Addition Updates

You get two updates for the price of one today.  Since there are so many "additions" pending at my house, why not?

We'll start with the most important...my little LAM.  And no, she doesn't have a name yet.  Your comments have actually got me even more confused.  But, I think we are leaning towards my gut decision.  Time will tell.  Not much time though, a decision will be made soon.

Okay, so here I am at 5 months.  Well, here is my belly anyway.  I refuse to show my face in this picture.  I had just gotten home from Yoga and it was not pretty.

Ahhhhh, but look at my little LAM growing right on time {in all directions}.  And now for a 5 month update...

• The nausea is completely gone...Amen to that!  I thought this would equal more restful sleep, but unfortunately it hasn't.  Regardless I am a new person.
• I am exhausted about 20 out of 24 hours a day.  Can't decide if it's the 3rd, my old age, or the construction.   Probably a combo of all three.
• Speaking of exhaustion, my most recent DRs appointment did result in a positive Anemia test.  I'm supposed to be taking Iron supplements and in turn that will replenish some of my energy, but...yuck!  
• My appetite has definitely slowed down.  Instead of being ravenously hungry as I was the first 2 months, I prefer to graze.  Lots of snacking and it seems much harder to finish a complete meal.  I seriously feel like my stomach is pushed up into my lungs {and its only 5 months...yikes!}
• Still craving lots of salty foods.  Loving almonds, string cheese, olives, and french fries {can't believe I just admitted the latter}
• I can feel Little LAMs kicks and flips and I love it.  She is definitely the most active when I am hungry.  
• Little LAM must be camped out on my bladder because not a moment goes by when I don't feel like I could take a bathroom break.  It works out well with Maggie being newly potty trained.  We travel as a team...often.
• I've consistently gained an off the chart amount of weight between each visit until this month.  My regular poundage was cut in half.  I was pretty happy about that.  I wasn't sure how much wider I could get.
• My next visit should include a scheduling of Little LAMs C-section date.  As always, I will schedule as close to her August 26th due date as possible.
• Maggie loves the idea of the "new baby".  She always states that she, "wants to go with Mommy and the new baby".  So cute.  We'll see how she does when "new baby" actually arrives. Maggie is also known to expose my stomach on a regular basis because she "wants to see the new baby".  Cute at home, awkward in public.
• Jack has come to accept the fact that the baby is a girl.  He honestly just loves babies.  So he is legitimately excited.

Now onto the other addition.  This is the one that has me at my near breaking point.  The project is supposed to be completed next week, clearly that is not happening...

Don't let this picture {or any of the others alarm you}, we are a work in progress.  Have some vision please.  Luckily for me, I have the architectural plans to look at or I might be a little alarmed at this picture.  Okay, so we ripped off the white clapboard wood and "reskinned" {as our architect calls it} the house.  I chose cedar shake...love it, one of my fave exteriors.  Yes, yes, yes, we are staining it.  I'm just not this natural.  We've got a light grey in mind with stormy grey bat and board shutters.  If all goes as planned, we get to play around with stains this week.  

As for the front porch, we are arching the portico and finishing it off with square columns.  The new door will be stained a deep mahogany.  And can I tell you how much I love this new front door?  We actually have fabulous natural light in our foyer now.

This is my new roof which I think  hope will look fabulous with grey cedar shake.  And my completed stone chimney {with a new topper}.  We also extended the roof lines of the house as you can see to the left.  

To all my friends...this is your new entrance.  It is called the "friends entrance" according to the architect and designer {seems I wouldn't know anything without them, huh?}.  Anyway, it too will be stained and eventually the plastic will come off and we will have real door knobs...one day. Love that it takes you into the mudroom or the family room.  It is also the passageway from the garage to the mudroom.  No more kids traipsing through the family room to 'maybe' make it to the mudroom to remove shoes and hang up school bags.  Logistically...a serious Mommy pleaser.

