Twelve on Tuesday.

1. This morning we are going into the ultrasound place that we went to way back when to get our "Sorry we goofed up here's a free 3d/4d ultrasound". I am slightly apprehensive about going their customer service about their goof up has been sub par. Fingers crossed they redeem themselves.

2. I have mopped, dusted, and vacuumed this morning.

3. I also went to Starbucks for coffee...correlation? Yes highly likely.

4. My broken nose still hurts but per my private parts Dr. it is like just a small fracture and not a completely dislocated bone.

5. Just so everyone really believed me on the "my nose really hurts" pain part I was sporting higher than normal blood pressure yesterday....I am not kidding this hurts.

6. I am at 2 week appts now with the Dr. Holy cow.

7. The boys were incredibly cute this morning talking about both our new to be baby and our new children from Colombia that we have also yet to meet. They are totally planning to tag team with all 3 (?) new children and be bestest buddies. They were "arguing" over who gets to carry who.

8. What makes this conversation more cute is that it was totally out of left field and we didn't provoke it. Their excitement over new siblings is infectious and amazing and flat out awesome.

9. There is a nice breeze out there today....a hot one but a breeze none the less.

10. I am ready for fall! I can't believe it's almost September already. Insane.

11. I haven't done much in Nolan's room.... I don't want to get things done TOO soon, it will be like torture wandering past a finished room.

12. My sim card from my phone seems to have kicked the bucket...this is sad :( I have pictures on it that I would really like to have but can't figure out how to rescue them.

Time to go!

Mama said knock you out.

This past weekend was a wee bit busy. Jakeb and Gavin started their soccer season with their first soccer practice on Saturday morning and Zachary had his first football game--preseason but a game none the less. Jakeb and Gavin were totally stoked to start soccer and that was neato....Zachary we discovered really wishes he had signed up for soccer and misses it because he didn't put the ball down the entire time we were at the field. Have I mentioned he's not a fan a football? Because uh no he's not. We are bribing him to get him thru the season---bribery is a wonderful parenting tool, no?

After completely melting away Saturday morning/afternoon the boys and I relaxed away the rest of Saturday and Robert took off for a Titans game in TN.

I had plans of lounging by the pool on Sunday and got up and made breakfast and packed drinks and snacks for doing just that. We lasted one hour. I thought it would be a genius idea to walk past Jakeb and Zachary and give them a little shove into the pool--you know because I am a cool mom like that... Let's set it up here a bit....Both boys were squating next to the pool filling up squirt guns. I was walking past...came to Zachary first and gave him a little push and in he goes. He popped up ready to yell at his brother but his brother was getting shoved in as well....however. Jakeb being the fleeier that he is heard Zachary's splash and jumped up lightening quick to run away. Except I was already standing over him. As in his head went into my face with such force I had no choice but to shove him in like a crazy person--pausing only a moment to make sure he didn't slam into the wall of the pool before I collapsed to the ground crying in pain. Thus traumatizing my children....their poor little gasps of terror will likely haunt me longer than the pain of a possible broken nose. Someone screamed MOMMY! someone screamed SHE"S BLEEDING! and somehow Jakeb managed to get into the bathroom to get wet paper towels for me because he's apparently a quick thinker. If we also don't recall I have a pierced nose...when I saw blood I was certain my nose ring had punctured something, despite having no pain at that spot. But fortunately it didn't and the blood actually came from the other side. I look pretty. Actually it doesn't look as bad as I feared. My nose is swollen and apparently crooked....which is cute. I at this point do not have black eyes so that's a plus. Let's just not study my nostrils or septum for too long mmmmk? I am off to the Dr. this morning for my 28 week appt so they can tell me what they think I should do. Because you know a private parts doctor is so the same as a nose doctor. It's all exciting really. On a good note any pain I was feeling from the pregnancy is really seeming quite miniscule.

Also because Gavin and Zachary felt like they needed some excitement this weekend too...Gavin used his head to provide some blunt force trauma to Zachary's face. So he's off to school this morning with a nicely busted lip. We are looking really cute.

