Playing Catch-Up: By The Numbers

3: days of amazing weather perfect for playing outdoors. While I feel a bit cheated out of bitter cold days ending with a fire and bowl of warm, comforting soup, the end of January is treating us just fine. 

32: years blessed!

60: minutes total time waiting at this past week's dr. appt. I'm pretty spoiled as it's usually not nearly as long.

3: members of the most awkward family ever in the waiting room. Well, the poor baby was only 10 months. I'm hoping the apple falls far from the tree!

15: instances of painfully bizarre interactions of said family while in the waiting room that were must-tells to J at dinner.

5: pregnant women waiting while dad of above awkward family shuffled food from a styrofoam container into his mouth making awful eating noises and standing directly in front of and peering into the check-in window.

26: letter sounds learned from Leap Frog Letter Factory approximately 8 months ago while I grabbed extra couch time during first trimester days.

10: stomach-turning minutes of Leap Frog Letter Factory towards the end of our waiting at the doctor.  Apparently I will never view that video the same again as it brings up days of nausea.

30: approximate number of days until a scheduled delivery.

1: offhand comment made by my doctor about the baby coming early.

2: weekend days spent in Project Prepare for Baby. There's still much to be done, but we made significant progress. I'd be lying if I didn't admit to a sense of urgency.

3: hours spent at a Friday birthday party at the park.


50: times I most likely told The Sheriff to take his time or watch where he was going on the playground.

4: minutes sitting still while a stranger painted his face and mom watched in disbelief.

1: smiling tiger, hidden toddler.

6: pages of jellyfish. Someone embraced the letter J with this project.

 25: at least the number of minutes trying to park for the overcrowded zoo visit on Saturday morning. The smiles from these two were worth it. Who cares if the train and carousel trumped seeing the animals, right?

3: projects tackled by J before closing out the weekend with a DIY cardboard aircraft carrier for our favorite pilot.

Bullets -- Toddler Mardi Gras and Support Our Troops Valentines

Today's Thursday (You know that, of course), and all I've got is bullets:


* You can find a full post with some of my favorite NOLA girls here where I talk about our Mardi Gras endeavors while here in Texas. I can't wait for this year's play date!

* People keep reminding me how close this baby really is, so yep, we have big weekend plans to get the nursery a little closer to ready. And I also have "nursing bra" tabs open on my computer. Just a day in the life....

* Last night was my worst need-to-have-it-now type of pregnancy craving. I wanted some extravagant dessert like a piece of chocolatey cheesecake or decadent brownie or hot cookie in a mini skillet with ice cream on top and I wanted it all to myself. I settled for a less than spectacular milkshake as we ran out of ice cream and didn't have enough for the consistency to be much thicker than chocolate milk. I think I'm a good wife for this; I'm not going to lie. You're welcome, honey, for not sending you out! (You'd do it though if I asked because you're wonderful.) Enough, I know, get a room, right?

* I think not finding out the gender is a lot of fun, but right now I would really like to know. I guess it's part of the nesting and preparing, but it would be so helpful at this point!

* Santa brought Lightroom. I have no idea what I'm doing but want to be good at taking and editing pictures. Like yesterday.

* I should be napping or working out or doing something a bit more productive like glueing toddler handprints together for our group Valentine card to send with our care packages for Hugs for Soldiers. If you are looking for a service project to do with your kids, this one is great! Deadline is January 31, so get some cards, chocolate, and hand warmers together and support our troops! 

Words on Wednesday

When one of my favorite bloggers pinned this over the weekend, I found it perfect for my 2013 endeavors and as a gentle reminder we could all use.

Source: thesilverpen.com via Erin on Pinterest

Proud To Be A Part

Our toddlers are too young to understand evil, and by evil I mean true evil. Turning off the television after a daily allowance of Thomas the Train seems like the worst the world currently has to offer. 

As adults, we get it. I take that back; we don't understand it, and we can't settle the "why" question in our own hearts. However, we know there are people hurting, and I'm grateful to have met a group of people who see the value in reaching out to those with grieving hearts. 

I can't remember exactly when but when The Sheriff was younger I joined a moms' group in our area. It was a little intimidating (and honestly sometimes still is) as W was at the time significantly younger than the other kiddos. The other moms seem to all "know" each other already. How was I ever going to jump right in? 

But this group of ladies welcomed with open arms, and although it took us a while to get involved, we now try to do whatever we can fit into our schedule to keep building relationships as moms and buddies. 

Last week we met at our local library to make hearts for Sandy Hook. One of our "Mamas" found a great place to send our crafty support and they'll be on display in the public libraries in Newtown I believe. 

We are so blessed to be around others who want to reach out!

That craft time above lasted about 4 minutes before the kiddos were up and running around instead, but  check out the picture below. They might not all be looking, but 12 toddler/preschoolers all in the same place? This group of women is magic I tell ya! 

Sandy Hook, you are still in our prayers.

