even if we come home and do nothing I am still pumped for it. We've been on the go so much lately that it will be nice to have some time to ourselves just the two of us.
I seem to not be able to blog much these days. Brent is back to working nights, so I will probably be able to blog more this week. Tomorrow starts the busy week for us. I have MOPS in the morning and an OB appointment in the afternoon, followed by us watching our friends 3 kids while they have a date night. We watched our other friends daughter tonight so they could have a date. We get to go out on Thursday and Monday. It feels like a long time since we've had a date, and this week will be good for one since our schedule will me mixed up. Brent has his appointment on Wednesday, and then Tate has his shots and appointment in Brainerd on Friday. That equals three trips to Brainerd in one week for us. I have been trying to think of a few things that are approaching fast to get them settled. One being the middle name for the baby. Still not sure, I mentioned something to Brent about it and he told me what he thought. Second, should I go to Pine River and have the doctor here take care of the baby's appointments or should I go to Brainerd? That is a tough one, but I think I might just go to PR. I do not think the idea of dragging THREE kids to Brainerd probably early in the morning and waiting in a germ infested waiting room for an hour followed by another LONG 20-30 mins in the room telling Tate not to touch this and that sounds like ANY fun at all. Chances are it will not even take as long at PR as it would for me to even drive to Brainerd in the first place. I could even get someone to watch Hunter and Tate b/c it would be so short a visit here. So I am thinking at this point PR sounds good. I'll just have to call and get the details, since Hunter and Tate are still at BMC. I'll probably switch them, too, if I can. I still feels like the baby is never going to come and I know that's not true so I want to be thinking about things now instead of later. Third, I'm trying to decide how long to nurse. I go back and forth between 6 months to whenever the baby wants. I would like to go to my mom conference in November, that is basically why I want to do 6 months. Still not sure about that one, I guess we'll just see what happens.
We hibernated last week for a few days. We went to MAC on Thursday and then didn't go out of the house again until Sunday morning for church. The temps are minus and I didn't HAVE to be out, so it was good to stay in the warm indoors. Brent was able to be around on Friday day, he just had to work at night, so that was nice. He started fixing the hole in the wall and played with the kids. They watched a movie that night while I (tried) to paint my toe and finger nails. I definitely felt more girly after.
Brent took Hunter to the new Veggie tales pirate movie on Sunday with our friend and his kids. Brent said Hunter seemed to like it. After they went to Burger King and played around in the indoor play land. I, meanwhile, was in the middle of another gallbladder attack. I don't even want to talk about them anymore, I can't take it. I am scared to eat anything anymore. Miserable is how I felt, and I still don't feel good. I just have to think that soon there WILL be something I can do about it. I mostly worry about the baby and how it could affect it.
And now for my bargain. I had been wanting this particular jacket for a whole year now. It was $60.00. I thought about getting it when it was on sale for $40, but decided not to. That was in the beginning of the fall. Then I was at Kohl's last week with my friend and saw it marked down to $25. I had a 15% coupon that wouldn't be good until a week later, so I made a deal with myself that I'd wait it out and if they still had it when I went to my OB appt(tomorrow) I would get it. My friend called me Saturday from Kohl's and said it was there marked down to $18 AND she had a 20% coupon for it, so I ended up getting it for about $15! I was so pumped. I am a hardcore bargain shopper and love a good deal. I can't exactly zip it up currently, but I know it fits b/c I've tried it on non-pregnant. Here it is:
Hunter still hasn't been taking naps, and today was awesome b/c he pooped in the potty!! Praise the LORD! Brent and I rewarded him with everything we could think of. He'd been trying to go for the last 3 days, but would chicken out when we would sit him down. He finally went this morning, and I hope that is a reoccurring event in our house!
Tate was up to his usual mischief today. He tried sticking Hunter's credit cards in our humidifier fan, and early this morning dumped a cup of lukewarm coffee on himself. You can't take your eyes off of him for a second! But he's so cute.