And maybe Robert should stay close to home for a while.

D-to the rama

A certain little platinum blonde headed child that lives in this house has a special flare for the theatrics. His talent is only reserved for those especially close with him...as in you know, Robert and I and his brothers. This past week he seems to have felt the need to crank things into full gear so as to make sure we fully appreciate all he can do....his range so to speak. Needless to say, I do see his gift but I don't know that I am able to really appreciate it like he would like. Maybe when he's 37 and I am missing his tiny little self....but I am thinking no. As previously mentioned Gavin is quite specific in his requests and his actions. Milk? yes but only in certain cups, with a blanket spread just so, and not until the show has started. Picking up toys? Um are you kidding? Helping a brother out? AS if! Yeah right!?

Gavin's specialties include collapsing to the ground leaving one to think he had just been hit with a boulder from a sling shot 20 yards away. Or a very audible groan that goes something like this UUUUUUUGGGHHHHHUUUUGHHHHHUUUUGGGGHHHHHUUUUGHHH....did I mention it is very audible? If these methods don't produce the result he was anticipating he will be happy to include tears and extra groaning for added affect. Sometimes he may include kicking or a shrill scream to drive his point home. Have I mentioned Gavin is 5? At this age it seems amazing that he has mastered these abilities most children have given up on no? But Gavin he's no quitter!! He is in it for the long haul. Here in lies the problem. The truck stops here. Gavin's career in theater must end very soon...we are sad ecstatic to see this go but know that all good awful things must come to an end.

He has been told that collapsing to the ground is a sure way to get a swift punishment as are loud groans of displeasure. He has also been reminded that he is living in a house with a family and families help each other out by cleaning up items and turning lights off (yes even if that means you have to go back upstairs to do so) and even occasionally doing something for another family member....so statements such as "I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING IN THIS HOUSE!!!" that have been known to exit his mouth have been banished and are never ever to be said again. I would really hate to have to show him what everything in this house is.... So yes Gavin is in recovery at this time he is not taking visitors and is in full support of his new program....well I suppose his full support may not have been given but it's the only option really, his other option was a transfer. I will update all as progress is made, until then hope for the best!

Copy cat.

I have come here a couple times today staring at a blank screen really wanting to post something cheery and free from woe is me...but all I can think to say is I am tired. By about 2pm I am exhausted and by 6 I am nearly comatose exhausted. I try to nap but I am just not a good napper and it just doesn't work...I can't sleep or if I do it's for 15 minutes and then I am just frustrated and grumpy.

I am trying really hard to not count down the days--I don't know the exact number because well I am no psychic but also because I just don't know how many days until the due date...I think we might be in the 80's though and that's cool. And really some days are easier than others, today was not one of those days. I did get some laundry done and the house is pretty decently picked up...eh it could use some dusting but it's certainly not growing things yet so that's a good thing. I definitely could mop but no thank you that flat out sucks not pregnant so I will drag my feet on that one until you know...I can't drag my feet because the floors are that gross. We aren't there yet, thank you very much. It's the little things.

I am thoroughly enjoying my quiet time at home--don't get me wrong I love those boysies like mad crazy but I didn't know 7 or so hours of alone time could be so nice. I kinda forgot. First off Jakeb is 9 so this is the first time I have had days and days of just time in like a long time. It's cool, I kinda like it. I also might get stuck in this pattern of sitting at home alone so this might turn into a bad thing--right now I am enjoying it. What am I talking about anyway...in 70-80 some odd days we will have a newborn....duh. I am enjoying it while I can is what's going on folks.

The kids are adjusting well to school and we are getting into a routine with homework and studying and putting our bags away and all that fun stuff. Hopefully by baby time it will be second nature to everyone.

Hmmm...really I feel like I am being redundant in my posting lately......sorry about that. Though I am glad life isn't being too exciting right now.

The question girl.

