Long Week

Starting with the total crazy crankiness on Saturday, it has continued through the week!  Add in the monsoon weather we had Monday and Tuesday and me not feeling the best.....I am WORN out.  Zach has definitely been testing me, although most likely unknowingly on his end.  I am just hoping that it is all due to the teething and this too shall pass.  He has a top and a bottom molar coming in on one side of his mouth...you can see the points coming through and fleshy gums still in the center.  OUCH!  Anyway, the temper tantrums have been rough and I hope they end soon!  Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!

Pitter Patter

Finally got the nerve to try the doppler out at home again. Had been feeling a little off for a day or so and convinced I overdid at the Ruckus Room (even though all I did was follow Z around, no crazy jumping or anything). So anyway, tried it out last night and found fairly quickly...bounced around the 150s! Getting anxious for the big u/s in a few weeks to know what Little Peanut is and start thinking of NAMES!

Swine Flu

So apparently the first confirmed death due to swine flu was a 22 month old Mexican boy who was brought to a Houston hospital from Brownsville. Should we be concerned? I don't like to buy into panic but obviously with a little one running around and one in utero, it is a little scary too! What can we do but be extra vigilent in our hand washing and such? Especially since Z likes to grab and touch everything and then put into mouth! ugh. Guess I will just watch him and be sure to get to doctor at first sign of illness....

Rain rain go AWAY!

Ok, enough already with the rain! We had a serious downpour yesterday afternoon which resulted in our very dirty playground visit....well what started at 2pm yesterday has NOT let up! This morning while I was getting ready and watching the news...I noticed all my routes into work were flooded! Thankfully I was able to stay home and work from here. Matt had taken the Z Man into school so I could actually work....but then they were back an hour later. He had been waiting for a bus for over 40 min and only one had come in that time and there was a line out the wazoo to get on whenever they did come! Apparently the HOV lanes are flooded too. So, back he went to get Z and watched him while I worked this morning. I had plans to go in this afternoon, but it is STILL raining over there on this side of town and the last thing I want to do is get to work and then not be able to get home!! Thankfully I have a great co-worker who is going to take care of some things for me from the office that I cannot get into from home. I hope it lets up soon....I want lunch and nothing here sounds good! Hope where ever you are you are staying dry!!

Mommy & Me Monday- Ruckus Room!

There is a neat little bounce indoor play room called The Ruckus Room just down the road from us that we decided to try out today.  I pass by it all the time and had looked it up on the internet and finally went today!  Mondays-Fridays are open play and it was only like $4.25!  If you happen to be off on Tuesdays, they have Toddlers Tuesday and you pay $1 per year of the child so Z would have gotten in for a buck!  There are 4 rooms and they had 3 open today and Zach spent time in between the Turtle and Monkey Room.  We wandered into the big kids room a few times but that was just chasing after beach balls they have bouncing around!  There were only 3 other kiddos there so we really had the run of the place!  A little 22mo old girl befriended Zach, I think she thought he was cute!  ;-)  She kept giving him hugs, it was very sweet.  Nice chatting with the moms who lived in the area too.  And all that running and bouncing wore him out!  He fell asleep in car on the way home and slept another hour and a half at home!   :)

The rest of our afternoon was rainy!  It started around 2 but had a brief break around 3 so we ran over to the park for a good half hour or so.  Zach was a sandy wet mess since it had rained earlier but he enjoyed the running around and sliding as always.  It started to really rain so we had to hurriedly head home and took a mid-afternoon bath in mom and dad's tub to get rid of all the sand!!  And then the floodgates really opened so we were cooped inside the rest of the day.  Stayed entertained with musical bowls and pots and at least 40 minutes of chase!  I swear he could play chase ALL DAY! :)

Here are a couple of pics from the RR!  We will definitely go back!

Tutu fun!

I made Julia a tutu for her 1st birthday present and must say I think it turned out really cute!  I used to be much more crafty and I really enjoyed making it!  If you want one, let me know! ;-)

Poor Zach had to be my model...so just one pic to show off!  The others are of Miss Julia and Miss Macey modeling in their jammies at the party! :)

Garage Sale

Our neighborhood is having their annual subdivision wide garage sale on Saturday and I think we are going to try to sell some junk priceless things we have stored in our garage.  I must admit I have never had a garage sale before.  I think I may have gathered some stuff together for other people's but never one of my own.  The point of a garage sale to me is to attempt to get some extra cash for stuff that would otherwise be going to goodwill.  Matt on the other hand thinks we can get some decent cash off things.  For example, he has a lovely entertainment center from about 8 years ago we need to get rid of.  It is nice, wooden with glass door but just a little of of date, etc.  I say we can get $30.  He thinks at least $50.  granted, he bought the thing for like $250 but I don't think people go to garage sales looking to spend $50 on something.  What do you think?  We also have an ikea desk, nice glass table and tons of other stuff that just needs out of the garage!  Ooh, the other thing.....the custom drapes that were in the house when we moved in.  The previous owners paid like $6k for them all, but they were just colors and styles that did not go with us.  So, these I feel like perhaps we should try to get something for...but then again...they are "custom 20 foot" drapes that went with our house...not someone else.  What to charge?  

