and it's oh, so, quiet....

I was facebooking. Not doing my homework, not writing my paper, not doing anything productive. Facebooking. I just wanted 10 minutes with no munchkin interruptions. Wanted to spy on my friends and see what they've been up to since I cancelled my account in October. Noah was in his room with the baby gate and I even remembered to put the garbage on top of his changing table.

He was being very quiet. All you mommys know that is not a good sign. Like I said, hooked in facebookland. After about 5 minutes, I called out to him. Usually I get a "Mommy" or another type of babble. Nothing.

When I finally got my self up and down the hall, this is what my little sweetie pie surprised me with...








He smelled so good, he didn't even need a bath!!!

The Big Mama Blues...

To be more accurate, I would have said "Mama's BIG blues," but it didn't sound right for a title. So what is it about those days when you just feel crummy? And discouraged? And lonely? And more than a bit ungrateful? I hate those days!!

I have also been having one for the past 36 hours. The most annoying part about it is that I have only been StayAtHoming for a week this time. I think it sends me back to isolation days when Noah and I LIVED at the doctor's offices in Illinois.

Everyone says "You're pregnant, you're hormonal." I was before I got pregnant, too. I just feel like a big mess (not big, sizewise-I actually think I'm over that), just bumming around. Noah has been sick this week and I was not feeling well yesterday. I am just soooooooooo tired!

He needs all these extra breathing treatments and feeding him can be a pain in the butt b/c he spends half the time choking. I want to just sleep, but am too anxious or feel guilty about making him sit in his playpen all day. Plus, there's dishes, laundry, all the things that a perfectionist housewife cannot seem to let go. Then I get annoyed because I start feeling like I am doing this all on my own and can I really handle another minute of it?

I keep wondering, how am I gonna juggle all the "mommy and wife business" when I have Autumn, too? Actually, outside of the poo-days, I am usually happy and confident about having 2 kids. However, the flood gates open more frequently and I feel so weak minded sometimes!

I had a mini-spazz when I was on the phone with the third nurse this morning. I hope she couldn't hear it in my voice. Actually I don't care. Thinking "Just another crazy parent" is probably part of her daily routine. I probably deserve it, considering how many times I thought it as a teacher:)

I hung up the phone and had a super huge, and way too long, pity-party. Then I had to recognize that God is not a liar. He will not put more on us than we can handle. This means I must be stronger than I give myself credit for-because of Him!! I called this Parent-To-Parent Support Line (for parents of kids w/ special needs) and started the registration process. Then I did my homework and played with Noah.

Playing with a toddler is one of the most therapeutic things a mommy can do to cure the Mama Blues. I crawled around on the floor, hissing and growling at him while he ran back and forth laughing like a wildman! If only I could maintain the mind frame I have now. Hopefully I got it out of my system. I hate the Big Mama Blues!!!!!

"Eat Eat!"

Every toddler deserves a self-feeding blog debut. His first words involved eating (cracker, cup, bottle - forget mommy or daddy!). His first clearly spoken double syllable was "Eateat," which he says ALL THE TIME. And eating is a favorite past-time for both of us, so here it is.

Though I don't always like to let him feed himself, I was very impressed with how clean HE stayed with this spaghetti (notice I didn't say anything about the tray). When I got the camera, I actually thought to myself "Maybe we won't need a bath, since he did such a good job.

Just a little on the arms...


and kind of alot on the face...


and now he's noticing it on his arm...


and hand, and now he's smacking himself on the head...


guess we have to have a bath after all!"


Oh well, I'm sure I will be happy for all the extra mess when he is a polished self-feeder by the time Autumn arrives! Right? Um, guys, right???

Snowman!

These pics are from a few weeks ago, and I have to take advantage of having my mom's camera for the time being. N got these super cute snowsuits from a freind who has yet to meet him (thanks, Nancy!!!). Considering his immune system and lungs, it took me about 6 weeks to let him venture outside in the blue one (it has a tail on the butt).

We have talked quite a bit about the snow. N used to be adamant about it being "hot!!" every time he saw it. I would say "no, you silly baby, it's cold, brrrr." Finally he caught on and started to say "col, burrrrr, burrr, burrr" incessantly whenever we went to the car. Even when there wasn't any snow. For 3-4 minutes at least.

As you can see, he had no idea what to do- just kept saying "col, burrr, burrrrrr" over and over.


I sat him down after about 5 minutes of being a statue.


The action began when he took his glove off and stuck his hand in the snow ("snuhh").





