Weekend update

So we have broken the cardinal rule of no big changes 3 months before or after a new baby arrives.  We took the crib completely out of Cole's room.  (We can revisit this situation after the baby arrives.)  

Yes, there is no trim around the window.  Yes, the new windows were put in about 2 years ago.  We have been busy.  Don't judge us.  :-)

We feel like we had no choice.  He was going to hurt himself.  He was choosing to head butt it every time we put him in it and I was afraid he would knock his teeth out.  This started about 2 weeks ago when he was sick and I thought it would pass, apparently not.  

These are the most recent battle wounds - the biggie in the center is from Friday nap time

So now it is big boy bed only which means nap time has turned into pure hell......no nap yesterday.  I may have to remove all toys from his room.

The crib is now in our already cramped room.  We are not willing to give up the office just yet.

Why is it that as soon as the crib is out of his room he has to be in it?  I think he has spent an hour in it already this morning.  Playing, unfolding clothes, snuggling.....

On the brighter side, Cole peed in his big boy potty last night.  Granted I had it in the tub because I know he will pee when his feet touch the warm water, but it is a step.  I just wanted him to pee in it once to get the idea.  He received high fives and a candy corn (I had to run next door to get candy, this pregnant lady doesn't keep candy in the house).  He was pretty happy to get that candy corn.

Let's hope we are making some progress in this behavior situation...

A series of smiles

I took these pictures a few weeks ago, but I finally was able to finish editing them this weekend.  I am sort of turning into a night owl.  Peace and quite time.....

Anyways - this little guy was full of smiles that day.  I am getting him to smile more in pictures but some times it take a dancing dad behind the camera to get those out.

Happy Thanksgiving

We are thankful for good food, family and pictures that our son smiles in.

27 weeks - 12 weeks to go

I think my body has finally decided to make it look like I am pregnant.  I really feel like I have popped out this weekend.  Along with some mild cramping & what I am assuming to be braxton hicks contractions on and off for the past 4 days I seem to be feeling pretty good.  Still waking up with leg cramps, which is so much fun.  I am getting a little bit more annoyed with the whole peeing situation.  I mean really - 3 times in 20 minutes.  My belly sits pretty low so unless I have to go out in public, I refuse to wear anything but yoga pants and sweats.  I think Mike is pretty sick of seeing me in them..... :-)

The baby is about 2 pounds this week and about 14 1/2 inches long.  I am sure mine is smaller than that.

So what is kind of scary is the fact that in 12 weeks or less I will be a mom to 2 children.  One who is completely innocent and has no idea what this world is about and the other who will probably think their world has just ended.  I am not sure if I am totally ready for that.....I guess I have no choice now.

How to show your cat you love her

Surprisingly Minkie has never even swatted at him.  Considering how he man handles her, she is a pretty good cat.

How to not use the new potty

What do you mean I am supposed to sit on it.  I think it looks better as a hat.

Tunnel tag

Rules of tunnel tag:

1.  The person in the tunnel must not allow their body to show at any time

2. The only way to escape the tunnel creature is to run.  Elmo must be carried for protection.

3. Elmo can be used to defend ones self from the tunnel creature

4. If you tag the tunnel creature before it attacks you, you win. 

A weekend of nesting, renergizing, and refueling.

I woke up on friday with the nesting bug. And it was going strong. I have given my self 10 weeks to complete everything that I want done. So if this one decides to come when Cole did that is 10 weeks from now!


First project:

Clean out the fridge.

Meaning throw everything away and wash the entire inside with soap and water.

Now I realized we needed food. So groceries went on the to do list.

Cole is great at unpacking groceries.

Second project:

Move changing table out of Cole's room and put it in the new location for when the baby comes.

So I lost one of my pottery barn desks to the poo table

Third project:

Rake all pine needles in the driveway.

There is still another huge pile off to the side that you can't see.

For you city folk, this is only after the first rain storm.....

Cole was a great helper until he began attacking my car.

Fourth project:

Stock firewood

This was the second truck full we added to the stack.