This is our new extended sun room.  I decided to forgo the name "loggia" that the architect refers to it as.  It didn't seem to fit  my "not a mansion" house.   Floors coming next week.  I am so excited for a rustic sort of travertine laid in a herring bone pattern.  

And finally the master bedroom.  Not much to show here, except for we actually have sheetrock! But, note the ceiling.  I'm all about character, so trying to keep true to my cottage home, we "barned" the ceiling line and are adding wood planks...yum! {and "barned" is my terminology this time, not the architects...did you guess?}  And that door back there takes you to my new master bath.  Which if the marble EVER comes in will be heavenly.

Since both of my additions pend on one another, basically as soon as I can get moved into this master, we can move Jack into our old room, and then start the nursery.  Wooh...cutting it close.  Which is not my style.  But, with every finger and hair on my body crossed, I am hoping for a May move in date.  Cross something with me please!

She Needs A Name

If you are going to be this cute, you deserve a name....

Don't you agree?

So here we are, 20 weeks, and still debating new baby girl's name.  This is so unlike me, I generally like to have my children named at the moment of conception.  Okay, not literally, but pretty close.  I think this gal threw us for loop when she announced, well, that she was a gal.  {Not that we were set on a boy's name either, so I guess I can't really use that as an excuse}

It's just been really challenging with the third.  I have a lot of criteria {imagine that}.  But, seriously, this is her name for life and I want to make sure we get it right.  So here is the criteria...1) something pretty traditional/old--to go with Jack and Maggie {Margaret} 2) a two syllable name 3) and a name that ends with the long e sound.

The good news is we have it narrowed down to 3 names.  The bad news is we have a minor hang up with each of them.  Now it's just up to us {and you} to figure out which hang up is the most minor.  So, here we go.  I will take any and all opinions.  You won't hurt my feelings because no matter what you say it will be one of these names.  Be honest, but don't get your feelings hurt if I don't listen to you...wink wink.  And always keep in mind the other two children's names and our last name.  Here we go in no particular order}...

Lucy:  Her formal name would be Lucille.  Middle name is still a debate. I love Elizabeth and Jane with it, but would most likely go with Anne {although it's not my fave with it} to give her a family name.  The hang up?...my Mom has a 10 year old dog named Lucy {whom I adore, so I have a good connotation with it}.  But, maybe a bit odd?  Oh, and I must admit this is my favorite choice ;)

Annie:  Her name would be Annie.  Middle name Elizabeth for sure.  I like it because it is a form of a family name, Anne.  The hang up?...I don't want her to be called Anne {ever}.  And I feel like as she grows older this would happen.

Molly:  Middle name Anne or Elizabeth.  I have always adored this name.  And love the fact that I could reuse some of Maggie's "M" monogrammed clothes.  The hang up?...Maggie and Molly...too much alike?  I'd like them to have some identity of their own.

I feel even more confused than ever now that I have them all written out.  I can picture all of those names fitting into our family.  How will I ever decide?  Maybe I need triplets.  {totally kidding}

So for now I call her my little LAM {lamb}, until her name is finalized.  I've got a pile of onesies that need monogramming and a blank wall in her soon to be nursery that needs a name on it.

I'll be waiting on your advice...

Suuuper Five

Jack turned 5 this weekend, on Friday, April 13th to be exact {and yes, I cried}.  Since he so fantastically doesn't have school on Fridays this year, we partied on his actual day.  The first time we've been able to do that in 5 years.  {His first birthday fell on leap year, so we missed that Saturday the 13th, to say the least I was very bummed}

This year turned out to be another Suuuper celebration and for so many reasons.  For starters we co-partied with Jack's lifetime pal, Sophia.  Her birthday is just a few short days before his and they are in the same class this year which equals all the same friends.  Naturally, Sophia was not interested in a Super Hero party as Jack had planned for himself.  She was more into the pink and purple princess scene.  So we improvised and had us a cute cool little Superhero Princess party...and it worked.

