Way to go Ethan!

Ethan came home last week very excited. He had an invitation for us to come to the school awards ceremony. We put it on the calendar and called the Grandmas to tell them the good news. He was definitely counting down the days.

The morning of the award he was very concerned about what to wear and made sure that I made his hair look "handsome". Rand and his Mom and My Dad came to see him get his big award. As soon as he saw us he was waving like a champ. He received his award for Scholar of the Month and was very proud. We were really proud of him too. His recent parent teacher conference could not have gone better. He is doing really well and working hard. His teacher thinks he is such a great kid! He has recently become more excited about reading and reads every sign we drive by and any words on the T.V. We are currently reading the wimpy kid series together at night and we all get a good kick out of it. I got Ethan a little card and a little surprise for his working so hard in school. We are proud you Ethan!

He had to make sure nothing was in his teeth before I took this picuture. What a funny guy!

Baby Kate

For the first year of Kate's life or so she was never just Kate, but "baby Kate" even friends and neighbors called her that. While I hope she will always be my baby, very soon "baby Jane" will be on the scene. Kate has suddenly and not surprising coming into the terrible two streak. Why is it always right when you're about to have another baby that you think holy cow what on earth is going on? She really lets you know what she wants and on top of all that normal stuff she has become quite a little dare devil monkey. I often find her climbing up on something. I have had to find all different places to hide Easter candy and the like. In low places mind you because she has learned to pull up a stool climb onto the counter and then stand on the counter top to find things. She has even learned that if she hangs on the fridge doors and slowly walks up the fridge eventually the door will open.

She is such a cutie pie but she sure keeps us on our toes. The other day at play group a little 11 month old girl was walking along the couch by me and touched my knees, and Kate literally took her hand off my knee and said "I don't like her". I almost couldn't believe she had actually said that but she did. I hope she reacts a tad better when our own baby makes her debut.
Our cute girls
not a great picture but we took the kids to one of those new yogurt places with a ton of toppings and they get to pick. They loved it.

all tuckered out. Too bad this is nap and not nighttime. Since we put the girls together this weekend night time is a new challenge.
some of her favorite things: oatmeal, books, bananas(she calls them blananas)
proof of her climbing and getting into things!

Better

I'm feeling better today. Not so ornery. Maybe it's because yesterday I decided that energy or not I needed to get some things accomplished.

I remember when I was a little girl and my Dad would come home from work my Mom would proceed to tell him all the things she had accomplished that day. At the time I didn't get it and thought to myself "why would he care"? Now that I am a stay at home Mom myself I find myself doing the same thing at the end of each day. It even bothers me that I have to list off the things I "accomplished" that day. Even worse is how those things that I did took all day but once listed don't often seem like that big o' deal. I realize now that I need validation for him to see that while this or that may have gone undone that there were other things actually got done. I wish I didn't need that praise and validation but I do so what ya gonna do about it?

So When Randall got home yesterday and I had been cleaning for 4 hours straight I gave him my list:

-cleaned and organized linen closet
-cleaned the upstairs bathroom, even with a toothbrush around the toilet
-cleaned one of the downstairs bathrooms
-changed and washed the sheets on Kate's bed
-cleaned Kate's room
-dusted all the down stairs
-Vaccuumed downstairs and up
-put the clean laundry away

I'm tired today but at least I got some things off of my "to do" list and now the house is pretty clean for the weekend. Too bad Rand will be gone most of the weekend for scout training:( At least I'm feeling better about the house. Too bad I still have this large protuberance hanging off my body! 4 more weeks. I hope I can do this!

ornery

I'm not quite sure that's how you spell ornery, but it's definitely how I'm feeling. I just feel so completely unproductive. Other than the fact I guess that my own body is producing another human being inside of it. I have a list a mile long of things I would like to be doing, like washing windows and blinds. Organizing the linen closet. Changing all the kids bedrooms. Yes we are rearranging everyone. Anna and Kate will share the big bedroom which is scaring me more than anything, but I think a necessary evil. I just hope we aren't crazy for making that decision. Ethan will move into Kate's room and Jane will go into Anna's room since it's already painted pink. We will keep Jane downstairs with us I assume for the first few months or so but I just want to have everyone in their place soon so we have some transition time before Jane actually arrives. I also want to plant some flowers, touch up the crib with some paint. After all it's been through 3 kids and it's looking a tad beat up. I need to put the baby's things somewhere too rather than stuffed in bins and shopping bags in the back of the closet. I still have yet to buy a diaper or a burp cloth, or socks for that matter. We do have a car seat though so I guess if she comes we could at least get her home, we would just have to stop at the store for some diapers. According to Randall when I'm not pregnant I am always nesting. So now that it's time I'm just not feeling it. I want to but can't muster up the energy. Yesterday I did get the changing table washed sanded primed and painted. It looks much better. That's about all I accomplished other than a Dr. appt and the usual stuff. I keep telling myself I will have more energy once she comes, until I realize I will be up all night with feedings and crying and all that fun stuff. I'm hoping that in about 6 months I just may feel like myself again. Only time will tell.

