Eating Bon-Bons and Watching Soap Operas...

SH*T HAPPENS...

2010-07-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

... all over the bedroom, down the stairs, and into the living room. Pee also happens. All over the basement floor. And, I think I'm taking some extreme liberty with the expression here, but coffee and strawberry jelly also happen. Think kitchen floor and, where else?... beige carpet. And this is all before noon. Throw in there a cake that needs to be made and the most major ingredient forgotten. If anyone needs me (and, I really hope no one does because I'm basically tapped out), I'll be huddled in a corner somewhere.

2010-07-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

Dominic lost his 6th tooth on Sunday. The boys had their regular cleaning at the dentist this past week and Adrian did MUCH better than last time. He wouldn't give the hygienist the time of day or look her in the eye, but he did cooperate, hold still, and open his mouth for the cleaning and exam. Huge progress!

The other day we were grocery shopping and Dominic asked me how they get milk from cows. Before I could totally formulate my answer he said, "I know! From their gutters!"

We are still living up summer around here. We spend almost part of every day at the pool (looooove having a pool I can see from my front door!) and Dominic's swimming skills are getting better every time. He swam in the deep end the other day for a few short distances.

My boys are growing up!

2010-07-04T15:44:00.000-07:00

Well, around here we are busy enjoying summer! We spend lots of time at the pool. Dominic's learning how to really swim this year and Adrian paddles around with his floaty vest and inner tube. Yesterday we enjoyed the 4th of July parade and Ian and Dominic went to the fireworks last night. (Adrian was out at 6 and I couldn't stay awake past 9:30 - are we lightweights or what?!) Dominic (and possibly Adrian) will be attending Vacation Bible School the week after next and the week after that Dominic goes to all day (9a-3p) summer camp. Follow that up with a trip to North Carolina and we should be plenty tired out just in time for Dominic to start all-day first grade on August 25.

2010-02-26T15:54:00.001-08:00

For the last couple of months, Dominic's had an obsession with calendars. We have a calendar with family pictures that my aunt sent at Christmas time that he particulary likes. Every morning, the first two phrases I usually hear are, "I'm hungry" and "Can I look at the calendar?" He likes to go through every month and talk about every.single.birthday.and.holiday. It gets a bit tedious as we talk about the same events day after day. I don't know how we'd passed over Passover (get it? har har) until today, but he asked me what Passover was. I gave him a brief explanation, which he quickly refuted by saying, "Oh, I know! It's when Jewish people pass out papers!" Oh, Dominic. :)

Not much in other news. It's snowing again today. Imagine that. I keep giving myself little milestones to look forward to so I can make it through every long winter day. It's almost the end of February and, right after that, we have Daylight Savings to look forward to! (Fake it til you make it, right?!)

2010-02-15T15:26:00.000-08:00

Winter is rough on my mental health and this particular February is proving especially challenging. We've had three snowstorms in the past two weeks and more snow days than I can even remember to count. Come on, spring!

Dominic turned six on the 10th of this month. We offered him the option of having a "friend party" or just going as a family to an indoor water park about 30 miles from here. He picked the water park, which was a big relief to an OCD mama who doesn't want the snowy, muddy shoes of god-only-knows-how-many kindergarteners all over my carpet. (I am so shallow. Really.) We couldn't go ON his actual birthday... anyone want to take a guess why?! We ended up going yesterday instead. Fun, fun, FUN. Let me tell you, if you closed your eyes in that lovely heated water park and tuned out all the screaming kids, you could almost FEEL summer. It gave me hope. Winter doesn't last forever. Well, unless you live in the tundra, I suppose. Thankfully, in Ohio we have beautiful springs and summers, we just have to make it to them. So, I am hanging on!

2009-11-25T07:35:00.000-08:00

Really... how did it already get to be "that time of the year"? I refuse to acknowledge the ""C word" until after Thanksgiving (as it darn well should be), but seriously? Is it so much to ask to just pause June for like a year sometime?
In other news, I've been sick. Despite my OCD behavior with the antibacterial wipes and handwashing, I managed to go ahead and catch H1N1without really knowing it until that nastiness turned into pneumonia. A million doctor's visits, a hospital stay, and a visit from my mother (thank you God for mothers - I'd surely be dead by now without mine!) later, I am working on getting better... sort of. The on again/off again episodes of not being able to breathe are a bit disturbing still, but I like to keep life interesting. More disturbing than not being able to breathe is that I am currently banned from the gym. NOT GOOD. It would just be super fabulous if my body could stop betraying me and I could go back to my weights and my spinning, pleaseandthankyouverymuch.
Moving along...
Boys are great. Dominic is loving school. Adrian is loving light posts. That's right. folks. Not to be outdone with his brother's weird trash can obsession, Adrian has developed his own unique passion for light posts. The one and only advantage to it getting dark earlier now is that I can use this fascination to my advantage. When the neighborhood light posts come on when dusk hits at, say, 5 pm, I can announce, "Oh, it's dark... the lights are on! Time for bed!" This seems to work relatively well.
So, that's it for today. I'm all out of words. That is all.

2009-09-22T17:16:00.000-07:00

Am I the world's worst blogger or what?

Dominic's been in Kindergarten for a few weeks now and LOVES it. He is like his mama and just thrives off of social interaction. Playing with the other kids is probably his favorite part! Well, his favorite part right after riding the school bus. That is definitely the highlight of each and every day.

I had lofty plans for all the errands I was going to start getting done with only ONE kid while the other one was in school, but school time has sort of become Adrian's new naptime, so the house is blissfully peaceful and quiet for awhile in the afternoons. Of course, that still leaves me with an endless to-do/errand list that I have to knock off with both of my "helpers." Oh well... :)

These sweet boys are growing like weeds and although I am run ragged by the end of the day, I couldn't imagine life without them.

2009-08-19T19:05:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow I'll have a 2-year-old! And next week I'll have a Kindergartener! How did this happen? It's bittersweet to see my babies growing up. I am so thankful for our two healthy, happy boys. We're not doing much for Adrian's actual birthday tomorrow... perhaps going to the indoor pool for some swimming. On the 30th we'll have a puppy party at the same park as we had last year's party.

We've had a great summer!

2009-05-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

These boys are growing up so fast! Dominic had his preschool end-of-the-year program this past Tuesday, which was adorable. The next day he lost his first tooth! How is my BABY already old enough for all of this?!

