I resolute... and have this baby!

Hope everyone had a very nice Christmas!

We did around here.

Which reminds me...

New Years. Resolutions.

Are upon us.

{Whelp!}

Here goes:

I resolute {promise, pinkie swear, aim eagerly}...

To try harder at going to church this year. Every Sunday.

To making a great effort to be debt free by years end.

To really making my garden grow this coming season.

To devote more time to just play with my kids.

On the floor. In the backyard. At the pool. Wherever. Whenever they ask.

To work out with my Hub. At least two times a week. But, hoping for three?

To eat more wholely {sp?}. Raw vegetables. Whole grains. Organic variety.

To relax.

And breathe everyday in. Just soak in every inch of being a stay at home momma of three.

To redo the front room and flip it into a workable, usable space for me and the kids.

Wainscotting. Built in shelving. A window bench seat. Built in desk area. Chore boards. Picture frames on the wall.

To make window coverings. For nearly every window...

And sew some ruffle pants and circle skirts for the girls.

And dresses.

{If I manage to get my skills to an acceptable level}

Take my Etsy shop to a new level. Meaning actually adding items to it. And then keeping it up to date.

Taking photos. And making albums that you can actually flip through.

Hang up framed pictures of our family. Immediate and extended included.

Go on dates with Hub.

And last but not least I resolute to kiss my Hub even when it might seem inappropriate/awkward.

{grocery store, church parking lot, the shower...}

 There you have it. A grand list of to do's for 2012.

Anyone else have any resolutions to share?

Oh, and since we are still sharing things.

I guess I will update my baby status too.

My facebook page has already stated that I am 37 weeks.

And, unfortunately, after yesterday's ultrasound it was determined that Little Miss is still snuggling her momma right side up.

I was not happy.

Actually, I was irritated yesterday after hearing the news.

But after doing the baby dance {not the bedroom kind... I am talking about the upside down spin on my head kind of dance... with all my clothes on} last night, I am hopeful.

Dear Nev turned at 38 weeks after just two day sessions of moxibustion.

And I will be doing nearly the same thing this go round too.

If my reflux wasn't so bad throughout the day I would lay around with my hiney in the air.

Or walk continuously down the stairs on my hands and knees.

But, at this stage, I can honestly profess that when I bend over to pick anything up... up chucks whatever I ate along with it.

She WILL turn. She has to. Or she isn't coming out!

{uhhhh... wait a minute, maybe that isn't a good idea either}

Anyhow, next Tuesday I will have a brief scan for position and will update accordingly.

Looking forward to a little New Years at home this year with my family.

Happy New Year everyone!!

See you in 2012.

Hogwart and Christmas

As many may already know, I am playing host to a very stubborn little girl again.

That's right.

This third baby is also breech and I am officially 36 weeks!

{Eek!}

That means in one month {or less} we will no longer be a family of four.

We will be considered a party of five.

And I couldn't be more excited!

The weeks are just flying by.

The days... well they are harder to get through.

In part because of the large bags that occupy the space under my eyes. From lack of sleep. 

The braxton hicks that come in waves from such things as going up and down the stairs and putting on shoes.

Still pretty regular heartburn. But it has almost become such second nature, that I am hardly bothered by it anymore. I just reflux acid and move on these days.

Plantar fascia pain in both my feet.

And the constant need to find a shirt from the Hub's drawer/closet just to cover the bottom of my belly.

Then there is this whole breech issue.

Which in recent days has become uncomfortable because her head sits right below my ribcage.

I am gearing up to try moxibustion again. Starting tonight.

It is a form of acupuncture using hogwart incense, instead of needles.

And it worked last time.

At 38 weeks!

So I have no doubt this time will work too.

I am starting tonight because it is supposed to work within a week of doing it. In intervals of 15-20 minutes two times a day.

Which would put me at 37 weeks and just in time for my last ultrasound next week to get a weight and approximate measurement.

Thinking I might just make it the full forty weeks with this one too. Which is totally fine.
Since I still need to wash the carseat cover, find the snowbaby suit and find any last minute items I may have forgotten a newborn would need.

Crazy how fast the last couple weeks are going to come and go.

Afterall, Christmas 2011 is almost in the history books!

{Whew! That was fast!}

The children have really enjoyed this holiday season, making it so wonderful for us as well.

Errands have even been fun!

We spend the car ride with the music cranked high.

Singing Sleigh Ride while whipping our horses, and calling out "Alvinnnnnnn" between chuckling and listen to them sing in their little voices. And then there is the Santa Baby song. Where they will both insist that they do not like the baby Santa... just the BIG Santa. But I can't turn the station because they like to hear it all the way to the end. Every time.

