Jolly Green Giant

Today's outfit is...

The Jolly Green Giant.  Yep, he saw a can of corn in our food storage and wanted to be "that green guy."  He's even posing just like he is on the can.

One Down, Eleven to Go!

Devin finished his first class in his masters program!  He even earned an A!  I'm so proud of all his hard work for our family.  He's got two jobs, is working on his masters, and is a fantastic husband and daddy on top of it!  He's really busy, but is so great at everything he does!  Now he only have 11 more classes to go! Ha!

This year Devin gets to teach the preparatory AP geometry classes!  This is fabulous news because the students are more motivated and mature than the freshman in algebra, like he taught last year.

more mature and motivated students = less babysitting = less stress and frustration + more teaching time! = happy Devin = happy wife = happy family!

Make sense?

Even though Devin is the most qualified math teacher at the high school (besides the department head), he was worried the principal would give the position to a different teacher, or even worse, a new hire.  But, he got it!  We were both so excited!

They're Back

The 4 toenails I lost from the marathon are finally all grown back and looking normal again!  (It only took like 6 months.)  I like them painted, so I'm glad I can finally do it again.  Time for a pedicure!

Moving

First, we aren't moving.  I was just thinking about moving because a few of my friends are moving.  They are moving to new houses, in new neighborhoods, in new towns, and one even in a new state.  I don't want to move out of state.  Both my parents and Devin's parents (and most of both our families) are in the valley so for now, it's where we want to be too.  I am just hungry for some change.  Maybe I shouldn't say it out loud because it might happen!

I was telling Devin my thoughts and he said he doesn't like moving.  Mostly because of the actual moving of boxes and furniture part.  But, I feel like I have moved quite a few times.  I like the change when it is a choice.  I have never moved out of necessity.  It has always been a choice for me (or my family) and I think it would be sad and hard if it wasn't chosen.  It's exciting to be in a new place, with new people, and a new house.  My kids aren't in school yet so they wouldn't have to be switching schools.  I think it would be harder to move it that were the case.  I believe the experience, good or bad, is what you make it, even if moving wasn't a choice.  (Like most (if not all) situations in life!)

One thing I learned from moving is that there are good people everywhere.  Each time I have been sad to leave friends behind, but been excited to make new friends.  And, moving shows you who your true friends are.  Everyone's lives are busy and relationships take effort.  In many cases you, or your friend, might decide (not intentionally, but still...) the friendship isn't worth the effort just because it might take a little more effort now.  If you can stay in contact without living near each other anymore, that's what I think real friends are.  I have loved everywhere I have lived.  I have made friendships that have changed my life and have been very hard and sad to leave (and see go).  

I have helped a few families move in the past year and it makes me itch for a move for our family too.  It's hard to explain.  I am perfectly happy where we are.  I love our house.  It fits us perfectly and we have done lots of things to it to make it our own.  Plus, Devin has a great job with a 10 minute commute so it's not like I want to move somewhere dramatically different.  Maybe just a few (like 20) minutes closer to the freeway, and stores and restaurants, or something like that.  But, it's not like we can just sell our house and move if we want to.  So for now, we're staying put.  

Gag

18 weeks, yea!  I feel like I can't hide it anymore.  Not that I really ever tried to hide it, but it didn't really look like a baby belly until now.  It looked like the, "Oh, she gained 10 pounds" belly.  But now, I think it has rounded out to look more like there's a baby inside there.  It still might not be totally obvious to people who don't know me, but I feel like it's obvious.

I've tried to eat healthy my whole life.  I limit the junk and don't drink soda, except an occasional Coke or Pepsi.  But with this pregnancy, it has been so hard!  I've mentioned it before, but it has been so much worse lately.

Take yesterday for example.  I was doing some cleaning and the kids were playing really nicely so I didn't want to stop.  But, I was getting really hungry, like to the point of almost being shaky, so I knew I needed to eat something.  Jaxon asked for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich so I decided that's what I'd eat too.  As I sat down and took the first bite, I gagged.  I spit it out, told myself to stop and just eat.  I was starving and needed to eat.  I tried for a second bite, but gagged again.  It drives me crazy!  I just want to eat for Pete's sake!  I try to mentally prepare myself (because I believe that the mind has so much power over the body) and control the gagging, but I can't!  It's not working!

