34 weeks

I just thought I'd post a picture of my belly. I feel huge and my back hurts All the time! But...it'll be over soon! At least the extra weight has been keeping me a little warmer in the extreme cold weather.




Not much new to report. We went to weekly MAC today and Hunter went poopy on the potty there!!! I am so proud of him, he is really getting it finally! So, we went this afternoon to the DQ with the Loukota's. He was pretty happy. After we got home from that he had his quiet time and I let him watch Blue's Clues, and I came downstairs and found him sitting with his shirt like this. ?????? How did that happen?!?


Tate has been really clingy lately, and I haven't minded too much, except for when he wants to keep scooting back to sit on my lap:) I can see his eye teeth are going to be breaking through any time now.

That is all for now, I need some new Tate pictures I think!

I live in Antarctica.

It is freezing! I am looking at -6 currently, but with wind chill it is way colder than that. They cancelled school and church activities, so we don't have youth group tonight. That is very nice b/c I don't feel so hot. I have had nausea all day. It is due to the fact that I had ANOTHER gall attack last night. I was up most of the night with it. It wasn't the worst one I've had, but still uncomfortable. I started getting the first symptoms yesterday afternoon, and I cried and cried about it, b/c I dread those MUCH more than I dread labor. I'm getting really good with my breathing b/c it also helps with the attacks. Brent was great. He did most everything last night, and he got up with the boys this morning so I could sleep some and I slept in till 8:30. It was heavenly! I really appreciated it.

Today I am 34 weeks pregnant. I feel like I am a little bigger than last week. The pregnancy sites say that basically the baby is developed, but will just be putting on weight till the big day. It also said the baby would be starting to drop this week. I thought I felt the baby dropping on Sunday, b/c I felt a TON of pressure. I couldn't walk upright for a little while. That was my guess anyway, the baby dropping. I'm not too bad uncomfortable wise, just those pesky gall attacks. Without them I'd be great! I have managed to get off the hook with charlie horses this time. With the boys I had them everyday and usually limped around work b/c my calves were sore. This time, though, I've got quiet the problem with restless legs. My dad has restless leg syndrome, and I can sympathize now. Its not painful or anything, it just feels like your nerves are pinched, but the twitching is very disrupting. I clicked on a link for info on mypoints(to get points of course!) and found it is common in pregnancy, and will go away. I figured as much. I'm thinking I'd rather have restless legs than charlie horses anyway. Our sibling class didn't happen last night b/c of the weather. I'm not sure if it was cancelled, I called to see b/c everything was cancelling, but no one knew anything. This one lady said, "Well, is it really that important that you go?" I thought that kind of rude, and then I decided we'd just stay in. I'm thinking it was probably a good choice. I was really disappointed though.

Hunter has been doing absolutely wonderful going poopy on the potty!! He went twice yesterday and once today and is really getting the hang of it I think. We had agreed that when he got 5 stickers we'd take him to DQ for ice cream, and of course he got his 5th sticker the night it was -20 below, so we are going tomorrow night. He gets a small treat here, too, and today as he got his Tate was kind of jealous I could tell. Brent told me to have him do something little and reward him, so Brent told him to go pick up and he ran off to the playroom where he picked up all the books. It was really cute.

I've included a link to a site. My dreams have come true! I have to go there! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22903236

Here are some random pictures from today. I came up to find Hunter on his dump truck reading books and he looked so cute! The boys have been playing really good together today. I told Brent it was b/c he got up with them and that he should do it everyday.

New blog

I decided to make a cooking blog with some favorite recipes on it. There is a link to it on the side of this blog if you want to check it out.

Just one more

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!

Well thats over.

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!

Shots.

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.

What to do

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.