Snow, Snow, Snow

Matt has decided that in addition to lawn care in the summer he will be doing some snow removal as well. He just has three buildings he is doing right now, but when it does snow he has to get up early to get it done. Some mornings when he has to be to work, he leaves to do snow removal at 4:30!! That is really hard for Matt. But it gets him going for the day and he seems to enjoy it. With all the snow we have gotten the last few weeks I think this Winter is going to be a cold and wet Winter with lots of snow. I think we have more now than we got the entire year last year.

Matt had to work on Thanksgiving this year so the kids and I enjoyed turkey without him. I was a little bummed that he didn't get to spend it with us, but I guess everyone has to take a turn working holidays. His family had a Thanksgiving dinner the night before so we (the kids and I) got to have 2 dinners and enjoyed every minute of it. We had received a bad snow storm earlier in the week and the roads were horrible. I was a little nervous to be on the roads by myself with the 2 kids, but we made it home safely, it only took us 3 times as long as usual.

The day of Thanksgiving I went with my mom out to my grandparents house and once again enjoyed good food and company. Matt was able to join us later in the afternoon once he got off work. We were all stuffed as we played a few games and visited with each other.

We put our Christmas tree and decorations up the next day, no early shopping for me!! The kids were eager to help decorate and are excited for Santa to come. I am almost done with all my shopping and I think I will enjoy the month of December not having to be in the busy stores. We are excited for Christmas to come and then the arrival of our new little baby. I am already counting down the weeks, I think more with anticipation than misery. I am feeling good and staying busy. Can't wait for all the Holiday fun to begin!!

Makes My Blood Pressure Rise

The same sweet girl that melts my heart and makes me smile can also cause me a lot of stress. Stress that I really don't need right now during this pregnancy. My kids are HORRIBLE at the store. I hate to take them with me because they are so naughty. If I have to go I usually try and go when I know the store isn't too busy and try to take only 1 kid. Today, after dropping Parker off at preschool, me and Paige ran to the store to get a few things. She doesn't like to stay in the cart and if I put her in she is always climbing out. So usually I let her walk beside me so she doesn't end up falling out of the cart. I was in an aisle trying to find what I was looking for and I happened to be on the phone with my dad because he was helping me find the right item. Paige wandered off and I wasn't really worried because she usually plays a little game when she tries to hid in the next aisle. Well I found what I was looking for and went around the corner to get Paige, she wasn't there. So I walked to the next aisle, still don't see her. Now I am starting to get a little frantic. I go to the next, and the next and the next aisle and still no sign of her. I have a friend that was working and asked if she had seen her. She hadn't but began looking for her as well. I went one direction and she went the other. No sign of her. So as we are both looking down aisles and not having any luck, she asks me if she wants to call a "Code Adam". I say Yes please do. Almost as soon as they announce the code throughout the store, they cancel it saying they have found her. She was in fabrics and just walking around saying "Mommy, mommy". When the lady from fabrics brought her to the front, Paige just looked at me and said, "Hi Mommy!". She wasn't even scared or worried that she couldn't find me. I, on the other hand was worried and sick to my stomach. And I am sure my blood pressure rose a little too much. That was enough excitement for me for a whole month!! I think I will be avoiding the store from now on with kids in tow. Especially because the stores are bound to get even busier with the holidays. So we are safe and sound at home now and Paige is currently giving me hugs and kisses. Maybe she was scared and didn't show it. Nevertheless, I am SOOOOOO grateful that nothing happened to her and that she is in my arms!!!

Potty Trained!

I have been working on and off for a few months trying to get Paige potty trained, especially before the new baby gets here. She hasn't really been too interested and would have several accidents. After going through most of her clothes and underwear I would give up for a few weeks and then try again another time. During the breaks I would ask her is she was a baby and if she wanted to be a big girl, telling her that big girls use the potty. So last week just randomly when I was just about out of diapers, I told her that when these diapers were all gone we couldn't buy anymore. That we need to start buying diapers for the baby and that she was a big girl and needed to start using the potty. She was excited about that and was eager to try out her Dora undies. That day she had 1 accident. Not too bad for a first day. The next day she only had 1 accident and we have been good ever since. We are about 1 week into it and I think I can say that she is officially potty trained!!! YAY!!! Can I just say I am loving not having to change diapers and I will continue to love it for the next two to three months until the new baby arrives!!

