That Helpful Kid

Since That Baby's arrival, That Kid has been extremely helpful. Maybe helpful isn't the right word. Some of the great things he's done...

1. Today when That Baby was crying, That Kid decided it was because he wanted "bottle food" (we told him That Baby's food comes from a bottle, he's not allowed to feed him anything. ;) ). He got me a bottle, a bag of milk, a nipple, and the cap from one of my collection bottles. So helpful!!

2. When he decides That Baby's been crying too long, That Kid puts his hand over That Baby's mouth. So helpful!!

3. Saturday, That Baby was being extra needy. I couldn't put him down. That Dad was at work, and had to stay an extra hour because the schedule was messed up and That Dad was the only person from his department at the store. He had to stay there until the next person came. I didn't get to eat until almost 3pm...and that was because I decided to let That Baby cry while I made lunch (breakfast?!?) for myself. I put him in his bassinet in the living room and kept telling myself he was safe in his bassinet while I made my food (sandwiches and chips...it should have taken me all of 5 minutes). Then I heard That Baby choking. I went running to the living room where I found That Kid with That Baby's bulb syringe shoved halfway down That Baby's throat. I yelled at That Kid, who immediately went running to his room crying, "I'm bad! I'm bad!" Then That Kid, That Baby, and That Mama were all three crying. It was lovely. But...That Kid was just being helpful. So helpful!!

All in all, we've made a nice adjustment from a family of three to a family of four. I'm still trying to find the balance in having two kids, trying to make time for That Kid (even if it's just my undivided attention at bedtime). That Baby will be a month old on Friday...I think we're doing pretty well for having a month old baby! :)

Confessions of That Sleep Deprived Mama!!

When your blood pressure is as high as mine was when That Baby was born, you get asked every few minutes if you have a head ache, or blurry vision or stars in your eyes, or nausea. I will admit that for the first time, I had to answer that yes, I did have a head ache. A very, very bad head ache. I've never had any of the rest of the symptoms asked.

A couple of days ago, I got in the shower. As I was washing my hair, I realized I left my glasses on, so I took them off and placed them in the shower caddy. And forgot them when I got out of the shower.

I grabbed the first pair of glasses I found on the bathroom counter - but they weren't mine. Mine were still forgotten in the shower. I put That Dad's glasses on, instead. And I couldn't see, and my vision was blurry, and I was convinced my blood pressure was dangerously high again. I quickly realized the lenses were too small to be my lenses, and took That Dad's glasses off and found mine again. :) Crisis averted!! I think I should probably go to bed earlier, or at least take a nap or two each day!

Check this out!

Guess what I did last Wednesday?? Here's a hint...I got morphine. It was good stuff. I loved my anesthesiologist. :) I also got a spinal, which was not as fun as the morphine.

And, I'm not pregnant anymore! Yay!! That Baby was born on Wednesday, June 1, at 3:57. My blood pressure had gone through the roof, and yet again I had pre eclampsia. The first course of action was going to be to keep me in the hospital for five days and deliver today, on June 6, but when my doctor walked in and saw my pressures he decided that the best course would be to deliver right then and there.

That Kid just adores That Baby! He has been sharing his toys, and teaching him about his favorite TV shows, and loves holding him.

I will admit that I am glad the pregnancy ended the way it did, because That Dad and I had decided long ago That Baby would be That LAST Baby. Until two weeks ago, while my pressures had been slightly elevated they weren't horrible, and my pregnancy was almost perfect - I had said if I could have another pregnancy like that one I'd do it a third time. But, knowing my body doesn't like pregnancy after 35 weeks and that it's fairly dangerous for me to get pregnant again, I'm OK with this decision. And, my OBs all think it's the best decision for us, too; so that makes me feel much better.

OK...it's taken me 2 hours to write this...I must be busy or something. :) Off to watch That Baby sleep...it's super precious!

What's good for the gosling, is good for the goose!

That Kid has a new very bad habit. When we call him he said, "WHAT?!?" in a very snotty and rude tone. We've been after him to say, "Yes, Mama?" or "Yes, Daddy?" instead of "WHAT?!?"; and he's quickly learning. :)

Tonight, after wishing I had this book because That Kid had called me into his bedroom for the 500th time after I told him to close his eyes and sleep, I marched in and said, "WHAT?!?"

