A Giant? Or Something Else? Tell Me!

Well many of you know we're expecting again... yes that's baby number five (if it's a giant). I suppose that's entirely possible given how big Peter was - certainly smaller by weight than I'd heard of others, even in my own family, but he was 22 1/2 inches long... that's really long for a baby.

Strangely, for those who know me, I've not been terribly sick this time around. Two of my previous pregnancies I was more or less sick the whole time. One I was violently ill for the first half and the other I threw-up 5 times and felt ill for at least half. This time I did "feel sick" almost immediately, and often thought I'd wake up sick. Nope... as long as I got to sleep when I started to feel crummy I was doing okay. I did start in on mints (a nausea coping mechanism) at 4 or 5 weeks..... much early than usual for me.

For the first two and half months I felt that I was eating all the time... not that I could eat the same thing in a row. No, that would have been too easy. But I was easily eating every hour and maybe even sooner when I was awake. I would wake up in the middle of the night with hunger pains and have to eat something at least once and often twice before morning. Not to mention eating before trying to get out of bed. And protein was difficult to eat... it seemed to upset my stomach, although that always got worse as the day progressed.

We thought we'd be cute and announce our pregnancy on Christmas Day... hey, I've always been able to hide it for that long and longer before (even with number four). But I realized I was showing by 5 weeks. I had the "right" shirts, though and wore button up sweaters and zip up sweat shirts (great for minimizing what can be seen when left open). By 6-7 weeks we decided we best let Bob's folks know because, well, they are just across the street and see us often. I knew it wouldn't be long before someone would be asking anyway. I was already starting to get a few questioning glances... apparently I was still hiding it well enough for them not to ask though (or they figured I was still new enough to the area that they would be kind). When I announced it at church, a girl beside me commented right off that I was showing.

It wasn't until a few weeks after telling Bob's folks that I stood up when we were visiting and my stomach was a little achy... I moved the sweater back a little to rub my belly and my mother-in-law exclaimed "You really are showing!" with surprise. Yup.. I wasn't making it up... I was just good at hiding it (to a point). After all, I had been out of my normal pants by 6 weeks, had only one pair of bigger pants and they were tight and uncomfortable. (Christmas remedied that... maternity clothes have been a huge blessing and comfort)

So... to add to our fun with the huge, uncomfortable belly (which also meant back pulling as early as 6 weeks - normally something that starts, mildly, in the late second trimester for me) is our little Peter. He loves to "hug a baby" - where he snuggles my belly and grins up to me. He would then say "I tink it's two babies". That was cute and I often would ask him just randomly if we were having one baby and his response has always been the same. Then he learned the word twins - and though we've stopped asking how many babies, he'll tell me "I tink it's tins. A brodder baby and nodder brodder" If it is twins, I do hope it's not two boys... the two I have, being 19 months apart are handful enough! Peter even said, yesterday, that then it would be "like Peter and Jeremy again"!

I figured I'd not say a whole lot until we knew for sure if it was one or twins or whatever.... but, seeing that I'm nearly 13 weeks and we still have no idea and the next chance to have a clue won't be until I'm 16 1/2 weeks... well, here we are! Apparently the doctor we see is rather old school. That doesn't actually bother me.. but I'm finding some interesting differences between his methods and what I went through with my others. Like, no inital ultrasound. Okay. And then at my last appointment being told that the doctor rarely hears a heartbeat at 12 weeks. When he "checked for one" he set the doppler in one place and listened for awhile but didn't move it around. The other doctor's I'd had always probed around until they found it. That's not this doctor's style. So we'll wait another 4 weeks.

In the meantime... I know someone is having twins... it may well not be me, but someone connected to me is having twins. I've known this since before I got pregnant. Since I won't know for sure about myself for another 4 weeks, if it's you, please tell me... then I won't have to wonder who it is any more! And if it's you, then I can try to prepare Peter for just one baby! Of course, I suppose you might not know yet either.. but when you find out, let me know! I've already asked everyone I know that's expecting!

Peter's Favorite Saying

"OK, My Friend!"

A Little Taste Of Our Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Christmas is, of course, always wonderful when you have your family around you - but this year we had our family and Bob's parents and his grandmother. Adding to the number of family really helped to make it more special.

