Thursday, November 19, 2009

shorter

Someone got a haircut. 

And while I would love one right now (and desperately need one), it was a screaming, red-faced, raging Pod who sat in the racecar chair at Jack & Jill's and got a trim.

Well, it was more than a trim.  She went short.  I miss his soft, blond locks already!!  But it'll grow back.  I keep telling myself it'll grow back.

Nooooo, Mama, don't cut my hair!  (last Saturday) -- Ok, he was actually just playing with Daddy on the stairs (with that Play-doh tub he's obsessed with carrying around!)
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My 18-month old boy and some close-ups by the window... and some short hair.
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Reading books (I just want to nibble on that little ear!!)....
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... playing with the monitor...
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... licking the monitor...
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... and sucking on the monitor.
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Oh yeah, and sucking on the sliding door.  Yum. 
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Tonight I hot-glued 56 cups to 8 plastic platters... what I am up to? 

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My choir is singing a medley from The Polar Express for the winter concert and I have 8 "waiters" dancing to "Hot Chocolate" (remember the hot chocolate scene?  And the dancing waiters??  Love it!)  I went searching on YouTube for inspiration and found this great video of a troop of teenage tappers.  If you fast-foward to the short bit at 0:34-0:42 seconds, that's what I've taught the kids!  It's so fun, if they turn the right way.  : )  And one of the choir parents works at a restaurant and lent us some aprons.  I love when costumes come easy!

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Just watching the end of "Project Runway" on DVR and then I'm off to bed.  Who's seeing "New Moon" tomorrow???  My mom and I are going the day after Thanksgiving, which will probably be just as crowded.  Can't wait!     

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Growing a bump!!

Poppy Seed & Mama @ 14 1/2 weeks...

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* heartbeat today was in the 150s... hmmm.  Makes me wonder about my whole high heartbeat/baby girl theory... are you really a BOY in there????  'Cuz this woman can only handle TWO men in her life!!  Three would drive her INSANE!!! 

* cravings, cravings, cravings... mostly ice cream.  Actually, it's not really a pregnancy craving, since I want ice cream all the time.  Only now the second trimester "munchies" are harder to resist!!  Dang, I'm hungry!  

* insulin, insulin, insulin... ugh.  Need I say more? 

* Big brother Aidan is wearing me down - literally.  He weighs more than a freight train!  Well, if freight trains ever weighed 32 pounds.  But that's a freaking LOT for one child!  Hopefully you'll be a tad lighter when you come out.  Um, I should hope so.  : )

* Big ultrasound day set for Dec. 14th - we're counting down the days!!!

Reasons we want to know if you're a boy or a girl:

* bonding
* preparing Aidan. "You're going to have a little ______!"  Hmmm, I suppose that blank could be filled with a number of things.  : )
* picking a name ("A" names are OUT... just so ya know)
* decorating your room
* clothes-buying
* gift-receiving (just went to a shower of someone who doesn't know the sex, and it was all yellow this and duckies that!  Cute, but I want pink or blue!  Ok, I don't really want or need anything... I'm just sayin' IF we got something, I'd rather not have yellow duckies.  Although yellow duckies are pretty darn cute.  With their little beaks and their webbed feet.  Hmmm.)

I swear I've felt an occasional roll inside this baby bump, but I won't believe it until it's daily.  Feel free to start the kicking and hiccupping!  I can't wait!!! 

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Now for a little TV time... Mama cried during an entire episode of the Biggest Loser last night.  Let's find something a little less emotional... ahhhh, "Glee" will do just fine!

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p.s. Cousin Kameron's baby girl is due today and she's been given her eviction notice!  We're all rooting for you, Kam!  Can't wait to meet that sweet baby girl (even if she's enjoying her warm oven more than Mama wants!!)

Thursday, November 12, 2009

18 months of Pod

Oh boy, little man, time is flying by!  I can't believe you're technically "a year and a half."  Actually, I can handle that... it's the "18 months" part that's freaking me out.  That's SO MANY MONTHS!  But it's nice to just call you "a year and a half."  I was always annoyed with Moms who said their toddlers' age in months - and now I'm one of them!

Here's the run-down of the newest tricks...

* Mama taught you this awesome trick where you tighten your face really hard and squeeze your little fists.  We call it "The Hulk."  Not quite sure how it happened, but it's hilarious!  Maybe you're aspiring to be a bodybuilder??  : )  I have it on video -- I'll post it if I can get my act together. 