A big day

Today was kindergarten registration for Anna. Can you believe it? I think with it being my 2nd child entering "real" school it's a little easier, but still hard to believe. It was one of those surreal moments really. I felt excited and nervous all at the same time. It is such a pretty spring day today and walking onto the school grounds reminded me of my spring days in grade school. The days that neared the end of school were some of the most exciting. Did you have field day? We did and I loved it. I always tried so hard to win a prize. I usually did best in the softball throw and obstacle course. I remember buying that big old fashioned taffy. That's the excitement I felt today going to school. It's strange to think Anna will be gone every single day. I'm excited for all the new friends she will meet and the new things she will do and explore.

Then came a big decision. Morning or afternoon? In the past there wasn't a choice so it was easy, but today when the decision was mine to make I felt panicked. If she goes in the morning she rides the bus to school with Ethan and then I have to pick her up...every single day. If she goes in the afternoon she rides the bus to and from school. The guilt crept in and I felt like a terrible mother thinking of the ease of her riding the bus both ways. But, that's what she wants. She has been waiting and wanting to ride the bus forever. So I did it. I signed her up for the afternoon. She will ride the bus to school with just the kindergarten students and she will love it. On the way home Ethan will be with her and he's excited to be her protector. I'm happy that she wants to be independent and so I figure while she's feeling independent I should encourage her. If she were afraid I wouldn't push. She wants this. Admittedly with a new baby this year it will be nice to not interrupt naps and feedings and all the rest to make sure I get to the school in time to pick her up. Besides I would feel even worse if she went to school all morning just in time to come home for "quiet time". I would feel like I could never rest because it wouldn't be right for me to not spend quality time and attention once she was home. This way she will be home in the morning with "the girls". Then once she's on her way we can rest(hopefully) and have some quiet time and I will know that she is happily learning away at school.

She's ready. She's excited. I know when the time comes and I watch the bus pull away from the curb with my little girl on it I'll be sad, but excited too. Wow, what a big day.

Someday soon

I will be able to:
-wash dishes facing the sink
-get clothes out of the washer without using a hanger to reach them
-paint my own toenails
-sleep without a thousand pillows
-stop eating antacids like they're candy
-hug my husband facing forward
-get up from sitting without moaning audibly
-drive without my stomach touching the steering wheel
-close a public restroom door without having to straddle the toilet first to make room
-sleep through the night (a girl can dream right?)
-see my feet
-wear short sleeves(I like to keep my chubby arms covered)
-eat chocolate without heartburn as a side effect
-get up off the floor without lots o' help
-run
-read stories to the kids without getting short of breath
-sleep on my back or tummy or however the heck fire I want
-not have comments like "do you feel as uncomfortable as you look" on a daily basis, especially when I think I look just fine.

All these things are completely worth it, knowing in just a few short weeks we get to hold and kiss and smell and love our new little bundle!

Nostalgia

Without fail before each new baby comes I have some feelings of sadness. It's hard not to somehow feel as if there is a small period of mourning. I love my kids and am thrilled with each new baby. When each new child comes to the family it feels as if they have always been there. We can't imagine our life without them. But...until the safe arrival of that new bundle, I can't help but feel a little sad for the life I am leaving behind in a sense. Our Kate has been such a sweetheart, and brought so much joy to our family. I have been trying to hold her a little more as of late. I don't want her to feel sad or out of place when a new little girl comes to take the place of "baby".

I was just looking at our family pictures over the last 6 months. So much joy, fun and happiness. So why do those pictures of 4th of July and Disneyland and ice cream in the summer time make me feel sad? I think while the arrival of a new baby opens a new chapter in our lives I feel like it also closes one. That closing chapter has been one of my favorites. Ethan in t-ball and Anna losing her first teeth. Kate sitting on the potty like a big girl. Fishing on the river as a family and our first garden planted together. All I have left to remember my children growing up are those picture and the many wonderful memories that have been made. At times that just doesn't seem like enough. I know there are many more wonderful times to come, and that with this new little baby we'll have even more joy. I just can't help but cry a little today. I can hardly believe that our big 7 year old boy was once a small little baby swaddled in our arms.

If only these precious moments didn't have to pass quite so quickly...