The State of Things

We've been doing all we can to get ready for Tabitha's arrival on Tuesday. I've washed her car seat, boiled her binkies, cleaned both bathrooms, and done the laundry. Thomas has joined me in nesting; he scrubbed the stovetop, cleaned out the car and tidyed the yards. Thomas and I both feel more at ease and like we can relax when things are clean, so by having most the chores caught up on, we can feel relaxed after the baby's arrival. Monday is our last day as a family of four. I'll go to work, grab a few more groceries and do any last minute cleaning. Then I'll pack the girls up for Grandma and Grandpa's and I'll finish packing my hospital bag. At 5am on Tuesday I have to call Labor & Delivery to make sure everything is ready to go and then I'm to arrive by 6am. So the girls will get dropped off, PJ's and all, at my parents on our way to the hospital. The C-section is scheduled for 9am. I'm so thankful it's all first thing in the morning!! As crazy as everything sounds like it's been, it really hasn't been! I feel extremely relaxed and so far our weekend has involved a lot of sitting in the sun. Unfortunately I woke up this morning with a sore throat. I've been drinking tea, taking Vitamin C, and praying it not turn into anything bad. On the upside, I'll be on so many meds after the C-section, I probably won't notice the discomfort of a cold!

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Today Caelen was playing with her Cinderella doll and as she put Cinderella in the carriage, Cinderella said, "Bye Mom! I'm going to the ball, but first I have to go to Target to get some new shoes for the ball and some paper towels!" This afternoon Addison patted Woodrow on the back and asked, "Ride this one?" Compared to Addie, Woodrow really is the size of a horse!

Research Shows Horses Have a Vocabulary of over 200 Words

Driving in the car usually involves Caelen yakking away, me replying, "Uh-huh" and Addie quietly staring out the window, but things are beginning to change. Addison joins in the conversations a bit more and I try to encourage that. Of course that means a whole new balancing act for me of making sure I'm answering their "Mom?"s with equal attention. Anyway, to the point I've wandered away from. Driving up the freeway yesterday Addison says, "Bunny Rabbit Mommy!" so we started talking about what a bunny rabbit says.... which is basically nothing but wiggle their nose, in case you were wondering. Then Caelen says, "Hey Addie, what's a horse say?" and Addison replies, "Rocking Chair!" Right........

It's a girl!... and a Salad.

What do you do for fun a couple of weekends before your life changes forever and a new baby interrupts the "peace" and routine of your family? Why, go to a goat farm of course! Thomas has been working any jobs and projects he can get his hands on and happily, he had work. Unhappily, it was on Saturday, but what are you gonna do? How about take the kids to a goat farm!! Ok, I'm done. It was a fun little field trip though!

Lots of friends were there.... actually I'm beginning to wonder if my kids could do anything independently of the company of their friends.... or if I could....

Addie would pet a goat, or pull it's tail, and sweetly coo, "Aww baby."

It was a beautiful day, perfect for wandering around and tasting cheese, caramel, yogurt, spreads, basically anything with goat's milk in it. That's what lured me and kept me there. The kids just loved running around.

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Today Caelen plops herself down next to me, both of us enjoying a mid-afternoon salad and asks, "So.... how'd it go at the doctor's?" So we began discussing how Mommy isn't supposed to eat breakfast the morning Tabitha comes out.

Caelen was a bit confused, "But Mom. We're SUPPOSED to eat breakfast."

"I know baby, but when you're having surgery and they're gonna cut your tummy open to take a baby out, they don't want you to have eaten any food." I explained.

"Yeah," I could see she understood, "Cause then the baby would be all dirty and they don't want that."

Tabitha's Arrival: T-1 week!!

A Leprechaun at Disneyland

I am having so much trouble with this blogging site uploading, or not uploading I should say, my pictures. But before it completely failed and shut down my whole internet I was able to upload and save a few! Caelen has been hard at work in her playhouse painting murals. It started when her friends were over Wednesday, all happily playing in the playhouse. We didn't suspect a thing until the first child emerged covered in the acrylic paint I thought was high enough out of sight to remain out of mind. I don't know what I'm thinking most of the time. Then one by one the rest of them showed their grinning faces around the side of the door and revealed various combinations of color and design all over their little bodies. Since then I have given up and allowed free reign of the playhouse to go to Caelen, she is my little artist after all and she does good work.

