Falalala and all that stuff

I have a few minutes since we are apparently snowed in. There is a whopping half an inch of snow out there but the locals are losing their minds. Granted, the roads do get icy since most of the freeways and highways are well above ground, but still, seriously people? The roads out of town are closed, the military base is closed, all public offices are closed, and Jared is home for a 4 day. We are hunkering down to stay away from the crazy people out there on the roads and will venture out tomorrow to get some fresh air.

As a family update, we are just chilliing. I finished my baking last week so that I could make sure the soldiers in Jared's office had noms before they all left for break. I also made gifts for Kayla's teachers even though she didnt get to go back to school the last week. Kid was still sick. I would have sent her if it wasnt a holiday, but I could not stand the thought of any of those kids getting sick for Christmas. The presents have all been purchased, and half of them are wrapped. We are waiting on one more shipment from Walmart that should be here today (if the Fedex guy can manage to drive on wet roads) and we will be set. We are planning an expensive but super tasty Christmas dinner event with our besties the Reynoso family. We will be missing one who is in the sandbox right now, but we will take lots of pics so that he can celebrate vicariously. I just need to get stuff to send out in his box, I really suck at remembering to do that stuff ahead of time.

Jared has been enjoying half days this week. He comes home right in time for lunch which is so nice for the kids. Normally, he comes home during their one hour crazy monkey time right before and after dinner. So now he gets to see that his kids are actually normal little monkeys most of the time. Unfortunately for him though, he caught our colds. So he is dealing with that, but he can take medication so I dont feel too bad for him. The girls and I still cannot take anything, they are too little and I am too prego.

So me, I am 26 weeks todayish. Boyo is kicking away in there. His favorite spot is definitely my bladder. He also likes to spin so that his feet face my spine and then push off so that his little back arches out of my belly. It is pretty dang uncomfortable, enough to make a tear or two slip out. But I really cannot complain because this pregnancy has been such a breeze compared to the girls. I am only waddling after a long day, and I am still pretty active. My house is clean, my kids and myself are clean, so I am satisfied!

Kayla has been sniffly since about two weeks ago. I am sure it is the inability to go outside, but hoping that will change next week. Its too cold here right now to go outside so I have to wait until the weather warms up a bit. It does average 50 degrees here in the winter so we can actually go to a park in December. Anyways, Kayla has already moved on to asking for things for next Christmas. I told her that if she really wanted the toy she was begging for, then I would take back one of her presents to get it for her. So she decided she could ask for it next year. Of course she forgets immediately after asking for it. This week I had her bag up all of her stuffed animals other than 10 of them and the ones that she had been given as a gift from family. I have a problem with buying cuddly animals for the kids and I have had to stop. I filled a 30 gallon bag full of animals that the kids had never played with. EVER. Some were from my childhood, that still had tags on them. Maddie got to keep hers other than a couple that she said 'scared her'. We donated them to the Junior Enlisted Family center so that some little kids could hopefully have a warm snuggly for Christmas. I was proud of Kayla for not fighting it once she knew what we were doing with them.

Madison is in the full throws of terrible twos. When she gets going it is like a full on explosion that nothing can stop. Her freakouts always happen when she doesnt get exactly what she wants immediately. Since I dont cater to whims, only needs, she freaks out often. It breaks my heart to see her meltdown and not be able to calm her. The events are happening less and less, so I hope that she is getting it. Last night we went to Olive Garden to spend some Christmas money we had been given. Madison normally is a nightmare at dinner. Last night she was so good! She served herself some of the salad, and then ATE IT. She actually willingly ate salad. I grabbed a pepperoncini out of her hands right before she ate that, but I was quite happy seeing her eat green stuff. She even tried calamari. I tell you, that it was one of the best restaurant meals we have had in a long time. Olive Garden is the only place around here that can manage to cook seafood right. Other than leaving the tails on the shrimp that is. Red Lobster always has chewy seafood. EW.