Somehow I have turned from the person scared to ask questions and worried about looking silly because I didn't know to the person sending 9237 emails verifying that I, in fact, have it correct. I managed to learn that asking and getting it right is much more efficient then not and getting it wrong. So I ask. With 3 boys in school and 3 boys in sports and 1 baby boy on the way my questions seemed to have multiplied. I feel like I am always emailing someone making sure I got it right. Yesterday it was about breakfast snack, the day before that it was about Gavin, this morning it's about football pictures....and as I typed I realized goodness I certainly utilize the "if you need anything just ask" so I ask! I feel like I am waving my hand yelling "wait, WAIT, WAIT...I don't get it...." Either I don't pay attention or am a slow learner...specifically on seemingly simple tasks. I am thinking it's a combination of both. Sigh. Fortunately I have learned to ask. I need to make sure everything is just like it should be and planned ahead and t's are crossed and i's are dotted.....or at least as close to all of that dream world as possible. And as I mentioned yesterday the new baby thing is a little nerve racking. Baby Nolan will be born in a "down season" for schedules and sports and what not so this is good but the idea of keeping up with homework and projects and meetings and appointments and what not along with a newborn is a bit daunting. So I am cracking down on my organizational skills like a mad woman and making sure we got this down pat...creature.of.habit.

On a side note: Nolan has learned that stretching is fun...Rachel thinks Nolan's stretching is not fun, in fact while comical it's down right not nice. The odd sensation of someone pushing on your stomach from the inside makes standing and having conversations with various people distracting (as if I need more distractions when speaking). And also I sat with my purse over my stomach at the PTA meeting last night so as not to freak out the people sitting next to me...Be still baby! He isn't a crazy mover so much really it's just more that he moves.all.day.long. But I am sure it's because he's a totally chill laid back baby....definitely.

Twelve on Tuesday.

1. I made a list both mentally and physically of activities coming up over the next week or so and I still double booked for one of them. An easy fix really but frustrating none the less.

2. The next week and half or so is decently busy....wrapping my head around all that is eek! But really it's all easy peasy stuff it's just the fear of forgetting about one of them that stresses me out.

3. Zachary has his first "preseason game" this Saturday....

4. I am working on some paintings for Nolan's room....I am not a painter so we shall see. Fortunately there isn't a whole lot of creativity going on so I don't really need to be talented with a brush!

5. The paintings are on canvas's....4 little 8x8 canvas's that used to hang in Jakeb's room when he was a little tiny toddler boy. I am painting over what was on them....slightly sad to see them go!

6. All 3 boys are super excited about their new brother--Gavin won't actually say "super excited" but Jakeb and Zachary certainly will and it's so gosh darn sweet.

7. We have a massive mosquito problem going on here...hoping the call to the county will get it resolved. They have been surprisingly responsive so I am cautiously optimistic. The problem stems from a drainage pond that is in the neighborhood behind our house....nice.

8. I stitched up the items that needed to be stitched...I mentioned them a while ago. I finally did it...only problem is Gavin now has bloodied shorts and I have a sore finger tip. Seamstress I am not. I am however good at getting just about any stain out of anything....and really the new seams look pretty good! Despite poking my finger tip more times than I can count with the blasted needle. And it didn't hurt much so I kept on sewing...oops.

9. I am trying not to stress about the guest situation that will happen when Nolan is born....my hibernation of sorts that has taken place as a result of moving away from all family and friends has made me less tolerable of crowds and noise and what not. I imagine that will not dissipate upon giving birth.

10. Thinking on those terms I am also moderately nervous about the 4 kid thing. 3 loud rambunctious boys and a newborn...see #9. But also see #6...it will be fine.

11. We have a great many massively large trees in our yard....the sound of the breeze rushing thru them is so very lovely. Even watching them swish and sway...

12. It's very quiet in the house....all I can hear is the hum of the a/c and the occasional gust of wind thru the trees.

Dear Diary.