Does the face get any sweeter than that? I think not.

That's adorable concentration!

Here's the final product. It's (from left to right, if I can remember) Snow White, Ariel, Belle, Sleeping Beauty?, Caelen (the one that looks like a little green leprechaun), and Cinderella at Disneyland together. The little person underneath is me taking pictures of them.

While helping my wonderful man put away the dishes he had washed (yeah, that 3rd dishwasher in 8 years died) I hear a little voice call me, "Mommy! Look it me, I'm pretty!"

Oh Princess!! That would be chocolate chip cookie all over her face, and this is after her 2nd bath for today (which was of course followed by a third). I should just call her Little Orphan Addie. And come to think of it, I should quit letting the water out of the tub and just keep sending them back in periodically to scrub off.

Symptoms: Cough, Runny Nose, Hallucinations.

Today Addison ran into the hallway, wrapped herself around her sister in a big bear hug and said, "I wuv you, I wuv Sissy." Caelen hugged her back smiling and said, "Aww." As they walked away together to head outside to play I heard Addison continue, "Wuv me? Wuv me sissy?" Addison has had a rough day today. It started with a cough that eventually went away, then the snot came on. Then she was super cranky so she slept for 3 1/2 hours in the middle of the day. But the weirdest part of her entire day has been the spider hallucinations. Yeah.... She seems to think there are spiders on her, or near her, I'm not quite sure, but it renders her frozen in place. Wherever she is when an attack of the "spiders" comes on, she's stuck there for good, crying and begging someone to pick her up. This has occured in the bathtub, on the slide, in the sand box, on the lawn and in her room! The last time it happened she insisted, "The spiders are coming!!!" No amount of reassurance fixes the situation, only picking her up. Interesting....

Caelen Convo

Caelen came running in from the backyard with this excitment spread across her face and says, "Mom!! I don't have to go potty! Isn't it a miracle?!!"

As she was playing in the backyard, "Mom, how does bad bacteria get died by good bacteria?" All I could say, "No clue babe."

Driving in the car the other day:
Caelen: Mom, what are you going to ride in to get to the hospital when Tabitha's born?
Me: The car.
Caelen: But what will WE ride in?
Me: Well, Dad and I will take you to Grandma and Grandpa's and then....
Caelen: WHICH Grandma and Grandpa?
Me: Grandma Janet and.....
Caelen: But I wanna be WITH you when Tabitha's born!!
Me: Well, you'll come to the hospital as soon as she's born baby, Mommy has to....
Caelen: Oh that'll be good cause then we can ride in Grandpa's new truck!!!
(Our conversations are intense with emotion and exhausting for Mommy!! LOL)

All's Fair in Childbirth

A few days ago, before the endless rains decended upon Sonoma County, we took the girls to a local park that has lots of wonderful sand for digging, one of Addison's favorite activities. So I put some brown sandals on her feet. While I was strapping them on she looked at her feet and excitedly squealed, "I JESUS!" Shocked I asked, "Are you Jesus because you have the same shoes?" Yeah!" she answered. At which point Caelen piped up with, "Jesus had white sandals Addie." All I could say was, "Well maybe He had a couple pairs honey."

Last night one of my BFF's and current partner in pregnancy was admitted to the hospital due to bronchitis and pnuemonia which sucks for mama but is apparently potentially dangerous for baby. We're so thankful that the baby looks healthy and normal but in the meantime she's there getting oxygen, medicine and some much needed rest. So last night I started to tell Thomas, "Adria's in the hospital..." and Caelen yelled, "How come she got to go first!?!?!" Caelen was pretty indignant that Adria may have gotten her baby before Caelen got hers. :)

First Time on the Potty!

