Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Wed.nes.day.

I am trying to think of something to talk about other than the impending birth of baby boy #4 but seeing as it is basically consuming my thoughts lately I am having trouble coming up with any other topics....I could tell you that the weather is gorgeous today.  Leaves are changing and leaves are falling...the temperature is just right and the sun is as well.  I could remind you that Jakeb has his first big field trip tomorrow and I am so super excited for him and really excited for him that he has his DAD going with him.  I am slightly jealous but more excited because that's super cool that he gets to do that and I know Jakeb is stoked.  I could mention I am having braxton hicks or real contractions more and more every day....I am not sure which because braxton hicks aren't really supposed to hurt but these do...but that would be talking about the impending birth again.  But also one more thing...also having weird back ones too--not cool.
I will mention again I am so ready for Halloween to be over...I know most people totally dig Halloween and I know my kids LOVE it.  But really it's just not my thing...I can't quite figure out why.  Maybe because we don't live in a great trick or treat neighborhood and trying to figure out where and what not...but even before when we did live in a great trick or treating 'hood it still just seemed more stressful than necessary for me--though again I can't quite figure out why.  Weirdo I know.
I found my list of "fall projects" I had written down over the summer...I am happy to say I have completed 5 out of 8 items listed.  Not too shabby especially since I had lost the list until yesterday.   Go Me  :)
I have not taken the boys "yearly" pictures yet though and I am not sure how that happened.  I keep saying I need to do it and then another weekend goes by and I haven't.  I am not sure now if it's even worth trying...will it be easier at 37 weeks pregnant or easier with a newborn in tow??   I think it's a toss up at this point.
3 1/2 more weeks folks...but really less because it just will be, I am positive.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Twelve on Tuesday


1.  We have a decently busy week this week....except today and tomorrow.  So I am enjoying my quiet down time at home...ALONE.

2.  I bought cinnamon Teddy Grahams at the store yesterday as a treat....they were so much better when I was 12.  I couldn't get enough of them when I was a kid....I can now.  

3.  I am ready for Halloween to be past us and for Gavin and Jakeb's field trips to be done...probably because that will put us into November and closer to baby day.

4.  I had my 36 week appt yesterday...dilated a bit not sure any exact numbers but I imagine the same as I was with the other 3 at this point.  Apparently my entire body is all about consistency, works for me. 

5.  I had a ultrasound yesterday as well to check Mr. Nolan's weight...because of that "giant" baby I had...Nolan doesn't appear to be giant which closer to date I am getting the less giant I feel he is so that's good.  And also he has hair...seriously can't wait to see what color.

6.  Leaves are changing and so is the temperature.  Love it.  Also love that our electric bill was cut in HALF.  

7.  Now if I could figure out how to do that with all the others....

8.  I am moderately concerned about the weight I have gained this go round.   I didn't stay under what I wanted...but I haven't gained more than I did with the other 3 but I am pretty dang close to a 3 digit number I intend to never see.  

9.  Reminder to self...apparently I gain weight by leaps and bounds in the 3rd trimester.  Oops.  Darn you Snickers.  

10.  Jakeb has a big kid field trip on Thursday...they are trekking to Chattanooga on charter buses.  Robert is tagging along, it will be fun for both of them.   I wish I could go...but a) the open mouth stares I get from the 4th graders when I say hi to Jakey makes me uncomfortable and likely him as well.  b) I would really embarrass him if I you know...went into labor while on his BIG field trip.  So I am opting to sit this one out.  

11.  Gavin and Zachary and Robert like to kiss my belly....I do not like this.  By I really try to grin and bear it...aww that's sweet and all that jazz.  Pretty much no.  I try....

12.  I need to open the windows...waiting for it to warm up just a bit first.  


Sunday, October 23, 2011

Ready. Set. Baby....almost.

