Another Year

I know we kind of skipped over Christmas so here is a pic of the playhouse that I made for the kids. Most of the stuff is just hot glued on because I was so tired and my back hurt so bad by this time.

The kitchen sink:

Stove:

The fridge that will get sewn onto the wall with pockets sometime:

The windows (and the door that was covered in chocolate after about 30 minutes!)

Here is Munchkin washing her hands in the sink:

The kids favorite thing about the playhouse is shooting guns out the windows. I really didn't think this all the way through because when they use the playhouse, I lose my dining room table. So hubby is going to build a PVC frame for it so they can take it in the playroom. I am pretty sure it will fit over the picnic table, too... once the snow melts.

We kept it pretty low key this year with not a lot of presents. The most coveted present is definitely the Lambie blanket I got from Jen and Adam. It is super soft and the kids have been taking turns sleeping with it. It even already got puked on! (I am soooo glad it is washable!)

We are getting the kids a trampoline this spring. So we included an IOU from Santa for it. We would get it now but Munchkin can barely walk in the backyard with all the snow. She has to follow tracks or she gets stuck. So, since we don't want to dig it into the ground, we are getting one with a net and a ladder.

We are starting a new tradition this year. Instead of new PJs on Christmas Eve, we are doing them today-New Years Eve, and letting the kids stay up late in their new jammas. We went shopping this morning for them. I told the kids that they could put them on after they ate lunch because they were so excited about it. So they each ate about half a piece of pizza and a cup of juice so they could get into their jammas. They each picked their own:

We'll see how late they make it--seeing how last night, ET asked me to tuck him in at 7:20pm. Maybe we'll just celebrate at dinner...

No More Snaggle Tooth

Validated

We were going to travel to my parents house after Christmas for the weekend. You see, they only live 5 hours away now instead of 11. On Christmas Eve, the weather was foreboding and calling for buckets of snow. Add that to the colds that all of our kids have and a still-morning-sick pregnant woman, and we were more than a little wishy-washy in our decision.

So on Christmas Eve, we decided that we weren't going to go. The prospect of days with nothing to do stretched before us.

Then last night, our decision was validated. Big time.

Puke-fest has begun again.

You're welcome, Mom.

Better Stop Thinking Blue

We are having a girl. I am still getting used to it because I was really thinking it would be a boy. So here is my list of pros and cons.

Cons:
We don't get to use all of those cute baby boy clothes that ET grew out of so fast.
ET doesn't get a brother to play with.
I will have to do three heads of hair every day!
We have to figure out a girl name.
Three weddings to pay for.

Pros:
My babies are bald for the first year (and then some) so no hair to do.
We already have a lot of girl clothes, less the jeans Munchkin is thrashing.
Girls are easier to potty train.
We have a million carebears so plenty to share!
Girl clothes are so much cuter than boy clothes.
Most of the girl clothes are still out so less hunting and sorting.
Lots of girl cousins around the same age.
Two older sisters to show her the ropes.
There are more girl names than boy names that we like.
I can finally get rid of all those boy clothes I have been holding onto for almost 6 years.
ET doesn't have to share "guy time" with Dad.
Lots more snuggling and random hugging.
Lots of other people are having boys and will need someone to marry them off to.

So bring on the pink...again. Or still. I think I am okay with it just for the potty training!

Maybe this one will have hair.


Yeah right!

Merry Christmas

Getting Good At Lying

Santa comes down the chimney. Everyone knows that.

But how do you answer when you are asked how the tooth fairy and easter bunny get in?

Me? I am just putting everything on magic!

He asks, I answer with, "Magic!"

How big is the tooth fairy?

Why, however big you think she is.

Why does she take the teeth and make necklaces out of them? (That came from some book we read when his first tooth started getting loose.)

Every girl wants to be pretty and wear necklaces! Some people like jewels and others like teeth.

Will she bring me a present?

Of course she will! (because that's how we roll in this house--even if it meant another trip in holiday traffic with all the loonies--UGH!)

So I bring you our one tooth wonder and his new tub of clay. (which they started playing with at 6 am this morning!)

And...this whole magic thing just backfired on me. He said the tooth fairy would probably bring him a RC racecar for his other tooth. I told him that the tooth fairy had a budget of about $5 a tooth. To which he replied, "But she's magic--she can do anything!"

I am gonna have to rethink this before Easter.

One Down

I finished one of the kids big presents today. (That gives me two days to work on the playhouse!) I needed the living room to work on it so I banished the kids to the playroom and bribed them with popcorn, candy and cereal to stay there. But I am done!
It is a 7.5 foot indoor/outdoor hopscotch mat. We are trying to focus on active and imaginative play with our Christmas presents. So I just have to sew some bug beanbags and a ribbon to tie it up with and this is done. Thankfully hubby should be home most of the day tomorrow to corral the children so I can work on the playhouse.

Daddy Duty

Hubby is on puke patrol...again!


Heaven help us!

Tent

My maternity shopping is done. Well, as much as I can handle right now anyway. 4 shirts and 2 skirts.

That should get me through the last 20 weeks, right?!

Psych!

I hadn't thrown up in so long (since December 6th to be exact--which is really long in this pregnancy!) I was so sure I was past all that.

Not so much! The toilet and I got reaquainted this morning. But at least it happened 10 minutes before I took the kids to school instead of on the way there or at the school.

So 20 weeks and still "morning" sick. UGH!

Where Does the Time Go?

Christmas is in one week. All of our shopping is done--except for the big present that we aren't getting until the spring anyway. The tree is decorated. There is a wreath in the window. Lights are up..inside anyway.