Other reasons the party was so suuuuper, well for one the weather was amazing.  Always my fear up until party time.  Grammy and Grampa came to celebrate with us {always a plus to have family}.  And all of our friends made it...not one regret!  Pretty awesome for a Friday party.

All the details of the party went just as planned.  Jack was very specific this year about what he wanted.  Actually,if it had been up to him it would have been a Party City Batman special.  But, staying  true to my own style and still keeping Jack happy, we compromised a lot.  And in the end we were both happy.

We had three activities for the kiddos.  1) a very commercialized Batman jumpy {a compromise on my part} 2) "Power" Colors, which were Superman and Batman coloring sheets.  I even found Batman markers and 3) "Super" Capes, we had a variety of 4 different colored capes for the kids to choose from, lots of felt pattern designs to choose from {stars, lighting bolts, ovals, bats, and crests}, and "Wham"! glue to attach them with. Much fun was had by all!

And our menu was pretty suuuper too.  We had "Hero" sandwiches, Yum! Yogurt, Boom! Berries, POP! Corn, and Power Punch.  All situated in front of a Skyline fit for any superhero.  Jack wanted giant Batman and Superman cutouts that he spotted at the party store so we compromised on the skyline with his figurines protecting the city and food.

The only slight dilemma we ran into was whether he was going to attend his party as Batman or Superman.  Jack went back and forth for several weeks leading up to party day.  All was resolved when I found someone to make a reversible cape on Etsy.  Two superhero tees and a reversible cape and the birthday boy was able to have several costume changes throughout his party.  I actually loved how he knew right when it was time to become the other superhero {and it happened more than once}  An amazing little mind filled with an incredible imagination!

So as you know, party days are such a big deal at my house that I can never choose just a few pictures to share the celebration.  So today you get two for one.  I'm going to start you with a slideshow and then share some of my favorite pictures.  Lucky you!  This is what happens when you live with a Superhero...super memories!

And the prelude...

Happy Birthday to my Super Jack!  It's hard to believe that 5 years have passed since you came into my world with a POW! BAM! and BOOM! {literally}. You definitely have changed my life in countless ways and I can't imagine it without you.  Your energy, imagination, whit, and truly good heart have made my world a better place.  Five is a big step into the big boy world and as {very} hard as it is to let you grow up, it's so amazing at the same time.  Don't forget how much we love you as you save the world one bad guy at a time!  All my love, my little monkey, all my love!

View all

Get your own

We woke Jack up with our traditional video camera in his face and Happy Birthday tune.  First time it's been on party day too.  This hero was excited to be 5 and ready to go celebrate!

Jack went up to the club pre-party with me to help set up {an hour and a half early to be exact}.  He was so anxious for the party to get started, but so patient at the same time.  He sat here at the "Power Colors" and very carefully designed a perfect Batman.  He only took a break to watch the bounce house be blown up.  Wow! He is really growing up and patience is slowly coming with it...I am so proud of him.

Our Suuuper spread fit for any hero.

As he is with most things, Jack was also very particular about his cupcake.  He wanted a chocolate cupcake with a  Batman topper and a Batman candy.  I had to take special care in making sure that there were 5 blue and yellow candles on this one to reserve it just for the birthday boy.

Happy Birthday to Jack {and Sophia}!

Our Super 5 year old with his Super proud parents!

  {and thanks Tanya for making sure I actually looked felt cute on this special day XOXO}

Easter Weekend

What an "Egg"cellent weekend I had with my two favorite bunnies.  This weekend was hoppin' from Friday to Saturday with Easter festivities.  This Momma bunny was seriously worn out by Sunday evening {but aren't I every evening these days?}. And only to find myself Monday morning on the countdown to a Suuuppper party to celebrate my almost 5 year old.  Hmmm...maybe I can rest in May. {and you know I can't ever resist the play on words and Easter just lends itself to so many;}

Friday

Love, love, loved this Easter party hosted by the Zimmermans on Friday.  And for several reasons...1) there was so much to do--easter egg dying, decorating, bunny art, a pseudo egg hunt, and a picnic. 2) it was cloudy which equals precious pictures and 3) it was a wee bit chilly, which you know I normally dislike, but this time it meant my kids FINALLY got to wear their Easter tees!  Fabulous fun.  Thanks Kristen, Ansley and Landon for hosting!

