The sleepover was a success...well, everyone was alive the next morning and there were no injuries so that is successful!

Adam, Rebecca, Noah, and Emily came over for pizza and then left around 7:00 for the big sleepover! Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Adam told Hagen about it at dinner and he was so excited!!

They left and took a bath quickly so that movie night could start! They watched a bit of Toy Story before bed in their sleeping bags.
Uncle Adam (My little brother) read a story to them and then it was lights out! There was not a peep! They both stayed in Noah's bed and we were shocked they didn't even try to talk or anything...I think they were in shock.

...Hagen has been depressed lately...not really, but just sad. "Noah hasn't been to my house in a long time Mama"..."Is Noah still at his Nana's house?"...etc. etc.

You see, they all went to North Carolina to hang with her family for about 3 weeks! Then her mom came back to spend a week here. SO, we haven't seen them in about a month!

So I told Hagen we would have them over tonight for Pizza and to catch up. He is SO.EXCITED.

This morning Rebecca emailed me to ask if she could host a slumber party. Noah sleeps in a queen bed with rails...he is 2. She wants to see if they can sleep side by side together. So tonight it is! Hagen's first sleep over. He doesn't know it yet and is going to be so excited!

I will have to post a play by play of the evening from Rebecca...stay tuned...

C

I love Dapper…I really do. He is our first baby…he’s 90 pounds of pure shedding and drooling joy. But he is DRIVING.ME.NUTS.

When I was pregnant with Hagen he sensed it and never left my side…he is doing it again. This in most instances is fine. But he is getting in the way and is old so he is also stubborn…OK, and I am stubborn too but that is besides the point. The other night, Dapper was almost adopted out because of the rage that was sent through my body, mind, and soul.

I get up a few times at night to go to the bathroom…usually in a sleepwalkers haze. Dapper sleeps on the floor beside our bed. I got two cheap fleece blankets and put one on Ryan’s side and the other on my side. That is his bed. They are washed weekly and are just perfect. Well, usually when I get up in the middle of the night I step on Dapper…his tail, paw, head…but not hard because he is usually there. BUT he also usually moves to Ryan’s side so I don’t repeat it when I get back into bed.

When I return I can see just enough to know there is a dark blanket on the floor…usually Dapperless. Not the other night. He didn’t go to Ryan’s side…he just moved in an even MORE inconvenient space! I fell right on top of him…big belly and all…hard. I was LIVID. I cannot even express the rage that I felt when that damn dog didn’t move. I got in bed, Ryan was freaked out because it was loud, the dog was cowering in the corner and there I was cussing like a sailor!! Ryan patted the dog and went back to sleep. Uh…honey? I’m bearing your baby…and I didn’t even get a pat on the head. I will let it go because he was still asleep. When I got back in bed the baby was kicking like mad…going nuts…for awhile. Everything is fine, but I was SO mad…if something happened to this baby because of his lazy dog butt I would not have been able to forgive…stupid dog…mostly nice, but stupid dog!

***********************************

Hagen was out in the yard with Ryan the other night. I was inside tending to my work email since I was at a convention all day and I heard a gut wrenching scream coming from Hagen. I jumped up and looked out the window and Ryan was holding him and Hagen was looking at his hand BAWLING! You know I’m totally picturing bone out of skin, a wasp stinger poking out of his hand, a tarantula stuck to his hand, flesh eating whatever going on, etc. You have never seen a pregnant woman run so fast…I bolted out there! Fire Ants…fire ants noshed on my baby’s hand. He had about 10 bites. We washed it up good, Ryan got the ant spray out and we killed those ants! Poor baby…it was dramatic. I do not help in these situations…I am pretty dramatic too! So now, Hagen has ANOTHER injury to let Pia know about…see…he has a hurt knee and ant bites…life blows. BTW, Bionic Pia is doing fabulous!


I’m not sure if I mentioned this or not. When I was pregnant but didn’t know it yet, Hagen started putting his bear in his shirt at nap time. He told his teachers that it was his baby sister. Uh…OK?!? Not sure where that came from. But about a week later we found out I was pregnant…and a few months after that found out it was a girl. It makes me wonder about this sixth sense that kids have…so cool…spooky, but cool.

