Big Boy Undies!

Wednesday I went with sweet little Monkey to Target, and we bought some "big boy" underwear for Johnathan as he begins potty training!!! Woohoo!!! We have a small training toilet that we purchased a week or so ago, and that, combined with his new undies...and lots and lots of patience (and probably laundry!) on mommy's part...is going to translate into the phase of transitioning from diapers to diaper-free!!! Hopefully by the time little brother comes along Johnathan will be able to say..."I'm a big boy now!"

My sweet little Monkey...before his latest hair cut! Look at those "bangs!"


First time wearing his big boy underwear!!!


More power to ya!

This boy LOVES puzzles...here is one of his newest ones, which of course he figured out in no time at all...we are now working on mastering jigsaw puzzles, which have proven to be a bit more challenging for Johnathan...which is just what he was needing!


Picking his first wedgie! Haha! Oh, boy, is he going to kill me later over these pictures or what?!!


What a cute little undies boy!!!

Happy Friday/Weekend, Y'all!!!

*Grace*

I Feel Sad...

...because earlier today when Johnathan was throwing a huge tantrum I yelled...at him...loudly. He was kicking me, and I told him to stop...my patience had worn thin, and I took out my frustration by yelling. What a humbling moment when I realized how I had failed to let Christ control my emotions, failing to give my tired toddler grace when it was most definitely needed. *Jesus, please help me to be patient when my nerves are wearing thin.*

Johnathan cried.

I cried.

I asked for his forgiveness.

And he wanted me to sing him to sleep.

All is forgiven.
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*Grace

Things I Don't Want to Forget...

These days Johnathan is doing so much, and he has so many cute little antics. I know that each funny little thing that he does won't last long, and when he moves on to his newest and cutest thing ever, I don't want to forget what just was...so here are some of his latest "cute things" that I want to remember:

-When he throws a ball and misses or otherwise "messes up", he'll say "aw, man!" I am guessing that he got that from me since I have noticed myself saying it now that he does! He also could have gotten this from Dora the Explorer from Swiper the fox...either way, he says it a lot!

-Sometimes when he is having a hard time falling asleep, he'll call for me and want to snuggle! How sweet is that?! He'll point to the bed and say "nool, nool" and it just warms my heart each time. He is a very affectionate little boy, and loves his mommy time! I love it when he runs up to me and offers a kiss or a hug all by himself. It is precious to experience the love of my little boy!

-He loves his baby, and likes to listen to little brother using the doppler. Every time he sees my tummy he says "baby, baby!"

-He has a weird fascination with keeping his hands clean now, and asks to have them wiped several times throughout his meals if they get anything on them! And, when I clean them off if there is even just a little speck of a crumb on them he'll bring my attention to it until it's gone too! Weird! ;)

-He has learned all his major body parts, and can say them and point to them on himself and others...he likes to do this right before bed, especially...we'll be going along, singing right before he goes down for the night and he'll start saying "eye, ear, nose"...etc, and touching them on Aaron's or my face. He likes practicing what he has learned right up until he hits the hay!

-He has become quite adept at working puzzles, and the shape puzzles are a bit too easy for him now. I just ordered some jigsaw puzzles, and they'll be in sometime this week. I can't wait to see how he does with those! He loves his "puv-puh!"

-When he drops something by accident, he'll say "woof!"...his version of whoops! It is totally cute!

-He has this little battery operated gorilla toy that spins and flips all over the floor...all while being extremely obnoxious with its loud hollering...anyways, Johnathan will grab his nearest baseball bat when that thing starts spinning around and hits it over and over with all his might! He used to be afraid of it until he figured out that it wasn't going to get him, and that he could smack it into submission with his bat!

-Johnathan asks for "knuckles" and "noggin'" all on his own now, wanting to bump knuckles with us or head-bump. It's pretty cute too!

-One of his favorite meals right now is PB&J...and if I ask him if he wants that for lunch his whole face lights up and he laughs like I just offered him the world! He can eat a whole sandwich too, both slices of bread smothered with peanut butter and jelly! He has an appetite, that's for sure!

