Yours for 5 EASY payments!

After a week of not doing being able to do much of anything (except incubate, as Kevin says), I figured that I would have accomplished something.  I'm not sure what I was expecting but my biggest accomplishment to date is falling in love with this sewing machine.  By the way, my mother never taught me to sew, and I have no idea what one does with a "serger".  Thanks to the Home Shopping Network (or as I like to call it HSN), I have to have this machine (and several other featured items).

Yesterday after the boys went to my sister's house, I resumed my post just in time for the great sewing event.  This amazing necessity won't last long at the Event Price of $699.95.  Free shipping and handling!

This whole experience is becoming incredibly surreal.  We're still hoping Baby Lauren will hold out for October.  Your guess is as good as mine though.

FIRE DRILL!

Last Thursday I started having mild contractions.  At 35 weeks and stress up to my eye balls, I wasn't surprised.  I took it easy on Saturday (thanks to my Angel of a Sister-in-Law taking the boys all day) but by Sunday things were "progressing".

The more time went by the more anxious I became because of all of the things I still needed to do.  The list was endless and the anxiety made the contractions even stronger.  Kevin got up and my parents came over.  And the contractions stopped.  heh.  We went to labor and delivery anyway.  I had a few contractions while we were there but the baby was fine and the progress from the evening had stalled.  Thankfully.

Now I am trying to delegate at home and at work.  I can stay on my feet for about 10 or 15 minutes at a time before the contractions start to get intense.  Kevin has been cooking, cleaning, driving and waiting on me all week.  I'm going a little lot crazy.  We made the baby a deal, wait until October (preferably the 10th) and we will buy you a yellow Corvette.  So far it is working so here I sit.

Thanks to Lauren, we are as prepared as we can possibly be for her arrival.  Possibly more prepared then when her brothers made surprisingly early entries into the world.  Next week may be a possibility but I am staying calm and quiet to encourage her to wait.  I think I'm the only pregnant woman on the block not trying to induce labor......

Learning a Lesson

greetings from vacation.... six miles from our house.....

Happy Belated Grandparents Day.  Here's a story that illustrates the joys of grandparenting:

Patrick:  You are so mean Mom.
Me: Good to know.  Why am I mean today?
Patrick:  You make me do chores and all that stuff.
Me: That's part of living in this house, we all pitch in and do our part.
Patrick: Well, I'm just going to go live with Grandpa, then I won't have to do chores.
Me: Don't you think Grandpa made me do chores when I was growing up in his house?
Patrick: Yes, but he learned his lesson.  Now he knows better.
Me: speechless.
Patrick: Maybe someday you will learn your lesson too.
Me: It will probably be the day your first child is born.

Keith 360

Ok.  I fixed it.  The blog is cured, partially at least.  You're welcome.



Next topic: Keith Fox.

HAVE YOU SEEN HIS GLASSES!    just when i thought he couldn't possibly be any cuter.  I haven't been brave enough to send him to school wearing them but he is doing a good job wearing them while he's at home (except when they get left in the Expedition and the radiator blows and it has to spend time in the shop.  ahem. this is why i sob.)

In other news, he can hear.  His speech isn't delayed enough to qualify him for services in Clovis Unified.  But he tested at a two-year old level.  We are hoping that preschool will help (no mommy to translate).  And we are working on exercises with him.  We are on the list for Children's Hospital (certainly not as convenient as going around the corner to school), but we won't hear from them for several months.

There you have it.  Two posts in one day.  And I fixed the blog. 

Buddies

Something is terribly wrong with my blog and I just don't have the energy to fix it (I did have the energy to make apple cinnamon bread last night, blog nesting just isn't it the cards).  But I'm blogging anyway because I fear that once the baby gets here some of these thoughts will be lost forever. 

Sometimes watching my boys is like watching a movie that I wrote on the back of my heart, a secret screen play that I never imagined watching.  Sure, they have their fights and scuffles (ask Kevin about the great "Pottery Barn chair stand-off") but they are so devoted to one another, so protective of each other and just really good buddies. 