Permit me a TMI Mommy moment as I record a milestone. Today Addison went pee on the potty! The best part is, it's been her idea and she's been asking to. I don't push my kids to start potty training for a couple reasons:
1) I know my kids, they're stubborn by nature. Show them something they should be doing and they'll resist it longer than necessary.
2) I don't really want to deal with it. I have enough battles all day, I'm not picking another one.
3) I don't care whether I'm changing diapers or having to accompany them to the bathroom each time and teach them how to wipe well. Either way, it's all a pain.
So just in the past couple of days Addison would open the towel cupboard and kind of lean in / sit on one of the shelves and declare that she was going potty if I happened to be going potty (there's no privacy in my house, even the flippin cat joins in on the affair.) So one time I showed her her potty seat and how she could sit on it. She was a little scared of falling so I had to hold her tightly and then she was over it.
Well, today as we were starting our day she put the potty seat on the toilet and told me she had to go poopy so we gave it a shot. No dice, but she was patient and gave it her best shot before saying she was done, hopping down and announcing, "It's broken, my bum." as she left the room.
We tried again at Grandma's house, same routine. But tonight as I was headed to the bathroom she told me she had to go and she set her seat all up. I put her on it in her diaper, jammies, everything. She looked down and said, "Off with the diaper." So I got her stripped down, sat her back on and sure enough there was the tell-tale tinkle sound. She smiled her huge gap-toothed smile and said, "I did it!"
Daddy and Caelen came running in to congratulate her and give her some high-fives but after that she covered her face with her hands and we knew she was getting overwhelmed. So everyone left and I quietly assured her again of how proud I was as she flushed and said, "I did it!" just a few more times.
I'm so proud of my girl, and as her baby pictures are flashing across our home computer screen saver, I'm wondering where all the time went.

My Heart Might Melt Away

As I was vacuuming the other day, Caelen came running over shouting Mom Mom Mom! I knew nothing was really wrong, but when she reached me she turned the vacuum off and said, "Mom, (grin forming) it's just really hard to tell you I love you with this thing going."

Best investment ever was their little plastic slide. They'll fly off that thing one after another, over and over for a good 15 minutes at a time, maybe longer, and multiple times a day. They giggle and squeal, until of course it turns into shouting and whining because someone decided not to move their butt from the bottom of the slide and the next one wants a turn. Either way I'm thankful for that thing.
A couple nights ago they were at it again and begging Daddy to watch every slide down. Then Caelen thought she'd really show off and jump off the top, which is fine unless you have slidey hardwood floors underneath and the thing goes flying out from under you, which has happened before. Thomas spoke up before any damage was done and said, "Caelen, I'm too tired to go to the ER tonight, so sit down and don't hurt yourself." Caelen wanted some clarification, "The ER?" "Yes," he said, "If you fall and hurt yourself I'll just have to let you bleed cause I'm too tired tonight." Caelen is finally figuring out her Daddy's sense of humor but she still gets all rowdy at his "threats". "No Daddy! You wouldn't just let me bleed! You would get me a band aid and some medicine and you would HOOK ME UP!" I burst out laughing, "That's my girl!"

Addison's referring to herself in the third person is killing me. And she's always, "My Addie". She said to me yesterday, "I closed the door, my Addie." I suppose that meant, "I, Addie, closed the door." It's not so much what Addison says as how she says it. And she's such a charmer. When I picked her up from Sunday School yesterday she spotted me before I had barely poked my head in and began squealing at the top of her lungs and running for me. Her teachers were just laughing to themselves and remarking on how cute she is. I picked her up and she said, "Go find Daddy.... Go find SISSY!" I set her down and she ran squealing across the hall into her sister's class and they literally ran into each other's arms, like long lost friends in a movie (I could almost hear the music) and hugged each other tight. Sometimes I wonder how I am so blessed.

In other heart-melting news, I have been singing Jesus Loves Me to Addison every night before bed for probably a year. She's always content to just listen, head on my chest. Once she could talk she began pointing to the rocking chair saying, "Jesus, Bible", but would quietly listen once the song began. Two nights ago, for the first time ever, she sang along in her mosquito soprano. She knew every word and even completed some of the phrases. All this time she'd just been soaking it all in.

Now I Know How to Draw a Cow

Addie owns the world, everything belongs to her as far as she's concerned. Driving down the street she'll remark from her carseat, "Look-it my clouds!" "Look-it my moon!" At the snow in Geyersville yesterday it was also her snow, her water, etc. Yesterday at her Grandma's house for dinner, one of Uncle Ryan's friends came over to talk to her and she pointed to me and said, "That's my mommy!" then pointing to herself, "That's my Addie," and last hugging Caelen, "That's my sissy."
Now I'm beginning to think she says it oftentimes to get her sister all worked up because she knows it works everytime. "That's NOT yours! Addison!! It's everybodys!" I left the car for just a few moments and came back to both of them in their carseats fighting over whose sun it was and Addison was in tears.


