Blue Gravy and Guilt by Dr. Seuss

Not really by Dr. Seuss, but Tucker has decided that every book is written by Dr. Seuss.  I can read the title to any book and Tucker will follow it with, "by Dr. Suess."

Me:  Tonight's book is Goodnight, Moon
Tucker: by Dr. Seuss

Big Seuss fans in this house, I tell ya. 

Where was I?  Oh yeah.  Just the wee bitty small announcement that baby Gravy is a BOY!  I had my sonogram weeks ago and it has taken me this long to post about it (enter Guilt, stage left).  It's true.  Your first baby, you document every detail with words and pictures.  Every single month on the 21st, I would sit down after Tucker was in bed and write in his baby book the happenings of that particular month. 

Um, Chloe's name isn't even written in hers yet and we don't have 1/8 of the pictures of her.  I have no idea how old she was when she got her first tooth and can't even recall her first word.  Terrible!  And, apparently this will only get worse for Gravy.  The other two kids had blogs of their own pretty much as soon as the pregnancy test told me they were coming and poor Gravy is just lumped into the family blog.  And belly pictures?  P'shaw!  I have taken ONE belly picture, whereas I documented my expanding waistline every two weeks with the other two, starting at 12 weeks.   

Observe:  Gravy Belly at 18 weeks (and most of this belly is more due to poor choices, like actual gravy, than Baby Gravy.  Ironic.)

The sonogram showdown:  Ryan missed it.  Typical Ryan, he didn't leave work in time and missed the whole thing.  So, I"m laying there, feeling like I'm having a girl and am watching Gravy like a hawk trying to get a glimpse of the nether region.  I saw what I thought were the 3 lines indicating girl a few times but the sonographer said nothing.  Finally, I said, "I already saw what the baby is, so if you're waiting to tell me until my husband gets here, there's no need."  She looked surprised and said she hadn't even looked yet and always waits until the very last to make sure she has gotten all the views of the other organs she needs for the report.  She then starts investigating gender and points out the scrotum and penis to me.  What?! 

I was so surprised!  Shows how much I know!  It was really fun to be so surprised and proven wrong ( you will NEVER hear me say that again, by the way), I seriously could not stop smiling all day!  Here are the pictures and a video we got of Gravy...from the profile picture, I think we are going to have another mini-Ryan! 

And here is how I told Tucker and Chloe they are getting a baby brother.  Please excuse the sing-song preschool teacher voice and inflections, it cannot be helped.  ha

It's a Baby Brother!

*disclaimer #1: yes, this video takes place on a bed, which I realize seems totally weird to those who don't know how my parents' house works.  Their bedroom is the size of a living room and is kind of Grand Central Station in their house, it's where we all hang out.
*disclaimer #2: I have never taught Tucker that girls and boys should choose certain colors as their favorite, he has determined this on his own and insists that is how it should be.  If he loves pink tomorrow, that's A-Okay with me.  Oh, and my mom painted his toenails once and I thought it was cute even though he hated it and wanted it off right away.  Gender roles, shmender roles.

Dear Chloe,

Today you turned two years old!  I can't believe how the time has flown by and you suddenly look like a little girl.  You have red hair, brown eyes with a touch of hazel, a little bow mouth and teeny button nose.  You weigh a whopping 22 pounds fully clothed, such a tiny peanut!  You are full of personality and spunk and you have a really great vocabulary as well.  You speak in full sentences and have a little elf voice that is like Alvin and the Chipmunks on helium.  So cute! 

You have started to ask to sit on the potty and the past several times you have been successful!  Go Chloe!  You insist on climbing up on our hugely tall old person toilet by yourself and even though we have a potty seat that sits on top, I am still scared to death you are going to fall in.  You are probably little enough to even be flushed! 

Your favorite foods are bananas, Goldfish crackers, chicken, beef, applesauce and broccoli.  Your favorite colors are pink and purple.  You love to act like a doggy and crawl around the floor panting and even licked me this week!  You love your big brother soooo much and imitate him at every opportunity.  We ask you if you are a copycat and you either reply with a "meow" or "no, I not copycat." 

I can't even describe what joy you bring to our family.  When I was pregnant with you, and I've heard this time and again from other women, I secretly wondered how I could love another child as much as I love Tucker.  Well, it was easy.  You make it easy.  You give the best snuggles and make me smile and laugh every single day. 

I am so excited to see who you become.  I am so proud of who you already are and I know you are destined for greatness!  Always, always, always remember you are loved!!!  Love you so much it hurts, sweet baby!

Love,
Mommy

You can read your birth story here.....the day that changed my life (in many ways!) forever.