Without missing a beat he said, "You no say WHAT, Mama; you say, 'Yes, That Kid?'" OK, OK...I guess I need to work on it, too!! :)

It's for That Baby, I say!

I really dislike this time of year. The time of year when Cadbury Eggs are abundant (both Creme and Mini); and Candy Corn is pastel instead of yellow, orange, and white; Sweetarts come in animal shapes; and jelly beans are available in tons of delicious flavors you can't normally get (just yesterday I saw FOUR varieties of STARBURST jelly beans alone!).

I have no self control. I need my Creme Eggs. I need my Mini Eggs. And, I need to hide them from That Kid.

So, I buy these things, and I hide them. Or I think I hide them, anyway. I have a huge bucket from my trip to see Eclipse last Summer. They put deeeeeeeeeelicious, buttery movie theatre popcorn in it, which I ate. And now I hide my Easter candy in. Until a couple of days ago, I thought I was doing well...but when I got out of the shower That Kid came running up to me and told me, "Mama. We need more CANDY. It's gone." And gone it was. That Baby ate it. Well, I helped. But it was *for* That Baby.

I'm thinking That Kid is going to hate his brother before he even arrives if I don't stop telling him that things in my Twilight bucket are "for the baby", or that the sourdough bread (he calls it tias, no idea why, and then takes the bag and eats the bread under the train table) I've been craving is "for the baby", or even that he can't sit on my stomach because he's squishing his brother. Maybe I'll share my hidden candy after all...

"It's not about winning, it's about spending time together!"

Tonight, That Family attempted our first ever family game. That Kid has been asking to play Candy Land for a couple of days now, so after That Dad was cleaned up after work, we played.

And since it was our first official family game, it *had* to last forever. That Dad was going to win, when he drew a bad card and got knocked back to the middle of the board. Then I got sent back to the beginning. Then That Kid got sent back to the beginning. And we ran out of cards. We probably should have taken the picture cards out at that point, but we didn't...and I got sent back to Mr. Minty. And That Kid was close to winning (OK, he actually would have won if he had taken the better of the two cards he picked!) but because he loves the picture cards he went back to Gumdrop Mountain.

As the game neared the end, That Dad was in the lead. And he tried to get That Kid to pick better cards, but he didn't, and That Dad was the winner of the first That Family Official Family Game Night! Instead of cheering for That Dad, That Kid put his head on the table and started to pout. He wouldn't tell That Dad "Good Game" or give him a high five. He took his new Jeep and Trailer and ran into the kitchen. A minute later he came out, and That Dad said, "Did you have a good time?" "NO!", That Kid answered. "I no have a good time! I no win!" So, That Dad took him in his arms and gave him a big hug and told him, "It's not about winning, it's about spending time together!" :) And we picked up the game and put it away. Don't think we'll get it out again for a while!!!

"Oh what a world, what a world!!!!!!"

Isn't that what the Wicked Witch of the West said when she melted? Or, as That Kid would say, when she milked?

A few months ago, he started telling me things were "milking". Icicles were milking off the house. Snow was milking. His ice cream was milking at the restaurant. His eyes were milking (I still haven't figured that one out).

This is his first real mispronounciation...and I love it! He never talks about the "liberry" or "pasketti", just about things milking.

We're a NASCAR family!!

In the last couple years, I have really started enjoying NASCAR, and so does That Kid. His favorite driver is Jimmie Johnson. I also like Jimmie Johnson, but after this year's run at Daytona, I also really, really like Trevor Bayne (I don't discuss the fact that I was starting high school the year he was born...though he was born in February and I started high school in September, it was still the same year).

Every Sunday, That Kid and I argue. I tell him to cheer for Trevor AND Jimmie, and he refuses. "I only cheer Jimmie! Jimmie soooooooooo fast! He my only Jimmie in the whoooooooooooooole world! I no wike Trebor!"

If you don't follow NASCAR, you may not know that Jimmie's number is 48. Or, as That Kid says, 4-8. I have to explain that though, so this next part will make sense. :)

For some reason I don't know, there is a box of plastic spoons sitting on our workbench in the garage. It's a box of 48 spoons. That Kid saw them and said, "Those Jimmie spoons!!" It was then that I knew...we're a true NASCAR family. We find the NASCAR aspect in our every day lives...even in boxes of plastic spoons. :)

Hellooooooooooooo, March!!