We have about 3 times what you see here in our carport and we are hoping it lasts till January. If not we have pleanty more under a tarp on the property.

We choose to heat the house with the wood stove rather than pay for electricity.

Fifth project:

Accomplish a feat I never thought would happen....

Get my son to actually smile for a picture

After a long day of nesting I wanted to get out and walk around the new addition to the mall. Amazing job they did!

Good buys

Batman Converse for Cole

$10

Rainboots for Cole

$16

(yes I realize a nose is missing)

Would you believe me that I went shopping after it was confirmed it was a girl and I bought NOTHING for her. Seriously! I guess I am not feeling it yet.....

Got to walk through H & M and drool at all the clothes I can not wear at this time in my life. I guess it is good to go into clothing stores when pregnant. You wont spend any money!

Ate at my ALL time favorite place to eat. I think last night was the 4th time this month...

The best way to end the weekend.

A ginormous bon fire.

I have no idea what that is flying in the flames by the tree. To me it looks like a dragonfly.

History repeats itself

Well we went to have the 3d ultra sound yesterday afternoon.  Mike and I had a jam packed day of Roseville shopping do - why you ask?  We had no child with us!  Woo Hoo!  Cole stayed with Grandma and Grandpa while we headed down the hill at 2pm.  We were so excited on our way to Sonotech.  We kept talking about how excited we were to finally have the sex confirmed, how much we had done on our list before the appointment and we how would probably get home at a decent time since we were child free....

Enter into Sonotech.....full of people......1 hour behind......and they only take cash, which they failed to tell me on the phone.  I don't carry $100 in cash on me at ANY time.  So Mike leaves to get cash while I sit, and sit, and get up to pee, sit some more, pee again....

We finally got in the room and waited patiently to see our child face on the screen.  The ultrasound tech put the cold wand (not heated up like at the classy places) and started moving around.  Well he said, she is still a girl, but she is so far down in your pelvis I don't think we can get a good picture of her, but we will try.  Up comes the 3d picture and she looks like Cindy Lou Woo from the Grinch.  No kidding!  He kept refering to her "cute little nose" but that's about all we saw - a nose.  She had the cord, her arms, her feet and legs all smashed up in front of her face, with her chin tilted upward and her face resting on the placenta.

So the tech said - go outside walk around and we will do the next appointment and then try again.  So 30 minutes later.....  Even worse......  At least I got the head measured......she is measuring at about 1 week small. 

For those of you that know about Cole's 3d ultra sound this was history repeating its self.  We went on a friday - he was eating his foot.  We walked around and now he had everything crammed up there.  We came back 2 days later an the best picture we got was Cole smashed up against the uterus making his adorable face chubby and distorted.

We got our money back and were told to come back in a few weeks.....I am not sure if we will.  I did get what I wanted confirmed...the sex....for free.....why go back for a picture?

We did not get home until 10pm.  So much for getting things done quickly.

My guess is this little girl will be running from the camera also!  Not want an aspiring photographer would like in their practice subjects.....  :-)

GO BEARS!

Seriously!  What kind of mascot is a tree?

Give them the AXE!

Showdown begins today 12:30pm

Be there!

Winter time sickness

The Fredy's have been hit with the winter time virus.  So far the pregnant one has fared the best, however she had the flu twice this summer so she is off the hook. 

The boys are resting comfortably on the cough exchanging coughing germs & snot while I hide in the office.

Reasons I know Cole doesn't feel well:

1. He willingly took a bath and got out with out a fight.

2. He suddenly became addicted to salt and pepper kettle chips....I think he ate half a bag.

3. He say's "oh ya ya ya" and shakes his head no at the same time.

4. He is being way to nice to the dog.

5. He let the Dr.  listen to his chest and belly with out kicking her in the boobs.

6. He sat on the scale at the Dr.'s and did not have a meltdown.

7. He was duck tape free for 5 hours and I did not find him naked.

8. He requested that I come into his room and he closed his door. Each time Mike tried to come in he would shake his head, close the door, and then give me a kiss.

