it's almost time!

My lucky healthy pregnancy streak came to an screeching halt on Friday when my doctor put me on bed rest. The diagnosis: Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure). I had this with the Redhead but it started at 34 weeks and here we are at 37 weeks, so that is much better! My blood pressure has hovered near or around 140/90 which is high, so they want me to rest in hopes that it will keep it lower and keep the baby in a little longer. My mom came in on Sunday evening and plans on staying until... I go tomorrow to see if any progress has been made on the dilation front (pray that it has) and if my blood pressure is good, they will let me continue on bedrest. However, if the blood pressure is higher, we could be inducing on Friday and having a baby! ACK!!!! I think I'm ready. Actually, we ARE ready, especially since the size of the baby has been estimated to be at least 7 1/2 lbs. Please Lord, let this child be under 9 lbs. Hopefully the next post will be one that contains the name, birth info, and pics of little Baby "Homer". Stay tuned!

the waiting game

Four and a half more weeks to go!

We can't wait to meet you Baby Homer!

(almost) wordless wednesday

My "baby" boy on his first day of preschool. Of course the trip to school would not be complete without his best friend "Bear Bear" and a matchbox car in tow (they were not allowed in).


BTW, he loved it.


So did I.

coming up for air

We're still here, just a smidgen busy though. 60 days to go before the big arrival and as if that isn't enough, we've decided to put our house on the market in hopes to make a step up to more room (and rooms). No showings yet, but some interest, so we're crossing our fingers and praying that we will be able to sell it and avoid the 6% realtor commission. Between doctor's visits, playdates, MOPS gearing back up, Wesley getting ready for preschool, getting the house ready for showings, making time to nap, etc., I just haven't had much desire to blog. I'll probably be a bit more sporadic since life is only going to get busier, but I'll be around. There will MOST DEFINITELY be pics of the new arrival, don't worry your pretty little heads about that one. But I'll probably check back in before that happens!

See you around!

Caroline

cheap summer thrill

A while back while looking for fun activities to do around the house, Wesley and I came up with this.

Materials Needed:
* toddler/preschooler
* slick floor (we still have linoleum but hardwood would work as well)
* one adult to do all the work

(the whining you heard at the end of the video was simply
due to the fact that he didn't want the spinning to stop)

**No preschoolers or pregnant mothers were harmed in the making of this video.

in wesley's words

Hey! It's me, Wesley (a.k.a. The Redhead). I hijacked mommy's blog while she was drinking her coffee and watching Noggin those other channels I didn't know our TV had. And since she hasn't updated her blog in forever, I decided I would take matters into my own hands.

Mommy has been pretty busy lately. Last week, my Nano came and played with me while mommy cleaned the house like a crazy lady. For some reason, mommy feels like the house needs to be purged and cleaned before October. The only thing I know that's happening in October is that I'll be 3...and something something about a new baby. Whatever.

I'm getting a big boy bed soon! Daddy has been working like crazy on the bed he slept in when he was a kid, sanding and re-staining it for me to sleep in. I'm excited that now when I wake up at the crack of dawn, I'll be able to climb out of bed and go wake up Mommy and Daddy.

Daddy also gave me a great new haircut. Here's a picture...



I started out being excited about this new haircut...until I felt the hair falling on my arms and neck. After that, it was on. Mommy says it's not her favorite haircut, but darn if it isn't cooler in all this heat. She also says its just hair and it will grow back.

About this baby thing...I know there's a baby in Mommy's tummy. We call it Baby Homer. I got to feel Baby Homer kicking Mommy the other day. It was pretty cool, but I wonder...does that hurt Mommy? I get in big trouble when I kick her, but she thinks its fun when Baby Homer does. BTW, I think Baby Homer is a little sister, even though Mommy and Daddy don't know if the baby is a boy or girl. I'm going to be a GREAT big brother. I'll show the baby how to use the potty, jump up and down, run fast, and I might even share my cheese with him/her.

Okay, my hands are getting tired from all this typing. And Super Why is about to come on PBS so I gotta go. I'll tell Mommy to update this blog more often.

See You Later!

Wesley

reality vs. fantasy

Sometimes I have unrealistic expectations.

For instance, I envision that my kitchen looks like this...

(courtesy of HGTV)


when it really looks more like this.





And I think that my bedroom should more closely resemble this...



(also courtesy of HGTV)



when it actually looks like this hot mess...



(We won't actually discuss how many days the clothes were
transferred from the floor to the bed before they were finally folded.
After all, there's no need to judge.)



And oooooh how I would love for my living room to look like this


(courtesy of HGTV)

instead of the conglomeration of furniture, preschool toys, and stray dog hairs that it is.


But, you know what?

If I spent all my life making my house look like those pictures above, there wouldn't be any time for things like putting together this fabulous train track.

