Jeremy's Father's Day 2011

I know this is really late, but that's how I usually do things.
I had the idea of what I wanted to do for Jeremy for Father's Day months before the day, I just am not so good at the follow through. I had saved many of his old rodeo/ horse show t-shirts from his high school and college days for years. I had even looked up how to make the t-shirt quilt  and bought the other materials I would need. I (back when I first thought of doing this) was going to attempt to make a quilt out of them myself. Well, many years and two - almost three kids later I came to my senses and realized that would never happen. Even if it did, I was sure the results would not be up to my perfectionist standards.
I had seen an advertisement for Campus Quilts in the back of a magazine. They had been featured on several news and talk shows like the Today show and Rachel Ray's show. So I figured they did quality work and it wouldn't be some type of scam. I contacted them and got a packet of information the week before Father's Day. I picked all the shirts I wanted to use and figured out the size quilt I needed.

I got them all laid out and figured out what color backing and sashing I needed and sent it all off.
I got it back a couple of weeks after Father's Day, but unfortunately he is used to that. I think he really appreciated it. We now keep it on our bed. I had a quilt that my grandmother made on there, but I really needed to take it off and preserve it for the kiddos when I am dead and gone.
I think it turned out so well! I am very happy with the quality and look of the quilt. Now we can look at it and reminisce about the good old days!
I did order him a Reese's Peanut Butter Blizzard cake and we met him for lunch at Longhorn Steakhouse on the actual day of Father's Day. Plus he wanted a post hole digger for his tractor and he ordered that and I went and picked it up a few weeks before Father's Day, so he wasn't too deprived!

A Few Things I Won't Miss

As I type this I am about 6 weeks away from my supposed due date. That is, if the date is correct. I have measured 4 weeks ahead twice! So who knows! I may have a baby in the middle of August or the middle of September.
Jeremy and the kids are in Tennessee for the weekend. I decided to stay home and use this as "me" time. That is if you can call working like a dog me time. I have done all kinds of errands, laundry, put up the crib, found all the baby stuff, cleaned the girls room, hung the curtains in Mady and Jack's rooms (after 3 years!), cooked a batch of vegetable soup, cleaned out all the junk drawers, got the bassinet ready, hauled off all the recycling, cleaned out the garage and touched up all the scuffs on the walls. So instead of sleeping more like I thought I would, I have slept less, but I have gotten a lot accomplished.
Tonight as I suffered through terrible heartburn, and tried to reach around this belly to paint my toenails I thought of all the things I won't miss after being pregnant.
I won't miss the aforementioned heartburn. I won't miss the insomnia, thus why I am writing this at 1:30 am. I won't miss trying to roll around this big belly to get up or do anything. I won't miss getting up to go to the bathroom 58 times a night. I won't miss having a belly button that was once an "innie" that is now a major "outie". I won't miss swollen feet and hands. I won't miss not drinking caffeine. I won't miss the feeling of someone trying to kick their way out of my cervix.
I will miss the wonder of knowing I have a baby growing inside me; of creating something where there was nothing. I will miss feeling kicks and hiccups and later full blown rolls and flips. I will miss hearing your heartbeat at the doctor's office. I will miss seeing glimpses of you at my ultrasound appointments.  I will miss watching my belly grow and knowing you are growing too.
I'd do it all again and I can't wait to meet you Lillie Claire!

The Cutest Baseball Player in the World

We just finished up a six week t-ball league with the YMCA. I wasn't sure how much Jack would enjoy it since he had never played before and really didn't even know the rules for baseball. He did pretty well though.

It was just the kind of organized sports we can handle. It was only for 6 weeks and we had practice and a game one day a week. We even lucked out most of the 6 weeks and didn't have terribly hot weather. He really enjoyed himself especially as he practiced and got better at hitting and catching. We may even do it again sometime. I knew with Jeremy's work load/schedule and it being hot weather and the kids being used to going out to the farm alot that we weren't the kind of family to be out at the ballpark 3-4 nights per week. This was perfect.

He was on the Braves team, so we now have a Braves ball cap.It was the only southern ball team he could have been on. The others were the Blue Jays, the Cubs, and the Reds. He also got a t-shirt with his number on it. (Lucky #7!)

I also bought him some baseball pants. I had to go back and buy a belt so he could keep them up. The first time he tried them on, I turned them loose and they hit the floor. (He doesn't get his hips from his mother!) Shorts would have been cooler, but he fell and scratched himself up the first time around the bases.Plus he just looked so cute in them!