{just makes me smile everytime}

.

Watching the Grinch Who Stole Christmas nearly everyday for the last three weeks, at least once a day.

Making handprint ornaments.

And counting down the days together.

And then last night, we took them to Darlington to find something {cheap} to give each other. Nolan was going to find me something. And Nev was supposed to find something for daddy.

Nev, well she could have cared less, as she nearly fell asleep in the twenty minute car ride there.

I simply occupied her with a sticker page, while I found something her brother and daddy might like to have.

Nolan however, was very into it as him and daddy snuck away from the girls, to pick out everything that he thought sissy and I would like.

When he got up to the register he had such concern because he realized he didn't have any money to pay for the stuff himself.

So daddy told him calmly that he would give him money to buy the stuff and just melted the little lady's heart that was checking them out. {and mine when the Hub told me the story}

We tried to instill that it is important to give for Christmas, too.

And after asking insistently the whole way back home what sissy picked for him, he finally fell asleep in the backseat. Only to wake up this morning and tell sissy over breakfast that he bought her some new hairbows!

{Love}

Looking forward to a very fun filled weekend with family.

And making memories that will last me the rest of my days.

Merry Christmas to all!

baby it's cold outside

This baby, however, is NOT cold.

She is snuggled up warm inside her momma's belly.

Sleeping away most of the day.

With an occasional flip flop {from side to side}.

Somersault.

And olympic lap swim.

Oh and hiccups.

Lots and lots of hiccups in recent weeks.

I have my 35 week appointment on Friday to find out if this babe is still in a breech position.

To which, all the shenanigans of trying to get her to flip, will begin.

Crazy how fast time is flying, especially with such a busy holiday schedule and my upcoming birthday bash being right around the corner.

Not so distant future posts will be about my sleep cycle or lack there of, because of a newborn.

Whoa.

Horsey.

Slow down for just a second, so I can remember this time in my life as a fond memory.

Not a blur.

Thank ya.



#5 Take my boards and PASS

Well.

It happened.

I indeed took my Nursing boards, again.

This time I did not get all 265 questions.

I got 78.

Woot!

Or so I thought...

I left the test center with a huge grin on my face, almost giddy.

Because I knew so many people that had passed after getting so few of questions.

The minimum number of questions you can pass with are 75, the most being 265.

After getting two very different tests each time I can now say {after paying $7.95 to find out}

that I have failed both.

I know.

It is disappointing.

And my hopes were soaring high from all the success stories I had heard.

But, if I may be honest, I wasn't expecting to pass.

I was just hoping to.

For the sake of putting those wretched books to rest.

I have been out of Nursing school for nearly two and a half years.

The last time I took my boards was in September of 2009.

And I just missed passing then...

I barely have enough time for myself, let alone a great deal of time to sit down and really stick my nose in a Nursing review book.

But I realize I should have taken it more seriously.

I should have devoted myself to finding good websites to help me set up a strategy to study with.

I guess that is what next time is going to be for.

Which I can say, will happen a lot sooner than a span of two years, in between tests.

Got to keep it fresh.

As if I have a freshness in Nursing at all.

Anyhow, there it is.

The result.

As pitiful as it is.

Fail.

Technically, I can't even cross this off my 30 before 30 because my intent was to take them and pass...

{sigh}

All good things must come to an end...

I was waiting to post this until we had roughly a week under our belt.

Well...
a week has come, and gone.


And I can officially say, that my children...
now sleep in their own room!!!

I know.
I know.
It's crazy.

That a three and a half year old boy, and a two year old girl... no longer sleep in their parents bedroom!


And, let me just say, those parents...
couldn't be happier with their decision to regain control of their bedroom.

No longer do we sleep like a bunch of college kids in one room. {In a very disorderly fashion might I add}
With one in the middle {laying sideways}, and one at the foot of the bed.

I wholeheartedly agree that children are the way that they are...
because of their parents.

We could have done this long ago.
We just chose not to.

Honestly, I found security knowing they were there.
All.
Night.
Long.
And would wake up immediately if they made the slightest sound.

Which by the way, hasn't changed, even though they are upstairs now.
I will dash up those stairs at the first sound of my name in the middle of the night.
And will curl up next to their bed, until they fall back asleep.


I also check on them at least two times a night, when I am awoke by the urgent/frequent sensation to empty my bladder.

It takes dedication.
And persistance.

And showers of praise after they wake up in the morning.

But it makes me feel like I am doing something for them that needed to be done.
For our sake and theirs.


