SOOO…my blogging may not become a career…I am at a total loss for topics lately! I don’t want to post the same old stories so most of what I post becomes a list of random things!

SO I will just add a few pictures in for now and narrate...this my lovelies is the cutest. Hagen SO proud to be a big cousin holding on securely to Emily and the gorgeous Noah...such a cute cousin shot! We had them over for a cookout on Saturday because they are going to North Carolina for 3 weeks...had to get my baby loving in before they left!



The wife beater...it has become a staple on Hagen on the weekends. I even took him to the Gap to buy more shorts in this get up...bad huh? I'm pleased to announce that he is wearing 12-18 month shorts now!! Getting that big booty that he will inevitably inherit from his pretty Mama and Hot Daddy! (I need to say things like this about myself every once in awhile...things are shifting at an alarming rate...)
But he does look pretty cute...a bit white trash? Yes...but still cute. Mer, I promise he will NOT be dressed like this in CA...we won't be the Uncle Eddie family pulling up in our RV or anything like that! :)

I have a lot to discuss but it is all little bits and pieces…so here is another RANDOM post!
1. Hagen was so proud of himself this morning! You see, at school the potties are really low to the ground…so he drops trowel and pee’s standing up. At home he is not quite tall enough to get “it” over the rim so he either stood on a stool or sat. Well, this morning he yelled for me and was so excited! I looked at him and there he was on his tip toes peeing standing up and all of it got in the potty! Way to go Hagen!

2. Today Hagen is going to the dentist for the first time…it is at 4:20…lord please be with me.

3. In the morning Hagen gets a sticker if he takes his PJ’s and diaper off by himself, goes potty by himself, puts PJ’s and diaper where they belong, and dresses himself. Well he has been getting a sticker every morning for awhile now but what he is doing is putting it on my shirt on my belly…it’s for his baby. So sweet! BUT, I am forgetting about it and walking into the office with a truck sticker or a snoopy sticker on my shirt.

4. My niece is 16. She is kinda seeing a boy that is 18 (don’t get that idea in your head…she is as pure as pure can be and is damn proud of it to). Well, he said he didn’t want to see her anymore because she is going to be gone most of July on family trips, etc. She is sad…it made me think of when Brian Allison broke up with me because my MOM grounded me too much! THEN he hooked up with some girl at Arby’s that same night! I thought my life was over….bad time of my life.

5. Ryan has Shingles…Hagen and I are safe…I confirmed with my Dr. and his. Ryan is being a big baby. He is usually not, but man…what a whiney butt! Be pregnant in the summer and then you can start whining…until then shut your trap.

6. I am drinking my weight in water and still feel dehydrated!! I feel like I can’t get enough! I have slowed down (almost quit) tea…this is a good thing.

7. Ice maker at work has been broken for about a year. A repair guy came out about a month ago and said I needed to order a part and when it comes in to call, schedule an appointment, and be done. Well, I had 3 appointments CANCEL …the last one called yesterday. My window was from 8AM – 12…they called and said it will be closer to 3:00…never came, so they called at 6:00 and said they are running behind and they would be there in an hour or 2. I said, “tough! No one will be there! This is ridiculous!” I unloaded…had to leave the dinner table and yell at them in my closet so Hagen’s virgin ears wouldn’t hear what I was saying. Point of story? Sear’s blows…but…I am enjoying ice cold water today…it’s a good thing.

8. Hagen, Ryan, and I played Memory last night! Hagen is starting to take turns nicely. We can even shuffle the pieces around a bit and he is remembering where they are! We were putting the pairs side by side in a checkerboard format. We were so proud. BUT…someone has taken to cheating…flipping over 3 at a time, etc. Not too bad, but we will be working on that. It’s kinda scary to me that he reminds me of my butt-hole older brother when he pouts…my older brother was the world’s WORST sore loser EVER! I’m not lying am I Merrilee or Mom?! Horrible poor sport!!

9. My Mom is having knee replacement in a month or so…I hope for her sake it makes a big difference!!! She use to want to go do things and was more active, but now she is in SO much pain it is hard for her to want to do anything. TOTALLY understandable, but I miss my shopping buddy…

10. Right before her surgery Ryan, Hagen, and I are visiting Merrilee in California for 4 days! I can NOT wait!! We are so excited! We do not do amusement parks…we do the beach. I am not up for hot touristy things in the summer. No thank you. Maybe later in life, but not this trip. Mer and I have a different relationship. She is pretty much like my sister, but we don’t talk on the phone a lot. As I have mentioned before I am a TERRIBLE phone friend! I suck…truly. BUT, when we do talk? It’s ridiculous. I think to anyone else it would sound like alien talk…it’s intense, it’s jam packed, its informative…we cannot wait!! Hagen can’t wait to see Ellery his main squeeze too (he still calls her celery).

