Still Alive

I haven't devoted much any time to blogging lately, so here's a little recap of what I've been up to.

I had a party to celebrate all the babies people are having. The theme was Baby 2012 and we had pink, white, and blue decorations. I crocheted blankets and made little nursing cover strap/clips (you can use it to clip a blanket over you or even to make a bib out of napkin for a kid) for all the mommies to be. I made gift bags with those things and a little bundle of diapers. They turned out cute, but it took some time to get it all done. It was a fun evening!

I also spent a bit of time before the party painting. We got the very last of the kitchen wallpaper off the wall 6 months to the day from when we bought the house! I got the kitchen painted and put up some glass mosaic tile above the skimpy counter backsplash. I still need to grout it. Bob changed out the light above the kitchen table. There's still a lot of things to do around the house, but fewer left that I'm hoping to get done before the baby comes. I'm planning to post before and after pictures on my other blog soon.

I'm now in my ninth month of pregnancy. I'm heavier now than I was at the end of my pregnancy with Kiree. People keep asking me if I'm due any day now. I feel like I could be. I'm lucky that I don't get swollen or have high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. I have my own problems, but it's nice to remember that I don't have other common ones. My left leg is so veiny it looks like it's been beaten. I've gotten so good at taking my shots that I have very few bruises. I'm not sure what position the baby has been in lately, but my leg hasn't hurt for weeks! It's been hurting a little today, so maybe he has gone head down? My next ultrasound is the 20th, so then we'll get to see. The girls are hoping for an April fools baby and I wouldn't mind that.

We think we may have mostly skipped winter here in Maryland. This week is forecast to be sunny and in the 70's. There are daffodils all over and the tulips are coming up. We hear lots of birds singing around our house.

Basket Bingo

On Saturday, Kiree's preschool had their basket bingo. Bingo is not really our thing, but I'm on the fundraising committee and I was helping out, so we all went. Bob and Jaide played bingo. Kiree bounced around between where they were sitting and where I was sitting (near the door selling raffle tickets). Jaide won a lucky neighbor prize (she was sitting next to someone who won a bingo), a cookbook the preschool had made last year, a journal set, a large bar of fancy soap, and lunch box note cards. Jaide was really excited about the cookbook.

They had all the baskets on display and the girls were really excited about one that had games in it.

It had a little mini bowling set in it that I had donated out of my personal kid prize stash. The girls really wanted that silly thing, which made me feel a little bad until I thought about what would have happened if I'd given it to them. I'm sure they would have loved it for a little while and then I would have been stepping on tiny bowling pins until I got fed up and threw them away.

It was interesting to watch the hardcore bingo ladies play.

I think bingo could make an interesting subject for a documentary.

So Tired: A stream of conscious recap of January

It's hard to believe January is almost over. I've been keeping pretty busy despite my lack of blogging. With some help from Bob (and occasionally the kids) I've been getting the last of the wallpaper off the kitchen walls. I've even managed to patch and prime a few of them. It's amazing how long it has taken to get it all off. It's like three layers, fugly shiny top part, papery bottom part, and gluey sticky mess bits.

Kiree is in a co-op preschool this year which she really enjoys, but I'm looking forward to having her in a regular preschool next year. I've enjoyed getting to be in the class with her on occasion and I don't mind bringing snacks and helping clean up. I'm just really tired of being on the fundraising committee. I don't want to beg for stuff from local businesses for the basket bingo any more. I don't want to go to the basket bingo, but I'll do these things. It'll all be over soon, then I can fret about throwing parties and trying to get my kitchen all painted before my parties.

