The Rambling Thoughts of My Ever Wandering Mind

Reading

2011-12-21T01:18:00.002-05:00

One thing I really wanted to bring back into my life this year was reading. Not that I wasn't reading before, but I wanted to read more than just the monthly book club book - read more for pleasure and for myself. It was another way to carve out some ever-important "me time". I love goodreads - it's a site where I can rate the books I read, get recommendations for other books, and also link up with friends to see what they're reading or recommending. On that site I participated in their 2011 reading challenge, where I set the goal to read 36 books throughout the year. Seemed lofty, as I was lucky to get just the one book for book club read each month, but it was something I wanted to do. Today it's official:

2011 Reading Challenge

Nikki has

completed her goal of reading 36 books in 2011!

hide

36 of 36 (100%)

view books

I didn't read much the past couple months, but I figured that would be the case with the holidays. I was glad I read a lot over the summer! I'm happy to have completed this goal I set for myself. Now to look forward to the books in 2012... :)

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-20T14:50:00.002-05:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

It's Beginning to Feel a lot Like....

2011-12-03T16:50:00.000-05:00

CHRISTMAS!!! Family members have been asking for gift ideas, so I'm updating our lists on the right. I might not update the blog that often, but here's the one time of year it will be, HA! :) I'm really going to try and post more on here, but sometimes Facebook and Twitter are so much easier to just get a little blurb out instead of an entire blog post. :)

Please forward any Christmas gift ideas to me as well - I need all the help I can get to make my shopping easier!

Dieting

2011-05-04T16:13:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I've been meaning to post all about my new diet and exercise lifestyle. I'd love to be posting a daily sheet, talking about all the great foods I'm eating and how I'm burning my calories so hopefully I'll get started soon! Of course, that'll require some backlog, but that's okay. :) For now I wanted to share this article I read. When people think of dieting, they want results fast. I'm no different... I like immediate results, especially when those results are from my hard work! But there are a lot of crazy diets out there that while helping you to lose weight they do NOT do a body good. With my mom being a dietitian and me having taken numerous nutrition classes in college, eating right and good diets are somewhat of a passion of mine (becoming more and more of one lately). I like educating myself on what's good for me, and even moreso passing that information onto my kids (and whomever else wants to hear it!).

This article is about the crazy diet Kate Middleton went on before the royal wedding. I think all brides want to lose weight before their big day, but hers is even more public! (Disclaimer: I was actually at my smallest when I got married so I didn't need to diet - now I'm just trying to get back there!) There is absolutely NO WAY I could do, or would ever want to do, this diet! The main point of the author really struck a chord with me so I'm reposting it here: "Balance is where it’s at, people. We are omnivores. I’m just going to come out and say it. I don’t think vegetarianism or veganism is natural for the human body, and I don’t think consuming 75% of your calories from fat and protein is natural, either. You can call it Atkins, South Beach, Dukan, Paleo, or whatever you like. If you’re eliminating entire food groups from your diet, you’re treading the line of food obsession and going against everything we know about nutrition."

You can read the entire article here: http://www.ptpamedia.com/blog/index.php/2011/04/28/lose-weight-like-kate/.

Edited 5/8:
I had to add in this second article I found about this crazy diet: http://blogs.menshealth.com/bellyoff-nutritionist/j-los-fat-loss-secret-the-dukan-diet/2011/03/25/

My favorite part? "We’ve said it before but it bears repeating — there is not a worldwide epidemic of obesity because everyone started eating SO many vegetables and fruits, they gained weight. Quite the opposite. Any time a diet suggests eliminating veggies and fruit and other good for you nutrients, even if in the short term, it’s junk and not based on one bit of science. You can take all the pills, supplements and potions in the world. None will ever replace a variety of colorful veggies and fruits, healthy fats, and other smart foods we need daily."

Something All Men Should Watch!

2011-03-23T11:38:00.004-04:00

So very true, from one of my favorite TV shows.

It's That Time!

2010-11-20T17:53:00.000-05:00

Many family members have been asking for our Christmas wishlists. I'm working on them! They will be posted to the right as they have in the past. With being sick and trying to catch up (or rather just continuing the catching-up game!) things are slow-going! It's been a busy month as well and I'm hoping for some downtime with the holidays -- although, that kind of seems backwards. ;) Anyway, check back soon for the lists!

Help! I'm sick and I can't sit down!

2010-11-07T13:39:00.001-05:00

I've been battling something the past couple weeks. At first, it was a headache and extreme tiredness. This past week I added cold symptoms -- sore throat, stuffy head, cough, congestion, earache, etc. After five days of these symptoms, I finally went to the doctor and got a very strong antibiotic and nasal spray/antihistamine. The worst of it all is the sheer exhaustion my entire body feels. I seriously feel like I haven't slept in days! After a day of meds, my head feels better & more clear, but it's gonna take a while to get rid of this entirely.

Anyway... Being sick means that I stuck around the house instead of going out with the kiddos. Since I was home, I wanted to be somewhat productive. I think I just don't know how to rest (hence the title of this blog)! I mean, how much can I rest with three kids at home during the day (and sometimes four)?!? So I did dishes, laundry, cleaned my master bedroom, washed linens, and flipped my mattress. I paid for it... At the end of the days I just crashed. It was all I could do to get anything on the table for dinner, let alone clean up afterwards! Thank goodness for meals in the freezer. :) Practice what I preach, right?

So this week it is my goal to just sit. I *need* to rest and take it easy (as much as I can) so I can kick this flu. Hopefully having Matt at home over the weekend gave the kids some playtime so they won't mind hanging around the house a few more days. I've got a birthday party to get things ready for this weekend (double birthday party for Hayden and my nephew Logan, who both turn 2 this month) and I need to rest up to travel. Luckily we're keeping it simple - a bonfire with a big pot of chili, cornbread, and hot dogs. Sounds perfect for a fall evening to me. ;)

Wish me luck, since when I just sit I notice all the things that need done - even more than just the normal pick-up-everyday-clean things! I need to get it in my mind that it can wait... My main concern is that it'll be harder on me with things piling up, so that when I finally do feel up to doing things I'll be so overwhelmed. But... that's just the way it has to be.

Sorry...

2010-11-04T10:54:00.000-04:00

Wow, it's been an insanely long time since I've posted! So much has happened in the past almost four months. Well, nothing too exciting - just normal life stuff. :) I feel like I'm playing a constant game of catch-up in my everyday life, which doesn't leave too much time for "extra" or "new" things - i.e., blogging. I'm going to try to write a bit more often, and am working on creating a new schedule for the kids and me. It might take time still, so be patient. I've probably lost my readers anyway. ;) It also doesn't help that every time I sit at my computer Hayden thinks he needs to come sit with me. I don't mind it, just makes it hard to type!

Anyway, I've finally updated the calendar to the right. It still had August dates!! I'll be posting some Christmas wishlists soon since some people have been asking. Hopefully look for new blogs soon!

Ear Tubes

2010-07-15T09:52:00.002-04:00

I know I haven't posted a while -- no kid updates, life updates, general rambles... I always have them & have every intention of getting them on here, but the thoughts usually occur in the shower, while driving, or some other situation far from my computer. By the time I get home, normal life gets in the way of sitting and getting those thoughts out. Anyway... on to today's blog. :)

Hayden has been having a problem of chronic fluid in his ears. Whenever he gets "juicy" - as the ENT called it - the fluid in his sinuses heads straight to his ears. Sounds familiar to me, as I've been battling the same problem for 30 years as well. I can control mine with Flonase, and we tried Nasonex with Hayden for 6 weeks. Didn't work... in fact, the fluid was worse because he got a cold during that time as well. And an infection was developing. He's actually only had 4-5 infections diagnosed in his lifetime, which isn't bad; however, he also never gives us any sign that he might have an infection so there could've very well been more.

After a recheck with the ENT after the Nasonex trial, they deduced that he did have some hearing loss from the fluid and wanted to put in tubes. I agreed, since it was decided that I wouldn't get tubes at a young age and almost had to get them at age 25. I figured... let's take care of this now, since I have scarring in my ears from all my problems. We took him in the morning for the very quick procedure. In and out in 12 minutes - lots of fluid drained from both ears and the tubes put in. He was grumpy coming out of the anesthesia (very normal), but after getting home for some breakfast he was much happier. He's now napping so he can rest up, especially after getting up 2.5 hours earlier than normal!

I hope he continues to do well the rest of the day. Carter and Lauren are at their grandparents' house for a long weekend so I can solely focus on Hayden today. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and well wishes!

Blogging...

2010-02-07T22:18:00.003-05:00

I have been quite the slacker! Seriously, I write hundreds of blogs in my head... They just never make it to the computer! Most of my "random thoughts" occur in the shower, while trying to sleep, or driving -- when it's impossible to get the thoughts down. I really need to blog more. I think it'll help clear my head! Plus, I like updating whoever reads this on the happenings in my life. Plus I know you want to know my random thoughts. ;) Soon... Promise. Keep reading!

Going to School...

2009-08-12T09:06:00.003-04:00

At the bus stop

Carter sees the bus coming

Getting on the bus

Carter's First Day of School

2009-08-12T08:46:00.004-04:00

All week we've been gearing up for this morning, Carter's first day of kindergarten. I had a parents' meeting on Monday night, then Carter got to meet his teacher and see his room yesterday afternoon. He seemed apprehensive, but he's more like that when I'm around. His teacher, Mrs. Lund, completely understood -- one of her daughters is the same way! We took his supplies in as well, and he picked a desk.

I had been debating whether to take him the first day or put him on the bus. After getting advice from a friend and former K/1st grade teacher, I decided to have him ride the bus. Carter is, after all, a very routine-oriented kid and I do think that starting him off this way will be the best for him and his teacher. He'll ride the bus home this afternoon too. I talked with him about bus safety, made him learn his bus number, and told him to be sure to get off the bus at his stop (which is down the road a bit, at a cross-street). He was actually the only one there this morning, but I suspect there will be more kids next week, if not tomorrow.

So now it's the big day... I set my alarm last night (no, I'm not a morning person!). I actually got to sleep after 2am so I was not looking forward to waking up earlier. And no, 7:30am is not early to most people, but it is to me! I had Carter's clothes pulled out and in the living room so we wouldn't disturb Lauren. Carter actually got up around 7:40 on his own, which I was thankful for. Sometimes he's a grump if you have to wake him up! I got him breakfast and went over his class schedule for the day, and also told him about raising his hand and making sure he asks to go to the bathroom. He seemed more excited today and fine about riding the bus.

We did have a few setbacks... The button on his shorts was hanging on by a thread and I couldn't find my needle. So I had to get him another pair to wear. No biggie. Then both Lauren and Hayden were awake, so I had to get them ready to walk down to the bus stop, which just took more time. We ended up rushing out the door to get down there to wait for the bus. I only got a few pictures, but will take some more when he gets off the bus this afternoon.

I hope he has a great first day of school. I have to admit that I was a little teary-eyed after he got on the bus. It just hit me yesterday that he's actually going to be gone at school all day! I think he'll do great and have a fun year of kindergarten. :)

Cats!

