different kind of day

Normally we spend all weekend, every weekend running around, eating out, and just trying to do fun things with the kids. Daddy works long hard hours during the week and sometimes goes several days without seeing the kids. It always seems like the best way to give dad back to them is to take them somewhere and do some fun family activity with them.

Recently we have been thinking about our finances and how we could better spend...or save...our money. The only logical thing we could think of was to stop doing so much stuff on the weekend. Or, for us, just do everything in one evening so we don't have to leave the house on Friday and then again on Saturday or Sunday after church.

This is the first Saturday in I-don't-even-know-how-long that we did not leave the house all day. I have to say it didn't go all that bad. The kids still got enjoy their dad and we didn't have to spend any money!

Last night daddy, Ryan and I (Hannah wanted to stay with Brad's g-ma, who happens to live right next door to us) went on the hunt for a new bike for Hannah. A few months ago her poor bike was run over by her uncle and her daddy all in the same week! So she had been without a bike for awhile. Earlier this week she learned how to ride one of Ryan's bikes that doesn't have training wheels. So we wanted to get her a new bike without training wheels.

Anyway, I told you that last paragraph just to tell you that the first thing Hannah wanted to do this morning was ride her bike. It was still pretty chilly out so we didn't let her go out right away. After several hours of constant pleading and lunch we let them go out. Daddy got out his bike and rode around with them.

Staying home also gave us time to play our first family game of pictionary. I wrote a bunch of objects (chair, sun, dog, etc) on pieces of paper and folded them up and put them in a bowl. We took turns drawing. It was girls against boys. Right now teams are even. =) I think it ending up being a tie. I thought it was really fun. Hannah said it was boring but she played and seemed to be enjoying herself.

Then we all headed back outside for awhile (my "for awhile" is shorter than their "for awhile") and daddy made cheeseburgers on the grill. After the kids took showers we put down their sleeping bags in the livingroom so we could watch a movie and eat ice cream. They were then in bed before 8!

Great day! I foresee many more weekends spent together at home.....until it is warm enough to spend them camping! We get to bring home our new camper tomorrow after church. It is not much bigger than the one we had but our old one was proving to be a money pit of it's own so we traded it in for a new one.

The things they learn...

I am always very quick to say that I can't teach Ryan anything. Today I said that and then was thinking about what he has, in fact, learned. His most recent accomplishment has been drawing stick people. Until this week we were just potato-looking heads with arms and legs everywhere. Sound familiar, mom?! Seems that type of person is quite normal, in my family, anyway! =) If you look at the picture he was so proud of today, you should be able to figure out with person is me. And daddy is the only one with hair....

So just to give Ryan some credit for learning a few things, however, not his letters or the ABC song, I have come up with a short list:

• Ryan is an exceptionally good rollerblader.
• He has mastered just about everything about the wii.
• He showed me last night that he can swallow corn without even chewing it (once again, sound familiar mom?!) This boy really is my son!!
• He can do a pretty mean front flip on the trampoline.
• Whenever he sees any sign, he is quick to tell me which letters are in his name. If only I could get him to write it!

I could probably go on but I have other things to do!

conversations with a 4 yr old

On our way home from grocery shopping this morning, Ryan asked me if a train can go on the road. I told him that trains need to be on the railroad tracks to go. His response was more than funny! "I don't believe you." And after a short pause, he added, "but don't worry, I still love you."

It's times like this that make all the unbearable times, bearable. I love that boy!

baby dr appt

Today started my two week appts. Everything is still going pretty well. I gained two pounds. Not bad, really, but if I gain two pounds every two weeks for the next ten weeks......well, you can do the math!! My blood pressure was elevated some, 130/90. No biggie right now but if it continues to go up then I'll be having labs done. Also, he said I am starting to measure big. Honestly, I have been expecting that at the last few visits because I am huge so I don't know what will happen if I continue to measure big. Other than that, I am still pretty smooth sailing! I can't believe I only have ten more weeks. I remember in Aug thinking that I can't imagine when I will be this far. Now here it is! Right now I am over being pregnant but then when I think that this is the last time I'll do this, I decide I am happy to deal with it for the next 2 1/2 months.

In other news, today is the big V. Day. Brad got us a DQ ice cream cake and you know that was just perfect! I'm wondering if he wants me to gain more than 2 lbs before my next dr appt! =)

One of our neighbors, the Hulls (for those of you who know them), who I am just aquaintances with, surprised me with a baby gift yesterday. More cute clothes and some super cute socks that are made to look like shoes with little bows on them. I'm going to have one stylin' little girl!

The warmer weather has allowed me to release the beast outside some during the day today. I'm not sure who has been looking forward to this day longer, me or him! He wanted me to sit out there and watch him but I wanted to get some things done.

