Mother James

So, being about 9 months pregnant ( I only have 2 weeks to go!!!) I have been REALLY tired and as all other women who have had babies know, you don't sleep the last month of your pregnancy. I mean first off, I can't breathe when I lay on my back or on my right side. But when I sleep on my left side my entire leg goes completely numb, or starts to hurt so bad I want to scream (yes she is sitting on a nerve and sometimes my legs just go crazy...it is weird) But then to add on top of that you have a ginormous belly and tossing and turning is not as easy as it once was. Plus you are peeing every whatever minutes, and then you start cramping and having back pains and blah blah blah blah blah...I LOVE being 9 mos preg and trying to get a full nights sleep...........yeah.

So, back to the start, I have been really tired. So, when I DO fall asleep I am very very very deep asleep and so I do not hear my little children sneak out of their beds. This is where the Mother James comes in. James has taken it upon himself to be Harrison's little mom. First thing in the morning James will take Harrison to the potty, and then put his elmo underwears on him. Then he takes Harrison downstairs and gets him breakfast. He is pretty good at getting the cereal and can actually pour the milk without spilling it. Now before you think I am terrible for sleeping in so late that my kids are up taking care of themselves I should let you know that this usually happens before 6:30 or so, often in the 5 am category. So here are a few funny/sweet stories of James taking care of Harrison lately.

So the other morning, okay it wasn't even morning, it was still dark outside. I hear Harrison downstairs playing. I got up went downstairs to find him playing with the DVD's. I told him he needed to go back to bed and I was picking him up to carry him back upstairs when I heard a couhg come from under a blanket across the room. Poor James was sound asleep under the blanket. I then noticed the bowl of cereal James had gotten Harrison. James then poked his head out and said "mom, I got Harrison breakfast" the poor kid was so tired. I felt so bad. I put both boys back in bed, and when we actually did get up in the morning I explained to James that he did NOT need to get up with Harrison, that he could come get me or dad and we would take care of him. But James is extremely independent and still gets up with Harrison.

The other morning I woke up to a knocking sound...coming from the garage/kitchen door. I shook Ben awake and told him to go check what the world was going on (I would have jumped out of bed and rushed down, but I am not so fast these days...big belly) Ben went down, Harrison was sitting in front of the door, it was locked and James was in the garage knocking on the door.....yeah. This is what had happened. The boys got up, wanted a snack, but didn't want cereal. James remembered that we had had granola bars in the diaper bag that was still in the car. (yes I have an entire pantry and storage room full of food and about 20 boxes of granola bars, but I guess going out to the car is more fun) Anyways, he went out to the car, and while he was out there Harrison shut and locked the door. nice brother. So James was knocking on the door.

Yes yes yes I know you are thinking, what the world? why don't you put locks on their door or something so they don't get out. There are two locks on their door and trust me, that does NOT stop James. he can figure out just about any lock or door. He has been able to since he was able to walk. And they are so sneaky quiet!!! I don't even hear them get up. After the garage incident we had a long discussion about how we never open any of the outside doors without mom or dad being up first. Crazy kids. I think I am going to put a clock in their room and set serious rules about being able to get out of their beds before the clock says a certain time or something.

But I do have to say, that James is really just trying to be helpful, and that I think he is so super sweet to take care of his younger brother like he does. we have been potty training harrison and I swear James takes him to the bathroom more than I do. James is a very sweet boy and takes his oldest child role very seriously. He is the one that got Harrison to say his first prayer, Harrison would never do it for Ben or I, but when James helped him he would say it. Harrison looks up to James for everything. He copies everything James does. I am so glad to have my two little boys, they love each other so much, and I know they were just the best of friends before they came here, as they are best buddies now.

Baby Showers!

First off, here is a picture of Sophie's room. I got the curtains today and immediately hung them up, okay Ben put up the curtain rod while I ironed the curtains, but  anyways here it is. I love it! You can't tell from the picture, but I put pink ribbon around the edge of the lamp, I think it is cute.

Okay, So I know some really nice people, because not only did I get one baby shower, but I got 2! My sisters and mom threw one for me, and then my neighbors threw one for me as well.  they were both a lot of fun and I got tons of great stuff! Both were great, and I know that a lot of work, effort, and time went into throwing the showers for me, so thank you thank you thank you. Especially my sisters Amy, Becca, Rosanne, and My mom. And then my Neighbors Jules, and Audrey. You guys are so great! I am so grateful and blessed to have so many good people as friends and neighbors and family. Seriously, it is such a great blessing to be surrounded by so many good people. It means so much to me that you would do this for me. Thank you all. Enjoy the Pictures!!!

Here is the shower at Jules' house. And this is everyone that came! Thank you all for coming and for bringing such cute fun things. It was so fun to just visit and enjoy each other's company. What a fun night.

Since Jules is married to a photographer, there were many many pictures, but I am only posting a few. There was a picture of just about every gift I opened, but this one turned out the best, so here it is.  And yes, it is a very cute little pink dress..she will be adorable in it.