-He really enjoys helping, and especially likes throwing things in the trash...which is also another new word that he has learned. "Tash, tash" is frequently heard in our home now...even the smallest specks of paper aren't missed by his sharp little eyes.

-Probably one of his newer words that he uses the most is "play"...as soon as he wakes up he wants to be let out of bed to play. And from then until naptime (if he takes one), it is non-stop action!

Those are just a few of the things that I can remember right now. I just love experiencing each stage of Johnathan's life, and I adore being his mommy...especially when he's asking to "nool." Sweet, precious boy!

Happy weekend!
*Grace*

21 Weeks!

Last night Aaron took my 21 weeks Belly Baby Baby Bump photo...and here I am, in all my baby bump glory! (Notice that it is a belly shot only...yeah, my face wasn't exactly camera-ready!) Anyways, here I am at 21 weeks (over half way there!):


Let's see...what are Belly Baby's "stats"...he should be about 11 inches long, and is getting close to being almost 1 lb...probably between 12-14 ounces! His little arms and legs are almost proportionate to the rest of his body, and he is already putting on some fat...thank goodness, because I know that I have been!!! His heart is getting stronger, and in a few more weeks Dr. Aaron will be able to hear it using his stethoscope on the outside of my belly...that was really cool to be able to do that with Johnathan...but you do have to listen very closely...there are a lot of gurgles and whooshes going on in there!

You can say a prayer for Belly Baby's big brother. Johnathan came down with RSV (a viral pneumonia) on Friday. We took him in to the doctor Saturday morning and got him started on some breathing treatments and oral steroids to help keep his airways working properly. Poor little guy also has a recurring ear infection in his left ear, and is on some stronger meds (he was just treated for a double ear infection 2 weeks ago) to help clear it out. He is doing much better today, and even by Saturday evening he was already showing signs of improvement. We always try to be quick to react whenever he shows any signs of illness. More often than not it is something that needs to be remedied and monitored. Thank you, Jesus, for already showing Your healing hand to our sweet Monkey!

Okay, folks, this mama's got to go. Have a fantastic Monday!

*Grace*

First Day of School!

Tuesday of this week marked Johnathan's first day of school! And I have to admit, that scene from Finding Nemo on Nemo's first day of school did play in my head several times...I wanted to tell Johnathan to be careful...really careful...you can never be too cautious! I can see a lot of Marlin, Nemo's dad in me! Haha! Johnathan's "school" is really just a mother's day out program, but school is a much easier concept for him to grasp, plus he can say it...and since "mother's day out" is quite a mouthful, school it is!

If you know me (and most of you do!), then you know that this was a huge step for me to take. If I think back over his almost two years, I can probably count on one, maybe two hands how many times I've been without him for any length of time. Sad, maybe, but what can I say, I just love my sweet boy, and I love being with him! So, thinking about letting him go somewhere on a weekly basis was a lot for me to think about, but I think that the rewards and benefits for him are going to be numerous, which is why I was able to "let go" on Tuesday and let him have some great time away from mommy with his new friends and sweet teacher.

Monday evening as I was thinking about taking him the next morning, I really did put up quite a fuss...crying and making Aaron wonder what the heck was wrong with me...I was very emotional to say the least, but I made it through the tears, and as I was going over in my mind what a big step this was going to be, I had some thoughts about a wish that had been buried deep inside which was just about to be fulfilled...

...several years ago, I was the nanny for my pastor's children, two, precious boys about 2 & 4 years old. They also participated in a mother's day out program, and I would pick them up from their classes at the end of their little "school day" and bring them back to their home to watch them until their folks got home. The fall that they started attending the program was the fall where we lost Daniel, so needless to say things were tough. I can remember picking those sweet boys up at the school and wishing that I was like the other parents, who most likely thought they were my boys, not knowing the anguish that was inside as I ached for my own two sweet boys, my boys who were in Heaven. I think that I maybe even pretended that they were mine, if for only a few moments to help me get through the hallways as we lugged their backpacks and looked at the treasures they had created that day. Like I said, it was tough, but I made it through and hoped that someday I would be picking up my own child, a child who knew me as Mama and who called me so. That happened on Tuesday, and it was like a little miracle. I still melt every time Johnathan says my name, and I don't think that anyone besides Jesus really understands what it means to me. I am so thankful for my sweet boy, he truly is a Godsend.