2009-08-07T22:07:00.002-04:00

I went to Target tonight to pick up a few things we needed (and a few we didn't!). One of these things happened to be cat litter. After the cashier swiped it across the scanner and handed it to me, she said, "Must be cat litter day." I asked her if a lot of people were buying it, and she told me about a couple that bought six cartons of it. Want to know why? They have 82 cats. Seriously? Who has 82 cats?!?

Big Boy!

2009-08-06T14:24:00.002-04:00

I went to get Hayden up from his nap and found him SITTING in his crib! He's been sitting on his own for a couple months, but this is the first time he sat himself up!

Then he even tried to pull himself up. Look at his feet under him! How exciting!

Life Changes

2009-05-31T22:14:00.004-04:00

I completed my first run in over a year tonight. It was just over a mile (1.06, to be exact), and it wasn't the fastest run. Or even close to my fastest mile. But it was still a mile run, with very little walking (just up one big hill). My legs felt super heavy and I really had to work on my breathing, but it has to get easier from here. The hardest part is getting back out there!

This is all a part of changes I want to make in my life. Having two kids 17.5 months apart was not easy on my body (or nice to it!). I've actually been either pregnant or nursing for almost three years!! Now I need to do something about it. I started doing my power core yoga a couple weeks ago and just need to make it a regular thing. Add in the running, eating healthier, and cutting back on pop and I'll have a good thing going. I need help... and motivation... and encouragement. I can do this!

The End of a Beginning

2009-05-30T16:38:00.003-04:00

Yesterday was Carter's last day of preschool. Most parents get a little teary-eyed when it comes to sending their kids to school, but I think the last day was harder than the first day! Carter was so excited to go to school, and it was such a great experience. I'll admit that it was a little different at first, since I wasn't used to him being out of the house much without me. It was SO quiet too, since Hayden wasn't born until a few months in! Anyway... to me, the last day of preschool marked the end of a beginning. It made me realize that Carter is getting older -- he just finished preschool! He's already looking forward to starting kindergarten in August, and I'm excited to spend more time with him this summer. I know he'll miss school, his teacher, and his friends, and it will take us both a little time to stop that routine. Wow... Am I really the mom of an almost kindergartner?

Today's the Day...

2009-05-08T23:34:00.003-04:00

Today is a day always filled with mixed emotions. Three years ago today, I went to the doctor for my first (10-wk) prenatal appointment only to find out that the baby's heartbeat never started (died at 7 gestational weeks, my body had no clue). Two years ago today I went for a weekly checkup (38-wks), and was told they were going to induce my labor in two days. (They originally thought Lauren only had two vessels instead of the normal three in her umbilical cord, and there is no reason to go past 38.5 weeks. Turns out, she did have the three vessels.) Two days later, and no need to induce, Lauren was born! Sometimes good things happen to lessen the pain of the bad ones. I thank God for those good things!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

2009-05-08T01:30:00.002-04:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I've posted! There has been A LOT going on, which is mostly the reason for no posts. ;) I've had some ramblings going through my mind, just not the time to sit down and type them out! I promise an update soon, probably multiple updates!

Miss Emmy Lou

2009-02-13T15:41:00.000-05:00

Today would have been her 9th birthday. Oh, we miss you, Emmy!!

The Snow!!

2009-01-28T08:25:00.004-05:00

You know we've gotten a lot of snow when IU cancels classes. That's right... the university cancelled classes through noon today! I had to reschedule Hayden's dr appt this morning, as the dr's office only kept one of their locations opened in town. Since it was across town instead of five minutes away, I figured I'd be safer (esp after three nurses called three different times since 7:30am) just to reschedule for next Tues. Maybe we'll just go play in the snow... Lauren already had fun yesterday afternoon!

(**An edit from earlier... IU is now closed ALL DAY!!!)

Hayden and Mommy

2009-01-22T15:44:00.004-05:00

Wow, so hard to believe that Hayden is almost 2 months old already! It's a little late, but he had a great 2-week checkup (on 12/8). He was 21 5/8" long (75%) and 9 lbs 8 oz (75%) -- only two ounces shy of birth weight! The doctor was very pleased and didn't need to do the jaundice check.

Hayden adjusted quite well to life outside the womb. He was immediately sleeping 4-5 hour stretches at night and has been breastfeeding wonderfully (although he recently started what I call "fussy nursing", so let's hope we can get that figured out soon). He has now started sleeping anywhere from 5-7.5 hours at night, then waking to eat and sleeping for another 2-3 hours. Just this week I've noticed more of a pattern, with him sleeping a large chunk of the morning and then again late afternoon. Let's hope it continues! He's also started having more breaks in between his nursing. He used to nurse every 30-45 minutes after taking a long nap -- and would nurse a good 4-6 times before sleeping again. Let me tell you... that was not easy on me! I still nurse him on demand, but am going to start getting him on a schedule very soon (and he seems to be helping me!). I'm also working on getting him to go to sleep a little sooner at night (it's currently around 12:30am), and going to sleep on his own more. He has done it a few times, I just want to make it that way permanently!

Hayden has been such a blessing and wonderful addition to our family. He is such a happy little guy, and is already talking, cooing, laughing, and grinning like crazy! The adjustment to three kids hasn't been as tough as I imagined, but that's not to say it isn't hard. Just getting out the door -- or rather getting READY to leave the house -- is the hardest thing. Now that Hayden isn't so newborn, it is easier for me to get things done. One of the toughest things for me is not having everything picked up or having to put things off for a bit. But, I'll take spending time with my new little guy. :)

As for me, I had my six-week postpartum check two weeks ago. Everything is back to normal and I was cleared by the doctor for all activity. He told me I had this having-baby-thing down! :) Now I just need to start back into my yoga and running. I also need to start better watching what I eat. With nursing I get SOOO hungry that it's hard to eat great every single time. We do eat mostly at home (I'm starting to stock up on freezer meals and am meal-planning better) and the kids and I try to snack healthy most the time. But it's tough when 2-3 hours after eating dinner I'm ready for another whole meal! I only gained 25 pounds this pregnancy, and have another 8 to lose for pre-prego weight. Of course, I was in the process of losing weight when I got pregnant, so there's really much more to go! At least I'm wearing a smaller size jeans now than I was last year! Great motivation to keep losing. :)

Hopefully I can keep updating about Hayden. It's not often I get to sit, think, and write! :)

8 (Un)Healthy Foods

2009-01-04T00:40:00.003-05:00

Because my mom is a dietitian and I generally like to eat healthy, I take an interest in learning about food. I recently read this article and wanted to post it. One of my pet peeves when it comes to eating is dieting. I don't believe in diets -- I believe in eating healthy and everything in moderation. A main element of diets is limiting, and if you cut out or limit something you're bound to fail. I especially dislike when everything is fat free or low fat -- you do need fat in your diet, and there's healthy ways to do it. Another thing is diet soda... Just read the article, which was written by a registered dietitian.

Think these 8 foods are healthy? Wrong!

Even if you haven't bought full-fat mayo or sugary soda since blue eye shadow was in style (the first time), you may be getting duped into less-than-stellar food choices at the supermarket. The culprit? The "health halo." "From a distance, some foods seem like healthful choices because of the way they're packaged or labeled," says Janel Ovrut, MS, RD, a Boston-based dietitian. "But just because a product's marketing gives it an aura of health doesn't necessarily mean it's good for you." Here, eight notorious health food impostors, plus smarter swaps that up the nutritional ante and still give you the flavor you crave.

Baked potato chips
Yes, they're lower in fat. But they're still high in calories and low in nutrients, with little fiber to fill you up.

Smarter sub: Popcorn. You'll get the salt and crunch of chips plus fiber, and around 65 percent fewer calories per cup. Look for oil-free microwave popcorn or brands that are air-popped or popped in healthful oils such as olive or canola.

Health bonus: Heart-healthy whole grains. Adults who eat popcorn take in as much as 2 1/2 times more whole grains than people who do not, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Try: Good Health HalfNaked pre-popped popcorn, made with olive oil. One serving (4 cups) has 120 calories, 0 g sat fat, 4 g fiber.

Gummy fruit snacks
Although these products may contain some juice, they're usually nothing more than candy infused with vitamins. They also contain high fructose corn syrup, which is linked with obesity, and heart-unhealthy partially hydrogenated oils.

Smarter sub: Fresh or dried fruit. Both are packed with filling fiber, which you'll miss if you opt for gummy snacks.

Health bonus: Cancer-fighting antioxidants. Real fruit is loaded with immune-boosting nutrients that fruit-flavored snacks could never mimic. A recent Greek study found that women who ate the most fruits and veggies were the least likely to develop any type of cancer.

Try: Peeled Snacks Fruit Picks dried fruit (peeledsnacks.com). One serving (one bag) of Go-Mango-Man-Go has 120 calories, 0 g sat fat, 2 g fiber.

Light ice cream
Light ice cream can have fewer calories than regular, but there's no guarantee. Take Häagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche light ice cream: With 220 calories per 1/2 cup serving, it's still higher in calories than the average full-fat ice cream, which has around 140 calories per serving. What's more, some light ice creams can lack the rich taste you crave, so you're less satisfied and may be inclined to eat more than one serving.

Smarter sub: Dairy-free ice cream. Soy and coconut milk ice creams may save you a few calories, and they have a creamy, satisfying texture.

Health bonus: Digestion-friendly fiber. Some dairy-free ice creams are made with chicory root, a natural source of inulin, a prebiotic fiber that can increase healthy bacteria in the gut and help the body absorb calcium and iron.

Try: Turtle Mountain Purely Decadent, made with coconut milk. One serving (1/2 cup) of vanilla has 150 calories, 7 g sat fat, and 6 g fiber. (Studies show that the saturated fat in coconut may not raise cholesterol like the saturated fat in butter and meat.)

Diet soda
In a 2008 study, researchers linked drinking just one diet soda a day with metabolic syndrome — the collection of symptoms including belly fat that puts you at high risk of heart disease. Researchers aren't sure if it's an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits that caused the association.

Smarter sub: Flavored seltzer water. It has zero calories and is free of artificial sweeteners but provides fizz and flavor. Beware of clear sparkling beverages that look like seltzer yet contain artificial sweeteners — they're no better than diet soda. Or try a sparkling juice; we recommend watering it down with seltzer to stretch your calories even further.

Health bonus: Hydration (without chemicals). Water is essential for nearly every body process.

Try: Your supermarket's low-cost seltzer brand. The taste is the same as the bigger name brands.

'Calorie-free' spray margarine
Even though some spray margarines claim to be "calorie-free," labeling laws allow products with fewer than 5 calories per serving to claim to have zero calories. So, while one spritz may be inconsequential, the whole bottle could have as much as 900 calories.

Smarter sub: Spray-it-yourself olive oil. In this case, a bit of real fat is more healthful and flavorful — and within a reasonable calorie range if you watch your portions. Investing in an olive oil mister ensures you don't put on too much.

Health bonus: Decreased inflammation throughout the body, which helps your heart and lowers cancer risk, thanks to monounsaturated fatty acids.

Try: Misto olive oil sprayer. Find one at any kitchen store for around $10.