For as long as I could read and write with decency (hush I said with decency...not good!) I have kept a diary. In fact in a box somewhere is my Hello Kitty diary and I might even still have the key. The diary I remember getting in 4th grade from Sanrio. In 4th grade I tried to write everyday but most days I only wrote things like "I had a good day today." or "I got in trouble in Mrs. Jones' class again....not a good day". Basically I wrote about my day with occasional strife thrown in: a fight with someone or getting in trouble at school or at home or a melt down about how much I didn't want to live with my dad anymore. Overall it was simple stuff and I am so glad I still have it. My middle and high school years are basically embarrassing to read because while I don't actually remember caring much about boys...I apparently did. A lot. Oh.my.good.lord.will.you.shut.up.already. Yeah it's bad....and funny and strange because I don't remember obsessing about various boys that much. Though I tend to obsess so I suppose it should come as no surprise. One thing I do notice as I got older more issues rose and more drama. I suppose such is life. It seems we come full circle because now the older I get the less issues come about. Granted this is probably based on my choices and reactions...to both issues that arise and issues we choose to not let arise. Now when I sit down to write...or type these days my biggest decision is wether or not I should blog about the boys again, if I should write out a check list of our day, or if I should try to go rogue and talk about some other topic that doesn't really immediately affect me. I try not to always blog about the boys or our family days...but sometimes that's just all that pops into my head when I sit down to type. I come up with genius blog posts....you know when I am driving or showering or just before I crash for the night. Things that poof out of my head quicker than they got there. So then I find myself at the keyboard wondering what in the world it was I was thinking....and then going oh well. I even tried to write down ideas...but yeah...you guessed it I lost the paper. Or rather it's in one of the 23 notebooks I carry around...which is great except I seem to always have a different notebook with me.

For the most part I try not to get too emotional and personal here on the blog...I just can't bring myself to dump it out there for the world 13 of you to see. Sure from time to time I might let loose (side bar: I think this word is stupid...I do not know which one to use at the proper time lose or loose and it drives Robert crazy...sure I say it correctly but for the life of me cannot remember which to use...dumb English language and your exceptions to the rule) and let some emotions flow. But I don't need to blog every time I get angry or some one ticks me off....but then really one of the nice things about getting older is that often you learn to just let things go. That it's not worth the diary entry...that it's not that big in the whole grand scheme of life. So maybe "Dear Diary: I have nothing to bitch about today" could have been my last entry as a teenager or even truthfully as a 20 something. "Dear Diary: I get it and it's not worth it...here's what is great today....next week I will bitch...but today is awesome...." Full circle...kinda sort....almost. I am glad I am getting there.

Titleless.

Settling in to our new routine this week slowly but surely. Gavin seems to be adjusting just as I knew he would. School is hard. Sending them to school is so very important and the decision was a no brainer. The idea of homeschooling has rolled around in my head more times than I can count but always ending with the same conclusion. I am 99% positive it's just not in the cards for me/us. My fuse when it comes to structured education time with my kiddo's seems to be much shorter than it should be, therefore teaching to read and add and all of the basics just isn't something I am cut out for. So off to school they go. Jakeb comes home most days proclaiming an AWESOME day and that is enough for me to know we are making the right decision. However that doesn't mean from time to time I wonder. Especially when tears are being shed.

But we started our Friday off right and got up early and everyone off to school--I even remembered ice cream money! So the routine is slowly rolling in and it's so very welcome because I am so a creature of habit.

I spent all day Wednesday painting Nolan's dresser and it's just not the right color. As Robert said it makes his room look easter eggish. So back to the store I go for more (darker) paint. His crib showed up as promised much to my surprise--thanks to horrid reviews of the website we ordered from. While it wasn't the smoothest transaction out there the crib is here and looks fantastic all set up in his easter room. The fact that there is a baby room still blows my mind...

But also my heart still longs, aches, and loves the child(ren) we are bringing home from Colombia. We are still working on the last touches for the addendum we need and waiting to get this in is so frustrating because there are so many very conflicting emotions. I haven't forgotten but have I? No, no I haven't. But the busyness of life is distracting and that is hard. I am longing to have everyone home here where they (all of our children) belong. But the waiting is so hard and knowing that while we are loving on this brand new baby and being completely smitten with all that he is, our other child is also waiting and is hard to know too. Life is happening though and it's wonderful. So we wait and we love and we wait some more and I try to know that everything will work out as it should in the time it should.

In the meantime there's this ...