Tomorrow I will be 36 weeks...1 week away from the "full term" mark.  I still anticipate roughly 2 weeks or so before little man will make his much anticipated debut.  Everything on the home front is pretty much ready and waiting....I am pretty sure that with the other 3 rugrats that at the 36 week mark is when we packed the bag and loaded the car seat into the car so those things are done...or almost the bag isn't totally packed but it's out and has most the needed things in it.  By baby 4 you realize you don't need half the items you brought with baby 1 but it still seems I am forgetting something.  The cameras are charged and ready to be snagged...so really we are good to go I think.   We need to get past 2 field trips, Halloween and hopefully at least not during a football game.  Zman's football season is winding down and we have moved onto the playoff portion...this Saturday marks game 1 and if we win we are on to game 2 and if not we are done.
So I started this post on Sunday night....and am just going to post it right here...because I had to walk away and deal with kids and bed and didn't get to finish and really I don't remember what my point was anymore, likely I didn't have one...but I don't feel like trying to mesh more thoughts with it...so there ya go!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Tuesday Twelve

1.  I think middle of the night heartburn, whining dogs, and sick kids might send me over the edge....maybe.  

2.  On a more chipper note I seriously cannot want to get my hands on this crazy baby...can't wait to see if he has dark hair like his 2 biggest brothers or no hair like is big brother or his own look.

3.  We are down to our last rolls of toilet paper in the house...that never ever happens, I am apparently slacking on keeping things stocked.  Oops.

4.  We are down to our very last football and soccer games this weekend.  Then we are d.o.n.e with soccer until next year and Zachary will move on to playoff games for football.  Almost there.

5.  I am thinking Nolan should be born on November 5th in the evening...that would be lovely timing for everyone.  Yep that's when it should be...just saying.  That's 18 days.

6.  Jakeb is home from school today...again...not sure what's up with him really.  He says his stomach hurts but really seems ok.  Not sure.  I am wondering if all this baby business is making him nervous.

7.  He totally beat me just a little bit ago at that box/dot game...not sure what it's real name is.

8.  Gavin has not been very nice this week about going to school...he is seriously NOT a morning person.

9.  On Thursday Robert and I will hit the 10 years of marriage mark....Wowza!  

10.  It is still raining acorns on our house like crazy--it's the weirdest thing ever.  We know it didn't do this last year so it's so strange.

11.  I am winning the battle of sick vs. healthy.  As I said healthy will prevail.  Now if I could just get the rest of the house to understand that.

12.  I have got to get on the ball and make a decision about the pediatrician thing....if I am switching I would rather do it before the baby is born.  Ugh.

Monday, October 17, 2011

And again...it's Monday.

I should be showing you a picture of my living room because that's what I said I was going to be doing on Monday's....and despite being the type of person that really prefers to do what I said I was going to do rather than the type of person that doesn't.  I am sitting here again not showing you...for no reason other than my cell phone is in the other room and to take a picture would require me getting up to go get it and then you know taking a picture and then figuring out why in the world it won't let me load it to flickr.   My phone is wonky and not letting me do things that it should and I just don't care to figure out why--in fact that is part of the reason why I haven't continued to do this little thing.   So yeah...
I will tell you that there is a pirate ship and a gift bag with tissue paper and packaging from baby shower items, a stroller for the car seat and a back pack....again there is a pillow on the floor (note to self NEVER buy a couch with removable pillows again).  There are clothes (that do not fit ME) draped on the back of the chair.  And basically it really doesn't look too bad but you don't get a picture because I don't feel like dealing with it.
The boys all seem to be on the upswing of the cold that struck everyone last week.  My throat is feeling oddly like it's getting sick--but I am holding out hope that my body is a fighter and we will fight tooth and nail to avoid getting this cold.  I can almost feel the war and the impending victory raging thru my cells.  It's going to happen friends, I am sure of it.  Healthy will prevail!!
We are officially now at 5 weeks from my due date.  And also officially ready for a baby.  I need to pack my cute little bag and toss his cute little car seat in the car and then we are really ready to roll.  Next week at my appt we will check the size of this we one.  A task that I do realize is only used as a guess either way...but it's fun to see none the less.  Honestly if he's not big I am going to have them double check that there isn't another one in there...because fo real he moves like a linebacker in there and also my stomach is quite like an overly inflated balloon.  I wish when people touched my stomach and proclaimed "It's so hard!" it was from working out...but no.  So if he came a couple weeks early so as to save me from extra um...distress that would be ok.  And also we have 2 drawers full of clothes that will not fit a big baby so that's important too, right?   So while we have 5 weeks, I am hoping for 3.  Wow.  3 weeks, despite all my whining and moaning and complaining and general unappreciativeness this pregnancy has absolutely flown by...like really didn't I just find out I was pregnant and having a girl and no having a boy and oh it's time for school and whoa it's baby time.    But before we have a baby we need to get thru a soccer season,  Halloween, a very first field trip, and as close to the end of football as we can.  Then we are good to go!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Um, Hi.