11. Ryan and I have been making a fabulous salad lately! BUT I need to find the perfect vinaigrette for it. I would LOVE to find some kind of raspberry vinaigrette or something like that…a sweet one. It is red leaf lettuce, sliced almonds, craisins, avocado, green apple, a little blue cheese, and I think that’s it. It is so good…just missing the perfect dressing…let me know ladies! ALSO, how do you get homemade vinaigrette dressings to not separate so bad? Seems that the oil holds all the dry ingredients and doesn’t mix nicely with the vinegar…help!

12. Hagen no longer gets a snack after school. Ladies, he is not eating dinner AT.ALL. yesterday was the first fight…it was a dozy, but he ate all 4 of his fish sticks (don’t judge…I made shrimp Creole but it was too spicy) and 4 carrots. It worked! MUST get more protein in this boy!

13. Mama has been ROCKING at work! I have hired one person and have 2 offers out! For an office that is 21 people this is a big thing! I will say I have a big ego right now…just a bit…

14. I want a new washer/dryer. There is NOTHING wrong with mine that I have but I want a cute colored one…red or aqua…something fun! Again, no reason…just do….

15. Qdoba…I am in love. Chipotle is like it but not the same. I think I am the only one that can tell the difference. I can eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner…love it. I get a little rice, little black beans, chicken, 2X’s pico, sour cream AND cheese, and guacamole. It is to die for…I want more right now and I just ate some an hour ago…

SO random…I feel better though getting some of that out! I still need to post on our uneventful yet fun Father’s Day…Hagen’s card he made at school made me cry…it was sweet…

Tata,
Carrie

This picture is not doing it justice. The pink fabric is a silk kind of fabric but not that slick silky fabric. The flower pattern is the main fabric in the room.

Sheet - will be a pink gingham that is the pink silk fabric color...called sorbet
Dust ruffle - you cant see much with my crib so I did plain flower fabric...nothing fancy
Curtain - long panels...flower fabric, black and white gingham tabs at the top and tie backs with accents of pink silk
Walls - I'm thinking thick (like 18") stripes...in really really pale green and cream...
Crib and dresser/changing table - black...Hagen's old ones...


I think I have mentioned that she will be named at least partly after my Great Grandma Hazel Grace. I've never given Hazel Grace too much thought, but always loved Grace. BUT...I'm getting alot of "You should totally use Hazel Grace"...so it is on the list. I had a chair in my room that has always been in my room. It is usually recovered with cusions to match my room decor. So we are also getting the pads on it covered in the same fabrics and it will now be in her room! It will be like Sweet Hazel Grace is in there calming her down.

Some may be freaked out at the next story but our family thinks it is neat. Hazel Grace actually passed away in our house. My parents house. She went to sleep and that was that...well, the room that she passed in is the guest room downstairs. It was Hazel Grace's room. Now it is the room where all the grandbabies sleep...when they are little because there is a crib in there. EVERY one of my parents grandbabies sleep FOR.EVER in that room. I mean, not wake up in the morning until 9 or 10 sleep in...it is NUTS. They take the longest naps in there...like 3-4 hours people. INSANE.

Tata,
Carrie

Yeah! It was confirmed today that we will indeed be expecting a little girl in November! I had serious doubts about it so it is so nice to know one way or the other what it is! We are beyond excited and can not WAIT to meet her! I truly never expected to ever have a girl. Not that I didn't want a girl, but just didn't think it was in the cards for me. But now knowing that it is a girl I am just so excited!!!

After our appointment Mom and I went to a local fabric place that makes bedding and ...well...it's ordered. We saw what we wanted, ordered it, and will send in some measurements tomorrow for the final details. I know it is quick, but when you are working with a black crib there are fewer options AND it was shown on the floor so we used it as an example. I am not doing a bumper at all this time. That was the majority of what I spent the money on with Hagen's room and I never used it...until now to stuff in the space between his bed and the wall.

She looks so sweet...of course don't we all just think they are cute when they are ours and real.