Nonfat salad dressing
Fat-free salad dressings are often packed with sugar — so your dressing may be loaded with calories. Ironically, a salad without fat is not living up to its potential. "You need a little fat to absorb vitamins A, D, E, and K and other nutrients," says Katherine Tallmadge, RD, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Smarter sub: Oil-based salad dressings. You'll get good-for-you fats instead of the saturated fat found in some creamy dressings. Look for ingredients like olive oil, vinegar, and herbs.

Health bonus: Vision protection. As many as five times more carotenoids — antioxidants that are essential for eye-sight — are absorbed when salads are consumed with fat rather than with no fat.

Try: Newman's Own Olive Oil & Vinegar Dressing. Two tablespoons have 150 calories, 2.5 g sat fat, 0 g fiber.

Low-fat cookies
Do you remember the SnackWell's craze? Low-fat cookies are still popular, and many dieters think they can indulge guilt free. The problem is that most of these snacks are made with extra sugar, which means they often have just as many calories as the full-fat version, if not more.

Smarter sub: Oatmeal cookies. These are a great way to indulge a cookie craving while also getting whole grains. Not all are created equal, though: Skip those made with high fructose corn syrup, white flour, and butter in favor of varieties made with honey or cane juice, whole wheat flour, and oil.

Health bonus: Lower cholesterol. The fiber found in oatmeal keeps your body from absorbing bad cholesterol.

Try: Kashi TLC Cookies. One cookie has 130 calories, 1.5 g sat fat, 4 g fiber.

100-calorie snack packs
You might want to skip these if you're trying to lose weight. A recent study showed that people may eat more food and calories if the portions are presented in small sizes and packages. With smaller serving sizes, study participants didn't feel the need to regulate their intake, so they ate more than one portion before feeling satisfied.

Smarter sub: A small serving of almonds. Their healthy monounsaturated fat, fiber, and protein will tide you over until your next meal.

Health bonus: Stronger bones. Almonds are an excellent source of bone-building magnesium, as well as the immune-boosting antioxidant vitamin E.

Try: Blue Diamond Natural Oven Roasted Almonds. A 1 oz serving has 160 calories, 1 g sat fat, 3 g fiber.

By Nicole Ferring, MS, RD for Prevention; found at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28118024/

I Need to Catch Up!

2008-12-30T00:08:00.002-05:00

Wow, not one blog written in the month of December until now. Crazy! I think I really need to play some catch up when I get the chance. New baby, the holidays... it's all making catch up (or any free time) nearly impossible! Promise... you'll get an update soon on all that's been going on. :)

Adjusting to the Changes

2008-11-30T21:09:00.006-05:00

We've been home from the hospital since Wednesday afternoon and everyone seems to be adjusting really well. Hayden, especially! He's nursing great, sleeping fairly well at night, and overall comfy in his new environment. I find it amazing how noises don't disturb him (and his hearing is just fine). I know they say that babies get used to sounds in the womb, but this is just astonishing! Lauren can scream loudly, the dog can bark, Carter can bang on toys -- Hayden doesn't even flinch! But trust me... if I talk he looks for me. When Matt talks while holding him, he turns his gaze to Matt's face. He hears just fine. :)

When we left the hospital, Hayden was 8 lbs 15 oz -- losing weight is normal, esp since my milk isn't in yet (it did come in the day we left the hospital). I took him to the doctor Saturday morning for the usual first checkup and he was already back up to 9 lbs 2 oz. The goal is for him to be at birth weight by the 2-week checkup -- I think he'll make it. Especially the way he eats! :)

I am finding it easy to transition from two to three kids. Of course, I've only been home alone with all three for a couple hours so far! But overall I'm less stressed about having a new baby and I think that comes with experience. Either that, or I just don't have the time to be! :P Lauren seems so big to me now. She's communicating so much better and sleeping in a toddler bed -- it just seems like she's so much older than 18 months! I just hope that having them close together won't make me lose those little "baby" moments with her. She has stepped into the role of big sister -- looking after baby, giving him plenty of pats and kisses, and watching him while he sleeps. And she loves being Mommy's little helper.

Carter has also stepped up his role as big brother. He's fascinated with Hayden and is always asking if he can hold him. He eagerly awaits for Hayden's eyes to be open so he can talk to him, and Hayden just watches Carter when he's around. Carter not only helps with the baby, but helps a lot more with Lauren -- especially when I'm nursing!

I've got a wonderful family and feel truly blessed. I'm looking forward to all the new moments that await us, and how our lives will change with each one.

Welcome to the World, My Baby!

2008-11-24T19:40:00.003-05:00

Hayden Thomas Wolf arrived this morning at 10:30am. He weighed 9 lbs 10 oz and was 21.5 inches long. He's got lots of dark hair and is such a blessing!

Labor was quick and without incident. I got to the hospital at 6:30am and got the paperwork filled out. Dr Stowell came in around 8am to do a check -- I was almost 5cm and he broke my water. He said he didn't know what was holding him in there! The contractions got stronger from there... I got up to walk and they got even stronger. I got back to my room and just sat and labored, no pitocin needed! In about an hour they were really strong and I thought, "Okay, maybe I can't do this." So I asked for an epidural, but then the next contraction I knew it was too late... They were hurrying to get the doctor in the room, making me breathe through them so I wouldn't push. He let me push as soon as he was ready, and Hayden was out in 3-4 contractions. Without an epidural, you have more incentive to push harder! :) All in all, 2.5 hours of labor and a healthy, beautiful boy!

We forgot the USB cable for the camera, so Matt will get some pics uploaded tonight. I'll post one here when I can. Need to get baby woken up to nurse... :)

Today's the Day...

2008-11-24T05:45:00.002-05:00

I'm going to be leaving for the hospital in just a little bit. So exciting! I probably won't be able to post anything (unless Matt brings me his laptop in the hospital), so look for an update in a couple days when I'm home. Wish me luck! :)

Another Update

2008-11-21T12:50:00.002-05:00

Went to the dr this morning, and everything is fine. I'm dilated just a bit more than the 4 cm I was this past Monday, but no other progress. Baby is doing great -- just waiting for him to quit teasing me! He offered to let me go to the hospital today and help get things going, but I opted to let him come on his own this weekend. Dr was pretty sure that he'd come on his own over the weekend as well. If not, we're headed to the hospital on Monday morning to be induced!

I'm having a few sporadic contractions, but nothing too strong. We'll see how it progresses throughout the day. Mom did make it here, about the same time I got home from getting Carter from preschool. We're both exhausted from long nights, so looks like it will be naps for everyone this afternoon! :)

Update...

2008-11-21T08:43:00.001-05:00

So, regular contractions have stopped. I have no idea what's going on. What's funny is we're joking he's waiting until Grandma can get here. My mom got stranded in the middle of the night on her way here in Springfield, OH, with a flat tire. Someone had stolen her spare a while ago too! Luckily, she was at a rest area. Unluckily, nothing was open to help her. My dad drove out and they had to wait until something opened this morning to get a new tire.

I'm going to call the dr's office to let them know what happened and see if I need to come in for a check. I know baby's fine, because he's actually quite active this morning (and was last night during contractions). They got stronger at the end, then just kind of stopped. I went to sleep to get some rest, fully expecing to wake up and go to the hospital.

I'll keep you updated...

Contractions!

2008-11-21T01:28:00.003-05:00

I've been having somewhat regular contractions since around 8:30pm tonight. They were still quite far apart until 12:18am -- then they were about 10 minutes, give or take a minute or two. Still could be anytime that anything more happens though. They are getting more intense, but I know they'll be getting much worse. :) My mom is on her way, driving through the night to be here when the little guy is born. My friend Tanya is waiting the call to come be with my kids if we have to take off to the hospital soon. I'm so excited and anxious for him to arrive!!

Today's Dr Appt

2008-11-17T12:01:00.001-05:00

An exciting appt this morning! I am measuring 42 weeks (I was 37 weeks last Friday), am a full 4 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and the baby's head is at a -2 (which means he's pretty darn low and almost ready to come out!). I'm also having some contractions today -- nothing too strong or regular, but it wouldn't surprise me if he's here fairly soon. :) Dr said I made a lot of progress in one week, and also stressed that if I start regular contractions or my water breaks to get to the hospital FAST. She thinks it'll be a quick labor! For now, I've got an appt scheduled for next Monday -- then we'll set up the induction for next week (prob Tues) -- but dr said she wouldn't be surprised if he's here between now and then. Me neither!

I'll keep you updated as more happens!

An Update...

2008-11-13T12:50:00.004-05:00

I had a dr appt this past Monday (36 weeks) and still haven't posted about it! I was a little more than 3 cm dilated and dr was pleased with my progress. He said I basically just have to actually go into labor! Oh, but when I do... don't mess around -- just get to the hospital! I think because of the way I'm progressing now, he thinks it will be a quick labor. We'll see, as you never know. The plan is to still induce on Nov 25th, if I make it that far (and that's according to doc). This week I have been having more Braxton Hicks contractions with my stomach "balling up". I've also started losing my mucous plug, but that could be due to the dilation.

Other news from the appt... Dr doesn't think he'll be bigger than Carter, but he could be as big (9 lbs 12 oz). They don't want him to get too big, but know that I delivered Carter easily. My strep test came back negative, my blood pressure is great, and I lost 1/2 lb this week (up 27.5 lbs overall). All great news! I'll go back on Monday morning for another check.

Matt has been in California since last Saturday so it's been a little rough on me this week. Of course, this is the week that I got super uncomfortable walking, lifting, bending over... The kids and I were in Cincinnati for Amber & Eric's engagement party on Saturday, then my parents came home with me. They helped me (like crazy!) around the house Sunday-Tuesday. It was really nice having them here, and we got so much done! It all makes it very real that baby could be here anyday.

Lauren and Carter are now all moved into Lauren's room. Lauren has adjusted very well to her toddler bed -- we moved her on Nov 2nd. Carter is actually excited to sleep in the same room too! I'm still getting all the clothes and toys situated, but at least the priority stuff got done. Carter's room is set back up like a nursery and it made me a little sad that it wasn't his room anymore. But we'll have a new little guy in there, and that's exciting!

I feel like I've been doing non-stop laundry all week too. All the baby's clothes are washed and (almost) put away. I also pretty much finished buying Carter's and Lauren's winter clothes. Plus the normal laundry, towels, sheets... It never ends!

Matt will be home very early Saturday morning (closer to Friday night). It'll be nice having him home, and will let me worry less about going into labor! Luckily, I have so many great friends "on call" should something happen before he gets here. They've also been keeping me busy and company while he's away. We're headed to one's house for dinner tonight, and another's for dinner tomorrow. It's so nice having company and not having to worry about it! I think I would've gone crazy without my parents and friends this week -- thanks, everyone!

35 Week Picture

2008-11-04T21:01:00.004-05:00

For your viewing pleasure (HA), here is the picture of the week. I paired it next to Lauren at 35 weeks, with another comparisons below.

(35 weeks with baby boy; 35 weeks with Lauren)

(38 weeks with Lauren... a much better comparison!)

Welcome to the World, Logan Robert!

2008-11-04T09:55:00.006-05:00

Logan Robert Crutchfield was born just after 6am this morning. He weighed 8 lbs 10 oz and was 22 inches long. He has dark hair, long fingers, and long feet! Both mom and baby are doing wonderfully after an easy delivery.