Still here and still pregnant.   Both of which are good things...we still have a just a couple weeks before officially waiting and waiting for this little one to make his appearance.
The past week and a half some how zipped right on past me.   I started making a post 2 days ago...at 3am.  While I was sitting up with Gavin who is sick and doing the asthma cough and asthma I can't breathe thing.  Of course you wouldn't know that to look at him now because he's rolling around on the floor as I type this wrapping himself in blankets and just overall being not sick.   That is until 11pm when I put my head on my pillow to go to sleep...curse you night time coughs.
But also we had a friend visit for 3 days and then the dog ate Gavin's medicine and we could have bought a brand new refrigerator or landscaped our yard or maybe even threw some concrete down for what it cost to save her life.  Of course if the vet had checked google like I had we would have spent considerably less...but you know I am not the one with a PhD so what do I know.  
My friend visiting was a sanity savor for me...probably not so much for her.   One of my very besties from college came over from Texas to visit us for 3 whole days and she helped me fold laundry and do dishes and just overall be an awesome friend while things went a little hay wire in our house.  We laughed at my silly boysies and laughed at just life and really had a fantastic time while things were in chaos mode.  And really she's totally funny and awesome so you can't hang out with her and not have a good time....unless of course you can and in that case what a bummer for you.
Jakeb is also home sick because he has a completely random ear infection that has left him a little whoozy and funny feeling.   And by the way he is totally growing up and has done a few things in the past week and half that impress me and I see how big he is getting...and I think he's the most responsible one in the house.  Seriously.
And speaking of doctors and Google.  I am on the hunt for a new pediatrician because yesterday when they told me again to stop giving Gavin medicine that helps him breathe for the second time since we started at this practice and also said he's coughing just from a cold and post nasal drip....you know because he doesn't have typical asthma and that throws them off...I made the decision that either we drive 4 hours to see his old one every time he's sick or I find a new one.   Obviously the latter is the only solution so I am trying to track a suitable dr down for this oddball asthmatic boy.   So this is very frustrating...because I totally get it with his illness and a few doctors do but most seem to be clueless...but again I am not the one with the PhD so what do I know.  Other than you know from life experience and knowing my kid and you know he gets sick the exact.same.way.every.time.  But again what do I know.
Tomorrow Zachary and I are trekking to TN for my baby shower and we are both really looking forward to that!  We are both going to get to kick it with friends and family and have a nice time together.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Tuesday Twelve

1. I am finally going to get my haircut this morning...we really shouldn't spend the moola but I really need a cut and I really maybe should get my hair cut more than twice a year but I don't so I think it's ok to "splurge".

2. We are going to start Gavin on a new behavior system thingy at home...of course at home because he's an angel at school. Like is STUDENT.OF.THE.MONTH. Angel...they described him as a very hard worker and always following directions. On one hand I am super proud of him...ok on both hands I am super proud of him. But yeah we are starting a behavior jar for him...because he is needing some assistance in being Child of the Month.

3. Haha. Child of the Month. I think that might be a great idea....your my favorite kid this month. Which is kinda the truth really....ok not totally. But don't even act like you don't sometimes feel a bit more "in sync" with one child over the other sometimes. I certainly couldn't pick a favorite...I don't have a favorite--really I don't. But there are times when I feel "closer" with Jakeb and times I feel closer with Zachary and times I feel closer with Gavin. And it all evens out....

4.  It's fall ya'll!  I think we may hit up a pumpkin farm sometime this weekend.  We of course do this every October--it's like on the list of "must do Fall Family activities" and it's always fun...but we always wait until like October 29th....it would be nice to get it "checked off the list" earlier this year.

5.  The boys and I sat down and ordered their costumes on Sunday.  I suggested making them this year...but Jakeb totally snubbed my idea by saying he is NOT wearing cardboard.  I can't blame him...so we bought them as we do every year.