2009-02-24T07:32:00.001-08:00

Well, we started this week off with a bang.

Yesterday Adrian fell off the kitchen counter and onto his head. He immediately started showing symptoms of a head injury, so - after a consult with the pediatrician - we ended up calling 911. An ambulance ride and a day spent at Children's Hospital later, I am overwhelmingly happy to report that our baby is fine. He suffered a concussion, but that looks like it's the extent of his injuries. He is playing and happy today. God is good and was with Adrian yesterday in a very real sense. I am working through the inevitable "mommy guilt" and just treasuring my whole and healthy kids today!

2009-02-21T14:19:00.001-08:00

"Content" is a very good way to be. I have noticed a pattern. The closer I draw to God (and vice versa, of course), the more content I become. And not just spiritually speaking. I'm talking content, satisfied, my cup runneth over in all aspects of life. I feel less frenzied with stay-at-home motherhood, I'm more patient with my children (and husband!), more thankful for things I would normally take for granted, and more focused. One of the chapters we recently studied in my small group was Psalm 23. Almost everyone is familiar with this passage of Scripture talking about the Lord being our Shepherd. However, I decided to dig deeper and research this amazing chapter. (I am currently reading A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 - highly recommended!) The bottom line is this: Sheep are stupid animals. They are inclined to go their own way and very much prone to peril. Christ is the GOOD Shepherd of His sheep. He knows their tendencies because He created them. In spite of stubborness, He loves and meticulously cares for them. God IS, and as long as He IS, His sheep will be cared for.

2009-02-19T02:55:00.001-08:00

If you need a reminder of the goodness and grace of Jesus Christ, read Psalm 32. It is amazing! How remarkable that God does not hold our sin against us. As Christians, when we bring our sin before God and confess our wrongdoing and ask Him to forgive us, He does. That is it. There are no "ifs, and, or buts." There is no fine print. He seperates our sin from us "as far as the east is from the west." (Psalm 103:12)

We are all humans. We are all destined to failure and bad decision making. We are born with a nature that is sinful. Despite all of that, God knows us whom He created and wants each of us to become His children. Because of His death and resurrection, eternal life and the freedom from the consequences of sin is made unbelievably accessible to ALL of us.

That news makes for a good day!

2009-01-31T05:17:00.000-08:00

So, I nearly have a five-year-old... Crazy, no? And what an almost-five-year-old he is! Dominic is a fountain bubbling over with zeal for life - and garbage trucks! That boy loves him some garbage trucks. :) He is kind to others, good at sharing, loves school, and is a big help to his mommy. Besides garbage trucks (which take first, second, and third place), he loves jumping, the color green, playing with his friends, and cooking. He dives right into new social situations without hesitation. He wants to make Jesus happy and always prays "for Dominic." (He's a bit narcisstic - we're working on that. Hehe.) He is a sweet, happy joy to us.

Little Adrian is not so little. I decided to weigh him this morning and he came in at a whopping 29 pounds on our home scale! He's my little lovey. He hugs everyone and everything. This morning he was even "hugging" the baby on the bag of Huggies wipes! :)

What precious boys God has given us!

Even on the days when I am pulling out my hair with stay-at-home mom induced craziness, I am blessed beyond words. I have a husband who graciously provides for us so that I do not have to work, a warm home, enough food, and - most importantly - a God who has and will continue to love me despite all my shortcomings and who fills me with His presence and His peace!

2008-12-31T16:31:00.000-08:00

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you," says the LORD. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.
- Jeremiah 29:11-14

2009 is upon us! A focus in my life this past year has been that I can accomplish nothing by my own power and that - in giving myself to God's purpose and plans - I will live the fullest life possible. God wants this abundant life for us and desires for us to rely on His power to sustain us. Although this "out of control" sensation can feel scary, it will actually set us free! God knows the plans that He has for us, and they are for good! We can embrace this promise in the new year. We can also be assured that we don't have to know where we are going and that God will lead us step by step as we place our lives in His care. He longs to meet us exactly where we are, with all our mistakes, shortcomings, fears, and failures. HE is our hope and our future!

2008-12-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)

We are blessed and thankful for the birth of God's son, Jesus!

Oh gosh...

2008-10-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

... I am a horrible blogger. Just to let everyone know that I am, indeed, alive and of fairly sound mind and body, here are some ridiculously cute photos. Consider them my way of saying "I'm sorry!", ye faithful blog readers. Oh, and also my way of saying, "Aren't my kids the stinking cutest?!"

2008-10-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

2008-10-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

2008-10-14T17:11:00.000-07:00

Dominic goes to school!

2008-09-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

I know, I know... My child can not possibly be this grown up. Dominic started preschool this past Monday and I'm not sure if he was more excited about actually going to school or about wearing his new shoes. Either way, the whole thing was absolutely adorable!

First haircut!

2008-09-05T05:49:00.000-07:00

Adrian is so blue because he needs a haircut... (In actuality, A is blue for other reasons, but we won't get into that. It's working so well for the haircut theme.)

Tada! My girly man is a little boy again! :) He looked/looks ridiculously cute.

ONE-derful!

2008-08-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

Our boy is one! Actually, our boy turned one a week ago and life has been a whirlwind ever since. My friend, Sarah, flew in on Friday for a visit and for Adrian's party. I haven't seen her since the fourth grade (well, I did see her once for a half hour or so when we were 14, but she doesn't remember it, so I don't count it - ha!) and we've been out of touch all these years. About 6 months ago, I reconnected with her via the internet and we just picked up right where we left off. It's pretty amazing! We had a fabulous, all-together-too-short weekend together and are already planning a repeat get-together.

Saturday the big one-year-old took his first steps! He took four or five and he is giving no indication of a repeat performance anytime soon. :)

Sunday was his big party in the park. It was a gorgeous, semi-cool morning with almost the whole "digger park" to ourselves.

Monday was his one-year checkup. The beast, as we affectionately all him, is still a beast. He weighed in at 23 lbs., 11 oz.! He also has an ear infection of which I had no suspicion! Poor guy!

So, yes... the first year has flown by. I am a bit sadly nostalgic that the baby days are mostly gone and I am quickly becoming a mother of two big boys. I am happy, though, to anticipate a future of much joy with my little people. I am blessed.