Another good thing that has come from this: I am inspired to get our bedroom to a state of adulthood now.
With framed pictures on our dresser. And lamps.
Wainscotting on the walls.
Window treatments.


Can't wait until spring when I am without child, and can actually do some of the things I have been dreaming up. Without fear of falling over from being tired, or clumsy.

#24 Wake up before the sunrise and make breakfast

Since the time changed last weekend, this seemed to be only a matter of time.

The hub had an appointment at 8am last Friday, so I got up with him to make him breakfast.

A sausage, egg and cheese sandwich. And some orange juice.

Then, I put the dirty pans in the sink.

Gave him a kiss goodbye.

 And went back to bed until the kids got up at 9am.

To which I made breakfast again.

{Yogurt and cereal counts, right?} 

Oh Sugar! I'm 28 weeks!

Pregnancy #3.

Progressing along at a rather steady pace now.

And reporting in at a whopping 28 weeks!

The good:

Feeling the baby move. Like crazy. Every night. And sporadically throughout the day.

Realizing the reason I look so wide this time around is because the baby is actually in a side lying or transverse position. Whew! That's a sigh of relief... pfft!

Going through all the girly websites thinking about having two girls to buy for. This would definately be on the bad side for the Hub...

Being energized enough to maintain a clean house. Even the laundry!
And finding time to cook some homestyle meals too.


Paying only shipping for a {very easily could have made it myself} fabric sling that retails for $48!



The not so good:

Having regular bouts of heartburn.

Suffering from sleepless nights.

Due to an inability to find a comfortable position, and being woke up in the middle of the night by an olympic swimmer doing relays... for hours.

Suffering from instant grouchiness after trying to put on shoes from any position.
Feeling breathless if I lay on my back. If even for just a minute or two.

Snug fitting shirts.

Tight pants.

{Feeling gracious for  s t r e t c h y  cotton these days.}

Realizing that when I smile, my eyes are disappearing in pictures, because there is so much water weight {already?!} in my face that my cheeks are big enough to make them go away.

 

Not to mention the fact that I feel like the Hub looks at me like MotoMoto in Madagascar, although he won't say it.

His eyes... "oh you big! you chunkayyyy!!!"
His mouth... "you're the most beautiful pregnant momma... ever?"

Getting on the scale last week at the doctor and realizing I only have 8 pounds before I hit my total weight gain for both previous pregnancies... with more than 3 months to continue growing.
{Hope no one minds... because next time I am checking in naked.}



Consuming sugar and sweets like it is a major food group.
I am already excited about stealing the kids trick or treating goodies next week.
Oh sugar!
{I call dibs on ALL the Butterfinger!! Seriously.}


And then of course, the whole name game we play every night.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ.

Oh.
The joy.
The ride.
The stories I will tell.

To be, or not to be... an N

So.

I've been thinking.

And droehming.
{again}

Of baby names!

I liked Henley.

Mallory. {meaning was bad omen/luckless... no thank you}

Finley.

And, Hazel.

But nothing seemed right. Between the two of us.
There was no "ooooooh, ahhhhhhh" feeling that was mutual.
And a definite "yes! that's it!" was never agreed upon.

So now I am back to picking a name that follows suit.

Yes.
{I know}
The dreaded N.

Where do I even begin.
I loathe all the typical N names for girls.
Which leaves little room for anything but foreign sounding names on the list.

So what is a mother to do?
Because I for one...
have literally been lying awake at night putting syllables and letters together in my head.

 To come up with these.
{in no particular order}

Navina
Noryava
Nyra
Nivian
Nitzel

I mean it is just a name.
Something that will stand for the person they will be called for
the rest.of.their.life.
No pressure.


Right?

Meet Moses

Meet our new dog.

 

Moses.

#19 Swim in a Lazy River

This past Sunday we checked into our hotel at Kalahari Resorts.

Just a short little drive over into Ohio...

and we were ready to start the relaxation/rejuvenation even a short vacation can provide.

The kids were anticipating the trip almost as much as we were.
We had been to Kalahari one time before... when Nolan was just ten months old.
So we kind of knew what to expect.
But being able to share that with both Nolan and Nev now... was going to be even better.

After arriving Sunday evening, we hurriedly changed into our bathing suits and got down to the waterpark about an hour before they were to close. We played in the kiddie pool, the wave pool and floated down the lazy river. Twice.

It was everything that I remembered. And the kids seemed to really enjoy it.


By 9pm when the waterpark closed, we realized we hadn't eaten since we left home... so we ordered a monster sized pepperoni pizza and some cokes.
{which gave me instant heartburn}

Then we hit the sack in preparation for a long day the next day.