Congrats to Amanda and Tim, and to big brother Ethan! We're excited to meet the new little guy, and Carter & Lauren are excited about their new cousin. :)

Dr Appt, 35 Weeks

2008-11-03T14:43:00.003-05:00

I had another dr appt early this afternoon. Both kids went with me, but they behaved well. Luckily, I was in and out in twenty minutes. :) The heartbeat was very strong, as always, and she mentioned how active he was. She measured my belly, but I completely forgot to ask what it was. I'm assuming it's still on track, which would put me around 39 weeks. I had to have the group B strep test as well, so she did a cervical check while I was undressed. I'm already 50% effaced and 2 cm dilated! She said that if we were to induce, my cervix would be ready. Good news to me!

Carter told her that the baby was coming on Nov 25th. She asked him what if he came early? He answered that he'd be here Nov 25th because "that's what my mom told me." ;) So, the dr is thinking he might come earlier on his own. Guess we'll wait and see! I have another appointment in a week with another check. Matt's out of town all next week so let's hope baby at least waits until after then!

(Oh, I just have to add that before leaving the room, Dr Weiler said she'd see me in a week -- unless I needed them sooner. Hopefully not... I'm not completely ready to have him yet!)

The Writer's Block

2008-11-03T13:30:00.002-05:00

I am a guest writer on a blog my friend Mandy started. The Writer's Block is a blog by anyone, for everyone, and about anything. Whether it's on politics, entertainment, pop culture, or the economy, The Writer's Block is a forum for free expression. It just went live today, so check it out!! (Click on either blog name in this post to open.)

Minor Setbacks

2008-11-01T20:48:00.004-04:00

Being sick just plain stinks. As a mom, I can't just stop to rest... a mom's job never stops! I did get to sleep in and rest today, thanks to my husband, but it wasn't enough. I don't like to (and can't) take a bunch of medicine being pregnant, so it's been Tylenol, hot tea, and chicken soup today. Luckily, one nostril is open so I can at least breathe now. (Thanks, Lisa, for the chicken soup. I was glad to have it already made in my fridge!)

Being sick isn't just miserable, it also set me back on all I needed and wanted to accomplish today. I was planning on getting at least Carter's old clothes put away, maybe Lauren's if time (and nap schedule) allowed. Matt did get the new license plates on, the kids' doors fixed so they latch, and figured out what was wrong with the washing machine (unfortunately, after the parts store closed!). I wanted to get the toddler bed put together and Lauren sleeping in it tonight. I figured after the long, busy day yesterday she'd be tired today. Plus, with us moving the time back an hour overnight, her schedule tomorrow wouldn't be too far off if she didn't sleep well. The one thing I did get done was to give Carter his haircut.

I just know my time is running out! I'm 35 weeks pregnant, with the baby tentatively scheduled to come earlier than that. Hopefully I can get some good sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow feeling much better. This clogged head has just gone on for too long!

Oh, and I wish a very Happy Anniversary to my parents. They celebrate 33 years of marriage today!

34 Week Picture

2008-10-28T19:37:00.003-04:00

Okay, so you've already heard how I'm feeling this far into my pregnancy. Today I actually had some energy, up until 4pm anyway. ;) I just wanted to share the latest picture. And yes, I know I'm huge. :)

It's taking its toll...

2008-10-27T11:49:00.003-04:00

This really has been a great pregnancy. I've had lots of energy, hardly any sickness, low weight gain... But lately it's really starting to take its toll! My energy is winding down -- or dwindling fast when I do have it. Taking care of a house, husband, and two kids is almost getting to be too much for me. Most the time I can only look at what needs to be done, wishing I could just get up and do it. I do one task then have to sit and rest. It's so frustrating! Today is a day I have a lot to catch up on and NO energy to get it done. I keep getting short of breath and feel like I'm going to fall asleep standing up! It could partially be due to the Benadryl I took last night for my eye... Yes, that stuff really knocks me out! I'll keep going somehow, because life (and my kids) doesn't stop. :)

Major accomplishment for the day: Cutting my toenails. You know you're impressed. :P

Baby Shower

2008-10-26T16:19:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my wonderful friends Christan and Mandy threw me a fabulous baby shower. I know it's number three, but this was untraditional. Everyone brought a casserole for me to freeze for when after the baby is born! What a great idea! We played some great games, and each one gave me a list of names (starting with every letter of the alphabet) for ideas. Who knows... maybe the name was revealed at the shower and only those in attendance get to know. ;) I have pictures of our fun posted, so enjoy!

Thanks to all those who came and made this so much fun! Having a good meal after the baby is born is going to be so much easier now. :) We also got some adorable first outfits and diapers to start us off. You guys are great!!

Geez...

2008-10-26T15:25:00.002-04:00

You know you're HUGE when a lot of your maternity clothes don't fit anymore, and there's still 5 weeks left! This is crazy... I feel like I'm trying to cram into regular clothes when I get dressed. I'll post a 34-week picture later so you can see. Ugh... what am I supposed to wear now?

A little pregnancy humor...

2008-10-25T12:22:00.002-04:00

Gotta Love Kids

2008-10-23T11:34:00.002-04:00

I love my kids... they provide me with so much humor! Last night after dinner, Lauren was trying to get something she wasn't supposed to have. Matt smacked her hand slightly and told her no (after not listening to just no). She gets rather upset and comes running into the kitchen where I'm doing dishes. Matt tells me not to comfort her because she had gotten into trouble -- which I knew, and wasn't going to comfort her. She walks around the cabinets and starts yelling at me with her right arm held out. Then she points to it, like she's telling me that Daddy smacked her hand! She didn't want comfort... she wanted to tell on Daddy! :D

Dr Appt, 33 weeks

2008-10-20T15:45:00.005-04:00

Okay, so I knew that I felt WAY more pregnant than I actually am. In 2 weeks, I've grown 3 cm! Being that I was already measuring 2.5 weeks ahead, I'm now measuring 3.5 weeks ahead! I was 33 weeks along last Friday and today I measured 37 weeks. Dr Weiler put it bluntly -- I'm growing a big baby! She said there's no way they'll let me go to my due date (WOO HOO!). For now, she wants me to tentatively think about inducing on either Nov 25 or 28, so I avoid Thanksgiving and can be at home for the holiday. At my upcoming appointments they'll be able to tell if it needs to be sooner or later than that, after checking my cervix and making sure I am actually ready to have the baby. They don't like to go more than 2 weeks early just to be sure the lungs are developed. Matt thinks they just have my due date wrong. :)

Everything continues to go smoothly. Baby is very active and healthy, and so am I. I've gained 21.5 lbs overall and my blood pressure is excellent. I go back in two weeks and will hopefully know more then! :) I guess we better get a move on naming him, getting baby clothes sorted through and washed, and getting the kids' bedrooms rearranged!

33 Weeks... Really? Only that many?

2008-10-19T23:06:00.008-04:00

I was 33 weeks along this past Friday. Hard to believe it's coming up so fast, but also hard to believe that I'm only 33 weeks! I think this pregnancy has gone by the slowest. I've still been feeling great, other than being more tired lately. I think that's to be expected though! Still working on a name for him -- I really want him to have a name by the end of this month. At least Matt and I have been talking about it more! I do think he needs to be more serious than naming pro football players. ;) It'll get done... and maybe to continue driving everyone else nuts, I won't tell! HA!

Here are some pics to compare. I know I missed last week's, but actually got bigger this past week! Surprisingly, I gained no more weight. :)

(33 weeks with baby boy; 33 weeks with Lauren)

Just for fun, here I am at 36 weeks with Lauren... two weeks ago I was measuring 3 weeks ahead. What do you think? I think it's a better comparison...

I have a dr appt on Monday morning, so look for another post then!

Fast Food Reality

2008-10-17T11:43:00.002-04:00

I got this link from a friend and had to share. It shows pictures of fast food items from their ads and in reality. There are also some reviews of some of the products at the bottom of the page. We all know that ads show the best possible picture of things, and that they never come like that, but some of these don't even look like they're the same food! Have a look for yourself: http://thewvsr.com/adsvsreality.htm.

Obsession

2008-10-10T10:06:00.004-04:00

A couple months ago, a friend of mine got me hooked on the Twilight series of books. They're young adult books, but insanely addicting! I purchased the books as I was reading them, and now the movie for the first book is coming out next month! There's a group of us just waiting... impatiently... for it to arrive. Here's the latest trailer:

Twilight Trailer

This Much I Know...

2008-10-09T15:55:00.002-04:00

I read this in my Parenting magazine and wanted to post it because it sound so very similar to me...

"Okay, here's my confession: My kids eat sugar, play Wii by the hour, and say "What the..." when they deem something weird. Which means that I'm not winning Mommy of the Year from the Perfect Moms of Perfect Offspring, who ban such things from their houses. Well, dig this: Sugar and video games won't turn kids into rogues. Forbidding these things sets kids up to act a fool when you're not around, since they're held to unrealistic standards at home. I let my kids have Skittles, Wii, and the rest of it (in moderation) because they're kids and they're good, smart, caring little people. There's so much other stuff in this world that's bad -- I don't want to take away things that, in a child's world, are good."

NEW

2008-10-07T09:20:00.002-04:00

As you can see, I've got a new fall background for my blog. The only thing is, once I added it I basically lost an entire column of my blog (everything but my ramblings)! So... I'll be busy adding in the things that I can remember. I'm very frustrated right now!!

31 Weeks and Dr Appt

2008-10-06T20:07:00.008-04:00

Wow... 31 weeks! In the single digits of weeks left. :) I've still been feeling great, other than tiring out easily. My sciatic nerve/back only bothers me when I've been doing a lot of walking; now it's more the ligament pain that gives me grief. It's not all that often, though. I can tell baby is getting bigger -- sometimes it even hurts when he moves! And he moves quite often... :)

I went to the dr today for another checkup. Dr. Stowell said everything seems perfect. He thinks the baby will land somewhere in between my previous two (Lauren was 8 lbs 3 oz and Carter was 9 lbs 12 oz), although Matt teases me that he'll be even bigger than Carter. Let's hope not! He's definitely head down and has a great heartbeat. He's also gone through a growth spurt since my last appointment, as I'm now measuring 3 weeks ahead! So when will he come? Let's hope at least a little early... I don't think I can last another 8-9 weeks! As for me, my blood pressure is still great, and since I found out I was pregnant I've gained 20 lbs. :)

The first is me today... The second is with Lauren at 31 weeks (at my baby shower with Mandy, who was 26 weeks pregnant with Sam!). It's the same shirt, and no it didn't shrink! He's definitely lower and bigger!

The Name Game

2008-09-30T23:31:00.001-04:00

Okay, it's REALLY time to start talking names. And I know you all probably think we don't take any name suggestions seriously, but we do! In the end it is our decision, but we love hearing the names people like. We're kind of stuck -- so please let us know your favorite boy names! Feel free to post more than once, as you think of them. :)

30 Weeks

2008-09-30T23:20:00.005-04:00

So, I'm not going to write much. I'm 30 weeks 4 days along now, and feeling even more so! I wanted to get the pic posted -- this time I wore the same shirt and stood the same as I did with Lauren. Better comparison... what do you think?

