Don't Poke Me...I'll Pop

Here's my current state. I'm at the point where sometimes I feel like I can't stretch another bit. But, I know I can, will and must. We've passed 31 weeks and I estimate another 8 or less to go. I believe we'll find out a C-Section date by mid-August.

The nursery/school room isn't exactly finished, but I did get it decluttered enough to actually start school and move a baby in. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned that the baby's room would be in the school room. We're hoping he'll be really smart since he'll be starting 2nd grade from birth! :) Anyway, the bedding is adorable and goes along with a school theme. It is the cutest baby bedding out of any we've ever had. Thanks Momma!



So speaking of school...that's coming up really soon. We're pretty much all set to start 2nd grade homeschool with Josh. Andrew will be going to preschool in town. I'm hoping that it will be good for all of us. Andrew will have something fun to do, so he doesn't feel left out between Josh being homeschooled and all the care the baby will require. It will give Josh and I a chance to establish some better habits and spend some time together without his very best playmate to distract him. And as for me...it will force me out of bed earlier! (Part of that better habits thing I mentioned.) Let's hope everything works out in reality as perfectly as it does in my head!

Toothless Grin

Josh lost his third tooth yesterday. He had lost his bottom two back last fall and finally lost one on the top. It was loose for what seemed like FOREVER. The last several days it was just hanging. I have never seen a more stubborn tooth. I attribute it to the fact that he's always been a big milk drinker. Strong teeth and bones! Go DAIRY!




In other news...I have found what we believe to be the world's most delicious brownie mix. Pick up a box and try them for yourself. SO GOOD! Hey, why not have one with a glass of milk!?

Diamond in a Pearl

Today marks 12 years of marriage for Craig and I. It's hard to believe.

Yesterday, Craig surprised me with a very special gift. He put so much love, care and thought into it. It's the kind of gift that when you know the meaning behind it, brings tears to your eyes.

Here's the story....

"When an oyster swallows a grain of sand it feels discomfort, so it begins to ease the pain by applying a coat of nacre (pearl). It is during this healing process that it creates a beautiful pearl. It is rather ironic to think that something so beautiful can be created out of so much discomfort. This irony is like life itself. It is easy to love in good times, but it takes courage to love through the discomforts of our lives. It is this understanding, this virtue, that has been my teacher, my healer, and has given me courage and a sense of hope. "Diamond in a Pearl" is an expression of this understanding. The diamond represents the grain of sand and the pearl evokes an aura of courage, love, and healing that is embedded deep within the soul. It is this unique transformation that has given birth to "Diamond in a Pearl" the symbol of love."

"Love has the power to heal all wounds,
love defines our existence,
love is a Diamond in a Pearl."

Chi Galatea Huynh



No marriage is ever easy and ours has certainly been no different. Today we celebrate the victory of 12 sweet years. Twelve years wrapped up with love, laughter, joy, pain, tears, hope, and healing.

I am thankful...

• for a loving husband.
  
• that we have stuck with one another through thick and thin.
  
• that our friendship grows.
  
• for the relationship our children see between us.
• for the laughter.
• for the tears.
• for his dedication and good work ethic.
• for the boys we share.
• that we continue to develop our relationship.
• that we have hope for many good tomorrows.
• that we are among the rare jewels of lasting marriages.
• that we never lost sight of God through it all.

Happy Anniversary Craig! I LOVE YOU!

Bouncing Baby Boy

I went for another ultrasound today and got a little better glimpse of our boy's face. He still was a bit uncooperative, but still better. :) He had hiccups at one point and yawned at another. That can all be seen in the video we got. His estimated weight at this time is a little over 4 pounds. At first, I was a bit disturbed by him already being that big, but I figure he's probably right on track for being an average 8 pound baby.

Here are a couple of the shots...I think he looks like his Daddy.




I'll try to get a current belly pic of me soon...I know it has been awhile.

Bottling Babies

A couple of weeks ago the boys and I spent a week bottling baby calves. This time around I "made" them help me until the job was done, rather than just as long as they were interested. They turned out to be great help. Andrew especially enjoys helping. As you can see in the pictures, he likes to fill the bottles with milk.




I do hope to post more soon. In the meantime...I'd like to hear what kind of camera you have and if you like it. Does it do video too? I'm thinking we really need our own camera and our video camera doesn't seem to be working right, so I'd like one that will do both. Please leave your suggestions in the comments section. Just click where it says # comments and it will open a screen for you to leave your own. Thanks...

Still a Kickin'

I'm still here. Sorry I haven't checked in for such a long time. I know as the weeks progress, some of you may begin to wonder about me. I'm doing well at 29 weeks. I have aches and pains for sure and the heat is killer, but I'm coping.

I spent three hours in the garden on a footstool yesterday picking green beans. I was shocked when I realized how long I had been there. I did have to stand up a couple of times to stretch my legs.