My belly grows larger and larger. I think my belly button (or peach as Kiree would say) is going outtie this time. Kiree is obsessed with belly buttons. It's handy though as a distraction when she's whiny or angry or whatever. I just ask her something about her peach and she's gotta stop whatever she's doing to check out her belly button (or my belly button, or Jaide's or daddy's). The girls are really excited to meet their little brother. The Night Rooster is kicking and poking me frequently. Jaide and Bob have felt him kick lots of times. Kiree, I don't think, understands what she is supposed to be feeling. She always just says she can't feel any thing. She also half heartedly freaks out any morning she sees me take my shot. "You're going to poke the baby!" she says, sometimes with more conviction than other times. And every time I tell her that I'm not going to, that the needle is way too short, and that it only goes in the skin/fat and that there's lots of fat, muscle, and tissues between the outside of my skin and the baby. Sometimes I also go into the whole I need to take this medicine to make sure the baby and I both stay healthy thing. Kiree came along with me for another ultrasound at 28 weeks and we had the same technician we had at 20 weeks. After I said something to Kiree about not being sad this time the technician said that she remembered us. Kiree's reaction to finding out the baby was a boy was pretty memorable. I have to/get to go in for weekly ultrasounds starting at 36 weeks.

Bob and I (okay, mostly Bob) put together the crib yesterday. We bought a new one since the old one had been patched up by us multiple times, still was kind of broken, probably would have been recalled if the company who made it was still in business (a very similar crib was recalled), had plastic parts and a drop side (which nowadays are no nos), and we ended up destroying it to get it out of the house before we listed. I wanted to put the new crib up to help me figure out where to put things in the baby room. It's much sturdier than the old one and looks pretty good despite the couple of dings and uneven finish in parts (good old made in China quality!) well it wasn't too expensive any way. We also got a car seat (we got rid of the old infant seat too, but it was 3 point harness which both the girls figured out how to slip out of at around 9 months). The new car seat is gray with Mickey Mouse on it. It's one of the few infant seats I've ever seen that actually seems gender neutral and it fits into the second base I bought at the nearly new sale for the old carseat. Since I last bought any baby buckets, Graco started making infant carriers that can hold babies up to like 35lbs. I don't know how that is a useful feature, unless you're going to leave the seat in your car all the time. Those darn things start getting to heavy to schlep around before the kid even hits 20lbs. And my kids take forever to even get to 20lbs. Kiree is like barely 35lbs and she's 4! So our new carseat is like the old one (so it can fit in the old extra base, the new ones have different bases :P) and only goes up to 22lbs, which is fine by me. I'm fan of good old, cheap Cosco convertible seats once the baby buckets are no longer useful. I'm sure we'll buy another one of those when the time comes. Kiree's rear facing convertible seat got tossed after our car accident. She has a forward facing to booster one now.

The weather has been crazy. Freezing one day, in the 6o's other days. We had one snow that stuck, topped with a nice layer of freezing rain. It wasn't much, but the kids were thrilled. Bob and I were thrilled that we have a fenced backyard and that the kids are old enough to go play in it by themselves (and for lots of windows facing the back yard so we could keep an eye on them). I've been crocheting a lot lately. I made lots of hats for Christmas and now I'm making lots of blankets for baby season. It would probably be easier to make all the same, but I'd be too bored to finish. I had planned to specialize making those hats, but making different hats seemed like it would be more fun. I'm not very good at making my own patterns, but I don't like having to follow a pattern, so I've made a lot of variations on a couple of patterns so far.

We're starting to plan a family reunion and Jaide's birthday and baptism this summer. It'd be good to have as much stuff planned as I can before the baby's born. Not everything can be though. I'll just be happy if I can get my painting list finished and get the house a bit better organized.

Happy New Year! Stuff I want to do in 2012

It's a new year and I'm cautiously optimistic. Actually, there's a lot to look forward to. Here are 12 goals I have for 2012.

1. Get exercise every day.

At some point we're going to have to get a new gym, like maybe in April. For now I'm doing a prenatal yoga DVD (part of it anyway), walking Jaide to school, and trying to find other ways to get a little more movement in.

2. No more candy. (at least until April)

I'm gaining weight and I have to, but I don't want to gain too much, too fast. I think between Halloween and Christmas I've eaten way too much candy. Candy isn't necessary. I'm not limiting other sweets or stuff that's home made by me.

3. Eat lots of fruit and veggies.

4. No more soda. (also at least until April)

I got into a bad habit with soda during morning sick times. It's not necessary either.