So, back to Monkey's first day...I am crying here and need to regain the focus of this post! Here is the progression of his first school day!

Eating a healthy breakfast, morning of, to have plenty of energy for the full day ahead!

I decided that it was fitting that he wear a tie on his first day...first impressions are important, right?!! Haha! (I LoVe this shirt, Tia Kayla!)


On the way to school, and Monkey looks as cool as a cucumber...mommy on the other hand was a bit apprehensive, but doing okay (i.e. no tears).


A quick shot as we sat in the parking lot, what a happy boy!


He looked so tiny in front of those big ol' Preschool doors.


As soon as he entered his room, he didn't waste any time finding all the cool hiding spots!


Bye-bye, sweet boy...have fun on your first day!!!


Back at home that evening, my silly boy is goofing it up for the camera as Dada helps to open a package that just came in the mail for Monkey.


What's in the package????...


...it's his backpack, half a day too late for his first day of school, but that couldn't be helped...I was NOT going to pay almost $35 in shipping for it to get there in time!


My precious boy likes his new backpack!


Those eyes, now how could you resist those big brownies?!!!


He had fun wearing his backpack, which I thought was just the cutest thing and the perfect size for him too...okay, maybe a little bit big, but it's just the right size to hold all of the stuff he has to bring to school!


I am in love with those little legs! They are so squeezable and kissable!!!


What a goofball! A pretty darn cute one though!!! ;)

Alrighty folks, I guess I'm about through for today. Although, you can say a quick prayer for Johnathan. Sadly, my sweet Monkey was up for several hours last night sick with the tummy bug. It was heartbreaking to see him like that, but I also had a "mommy moment" where I felt like a real mom...I actually had a feeling of joy as I was cleaning up puke...only "real" moms do that, haha!...and I felt blessed to have a little one who needed my help in that way. Aaron on the other hand was more than happy to pass that job along to me! :)

Much love and happy weekend!

*Grace*

Two of my Favorite Boys!

This isn't going to be a long post...but I just had to share some recent pictures of two of my favorite boys! I walked into Johnathan's room a couple of days ago and found this...

...it was just too cute of a photo opportunity to pass up!



And I even got them to pause for a moment for a quick pic before they returned to watching their movie. What wonderful boys I have! I love you guys!

I am Blessed!

Half Way There!

Today marks 20 weeks of pregnancy with our sweet Belly Baby. It is crazy that I am already half way there...it seemed to take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to get to this point when I was preggo with Johnathan...but I guess having him around makes the time fly this go 'round...which I am VERY grateful for!

When I had my visit Friday...when we found out we were having yet another precious boy!...my doctor said that everything is looking awesome! I am doing totally fantastic, which I am so thankful for...I was concerned that all of my chasing after Johnathan would put too much stress on the cerclage...but it hasn't! So far things are progressing just as they would if I was a "normal" pregnant woman...normal as in not high risk...not normal as in sane...because we all know that pregnant women aren't normal! The moodiness, the food-cravings, the constant having to go to the bathroom...there is nothing normal about that! Haha!

So, what's going on with our little Belly Baby??? Well, he is about 11 oz. and is about 10 or so inches long! He loves to move, and usually kicks a lot in the morning, right when I wake up, and then kicks off and on throughout the day...but at night is when he really starts to get going! Even though he's small that boy can kick! ;)

Well y'all, I wanted to write more...but I hear a little boy yelling "mama, mama" from his bed...so I think I had better go get him up!

Blessings, Grace

{B} is for.......