9. He is laying in time out with out making a peep and staying on his circle.

10. He stayed in the shopping cart for Grandma Terri through 2 stores.

Dr's visit update

So the baby has a heart rate of 141 - normal

I gained...... 1 pound this month!  Major happy dance for me!!!  I am eating my ice creams as I type this.  I thought I was going to have to give it up!

Not sure if this will become much of anything but when the Dr. did my measurements she said I am measuring at 24 weeks not 26 weeks.  She is not going to worry about it now but in a month we will see where the baby is at that time.  My pregnancy with Cole was similar with me measuring 28 weeks at 30 weeks along.  I guess I just make small babies.  Some tell me I am lucky.  I say it doesn't matter because I am having a c-section anyways.

Saturday afternoon Mike and I head out to Roseville for the 3d ultra sound.  The babies sex will be confirmed then and we will also have a picture of the face!  Fun times.

Real communication or an accident

I walked in to the family room and Cole had no pants on....big surprise.  He ran over to me and tried pulling his diaper off.  I asked him if he needed to go big boy pee and he replied "teeease"  So off to the bathroom we go.  I talk his fully loaded diaper off and sit him down on the toilet.  Not paying too much attention because I assume with the very heavy diaper no urine is going to come out.  He gets up like he normally does to examine the inside of the bowl and suddenly pees on the floor!  This was all with in a minute of him asking to go to it.  

A sign?????

Even if it was on the floor I still consider it a valid attempt!

A new toy?

We decided that it was time to get Cole a big boy potty.  Not because we think he will use it, but more just to get him used to the idea of going to the bathroom in a place other than his diaper or the bathtub.

The first thing he did this morning when he got up.

If you ask him if he needs to go "big boy pee" he will respond with "Oh ya ya ya" and then begin taking off his clothes.  He does not even want socks on.  I know this habit is going to have to be broken because when I do decided to take him back out in to the shopping world I am not striping him down every time he has to pee.

26 weeks - 13 weeks to go!

I can no longer lay on my back.  This makes me sad.  I love sleeping on my back.  Getting prepared for no so good nights sleep from now on.

I am starting to get the sciatic pains in my legs and lower back.  Sometimes it is hard to walk other times it is hard to stand up.  So much fun.

I am now experiencing the c-section scars stretching more and that makes it hard to do quick movements to catch Cole.

Peeing constantly.  I don't think this will ever stop.......

Baby weighs 1 2/3 pounds and is about 14 inches long

Apparently it is compared to a Hothouse Cucumber

Overwhelmed

I feel like I have been neglecting my blog this past week.  There is always a picture to post or a story to tell, but this week I have been a little bit exhausted.  Not exhausted because of lack of sleep but exhausted from being overwhelmed.  I am overwhelmed with a 20 month old.  

As much as I don't want to admit it, I can no longer take Cole to ANY store for quite some time.  It has gotten to the point where he wont even stay in the big part of the shopping cart, not the seat part, for more than 10 minutes.  It's like there is a timer waiting to go off and when it hit that mark things start flying, breaking, and getting destroyed.  Today I took him to the mall so I could find a shirt that fit properly and when he had enough he began to head butt me and he bit me in the shoulder and caused a pretty decent welt.  I put him in a time out in the middle of the mall which did no good.  Why do people look at you like you are doing something wrong when you are disciplining your child in public?  Is it not normal to do that?

Cole has been a little sick this week, nothing major, slight fever friday morning and he has developed a little bit of a cough.  But apparently this "sickness" is causing him to FLIP OUT at bed time.  Nap time is still ok, but bed time has become a battle.  Tonight he fell asleep on the couch.  Take him to his room and lie him down and his eyes pop open like he was awake the whole time.  Let him cry/scream for 10 minutes and then go in to remind him it is bed time.  This created the next level of bed time tantrums I had yet to experience.  He was had butting his crib, kicking the wall, and screaming like he was being tortured.  I go in to make sure his leg isn't stuck and he is just standing there.  I get him out of his crib and put him in a time out to reenforce to him that this behavior is not acceptable.  Once his screaming time out is over, I pick him up and he is instantly silent and almost asleep on my shoulder.  Go to put him back and the screaming begins again.