So that is about it. We are just going through the motions, impatiently waiting for Christmas day. I have actually been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from my family. It seems that as the years progress I hear from them more and more. I need to be better at reciprocating, and I plan on starting this in the new year as Kayla learns to write thank you notes. I got a couple packages that brought tears to my over-emotional eyes, just because of the knowledge that this family member thought of my family. I hope as the years go by I get better at this whole 'adult' thing and now that I am done having kids I can focus on remembering the little things, like Christmas cards, and pictures and stuff. We are also planning on heading home for Christmas next year. I have decided that I am done missing my family over the holidays, so if we are still here, we will head back home. I love being around my friends, but they have their families to go to, and its just not the same as being surrounded by siblings, and grandparents, and cousins. So here is to hoping that it doesnt snow anywhere next year so we can drive home!

I hope all of our friends have a fantastic Christmas and a Wonderful Hanukkah (I know it is day 4 already, I am late) And to all my lovely family and friends that are prego as well, enjoy some hot cider since we cannot have the eggnog! Love you all!

Check out the adorable blanket I was given!

Maria added a sleeping monkey. LOVE!

Maddie serving herself salad

She is actually eating and enjoying it!

Tis the Season!

Ok update time! I guess since I am bedresting it for a bit, I may as well blog. I am actually really bored and its annoying. I am currently sick again, really sick. Walking around in a complete fog while my head feels like it is a balloon rapidly filling with air sick. This would be really bad if my kids were not also sick. They are both lounging in the living room watching cartoons, while curled up under pillows and blankets. Kayla was sent home sick with a fever of 102 yesterday. I think she will be ready to go back tomorrow as the fever did not last, but we will see. I do not want to get any other little kids sick over the holidays. She has her school Christmas program tonight that she will be missing out on. It breaks my heart because we have been working so hard on helping her memorize her song for it. School rules, no interaction with other kids until her fever has been gone for 24 hours. While I know that it has been by about now, I am not going to push it.

So for us, we attended Jared's company holiday party last weekend. It was held at the local VFW. We were told it was non-smoking, that they had a bunch of activities for the kids, and that we needed a dessert and a white elephant gift. Oh yeah, its mandatory. Mandatory fun time. We got all dressed up in our finest and headed up. Well, apparently, the no smoking laws do not apply to this VFW. We were there, so we decided to stick it out for a bit. The smoke was horrible. Constantly filling the side room we were in. There was also no kid activities. My little ones ran around like monkeys the whole time while Jared and I kept watching the clock, hoping the smoke didnt affect myself or Kayla's asthma. Dinner finally was served and I was one of the first to get my white elephant gift. I picked up Maddie and we spent the rest of the time in the car watching Beauty and the Beast. It was so nice to see people from the unit, but I was so scared for my health at that point that I couldnt stand it. the food was good though, especially the pecan pie. I could have eaten the whole thing myself. It was store bought! Anyways, Madison fell asleep in the car and Jared and Kayla finally came out around 9 PM. Our friend had given Kayla her white elephant gift. It was a game where you shove some playdough like substance in a dog mouth and squeeze it's leash until it poops it out. Seriously. It poops. And the kids love it like candy. I got a Costco sized container of Starbucks hot cocoa, and Jared got a toilet shaped coffee mug. I would say we made off pretty well. We would have had a really good time if it hadnt been for my fear of the cigarette smoke. Next year, hopefully they have it somewhere else.

We also had a church party on Saturday night. We all seemed pretty healthy so Jared and I made 4 dozen rolls and a bunch more cookies for co-worker and teacher's gifts. Our rolls were gone in 10 minutes, so I guess they were good. What a change this party was! NO SMOKE! It was great food as well, and it was nice to see everyone. We werent very social, but I didnt want to walk around much due to some super fat feet and hands. I mostly sat with my feet on a chair and people came by to say hi. They had a cute Christmas program with a Santa that I believe had a german accent. I do not know who it was, but the kids were happy.  We left when Madison started to act like she didnt feel well. She was getting watery eyes and sneezing. Yikes.