Here is my little muscle man...I think he looks pretty cute...BUT not sure he would be going out in public with that get up. Spiderman crocs, camo shorts, and a wife beater. Ryan took him for a man outing in this...he was proud.

More later ladies,
Carrie

While at work yesterday Adam (my little brother) called to see if I could watch Noah after work for a few hours. I had to take Hagen to his well visit at 4:00 but told Adam that I could just take Noah with me.

I went to get Noah and we were off to get Hagen from school! Hagen was SO excited to see Noah and show him around his class.

We get to the doctor and the boys are doing good playing. We were ushered to the room and began the exam. Vision test? PASS Hearing test? PASS ...all was going well! But the natives were getting restless and causing trouble. I had a glimpse into Casey's life with a 3 year old and a 2 year old at the doctor when both know they get a lolly pop at the end.

It was time for the big weigh in. Ryan and I sweat this every time. Hagen weighed in at...25.6 pounds and 37 1/2 inches. He gained 3.6 pounds and 4 inches since last year. The weight wasn't as impressive but the height?! No wonder I had to put him in little girls skinny jeans in the winter!!

He got a shot...Noah freaked because his hero was crying really hard and then they both got a lolly pop. I have to give him Flintstone vitamins with iron from now on.

All was good!

Ryan had to work late again tonight so I was originally going to take Hagen on a date. BUT after the shot (I didn't think there were any at 3 years) I decided that dinner at home would be best. Someone was a bit on the pissy side...understandably.

We ate dinner and while we were, Noah decided to stick a piece of his raw carrot in his nose! I was up getting something and heard Hagen (the tattle tale) tell me that Noah put a carrot in his nose. I ran over there and sure enough it was in there and up far! I squeezed his nostril trying to make it come out but it didn't. Then I got the tweezers and got it very easily. It was just a tiny piece, but man...I was a bit nervous. Never had to get something out of someones nose before...that was a first!

I got the boys bathed and in bed by...7:10. I felt bad. On weekends we aim for 8:00 bedtime. I am not sure what clock I saw but thought I was on that path. I got downstairs and it was 7:10...BUT...whatever. It was nice.

Hagen was all excited this morning at 7:00 because we were taking Noah to the donut shop that has a huge Mickey and Minnie Mouse in the window.

Adam came to save Noah at 8:45 and now we are waiting for sleepy Daddy to wake up so we can see what we have in store for this weekend. I gotta feeling...woo hoo...that it will be a good weekend!

Tata,
Carrie

I have a few little things to discuss…but not a lot for a whole post by themselves so I will have a random one today!

1. I burned the crap out of my neck with the curling iron yesterday…on my neck. TOTALLY looks like a hickey. How WT is that?! It blistered, so today it is a nice little scab…that I keep messing with.

2. Hagen now wants to go BIG potty by himself. We have to leave the bathroom and shut the door. He doesn’t want to get it on us he says. He is also a good wiper! Yes, I just praised my kid for wiping his arse well. He does…I’m surprised, but he does a great job. It doesn’t hurt that most of his BIG potties are rock hard and hardly leave anything behind if you know what I mean…it’s the little things in life ladies.

3. My Ryan has been working so hard lately. There is a job that is doing some air sampling. He got the 11AM to 11PM shift this week for 3 days…one of them being tonight. Some other person got the 11PM to 11AM shift…which is actually better because it is not as hot. My Ryan is sweating his butt off in the heat all day…but as usual he doesn’t complain. He got up this morning and left the house by 6AM, was going to get stuff done before his 11-11 shift. He is one of the hardest working people I know.

4. Yesterday Hagen told me my hair was cute. I told him thank you and that it is called a pony tail. He made a funny and said, “You eat hay Mama! Cuz ponies eat hay!” He is going to be hilarious just like me…starting early that one…

5. It is safety week at school! Hagen learned to dial 991 in an emergency…I may die if he is left to call for help…991. Close but not going to save me my darling!

6. A policeman came to his school yesterday to talk about good strangers and bad strangers. He showed me what to do if someone tries to take him away. “You’re not my Mommy! You’re not my Daddy!” …in the Kroger parking lot…no lie. I was so proud but the people in the parking lot were staring…a lot. I told them that he learned it at school because it is safety week and they laughed and went on about their business. SO if you are ever trying to kidnap a kid, just say, “OH, that’s so cute…you know they learned to say that at safety week at school. Smart kid of mine?!?!”

