Journal vol. 2 November 30, 2012

Outside my window: Cloudy, foggy, the thermometer is inching towards 40 degrees

 

Clothing myself in: black yoga pants, purple top with purple scarf and a black cardigan

 

Around the house: There are bits of chaos everywhere 'cause I can't quite keep up with the girls playing, changing clothes and leaving little piles here and there.  It isn't too bad other that the kitchen floor that I can't stand to look at ugh.  My mom (God bless her!) cleaned it when she was here and it hasn't been cleaned since.  Its been on my list.

 

The baby: Erik is cute, cuddly and pretty low maintenance for someone that counts on you to feed, change, and do everything for him.  He's sleeping at the moment.  I wanted to post these pictures on their own for What my BABY wore today over at One Simple Mama's blog but this will have to suffice for this go round because I just haven't been able to take the time to blog more this week.

 

Erik's wearing a Gerber white longsleeve onesie topped with a Carter's monkey onesie from Gramma and gray pants with monkey socks that I neglected to get in the picture.

But I did get one with his eyes open...though he doesn't look happy about it.

 Or if you prefer what he wore Sunday for his first Packers loss...

Packers waffle weave top and shirt with Packers socks that have probably been passed on from cousins who are now in college.  Evidently these socks are timeless in the fashion world!

 The kiddos:  I've been wanting to record a few Julia 'isms for the record here...lately if she can't have what she wants she'll reply, "waah!" it sounds like a fake baby cry but just spoken not cried.  She also will come in the door greeting everyone, "Hello, hello, hello!" in a sing song voice.  It's a hoot.  She's nearly potty trained but not poopy trained.  Tips?  She's done undies on her own terms since just before Erik's birth.  Usually keeping them dry all day long with little reminder to use the bathroom as she wants to do that 'myself'.  Other than the quantity of toilet paper used, this has been working for us.  The problem is she'll ask for a diaper to poop.  Ugh.  And she's not dry at night yet but that I don't mind diapering her for. 
Katie is the epitome of a big sister.  She LOVES holding the baby.  And volunteers constantly.  She'd like  to carry him around the house but is not allowed, yet.  She seems to have adjusted really well to having a baby around.  Though she has her moments of 'normal' 4 year old sass and has been timed out a time or two. 
The biggest struggle we've had is bedtime.  It's a work in progress.

In the kitchen:  We've been blessed with bountiful baby meals! Not having to plan meals has been wonderful! And delicious!

Bringing me joy:  Baby noises, sibling love, the coming of Advent, company coming to visit and meet the baby, my gratitude journaling, and physically feeling good.

Thinking about: getting ready for Advent/Christmas.  We need to get the stockings out for St. Nick's visit next week and I need to get to the store-- preferably without the girls.  We're also hosting Snyder Christmas and I've got some plans to decorate and get some space ready for Kurt's extended family--5 siblings, in-laws, 14 cousins and us! We're pretty ready for Advent...thanks to Monica's chain and the wrapped books I worked on earlier in November.  Dug out the wreath hopefully the candles will make it till Christmas.

Pictures to share:

Welcome Baby Erik!

 

He's here!!!  And here are a few pictures from his first day with us.  I know an aunt who wanted to see some more pictures.

 

Erik Edward  11/14/12, 4:52 a.m. 9 lbs. 4.9 oz., 21 1/2 inches long

The family of five!

Big sisters!

 

Proud as can be, Dad and Katie!

My little girl.

Gramma Ann and Erik
Do you see the sticker Julia brought him?  Too, cute!

The girls and Gramma also brought him this outfit.  It went great with the John Deere bedding at the hospital! 

All is well here.  Just taking it easy and getting used to a baby in the house again.  We're adjusting.  He is a sweet thing and is determined not to stay a baby for long.  Lots of eating and sleeping makes you grow!

H Week

Here are some things from this week of H interest...

Hundreds...



Counting to a hundred with the hundreds chart! Julia thinks she's got this figured out.



99...one HUNDRED!

I promised Kate we'd count something edible for snack after nap time today...like Cheerios or goldfish.  The concept still isn't quite figured out as she said, 'I can't eat that many!  I'd be so full!'  Hehe!

 

 

Hair...

Rag rolls anyone?

Here's a picture of the curly "Shirley" (as in Temple) after hair!

Our online friend Heidi mentioned that to curb some of the whining (and in our case crying and screaming) about hair combing that she bribed her daughter with promises of curls.  Kate has recently taken to asking for curly hair like Julia for the past few months anyway and I thought...what the heck!  It has worked like a charm!  She now begs to be bathed and sits still for combing and rag rolls.  It looks awful cute when done, too!  She's loving all the attention and can't wait to show Gramma.  Thanks Heidi!

Hopscotch...

One foot...

I took the girls out this morning and we attempted to play hopscotch.  Which they LOVED!  I could only manage so much hopping at this point but that didn't seem to trouble them too much. 

Two feet...hop, hop, hop!

Heidi...
The other Heidi, my cousin, is coming to visit this weekend.  This is the H thing I've been most looking forward to the past few days.  First off, good company but also, help!  Perhaps having a babysitter in house will help things move on to Hurry to the Hospital?  Those would be H words causing me to shout-  Hip Hip Hooray!

A Trip to the National Mississippi Museum and Aquarium aka An Attempt to Walk the Baby Out

Friends of ours from Gym and Art had the great idea that since there was an extra week between our next G&A get together we could meet today at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium for the morning.  If you've never been, I must give it a big recommendation!  Come visit us and we'll go with you!  It is a must see if you're spending any time in the Dubuque Area for kids and adults alike. 

