Countdown

I have only two more months to go till baby number three and I am feeling the time crunch big time lately. I am gearing up to have another really colicky baby and am trying to get things in my life as ready as possible.

As I was reviewing my goals, one big one stood out to me. I really wanted to read the Book Of Mormon through again this year but after baby I probably won't have a lot of time to devote to that. So I figured I better do it before. A month ago I started and I am on track to finish early April. And it really does break down into 11 weeks really easily! It is only about 7 pages a day. Totally do-able.

Next goal: Finish typing up my grandfathers life history. He sent me 5 tapes total. I had already done the first 2, then three more tapes came. I have already typed up 62 pages! But I have just the last side of the last tape, and then am done.

House cleaning. This is the never ending one but there are a few extra things I would like to do. Spring cleaning is calling!

And a much more fun one: Baby blankets! You wouldn't think that I would need to get many things because I am having a third boy. But as I was going through baby stuff, I realized that a quite a bit didn't survive Kyle and Blake. One thing I was low on - blankets. So I get to work on those over the next little while. Definately something that will get you excited.




Here is what I have so far.

Another important goal: Nap every chance I get. :) Also, play with the boys and spend as much one on one time as possible with them.

Last major goal, I'd like to go to general conference in April. I will be as big as a house but I have never done it before. So maybe Brian and I can have grandma watch the boys and we can go. I think it would be neat not only to be right there but to really get to pay attention to conference as it is going on. Despite our efforts at being reverent at home, I usually end up relying on the conference ensign to get the most out of the talks.

Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed thinking that we really are adding baby number three. I don't know how I am going to keep up. But I do know it is right for another little person to come along and join our family. Can't wait to see his little fingers and toes. And I can't help but hope that this one will be a little easier than his brothers.

Handy Man

Something major has been accomplished: The boys are in the same room!


Just after Christmas we gave it a try and to my great astonishment they have gone to bed really well. I was certain that they would goof around until the wee hours of the morning but actually they are going to bed better than when they were in separate rooms. I think it may have to do with the fact that it is more fun to play with each other when you aren't supposed to. Apparently when your brother is two feet away he's not quite as fun. Another possible reason is that Blake has been a little bit scared at night and sleeping next to big brother helps.

Which leaves Blake's old room/the baby's room empty, at least for a couple more months. It had been needing to be finished for some time now. Brian of course was the one who had to finish it.

So I put on the NAG and . . .

Voila!



Brian is so handy! I love it. We didn't really prefer to put more beadboard up but we had no choice. I do not know what the previous owners used to attach the wallpaper to the wall, but it was not wallpaper glue, because IT WOULD NOT COME OFF. So we HAD to cover it up.


I hate wallpaper.


And here we go! Yay! Ready for baby. Well, at least the room is ready. I am grateful that I have a few more weeks.

Sick Blake

Poor little Blake has had a bad streak for the last week or so. Last weekend he bumped his eyebrow on the refrigerator. Yep, his eyebrow. It was a big swollen knot. The same day, he and Kyle were playing light sabers and Kyle bonked the exact same spot on his eyebrow! The next morning, that little spot above his eye turned into a black eye. This whole last week we have watched it change from dark blue, to purple, to pink, then to green and yellow.

Then he caught whatever Kyle had and got it much worse. He ended up at the doctor who was said he had "pre-pneumonia." We were sent home with cough medicine, antibiotics and breathing treatments. The breathing treatment, although effective, is terrifying for the poor little guy because it covers his mouth and nose. Brian had a great idea though. He called it the "Darth Vader mask." Suddenly he is willing to use it! Genius!

Then yesterday, Blake was running over to me and whacked his face on the side of the kitchen counter. Oh poor guy! Thank goodness that didn't turn into another black eye. Just a red spot on the side of his cheek.

Hopefully by the time his 3rd birthday rolls around in a couple weeks he will be looking a feeling a lot better.

Christmas

What a big Christmas we had.


Cousins Jake and Allie came on Christmas Eve. Since Grandma Bonnie was here too, we decided to open the presents from her while she could see.

Thanks to Aunt Sue for making Christmas Eve a more Christ centered evening. She put together a great little nativity for the kids. I don't have any pictures of that because my kids were being a little shy. But at least they were kind of paying attention.


Matching jammies from Grandma Bonnie.

The loot. In Brian's family, Santa's presents come unwrapped. That has been one easy tradition to follow through on.





Opening presents.

As for me, I got spoiled. Well, it is not every day that you turn 30! Yes, I am now in my thirties. Wierd. So I got a big something for a birthday and Christmas present (not to mention 9th anniversary next week), a new dresser.



I originally wanted an ipod, then decided to be practical and get a dresser so that I have more space. That way the baby can have the small one I have been using. Then I ended up with an ipod anyway because Dixie was upgrading to an itouch and gave me her old one! THANKS! See, I was spoiled.

Brian pretty much got his snowmobile for his birthday, Christmas, anniversary, Valentine's, Fathers Day and Memorial Day present. Although I did get him an xbox game.

I do love Christmas. I love the reminder of our Savior. I have been talking with the boys about the meaning of Christmas. A few years ago, I really debated about introducing the whole santa thing. But I think that you can keep it spiritual even with Santa.

For me, just reading about the birth of Jesus in the new testament is the best way to feel the spirit. I am thankful for my savior and the gospel!

Merry Christmas.

Names

Although people keep asking, I have no idea what we are going to name this new little boy. With Blake and Kyle, we were literally about to leave the hospital when we finally filled out the birth certificate.
One possibility that Brian suggested, Cotton. Yep, Cotton Schwab.

Snowman

Blake, that cuddly boy even snuggles a snowman.


The neighbors boy, who my kids love, helped us build this. We had a good time.
The snowman's eyes are made out of oreos and of course we all helped ourselves to some. So that is why Blake's face is a little chocolatey.

Happy Birthday Brian!

Brian is 32 today! I love you Brian!

Christmas Tree Finally

Brian got our tree last week but we have been feeling so yucky that we didn't even bother to decorate it right away. But we finally got it done.



The boys really had fun putting the bulbs on. Blake was funny to watch, he kept hanging them on the tips of the branches where they would fall off. Kyle kept grouping them all up so they would have "neighbors" and "friends" to play with.

I love the way Christmas lights look. They are so peaceful.

Winter

Though we have a few more weeks of fall, it feels like winter here. Everything is covered in snow and I am missing the backyard. But we have found a few fun things to do indoors. We went fishing. We had a clothes pin attached to Kyle's fishing pole and pretended the bed was the boat. Then one of the boys would cast into the "water" and the other would attach some water related toy.




Blake caught a ducky!



I am still very much a summertime person, but if we are creative I guess we can still have some fun in the winter that doesn't include me freezing to death.

Baby Number Three Is...

Ultrasound day was today and it's a boy!! Wow, was I wrong. But I am so excited, I think it is going to be so fun to have a house full of boys! Can't wait to see what this little person looks like and get to know his little personality. Most importantly, everything looks really good. That was a relief.
Kyle was a little sad. He actually teared up a little when I told him. He has been adamant that he wanted a baby sister. But he seems to be a little happier now.
So, I will have the crazy house pretty soon. No doubt by next year, this will be where the wild things are.