Anyone who knows Caelen knows that she's a hypersensitive child. She feels everything about ten times more than anyone else feels it; hair being brushed, tight clothing, even simple touches are interpreted as tickling. Addison is actually pretty similar. She's not a fan of the hair brushing either, but her funny quirk is that she gets super worked up when there's a mark left by clothing on her skin. Especially socks. And she started saying they were owies and flipping out because the lines on her skin wouldn't go away. We constantly told her it would "be better."
Now a sock mark on her foot is offically called a "be-better" and she points them out everytime saying, "Look at my be-betters"

She also doesn't know the names of everything yet of course, being only two. Combine that with the fact that everything belong to her and one of the most common phrases out of her mouth is, "Look at my this!"

One time Caelen said to Addison that she wasn't "going to play with [her] never ever EVER!" in the meanest voice a 4 year old can manage (which is actually pretty mean!) and so Addison now says, "Ever Ever EVER!" when she really means something. For example, "That's mine sissy, ever ever EVER!"

If you hear a mosquito in my house, it just might be Addison singing. She goes super-soprano when she sings and unless you can make out some words, it sounds like she's just doing her impression of some high-pitched insect. It's pretty sweet!


My birthday was fun this year, minus the turning 29 part; I got to go out on a date with my man, got to see tons of friends at bible study who made me feel special with flowers, sugar, and other gifts, and one of my girlfriends gave birth to her baby girl Lola on my birthday! But one of the sweetest things about my day was that Caelen so badly wanted to get me a gift that the night before she had her daddy take her to JoAnne Fabrics (where many cool things come from, that and Target). Thomas let her pick out a couple of gifts for me and then persuaded her on one final item.
I opened a little St. Patricks Day bear figurine which is now on my nightstand, a How To Draw Farm Animals coloring book and pencils, and a basket of lavendar bath products. I definitely knew who had chosen what and it was just precious. Thomas told me that when they put the stuff on the counter to buy it the cashier woman asked Caelen if those couple of things were for her and Caelen said, "No they're for my mommy, it's her birthday tomorrow." The woman asked if she was sure and she assured her she was. The cashier then asked if she would make me breakfast in bed and Caelen confusedly replied, "No.... my mommy doesn't eat her breakfast in bed." The lady laughed and said something that prompted Caelen to tell her that I was pregnant. And the woman said, "Well are you going to treat her like a princess." Caelen was even more confused and told her no. As Thomas and her were leaving she told him, "My mommy's not a princess she's just...... just wonderful."

April 19th? We'll see!

Addison put on some beautiful necklaces and bracelets and said, "I Pin-Sauce". Yes Addie, you are a Princess :)


My surgeon finally committed to a birthdate for Tabitha Morgan, Tuesday April 19th. My doctor thinks I'll be the first one of the morning but she'll comfirm that and get back to me. I sure hope I am, I couldn't possibly wait through the day!! She'll be born exactly 2 years 2 months after Addison, to the day.... unless of course something happens. It's only 3 days before my due date and I was in pre-labor with Addison 4 days before she was due. We'll see how it goes.

Caelen couldn't fall asleep last night and called me into her room. When I got in there I realized she was pretty upset and had been crying. I asked what was wrong and she bawled, "Mommy, how will I see you if you go up to heaven before me?" My sweet baby girl. My heart about broke for her. I did my best to explain to her that she didn't need to worry about that, not for a long time. Besides, what if Jesus came back tomorrow and took us all at once? She tends to get on those types of thoughts and it can be a slippery slope into all kinds of despair. She might get it from her Mom ;)

Addison likes to tell everyone, "That's MY Mommy!" when I come to pick her up from Sunday School or after Bible study. She did the same thing today. It's like she's so proud. I love it because up until now she's been a real Daddy's girl. The tables have been turning lately though, for instance, when she's upset she just wants me and may get even more hysterical if Daddy holds her. Which she also did today. Then she did something she's never done before. Caelen was giving me a big snuggle around my legs and Addison stopped what she was doing, walked across the room pointing at her sister and saying, "That's MY mommy! That's MY mommy!" She grabbed onto whatever part of my legs she could wrap herself around and began pushing Caelen off of me. I wonder if she has any clue that a baby is about to come and turn her world upside down?

Maybe I should be more thankful for my toilet.

