friday recap + the new house

Our weekend was a full one, but a fun one.  We got up early on Saturday to head to Joplin.  We wanted to get some things done before meeting up with the cousins and my mom for a last swimming trip to Schifferdeker pool.  The boys were so good while we ran around looking at carpet samples and thrift stores.  The we had a picnic lunch at the church before putting them down there for naps.  Apparently Amos didn't sleep because he was "too excited about swimming."  We'd only been to this pool once before, but Amos and Daddy loved the slides.  This time, Silas even got in on some slide action.  But his favorite part (and mine too!) was the lazy river.

All of Sunday was spent in Joplin, too!  As we had church, went out to lunch with a bunch of friends and napped at the church.  Looked at more carpet samples and made it back to the church for an encouraging family meeting.

We were back to the usual on Monday as Dad had to go back to work, but that didn't last long because due to the pushed back start date for the high school, he only had to work Monday and Thursday.  On Tuesday, we thought it would be fun to bike to the park.  We'd done that several times before, but didn't account for the change in the weather.  Let's just say we didn't stay at the park long.

On Wednesday, we loaded up again to head to Joplin (do you see a pattern?).  Our plan was to help Daddy in his new room, and spend the night at our friends house in order to save a trip there and back again on Thursday.  The boys found lots of fun things to do.

But the best was the "inja turtle" headbands.  How does my son know about Ninja Turtles?

I'm not sure how helpful we were, but we had fun scoping out Dad's cool, new room.  Now we will know where he goes everyday.

We got to spend some time with the Eden's both Wednesday night a Thursday morning.  Scout and Amos are hitting the age where they are able to do some actual playing together.  Silas kinda runs around after them and Rhuey watches with a smile.  She'll be at it soon.

Dad was off again today, so we've taken it pretty easy and not left the house.  We're gearing up for another busy weekend, but we finally have an end in site.  Our closing date is one week from today and we'll get to call this place home.

More pictures to come.  I hope to have some sweet before and after pictures as we are painting every inch of the inside of this place.  Plus pulling up a lot of carpet and putting new stuff down.  Anybody want to help?

friday recap

Our first full week of Dad being back to work started off with a BANG! Literally!

Amos decided to pull down the shower curtain on himself.  He immediately starting crying and flaying under the shower curtain.  I responded like any loving mother and told him, "You're fine.  Come on and get up."  He quickly responded, "I'm not fine."  That's when I saw the blood running down his face!!

After being examined by Nurse Gramps, we decided it wasn't deep enough for stitches, but he might be left with a little scar.  Funny story, Dad has a scar right under his eye, so now they can be twinkies.

The other thing that livened up our week was the introduction of Legos!  Amos found them under the bed and brought them out.  He refers to them as Man Legos and is ready to play them all the time.  We all have gotten in some lego playing.

Hours and hours of fun!

Jason had some late evenings, but he still had time for some outside playing after getting home.  This pregnant Mom is a bit of a pansy when it comes to heat.

Being at my parents house has helped our adjustment to Daddy going back to work.  The last two years have been a little harder on us, but it helps having Uncle Joe and Gramps in and out throughout the day.  We're not so "on our own."

The boys have down such a great job with the transition and in the car.  They have been really content to just sing to the music, playing with car toys and watch out the window.  That has definitely made the commute bearable!

the third trimester

Well, I've made it to the third trimester.  Other than these last two weeks, this pregnancy has gone by very fast for me.  I think we've just had a lot going on.  And come Sept. 5th, things will start to pick back up drastically.  That's the day we are closing on our new house, hopefully.  Then it will be a race to feel settled by the time this baby makes his or her appearance.

Week 27 Stats:

How big is baby: rutabaga??

Maternity clothes:  Definitely.  I can't wait for some cooler weather!  I picked up some awesome maternity jeans and can't wait to start wearing them.  Plus, I love getting to hide a little under layers.  Bring on the sweaters.

Sleep:  My mom's got a sweet memory foam mattress topper on our mattress at her house!  It has been wonderful for my hips.  I am sleeping so much better at this point in pregnancy than I did with the other two.  I'm wondering if it would be worth it to buy one for our mattress for the last two months.

Best moment this week:  Silas talking to the baby in my belly and then the baby in Daddy's belly!  He has no clue, but it's pretty sweet.

Movement:  Oh yeah!  Of course, always when I go to lay down.  I keep trying to catch it so Amos can feel the baby, but no luck yet.  He's not willing to wait around too long.

Food craving:  We've been eating at all our favorite Kansas places since being back.  Snow cones, donut and Mexican.  I don't know if that counts as cravings, but it sure has been tasty. 

Food aversions: I'm starting to get some heartburn mainly in the evenings, so I try not to eat too much then.