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{B O Y}
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We found out on Friday that we'll be welcoming another sweet baby boy into our family. It seems as if boys are our track record, so there wasn't much doubt in our minds that this little one just might be a "snips and snails" baby instead of a "sugar and spice" baby. Looks like I'll be the pink in my house of blue for a while longer, and you know what, that is just fine with me! I plan on training my boys to wait on me hand and foot, jumping at my every whim...nah, not really...but it will be nice to be the girly one among the rough and toughness of my boys! And, I know that I am going to have to get back in shape pretty quickly after our new baby boy arrives...I can see lots of sports, outdoor activities and adventures in our future. If little baby brother is anything like his big brother, Johnathan, then it will be all I can do to chase after them both!!! Phew, I'm already worn out just thinking about it! ;)

Have a blessed Sunday, and a great start to your week!!!

*Grace*

Mommy Confessions: Edition II (Preggo-Style!)

Mommy Confessions: Edition II comin' at you Preggo-Style...it's Big...it's BOLD...it's painstakingly honest, it possibly, no probably, includes too much information, but it is full of good ol' belly laughs...

Here we go.......

.......I Confess That:

-I burp like a boy who has just guzzled a 12 oz. warm soda...you know the kind of burps that feel like they rattle the whole house???...yeah, I've got those!

-I don't feel (too) bad about getting a second helping at dinner...I'm eating for two right?

-I nearly cried when I saw the cute little undies that I used to wear...compared to my maternity ones they look like little toddler panties! Will my butt ever shrink down to it's previous size again???!!!

-I look like a frump most days...but I am oh, so comfortable!

-My hair is falling out like crazy even though it's supposed to be nice and thick right now---am I going bald?!!

-I still drink coffee, daily, and consider it a favorite part of my diet! I drink lots of water to make up for it!

-I worry about if I'll ever have time to take a shower once I have two little ones running around...and then I think about it, and heck, I just have one running around right now and I still haven't showered yet today...so I guess it will be okay!

-I slop on the belly butter like crazy every night, hoping that it keeps away the stretch marks from my tummy...there is no hope for my booty though, it's already scarred up like a cat clawed at it!

-I bought a pack of Oreos at the grocery store a few days ago "for Johnathan"...but I have eaten a row of them by myself!

-I said it was a few days ago that I bought the Oreos...actually, I think it was just this past Sunday night!

-I love feeling my baby kick and worry if I haven't felt it in awhile...so I try to "wake" it up and make it move.

-I love having my doppler so I can hear my baby any time that I want to!

-I have let my house fall into disorder on more than one occasion...it is so much easier to take a nap than to clean up!

-I don't like swallowing those huge horse pills they call prenatal vitamins...seriously, do vitamins have to be that big?!!

-I like looking pregnant, and enjoy wearing snug shirts that show off my belly.

-I don't mind that my boobs are bigger...I just don't like the saggy part!

-I sometimes "sneak" a small bag of Doritos to eat on the way home from the store...for some reason they have been my craving lately...I bought the baked version last time, but they aren't nearly as good as the regular ones!

-I sort of hope we have a boy...that way we don't have to buy much of anything after delivery...and so Johnathan can have a brother close to his age.

-I wouldn't mind a sweet little girl either...pretty dresses and hair bows...I can deal with that!

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Alrighty folks, that's it for now...I think that I hear Oreos and Doritos calling my name! Haha!

*Grace*

Belly Baby Baby Bump!!!

After almost 19 weeks of belly (and we won't mention what else!) growth, here is what my "bump" looks like! I call it my Belly Baby baby bump---say that 10 times fast!

Taken @ 18 weeks and 5 days...that's alotta belly! :) Aaron has affectionately started calling me "Big-girl" again...thank God I have a good sense of humor! :)

My Belly Baby Baby Bump!

As I was uploading these pictures, I took a trip down memory lane and looked at a few photographs of my pregnancy with Johnathan...and oh, my, goodness, I had forgotten just how robust (okay, yes, HUGE!!!) my belly and the rest of me had gotten! I guess this is what I have to look forward to...

...24 weeks preggo with our Baby J...though I was on bedrest, so the lbs. had really started to pack on at this point!...

...27 weeks, and looking, well, quite pregnant!...

...30 weeks, you can tell I wasn't afraid to eat, no sir! Bring on the food!!!...


...32 weeks of beautiful baby bumpness!...