Caelen's last stalling tactic at bedtime tonight was her prayer and it went on and on! By the end I almost couldn't keep from laughing. Her prayer consisted of a lot more than this but these were some memorable moments:
Lord thank You for this food and when Mommy has money to go to the grocery store and buy us lots of food. It's a good thing you made mamas and papas! and for toys. It's really exciting when Mommy has enough money to buy me a new toy. Thank you for toilets that flush. And for blankets to keep us warm on cold winter nights. Thank you for making day AND night because I DEFINITELY need to rest. Thank You for my sisters. Thank You for Santa, he always gets me just what I wanted.

While grocery shopping, I was grabbing some spagetti off the shelf and another package fell to the floor and spilled everywhere. While we bent down to pick it up, Caelen kindly but matter of factly informed me, "Mom, you DEFINITELY need to go to jail."

Boobie and her little brother Zac

Today as we were reading a Rosemary Wells book before bed, Addison kept pointing to the book squealing, "Zach and Boobies! Zac and Boobies!" When I realized that Rosemary Wells is the creator of Max and Ruby, Caelen and I had a really good laugh over what Addison thought she was saying.

The following story I have shared with so many people but I just must post it for posterity. Everyone thinks Addison is just the sweetest thing, and she is, but she's got another side to her and it was perfectly demonstrated in the car on the way home from the library just a couple days ago. Caelen informed me that Addison had been looking at a particular book for a long time and she would like a turn. I was impressed that Caelen hadn't tried first yelling at her sister or whining to me, and Addie had had a long turn. So I told Addison that it was time to let her sister have a turn with the book and she could look at the new Zac and Boobie book we picked up.
Addie yelled NO!, and glaring at her sister and held the book as far away from Caelen as she could manage in her car seat. I told her again that it was time to share. She held the book out close to her window so everyone could see and looking right at me, dropped it down between her seat and car door and said, "I can't reach it."

The funny thing is I used to wonder why I only posted about Caelen. Now that Addison is so close to turning two I'm realizing that with age comes the funny stories to write about and the things you don't ever want to forget. Addison is sassy and she doesn't take me seriously at all which leaves Caelen confused and astounded. She is usually watching Addison with her mouth hanging open or a confused look on her brow and I know she's thinking, "I would never dare to do that!"

Caelen's current bad name for someone is "Big Lump". She'll use this term if, for example, someone hurt her feelings, or Woodrow slobbered on her, or someone teases her. She'll often say, "Mom, _____ is a big lump." It gives her a way to express her frustration and usually makes me have to supress a smile.

In other Caelen news, she will not be attending Kindergarten in the fall. After touring Dunham School (which I absolutely love by the way) and talking with the principal, Kindergarten teacher and other parents I came away really feeling that Caelen was to stay home one more year. I prayed hard about the decision and asked for it to be made crystal clear what we were to do, and boy was it made clear. Now the benefits are unfolding before my eyes and I'm happy we have a plan. But I will definitely be purposefully teaching her come the fall. I think of it as homeschooled preschool. And since she's in a social "preschool" setting at least 3 times a week I am not worried about that part of not sending her to actual preschool. But Caelen will get bored and needs to be challenged so I'm gonna have to be a "teacher" next year.

In baby news I have about 10 weeks left until delivery. No date is set yet but when my surgeon gets back next week my OB is going to e-mail him to set up a date so hopefully I'll have a birthday for her soon :) I CANNOT wait to meet her and to be done being pregnant!!

You might need something besides a doctor...

As we were playing doctor today Caelen and I took turns having various ailments: she fell off a roof, I had the flu and hurt my leg. When it was her turn, I got up to change the music and came back to find her laying on the couch with her eyes closed. I thought, "Alright, we've got a blind one in need of some healing here." So I asked, "So what's the problem today?" and she replied, "I'm DEAD!"

Now Addie is having a turn being the doctor. She comes over with the stethescope and says, "I doctor," and as she places it on my tummy she says, "There you go!" and walks away. Then she brings another tool over and repeats. If it's a medicine container or the thermometer she asks, "Want some? Say Ah!" and puts it in my mouth. But then she came over with the reflex hammer stuck in her eye. Guess we're not quite sure on the use of that one. But she always says, "You're welcome!" before she leaves. (I just got a shot in my eye! LOL)



Caelen loves it and is so proud of her sister when Addison gets a new word. She often has a few per day. But yesterday Caelen couldn't remember what Addie's new word earlier that morning had been so she begins asking me, Grandma, and Addie all at once, "What was Addie's new word? Mom, what was Addie's new word? Addie, do you remember your new word?" No one could remember. So Caelen says, "Addison! Say your new word!!" and Addie proudly replies, "NEW WORD!"