 

Anyway, I thought, I'd attempt to walk the baby out before my OB appointment this afternoon and I brought my camera!

 

Katie holding a snail in the Discovery Lab.  She was all about it!

All the kids in our group from the four families that met today waiting for me to return from the bathroom. ;-)

Katie in the piranha tank!  The current featured exhibit is one Voyage to the Amazon.  It was the first time I got to see it.  There will be a new exhibit featured beginning in March I believe.

Girls in the belly of a catfish!

H is for Hawk (it is H week here)!

IF you're still reading...my OB apt. went fine.  The baby was not walked out though I'm rather tired from the day!  I'll have to go in again next Tuesday for a stress test if baby hasn't appeared outside before then.  Now though, I'm crossing my legs til after I vote tomorrow. ;-)  I figure if I vote early I could have this child before all the results are in...the way things are sounding that might be the case if I wait a few days, too!

Goose Liver Pate

So our farmer friend butchered some geese this weekend and I made goose liver pate!  
I know...Kurt thinks it's a pregnant lady craving.  I just think it's tasty!

Halloween and the Holy Ones!

Tinkerbell and Captain Hook on Halloween- it was also Green day at the library so we got to wear our costumes.

Both Kurt and I took the girls trick or treating around one of our blocks here.  It was a great night for a walk and we got to visit with some of our neigbors and limit the houses we hit.

St. Bernadette of Lourdes and St. George ready for our All Saints' Party hosted at our home Thursday.

Here, Katie got one of me- St. Felicity.  Hopefully my labor will not be under such dramatic circumstances as hers.

Crafting up some puppets with our Moms' group for All Saints. Recognize any? 

St. George and St. George

The bigger kids at the party with their puppets- we're missing 4 kiddos from this shot but that's the best we could do.
St. Bernadette, St. Lawerence, St. Elizabeth, St. George, St. Kateri, Angel, St. Therese, St. Rose

Some of my favorite saints all in on spot for a picture!

If you haven't placed your Baby Bets you'd best do that soon! It's November!!!   ;-)

At Home Journal (vol. 1)

So, I'm sure I won't be the last to try this but a few friends have been doing some online journaling and I thought I might give it a go.  I've never been much for journaling but  sometimes it would appear especially as things continue to be busy around here that it may be the way to get a blog post out and still keep family and friends updated. We shall see...

October 30, 2012
Outside my window:  Well, its chilly!  Fall in WI is definitely here to stay.  I'm grateful for the sun and the clear blue sky especially after all the Sandy Storm news from out east.  Guess, I'm also happy enough to be land locked.

Clothing myself in: maternity jeans, black long sleeve cotton top and gray and black scarf tied in a Celtic knot. 

Around the house:  Well, the girls are in the midst of playing house and they aren't the tidiest players.  So the living room even though I've picked up things numerous times in there is cluttered, again and so is the kitchen table, the counter tops and the sink.  I've got to empty the dishwasher before Kurt gets home.  That should help somewhat...at least in the kitchen.

The baby:  I know, everyone is interested but the baby has definitely dropped and I have to go to the bathroom constantly it seems.  And this kid is certainly the most active child thus far.  Maybe it will have some sort of kicking in its future?  Yikes.  I actually got on the computer to print out an updated copy of our birth plan to bring to the clinic next week...yeah, I got side tracked.

The girls:  Have been playing really well together A LOT lately.  Mostly it is imagination play... they and their babies take on countless names identities and adventures.  Sometimes including, train trips to Grammazona (Julia's version of Arizona), bands, fire departments, dance parties, school...with names like Hannin, Mike, Kale, Totty, Lily, Ike and Nina.  They totally crack me up...of course, my identity changes, too,  usually I'm Gramma though.  Which gets confusing when they call for Mom and I'm not the Mom they want, oops!

This week is 'G week' for us...we've been talking goats and had grilled 'G'eese sandwiches for supper last night.  It is also green week at the library story hour which coincides nicely!

In the kitchen:  We've continued to process tomatoes (7 pints this weekend) and apples (still waiting in the canning kitchen...there may be a few fruit flies enjoying my procrastination) from our harvest.  I was pleasantly surprised with the quantity and quality of our late tomatoes this year.  Kurt, Dad and I picked a huge tote full for green ones before our first frost and nearly all of them in the past month have now turned a beautiful red.    I made some homemade tomato soup yesterday that was in my opinion delish!  Though it gave me terrible heartburn...

Bringing me joy:  I've not had nearly the back pain this pregnancy as the last!  My Kurt is so sweet and patient with me these days.  What blessing!  Also, the girls are so excited for Halloween- Katie, Captain Hook/pirate and Julia, Tinkerbell and the All Saints party we're hosting at our home on Thursday- Katie, St. George and Julia, St. Bernadette.  I'm handing out treats and wondering if there are any very pregnant saints I could be on Thursday without much effort...hmmm, two years ago my friend and I went as Elizabeth and Mary and acted out the Magnificat...I thought about the woman in Revelation *including wailing and moaning aloud!  But the costume is tricky for that one.  Ideas?

Thinking about: The election and upcoming birth of this baby...

Picture to share: Felt like this was out life here for awhile...just fruity!  Isn't this a pretty piece to have in the kitchen though?

Ok, best print out that birth plan and order a car seat online!  Tata!