This has gone on for a week and each day is getting worse...

What does one do to fix the bed time / public battle?

Problem Solved

So before I do anything I always consult my dad.  Don't know why, just do.  And after talking to him, he informed me that I could just by an external card reader and not have to go through the camera!  Which means my camera gets to stay with me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The part that is messed up doesn't affect picture taking so I am good to go.  Went to Best Buy, purchased what I needed for $20 and I am set.  A few minor set backs taken care of after some searching around in files and talking to my pops again and everything is back to normal.

HAPPY DANCE!!!!

A sad, sad, day

My camera.  My precious camera has to go away for awhile to be repaired.  Probably wont see it again for a month.....  do you see the tears flowing down my face??????

Some how the usb port that I use to upload photos broke..... so I can take pictures but I can't get them off of my camera.....

Does this justify buying the upgraded camera?

Life will never be the same

I came across this video on a girls' blog that I frequently read and it really stuck a cord with me. Maybe it's because I am a parent and also pregnant but I don't think it would have affected me as much as it did had I never experienced motherhood and the privilege it is to be able to bring a child into this world. An innocent child that change the way you think, see the world and love.

I have always known I am lucky to be as "fertile" as I am. We had no trouble getting pregnant with Cole and the same with this pregnancy. I say lets have baby and by the next month I am pregnant. We are very fortunate. After watching this video the way I look at my husband and children will never be the same. I can't imagine not having them in my life.

I can't not imagine not being able to see Cole spin in circles as you try to put his zip up sweatshirt on or bark like a dog when he hears barking from a distance. The look on his face after he bit in to a bag of coffee grounds in the back of the Target shopping cart was priceless. The very carefully thought out backwards walking he does to annoy the dog cracks us up. Today I received the biggest hug from him I have ever experienced. It was followed by about 20 kisses, 20 wet, snot nosed kisses that I would not interrupt for anything. I love that he calls me "dad" not "mom" to get my attention. I love that he says "yes" in his own excited way... Oh ya ya ya ya. The hearing that this kid has is impeccable, he can hear a train about a mile away and he gets so excited and acts so shocked when he hears it. I love watching from the couch, his excited little dance that he does when Mike gets home from work. I don't receive the same type of greeting that Mike gets but Mike doesn't get to experience it from my point of view either.

Cole has brought so much happiness to our life and he is a joy to be around even when he is head butting and screaming bloody murder in the store. I will take the head butting over not having him as a part of my life. He is a true blessing to Mike and I and we are so excited for the next arrival. We can only speculate what the next one will be like.

Get out the box of tissue and enjoy the video

The Bathroom Mirror

It finally arrived and we got it up this weekend.

We love this mirror!

Thank you Pottery Barn!

Cole & Dylan

Big News! Cole officially knows how to say his name. He walks around saying Cole, although it sounds more like cool or co. Too cute. The first name he knew was Dylan.

I walked into the room to find them both with hats that I had not put on their heads.

They procceded to go through all of Cole's hats each taking turns wearing them.
Cole always has to assist Dylan in everything!

Even if Dylan doesn't want the help.

Cole making a very important phone call

He was walking around the house having a conversation with him self and whomever was on the other end of the phone.

25 weeks - 14 weeks to go

Still feeling really good.  Braxton Hicks Contractions began this weekend so that has been fun.  I am peeing constantly now.  Sometimes like 5-7 times an hour.  It feels like this baby is just tap dancing on my bladder.

Still don't have quite the appetite I did in the beginning.  

Getting out of that tree trunk phase and starting to actually get something that looks like a belly.

We are doing the 3d ultrasound on the 22nd to confirm the sex and get the babies first snapshot.  We will see if the "girl" theory is still true...

13 1/2 inches from head to toe and 1 1/2 pounds

Fall Memories

Considering he didn't want much to do with me, I think I was able to get some good fall shots of Cole.  He even tolerated outfit changing which shocked me!  All in all he was a good boy, only a couple of tantrums....

Love both the color and black and white of this shot

One of the many times he ran away from me