While in Addison's room together I hear Caelen say, "Child, figure out how to do it yourself." And I've actually never said anything like that to them.... that I recall.

Umbrella, Muffins, & Mini Marshmallows

Sorry about the sideways picture, but when uploading straight from my camera I don't know how to flip it. Here's Addie's latest obsession - her umbrella. She inherited it from Caelen who got a new one for her birthday and offered her old one to Addie. She treasures this thing, but only when open. If it's closed she pitches a fit until she remedies the situation. This is Addison down for a nap with her beloved. She had just come from a car ride where she held it, partially opened, over her head the entire ride exclaiming, "I did it! I did it!" (And seriously, as I'm typing this blog Addison and her umbrella are climbing all over my legs.)

Here are my little bakers making blueberry muffins. I thought I'd occupy Addison with a spoon and a cupcake liner while her sister got the job done but Addie ended up filling 5 of the muffins!

And how sweet is this beautiful face as she roasts mini marshmallows over an open fire? It was totally all her idea and when I saw her hunched over the fire patiently roasting, I had to run and get my camera!

Addison has turned two with a vengeance and we still have a month until the official milestone. The tantrums and fits have begun, especially when I ask her to clean up her toys at Grandma's house before we head home for the day. When I took her Tabby (her blankie) away for disobeying, Caelen remarked (in a non-haughty manner), "Mom, you're the best mom ever. You always know the right discipline." I laughed (mostly in disbelief) and asked, "Do you think that even when I'm disciplining YOU?" She smiled and earnestly replied, "Yeah." And I believe her. Like my mother in law said, that's a girl who loves her some rules.

I'm learning with this pregnancy that I hate hate hate being out of commission. I can't handle it. The nausea was incapacitating and now the sciatic nerve pain has gotten to such an unbearable point that I can't walk without tears coming to my eyes or crying out in little yelps of pain, which is really embarrassing (luckily my kids don't pay me any mind and they're the ones around the most.) I've actually honestly never had pain as acutely unbearable as this. So here I lay on the couch, on my other side, with ice on my butt, in the middle of winter. Thomas had to come home early from work today which always makes me feel really bad. And my chiropractor can't see me until Tuesday morning. Until then, I don't know what I'll do. I sat up to change a diaper and almost began crying. I think my pride is hurt more than anything and I just need to get over it. I'll just have to rely on Thomas to get me water and chocolate from my secret stash for a couple days. The things we take for granted, like mobility....

All in a Day

Today while Thomas was trimming his beard before church Caelen was just watching him. Finally she said, "Daddy with that beard you look a lot less like a girl."

Then on the way to church when Caelen was asking what we're doing the day after tomorrow (she's always planning WAAAAAAAAAY ahead) Thomas told her that today has enough trouble of it's own. He said it in Thomas-ese though which is always harder to understand than the King James Bible. After a silent moment Caelen replied, "Daddy, you don't have to teach me everything, my friends teach me things too. I make my own decisions Daddy and you and Mommy don't have to teach me everything, my friends teach me too." I looked at Thomas and asked, "Wait, is she four or fourteen?"

Caelen and I had the priveledge of getting to see the Asante (Swahili for "Thank You") Children's Choir at church this evening. They're a group of orphaned Rawandan children who have been sponsored through African Mission Alliance and travel the globe to sing, dance, and share their testimony of God's faithfulness in their sweet lives. So it was very lively and loud and colorful. It was a ton of fun and of course I was teary just watching the joy these kids exuded.
Caelen had a blast, she loved their costumes and dancing, she kept commenting on how good they were and that she didn't know how to dance like that. At one point she said, "Mom, I have never seen kids like this before, they're all brown or black," which I thought was really funny because she's totally seen dark skin everyday, but I think a huge group of children dressed in their African clothes really made an impression. Then she noted, "Mom, they're really gonna have to pee after this."

Following the choir we had a going away dinner for some friends from church. We had it at the church so we just wandered over one building where Thomas and Addison met us since Addison was done with her nap. Poor baby girl was eating dinner at her seat and next thing the entire room knows, she's fallen, food and all, face first to the floor. When Thomas lifted her up her lip was bleeding. Now she's got a fat, red lower lip, but the tears stopped when she saw the cupcake I had been saving for her. After two of those puppies she was running around the room smiling again.

