My Life. My Boys.: March 2012

Thursday, March 29, 2012

38 Weeks!

I had my 38 week appointment Tuesday, and I learned that I was still a 2, but he has dropped some more and I'm about 75% effaced now. The best part of the appointment was Dr. Becker telling me that this was a 7 1/2- 8 lb. baby in his opinion, and he felt very comfortable scheduling me for induction next week! We scheduled it for Thursday, April 5, at 5 a.m.!! Josh jokingly asked the nurse if they had anything open around 10a.m., but of course, I won't be getting much sleep anyway, so 5 a.m. doesn't bother me too much. I'm so, so anxious to meet my sweet baby boy!

The Kindergarten had a cute P.E. performance last Thursday night. James was so cute with the cup-stacking. It was really neat what they'd learned to do with them! They also did hilarious yoga poses. I don't think James will ever be able to be still enough to do yoga. His had lots of energy behind each move!

This cracked Josh and me up. James wants six kids but not to get married! I think he'll change his mind, seeing as how he blushes and gets a huge smile on his face when he talks to us about people's crushes, girlfriends, getting married, etc. :)

James had his first ever baseball (Coach Pitch) practice last Thursday! It was so cute seeing him walk out to the field with his baseball hat and glove on.

The boys love to get up on this metal stand in our side yard and look over the fences.

Jack, my little climber!

I've been trying to stay as normal as possible and not get too effected by the fact that this is our last week before he comes. I can over-think and overanalyze, so I'm trying to just stay in the moment! I started reading "Same Kind of Different as Me" last week, and I am almost done now. It is so, so good, and I can hardly put it down! Elizabeth and I got a manicure and pedicure this week, and Josh and I went on a lunch date while Jack was at PDO! Jack has been a dream child and just happily playing while I lay on the couch and put my feet up. The afternoons are so much fun when James gets home from school. I typically have to force the boys in for the 5 minutes it takes for me to go to the bathroom and get their snacks, and then they play outside the rest of the afternoon until dinnertime.

A few random I've been wanting to write down about the boys:

Jack likes to save little pieces of information for James that will push his buttons when he gets in the car after school. James will get in the car, and Jack will say things like, "Mommy gave me chocolate milk today." or "We went to the park today." This makes James mad, of course, which is exactly the reaction that Jack wants! Lately, though, James has been really good about asking Jack questions about his day, which Jack eats up. I think Jack just loves attention from his big brother, whether it be good or bad! It is so sweet to hear their conversations about each other's days.

One of the sweetest things about James is how thoughtful he is. He genuinely is curious about my day and how it was. After I've asked him about his, he'll often say, "How was your day, Mama? What did you do?" or "Did you have a fun day?" James will also ask me if he can get me a piece of gum, chocolate, etc., when he goes to get one for himself. He is really good about sharing with me in particular.

Some funny quotes from the boys:

James quotes:

James: Will you get my basketball? It fell into the thorns.

Me: Sure

James: Actually, I'll get it. I don't want Ben to get hurt.

(all four of us were in the car driving by the hospital where Ben will be born)

James: Is "Benjerman" (how he pronounces it) going to give us a present in the hospital like Jack did?

Josh: I don't know, I bet he might!

James: How would he do that? How would he get it there??

Josh: Uhhh...That's just something you'll have to ask him when he's older!

(pause)

James: Jack, how did you get that present to me at the hospital when you were born?

Jack: (serious and without missing a beat) Because... I just did!

(our next door neighbors were over playing)

James runs up to me and says in a tone like he's going to defend himself before he gets in trouble and says...

"Keely (our 6 year old neighbor who's now walking away pouting) says that girls go first, but I told her that Thomas Jefferson says that all men are created equal!!"
After laughing so hard that tears were streaming down my face, I had a talk with him about how boys need to be gentlemen and let ladies go first. He did not get it or agree, though, and told me that boys were better. :)

James: Mama, if there is ever an animal out here (in the backyard), you'll need to run inside.

Me: What will you do??

James: I'll stay out here and get him with my weapon! (piece of wood in his hand)

Jack quotes:

Jack: Do you smell something?

Me: No, do you?

Jack: Yeah, fresh air!

Jack (opening the blinds): It's foggy at the moment!

Me: Jack, can I have a kiss?