Who would have thought glitter on the eggs?  Leave it to creative Kristen.  And Maggie was enjoying every messy minute.  And I enjoyed all of the precious glitter kisses that I found all over her sweet self for the remainder of the day.

And if glitter wasn't enough...glitter pens.  Another great idea.  Jack took special care in decorating his blue egg.  I think he may have been the last kids standing at the egg table.  Can you say focused? {thank goodness}

But, when all the decorating was done he did have some energy to let loose.  And you know we don't go anywhere without Batman and Superman these days.

Love all these Easter cuties....{bribed with a sweet treat}.

And Maggie definitely earned hers.  That gal sat statuesque still through the whole photo session.

Saturday

Somewhere between a morning Easter Egg Hunt at church, moving Maggie's big girl furniture into her room {you'll have to wait a while on that update--it's a work in progress}, and a trip to the grocery store, we found time to dye our own eggs...per Jack's request...I really thought Friday might have filled that need...not so.

I think Maggie may have dyed all of her eggs pink {only to be disappointed that it barely showed up}.

And 90% of Jack's eggs were blue.  Seems he's stepping out here.

Our kitchen Easter Egg shop was so much fun!  I adore having these kiddos in the kitchen with me.  Amazing memories...I'm so glad Jack insisted on it.  {and yes, that's the famous Batman tee under his apron}

Sunday

The kids woke up Easter morning to find a special treat from the Easter bunny.  Jack's favorite...the Super Friends DVD and Maggie's favorite...the pink slinky.

There was more to be found outside...Easter eggs covered our front lawn {don't ask me how that bunny got around all the construction debris--he must really love the Cibula kids}.  

Jack and Maggie had their final hunt of the season before we headed off to church in our Easter best.  It was time to celebrate the real reason for the holiday.

And I'd like to say, I'm really not this big right now.  But, apparently I am.  However, in my defense, you could remove about 2 yards of excess fabric from that dress.  So please focus on my precious family, that's what I am trying to do anyway;)  This is all worth it, right?

Happy Easter to you and your little bunnies!

Legoland

We braved the new Legoland today.  And braved is a legitimate description. For one,  I took my freshly potty trained Mags far from home to public bathrooms.  And two, this hopping place just opened and it's spring break this week.  We are talking about a *very* popular place.

I can't give myself too much credit though, because I would have never attempted this if it hadn't been a birthday party for one of Jack's dear classmates.  And I kind of love the fact that we had a forced excuse to go.  Because otherwise I probably would have given it a year to let the novelty wear off before I ventured a visit.  Not to mention some poor souls were in a two hour line waiting to get in.  Yikes!

But, we did it.  The kids LOVED it and I have somehow mustered up just enough energy to blog about it before I pass out from exhaustion.

The place was actually pretty incredible.  Well, what I could see through the crowds anyway.  Inside there are two rides {literally rides}, a 4D movie theatre, several lego play stations, an indoor playground, a cafe, and a retail store.  Jack's favorite was the playground and Maggie's was the lego cupcake station.  I enjoyed the theatre that lent itself to a moment to sit.  {I know I'm pregnant, but I swear this place could wear anyone out.}  Oh, and the bathroom wasn't so bad either.  I should know because I took sprinted through a crowd with Maggie in my arms three times.  But, we came home dry.

Maggie loved finding the animals in the lego bins and lining them up.