Since we went over to Bob's folks for Christmas Eve dinner (which was really yummy, but no surprise there) the kids were able to watch some Christmas specials on TV and the adults were able to visit. It was great because the kids were actually kept up later than I thought they would be - it was after 10:30pm when they were finally tucked in and asleep! I was, of course, finishing up Christmas presents (fortunately it was not a lot) so though I wasn't feeling the best and knew I needed to be sleeping, I stuck with it and got them finished up.... oh, that is except on for one for a couple who were on vacation and not at their home anyway... I do feel bad that it's not complete, but that should be remedied tomorrow!

Anyway, with such a late night for the kiddos, we actually had to wake them up! We had thought we'd be going back over to Bob's folks around 8am Christmas morning... it was 7:15 when I woke up Bob (me being awake only because I had to eat something or be sick). We got the kids up and out to stockings around 7:30 or so... needless to say, we made it to Bob's folks at 8:30 after we'd opened what was under our tree (some presents were waiting at grandma and grandpa's).... oh, yeah... still in our PJs!

It was wonderful... the kids were very happy and excited with all their gifts. Bob and I also received wonderful gifts too... cards will be written this week as well.... After presents (having stopped half way through for breakfast) the kids spent a good time watching specials and playing games. I took a nap and everyone eventually found clothes before Christmas dinner!

As we were not really home "holiday-wise" until Saturday, we waited until then to open up the new games, puzzles and toys here at the house. We had received a TV (our old one didn't make the move) and DVD player (was dead before we made the move), we cuddled up with kiddos and watched a movie as a family in the living room (not in the dinning room on the computer) actually comfortable Saturday night! Yeah! It's nice to know we'll be able to do that more often. (Oh, and that if the boys are watching a movie I can still work on the computer!)

It was great... peaceful... different for us than years past, but so enjoyable!

Now... to get that online card done up so you all can see our family and read our letter.... this week... seems I have quite a list going already!

Santa

Santa has always come to fill stockings... but other than that, Santa hasn't been a huge thing around here. Well, last week, the girls had a wonderful little Christmas play / concert that we went to. And who was there at the end? None other than Santa giving out candy canes. All the kids went up and got one without any trouble.

The following night, we were invited over to Grandma and Grandpa's house to see a special visitor. Santa was there, waiting for us at the front door. It was funny to hear the kids:

"It's Santa!"
"No, It's grandpa!"

Of course, grandpa came into the living room a little while later and Santa was still there! Wow! That was something for the little ones! Santa had brought each kid an ornament and two candy canes (the ones that are like candy sticks). Peter had fallen asleep before we went over and we had to wake him up. So although he was very excited the first night to go and see Santa, he wasn't sure what to make of the second one. Eventually, with the help of the train controls, Peter warmed up.

At the end of the night on our way back home, Peter turned to me and said "There was two Santas!" Yes, yes there was!

Christmas Carols

When Peter was born he gave me a great gift. He was easy in so many ways, but not in going to sleep. That is until I realized he would only go to sleep if he was sung to. Not just any songs, but the Hymns. It was perfect for me - Bob's schedule was crazy, I was in many ways a single mom (with the benefit of a husband) with three very young kids and a new baby. I was so tired all the time and rarely picked up my scriptures or Ensign or anything that might fill me spiritually because I was sleeping whenever I possibly could between the baby and the demands of life with kids.

That half hour every day of singing the Hymns to little Peter filled me and kept me going. It was a time for me to feel the love my Savior has for me and recharge and get ready for the next round of chaos.

Well, this year I've had a special treat. Peter has always enjoyed music - usually he's very specific about what people can sing - and he loves to dance, to sing, to listen. As I've been spending more time in the chair, he'll come cuddle up and sing Christmas Carols with me. He smiles, tells me the song or agrees to one I suggest when he can't think of another. His focus seems to be on Santa right now, though his favorite carol is "The Little Drummer Boy". He'll join me several times a day, snuggling and singing.

I especially love when he lays across my lap and looks up at me while we're singing. That's when those precious baby memories gather round - another special gift my Peter has given me!