2008-08-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

I watched Elena last week while Heidi went to her new job training. Having 33% more children and double the babies went remarkably well. I was even able to get some exercise and a couple good shots for Adrian and Elena's wedding video... :)

I lied...

2008-08-03T05:43:00.001-07:00

... It's been way longer than a week since I promised a forthcoming blog. Is anyone still out there?

My mom and dad left early this morning after a three-day visit. I am insanely jealous of people who get to live geographically close to their families... especially those with children.

Speaking of children... Mine are growing up. Fast. I'm not sure that I approve of this. Dominic starts preschool on September 8. This is not too much of a monumental milestone for me in and of itself except as it relates to the fact that this time next year, my baby will go to kindergarten. That's right, folks. Kindergarten. Five days a week. For which he'll need me to buy him a backpack. This is serious.

And Adrian, my sweet little newborn, is on the brink of his first birthday. Was I not just pregnant with him, like... yesterday?

Whoever said, "The days creep by, but the years fly by" hit the nail on the head. This is how people get old. Why do I suddenly feel myself hurtling toward being a crazy old cat lady?

Whoa.

2008-07-20T08:04:00.001-07:00

Although busy, life is good... No one is sick right now, Adrian is sleeping all night again (phew!), and they just put in a Cheesecake Factory a mile from my house. :) I will bloggity blog this week, I promise!

B-U-S-T-E-D!!!

2008-06-16T08:07:00.000-07:00

2008-06-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

Where have I been? Well, fielding dramanic (drama + Dominic = "dramanic"... one of my favorite and oh-so-appropriate words) of course! Actually, the "incidents" have subsided a bit since my last post. Now I am just dealing with the usual daily messes and accidents, per the usual. What a relief! (Knock on wood) I have discovered that there is a direct correlation between those "incidents" and the days that we stay inside for the most part and don't go anywhere or do anything. Let me tell ya... A trip every day somewhere is worth avoiding that!

Anywho...

So, in between diaper changing, kid-book reading, snot wiping, and feeding, I've been up to the usual... Having celebrities over for catered lunches, leaving the kids with their respective nannies and picking up a few things at Louis Vuitton and Versace, jetting down for quick jaunts in the Caribbean. You know...

2008-05-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

Contrary to rumors I've heard are flying, I am still alive and still of mainly sound body and mind. Ok, so the sound mind part might be a bit of a stretch, but what's new, right? Since arriving home from North Carolina last weekend, I have been outlandishly busy with the norm, on top of playing fielder to my destructo four-year-old. Dominic has suddenly become fiercely independent and very... er... curious and "helpful" (his word, not mine). Let me give you a run-down of the past five days...

Day #1 - Dominic dropped a large-ish container of yogurt all over the CARPETED dining room floor. It landed in such a precise way that I am still cleaning up hard, sticky spots that have dried a good ten feet away from the area of impact.

Day #2 - During his "rest time", Dominic's four-year-old mind concluded that it would be a good idea to pour half a bottle of baby vapor bath down his drain (and, of course, inadvertently onto the carpet and every other surrounding porous surface) and dump a nearly-full bottle of baby powder down the vent in his floor. You can imagine the problems that I'm bound to encounter when the weather gets hot and I need to start running our A/C. Who needs air freshener? It's going to smell fresh as a baby's bottom in here for about the next 6 years.

Day #3 - Dominic got thirsty in the wee hours of the morning and decided that he needed a drink. I came downstairs the next morning to a skim of Juicy Juice covering an entire counter, most of the floor, and - of course - the areas between the counter and the stove and refrigerator due to the run off.

Day #4 - I vacuumed upstairs and forgot to bring the vacuum back down before Dominic's rest (read:terror) time. I went back upstairs some 20ish minutes into rest time and found the entire contents of the vacuum bag strewn around his room and a baby powder (in the vauum bag from day #2's incident) cloud hovering so thick that breathing was definitely difficult.

Day #5 - Dominic went into my bathroom in search of hair gel, apparently. He proceeded to find and spill the gel everywhere and also spray half a bottle of coconut-lime body spray and another half bottle of expensive perfume on himself and the carpet.

Today is Day #6 and I am living in active anticipation of the daily drama yet to unfold. So, I've been a little preoccupied and blogging has fallen a bit low on my list of priorities. Regular posting should resume when the children go to school or sometime in 18 years or so...

"All growed up..."

2008-04-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

... As Dominic would say. And Adrian is, indeed, getting "growed up" faster than I would prefer! ;) He is officially too big for his infant carseat and now rides in the "big boy carseat" that Dominic went into when he was a year old. In the carseat picture, he is also wearing an outfit that Dominic wore at 18 months old! My chunky monkey got weighed on Wednesday and is 21 pounds. Whew! No wonder my back hurts! :)

Thursday

2008-04-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

One kitchen table covered with markers, paper, empty yogurt cups, and Splenda packets, among other crap... Check.

One mommy with an unbelievably sore back and neck... Check.

One crabby, snotty, fever-y, teething baby... Check.

One wild preschooler who just "helped" me scrub the toilet (without my knowing, of course)... Check.

Ten loads of un-done laundry... Check.

This is the making of a bad day. I might just be able to justify a therapeutic trip to Home Goods.

You can tell me I'm a genious now or wait 'til later...

2008-04-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

So, nothing makes me happier (well, except maybe cheesecake... or Vin Diesel, but that's another post) than finding a practical solution to an annoying problem. Yes, this goes hand-in-hand with my organization fetish. Want to make something of it? At any rate, I am marketing this one. I just solved every preschool mother's dilemma of little people washing their hands and then being too short to re-hang the towel that has inevitably been pulled off the rack and left on the floor on the counter. Check it out. I just never cease to amaze myself. :-P

2008-04-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

Today we couldn't resist a trip to the zoo. The weather was absolute perfection and our zoo membership cards arrived in the mail yesterday. Seemed like a sign to me! We had a wonderful time - even little Adrian who rode in his stroller and didn't make a peep the 4-ish hours we were there.

Me and my cute matching boys! :)

Dominic - busy growing up!
Happy baby brother
Mpmmy and her "cubs" :)
This was just too sweet for words and I wish I could have captured it a little less "blurrily." Dominic and Adrian were riding the train and holding hands...

