Cook Out At The Cottage

We hosted our annual cook out this past weekend. Is it still okay to call it annual if this is really only the second time we've done it? The first year Jack was only 5 months old and so were most of his buddies. We called it "BBQ, Babies, and Boccie Ball". Last year, we had just moved and we tried. We really did. But, by the time we got the evite out, most people had plans. And to be honest, I was kind of overwhelmed with the move anyway. So we opted out and here we are this year.

My, my, how have the "once babies" have grown. Most are in their second year, some older and we've even added a couple of younger siblings and friends. Of course, the title of our shindig has quickly changed. I couldn't think of anything catchy with the word "toddler", so I went for "Cook Out at the Cottage". I like to call my house a cottage, because of the style and feel of it. (And this is for Clay...NO, not because I think it's small!!) That really bothers Clay--he thinks of size and I think of style.

Regardless the 'Cook Out at the Cottage' was a great time. I like to consider it my last "hurrah" before our world gets rocked over here (a.k.a Maggies' arrival). Of course, being the hostess, I was running around like crazy...getting more food from the fridge, changing J's diaper, showing off M's half done nursery, feeding & cleaning J, controlling my feisty dog, and making sure everyone was enjoying themselves. I didn't get to engage in as many convos as I would have liked. But, just having everyone here made me happy.

So here are a lot of pictures until next year, when we add another to the brood, (or maybe more than that...wink, wink), and I'm not saying who, but I have a couple suspicions...

An obviously engaging conversation that I missed out on while I was running around playing hostess. (and look at Jack..caught in the act throwing something--hmm, I just noticed that!)

The Toole family...the newest addition, Thomas, who will be a year in October. He missed Babies and BBQ two years ago.

Wesley Kate, the little Bubble Queen. And how sweet is that precious outfit? I can't wait to do that to Maggie!

This is what I get now when I tell Jack that I would like to take his picture...an over animated little ham! (at least he doesn't run,huh?)

Look at the sweet girls playing in their dresses. Meanwhile Jack was somewhere covered in sand, sweat, dirt, and dinner.

Jack and Sophia are truly like brother and sister. When it's good-it's really good and when it's bad, well, you know. This was a good sharing moment.

Nate the Great debating that sand box. Hmm...is the mess worth it?

High School Buddies...okay, Allison made me swear not to use this picture. But, come on, I'm the one huge, exhausted, and hideous looking. Anyone should be thrilled to take a picture next to me!

The Grill Master. His specialty...burgers, dogs, and brats.

Dessert time. Kristen brought the cupcakes, she obviously does not have a toddler yet. They were a hit with the 2 year old crowd...and a GIANT mess!

Jack and Ansley took turns seeing who could make a bigger mess and then laughing hysterically over it.

A couple of Daddies and a game of Boccie Ball. Note Patterson hanging in the wings...he wanted to play with the big boys soooo bad!

Jack liked practicing being a big bro. He is magnet to babies these days. Which is a pleasant surprise, but also makes me a nervous wreck and the little one's mommies too, I'm sure.

Yes, we did manage this. Our secret...bribe them with Jelly Beans. I was literally able to take about 15 of these before the tots got restless. Of course, there was not one pic where everyone was looking, but hey, they sat still. That's pretty impressive. And when it was over, they bombarded me and the jelly beans.

Maggie's Birth Date

It's official...we've set Maggie's date of arrival. The wonderful day we welcome her into the world will be....

November 9th, 2009

11/9/09

It's the closest day to her original due date that Dr. C would let me go. I suppose 4 days early isn't too bad.

However, I have a feeling she is going to be a tiny little thing. I haven't gained any weight since my last visit--that was absolutely unheard of during Jack's pregnancy! And, I measured 3o weeks at my appointment today and tomorrow I am suppose to be 31 weeks...hmm. Dr. C doesn't seem to think anything of it. But, I can't help but wonder how I could from a 9 pounder to this. I suppose it is appropriate for our baby girl to be more petite than J was. It all remains to be seen on November 9th...maybe she's fooling us all.

So please mark your calendars for a hospital visit, if you can manage. Lord knows, we will be there 3 long days at least. I really don't want Maggie's "Who Came to Visit Me At the Hospital" page of her baby book to be empty just because she is our second!

Three's A Charm

Here I am 30 weeks pregnant and nicely into the third trimester. Taking a picture of my pregnant self, much less posting it on the blog, is against everything I believe in. However, I feel it's only fair to Maggie that she get to see that, 'yes, I did indeed carry her for 9 months'. Because other than this picture, there won't be much tangible proof.

It's hard to believe that we really only have 9 weeks before we meet our new precious baby girl-- (don't forget I get that C-section a week early, which I get to schedule this Thursday!) I can honestly say that, 'I am so in love with her already'. Something about preparing for a baby girl, or maybe it's just a baby, makes you fall in love. I visualize her in the pink layettes I've purchased, I see her sleeping in her pink room on her pink sheets, and I imagine Jack loving all over her. I know she belongs with us and I just can't wait for her to arrive and complete our family...and I really hope she likes pink;)

Unfortunately, I do have moments were I imagine how tired I am going to be for the next several months. And I catch myself hearing that ear piercing scream that Jack was so good at. And I also stress about 'how am I going to do all of this?'. It all comes with the territory, I suppose. This time I'm definitely not looking through rose-tinted glasses while waiting for her arrival. I know it's going to be hard, but I also know she will be worth every minute of it. Jack sure was and still is. (remind me of that after her arrival as needed please)

So, what's 30 weeks like? Well, I'm exhausted...a lot of the time. I've hit that peak where I just don't sleep well at night. I'm either uncomfortable, completely wired, thirsty, my sinuses are acting up, or I have to go the bathroom. Not to mention, she is a mover. I'm telling you this baby never sleeps. I can constantly feel her rumbling around, which does not make for a good sleeping environment for me. I must wake up 4-5 times a night easily. I guess it's natures little way of preparing you for what's ahead. Although, I don't really see why I need the preparation considering this is my second??

