I realized ... after 8 years of diapers we are 100% diaper free right now and have been for a few months. It hasn't been long enough that I have forgotten what's it like to change diapers. However, I don't think I've had a diaper bag for a couple of years so that will take some getting used to.
We took Calvin off of the sleeping aid melatonin--life is INSANE. I really do not understand why he doesn't sleep all night. One night, when I was desperate for some sleep I did wake him at 9 and give him a pill. He slept 'til 6:30...when he woke up he said, "Mom, I slept all the way through the night. I haven't done that in my whole life." He also took a morning nap that day...guess he was catching up on lost sleep. The melatonin works wonders but tends to lose it's efficacy after a couple of months. Then we cycle off of it for a week or two before going back on again so it will work well. I am temped to stay off it for a while this time so that when baby time comes I can stick him on those pills and have some great sleep from him for a while.
Next week Dave is off and we are doing a san diego stay-cation. Dave still has classes on Tues/Thursday so we can't leave town or do anything major. I hope it is fun for the kids and different enough from normal life for them that they will have some good memories. We're trying to plan some things that we wouldn't normally do so that it will stand out in the kids' minds as a real vacation even though we aren't going anywhere. A friend recently posted on her blog about an article she had read about what to do with income tax returns. The author recommended that the $ be spent on trips/activities rather than stuff. As adults most of us don't remember what we wore, what tv we had, etc. but we do remember the things we did as a family and the fun or crazy memories we have that bond us together. I agree. So, even though it doesn't sound like much fun we are going camping (just for one night). As dave puts it, the more miserable it is, the more memorable it will be! He thinks camping with 3 little kids and one pregnant wife is not a good idea. :) We will also go to our favorite science museum, I'm sure we'll hit the beach too! It should be a nice week. The weather is nice, but not too hot yet!
Clare has been loving the Ivy and Bean books lately. I highly recommend them! We are also reading all of the Mercy Watson books.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
chours concert
This week was chorus week at school. Tues. morning we had our assembly and then Thurs. evening was our concert for the parents/families. Everything went really well. I am always stressed before the show becuase it seems we aren't ready. However, it turned out great! I am always amazed and impressed at how the kids really pull it together at when show time comes! They sure do like to perform. And of course the parents LOVE to watch their kids!
Our program was called NUTS!
I stole some pics off facebook from one of the chorus moms since I don't have a camera.
rehearsal the morning of our show. lex is always wandering around being a big help. The kids up front are acorns and nuts. Some of the moms helped with costumes and they all turned out to be really cute!
the kids up front are BIG BAD SQUIRRELS. Calvin was one too. (though not in this pic) Clare is right behind the little squirrel front and center
One of the moms did an AMAZING JOB getting the set ready. She got really lucky and a person at her church donated all of those LIVE trees since he owned a nursery that was closing down. She sold them after the show as a fundraiser for chorus next year. I am not teaching chorus next year, but this mom will be. She will be awesome!
We have one more show at another school in a couple of weeks. We won't take our full set with us but at least I'll have a chance to get some good pics of my kids!
Our program was called NUTS!
I stole some pics off facebook from one of the chorus moms since I don't have a camera.
rehearsal the morning of our show. lex is always wandering around being a big help. The kids up front are acorns and nuts. Some of the moms helped with costumes and they all turned out to be really cute!
the kids up front are BIG BAD SQUIRRELS. Calvin was one too. (though not in this pic) Clare is right behind the little squirrel front and center
One of the moms did an AMAZING JOB getting the set ready. She got really lucky and a person at her church donated all of those LIVE trees since he owned a nursery that was closing down. She sold them after the show as a fundraiser for chorus next year. I am not teaching chorus next year, but this mom will be. She will be awesome!
We have one more show at another school in a couple of weeks. We won't take our full set with us but at least I'll have a chance to get some good pics of my kids!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
got a car
We ended up getting a 2004 suburban. white. There are about 40 other white suburbans in my home town so I need something to make my car easily identifiable.
Here are some stickers I'm considering.
a buckeye family
or the good ol' ohio state o.
Here are some stickers I'm considering.
a buckeye family
or the good ol' ohio state o.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
big decisions
Lately I have been kind of stressed about some big decisions. When I think about them all at once I feel like I just want to crawl in bed and hide. When tackled one at a time everything is manageable.
1. should I pull Clare out of PEPP? YES! This turned out to be a good choice. I have loved not having to take her to and from school. She loves being home and her preschool with all the cute girls.