Patrick was responding to a writing prompt at school: "My favorite person is......"  Who is his favorite person?  I thought it would be me (the person who according to other writing prompts cooks and takes out the trash), but no, it's Keith. 

Keith was responding a prompt at school: "A friend is....."  What is a friend?  "My brother."

I know I'm all gooey and emotional and pregnant but that is the sweetest thing.  When they are 16 and 13 and punching each other in the jaw, I will remember them when they were 6 and 3 and could sit side by side for hours on end playing Legos.  Now I'm crying..... I'm a mess.

To Patrick on his sixth birthday.

Dear Patrick,
This morning as I stood around the playground with the other moms, I was reminded of how much you have grown.    
Here are things that 6 year old Patrick can proudly do:
Whistle
Reach the milk from the top shelf
Buckle and unbuckle your new messenger bag :)
Ride in a boat and go tubing on the lake (without mom and dad)
Conquer big water slides
Swim and dive
Shoot baskets
Make Eggo waffles
Read and write books
Kill and dispose of spiders and pincher bugs

The list goes on and on. The more you conquer, the more you want to do.  Every fear you overcome, another one melts away, completely forgotten.

I cherish every moment I have with you.  You, the self-described: "Talker" can weave a story that seems so real, I am left to question where the lines are blurred.  Your imagination will serve you well throughout your life, never stop dreaming and planning. 

I cried on your first day of First Grade.  Not because I was sad but because you are my hopes and dreams.  As much as I would like to keep you close to me forever, I know that I have to send you off into the world because you are going to make this planet a better place.  I pray that your love, kindness and creativity will flourish and grow to your benefit and the benefit of others. 

 Baby Patrick 2005

Your brother and sister are very lucky to have a big brother who loves and cares for them the way you do.  When you think I'm not listening, I hear you talk to Keith like you are a Little Mommy, giving him comfort and direction.   It is amazing to witness such a huge heart tucked into such a small body!

I love you Knick-Knack.  I'm glad you love celebrating your birthday so much!  More fun to come tonight!!!!
We don't stop with forbidden McDonalds and colorful cupcakes!

I love you!
Mama

Two first days, one blog post

Here's Patrick, bright and early on his first day of the First Grade.  "King of Cool" 

The remanants of the first day of school breakfast. 

A big boy with a messenger bag.  Helpful hint: make sure your kid can open and close his bag before the first day of school.  We eventually figured it out but it wasn't pretty.  He was happy that he could still take his new bag.  I was happy that the bag was actually closed.

We came to school bearing bags of "suggested" classroom supplies.  I was happy to secure all of the items on the list.  The hitch?  The teacher didn't need all of the items on the list, including the glue that we made a special trip for GRRRR.  reverse process.

Patrick had a good first day (and second day).  He kept describing it as REALLY long.  We're working out our scheduling and routine, soon it will be smooth sailing. 


Keith has been.... behaviorally challenged the past few days.  I attribute it to his growing anticipation and anxiety about starting school.  He wanted to start on Monday with Patrick but he had to wait (impatiently).  Finally, the day arrived.  He picked out his own outfit, it happened to be the same shirt he picked to wear  to church....hmmm.  We've been having the it's preschool, not church conversation for months now.  As much as he wants to start school, he is clearly nervous about the big leap.

But he rallied and was perfectly happy.

And back to his old self within minutes.

I tried to tell his teachers that he isn't anything like Patrick.  They had to really see it to believe it. 

After one day they are charmed and convinced. We'll see what tomorrow brings.  I will say this, he had MUCH better behavior tonight than the past four days.  I even let him play with modeling clay, scissors and the garden hose. Three things he is usually not allowed to touch!  Here's to the corner...and turning it.

Oh, one more thing.  Keith was so excited that he got to play with Play-Dough at school.  I heard Patrick tell him, "You're lucky Keith, I didn't get to play with play-dough.  I had to do work all day."  Right work, in between the puppet shows, recess, and visits to the treasure box room with the Nintendo DS.  First grade is tough (and long)!