...34 weeks and *growing*/counting!...


...okay, the weight has really started to pack on, and I still wasn't through yet, 36 weeks along with our sweet Monkey...


...taken just days before his birth, my big ol' baby bump, which looks more like a mountain than just a bump! I guess I can handle looking like this again!!!

Oh, but I almost forgot the most "dreaded" part...
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...the post-delivery swelling!!! ;) Goodness, am I really going to look like this again???!!!

But, seeing the precious little face of your new baby makes it all worth it...

...and remembering what used to be just pales in comparison!
(Although, if you asked me if I wanted to look like this again, I'd still say yes...just no to the bikini part.....those days are over! Moms in bikinis with toddlers hanging off of them just don't go!)

*Grace*

Proud of our Firefighter!

This past Thursday, Johnathan's Tio/Aaron's brother, David, graduated from the Houston Fire Academy and is now officially a firefighter for the Houston Fire Department! We were able to take a trip to Houston to be with David and the rest of the family, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time, and are especially proud of David and all that he has accomplished! Here are a few pictures of our trip!

Our hotel, The Inn at the Ballpark...quite nice, and it had tons of baseball photos and memorabilia...just perfect for Johnathan!

David and his fellow academy brothers during a house-fire simulation.

Getting out of all that heavy (but extremely important and lifesaving!) gear...I think that all together they wear about 80 pounds of gear!

Dr. Aldape and Firefighter Aldape...what awesome brothers!!!

Ava & Johnathan, hanging like little monkeys! Too cute!

David heading up the procession down to graduation! (*Sorry for the bad pic, but you get the idea!*)

Way to go David, we're so proud of you!!!

*****I'll be back shortly with a Belly Baby Baby Bump post! ;)*****

Sweet Feet

The other day as I was packing for a trip we were about to take, Johnathan was enjoying a lazy morning on our bed watching one of his "hermies" (aka, movies). As he relaxed while munching on a leftover waffle from breakfast, I snapped a few shots of him enjoying the good life...what a little cutie!


As he lay there, I couldn't help but to notice his sweet little feet sticking out from under the pillow. And, maybe it's just me, but I think that his little feet are one of the most precious things about him---okay, well one of a million little things I love about him, but still, I just love his little feet!

Absolute cuteness!!!

Belly Baby Pictures

***Belly Baby***

A few weeks ago before my little surgery, we got these cute sono pictures of our little Belly Baby. This first one is my very favorite...isn't his/her profile just adorable?!!



This is a view of the face & hand...yes, it's okay if you think it looks like a little alien! ;)


Tummy & Face - all pictures taken at 14 weeks, 1 day.

Wintersong

Staying Organized & A Sneaky, Quick Chili Recipe

About the time Johnathan was born I started getting a magazine called Parents. Though not all the articles and stories come from a point of view that matches my own values, there is still a lot that I've gained from reading through it each month. After several months worth of magazines stacking up and cluttering our house, I decided to go through each issue and cut out the articles that were especially helpful, recipes that looked fun to try, etc. So, now, almost two years later, I have a binder that is chock full of helpful advice that coincides with how we're trying to raise our little family. I also have stock-piled some yummy (and sneakily healthy!) recipes that are apparently kid-friendly too...and so far the ones that I've tried have worked out pretty well. Which brings me to the recipe I want to share with you...

My Sneaky, Quick Chili Recipe (adapted from a recipe in Parents magazine)

-1 pound of ground chicken...this meat is very lean so you don't have the grease run-off like you do with ground beef...you could use ground turkey as well

-1 can of diced chili tomatoes

-2 cans of chili beans

-1 medium sized zucchini (shredded...thus the sneakiness for veggie-hating kiddos!)

-salt, pepper, garlic powder or whatever seasons you want to taste

*Brown ground chicken for 5-10 minutes until cooked through. Add the tomatoes and chili beans. Mix in your shredded zucchini...sneaky, sneaky!...and throw in whatever spices you want. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Serve over Fritos and top with some shredded cheese. Yummy!