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Here you are on Daddy's lap, smashing his laptop. 

* You're quite the ham in front of adults.  You love showing off your jumping skills (well, you think you're jumping... we haven't actually seen your feet leave the floor, but we'll let you think they are.)

* Garbage can beware - you've discovered your love for pushing all cans/buckets around the house!  And dining room chairs.  And laundry baskets.  And pretty much anything that moves. 

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Daddy & you (and the monitor on your shoulder - you LOVE putting things on your shoulder like a phone!).

* You are becoming a tantruming, fit-throwing KING.  Oh boy.  I think once you start communicating more, you'll be able to tell us what you want.  Right now, we're clueless and you're ticked!  And to think, both of your parents were CALM children.  That's what we get, right??  Luckily, your little tantrums don't last long.  Whew!

* You're getting pretty good at feeding yourself applesauce!  Wish you liked oatmeal... it might not slide off the spoon so quickly! 

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* And speaking of not liking oatmeal, you're a pretty picky eater these days.  You've decided you don't like cheese (huh??) or anything with noodles.  We're doing a lot of chicken nuggets and still doing some jar food for vegetables.  And you still like rice.  Hopefully you'll outgrow this stage!  But you're interested in what we're having lately... especially when I'm eating salad.  Wouldn't that be a riot - if you LOVED salad???  haha Daddy!   

* You're mastering your new "want/more" signal (hand closing all fingers, like the Chicken Dance).  You're trying to say "Uh-oh" - the "Uh" comes out, but the "oh" is way back in your throat.  We're working on "buh/bah/ball," "go/ga,"and of course "dada."

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You're obsessed with the new cat ramp... you use it to get up on the big chair, and the other night, I caught you "driving" on it!  Tonight, you were going down it like a slide.  Are you deprived of toys, kid?

* Doorknob covers coming soon!!  Thank goodness we don't have those lever handles.  You were in the bathroom with me at Oma's house and you opened the door on me!!  And the toilet was clear on the other side of the room - I couldn't reach to shut it!

* You discovered you could pull the linen closet door shut and hide inside!  Sneaker.  : )

* You've mastered throwing and kicking balls - catching's next!!

* When the cats are sitting on the recliner, you think it's hilarious to push the recliner really hard so they fly off.  Daddy, stop teaching him mean cat tricks!!

* Our last teeth count was 11 and I don't think it's changed.  3 on top, 4 on bottom, and 4 molars.  I thought I actually saw a tooth in the roof of your mouth a few weeks ago, but luckily it was just some scar tissue.  Weight on our scale - 32 pounds!!!

--- We got out some old home videos tonight... one at 10 months, where you were first starting to crawl, and another when you were 2 weeks old.  Your bottle looked like a 5-gallon jug compared to your tiny body!!  And what a wrinkly forehead!  It's just amazing how much you've changed.     

Sunday, November 8, 2009

If the shoe fits... throw a fit!

Silly Mommy... what was I thinking, buying Pod some new shoes??  Some cute See Kai Run "Coleman" shoes.  Some perfectly good, great-fitting, cute, durable, winter weather-ready shoes. 

What was I thinking??

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Get these shoes off me!  (he was literally shaking his feet to get them off)  

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Seriously, Mom, did you think changing my shirt would make a difference??  Like I was concerned about not matching? 
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Yeah, I don't think so.  Get these shoes off me!
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Hmmm... let's check these shoes out.  Velcro straps... easy enough to take off.  Big yellow stripes... kinda cool.  If she doesn't make me wear white socks and a red, white, and blue jacket.  Geez, Mom.

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Ok, they're not bad.  But I'm still not gonna smile!
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(until he discovered they were GREAT for splashing in the puddle out front.  Then he smiled, stinker.)

I paired them with khakis the next day and jeans the day after, and they're even cuter!  But he still doesn't like them as much as his little navy Nikes.  Picky boy! 

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Had quite a Friday night... my car alarm decided to go bonkers and not turn off.  It was 8:30pm, I was an hour away from home, and I was ready to put Aidan into the car so he could fall asleep.  I trucked out to my car in the pouring rain with a pajama clad boy on my hip and 2 bags on my other shoulder, and my remote wouldn't turn off my alarm.  After changing remote batteries, jump-starting a perfectly good car battery, and setting off the alarm 4 times, I finally grabbed the car seat and left my car at Andrea's.  My friend Michelle gave me a ride home (of the 5 girls left at the baby shower, Michelle happened to live in Olympia too) and Aidan finally konked out at 10pm. 

