Pregnancy Update

I've reached the half-way point, 20 weeks. Here's what that looks like for me.



Yes, I know, I carry unusually high. I've carried all my babies exactly like this. I think it's because I'm very short waisted, but who knows. That whole "bellybutton pops out when it's cooked thing" is not true on baby #4. As you can see mine is popped and the baby is not done cooking! My bellybutton is permanently popped, thank you 10lb babies.

* I'm still teaching Jazzercise classes. This picture was taken last night before I went to teach. I feel really great and don't plan on switching to low intensity until things begin to hurt. The only thing that's getting a little tricky are abdominal routines on the floor. My classes will be seeing more and more standing Abs!

* We had a sonogram a couple weeks ago and everything looks great. We DID NOT find out the gender. There is absolutely nothing in the world like that surprise! I really feel like it's a girl though. I'm very close to settled on a girl name (Tyler's still pondering) but boys names have been elusive this time around!

*The boys throw out baby names all day long. Brennan saw something about the Mos Eisley Cantina (Star Wars) the other day and said "hey mom let's name the baby 'Can' like cantina". I appreciate the suggestions, so far they are nothing but suggestions though :)

* I really like being pregnant :)

* I've always been slightly worried that I wouldn't ever be ready to stop having babies. I love being pregnant, I love giving birth, I love newborns. Seriously! HOWEVER, I'm beginning to see the end in sight :) This pregnancy thing is hard on your body! That first pregnancy is just not the same as the forth. Taking care of the needs (mainly physical) of three others makes being pregnant that much harder.

* When I think of Mrs. Duggar (mother of 18, going on 19), my jaw drops. My belly button (and other unmentionables!) would give out LONG before 18 babies. How I would love to ask her pregnancy questions!

Scented Markers

So this is what happens when you let your kids use scented markers.
He said it was cherry.



A funny conversation with Cal today....

He was invited to go to a birthday party this weekend. I told him that he wouldn't be able to go because we would be in Kansas City. He thought about it and asked if he could have a treat in Kansas City because all his friends would be having treats at the birthday party. I told him it sounded like the only reason he wanted to go to the party is so that he could have a treat. And he said "well of course that's the only reason I want to go to the party, she's a GIRL".

The Star Wars Gang and a Pizza Hut Delivery Guy

Memories from Halloween 2009:

* Yes, if you're very observant, you noticed the boys are wearing the same costumes as last year. This was their choice, not mine. I tried to get them to at least trade. Nope.
* Since this was probably the last year Charlie would not have an opinion on her costume, we made her be Yoda.
* The boys didn't think for a moment that since she was a girl she couldn't be Yoda. I love this. In their thinking, short person=Yoda.
* Our boys still don't like anything on their faces. They wore their masks for the pictures only.
* They still don't get the "quantity" part of Halloween. After about one block they were ready to come home and eat candy. Fine by me!
* This year we were at Aunt Lisa's in Kansas City for Halloween. She has a GREAT neighborhood for trick-or-treating. Lots of older couples who gushed over our kids and gave GREAT treats!
* Tyler dressed up as a Pizza Hut delivery guy. Funny because he used to be one! When we lived in TN and Tyler played music full time, delivering pizza's paid a lot of bills. Towards the end of the night I asked him to go change clothes, it was bringing back a mixed bag of feelings {grin}.

Now that we're done with Halloween, bring on the good Holidays!!

My Pumpkins

A couple of nights ago we had a family pumpkin carving night. Beef stew for dinner, pumpkin carving and pumpkin cookies. The kids were so excited (me too)!

Five years ago, when B was just one year old, I wanted to carve pumpkins. I made a big deal of it. A fun afternoon of fall foods and pumpkin carving. Then we spent the entire time trying to get B to stop eating the pumpkin guts! He could have cared less about the carving and certainly wasn't able to help at all. Well, we've come a long way. This year he was very specific about the pumpkin he wanted (green), once I cut the lid off he cleaned out the inside all by himself (no easy task!). He drew on paper what he wanted the face to look like and I drew it on the pumpkin. Then, with only a little help from dad, he cut the face out! He loved every minute of it.

We've never talked about the scarier sides of Halloween. My kids have only really known about pumpkins, costumes and candy so far. As a side note, we've never shopped for costumes either, they've always chosen something out of their dress up clothes they already own...SCORE!! They have no idea people go to great lengths for costumes. Anyway, their exposure to the scarier side of Halloween is expanding ever so slightly. Brennan wanted a "scary" face on his pumpkin. It's interesting to watch him process this information. It's causing good conversation about the things in life we should really be afraid of, what is Truth and what is pretend and what we do and don't believe in.

I'm going to join in on this little blog party today.



20 Weird Questions That Will Give a Little Insight Into Who You Are
(Pick whichever ones you want to use , use all of them - or make up your own)

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you're blogging?
Haha, I don't blog enough to know.

2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?
My husband. And my hand-held Dyson vacuum.

3. Beach, Mountains or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?
I think I'd choose farm. Not barn and animal "farm", but out in the country, lots of land, type "farm". My kids would be in heaven. And I could send them outside to play without worrying they'd get swept away in the tide or fall from a cliff. These things are more worrisome to me than snakes and grass stains. Plus you can travel to beaches and mountains but who goes on vacation to a farm?

4. What's your least favorite chore/household duty?
Cleaning toilets, cleaning showers.

5. Who do people say you remind them of?
This doesn't happen to me very often. People say I look like my sister (not true though). The only famous person I can think of that people have said I look like is Sharon Stone.

