my new pregnant shoes

OK-I'm not one to spend a lot of money on clothes or shoes--ESPECIALLY sandals, but I'm telling you, my feet and legs were not doing well in flip flops with all the extra weight I'm packing... and I tried wearing my running shoes and it was just so HOT. So I got spoiled. I love my new pregnant shoes.

funny kids

I was trying to get this boy to get in his bed for a nap and he says to me, "I'm so mad at you, Mom!" After he said that I look up at him and he has half an egg on his head and we both started laughing.

The other day Little P was playing with a rubber glove balloon and thought it would make a good scarecrow hand, so she went and got one of her dad's shirts, put the hand on, and completed the look with the perfect scarecrow head. After she showed everyone, she said, "Mom, will you take a picture of me because I can't see myself in the mirror."

funny kids.

entering the 3rd Trimester

I am twenty-six weeks and 4 days along. I am about to enter my 3rd trimester. I've gained almost 25 whopping pounds already. My insatiable appetite has slowed down a lot lately, and I am grateful for that. Could partly be due to the heat, my decreased internal space, and also getting over the icky part of pregnancy that drove me to keep my stomach full at all times. I have only had one mini "I am sick of being pregnant" breakdown so far. It was on Sunday when I put on the dress I'd planned to wear all week, and then soon after noticed there was something like an oil spot on the belly part of the dress--which is happening more and more, the bigger I get and the more things my belly brushes against. But... I feel GREAT. I love the 5th and 6th month of pregnancy. I love feeling the baby move, trying to get other people to feel it (not with much success), not being morning sick anymore, looking "pregnant" not fat, having more energy, still being able to bend over and roll over in bed (getting harder), knowing what the baby is, getting "cute pregnant" compliments in the grocery store and at church, and appreciating the fact that the baby is so much easier to take care of right now than he will be in 3 months. I realize my body has changed dramatically already. Yesterday, my son told me, "You have a giant bum!" and I know that is true, comparing my body now to the one 6 months ago when I was in the best shape and lowest weight since high school. And I know in a couple months, I will be barge. So yes, there are things I am trying to embrace, knowing that many are temporary and hoping that others will also go away after the baby comes-like the giant bum. The sacrifices are sometimes great, but are always well worth it.

little things

I was looking through some pics from a few years ago, which I just love to do. Then I saw this photo of my little dude when he was a newborn. I smiled because he STILL has a thing with my thumbs. He rubs them for comfort or if we are just relaxing and snuggling. It makes me excited to see what our new baby will be like. What he will look like, his cute smile, his tiny toes, and all the new things he will learn. It is cool to have a family. There is just nothing that compares to the happy good times and wonderful experiences.

happy first day of summer

A great time fishing tonight, we all caught at least one...9-10 fish total. Love Little P's face when she reeled hers in. Also love the Boy's body language in the first photo...he didn't want the fish close to him and would not pose for a second photo. This is my kind of fishin'-when you throw out a line and get a bite within minutes.

FAMILY REUNION

So, so much fun to be had at the Husband's family reunion. His mom's side of the family is huge-she is one of 9 kids and all of them have kids and grandkids. We camped in Idaho for 2 nights and played and visited every second we could. There were fun activities planned -the pool full of popcorn and prizes for the kids, potato heads to make (soil and grass seed in a nylon and decorated...the grass will sprout as hair on the 'potato'), and my little guy loved throwing rocks and leaves in the river and putting rocks down squirrel holes for the kid squirrels to play with. Little Babe was a complete wild child, running and playing with the second cousins all day, non-stop, covered in dirt and mud and having a total blast. Both kids were so completely exhausted at the end of the day, they were begging to go to bed.

Right Now, this kid...

eats a lot

thinks pink is the only cute color (purple is a distant second)

will only go potty if it's an emergency

plays "Paint" on the computer almost everyday

uses the phrase "back when the Pioneers lived" to communicate that something happened a long time ago

has to get the last word in about EVERYTHING

goes outside, sits on the swing, and sings

talks like a baby sometimes

talks like a grown-up sometimes

wants to grow her hair out, but hates to have it combed or fixed

makes cards or notes, colors pictures, or does some kind of art project everyday

wants to go everywhere her mom goes

drops everything to play with any kid she sees outside

explains things in great detail

is the last one up every morning

sucks her finger (still!)

loves to wear flip-flops

is a joy to have for a daughter!

Right Now, this kid...