A few minutes ago I tried eating a banana, but couldn't choke it down.  I opened the fridge and freezer to find something.  I spotted the Rocky Road.  That went down just fine!  And, I scarfed down Barros pizza and wings without a hitch a few nights ago.  What's the deal?  Why do I gag on the healthy stuff and crave the junk?  It's totally not my usual diet and I don't feel good when I eat junk.  (I'm usually fine with fruits...peaches, grapes, berries.  Usually it's the veggies I been having trouble with.)  My poor little baby is going to be lacking healthy vitamins and minerals!  I was so good at eating healthy with Jaxon and Henry.

Also, I am in desperate need of exercise!  I need those endorphins.  My body was so used to high does of natural feel good chemicals before I got pregnant, so now, I am so moody!  I get annoyed for no reason and then I get annoyed at myself for being annoyed!  I get impatient with Jaxon and his 4,597 outfits he likes to wear in a day.  I get in bad moods for no reason.  Sometimes, I get sassy with Devin (well, that's not that abnormal).  What's abnormal about it is I do it when he's just trying to be helpful.  I don't like it.  I was not a crazy person with my other pregnancies.  This one is really different.

Any helpful suggestions?  Any at all?

That's Sensitive

I found a scrap of paper in my nightstand yesterday.  I had written down what Devin said right after we found out we were pregnant.

"These escapades are over.  Now we need money."

I'm sure I responded with something like, "Thanks.  We just found out we are having another baby and you are worried about the bedroom escapades?  And money?  That's really sensitive."

But when I reread it, I laughed.  That's totally something Devin would say.

I'm Sweaty

Jaxon wore his Harry Potter outfit in the car the other day.  He pulled the plastic sun shade off the window, kinda wadded it up, and put it on his head to be Harry's black hair.  Within a few minutes he was asleep so Devin and I figured we better get that plastic off his head so he wouldn't get too hot.  When we pulled it off, his head was dripping with sweat.  He opened his eyes for a second and said, "I'm sweaty" then went right back to sleep.  It was hilarious.  He was definitely sweaty!  You can see it on his forehead and his wet hair.  He gets so carried away with his outfits!

On that same car ride, we stopped at the store and since Jaxon was asleep I stayed in the car with the kids while Devin ran inside.  Henry asked, "Daddy go?"  I told him Daddy went into the store and would be right back.  He asked, "Get food?"  I said, "Yep, he's gonna get some food."  "Chocate?!" he asked.  "Yep, Daddy is buying chocolate."  It's pretty funny that of all the food he knows, his first guess was that Daddy was getting chocolate!

Stop Worrying

The boys were watching the previews before Finding Nemo started and Henry kept asking, "Nemo?  Nemo?  Nemo?"

Jaxon must have been tired of it because he said, "Yes, Nemo's coming.  Stop worrying about it."

And at Granny's house, Jaxon wrote his name with the spaghetti noodles.  

They are so fun together (most of the time).  They do fight, but usually play so well together.  It will be interesting to add another to the mix!

What's Been Going On...

Well, not much.  We had a nice weekend getting errands done and things around the house, nothing too exciting.  But spending the time together was really nice.

Devin officially starts teaching again tomorrow.  He was back at work last week, but the kids didn't start yet.  And I am watching daycare kids again.  I had a nice break, but am actually a little glad to have the work again.  I'm sure I'll be tired of it soon enough.

Along with teaching, Devin has night classes Monday and Wednesday, and works Tuesday and Thursday nights.  So, he is back to being really busy!  And I'm back to making dinner, cleaning up, and bathing the kids by myself every night.  I know lots of moms do this, but for me, I love it when Devin is able to help with dinner and bedtime.  By the end of the day it is such a relief to have his help.  But, he is working hard in school and I want him to be there so I gotta do what I gotta do!

I can feel the baby move now!  It's really light, but I know for sure it's the baby.  And we picked a name.  It was going to Graham, but when we found out for sure it was a boy, I just felt like that name didn't fit.  I can't really explain why.  I really love the name, but for some reason, it's not the right name for this baby.  I think we are going to name him Oliver.  Devin and I both really like it.  We've never even considered that name before, but it just came up one day after we found out he was a he.  That's kind of what it was like when we picked Henry's name.  We never talked about it before, but when we first said it, we both loved it!  So, Oliver Something Miller...we haven't decided on the middle name for sure yet...

