Fall park days

We love the outdoors, even in the cold, fall weather.  Here we were playing pizza man, some idea of my sweet little R.  He made the pizza and handed it out.  Later it turned into a Jamba Juice stand, but then R decided it was too cold for Jamba so then it was hot chocolate.  I love his little imagination.

 R is displeased to be in the "baby swing" however the "big boy swings" were too high for him to get up by himself, and so he just dealt with this one since K was too little.  Such a loving brother.

Parks are so much more fun with a mobile little K, however he scared me with his unsteady run.

My "best shot" of the boys together.  Nearly impossible at a park, with both of them on the go.

This day R was learning about the letter O, and circles.  He was pointing out the different objects that were an O and a circle.  Loving sneaking in learning in anyway possible.

Bowling date

It is rare thing, R and mommy one-on-one time.  But when we get the opportunity, we live it to the fullest.  Recently R and I went bowling together.  And while it was only one short game, it was filled with memories that R will have forever.

We even had the chance to sneak in some learning time - as he poked away the letters to spell his name.

His form was, well stellar I guess.  See for yourself.

 

He has mastered the granny bowl, with a flair of R style as well.

and then he'd stand there watching, waiting, wondering while his ball rolled at an incredibly slow speed down the alley.

and if the ball hit pins, yes even with the bumpers up the ball can miss every.single.pin, he'd turn around with this expression...

and his daddy will cringe at this photo, notice his finger in his mouth...

while he patiently waited for the ball to come back, his little bowling feet would dance around in that I have to go to the bathroom sort of way, so I'd say "hey R do you have to pee" and he'd respond with "no, my feet are just so excited that they are dancing around."  Little dude looks too cute in his Levi jeans, and now at 4 years old he is starting to wear size 3T (with the waist band cinched in super tight and the legs rolled up all "stylish") finally.  Scrawny little thing.  He wore the smallest bowling shoes - size 8, and they were HUGE.  But he insisted in wearing them.  So as he carried the bowling ball up to the lane each time I would hover over him to make sure he didn't trip in the ridiculously large shoes, especially as he got towards the last frame.  He was getting tired!

Little girl makes my belly lop-sided pretty frequently.  and here is evidence that my belly is getting bigger, and I can still see my feet!

Black Friday

Today was the first year, in a long time I haven't been a crazy. 

My defintion of "a crazy" (for this post at least) - one who wakes around 3-4am to go shopping on Black Friday.

Even when R was a little baby - just 4 weeks old - I brought him Black Friday Shopping with me.  He was all warm and snug in the sling, probably could of packed some goods in with him, and snuck out without a question.  Though I am a decent person who pays for her goods - (except for that one postcared at Mo's, and then when K snagged a stuffed alligator)

Then one year my sister J and I were successful in our attempts to be first in the store at Fred Meyer.  We didn't even arrive super early.  We just bolted out of our warm, heat filled, car and beelined for the front door when we saw the FM guy coming to unlock the door.  Two cute girls, who may or maynot of been begging, was enough for FM guy to open the door, our door, first.  SCORE!  We exchanged high fives and did some heel clicks as we ran down the aisle.  Yes, ran, cause if you have ever been to Fred Meyer, you know just how a crazy acts, and so running is really necessary.  We got first pick at the socks, sweet victory!

One year we had a big ol' family pancake feast, IHOP if you must know, after our shopping palooza.  a gathering of a grandma, moms, aunts, cousins, sisters, siblings, friends...like an extension of our Thanksgiving meal from before, only sans men.  It was a huge girl, gossip fest in which we discussed the important things in life - such as who got the greatest deal that morning.  And I loved it! 

And one year, the only year I ever went to Walmart on Black Friday, I was convinced by someone (my pastor's wife) to leave my coffee cup on the shelf.  You know, cause doing such an act just fit in with the white trash act of participating in the cheapest shopping day of the year, at the cheapest store around.  And now, years later, I'd like to say sorry to the employee of Walmart who had to clean up our empty cups - after working at McD's for 3 years I can say how totally annoying this act is.  Call it peer pressure, or a right of passage, but it was so fun, and part of the experience. 

But this year, I am working.  For some reason I am making holiday pay too, not complaining.  So instead of waking horrendously early to be a crazy I did so to go to work.  But thanks to technology, online shopping allowed for some Black Friday participation :) 

Thankful for:

a husband who puts up with me during my terrible, horrible, no good very bad moods that never cease lately.  I got a great guy!

my little boys.

my tiny apartment that will soon be filled with my mom, dad, and two little sisters.

this tiny girl of mine who tends to make me a little nervous.

yummy food, and a belly full of baby so I won't have enough room in my stomach to do too much damage calorie wise.