The crib...looking mighty cute and inviting.

Me less cute and less inviting at 26 1/2 weeks.

The Pushover.

So a joke among my brothers and I (and my mother) is that my mom's disciplining style was um...to try not to laugh at us. Because while we certainly weren't angels we have the ability to be silly under pressure...so basically there wasn't a whole lot of disciplining going on when I was a kid. Sure, sure we got grounded here and there and the occasional butt swat...but for the most part not much. Luckily we really weren't horrible kids....now me as a teenager is totally other post--I wasn't bad but I wasn't afraid to voice my opinion typically in rude teenager fashion.

Anyway it is occurring to me recently that I might be heading towards the same direction...ok ok. Truth be told we are total pushovers and it isn't something that recently occurred to me but is recently becoming more of an issue. We have a 9 year old who is starting to pretty much think we are stupid and mean with frequency....and that's kinda hard to deal with. But at the same time we have to stick to our guns and "lay down the law" even if that means they don't like us or think we are mean.

Another example...the school thing with the Gbabes. He's not a fan....so yesterday and Monday he stayed home....I made every excuse in the book justifying him staying home. He did have a cold but really it was a no, he should have been at school. He went today and I instituted a little tough love and he did much better than last week when I was a big softy. As in he cried all morning before we left but Robert and I are pretty much over it so it didn't get him anywhere and guess who didn't cry when I dropped him off. Exactly. Basically it stinks to be the "bad guy" from time to time but it's so necessary in this kid raising thing....I am having to remind myself a lot lately as I justify this behavior or that and really it's not fair to anyone. Especially them in the long run.

Twelve on Tuesday.

1. Gavin is home sick from school again. He's the perkiest sick person ever....except wait no he isn't. Basically he has a cold and is milking it. He will be at school tomorrow.

2. Nolan's room got painted this weekend and I am super stoked!

3. The crib says it's "on the truck for delivery" so it should be here today. Yay :)

4. My big plan of projects isn't going exactly as...uh I envisioned. Thank you cold and laziness.

5. Jakeb has a friend riding home on the bus with him--he's very excited about this.

6. This morning it was actually chilly outside--so it's a fall teaser. I am pretty sure a few months ago I was speaking of summer teasers. 95+ degree weather for weeks at a time has me singing a different tune.

7. I have pretty much stocked our stash of cloth diapers for the baby boy...fingers crossed I can stick with it.

8. Zachary is kinda coming around about football but I am thinking it's not really going to be his thing. Which works for me.

9. Our a/c has frozen up twice this week--not cool. BUT my brother is/was an A/C guy this is cool. Hopefully he was able to work his magic on it.

10. 98 days until my due date. Crazy cool.

11. Gavin has been banned to the couch today--you know since he's sick. He is not pleased. I am hoping he gets my point!

12. I wish someone would ban me to the couch for a day. Or 7.

2 weeks.

Well today was overall a much better day than yesterday and the day before and the day before that. We are 2 weeks into school and while Jakeb and Zachary seem to be rolling right back into a routine it has been a bit rougher for the littlest of the big ones. He did say today was a much better day and apparently the trick was the heart I drew in red sharpie on his palm. (Thanks to "The Kissing Hand") Despite the tears and hiccuping sobs when I dropped him off he seems to have done just fine today. I received 3 emails letting me know he was a-ok that both made me feel better because he was doing fine and also that they cared enough to let me know. I at least had my game face on this morning at drop off time so I left with my head held high and no tears falling. Yesterday caught me so off guard that I didn't have time to prepare! Fingers crossed Monday goes a little better.

My cold by the end of the day seems to be slowly going away though mornings are rougher we will see what tomorrow brings.

I did manage to clean out the refrigerator today--which sucks really but I do find it amazing the number of expired items I found in the door. Various condiments of course, despite going thru the items what feels like weeks ago it apparently was more like months. Thus reinforcing my theory that time only speeds up as you get older and possible disappears all together. A clean fridge is amazing in itself especially if you let it get a bit dirty before you clean it...it's all that more "pat yourself on the back'ish" when it's done. So go me and my brand new but just clean, some what empty refrigerator. And that's that for this Friday. The boys are currently at the pool--with Robert of course and I am gearing myself up to make dinner while they bathe play in the pool.