Monday came and we spent nearly all day at the waterpark.
Doing much of the same things as we did the night before.
We got dumped on by a huge bucket of water at the kid play area, rode some waves, and Nolan even got the courage to try the waterslide by himself. And ended up loving it!

We also spent a great deal of time in the on site "game room". Something the kids loved doing. And I do mean all three of them.
{wink wink}

We watched Cars2 in our room that afternoon, while Nevaly napped.
Then decided to eat outside of the hotel for dinner, and drove down to Red Lobster to have crabcakes and all you can eat shrimp!
We came back to fill up a bag of candy at the hotel's Candy Hut.
Then finished the evening by playing another round of games in the Game Room.

We were set to check out at 11am on Tuesday, and had planned to stay for most of the afternoon in the waterpark again, but Nolan developed a fever Monday night that lasted into Tuesday, so we let them climb around in the Tree Top Playset for 45 minutes... before heading for home.

The trip was short, but sweet. In more ways than one.
{which reminds me... I have my 28 week sugar test tomorrow! eeek!}

And, just like that.... another 30 Before 30 is done.

#21 Organize the Outgrown Baby Clothes

I spent most of last week rearranging things.

I finally got the brand new fan in Nolan's room to work.

{okay, I didn't actually do it... but it's done}

And, I also went through all of the clothes to find out what, if anything, I would need for another baby girl in January.

Turns out I had a lot more than I thought I did!

Besides a rainbow plethera of hairbows... these girls have way too many clothes!

I have stuff in 3 various sized boxes right now, ranging in size from 3-6M all the way up to 18-24M!

The newborn up to 3M clothes I rearranged into one of the dressers for the new baby.

Then Nev's dresser got rearranged for winter/fall.

And all her dresses got hung up in the closet.

I also moved the crib and added the vintage rocker back into the girls room.

I need big totes to store the clothes, but I can officially say that all the clothes have been organized!

So there you have it.

Another important 30 Before 30 has the COMPLETED stamp on it!

A Two Year Old Pumpkin

It is amazing, and sad really, how fast our world turns.
Like many mothers, I can recollect both of my children's births... like they happened yesterday.
Each one down to the nitty gritty details.

Going day to day.
Pedaling through our routines and patterns like we do.
Makes me forget sometimes, just how very fast...
they are growing up.

This month alone, we become the proud parents of a two year old pumpkin!
Who I am delighted to spend my whole day with. Everyday.

She has brought such whimsy and laughter into our little world.

She has been known to sing the sweetest version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. In the car. At the dinner table. Or after I tuck her into bed.

She can create the largest birds nest in her {blonde?!} hair after a nap or an evening of sleep. And then refuse to let me brush it out even if I use detangler.
 She loves putting on shoes. Even if they are not hers.
She is completely obsessed with stickers. So much so, that we felt compelled to buy her entire books for this years birthday.
She loves brushing her teeth. By herself.
She plays Batman with her brother. As Batman too.

Loves her grandparents. All of them. And will include each one individually in our prayers at night.
Will giggle uncontrollably if you tickle her neck or armpits.
Likes wearing "jewelry" and getting gussied up in tutus. Or a horse costume.

Loves to play outside. And would swing for hours if allowed.
Will often climb behind the wheel to drive her brothers oversized power wheel even though she can barely see over the dash, and doesn't know how to turn it.
Rarely takes baths. Not because she doesn't like them, she has just always taken a shower.
Loves listening to music. And will tell you if she doesn't like a song on the radio.

Loves to watch me make things in the kitchen. And will often request to "help"... by tasting my creation.
Enjoys coloring. On everything.
Sleeps sideways in our bed. Every night.
Will count to three. And knows a variety of her colors.
Says she is going to the grocery or Hobby Lobby, as she waves "bye" from the front door.
Likes to help water the plants, just to get a drink from the hose.
Will share her treat, but will remind you to take only a tiny bite.

Has only twelve of her teeth so far. But will make the prettiest "cheese" for pictures if you ask her.

Has riden on an airplane.
Seen the ocean.
Swam in a pool and a lake.
Traveled to Florida and Michigan. And soon to Ohio.

She loves to eat. And will often be the first and the last person to the table. You know she has had a good meal when it is splattered all over her face or clothes.
Prefers cheese and yogurt. Any kind of fruit. Pizza. Noodles. Peanut butter sandwiches. And rainbow sherbet over any kind of ice cream.
Loves her babies. But sleeps with a bunny.
She loves to read books. And can often be found up in the closet with a pile of books scattered around her.

