5 Random Things that Start with S

1) Sweating- Oh. My. Goodness.  My third trimester the first time around was in the winter, so I do not really remember being too horribly hot.  This time around is a different story.  I literally feel like I'm baking something and the heat is radiating from the inside out.  I suppose that I am.  So much sweat.

 

2) Siblings- No pressure, Callie. A friend on Facebook posted this link about the influence of  older siblings.  Therefore I'd like to take *some* credit for how awesome my younger sisters are. :)

 

3) Spring = Stress. It has always been true at work since it is high stakes testing and spring fever kids and tired out teachers.  And this spring we've got the added stressors/bonuses of getting ready for a new baby, and trying to sell and buy a house.  But it is all a good reminder of how lucky we are and the amazing support system we have.

 

4) Sugar- I'm usually a salt girl.  If I had the choice between a bag of Doritos and a piece of cake, I'd more often than not choose a bag of Doritos.  But this pregnancy has been about sugar: sugary drinks, sugary snacks, sugary treats.  In moderation, of course.

 

5) Sleep- I'm going to miss it.  I was asleep by 9:45pm last night and slept relatively well until 6:00am (the tossing and turning and yes body pillow, no body pillow is just par for the course now).  That is a glorious (mostly) uninterrupted 8 hours and 15 minutes. 

Weekend Wrap-Up

Oh. My. Goodness.

While I was away at Adrea's cabin, many people were helping us out with our house and Callie.  Thank you thank you thank you to Boom, Bops, G-ma, G-pa, Auntie Yoda and Auntie Cat.  Dan is coming over to help us in the next couple days and Mari is going to be painting our bathroom soon.  Getting our little house ready is truly becoming a family affair and we are very thankful.

But I have to give a special shout out to my husband.  He was a rock star this weekend.  He worked hard on the house, but also made time to hang out with Callie.  There is still a lot to do, but his hard work every day gets us closer to our goal of getting it on the market.

I'm really trying to help when I can (well, when I'm not laying around at a cabin!), but I can't do much bending over or heavy lifting or anything that seems to be helpful.  So I'm just telling myself it is okay that my contribution will be organizing some closets and growing a baby.

Anyway- the cabin weekend was lovely.  It was a little cooler up there than here, which we didn't really think about when we chose footwear.  We pulled up, opened the car door, and couldn't help but have a giggle fit when seeing the unmelted snow that our flip-flopped feet had to navigate.

We were able to sit outside in the afternoon for a bit before it got too chilly.  And then went down to the lake too...once again navigating the snow in flip-flops.

Sunbathing with snow on the ground- totally weird!

The icy lake...still beautiful

We spent the weekend laying and chatting and reading and playing games and eating and napping and watching movies.  It was a great little escape and very relaxing.  :)

Callie had a fun weekend too.  She got to hang out with Boom and Bops all day yesterday.

City girl!

She got to hang out with G-pa, Auntie Cat and Chris last night.  This morning she and Chris went to Sunday school and she got to play with her pal Charlie, as usual.

She spent the afternoon at G-ma's until I picked her up in the late afternoon.  She's a lucky girl!

Hamsie update: 28 weeks along...the size of a Chinese cabbage...can blink her eyes (which have lashes)...developing billions of neurons in her brain...adding body fat...moving a lot throughout the day.

I feel like my hands are constantly on my belly because I just love it when I can feel her kick and punch. She is definitely zapping my energy more these days and sleeping comfortably is getting harder.  I'm more sensitive to heat now, so remember when I was complaining about all the snow?  Now that it has been nice and hot here, HOLY COW I'm warm.  And I can only imagine how fun that will be in June and July.  So I know I just need to get used to it.  My kids at school are always very curious and ask questions all the time.  The thing they most want to know about is if we have a baby name.  And they are quick to offer suggestions, like the one I got last week: "You should name her Ms. Gosselin Junior!" 

Interesting.  We'll take that into consideration.  Or not.  We haven't really had time to think or talk about much of anything baby-related, including a name.  Poor 2nd child...good thing I know many 2nd (and 3rd) children that turned out great, despite being 2nd fiddle to the much revered 1st child (like myself :)).

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

IT IS WARM AND SUNNY IN MINNESOTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Like warm enough to wear SHORT SLEEVES outside with NO COAT!!!!!!!!!!!!

The fact that it is almost May and it is the first time I could do that is a little weird, but I think *knock on wood* that spring is finally here.  Actually, maybe we'll skip spring and head straight for summer.  Who knows?  But it is wonderful. :)

On to the phone dump...

Favorite Thing #1: Flowers from my in-laws on Monday to kick off my birthday week!

Favorite Thing #2: Hanging out with baby Avery (and her parents too, of course!)

Favorite Thing #3: After a snow storm on Monday, a sunshine and light jackets seems pretty great by Thursday.

