Flip flops

This child…sweet, precious, STRONG willed, brilliant child of mine is…well…just precious. No matter the hour of the morning, be it 5:30 a.m. or a lovely 7:30 a.m., she comes downstairs with her sleepy eyes and WILD hair with two things in tow: faithful Buddy and flip flops. Flip flops as if she’s headed out (she likes the sound they make). She’s barely awake and won’t speak for a good few minutes, but she’s coherent enough to climb out of  bed, open her closet and search for a [matching] pair of flip flops- from the 345 pairs covering her closet floor (some battles aren’t worth fighting- just shut the door).

And we laugh because it’s hilarious to us. She can’t tell you her name at whatever hour she wakes up, but by golly, the girl has her flip flops on. It’s just funny to us.

This morning, I cursed the flip flops, I sure did. They aren’t allowed at school. They are too dangerous for the playground, bikes, etc. I get that. We follow the rules at our house. Yet, we couldn’t find the SIX pairs of “school shoes” we own. COULDN’T.FIND.THEM. Not one pair. We don’t play in the mornings…we get up and get OUT! So, I sat, rather impatiently, until she found her shoes. Has it even been 12 hours since we took a pair off (I recall asking)? Unlikely.

We found A pair about the time I’m usually pulling up at work, but nonetheless we found some. They were all in hiding. I’m convinced the owner of said pair hid them, hid them ALL in attempt to “have” to wear flip flops to school. Somehow they all ended up in the same hidden pile. Amazing. I’m pretty sure that was a well thought out (and almost executed) plan in her little mind that took place while she was supposed to be asleep last night.

Precious precious precious.

(you don't have to be so jealous of my honey mustard sink/counter tops. It's project #987. I'll let you have it when we rip it out)

Rounding third

Last weekend we crossed into the third trimester of this pregnancy adventure. I can’t really tell you where the time has gone, how it’s already summer time or the fact, more importantly, that EB turned 3.5 at the beginning of June.

I’m in that happy place where sleep has returned and it is so so GOOD. I like to sleep… A LOT. Therefore, I do NOT like to be disturbed from a good slumber. So, be warned.

Also, as of late, I passed my sugar test. This is huge considering the large quantities that I’m unable to turn down. I think I was told my count needed to be below 140 and I came in at a whopping 80-I quickly asked for a doughnut.

Everyone is excited as we prepare to welcome this little life. He still has no nursery, but there ARE plans for one….that’s something. EB asks daily how the doctors will get him here and I’m not ready to explain that. Overall, we are excited. I was terrified with EB and would have been JUST as happy staying pregnant forever, but this time I’m excited. Perhaps it’s his uncomfortable position that makes me all the more excited, or the fact that I eat more TUMS than real food on a daily basis. Regardless, we are excited. Poor Gus… Get ready, sweet buddy. 

Ramblings

Hey friends.

I feel like I have nothing to say these days. I haven’t pulled out my camera since the last post (including my trusty ol’ iphone). I’m boring, I guess.

All of that, honestly, is quite sad-and false-because we do have some happenings, I guess. We have a babe arriving in 3 months (gasp!) with no place to lay his little head. We have a house that is one project after another- Jason Black is earning his badges, I tell ya (I bet he’s on a bobcat right now. Happy vacation week to him). EB is a HANDFUL (and I have witnesses), but she is SO much fun. I could just eat her alive. We did spend Memorial Day weekend at the river and had a blast. Do you think Yours Truly forgot her camera? Well, of course. I looked out the window one night to see “the uncle” sitting in the “passenger seat” and EB driving the boat. I about walked on water…Nonetheless, no pics to prove this actually happened. I speak truth, I tell ya.

Speaking of EB, I’m sure hormones don’t have a role to play AT ALL, but I’ve been having my moments of “Oh my gosh… she will soon have a sibling. All of these sweet moments will have to be shared and she will no longer have my/our undivided attention.” I fully realize that I am NOT the first creature to have a second child, but this IS my first rodeo with all this and I’m worried for her. BUT…. She’ll be strong just like her strong willed personality. Whew.

That’s all the randomness I can muster. Too-da-loo.

23 [almost] down

Week 23 will soon come to a close leaving behind a trail of weight gain, a l-o-w riding babe and a SERIOUS addiction to sweets. SERIOUS. I want nothing more and nothing less. Enter in: Peanut Butter M&M’s and a whole cookie cake that I ate 90% of….ALONE!