Believe it or not, I still get bouts of nausea. I have to be very careful about what I eat--no Mexican, pizza, tomato sauce, BBQ, pork, bananas, and I'm sure there is much more that I could turn my nose up at. And that pre-natal vitamin gets me 75% of the time...yuck! However, it is still primarily at night and thankfully not every night. Again, she's worth it.

No swelling this time, which is a complete miracle. If anyone saw me with Jack, you know exactly what I'm talking about. It was a hideous sight. Which makes me wonder how am I gaining the same exact number of lbs this time...hmmm? And on top of that, I don't eat nearly as much as I did with J. I'm guessing she will be a lot smaller than Jack was, I hope not, but most likely she will. I think I'm going to have a lot of excess lbs to shed after this pregnancy.

I've been preparing like crazy for Maggie's November arrival. So far I have....

* family help scheduled one week at a time for the month of November up until Thanksgiving

* hired help from December until needed (look, we have NO family in town & I have a toddler, plus I'll have C-section recovery to deal with)

*(we) bought a small deep freeze for the basement, which I plan on filling up

* scheduled her newborn photography session

* bought her clothing, toiletries, diapers, bibs, burp cloths, etc

* cleaned all of the baby equipment, i.e. the swing, the bumbo, the activity center, etc.

*bought most of Jack's Fall/Winter attire because who knows when I will make it out to a store again

*had Jack and Maggie's "first meeting" outfits made

*registered at the hospital

*and worked endless hours on her nursery, which I hope the "drama" that has occurred with that is not a sign of what's to come with a little girl (pictures pending completion:)

And I still have a lot on my To Do List. Like...

*fill out the beginning of her Baby Book

*wash and install the car seat

*make room in the kitchen cabinets for bottles, etc.

*complete her nursery

*buy Christmas gifts--I know that sounds crazy, but I usually Christmas shop in November, which obviously will not be happening this year, considering I can't even drive for 4 weeks after my C-section, and then there is NO WAY that I can complete it in December, the stores will be a zoo, I may not get it shipped in time if I go online, and I will be exhausted--So I've decided to do it in October and I have declared it a "Gift Card" Christmas (minus Jack, of course) I'm going to try to get to every one's favorite stores to make it a little more thoughtful...it's the best I can do this year. Next year I will be back in business.

*buy our clothes for her newborn pictures

*schedule to have the carpets cleaned

*pack hospital bags

*and a million other things that I'm sure will come up between now and then

So that's what 30 weeks looks like so far....very busy, exhausting, and exciting. I'm sure similar to what her arrival will be like also!

Stay tuned....Maggie's Birth Date to be announced soon!!

In Training

We are in training around here....

obviously potty training. We actually have been for several months. Just the v..e..r..y slow motion kind.

In April, we got Jack an Elmo potty seat and Elmo's Potty DVD for his birthday. He took one look at it and was off to more important things. We played the DVD and within 7 minutes he asked us to "turn it off". We sat him on the potty and he screamed. 'Okay', we thought, 'he is obviously not ready for this'.

I left things alone for quite a while. I mentioned here and there that I or Daddy were off to use the big potty. If I saw a big kid heading to the potty, I nonchalantly pointed it out to Jack. But, nothing more. Then one day, out of no where, in June he asked to watch his "potty DBD". And that followed shortly after with asking to "sit Elmo potty". We then began consistently putting Jack on the potty before bath time. Many nights he just sat there and after 2 very short minutes he would declare, "not working". "Okay, we'll try again later", we would tell him.

By July, Jack was consistently pee peeing on the potty every night before bath. Woo hoo! A step in the right direction. We added potty break before nap. And before we knew it he was consistent with that one too. Now, keep in mind he was still in diapers all day.

And so that brings me to August. We have continued the two potty breaks a day...one before nap and one before bedtime. And we even randomly ask at other times of the day, (if we are home). But, the most exciting addition is the introduction to big boy undies. After nap, we head to the potty, strip our diaper off, and then gallop to his room to choose the big boy underwear of the evening. From here on out to bath time, every hour on the hour we are up to our Elmo potty seat. And he pretty much pee pees each time. Don't get me wrong we have had our fair share of accidents. It usually starts with a little tinkle and then Jack informing me of what's happening. I say, "wait lets go the the potty!". He holds it while we run to the bathroom and then completes his duty with Elmo. Of course, bed time we are back to a diaper.

So, as you can see, we have come a long way, but still have a VERY long way to go. He has NEVER had a #2 on the potty, and we are no where close to going to undies all day. Part of the problem is we are out and about every morning between school, music, and gym classes.

I guess my main agenda for this posting is to solicit any advice. I realize very few people really care about our Potty Training adventures. But, I need you to see where we are so you can possibly guide me on where to go next. I'm wondering what September should bring?, should I try Pull Ups? (I'm really unclear about that concept), and what to do about the A.M. when we aren't home?

It looks like we will be 'In Training' this fall too. I'll keep you posted...I know you will be on the edge of your seats....Elmo seat that is.