He had really nice coaches. He technically had one coach but a couple of other guys helped too. His coach had never coached before but did a really great job with all the kids. We had a couple that were handfuls. Jack did a much better job of paying attention than he did when he played soccer. So maybe this is more of his thing.

All in all, it was a really fun experience and I was actually sad when it was over!

Last MONTHLY OB Appointment

Today I went to the doctor for what I didn't realize until I saw the doctor, was my last monthly appointment! Scary! That means it is getting closer! I had to do the glucose test, go back down to the doctor, go back to the lab and have blood work done, and then back up to the doctor's office to get my RhoGam shot.
So I go to the lab and get to drink that orange glucose drink. Gross! I have always heard everyone talk about how awful it tasted and had been very lucky up until this point. I could swear that with Madalynn and Jack it tasted like orange coke. I could honestly swear that it had carbonation. It wasn't a big deal at all. Today...that was a different story. It was NASTY! But I got it down. Then I went back up to my doctor's office to see the doctor. My blood pressure was 114/70, I have only gained 14 lbs so far, and the baby's heart rate was 133-134. I didn't realize that I would have to start seeing the doctor every two weeks but she said since I was almost 30 weeks, I needed to. I hope Jeremy can keep the kids for my next appointment and he is off the day of the following appointment so maybe I can make it until they go back to school before I have to go too often. After I saw the doctor I still had some time before they could draw my blood so I waited down in the lab. Got the blood drawn and then back up to the doctor's office. This was another experience that I don't remember being quite so bad. I have had RhoGam shots with both my other pregnancies, and don't remember it hurting any more than any shot in the hip ever does. Today it burned like crazy. My hip was achy all afternoon and is still a little sore. I have said to myself that I hoped this pregnancy would make me glad it was over and this was my last. Well, today I had two experiences that I am glad I don't have to do again.

When I finally got done at the doctor's office it was over 12 hours since I had anything to eat. That's a long time for a normal person much less a pregnant woman. So since I had been craving Olive Garden I called and ordered something to go. While that was getting ready I ran in Penney's to get myself a fake wedding ring. My hands are too swollen to wear my real one. I also ran in Motherhood Maternity to grab a couple of tank tops. I am trying to get a little sun when I can and two of the ones I bought a month ago are wayyyy too big. Then I rushed home and picked up the kids from my neighbor and got to actually eat something!

I ate so much, but it was soo good.Olive Garden's salad and seafood Alfredo is delicious!!  I felt yucky the rest of the day. I guess between eating too much, the long day, and the aching hip I did myself in. We stayed home from church and I just laid around.
If the chance of rain isn't too great tomorrow, I might venture out to the water park. The kids have been begging and summer will soon be over. So we may do that after swimming lessons.

Our 4th of July 2011

We had a good 4th this year. Ours actually started the day before because we did our fireworks show Sunday night. Jeremy had finally bought some fireworks after Jack had begged me for weeks to buy some. Needless to say the horses and cows were not fans. When we started the first fireworks up in the arena, there were 2 cows inside. Needless to say, they couldn't find the out gate fast enough! The next day the kids slept late - Jack until almost 10 and Madalynn until 10:30! I think that is the latest she has ever slept in her life! We have done away with Jack's nap and we have been working a lot at the farm and coming in late. When they finally got up, ate breakfast and got dressed, we headed to Kroger to get what I needed to fix a couple of things for supper. We had been invited to the Moreheads for dinner. On the way into the store we  couldn't help but notice that they were cooking ribs outside and they smelled wonderful! Jeremy loves ribs, so I bought a rack to bring home. Jeremy didn't have to work all day, so he came home about 12:30 and ate his ribs and then took the kids off to the farm. I had to bake the Best Chocolate Sheet Cake and a BLT salad to take to the Moreheads that night. Once I finished those things, cleaned the kitchen, and loaded the dishwasher, I headed to the farm too. Jeremy and the kids had ridden horses while I was at home so I headed up to where we were building a fence. We are fencing off the back wheat field so that the cows will stay off it and give the grass a chance to grow. I can't say that I help all that much since I can't lift anything and Jeremy is a much better tractor driver than I am. So I mainly stretched the string to line up posts and sighting down the fence line to try and make sure he dug the holes in line with the other posts. I get to see him some anyway. :)
We left hurriedly after 5 pm and I rushed home to get a quick shower and get myself and the kids ready for the Moreheads. By the time the boys got home and I got everyone ready, we were only 15-20 minutes late. Pretty good for us.
We had a good supper and drove home watching everyone shooting off fireworks. It was a good day!