5. Empty kitchen sink every night.

Got to get back on the daily dishes bandwagon.

6. Laundry every week day.

It's easier to complete little loads- all the way to put away!

7. Remind kids of their chores and see that they're done.

They both have things they're supposed to do each evening and we often forget.

8. Meet obligations early.

I was thinking specifically about recurring things I have to do, like planning activity days and making the monthly PTA newsletter. I prefer being on top of things to putting out fires, so that's what I should be doing right?

9. Plan ahead for the next day the night before.

Check the calendar, pack lunches or other stuff that make my life easier in the morning.

10. Six dates with Bob.

Kind of lame, but yeah, we haven't been going on tons of dates without the kids. I'm trying to be realistic.

11. Monthly kid dates.

Each month let one of the kids pick an activity for the family.

12. Be kind to myself and others.

Christmas Card

A Look Back at 2011- What a year it's been!

The year started with...

a mad dash to get the house ready to sell

we started looking at houses

we listed our house for sale

and then...

we got rear ended and thought the car might be totaled, but the repairs were just under the max$$

we got an offer on our house that fell through

we nearly gave up on trying to sell the house

but then...

we got another offer

we went to California and celebrated our 10th anniversary a year early

we sold the house (4 months after we listed)

we were homeless for two weeks at our friend's place

and that was when...

there was an earthquake

we bought the first house we saw (it was also the 17th house out of 18 and the 3rd house we offered on)

we moved in the weekend of the hurricane

immediately after that...

Jaide started 2nd grade and now we walk to school

shortly after that...

at Kiree's preschool orientation, the remnants of another hurricane flooded the parking lot and my car

Kiree started preschool

the car was, in fact, totaled this time

we bought a minivan

finally...

we celebrated our first holidays here- Labor Day/7th anniversary of moving to MD, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas too

oh, and also...

we found out we're having a baby boy due in April

Bob kicked a field goal at the Raven's field during a dads and kids event (he won a gift card).

Meg finally started painting and still hopes to get the rest of the kitchen wallpaper removed before the end of time.

Jaide started Brownies, read the first several Harry Potter books, and is above grade level in math and reading this year.

Kiree talked the ears off of any and everyone who'd listen to her, she loves preschool and can't wait until 2013 when she gets to go to elementary school with Jaide.

It's been a crazy, but good year.

November Round Up

And here's the rest of November:

I got to go with Kiree on her preschool field trip to a farm. We went on a hayride and learned about pilgrims.

Kiree got to go up and demonstrate what pilgrim girls did. It was freezing, freezing cold! We were all happy to leave at the end. Kiree and her friend I drove both fell asleep on the ride back.

Kiree's preschool had a pancake breakfast fundraiser at Appleby's one Saturday morning. As a member of the fundraising committee, I got to help out with plating pancakes and busing tables. It was fun. We also all ate some pancakes.

The Monday before Thanksgiving was the turkey trot at Jaide's school. Kiree was very excited about it. Part of it is on the path from school toward our house. Kiree ran the first part with Jaide (just around the field).

I'm happy Jaide was willing to go a lot slower than she could have to stick with her sister.

Thanksgiving was just the four of us. I wanted to go for a hike at the state park that morning, but we ended up sleeping in and then spending the rest of the day cooking. Bob stayed in his PJs all day long! Jaide and I were going to go to Michael's Thanksgiving night, but Jaide decided to stay home and play wii. I went and bought lots of yarn and some stuff for Activity Day. Bob and I did some black Friday shopping separately. I got to take the kids with me. I went to Walmart at about 8:30am and all the sheet sets that had been on sale were gone. There were piles of TVs still however. I just bought some ornaments. The girls went with a friend and her mom to see the Muppet movie that afternoon and in the evening we took family photos at Target. They had a black Friday deal where you could get a CD of all the pictures for $49.99. That's what we got.

Saturday we finally went on our hike at the state park. The girls did very well.

We hiked the paved trail from the swinging bridge to the one end and back. Next time I think we'll bring the girls bikes.

