Christmas in October

I usually leave wait until the last minute to do Christmas Cards.  I stress and stress and stress some more for days and then they are finished.  This year I decided to plan ahead and use Shutterfly's all new designs to help me get started.  To be perfectly honest I've never made a Christmas card using Shutterfly, but thanks to all the beautiful, sharp & clear Stationary Cards with photos I've made over the past year I decide to go with what's been working and a company that I've been more than happy with. 

Part of the reason I have a difficult time completing Christmas cards each year is because I want a design that celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.  I don't want a fru fru card or a smiply decorative card or a card that has cartoon characters on it.  Unfortunately a lot of cards that are Bible oriented or Christ themed just aren't that pretty, and though I want to keep Christ in my Christmas card, I also want a pretty & stylish card.  This is where Shutterfly's Christmas Photo Cards come in.  I have an entire place to browse beatiful cards all within my design preference.

Though I don't want to reveal my Christmas card choice to the world yet, it might looks something like this Shutterfly Religious Christmas card.

Can't wait for you to see what I pick!  By that time we should know what Baby Bop will be and maybe we'll have a name to introduce!

4 Year Anniversary: The Amazing Daddy P

4 years ago I married my best friend, my second half, the man that I wanted to have lots of babies with :)

Though I knew then what an awesome guy he was there was no way I could have known how truly amazing he was.

Because of him I live an incredibly blessed and amazing life. 

Because of him I have 2 sweet & amazing girls. 

Because of him I have a third little miracle on the way. 

Because of him I have a shoulder to cry on when I'm sad, someone to laugh with when things might not be funny and someone to exchange glances with when something strikes me. 
Because of him I have memories of running home early on Friday nights so we could snuggle up and watch Monk. 
Because of him I got to see my Grandfather as my Grandfather one last time right before he died--not many men would have dropped everything at work with 2 days notice and driven over 1000 miles with 2 little girls.
Because of him I had someone to lean on during my Grandfather's funeral--Not many men would drop everything at work again, only 1 week after returning from a 2 week trip, and tell his boss he had to be with me and fly back up North with me.
Because of him I get to sleep in or sleep all through the night when I'm not feeling well. 

My list could go on and on, so many things, all because I married an amazing man who became an amazing husband, who became an amazing husband.

During this time of our lives one of the reasons I love him most and am thankful for him is because I get to stay home and be a mother to my girls.  Before I ever got married or had children I knew I wanted to be a stay at home mother.  I felt so strongly about this that I told it to Daddy P (repeatedly of course as those of you who know me know I can do) before we were married, after we got married and as soon as we found out we were pregnant for the first time.  I honestly didn't want to have kids if they would have to go to daycare (***NOT PASSING ANY JUDGEMENTS HERE, everyone does what works for them and this is what we wanted***)  So we made decisions based on this fact.  Instead of buying a house of our own we rented one and made it our home.  We knew that on one salary there was no way we would be able to afford to have a house and have me stay home so we made our choice.  Daddy P kept his old Chevy Blazer til we thought it might die and then we graciously took my Mother's old car when it was offered.  Daddy P doesn't buy new clothes often and (shh) wears his boxers till they have holes in them.  He puts all of our family needs first. 

Before we found out I was pregnant Daddy P was working 2 jobs.  Not just being there physically,  mind you, but being there and giving his ALL over 12 hours a day so we would have a little "extra" for when I became a stay at home mother.  Daddy P continued working 2 jobs up until G was born and then we made the decision to cut back even more so we could enjoy our time as a family of 3. 

When G was born Daddy P became the Daddy I knew he would be and more.  He changed her first diaper and many more after that.  He became my lactation consultant when B couldn't be there.  He held her while she slept.  Since G was born he has been the most hands on Daddy I know.  Never missed a Dr's apt.  Never missed a class.  Always ready & willing to play or read a book or clean up poop, or put clothes on, or give a bath, or make breakfast (lunch or dinner) or go "wing". 

Now Daddy P drives over an hour each way to work each day all for us, so G, K & I can be home together.  He drives for a little over an hour before most people are up, gets to work, sits in a cubicle, doing computer work for 8 hours then fights horrible traffic for 2 hours to get home.  If you know Daddy P, you know sitting in a cube, on the 2o-something floor of a building, isn't his dream.  But he does it.  Every day.  So I can be home with our sweet babies.  When he comes home he's exhausted and beat.  Ready to go to sleep, but does he?  No, he plays with our children and helps with baths and reading stories and bedtime.  He is able to look past his personal needs & wants and work his a@# off so I can be home raising our children. 