Hagen is getting really excited about becoming a big brother. He shows his friends my belly, hugs it, kisses it, just excited (for now). The other night I told him that we need to practice singing songs that he liked as a baby so we can teach them to Hazel. So “You are my Sunshine”, “Baa Baa Black sheep”, Itsy Bitsy Spider”, and ABC’s have been the hot songs before bed. The other night I put him to bed and then went to bed to watch my DVR’d shows. I heard singing on his video monitor…Hagen was in his bed singing Itsy Bitsy Spider while putting bear in his jammies….he put his baby in his belly and sang to it. Then he rolled over and went to sleep…with bear safe and sound in his belly. Sweet baby…


At night I watch TV in bed…it is where I am comfortable…and hopefully I can fall asleep early. I have had a sleeping problem and have to take Tylenol PM every night. I can’t take it too early or I will wake up at 4AM and be wide awake, so Ryan usually brings it in to me when he is coming to bed between 10-10:30. It is a laughfest every night. He comes in with a glass of water and 2 pills. He waits for me to take a swig of my water and says in a creepy voice, “Now drink up…” or “rest well my love” or “that’s a good girl” kinda like he is implying that he gave me some kind of poison. It the WAY he says it…I spit out water every night…


One last thing to talk about. Kids acting a fool at restaurants. Now, Hagen is not perfect…not by any means. He is pretty well behaved at restaurants because my Dad was SUCH a stickler with us and so we learned very early on to order for ourselves and act good…and yes it was an OR ELSE situation. He didn’t put up with bad restaurant behavior.

Ryan and I think it is a good thing also so Hagen was brought up with the same amount of strictness. Last night proved to us that it was necessary. There was a table right by us that had kids WALKING across the table to get to the other side to be with the other parent…it was a booth. AND the parents did nothing to stop it. It is bad when the 18 year old waiter had to be the one to say “Kids, that is not safe. You could really hurt yourself”. And then the parents chime in, “Ya, so and so…let’s not do that”. Plus, it was a place that served Fajitas…so we all know they usually come on those flipping hot cast iron things…and what are the kids doing? Break dancing or something in the middle of the aisle…while waiters with huge trays of burning hot plates have to wait for them to decide to move because the parents weren’t paying attention.

Know it all Hagen? He was saying over and over, “They are not being good listeners” and “They are not being haved”…it’s nice to have the well behaved kid….but he’s also a bit of a tattle tale whiny boy…hmmm…give and take I guess…

Random as always,
Carrie

What a nice weekend! Ryan played in a golf tournament on Saturday so it was Hagen and Mama day!

We had to go to a birthday party at 1:00 so I thought I would take him to Fuddruckers first for a lunch date. Hagen wasn’t hungry so I just got myself something and got him a fruit cup and lemonade…boy loves his lemonade and only really gets it when we are out to dinner/lunch. I felt like a fat pig eating my sandwich while he took a few nibbles of his fruit. I just wanted to tell everyone around us that “He said he wasn’t hungry…I swear I feed my kid more than just a fruit cup!!”

We headed over to the mall for Lauren’s party. She is in his class. The party was at Build a Bear!! Everyone got to pick out a bear, outfit, and a pair of shoes. Most of the boys picked out the camo bear or the owl and donned them in fishing or sports clothing…you know, like most little boys would do. My boy? He got the light pink bear and dressed him up as Woody from Toy Story. Not only that, but they put them in these little boxes to carry them out but Hagen wanted to walk out with him holding it. So me and my loud and proud pink loving baby boy walked through the mall and braved the stares at the pink Woody bear.

After the party we went to Babies R Us to start stocking up on essentials for Miss Priss. I am trying to make Hagen as involved as possible. So I parked his cart right by what I needed so he got to “choose” what kind of whatever we got. I loaded up on little socks, some little kimono long sleeve t-shirts for the first few weeks, diapers, some formula, a billion bibs, some zipper footies, and bottles. I did Dr. Browns with Hagen and they are great but they have a million pieces to wash! I am trying something new this go around…Playtex drop-ins. I got a starter kit and if they work that will be fabulous…if not…that’s OK. Will be so nice to just throw away the drop in part and wash have to only wash the ….ugh…sorry…I know I’m immature, but I hate this word…nipple.

Hagen picked out a necklace (really a teething thing that has beads on it that looks like a necklace), some car keys, and a birdie that she can pull and it wiggles and makes noise. He put them in her little basket of toys to start her toy collection.

After Ryan’s golf there was a dinner and a ball drop. Hagen and I met him up there to see the fire truck drop the balls and check out the hot air balloon! He had a GREAT time!