Okay, so I think he's bigger, and definitely sticking out more. I wasn't shaped like this for another week with Lauren! (No wonder my pants won't stay up... look how low and oval my belly is!)

I'm a Genius!

2008-09-30T18:45:00.004-04:00

I just took this genius test for fun on facebook, thanks to an invite from a friend. What can I say, I was curious! My results were that I was "profoundly genius" -- Plato, Aristotle, and Einstein are morons compared to me! I have to admit that I giggled a little, but it was my happy thought for the day. :)

(FYI: The friend that challenged me to take it scored the same as me the first time around, then got higher after taking it twice more.)

Dr Appt, 29 Weeks

2008-09-22T10:47:00.003-04:00

I had another doctor appointment today. Saw Dr. Greathouse again, but only because Dr. Stowell was delivering a baby. I'm scheduled with him again next time. It's been a while since I've seen him! Anyway... things are going very well. Baby is moving a lot, and seems to be moving during my exams. I measured 30 cm (30 weeks, a little ahead of where I am now), had good BP, and baby's heartbeat was excellent. Everything was normal with the glucose test last time as well.

I told the doctor about the sharp pains I've been getting. She confirmed my suspicions that they were ligament pains. I mentioned them because they're so much worse than my previous pregnancies -- so bad sometimes that I can't move! I also feel nauseous with them sometimes. She said they actually do get worse with subsequent pregnancies, which surprised me because everything's already been stretched once! They're at their worst when my uterus goes through a growth spurt. I notice them when I've been active or bending a lot. But, nothing to worry about. I go back in another two weeks!

Oh, and a milestone reached -- THIS IS MY 100th BLOG POST!! :D

Duh...

2008-09-21T22:13:00.005-04:00

So I was on a website and one of the ads on top read, "Wanna know how to get pregnant?" Seriously... I think we all know how that happens! I know there are some technicalities separate from the au natural way, but I wouldn't click on an ad for that.

You know, someone that found out I was pregnant with number three asked me, "You do know what causes that, don't you?" Like it was some mistake and I shouldn't be having a third. I don't know what was going on in their minds! Even if they were attempting humor, it didn't humor me at all. Rather, I found it very rude.

A Rose by Any Other Name...

2008-09-19T23:16:00.001-04:00

This was posted on Baby Gaga by the Sarcastic Journalist. It sounds like Matt and myself, except for the name choices...

One of my favorite parts about having a baby had to be picking out the names. Since I was a little girl, I would obsess over what names I wanted to give to my child. I am not sure why I did this; I guess I just like names.

My husband and I had very different ideas when it came to names. I was more “This sounds good and so does that! And that!” while he hated every name I liked.

With our daughter, I made a long list of names that I liked. He crossed out all but two: Ellie and Sophie. I picked Ellie.

With our son, we agreed on a girl’s name pretty quickly but couldn’t agree on a boy’s name to save our lives. My main choice happened to be a “color” name (Grey) while his (Ash) was after a character in a cheesy movie.

Every day, I’d bring up the topic of names and every day, we’d argue over it. I thought his name (Ash) was too out there, he thought it was cool. My names (Jonah, Henry) reminded him of someone he’d rather beat up than father.

It was an uphill battle, that’s for sure. I finally gave up my hopes of having a baby boy named Jonah or Jonas and agreed to compromise on the only name we both could like: Sam.

Be careful who you tell about your choice of names, however. I had one friend that would tell everyone she knew one of the first choices in the Great Name Search during our daughter. This name was never seriously considered for more than a few seconds, but she felt the need to tell everyone and let them give their opinions.

So, my advice is simple: Unless you really want to hear what people think, keep your mouth shut until the big day. It is much harder to insult a name if it is attached to a living baby.

29 Weeks

2008-09-19T23:01:00.006-04:00

So I've been slacking... actually, I was out of town again. I missed another week's update, and another picture. Promise... I got one this week. :)

I've been feeling a bit sluggish lately, but we've been pretty busy. I've also been used to sleeping in and then being lazy in the mornings, and now I've got to get up, get ready, and get the kids going to get Carter to school. I know, it's still not very early... but tough when I'd just rather take it easy. :) It is getting harder to get things done -- I can only do so much before I'm tired out or get sore. I've been getting this sharp pain on either the right or left side of my lower belly. It feels a lot like ligament pain, and it usually comes when I've been exerting myself. I'll talk to the dr about it Monday just to be sure.

Baby is very active! My belly bounces around a good part of the day. Still no name for him, and not much done for his room either. Still deciding if we'll wait until he's here to transition the kids (since he'll be in our room for 2-3 months anyway), or if we'll go ahead and bunk them together beforehand. It'll definitely be a big change for all of us!

I have a doctor appointment Monday morning -- just routine. I never got a call about my glucose test, so that's good news. Hopefully there'll be nothing surprising at my appt! I'm anxious to see if he is still head down this early. I have been achey in my pelvis, but that could just be from being active and busy. Look for another update after my appt!

(29 weeks today... 29 week belly shot with Lauren. Maybe he did flip, as I am more oval than round. I was more oval with Lauren at 31 weeks.)

A New Member of the Family!

2008-09-17T09:31:00.005-04:00

We have a new member of the family... Bella Memford Wolf! My parents' cat had seven kittens, and we welcomed one into our family. This one was nicknamed Memford, because she behaved a bit like our dog Emmy -- rolling onto her back to sleep and eat, the first one over to momma to eat, very playful... Since we can't get another puppy at this time (with the baby coming), Orion's new friend will be a kitty. They're slowly getting used to each other, mostly from a distance at this point. But neither is hostile towards the other, just very curious!

Bella is five weeks old today and has been doing very well in her new home. She's still eating the weaning milk from a syringe (she now knows me as the mommy with the milk!), as I'm still trying to get her to lap it from a bowl. She has started using her litter box, and lets us know when she has to go! Bella's bed is in the office/playroom, separate from Orion, and she lets me know when she's ready to go there. I wish babies were this easy to get on a schedule! :)

Carter and Lauren both love the little kitty. Lauren walks around meowing, starting as soon as she walks out of her door (and looking for Bella). Bella and Carter love playing with each other! Here are a few pictures, and I'm sure more will be posted.

Dr Appt, 27 Weeks

2008-09-08T14:56:00.003-04:00

I had another prenatal checkup this morning. It was time for the oh-so-wonderful glucose screening. When I got there, they had me drink the orange glucola. Mmm... especially on an empty stomach! Then came the waiting -- they couldn't draw the blood for an hour. I saw Dr. Greathouse again, and she was much better today. Maybe because it was a little earlier in the morning and I was alone (and in a better mood!). She just seemed to be much friendlier today and talked with me more. My belly measured about 29 cm (which is 29 wks, and I'm 27 wks 3 days). Baby's heartbeat sounded perfect! She felt around my belly, and his feet are up! She giggled as she found the feet, it was so cute. I was just telling Matt that I thought he might have flipped as I've been feeling kicking where there wasn't kicking before. She said he still could move around more, as he's just enjoying all the space. I know Lauren wasn't flipped this early!

I start going every two weeks from now on. I've started making my appointments while Carter's at school, and Lauren goes to Matt's work so I can have a peaceful appointment! As for the glucose screening and other blood tests, no news is good news. I'll hear by the end of the week if more needs to be done. Otherwise things are going great -- good weight gain, great blood pressure, good fetal movement, very little swelling... :)

27 Weeks

2008-09-05T23:34:00.004-04:00

Did you think I forgot how to blog? ;) Nope, just busy... Was out of town last weekend, so I missed the posting (and pic). Onto this week...

27 weeks... It still seems like a ways to go until you think 13 weeks or less! (Well, technically it could be up to 14 weeks, but let's hope not.) I've been really tired and feeling the strain of pregnancy lately. Baby moves A TON and I can tell he's getting bigger. Physically, it's getting hard for me to keep up with it all. Somehow I just keep going, with many little breaks in between. :) The past two weeks I've gained 3.5 lbs, but still only makes it 19 overall (and I lost 17 before I was pregnant/started gaining...).

(17 weeks now; 27 weeks with Lauren)

Here's what's going on with baby: "This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle."

And with Mommy: "The second trimester is drawing to a close, but as your body gears up for the final lap, you may start noticing some new symptoms. Along with an aching back, for example, you may find that your leg muscles cramp up now and then. They're carrying extra weight, after all, and your expanding uterus is putting pressure on the veins that return blood from your legs to your heart as well as on the nerves leading from your trunk to your legs. Unfortunately, the cramps may get worse as your pregnancy progresses. Leg cramps are more common at night but can also happen during the day. When a cramp strikes, stretching the calf muscle should give you some relief. Straighten your leg and then gently flex your toes back toward your shin. Walking for a few minutes or massaging your calf sometimes helps, too."

Last week of second trimester! I have a doctor appointment on Monday morning, where they'll do the glucose screening and some other labs to be sure things are going okay. I'll post an update then!

Kids Say The Darndest Things

2008-08-23T23:55:00.001-04:00

Yesterday Carter and I were eating some Moose Munch from Harry & David (it's really yummy caramel corn!). I was putting some in a bowl for him and he asked for the "funny" one, meaning a big clump of it. He already had a big clump in his bowl, so I told him he already had a "funny" one. He looked right at me and said, "Does it look like I'm laughing?" I could've burst out laughing right there, but I held it in to tell him he shouldn't talk to Mommy like that. I got my laugh in when I told Matt later that night. :D

Seriously? Give me a break...

2008-08-23T09:29:00.002-04:00

This was on MSNBC Entertainment news...

Poor Jennifer Lopez. The new mom is training for a triathlon, but everyone is too busy watching the Olympics to notice.

Lopez, who appeared on "Good Morning America" Aug. 18 to discuss her preparations for the Malibu Triathlon, was overheard saying after the segment that she “couldn’t understand why everyone is talking about that swimmer,” according to a GMA source. “She couldn’t come up with (eight-time gold-medal winner Michael) Phelps’ name, and then she yammered on about how she was the one training for a triathlon just six months after giving birth, and how that was the big story right now, not ‘the swimmer.’ ”

Lopez is planning on donating money raised for her race to the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. To help drum up attention, she started a blog to share tips on training. “Touch up makeup prior to your run” hasn’t made its way into any posts, despite Lopez being spotted arriving in Central Park with her makeup artist later in the day.

“Apparently, Jenny from the Block requires a lot of powder,” says the source.

--> Seriously? It's great for her, training for a triathlon, but why does she think she needs the attention or is the "big" story? I think the Olympics are much bigger than J.Lo. Let some of that air out of your head...

25 Weeks

2008-08-22T20:26:00.007-04:00

There are days where I don't feel too pregnant, and then others where I feel HUGE! Little boy sure adjusts himself in there! One day he'll be nice and tucked in, then the next it's like he rolls over and shoves his butt & back out. My parents have seen this phenomenon -- I was at their house this past weekend and when I got up Sunday he was pooched out. I asked them if I looked bigger (because I felt it) and my dad nodded. Baby boy has also seemed to drop a little lower -- no, not the drop, just lower than he used to be. He's also a mover, like my other two. Carter really enjoys feeling him move and watch my belly bounce. :)

Other than feeling huge some days, I'm feeling great. I've been sleeping well, eating well, and getting exercise. We just got the Wii Fit this week, and I'm able to do a lot of the "training" games on it (and even do better than Matt with my belly!). I gained 1/2 pound this week, making it 15.5 lbs overall. Not too bad for as hungry as I am!