These moments...

are the ones I want to remember forever.  Where I walk in the front door, after being gone 11 hours at work.  R's little face shows his excitement in this picture.  He greets me with "welcome home MOMMY, I missed you so stinking much!"

And sweet little K, just telling me all about his day, complete with hand gestures and all.  R and I have no clue what he is saying, but he sure seems to have captured our attention.  I love how amidst the baby talk, K throws in a few cheesy fake giggles.  So funny that he has picked up on mannerisms like this already. 

Love my biggest, little kid. 

Perspective

The last few weeks I have had a change in perspective.

The first was when we had our 20 week ultrasound scheduled.  With the boys I was SO anxious to find out gender on this date, that was the only thing on my mind.  I'm not sure if it is the nurse in me now, but this time around I was just super anxious to hear - you have a health baby.  Perhaps it was related to not feeling her move by this appointment, a drastic difference from the previous two pregnancies.  Either way, my perspective changed from thinking blue or pink, to not caring and just hoping for healthy.

And then yesterday at work.  I got a text from P that read "I didn't get an interview at PSU" and while my heart sank, I had a quick perspective change.  I suddenly became super thankful for all the interviews that P has been going on, even though they are out of state.  Because a job, is well a job, and with our growing family that is what we need.  So there - perspective change.

I think this means I am growing up, crazy?!

So there is a move, most likely out of state, in our not so distant future. Two days ago I'd of been super bummed about that, but now I am just so thankful for the 2 job interviews P has alreay been on, and for the 2 upcoming ones this next week.  Keep em' coming.  Despite the lack of sleep that P is getting, or the difficult time R is having with P being gone so much right now, or the exhaustion from not having my supportive husband home to help...I'll take it. 

I am eager to see where we will end up. 

Thankful

I feel like complaining.  So instead, I'll focus on thankfulness...

I am thankful for:

1)My husband - this is so stereotypical to have a spouse as the first on the list, however this guy is great, seriously.  I don't know how he manages all that is on his plate right now.  From teaching at OSU, working on his dissertation, watching the boys on the days while I am working full time, flying all over the US for job interviews (Currently in CT right now), applying for jobs, scheduling phone interviews, and still being the most amazing husband/dad...I am so blessed to have him. 

2)My little boys.  Even with 45 days and counting of poor sleeping and crankiness related to K's ear infection that just won't clear up despite multiple antibiotics...(hoping this new one does the trick), and R's meltdown at bedtime.  I love them so.much! 

3) This little girl of mine, name-less still, and the small but growing stash of things that scream little girl that we are collecting.

4) The on-call nurse who volunteered to work for me on both Thanksgiving and Christmas.  My work schedule has me at work every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday every week.  It just so happens that every major holiday until the end of this year fall on those days, and since nurses work every day of the year I was planning on having to work the scheduled holiday days.  Not wanting to burden anyone else I was just going to suck it up and deal with it, but she so graciously offered, and I more than eagerly accepted.  So thankful!

5) The multiple on-campus interviews that P has been getting lately.  He came back last week from Kentucky - with two little horse stuffed animals for the boys, so cute!  He is currently in Connecticut until Wednesday, and then leaves for Texas this Saturday.  Maybe more to come too.  He'd never tell anyone, but to get an on-campus interview is a HUGE accomplishment, meaning he is the top 3 candidates for the position, so just to get an interview is wonderful.  Especially as a new-almost-graduate.  So excited for him, and for our little family. 

6) My job.  While it is challenging and exhausting some days, most days really, I am so thankful to have one.  And honestly I do like it.  I never thought I'd ever work in this area of nursing, but I am learning and growing so much, and becoming a better nurse/person because of it.  Growth is always great, that is unless it is your waistline...

7) The some-day-soon purchase of a minivan.  Never thought I'd be thankful for that, but we.need.more.space.

8) A pillow top mattress, new pillows, and a down comforter.

9) Fresh starts to every day.   





 

BSN

Last night I went to bed at 7pm, jumped right in after tucking in the boys, and slept until 7am.  Twelve hours of sleep was, well amazing.

Also amazing was this piece of paper I got in the mail...5 years of college education to get a BSN, but oh so worth it.  So I am feeling accomplished. 

It is official, I am now K-Lo, RN, BSN.  More credentials to add to my name, and more money to add to my paychecks.  Woot.  So I am currently patting my self on the back, while indulging in an embarrassingly large bowl of chocolate ice cream, that I may or may not have already spilled on my belly.  Speaking of my belly, it is growing.  Don't believe me, see for yourself...

and this growth is reassuring.  See baby girl has a two vessel cord, commonly referred in research as a single umbilical artery (SUA) - I have mentioned this before.  Research shows that SUA occur in only 0.5-2.5% of pregnancies, guess that makes this little lady super special!  Fetal anomalies of all major organ systems are increased by 30% to 60% in babies with SUA, our little lady has all her organs, and all appear fabulous on ultrasound.  Sigh of relief. 