A couple funny Hunter sayings: -I asked him a question today and his reply was: "I'm afraid so." -this isn't a saying, but I had my head laid on my arm not feeling good this morning and he came over and rubbed my arm, kissed my cheek and then kissed my belly and told me to feel better. He said he would kiss Callie when she came out and make funny faces at her and help me by getting diapers and blankets. What a sweetie pie! Things to melt a mother's heart.
Well, I'm in shock. I've decided I get WAY too into books. I just finished the 6th Harry Potter book and what a surprise at the ending! I am taking a break to read a mothering book, but I am anxious to start the 7th one so I can see Snape die hopefully!! Like I said, WAY too into it. You would have thought a real person has died for how I feel. Anyway, I feel confident I'll be finished with the series by the time the baby gets here. She must be surprised about the ending of the book, too, b/c she is moving around a TON right now.
I have found that I have little to no free time anymore. With Hunter not taking naps I only have about 40 mins of free time for the day, and I certainly don't want to spend it blogging, I want to rest! The no nap thing is going alright. A couple days ago I was ready to start naps again, b/c Hunter was SO crabby by about 6. He would just scream and yell about everything. Even Brent noticed. Brent has been super great. He told me the other night to shut myself upstairs for a half hour and do whatever I wanted, and he's been really good about that kind of stuff. The last couple days, though, Hunter has been better. We had youth group last night, and some friends over tonight, so maybe that had something to do with him being happier.
The other night the boys(Brent included) got out my finger nail polish and proceeded to "touch up" some of Hunter's tractors that were chipped. I found that amusing.
I have a SERIOUS case of nesting going on. I realize its a bit early for that, but I can't help it! I totally tore up the basement on Monday. I went through all of the clothes stored for Tate and labeled and organized them into seasonal totes. I also cleaned up a lot of our stuff and got the bassinet and car seat out where it would be more accessible. The other night Hunter was downstairs with me and I showed him the bassinet and said the baby would sleep in that and he said, "She's going to sleep in the basement!" He was surprised, but I said no. I let my friend go through some of Tate's outgrown clothes today and that felt good. I have been SO blessed with my friends letting me borrow or giving me girl clothes. I have two or three garbage bags full of girl clothes and one and a half big totes crammed full. And I was worried I wouldn't have any clothes! Now I am just hoping it IS indeed a girl, or we will have one very confused boy:) I nested some more yesterday when I cleaned the whole house top to bottom. And then I let Hunter play with beans on a cookie sheet at the table, and you would have never known I'd touched a vacuum to the floor! He had fun, though, pushing his tractors through the beans.
I had an eye appointment on Tuesday and am so happy to be getting some new glasses soon. My eyes got worse by two steps in one eye and by one step in another. I am seriously going to be blind by the age of 40!
Tate has been really really clingy still. Brent has been around while I've been fixing supper thankfully, or else supper would never get made, b/c Tate stands at the cabinets pushing against my legs begging and whining for me to pick him up. He is so cute I can hardly refuse, but it does make supper a longer procedure. The other night after supper Brent and I were cleaning up the kitchen and I looked around the corner and found Tate in this position: It was so cute! He was just laying there reading a book nicely.
I looked up some craft ideas that Hunter and I could do now that he is not taking naps, and I found an idea for making a whale bath pour toy out of a milk jug, so we made that yesterday. He decided he liked wearing it as a crown instead and insisted I call him king:
Another silly boy!
Here are some funny Hunter sayings for the week:
He was really crabby the other day and I was tickling his neck a little to get him in a better mood and he said to me, "Mom, I don't want you and I don't want your fingers. I don't like that kind of thing."
Tate was pushing on my stomach the other day, and I made a groaning noise and Hunter called out rather panicky: "Tate, get off her tummy or you'll make Callie go up to her throat!"
Brent noticed last night that the boys were sitting at their Cars table looking up at the light and talking to each other so he stood at the door a minute and heard Hunter telling Tate, "...and then they smell like roses." Brent asked him what he was talking about and he said, "I'm just talking about the lights with Tate." (?)
Last night I took Hunter to the library with me and then we went to see Gma Debbie at work and our old fish, and he was SO happy to see the fish! He told me when we got in the van, "Mom, I love that fish very much! I wish I could give that fish a fish kiss!"