(Today at 25 weeks; with Lauren (belly shot!) at 25 weeks. Yep... bigger!)

Here's what's going on with baby: "Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. His weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but he's beginning to exchange his long, lean look for some baby fat. As he does, his wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. He's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture."

Still working on baby names -- Matt's stuck on one, and won't branch out! Suggestions?

24 Weeks, a little late :)

2008-08-21T22:49:00.004-04:00

So... I was out of town from last Friday to Monday so I didn't get this blog written. As you know, it's always a catch up game for me (as most people), and I'm just now getting to it since I've been home! No pic, as my photographer (Matt) was out of town starting last Wed night. But anyway, I thought I'd let you know how things were going for this week of pregnancy.

I've been feeling great, having more energy than I ever thought! I do get tired, don't get me wrong, but it's usually after getting a crazy amount of stuff done. Which, it seems, a crazy amount of stuff has to get done in order for me to survive! ;) I gained a pound this week, for a total of 15 overall. Not too bad... Just for kicks, this is the pic of me with Lauren. It'll have to do since I didn't get one taken this time. I have been pretty close the last few weeks though...

Here's what's going on with baby: "Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon."

And with me: "In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball."

Hmm... so I have a soccer ball up my shirt. ;) Look for my next update to be posted sometime tomorrow night. Can you stand to wait that long? ;)

Imperfection

2008-08-20T13:10:00.003-04:00

I'm not perfect, and I've never claimed to be. My house isn't spotless -- the kids and our schedule keep me too busy; I don't always make the best dinner -- I'm tired at the end of the day; I'm not always the best wife or mother. But one thing I don't need is any of this pointed out to me.

Lauren's 15 months!

2008-08-13T22:42:00.006-04:00

Wow... 15 months already! Lauren is growing so quickly. She had her routine checkup today, and the doctor said she looks wonderful. She measured 32.25" (95th%) and 24 lbs 10 oz (75th%). She got three vaccines -- Hep A, Varivax (chicken pox), and MMR -- and did very well both during and after. Developmentally she is around 22 months. She is doing so much these days, most recently learning to climb! In the pic above, she got herself on top of the toy box. I've also walked in to find her on the coffee table, which we're trying to teach is a no-no. So hard to do while not discouraging her to do new things! Another new thing is singing -- she will sing "Row Your Boat", and now I'm working on "Twinkle Twinkle".

Lauren and Carter play so well together, for the most part. They both like to pick on each other -- especially Lauren tackling Carter. She's also become quite the talker. While she knows a lot of words, for the most part she's still just gibbering. She'll also nod her head at you, usually at appropriate times. Like at breakfast the other day I asked her if she wanted more cereal and she shook her head yes. :) Some words she knows and uses are mama, dada, Carter, Lauren, Orion, juice, wow, book, ball, this, here, up, bath, no, dog, cheese (taking picture). She also recognizes hungry, nap, change diaper, eat, drink, jump, phone, and many more.

We're in the process of learning body parts and so far she knows head/hair, ears, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, belly, toes. I think she knows a few more, but these are the ones she's consistent with. We're also working on animals and their sounds. She knows dog, elephant, and owl. I'm hoping to start doing other things with her, like shapes and colors, now that I'll have a little more one-on-one time some mornings while Carter's at school. I have no high expectations, we just like introducing things and letting her pick them up. It was the same way with Carter, and he's doing wonderfully.

Lauren is a great eater, hardly picky at all. She eats very well with a fork, and can use a spoon for thicker foods like mashed potatoes. Her fingers are still her main "utensils", but that's to be expected. She also loves her milk! She's also become a skilled runner -- no, not walker anymore! Lauren also tries to jump while standing and will do a somersault.

Many, many teeth are on their way in! She's had her front eight teeth since nine months, and now four more front teeth (the cuspids) and one molar have already broke through. The other molars aren't much further behind! Luckily, this hasn't caused a lot of pain for her -- at least not noticeably -- thank goodness!

I could probably go on and on about what Lauren is up to these days, but that's a pretty good summary. She's just a happy little girl, always smiling or giggling. Especially when she wants your attention. ;) I'll try and blog more often about the kids so you can learn even more about what they're doing.

How does this happen?

2008-08-13T22:22:00.004-04:00

Every time I feel like I'm catching up, so many more things pop up that need to be done (or something else that holds me back). Is it ever going to be possible to just stay in the present, or will I forever be playing catch up? Ugh...

A Busy Day!

2008-08-13T18:04:00.003-04:00

We had a busy day around here! Carter started preschool this morning, Lauren had her 15-month checkup this afternoon, and Matt left for a hiking/camping trip in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park this evening. When I have a little more time, I'll post more detailed blogs about the first two events. :)

Pictures

2008-08-12T19:54:00.002-04:00

We had some professional pictures taken this past Sunday afternoon. The photographer is a mom in my moms' group, and is in the process of building her portfolio. Because of this, we got a free session! When all the photos are ready I'll get a CD of them to share, but for now she posted a few "sneak peeks" on her blog. You can check them out here. There are also some other kids from my group on there -- Carsten, Sam, Roman & Adrian. I can't wait to see the rest!

A Child's View

2008-08-12T15:55:00.003-04:00

This was in the "baby bloopers" section of my magazine...

"My 3-year old son, Tyler, and I were reading a book about knights and castles. The story mentioned servants, and Tyler asked me what a servant was. When I explained he said, 'Oh, like you are my servant?' "

Too funny! I wonder how the mom responded?

Expert Parenting Advice

2008-08-12T15:21:00.003-04:00

So I was reading this article in Parents magazine that asked certain professions (doctors, babysitters, preschool teachers, etc.) what advice they would never tell a parent to their face. I loved the answer the parenting expert gave:

"Becoming a parent is like contracting a debilitating disease. Imagine a disease where you couldn't sleep, you couldn't have sex, you couldn't travel, you had aches and pains all the time. Now, this doesn't mean you don't love your kids. In fact, the more you love them, the harder it is. Nobody tells you what the pull of loving your kids will do to the rest of your life..."

You can read the entire article here.

Yay for Target

2008-08-12T13:52:00.003-04:00

In these times where prices of everything seem to be going up (except for houses, thanks to another issue), I am so thankful that our Target has a partial grocery store in it. They sell a gallon of milk for less than $3, while everywhere else sells it for more than $4/gallon (even Walmart, at $4.04!). This is great for us, as we drink two gallons of milk in six-seven days. Now if only we could find a gas station to go against the grain... ;)

Nikki's Dr Appt

2008-08-11T14:40:00.003-04:00

Appointment Time: 10:15am
Arrival Time: 10:15am (no, I don't get there too early... 2 kids+waiting room=not a lot of fun!)
Time called back to room: 11:00am
Time dr came into room: 11:25am

A little ridiculous? Yeah, we thought so too! I've never had to wait like this at my doctors' office! The kids were so rowdy by the time we got called back. They just got worse inside the smaller exam room, because of a lack of toys and freedom. It was seriously a five minute appt!

Anyway, I saw the newest doctor at the practice today, Dr. Greathouse. She was nice, fairly quiet, and a beanpole! I obviously hope one of the other two delivers this baby, since I've been seeing them for so long, but Dr. Greathouse seemed fine. The other two just know my name when they come in, know my kids, and get right to it.

She measured my belly but didn't say anything so it must be fine. Asked if baby was moving enough -- he definitely is! He even kicked the doppler a couple times while we listened to the heartbeat. In the doctor's words, he sounds perfect. :)

I go back in four weeks when they'll check my glucose, check cell counts again, and listen to the baby. They also usually give a rhogam shot to mothers who are Rh negative, but since Matt is also Rh negative I get to skip this. Thanks, honey... one less thing for me!

So Close, Yet Again...

2008-08-10T11:15:00.002-04:00

I am so tired of looking for Wii Fits! Target had them in stock a few Sundays ago. Matt gets there, and they had just sold the last one. Today Best Buy had them in stock. We're there waiting in line before they open, and they sell the last one two ahead of us. Carter was so excited all morning that we were going to get one! I was looking forward to playing it today too! All the damn people going to get one to sell on eBay, when there's those of us that really want one for ourselves. They guy at one of the stores in the mall even got rude with me this week, telling me that next time I want a game to reserve it ahead of time. I'm not paying $150 on eBay... guess we'll just keep calling all the stores until we find one in stock. :(

23 Weeks

2008-08-09T21:38:00.000-04:00

23 weeks doesn't seem very far along, but then it does... It's more than halfway, yet still a ways to go. Which is fine with me! I'm not uncomfortable and am feeling great. I'm in no way ready for this baby yet either! I'm excited, but there's the name debate, getting our house ready, getting what few things we might need for the baby, and me just getting some "me-time" back! Speaking of getting things for the baby... something that stinks is that I have tons of plastic bins in the attic with all of Carter's clothes. You'd think we were set. Nope... Carter was a summer baby, and this one will be a winter baby. Complete opposite seasons! Some clothes will be able to carry over, I'm sure, but for the most part this little guy will have a new wardrobe.

The baby was moving before, but he's gone from moving every once in a while to making my belly bounce! Carter watched my belly the other morning while lying in bed with me, then got to feel him move. Now he's contantly putting his hands on my belly asking me if the baby is asleep or moving. So cute! What's funny is that Matt has yet to feel him move. He quiets down when Matt puts his hand there, but kicks Carter's hand. :)

Like I said, I've been feeling great. Not too tired, and hungry all the time. Still having problems with my back, but that's about it. Some mornings I get up and can hardly walk! I try to stretch it out (and need to start my yoga again) and get pity massages from Matt at times. ;) This week it said I might be experiencing some swelling, and I haven't really noticed any. I drink TONS of water, so that helps. It also said that I might be waking up hungry at night, and boy am I! I have to get up and immediately eat! I'm kind of getting tired of snacking all day and night... This week I gained 1.5 lbs, for a total of 14 overall.

(23 weeks with baby boy; 23 weeks with Lauren)

Here's what's going on with baby: "Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb."

I go to the doctor on Monday for a regular check, so look for another update then!

Cartoon

2008-08-08T11:29:00.000-04:00

Wow

2008-08-08T11:09:00.001-04:00

Most the time I feel I can't get anything done, but on occasion I'm amazed at what I can do. Go me. :D

Lunchtime

2008-08-05T12:43:00.003-04:00

Ugh... I'm kind of getting tired of dealing with lunch. It seems the kids and I eat the same things over and over again, and it's not the healthiest of meals. Not necessarily unhealthy, but they're things that are quick and easy to fix. I just don't want to have to take the time to make something more most the time because it's just the three of us. I think I'm just tired of being responsible for all the meals -- at the end of the day I just don't want to cook when I'm so tired! Just another ramble..