Yesterday we did things around the house and just chilled. Hagen was so SASSY last night! It was time to take a shower and go to bed and he didn’t want to. So this is how it went down:
Hagen: I don’t want to shower!
Ryan and I: Get in the shower right now or no book tonight.
H: I don’t want a book!
R&I: Fine, no book for you…get in the shower!
H: NO!
R&I: Hagen you better get in this shower or no story tonight!!
H: I don’t want a story…and I don’t want a song either!
R&I: (crap…now what?) Get in the shower or no Mickey Mouse in the morning!
H: (crying hysterically…) s.l.o.w.l.y walked to the shower as Ryan turned the water off. Shower was over.
H: I want to shower!
R&I: Sorry buddy you missed your chance…

So Hagen went to bed smelling of sun screen and with a bad attitude (so did I for that matter). What am I going to do when his normal “ammo” doesn’t work? Usually you can stop at “No book tonight Hagen!” But not last night…he could have cared less!

Anyway, my belly has “popped” out of the “cage” and I am really showing now! I’m also getting some cankles…not bad, but I’m starting to swell some. Ryan lovingly gave me a foot rub last night…so sweet. I’m sure it is just so he doesn’t have to be seen with “Cankle girl”! Ha!

Tata,
Carrie

Mom had knee replacement surgery on Monday. It has been something that has been NEEDED for awhile! There were nerves…insecurities on how the surgery would go…just the unknown part was enough to worry anyone. But watching her hobble around was disturbing...sorry Mom it was. It was obvious she was in pain and not wanting to seem like she is. But it just gets to a point where you can not hide it...you stop doing things you love....you stop doing anything. That's when you need to get yourself back in the saddle and take care of somethings...AAANDDDD she did.

I’m pleased to say that she is doing FABULOUS! She is very gung ho about getting back up on her feet in time for little miss priss to show up. Her therapy is doing well, she is doing everything that is asked of her, and she is must very excited about this new knee.

Hagen and I went to visit her in the hospital yesterday and Hagen told her he knows how she feels. You see, Hagen’s shoe lace was untied the other day and I had JUST said, “I need to tie your shoe before you go bonk yourself!” Sure enough…not 10 seconds later “OWIE, OWIE, OWIE!!!!” He scraped it good. I thought I was a drama queen…well, Hagen takes the cake. It was pretty dramatic! It was right before swimming lessons, Papa cuddled him and I put a wet paper towel on it. Then Miss Jenny came to do lessons and he was all excited and swam. But as soon as lessons were done it was back to the drama. He even had to sleep in shorts so his Jammies wouldn’t touch his knee. He is also scared of Band-Aids...I thought kids loved those things?! He does have hair on his legs (and his back but who looks at that) so maybe he has had one too many ripped off his hairy legs?! Who knows...

Mom got home from the hospital today and is resting on the couch and is so glad to be home!!

Ryan’s Mom is also in the hospital. She went in this weekend because she was swollen up…like looked like her eyes were swelling shut swollen. She had her hair dyed and it was a new product so there is probably something she is allergic to. They gave her a steroid and sent her home. It was better for a day and then got worse so she went back. She was using a shampoo that was by the same maker as the dye. So she slept there last night and they are keeping her to observe her. She looks like she was in a fight.

On the pregnancy front…I’m going to be 24 weeks on Sunday (Is that 6 months??? I never understood how to figure out months). I still get that “riding a horse” feeling. I’ve had it for the last 2 days and it is just so sore! He said that it is because my bones/hips/pelvic cage are all expanding. It is making me waddle already! What’s weird is that the whole time I was in CA visiting Mer I didn’t have that soreness at all! I think it is mainly when I’m sitting at my desk all day at work so she just settles in the “cage”…maybe?!? This may sound weird but I just want to take a nap like a bat…upside down…to get her out of my cage for a bit!! Sounds heavenly doesn’t it?!

OK, so what are everyone’s thought s on piercing a little baby’s ears? Like 3 month old little? I am on the side of waiting until AT LEAST kindergarten…or when she starts asking. I’m just curious as to what you ladies think!

Oh, and by the way...the photo at the top is of Hagen...I was reminiscing and this is one of our favorites. My little Romo...

So boring…this post blows…
Carrie

A little background on how Merrilee and I know each other. We met in 7th grade one night at Bullwinkle’s (it was a little club for little kiddos). We hit it off immediately and have been inseparable since. There were a few breakups but mainly because we usually dated best friends and if one broke up and the other didn’t we would have to separate.

Merrilee is basically the other daughter in the family…the better daughter I think. Mom and Dad love her like she is their own and would jump to help her out just like they would with their own kids at anytime.