7. Hagen was talking about the new movie we went to see for his birthday. Shrek Ever After. He said that Shrek is a “ogert”…pronounced like yogurt without the y…

8. Mr. Independent wants to buckle his own car seat belt lately…which takes FOREVER. Honestly I think it took at least 5 minutes this morning. It was a test of my patience. I run a tight ship in the AM…but I tried to enjoy this time in his life of learning.

9. Ryan was going to Target the other day and I asked if he would pick Hagen up a few t-shirts. I like Target t-shirts for boys and he needs some more for summer. Ryan picked up a package of wife beater tanks…for our 3 year old…that has no muscles. He actually looks SO cute in them! BUT, my Mother would die if she had to take him in public in one.

10. I find out on Tuesday what this baby is! I feel fairly certain it is a girl, but will be nice to find out for sure!! Bring on the smocked dresses and Feltman!! Woo Hoo!
That’s all...sorry it is kinda boring.

Tata,
Carrie

We had such a fun weekend! Hagen’s party on Saturday and then yesterday we had Adam, Rebecca, and the kids over to slip n slide and pizza. The Dad’s were basically bowling with the kids and they had a blast! Rebecca and I chilled in the blow-up pool. Tell you what, I don’t care how ridiculous it looks to be lounging in a baby pool…it is necessary in Texas summers! It is HOT already and it’s not even July/August!!

At one point all the adults took a turn on the slip n slide…yes, even I did. Now before you go freaking out (MOM) I didn’t run full force, fly through the air and land with no bracing on my belly. I was easy on myself and yes Mom, I’m fully aware I am pregnant. It wasn’t as bad as it sounds. Now the video that Rebecca got of me doing it? I better be nice to her for the rest of my life. With Facebook, etc. it could be bad…I have blackmail for her too…it is mutual!

Baby Emily chilled on the porch in a bouncy seat, box fan pointed at her sideways to get her back and front at the same time and slept the whole time! It was so nice!! Uncle Ryan was being mean again to the boys…spraying them with water from the hose…it gets pretty cold!!

On another note, I did go to the doctor on Friday. I was concerned. I remember when I was at the end of my pregnancy with Hagen I felt like I had been riding a horse…or straddling a pole or something….just sore and pressure. Well, I had that same feeling on Friday. I emailed my doctor and they called right away and told me to come in that afternoon. I started worrying that I was dilating, etc. You know how things can run through your mind when you are TOTALLY clueless. Well, what is going on is that my uterus and bladder are arguing for room in my “pelvic cage”. In the next few weeks they should “Pop” out of the cage and into my tummy more and it will relieve some of the pressure. My pelvis is trying to separate a bit and with those two arguing in there it is making it sore. I felt great after a good night’s sleep on Friday night but then being on my feet and in the heat for Hagen’s party I was really sore by Saturday night. Then fine again Sunday morning. So much easier dealing with little pains when you know it is all OK.

Here are a few pics of the slip n slide adventures yesterday…
1. Yep...a bit tight, but necessary...Noah...you need to at least ACT like you are having a good time! We know you are!
2. Uncle Adam lawn bowling with Noah...

We named it (to the parents) The Petting Zoo in Hell...because of the heat! It was SO hot, but it didn't reach 100 which is good. Ryan prepared by buying a $20 misting rope thing at Home Depot that we thought was at least worth a shot and it saved the party! It worked GREAT! We knew it was going to be a piece of crap being $20, but it was perfect...highly recommended!

We started the day and grilled 56 hot dogs at 9:30 AM, had 5 gallons of Chick fil a lemonade, 40 little bags of chips, 2 gallons of iced tea, and 1 case of water...it was perfect! We had alot of people over...there were almost 50 here.

Here is a family photo before the friends began to arrive:

The petting zoo came to set up at 10:30 and Hagen was SO EXCITED!! There was an escape...a little chick that ran into our ground cover and hid. I had to go rescue it as the workers were getting this big ugly Llama out of the truck. Poor chick...I was scared of it, it was scared of me...but we worked together nicely. I HATE petting zoos...despise them. I feel sorry for them, they are usually big and annoying trying to eat your cup of food, they smell, dirty, etc. But this one was different. Little animals, the workers cleaned up after them quickly, etc.