Also in 2 weeks I will be beginning my 3rd trimester, I am sorry what?

The Crying Kind.

So there is a theme going on here....whining and crying. We are chalk full of hormonal pregnancy emotions over here, plum full up. Because here's the thing, I don't cry. Like no really I do not cry. Not being all tough girl about it but I really just rarely have the urge to bust out the tears. Of course that being said over the past several years a new phenomenon for me has been that my eyes get teary over the silliest things. I mean really silly. That welled up feeling to cry isn't there but the tears are...confusing? Why yes, yes it is.

So anyway me the not cryer has found myself in quite the conundrum lately and the crying has been a bit uh, over the top. Today has been emotionally trying. Gavin, you know the sweet itty bitty kindergarden boy--he's been doing all well and good at school. A few little bumps that were previously mentioned but overall seems just fine and dandy. That is until .456 seconds before he gets out of the car this morning...or rather as he was stepping out of the car this morning. So picture this: Drop off line full of cars and kids hopping out and moving on, oh! It's our turn, hugs and kisses given and everyone is hopping out of the car. I catch Gavin's profile and notice a wrinkled chin and a quivering lip as he's stepping out of the car, he says a barely audible squeaky goodbye and I realize he's trying very hard to not cry. I ask him what's wrong and he hops out saying "Nothing!" So there I sit trying to figure out what to do because my little baby is crying and there are people behind me and he's trying to be brave but that just makes me feel worse. Instead of parking the car and chasing after him I leave and my last glance is him waving and wiping his eyes trying so hard to be brave. I pull away and burst into tears. I decide I will go eat lunch with him to make sure he's ok....I know, I know this is a bad idea but I just couldn't not go. So I go and he's totally fine that is until I have to leave again. And it's the same scene all over again--him trying not to cry and me smiling and waving. Instead this time I poke my head into the teachers lounge and ask a teacher friend to peak in at him in a few minutes. And then I again burst into tears...standing in the teachers lounge of my children's school. Lame. It of course is all that more fitting that I am pregnant so I get a slight pass but eesh. Folks I don't cry and I certainly do.not.cry. in front of a room full of people I barely know. Oh good lord. So this kindergarden thing has been really hard this go round and I wasn't expecting that.

Gavin has to go and be all baby and innocent and sweet and all "I miss you" when for the past 3 years he's been all bossy and demanding and whiney.....so I guess it's only fitting that I go from "I don't cry" to apparently "I cry."

Wendy Whiner.

So a few posts back I was all like "breathe and focus" in fact that may have been Monday....but today I am going to be all like this is noootttt fuunnnnn. The thing is....I am not a very good pregnant person, which is not cool on my part really because technically I am a pretty good pregnant person. I have pretty standard and easy-ish (for most people) pregnancies...and while this one really has been tougher on me it's really not that bad. But dang November can't get here quick enough. Cause while feeling the baby move is super dee duper neato schmeato---the other part of my brain has a hard time with the fact that there is a real live person moving around in my stomach. Because you know OMG there is a person moving around in my stomach. So there's that...which really is my favorite part of being pregnant but at the same time sorta creeps me out if I really think about it. Then the aches and pains and the uncomfortable and the bathroom trips and the not sleeping. Which is the worst part for me. I am a sleeper or rather I am a I need sleep at night person. I don't nap well so night time is my thing. I go to bed and I sleep all night and I don't have a hard time sleeping and I wake semi refreshed-ish and I am good to go. Except now I am not and that makes me want to cry. Except that's not cool because a 31 year old crying pregnant person is understandable but really put your big girl panties on and deal with it lady.