I've about procrastinated long enough with baby preparations and need to get going on that. My mom bought a bedding set today on her way to Denver, so I don't get to see it until Saturday, when she returns! :( Maybe that will get me motivated though.

I know I have lots I could share...if I had the appropriate pics on my computer, but I'll have to get them later. I'll try to update again soon. Just wanted you to know I'm still alive and still pregnant.

John Deere Farmin'

This morning the boys had the opportunity to do a little farming with Grandpa. This is the one thing that is totally Josh's thing! Andrew likes it too, but Josh has always been fascinated with tractors from the time he could even hold a toy in his hands. I think Andrew's interest in them just comes from liking the same things Josh likes.

Anyway...they each got to ride on the John Deere and even got to do some driving (steering). They thought that was pretty cool. Here are some pictures of their adventure. I just love that they get opportunities like this.

Josh in the driver's seat


Andrew's turn


Refilling the planter with seed


A beautiful morning


Coming back for another pass

Mini Me

So I've been told, this looks all too familiar. If I'm that cute when I'm sleeping, then I should do more of it! Don't you think?

Hugs and a Sweet Spirit

I took these pictures a couple of weeks ago and thought they'd be fun to share. We've been busy this week with Vacation Bible School. We hope to be getting back to the pool very soon! Too many summer days have slipped by without a dip.

I have a sweet thing to share about Andrew. It is so fun to see his little personality emerge. It seems that as I grow bigger with child, he becomes more attentive. Not all the time, but there have been moments. Like for instance, the other day we were running errands with Grandpa. Grandpa had to stop at several places and at each stop the boys would want to get out and go in with him, while I chose to sit in the pick-up and wait. On about the second stop, Andrew quickly unbuckled and then said, "I'll just stay here with Mommy and the baby." Grandpa and Josh went on in and Andrew just sat quietly with me for a few moments. Then he said, "Mommy, why don't you want to go in with Grandpa?" I said, "I don't know, did you want to go?" He said, "yes." So I assured him I would be fine if he wanted to go in. He immediately hopped out and ran inside!

Then...a few days later he was helping me water Grandma's flowers (as she is away in Mexico). He turned the water on, filled the pail, and then turned it off again. Then he "tried" to pick up the pail, but it was much too heavy, so I got it. He looked up at me and said, "Mommy, is the baby heavy?" He seems to feel the need to take care of me, which I think is so precious. What four year old even notices things like that?

I should add that Josh is very sweet with me as well. He's constantly asking how the baby is and if he is awake or asleep. He did get to feel the baby kick for the first time a few days ago, which was a fun experience. And if I tell him that I can't do something (like he wanted me to walk to the back yard with him to get his bike, but my feet were ACHING!) he is very understanding.

I'm thankful for sweet little boys.

Lovin' on Mom


I just love the expression on his face!

All Locked Up

I thought I'd share a Josh funny from a couple of weeks back. My dad (Grandpa) asked him to go shut a gate and gave him a lock to put on it. Of course Josh was eager to accomplish the task and trotted off to do it right away. Some time later, Grandpa said we needed to go and look at how he had "locked" the gate. This is what we found....



Do you think this would keep someone from breaking in?

Still a Boy

I headed over to try and see our boy's face again today. It had been about a month since the last ultrasound. We still didn't get excellent shots unfortunately, but on a positive note...I get to go back AGAIN! How awesome is that? The technician seems to think that when he goes to the head down position we should be able to get some better pics.

Apparently, my placenta is attached at the very top of the uterus, which is where he likes to hang out. That means he gets both the placenta and umbilical cord in his face a lot. In addition to that...he likes to fold up like a pretzel and often has his legs stretched straight up over his head! So basically, the place where many times I feel strong kicks is where he has both his head AND feet! Maybe even hands too!

Baby Boy has definately grown and filled out in the last month. Even though the pictures didn't turn out all that clear, I was able to see on the video some glimpses of what he really looks like and let me tell you...(maybe I am a little biased) he's ADORABLE! He's got chubby cheeks, a sweet mouth and a button nose. I know you say...what baby doesn't!? :) Anyway...I hope you enjoy these quick shots of our little sweetie!

Here's what I look like today...bigger than a week ago, huh?


Fist in face


All folded up In case you can't get the perception...to the left of the screen is a leg and foot sticking up. In the center is an arm and fist and then the facial profile on the right.


Profile

Vacation Week

Okay...I have finally got our pictures downloaded from last week when Craig was on vacation. This is the first time EVER that Craig has had "real" vacation time off from work, other than military leave (which I'm not even counting). It was so wonderful to have him home for an entire week, uninterrupted by work!

We didn't have any big plans. We knew we "had" to take the boys camping somewhere, and Craig really hoped to get in a couple of rounds of golf. Thankfully, both happened and the rest of the time was fairly laid back and unstructured.

On Monday we took the boys to Mikey's birthday party and shopping for camping supplies. We left out Tuesday for a local state park and spent the night and all day Wednesday. Thursday and Friday Craig played golf and the weekend was just spent around here.