6.  5-6 more weeks folks....

7.  I am pretty sure September like didn't happen.  One day it was September 1st and I was thinking "This month is going to drag and it will never be October..." and then it was October.    I guess that's life...one day I am 12 thinking I will never be done with school...and then bam 31 with 3.75 kids and wowzers.

8.  Acorns fall on the house all day.  I think the squirrels are mounting an attack since they are officially locked out.

9.  Did I mention that the oil change man discovered a giant hole in the air filter of my van...beyond the hole was a nice wad of what looked to be a cozy home in the air duct.  Thank you Georgia and your crazy critters.  

10.  I do realize crazy critters live in other states...they just never really bothered us until we moved.

11.  Speaking of air filters the one in our attic needs to be changed...I would do it but I am pretty much terrified of the attic.   Stepping thru the ceiling twice will do that to you.   That and it's dark up there...and I have no shame in admitting I am scared of the dark.   But my watery eye and sore throat keep reminding me that it needs to be done.

12.  I never know if I should wash my hair before a haircut or not.  I don't know why I should worry about it...They always wash my hair.  I will be so cute all belly sticking out in the hair washing chair...NOT.  

Monday, October 3, 2011

A Baby Boy's Room

I have mentioned nearly a dozen times I have been working on piecing together Nolan's room.   I knew the "look" I was wanting...sorta modern/vintage/chic/cute baby's room.  I also knew the budget wasn't going to allow for much.  As in pretty much I needed to get creative...so I did.  Or rather I found Pinterest  which for those who don't know is like an online bulletin board of coolness.  Right right you think...oh well let's just bookmark it...that's what I thought at first.  But really all things creative, clever, handy, and just down right cool are pinned on this site in one location.  For you to thin "pin" yourself for future reference.  So handy.  Anyway so I found more ideas than I could count and narrowed down what the plan was....and came up with this little room...
IMG_4921 IMG_4916 Pretty cute eh?
Here's what I did....
Repainted these 4 little canvas's...they hung in Jakeb's room when he was a little boy (because he's not so little now and is over the trucks *sigh*) IMG_4901 Printed each of these ABC "cards", cut them, glued them to cardstock, and coated with mod podge...
IMG_4904 Snagged some scrapbook paper that went with his room...some extra colors just for some extra colors.  Accordion folded and then unfolded and taped/glued 2 pieces of matching paper together...slapped a button on the seam and hung 'em up! Puff balls are tissue paper accordion fold and unfold for fluffiness... IMG_4911
Also I painted the dresser...which is a special dresser because Robert bought that dresser for me for our first Christmas together.  We were still dating and I didn't have a dresser for my clothes...so he bought this one and stained it all up for me.  It was a natural finish and all 3 (soon to be 4!) boys have used it in their "baby" room.  I painted it up this go round for some extra color in little ones room.  I still need to get knobs for the top drawer that will happen eventually.  I honestly haven't really even looked but I want something fun--not cutesy!   Spray painted the bins under the window as well...those were red and blue and used to house the boys toys....now that they are bigger they don't have as many toys that go in the bins like they should so they could part with 2 sets of them. IMG_4914 Overall I am super pleased with how it all came together!
The bedding is the Eli Elephant set from PBK.  I don't typically get any blankets from PBK but loved the stroller one they had in the store that went with the set so I did splurge and get that it's hanging on the end of the crib.  I didn't get the quilt.  The curtains I got on Ebay.  My mom bought the crib, Robert's parents the mattress and some extra sheets, I snagged the changing table from Walmart.  I am pretty sure the crib and changing table are the cheapest around but they were exactly what I was wanting.  So score! Black Jenny Lind...there ya go!   Rocking chair was my grandmother's (my dad's mom) and totally not paintable for like another 50 years or so when it looks raggedy!   She also made the afghan that is hanging up on the back of the chair.  The sun over the crib used to hang in my grandmother's (my mom's mom) condo in Florida, I don't know if anyone else loves it as much as I do but it's one of my favorite wall hangings we own.   Also not shown is the cradle that my brothers and I all slept in...none of the boys really ever slept in it per-say but they did lay in it at least.  

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