22 Weeks

2008-08-01T20:56:00.006-04:00

This past week has flown by... just as most of the past 22 weeks has! Hard to believe I'm that far along, but other times I feel I should be further. I'm feeling very well physically, but having some back problems. It's usually when I do a lot during the day and aggravate my sciatic nerve, but this week I hurt a different muscle. It eventually all goes away though. Emotionally, it's always gruelling. Most days I'm super excited to be having a third, but I have my bad days. There was a mom with a son in Carter's swim class with two others. I didn't envy watching her chase two of them (with me only having to chase Lauren), but only thought that would be me next year... Don't get me wrong, I am happy about having a baby -- but it is a lot to deal with. I continually ask my mom how she managed three!

Baby boy has been moving like crazy the past couple days! This morning I felt him from both the inside and out, but most his movements aren't that strong from the outside. I'm excited for Matt and the kids to be able to feel him move. :D Pretty sure that will happen within the next week.

I did gain 3 pounds this week, my biggest gain to date. It only makes it a total of 12.5 lbs, so not bad overall. I am more than halfway done, so at this rate I'm good. You do get a picture this week, and I don't think I look bigger than the one two weeks ago. You can be the judge...

(22 weeks with baby boy; 22 weeks with Lauren -- I'd say pretty much the same!)

Here's what's going on with baby: "At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily."

And with Mommy: "At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate. What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track."

Adjustments & Understanding

2008-07-31T16:40:00.003-04:00

Since Emmy passed, it's been quite different around here. Although I didn't want her to relieve me of this burden, I haven't had to sweep the floors nearly as often (though we'll have Emmy hair around for quite some time!). We have only lived in this house for only two months without her, so it's very strange not having her here anymore. Carter has also asked everyday this week where Emmy is. He got treats out yesterday and after giving Orion one, he searched the entire house for Emmy. I've tried explaining it to him in many different ways, but I think he finally gets it. He thought he was just at her doctor for a while. Yesterday I swore I heard her panting, and I still expect to see her lying in her usual spots in the house. When I get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night I still look so I don't step on her (Matt does too). Her dishes have been cleaned and moved to the laundry room, but I still can't bring myself to put her bed away. And it's a little sad when I do sweep or vacuum the little bits of Emmy-hair still lying around, or that find their way out from hiding. It's just going to take a while...

Orion still seems very lost. He always waited for Emmy to go outside, so now I have to escort him out there. He's not eating regularly, and just seems to pout and mope about. I give him even more attention than he got before (and trust me, he was never neglected!), but it doesn't seem to help any. I feel bad when we leave the house because now he really is alone. He's never been alone...

Thank you to everyone for all the cards and thoughts. Thank you to Christan and Todd, who made a donation to the Monroe County Humane Association in memory of Emmy. She is truly missed, but her memory lives on.

Another Birthday!

2008-07-30T11:02:00.000-04:00

Today is Matt's 29th birthday, which we also celebrated this past Saturday. It's nice having his and Carter's birthdays close together so we can have one big celebration. I'm sure the family likes one less trip to take to Bloomington. ;) Happy Birthday, honey... I hope it's a good one!

Carter Turned Four!

2008-07-28T17:10:00.004-04:00

Wow, I have a four year old... Talk about the time flying! Today is Carter's birthday, and he's been counting down the days to it for a while now. In fact, he's already talking about when he turns five! We had a nice (but warm) party at Bryan Park with friends and family this past Saturday. When I get the pics uploaded, I'll post a link to them. Thanks to everyone who made this day very special for Carter!

21 Weeks

2008-07-25T11:48:00.000-04:00

21 weeks into this pregnancy, and it seems like it's flying by! I've been feeling very well and very hungry! I only gained one pound this week, though, so I must be doing okay. :) Baby's been moving more and more, but still not as much as my other two. Of course, I do mostly remember the movement at the end of the pregnancies! Sorry, you get no picture this week as we were busy with company and Carter's party. When the pics for his party are posted, you'll see the belly. :) (Coincidently, this was also a week I missed taking a pic with Lauren!)

Here's what's going on with baby: "Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now."

And with Mommy: "You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints."

Can you read?

2008-07-24T15:54:00.004-04:00

Before I could get my drivers' license, I had to pass two written tests (and the driving portion, of course). One of these written tests was only signs. It was way before this, though, that I could recognize a stop sign. Geez, even Carter knows what a stop sign is! But I still find it odd that there are some people in this world who still don't quite get what a stop sign stands for. Can you read? S-T-O-P. It says it right on the sign! Last weekend I was walking through a parking lot, crossing at a crosswalk with a stop sign for cars. The car wasn't going to stop! I'm pregnant and was carrying Lauren, yet it still didn't want to heed -- or follow the law for that matter. This morning I almost t-boned a bright red jaguar. (I'll bet the lady would've been awfully upset to have this happen to her car, but I'm sure she could've afforded both our bills.) I'm driving up our street to leave the neighborhood and there's a stop sign at the last street. Most people use this as a "yield" sign rather than the stop sign that it is and that's bad enough. This lady didn't try to stop at all... Instead, she started turning left, which was into my direction. She sees me, stops suddenly (and I was paying attention, luckily) and mouths "sorry". I told her to get off her phone and pay more attention! Now, I know these stupid people aren't going to read this, but I needed to get this out. STOP SIGNS ARE NOT OPTIONAL! If they're in neighborhoods or parking lots, they still mean the same thing.

Milestones

2008-07-22T15:50:00.003-04:00

We pass many milestones in our lifetime, but today is a very special day. Eight years ago, Matt and I got married! We've seen a lot in those eight years (well, ten years) -- the most significant being the birth of our two children, and one on the way! We'll pass through many more highs and lows together, but today we can pause and celebrate us. Happy Anniversary, Matt... I love you forever!

Goodbye, Dear Emmy

2008-07-21T11:17:00.010-04:00

Miss Emmy Lou

February 13, 2000-July 21, 2008

Beloved Pet, Great Companion... You will be missed!

Our beloved black lab, Emmy, died very early this morning. She's had it rough the past year or so, especially the past few months. As is common with labs, she had hip problems, and since she was a bigger lab it affected her greatly. The past five days were the worst, as she refused to eat (even treats, eventually) and finally shut down. I was with her when it happened, and while it was one of the hardest things I've been through, it was nice to finally see her at peace. She was a huge part of this family, and was one of our "kids" before there really were kids!

Emmy was always happy, and usually had a smile on her face. Yes, she smiled... :) You'd walk in the door and she'd jump up and give you a gentle kiss on your lips. It was always the highlight of coming home from work, and I missed it when she was unable to jump like that anymore. She loved to swim, roll in the grass, and make snow angels. Emmy was just a great dog and friend, and will be extremely missed, just as she was loved.

This is so much harder than I ever thought it would be...

20 Weeks -- Halfway There!

2008-07-18T20:50:00.010-04:00

Wow... halfway done already! Sometimes it feels like it's been a long twenty weeks; others it seems it can't be halfway over yet! And you never know... I could be closer than that, depending on if baby wants to make an early arrival! :) Let's hope he's not late... Yes, baby is now referred to as "he", as we learned earlier this week (just in case you didn't catch that blog). We're very excited, and have begun talking about names. Nothing too intense yet -- just throwing names out there. Please suggest some on my name blog!

I've been feeling wonderful. I've had lots of energy, my appetite has drastically increased, been sleeping okay, and have only gained 8.5 lbs. Trust me, I'm eating. I'm not trying to not gain weight! See, honey, those extra snacks and ice cream are just fine. ;) I've been walking on the trail once a week with my moms group, anywhere from 3-5 miles. I also stay busy with the kids (bet you didn't think that!) and am constantly moving. Baby has been moving more and more as well, but isn't as active as the other two were. Or maybe just not yet...

(20 weeks now; 20 weeks with Lauren. Doesn't seem too much different... and definitely not ready to pop!)

Here's what's going on with baby: "Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion." [Side note: The ultrasound showed he weighed about 12 ounces already!]

And with Mommy: "Congratulations! You've hit the halfway mark in your pregnancy. The top of your uterus is about level with your belly button, and you've likely gained around 10 pounds. Expect to gain another pound or so each week from now on. Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron to keep up with your expanding blood volume, as well as for your growing baby and the placenta. Red meat is one of the best sources of iron for pregnant women. Poultry (especially the dark meat) and shellfish also contain iron. Some common non-meat sources of iron include legumes, soy-based products, spinach, prune juice, raisins, and iron-fortified cereals."

Lauren's a Baby Boomlet!

2008-07-18T09:15:00.003-04:00

Baby Boomlet Sets Yearly Birth Record

WASHINGTON -- More babies were born in the United States last year than ever before, according to preliminary data, but it's not another baby boom just yet.

About 4,315,000 children were born in 2007, about 15,000 more births than the peak time of the baby boom in 1957, said Stephanie Ventura, a demographer at the National Center for Health Statistics, which compiled the data from provisional birth certificate registrations at state health departments.

"According to our provisional data, we had the highest number of births ever reported in 2007," she said.

But this doesn't mean there's a baby boom under way. In the mid-'50s about as many babies were being born from a lot fewer women.

"What this really reflects is that the population has grown so much in the United States, so you naturally expect more births," Ventura said. "It's hard to call this a baby boom at this point."

Years leading up to 2007 showed slight increases in the number of births, not the substantial growth of the baby boom years, which were 1946 through 1964, Ventura said.

Everything is Going to be Okay

2008-07-16T20:21:00.003-04:00

My day today has been much better. Days like yesterday are just the pits! I was much calmer about things today, and just sort of let things sink in. Sometimes it's still just hard to believe that baby #3 is on his way! We went to the pool with my moms' group today, and I think talking to them about the baby (and them being excited for me) made me feel better about it all. Also venting to Mandy yesterday helped a TON, as well as getting it out in a blog. I've learned not to keep things bottled in or I just feel worse.

Still making decisions about the bedroom situation, but I started thinking about how much fun it will be to redecorate two bedrooms for the kids! I've already got some images in my head as to how they will be. Now the problem will be finding things to make these images reality! :)

Sometimes It's All Too Much...

2008-07-15T15:05:00.006-04:00

So I consider myself a pretty sane person. One who maintains control most the time, mostly because I like things planned out and organized. But right now I'm feeling pretty overwhelmed by everything. These times I'm just not really myself -- so out of control, start crying without reason, get freaked out by little things. I was so overjoyed yesterday to discover that we're having another boy. It's what I wanted! But he was a little unexpected -- and out of my plans. This was supposed to be happening next year after we tried selling the house again (and hopefully moved!). But, my plans aren't what matters. Everything is in God's hands... He has a plan, and only He knows it. That doesn't mean I have a hard time accepting that sometimes! Maybe if I was just a little filled in...

Anyway, at the moment I'm trying to figure out the bedroom situation. I know I've got time, it's just my incessant need to have things planned and organized. I think we have decided on putting both Lauren and Carter into Carter's current room. We'll have to get a loft or bunk beds, as his full size bed and her toddler bed just won't fit with much play room. There's plenty of room in the closet for both clothes (I hope so, anyway -- they have more clothes than I do!), and they can share a dresser since I hang most things up. The problem is... I'm having a hard time thinking about "taking" Lauren's room away from her. The fun part will be redecorating at least. :) But are they really ready to share a room? It just feels so forced and out of place... And it's so much change all at once for Lauren -- new baby, new room, new bed. I guess one at a time, since baby will be in our room for a few months after he's born anyway.