I’ve boasted about being soooo cold natured that I’m not really too worried about going through the summer with child. UM… it’s hot! Like, it’s already really hot..all 82 degrees. So, that joke was on me, but thank goodness for pools and lakes. This summer you may see a new species emerge- the fresh water whale. Do not hide your kids or load your harpoons, I…..um…she won’t bite. She just seeks shade and cool waters.

 (Try  not to be so jealous of my gauchos. They are so comfy when lounging)

Bed time check

A little sight that never grows old. And little cheeks that begged to be kissed.

Nostalgia

I’m really not sure what it is…. And, I’m also sure you people with older children will laugh, but I have been SO nostalgic lately about EB growing up. I’m usually not a “cup half empty” kinda person, but I found myself thinking how EB will be four in December and that only gives us one more year until she’s five and then the dreaded “big girl school.” I can’t handle all of that. Sure, I know we have like months and months added to a couple of years, but… Do you KNOW how fast time goes? Have you checked up on the date lately? How she is three and not one or two is BAFFLING to me. How she can carry on a full conversation (without even taking a breath all while sometimes arguing), grasp concepts, connects the dots (not literally) from point A to point B…How did we get to this point? Her memory, in case you haven’t been called out by her, is as sharp as an ol’ tack, darnit!

I was looking on the dreaded Pinterest and saw something about a “30 day mom challenge.” I can go either way on these little “challenges,” but I read it for reading sake. One of the suggestions said (just get ready), “Calculate how many more weekends are left until your child graduated high school…” then I closed the link. I’m sure it would equal like 9823452430 but still…REALLY? I was horrified. So, this weekend, we’re going to Hawaii.

Ok…. Or to the playground, but still! MERCY! I LOVE to squeeze her little arms and/or thighs and she always stares at me like something is wrong, but I just LOVE those little arms, legs and hands. They have almost completely lost their baby fat, but they are so tiny and those little hands are so precious (I think the BARBIE pink chipped polish adds character).

Really, the lesson for me in this was just to soak in those moments. I preach it and practice it A LOT, but it was a subtle reminder- or an abrupt head on collision with an 18 wheeler. No… no, I will NOT be calculating how many weekends we have left until she graduates because we’ll just enjoy each little day and not worry about tomorrow. Thanks Pinterest. I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a biblical, spiritual or life lesson in #8, but I found it anyway. She is a precious little blessing.

21

Well, the halfway mark has come and gone. It has nothing to do with me waiting to make sure all is well before I say that or post a pic, but EVERYTHING to do with me forgetting to take a pic, or fighting the battle with my assistant (old and young) or digging my camera out of wherever it has been hiding at that moment.

Hard to believe how quickly time is flying. Of course, when trying to explain this timeframe to a three year old, it comes out more like, “Well, we have A LOT of hot days before he can come. We have to go to the lake and to the pool A LOT of days before he’s ready.” I think it’s a good thing I’m so cold natured, or does that even matter at this point? Don’t answer that.

I feel great. In one week alone I gained 3 lbs. YIKES! There are a few things different this time that I’ve finally put my finger on (yes, after 20 weeks. I’m very observant, you see)…

1. He is SO low. While this isn’t true for everyone, this boy is RIDING LOW. Whew. We’ll see if this proves to be an issue when I hit the 30’s (weeks, I mean).
2. EVERYTHING is so salty and it drives me NUTS. I am NOT a salt person. I rarely cook with it (my poor family) and I DEFINITELY never ever add it to food when it’s on my plate. So, you can imagine how this is going over with me. Chips make my mouth feel like it’s shriveling up…or something. With EB, salty foods just thrilled my soul. 
3. ALL.I.WANT.ARE.SWEETS. It’s bad…so very bad. How good are they? YUM! With EB, sweets made me feel blah. So, we have definitely seesawed this time.

 There, that’s three. That’s enough for the ol’ blog for blog sake. Bottom line, I feel great and all is well. He’s a mover and shaker… probably because I cram sugar down my throat all day. I’m sure it will not impact my weight AT ALL!

Here we are for documentation sake. What's funny about this is I was posed up, smiling big, newly applied make up and ALL.... I had us all staged, the camera JUST right, the timer ready and, low and behold, Gus popped in too...PERFECT, right? Well, it never occurred to me to check back and make sure it looked ok. SO, here we are...err...kinda. However, the more I think on it, I really like this "angle." Also, don't be jealous of my gauchos!

 Happy 21 weeks, baby boy!