2 Year check up

Yesterday was Carson's 2 year check up with the doctor. The doc was surprised at how much he is talking and understanding what we say. It was funny, she was asking if he says yes and no, then asked him if she could look in his ears and he clearly told her no, then asked me to put his shirt on because he was cold. She was very surprised to hear all that. Carson is still in the 20-25 %tile for his hight and weight. The good news is that he is proportioned, the bad news is that we think he got my short genes, instead of daddy's tall ones. Poor guy, I hope he hits a growth spurt soon to catch up. Not much else to make note of. Carson did very well with his one and only shot and had no side affects, other than a few tears when it was given.

My other Valentine

This may not seem like much, but it just shows how far my little guy has come this school year! This is the first time I have seen him write his name correctly, from left to right. Being a lefty, he normally writes his name from right to left. Also, this is the first time he has written something other than his name. He was copying from where my mom had written out the I Love You to help him. I am just excited that he is writing and he wants to write. Colten is learning so much this year.

**I'm 1/2 way through my "personal" novel. So far Tony and I are just talking and dancing around even starting a relationship. Jenny, you would love the fact that you are the cook and barmaid in "my" saloon, and you are interested in a poker player named Jensen. I'll keep you posted on how it turns out:)

Quite an outing

Today we went to the Hands On Children's Museum in downtown. Since I had the day off and it was Carson's birthday, I decided to try out the place with both my kids. The museum is a collection of rooms with different themes, filled with toys for role playing and pretending. It was perfect for both boys. Carson really enjoyed the construction room, complete with a small dump truck and rocks to load up in it.

The next room had a waterflow table with all sorts of pieces to create channels and dam up the water. Even better was the boats and fish to watch flow downstream. I couldn't get Colten out of the water. He loved it and fussed about leaving it.

Next to the water table (notice the wet shirt!) there was a play boat complete with engine room, bells, intercoms, and all things nautical. It even had a complete little galley where Carson made me lunch.

Carson really enjoyed the toy bus, complete with swing out stop sign.

Colten joined Carson to help drive the bus. This area had a garden area and market with produce, boxed goods, bakery, and meat department. It even had baskets for shopping and real play money and cashiers for the kids to buy things.

Colten really liked the hospital, complete with x-rays, ambulance to drive, and even a dentist office with a real dental chair.

Even though we got to the museum when it opened, it was packed the two hours we were there. Preschool groups came in and there were lots of parents groups. Of course there were lots of pregnant women and babies. Surprisingly, I was ok with the bellies, once I noticed them. Maybe it was because they were complete strangers, but I didn't obsess over it or get really uncomfortable. It could also be that I was too busy chasing after my 2 boys to really worry about it.

We are heading to Wenatchee tomorrow morning, so I'd better get packing quick.

My Dear Valentine

My darling husband gave me my Valentine's day early. This man really knows me! I love to read, just about any book will do, but I prefer romance novels. Smutty or nice, I don't care, but I prefer a good story line.

My husband got me a book, a romance novel, but a very special one. It has Tony and I as the main characters! The book is called "Western Rendezvous", (Tony chose the western theme) and the summary reads:
"Emily is the savvy, stunning saloon owner who, on the advice of her best friend, Jenny, dares to give love one more chance. When Tony rides into town on the rails of the new railroad, his smile steals our heroine's heart-but his holster is loaded with a secret that could blast away her livelihood! Can Emily trust a man who may ultimately destroy her? Will Tony choose business or pleasure before his secret is revealed?"

I'm looking forward to the "...holster loading secret." That part will be interesting. I think it is a great gift and I will cherish it forever. Now I'm off to find my man a present worthy of his.