Big changes for little girls

Converted Addison's crib into a toddler bed today ::sniff:: When did my baby get to be, well, not a baby? I did it most to save my achin' back. I can't lower her down into her crib with this huge belly anymore, and after talking with my doctor about my chronic siatic nerve pain (I know, I feel lame even admitting to how gimpy I am) I decided it would be best to do as little of that kind of heavy lifting as possible.
The questions run through my mind: What will happen when she realizes she doesn't have to stay in bed?? What if she falls out? Will she be wandering the house in the middle of the night? Will bedtime become a battle? We'll see.....

Today Caelen and I were working on a money worksheet. She was learning the value of coins. There were pictures of a dime, nickel, penny & quarter on the page and she had to draw a line to the value written out 1 cent, 5, 10 & 25 cents. I asked her to tell me the numbers first so I pointed to 5 and she said, "Five cents", I pointed to the 10 and she said, "Ten cents", I pointed to the 25 and she said, "CHRISTMAS!" Evidently she stared at her advent calendar long and hard last month :)

Later we were working on finding hidden objects in her activity book. I was looking at the pictures, all beginning with "c" and said, "OK, so we need a cat, cake, carrot and chicken." She replys, "No Mom, that's a rooster." I said, "Oh is it? Well, it says 'Chicken'". She laughed sheepishly and said, "Oh sorry Mom, I can't read very well." Sweet child! She can't read at all, but she's learning!! I was laughing at how cute that was.

We're making serious progess on the baby's room! The only things left in there are the computer stuff, my sewing table and photo albums. Thomas is bringing home some bins tonight and working on some shelving in the garage so hopefully tonight the photo albums will be out of there! Maybe some other things as well. I love home decorating anyway but when a baby is on the way I get really antsy!

On Dasher, on Dancer, on Woodrow & Vixen

Merry Christmas 3 days late!

My kids were so spoiled rotten as evidenced by the tree (this is the Christmas Eve tree, so not including Christmas morning and Christmas dinner with Thomas's family) and yet they still can't find anything to occupy themselves during the day. Well that's not entirely true, everything they want to do involves me: Pretty Pretty Princess, reading books, card games, puzzles... and if it doesn't involve me then they'll find a way to make it involve me. After playing with them all afternoon yesterday, Caelen was busy finding hidden objects in an activity book and Addison was coloring all over the cardboard playhouse so I thought, "Hmm... maybe I'll go to the bathroom to steal a couple minutes of privacy." Before I had been in there 30 seconds they were both in the bathroom staring at me. Lock the door, you say? I'd rather them calmly staring at me than banging on the door, screaming out my name, sticking little fingers under the door and asking why I shut them out.

Thomas came home and asked me how I was. I replied, "I have two midget shadows and a parasite but I'm alright."


But back to Christmas. Ever made reindeer food?? Reindeer like a combination of oatmeal or rolled oats and glitter. Pretty simple! Even a 20 month old can do it.
Then spread the food out where you expect the reindeer to land (I don't recommend the roof) and see what happens. Caelen spread it out all over the patio just before she headed to bed on Christmas Eve. Woodrow had glittery ears when he came to bed that night....

Pure bliss is your first Barbie

or finding out Santa left you just what you wanted: A Scooter! (with a special place for your Barbie to ride along)
All the present opening proved to be too much for Addison who ended up protesting by the 5th present. She didn't want to open a darn thing and she was so not impressed with the remote control My Little Pony Airplane Santa left for her. But she's taken great delight in all of her coloring books and any toy that has to do with Dora.

Thankfully my children are grateful. When Caelen opened her first gift on Christmas Eve morning (a tiny ornament with her name on it) she said it was the best present she could ask for. And Caelen is especially generous, usually wrapping up her possessions to give to her friends anytime she sees them. I often have to tell her that we won't be seeing that friend for a week or two but the gifts for that friend just keep piling up. As a parent you're always trying to balance out the materialism and entitled attitude that can develop without being a killjoy at the same time.
Christmas was a lot of fun, and if I thought there was a lot of pink this year, I haven't seen next Christmas with 3 baby girls!