I just feel like I can't keep up with it all anymore. Trying to be involved with my moms group (of which I'm stepping down as organizer next month), trying to be the best mom, wife, and housekeeper... It just can't be done while maintaining my sanity! It also allows me no "me time", of which I desperately need! There's just so much to get done, and while I'm continually working on everything it seems nothing gets done! Instead, more things get added to my to-do list. I don't need things perfect, and I know I'm far from it, but I am a perfectionist. This is not good when you have two kids and two dogs!

Speaking of dogs... I did take Emmy to the vet a couple weeks ago. The vet said labs should live to at least ten years, but I can tell you that Emmy is not doing well at almost 8.5 years old. She just acts much older... She's got a few fatty lipomas that have gotten bigger, has had hip problems since she was probably around five years old, struggles to get up from sitting or laying, and now has a corneal abrasion from an eyelid that rolls in. We treated the eye with antibiotic gel and it's much better. The vet was very confused as to why her eyelid is rolling inwards, as dogs are always born with it rather than it developing. For now, we're treating Emmy with some thyroid medication (she's borderline hypo-thyroidism) to see if she can lose a little weight and help her hips, and also some aspirin. I'm doing it for a month to see if she improves. If not, we'll discuss having to put her down. I honestly love Emmy more than I could ever say, but I can't stand to see her this way. Plus, the amount of time and energy it takes to take care of an aging, large-breed dog is getting to be too much for me. And believe me, I feel guilty for thinking that! If you could only see her hobble and hear her whine!

Anyway, true ramblings of my mind. I guess I'm just tired of the day-to-day. Keeping up with housework, making every meal, etc. I just need a little break. And how will it work with three kids? I guess I just feel a little like a dog chasing its tail -- always moving, always working, yet never reaching the end goal...

Baby Appointment

2008-07-14T16:27:00.010-04:00

Probably the most anxious day for me... I'd never be able to wait until I actually had the baby to find out! :P And isn't it just as much of a surprise halfway through as it is at the end? I think so anyway! So we went in for the ultrasound. The sonographer asked if we had any idea what it was, and I told her Carter's been telling everyone he's going to have a baby brother. She thought it was maybe because he already had a baby sister, but he actually told people Lauren was going to be a sister! She asked Carter if he had magical powers and he said yes! I actually thought boy on Saturday, girl yesterday, and boy today. For other people, I'm usually 100% sure... not so for me. If anyone wants to know what they're having, just ask Carter. IT'S A BOY! [He can also draw the date you'll have the baby out of a hat -- he won two baby pools last year! Maybe he does have magical powers... :)]

Everything looked great on the ultrasound. He's measuring 20 wks 2 days (I'm 19 wks 3 days today) and had a heartrate of 133 bpm. My quad screening also came up negative -- the chance of having Downs Syndrome is 1/10,000, so looks very positive for everything being normal. I've posted the three best ultrasound pics. He had his head turned, but we got a pretty good profile shot. He definitely wasn't shy about showing he was a boy though! :) Now it's on to discussing names...

Lauren's First Trip to the Dentist

2008-07-14T11:16:00.003-04:00

Lauren went to the dentist for the first time today. I know, a lot of you are saying, "Already?!?" Yep... they actually recommend going at one year, or when they have their first teeth (if that's later). Since Lauren's teeth popped through pretty early, I'd rather be sure to have great dental care and monitoring. She now has 10 teeth! Her top cuspids (on either side of top four teeth) have popped through, and at least three of her molars are on the cusp! It doesn't look like her bottom cuspids are far behind either... :) She does have a hematoma by her top left molar, which is just some bleeding in the tooth sac under the gums. The dentist said it's nothing to worry about though. It just makes it look blue! He said everything looks great, and Lauren already likes brushing her teeth. A benefit of starting early! We have been brushing her teeth for some time. :)

Today

2008-07-14T09:09:00.005-04:00

So today is the day... maybe. What if the baby doesn't let us see? Or we do decide not to find out? Regardless, please don't bombard me with phone calls! I promise to get around to everyone in time. I do have two kids that I need to get home afterwards, and get Lauren down for a nap. Be patient with me! :) There will be a post later today all about the appointment. We do discuss things other than the gender. ;)

Oh, and just in case the poll disappears, the tally as of right now is 8 boy, 9 girl, and 6 surprise. Pretty even!

The Difference

2008-07-13T19:13:00.003-04:00

So, here is a picture of me now, at 19 weeks, and a picture of me the night before Lauren was born. See the difference? So why are people asking me if I'm about to pop?!?

Seriously? Give me a break...

2008-07-12T15:58:00.003-04:00

"Are you due anytime now?" This is the question asked to me this afternoon by the cashier at Lowe's. The look on her face when I told her I was due in December was priceless! I told her it was number three, which most women understand that you get bigger sooner with subsequent pregnancies. I guess she's never had a baby, because she thought I meant I was having three! Okay, so I know I'm big... but not that big! Next time I'm following Matt's advice and telling them I'm not pregnant. I wonder what kind of look I'll get then... ;)

19 Weeks and Counting!

2008-07-11T22:19:00.007-04:00

I'm now 19 weeks along, but feeling (and looking) much, much further ahead. I still get blank looks when people hear my due date. Yes, I'm sure that's correct. Of course, come Monday this baby may show us all just how big s/he is! It might have been a mistake changing my due date nine days later in the beginning... Or, much to my surprise, the baby could be right on and I'm just huge. Let's hope it's the former! :) (Or as Matt says, it's not really a baby but all the donuts I've been eating, HA!) Despite my size, I have only gained a total of 8.5 pounds, and have not been eating donuts! :)

I've been feeling pretty good lately. Really tired, but I've also been really busy. Still having trouble with my sciatic nerve and its associated pain. I also don't sleep very well, despite figuring out how to somewhat sleep on my belly. But, it all comes with the territory.

I think Carter's starting to really know what's going on. We do talk quite a bit about the baby, and Mandy even asks him for name suggestions. But he has been showing more interest lately. Lauren also pats my belly (and says belly), but she's too young to really know. It will be very interesting when #3 gets here!

(19 weeks today; 19 weeks with Lauren. It just doesn't seem right...)

Here's what's going on with baby: "Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, taking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you. Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom —about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid."

What's going on with Mommy? "Think you're big now? You'll start growing even more rapidly in the weeks to come." Yeah, great, thanks.

Only three more days! I'm so looking forward to Monday afternoon and the ultrasound. I go back and forth on what I think I'm having. So far, I'm one for two -- Amanda found out today that she is having a boy. :) Congratulations!!

Our Zoo Trip

2008-07-10T22:11:00.005-04:00

Today we went to the Indianapolis Zoo. My nephew, Theoren, has been staying with us all week, so we wanted to do something fun! We had a good time, although I will say that I'm a bit disappointed in this zoo. It was much smaller than I thought, and the exhibits weren't all that big (or had that many animals). In the Ft. Wayne zoo, our most frequented, you see animals as you walk along. Indianapolis had paths all over and you only saw animals once you were at the exhibits. Even then, there were only one or two in each habitat, and they weren't very active -- it was a little hot today though. But, overall we did have fun. We saw an elephant show that was neat. We liked seeing them do their tricks!

One of their popular exhibits is the koala bears. They were fun to see -- one was sleeping, but the other showed off for the onlookers. I got him once he curled up, but also stretching out and saying hi.Another one of the boys' favorite animals was the bald eagle. At first we only saw the turkey vulture (and the dead chicks strewn on a branch for it!) and the ravens. As we were walking away, we looked up and saw the magnificent eagle. It's HUGE up close!

We also saw the dolphin show. The pictures didn't turn out great, but it was fun to watch. I think it was even more fun to watch Carter watch the show! :) All in all, a great day. It was nice being outside and watching the kids get so excited to see everything. Lauren did great all day, and conked out as soon as the car started moving (seriously, not even out of the parking lot and she was asleep!). At least she doesn't get cranky if she misses a nap... You can see all of our pictures here.

Playing Chase

2008-07-08T17:19:00.003-04:00

This video was taken a while ago (June 16th), but I just got it uploaded to YouTube. Sam came over to play, and he'd crawl around while Lauren "chased" him. It was so fun to watch! The video is a bit long...

Our Little CopyCat

2008-07-07T20:37:00.002-04:00

Lauren likes to mimic things she hears -- motorcycles going by, noises or faces we make, songs we sing, or words we say. Here is her latest...

Dreams

2008-07-07T09:33:00.003-04:00

So, strange dreams are common in pregnancy. Mine are strange sometimes, but they're always vivid and very real-life-like. My ex is usually present in many of them. I won't get into that, other than I did read that it's common and usually reassures the mother-to-be that she chose the right man to be the father of her children. I know I did! :) In last night's dream the sex of both mine and Amanda's (sis-in-law) babies were revealed. I've had dreams before and always with the same results. For some reason, though, I had to learn through Matt what my result was. Wouldn't I have been there?!?! Anyway, for the longest time I thought I was having a girl (twins at first, actually). Then it suddenly changed. The past month or so I've thought it was a boy. So I'm really not sure... But I've always had a feeling for Amanda -- and I can say that my "feeling" has been right for everyone I've known to be pregnant! My dream last night was the same as that feeling -- Amanda, I really think you're going to have a boy. I know you want a girl! In the dream, I was having a girl. Surprisingly, I was disappointed but Matt wasn't. I guess we'll see soon enough! Amanda has her ultrasound this Friday and I have mine next Monday. :)

(Oh, I should mention that while pregnant with Carter I had a dream where I actually gave birth to a girl. We all know Carter's not a girl!)

18 Weeks

2008-07-04T16:59:00.003-04:00

Happy Independence Day! I'm now 18 weeks along and feeling every minute (and more!) of it. Last week I had so much energy, but this was a much busier week. It seems if I do any sort of walking, or especially when I vacuum, my sciatic nerve goes nuts and I can't walk. The pain in my lower back and shooting down both my legs is the worst I've ever had! I have gotten hungrier -- one day this week I had five meals! I did do a lot that day, though, and most of it was healthy. :) I don't know if I've gotten much bigger in the last week, but I did gain 2.5 pounds (making it six overall). Here's today's pic... sorry, I must've missed week 18 with Lauren!

Here's what's going on with baby: "Head to rump, your baby is about 6 inches long and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound."

And with Mommy: "Hungry? An increase in appetite is pretty common about now. Make it count by choosing meals and snacks that are rich in nutrients instead of empty calories (chips, French fries, candy, and other sweets). Bigger, more comfortable clothes are a must now as your appetite and waistline grow. Your cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and during this trimester your blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. Don't spring up too fast from a lying or sitting position or you might feel a little dizzy. From now on, when you do lie down, it's best to lie on your side — or at least partly tilted to one side. (When you lie flat on your back, your uterus can compress a major vein, leading to decreased blood return to your heart.) Try placing a pillow behind you or under your hip or upper leg for comfort."