I thought summer was supposed to be LESS busy?!?

Well the kids have been out of school for a few weeks and although we don't usually have to get up early, I feel like all we have done is run, run, run!
Last week for example, I think we may have been at home Monday. Tuesday, we drove to Hamburg and ran errands. We went to Super Cuts so that I could get my hair cut. The kids behaved very well while we were there. We ran to Target and then to Dick's Sporting Goods to get all Jack's stuff for t-ball. Then on to Meijer for groceries. On Wednesday, we went to the dry cleaners, Dollar Tree, the farm, Kohl's, Lowe's, and the car wash. That night we went to church.  On Thursday, we had to go to Lexington again for Jack a recheck for strep and Madalynn a check-up. We went to a consignment store, Ladybug Landing; and returned some things to Motherhood Maternity. I got the kids some lunch at the mall at Chick-Fil-A, but ended up getting it to go since apparently the air conditioning isn't working in that end of the building. I ran through Scholotsky's for my lunch and then headed home. Friday, we went to Kroger and Walmart. Saturday I told the kids we could just have a lazy day! We got up late and just did things around the house. I painted a little Cozy Coupe that was given to us for Madalynn and it had been used by two boys and had sat out in the West Texas sun for years at that point. (It looks really good now! I was surprised!) I tilled a little in the garden to plant some late corn. I swept out the garage. I went back later in the afternoon and actually planted the corn and watered the garden. I also found time to do a few loads of laundry, paint my toenails, and wax my eyebrows. So not exactly a lazy day, but at least a day at home.

Field Day 2011

Madalynn only has 10 more days of 1st grade left! I can't believe it. This year has just flown by. She has loved her teacher this year. Well, the school had their field day on Thursday of last week. Since they have a no siblings policy, I couldn't help which ended up being a blessing in disguise. They also had an art show which was really neat.
The kids and I ran the dog to the vet to get spayed before school. Then we dropped M off at school, before going to get groceries at Kroger. We dropped the groceries off at home and then headed back to town for some of field day. It was only 80 something degrees and mostly overcast but it was HOT!

We stayed for about an hour and watched Mady's class for about an hour. Jack even got to jump in the inflatables for a few minutes too.

When I had all of the heat I could stand, Jack and went in to see the Art Show. We saw most of the things that Madalynn had done.

Then we headed home to cool off, eat lunch, and take a nap!

The Best Day

Now as I begin this, I want to fully acknowledge that my life is good. I have lots of good days. I live in the greatest nation in the world, I can worship where and when I want, and my husband works to allow me to have my dream job. Here it comes...but, I don't have what I call a lot of great days. I mean I guess not many grownups do. After all, regardless of our jobs, we work all day, everyday. We have to clean, cook, and manage our kids activities.
Sunday, May 8, 2011 (Mother's Day) was different. It was a truly great day. It was my best Mother's Day ever and the best day I have had in years I think. The night before my crew went shopping for my Mother's Day gifts. I can see how having bigger kids really improves the results. They went to Tractor Supply and bought me some earrings that I love. That was Jack's shopping location of choice. He had told me earlier in the week that he was going to go shopping for me at Tractor Supply and asked what I wanted. I said maybe something to put in the yard as a decoration. He didn't seem to like that and assured me that he would get me something "shiny". They also visited the floral department at Kroger. Some might snub their nose at flowers from Kroger, but remember in Kentucky a Kroger does the roses for the Kentucky Derby. I don't think they are known for shabby work! ;) I had wanted a corsage for church so bad, but didn't want to come out and ask Jeremy for that. He got me one last year and I loved it. Well, he came through again this year.

They also got me a flower arrangement of lilies. (This may or may not be a plug for Jeremy's little girl name choice.) Both kids had made things at school for me too.

So anyway, I got up Sunday morning and got to open all this loveliness. I cooked pancakes and sausage the morning before and made plenty for leftovers, so I didn't have to cook. The kids and I went to church, came home, ate lunch, and then did our usual nap. Jeremy got home earlier than usual and offered to take us out to dinner for Chinese. Then we went to the farm and Jeremy put Madalynn and I to work bush hogging the paddocks in the front of the farm while he and Jack worked elsewhere. It was fun, although I had never done it before. I didn't tear anything up and only missed a few spots! We all came home, took baths, and fell into  bed. Honestly, I can't really tell you what made it such an awesome day, but it was.