2. What should we name our baby? Dave is done with baby girl names. This might be an okay thing if we weren't having another baby girl in 10 weeks. He has been getting lots of suggestions from all members of the family but seems to hate all names suggested. I am guessing baby girl will be getting a name no sooner than the day we are discharged from the hospital.
3. Should we buy a new car? We have been thinking about this for about a year. My car is 17 years old now and as we will have a family of 6 soon and cannot all fit into Dave's reliable car, we decided we should get more serious about shopping soon. This necessity intensified this week when my car DIED. So, now the answer is YES!
4. What kind of car should we buy? How much $ should we spend? Big decisions. We have decided we are too big (and growing) to downsize significantly in car space and a few MPG isn't enough to give up our suburban. So we're most likely getting a car about 10 years newer than the one we have. Dave really loved this one but even though I am used to driving a very recognizable beater I don't think I could handle this one.
I also got a kick out one I saw posted with bullet proof windows. who needs that? And who would ever be crazy enough to drive a car they bought from someone who needs bullet proof glass?
5. What should I do with the kids next year for school? Should I put Clare in K or keep her home? Should I put Calvin into 3rd grade or keep him home or find another school for him? This is a work in progress.....
It is really two separate and different questions. 1. What is best for Clare? 2. What is best for Calvin? I is possible that I'd decide to do the same thing with them to be more convenient for me, etc. but really they are such different situations they will be considered as separate issues. I have learned a lot about home schooling in the last few months both from experience, watching others and reading a ton. I think home schooling is great; maybe not for everyone, but for those who make it work it is ideal. That is why I'd have to consider keeping everyone home!
Since will have a new born baby and desire to maintain a shred of sanity it may not be "ideal" for me to home school at this time! In this case, each kid needs to be considered separately. I think Clare will like K so she will most likely go to school. The question with Calvin is a little different. Can Calvin succeed and survive in school? We just finished all of his testing and meetings at school and have set up a schedule for next year which will allow for more flexibility for him. It is certainly much better than the situation he found himself in for this year. It is worth considering!
PS. Dave is getting me a new camera for mother's day so we will have pics of kiddos up soon!
PPS. Clare got gum in her hair today. Peanut butter got it out!
1. should I pull Clare out of PEPP? YES! This turned out to be a good choice. I have loved not having to take her to and from school. She loves being home and her preschool with all the cute girls.
2. What should we name our baby? Dave is done with baby girl names. This might be an okay thing if we weren't having another baby girl in 10 weeks. He has been getting lots of suggestions from all members of the family but seems to hate all names suggested. I am guessing baby girl will be getting a name no sooner than the day we are discharged from the hospital.
3. Should we buy a new car? We have been thinking about this for about a year. My car is 17 years old now and as we will have a family of 6 soon and cannot all fit into Dave's reliable car, we decided we should get more serious about shopping soon. This necessity intensified this week when my car DIED. So, now the answer is YES!
4. What kind of car should we buy? How much $ should we spend? Big decisions. We have decided we are too big (and growing) to downsize significantly in car space and a few MPG isn't enough to give up our suburban. So we're most likely getting a car about 10 years newer than the one we have. Dave really loved this one but even though I am used to driving a very recognizable beater I don't think I could handle this one.
I also got a kick out one I saw posted with bullet proof windows. who needs that? And who would ever be crazy enough to drive a car they bought from someone who needs bullet proof glass?
5. What should I do with the kids next year for school? Should I put Clare in K or keep her home? Should I put Calvin into 3rd grade or keep him home or find another school for him? This is a work in progress.....
It is really two separate and different questions. 1. What is best for Clare? 2. What is best for Calvin? I is possible that I'd decide to do the same thing with them to be more convenient for me, etc. but really they are such different situations they will be considered as separate issues. I have learned a lot about home schooling in the last few months both from experience, watching others and reading a ton. I think home schooling is great; maybe not for everyone, but for those who make it work it is ideal. That is why I'd have to consider keeping everyone home!
Since will have a new born baby and desire to maintain a shred of sanity it may not be "ideal" for me to home school at this time! In this case, each kid needs to be considered separately. I think Clare will like K so she will most likely go to school. The question with Calvin is a little different. Can Calvin succeed and survive in school? We just finished all of his testing and meetings at school and have set up a schedule for next year which will allow for more flexibility for him. It is certainly much better than the situation he found himself in for this year. It is worth considering!