The Magic Wand

It never fails that one kids or another (usually the boys) will find something that becomes a magic wand. The typical game includes making things and people "vanish" which (though it's all imaginary) causes quite a stir and much frustration from the unexpecting party. Well, there has always been the usual Abracadabra and such, but this is what the boys have been saying lately:

AbracaDoodle!

The Rest Of The Story

The tree went up Saturday night - though without lights. Sunday afternoon, the lights went up and the kids decorated. Normally Bob puts on the lights and then adds the glass balls. This year he let the kids decorate until they were finished - I lifted a couple up to get to some higher branches because they thought ornaments needed to be up there too! =)

The tree turned out nice - though no glass balls this year. We have mostly homemade ornaments, so the tree has that simple, homemade sweetness to it. It goes along great with our "homemade Christmas" this year. Yes, everything is homemade - okay, everything we are giving! =)

I'd put up some pictures, but really, I need to finish cleaning out iPhoto - I was working on it a month or so ago and never got it finished. Since our computer is many years old (we've had it for a good 5 or 6) and it belonged to someone else for a few years before that, I figure I best not overload it. It's old, after all, and since it's still working, I'd like to keep it that way. I do want to get some nice snow pictures up on the side of the blog, and I might do that directly from the camera just for the season, but please forgive the time it takes to post other pictures!

O Christmas Tree - part one

Bob went out with his Dad and a family friend to a get a tree today! Hurray - success! That means there wasn't so much snow that a tree was impossible! Kids are very excited - they were hoping to put it up tonight, but since little ones seem to think getting into PJs can take over an hour they lost out. Besides, Bob had to go pick up a tree stand (we left ours back in Maine).

So, two Christmas stories, prayers and scriptures later - Bob is putting together our tree stand, trimming the tree to fit the house - I think he's going to get the tree in and up with the lights on. That means it'll be all ready for the kids to start decorating as soon as they return from church tomorrow! The boys made ornaments this week in preparation for the "big event".

What a great holiday!

Bringing Out The Worst

The kids spent the evening at Grandma and Grandpa's house since Bob and I both had meetings at the church. I returned before the end of the Go-Fish game so was able to listen in on the excitement.

As the kids went around taking their turns, Bethie turns to Jeremy knowing that he has everything she needs to have another complete match (she's already ahead of everyone). She asks for it and then announces (through a smile and a giggle) "I'm evil!!!!!!!!!"

Adjusting Traditions

Christmas is coming - around the corner really, and this year we're looking at changing some traditions. After all, we're near family now and so some adjustments make sense. I have to admit there is part of me which screams "no way... this is how we've always done it with our own little family so this is the way we'll always do it" and yet another part is finding a growing sense of excitement in trying to think up other "new" things to start.

So - I think we've decided the Midnight gift opening ritual (which the youngest always seem to sleep through anyway) is going to have to be set aside. The kids seem fine with it... the only problem (though the kids don't see it as a problem yet) is that the kids will not be able to open gifts until a "reasonable hour" when family has a chance to gather (sometime after 7am).... I know, I think it's asking too much, but we'll see.

One of the "exciting new" things for me is coming up with something yummy for first thing in the morning. We never really worried about it - made snowman pancakes as the kids came to the table (we just might have to continue with that too). Bob, of course suggested cinnamon rolls, which everyone loves. Simple enough to have together the night before and then pop in the oven that morning. But when he said that, I thought of Danish pastries... I love those. I've never made them, but I've always wanted to learn. So, I've just found a recipe with great reviews that I'm going to try out sometime this next week. And if all works out well, I'll be making homemade apple and cheese danishes (not mixed, two different kinds). Maybe a lemon one? I'm excited. We'll have a little "bakery" of sorts... I might have to make up some doughnuts for the boys... we'll see.

Now... to keep them entertained from 3 until the gift opening time..... (maybe we'll be lucky and it will be 6am).... maybe some special Christmas games ... yes, there are stockings, but really, how long will those last? Any ideas?

Tummy Needs a Nap

Peter decided he was full before he had emptied his bowl of cereal yesterday. This was our conversation:

P: My tummy's full. It needs a nap.
M: Oh.. don't you think you could eat a couple more bites so your tummy stays good and full?
P: No, my tummy is full. It needs a nap.
M: Does your whole body need to take a nap, or just your tummy while you play?
P: Just my tummy needs to take a nap while I play.