OB Visit #4

Well, I had my 4th OB visit on May 4th, 2011. It had been scheduled for May 11, but at my previous visit they moved it up a week. I began the visit with an ultrasound to see what we were having! Unfortunately, since it is breeding season Jeremy wasn't able to come with me. His mornings are especially busy and since I don't have a babysitter, I have to do all my visits while Jack is at school. So anyway, I go in for the ultrasound and everything looks good. They look at all the baby's vital organs before they tell you the sex. I was so worried that something would be wrong with the baby, much more nervous  than I have ever been before. Well, the technician didn't get all the way zoomed in on the parts we were looking at and I could tell what it was. I thought "that's not a boy; that's a girl!" I think I might have been laying there with my mouth hanging open. Jeremy and I were both sure this was another boy. I was sick this time just like with Jack. I thought it was a boy too once it started moving  because it wasn't the delicate, gentle movements like with Madalynn. It felt like a strong movement from the very first time I felt it move, which was how it felt with Jack. So we were surprised to say the least!
Jeremy forgot about the visit so I finally texted him around noon and told him to call me. He said "I told you last night it was a boy." I said yes you did.Then I said, "Well, guess what?"He said what and I said "You were wrong!" When he said "Its a girl?" you could literally hear the the surprise in his voice.
When the kids got home from school, after a stop at McDonald's for milkshakes, I set up the video camera and got ready to tell the kids. I already had a little girl dress and I had bought some boy onesies. So I put the dress in a little gift bag and let the kids pull it out to see what we were having.
Jack was disappointed, he had wanted a brother. Madalynn was over the moon! She had assured me from the get-go that " she wished on a star for a sister and in the morning, it told her it was true!"

Another coincidence with our girls. When we were living in Texas, we found out what Madalynn was in October. Well, rose bushes aren't usually blooming in the fall, but that rose bush was full of pink roses the week we found out she was a girl. This time around we had another rose bush in the backyard with... you guessed it- pink roses!

Everything else was good. The blood draws I had done previously, all looked good. My blood pressure was 110/70. I had gained 4 1/2 lbs. (Yuck!) The baby's heartrate was 143. My next visit is June 1 so I have to get started finding a babysitter soon! After all, we have 2 weeks of school left before summer break!

Easter 2011

Our Easter this year was about like it usually is. It's usually just the kids and I since Jeremy is so busy at work.
I cooked a good lunch for us to eat after church. I made fudge pie and lemon icebox pie on Saturday so that was already done. I also made the sweet potato casserole and cooked it on Saturday so that all I had to do was warm it up on Sunday. I always buy a ham that just really needs to be warmed and the glaze put on it. I had baked my dressing and the ham that morning. I also had cooked french toast and breakfast casserole on Saturday morning so we had  good breakfast leftovers on Sunday as well. I wanted us all to be good and full since it would take longer to get lunch on the table than it normally does. If we ever build a house I am definitely going to have two ovens! It seems that the meals you cook on the holidays always consist of things that all need to be cooked in the oven.
So we got up Sunday morning, saw what the Easter bunny brought and ate our breakfast.

Then I got the kids all dressed up in their new Easter outfits. I spent more than I usually do on Madalynn's dress, but I have a feeling this baby is a boy and so my days of having anyone to wear cute smocked dresses is about over. I found Jack a cute little linen-looking vest and dress pants that came with a white shirt with light blue checks and an orange and blue striped tie. It all came together and matched Madalynn's dress that was also blue. Jack loves a tie. Last year he had the first one ever and would say "It makes me look handsome!" I have to say I agree. They both looked so sweet.

So we go to church and then came home and changed into other clothes and I finished lunch. I had to make the homemade macaroni and cheese and bake the rolls. As well as warm up the sweet potatoes, ham, and dressing. It was really good! Then we took the traditional Sunday afternoon nap.
All it does around here is rain, but that afternoon we even got a break in the weather and were able to hunt Easter eggs outside.I was afraid we would have to do it indoors.
Overall it was a good day although we always wish Jeremy could spend it with us. Next year we'll have another little cutie to celebrate Easter with!