I woke up the next morning feeling yucky. Madison was coughing as well. So sad. Looks like the cigarette smoke had an effect after all. At this point, Jared is still healthy. I really hope he stays that way. He is going to have to finish the baking!

Jared has recently come back from a trip to Fort Knox, KY for some school he attended. I know that I should remember what school, but he goes to so many I lose track. That week sucked, because I was sick then too. Oh right, this part is supposed to be about him. Hrm, oh yeah ok. Jared was tasked with giving out a APFT to soldiers attempting to get their CIB. (I know, a bunch of Army acronyms, but I dont feel like typing it all out, its not really important anyways, just that it was a test to check the physical fitness of the soldiers) He had to be at work at 3 AM. He survived it, came home around 1 PM after a grocery run. Then he handled the kids and me, cleaned the kitchen and made homemade turkey soup for us. It was so nice to just sleep for several hours without having to worry about anything. Go Super Dad!

I think I am as updated  as I can be. I am 24 weeks along and CJ is dancing in my belly. Unless Kayla is trying to feel him kick. I am taking things a little easier due to some very, very minor bleeding a couple weeks ago. Apparently I do too much activity and need to slow down and definitely not carry Maddie around. That morning I had done a ton of laundry, and mopped and scrubbed down my kitchen. I can see where I may have overdone it as my kitchen floor is huge and pushing that mop around and straining to get every last piece of dried on grease off my stove could have caused my problem. I have had nothing since so I am just doing what I can and letting things go more. It definitely shows. I think I need a maid and a nanny for Christmas!

Kayla is doing well in school still. She comes home with new information daily. I cannot believe she is able to read already. We picked up some early reader books for her for Christmas, at the suggestion of her teacher, and we will be working on some simple reading over the holidays, if her books get here in time. She is getting a major independent streak that I am trying to squash. She is learning consequences of her actions and is learning that her actions have an effect on others as well. She is actually getting a conscience finally! It breaks my heart when she starts crying, (when she realizes she hurt someone else's feelings) but I know that it is progress to teaching her right from wrong, and I am glad she can actually feel something for someone other than herself. Now, if only I can get her to stop lying...

Maddie is still my little terror. she has broken 3 ornaments already. The first was an accident, the second was when she wanted to see if they bounced on the tile, and the third was when she dropped a barbie on the tree from up in the loft. Sigh. We are going to get rid of these ornaments and buy some plastic ones in the after holiday sale. We will have plastic until CJ is old enough to leave them alone. I am ready for a change anyway. She is napping more which makes me happy.

Well, that is it for now! Have a fabulous Christmas and Hanukah and Kwanzaa and all the other wonderful holidays all my dear friends celebrate! Love you all :)

Making cookies together

Maddie getting her first hair cut. It didnt go very well.

Happy to make cookies! You can really see how bad her haircut came out

I made these! Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting and a peppermint stick for decoration.

Maddie in her Christmas dress

I love Kayla's smile here. I wish I had a good pic of her in her dress, she looks adorable.

Look Santa, I have shoes!

Giving Thanks!

I guess I should get at least one post in this month. I have not been doing very well at this blogging thing, but at least I try right? Life is slowly moving along. Kayla is still loving school, Maddie is still loving being rambunctious, I am still prego, and Jared is still doing the Hooah thing. Its a pretty dang good life if I say so myself! We had a very quiet Thanksgiving dinner with just our little family. I prepped everything I could the day before, and Jared and I finished everything else up on Turkey morning. Jared kept commenting that it was the easiest going Turkey day we have ever had. It was probably because we cooked in our PJ's and didnt have to worry about pleasing anyone but us. The kids ate everything we put in front of them and Kayla kept commenting on how delicious everything was. She refused to try the sweet potatoes but she ate the green fluff jello without a complaint. They had two helpings of pumpkin pie as well. It made me think of our first Turkey day together, spending it in Colorado Springs with the Doty's. they are living in the Philippines now, its crazy how much life has changed in those short 6 years.

