A Forgotten Beach Day

Well, it wasn't really forgotten, but the pictures were.  I just ran across them on our extra camera--a fun find!  

A month ago now we went to spend the weekend with Mike's Mom and Stepdad.  His sister and her kids also came down to visit and we spent one beautiful day playing at the beach.  I can't wait until next summer when i feel better and we can spend more time at the beach.  We really do miss being minutes away from the water and a good tan!

 enjoy the pics.

 

37 Weeks and a Ball

Of course a ball was planned for Mikes new unit as i'm about ready to pop...and of course maternity evening dresses are nearly impossible to find--especially when you need one quick. still i found a simple black dress to squeeze into with the most comfortable shoes i could find and my handsome husband and i went to the ball to meet some of his new coworkers and start integrating into this new unit.  

Although this ball wasn't at a nice fun hotel in the middle of Waikiki, and we weren't surrounded by lots of friends, and i wasn't wearing some awesome dress and in tip top shape--ready to dance and party, we still had a nice time.  It was a good mix of formal and military tradition, while still being somewhat casual in atmosphere and fun.  There was a fabulous live band, the 82nd chorus came to serenade us, the speaker was quite a character and our table mates were an entertaining bunch that made us laugh quite a bit.  We may have been home by 930 pm (that includes a Bo's run on the way home because the food was horrible) and my back and feet were killing me from all the standing and sitting in uncomfortable seats...but it was nice to get dressed up and to have some time together in the midst of all our busy-ness. 

 37 weeks

37 Weeks

Well I don't have a picture for you this week...but i got a story--well an experience, if you will, instead--along with some thoughts and explanations...so here goes.

It's no secret to most of those near me that this pregnancy has really had me on an emotional roller coaster.  I don't really remember it being this way with the twins.  Maybe the other physical problems with them outweighed any emotional issues--but this time they are out and blaring.  Can i get an "amen" from my husband?  

Anyway, without getting into some parenting debate about what's a mountain and what's a molehill...picking battles...and even worse the feared Cry It Out method...here's what happened. 

Nora didn't eat her dinner.  Any of it.  and well although that isn't unusual, it is a source of irritation and tears from time to time.  Mike and I are learning to not let it get to us as much, although we do still think eating good foods is important and believe there should be consequences when she doesn't even try. 

So we were eating earlier than usual and they had a big day of playing hard--inside and outside.  They have been extra sweet and obedient all day and Mike and I decided to let them watch a movie after dinner.  We told them, "when you finish eating, we'll watch a movie".  and boy do they LOVE movies.  As expected, Holden ate every last bite.  Nora on the other hand hardly swallowed 2 bites, neither of those two being a vegetable or meat--and lets face it.  Two pasta noodles doesn't count.  We told her if she didn't try to eat she couldn't watch.  I really thought that would be motivation enough--but tonight it just wasn't. 

If you know my daughter, you can probably imagine what happened next.  If you don't know her, let me paint you a picture.  

--there sitting in her chair was my beautiful sweet daughter, her wide eyes staring straight into mine, with a mouthful of half chewed pasta and green beans, bottom lip quivering and tears silently falling out of her eyes.  She KNOWS she didn't do what we expected, and she KNOWS she won't get to watch the movie.  

And the thing is, the majority of the time she's a super obedient child.  So there were no fits, no loud crying or screaming.  She got down off her chair, followed me up the stairs and into her room...she crawled into her bed and i tucked her in.  More silent tears started to fall.  I talked to her for a second, telling her Mommy and Daddy would miss her and we really wished she would have eaten her food so she could watch her movie.  We prayed and she cried a little louder at that point.  I kissed her and told her goodnight--walked out the door, my own heart breaking with hers.  

What! Heart Broken!?! OVER A DINNER NOT EATEN AND A MISSED MOVIE!   what is wrong with me?  Not pregnant, this would not be affecting me this way.  Usually, I let my kids cry and learn their lessons without letting my emotions get involved.  In general, with most discipline issues i'm not the usual bleeding heart mommy--i definitely lean towards the "no non-sense" approach.   