And I wouldn't get to see my redhead so happy.

I think I like reality better.

the great outdoors

This summer we have been enjoying some good ole outdoor fun. We've played in the sprinkler, taken walks (when the humidity is bearable for this pregnant mama), and discovered numerous creatures great and small to "play" with.

Among the most favorites of the Redhead include the common bumblebee. He loves to chase them and offer them clover. I have tried over and over to explain that we can't play with bees because they sting (we don't know if he is allergic or not), but it has obviously had little to no effect. So far, no stings, but the summer isn't over yet.

Another favorite of the Redhead are earthworms. We dig them up and put them in his big plastic dumptruck which he then pushes around the yard. Despite the torture I'm sure the worms are suffering, it is quite a hilarious sight. For a child who sometimes doesn't like his hands to be dirty, he doesn't seem to mind handling worms and other bugs.

Our yard is a virtual animal kingdom. We've spotted owls, hawks, all sorts of birds, squirrels, possums, and racoons just to name a few. One evening as I was washing dishes, I noticed something moving slowly across the backyard. We all went outside and found a rather large snapping turtle moving through the grass toward the creek. The Redhead wanted me to pick it up, but we decided not to bother it (for the benefit of all parties involved).

the snail discovered on Nano and Papa's driveway

When we're not worming around, turtle watching, or snail searching, we might be found doing this...

It's called trying to stay cool in the humid Carolina summer.

a new word from the lord

Last night at dinner, Mr. Baseball and I were talking with the Redhead about what he's been learning at Vacation Bible School this week. Here's how the conversation went...

RH: (something something something) Moses.

Me: Are you learning about Moses at Crocodile Dock?

RH: Yes.

Me: Did you talk about Moses and the Burning Bush?

RH: Yes.

Me: Did you talk about Moses and the Red Sea?

RH: No. God whisper to Moses...FUPRISE (surprise)!!!

Me and Mr. Baseball: (Laughing hysterically!)



I love the mind of a 2 1/2 year old. I really have no idea where these things come from but they are absolutely hysterical. Yes, God does surprise us sometimes. It could be through a burning bush, or it could be through a precious redhead who is like a little sponge when it comes to learning new things.

giddy with glee

My inner nerd is going to be unleashed in this post.


And its all because of this...





I dig this new show. Being the music lover that I am, I was all in a tizzy when the pilot aired following the American Idol Finale. Mr. Baseball may have tried to communicate with me in the hour I was watching, but I don't remember. I completely ignored him (sorry babe!).

It makes me sad my high school didn't have a glee club. I totally would have been a part of it.

Just watch the clip and tell me you didn't like it. Go ahead. I dare you.

And if you love 80's music, you better watch it. You won't regret it.

a new sister

GOTCHA!!!


You thought I was talking about the baby didn't you? (We had our big ultrasound on May 29th).


Mr. Baseball and I decided not to find out the sex of our precious little one in the slow cooker, so you can either be bitter like someone who reads my blog (and shall remain nameless), or just go with it, be happy with us, and be completely surprised come October 24th. Thankyouverymuch.


Actually, I have a new sister(in-law). My little brother Daniel got hitched on Sunday, May 31st outside at a Botanical Garden near Charlotte. The wedding was beautiful (and hot) and very sweet.



Something that was not so beautiful was the Redhead's meltdown that he had when Mr. Baseball tried to take him to the bathroom. I guess I should mention that he has a terrible fear of public bathrooms, he always has. It has something to do with the echoeyness (a new made up word) of it all. He always asks if the toilet has a "nice quiet flush" and will begin to shake violently if they flush automatically or if they're just loud in general. Usually, I just firmly tell him he has to go potty and we somehow make it through. I guess the Redhead thought Daddy would be softer than mean old mommy. Needless to say, I could hear the screams of protest as I rounded the corner of the hallway where the bathroom was located. Eventually everything came out okay once Daddy took him to the travel potty in the car, but he was ruined for the afternoon after that incident. It was naptime, so he was tired, hot, hungry, and in a strange environment with lots of people he didn't know. Only one thing could make it better...

that would be "Nano".

See? No meltdown. Not exactly a happy face, but content nonetheless. Everyone should have a "Nano". We love her. We also love "Papa", who comes with our "Nano", but we didn't get a good picture of him with the Redhead.

Anyway, congratulations Daniel and Jamie! We're so happy for you as you start your married life together.

phriday photo: look-a-like

Upon first glance of this picture there's only one thing that comes to mind besides the fact that this is the cutest child on the face of the earth...

Its quite possible he belongs in this line-up...