He didn't cry, but kept wrinking up his face saying "snuhhh, col, burrr, burrr." and then kind of whining because his hand stayed so col.

MESSAGE TO KATI SHAW

Ms. Kati Shaw (aka Mrs. Robby Shaw), I need an email address for you so I can find out what's happening in your life. All our love to you and the boys:)

24 and more!

So, I went to the doc yesterday for my (enter amount of weeks) check-up. The heartbeat sounds great, and she is kicking like a wild woman. Considering how hyperactive Noah continues to be, I am not surprised that his lil' sis is already giving him a run for his money.

I, however, was very surprised when I hopped on the scale. First of all, I couldn't SEE the scale to read it. Interesting, that has never happened to me before! The biggest shocker came when I sashayed my belly and neck around until I finally got a peek......



Yikes!!! 193??!!! I will certainly weigh 200 pounds by the time this pregnancy is over, another first in my life. Well, the belly IS protruding...





According to everything I am reading, the most that she weighs is, like, 2 pounds?? Then you add the 2 pounds of placenta, a few pounds for bigger boobs, enlarged uterus, some water weight, and, hm, I know I am forgetting something.
um...

no...

no...

probably not...

uh-oh...




There it is!! The "small piece" of chocolate cake I ate at one am the other night, plus the six pieces of pizza I ate at work this one day.



Yeah, that's where the other 18 pounds came from. I'm pretty sure anyways.


Though I have yet to proclaim " I'm eating for two," I am (surprisingly) not freaking out about it. I say surprisingly because I used to run 10-15 miles a week, play basketball every day, and be an overall health nut. I HAVE started going back to the gym. This move was okayed by the doc, since I have passed the 24 week mark. I spent just under 12 minutes on the bike the other day and then I had some Whoppers and Root Beer on the way home. Oh well, at least I almost worked up a sweat!

SO, I say "24 and more" because big baby girl can't decide when she wants her due date to be. It was originally May 11th, then moved into April and now back to May. I guess I will just tell people "whenever God decides." Noah taught me that due dates are pretty much irrelevant, anyways!




(Man, that kid makes me look pale-lol!)

Quarantine! (and some pictures)

Did I spell that right? Anyhow, we are, indeed. Noah was discharged from the hospital today. Good thing I am going to be staying at home again in three weeks. That kid likes the schedule of 3-4 doctor appointments a week. I spent the entire morning on the phone setting up asthma clinics, swallow studies, renal specialities, and the list goes on. It's what he needs and I am almost a pro at it (from all the time at the docs in Illinois). ***THIS PARAGRAPH WAS WRITTEN 3 WEEKS AGO***

We found out we are having a girl. There is a name that we both really like, but I'll keep it hush for now. She is apparantly bigger than we expected. My due date has been pushed up to April. I am almost past the time when I delivered Noah, which is just amazing. We are very excited that our family is growing (though some days I wish my belly wouldn't grow quite so quickly-a stretching uterus is hard to explain).

Noah got to practice sharing already. I went shopping for him with a gift card and couldn't resist a cute little girl outfit. She will be spoiled for sure. There are SO MANY boys on my husband's side of the family. On mine, the current b to g ratio of grandkids is 4 to 1. It's over for her, because I can't stand to see little spoiled kids (the teacher in me...).

Noah has been practicing becoming potty trained. For now, it's just fun and games. I think I will try to keep it that way-I hear the boys can be a bit resistant. Plus, we still have 4 months to get it down pact. He is already a pro at feeding himself, and a pretty good listener. Now, if only I could get him to do his own laundry by April...

I am about to start my third Master's class. The books came last week. I'm pretty excited because both classes so far have been very interesting. This one will focus on Educational Theories and the History of Psychology behind them. I don't really know what that means, but it will make me a more aware ex-teacher!

About 6 weeks ago, I discovered that I am a bad mommy. (Really, I'm a great mom, but hear me out). It has been 6 months, SIX MONTHS since I've snapped a picture of my munchkin. This discovery was made with my friend Stacey on the phone. She revealed that she has been taking pics of Noah since Sept. She has been watching him a few days a week for us. It is great because she is great, and Noah gets to play with her son, Josiah. They also used to have a pug- Frankie. So, I hope you enjoy the pictures. Now if I could only find the charger for our camera... It has been MIA since we moved in June.


Still a baby!! (pre-walking)


The chubbiest of cheeks...



This has to be one of my all-time favorites!


Hey Josiah!


Frankie the dog.


He has so much fun playing with Josiah and Stacey!




Knocked out- now that's some good eatin'!