Vacation in Review

 

 

We’re BACK!

Back to the blaring sun.

Back to 90 degree weather.

Back to the land of No Cousins for Joseph to Follow Around.

Sigh.

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An excellent time was had by all.  We enjoyed some mild-ish, not too windy, not too rainy weather at the beach.

Joseph was not sure about the sand at first

but soon he loved it and was running around

and splashing through the tide pools with the best of them.

Then, it was time to test out the ocean for the first time.

                                    

He loved it! (Did you notice that Brian was still wearing his [only pair of] shoes?) 

Joseph called the waves “uh-ohs” as in “Uh-oh, this ice cold water is crashing on my legs over and over.”

He really didn’t seem to mind, and when it was time to get out, he was quite “disappointed.”

He also had a great time following around/watching his many cousins

(If you look really hard you can kind of see me hiding behind his head…)

He did NOT think it was very neat when Mommy held any of the babies though.  Which gives me lots of warm fuzzy feelings as to his reaction when baby #2 comes in February.

He seemed to be fighting off a fever/virus thing on the way home, although he was still very good and virtually whine-free.

We tried NOT to focus on how LOOOONG the drive was, but to appreciate some of the various scenery instead.

To all of my family- it was great to see you guys!  Hopefully I will quickly forget that long, long, drive and we will be headed your way again soon!

 

Vacation!!!

I'm in Oregon
Surprise!!!

I didn't have a chance to post about our upcoming trip, because I was so busy packing and feeling nauseous.

We are at Brian's parent's house right now, and heading down to the BEACH BEACH BEACH in a few hours to stay with all of my family. I am excited for Joseph to get a chance to hang with his 13 cousins!

The trip down was, seriously, a dream. Joseph didn't cry once!

I think it is because we had his beloved Dada with us- he would randomly say, "Hi Da!" and smile/bat his eyes.

Brian will now be forced to go on all road trips with us.

I will "see" you all when we get back from my vacation next week!

Wish me blue skies and low wind! (Everyone who has ever been to the Oregon coast says "Yeah right!")

Brian’s Birthday Weekend

 

 

My lovely husband turned 24 this weekend.

Only one more year until you can rent a car, my dear!  However, siring multiple children, buying a house, buying a car, etc. is a go.

(Those of you who are very observant may remember that I turned 24 in December, which, yes, makes me older than Brian.  And wiser.)

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Joseph and I let Dada sleep in on his big day and together we made him a birthday cake.

That kid loves to help cook.

 

However, it is a labor of love on my part to let him participate..

We sang Happy Birthday to Brian and had him blow out candles about a million times while Joseph laughed and clapped.

Notice anything wrong with the frosting? (Upper right corner) 

Joseph is a boy after my own frosting-loving heart.

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After breakfast, we went to the local outdoor-supply store and picked ourselves up a fire pit!

And yes, Joseph is holding a lighter in that picture.

But look what happens when we take it away-

We have had fires the past two nights now, complete with hot dog roasting and smores.  It is so enjoyable- like camping, but without the outhouses, tents, hard ground….

Happy Birthday, Brian!  Thanks for giving up your youth to provide for our little family!

 

 

In Just One Year

 

 

I am sure that I am just hormonal, and that is the only reason that I am feeling choked up about this (I’m allowed to say that I’m hormonal.  No one else is.  Do you feel me, ladies?)  but when I was uploading some pictures tonight, I came across these ones of my baby Joseph last year:

                                            

And here is him today, in that same chair.

WAAAAAAHHH!!! MY BABY!!!!!  What happened, seriously?

Plus, do you know what is really sad?  Next year at this time, I will look at pictures that I took of him today and think that he looks so little!  He’s going to get EVEN BIGGER?!

I must go eat some ice cream immediately before I start to sob.

And, because who can get enough baby Joseph?, here are some more pictures of him exactly one year ago today.

In all of his chubby glory.

                                          

I miss him!

Catching Up

 

 

I know, it has been a while.

But, this naughty little fetus has been making me want to simultaneously vomit and eat lots of ice cream.