And this morning I had just gotten up and was in the bathroom when Hunter came in and sniffed the air. He said, "Did somebody poop?" I said no, and then he said to me, "Mom, you have AWFUL, stinky breath! Brush your teeth!" He had to go potty so I put him on the toilet and he looked at me and said, "Well. Your toothbrush is over there, get it!" As I was brushing them he said, "There you go, is your stinky breath gone now, Mom?" (His breath didn't smell like a bed of roses either, just so you know)
I hope this video works, it is of Hunter at youth group at the drum set. One of the kids taped him on his cell phone and added a drum beat to it. We think its hilarious and Hunter really thinks its him!
Wow, its been a busy couple days! Brent worked all day yesterday, so I had the kids by myself, and it was a long day. The results are in on our "nap experiment". Hunter woke up the morning after not taking a nap at about 7:30, the time he usually wakes up. So, it has been decided that he will not be taking naps anymore. I'm having a funeral mourning the loss of his nap time really soon. I decided that he HAS to have some quiet time still, b/c I need a break(!) so I set the stove timer yesterday for 40 mins and told him to stay in the playroom and play quietly until the timer goes off, and then we will play something together. He did a really good job of staying in the playroom, he only came out once for some help opening his food. When I went in after the 40 mins(which seemed to FLY by)I found him doing the cutest thing! He was sitting at his Cars table with his little bear sitting on the other chair with his blankie over him, and they were having a meal. Hunter had his pizza out, and he had some in front of him and the bear and he had a cup with a lemon in it which he was calling lemonade. I'd heard him in the playroom talking to himself while I was having MY quiet time, so I think he was talking wtih the bear. It was just SO cute! Here is a picture of them:
I sat and had a picnic with him for awhile after. He said about one piece of pizza that he didn't want it b/c it had a bug on it. I looked and it had a little piece of string on the velcro part, so I took off the "bug" for him. Then he said that that was Fawnda's piece and I couldn't have it.
After awhile of that we made some banana chocolate chip bread. He especially enjoyed mashing up the bananas. He giggled the whole time we were mashing them. I gave him a few chocolate chips to eat after we were done mixing it and he said, "Mom, I'm a great chocolate chip eater!"
Then we played a memory game with his shark cards. I'm embarrassed to say that he beat me. Oh well, I blame having kids for my memory being bad:) By the time we had done all of that I was kind of worn out, so when Tate woke up we read about 50 million books. Hunter showed some signs of still needing a nap. When I pulled his ear a little and pretended to eat it he burst into tears and proceeded to scream(yes, SCREAM) at the top of his lungs for 2 or 3 minutes until I finally told him to go to his room to calm down. I went in after 5 mins to check on him and found the room smelling of poop. He pooped AND peed his pants, and I wasn't happy. I'd love any suggestions anyone would have for how to get him to go on the potty. Its been 6 months!
Earlier in the day he and Tate went to "Oskaloosa" which meant the kitchen. Here is a picture of them on their journey:
And later we did the "Elmocise" workout video. They jump and wiggle and move their knees and elbows. It was pretty fun to watch Hunter. Tate got worn out early on and spent most of it lying on the floor. More pictures:
At breakfast we were talking about the baby some, and Hunter said he was going to be a good brother and make faces at Callie when see was sad to make her smile. He also said that "When she goes back in, I'll say bye bye Callie!" She's not going back in! I said that Joe and Nikki were going to have a baby, too, and he wanted to know what her name would be. I said I didn't know and asked him what he thought she should be called. He said,"Tyler." I said, "No that's a boys name, they're having a girl." He said, "What?! Joe and Nikki?! That's great!! How bout they call her mamma??"
We had our friends over tonight that have baby Miah, and Hunter and Tate were all about that. They didn't leave him alone. Tate gave him lots of hugs and Hunter played peekaboo and was in his face most of the time. They really like baby Miah! I hope they enjoy their new baby as much as him! Here are a couple last pictures, I took a lot yesterday!
