find joy in the journey

38 weeks, 5 days

 

The boys keep asking me, "when is your belly going to pop?"  And now we have an answer . . . on Friday, September 30th I am scheduled for an induction.  I was thinking I should start collecting guesses on the time you all think she will be born.  I'll give you some past statistics to help you out.  From the time they started the pitocin with Conner it took 12 hours and 40 minutes.  With Payton, it was 8 hours and 17 min.  So, I'm guessing with this one the pitocin will be started at 9:00am, what time do you think the birth will be?  Insert your guesses in the comments section -- it will be fun to see who is the closest!

container love

I love The Container Store!  I don't know how many times I've browsed their website, but it wasn't until last saturday that I got to visit a real store.  Let me tell you, it was heaven!  For my birthday last week I asked for several specific items from the container store, which Scott gave me.  And I also received a gift card.  My plan was to spruce up and streamline my scrapbooking desk.  Last night I finished putting everything together and I just had to share.

 

Isn't it beautiful!!  This kind of stuff makes me happy.

disneyland album . . . finished

I have been working on our disneyland album, off and on, since May.  And tonight I have finally finished!  (We took the trip back in March).  Thought I would share a few of my favorite pages here.  

pregnancy this and that

37 weeks now.  My goal all along has been to take better care of myself, eat right, drink lots of water and exercise (something I NEVER did during my other pregnancies).  And I've done very well in all of these areas.  Another goal was to avoid the 40 lbs. weight gain I had with both boys -- was hoping for about 30.  As of today I've gained 34 lbs. and I've been thinking about how I need to be extra careful these last few weeks -- that last month always seems to hit me.  So I'm psyching myself up for a day of healthy snacks and lots of water drinking and what do I go and eat for breakfast . . . . 9 apple bundles I made for dessert at last night's Enrichment.  That's right, NINE!  Granted, the recipe labeled them as "low-fat", but I think it's time that I get a grip.

Every morning the boys and I watch a few minutes of A Baby Story on TLC before breakfast.  We change the channel to the weather and news when it comes to the gritty part of labor/delivery and then switch back after the baby has come out.  The boys quite like the show.  When I get stuck on the news for too long and Conner reminds me that we need to watch the baby show.

At my dr. appointment last week I had the test done for Strep B.  So I got a phone call from my doctor's office yesterday with the results -- it was positive.  That took me by surprise.  My pregnancies are so uneventful that I always expect things to be normal.  This means that during labor they will give me antibiotics through the IV to reduce the risk of the bacteria being passed onto the baby.  Here's more info, if you care to look.  Anyways, it isn't that big of a deal, I guess, but I still got that kinda sad/bummer feeling after hearing the news.

Lots of stuff to do today -- unpack from Enrichment last night, clean the bathrooms, do the ironing, finally clean up the baby's room, and prepare some fabulous project ideas for my super saturday planning meeting tonight.

first day

new shirt

new shoes

new class, new teacher, new schedule, new friends . . . . same cheesy grin

Yesterday was Conner's first day of preschool.  He came bolting up the stairs and announced to me that he had been a good boy.  He spent the rest of the day bouncing off the walls and acting pretty silly.  Even when Scott came home he noticed that Conner was acting strange.  During my questioning I asked if his teacher was nice.  He said "mmmm . . .  sometimes."  Well, when is she not nice?  "When we're not a good boy."  So obviously, something happened that allowed Conner to see the other side of his teacher's personality.  We're not sure what it was though.  We think this will be a good year for Conner.  His teacher seems to be very structured which will be perfect for Conner.  It sounds like he had a great time at school and one of his friends from last year is in his class again.

In the meantime, I hope Payton enjoys the next 2-3 weeks when he gets to be the only kid at home with mom.  Pretty soon that is all going to change.

zoo day

On Friday we spent the afternoon at the zoo as a family.  Scott's company hosts an annual employee appreciation day there which includes free admittance to the zoo and dinner.  The boys were so excited to go.  Plus, it was a treat to have Scott with us -- it's not often that dad gets to join us on these kinds  of adventures.  The boys were like little ravenous wolves at dinner -- Conner had 3 hot dogs and Payton had 6 slices of watermelon.  But, everyone was happy and that's all that matters.  Here's some pics from our day:

1, 2, and 3 are from a large aviary filled with larakeets (I think that's what they're called).  Anyways, you can pay $1 for a little cup of juice to feed them.  And when you enter the doors they all come swarming to you.  It is so much fun.  I started out with about 5 birds on me, including one on my head.  In #1 the bird that was on my head had just flown off and landed on the camera as Scott was taking my picture.   (Click on the thumbnails to get a larger view).

Preggo update:  At my 36 wk appointment on Friday the doctor said I was dilated to 1 cm.  We're just 3 1/2 weeks away from the big day!  The anticipation is definitely growing, but so is the realization that we are not ready!  There are so many projects I want to do, (deep) cleaning around the house that should be done . . . But irght now I have to just take it one thing at a time.  On today's agenda -- pack the hospital bag, organize the clutter in my bedroom.

salmonella for dinner

1:25pm -- Put dinner together in the crockpot.  Chicken with mushrooms and an italian tomato sauce.

1:30pm -- Start the Disneyland sing-a-long video for the boys

2:00pm -- Video ends.  Put Payton down for his nap.  Help Conner settle into his quiet time.  I retreat to the bedroom to do some work on the computer.