Jack (pausing and contemplating): I'm not sure....

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Bluebonnet Pics

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Spring Break and 37 Weeks

Last week was our first real Spring Break as a family! We had a really nice and very low-key week. Josh took off the first two days, and we enjoyed sleeping in (as much as you can with little kids) and doing a mix between running errands, relaxing, and getting projects done around the house. The last three days were very lazy days. We stayed in our pj's and took it easy. Between being nine months pregnant and having a sinus infection, I'm afraid I was a little too boring for James at times. He asked me one morning after I'd snoozed on the couch for an hour, "Can we go to Jumping Place?" I said no, because I hadn't showered yet (and I didn't feel up for it anyway). He then said, "Well, can we go...like...run to Daddy's office and bring him his cell phone or something?" That made me laugh, because he hadn't left his cell phone, but that's something we've had to do before! So, we got out and ran a drive-through errand just for him. It turned out to be good, though, because he pushed through his boredom, and he and Jack made their own "Jumping Place" in our living room and had a blast! They were making a big mess, but I didn't care because they were having too much fun with it. I really enjoyed watching the two of them entertain each other the rest of the week.

One really sweet thing was that Jack wanted James to put him down for a nap everyday last week. Jack had resisted, since James was home, and was crying a pitiful, tired-cry when I tried to put him down. He asked for James, and James said, "I'll lay down with him." I thought it would not end well, but I figured it was worth a try. James laid down with him for a few minutes, and then closed the door and left. Jack came out crying that same pitiful cry, asking for James to lay back down with him. James, having the tender heart that he has, felt the same tug as I was feeling, and said, "Alright, I'll lay with you for two more minutes." I was so proud of James for doing this for his brother! Well, to my amazement, it worked! Jack stayed in bed after that and took a good nap! This happened the rest of the week, and I was so tickled by it!

I'm 37 weeks and feeling really at peace right now. I feel like I've gotten everything done that can be done before he comes, and I'm really excited about him coming. I also am really enjoying these last couple of weeks of just Jack-and-me-time while James is at school, because I know Jack is feeling unsure about things right now. While moving baby items into his old room, he sat in the bouncy seat, put a baby toy up to his cheek, stuck his tongue out unhappily, and started talking baby-talk. Then, he told me he wanted to wear a diaper. He's also having more outbursts lately, so I think he's definitely sensing what's about to happen. He's pulled away from me some, which breaks my heart, but I know this is just a transition time. He's still very excited about Ben, though, and lights up when we read stories about new babies coming. He loves to talk to Ben in my belly, gives him kisses, and lights up when we talk about him. Jack loves babies and is such a natural with them. Our next door neighbor has a baby, and Jack is really sweet with her and will periodically go over to her on his own and talk to her and try to make her smile. James is nothing but excited about Ben coming, and I know is going to love being the "huge" brother as he puts it.

I'm feeling much more uncomfortable sleeping now and have excruciating pains when I turn from side to side. It's so bad that I sometimes get up and get back in bed the other way just to avoid rolling over. I'm starting to swell, especially at night, but it's not as bad as what I had with James. I'm also feeling pains in my ribs, because he likes to get right up under them a lot lately. Other than that, though, I'm very pleased that I'm still able to get around really well and feel pretty good during the day! It could be a lot worse!

My ring had been off for a while, and I couldn't believe there was still an indention!

I was really excited at my 37 week appointment yesterday to find out that I'm 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced! That never happened with my other two, so I was really surprised to hear that! With James, I was less than 1 cm up until 2 hours before he was born. With Jack, I was 1 cm dilated up until I was induced. I'm so anxious to see how these next 2-3 weeks play out! Dr. Becker also said that he was not down low yet, and that he's still head down. I can't wait to hold that head in my arms!!

Last night was my diapers and wipes baby shower for Ben! It was a small, church shower at Johnny Carinos, and I felt so spoiled by my sweet friends who put this on and came to celebrate with me! I have some of the most thoughtful friends around, and they did such a great job putting this together. I'm so excited about not buying diapers or wipes for a long time, and I also got some really special gifts from friends and family.

I was so surprised when I opened this present from my Aunt Barbara! It was a "quiet book" that she had made him, and it's very similar to the one my mom made me when I was little (that I loved playing with)! I'm so thrilled to have this for him and will always treasure this!