My Amazing Husband.

Happy 4 Years Mr. Monk!  Thanks for being you and loving me.  I can't wait for all the years to come!!!!

14 Weeks Preggo

Yesterday marked my 14 week of pregnancy!  This pregnancy seems to be passing by more quickly than my other 2, most likely because I'm so busy keeping up with G & K that I don't have as much time to obsess over it.

Baby Bop's Pregnancy So Far:

• I'm throwing up just as much as I did the first 2 times, though have gotten to be much more efficient, ie I can throw up while blocking K from the toilet and then go make G & K lunch.  G is very used to me throwing up and will say things like "Do you need to throw up Mommy?" when I say my tummy doesn't feel well
• I'm much more tired this time around....like flat out exhausted all the time...
• ...because of this I'm drinking 2 Diet Coke's a day which I NEVER would have though of doing in my first 2 pregnancies.
• Gum seems to help ease or more accurately, put off, my vomiting, so now when I say my tummy's not feeling well G is quick to ask if I need gum!
• We've had 2 ultrasounds so far and the hb's were in the 150's and above each time.  Last apt's Doppler had it at 154. 
• It's been weird for me to not have an  ultrasound every other week as I did with G's pregnancy or every 4 weeks as I did with K's pregnancy.  I spend a lot of time worry about spinabifida and other scary problems.  Can't wait till my next ultrasound at 17.5 weeks!
• G loves to "talk" to the baby and wash my belly.  So sweet.
• K doesn't seem to comprehend the pregnancy, except for being steaming mad that my milk is drying up :(
• My belly has popped out--more than just having 2 kids in 2 years caused it to do ;0

This is kind of scary for me to post, but I'd like to keep track of my weight gain this pregnancy.  I'm not the girl who obsesses over each calorie, and all I strive for while pregnant is to be healthy.  While I'm definitely NOT a pregorexic during each of my pregnancies Dr. Love has been very pleased with my weight and fortunately his opinion is the one that matters (along with Dr. Risky) during these months.

So at 14 weeks my
Total Weight Gain is -1 lb
(thanks to the 2lbs I lost due to all the vomiting so far.) 

I don't think that will last with Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas coming up, but I'll take it while it lasts.

Food Cravings:  As usual Mexican, and anything spicy :)

Most Annoying Thing Said to Me:  People keep saying things like, "Bet Daddy P is hoping for a boy this time" Um, Daddy P is actually very HAPPY & in LOVE with his 2 little girls and we would both LOVE a third.  A boy would be a blessing, but would also rock our world!

Best Feeling Yet:  Finding Baby Bop's Heartbeat with my borrowed Doppler.

Random Thought:  Although I'm sad that Baby Bop will never meet Kenny in this world, I find comfort thinking that they are getting to spend these months together.  I still have difficulty conceptualizing exactly how to think of Kenny now (other than the big D word) I am able to think about Baby Bop and Kenny getting to know one another right now and that makes me happy.

Can't Wait...:  to find out if Baby Bop is a "sister" or "brother" as G would say!

15 Months!!!

Dear K
Happy 15 Month Birthday Sweet Girl!  In some ways the past 15 months have flown by and in other ways it doesn't seem like we were ever without you!  You have multipled the love in our family, brought so many smiles to our faces and filled our lives with excitement.  You are so different than me and help me to see things in a completly different way.  You are an independent little girl and want do everything your sister does and do it on your own, yet you are still my baby and I love our quiet moments together (very often when you are sleeping, but there are times where you come running up to me or Daddy and just want to be held...you put your little head down on our shoulder and wrap your tiny arms around us and it's just the best feeling!)

Stats:
Height:  29 inches
Weight: 20 lbs

Diaper Size 4


You are walking, running and climbing on everything.  Moreso than G ever did, and she did moreso than anyother child I knew at the time!  The kitchen table, the fireplace, tables, chairs, stairs, beds, etc....if you can figure out a way to climb on it you do.  You have had A LOT of bumps & brusies due to your climbing skills!

• Along these lines you can climb up the climbing wall attached to our swing set and then slide down the slide.

You have 4 teeth with 2 more ready to pop through.  Teething is very painful for you and causes you to be very grumpy and irritable.

You are still nursing and love it more than ever (so do I :)

You can sign all done and use your own made up gestures to get other points across!

You can say Mamma & Mommy, Dada, bark, quack & thank you (g makes sure your needs & wants are met so you don't have a need to talk much )

You give kisses when asked to Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, Grampy, Cody & Maggie.