Hagen has been difficult lately. It may be that he is now 3. He woke up on Tuesday morning and said, “Mama, am I still 3??” He was excited to find out that he was indeed still 3.

He is pretty much dressing himself with only a bit of help. We are having trouble with him taking his own shirt off. He CAN do it, but it if doesn’t just fly off by itself he gets very frustrated and whines, “I can’t do it! It won’t come off! It’s stuck!” BUT he gets pissed if you help because he gets a sticker for doing it himself. It is painful PAINFUL to just sit there and watch him. But we have to.

Yesterday after school he wanted a snack (mind you he gets a snack at school around 3:15 after nap). I tell him that he can have an apple, orange or nectarine. He chooses an apple. He throws a fit because…get this…I washed it. GASP! Yep, I put it under running water and then…THEN…I dried it with a hand towel. The nerve. I know…I know, so mean of me.

He was then wanting to watch a movie. I put in Leap Frog’s “Back to school”…well, he wanted Leap Frog’s “Letter Factory”. TOUGH! Eat your apple and watch the frogs do their thing and shut it! I’ve had it! (I didn’t raise my voice just yet…that was just a flashback at what I wanted to say).

So he was sitting there eating his apple much like someone that is starving eats corn from a cob and all is good in his world. Until…Dad comes home. What? Your favorite person in the world comes home and it throws your world off rotation?! It just goes down down DOWN hill from that point.

I look at Ryan and tell him to saddle up and that I think it is going to be a trying night for us. Hagen proceeded to:

1. Have a fit because HE wants to pick out his carrots for dinner
2. Throw a tantrum because HE wants to pick out his plate for dinner
3. Bonk his head on the table while trying to get in his booster by his big self (because he is 3) and when Ryan is comforting him he HITS him…so Ryan puts him in time out
4. He won’t remain in time out…Ryan keeps putting him BACK in time out…
5. I have a SPLITTING headache from not having enough caffeine for the day and the screaming is about to send me over the edge
6. Ryan and I just stare at each other from across the table while he is screaming in the other room and think, “And we have another one on the way! Yeah us!”
7. When Hagen gets out of time out he throws Ryan’s bowl of ranch on the floor…yes, it was on purpose
8. I tell him he is going to eat, take a bath, and get in bed! No book…No story…and no song!!! It is because you are misbehaving Dameon, I mean Hagen!
9. He does something else and I pulled out the big guns. I took Mickey Mouse away the next morning during breakfast! He quieted down after that point.
After our TERRIBLE dinner he took a bath and got in bed nicely. He was in bed by 6:55…it was wonderful.

This morning when I got him the first thing he asked is if he is going to watch Mickey Mouse? Nope, remember your behavior last night? You were not a good listener and not behaving well so no MMCH.

It is more torture for me. He got dressed, picked out his cereal, and got settled in his chair. I told him I needed to finish getting ready and I’ll be right back. I sat at my stool to put my make up on and this is what went down:

Hagen: “Mama? Mom? Hey Mom?”
Me: walking out to him, “Yes Hagen?”
H: “what are you doing?”
M: “getting ready. I’ll be done in a minute…eat your breakfast. “
Not 1 minute later:
H: “Mom, Mama, MAAAA MAAAA?”
Me: “yes Hagen? “
H: “ I was not being haved so I can’t watch Mickey Mouse.”
Me: “that’s right! BUT if you are good tonight you can tomorrow morning! OK, now let me finish getting ready…”
Not 1 minute later:
H: “Mama…MOM…MOOOOOMMMMMM”
Me: finally ready and coming out “what Hagen?!???”
H: “are you ready?”

Now, before you go adding up the minutes, I don’t wear much makeup…not because I don’t NEED to. It is more of just I’m too LAZY to do so. And I sit behind a desk all day so no need to. BUT this morning I have a lot less than normal on…make up that is. I love Mickey Mouse as much as Hagen…I hope tonight is better than last night!!

Tata,
Carrie

P.S. I went for my 16 week appointment yesterday. Baby’s heart rate is 148 BPM, I go back in 2 weeks for a sonogram (and to confirm the sex), my belly is measuring small but not alarming (ALWAYS nice to hear SOMETHING is small when you are pregnant), and things are moving along! It’s weird with this pregnancy…I have no real appetite. My thing lately is the laughing cow cheeses…all of them…yummy!! Oh and diced peaches in the cups…I keep them in the fridge and growl at Hagen if he wants a bite.