2008-04-14T01:44:00.000-07:00

Ok, really... What is more frustrating than being wide awake all night when you are desperately tired and your baby is sleeping?! It's a curse, I tell you. This happens to me from time-to-time and really makes me feel like I am losing it. Adrian started throwing up yesterday evening proceeding a day consisting of much whining and crying. Mommy was spot-on, it turned out, with a diagnosis of "upset tummy." I think moms are built to intrinsically know when puke is coming. It's nature's way of sort of bracing us for the horror ahead. Puking kids just might be worse than insomnia. Anyway... Where was I again? Ahh, yes. Adrian puking. I think that my body was readying itself to be up all night with a throw-uppy baby and then... he slept. Well, he woke up twice in need of a paci reinsertion and that's where my sleep ended and my problems began. And now it is 5 am. I am tired. Yet awake.

In other news, one productive (?) thing happened during the night/my nap. I turned 26. Whoa. Didn't I just turn 18? Better yet, didn't I just turn 6? Why does that birthday party with the entire kindergarten class (sorry Mom) and sitting in the neighbors' tree house (something seems hazardous about 10 six-year-olds in a treehouse, but that's beside the point) seem eerily recent? Is this how people get old? Did I mention I have grey hair? I do. And not just one or two. Like, if I push my hair down against my scalp and look in the mirror there are at least six at any given time. Six thick, ugly WHITE hairs taunting my youth. I don't think that's gonna work for me.

So, I'm canceling my trip to the gym for today. I just made this decision in the last 34 seconds. I am pretty sure the whole grey hair thing pushed me over the edge and made me lose my enthusiasm. Well, that and the whole lack of sleep issue...

Did I mention I can't sleep?

Pretty baby

2008-04-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

2008-04-06T09:04:00.000-07:00

Crap crap crappity crap crap crap...

So, Skybus went out of business. They cited the cause being "soaring jet fuel prices coupled with a poor economy." Nevermind the fact that - I kid you not - they apparently chose the rudest, crappiest employees they could find which produced the most horrendous customer service (or lack thereof) that I have ever experienced.

I had sworn that I would never give Skybus my business again after our next already-purchased flight.

Which brings me to my dilemma: Our already purchased flight to my sister's wedding in four weeks. Skybus is filing bankruptcy and has basically told all of their customers that they are S.O.L.

Greeeeaaaaaat...

In other news, we've been car shopping all weekend. Well, I've been car shopping by proxy. Ian's been doing the dirty work while I sit at home waiting for him to call me and ask questions or bring by something on a test drive. It's working for me. We've pretty much settled on a Toyota Avalon, which we will probably go pick up sometime tomorrow.

So, that is that. Canceled flights, house and car buying, and the normal mix of everyday kid-related drama. I know, you're envious...

2008-03-30T09:46:00.001-07:00

Yet another sign that you have children: You clean out from under your fridge and what you sweep up is a hodge podge of raisins, Goldfish crackers, Cheerios, and miscellaneous missing small toy parts.

Meanwhile, I am leaving Ian and running away with Matt Lauer. (Yes, from the Today Show.) If anyone gets the USA Weekend in their Sunday paper, read the article about spring cleaning and Matt's take on organization. Is he my long lost soulmate or what? He expressed my sentiments exactly when he said that he is in complete nirvana when he visits the Container Store. Ahh, Matt, it could have been so good...

2008-03-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Jenn's shower hosted by yours truly - note the beautiful bride

Happy Adrian
Flowers! These are like gold to those of us living in the Tundra
Wrightsville Beach, NC
Mommy and Adrian

I didn't know that my blog was so popular until I didn't post anything for awhile... a long while. I know, I know - I'm a slacker, but I have good excuses for being so. We got home from North Carolina last week. Dominic was already sick and Adrian and I immediately got sick upon arrival. (I'm sure it was caused by our bodies balking at the fact that it was 75 degrees when we got on the plane in NC and snowing when we got back off in Columbus...) Reentry from a trip causes mass chaos for a week. Having sick kids causes mass chaos for a week minimum, so that's where where my blog and I have been. Enough said.
Here are some photos. Go on, get your fix!

2008-02-21T13:22:00.000-08:00

You know you're a parent when...

2008-02-19T08:14:00.001-08:00

... You've had a legitimate argument with your spouse over whether "Map" on Dora the Explorer always stays inside "Backpack" or not.

... You get unbelievably excited for pee in the potty. You get ecstatic for poop.

... You actually hope that you get stopped by a train or stuck behind a garbage truck, as it would totally make your four-year-old's day

... You've mindlessly served your spouse food cut into small, un-chokable peices

... You know precisely how much time elapses between "peaceful quiet" and "trouble quiet"

... You hear someone say a bad word (i.e., "stupid") in a public place and audibly gasp, even though your children are not with you

... You cannot stand in one place and hold any inanimate object without thoughtlessly rocking it in your arms

2008-02-17T11:28:00.001-08:00

Well, 50% of my children have been diaper-free for a week now! WOOHOO! Even better, Dominic has been pee-free (well, you know... except for in the appropriate places) for three days now, going on four. I don't think anyone can quite understand (unless, of course, you too have had a child un-potty trained til age 4) how excited this makes me.

In other news, Adrian now has two bottom teeth and is looking more like a big boy everyday. He is growing entirely too quickly!

And, in breaking news... Dominic just came downstairs with lotion all over his clothes and smelling like [expensive] perfume. This is not indicative of good things happening upstairs. I knew it was too quiet.

Oy vey...

Rasta mon...

2008-02-15T16:08:00.000-08:00

2008-02-11T10:13:00.000-08:00

Well, I am happy to report that I am now the mother of a four-year-old (remind me again how that happened!?) and "Project: No More Diapers" is underway! (So far, so good... stay posted.)

We are not having Dominic's birthday party until the 23rd, but we had a fun little family outing yesterday. We ate lunch out and Dominic got a peice of chocolate cake the size of his head (no exaggeration). And, no, he did not finish it. It was, however, pretty hilarious to see him mentally process the realization that we'd just put the head-sized peice of cake in front of him and he was really allowed to have as much of it as he wanted! After lunch, we headed to Build-A-Bear Workshop. The bear Dominic picked, "John", (no idea where that came from, but D was adamant that his name was John) is sportin' a blue t-shirt and big boy underwear! Can you believe it?! I have never seen a cuter waste of money than big boy bear underwear complete with tail hole! Naturally, we weren't passing on ANYTHING, though, that encourages "Project: No More Diapers." John is pretty adorable - not nearly as adorable as my 4-year-old BIG boy though! :)

2008-02-09T16:37:00.000-08:00

9 am......