Another concern with SUA pertains to chromosomal abnomalities - most commonly Trisomy 13 and 18, however little lady's first trimester and second trimester screens came back perfect.  Another sigh of relief. 

The last concern related to SUA is intrauterine fetal growth restriction (baby doesn't grow related to lack of adequate nutrients), and stillbirth.  Our little lady was measuring small at the last ultrasound, and so this could be a concern.  And since I am a mommy I worry, and as a nurse, it makes me worry more. 

So seeing this belly expand, is a sigh of relief.  Her movements and kicks are getting stronger, making me realize that my earlier thoughts of this little girl being a calm-gentle little thing, are off.  She was just too little for me to feel until recently.  But now that I am 23 weeks, she is getting bigger, and well she is just as rowdy as her big brothers. 

So next week, I am excited to see my little girl again on ultrasound. 



Anyway...P is currently boarding a plane for CT, for an interview.  The boys are in bed, and I think I might just take a bubble bath. 

But first a few pictures.

I love it when they all interact.

Looks like little brother is winning this one.

Whack-a-mole, or a brother.  

Night time family walks in the fall.  Love it!

Brotherly love, captured in picture.  

R's attempt at learning to do a wall push up, he states "I'm just climbing up the wall."

Rowdy Ryk

Sunday mornings always look like this.  I work Thurs-Sat, so on Sunday I have two clingy little boys.  And I love it!  This morning they were fighting over who could sit in my lap (or what is left of my lap that isn't filled with baby belly.)

Nighttime family walks

We went on a night walk this week, which really only happens during this time of year, after daylight savings when we "fall back" and get darkness earlier in the evening.  My boys are early to bed, early to rise sort of kids - like in bed at 7pm, up at 6am - so we love this time of year. 

Little R was armed with two glow bracelets, one on each hand.  "Flicker" the flashlight was leading the way, guided by the little 4 year old voice saying "lets round the bend" in reference to turing the sidewalk corner, a statement he heard from one of his favorite train shows I am sure of.  There were geese that would pass in the dark night sky, in hundreds, making their presence known with the unmistakable squawking noise.  Our 1 year old would quickly look up in the sky, pointing his little pointer finger, staring in amazement at the mass number of geese flying through the sky making it that much darker.

These rather simple things - taking a night walk, seeing flocks of geese take over the night sky - are so much more exciting to experience with my little boys.  P and I love these moments.  It is the moments like this, that make getting up in the middle of the night for the 5th time, for the 5th night in a row, so much more do-able. 

Like last night for instance.  Sweet K was up, fussing, constantly.  We've been struggling with sickness for over a month.  And I'd be lying if I didn't admit to swearing under my breath every time my warm, pregnant body had to curl out from my cozy pillowtop mattress, and my embarrassing stash of pillows in order to tend to his cry.  But I did it, cause I am a mommy.  And while I wanted to just ignore the cry away, stay warm and content in my bed, and get the rest I need to function as a competent nurse today - I am a mommy, and mommy trumps all those other demands.  So I made that walk down the hall, checked my tiredness and frustrations at his bedroom door, and walked in every.single.time a patient, loving mommy to do that soothing, loving thing that just has to be done in order to hush a sick baby temporarily back to sleep.

The night continued on like this, till at 5am I finally gave him some milk and wished for all in my tiny apartment (we had some lovely visitors) that he would go back to sleep.  Then I got ready for my 6:30am to 4:30pm workday.

and now I am at work, and got a text message from P that the boys got up at 8:15am!  Two hours and 15 minutes later than their normal wake up time.  While I am thrilled for P to soak up this precious sleep, as he has two big interviews this week - he leaves tonight for CT, and then later in the week for TX - I'd be lying to say that I am not completely jealous that I didn't get to enjoy sleeping in.

Cause dude, a girls gotta get some sleep sometime!  Especially one who is 23 weeks pregnant.  Sheesh!

22 weeks

22 weeks pregnant with baby girl.

This post is a week late.  I have been busy wiping noses and soothing little boys with terrible coughs.  Here are a few pictures of this pregnancy the past week.

I love how I captured P in this one, totally accidental, and while his face is  blurry I have to cherish the pictures of us when we are in a photo together.  It is rare.

Here is baby girl's first outfit that P and I bought together.  Our sweet girl is name-less.  We thought we settled on a name, but have since changed our mind.  So back to the baby name books.  

and here is a picture that occurred when I left my camera on my bed.  K pressed the button, and we have this accidental picture that I love oh, so very much. 