1 of 13

We just found out today that Gabi was one of 13 winners of an art contest. The art will be used to create a calendar for next year for the community! She's very excited - as are we! There will even be a special awards night for her and the other lucky 12.

Congrats, Gabi! You did a wonderful job!

And The Cat Trumps

When cleaning up the books and magazines in the livingroom a few days back, I picked up one of the Book of Mormons that was given to the kids by their old bishop. Wondering whose was not in the bedroom, I opened it to find that it was Peter's. Since he was working with me, I said to him:

"Peter! Look what I found!"

He eagerly grabbed it and started turning to the pictures (his favorite part) and said very excitedly

"My Book of Norman! You found my Book of Norman!"

At first I wasn't sure I'd heard him right, but then later, when he was suppose to have taken it to his room but didn't, he came out and told me again that he had his Book of Norman. Laughing (because Norman is the cat he plays with at grandma's several times a week), I corrected him. He repeated Mormon, and then proceeded to tell me he was putting away his Book of Norman.

Famous?

Okay, maybe not quite, but Beth made the paper this week! A week ago, on Veteran's Day, the girls were part of a salute to veterans concert. They prepared for weeks, loved all the "America songs" they learned, and I must admit that I loved the concert. Being kids and all, I wasn't sure just how much I'd understand in the back row while I tried to record and take pictures.

It was wonderful, though. The Veterans who came only added to the beauty of the program. When the theme song from their particular branch of the military was sung or played, they would stand in salute. Just amazing. And to hear certain heartfelt songs about our country and about the people who fight for it, well, I must admit I got teary eyed a few times. None more so, though, than when they concluded with "God Bless America".

Anyway, only one picture from their particular school made the paper, and Beth, being right up front wearing a red shirt and her blue with white stars jumper was apparently patriotic enough to land center! The downside - well, it doesn't seem they post pictures on the Newspaper website, so I can't link you there to enjoy it. But Beth is especially excited today!

Update

I'm not doing so well with keeping up with the blog... I have several pictures and events to post about, but it will have to come here and there. It seems we're all pretty busy in our own ways - in our own worlds!

But, some things I don't want to forget:

Last week, after the Bishop had help confirm someone at church, he had walked back up on the stand and Peter got so excited and pointed then said "Look, Mama, that's MY Bishop!"

We're spending more and more time playing games! It's better than TV, better than movies and of course it's better because Bob is around more! Jeremy's favorite game is Checkers - another favorite (which Peter is getting the hang of) is Guess Who!

Wood heat is still wonderful! - Though we have an insert instead of the actual stove, it's still nice.

This morning Peter told me: "I'm Petor! There's a different Petor. It's not like me."

There will be some "school blogs" on our school site too. Again... late, but at least you'll have an idea of what is happening. Due to the particular's of our children and the structure of schooling in their age groups, we're developing a home school plan which is a supplement to the schooling. They really are doing well there, but there really is only so far they can go with certain things under the circumstances (mostly with the kindergarten). I don't mind, and I think it will mostly be on the "vacation" times - which is when they would be wanting to do it anyway!

Soccer

So this is old news.. .but I wanted to share it anyway!

Soccer is done differently out this way... in large part because there are many more people and lots of kids who are interested in playing. So there is an actual league which include levels based on age. Arriving when we did, we nearly didn't end up with any players this year. But since they needed one more coach, they asked Bob if he would do it. So, though the girls would not normally have been on the same team, they allowed Beth to "bump up" so he could coach them both!

It was a fun season for them - started in August and ended around the end of October (maybe a week before). So kind of long for what we're use to as well. They had practices in the first few weeks and then it was just games (which were typically two or three a week). They had a lot of fun and the parents were very impressed with Bob's style (focusing both on "fun" as well as teaching skills).