Toddler Vehicle Play -- Hey, That's Pin-tastic!

While I haven't been too adventurous in the crafty or culinary departments lately, we haven't completely ignored our Pin-tastic finds. Love Pinterest or hate it, there really are so fun, creative, and easily executed play ideas perfect for the rainy days that have kept us stuck inside. I didn't even have to look them up but simply recalled pinning them at some point. 

Source: kidsactivitiesblog.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

And when my favorite glove loving buddy saw the new cleaning gloves left on the counter from my grocery trip, I couldn't help but indulge and allow him to break them in to try this pin:

Source: Uploaded by user via Jennifer on Pinterest

We didn't totally embrace this pin and stuck with a bit of soapy water instead of shaving cream, but seeing this pin again inspires me to try it next time as a "new" activity. 

Step 1: Bring water safe vehicles to the designated washing area. 

Step 2: (Donning gloves of course) drop vehicles one a time into soapy water.

Step 3: Use the free, unopened, and therefore not my go-to toothbrush, to scrub each one.

Step 4: Pose for an obligatory "cheese" for Mom.

Cheers to you, Pinterest, and keeping us happy on rainy days! Thanks for a fun link-up AP!

2013 - Where I'm Heading

Lower.

Yes, where I intend to go in 2013 is lower.

I'm seeing a thread as look back on the past two years and the New Year's posts I've written. Two years ago I even wrote about prayerfully asking God to go beyond the resolution and show the pieces of my heart that need improving, and I believe that the word to guide this coming year goes hand in hand with the words that previously guided me on the journey to the woman I am seeking to become: patience and contentment.

In 2013 I want to lower my expectations, lower my standard, lower the bar. This theme doesn't mean that I don't have plans to be a better, stronger, more loving person. I simply want to allow myself and those around me a bit of breathing room.

It hit me (and sometimes over and over again) that my impatience, my lack of contentment, and a great deal of my personal frustration stem from expecting that everything and everybody will roll smoothly 100% of the time. I hold these ideals in my head that often just need releasing. When things are not perfect, I worry about why they aren't, yet I know that life is messy. And in a good way!

I'm not even talking about major events, but just day to day living, minute to minute living.  I've always struggled with believing I can control my life and my world. "Lower" means letting go of that control and refocusing on the spirit inside of myself and inside of people around me instead of how we all meet standards. I feel like that is where God is calling me to be.  I had trouble choosing a verse for this theme but decided upon:

2013 -- I'm going lower, and in return I hope to see just how high God takes me! 

28 Weeks and Then Add A Few

I have no idea where the time went; well, yes, I suppose I do. There were those little weeks we call the Christmas season. I knew that the days would fly as we created some of our own family traditions and went back home to share old ones as well.

In the midst of all of the holiday cheer, we had a follow up ultrasound at 28 weeks, and this big brother was all smiles with the thought that "we can see baby on the tv." 

He wasn't totally interested once the process started because:
1. He had an iPhone to play with. Currently, little sibling < Hiro of the Rails. I'm ok with this for now.
2. The "baby on tv" in the ultrasound room doesn't look so much like a baby. Plus there's the checking of bones and organs, things not quite recognizable to toddler eyes.

He was well behaved; we saw our sweet little one; all was confirmed ok.

And to make the world even a bit brighter that day, The Sheriff snagged another viewing of his favorite rescue copter. It's not a trip to the hospital (or my doctor's office for that matter) without our "drive by" viewing.

28 Weeks

Which brings us to today (ok, 2 weekends ago):

Here's the little person inside in all of his/her 30 week glory. I'm currently about 32 weeks, and let's just jump right in bullet style to what's going on:

* I don't have any real cravings. In fact, I mostly want to eat all of the time but good things that won't make me feel gross and overstuffed. Momma's loving fruit these days.

* I did make an atypical jelly bean purchase in the checkout line at Marshall's the other day and have been snacking on them since.

* Big brother is finally interested in the baby's coming book a friend sent a while back. I've got a few on hold at the library and will also be borrowing a few others from friends. We've got a countdown that goes something like 1. Momma's Birthday 2. Mardi Gras 3. Valentine's Day 4. Baby!

* I'm finding myself ready to nap again a few afternoons a week and unfortunately for J, also a pitifully sleepy buddy after W goes to bed.

* At the same time there is so much I want to get done during the day. I'm so ready to get the nursery together!

* Many days I look at The Sheriff and feel so grateful that we are blessed to be having another one.

* Other days I think about what went into our day/night and fear for my sanity because the jobs will double!

* I must be "nesting" which I don't quite remember so much of with W but I want to get everything done. Like now! The baby's coming right!!!

Extreme Nesting

This past Saturday morning I announced to J that I was planning to clean the refrigerator, and not in the I'm-going-to-tackle-this-during-naptime sort of way. It was in major need, so much so that I don't think it was really a "nesting" thing, but just a chore that had to be done.