Loves to tease her daddy by beating him up one minute, and then giving him lip kisses the next. And will fall asleep in the crook of his armpit or the curve of his spine.

Her brother... is her best friend.
Loves animals.
Sings her ABC's closer to the tune of "E.I.E.I.E.I.O.A.E."...
Likes to watch Dora and Spongebob. And will sing the wonder pets "the phone is ringing!" randomly around the house.
Will fall asleep in the car, even if she is eating something.
Will hold a worm.
Loves Jesus. And will say her mealtime prayer by folding her hands and adding the 'Amen' as we conclude.

She can throw me into a belly laugh, by just being herself.

She is amazing.
And beautiful.
And I am beyond grateful to have her in my life.

I delight in your ways, my sweet girl.
Happy 2nd Birthday!

Love, Momma

Belly Full of Jelly

Only 24 weeks.
Heartburn has officially begun.

I am now sporting the pregnancy jeans. Which by the way are NOT Maternity pants, just simply pants in bigger sizes to accomodate the {much} larger rear end and belly, pregnancy blesses my body with.

I am uncomfortable sleeping. In any position.

Get up to pee. All too often.

And when I lay flat on my back, I can not breathe.

Oh, and I am eating sweets like there is nothing else in the house.

Right now, I am eating a Halloween Oreo. It is the second package I have bought since they came out like three weeks ago.

 

Pretty certain I will be sporting a belly full of jelly appearance sooner than Christmas!
{HoHoHo?}
Mmmmm. Ho-Ho's.
Just kidding.

Just to recap.

This is a picture from 24 weeks... when I was pregnant with Nevaly.

This is me at 24 weeks with the third baby.

If I am not bigger... I certainly feel bigger this time.

Anyhow, there it is. The belly. 24 weeks.

 

Mums the Word.

Couple more things I simply adore about the coming season...

My favorite are the orange. With red following in a close second.

Apparently, my brood of chickens have taken a liking {or disliking} to the newly planted pretties as well...

So I remedied the issue by putting wood barbeque skewers pointy side up in the window box.

We shall see {or hear} what happens...



Remember September

Strange how I can barely remember where my purse and keys are most days,

but can somehow tell you exactly where I was when I first heard about the attacks

ten years ago.

I was 19.

Taking college courses and working part time at Bob Evans.

It was Tuesday and I was supposed to be into work at 10am to do the Carry Out counter.

I was already in my work clothes and driving in my Tercel. Just listening to the radio like I always did.

I was on my way to {the now} Hub's house to get my apron that I had left from the day before.

It was almost 9am when I heard a short radio broadcast exclaiming the amount of paper that was coming from the sky in New York between switching channels.

They said there was ash and paper just falling. Everywhere.

No one yet knew that our country was under attack.

The only information available was that a plane had hit one of the Twin Towers.

I immediately called the Hub.

He hadn't heard anything about it.

I let him know I was stopping by his house to get my apron, and we hung up with our usual I Love You's.

I decided it was probably nothing.

Terrible accidents happen everyday.

When I got to his house it was just before 9am. I turned on the TV.

Just in time to witness the second plane smashing into the other tower.

I was awestruck.

And quickly realized this was no accident.

I called the Hub again to tell him what I just saw.

He asked me if I was still going to go to work.

I didn't know what else to do... so yes, I went to work.

When I got up there at 10am everyone was talking about it. Naturally.

We had a small breakroom with a rediculously small television that nearly every employee in the place was stationed to. And honestly, it was hard to watch.

To witness such a huge building crumble to pieces in a fury of smoke and ash, shakes you to the core.

I felt uneasy.

And very sad.

I did everything I could not to cry in front of people I didn't know.

I did everything I could to think of anything but those people.

The people who were trapped.

The people who were jumping to their death.

The people who were just crushed beneath millions of tons of rubble.

The shift went very slow.

And I was just ready to go home.

To be with the people I loved.

To hold them.

And talk to them.

Just because I could.

It was heartbreaking. To watch the coverage. Hear the stories. And see the destruction.

 Something I will never be able to forget.

I watched the one year anniversary documentary and bawled my eyes out reliving that terribly evil day.

And I cried when I watched the Memorial today.

I don't want to forget.

Because every single one of those people deserves to be remembered.

9/11/01

Appetite Crush: Fall Boots

For the love of all things fall.

Yeah, I pretty much love boots.
Tall boots.
Short boots.
Suede boots.
Leather boots.
Brown boots.
Strappy boots.
Red boots.
Dairy boots.
Rain boots.
Cowboy boots.
Fall boots.