You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse & Barney

You love to eat so many things.  Rice, beans, chicken & peanut butter crackers are among your favorties and just like Daddy & Gracie you LOVE chocolate! 

You can point to head, eyes, nose, teeth & mouth.

You love to brush your teeth and run to the bathroom when Daddy says it is time.

You LOVE bath time and run up the stairs and to the bathtub when we ask if you are ready for a bath.  You can even climb in the tub yourself, which is very scary to Mommy!

When G goes potty you sit on the princess potty and "pretend" to potty too!

You LOVE to be outside and cry and throw a temper tantrum when it is time to come in.

You stay in the MOPS nursery 2-3 days per week and have gotten to the point where you just walk right in with G without any tears!

You are going to be a BIG sister!!!!

We love you more each day!

Two and One Half !!!

Dear G,

Today you are 2 1/2 years old!!!  You are becoming a big girl right in front of my eyes and the things you do, say, & understand continually amaze me.  You are so perceptive and want to be a part of everything.  The insight you have into me, life and nature have me in awe.  You are such a wonderful big sister, honestly the best I know.  You love K and want to help her even when she doesn't want (or need) it.

Stats:

Weight:  26lbs

• You are wearing size 24 months to 2T, but have a few size 18 months that you still wear.
• You are almost 100% potty trained.  You started this undertaking yourself and have trained yourself the entire time.  No more diapers for you!  (Minus one tummy virus that lasted a few days)
• You still like Mickey & Minnie Mouse, but you are also very interested in Tinkerbell & Princesses--something I never wanted or thought would happen, but we're going with it :)
• You talk in complete sentences, finish thoughts that I start, can recite books from memory, make jokes, count to 10--20 with a little help--,
• You love to help me with everything!  Folding laundry, cleaning up, unloading the dishwasher, cooking, everything I do you want to be a part of.
• You are so indepenent and want to do so many things "all by my self!"
• You are so sensitive & caring.  You're feelings get hurt easily, but a hug goes a long way to fix them!  You worry when Mommy, Daddy, Sissy or Cody are not happy.
• You repeat so many things I do (most of the time I don't know I do these things until Daddy or someone else points it out)
• You go to the MOPS nursery 2x per week, sometimes more, and no tears come!
• You are sleeping in a toddler bed with Cody, right next to me :)
• You are still nursing, though not a lot, and I still treasure this time with you.
• You love to climb, jump, swing & move.  You are gymnastics and are by far the shining star of the class.
• Songs you are singing:
• ABC's
• Twinkle Twinkle
• The Farmer in the Dell
• Jesus Loves Me
• I love You, You Love Me
• 1, 2, Buckle My Shoe
• The Itsy Bitsy Spider
• This Little Light of Mine
• And many more...
• You love to look at our picture albums and can point out Mommy, Daddy, Sissy, Grammy, Grampy, Uncle Drew, Mamie, Puppa, MeMaw & Pop (and Cody & Maggie of course)
• You remember everything we say and if we make a promise to you, we are reminded of it!
• You wait for your Daddy to come home from work each day and run to him when he gets in the door.
• Before going to bed you beg to watch football with Daddy.  Puppa would be proud :)
• You are going to be a BIG SISTER again in April and love talking about & too the "baby sister" in Mommy's belly....
• A conversation between you & Grampy re the baby...(while looking at an ultrasound pic)
• "That's my baby sister"
• Grampy: "It could be a baby brother"
• G:  "No, that's my new baby sister"
• Grampy:  "What if it's a baby brother like S & A just got, it could be?"
• G:  "No Grampy, that's my new baby sister." 
• Grampy:  "But G it could be a brother!"
• G:  NO GRAMPY, it's my NEW BABY SISTER, NOT A BABY BROTHER!"

You are one loved little girl.  Each day I can't imagine loving you more and then the next I do.

3 Months down...

Yesterday marked the 3rd month that has passed since Kenny died.  It's amazing to me that he's been gone 3 months.  It seems like such a long time since we were there and it really hasn't been.  3 1/2 months ago we were with him.  Laughing.  Crying.  Living.  Now he's gone.  I called my Grandmother a little while ago and got their machine.  Kenny's voice telling me to leave a message.  For a second I forgot he was gone.  It was so weird.  I listened to the message, which I normally don't do anymore, when the machine clicks on I hang up.  I wasn't ready to hear his voice.  Today I listened and forgot for a second.  I was ready to leave a message for him. 