Aunt Bibi got him a super-soft blanket/lovey that I'm sure he will sleep with for years to come! She also got him a "Brothers" picture frame that I'm very excited about. I'd been on the look-out for one and can't wait to put a picture in there of my three boys!

I was so excited to receive this quilt that my mom made for Ben! She has made one of these beautiful quilts for each of her grandchildren, and I couldn't wait to see Ben's. I absolutely love it, and I'm so thankful for my wonderful and talented mama who loves to make special things for her loved ones!

My wonderful hostesses, who I'm so blessed to call friends!

And speaking of talented, my dear friend, Amber, made Ben's letters that will go on the wall in his nursery! She has done this for each of my boys, and as always, did an amazing job on them! They turned out so cute, and I can't wait to hang them up!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Caught up!

I'm finally caught up on my blog! I case you're interested in reading, I have updated starting at this past summer.
A Summer to Remember! (Part 1)
A Summer to Remember! (Part 2)
Fall Fun!
Christmas 2011
January Highlights
February Highlights
Adventures with Ziggy!
First Basketball Team!
Making Room for Ben!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Making Room for Ben!

I am in major nesting mode right now, and things are really shaping up in our house as we get ready for Ben's arrival! Between developing and putting in albums thousands of pictures from Jack's birth on (where I left off last), filling out Jack's very detailed baby book, sorting out the boys' winter clothes and putting them away, pulling down baby toys and gear from the attic and cleaning and organizing them, setting up and moving Jack over to the big-boy room, clearing Jack's things out of the nursery, stocking the nursery up for baby Ben, getting caught up on my blog, and oh, not to mention deciding to make a shutterfly scrapbook of Jack's first year after getting inspired from seeing all of his pictures again, I have been very, very busy lately! It has been fun, though, and it's helping distract me from the pains and discomfort of late pregnancy and anxiousness for Ben's arrival!

The boys have had so much fun playing with all of the baby toys! It's amazing how entertained an almost six-year-old and three-year-old can be by infant and baby toys. :)

These just crack me up. James loves his superman pj's that were once Matthew and Thomas'.

My almost six-year-old looking so grown-up lately!

The boys were having a late-night (8:30?) jam session before bed. :)

Jack's transition to the big boys bed went so well! Josh and I were scared about this transition, since it had been so rough with James. We decided to take the opposite approach and not make a big deal about it, like we did with James. We very slowly moved one thing at a time into James' room, as we got each item...the bed frame, then the mattress, then the bedding, etc. We had thought we'd move him over Saturday night, but Friday night, he asked us if he could sleep in there that night. We agreed, and he did great! He was so cute and kept closing his eyes and pretending to sleep while Josh was reading, singing, and praying. He was so, so happy to be in the same room as James. He slept great that night and woke up at normal time! He asked to nap in there, and I was unsure of how he'd do during the day. He ended up taking a three-hour nap! He asks us every evening, "Can I sleep in my big boy bed?" as if it's a privilege, and we nonchalantly said, "Sure!" We are so thankful for this smooth transition!

The big boy room, almost completed. Just lacking monogramming and a bedskirt! My dad made every bit of this furniture for Elizabeth and me when we were little. I slept on my bed and used that dresser until I went off to college!

Mom has been a busy bee, too, making lots of things for baby Ben! Here is the diaper bag she made me!

I love this sweater she made him!

She is working on several more things that I can't wait to see!!

We have just four more weeks until Ben's due date! At my 36 week appointment today, I was not dilated, but somewhat effaced. She said he was head down and seemed to be normal sized. I can hardly wait to hold him, see what he looks like, see what his personality will be like, and see my three boys together!

Monday, March 05, 2012

First Basketball Team!

James played his first basketball season this year, starting in January, and loved it! He was on a great team with a sweet group of kids called "The Bears", and they were hilarious to watch. James was very aggressive and most of the time did not want to take the time to dribble. It's much more fun to shoot baskets, so why waste time dribbling, right? They don't penalize them for that at this age, otherwise there would be hardly any playing taking place! James loved playing and now spends many hours a week shooting baskets in our driveway.

This was what Jack and Kolt did most games! Thank goodness for cell phone games! We were actually able to sit and watch the games because of them!