Hating my body right now

There are days I seriously hate being a woman. I spend 5-6 at the beginning of a cycle bleeding, 2-3 days feeling ok, 3-4 days with sore boobs, cramps, bloating, and then some serious ovulation pains. After that is the nausea, more sore boobs, bloating, and sleeplessness. Then back to bleeding again. Throughout all this is scattered the emotional lows and highs, crying bouts, frustration with my husband, and disappointments. All this, and I'm not even pregnant! Some days I wonder why I bother.

Gotta love neighbors!

When you live on 5 acre parcels you don't know your neighbors very well. We have gotten to know the people we bought our lot over the last four years. They live in the development and are a short hike up the hill. We've gone to each other's house for dinner and say hi regularly. It is nice because the two youngest kids are close to Colten's age. The kids and Colten LOVE to play together.
These neighbors just recently started going to our church. They have invited Colten up for afternoons to play before, but now, since Colten and the younger kids are in the same class together at church, they have invited Colten to ride home with them and play for the afternoon! Not once, but now twice!!
It is nice to have time to get things done without interruptions from Colten. I love hanging out with my boys, but since Colten doesn't nap it makes nap time really interesting at our house. I'm hoping they can wear him out before sending him home later.
I was worried about Colten going to play in nice clothes, but they offered to have him change into some of their old clothes to play outside! I love having nice neighbors with kids! Colten loves it too!

Today was another first for me. It's been four months since losing Taylor, and for the first time I was able to go through a service without crying my eyes out! I did tear up once looking at the very pregnant gal sitting near some friends, but the tears didn't fall. The healing is happening, just not the way I thought it would.

A party for the almost 2!

We had a birthday party for Carson yesterday. He doesn't turn 2 until Friday, but we wanted to celebrate with my brother and his girlfriend before they leave for Alabama tomorrow. It was a great party; spaghetti dinner with family. Carson is really into Nemo right now. His card, presents, and cake were all Nemo. Here he is opening a box of Nemo treats.

Grandma also got him some Cars books too.

The cousins got him a light up space gun. Between the swirly lights and strange noises it is the new favorite in the house.

Carson may only be 2, but no one needs to show him how to shoot things!

We practiced blowing out candles to get ready for this. ** Notice: the cake has a picture of Nemo on it. Thanks mom for the great cake.

Last year Carson was so worn out that he didn't even eat his cake. This year he is savoring the gooey chocolate.

The evidence!

That is the damage. It doesn't look too bad after Tony got the red paint rubbed off. It did crack the paint near the tail light, so of course we are going to spend too much money to get that fixed.

oops!

Darling husband, I honestly did look behind me while backing out of the garage this morning. I didn't mean to back my car into the newly fixed Jeep and leave a red streak on it's side from my mirror! I know you are upset, but please know that I am upset at myself for making sure I didn't run into the bushes instead of watching where the jeep was parked. Please don't be mad for long, and forgive me. It was only a mistake.

Finally fixed

we got the jeep back today, and the clicking noise is gone! Even better, it was all covered under the warranty and so we paid $0! Too bad it took a week to get it fixed. I'm happy to have my little car back now. Life is better not driving my dad's truck.

16W 5D

Taylor has been gone exactly the amount of time she was with me. It is amazing how fast the past four months have gone. They haven't been easy, that's for sure. Thinking back, I barely remember being pregnant. I remember feelings and events that happened while I was pregnant, but I don't remember that feeling, the one of joy and flutters as the baby moves. I only had one short week of that back in Sept. before things went wrong. I remember feeling sick each time I ate, and how tired and impatient I was. I only wish I could feel that again.

If things hadn't gone wrong, I would be 36 weeks now. I would be deep into getting things ready and having Braxton-Hicks. I wouldn't be able to sleep from heartburn and I'd be worrying over getting everything ready for the arrival. But I'm not.

So I sit at home and remember what it was like to be pregnant, to feel on top of the world, like I've got the secret to life feeling that only an expectant mom can have. I want to feel it again, soon. Will I be to scared next time to enjoy that feeling though, or will I be too worried to live in that moment and enjoy all of it? I can only hope so.