2008-02-08T06:12:00.000-08:00

... And so far this morning I have:

- Changed numerous diapers
- Dealt with one pee "blowout" that escaped the diaper
- Reminded Dominic numerous times that once he turns 4, we are throwing his diapers AWAY and he is using the potty!!!
- Doled out boobies, bottles, Cheerios, and cheese
- Processed two loads of puke and poop stained laundry
- Windexed suspicious Dominic-sized handprints off surfaces too high for him to reach without "assistance"
- Wiped half a tube of Dora the Explorer toothpaste off the bathroom counter
- Bathed and dressed both boys after finding an "approved" outfit for my fashion diva son
- Reiterated to Dominic that diapers are going in the trash when he turns 4
- Unloaded dishwasher, rewashed STILL dirty dishes, and 87 bottles
- Changed baby clothes AGAIN and scrubbed barf out of the carpet

And the day is just beginning, my friends! :)

2008-02-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

We introduced Adrian to the Exersaucer yesterday. He is a big fan already. :)

Adrian and Elena

2008-01-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

Here is Adrian and his "good friend" Elena (as Dominc says). They are almost exactly 24 hours apart to the minute in age. :) Heidi (my friend/Elena's mommy) and I joke about how cute these pictures will look at their wedding in 25 years.

By request...

2008-01-25T09:58:00.001-08:00

I am back! (Sort of)

2008-01-21T16:41:00.000-08:00

Well, about a month ago we shipped our not even one-year-old laptop back to the computer hospital because it was MESSED UP! (That totally just disclosed how computer-knowledgable I am, I know.) Anyway, it came back a couple weeks later STILL broken. So, back it went and just came back STILL broken. Each time the computer has come back with the previous problem fixed and a new one in its place. Ummm... So, anyway, we are getting a whole new computer mailed to us now and this one works intermittently at best.

I have been busy with the usual. Dominic will be FOUR (!) in a matter of days and Adrian turned 5 months old yesterday. What is happening to my babies?! I am happy to report that my formerly non-sleeping, constantly crying baby is now a whole new person! At his four month checkup, his growth percentiles had dropped further and the doctor was adamant that NOW was the time to begin supplementing him more than just the one or two bottles of formula that we had been. He told me, in slightly kinder words, that my baby was starving and I just did not have enough milk to properly nourish him. Ugh. Talk about ripping my heart out and stomping on it! I still nurse him once or twice a day and, although it breaks my heart to not be breastfeeding him much anymore, I know that there is nothing else I can do to try to increase my milk supply, etc. My own health was just compromised when I lost so much blood with my abruption and c-section, hence all the feeding problems for little Adrian. Anyway, ALL that said, he is soooo much happier and content now that he has a full belly. This makes me feel incredibly relieved and incredibly guilty at the same time! I am coming to terms with all of this, but all this formula is going to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 per month. Ouch.

Pictures to come!

2007-12-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a video of Dominic playing kickball yesterday at his "Sporties for Shorties" class at the rec center.

Getting cuter every day!

2007-12-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

2007-12-02T14:01:00.001-08:00

Oh lord... I was afraid this day was coming. I sent Ian to Kroger today for a few things. Naturally, I also sent him with a coupon for almost everything on the list. Those of you who know me best know that I HEART COUPONS. I mean, come on, it's basically free money. I HEART FREE MONEY. Hehe. Anyway, Ian was checking out and handed the cashier the big stack of coupons to which he asks, "Hey! Is your wife the one with two little kids who comes in here with like a million coupons?!?" Oh my... I have a reputation. Funny, I am not remembered as being the one who was barfing there this time last year when I first found I was pregnant... I guess being the crazy coupon lady isn't so bad.

2007-11-29T06:51:00.001-08:00

This is funny... albeit a little disturbing. ;) You will have to copy and paste the following link:
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9634697800

2007-11-26T14:46:00.000-08:00

For your viewing pleasure... :)

2007-11-23T07:29:00.000-08:00

Here's some pictures of our cute boys. The last two are of them yesterday in their Indian get-ups. :-) We have been reading The Story of Thanksgiving and Dominic was quite impressed that he looked just like the little boy in the book with his head dress. Unfortunately, by the time I got to taking pictures of them, they were both tired, crabby, and generally uncooperative!

2007-11-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

GO BUCKS!!!

2007-11-16T16:44:00.000-08:00

Well, dare I even type this...? My baby has slept through the night the last six (count them... SIX) nights. I cannot tell you how much sweeter and more precious my darling baby looks after an entire nights' rest. ;-) Unfortunately, he has super crabby during the DAY the last couple days to compensate and has officially won the "Super Puker" title. We aren't sure what is going on in that department, but his doctor wants him back on the reflux medicine. On the subject of puking, it's funny how easily you can disgust a childless friend by catching baby barf in your hand before it hits the sofa. ;-) As I always say (well, maybe have said for the last 3-1/2 years or so...), a hand is much easier to clean than upholstery. Hehe.

How to run an errand...

2007-11-09T16:11:00.001-08:00

How to go to Target without children... Drive to store, select and purchase needed items, drive home (perhaps stopping for a leisurely cup of coffee on the way to/from)...