Anyway, from there it only got worse.  For the first time EVER my sweet, tender-hearted daughter (who may i just interject here--i did not expect her to turn out this way.  She was a tough baby--hard to console, irritable, not loving at all.  I just knew she was gonna give me a run for my money--i had the strong-willed child book ready and waiting... ha.  not even close) cried out "mommy" over and over in between sobs, while laying in her bed just as i left her.  And can I just tell you....this 37 weeks pregnant, very emotional momma Could. Not. Stand It.  It is one thing to hear your child cry, it's a whole different ball game to hear her cry out especially for you--calling your name.  I think for the first time in these almost 3 years i looked at Mike and asked him what i should do.  We sat there and talked about how she needed to learn her lesson and how I can't just go up there and make it all better and hold her--we have to stick to what we say--be consistent...do what we say we're going to do.  That's how you build trust and teach your children.  But the crying got louder.  I couldn't take it.  I caved (with my sweet husband's consent of course). 

I went upstairs, sat by her bed, held her hand and talked to her. I explained what happened again, explained why Mommy and Daddy had to put her to bed.  I acknowledged she was sad and she looked up at me and reiterated "Mommy, Nora sad".  Break. my. heart. again.  I resisted the urge to pick her up and hold her.  But instead readjusted her favorite lovies, tucked her in again, and told her i loved her.  She still had tears in her eyes, but took one hand and reached out to my face and touched my cheek, she told me she loved me and sweet dreams, then snuggled up to Meow and closed her eyes.  I walked out again, and that was it.  Not a sound.  

Success?? who knows? will she eat tomorrow?  who knows?   But that's really not the point of all of this.  the point is I am 37 weeks pregnant and my emotions are playing with my head.  I can't tell the big problems from the small, i can't keep my heart from messing with what i know is right.  Really.  This is driving me crazy.  

I look back at posts i had from when i was pregnant with the twins.  They were funny.  I had ridiculous stories, and funny experiences. It's definitely a different ball game this time.  Maybe it's the time---we did just move away from our home and friends of 6 years, we're in a new town trying to make new friendships and connections,  we're working hard trying to get a house just perfect (though it's hardly so) all before this baby comes, all while trying to find a balance with our families and friends just a few hours away now and still find time to spend together just the 4 of us --having some fun times as well as trying to create a routine so the kids can have a since of security and a feeling of home again.  

It's a lot.  

It's also what Army Life is all about. And i know that. 

Add on an emotional pregnant woman...you have me right now. 

and that my friends is probably the biggest reason for my blogging drought.  It'll pick up again, as will I.  Just give me time to settle--which may still be awhile, i'm aware.  

I gotta give a shout out to the best husband in the world.  He's been great. Trying to be as supportive as possible to me, as well as picking up the slack where i physically can't do so much anymore, all the while learning his new job and doing house project after house project.  He's our real life energizer bunny.  and i love him.  a lot.  

Twins Room Final

The twins room has been pretty much finished.  I do still have some pictures to hang up, but for the time being i'm finishing up/ putting those kinds of projects away and cleaning up our  downstairs (my current project workshop) in preparation for #3 coming.  

So here's a tour of the 1 almost finished room in the house.  

Aloha

view from the door

Holden's Bed

Nora's Bed

the valence we made

looking back at the door 

 North Shore pics... the other picture collages will be similar to this, i just have to take time to mount them and get them hung up. 

 i printed out the pics we took in HI from Mpix... modge podged them to thin cardboard (like cereal boxes) to make them into a postcard-like thickness and then we hung them with office clips--thank you pinterest.  much cheaper and more simple than lots and lots of frames. 

 Dresser/ Mikes Surfboard

 Bow Organizer i made for Nora..i have a headband one in the works to hang beside it. 

 Modge Podge pictures on Canvas--these turned out really great i think and the process was easy and fun

 i used scrapbook paper on the edges and then smudged paint around the edges to blend the picture into the paper and make it look "wrapped" here is the tutorial if you are interested 

 play area--thanks to ikea and craigslist

 we made this bench to put over the storage blocks--easy peasy...another tutorial here

craigslist train table that we spray painted white to match

 my "wine down" painting and another modge podge canvas

 a fun sign Daddy brought bome from HI--meaning 'welcome' or 'come inside'

Raleigh Quick Trip

While in Raleigh for the Kids Exchange, we were able to make the most of our trip by getting to see the Pegrams.  They were nice enough to let our clan crash at their house for the night even though they were preparing for a beach trip that same weekend.  

Lacey and I were both in design classes together at Meredith.  We did almost all our projects in her apartment...lots of late nights and lots of laughing.  It is always good to catch up with her and her husband Jonathan.  Their son, Carter, is 2 days older than the twins and the 3 of them had a good time playing together.