I hated to see Craig have to return to work on Monday. I'm so used to not seeing him much, so getting to be with him all week made me realize I really do still like him! HA HA Seriously we had a wonderful week and made some special memories. I hope you enjoy our camping trip through pictures.

Setting up camp


It is so fun here!


Hanging out in the tent Yes we tent camped with me at 24 weeks pregnant! Notice the air matress and we also had a fan.


Fishing Buddies


Chasing a goose The geese, birds and squirrels really wanted some of our food. They would come right up to the table while we were eating. We had our trash tied in a tree and the squirrels kept getting in it.


Mom and her boys


Dad and his boys


Striking out on a 3 hour hike Yes, I went. Me who gets zero physical exercise. I did make it. Barely. But I ended up with a red Muppet nose.



My scruffy Marine


Andrew didn't make it all the way. He actually ended up on Craig's shoulders, nearly asleep. I'm not sure why I didn't get a picture of that. Maybe because I was barely making it myself and was wishing I could ride on Craig's shoulders. Since Andrew wouldn't walk, we decided not to hike back on the trail and went up the main entrance to the park instead. I know the pictures don't show it, but some of the trail was pretty rugged. I will do it again when I'm not pregnant and am about 80 pounds lighter!


Andrew on the water slide Would you believe after all that hiking, the boys went swimming? Oh, and they also played miniture golf (no pics of that). Andrew was fearless! He went down the slide over and over.


Andrew loving the log roll


Daddy pulled him out MANY times to do it all again!


Josh just hanging out


FUN TIMES!

Baby Name Poll

I'm finally getting brave and posting a belly pic. Josh took this a little over a week ago, at about 24 weeks. I'm sure I have grown since then! Kristen, I think this is one of your old shirts. Remember how you loved stripes?

As you can see...I've been playing around with my layout and have added a little something extra over to the left. Please participate in my baby naming poll (just for fun!) We're having the hardest time making a decision. I say we, but really I mean me, because Craig doesn't seem to care. He just wants me to decide and quit "worrying" about it. I do believe it is harder this time around, after having already named two boys! Why is this so hard? I just believe that naming a child is a huge responsibility and I take it very seriously. Some would say, much too seriously. And please....know that these choices are only what I'm thinking about right now. I'm just 25 weeks along and who knows...I may come up with something TOTALLY different by the time he arrives! If you have another suggestion, please don't hesitate to share it with me, either in the comment section or by email. Thanks for participating!

*Just a note* You'll notice that Luke is in each of the options. It doesn't necessarily have to be used, but it was Josh's first suggestion, so we've been trying it out.

Happy Father's Day

I know this is a little late, and not that I didn't already wish my Daddy a Happy Father's Day, but Happy Father's Day Daddy. I've always known you were the one who hung the moon. You did, didn't you? ;) I'm glad I was able to sing Daddy's Hands for you this morning. Every one of the lyrics fit perfectly and they truly are the reason "I love my Dad." Thank you for the love in your hands and your heart. You're the best and I'll always be your little girl, no matter how "big" or old I get.



And Craig...Happy Father's Day to you! Thank you for being Daddy to our boys. (All three of them!) You are a wonderful father and they adore you, as do I. I appreciate your hard work to provide for us. I know it isn't always easy, but your work ethic is something to be admired. {We have thoroughly enjoyed having you home on "vacation" with us this week. I look forward to sharing some of our family adventures with our blog readers sometime this week.} Thank you for your love! We love you and you are wonderful!

Birthday Overview

Josh had a wonderful birthday. He got to celebrate for 4 days straight! That's the way we like it...just like Christmas. All spread out so it isn't over so quickly. On Thursday Craig's dad, stepmom, and Grandma and Grandpa O came over for hamburgers and brought a cake with some cards and gifts. Then on Friday (which was his actual birthday) we didn't do a whole lot, but ate pizza and dessert with Grandma and Grandpa B, again with gifts. Saturday, we met up with friends at another friend's pool for swimming, cupcakes, ice cream and yet more gifts. That night, Josh's good buddy Mikey spent the night. His mom bought them matching pjs to wear, so cute! So then...on Sunday we went to celebrate with Craig's mom, stepdad, sister, nieces, and Granny and Grandad L with pizza, pie and, of course, gifts! (Okay, really he didn't get nearly as many gifts as it sounds like. He's not quite THAT spoiled! Like I said, they were just all spread out! We did however eat as much as it sounds like! :) Here are a few pictures from a couple of the events.

3-D sidewalk chalk


Ready to SPLASH!


This is FUN!


Make a wish...


Best Buds

A Look Back

JOSHUA REED Born: June 6, 2001


2002 - 1 year


2003 - 2 years


2004 - 3 years (Daddy called from Iraq when this picture was taken.)


2005 - 4 years


2006 - 5 years


2007 - 6 years


2008 pics to come in another post.