How to go to Target with children... Debate for several days whether a trip to the store is absolutely necessary anyway, try to come up with alternate plans of action to avoid the store at all (e.g., use Kleenex instead of toilet paper, shampoo for dish detergent, etc.). When a trip to the store is, in fact, deemed absolutely imperative (all Kleenex have already been used as TP), make a shopping list. Get interrupted 10,000 times while making list and start new list. Repeat. Gather 3-4 partially completed lists and haphazardly compose as one master list using staples, tape, or Dora the Explorer Bandaids. Plan to leave the house at 10am for said errands. Leave at precisely 12:48 after repeated requests for snacks, diaper changes, nursings, etc. Arrive at store. Circle parking lot approimately 5 times waiting for a good spot to open. Unbuckle and get out three-year-old repeatedly saying, "Stand RIGHT by me!" as he is distracted by cars' mud flaps, trucks, and any insect within a 20 foot radius. Get baby out. Walk to store. Remember after children are in cart (as three-year-old screams he is TOO BIG for the cart) that you left some essential shopping item in car. It doesn't matter what the item is (wallet, list, etc.) - it's just left in your car. Retrieve item and begin shopping. Detour to snack bar after repeated requests for "popcorn!" and to keep three-year-old content in cart. Select one item (after choosing an alternate because they are out of the exact thing you need), pick up crying baby. Return to snack bar to nurse baby. Deny three-year-old's repeated requests to throw something in the trash can. Resume shopping, while carrying still-unsatisfied infant, and pushing cart (yes, the one with the squeaky wheels that veers to the right). Hurriedly gather remaining items on list(s) whilst promising child a visit to the toy department if he can behave. Victoriously scratch last item off list and head toward said toy department. Mentally pound head against wall as baby poops his pants. Visit bathroom with crying child, forced to leave toy department against his will. Change baby and head to checkout line. Wait in line for a godforsaken amount of time (new cashier). Wait in line even longer as new cashier calls management because she doesn't know how to process a coupon. Meanwhile, child pulls approximately 38 rolls of Breathsavers off of the shelf. Leave Target, head toward car. Get children buckled in. Remember forgotten item. Begin new list.

2007-11-05T13:15:00.000-08:00

I know, I know... You don't have to tell me how ridiculously cute my baby is! :-D He is 11 weeks old today and, when he wants to be (!!!), he is so smiley and happy. He's beginning to discover his hands and feet, too, which is the cutest thing EVER!

Dad and Adrian catching up on world news... (Being a baby is serious business!)

2007-11-01T09:20:00.000-07:00

Dominic and Adrian ready for Trick-or-Treat:

Dominic and his friend Ian:

Baby Adrian Pumpkinhead:

Two month check-up

2007-10-28T17:20:00.001-07:00

Adrian had his two month check-up with the pediatrician on Friday. (He will be ten weeks old tomorrow - can you believe it?!) He weighs exactly 11 pounds and is 23-3/4" long. He is perfectly healthy and had abundant smiles for everyone... even the mean shot nurse who gave him five (yes, FIVE) shots! :( The doctor wants us to continue supplementing him with formula as I've had some breastmilk supply issues due to my anemia and because of his initial weight gain issues. His weight gain is sufficient at this point, but he has dropped from the 50th percentile to the 40th. His length went from the 95th to the 85th. (He is SO long! Just the opposite of Dominic...)

In other random news, Dominic's fish went to fishy heaven tonight. Mommy might have made a slightly poor water quality decision. Let's just say that. I guess we will be visiting Petsmart this week for some replacement "pets." I'm still trying to figure out exactly how I am going to explain why Albert and Tito aren't in the fish bowl in the morning when Dominic wants to feed them... Oh boy...

2007-10-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

Well, we did - in fact - make it to NC without any major incidents! We've been having a good time aside from the fact that Adrian has TOTALLY regressed in his good sleeping habits. Not good! I'm not sure what I need to do to get him back on the right path, but I am very tired in the meantime.
On a more positive note, Adrian is now a full-fledged member of the smiling baby club. :) It is so cute.
It's Thursday, which means garbage and recycling day here at Papa and Grandma's. Dominic has been glued to the window all morning. :) This is the highlight of his week.
Will check in again soon!

I think we're onto something here...

2007-09-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

The last 4 nights we have "topped off" Adrian with a bottle of pumped breast milk after his bedtime nursing. He is a whole new baby. He sucks down 3-4 ounces (5 last night!), gets all droopy and tired, lays down in his bassinet, and goes to sleep! Now, this is a good thing because we have gotten 5, 4, 6.5, and 7 (!!!) hours of sleep straight each night respectively, but a bad thing because it appears that my milk supply truly isn't adequate for him. This stresses me out! Dominic nursed for 26 months with NO problems, so nursing "issues" are uncharted territory for me. Several nurses and my doctor have all commented that because I lost so much blood with my abruption and delivery and because I am so anemic now, my body is prioritizing by making blood first and milk second.

Ok, now that I have bored you all stiff with my milk drama... :)

We are headed to North Carolina on Tuesday. I am beginning to wonder when and how I ever thought it was a good idea to fly alone with a 3 year old and a 6 week old. Hopefully we get there all in one peice and with most of my sanity intact!

2007-09-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

His foot really is NOT as big as this photo portrays! :)

Bath time

Just chillin'

2007-09-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

2007-09-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

I thought this was cute. You might have to click on it to make it work! :)

Life in Babyville

2007-09-21T15:12:00.000-07:00

It has certainly been an interesting week in the Claiborne household! Adrian's had thrush, a cold, and a major case of the crabbies... poor baby. He seems to be on the mend now, but Wednesday night was hands-down the longest, worst night since his birth! No one got much sleep that night. (Except maybe Dominic!)

In spite of all that, he is still a keeper and still growing cuter by the day. :) (I know, I know - shameless bragging...)

Life is good

2007-09-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

I found Adrian sleeping peacefully like this yesterday. So cute. This is how I sleep too! Like mother, like son. :)

Beautiful baby...

2007-09-13T16:48:00.000-07:00

2007-09-11T10:22:00.001-07:00

Adrian turned three weeks old yesterday. Where is the time going?! We had a bit of a rough weekend with him being quite fussy and not sleeping as well as usual. However, last night and the night before were much better. He's still quite fussy during the day and I am trying to determine why. It's very hard to get anything done because he wants to be held and/or nursed constantly. I've had some milk supply issues and saw a lactation consultant last Thursday. So, now I am trying to determine if he is hungry or just plain wants his mommy. :) I plan to take him in for a weight check tomorrow. He's not gaining as quickly as they would like, so we are having to closely watch him.
Dominic is still doing well adjusting to big brotherhood. I think the biggest challenge for him is not being able to get out of the house like normal! It'll be nice when everything just balances out into a more predictable routine.
I promise to post more pictures of my CUTE (!!!) kids soon. :)

2007-09-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

2007-09-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

Baby Adrian slept 6-1/2 hours straight last night! Any of you parents know how awesome this is for a two-week-old! He probably would have even gone a little longer, but I woke him up to nurse because I worry about my milk supply dropping with him sleeping so long at night.