And there is snow. Lots and lots of snow! Now I did not grow up with snow. I am a snow scrooge. But my kidlets love it! LOVE IT! ET can stay outside for hours throwing snowballs at everything, sisters included. Target practice usually forces the girls inside, but without ET they, too, can stay outside for hours.

I feel like life is flying by! In one week, it'll be Christmas. Then a new year. Then my baby will be 2 years old. Then my oldest turns 6! And on and on and on. New baby, more school, new school.

So I am taking these next three weeks to enjoy my life as it is right now. Sure I will do some sewing and some cleaning (and of course, blogging) but I will also do a lot of playing (probably not in the snow) and just spending time with my family.

So thanks you to all the people who make my life better. Thank you to the man who brought our Christmas tree home so hubby didn't have to figure out how to tie it on the car. Thanks to all the people who teach my children. Thanks for all the birthday wishes yesterday, especially Clea who called and sang me happy birthday. Thanks to all my blog buddies for giving me a laugh or insight each day. But mostly thanks to my family and friends who make it all worthwhile. And my hubby who has to deal with his pregnant wife for the fourth time!

Auto-Pilot

Some sewing projects can be done on auto-pilot. But everything I have been sewing lately has required thought and concentration. Like the bean bag that I sewed 3 sides on without putting any tags in. Or just this morning--Thumbelina's Christmas dress is too short, but the store was out of the next size up. So I was just going to add some trim on the bottom. I figured out how to do it...and then sewed in onto Munchkin's dress! AHHHHH!!! So I am trying to figure out if I just want to squeeze Thumbelina into the 3T dress or sew more trim on the bottom of the 4T.

I Am Officially Crafted OUT!

I have been crafting all week. For some reason my little shop seems to be popular right now. I mailed out 5 orders this morning, and have 4 more to finish. Don't get me wrong-the money is nice--but my already sore pregnant back is screaming at me for sitting hunched over my sewing machine for so long.

Then there are all of the (handmade) presents for family. I (with "help" from the children) made presents for all the cousins, and I really had fun doing it. They all turned out really cute. And I am finally done!

Now I just have to make all the stuff for my kids. But I can only work on them during naptime and after bedtime. My plan is to make them a playhouse that will fit over our dining room table, among other things. I want to sew things on the inside for them to play with--you know typical house things. ...but it is very likely that the kids will wake up Christmas morning to find me under the table with a hot glue gun.

One Year Older

First comes love...

Then comes marriage...
But Happy Birthday all the same.

Hubby turns 30 today. It's official. I am married to an old man. Happy birthday you big stud you!

Drugs

I am not a big fan of drugs. I will use Tylenol and 800 mg IB if I absolutely have to, you know like for the after-kids cramps that accompany every period. I made it through my first 2 pregnancies without taking more than one or two Tylenol cold pills just so I could sleep. When I was pregnant with the munchkin, I had to rely on Promethazine for a few days to catch up on sleep enough to be able to keep food down.

But this pregnancy is really starting to depress me. I am chemically dependant to get through most days. First it was the Zofran so I could stop puking, and now I HAVE to take a sleeping pill every night or I feel awful the next day. I hate feeling this way.

And then, of course, there is always the anxiety that I am doing some sort of damage to my baby. Feeling the baby move (finally) this week has tempered this somewhat.

Then again, there is always the chance that I am just instilling good sleeping habits in utero.

Nudity

Munchkin is advanced for her age. She can (and does) dress (and undress) herself on a regular basis. That basis being at least 3 times a day! She puts on shoes by herself. She can undo zippers and snaps.

But her most recent acheivement has been the removal of her diaper. And the first time she did it? Why when she was being babysat by our friends who have three little boys.

Buck naked three times in less than three hours!

Once again before church on Sunday, once in Nursery (thankfully she left her diaper on for this one), and again right before bed Sunday night.

And she is fast, too. Not once have I caught her in the middle of undressing. Fully clothed or naked seem to be her two settings.

At this rate, potty training in June should be a piece of cake...well, the dressing part anyway.

All That Fits Is Pajamas

Today as I was taking the kids to school, one of the other moms said, "You are the only person who can look that cute in pajamas!"

The thing is maternity shopping depresses me so I have been living in fleece pants and stretchy t shirts. I even had hubby go and get me the cute ones they had on sale at Costco over Thanksgiving.

I have been sewing and crafting for days now. I mailed out 5 Etsy packages yesterday and I have another order to sew today. Then I have Christmas outfits to sew, presents to make, and then all the stuff for the kids. This year we (well, really me) are making most of our presents for the kids and then getting them each one toy that they really want and one big family present.

Our dryer is fixed now, so I have been running the laundry through for the past day and a half. I think I am about half done with the washing. It is so funny because the kids are finding clothes that they had forgotten about. "Mom! I haven't worn this in a long time! Can I wear it today?!"

And really, since I am just doing that and walking the kids to and from school, there is no need to ever get out of pajamas.

Emotional

I am pregnant. Therefore any and all tears that I may shed most likely can be attributed to said pregnancy.

Or the dryer guy not coming and fixing my dryer!


So I did what any pregnant woman with two weeks of dirty laundry would do...I broke into the basement apartment and used that guys washer and dryer for three loads.

Thank Goodness!

The dryer guy is coming today!

It is a good thing that we buy too many clothes for our children... and they like staying in pjs all day... because I haven't been able to do laundry in two weeks!

I have soap.
I have dryer sheets.
I am ready.

Now who is gonna fold it all?!