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying at home with the fam?
Both. But more social than not.

7. Do you sleep in your make up or remove it like a good girl every night?
I take it off every single night. I can count the times I've slept in makeup on one hand and one was my wedding night.
I grew up in a home with a Mary Kay Sr Director, sleeping in makeup was akin to slapping my mother.

8. What's one strange thing you're really good at?
Using the booger sucker-outer thing on babies.

9. What first attracted you to your spouse?
He was playing guitar and talking about God. This is still one of the most attractive things about him. In fact it's taken me a number of years to be able to truly worship when he's the one leading music.

10. What is something you love to smell?
The backs of my babies necks, my husband after a shower, campfire.

11. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.
I get frustrated with small talk (I'm not good at it). I'd rather have deep, meaningful conversation. People that know me well can always tell when I'm ready to move to the next level of conversation, I withdraw in a moody kind of way.
ALSO, when I'm pregnant we don't find out the sex of the baby until it's BORN.
ALSO, I'm bad about interrupting people.
ALSO, I'm bad about writing on this blog. It drives Tamara and Whitney crazy.

12. When you have extra money (HA!) what's the first thing you think to do with it?
Assuming it's "my" money, not "family" money, I'd usually spend it on clothes or shoes. I'd save a little cash for random coffee/Sonic runs during the day.

13. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?
Out LOUD. I laugh the hardest at my husband and America's funniest Home Videos.

14. Where is your favorite place to shop?
Anthropology

15. What's one thing you'd do more often if you had more time?
Spend time with friends. Travel to see friends that live far away.

16. Are you a big spender or frugal?
Pretty frugal. Except on things in which quality makes a big difference (this is very few things in my book).

Pregnancy Thoughts

I recently ran across a blog called Design Mom. She is a mom of 5 with a 6th baby on the way. She ran a series on her blog asking others for their thoughts on pregnancy. It was beautiful and funny and made me cry a lot. Here are some especially great excerpts.

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Most books have it all wrong.
Enduring pregnancy isn’t a matter of getting enough sleep, sucking on ginger candies, or kegel marathons.
Really, it all comes down to storing up a repetoire of snappy comebacks to stupid questions.
Mostly the ones I received were about my size — I was too small, too big, way too big, and should I really be eating so many chocolate chip pancakes?

In Gabby’s case, no doubt it will be about the size of her beautiful family. And while she’s far too gracious to use any of these, I would have some stock answers ready to go. Just in case.

-Yes we planned it. It seemed a shame for that last seat in the minivan to go to waste.

-Yes we planned it. I hear we get a free toaster with every sixth baby.

-Yes we planned it. Now only 12 more to go!
(Liz Gumbinner)

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Wear a bathing suit whenever possible. Seriously. Wear it around the house. Wear it to church. Whatever. I mean, you're probably hot (temperature wise) anyway, especially as you get further along, so it helps with that. And, also, you're totally looking hot (smokin' hot wise) because a.) you're glowing, everyone is telling you this and b.) your giant stomach makes your backside look smaller. Think about it. You've really never looked better, so wear that tankini to Target. Trust me on this one.

Enter as many strength competitions as possible. Now's your time. Because you're not just a giant person, you're two giant people. And two giant people can kick one giant person's arse (is it okay to say arse on here?) every time. You will win every wrestling match you enter. I guarantee it. Because besides your gargantuan-ness, no one wants to say they beat the pregnant chick. Bad form. They'll totally make you feel like you won. And really, you have.
(Laura Mayes)

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I'll soon be 77 and I find myself wondering how I could ever have complained about the joy and thrill of having a new baby. Of course I remember the queasiness, the awkwardness, the ordered bed-rest, etc. But mostly I am consumed with wonder and gratitude and nostalgia for the soft, helpless, beautiful babies that came through me.

I marvel how I treasure the memory and the joy of holding and nursing a new-born babe. Thinking now as a great-grandma, about the responsibility and trust placed on us naive, new and young parents, I stand all amazed! The miracle through it all is love, love, love along with faith and trust and knowing that we follow long lines of mothers, mothers, mothers! Families! Families! Families!
(Julia Blair)

Who's Coming With Me?

I am such a dork! I can not wait to get my hands on this cookbook! And I can't wait to see Ree, THE Pioneer Woman, in person. I just know we're going to be best friends. So, who wants to come with me ?!?!






“The Pioneer Woman Cooks” Book Trip
(click here for her other book signings around the country)


Kansas City (two events)
Monday, November 16, 1009
Rainy Day Books event at Will Wyatt’s Cowboy Couture
DAYTIME (11:00 AM-1:00 PM booksigning and meet and greet)
15245 Metcalf Ave
Overland Park, KS
Order Event Admission packages at www.RainyDayBooks.com or call (913) 384-3126.

Rainy Day Books event at Unity Temple On The Plaza
EVENING (event begins at 7:00 PM, doors open at 6:00)
707 W 47th Street
Kansas City, MO 64112

“Ticketholders will hear Ree discuss her life and work with Vivien Jennings of Rainy Day Books and will be eligible for prizes donated by Will Wyatt’s Cowboy Couture, Pryde’s Old Westport, Andre’s Chocolates, Traditions Furniture, Upper Crust Pies, and a KitchenAid mixer provided by The Pioneer Woman herself! A booksigning for ticketholders will immediately follow the presentation. Order Event Admission packages at www.RainyDayBooks.com or call (913) 384-3126. (Booksigning will open to the general public will follow the Event booksigning and will begin at approximately 8:30 PM.)”
St. Louis