3:15pm -- Emerge from my bedroom to check on the crockpot.  I find that the crockpot is turned off and the chicken (still raw) & tomato sauce are sitting there at room temperature.  Payton, that little pill!  Come to think of it, during the movie that they were supposed to be quietly watching, Payton had climbed onto the counter tops a couple times to steal bananas -- which are sitting right next to the crock pot.

. . . . As if this wasn't enough, yesterday I caught him squeezing a bottle of baby lotion into the baby's car seat which Scott had just pulled down from the attic.  And did I tell you about the time he flushed two toothbrushes down the toilet -- they got stuck and Scott had to remove the toilet to retrieve them.  Or when he threw the dish remote into a sink of soapy water and I didn't find it for 2+ hours.  Another fun time was when he dumped an entire bottle of foundation all over Grammer Valerie's bedroom carpet.  My favorite was finding his drawings all over the fridge and countertops -- all done in permanent marker.

I bet you're wondering . . . . does anybody ever watch this kid?  Yes, we do.  But he is so quick.  Scott and I truly believe that he has all these schemes and plans tucked away in his little head, just waiting for the right moment when he can execute them.  We definitely have to be on our toes.

Actual dinner tonight -- grilled cheese sandwiches.

ice cream sandwich torte

• 1 cup coarsely chopped oreos (about 10 cookies)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 package (3.9 ounces) chocolate instant pudding & pie filling
• 1 container (12 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
• 12 frozen ice cream sandwiches, unwrapped, divided

1.  In a bowl combine milk and pudding mix; whisk until mixture is smooth and begins to thicken.  Fold in half of the whipped topping and cookies; set filling aside.

2.  Working quickly, arrange six of the ice cream sandwiches side by side on a platter.  Spread filling evenly over sandwiches.  Top with remaining ice cream sandwiches, forming a rectangle-shaped torte; smooth sides.  Spread remaining whipped topping over top and sides of torte.  For topping/garnish use sprinkles, more chopped up oreos, or 2 Tbsp. grated chocolate chips.  Freeze at least 30 minutes or until ready to serve.  (If freezing overnight, remove from freezer 30-45 minutes before serving for easier slicing).  Yield:  16 servings

I made this last night for our FHE treat -- doesn't it look heavenly!  I got the recipe from a pampered chef party I went to a couple weeks ago.  It is sooo good and sooo easy to make.

feelin' lazy

Talk about a lazy sunday afternoon.  I think I spent 4 hours just chillin' on my bed today -- 2 of those hours were spent napping.  It felt so good to do absolutely nothing!

It's been a good weekend for us.  It all began Friday afternoon.  Scott was home early -- he needed to get his gear together for a YM campout.  The boys and I went down to the town pool (they have a cute wading pool for little kids), but just before Conner could get into the water Scott appeared unexpectedly and announced that he was taking Conner camping with him.  I was kinda stunned, and asked all the questions -- do you have clothes for him, a carseat?  Yep.  He was packed and ready to go.  So, probably for the first time ever Payton and I spent the evening alone.  It was a pretty weird feeling.  We went out to Burgerville for dinner and treated ourselves to a tillamook cheeseburger and their amazing fresh berry milkshakes.

The men arrived back home about 2pm on Saturday.  I greeted them on the driveway and when Conner stepped out of the truck . . . . I have never seen that boy so filthy in my life!  Literally, dirt all over his hands and arms and face and clothes.  Conner's first words were, "mom we got a hamburger!"  So I asked Scott, "did you take him to lunch looking like this?"  Yep.  Couldn't you take a second to just wipe him down.  I mean, the palms of the kid's hands were brown!  I guess it's all just part of the fun of camping with dad. 

Last night Scott took kid duty while I joined a few of my friends at the local scrapbook store for a crop from 5-11pm.  We do this every few months.  It's so nice to get away, chat, have a good dinner, and maybe fit in some scrappin'.  Even if I don't get much done I always feel like the evening was very much worth it.

And finally, today it was my turn to teach in Relief Society.  My lesson was "Follow the Prophet" and I think it went pretty well.  But glad to have that done for a few months.  Conner was a good boy in Primary so that always makes us happy -- and it makes for a happier afternoon for the whole family.  Everybody gets to have their pancakes for dinner and Conner is so proud of himself, reminding us throughout the day that he was a good boy today.  I cut the boys' hair after dinner, and after a good bath sent them off to bed.  It was definitely a good day.  Did I mention that I did absolutely nothing for 4 hours?  Good times.

when i grow up

I'm on the computer this morning and listening to the boys watching Dora the Explorer.  She asks "what do you want to be when you grow up?"  And Conner answers, "I want to be a missionary."  Then Payton pipes in with, "I be a pirate!" and then runs into their bedroom to grab his pirate gear.  When he returned Conner says, "Payton, I'm going to read a book to you!"  Which, I think they're in the middle of right now.  Sometimes I just can't get over how make-your-heart melt silly and cute these little boys are.

and so it begins

so lately I've been somewhat intrigued by the whole blog phenomenon.  For 5+ years now I've had my family website but haven't been that great at updating & maintaining it.  All along my vision with that was to have a weekly or at least monthly update of the happenings of our family to share with all of our family & friends who are out of state (which means pretty much everyone).  But the website just hasn't been working the way I dreamt of.  And I think this blog will accomplish my purposes.  We'll see how it goes!