We drove up Saturday and Chad finally got the alarm disarmed.  Ugh!             

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After being a little hesitant (ok, maybe a lot), Aidan and I got our H1N1 vaccinations this weekend.  I already got the seasonal flu a few months ago, and Aidan got his on Saturday with the new one.  I feel good about my decision, especially since I'm surrounded by kids everyday who are going home with the swine flu. 

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My first concert of the year is on Tuesday - our annual Veterans' Day assembly.  Wish me luck!!   

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

my blond boy

Pod, have I told you how in love I am with your blond locks? 

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How I love the way it sticks way out after a nap?

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How I love finding preppy little sweaters in the closet I didn't know would fit and realizing they'll still fit a tad longer?  And how they look super cute on you?  And how I love watching you tug and whine at the collar, which was bugging you to death?

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How I love your excitement for simple things, like ball poppers?  And how I love your streams of drool from that adorable little gecko tongue?

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How I love your blond hair against your creamy skin?  And your big brown eyes that silently say, "Put that camera down, Mama?" 

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How I love the rare moments when you actually smile for the camera? 

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Ahhhh, there's those blond locks again...

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And Pod, have I told you how much I love these short little moments with you... that is, before you chuck the ball popper and take off running into the street, with your Mama running wildly after you, trying to hold her camera so it doesn't flop around and hit her in the chest (which is oh-so-painful these days!!), yelling, "Stopppppp!!!"

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Love you, Pod.  And when your little blond brother or sister comes along, I promise to adore you just the same.  Well, not when you're tantruming... but most of the time. : )

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Poppy Seed @ 12 weeks

12 weeks

I'd love to say these last 12 weeks have flown by, but it's honestly going kinda slow.  But that's ok with me... if we're indeed only having two kids, I better savor my pregnancy moments while I can! 

Changes in Mama -

* I got to stop my drunk-inducing progesterone medication!  Woohoo!!!  The placenta is officially taking over and it better be doing its job right!

* Belly is definitely making its appearance.  I'm mixing in regular clothes with maternity.  I actually like my maternity clothes and want to enjoy them! 

* Haven't gained any weight yet - what's my secret?  Um, come to my house around mealtime and you'll see (as I calculate every last carb and inject insulin into my already-bruised hips).  But I'm not bitter or anything (I did eat Halloween candy -- can't deprive myself completely!!)  : )

* Still pretty tired and nauseous in the evenings, especially when I wake up in the night.

* Not working out/walking as much as I should, but I'm determined to step it up.  If only Aidan were satisfied in the stroller these days!

Changes in baby - 

* Baby Stoker started out as a poppy seed... and is now the size of a lime!

* If I prod my belly, baby will squirm (although I won't be able to feel it.)  Can't wait to feel this baby move!!!  I felt flutters with Aidan at 19 weeks and kicks at 20.  That's at Christmastime - too long to wait!!

* The second trimester is the easy stage, where the baby just grows and grows!  All malformations have been made (if any), so what's done is done.  We're crossing our fingers for healthy, healthy, healthy!

And the final HUGE change in the baby...

* If you listen really carefully, you can hear your baby talking to you in the womb... and this is what mine said...

no ashley

March of the Penguins

After seeing ladybugs, lions, ducks, Minnie Mouse, panda bears, and penguins, I admit we were pretty boring this Halloween.  My porch looked cute and my Japanese Pod was adorable, but Chad and I opted out of costumes this year.  BORING!  I just wasn't in a costume-buying/making mood this year.  And something about taking a 17-month-old to the store to buy a costume he might not wear didn't sound appealing.  So we went with a FREE costume and happily passed out candy.

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Some people weren't so boring... check out my neighbor Jennifer's kids and the family of penguins her mom made (herself included!).  Have a feeling we're gonna be borrowing those next year!!!  And lucky for Chad, there'll be one he can wear (Jennifer's husband reluctantly participated - not pictured, of course).  : )

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I think Aidan wanted to join the penguin family!!  Daddy sidetracked him with some pre-Halloween fun...

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My friend Marie and her in-laws stopped by...

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And here's my Pod, checking out the candy bowl (he had his very first Kit-Kat - yummmmm!!!) & eating dinner in the hallway (to see the trick-or-treaters, of course!)

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Someday, Grasshopper, you too will master the magic spinning ghostie toy!
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Almost...
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Grasshopper, no more.
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12-week pregnant post (w/Kit-Kat filled belly pics) coming next!!!