Jared recently played in a turkey day football tournament with his company. He scored a couple touchdowns, and then couldnt walk for three days. It was quite entertaining. I saw some pics but I cant figure out how to steal them from the brigade so I will have to wait until Jared gets copies to post a couple. He had fun though, and that is all that matters. Jared is going to a bunch of different classes right now. Most of it is here locally, but he is spending a week in Fort Knox, which is highly inconvenient. I cannot say its tough, but its annoying. Luckily he wont have another trip until March, which he had better get out of or I am going on strike. No way will I be 37 weeks prego and here alone with the two monsters. UH UH, NO WAY. Mama bear will get up in Sir's face and lay some smack down. Yeah. So um...anyways.

As for me, I am 22 weeks along now. and the best news of all, we are having a BOY! Miracle of miracles, we can produce males. I knew it was a boy all along, but as I told everyone else, I was too scared to hope. He is healthy and was happily showing off for the sonogram. We spent the afternoon goofing off and celebrating in our own way. Basically, that meant going out for lunch and spending money on the kid's winter wardrobes. I learned that Texas Red Lobster's just cannot serve decent seafood. So we will add another restaurant to the list of 'Dont Eat At's' here. So other than that, I am hanging in there, praying for my friends and family members who have recently announced their pregnancies. My energy level is doing well, but there just arent enough hours in the day to get everything done, especially when I feel like I am ignoring my kids. Oh, and as of today, I have noticed myself WADDLING. If it looks like a duck, and waddles like a duck...

Kayla is loving her preschool. It may cost us a fortune, but it is producing results that we had never expected. She walked in the house counting by tens the other day. She is learning addition and she is learning how to read and spell. The way they teach is so different from the way I learned and she is thriving there. We got to go to the Thanksgiving Feast for her class. We all brought food and watched the kids tear around the classroom while we ate and gabbed. Jared got to come which was a huge treat for Kayla, we usually have to switch off on school stuff. It was fun to get to know some other moms. One actually was surprised when she found out I was prego. I wear fairly tight fitting shirts so I laughed and told her that I was not normally carrying a basketball in front of me. I think I embarrassed her, but I sadly dont really feel too bad. So, Kayla, right. Ummmm, Other than school, Kayla has been a big help for me here at home. The only complaint is that she is trying to grow up too quickly.

Madison is definitely a two year old. She is not intentionally difficult, but she is so destructive that it amazes me. I am having a hard time being around her as she is very aggressive and more often than not she hurts me as I am trying to keep her away from my tummy. She isnt trying to be aggressive, she is just having a really hard time learning that she has to be gentle around mommy. I will play games with them to keep her physcially busy and then when she is tired we will cuddle and watch a movie. She is slowly getting it, but will probably not fully understand until her brother is here. She is very independant, learning new words every day, and when she cant get her point across she just makes up her own words and babbles away. Kayla and Maddie have their own language that makes no sense to me. But, I am not going to fight it.

We set up our Christmas decorations over the weekend. It was a stressful experience as most of my ornaments are glass. I guess it is time to change that for the next few years. Jared and I both noticed that the tree just didnt seem as full and pretty this year, so maybe it is time for a change. I honestly cannot wait to have my kids old enough to leave the decorations alone. Last year we had to throw out our crystal nativity set, because of Maddie, and several other decorations. This year I put most of them back in their boxes and only put out non-breakable stuff. It makes me sad but someday I will have my own home to decorate how I want, without kids trying to eat them. I was able to get all of the Christmas shopping done over the weekend, and all of it online, and one trip to Costco. Now I just have to wait for the stuff to get here and keep the kids out of it. One quick trip for stocking stuffers and ornaments at the end of the season and we will be done. Now on to cooking Christmas dinner! We are celebrating with our good friends the Reynoso's and will be doing a mashup for foods that day. Two foodie families combined is going to be good eats.

Have a lovely Christmas season everyone!

Maddie with a haircut.

Ghosts and Goblins and Ghouls, OH MY!