• is the first one up every morning
• doesn’t like to dress himself, get down from the top bunk by himself, or go potty by himself
• talks about and asks questions about scenes in different movies all the time
• likes hugging, kisses, snuggles, and rocking
• gets completely lost in play
• loves to “hike” on a trail
• happily watches his sis play on the computer without ever wanting a turn
• rubs my thumb (or anyone else’s) for comfort
• takes a nap everyday
• gets upset easily
• jumps from the computer chair to our bed like Buzz Lightyear
• sleeps with Bear Bear
• is shy
• hates getting his hair cut
• asks what every animal and insect eats
• has an amazing imagination with non-toys (snorkel tube, hair clips, shape punches)
• thinks you go to Wendy’s when it is windy outside, and you eat fried eggs on Friday
• gets attached to a different toy almost everyday and that toy goes with him everywhere (notice the fishies on his placemat)
• is way too cute for words most of the time!

In the Spring

Spring is so wonderful, especially here after such long, cold months. Everything and everyone comes alive- it is such a cool transformation. Here are all the things we love about spring: sunshine, flip-flops, Aggie ice cream, camping, shorts, going to the park, green, opening the windows, longer daylight hours, bike rides, playing outside, swings, sandbox, bare feet, picnics...everything!

Readers

I think the kids’ summer reading program at the library is totally working...on me. I have loved going to the library, lately. I love being able to browse hundreds of books on any topic I want and be able to take home any that I choose. I feel so powerful! The kids have really loved it, too. It is so cool to see their love for books and learning. Their minds are such little sponges, it is just awesome!

Carnival Favorite

The bouncy clown ride...the best part of the library carnival. I was so glad to see Little P willing to try it, and of course, she loved it. Last year at Lagoon didn't go quite as well. But that is another post. My little timid Buddy chickened out on everything-partly because of his personality, his age, the crowds, the noise, the heat, and the lack of nap. But, at least it was free!

gorgeous sky

Last night the sunset was just beautiful...Thank you to Zach who called to tell us about it! We loved it.

sweet smiles, sticky hugs

This is why I love being a mom!

Daddy's Girl

There is a cool thing going between this girl and her dad. I don't really know why or how it started, but I love to see how Little Babe gets so into being with and doing things with him. She loves to snuggle, dance, watch movies, play, share secrets, hunt, and fish with her dad! I am so blessed to have the husband I do who cares about his family the way he does. And I'm grateful for a little girl who has so much personality, it could neither be dealt with, nor fully enjoyed by me alone. Thank goodness for all the great dads out there! They truly make such a difference in the world!

Lemonade Stand (for a cause)

Little Babe saw her dream plastic swimming pool at Wal*Mart a few weeks back. It's the biggest one they sell, with the molded in slide. I usually buy the lower model (the big one without the slide) every year for the kids. She just could not stop talking about the pool with the slide and asked if we could get that one instead. Since it was more than double the price, I told her she'd have to earn part of the money if she wanted that pool. Well, since she's never had more than a few dollars at a time and there just aren't that many jobs a preschooler can do, she realized she have to go a different route. "I could have a lemonade stand," she said. And it wasn't until we went to the store Friday and saw that there were only 3 pools left that her idea became a reality. The lemonade stand was held Saturday and was such a success- she earned 25 bucks! ...plenty to pay for her part of the pool! We took down the stand and ran to Wal*Mart...and to our good fortune, there was one pool left. We frantically ran in, dodged all the mad Saturday afternoon crowds, stood in line, payed, and took home our prize.

This pool ended up being so much more fun than I imagined...Before this, I thought the little slide was hardly worth the extra 15 dollars...but when I saw how much fun the kids had going down it time after time, I was glad I helped Little Babe realize her goal. The Hus got home from work just as we were breaking it in, and was so hot and tired from working outside all day, he didn't hesitate to jump in to cool off!

What a fun, crazy day!

Fly A Kite

Got a kite for 70 cents and it turned out to be pretty cool! It was the kids' first time flying one and they thought it was neat that it got so high. They were a little nervous to hold onto the end of it themselves...but it was definitely worth the money!

Tough Woman

I have been noticing all the really amazing and tough women I know, lately. My mom, who day after day and minute after minute is struggling with two painful and physically limiting diseases, and yet still is the strength of our family. My mother-in-law who had ankle surgery 3 weeks ago, and who has to stay off of it for 6 weeks and is such a go-getter, she crawls around the house getting what she wants and even mopped her kitchen floor from a wheel chair. My sister who, after having a daughter almost 14 years ago, and thought she was done, will give birth to her second baby girl in a few weeks. And another sister, who is pictured here with her six children (ages 12, 7, 5, 3, and twin 8 month olds) ran her household, homeschooled her 7 year old, got up several times each night with her twins and ran back and forth between them during the day, not to mention bathing and taking all her kids to church. All this while her husband was in Europe for his work for ONE MONTH. What a total champ! I am just amazed at what women can accomplish. I know we are truly blessed to have each other and the neat strengths that Heavenly Father has given to each of us. I think the elementary school saying is so true...Girls RULE! ...(Boys drool!)