This was at the start of the party, Here I am with Amanda, Marcie, Alicia, Audrey and Latitia.

How artistic is this? Jules, you are so talented!!! Everything was perfect. And I think I ate half the banana chocolate bread....it was amazing.

Once again, Jules.....gorgeous. I actually copied you and did this for my family on Valentine's day. They loved it. The kids REALLY liked licking the sugar off the edges.

Okay here are the pictures from the Shower my sisters threw for me. I actually only have a few. My sister also loves taking pictures and took about 100, but I only have a few. When I get more from her I will post them.

Okay I wish you could see this quilt better, it is absolutely amazing. My sister made it for me and I was seriously crying when I got it. The entire thing is pieced and appliqued.  And it is 100% gorgeous. And she did it in one week. yeah. She is amazing. I can't believe she made it for me. Thank you thank you thank you Amy!!!

Oh, another quilt I must mention. My mom pieced a quilt together the night before the shower for us to tie at the shower. She did it in one night!!! And I am sad not to have a picture of it because it is really really cute! When I get it here, I will take a picture and post it. Thank you Mom.

All right,  can you see this doll? Is it not the cutest doll ever? I love it so much. My sister in-law Johanna made it for me, and I love it!!! I want more of them. I seriously want a collection of them.  She is also extremely artistic and talented...obviously. Thank you Jo!

Okay, this picture does not do the decorating and food table justice.  I mean, it IS cute in the picture, but the entire room was decorated with little pink and brown flowers and it was adorable!!! Plus, the food was very very delicious..I am wanting some watermelon and strawberries right now just from looking at the picture. Anyways, Once again Thank you everyone for all you did for me. You are so great. I am so grateful to have so many good friends. Thank You!!!

Belly Pics!

All right, so here are some pictures of me and my belly! Enjoy. I will post some pictures of her room as soon as I get the curtains....they are being shipped currently, that is the only thing I am waiting on though.

Nesting...My Obsession

Wow, has it really been 2 months since I last posted anything? Sheesh! Slacker! Well, If you have been wondering what in the world ever happened to me, I have one answer. Nesting. Nesting gone super crazy! Seriously. I feel like an insane crazy person. In the past month or so I have felt like I need to have everything 100% absolutely perfect all the time. However, I have two wild indian boys and so my house is usually far from perfect. So then I just get really cranky and go on some crazy cleaning spree until things are the way I like them.  I also have been trying to get everything 100% organized, every closet, every room, every drawer. Mostly my efforts have only lasted a day or two, but I do have to say that the garage is much more organized and the storage room under the stairs now  has shelves in it (I put them in myself!) and has all of our food storage nicely put away.  I have been going crazy about getting everything ready for this baby girl to arrive. Since Harrison surprised us and came so early, we weren't even one bit ready for him. So it was driving back and forth from the NICU getting clothes cleaned, crib set up, bottles washed, shopping done...not an amazing thing.  But I am happy to say that if she were to come tomorrow, we would be ready for her. We have the car seat, diapers, burp cloths, clothes, more than enough clothes, her room is cute and ready to be used, and so now we just play the waiting game for the next month.  

Yeah, I have been crazy. I know i have been. I was reading a pregnancy book the other night and it had a section about nesting and it said that some women feel some urge to get everything clean and organized while others go crazy about it cleaning out every closet, washing all the walls, cleaning curtains...okay yes those are all things that I have done lately. HA! So actually this week I have been trying NOT to nest quite so much. I took the boys swimming...twice. I have been taking them walking with me at the track almost every day. I have been trying to pay more attention to them, and let the house go just a little bit.  We've had fun. 

As far as baby Sophie goes and when she will be arriving...well, come March 13th she will arrive no matter what. They will be inducing me that day for sure.  She is not a big mover, and so I have had to have NST's and have a DR's appt every Monday. So far she is doing well, and so they think I will go full term, but if she shows any signs of distress, then they will bring her here.   She freaks me out sometimes though.  The other day I hadn't felt her move all day and so I drank some juice and laid down...nothing...an hour goes by....still nothing...another 30 min...nothing. At this point my mind is going crazy, remembering how things were with Harrison.  I am sure if anyone took my blood pressure or heart rate at that point it would have been through the roof. Anyways, I was picking up the phone to call a neighbor to watch the kids while I went to the hospital and the baby suddenly started moving...a lot! I was glad. She moved well for the next hour or so.  

Anyways, I am getting really anxious and excited for her to get here safe and sound. Ben and I both are. James is too, he remembers her in every prayer. in fact tonight he said "bless baby sophie to get strong, and to be healthy and that when mom pushes her out it won't hurt" He is very sweet. I told him not to worry, that the Dr and Nurses will help me. But.... as we all know it WILL hurt, a lot as I am delivering this one naturally...yikes! When I start to think about that it freaks me out a little bit. But I can do it. So, now it is late, and I am tired and ready for bed.  I will post some belly pics tomorrow.