Well, October has come and gone. And with it, a little more of my waistline and my sanity. My housework just does not seem to get done no matter how hard I try. It seems as soon as I catch up, that I spend a day sick or super tired and it all goes downhill again. Oh well, life will go on. My kids are alive, healthy, and happy. None of us is going without and that is the greatest blessing of all.

We recently attended a church function for a trunk or treat for the kids. It was a chili cook off and costume parade as well. I dressed the kids up and managed to get myself clean. Jared made some chili and I made some cornbread. I have learned that when you double a cornbread recipe and put it in a larger pan, it will NOT cook in a gas oven. After cooking for nearly 2 hours, it was still almost raw in the middle. We just cut around the edges and then cut the pieces in half and put them in another serving tray. Jared did not place in the cookoff but that is because they never tasted his chili. (His words, not mine!) The kids participated in some games. Kayla had her face painted by the youth and then went 'fishing' and caught some vampire teeth and a couple bracelets, which she quickly lost. The teeth are still sitting on my nightstand covered in drool. Why there? Because my room is the dumping ground of EVERYTHING. It goes there to die as I throw it out when people dont come collect their belongings. Oh, yeah, the party. Madison was watching the bean bag toss and when it was her turn, she grabbed the beanbag, walked over to the hole, placed it in, then yelled, "I DID IT! GIVE ME A TOY!" we all laughed and she was handed a little bat ring. After that we went out to trunk or treat. We found some LED batlights at the PX and plugged them into the back of the van, (yes I have a two prong plug back there, you dont?) And I strung up spider webbing all over the back entrance. Thats as fancy as I get. I handed out a Costco size bag of treats to the kids while Jared took the monsters around. They got good treats there including fresh made cotton candy by a lady dressed as cotton candy! I love the characters of these people! It was a fun evening though and the kids were worn out and so were we.

On Sunday, Kayla participated in the Primary Program at church. She had a two line speaking part that I had been shoving down her throat for about 3 weeks. I was so proud when she stood up at the pulpit, re-positioned the microphone, and spouted off her two lines perfectly! She was the only one her age that actually knew her lines without having help! I know that mainly had to do with Kayla's lack of fear in social situations. It was fun for us to see her perform a little anyways. She spent the rest of the hour goofing off and not listening, but at least she wasnt screaming I guess.

Jared is still doing the same old, same old. He has had a few more jobs added to his current list of responsibilities, but such is life in a scaling back Army. He still gets up and goes every day and usually comes home with a smile on his face so I guess things are ok. He has recently switched to evening PT and even though that means he gets home a little later, it also means that he is home in the morning and is able to take Kayla to school! That means at least $100 more in our pockets in gas money! And, I can take an extra hour in the morning to get some stuff done around here. Oh sweet winter PT!

As for me, I am slowly swelling to the size of a cantaloupe. This pregnancy has been so different in almost every way from my last two. I am rarely hungry which is super weird for me because I am usually always hungry and when I am prego, I am ravenous. I am also not gaining as much weight. At this point I have put on a little over 15 lbs so I am content. As long as the doc is happy, I am happy. That puts me right on track for hopefully having a healthy baby weight this time! We are hoping to have our ultrasound in the next few weeks. I go in for my 20 week appt next week so keep your fingers crossed that our ultrasound wont take a month to schedule! We are very anxious for the sex of this baby as at this point I have about 10 bags of girl clothes that no longer fit Madison. I would love to give them to people in need! And, well, get them the heck outta my house!

Kayla is learning at an astonishing rate. The things she knows from going to school make my head spin. Every day when I pick her up I ask her what she has learned that day and the answer is usually, "I dont renember mom!" (remember is not spelled wrong, thats just how she says it!) I was completely floored and had tears in my eyes when out of the blue last night she quoted the pledge of allegiance all by herself! I have never once said this in front of her. Jared has never looked so proud of her. I will include a video of her saying the pledge in her Halloween costume later on below. We have been trying to move her into the public school system but have hit a major snag. Our school district has TWO preschools. And they are both about 45 minutes from here. Not exactly worth our time. So until we can get a waiver approved to attend a different school district, we will continue shelling out our life savings to pay for her schooling. At least she is happy and I feel better as a mom knowing that she is learning something day to day, even if she wont tell me about it.