Any garage sale tips appreciated and if you have some junk stuff you want to get rid of too, come on over on Saturday!  I'll supply the drinks! :)

what a weekend!

No plans for tomorrow, guess we will be winging it!  All in all we had a good weekend although the first part of Saturday was not so pleasant.  Zach is usually a pretty good sleeper despite his random night cries.  Usually he goes down easily and then sleeps until 7am when his internal alarm clock goes off.  Well Friday/Saturday was not the case.  I was in there every couple of hours and he was just not happy.  No fever, no poops, no pukes, no nothing, not sure what the problem was!  We got through it and hoped it was just a bad night.  Unfortunately the unhappiness continued during the day!  We did Tylenol, called the doc to which were basically told there would be nothing they could do.  I was figuring it was either teeth or ears but no drainage and nurse said there would be if ear infection since he has tubes.  Got some oragel in his mouth finally and seemed to be better! But an hour or so later, back to the uncontrollable inconsolable crying!  We were thinking of calling in a Catholic priest for an exorcism since he was rolling around like a crazy man!!  So finally after some tears of my own about what to do during the latest fit, I grabbed a blanket and swaddled him like a giant burrito and rocked him until he finally cried himself to sleep.  I couldn't put him down either or he would wake up so I caved too and we both napped from about 2 to 4pm!  It was much needed for us both and he woke up HAPPY!!!  Perhaps the teeth cut through during the nap.  

We missed the beginning of Julia's birthday party but packed up and headed over late anyway!  It was a lot of fun and the Labbe's had the backyard filled with beach balls which of course Z LOVED!  Zach also showed his part-Cajun roots by enjoying some sausage and potato from the crawfish boil!  Don't worry, it wasn't too spicy.  He tried some of mine and then wouldn't stop...and since he is such a strange eater, figured I may as well let him eat if he wanted to!  We got to have some fun romper room time with all the babies bathing and playing in their jammies upstairs too.  Julia opened her presents and we got to ooh and ahh.  I made her a tutu and I think it turned out really well!  Hopefully she enjoys it too!  I snagged a pic off Becky's smugmug so will have to post sometime soon.  Anyway, it was a good time and I was glad Z was feeling better that we got to go, even if late.

Today I peeked in Z's mouth and definitely some new teeth in there. Poor kiddo.  We had a good day of just chilling and playing.  Much needed after the crazy Saturday!  We played outside, at the park, all over the house, and with Popsie and Grandma who stopped by too!  He has decided he is into brushing his teeth too.  Several times today he would go into his bathroom, climb up on his stool and brush his teeth!  Finally had to take the toothbrush away!! 

Anyway, this is a very random post.  Glad my baby boy is feeling better.  Hoping we have a good day tomorrow, need to figure out what to do!  I think it supposed to rain again so may just be headed to the library!  Hope everyone else had a nice weekend too! 

To Nanny....or Not to Nanny...That is the question!

With baby #2 on the way...thoughts of day care are definitely on the forefront of the brain! The thought of having to get a not quite 2 year old and 4 month old out the door in the mornings kinda freaks me out! I know nannies aren't cheap either, but am thinking that perhaps paying one for 4 days a week would at least be cheaper than 2 in day care. But with nannies there are things like taxes and paid time off, etc to think of too! It would be nice to know that the kids could sleep in and nap when they want to though, and if they are sick, someone to watch them if Matt and I were unable to take off work.

Anyone have experience with nannies? And/or know of anyone would may be interested in nannying for a 2 year old and infant come February??? :)

In the meantime, I suppose I will keep researching and praying about what to do with these little critters of ours come next year!

I heart sleepsacks

They are probably one of my all time favorite essential baby items. We never did real well with swaddling, Zach always busted out, no matter HOW snug it was! So the sleepsack was a great answer when he was big enough to keep him warm. I just went and bought 2 new ones for the little man as it is getting too warm to be wearing the fleece ones now. And what did I see when I opened them up....but an advertisement for their big kid sleep sacks!! They have feet holes in them for mobility! While I think that is quite funny....I can totally see me buying one! :)

And in case you needed a visual...think snuggie for a kid!

Mommy & Me Monday- Fun at the Fire Station!

Thanks to Ashley, we had a fun morning at the fire station!  Unfortunately, she and Jack had to miss it since he wasn't feeling good! :(  We missed you guys and will definitely have to do again.  Zach had fun and I think in a year or so he would enjoy it even more!!  So interested and as one of the firemen said while Zach was babbling at the giant hammer, "all boy!"  Too funny!

All and all, fun little adventure!  We spent a lot of the rest of the afternoon either playing outside or at the park.  Late in the afternoon, Z's nose was runnin so hoping it was maybe just allergies.  We shall see.  knock on wood, we haven't felt bad in a long time! 

Good Clean Fun

We had some friends over at the house this weekend and after a bunch of romping, decided to throw the big kids in the bath together.  Too cute!