Jack was pretty fascinated by this lego table that gyrated when you pushed the controls. {oh, and that's his Super Friends necklace that he has on...a cross between superhero and soldier...his two current loves}

The cupcake station was fit for my girl.  All pink.

Maggie became very attached to these dogs. So attached that they accidentally made it home with us.  Oops!   I vow to return them to Legoland on my next visit...in about a year. 

The lego animals in the cafe were a huge hit with my kiddos.

Jack is all about tall tall towers.  These Duplo blocks were awesome.  They were made of a thick foam and perfect for crashes.

  Jack had such lego fever after leaving that as soon as we got home he went straight to his Lego basket in the playroom.  He was a building boy for a good hour. Gotta love legos!  

Thanks Zachary for including us at your amazing party!  Happy Birthday!

Wearing Her Big Girl Panties

So if you read my last post {or even looked at it} it's pretty clear that Maggie has been potty training.  I can use the past tense loosely, because guess what?...we are done.  My Maggie IS potty trained.  Woo hoo!

I decided to take a whole new approach this second time around.  {second meaning Jack was the first}  I opted for the 3 Day Potty Training Boot Camp Program.  I couldn't do another 3 months of gradual milestones like I so patiently attempted with Jack.  No, it was time for something new.

So I read my manual twice, all 38 pages of it.  Stocked up on M & Ms, princess panties, an extra pink potty seat and filled up all of Maggie's juice cups.  Then I checked the calendar for 3 solid days that we could be home.  And that is where I ran into my first challenge.  Geez.  Who knew it would be so hard?  We must be a busy little family.  I finally came to the conclusion that it had to be Spring Break.  Happy Spring Break to my kids, huh?  While the rest of you are out beaching it we are potty training.

The first day, or let me clarify the first hour of the first day, I almost threw in the towel.  Any towel.  But, preferably one of the ones I used to clean the urine up off my floor.  Three times in a 80 minute time period, mind you.

And then God intervened.  The 4th time, which was really only a few hours into our 3 day boot camp, Maggie got it.  She said, "uh-oh and ran to the bathroom".  I squealed, hugged her, did a back flip, and then practically dumped an entire bag of M&Ms in her arms.

So, for that first day we dealt with dribble and then a run to the potty.  The dribble was tiny enough that I no longer had to use my towels, but that we still had to change princess panties.  {which gave Maggie great pleasure}.  And this is also the evening we traipsed up to our neighborhood clubhouse for the Egg Hunt.  Brave, aren't we?  But, Maggie was dong so well by 4:30 pm {ON THE FIRST DAY!} that we did and it was a dry success!

By day two, Maggie's dribbles were lessening.  Panty changes were few and farther between {which was a bit of a disappointment to her, but the M&Ms made up for it} and she was dry through her entire nap.  My girl was on a role.

Come day 3, we were pretty much golden.  I even considered braving life beyond the confines of my home, but opted not to.  Bathroom visits were still very frequent and I felt it was important to stick to the plan.

So my Maggie is officially a big girl.  She wears princess panties all day long {and for the most part the same pair}.  We do make lots of potty visits and keep a potty chair in the car {which she adores for some odd reason}.  And we are still rewarding with M&Ms {she prefers the pink ones naturally}.

And now this proud Mama sits back and wonders why I didn't do this earlier.  It was almost too easy.  I want to kiss the author of this program, but since I can't do that I've just been kissing all over my potty trained Magpie!  She is amazing!

More Eggs

We are in serious prep mode for Easter around here.  We topped our already busy weekend off with the neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday.

With it being the beginning of Spring Break for many local schools the crowd was semi-quiet.  Good news for my kids, who have deemed themselves the Easter Egg hoarders this year.  Maggie shared her "2 and Under" egg section with only a few other {very slow} toddlers.  The competition was slim this time as opposed to at her school hunt.  This made her happy.  And Jack had a small group of hunters in his "3 & 4" roped off area.  Which resulted in a very full Easter basket.  I'm sure it  didn't hurt that there is never a maximum egg rule and both of my kids were the oldest in their groups this year.