Weekend at the Cabin

We were going to go to Kanab for the 4th of July (my favorite place for the 4th), but didn't make it because of all the events with the baby.  Since we missed that opportunity, we really had an itch to get out of town.  This weekend was Devin's last weekend before the new school year starts so we decided we better go since it will be our last chance to go anywhere for a while.  We went up to our family cabin.  It was so fabulous!  Here are some of our adventures:

Fossil Creek Ranch Goat Farm.  They had goat cheese, yogurt, and delicious fudge!  The boys were so cute petting the goats.

One day back at the cabin, it was rainy so we enjoyed the smells and sounds while we sat on the deck.

Well, Devin and I sat while the boys ran in the rain singing, "Rain, rain, rain..."

Pic courtesy of Jaxon

Two little cuties

I love the chubby little profile

Concentrating on the popped balloon

Got that handsome smile!

Henry wanted his picture taken as soon as he saw me taking a picture of Jaxon.

Henry wants to be just like Jaxon and do everything he does.

Another posed cheese

The little stink face.  Henry does this when he tells us no.

Mommy trying to get a kiss.

Henry found a Barbie in the toy box.  He wanted her clothes off and when we got them off, he was excited and said, "Nakie!  Nakie!"  I guess if he's going to play with Barbies, at least he likes them naked!  He loves to dance and wanted to make the Barbie dance.  As he started moving her legs (along with his hips) he accidently pulled one of her legs off.  He was concerned and it was so funny to watch him try to put her leg back on!

The boys also went fishing, but didn't have any luck:(  Jaxon went and when Henry woke up and found out that Daddy was fishing without him, he was sad.  

It was such a great weekend of family, friends, relaxing, great weather, and cute little boys!

Follow Up

The doc says the "blob" is smaller!  Yea!  So, this means my body is absorbing it and it should eventually be gone.  He predicts it will take a few weeks.  I still need to take it easy and no exercise:( and minimal lifting.  It is still there, so there is still some concern, but it is a positive sign that it is decreasing in size.  Devin and I definitely feel so blessed and are hopeful to see it go away completely!

Discovery

I made a discovery yesterday...

Though I can't FEEL the baby move yet, if I lay on my back with my head and shoulders propped up, and watch my stomach, I can SEE the baby move.  It's pretty strange to see it moving and not feel a thing.  Of course the movements are small, but definitely noticeable.

Tomorrow I go for a follow up ultrasound to see if things are getting better or worse.  I'm trying to think positive.  Devin says to trust my intuition, but honestly, I don't have any certain feeling either way.  I hope we will know a little better after the appointment tomorrow.

Bedtime Song

The other night we put Jaxon to bed and a few minutes later, I heard his little voice calling my name.  I went in to see what he wanted and he said, "Mommy, I want you to sing a song to me."  It was just adorable:)

Addict

The other day I couldn't hear Henry.  I'm sure all my fellow mothers know that silence from children (unless they are sleeping) is usually a cause for worry.  They like to be quiet when they are getting into something.  So, I went to look for him and this is what I found:

He went into his room, closed the door, and got the binki out of his crib, and sat down in front of the mirror and enjoyed some alone time.  He is only allowed to have the binki at nap time and bed time so he was sneaky about it.  He is so funny and cute!  I just love this kid so much.

Oh, and the other day Devin and I left the boys in the toy room with some paper and markers so they could color while we finished getting ready.  When we came out, Henry had drawn all over his legs with green marker.  Devin asked him, "What is on you legs?"  Henry said, "Ummm... feet!"  It was so cute because it was like he was stalling to come up with something good, and then he actually had a funny answer!  After we were done laughing Devin asked, "Henry, what is on your feet?"  Same thought process--he responded with, "Toes!"  I guess he's pretty smart, huh?

Haircut

It was time for haircuts again but I had to get a pic of this cute boy first...

15 Weeks

A little bigger belly...

Not feeling great all the time, but better than I used to.  I'm so thankful for all Devin has done to help me lately.  

It's A...

Boy!

We'll have three little boys running around our house!

Honestly, I was hoping for a girl and kinda thought it was, but after all the scares, I feel like it doesn't matter.  I'm just hoping for a healthy baby!  We're so excited!