While J and The Sheriff shared some quality MMC and Doc. McStuffins time, I turned on the radio for some inspiration and soon found myself in tears over this one.

Ok perhaps I was nesting after all. I've posted about this song before, but it's message goes right to my heart every time and reminds me both how far I've been carried and how safe I always am.

All was right in the world until I needed help pulling out the bottom drawers which are a bit tricky. I called in J for backup, but nonetheless, a piece of glass found its demise with an accidental meeting with the tile floor. 

Glass everywhere.

So a simple refrigerator cleaning turned into a kitchen floor cleaning extravaganza. The icebox was moved out from its nook and the tile swept and mopped. Every inch was swept, vacuumed, mopped. I wasn't even out of jammies yet.

And then I ventured out (changed out of those jammies of course) and grabbed a bottle of ammonia with huge plans to tackle the DIY-clean-your-grout movement so prevalent on Pinterest. I didn't manage to get that done before the Texans game, but I'm all over that task this week. So yea, one broken refrigerator glass later, and the nesting bug is in full force. 

In other news, I painted my nails last night, and of course today would be the day that my hands would spend most of the morning in hot, soapy water. As it turns out, not too shabby:

Did I mention that all of this went down the morning we decided W would wear big boy undies all day long? He rocked it. I don't want to jinx us, but with the help of a timer and an awesomely supportive husband, the kid nailed it! Fingers crossed that his success continues. 

Christmas 2012 -- Santa Claus

We aren't letting go of Christmas any time soon, and instead of one giant post with way too many pictures, I'm splitting our holiday recap into a few different entries. Santa (and friends and family of course) were so good to W this year. He was a bit hesitant about the present opening process and even not so sure what do make of Christmas morning, but soon found his groove after realizing what those wrapped boxes had inside.

Aunt Nikki, Uncle Cory, and family scored again this year with a mobilized Gordon. They are the family to credit after all with W's whirlybird obsession after gifting The Sheriff, well J, with a remote control helicopter last Christmas.

Grandpa surprised W with batteries first thing the next morning, and Gordon never left his side for the remainder of the trip.

We tried everything to draw his attention to that tree in the background under which were wrapped Santa's gifts.

At last he picked his first box, one about which I was excited as I knew it contained a specifically requested gift, not Bash, Dash, or Ferdinand, but...

(Excuse us while we make time for bubble wrap popping.)

It's a Blue Dinoco! Of course our child would watch the movie Cars and look forward to every scene with something that doesn't race around a track but flies.

For this smile all of Mrs. Claus's searching (and paying too much) on ebay was completely worth it.

I'm not quite sure who was more proud to own this. Come on, have you ever won an ebay item?

Mr. Clause was quite proud of himself for this arrangement. In one of our favorite Thomas videos, Hiro, Master of the Railway, is found hiding in the bushes. We couldn't resist. 

The excitement over Hiro was only surpassed by the individual openings of Bash, Dash, and Ferdinand, those beloved Logging Locos. After a few more surprise gifts, we wrapped up Christmas morning with breakfast and lots of playing. For his first "real" year, Santa won the day! 

Elf Chronicles 2012 -- The Last Weeks

Before he headed back to the North Pole (an event without any hype), Texan had a few more stunts up his sleeve to bring some Christmas joy our way. I'm not entirely certain which day is which, but I know for sure that his miniature donuts also appeared a time or two.

Texan must know his online searching and found one of W's favorite trains in puzzle form.

He needed some toddler help to put it back together.

I was hesitant to try the-elf-is-in-my-toys again, but thought this one would be safe, and as it turns out, W loved pulling him around the house for a bit.

Nine days before Christmas, Texan helped to kick off a tradition I hope to continue by bringing The Donkey in the Living Room. Somehow the pieces of W's Fisher Price Nativity disappeared and came by one by one on the days leading up to Christmas. This was cut short by our trip to Louisiana, but I was surprised that W was looking for each piece even when we were gone. It was also a nice countdown to Christmas as nine days is a bit more manageable for a toddler than 25. 

At some point Texan manned the controls to this chinook and brought in bag #7. 

Texan is one smart cookie and when an activity is a hit, he takes note. Hence, Dash puzzle... 

And finally, with a bit of Daddy assistance, Elf made the trip to Louisiana. We didn't get too creative here. Have you tried packing one vehicle for three people and three Christmases?

We missed one picture where he snuck onto the porch at Grandpa's house. Texan's last memory of 2012 will have to be riding this tiger and spelling W's name with Chex Mix. You'll have to hop on over to my husband's twitter account to ask him about this piece of random!

See you next year, Texan!

Merry Christmas -- Take One More Glance at Another Card

J began here. 

I added my work here.

And with a few more touches by my talented husband, I was able to plug one of my favorite family pictures to date into our Pear Tree Greetings card template and send out to spread some Christmas cheer. 

I pray your Christmas season was full of joy that continues into the new year!