Very confusing.  (and delicious)

So, I have been spending my evenings curled up on the couch, trying to get Brian to do lots of things for me (Just go to TCBY already!),  while trying to summon the energy to go to bed.  

Don’t I just sound like a peach?

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Speaking of peaches- I was reading a really “earth-mama” type blog the other day, and the author said that “Fruits and Vegetables are my children’s candy.”

Hmmm.

That’s great.

MY child’s candy is…well…candy.  He thinks about it, asks for it, and wants it all of the time.

And really, who can resist this face?

Don’t you think that he deserves a Tootsie Roll pop, just for being so cute?  (And to make him so quiet?)

     

How do you think he would feel if I handed him an apple instead?

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Smoothies have been my dinner of choice lately. 

It is like ice cream, only healthier! (My particular fetus is still a pretty basic life form and easily fooled.)  I stock it full of tofu, flaxmeal, and fruit.  Take THAT earthy-mama blog!

Joseph joins in with gusto-  polishing off several cups full of smoothie in one sitting.

And then dumping out the rest on the table, smearing it around, and shaking the straw so that smoothie splatters everywhere.

Aww.. but look at my little smoothie clown

 

 

         

                                                                    (signing “more”)

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In other news, Joseph locked himself into the bathroom for the first time last week.

My first crazed instinct was to BREAK DOWN THE DOOR TO RESCUE MY BABY!

but I resisted and resorted to my second instinct which was to

CALL BRIAN IMMEDIATELY AND DISRUPT HIS WORK DAY WITH MY TRIVIAL PROBLEMS AND LOTS OF DRAMA AND EMOTION! 

It took about 8 minutes for me to jimmy the door open with a hanger (which I am keeping handy, by the way), which gave Joseph enough time to amuse himself by enthusiastically splashing in the toilet for the first 4 minutes, and then hysterically crying and pounding on the door for the last 4. 

I held it together.

I saved the day.

The End.

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You are now, officially, caught up!

 

Oh, the shame?

 

 

 

 

Guess what happened today:

BOOJAH!!

That’s right, folks, 4 weeks 1 day pregnant, and I’m already Rockin’ the maternity pants!

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Here’s the lowdown:

1) They are so comfy.

2) Who cares?  I’ll be in them eventually.  What do I have to prove?

3) I need to mix up my wardrobe a little.

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I know that my fetus is only about the size of a grain of rice right now, but obviously my uterus is being very generous and giving the grain of rice lots and lots of room to swim around.  Right?  Right.

So, for the next 36 weeks, maternity clothing are officially fair game.

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Oh, and just so that you don’t think that this blog is going to be only about pregnancy from now on, let me just also say that I am eating a delicious teriyaki stir fry right now.

That’s all I’ve got for you.

Look Closer

 

 

 

Oh, there’s sweet little Joseph, giggling away and rocking in the chair.

Look closer.

What a cute little baseball tee.   Doesn’t really match the pants, Caitin, but whatever...

Look a little closer…

Hold still Joseph!

 

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Ah, Here you go:

Yep.

That’s right folks.

It seems that I am pregnant.

And if that test doesn’t convince you (it didn’t convince me)…

you can’t really argue with that digital one.

(Waiting for Brian to get home from work so that Joseph’s shirt could tell him the good news!)

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I read your poll results last week and thought,

“Well, I’m not sure if I am ready or not yet, but I am a servant, and the people are calling for a new baby, and I want to fulfill their desires so…”

What’s that you say?  You say that if I already know that I am pregnant then most likely I was ALREADY pregnant when the poll went up?

Well, maybe we had decided to get pregnant and I was getting some cold feet.  (Cold uterus?  Too much?)

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It is still waaaay early.  Like, just barely missed my period today kind of early, but I figured that

a)  It is going to be a big part of my life now and I don’t want to censor it and

b)  Even if anything should happen I would want to blog about that too, so might as well have all of you guys in the loop.

 

So, there you have it folks.  A new little member to the blog coming around February 7th.

                    Let the gifts come rolling in…

 

 

(PS  Either I am really bloated or I am having octuplets.  For real!  What the heck is going on?!  Now, if you’ll excuse me, it is hard to fulfill my Jelly Belly quota while typing.)