Gender: Still don't know.  We're on track to being completely surprised come November.

Labor signs: No actual labor signs, but I've been having a lot more tightening cramps then I did with the other two.  I guess my body's just practicing.

What I miss:  Energy.  It's starting to go.  Bring on the daily naps.

What I'm not loving:  My side pain is back.  I don't know what it is about my body, but once the baby gets a certain side it starts pressing on some nerve right under my right rib.  Luckily it's one of the those things that goes away right after birth.

What I'm looking forward to:  Being settled in our new house!  

What I'm loving:  All the movement, a constant reminder that baby's in there.

Milestones:  We did the glucose test this week.  Haven't heard if I passed yet, but not too worried about it.  We'll see.

goodbye to summer

I've reached the final stage of summer!  The "how am I going to survive once Jason returns to school" phase.  I knew it was coming, so I wanted to fully appreciate the last week with Dad.  We spent almost every day this week doing something fun in the morning and relaxing in the evenings.

A close town has a free zoo and very neat park.  We started the week by going there for the morning.

The day started with a ouchie in the parking lot, but after that we were good to go.

 Monkey island!  Daddy's favorite.

 The donkey may have been one of the boys favorite.  We even got a hee-haw out of him.

 Watching the bald eagle.  "Just like at Daddy's work."

 Feeding the ducks and the swan.  The park was so nice and empty.  We got to take our time wherever we went.

The park also included a kiddyland.  It was fun to remember playing on all the same equipment as a kid.

 My crocodile tamers.

The rest of the week we filled our time with days at the park and playing ball.  We definitely ate up all our time with Dad.  And I really tried to appreciate every time Jason took the boys outside to play while I made food or cleaned it up!  I knew soon it would be a thing of the past.

It wasn't quite the summer we were expecting, but it was still a good one!  Just like the candy Dad brought home before dinner.  I made him take that sucker away from Silas.

kansas life

After our exciting week of fun, we took a more laid back approach to our second week in Kansas.  We spent most of the time hanging out with my family and getting some projects done.  Everybody got a hair cut.  Some of us needed it more than others!

On Thursday, we packed up the CR-V and headed to Lebanon, via Joplin.  Our day in Joplin was filled with time with friends.  We did lunch, naps and dinner.  That evening we made the rest of the trip to Lebanon.

We had a blast with our family.  Lots and lots of playing.  The mornings were so nice and mainly spent like this.

Papa treated everyone to a special surprise.

 Definitely hit the spot.

aw...summer!

So we went into the summer thinking it would be VERY laid back, filled with all the fun things we'd been waiting for summer to do.  Then our house went under contract on June 1st and that all flew out the window.  We were able to squeeze some fun things in here and there, but for the most part, we were either hunting for a new house or fixing our old house up to be sold.  Now that we are homeless, we have been officially on vacation and living it up!

It helped that Josie and Priscilla were also at Grammy and Gramps house.  It was a week long sleepover.  We started at the pool.  Si even enjoyed himself.

The next two days were beautiful park days.

 What a handsome little boy!

 Look at this brave guy!  He loved the twisty slide!

 Where's Cilla??? Doing her own thing, of course!

 The tongue's out so you know he's working hard.

We wanted to squeeze in one more Silver Dollar City day before summer was officially over.  Our plan was to wait for a cooler day, which just happened to be this past Saturday.

We woke up early, loaded up and picked up donuts for the road.

 We finally made it to Silver Dollar City and we're EXCITED about it.

 First stop, the All Rides.  Luckily the wait wasn't too bad.  We either got on right away or waited through one round of rides.

 Si and I waiting while Daddy and Amos rode the Big Boy rides.

 If you look closely, you can see my brave boy on the big swings.  He said he wasn't scared at all.

 And we finally rode the train.  Amos thought the cowboy stick-up was pretty hilarious.

 And we finally made it over to the kid's play area for lots of fun!  I'm sure Amos will be asking to go back to the Ball area.  It was a hit for both the boys.

We didn't close the park down, but we were worn out.  Silas fell asleep walking back to the car and then woke up for the rest of the ride home.  Amos luckily got in a bit of a nap, but we were all tired last night.

Not tired enough to skip out on the lake today.  Amos couldn't believe that we were going to the lake too!  I think he fully appreciated the whole week.  After a week of packing, he was ready for a week of fun.

Again, what a handsome boy.  How did he got so BIG.

 Yeah, I'm feel pretty lucky that these two are mine.

 This is one of the the things these two most look forward to down at the lake.  Driving the boat with Gramps!

 Can't wait until Silas smiles on command!  I was holding them both while watching Daddy ride the wakeboard.  Aww!  What a good day.