Madison has changed into a kid. No more baby, no more cutesy little chubby legs. Its so sad but exciting at the same time. she has gotten super tall and skinny. Her words are in full sentences now, and she is stringing them together on her own. She is constantly asking what things are called so that she can say the names on her own. I may be the only one to understand her, but thats ok. At least I get it and she is trying. She still does not understand that I have a baby in my tummy and I have had to forcefully keep her away from me as she thinks I am still a trampoline and she is very rough. It breaks my heart because she loves cuddling with me, but it only lasts a few minutes before she goes wild again and tries to use my new baby belly as a stepping stone as she climbs on top of my head.

Well, thats about it for updates. We dont have too much going on, just trying to get through the day to day right now. As an update for Halloween, the girls dressed as Cinderella and a Pirate. Can you guess who was who? If you know us at all it's no problem to figure out. Kayla's crown did not fit her massive noggin though so I put twist in jewels in her hair that I had worn for my wedding day. Just rhinestones but she felt special. We Trick or Treated through our neighborhood and that was about all I could handle even though I would have gone one more neighborhood. It worked out though because the kids didnt get any candy I would eat so I guess thats one less food I can deal with not eating.

Have a fabulous November everyone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g26rReeSWiI&feature=share (Kayla saying the pledge)

Mads wearing her new favorite hat and a sock on her hand.  Dunno.

I just love this one of her!

My 17 week baby bump!

Kayla's curls for the trunk or treat

Nutella Face!

Her first ice cream cone

crying after being denied the curling iron

Kayla all Halloweened out

Loves her other new hat!

Apparently, the RROD is the scariest thing Jared can think of.

Loving the ice cream

Kayla's pumpkin

Maddie the pirate. ARGH!

Two years old, going on 20.

Well, there really hasnt been too much going on with us lately. Just doing the daily stuff. Kayla is attending preschool daily, and its a pain in the butt for me to drive for over an hour a day to get her there and home, but it is what it is. She loves it, has been learning a ton, and she is also learning responsibility. She hasnt yet asked me to take a day off. I have thought about just going back to sleep a couple of times. It will probably be easier when Jared switches to afternoon PT so that he can take her to school in the morning. It will save me a ton on gas too.

We had a birthday this week. Madison turned two! I cannot believe my kid is two. I could have sworn she was a teenager already. She can talk, she can run, she is learning to jump, and she sings, dances, and drives me nuts. She is always smiling, especially when she is in trouble. She loves to watch movies and play with her 'Kaeeeeya'. She adores her daddy and loves to show off her clothes and hair. She gives kisses and big hugs and is always quick with a 'shorry' when anyone is feeling bad or gets hurt. She adores kids, and babies (thank goodness) and whenever I think of her I see her smiling happy face and bright blue eyes. She is full of curiosity and adventure. She has a healthy dose of mischievousness (whew, big word!) and she definitely keeps us on our toes. She loves to cuddle and will curl into my lap whenever I give her a chance. She wants to be just like her big sister and follows her everywhere. She is capable of playing by herself and her current favorite pastimes are gathering like items (cars, play food, etc) and placing them all in a row. Then picking them up and creating the row somewhere else. She cannot wait for Halloween and has been walking around the house with a plastic pumpkin saying "twickertweety!" She is always full of wonder and amazement constantly exclaiming "WOOOK MOM! COOL COOL!" She would rather tickle you than eat a candy bar.

We could not love our little girl more and no matter how crazy she drives us, she also fills our days with laughter and love. She is Kayla's best friend and our bucket full of personality. Love you Maddie!

Seconds old

First time meeting eachother

See? She had really dark hair once

1 week old

Kayla loved to watch tv while holding her baby sister

She was always a chunk

first bath at 2 weeks old

a character even at 1 month old

always happy

at her blessing about 3 months old

her 1st birthday

1st birthday at the park

This captures her personality perfectly. Courtesy of Stella Reynoso Photography