I've been so blessed in my life.  Up until Kenny I had never had anyone close to me die.  No one in my family, no close friends.  It is a much different experience than I thought.  It was always easy for me to say "I'm sorry", but I never understood their grief.  Now I know it is a different process for each person, but for me it's been a difficult one.  "Grandparent" means different things to different people.  Kenny was my Grandfather, my friend, my confidant, not "just" my Grandfather.  I miss him in so many ways.

I find it comforting that my new lil bean & him are getting to know eachother right now though.

3 Months down...

22 Months Old

Dear G~

Today you turn 22 months. I can't beleive you are going to be 2 in 2 months. I treasure each day that we spend together and all the little things that you do to make me smile, laugh & occasionally want to scream! You are becoming your own person more and more each day. Just a few days ago you went into your room, closed the door and when I knocked, said, "I'll be right out." You are eating so well these days but must burn those calories right off because you weigh about the same.

22 Month Stats:

Weight:

Height:

• You are wearing size 18 month clothing (you still wear 1 pair of 12 month pants :)
• You wear size 4 diapers all the time now.
• You stay dry all night long, but refuse to use the potty in the morning...or anytime for that matter. I'm not going to try to potty train you until the summer though.
• You LOVE Cody all the time, BUT are not nice to him all the time. Being mean to Cody is the reason for most of your trips to the time out chair.
• You love to help me do laundry...and everything else for that matter. Whatever I am doing you are right there behind or next to me saying "Gracie help"
• You are talking up a storm and saying lots of 4-5 word sentances--mostly around Daddy and I, & Gammy & Grampy. There are some people who have yet to hear you speak--you are very shy and this doesn't bother us.
• You LOVE your sister and don't want to spend time away from her. When we are away from her you say "Want Sissy" however, when I am holding her and you want to be held you say "Gracie's turn pwease"
• You love to play dress up.
• You are still a Mommy's girl.
• You, Sissy & I take a bath together every night.
• You are still nursing and we both still love it more than ever. I am not going to push you to stop nursing as you turn 2. This will bother some people and that is ok with Daddy & I.

Feelings & Randomness

St. Augustine

“Love never disappears for death is a non-event.

I have merely retired to the room next door.

You and I are the same; what we were for each other, we still are.

Speak to me as you always have, do not use a different tone, do not be sad.

Continue to laugh at what made us laugh.

Smile and think of me.

Life means what it has always meant.

The link is not severed.

Why should I be out of your soul if I am out of your sight?

I will wait for you, I am not here, but just on the other side of this path

You see, all is well.”

This past week I've been feeling a little angry with God.  Writing that seems horrible, but i don't know how else to put it.  I'm so mad that Kenny is gone.  So mad that he had to suffer at the end of his life.  So mad that at 86 years were all he had here.  Why couldn't he have lived a much longer life?  Kenny was a strong, proud man.  He was an Amry Ranger, he was a football coach for over 50 years.  It's not fair that in the end his physical body gave out on him.  I'm so glad that G & K got to meet him, but mad that they won't ever really know him or remember him.  Though G brings him up from time to time, totally randomlly, while we're reading a book, or before bed.  It warms my heart.  I just want Kenny back.  The rest of my life seems like way too long of a time to go without him.   Though I worked with people who were dying for several years the reality of death never hit me.  I was the person comforting the dying person & their family with words such as, "He's no longer hurting"  "He's in Heaven now", and such.  These things aren't bring me much comfort.  I know Kenny is no longer in pain and I believe he is with God & in Heaven.  I believe that he is happy and that time doesn't exsist for him and that the next time we are together to him it will seem as no time has passed.   I love this poem that came in a booklet I found in Kenny's room while visiting him.  I was so mad there was a book about the dying process at the time, but now I turn to it frequently.  This poem gives me comfort.

Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.


Then someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!”

“Gone where?”

Gone from my sight. That is all.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says: “There, she is gone!” there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout:

“Here she comes!”

And that is dying.

Henry Van Dyke

Wordless Wendesday: Kenny's Ranger Brick

10 on Tuesday: Early August

I've been reading a friend's blog and love these random questions, so I decided to hop on the bandwagon of 10 on Tuesday: Early August


1. What is your current favorite television show?

Royal Pains!

2. Apple juice or orange juice?

Orange juice, if I have to choose. Lately I've even been choosing Orange Juice over Diet Coke.  Weird.  And NO I'm not preggo!