What is it about March? Or, should I say, what is it about July??

This month, I know at least 20 people who are having a birthday. And one April baby, who could have easily been a March baby had she been born 2 days earlier.

I am one of those people! Yay for me having a birthday! Now that I'm older, I enjoy my birthday again. But, the year I turned 21, I was a mess. I cried almost every day leading up to my birthday because I thought I was getting old. I would *love* to be 21 again! Mostly because I could go fix the mistakes I made after turning 21. ;)

So, bring on the cake! Bring on the presents! Bring on the parties!!!!! It's MARCH!!!!!!!!!

Excuses, Excuses...

With That Baby's pending arrival, That Dad and I have been trying to find a new big boy bed for That Kid. A friend of mine is redecorating her girls room, and found this amazing bed, and I showed it to That Kid.

He was unimpressed. "It too soft!", he said.

I like it because both That Kid and That Baby could sleep in it. We could make more space in That Kid's room by getting rid of his dresser. Sleepovers would be easy (not that I want to have anymore sleepovers since having That Special Friend spend the night a couple times when I was watching her)! If That Kid sleeps in our bed, That Dad or I could actually go sleep in this bed (as opposed to his bed now that only holds 50 pounds...That Dog can't even get up on his bed!).

But no, it's too soft. How did That Kid become so opinionated? He must get it from my mother. ;)

I'm sorry, That Kid! I didn't mean to!

This morning, That Kid woke up and looked so sad. I asked him what was wrong, and he said he missed That Papa and That Onna. :'( Because of the crappy day I had yesterday (it involved a broken tie rod bolt in our car, a ride in a police car, and our vehicle being towed by not one, but TWO tow trucks...not to mention That Hamster escaping and taking up residence in That Kid's closet...) I haven't cried about them leaving...until this morning.

When That Kid told me he was so sad about missing That Papa and That Onna, I lost it and started crying. That Kid hugged me and said, "It OK, Mama! Don't cry!" and then tried to kiss me. But, well, I'm not used to being kissed while I'm crying. And I had no idea that when he kissed me, on the mouth, that my nose would explode and snot would be blown all over That Kid's mouth and nose!! LOL Neither one of us are crying anymore...and I'm not going to let That Kid kiss me when I AM crying ever, ever again. That was just gross. But not so gross that I didn't immediately blog about it! :p

An Update on That Baby

Last week, That Papa and That Onna came for a visit. While they were here, we had an ultra sound, and discovered the gender of That Baby.

I was convinced we were having a girl. I have been far more sick with That Baby than I was with That Kid; That Baby's heart rate was 171 at our 12 week ultra sound, they did a quick gender check at our 12 week ultra sound and even though That Baby was in the perfect position the tech couldn't see anything AND the tech said if she were guessing the gender she would guess girl.

I'm glad I didn't take her word for that...my daughter has a penis. :) That Kid is getting a brother. He took the news much better than I thought he was going to...he was convinced he was going to get a sister. He has told me from the minute I told him we were getting a baby that it was a girl baby, and he would be having a sister. When I told him that he may get a brother he said, "I will make faces at a brother!" But, That Onna, That Gramma and I brought him some blue balloons back and he was thrilled with the balloons and hasn't said anything bad against a brother since finding out. ;)

I'm still getting sick on occasion, and I'm still quite exhausted, but this pregnancy is going much better than my pregnancy with That Kid did. Perhaps my body knows how to handle these extra hormones now!

It's not my fault!!

I know I've been gone for a while, but it's not my fault!!

A couple weeks ago, our computer started acting funny. When it went to sleep, it wouldn't wake up. The lights on the front panel quit working, and you would have to turn it off and back on in order to wake it up.

Then, That Dad suggested we just tell it to not go to sleep...so that's what I did. And the fan started blowing at a crazy high rate of speed...then it just shut down one day and wouldn't come back up no matter what we did. I told That Dad, "I'm OK...I still have my iPod...I can still get online and read at least!!" but within 20 minutes of me saying that, my iPod broke, too! That was last Monday.