I guess that's all folks. I can hear daddy reading to the kids so I better go assist.

Guilty

Do you ever just feel like maybe you aren't doing as much as you could for your kids?

Maybe you don't spend all day reading books to them or playing games with them. Maybe you have let them sit for one too many hours in front of the tv before or asked them to make their own sandwich at lunchtime because you'd really like to sit just a few more minutes. Will it really hurt them to go to public school? Sometimes it is really nice just to send them to grandma and grandpa for the day, or night. Is that really bad? Maybe your kids will never eat only organic foods. What if you let them sit at their own little table in front of a movie, instead of eating at the table with you. Will they really turn out wrong for that?

Can you tell what I've been thinking about today? Honestly, I'm guilty of all the above. I've done all those things one time or another. Sometimes I just feel like I've read one too many blogs about moms who are coupon crazy or save and make use of everything or don't do any cleaning in a day because they've spent every waking hour doing wonderful things with their kids but their house is still spotless.

I'M NOT ONE OF THOSE MOMS!!

3D ultrasound pictures

This first picture is actually Hannah many. many. many years ago. And for the record, the lines on top that look like hair, aren't really hair. I was 29 wks pregnant.

This is baby Abigail. I don't think she looks like Hannah or Ryan. Her nose seems oddly big. The US tech said the nose always appears bigger than it really is. She had one foot beside her face the whole time, the other leg was stretched out. That's what has been jabbing me in the ribs! I will be 29 wks tomorrow.

Sad face. Again, I see no resemblence to Hannah. I wish I had a 3D pic of Ryan but I can't find any and I don't recall having it done.

Nothing like baby toes!!

Her little arm in front of her face.

There's that foot again, poking her in the eye. Ryan was trying to get in the same position as her during this part of the US. He can still do it but barely.

The tech estimated her weight to be around 3 1/2 pounds. We saw her opening her mouth in real time 4D (basically 3D but alive, not a picture). I might get that brown, curly hair baby who doesn't look like her siblings after all! What do you think??

Also, I was kinda disappointed with todays visit. I feel like Hannah's 3D pics are better and that was almost 7 years ago! Tech snapped a lot of pictures but we didn't watch her in real time all that much and she focused on her face way too much. I wanted to see more of her. I wouldn't pay to have it done again.

long day

Today has been a really, really, really long day. It started with a really long night. I was up and down several times for various reasons. I was way hot, had to go potty, was soooo hungry and just couldn't sleep, oh and I had to potty again.

I got up feeling sick to my stomach and listened to my intestines girgle for several hours. A couple trips to the bathroom and I was feeling better. Sorry if that is TMI!

Ryan was super attached today. He always is but today seemed really bad. It might just be because I wasn't feeling well and was super tired all day and didn't handle it as well. He refused to do anything but stand at my feet and ask if it was lunchtime. It started at 9. So we spent some time doing his new favorite thing-cutting and gluing. We made a birthday card for grandma, next door. He helped me with a load of laundry and then I sent him to his room to play with his toys. That's the only way I can get him to do anything alone. I really just needed like half an hour. Besides that, I think it's good for him to use his imagination and play alone. I don't feel like I always have to be right next to him playing with him.

We finally made it to lunchtime and then I let him watch a movie while I cleaned the kids' bathroom and sewed a button on a pair of Brad's work pants. Yes, you read that right. I did sew a button back on pants for Brad. That's all the sewing I know how to do. I can't remember what else I did and then I blew up a punch ball for Ryan and we played don't let it hit the ground until it was time to get Hannah from school. That's easy for me cuz I can sit on the couch and let him chase it around and hit it to me without me having to get up. Yes, I'm pretty lazy these pregnancy days. But I have noticed that my feet are not swollen like they were the last two pregnancies when I was working and on my feet all day. I'm really thankful that I've been able to stay home this time around and relax more. Working didn't seem to bother me while I was doing it the first two times but now I don't think I'd be able to do it!

Anyway, shortly after getting Hannah from school my stomach started hurting sooooo bad. Everywhere. Pain. I was miserable. I took a short nap in the recliner and still was not feeling well when it was time to make supper.

Now Brad and Hannah are at church. I kept Ryan because there is no class for his age so he either stays out in the service with us on Wed or I do a lesson of my own with him. Brad doesn't handle them staying out in church with him alone so I kept him here with me. I took some tums earlier and the pain is subsiding now so I'm getting ready to read some books to Ryan and be done for the day.

I was thinking last night that I should start reading a new book so I picked Abigail, by Lois T. Henderson, off the self. It's based on the life of Abigail in the Bible. I thought that was appropriate. Now lets just hope I can finish it! =)