Favorite Thing #4: Hamsie cuddles!

Favorite Thing #5: The almost 28 week baby bump...feeling large and in charge.

Favorite Thing #6: Spring haircut and a lollipop!

Favorite Thing #7: See that dumpster?  That means we're making progress on getting our house ready to sell.

I'm very much looking forward to the weekend, as I will be heading to Adrea's cabin for a couple of days to relax and recharge.  And while I'm gone, Chris and various members of our family will be working on our house and/or hanging out with our toddler.  I have a knack for getting out of town at the exact time that work is done at our house.  So thanks in advance to all those involved in helping out this weekend.  I REALLY appreciate it!!!!!! :)

Have a great weekend!

A 31st Birthday and a Blogiversary

Today is my birthday.  It has been a lovely day of cupcakes and flowers and family and cake and presents.

Though, at the request of our 3-year-old, "Twinkle Twinkle" was sang to me instead of the birthday song.  As you can see if you click the link, it worked out just fine.. :)

Four years ago on my birthday we found out we were pregnant and started this blog the next day.

Thanks to everyone for sticking with us and supporting us through this wild ride. 

Lots of love to you all!

40-Months-Old!/Youhavegottobekiddingme Part IV

This silly, crazy, adorable, smart, stubborn, fiery, talkative, sensitive, wonderful girl is 40-months-old today.

Silly faces!

No neck!

Smiles

And on her 40-month-old birthday, on April 22nd (EARTH DAY), our dear old Mother Nature decided to blow in some more freaking snow via a snow freaking storm.

This is how I feel about being outside for a brief period of time and having snowflakes visible in my hair on April 22nd:

Ticked Off

Callie is just fine with it (excited, really) because it is a good excuse for her to keep using her umbrella.

I need to just adopt her attitude and press on until the weekend when it will be 70 degrees.

Only in Minnesota.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy Sunday!

Hope everyone had a nice weekend.  We had a lovely Saturday and then worked hard today.  We want to move.  Houses.  We want to sell our house and buy a new one.  Before the baby comes.  Gulp.

Remember how I have always mentioned that we are messy?  Our house is cluttered? Yeah.  Getting our house ready to even BEGIN the process of putting it on the market is painful.  But Chris is working really hard and I'm doing what I can.  We're getting help from family and are thankful for that.  But it is going to be a crazy busy month, as if it wasn't going to be already...

Anyway.  Weekend stuff.

Saturday
Callie and I spent the morning at the condo while Chris worked on the house.  Then G-ma and G-pa stopped over later to look and house stuff and hang out.  Then I went to my mom's musical (she's playing in the pit of Avenue Q at a nearby college) while Chris and Callie hung out with Big Dave, Sydney and Kylie.

Silly girl on a bear hunt

Reading with Boom at the library

Silly Bops- always puts the coat on backwards!

Enjoying the sunshine with G-ma...despite the snow

The last (hopefully!) snowman of the season.

Looking at Kona's baby pictures.  To which she asked, "Where was I?" To which I was like, "UM...you weren't born yet." To which she asked, "But where was I?' To which I was like, "Um...look at how cute Kona is in this picture!" 

Two silly girls in dress-up clothes.

Sunday
Sunday school.  Work on the house.  Clean out stuff.  Put stuff in bags.  Empty closets.  Vacuum.  SO MUCH LAUNDRY.  Entertain a crazy toddler. 

This afternoon Auntie Cat and Callie had a auntie/niece date.

Sweet face at the Como Conservatory.

Silly face at Chatterbox!

Hamsie is doing great.  She's 27 weeks along, about 2 pounds and 15 inches.  Currently she is sleeping and waking at regular intervals.  I notice her awake and active more and more often  now.  She can also open and close her eyes and even suck on her fingers.  I had my glucose test on Friday so hopefully I will pass it.  I go to the doctor next week, and then every two weeks after that.  Crazy crazy crazy!

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

Oh my goodness.  I don't know what else I can say about this week: bombings around the country, a sick toddler, heaps of April snow, ending in a very surreal snow day watching the news of the Boston bombing suspect's chase and capture.

I'm emotionally and physically drained, but with everything going on I'm just very very thankful for all my favorite things this week.

Favorite Thing #1: Girl #1 giving Girl #2 some love rubs

Favorite Thing #2: The Southdale play area

Favorite Thing #3: Swollen appendages- they may not be fun but they're a sign of a pregnancy moving along nicely.

 Favorite Thing #4: A day at home with a sick girl...but we still managed to have fun

 

The fishing game

Chatting with the alligator

Feeling better, thankfully!

Favorite Thing #5: Callie's kindness jar- we are working on manners

Favorite Thing #6: Time with my girl

Favorite Thing #7: A SNOW DAY on April 19th?!?!?