We put up the Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving. It's a brand new pre-lit tree and one row of branches doesn't light. Bob has been trying unsuccessfully to get it fixed. The company that made the tree has now sent us two replacement sections, neither of which fit into the bottom part of our tree. Today it looks like they sent us a new top piece. I think we're going to end up with a whole new tree at this rate. We've been slowly putting up all the Christmas stuff and I've been painting the family room.

Baby Boy!

I went in for my detailed anatomy ultrasound on the 17th. Since my appointment was at 9am, we ended up bringing both the girls. They were very excited. Jaide guessed the baby was a boy. Kiree guessed the baby was a girl. Bob had also guessed girl and I had refused to officially guess since I have always guessed wrong. Very quickly I saw something on the ultrasound that looked kinda boyish. The technician got some views of the heart and then she showed us the little bottom. Sure enough, it was a boy. Kiree seemed to think that if the tech kept looking she would see that was a girl, but no, we told her, it was a boy and it was always a boy, we just didn't know until then. Jaide was happy to be right. Kiree was sad and then inconsolable. Bob had to take her outside for a while to calm down. Jaide stayed with me and wondered why we were still looking at the baby since we had already found out the gender. They have to look at all the baby's parts to see if he's healthy, I told her. That's the reason for the ultrasound, not just to find out the gender. Jaide was very interested in watching the rest of the ultrasound and she got very good at figuring out what parts of the baby were on the screen. The baby looked very good and is measuring right on with my dates, so he should be born no later than April 12th. The girls each got a print out of the picture of the baby's profile. That probably was the best picture and we ended up with four pretty much identical copies of it. No print out of the little boy shot though, so you'll just have to take our word for it.

one of the baby's legs and foot and a cross section of the other leg, ultrasounds make some creepy images some times.

When I had an ultrasound at 12 weeks, the technician remarked, "look at those long arms and legs!" They did look quite long. Bob wasn't there that time.

Maybe if he had been, it wouldn't have been so surprising. I'm scheduled to have one more ultrasound at 28wks. So far I've had a total of three this pregnancy. With Kiree, I had 13. I'm happy to not be needing so many this time around.

speaking of creepy pics, here is one of the baby's hand (center) and face (right)

Kiree had a birthday, shout hooray

Kiree with her cake, cupcakes, and one of the presents she opened throughout the day.

Kiree is four! Bob came home to have birthday lunch with Kiree and I. Kiree got to have a playdate with one of her best buddies and she got new toys! A drum, a playdoh pizza set, an art kit, and a Scooby Doo set were what she got.

I interviewed our newest four year old on her birthday.

M: Kiree, can I interview you?

K: Yeah, what's an interview?

M: I ask you questions.

K: Okay

What's your favorite color: purple, blue, and pink, and green.

What's your favorite thing you do at school: play and help make stuff.

What is your favorite place: amusement park

Favorite movie: Scooby Doo

Favorite Book: Dora's Time Adventure

If you could do any thing, what would you do: play with new toys, get a playdoh cake thing and a playdoh muffin maker.

What do you want to be when you grow up: (quietly) a mom (more animated) I wish I could be something awesome like a cowgirl, a pilot, or a firefighter.

What will you be like when you turn 5: just big

Do you think the baby is a boy or a girl: a girl!

Meg's observations:

Kiree is a sweetheart. She is very softspoken and tender hearted most of the time. Sometimes she is very feisty and loud! She can be very dramatic, she has declared many days the best or worst ever! She enjoys learning and asks lots of questions. She loves to practice new phrases she's learned and she remembers a lot. Kiree loves preschool and playing with friends. She loves her family very much and is very excited to be a big sister. She is starting to like running more and wants to be faster than Jaide some day. She is willing to try most foods and likes many of them. She has very long, curly, strawberry blond hair and hazel eyes. She and Jaide love to do things together even if they do annoy (and sometimes hit) each other frequently. Kiree often says hilarious things and seems to really enjoy making us laugh. She has asked us to sing Jingle Bells every night since last December. She loves to watch PBS kids and would watch all day if I let her. We couldn't imagine our family without her.