Meanwhile, Dominic is adjusting well to big brotherhood. He is getting a little stir crazy now with Ian back at work and my mom and dad gone, and no one to take him out of the house. It'll be nice when I am fully recovered and things are a little more "normal." (Whatever the new normal will be around here!)

2007-09-03T07:16:00.000-07:00

Adrian is two weeks old today! I am happy to report that he is sleeping longer stretches each night and went 5 hours last night. Woohoo! :) I was actually expecting just the opposite as he slept most of the day and evening yesterday. (He actually seems to sleep less during the day than a "typical" newborn.) He is a totally different baby than Dominic in almost every way... except, of course, in the precious, perfect, mommy-enrapturing way. ;)

2007-08-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

Photos top to bottom: Adrian in his going-home-from-the-hospital outfit. (It was so hot when we came home that he immediately lost the hat and pants after the picture was taken!), Mommy and Adrian about to leave the hospital, Daddy and Adrian at home

In other news, Adrian had his first pediatrician appointment this afternoon. (He hated every minute of it!) His weight is working it's way back up - he is 7 lbs., 8 oz.

More Adrian pictures!

2007-08-28T08:24:00.000-07:00

He's here! He's here!

2007-08-26T08:04:00.000-07:00

Our baby boy is here! Adrian Grant arrived on Monday, August 20 at 11:13 am. He weighed 7 lbs., 12 oz. and was 20 inches long. I went in Monday morning at 5:30 to be induced (already having contractions and not knowing it!) and ended up with an emergency c-section due to a placental abruption during labor. Although Adrian's method of arrival was very unexpected and a little scary, he is beautiful, healthy, and perfect! We stayed a little extra time at the hospital, but arrived home Friday evening and are all doing wonderfully. Here are a few photos... (Many more to come, so check back often!)

Today is the day!

2007-08-20T01:50:00.000-07:00

After all the anticipation, the time has finally come! We are headed to the hospital in about 20 minutes to be induced. Next time I post here, our family (and not just my waist anymore!) will have grown. Stay tuned...
(The above pictures are from yesterday, August 19...)

Almost baby day!

2007-08-19T08:25:00.000-07:00

Looks like I will probably make it to my induction tomorrow morning (my mom's birthday!)after all. This is a bit disappointing, but at this point, I am just ready to have this baby out! I am scheduled to arrive at St. Ann's at 5:30 a.m. We will try to keep everyone updated as much as is possible. :)

2007-08-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

I am scheduled to be induced on Monday, August 20 if this baby doesn't decide to come on his own before then... Hoping he does!

Still pregnant...

2007-08-11T05:43:00.000-07:00

I ended up having to go to L&D yesterday because my blood pressure was high. Can you believe it?! After all this time having stellar blood pressure with no PIH or pre-eclampsia in sight, my readings were super high yesterday afternoon. I called my doctor's office and they had me come in. Ian and I spent about 2 hours there with me on the monitors. My BP went down some after laying on my left side awhile, so they let me go home and basically told me to rest and lay on my left side as much as possible until my appointment on Monday. I am beginning to think that an induction is in my future. Ugh. At this point, though, I mostly just want him out! :)
My mom has been here since Wednesday playing the waiting game with us. (Oh, and helping a lot too!) Not much news other than that!

2007-08-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

This picture if from yesterday. My friend Jenn came over with her 3-month-old, Jayden. Dominic loves her and wanted to show her all his toys and hold her constantly!

Woohoo! So, I just got back from my doctor's appointment and he said that baby has an excellent chance of coming this week. Yeaaaaa! I am 2 cm dialated now and Baby's being a good boy and moving down finally. :) So, everything is looking great! The doc said that if I am still pregnant next Monday, we will talk about induction. So - either way - it looks like this baby is going to be born this week or next. Before you know it, there will be pictures on our blog of Dominic with his baby brother!

Another day down...

2007-08-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

...and Lord only knows how many more to go...! I am officially sick of being pregnant and am eager for this little boy to make his appearance. My back and hips are killing me and my feet and ankles are swollen beyond belief, so I've had just about enough fun! :)

We took Dominic to see Shrek 3 today. It was pretty cute and, since it's at the dollar theater now, we figured it was worth the $3 gamble if he didn't sit through it. He did great though and was cracking us up with his cracking up! At the end of the movie when they showed Shrek and Fiona's babies, he said, "Those babies came out of their mommy's belly!" It was pretty darn cute. :) We then went next door to one of his favorite destinations, the pet store. He was pooped by the time we got home and he's in bed now snoozing away.

Dominic starts another Vacation Bible School on Monday. Hopefully he'll get to enjoy the entire week of this one since he only got two days into the last before he got so sick. :(

I have my next 38/39 week prenatal appointment on Monday, so stay tuned for all the gory details! Hehe!

Attention viewers...

2007-08-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

We interrupt this pregnancy for a quick tropical vacation involving laying on the beach (on the stomach) and sipping icy cold (alcoholic) beverages. Regularly scheduled reality will resume after naptime...

2007-07-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally have hope that this baby is going to come out of my body at SOME point. At my appointment this morning, I was dialated 1cm and about 50-60% effaced. However, the baby's head is still super high and needs to come down to make more significant progress. The nurse practitioner today couldn't even tell if it was his head or bottom that was down (because he's so far up), so she had to check with ultrasound. Thankfully, he is head down right now and was shaking his head on the ultrasound like, "No, that is not my bottom!" She told me the best thing to do is to walk and try to let gravity do its work. I have my next appointment in a week. So, all that's left to do is hurry up and wait some more! :)

2007-07-27T16:36:00.001-07:00

Well, today is the first time in ten days that Dominic has not run a fever. I think he is finally over his roseola. Yea! :)

I am happy to report that I finally got my chili relleno today. Mmmm. I am finally satisfied.

I had a dream last night that the baby came when there was a full moon. Someone told me today that there is going to be a full moon on Sunday. Weird. In all honesty, I don't think he's going to come on Sunday or anytime in the next couple of weeks. He is still happily planted right under my rib, which is causing extreme discomfort now that he is getting so big. I have a doctor's appointment on Monday and am hoping that they will give me some sort of indication that he is at least making an attempt to head somewhere toward the general vicinity of the "exit"!

2007-07-25T15:30:00.001-07:00

The ONLY thing I can think about right now is a chili relleno. I've been thinking about it intermittently for a few days, but suddenly it's all that is on my mind. I think I am losing it. I WANT A CHILI RELLENO.