My older brother is known to be a prick at times and he would constantly poke at Mer! We were talking about all the mean things he said and did to her but the worst one in Merrilee’s eyes were “You know Mer, you are not actually in this family right?!?” Talk about hurting her feelings. BUT guess who he asked to Prom because he didn’t have a date? Yep…Mer…and I went with one of his friends because he was dateless as well.

ANYWAY, that is just a bit of background on our relationship.

Here is a picture of my handsome boys! Loved the beach but man...that water is ICE cold!! I don't see how people can swim in it! I am perfectly content with sitting on the beach and people watching. I think we actually saw a conception going on right behind Dane while he was playing in the sand! I mean, there were people with their families everywhere and these two were groping each other the whole time! I took pictures...had too..

Before we left for the trip Mer asked what we wanted to do…Lego Land, Disney, Zoo, etc. We said nothing touristy! (Casey…you OK?) Ryan and I are not the plan every minute of our trip kind of people. This trip was going to be short and sweet (Thursday - Sunday) so we wanted to focus on hanging out together and talking and that can be done on the beach, etc. So that’s what we did.

A few little tidbits to mention. I have not had any good information to share honestly! But here is a bit of info:

I had a doctor appointment yesterday and things are moving along nicely. Her heart rate was 137 and she is very active…and pretty much all day. It’s been awhile since I was pregnant with Hagen so I can’t remember if he was this wild or not but she’s a nut ball! My next appointment is the GD test and a sonogram. I had GD with Hagen and am wondering if I will have it again. It’s really no big deal…just have to follow a diet which is not what you want to do when pregnant…but it’s not about me. I am having another sonogram because I have a low laying placenta and he wants to make sure it has moved out of the way a bit….same thing with Hagen and it did move…

I have never heard of anyone doing this but I almost gave Hagen a drug test this weekend. I know he is only 3…but Ryan and I really think he snuck out and attended a rave in the middle of the night. OUT.OF.CONTROL. He had WAY too much energy and was driving us both crazy!! You know that look that kiddos give you when they are playing but in attack mode also? Well, he had that look for most of the weekend! I had to duck and cover a lot…

Hagen has been picking his nose a lot lately and…well…putting it in his mouth. Now, it is not in public…mainly enjoys himself a comfort booger to drift off to sleep. Gross, I know. Well, the other night I was watching his monitor while Ryan was tucking him in and Hagen did it. Ryan told him that we were going to have to go to the doctor and have the doctor take care of it…he will first get a shot and if that doesn’t work he is going to have to cut his finger off. Nice Ryan…but it gets better.

We went to dinner the other night and Hagen picked but quickly stopped. Ryan grabbed a crayon and a steak knife and chopped it in half and then said, “remember Hagen…the doctor will take care of that finger for you if you do that.” I haven’t seen much picking lately…I really think that Ryan lost his freaking mind for doing that to a 3 year old…but let’s wait and see if it works.

We have field rats….it isn’t just us they are everywhere. Basically all the critters can’t find a place to settle because there is new development everywhere! Well, we also have a porch with a lot of built-ins…and a seat wall that goes around it. The insides of these structures are tunnels of cinder blocks, etc. There are drain holes for water drainage, etc. Well, if I were a rat I would think I have found paradise! It is protected, a lot of escape routes, etc. The drain holes don’t work all that well and we noticed some evidence of rats or mice. So Ryan has decided to smoke them out and mortar the holes.

He put some smoke bombs in there and nothing. He baited some rat traps and put sticky paper in there…nothing. It has been quiet for a few days with no activity. The other night I was watching TV in bed and Ryan came in the room looking so defeated. It was still light outside and around 7:30. He said he opened the door under his grill to check his traps and there was a rat sitting there just staring at him and then ran out a hole and into the yard…and disappeared. He said he swore the rat had his middle finger up and smiling at him. Poor Ryan. So he baited the crap out of the structure…nothing. We will be gone for a few days here soon so he is going to put Rat Poisoning in there…and lots of it. We can’t do this when Dapper is there because they eat the poison, get thirsty and go find water and then die. IF Dapper finds the rat and “plays” with it he can die from the poison as well. We’ll see…

One last thing…I learned something that is a nice “trick” when I had Gestational Diabetes. For the most part we have fresh fruit and veggies available in the house. But sometimes I just don’t want to prepare a salad or steam veggies. I want something quick. I learned that low sodium V8 is the trick. The small can is worth 1 serving of veggies and the normal size can is worth 2. I don’t especially LIKE V8 but you can down it like you shotgun a beer. PLUS eat/drink all your veggies first to set the stage and so if you get full you at least had your veggies. I always knew to eat your veggies first, but the V8 thing is nice to know.

