Another Post on The Boy

It seems like lately all I have been posting is about the baby and the boy. The girls are getting left out, I'm afraid.

And today is no exception. Maybe tomorrow, girls.

With another girl coming into our family and ET being the only son, we look for opportunities for him to do things with his Dad. The library in Provo has an activity every year called Big Guys, Little Guys, where boys and their male caretakers get to go and hang out and do all sorts of things--just the guys.

They went last year (I am sure I have a post somewhere about it but am too tired to search for it.) and had a blast. ET got his face painted, a tote bag full of things and the book of his choice.

This year was no different, besides a different theme and his increase in appetite. The kid ate 3 hamburgers and wanted to go back for more. This year was a medieval theme. They had guys sword fighting and a juggling act that was really good according to hubby.

And the face painting. ET wanted to leave it on so he could scare the kids at church and school. And being the bad Mom that I am, I told him it wasn't appropriate. What do you think?

And of course, the obligatory 6 year old dead pose.

Pregnant...still

It's a miracle, folks. This thing has never happened before in the history of my pregnancies. Well, two things actually, but only one of them is exciting.

Between week 32 and week 34 I gained 0 pounds!* No weight gain whatsoever. Jason said technically that means I lost weight.

The other new thing? My iron is low. I am not sure exactly how this happened since I have eaten almost a whole cow this pregnancy but alas, 4 pregnancies of not really taking my prenatals has finally caught up with me. So break out the steaks...I'm grilling!


*baby is fine and measuring just where she should. Perhaps she is finally pulling some nutrients from my fat stores.

***Edited to add: I have been eating whatever sounds good. Cookies, cakes, hot chocolate, pizza...you name it, I've eaten it, and more.

First Real Loss

My son is a big softie. (much like his father and grandfather, actually.) He is very sensitive.

And now, he is experiencing his first real loss. And it's breaking his heart (and mine in the process.)

He started kindergarten this year, and in doing so, made new friends. But one boy in particular stood out. His mom and I would take turns taking the boys to school. They played together at recess. They walked home from school together. We even switched babysitting so they got to hang out lots of Friday nights. And, of course, they saw each other at church every Sunday.

This boy moved yesterday. To Oklahoma.

ET was in the midst of doing chores (thank you Karate!), and I went to check on him. He walked slowly toward me and said, "I'm just sad today."

I had no idea what was going on. We hadn't fought; he hadn't lost priveledges: the usual culprits of sadness.

"My best friend moved yesterday," he sobbed, sitting down heavily by me.

I just held him and let him cry.

The REAL Karate Kid

Daniel Larusso's got nothin' on this kid.

Last month, we signed ET up for the Leadership Program at his Karate School. This program puts him on track to be a Second Degree Black Belt in 5 years. It will teach him all sorts of leadership skills. He gets all sorts of homework: Practice karate for 20 minutes every day, Read for 20 minutes every day, and self-discipline--do things at home or school without being asked. But, the best part is watching him lead the class of older students.


And his nunchuck skills are rather impressive.

The Art of Negotiation

My son is a master negotiator. He starts out small.

"Mom, can I have just one Oreo cookie?"

So I think--the girls are in the tub so this won't turn into a cookie fest. He did eat his breakfast pretty good so why not.

"Sure. One cookie."

**Crunch*** He already had the cookie in his hand because he knew I would say yes.

Two minutes later...

"Mom, can I have just one more cookie because they're so small?"

In Need of Assistance

I am going to be alone over Conference Weekend. Well, as alone as one can be with three small children. No showering uninterrupted on Saturday because hubby is there to sort out all disputes. No sleeping in. Nobody to cook breakfast for us.

Now I know I shouldn't be complaining because there are plenty of parents who regularly have to go it alone (my sister and Brooke, for example). But you see, I can count the number of times my husband and I have been apart since we got married.

There was the week that he was in school and I was in Cali for my sister's wedding.
There was the time I stayed with friends while he went to the Gorge with his friends.
There were a handful of overnight camping trips with the Young Men.
There was the weekend of his friend Erik's wedding.
There were those two Father/Son campouts where they came back at 7 am anyway.

And now another of his friends is getting married and he will be gone for two whole nights.

Who will get me a Jamba Juice at 10:30 at night?
Who will grill me a steak?

But most importantly, who will change the poopy diapers and get up with the kids at night?!

I am glad that this trip happens to be over General Conference weekend, because that means we can stay in pjs all day and I don't have to try church alone with three kids. So I will be stocking up on bubbles, play-doh, and snacks; but I need some ideas on how to get the kids to sit still during Conference...or a better lock on the playroom door.

Last year, I found a Conference packet that entertained them for about an hour. Does anyone have anything that has worked for them?

"I Don't Wanna Get Pinched!"