I made this a few nights ago and it was delish! Johnathan loved it (without cheese, of course) and especially liked that he got to have chips with dinner! Haha! I would say that this recipe would feed a family of 4, so double it up if you need more or if you want leftovers.

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In belly baby news, I have been feeling sweet little kicks and jabs throughout the day for the past couple of weeks. Right now it tends to move a lot at night...Johnathan was like that too, from what I remember...and last night it was kicking really hard for being so small (just 17w3d) so that even Aaron could feel it for several minutes. Very precious. I feel awesome right now, and hopefully everything is going okay internally...from how I feel I would guess that it is. ;)

Okay, y'all. Talk to you later!

Happy Trails to You!

Yesterday I let Johnathan make his own trail mix snacks...which he just loved to do! Mostly he liked all the extra taste-testing that he got to do along the way...but, since he was eating pretty healthy stuff, I didn't mind the munching that he did in between mixing it all up! If you want my recipe for this tasty and toddler-friendly snack, it's pretty simple...

...(all measurements are approximate as I just grabbed the ingredients from the bulk food bins at our health food store in town)...

Happy Trails Trail Mix
-2 cups miniature pretzels
-1 cup halved cashews...plain/unsalted
-1 cup sunflower seeds...plain/unsalted
-1 cup of carob chips (you could do semi-sweet/milk chocolate chips, but Johnathan can't have any dairy, so I opted for the carob)
-2 cups of mixed dried fruits---apricots, raisins, apples, etc.
-1 cup of dried blueberries...a real treat...those things are expensive!

Mix it all together...let your toddler or child help!...and store in Ziplock bags. I put individual servings in each bag to make snack-time a breeze!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

*Grace*

One of Those Days...

Yesterday was just one of those days where I needed a drink...of coffee that is...my go-to drink when I need to relax and just chill out a bit. I think sometimes that I could survive off of that liquid alone, I simply love it, but I realize that I need some actual plain water in my diet...especially since I'm preggo at the moment...so I limit myself to one cup of joe a day...unless I'm really frazzled or worn out, then I allow myself an extra mug-full...and yesterday was one of those I-really-want-to-pull-out-my-hair days.

Taking care of myself the best that I can I've tried not to leave the house too much unless it's really necessary, but staying home a lot tends to wear on my nerves, and a bit of cabin fever has set in lately. So, thinking that the outdoors would do me (and Johnathan) and bit of good, we decided to take a walk around the block. It is fun to see life through a child's eyes...and little sticks, seed pods, rocks, leaves and other various items that were scattered along our walk became prized possessions to Johnathan who gathered them with reckless abandon. His little hands held tightly to his treasures until he found something better, and then rocks and seeds would fly as he threw them away as quickly as possible to grab another handful of nature's goodies.

After being gone for about 30 minutes or so it was time to come home...which was not something that Johnathan wanted to do. He ran into several people's yards as I tried to get him to actually obey me without putting up a fuss. He is getting really fast when he runs, and I actually have to jog to keep up with him---which is not something that I'm supposed to do in my current "condition"...so I was getting frustrated because he would NOT listen to me, and even gave me his very defiant little look that told me that he didn't care what I was saying, and that he wanted to do what he wanted...not what mommy wanted. Needless to say we probably looked a scene as I tried to get him under control---which didn't really happen. He was going crazy, and I was frustrated...mostly because I felt like I was overexerting myself to keep him from running out into the street as he tried to get away from me. Ugh! The joys of parenting!

After we finally managed to get home it was straight to nap-time for Monkey (after some disciplinary action!), and then straight to making coffee for me as I tried to gather my sanity. I realize that moments like Monkey's meltdown yesterday are inevitable during child rearing, but they sure aren't fun.

Today is going better...I think. Johnathan has a very independent little spirit, and although I know that it will be a wonderful quality when it's channeled in the right direction, it sure is tough right now as we're in the early stages of trying to get him to see that mommy and daddy know best, and that he needs to obey us because we're only looking out for what's best for him.