3. It’s Shark Week on Discover Channel. Do you watch? Why or why not?

Yes!  I LOVE Shark Week!  I look forward to it every year!

4. What are the non-blog websites that you visit regularly?

Facebook, Hotmail, bank website

5. What is your favorite way to prepare green beans? Asparagus? Potatoes? Carrots?

Hmmm, I probably need to start cooking more veggies.  I micro steam green beans & asparagus and love to make homemade baked potatoe chips with potatoes.  Carrots I only eat raw.

6. What is your favorite flower?

Mums.  They remind me of my childhood.

7. How do you feel about handkerchiefs?

They are pretty but serve as decoration only.

8. If you could only shop at 3 stores for the rest of your life, what would they be? (You probably should include a grocery store.)

Super Wal-Mart (groceries included here), Belk & Lowe's

9. If you could only use wine for one purpose for the rest of your life, which would you choose? To cook with or to drink?

To cook with, considering I don't really drink wine!

10. What’s your bedtime?

I've been falling asleep around 11:30 lately, however I'd like that to be more like 10.  Dont' see that happening in the near future though.


For more 10 on Tuesday, visit HERE.

Sundays are tough right now...

Kenny (my Grandfather) died on Sunday June 13th, 2010, around 4:30 in the morning.  I found out around 5:30am. 

Sundays since then have been tough for me.  There are times that the realization that he is DEAD and not coming back is like a sucker punch to my gut.  It just hits me, hard, out of nowhere.  So many things have happened that I want to tell him about.  How G&K reminds me of him in so many ways.  They are both ahead in gross motor skills and I know this did & would have continued to make him proud.  He had 2 more little athletes in his family. 

*sigh*

I really miss you Kenny.

Happy 1st Birthday K

Dear K,

Today is your 1st Birthday!  It's hard to believe that at this time last year you weren't even born yet.  As I'm writing this it is 12:49 pm and you were born at 1:30 pm.  We've had an amazing year.  Before you were born I tried to imagine what life would be like with you here, and nothing I could have dreamed of could describe the perfect joy you bring to our lives.  You've come a long way in the past year...from a tiny baby weighing 6lbs 14oz to a little person almost the same size as her big sister.  I love holding you, watching you, and am constantly amazed by everything you do & are.  You have such a sweet personality, but are a fiesty one who will not be looked over.  You want to do everything your older sister does, you want to be a part of everything that is going on, and sometimes get frustrated that you can't do certian things.  You will get there my sweet girl.  I enjoy ever second of my life with you and can't imagine not having you as my daughter.  Last year at this time your Great Grandfather & Grandmother,  who you are named for, were awaiting, with great anticipation, our phone call with the news that you had arrived.  All through your first year they were just as amazed at you as everyone else and words cannot express my joy that you were able to meet them, together.  While we were visiting Kenny couldnt' stop thanking Daddy P & me for bringing you to him.  He loved meeting you as much as he did your sister, and proudly announced your name to everyone who came into his room.  When I call your name, when I look at you, when you do certian things you continue the incrediable life he lived.  We are blessed to be your parents and blessed to have you in our lives.  We all love you my sweet little girl.

1 Year Stats:

Height:
Weight:

• You are wearing a size 4 Diaper
• You are wearing 9-12 Month sized clothing
• You have 2 teeth
• Your smile lights up your entire face and you use it often!  I love to see you smile!
• You love your sister G so much & want to do everything she does.
• You love Micky Mouse & Minnie Mouse & Barney
• You are walking and have been since you were 9 1/2 months old!  You keep me on my toes!
• You love to climb.  The train table, the stairs, onto chairs, onto the fireplace, on all of your toys and anything else you can!
• You have had several bumps & bruises from all your exploring!  You've already had a busted lip, a bloody forehead and always have a bruise somewhere on your body!
• You say Mama & Dada, and understand lots of other words.  If I ask you were someone (G, Cody, Dada,) is you look at them
• You run, with arms streached out wide, calling Dada, and bounce with joy when Daddy P gets home!
• You have so much fun with Grammy & Grampy.  You bounce with excitement when you see them and no tears come when they babysit for you!
• You are outgoing and want to be a part of everything!  Often we have to stop G from physically holding you back at places like Kindermusic!
• You love when you and G wear the same exact clothes!  You want everything she has and we're already having to encourage sharing between you and your sister!
• You sleep right next to Mommy & love to snuggle up to me all night long!
• You have a Minnie Mouse "Lovey" that you LOVE and bring everywhere you go!
• You are still nursing and love it more each day (so do I)

K & Her Namesakes

We're still here...