  The morning before we left, we went to a nearby park, played on the equipment and then fed the geese, ducks, fish and turtles in the pond.  The kids LOVED it. 

Staying clear of the grumpy geese. 

Holden is SO EXCITED to feed the ducks. 

 walking with Uncle Jon

 Friends. 

Shop Till We Drop

A couple of weekends ago, Mike had a Friday off and on a whim we decided the night before to go to Raleigh and fight the crowds at the Kids Exchange.  This is a huge consignment sale at the state fairgrounds held biannually.  Knowing that we have absolutely NO CLOTHES for the the winter months as well as a new baby coming, with a few needs still to go, we took a chance, packed the family up and went shopping! 

and it was a bit crazy.  

the line to get in the building was pretty insane...and there were lots of moms ready, pulling trashcans and wagons behind them ready to load up on all the supposed good deals.  Mike and I did notice everyone going in with large rolling devices and decided to unpack our suitcase and take it in just in case.  

I am really glad we did.  

Although i thought the first room full of equipment was a little intimidating, and still maybe a little overpriced on some things, we did get a like new pack n play (the one we have is split in the middle for twins) and a jumparoo (because the last one i had we donated to the church because we had nowhere to store it and they needed one). 

The clothes racks were another story.  Sure there was lots of stuff that wasn't in great condition--but there was also a lot of really nice things, you just had to take the time to go through it.  This preggo momma pushed herself to the limit trying to hit the baby racks as well as the boys and girls racks to clothe my kiddos for the winter.  We walked aways with a large suitcase filled to the brim...over 67 items of clothing--all winter stuff and PJ's.  It was DEFINITELY worth the chaos of crazy moms and crying children.  Not that i would want to do that again anytime soon, but saving money is a good feeling ;)

Speaking of kids.  Ours were wonderful, of course ;) Really, 4 hours of intense shopping and they hardly complained.  It may have taken some funny daddy songs and a lot of snacks, but we were really proud of how well they did.  

 

 they were also excited about some of their new things...like life jackets for Pop Pop's boat, a barbie helmet for Norabird and Thomas and Woody Pj's . 

I really meant to take a picture of all our loot that day, but i was way too pooped to do it.  Actually i was so exhausted that i had to sit at the exit door and let Mike go get the car and come back and pick me up because i literally couldn't walk another step.  He's a pretty great husband for enduring the shopping spree with me-- i wouldn't have been able to do it without him, and let's be honest, he also loves a good deal when he can get one!

THIRTY TWO

Can you just pretend i posted this 3 weeks ago?   That is when i actually took the pictures.  My 32nd week of pregnancy, and the kids 32nd month of life.  Mike almost made the cut with his 32nd year of life...but he was about 8 weeks shy and we don't want to rush old age now, do we? ;)

 to expand on the preggo update (as of 35 weeks now): 

It's going okay.  I'm sore--most days a lot--every once in a while i get a good day where i can almost ignore it.  I'm obviously much smaller this time around which does make most things a bit easier.  I can still get out of bed without the help of my husband, i fit in the car--through door ways, etc.  okay i'm being a  bit ridiculous, but really it is nice not being stopped and asked 10 times a day when i'm due and "how many babies are in there?". 

between keeping up with the twins, working on the house and taking all my naps ;) we've been pretty busy.  People keep asking if we're ready for #3 and geez what does ready mean?  We did finally clean out his room and this weekend Mike and his brother, Kevin, painted the nursery.  I have finally started washing baby clothes and diapers that were packed away and we have been pulling out all the baby equipment making sure everything works.  

he doesn't have a name.  seems to be the popular question from everyone.  he will have a name one day.  i promise.  it's not so easy the second time around..we've already used our favorite name...and while trying to stay away from every name already used by family and friends...well that's just difficult.  

are we mentally ready?  who knows.  when i think about the no-sleep schedule after having such great sleeping babies for well over 2 years now, i get a little nervous.  am i ready to balance keeping my two    little ones busy and entertained while providing and caring for a newborn 24/7 and still keeping up my marriage and house...i dunno?  can you ever be? but other people do it and it's happening, so no reason to worry right?  

are we ready to meet this little boy that's been growing inside me for the past 8 months?  oh heck yes.  i'm ready to hold him, snuggle him and watch him grow up and develop into his own person.  and i think it goes without saying i'm ready to get him out of me.  it's really no secret i don't love being pregnant--but that doesn't mean it's not worth every second. 

we really have no birth plan.  military health care at its best....we're 35 weeks with an appointment next week to discuss our "options".  C-section...VBAC...who knows, i am truly not sure what is best for us and it's taken this long to get an appointment with someone to discuss it.  it's almost comical when my civilian friends find out they are  pregnant and know their c-section date all before their first trimester is up.  Heck, us military moms are lucky to be seen and ge a pee test before we're 12 weeks.  Let's just hope nothing happens before my appointment so i can at least make a sound decisions while not in labor.  All this being said, #3 will make it's way out one way or the other--that I AM sure of. 

and an update on these two cuties...