On a happy note, I am starting to teach Johnathan to count from 1-10 and we're also going over the alphabet. He really likes it so far and keeps asking for "more, more" when I'm going through our flash cards. His intellect has really been blooming lately, so Aaron and I thought it would be a great time to introduce him to some of the foundational building blocks of learning. He is loving puzzles these days, and we're going to have to get him some more advanced ones. Also, he has mastered where to put the right shapes in his wooden blocks box. He is also really enjoying reading and his favorite new word is "car!" We're also working on animal sounds---he's got the dog's bark and the cat's meow down pat, so we're moving onto more. One activity that I thought he would enjoy more is coloring, but he isn't that interested in sitting down to do that! We do his flash cards right after lunch, when his belly is full---and while he's still strapped in his high chair! Haha! He likes it though, for at least 5-10 minutes, and then he's ready to go play. I'll take whatever I can get!

I'm off to "relax" while Johnathan attempts to take his nap! See ya later!

*Grace*

Plumbing Problems

Here's an "embarrassing" story---though actually, I'm not really that embarrassed about it---to help lighten the mood on this Monday afternoon...

The past couple of weeks we've been experiencing some plumbing problems here at the ol' house. They started out with our toilet almost overflowing when the washing machine was draining. The pipes in our home are all connected, and when one area gets a clog in it you just never know which room is going to be affected. After several visits from two different plumbing companies, we finally got the washer/toilet issue figured out...but then the bathtub started to drain really slowly...I mean like it would take about 6 hours to drain the half-full tub...yuck! So, after some other tinkering (and pipe replacing) the main issues were fixed and we had full use of all the modern conveniences that indoor plumbing provides.

So onto today...we currently have a pair of plumbers (no cracks involved, thankfully!) taking care of some of the smaller issues that have crept up over the past months...constant dripping in the tub, a leak under the kitchen sink, disposal that kicked the bucket, etc. Things are being fixed, yay, but in the meantime our house is a bit inaccessible in certain areas...the main place being the bathroom. Being a second trimester preggo lady, I don't have to pee quite as often as I seemed to during trimester 1, BUT my "plumbing" is on a fairly regular schedule, so if I drink a glass of water you can be guaranteed that I'll have to pee within the hour! That being said, and since I am the lady that I am, (and not wanting to divulge to these strangers that I have to use the restroom) I decided to revert back to my diaper days and simply use one of Johnathan's diapers to relieve my poor bladder. So, as Johnathan played in his room I simply emptied myself into a diaper that claimed to be leak-proof...and you know what???...it worked! Sweet relief! And the plumbers were never the wiser! Ha!

*FYI, an aunt of mine told me about using the diaper as a last resort when you're in dire straights and just have to use the bathroom...I'll withhold her name...but you know who you are...and THANKS!!!*

Caught In Between

Lately I've been feeling like I'm caught in between doing what's "best" for Johnathan and doing my best to make sure that this pregnancy goes as well as possible. If I take care of Monkey the way that he needs to be cared for then I am up on my feet and not taking it easy for the baby. If I take it easy for the baby's sake then I'm almost constantly frustrating sweet Baby J. because he doesn't understand why mommy is just laying around like a lazy bum. I guess I can't have the best of both worlds...but I can keep trying to do what I can to make the best of the world that I'm living in. It is hard to realize that I can't be everything to both of them right now...and it brings to mind a conversation that I had with my mom just a week or so ago.

Years ago, when she was very early in her pregnancy with another little "P" my mom asked a friend (and I'm paraphrasing here) how she could be everything to all her children...how far could she "stretch" her love for each of her kids to have all of her all the time...and you know what???...her wise friend told her she didn't have to be everything...that her children (me included!) would get our love tanks filled through her (and my dad) and through each other. Like I said, I've paraphrased our conversation, but what I took away from it is that I shouldn't have to feel like I'm 100% responsible for every bit of happiness and love that my children feel. Not to say that I don't pour all the love I have to give into each of my precious kids, but I need to realize that there are other people in their lives that will help fill those little love tanks too.

So, regarding my current frustration of being caught in between doing what's best for each of my two little ones, I am having to come to grips with the fact that there is only so much that I can do, and I'll have to depend on God for the rest. I believe that He is able to fill in the gaps and I know that if my children feel the love and care I have for them on top of God's love then everything will be okay.