So yesterday was hard and it seems this morning is off on the wrong foot already but really there is no reason it should be because nothing happened. Though adjusting to kindergarden for my little guy is hard... for me. Last Friday he lost recess time and center time because he didn't finish coloring the all spots on a sheet on time. Which I get....kinda.. but really I didn't know coloring was a life skill. I mean obviously little dude knows his numbers and his colors and can follow directions (because he was) and is good to go in that regard but for real was it necessary for him to color every single spot--because he's not a fan of coloring, his perfectionism makes it hard for his 5 year old hands, as in he is really slow and his hand gets tired of trying so hard to stay in the lines. But apparently we aren't worried about how well a person does it but how fast and of course that they can color. *headsmack* (which he can color he just doesn't like to because he's s.l.o.w. at it) And then yesterday I went to the school for a super energized fundraiser pep rally thing a majig and as I was watching the guys prepare it occurred to me that maybe this was going to be a bit intense for all these little kindergarden babies that are still adjusting and are going to walk into screaming and woohoo'ing and chaos 7 days into school. At least I knew it might be for mine...and it was. I snagged him after the yelling into the microphone session and he was upset because he thought he had to go on some crazy adventure and totally didn't understand. And it broke my heart just a bit because he's so innocent and little. But then I realized that he so wasn't traumatized and was just totally fine and that maybe this is harder for me than him. And probably he should learn to be a bit less of a perfectionist and that he does need to finish his work in a time frame because I suppose that is a important life skill. But don't make my baby cry and miss recess for coloring in the same week because I am pregnant and all grumpy and whiney and I might cry too.

And while we are on the up swing of my emotional pendulum I will stop right there because if I rant any longer it won't get pretty.

ETA: He did finish his coloring and wasn't the only one (he and 3 other kids missed recess) and apparently did much better on Monday. But I still have the slight desire to march up to the school and say it's ridiculous. But I get it.

Twelve on Tuesday.

1. I have a lovely summer cold and am being a total baby about it...because it sucks and I am pregnant and having difficulty breathing already with sore ribs and a tight belly. Coughing and snot and a tickley throat make all of that pretty intense and it's just not fun. So I am sick. Wahhhahaha.

2. Little Gavin rode the bus for the first time yesterday. I wasn't ready for him to but he was so I relaxed and let him go and he he stepped off the bus and saw me waiting in the driveway and was all smiles as he ran to me and jumped into my arms to give me kisses. So it was ok obviously.

3. Zachary is struggling getting into football. Poor guy is the smallest on the team which is really funny because for our family he is the biggest and roughest but toss him into the world and he really is a little softy. So finding his "groove" is work for him.

4. *cough*cough*

5. Coughing much like sneezing in pregnancy may or may not result in a sprint to the bathroom. Not cool.

6. Also apparently a rising uterus often can cause inflammation of the area around your ribs. Specifically the right ribs and it hurts and is mighty uncomfortable and did I mention I am 25 weeks which is all exciting and good except that 40 minus 25 is 15 and that's a long time to have sore ribs.

7. I am kinda full of whiny-ness today. Deal with it.

8. I have 3 little items next to me that I need to sew back together....except I don't know where my sewing things are which really I probably do and it would take 10 minutes to fix these things but I keep putting it off. So silly.

9. Kids in school=a pretty clean house. This is very nice.

10. I am on the hunt for a coming home outfit for Mr. Nolan. I have yet to find the "perfect" one. I will though!

11. I need to go jump in the shower so I can at least be clean and coughing when I go eat lunch with the boys before I do some PTA volunteering today....oy.

12. I would say no but I already told the boys I would be there for lunch and I am not a fan of bailing on the kiddo's. So I go. Though if I was feverish or feeling much worse I would have to say no. Ho hum.