PS. Dave is getting me a new camera for mother's day so we will have pics of kiddos up soon!
PPS. Clare got gum in her hair today. Peanut butter got it out!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
ready or not, here she comes
So, for a long time (a couple of years) Dave and I had been discussing the possibility of having another baby. First Dave said let's go for it in lex was just over a year old. I wasn't ready. Then I was ready and dave wasn't. Then neither one of us was ready and then, once again I was ready again and wanting to hurry so I could have a spring baby, but Dave wasn't on board. So it went round and round for a while. Finally, last fall Dave and I independently came to the conclusion that it would be best to wait another year before having another baby and we were kind of relieved to find that we had finally reached an agreement and both felt really good about it.
I embraced the idea of having another year with no baby and no pregnancy to slow me down. I worked really hard to get back into shape and was loving my routine of walking every day w/ friends, the dog and lex in my bob stroller! I signed up to teach chorus at school, volunteered to be a room mom in calvin's class knowing that this year was my year to do it all since I wouldn't be pregnant or with a baby!
So glad I went to Columbus in October to enjoy that little get away!
November 11th. Veteran's Day. Since Dave was working at the VA at that time, he actually had this day off. He was home working on papers (as he always is when he is home) and I was cleaning house. I gagged as I cleaned a bathroom and almost barfed changing a diaper. Though neither of these activities are my particular favorites, it was highly unusual to have such a reaction! A moment's thought and I realized that there was a real possibility that I was pregnant. I happened to have a pregnancy test stashed away and took it on the spot. It immediately came up positive.
picture take 11/11/10 at 10:49am
Since Dave was home I showed him right away. He was pretty surprised and wanted to read the instructions on the test to be sure I was interpreting it correctly. After a few minutes of contemplating the idea, he was ready to be on board. I have to say it took me another couple of weeks to really get used to the idea myself!
So, here we are....super excited about a baby coming in a few months!
Looking back this is probably a good way to add a 4th to our family. Life is just busier and more crazy and I'm not sure I would have EVER reached a point where I would feel ready for more insanity. As we approach the arrival of this little girl I sometimes think I am not going to be able to handle life with the fatigue and business of a newborn, but then I remember how wonderful new babies are and how much love they add to the home and have hope that this little one will be just the thing we all need right now.
pregnancy stats:
I have gained 20 lbs. (but feel like I've gained 40). I'm at the start of the 3rd trimester. I have varicose veins (1st time ever, YUCK). So far everything is going fine so I can't complain too much!
there is more to the story....so I'll continue another time!
I embraced the idea of having another year with no baby and no pregnancy to slow me down. I worked really hard to get back into shape and was loving my routine of walking every day w/ friends, the dog and lex in my bob stroller! I signed up to teach chorus at school, volunteered to be a room mom in calvin's class knowing that this year was my year to do it all since I wouldn't be pregnant or with a baby!
So glad I went to Columbus in October to enjoy that little get away!
November 11th. Veteran's Day. Since Dave was working at the VA at that time, he actually had this day off. He was home working on papers (as he always is when he is home) and I was cleaning house. I gagged as I cleaned a bathroom and almost barfed changing a diaper. Though neither of these activities are my particular favorites, it was highly unusual to have such a reaction! A moment's thought and I realized that there was a real possibility that I was pregnant. I happened to have a pregnancy test stashed away and took it on the spot. It immediately came up positive.
picture take 11/11/10 at 10:49am
Since Dave was home I showed him right away. He was pretty surprised and wanted to read the instructions on the test to be sure I was interpreting it correctly. After a few minutes of contemplating the idea, he was ready to be on board. I have to say it took me another couple of weeks to really get used to the idea myself!
So, here we are....super excited about a baby coming in a few months!
Looking back this is probably a good way to add a 4th to our family. Life is just busier and more crazy and I'm not sure I would have EVER reached a point where I would feel ready for more insanity. As we approach the arrival of this little girl I sometimes think I am not going to be able to handle life with the fatigue and business of a newborn, but then I remember how wonderful new babies are and how much love they add to the home and have hope that this little one will be just the thing we all need right now.
pregnancy stats:
I have gained 20 lbs. (but feel like I've gained 40). I'm at the start of the 3rd trimester. I have varicose veins (1st time ever, YUCK). So far everything is going fine so I can't complain too much!
there is more to the story....so I'll continue another time!
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