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Regarding our sweet little "Belly Baby", I am now a day over 16 weeks along...and although I feel great---very little nausea & energized (most days)---I am sort of anxious because this week (week 16) is the week that I had my pregnancy troubles with our precious Gideon and Daniel. Of course I have the stitch in place right now, but I still get a bit antsy because I know that my uterus is now at the point where that stitch really has to do it's job because my body just doesn't have the ability to. So just pray that I don't get too over anxious, that I can continue to trust God for the sweet life of this baby, and that my previous fears from what I know can happen do not put a damper on the happiness that I should feel carrying this little blessing. Fear really can rob your joy...and I don't want that to happen with this child.

Okay, y'all, I'm off to do some minor organization while Monkey is napping! I'll be back soon!

*Grace*

A Good Day

Today has been a good day, a great day in fact. We woke up this morning to freezing temperatures outside, but inside it was nice and cozy, and the perfect morning to make some cinnamon rolls for breakfast! I cheated and baked the pre-made just pop 'em in the oven kind...but they were still good! ;) Out of 8 I am pretty sure that Johnathan ate 5 of them! His appetite has been enormous lately. Yesterday for lunch he ate 2 hotdogs, a whole mango, an orange, a box of raisins and a handful of dried cranberries! Whew! He is going to eat us out of house and home when he's older!

After our yummy breakfast Johnathan and I just lazied around the house, played and I even snuck in a bit of cleaning and organization---after being on a modified "bedrest" for the last week or so I have been itching to get things back in order! Can one actually miss vacuuming??? I think so...I did! So, I managed to clean a bit here and there and I am feeling so much better about the state of my home! When my house is messy I seriously stress until I can get it clean! I know, I'm weird! ;)

In Belly Baby news, I had my post-op visit yesterday with my doctor, and I got all good news! I have had zero complications since my surgery and haven't experienced any of the "side effects" that can sometimes happen. My doctor just asked me a few questions about how I've been feeling, checked the baby's heart beat---nice and strong!---and then I asked him a few questions about what sort of activities I can do now. Since I'm pretty much doing great, all things considered, I am allowed return to my "normal" activities now! Woohoo! Thus the cleaning today! I am still going to take it easy though, and have given myself my own set of restrictions just to make sure that things go as well as possible. Oh, I almost forgot, last night I received a package that was pretty fun to get...my very own doppler to be able to listen to our baby's heart beat at home! Of course a steady heart beat is not indicative of baby's total well-being, but it is very reassuring to hear nonetheless! I remember all the sweet times I got to hear Johnathan's hb at home too, and I just had to rent the doppler again with this baby!

So back to today, it's been wonderful. Filled with lots of fun time hanging out with my favorite little buddy, cleaning and a bit of eating here and there too! ;) I know that this weekend will be awesome too because I will have my hubby home with me the whole time! Woohoohoo!!! (Love you, Aaron!)

Tata for now...and Happy Friday!

*Grace*

Mom's the Word

It's not often that you get to see both of your mothers in one day...but today is a blessed day for me because I've had the pleasure of being with my mother-in-law who has been here since Monday - and after my MIL headed back up to big D earlier today, my own dear mommy flew down to be with me for a few days! Two moms in one day, what an awesome thing! Johnathan is getting in plenty of Nana/Grammy time, and I am getting the wonderful help that I need! Thanks be to God for grandmas who are willing to help...and for grandpas who send their mates as an extension of their own love! (Thanks Grandpa, Thanks Papi!)

Not much has gone on in the past few days...other than a new year beginning---Happy Twenty-Ten everyone! We've just been chillin' at the hive, and Daddy Bee has been working hard to bring home the honey. Mommy Bee has been busy making Baby Bee and Johnny Bee has been busy enjoying his Christmas toys and just plain making a mess of the general state of things...but in a good way! ;) Life is NOT dull with our little Baby J. running around---and that's a good thing!

Alrighty folks, I'm off to be pampered, haha! See you later!

*Grace*