The kids had great fun {Jack had a super sweaty head to prove it}.  After collecting eggs we ate dinner on a very hot lawn and then called it an evening.  We had to get home in a hurry for our little potty training diva...more on that later!

Maggie arrived to the neighborhood Egg Hunt fully prepared...basket and sunglasses.

Who's ready to get some eggs?

But, before I let them run off I required one quick family picture.  It seems I was the only one who cared {not too mention it's proof that I am indeed pregnant}.  And yes, Jack belongs to the Cibula family not the Adams family.  Poor kid looks so washed out in that picture.  Obviously, not a framer.

Let the hunt begin....

And then it was time to sort through all of the Easter loot.  {check out Jack's basket--it was truly that full}

Did I mention Maggie was potty training?

Matthew is Two! & A Photography Lesson

Wow!  What a weekend we are having and what a week it is going to continue to be.  Get ready for lots of Cibula posts {if I can find the time}.

We jumped right out of Easter Egg Hunts at school and into a birthday party weekend {and then right back into eggs as you will soon see in a post or two}.  But right now, let's focus on Matthew's "Out of this World" 2nd celebration.  I have to admit I was a teeny bit jealous of the space theme.  I've been trying to persuade Jack to give that a whirl for a while now.  He's coming around.  Maybe next year.

Until then, Matthew's party did not disappoint.  Stars, planets, and rockets everywhere.  So much space to be had...a rocket bounce house, rocket stomp {love that game}, art tables, a giant color in rocket ship, and even balloon rockets.  My kids were all over the place, enjoying everything.  Even Maggie, who usually stays close to home, was off exploring.  Now that tells you it was a great party.

The weather was absolutely ideal.  A little overcast, but clearly obvious the rain was gone which made it ideal for fabulous pictures.  And lucky me, Matthew's Daddy is a self taught photography genius.  {I think he'll appreciate those accolades from me}  He was able to squeeze in a few tips {okay a lot of them} between bounce house duties and birthday boy's cake.  I have to extend serious props to Erin for sharing her husband with me at a birthday party.  That is not easy to do.  {Love ya EO!}

So, I left with too much knowledge {trying to sort through it all to improve my skills behind the lens, which is a forever work in progress} and my kids left with astronaut space ice cream.  Yum!  I loved that stuff when I was a kid.  It is so cool {and actually my party favor idea for Jack's space party that I'm still waiting for}.

Happy Birthday Matthew!  We had a BLAST celebrating with you! {I just can't resist all of the puns that go with space;}

Even before my impromptu photography lesson, I knew it was a great day to take pictures.  So I bribed my kids to join me outside before we left for a quick shot.  Clearly Maggie can't be bribed nor does she like her personal space tampered with.

Maggie was right in her element at the party.  She adored decorating this table with glittery star stickers and stray marker lines.  For a while there, I thought this might be where she would stay 'til the party's end.  But, she surprised me.

How great is this color in rocket?  After Jack took a tour of the inside, he and the other guests {Maggie included} did a great job of decorating the outside.

Maggie even made up her own space party game...collect all of the rocket table decor and count them.

And what space party isn't complete without a moonwalk? Space themed?  Definitely a hit with Jack.

And this is Rocket Stomp.  We love this at our house.  It has become my go to birthday present for the boy's in Jack's class this year.  So much fun!

I couldn't resist squeezing this picture in there.  Gotta love when big brother is as excited about your birthday as you are.  Welcome to Planet Earth Martian Nate!

And the Birthday Boy...Matthew!  Could he get any cuter?  And look at his adorable tee.  Love that he put glitter star stickers on his cupcake...yum!

And for some reason, my kids always seem to think they need to reenact their own 1st birthday at every party we go to.  It is time for some serious cupcake manners lessons at my house.