My 3 Girls

Some of Addie's new sentences:
"I can't reach it" (Comes out "I can't teach it")
"Help me Mama" ("Help you mamas")
"Daddy, where are you?" (Daddy, are you?")
"I found it!" ("I find it!")
"Stop it!"
"Get down"

and everything exciting begins with "Look!" She says Caelen clear as a bell, now we just have to start calling Caelen by her name instead of "Sissy". Sissy was borne out of necessity since Addie couldn't say "Caelen" and couldn't refer to her until we gave her another word, hence Sissy. But now when she says Caelen it's so darn cute!

She's a non-stop chatterbox, jumping bean, wild child and she's full of joy. Unless she's pitching a fit over having to clean up. Someone please explain to me how a not-even-two year-old knows that cleaning up is repulsive. I have not been able to trick her into thinking it's fun, although that could be from watching her sister make a stink over it....

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Caelen started in a about 5 this morning coughing with every breath. She'd actually been having coughing fits all night, for which I had gotten her juice and her humidifier with cough supressant vapors. Finally at 5:30 (tired of getting out of bed) I jostled Thomas and asked him to get Caelen a spoonful of honey and tell her to drink the juice I gave her. He says OK and promptly does absolutely nothing. So I push him again and ask (ever so sweetly) again. He says OK and just lays there. This time I get a bit louder, push him harder and say, "THOMAS can you get Caelen some honey?" to which he asks, "A pie plate?"

His daughter is apparently just as bleary minded when she has woken up because the conversation they went on to have in the kitchen was just as silly.

Daddy: I'm getting you honey and then it's back to bed.
Caelen: Huh?

Daddy: I'm getting you honey.

Caelen: Me?..... You?....

Daddy: Huh? I'm getting you honey.

Caelen: No thank you.

Daddy: Yes, you're going to have some honey and then drink your juice and go back to bed.

Caelen: OK

At least he didn't hand her a pie plate.

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I'm almost 23 weeks pregnant with only 16 left to go. Our newest sweetheart will be born on or around tax day when I'm 39 weeks. At least that's the plan! I saw her move from the outside for the first time a couple of weeks ago and Thomas felt her move about a week ago. Caelen was resting her head on my big round belly last night while we watched a movie. Whenever I laughed she said the baby was kicking her. I didn't argue too much ;)

I have come to terms with waking up nauseaous every morning (some mornings much better than others) and I still am "sick" about once a week. It will be amazing to wake up after the baby has been born and not feel ill.

I'm so ready to meet her. 16 weeks isn't too long right? That's what I'm trying to tell myself. I'm so ready. We've got a bassinet, clothes and everything else a newborn baby girl could need! Let's get this pregnancy over with :)

Tangled

I don't think taking your two precious daughters to the movies for the first time is something you should brave alone. Especially when you suspect that one of them will NOT be sitting through the whole movie. That's why God made aunties.

So we hit the first showing at the theater today. 11:00am. I knew if the girls had to wait any longer, we would all be going crazy, so I was definitely going with the earliest show. We arrived 15 minutes early and there was one other guy outside on his phone, all the box office windows were closed and the door I tried was locked. So, before my kids started to worry the place would never open we took a photo oppurtunity.
My face is crazy, I know. I just didn't know why the theater wasn't open and didn't know what to expect of the kids either.
Then I noticed a door slightly ajar so we marched into the theater and asked the first employee we saw where we could buy our tickets. This guy, who was probably fresh outta high school informed me, "We're not open." I sassily replied, "Well, your door is open. When does the box office open?" to which he checked his watch and said, "Uhhh, 3 minutes ago." "Sweet," I said as I headed back out the door to wait for another 18 year old to help us get our tickets.
After Icey and popcorn purchases we found our seats, with only two other kids with one of their parents sitting in the theater with us.
So about 10 minutes into the movie Addison spilled Caelen's Icey on her dress and then fussed until I took it off. She spent the rest of the movie in tights and cowgirl boots.

Caelen was riveted whether she really understood the movie or not. I wasn't worried about her, I knew she would enjoy herself. Addison sat maybe 50% of the time, the rest of it she spent running up and down the stairs yelling, "Hi Mom, Bye Mom." "Uh-oh Mom" etc. When we left she said "Buh-bye TV" and waved at the screen. She promptly melted down in a candy coma by the time we got to the car.
All in all, it was a great time! And a very cute movie.