Favorite Thing #8: Callie hanging out with our goddaughter Christine

Youhavegottobekiddingme Part III

My first Youhavegottobekiddingme post was on April 16th, 2011.  It was followed up four days later by Youhavegottobekiddingme part II. 

Now, almost exactly two years later, it is time for the third installment.  Well, really, it probably should be like the 5th installment, but I held off this month thinking it couldn't possibly last much longer.  I was wrong.

Callie has been sick so I stayed home with her today.  She got a new umbrella that, unfortunately, we had to try out today.  Here she is at about 12:30pm.

And then it was naptime and I was in the basement and oblivious to what was happening outside.

Here is what it looked like outside at 4:00pm today.

I'm pretty sure it is April 18th.  And I'm pretty sure that this weather is ridiculous.

Boston

I don't know the statistics on the percentage of people who actually train for and finish full marathons, but I imagine the percentage isn't very high.

I'm proud to say I'm one of those people who have done it.

I did it with a group of friends/co-workers who were my biggest motivators and supporters through the whole training process.

It was October 2008.  We had trained for 18 weeks (not counting the training for the half marathon we did in May 2008).  We had put in blood, sweat, and tears through countless hours of training runs to get our bodies ready for 26.2 miles.

The day came and we were incredibly nervous and extremely excited to see if our training would pay off.

Dozens of friends and family members came to cheer us on, finding us at many different points throughout the race and ending at the finish line.

We did it.

All I have been able to think about since this afternoon is what happened in Boston today.  I think of the 23,000 people who went through all the months of training just like we did in 2008.  I think of all of the family members and friends who were there to cheer them on.  And I think about the finish line, a place that is supposed to be the symbol of pride in an amazing goal achieved, now a place of horror, fear, and destruction. 

I just can't imagine.

So, I pray.  And give thanks for my blessings. And try and have a little perspective about the things going on in my life.

I saw this on Facebook today and it touched me.  If there is anything good that can come out of tragedies like this, it is the reminder that there are so many more good people in the world than bad.

Sending many thoughts, prayers and love to those in Boston today.

Weekend Wrap-Up: The What Month Is It Again? Edition

Remember last April?

Sunshine.  Dandelions. Short-sleeved shirts.

Yeah, that isn't what it looks like this April at all.  We have barely even SEEN the grass, let alone have the grass ready to grow dandelions yet. 

The mood around Minnesota is CRABBY, and our neighbor made this snowman yesterday in protest.

The fact that we got enough snow in the middle of April for a snowman this big is ridiculous.

 My birthday is in 10 days.  All I want for my birthday is spring. 

Anyway, on to the weekend...

Saturday
We took Kona for a walk (she's not happy about this white crap on the ground either).

At least someone can smile about this.

I spent the rest of Saturday afternoon at a workshop while Callie spend it at G-ma and G-pa's house.  Then Adrea came over for dinner and play time.  And we spent a good amount of time moaning about the weather.  And playing hide-and-seek.

Sunday
After Sunday school and lunch with Jenna and Charlie, Callie had nap time while I went on a Gosselin girls' outing to Como Conservatory.  We got to escape the miserable weather and enjoy lush plant life and beautiful flowers.

The vibrant colors were amazing!

Tonight we went over to the condo and hung out with Boom, Bops, Auntie Yoda and Auntie Mari.  When she's over there, she never slows down, obviously.

Running in circles with Auntie Mari

Stretching with Auntie Yoda

Galloping in a circle with Mari, Yoda and Bops

Hamsie Update: 26 weeks!  I had a doctor's appointment on Friday and everything is good.  I was measured with the tape measure for the first time and measured 28 cm.  I think that the number of centimeters is supposed to correspond with how many weeks along you are, so I'm measuring a little ahead.  No surprise there.  I go back this Friday for my one-hour glucose test.  According to my baby center app, she is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid which is essential for lung development.  She's about 1 2/3 pounds and 14 inches long. 

I'm enjoying using my stomach as a shelf to set things on.  It is very convenient.  I'm not as much enjoying the shortness of breath that seems to occur more often when I exert energy.  And it is getting harder for Callie to sit on my lap- she needs to sit to the side of me now.  Tonight I had both her and Kona up with me, and Hamsie was most definitely squished.

 
Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

Happy Friday!!

It is April 12th and it has been snowing off and on in MN the past couple of days. 

BLECH.

But it will just make spring that much sweeter, right?

Here are my pics for the week:

Favorite Thing #1: The park (pre-snow)

Favorite Thing #2: Not needing to feel like a helicopter parent at the park any more

Favorite Thing #3: Toddler concentration

Favorite Thing #4: Daddy's hair salon

Favorite Thing #5: Toddler play and imagination

Have a great weekend!