Just haven't had the time or energy to blog this summer.  We've had an eventful summer.  We hadn't planned on going anywhere and ended up being gone for 3 weeks between May 26th and June 17th. 

My Grandfather, my Kenny, died June 13th, 2010.  Thankfully we had dropped everything and rushed up to see him (a several day drive) at the end of May.  Literally one Monday I heard he was back in the hospital and we left on Wednesday to drive up to see him.  We had the most wonderful visit with him.  He got to hold K, his namesake.  He got to see her make the Touchdown sign (he was a football coach for over 50 years), he got to play catch with G, talk with Daddy P and I got to spend time with him.  Talking with him.   Feeding him.  Washing his hands.  Doing whatever I could to make him more comfortable.  It was a wonderful thing.  On June 4th when we left to drive back home we had a picture perfect movie Good Bye.  He was talking, I was talking, we both were crying, but we were able to say Good Bye.  I told him how much I loved him, and he told me the same.  We knew we were most likely saying good bye for a very long time, and it was sad, but to me it was also perfect.  My last memory of him alive was perfect.  Less than 10 days later he was gone.  By the time my Mother got up there on Tuesday June 8th he wasn't talking much, or really awake, only 4 days later. 

Now it's been a month since his funeral and it's hard.  I miss him so much today.  Kenny was the first person I've ever had die (In my family--I worked with people who were dying in NYC, but it's not the same).  It's not been an easy thing for me to swallow or understand.  Through out my adult life and most of my teen & college years there was never a month that I didn't talk with him.  In actual there probably wasn't a week that went by without my talking with him.  I want to pick up the phone and talk to him and hear his voice.  I just want him back.  I know he is in a better place, but the rest of my life on earth seems like a long time to go without him.

G the Gardener

She must have gotten her Grandparent's green thumb...

...because my thumbs are black!

Sweet Sleep, Second Glances, & Scary Moments

K was sleeping this afternoon and looked so sweet snuggled up with her bunny.

So peaceful.

Earlier today we were getting ready to go to a petting zoo at a local college.  I put K down to get some things ready and she cried & screamed--nothing unusual--but for some reason I went back to check on her and found her laying on her back with white froth coming out of her mouth. 

HEART STOPS.

She was also coughing, so I knew she was breathing.

I picked her up and calmly  PANICED while patting pounding her back, and she threw up, spit up, and finally I found what was causing her problems.  A tiny piece of juice box straw plastic.  Not the whole straw wraper.  A piece of it.  I pulled it out of her mouth & held her and she was fine.  So scary to think of what could have happened.  I cried all the way to pick up Daddy P to go to the petting zoo.

The thing is K always cries when I put her down.  Screams in fact.  It's normal for her to cry & scream and roll around.  Something made me check on her today and for that I am thankful!

When G was this age we were SUPER cautious about anything she came into contact with that could potentially go into her mouth.  We didn't buy ANYTHING that came from China, for fear of lead paint or some other chemical leeching into her systerm when she put a toy into her mouth.  G NEVER put anything into her mouth.  She still doesn't....K on the other hand puts EVERYTHING into her mouth.  Just last week I found blue crayon in her diaper.  Why is my 2nd child the one who puts everything in her mouth.  It is next to impossible to keep everything small enough for her to ingest out of reach, especially with a very active 2 year old sister running around!

Date Night

Our friends the S's came over for burgers & such on the grill this past Saturday night.  Daddy P has been friends with them since before we were married and I got to be good friends with them while dating Daddy P.  Now we have 4 kids between us, ranging from K to S who is almost 5.  C is 3, while G is 2.

So us adults had a nice evening together, while C & G played.

Then things started getting serious.

C wanted to take G for a ride in the car.  G got in willingly, and even brought some dinner.

Then the "parked" for a while, enjoying one another's company:

After that C asked to see G's room.  Upstairs.  She took him and it got very quiet.  I decided to go investigate and found them trying to climb into K's bassinet!!!  After directing them back downstairs where the adults could supervise, we, the adults, began to talk about the future...

like in about 12 years...

when they might try to pull similar stunts...

YIKES!

Here they are at 6 months (G) and 18 months (C) napping together while on vacation at Panama City Beach

Should we be worried???