Tucker Update

Tucker is really starting to develop his imagination.  The other day we were driving in the car and for the first time he saw shapes in the clouds.  "Mama!  A dinosaur in the clouds!"  He was so excited and then just a minute or so later he saw an airplane shape.  It totally reminded me of my childhood, I remember laying in the yard looking at the clouds for what seemed like hours finding different shapes. 

He is also big into pretending to be a dinosaur, and let me tell you, he can be pretty scary when he does it!  He curls his toes under, makes his hands into claws, stomps loudly and gets a very convincing grimace on his face.  And lest I forget, a growl that often petrifies his sister!  I will try to get it on video (and be better overall about posting pics and videos!).

He channels that dinosaur attitude on occasion when he is unhappy with me.  Yesterday he dared to point his finger in my face while scowling and talking very sternly to me.  Mama don't play that game.  I told him to sit in time out, that I would not be talked to that way.  When he refused, I calmly picked him up and started carrying him to his room for time out.  That is when he decided it would be a (not so) wise decision to hit/slap me three times in the face.  Um, no sir.  He earned himself a few well-deserved spankings and came out the other end much more pleasant and agreeable.  Nothing wrong with a little attitude adjustment delivered via hand to the bottom. 

He is starting preschool at the end of the month and I don't know who is more excited, me or him!  I am so excited for him to interact with other littles and make some friends in our new town.  I know he is going to flourish in school, as was evidenced today by his interaction with a few other kids at a store.  This store has a play area for kids and he was so friendly and polite to the others, he introduced himself and asked their names and then played cooperatively.  I was so proud of him for being outgoing and friendly.  I am so pleased that he doesn't seemed to be plagued with the shyness that Ryan and I have/had. 

He loves the baby soooo much!  Every day, he tells me he loves the baby (well, he also tells me he loves his peepee every day, already penis obsessed at the ripe age of 3!) and gives my belly a hug and a kiss.  He insists the baby is a girl, he won't even entertain the thought that it may be a boy.  He also tells me how much he loves me every day and gives me multiple kisses, hugs and tickles throughout the day, which I soak up as I know this stage won't last forever!  He is such pure joy, I am so very lucky to be his Mommy.

Saturday.

I met a friend for an impromptu lunch on Saturday at Panera.  I had both kids with me and my little Coco did not eat her turkey sandwich.  Knowing she would surely want to eat it later, I wrapped it up neatly in a napkin and placed it in my purse. 

On Saturday.

I also have a habit of leaving my purse in my vehicle at all times (thieves, please ignore this last sentence and please don't bash my windows in...I don't have any money).

Did I mention this happened on Saturday?  Oh, I did. 

And that is has been well over 100 degrees outside?  Which would translate to Hotter Than Hell inside of a car? 

Since Saturday. 

A turkey sandwich has been sitting inside of my purse, which has been inside my car, in over 100 degree weather since Saturday.

The smell that wafted from my purse today was enough to make me pass out.  Best described as a cross between swamp ass and stinky feet, I do believe my beloved purse is headed for the dumpster. 

And one more time for emphasis: Since Saturday. 

Skidmarked Swimsuit

Funny title to a not-so-funny moment.  And, yes, I am surprised and grateful there was no actual crapping of the swimsuit. 

I took the kids to the Haysville swimming pool today with my sister-in-law, Casey, and her two children.  We were all playing in the baby pool when I looked over and Chloe is under the water in a squat position with her arms flailing above.  I quickly rushed over to where she was (about three feet from me) and pulled her up.  Luckily, she had been holding her breath and she wasn't under very long, but it was enough to startle me.  She immediately told me she needed a towel (love that girl sooo much!).  Let's call that the Skidmark Incident. 

About an hour later, I decided I was going to leave Chloe with Casey and take Tucker on the slide in the deeper kiddie pool.  As I was hoisting my pregnant self out of the pool and getting Tucker out, Casey calls for me in a panicked voice.  I turned around to find Chloe on her back as if she was doing the backfloat, but she was about a foot under the water and had a look of fear and panic on her face.  She had her eyes and mouth open and I could tell she was taking water in.  I jumped in as fast as I could and pulled her up.  She started coughing up water immediately and was very upset.  She was glued to me for a good ten minutes after that.  It was so scary, I can't imagine if we hadn't noticed for a few more seconds.  Let's call that the I Almost Baked Brownies In My Swimsuit Incident.