Oh the joys that school brings. All of the holidays that we could skim past before are now brought out front and center. Valentine's Day was important but nothing compared to the talk of St. Patrick's Day. (And don't even get me started on the highly anticipated First Day of Spring!)

You'd better wear green or you are so gonna get pinched:
Who am I to argue with Kindergarten logic? And that boy--he can pinch hard!

Contest Time

So there is this girl. She has a husband, two kids and an etsy shop. Her husband and kids have names but her etsy shop is lacking. She needs help finding a name for her shop that she likes and that speaks what she wants spoken.

It's like naming a baby, really. Her current shop name is Creative Rooms, but it's just not exactly right. She does vinyl for your walls and anywhere else you want to put it. I have some in my house even. Check it out--she has some really great designs. She is really easy to work with--I wanted different dimensions for my vinyl quote and she mocked it up for me right away. She even started doing gift certificates because I wanted one for my Mom. Next I am getting the Ghandi quote-- I just have to figure out where I am going to put it.

So she is having a contest. All you have to do is go to her blog and suggest a shop name for her. If she picks your suggestion, you win any vinyl from her shop, up to $25.00. Pretty sweet deal, I think. If I didn't have pregnant brain I would be all over this!

So get your creative juices flowing and help her out...and win some free vinyl at the same time.

True Love

Our 8 year anniversary came and went without much fanfare. Much like everything else.

Sure we could go out on a date. Dinner? Heartburn. Movie? Trying to get comfortable in a seat and having to get up and pee at least twice during the movie. Bowling? Yeah, right.

So we nixed the date (it was a Monday anyway), and spent the evening with the kids. I was craving banana splits so I sent hubby to the store. He said he would make dinner, but with Karate class until 5:30, I went ahead and made the fried rice with the electric skillet he picked up at the store. I also tried to make these...but it didn't go so well.

But, hubby did give me a great present last night. He went and bought these and I didn't hear a peep from him all night.

8 Long Years...

Eight years ago, today, I got married.

We were skinnier, less tired, and less encumbered. (I mean, seriously, we went to Logan yesterday --just for the day--and the car was full of books, toys and snacks.)

But, all in all, it has been a great 8 years. We have had a couple of rough patches--aka the Depo months--but we worked through it--you know by stopping birth control and getting into the pregnancy insanity.

Happy anniversary. I love you!

I Love This Kid

My son is 6. At least that's what it says on paper. Sometimes he acts so much older...wiser.

And sometimes he is still a little boy that needs his Mom (or an ice cream sundae) to make everything all better.

He wants to grow up all at once. You know, because he sees how much fun life is for us grown ups. I mean, seriously. We can stay up late, eat ice cream for lunch (don't judge me--the baby likes it!), watch any shows we want, and buy whatever we want at the store.

Somedays when he is being especially 6, I long for the more grown up version. The one who knows when he is in trouble and says, "yes, mom," but so it almost sounds like 'yes ma'am.' The one who offers to push his sister in the swing without any prompting. The one who doesn't complain about doing chores. The one who reminds me about vitamins and medicine.

But then there are the days where he is being oh so serious, and I wish for that carefree boy again. The one who just needs a hug sometimes. The one who unrolls a whole roll of twine to make a laser field in the backyard. The one who can spend hours digging in the dirt and swinging from a rope. The one who would eat candy all day if only he could find it.

I am sad that he won't have any brothers to get into trouble with, but I am so happy for the special relationship he has with his Dad.
Helping Dad build the bunkbed --hard hat required.

Helping Dad with the Christmas Tree --notice the length of the jeans I bought him in September!!!
Helping Dad put together Munchkin's potty reward--a new stroller. She may get in in July.

Let Me Count the Ways

I love doctors. Especially the ones who stay at the clinic until 10 pm so I can bring in my sick child at 9 pm. And thank you for being at our regular clinic last night so I didn't have to try and find a new place in the dark.

I love medicine. Specifically Motrin and medicated ear drops so that when we finally get to the doctor, the child is no longer in pain.

I love pharmacies. But only the 24 hours ones -- even if it is all the way down in Provo and they got the meds wrong the first time.

I love ice cream. Mostly the fact that it will make everything all better.

I love our insurance and their tiny copays.

But...

I hate having a sick kid.

I hate rude people.

I hate being tired.

I hate worrying.

So thanks UVP and Chris. Thanks Walgreens--the Provo one-not the Orem one. Thanks McDonalds. And thanks IHC. Now I am going back to bed.

FINALLY!

I am 30 weeks!

(Let's all do the happy dance--oh wait 30 weeks makes me too sore to do that!)

We are in the home stretch. 10 more weeks--which sounds like less than 2 and a half months.

We have a name. I made my first quilt. (it's not great but its done!!)

I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But just beginning because 10 weeks is still kinda forever.

I think I can do this.

Like I could turn back now...