Nora: 

We just had a check-up...like months overdue...and all is well.  She is 37 1/2 inches tall (about 80th percentile) and 25 lbs (about 10th percentile). Long and lean, and ALL GIRL.  

She talks ALL.THE.TIME.  It cracks us up when it doesn't drive us crazy.  She giggles a lot and loves to sing.  Twinkle Twinkle is her favorite..she calls it "twinkle star" and then Jesus Loves Me. 

 She is in love with her stuffed cat, his official name is Meow.  Meow is her best friend.  She talks to him, reads to him, and can't sleep without him.  When she's scared or sad, it's one of the first things she wants.  She also loves our real kitties.  It's not unusual to find her reading to Lulu while Lu sleeps in her box.  Nora brings her lots of toys and talks to her about all kinds of things i can't understand.

 She's turned out to be quite a rule follower.  Of course she's two and often has her moments, but she likes order, routine and having a place for everything.  I really can't complain.  She also likes to boss Holden around, and we're starting to get the first of "tattling" when he doesn't do something right. 

She can still be nervous of new things and places with lots of people.  We've learned not to push her and let her warm up to things on her own.  That may mean it takes her a year to go down a slide...but in her own time, she seems to get over her fears and have a good time.  

She can be a finicky eater, although it has more to do with a chewing/texture problem than the actual taste of food.  We have a hard time getting her to eat meat (aside from her beloved breakfast sausage and hotdogs) but we're slowly making progress.  She LOVES sweets (of course) as well as biscuits.  If she's sees a McDonalds or Chickfila anywhere she immediately starts begging for a biscuit. 

She really is a joy, and as silly and girly as i always imagined a daughter of mine would be.  I'm a very lucky mommy.

Holden: 

At his check-up he weighed in at 31 lbs (about 60th percentile) and 38 3/4 inches (90th percentile).  

Holden is a sweet, sweet boy.  He has 2 sides--it's either go go go and running around crazy like you can imagine a little boy will do.  Or he can be quiet, sensitive and just sit back and observe.  His feelings are hurt quite easily and it's nothing unusual for him to wake up on a any given day, and things just not be quite right for him.  He doesn't easily adjust to changes and can also be weary of new things. 

He loves music of all kinds.  He likes to listen to it, sing it, and play it.  Whether it's his drums, the keyboard, or his ukelele--he loves to walk around a play.  

He also loves to play with cars and trains and planes as most boys do.  His favorite cars are the ones the bigger model cars that look like real cars and he can even tell you what each one is.  

He is very into colors and changes his favorite from week to week.  He picks out his shirts or what toys he's playing with based on the favorite color of he week.  

Holden loves men.  His Daddy, his uncles, his grandpas....  He would rather be with them than anybody.   When we go to play at another kid's house, he's happier hanging out with the men in the room than playing with the kids.  

Holden also has a goofy side.  He does things just to make his sister laugh--she thinks he's hilarious.  He poses and makes silly faces all the time just to get a reaction out of the people around him.  We are already expecting a call from school about being a clown in class.  

He has a fabulous memory.  He remembers people's names after meeting them once..and as many people as we have met in the past few months, that's pretty impressive.  We can tell him what something is one time and he usually has it down.  He also won't let us forget if we told him we were going to do something.  Gotta watch out about that...

Potty Training for both is proving to be as difficult as i thought it may be.  We're taking a break.  I'm just not sure they are ready. We made a valiant effort this summer with not much progress.  I'm hoping that a few months more will make the difference and we'll get this under control.  

It's true what they say about momma's and their boys.  He warms my heart everyday and he still makes time to hug and kiss me--which is more than i can say for princess norabird most days.  They are both getting so big i can hardly believe it, but they really are great kids with fun personalities.  It's a joy to be their mom. 

 here's the outtakes from our mini photo shoot...