Clearly he's destined for fame...or at least a starring role in Vegas imitating actors.

a reminder and the "ing" factor

Many of my posts these days have been birthed from things the Redhead has said or done. After all, I do spend most of my waking hours with him. The latest things he has done and said have sent me into hysterics - who knew 2 1/2 could be so incredibly funny!

It's hard to say who he gets his sense of humor from. The other evening while Mr. Baseball was flipping channels we came across Grease. Great movie...but not one of Mr. Baseball's faves. He said (and I quote), "I don't know why you like movies like this. Ones like Grease and Lipstick..." I shot him this weird look and started laughing hysterically once I realized he had meant "Hairspray". Oh well, to a man I guess cosmetics are all the same. But I digress...

The other day I sent Mr. Baseball to Wal-Mart to pick up some items and as he was leaving I leaned out the storm door and shouted..."Adam, get some bread please." Then the next day as Mr. Baseball was leaving to take something back to a neighbor, Redhead leaned out the storm door and shouted..."Hey Adam, get some bread please!" I thought I would literally wet my pants laughing.

Other cute redheaded moments have included words ending in "-ing". This is what I shall refer to as the "-ing" factor. Many times I have said things to Redhead like..."when you're done napping..." or "when you finish eating...". He has taken this to a more creative level, adding "ing" to words as he deems it necessary. For instance...

1) We were at church dropping something off and had to wait a few minutes. As I am strapping him back into his carseat when we're done he says..."Mommy...all done churching?"

2) Playing at the park is one of his favorite things to do. Recently we visited a park we'd never been to before and after he'd had his fill he sweetly told me..."Mommy, all done parking."

3) My favorite happened the other day when I was making coffee and he wanted me to play cars with him. I told him that I was making coffee and I would be there in a minute. His response was..."Mommy, all done coffee-ing pway cars?". Priceless.


How could a mom not love this?

The Redhead - one day prior to his first birthday.

the stuff of life

We've been a bit absent from the bloggysphere lately, but its all for good reasons.

I've been pampering my only child while he's still the only child, taking him to numerous parks, to the zoo, and just spending a lot of time outside in general. Its been therapeutic for both of us.

Before I get to the cute pics of my little man, I feel the need to update on the pregnancy. Things are still going well - we're almost 17 weeks (and almost halfway there!). I think I have felt the baby move, but its very sporadic. May 29th is the big day when we get to find out if Baby Homer is a boy or girl. Last doctor's visit, the heartbeat was 162 bpm which is indicative of a girl, but we'll see. Every time I ask the Redhead if he wants a baby brother or sister he always says sister. I hope he's not too disappointed if it is a boy!

Now, on to the good stuff. Yesterday we spent the day with my sister, Sarah and Baby Jack (who is now 5 weeks old!). Of course I didn't get a picture of my sister and I...we were too busy snapping pics and video of this precious moment.

No, he wasn't shoving the car up Jack's nose,
he was just showing Baby Jack his "Jeep" (a little too closely)


Following this little bit of family time, Sarah and I, along with the kiddos, headed over to a local strawberry farm to pick some berries.




The Redhead appears to be all into strawberry picking in these pictures. His excitement however was short-lived. I guess he's not one for repetitive activity (aside from playing cars). He did pick a few berries, but I'll take credit for filling our basket thankyouverymuch.

I've already made a strawberry pie and look forward to eating that and more of these red "dewishous strawberries" (as the Redhead would say).

oh boy...

** WARNING - the following post contains discussion about and two year old and a certain male body part. Read at your own risk.




Kids say the darndest things.

On the potty the other night, the Redhead noticed that his 5th appendage had sprung to attention. He then got all excited about the fact that he could actually move it up and down after he peed. I stifled my laughter and called Mr. Baseball in to see. He, of course was most proud of this discovery.

I thought nothing else of this.

That afternoon we were at Big Lots shopping for bunk beds when the Redhead spies something out the front windows. Across the parking lot he saw some of the rides from a traveling fair moving up and down and said (in a voice loud enough for others to hear), "Mommy, ride go up down like penis.!" Mortified, I crouched by his side and gently reminded him that "...we only talk about our penis at home."

The next day, my mom, sister, and Baby Jack were visiting. I had run out to grab some Chick-Fil-A and while I was gone, another discussion regarding this body part ensued. My sister was sitting on the couch talking on the phone while moving her foot up and down. The redhead comments with enthusiasm to his "Nano" that "Aunt Sarah's foot moving up down like penis!" Keep in mind that "Nano" is in the dark about the discovery of the previous day. I did fill her in over lunch and she and my sister thought this was just about the funniest thing they had heard.

The Redhead was following the rules and talking about his business at home, but I had to be a little more specific and say that "...we only talk about our penis with mommy and daddy."

Isn't this starting a bit too early?

Tomorrow he'll probably ask me where babies come from. I need to be ready.