So by my belly size, it appears our girl is growing.  And I can feel her movements daily, which is beyond reassuring.  I am crazy about Taco Bell burritos, no onions.  I got a new maternity shirt that I can't wait to get a picture in.  And that is all for now cause K just woke from his morning nap, and R has just finished writing his name 5 times. 

"Decowreath"

Last week, when Aunt J came to visit while P was at an out of state interview, we collected sticks.  It was the perfect timing too, as stormy weather made them plentiful.  See I had this brilliant idea to make a decorative wreath with them for the fall season - Martha Stewart-like.

and so we collected them.  We found some creepy crawly creatures along the way, R was too afraid to pick it up, however I did convince him to touch it.

and here is one I though was dead.  J said she saw it move, I said she was crazy.  Sure enough, when we walked the path back home, this critter was gone.  I guess she wasn't crazy.

and so R and I sat at the table yesterday, armed with a hot glue gun - me, not him.  We set to work creating our "decowreath" as R calls it.  And while it may not  in no way resembles anything Martha makes, it is "beautiful" in the - my kid made it therefore it screams beauty - sort of way.  It will hang perfectly in our apartment for the season.  I love R-made artwork, and I love making it with him! 

We have plans for this "beautiful" decowreath too.  It will change as the holidays change.  Some red bows for Christmas, hearts for Valentines, eggs for Easter - all R's idea.  So it seems it will really be hanging around for quite some time.

Pink

Currently there is one little pink Nike outfit, baby girl size, picked out by P, hanging amidst my clothes in the closet.  It makes me smile.  We've got a long way to go in being ready for a girl, but that one little outfit is just too cute.  There are two baskets of little boy clothes waiting to be consigned, in hopes of clothing our sweet girl for practically nothing at my favorite consignment store - Once Upon a Child.  It is a 50 minute drive, and well worth it, to get there.  I can't wait to go do the exchange and bring home some clothes in purple, pink, yellow, red, you know colors that scream I AM A GIRL!  I did keep all the gender neutral stuff that both boys wore, so she does have some stuff, and I am eager to see the hand-me downs that make their way to our home.  What can I say, I am a cheap, thrifty mom!

and we think we might have her name picked out.  I just have to practice calling her by name for a little while before the reveal, cause once R knows the name, it is pretty much set.  Oh and we have to figure out the spelling too.   With big brothers that have unique names, her name just has to follow suite, and I think we landed on the perfect one.

Fall time

We played in the leaves.  All afternoon.  Despite little K's ear infection, and R's nagging cough.  It was just too beautiful to stay inside, and well we have been nursing sickness for a month, seriously, so it was time to get out.

My favorite picture of the afternoon outdoors.  Little R enjoying fall, even sporting a running form that would make his daddy so proud.

and even little bundles of energy have to rest every once in a while.

But the rest is shortlived.  Soon new adventures are discovered.  R finds that his legs are finally long enough to reach the pedals of his trike, the trike he got last year for his 3rd birthday.  Only took a year...

and a frog...R was too timid to pick it up, so I did.  I couldn't get a picture quickly enough before the little green dude jumped away, making my R squeal like a sissy girl.

Sweet little K is on the move.  He is still super wobbly on his feet, perhaps related to an unrelenting issue with ear infections.  Today we found out his ear infection from a month ago never cleared up, so he is starting round 2 of antibiotics.  Hopefully this one does the trick.  Perhaps then his balance won't be so wonky. 

Watching a baby learn to walk is so cute.  The deep concentration, the goofy things he does with his mouth when in deep concentration, those flailing arms that help to keep him upright, the pronounced left foot-right foot over exaggerated steps.  I love it all.

Here are the flailing arms, and his pronounced right foot over exaggerated step.

This is that little face.  The way his little mouth makes this funny face when he is thinking.  Then every once in a while he will glance ever up ever so quickly at me, with that smirk.  The smirk that says hey mom, I'm really doing this!  

and then, those little legs get tired.  So bear crawling begins, and big brother giggles.  

until he realizes that walking gets him around more quickly.

So he clumsily makes his way back up on his feet.

Sadly this ended in a face plant on the sidewalk.  Mouth injuries are such bloody messes.  And so ironically our "fall time" outdoors - as R kept referring to it - really turned into that.  We abruptly had to bolt inside which I think made K more mad than actually hurting himself.  His two front teeth almost went all the way through his lip...Here he is just after the bleeding stopped.

and later during the bath, the swelling begins.

and one just cause it is cute...

and our little dragons.  R at 12 months

K at 14 months