Tuesday morning, I woke up and took the computer and my iPod to the Geek Squad for repair. The Geek that helped me opened the tower and said, "Oh crap..." then brought it back over to me, showing me that some of the connectors on the motherboard were not concave anymore, and the motherboard was blown. Since my iPod was plugged in to the computer at the time the motherboard blew, it took that out, too! I was disappointed, because the Geek asked me if we'd had any blue flames. Apparently when this happens, the memory cards sometimes catch fire and shoot blue flames out the front of the tower. We hadn't. That would have been pretty dang cool, though!! I mean, until the whole "Oh, there's a fire in our computer!" thing set in and I had to grab the extinguisher! ;)

We went back to the store and bought a new computer we didn't have the money for, got my iPod repaired, and after having the Geeks put the information from our old computer onto the new computer, we're back up and running! Last week was probably the longest week of my life! ;) I told one of my friends, "I have never felt so disconnected in my entire life!" It's amazing how dependent our lives have become on technology. I read the news online, I communicate 98% of the time with my friends online, and my night time treat, watching episodes of The Office before bed, is brought to me by NETFLIX on demand. It was a sad, sad week. I'm just glad to be back!!

First day back, and the proclamation...

"That Special Friend is my only girl in the whoooole world!"

That Dad said he didn't expect That Kid to be tied down at 4. ;)

When That Kid first saw That Special Friend yesterday, he was super shy. He waved at her from behind her Dad, and giggled with delight; then when she ran off to play he chased after her then hugged her and kissed her arm. :)

The day we've been waiting for!!!

For two weeks, That Kid has been begging to go back to school! Every time he gets dressed to go somewhere, "I goin' a school, Mama?" and then cries when I say no. But today...TODAY is the day! That Kid gets to see That Special Friend after not seeing her for THREE long agonizing weeks. Apparently he's going to hug her, and kiss her, and play in the blocks with her. :)

That Dad is home sick today, so we'll probably drop That Kid off and come home and relax. We don't have enough "time to relax at home" time, because when we drop him off, we just keep going. Maybe we'll come home and watch The Wedding Singer. That movie is amazingly awesome. Especially the end, with Billy Idol. :)

Our Christmas and New Year

We had a fairly uneventful Christmas and New Year this year.

The biggest issue on Christmas Day was when I had to stop everything and have a talk with That Kid about gratitude. He was upset because Santa didn't bring him more presents. I don't know if he thought that the presents Santa brought were the only presents he would be getting (and the Pillow Pet he asked Santa for 2 days before Christmas wasn't there...for good reason!), or if he was just really being that big of a brat. :) And don't worry...That Kid did get a Pillow Pet from his Aunt and Uncle. Santa knew it was coming (because Santa knows EVERYTHING!!!), so he knew not to make one himself.

I thought Santa brought him quite a bit of nice stuff...even if the Chinese Elves that made his big red truck were grossly overpaid for that piece of junk!!!

Later that day, That Dad's family came to open presents; and then his cousins came for lunch around 2PM. I love hosting meals at our house, but get a little uptight sometimes...especially when things don't go exactly the way I've planned. I get pretty OCD, too. Like when the foil off the mayo jar landed "mayo side down" on my tablecloth. I freaked out, until That Dad let me wipe it up and put the pile of napkins over it. I'm not typically OCD, but there's something about having a houseful of people that makes me a little neurotic. :)

For the New Year, That Dad, That Kid, and I have all been battling colds. Last night, we just ended up eating some nasty Hamburger Helper (I didn't boil it long enough or something...it never thickened up); and then we were in bed by 9:30. That Dad read until 10; and I watched three episodes of The Office (including the one where Jim and Pam get married, and yes, I cried...). I was asleep just before 11:30 or so. We know how to party at our house, that's for sure!!

We're looking forward to another visit from That Papa and That Coco (or That Onna, depending which Grandchild you're speaking with...) in February, along with discovering the gender of That Baby (I'm thinking we'll have That Boy and That Girl...that's just my Mother's Intuition) and getting to meet That Baby in June (but not in May...I hope That Baby doesn't come in May!!! That Kid was 4 weeks early, I don't want That Baby to be 4 weeks early, too!), and making memories with my family of three before we become a family of four.

Hope you all have a wonderful 2011!! I think it's going to be a great, great year!!