Just shy of an hour of closing time, they made everyone evacuate the pool in search for a rumored Pool Poop (no, it wasn't me).  We decided it was time to leave at that time and got the kids changed and made our way out.  BOTH of my children, despite knowing better, took off in the parking lot.  Oh.no.they.didn't.  Trouble.  BIG TROUBLE.  As if I wasn't already stressed enough over Chloe's near-drownings, having two children run in opposite directions in a parking lot was enough to send me to the grave.  I did my usual "STOP!".  Tucker listened, Chloe did not.  She kept going, making her way to the nearby sand volleyball pit.  I ran after her and grabbed her firmly by the arm, scolded her and gave her a swat on her bottom.  I hurt her feelings and she cried but running in a parking lot simply will not be tolerated.  Too much can happen and all of the scenarios make me ill to even think about.  And let's call that the I Will NEVER Take the Kids to a Public Pool by Myself Ever Again Incident.  From now on, the adult/child ratio must be 1:1 before I will ever consider doing that again.  Too much can be lost in such a short amount of time.  Not worth it. 

Tonight is a night I really wish I could have a glass of wine.

Snail's Pace

Getting our house ready to sell is moving so slow, I can't stand it!  Here is a list of things we still have to get done:

• Paint hall bathroom, hallway, Chloe's room, Tucker's room and the kitchen.  I do have the paint colors chosen though, just waiting for the sheetrock patches to be sanded and primed.  I should be able to get all of these rooms done this week if I can find enough help with the kids. 
• Replace some cedar on the exterior, prep and paint the entire exterior.  Luckily, the style of our house is intended to be off white with just a tad darker off white for the trim so it won't be too hard to nail down colors.  We were hoping for a break in the 100 degree days but that doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon so we will just have to get up really early on the day(s) we do this. 
• Build deck stairs and window well cover for the back of the house.
• Clean up the backyard.  Now that the dogs are comfy in their new space, we can take down their dog run, fill in their holes, scoop their massive poop, etc.  We also need to just make it look a little nicer in general back there, trim some bushes, get rid of the grass clippings pile, etc.
• Master Bathroom sheetrock work and paint. 
• Finish downstairs bathroom area.  We still need to tile the built in shower, tile the floor and set the toilet and vanity.  We also need to lay carpet in the hall and install doors into the laundry room and the space under the stairs. 
• Deep clean each room and shampoo carpets.
• Move out/sell the rest of our CRAP.  The moving sale is slated to take place as soon as the house is show-ready.  Our intention is to do FSBO for 2 weeks-1 month.  We want to have an open house during the Moving Sale so people can walk through without us hovering over them and also get us more exposure since moving sales generally have quite a bit of traffic.  If we don't get any bites doing the FSBO thing, we will call our friend Cina to list it for us. 

Really, it's not all that much and if we had uninterrupted time to work on it, I think we could finish it up in no time.  But then there's the fact that Ryan has something called a JOB.  One that took him out of town all week and now he may be there through this weekend.  Silly job!  Good thing though is that if he ends up working all weekend, he should be able to take Monday and Tuesday off to work on the house, we always get more accomplished when we are both there so that would be great!

My current mantra: This will all be worth it, this will all be worth it, this will all be worth it.

Gravy Update

I am 15 weeks pregnant now and had an appointment today. As referenced in my previous post, I've been feeling less than stellar the past few days. My blood pressue was much higher than normal, I am a 110/60 girl usually, but today I was 126/86...not terrible but certainly out of the ordinary for me.

The doctor didn't have much insight for me other than suggesting it was heat related and that our move, and all of the work involved, is just now catching up with me. Quite possible. My hemoglobin was fine at my last blood draw so he's not suspecting anemia right now.

I also read online last night that sometimes women feel this way when baby is having a growth spurt, so that's also a good possibility. Whatever the cause, I hope it goes away soon! I hate feeling so crappy!

Aaaaaaanyways...Gravy's heartbeat was 155. For me and my babes, heartrate has never been an indicator of gender. All of my kids (Gravy included)hung out in the 155 range. Speaking of gender, mark your calendars! We will be finding out on August 18th if we are having a BOY or a GIRL!

And I'm kind of thinking we will announce it to family in a fun way.  This is likely our last baby so I want to make it exciting...perhaps having a dinner where the gender will be revealed by the menu (i.e. hot dogs for boy, tacos or cheeseburgers for girl), or for simplicity's sake, maybe doing just a dessert with a cake colored blue or pink inside only and the gender will be revealed when it's served.  I am open to other ideas if anyone has any!

Update: Just after posting this, I was listening to some music on YouTube and Gravy was going nuts!  I had wondered if I was feeling movements but now there's no question!  I love feeling life in my belly!