Family Pictures 2010

We managed to sneak in to a family picture session with Misty of Mystic Memories last Thursday and I am really excited and happy with how they are turning out. She gave me a sneak preview and I am really excited to see how they all turned out. Here are a few for you to enjoy and you can go to her website to see the rest she has posted of our cute little family. It was freezing cold weather and the kids weren't too excited about being outside without coats on. But we did get some good shots and at least Paige isn't crying!! Mystic Memories

Preeclampsia

Little Sister is really excited about the baby, she kisses my belly all the time!

24 weeeks
I went to the doctor last week for my 24 week checkup. Just a routine check up nothing too exciting. But I was curious what my odds were at getting pre-eclampsia again with this pregnancy. I had it with Paige and she was born at 37 weeks because if it. The doctor said 25% chance and the risk increases each pregnancy. So he decided to to some blood work and a 24 urine test to check the function of my Kidneys up to this point. I wasn't really nervous because I had been feeling fine, but did what he told me to do. Along with the lab test he put me on a daily regimine of a baby aspirin and 2 tums for the calcium(I hate tums, rolaids whatever!!) So I did the whole 24 hour pee test and for those of you who have never had to do this, consider yourself lucky. It is gross. You have this huge jug and you have to catch your pee in a special specimen tray and then transfer it to this big jug. It is pretty gross. But I did it and was more than happy when I got to return it to the hospital. Later that afternoon the doctor's office called to tell me the results. They like the protein count to be below 300. I am at 295! So I am considered having mild preeclampsia and was informed to let the doctor know if I experience spots in my vison, edema, dizziness and high blood pressure. I was so disappointed that I already am having problems. I still had 16 weeks left and I want this baby to be healthy. So I guess I can use this as a reasone so sit on the couch and do nothing. Hopefully I can kep my blood pressure under control and we can make it to a "safe" time before the baby arrives. The only cure for it is to deliver the baby. So I will hold out as long as I can. I sure hope I don't have to be on bed rest or admitted to the hospital for an extended amount of time because I will go crazy!!!!!

Batman Party

All His Loot
Opening presents
Blowing out the candles
Bowling
Our friends the Thornley's
Grandpa and Grandma "C"
Paige having her turn bowling
Parker was a pro by the end of the night!
The cake

We had a "Batman" Party for Parker last Monday. We had a few friends and family along to celebrate with us at the Bowling Alley. It was a lot of fun and Parker was spoiled. I think he had a fun time bowling and playing with all his friends. I made the cake and cupcakes and after I had finished decorating them he came into the kitchen to look and said "wow". I think that meant he liked it. The best part of the party was I didn't have to clean my house twice and the kids had something to do the entire time to keep them occupied. It was a great idea.

Parker is 5!

Holy cow!! Where has the time gone??? I can't believe that my first born is now 5 years old. It seems like yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital and dealing with his crying fits. Now he is growing up and is such a big part of our family. Here are a few a my favorite things about Parker:
1. He is sooo full of energy
2. He is like a sponge absorbing information all around him
3. He is a great Big Brother to Paige, I love it when they play good together
4. He is so excited for our new baby to arrive, I know he will be a big helper
5. He loves to help me in the kitchen
6. He can be so sweet...sometimes I wonder where my rowdy boy is
7. He is very tender hearted. He can get his feelings hurt so easily.
8. He loves his daddy to pieces and always wants to know where he is and when he will be home
9. He loves movies, he will watch movies all day long if I let him
10. He makes me crazy, happy, loved, appreciated, mad, and busy all in a day. But we couldn't imagine our life without him and love him to pieces. We hope you have a great birthday Parker!!!