Tata ladies,
Carrie

On the 4th we went to Nana's house to celebrate Aunt Kristen's 40th birthday! Here is a picture of Courtney, Aunt Karen, Ryan, Sweet baby, Nana, and Aunt Kristen! Aunt Kristen is Ryan's sister...she could quite possibly be one of the nicest people I know...there is a special place in heaven for her...she is the most generous person, caring, will do anything for anyone, but often forgets to focus on herself. Love her!!
Here are the cousins doing some sparklers! Hagen felt so "big" with the girls...so brave! Sweet Ashlyn hung around to do some then was off doing funner things...she's 16 and has been gone for 10 days on vacation, so she was missing her peeps! We were able to talk about the boy situation some...I hadn't seen her cry since she was little...she's sad...poor thing. Let's just sum it up with she knows it won't work out...she's 16...he's going to college in a few months. BUT, it still sucks and hurts. The best thing I could tell her was to focus on her girlfriends and have a fabulous summer! I was one that would focus more on my boyfriend and I should have focused more on the girls that are always there for you when the boys leave...I was not smart.

The Saturday before the 4th we were going to go to Papa and Pia's house to swim and cookout Firecracker shrimp! BUT, it was raining so we had them come over instead...no need to tempt Hagen with a pool that he can't swim in! I made a 4th of July Cake...It stuck to the pan...I was pissed...Ryan jumped in and saved the day! There was alot of icing on it because he had to use ALOT for mortar! It tasted good, but wasn't the prettiest cakes!
Even though it was raining, we did a few fireworks. Nothing that was loud...I don't do loud...I really am not a fan of fireworks but Ryan is...this is his area...so he is in charge! We pushed back the couch and tables and made room for the show...sparklers, things that spin and light up, smoke bombs, and snakes...or Poo Poo Snakes as Hagen calls them because they look like Dappers poop...nice.

Last night I was receiving disturbing calls on my cell phone. They weren’t pervert calls…it was just an eerie voice saying she was Shanay-Nay…but then at one point the name “James” was also put out there (which will come in handy in my super sleuth defectiveness later in the story). I couldn’t tell if the person was older or younger, boy or girl.

At first I was like whatever, would ask who it is etc. but then eventually hang up. BUT then they asked how my little Hagen is doing? EXCUSE ME?! I freaked…then they asked if Dapper is driving me nuts and how is Ryan doing…all in this eerie voice. Ryan was bathing Hagen and I went in and told him what is going on. He answered the next time and was so nice and polite. He told them to hang on because he is going to conference in the McKinney Police. They hung up…called right back…hung up.

I called my mom to tell her if my family ended up all cut up into pieces for the police to check my call log because I was getting prank calls that were freaking me the hell out! While I was talking with her I got another call from the prankster and conferenced them in with Mom. I said, “McKinney Police, can I help you?” They said, “Oh, I’m sorry I’m trying to reach my friend” and hung up.

THEN…they called from a different number…but they messed with the wrong person. You see, when I get a call from anyone I register their name in my phone. I’ve done this for years…I get a lot of sales calls and random calls from people looking for work. I put them in there and usually do not answer my phone unless a name pops up.

When the perp called from the different number if popped up as “Jim Myers”…our old neighbor a couple of years ago with the sweetest 2 kids you ever met. I answered, “Hello?” and the same prankster asked for me. I said, “James, get your Mom Sh*&%* and your Dad Jim on the phone right now…”…they hung up and didn’t call again.

I started shaking and crying and grabbed my keys and told Ryan I would be right back. Ryan hugged me and told me to sit down for a minute…I did and told him how freaked out I was and I wanted to march over there and tell his parents. I soon calmed down and was very thankful that Ryan didn’t let me go. I can just imagine what a freak I would look like crying and going up to their door saying, “Your son prank called me and I’m not happy about it!” May make them even more excited that we moved, Ha!

It was an innocent prank…we’ve all prank called someone...but this one got me. For all I knew someone was planning the Darney Murder…when they said Hagen’s name I flipped! Visions of Private Practice when Violet had her baby cut out of her was running through my mind…Ryan would NEVER be able to go out of town again…in fact he would have to take on part-time hours like me so we could spend every second together!

Funny now…last night, not so much. Good thing he is a sweet boy!

Tata,
Carrie