:)

My Sweet K, 8.5 Months

Dear K~
As I write this today I've neglected this blog and your monthly updates for 3 months, 3 months in which you have grown, changed and accomplished countless things.  You are now 8 You experienced your first Christmas, New Year's, snow, Valentine's Day, hospital stay & move.  You still haven't met any of our Northern family, including my Grandparents, who you are named after.  I pray that you will be able to meet them.  That they will be able to hold you and you will have a picture of you with them to look at in years to come.

Stats:

Weight:  16.8 lbs
Height:

• You are wearing a Size 3 Diaper
• You are wearing 6-9 Month clothing
• You are sitting well by yourself
• You are crawling,  pulling up on anything & everything, and crusiging along.
• You had your first taste of solid food on your 6 month birthday (cupcakes--ARGH) and have steadily increased your intake since then.   Currently you usually eat a YoBaby for Breakfast, have cereal at lunch time & a jar of Earthsbests babyfood at dinner.  You also nurse throughout the day/night & have bits and tastes of table food throughout the day.
• You are able to drink from a straw all by yourself.
• You love to watch Cody & G play. 
• Nothing & nobody makes you laugh like G does.
• You were hospitalized for 4 days :(  March 7-10th.  It was so hard for Mommy, Daddy & G to see you sick.  Thank God for Dr. Mommy Love.
• You had a fever for several days before the 7th, but it was controlled by medicine (staying around 101 with meds), but during the night of March 6th it spiked at 103.8 with medicine.  Our ped office was open and though we couldnt' get you in at first, Dr. Mommy Love worked her magic and we were seen.  They ran all sorts of tests, all coming out negative, but because of your fever & lethargy they admitted us to the hospital.  You had to sleep in a crib, though Mommy slept on a chair by yourside, have an IV, and have lots of other unpleasant things done.  It made us all very sad and turned you against any strangers.  Thankfully after a course of IV fluids & antibiotics you were able to come home on March 10th!
• Since your hospital visit you are a MOMMY's girl.  You won't stay in the nursery at the Y anymore, so I only work in the evenings now.
• You have found your voice and squeal & make lots of noises.
• You are still nursing & we both LOVE it more each day.

You are amazing and I love you more than words could ever express.

G's Birth Story (2 Years Late)

On Friday March 14th, 2008, my last day of work before maternity leave, I called the Dr because my blood pressure was elevated. I was picking D up for lunch and on hold for the nurse and hung up the phone to call D. When D got in the car he asked about my blood pressure and when I told him what it was he told me to call the nurse back. When I told the nurse what my blood pressure was she told me to head to labor and delivery immediately. Dr. Love was on vacation! D and I immediately went home and packed up our bags—they hadn’t been packed. Once at the hospital I was hooked up to fetal and blood pressure monitors and observed for 3 hours. After 3 hours of bed rest my blood pressure dropped down to a normal reading and we were sent home with orders for strict bed rest. I spent the weekend on bed rest, but my bp stayed up—above 140/90—it was 140/90 when I would wake up in the morning. I called the office Monday morning but Dr. Love was still on vacation and I didn’t want to see another Dr so I stayed on bed rest until my appointment on Wednesday—3/19/08.
On Wednesday morning D and I headed to C-Town to see Dr. Love. We had all of our bags packed and ready to go and put everything into the car so we were set in case we had to stay. My blood pressure was still elevated and I was throwing up in the exam room. Due to my high bp he decided to have me have an ultrasound to make sure everything was still ok. My ultrasound was ok—amniotic fluid was a little low but G was doing well. After the ultrasound Dr. Love checked my cervix and found I was dilated 1-2 centimeters. He decided we had waited long enough and sent us to the hospital to be evaluated. We headed straight to the hospital—it was about 11:30 when we got settled in over there. I was again attached to the fetal monitor, BP cuff and pulse ox. Labs were also drawn. Dr. Love came over and saw me about 2 hours later and decided to admit me and induce labor first thing in the morning!
We stayed in a labor room until about 3:30. Dr. Love and the nurse told me to eat now because after 5pm I would not be able to eat. D went out to get my last meal—subway, and then we were moved to a Labor, Delivery and Recovery room, where we would stay until an hour after G was born. The LDR room was very nice—big and home like—and the nurses were all wonderful. D and I settled in and ...