36 Weeks, 5 Days

2007-07-24T07:46:00.000-07:00

I don't think any comments are necessary here... [Rolling eyes]

WAHOO!

2007-07-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of Dominic wearing his bandanna from Vacation Bible School. Their theme is called "Avalanche Ranch" and he has been absolutely loving it! Unfortunately, he ran a high fever during the night so he's having a sick day today and was disappointed that he could not go. :( Tomorrow is the last day and then they have a closing ceremony in the evening, so hopefully he will be able to make it. Oh yeah... the blue tongue is from one of those frozen otter pops! :)

2007-07-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

I had my 36-week prenatal visit this morning, even though I am not "officially" 36 weeks until Thursday. Everything looks good with the baby and me. He is still head-down, but just "floating around in there." Those are the doctor's words, not mine... this baby definitely does not have enough room to be doing anything vaguely resembling "floating"! :) I am measuring right on track for my due date. I was having some Braxton-Hicks contractions and pain this weekend, so was curious to see today if they'd been doing anything, but apparently not. I don't think anyone should bank on a baby anytime this week!

The [Nearly] Finished Product...

2007-07-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

Well, the room is pretty much finished at this point. Unfortunately, the pictures didn't turn out very well, but here are a few...

Looking in...

Coordinating murals painted by yours truly...

We'll be using this dresser top for a changing area. The little plaques on the wall I painted as well.
This is going to be Baby's coming home outfit which Dominic helped pick out. :)
That's all! Just a few finishing touches and the room will be officially ready. Must be time to have a baby!

35 Weeks!

2007-07-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

Growing, growing...

We have 5 weeks (or less?!) left!

Don't forget about our online baby pool...

http://www.expectnet.com/games/BabyClaiborne

2007-07-06T11:44:00.000-07:00

I had my 34-week checkup this morning. Everything is still going perfectly. My blood pressure was 110/60, baby's heartrate was in the 150's, and I am measuring right on track for my due date. I have my next appointment a week from Monday and will start going weekly after that until the baby is born. It's crazy to think that this little guy will be here next month!

2007-07-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-02T15:05:00.000-07:00

Word to the wise: Don't try to take a 3-year-old miniature golfing. (In fact, don't try to take a nearly 9-month pregnant woman either. Putting down and picking up those stupid balls is nearly impossible.) Dominic couldn't have cared less about the actual golfing after the first two holes, but thought the club made an excellent weed eater/fishing pole (see below - sorry the pictures are sideways!)...

Meanwhile, I just have to say that Dominic is actually sitting here beside me eating the peas that previously made him "nervous." However he is covering his ears as he chews each bite. I guess that makes the overall sensory experience a little more bearable! :)

2007-06-29T14:31:00.000-07:00

I am 33 weeks pregnant!

That means...
Yea!

2007-06-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

All is well here in Babyville. I had my 32-week checkup yesterday. My blood pressure is still great, my iron level is still on the low side of normal, but has actually improved a little since the last check, and the baby was head down. (I think that had changed by last night though!) Baby's little heart was thumping away at around 140 bpm. Ian and Dominic both came along yesterday, which Dominic thinks is great fun. :) So, my pregnancy is pretty much "textbook" at this point, which I am hoping will put me in the favorable condition for an *easy* delivery! Oh... and I made the mistake of measuring my belly on Sunday... that was a mistake... BIG number!

2007-06-24T13:03:00.000-07:00

"Never doubt in the dark what God has told you in the light."

V. Raymond Edman

I could just write a book with all of Dominic's cute, funny antics here lately. I guess this is some of the joy that comes along with the "terrible threes" (yes, it's true!) to balance out the feeling some days that you are going to take drastic measures if you hear the word "no" come out of your sweet child's mouth one more time! :-D Anyway... I "caught" a watercolor paint-covered Dominic at the table telling God (in the utmost seriousness) that "...it had been a long, hard day painting... Amen." When he saw me watching him he said, "Ok, say 'amen', Mommy."

In other news, Dominic's "Potty Chart" is now covered in stickers (he gets one each time he successfully pees in the potty) which makes me possibly the most excited mother in Central Ohio. There is HOPE that my son will not be wearing diapers at his high school graduation! Of course, we are starting round #2 of diapers here in another couple of months, but I try not to think about that!

I have my 32-week OB check-up tomorrow. The visits are still pretty standard at this point. Tomorrow I will have my hemoglobin rechecked to find out if my anemia has worsened or become better. I am so constantly tired the last couple of weeks, no matter how much sleep I get, that I am not sure if it's my iron or if it's just pregnancy in general. I will check in tomorrow after my appointment!

Ahh! The joys of summer...

2007-06-20T16:18:00.000-07:00

Here is Dominic enjoying an ice cream cone. I think more of it ended up on his face and shirt than in his mouth...

More funny antics from my son...

Dominic: "Those are pretty, Mama! I like those!"

Me : "What do you like, Dominic?"

Dominic: "Your foots! I like those!"

Happy Father's Day!

2007-06-17T12:04:00.001-07:00

When I asked Dominic this afternoon what they talked about in church today, he said (and I'm sure this isn't what they talked about!), "Our baby came from God, Mommy." Very cute. :)

On another totally unrelated note (I am good for those), I forgot to update everyone on the "doctor situation" and remembered after being asked several times! It looks like I am going to be able to stay with my doctor after all, which is AWESOME and the very best case scenario. At my checkup on Monday, everything with Baby and me looked great, and this pregnancy is progressing without incident. I will start seeing the doctor every two weeks now until I am 36 weeks.

Off to bake a pineapple upside-down cake!

T-minus 31 weeks...

2007-06-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you swallow a watermelon seed. Seen as how I have consumed about six watermelons in the past month, that would be the logical explanation for why I feel like I am going to explode at any moment and can't possibly do this for another nine weeks... right?.. RIGHT?! :)

Life from a three-year-old's perspective...

2007-06-11T16:57:00.000-07:00

* At dinner Saturday night, Dominic told us that he could not eat his peas because they make him "nervous."

* On any given day, Dominic varies between saying that his baby brother is going to be named "Alex" (and, no, that is not his name and we have no idea where it came from!) or "Shrek."

* Today when I asked him, "Guess who is coming to our house on Thursday?" he didn't miss a beat, replying, "JESUS!"