They had a blast and it was funny too.  Lots of slippin and slidin since there was no bath mat in mom & dad's tub!  Too bad they didn't stay clean too long....there was a situation involving cookies that followed this....I should have taken some pics of that!! ;-)

commercials

this commercial.....it makes me chuckle even if it seems so wrong!

And this one....I have to change the channel when it comes on!  What is it even advertising?!

All is well!

Doc appointment went well yesterday and doc was able find heart beat on doppler.  It was bouncing around 150-160s!  I am feeling much better about things now.  And no more progesterone, woohoo!  Definitely excited about that.

I swear I had something else to tell you about but cannot for the life of me remember so I shall call it a night!

12 weeks and a little lesson in patience & faith!

Yes, I am past the 12 week mark.  Can you believe it, because I cannot!  It has gone by very quickly and that is a little scary and exciting at the same time. I had a short appointment on Wednesday for some blood work, testing my progesterone.  I have been on supplements since we first found out about little peanut, apparently it was a little low.  Hopefully it will come back high enough that I can stop taking them soon!  

Along with the 12 week mark comes the hopes of being able to hear that fabulous little pitter patter on a doppler, and as of yet, I still cannot find it.  I am hoping its because its just early or due to the baby weight that I am still carrying around in the mid-section that I cannot find the little one on my own.  I asked the nurse about it while I was there hoping that my paranoia would get me a quick ultrasound or at least their check with the doppler but no such luck.  Instead I got a pep talk and instruction to return the doppler to my friend.  BOO.  I don't know if it's just left over from the difficulty conceiving Zach, but I am still so nervous about everything.  I just want to know that everything is okay!  That is one thing I miss about the RE, the weekly appointments and seeing little bean growing just as he/she should!  

So until then, I just am praying and trying to rest in the knowledge that He has it under control.  Why is that so hard to do?  I am reminded of 2 verses and think I will reflect on them until I get to the next appointment!

-Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.  Romans 12:12

-Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

I guess God is trying to tell me to be still, enjoy this experience, and trust in Him to know it will be okay one way or another.  Just easier said than done.  We live in a world of "instant" everything and its hard to sit still and wait on Him.  So I moved my regular appointment up one week and now will go this Monday instead of the 2oth.  So I guess I still need to work on this patience and being still thing....

Mommy & Me Monday

Our first Monday together was great!  We had a full day and I loved it! Zach and I headed to the Baby Story time at the library (thanks for the suggestion, Rox!)!  It was at the library at one of the local community colleges and I have to admit I felt a little weird pushing a baby stroller through campus!  The children's section of the library was great though.  Tons of books. Computers. Tables with puzzles and a table full of crayons and paper!!  We hung out and scribbled while we waited for story time to begin.  Then there is a special room just for that!  It was really fun and free!  The class was for 6 mo-2 yr olds so Zach was right in the middle. We sang, danced, listened to a couple of short books and just got to be silly!  At the end, they pulled out the tunnels and Z LOVED those!  Oh my goodness, the kid was laughing like crazy and just having a grand old time. (note to self, buy tunnels!!)  It was so cute!  After class ended we played with the puzzles and chatted with some of the other mommies.  Zach found a Spanish Elmo book that we almost had to check out but I distracted him with a puzzle and put it up!  Then it was time to be heading home for a nap! (during which mommy did a much needed sweep and mop session!)

Z took a good nap and then we headed to meet Popsie and Grandma for some lunch at Willie's.  We visited them for awhile and since we were in the area, stopped by Meyer Park to see the geese and run around!  The geese were a little to greedy for me....we were tossing them goldfish and I started having visions of Hitchcock's The Birds....so we ran away and left them honking at us!  The playground was great though.  They had one just for pre-schoolers so nothing was too tall or dangerous.  It had some tunnels and slides that Zach just loved.  We will definitely be going back.  Zach spotted some older boys playing football and kept running up towards them to play with the "baw", poor kid just doesn't get that he is only 1 year old!  

We made a quick stop at St. Ignatius to visit their Legacy Garden and to see Rachel's paver and a little moment of prayer.  I had been wanting to see it and this felt like a good time.

Zach sacked out on the way home, guess all that running around wore him out!

All and all it was a great day and I look forward to many more to come!  Work sounded like there were some issues today so hopefully can get it sorted out and next Monday will be better!

Eggs!

Picture Post!

Just a few pics from recently!

Showing off his belly to the animals at the Children's Festival
Petting the baby calf
YUM-O! Baked potato!
Enjoying the swing
wheeee!!!!

Quick Funny Story

We have a little ritual after bath time of running around naked down the hall.....or I should say Zachary does!!  I really need to get it on video because it is hilarious and he giggles uncontrollably every time.  And even if he trips and falls or something, it never seems to hurt while he's naked!  Strange!

But anyway....tonight during the nightly ritual he wandered back into the bathroom and it got quiet for a second or two....so Matt peeks in and there is poo on the floor and it LOOKED like Zach was about to be into it!!  NASTY!  and funny too.  Silly boy.  Needless to say that ended the naked fun for the evening....

The pics are from a couple of weeks ago but helps with the visual!  ;-)