Everything above was written about 1 month after G was born...I'm going to do my best to remember from that point forward as accurately as possible below in a stream of consciousness format

...I was able to take a shower and relax a bit before the nurses started my IV and put in the Cervadil. Although G was born in March, I was HOT all the time. Not just a little hot either, hot enough for my Mom to wonder if we didn't have money to pay for heat in our house! LOL. I had D set the room thermometer for as low as it would go, I believe 55, and he froze. My parents came up that evening, 3/19/08, as did my brother & his wife, and D turned the temp up to 60 while they were there. I immediately started sweating. Not the glistening pretty sweat that you see in movies either, I was SWEATING like a man! In videos we have of that evening you can see poor D sitting there with a winter coat on and shivering. What a trooper he spent the entire night by my side, assisting me to the bathroom (I was hooked up to a bp cuff, pulse ox monitor, iv, & baby monitor so getting up to use the bathroom was an adventure), and turning down the temperature as the nurses thoughtfully (thinking no one would want a room that cold) kept turning it up! At 6am our nurse came in, started pitocen & removed the Cervadil. That got my labor started and by about 9am the nurse asked if I was ready for an epidural. She said there was a lady in the next room at about the same stage as me and said if I didn't get it right then I would have to wait until after she got it. At the minute she asked me my contractions weren't more than I could handle. The minute after she left they were questionable and by 9:20 I was ready for my epidural. D tried to talk me through the breathing exercises we had learned in our childbirth class, and I informed him that they were useless! I received my epidural at 10am and was able to relax for about 2 hours. I don't remember what we did during that time. Probably watch tv, talk about the huge life change we were about to experience, and D probably got something to eat. At 12pm I was feeling the urge to push, told the nurse & she told me it was time to push. I asked her how long people usually pushed for. I remember the following verbatim, "Usually from about 15 minutes at the minimum to 3 or 3 1/2 hours at a maximum, don't worry you won't take that long." Famous. Last. Words. I pushed. And pushed. And pushed. D held my left leg. The tech held my right leg. The nurse had the money shot and encouraged me. Dr. Love came. Dr. Love left. I pushed. And pushed and pushed more. The nurse tried all her magic tricks. G was facing the very WRONG way. At 3:30 pm (((YES 3:30, 3 and 1/2 HOURS AFTER I STARTED PUSHING))) D & Dr. Love had a pow wow and made the decision to use forceps to assist me. G was born at 3:32pm on March 20, 2008. She didn't cry. Her eyes were wide open taking in the world. D & I were in love immediately, only this type of love still doesn't have words to describe.

First Familiy Photos :

Deep Breath & Sniffles

Dear G~


Tomorrow you turn 2 years old. I've neglected this blog/journal for the past several months, just not finding, well, making, the time for it and it saddens me because you have done so many things and grown so much since my last post. I have a knot in my stomach thinking about your birthday tomorrow. In some ways it seems like you were just born. I can remember the awe I felt when I first touched you, first held you, etc. In some ways it seems like there was never a time without you. Daddy and I often look at each other and wonder, "What did we do before the girls?" Nothing as worthwhile as we do now, that's for sure.

I can't describe the happiness you have brought to our life the past 2 years. You amaze me on a daily basis. There are times I find myself getting annoyed with little things and have to remind myself to take a deep breath and ENJOY the things that are annoying me. You are growing and changing so fast, Literally every day, and in the future I know I will cherish the small things that I now consider annoyances. I'm learning to let things go. If you want to help me fold the laundry or load/unload the dishwasher I'm letting you. If you want to dump out every container of blocks, pick them all up and then dump them out again I'm not only letting you, I'm helping you! So what if they house is a mess, we're enjoying our time together and learning and having fun as we do!

You weigh: 23.5 lbs
You wear: Size 4 Diapers & Size 18 month clothing

• You LOVE Barney
• You LOVE your sister, "Sissy"
• You are talking up a storm...I can't even begin to list the words you say. Some of your favorite phrases are, "Silly Daddy" , "Yes Mommy", "I Wuv you Sissy" "Cody @ Grampys?" (this either means you want Cody to go to Grampy's or you want Cody to come home from Grampy's.) You cry after Cody goes to Grampy's and want him right back at "G's house"
• You can put on your own pants & shoes and try to put on shirts
• You LOVE blueberries
• You don't like being read to as much as you like "reading" books to Sissy or on your own.
• You LOVE gymnastics.
• You love to play outside.
• You can open the carport door and let yourself outside & this scares Mommy very much!
• You love when the B kids get to our house every day after school.
• You take a bath with Mommy & Sissy every night.
• You sing a lot. In your car seat, while you are playing pretend or while we are outside. We LOVE to hear your little voice. It is the most precious sound.
• You know how to turn on the radios in our room and in your room and each night before or after your bath we all dance together. We all have SO much fun!!!
• You are still nursing and we both still love it!