Breathe

One of the personal "exercises" I have been working on is breathing. I don't mean literally breathing because obviously not breathing would be well a fatal mistake. And ironically I am having rather a difficult time actually breathing lately but the 2 lb fetus and the 15 lbs of cushion for him aren't helpful. But I digress....by breathing I mean instead of doing the normal routine of OMG this is so stressful omg freak out freak out agggghhh mental thing that goes on in my head when you know things get stressful. Like I wait to the last minute to pack or we are out of dog food or the kids have lots of papers that I can't figure out. The things that are so trivial really but instantly put me in a mental tilta-whirl. So I practice "breathing" and just being calm and focusing on doing just that. Focusing on exactly what it is I need to do and putting one foot in front of the other instead of stepping up on that roller coaster. Read the papers toss what we don't need, read what we do, and move on instead of the tendency to want to throw a mental temper trantrum of throwing it all down and walking away. Or really not even that but allowing myself to get overwhelmed over something so totally doable. And it works....and maybe some don't have to do this but folks I do. I am slowly learning things to help our day roll smoother and that I really can't just "wing it" well not totally true because there is a lot of that going on....but I need to know that in doing that to lower some of my expectations. And it's helped...it is still something I have to work on but I rather enjoy the calmer me. Sure, sure I get fired up about things but certainly not to the extent and I can usually reel myself back in to a normal level of crazy. Because really normal and crazy are probably one in the same. Or at least they overlap a little....no?

So breathe and focus. Breathe and Focus.

Week one: Check.

We are one week thru the school year and off to a fantastic start. The boys love their classes and teachers and seem to be genuinely enjoying their days at school. The school they go to is the smallest in the county and despite my reservations by the outside appearance of the school it's a marvelous one. Nearly every time I leave the building I think I love this school. So I am thrilled that the year is off to such a wonderful start and thrilled the school still rocks.

And I must say 7 uninterrupted hours are mighty nice. I usually sit around wondering why I get nothing done--and by nothing I mean various projects around the house other than you know cleaning up after someone or feeding someone. I have however realized that there is something to be said for uninterrupted time. It occurred to me that is the golden ticket for me....I need to know that I have the time to finish a project start to finish without having to stop or at the very least get to a good little stopping point. So all that being said things are trucking along nicely for our first week into school.

Yesterday I spent the morning rearranging furniture (heavy but very easy to move furniture no worries!) and hanging pictures over the mantle. The mantle project is something I have dreamed of doing for a great deal of time and finally yesterday said heck with it and did it. Which was a nice confidence booster because A: it's looks pretty good and B: I am pretty good at decorating via improvising on a budget. As in I just redid my mantle without purchasing a single item. Score! It's amazing the things you can find around your house. And I will just go ahead and toot my own horn right here and say Go Me.

So anyway school is rocking and rolling and our morning routine is jumping right back to where it was and it's a seamless one so that's awesome and makes mornings so much easier. Because 6am is never easy. Gavin managed to walk himself to class alone yesterday and bought lunch at school. Jakeb is a totally too cool for school 4th grader. Zachary is the middle man both at school and at home and loves that his little brother is at school with him even if he pretends to not like him 75% of the time. Which totally melts my heart by the way. He's all like "Omg Gavin your so annoying" all the while also being like "Don't mess with my brother, punk".....his little bits of love snuck in are cute and sweet and just what I like to see.

So Happy First Week of School!

Off to School.

Here are some shots from the first day of school on Monday....

12 on Tuesday.

1. In roughly 7 minutes I need to be leaving to go pick up my kindergardener from school.

2. Their school has "early bird" dismissal for the little guys--it is optional and we are opting that for the first week. My own little "homemade" phase in period--for us both. That and I am not ready to relinquish him .to.the.bus. He is afterall a baby. Duh.

3. My 4th grader almost pretended to not know us yesterday when we dropped him off at his class for the first day...head down, speedy walk into the door led me to believe I needed to back up 5 feet and whisper "Bye have a good day!"

4. 2nd grade Zman had both his first day of school yesterday and his first day of football practice....big tiring day for him.

5. I now have 4 minutes to finish this post.

6. I am pretty sure I can do it....I am a fast talk...er typer.

7. It's still very hot here.

8. Crud I am stumped!....Agh quick I need a number 9.

9. I have pictures I will share tomorrow from yesterday.

10. I talked item #1 on my list of things to do while the boys are at school...off to a great start!

11. We found a new favorite grocery shopping store on Sunday--stoked about that!

12. We spent too much money at the grocery store on Sunday...not so stoked about that. But by gholly we have food!! And now I must go get the baby...er kindergardener from school.