As this was Beth's first year ever playing on a team, I must admit that I was pretty impressed. In the beginning it was pretty obvious that she didn't have experience. Later on, she'd improved, though being so little and all, it was still obvious that she was not as experienced as the older kids on the team. All in all, though, I am very happy with how she played. How she was so enthusiastic. Her favorite thing to do was to giggle with excitement while she was running after or kicking the ball. Her favorite position ended up being goalie - and though she was little and not as experienced, she could hold her own against several of the other teams. She also had incredible defense to protect her! While in goal, she would often dance around and laugh - occassionally laying down because the ball seemed to be staying at the other end of the field.

For Gabi, she improved a lot. Though she's played before, she'd never played on a league like this and the dynamics are certainly different. She made three goals over the season - for which she was very happy - and was the team enthusiast always cheering for any member of the team when they got the ball, kicked the ball, made a goal, etc. She loved making new friends and playing with them. Sometimes she'd be talking with another player or singing songs with them while she was waiting for a chance at the ball. Though having improved tremendously, going after the ball is still not her strong point. She'd go for it until it looks like someone else (even from the other team) has it. Then often she'll pull back and wait to intercept after it's been kicked. But, considering age, I don't think that's so bad!

Anyway, it was a fun season and the boys and I went to most of the games. It was hard on Jeremy because he really just wanted to play (so warm ups were fun because he could be included). On one of the fields, there was a tree that many children (waiting for a playing sibling) would climb. Around it were lots of rocks that they also thought were fun to throw it the "ditch" where the tree was. Jeremy and Peter took part in this.

Peter was really only interested in the naps or the snacks. He'd often fall asleep on the way to the game and stay that way as I carried him up. So he'd either sleep on me or on a blanket we'd managed to get spread out. Peter would like to play, but it's not the problem it was for Jeremy (at least not yet) and that's good, because he's got at least another year to wait through before his turn comes up!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! We do hope it was fun for everyone! We had a lot of fun - it was a nice mellow day, which seem abnormal for us for Halloween, but it was really nice. The weather was great - 67 degrees when we started out! I must admit I was thankful for that since the girls outfits would have been hard to "bulk up"!

Unlike other years, I didn't make all the costumes! Okay, so that's not entirely a first, but I generally make them all or most of them. This year three were store bought (two this year and one from a couple years ago) and the other, well I used a lot of safety pins. Spanish Princess on a budget! =)

Bob and the kids made jack-o-lanterns right after an early dinner. Then the boys played outside while I got the girls together (mostly Gabi) and then we got them into costume. They were, of course, very excited to go "trick-or-treating" and Gabi insisted it be a family affair... so it was. Peter, being Thomas, said "peep, peep" and "clickity clack" all along the way! It was fun, but everyone was happy to be home!





Thomas The Tank Engine! (yes, his smoke stack is missing, we just couldn't figure out where tha ended up!)



Princess Elizabeth - Or is she the Glenda, the Good Witch?



Jeremy the firefighter! He was so excited!


Spanish Princess - Not bad for a put it together yourself!

It's All About The Apple Cake

I was making dinner tonight and Peter wanted to help. The stockpot was hot and he couldn't see in it even standing on a chair, so I figured it wasn't really safe for him. That's when he told me that when he grew up he'd be a mommy....

I asked him if he was really going to be a mommy or if he was going to be a daddy... he said "Daddy" and then told me all the things that mommies cook and the things that daddies cook... ending with "And mommies make apple cake. I'm going to be a mommy when I get bigger"

Don't worry about gender, it's all about the apple cake!

License

I guess that's that last thing I needed to do before being officially a citizen of this state. My marriage certificate came amazingly fast - I had no idea that mail could go across the country and back in less than one week... I'd say that's a blessing!

Anyway, it arrived a couple days ago, this morning I went in - and blessings once again, I received someone else to deal with - someone who was actually nice. The test was, as tests go, filled with many questions that didn't have enough information to be certain which answer to give. Blessed again, I was some how able to come up with the answers they were seeking. Needless to say, I have officially passed (I feel like high school all over again) and my new ID / License will be in within the next two weeks.

I think that's all for the headaches of moving. I think everything else is just part of life!

Jack-O-Lanterns

We don't carve them until a day or two before - or if it's last year, the day of - halloween. The kids do get to draw on them before. Peter wanted to tell me (again) about his....

"Mama, you see my junky ladder?"