Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

This week has been absolutely crazy. No other way to describe it. Last weekend we finished Josh's bedroom. He's happy with it and we're glad it's done. Here were the results...


Josh had been running a wicked temperature all weekend and I actually was able to capture the one time he played. He kept fluctuating between 102 and 103 degrees. I thought that the fever had finally started to break on its own on Monday and had Grandpa Larry watch him.

Monday night when Dustin brought him home he was still not himself so I came home from work early and we made a doctor's appointment with his pediatrician. We headed off to the doctor's office only to find out that the poor child had Strep Throat. I felt AWFUL! His throat was all bloody and red. I swear he only complained about a sore throat a few times all weekend. In fact he seemed to complain of an upset stomach more than a sore throat. After three years of being a mother there are days when I don't feel like I've learned a thing. Monday was another one of those days.

That brings us to Tuesday. Well, obviously we couldn't take him to daycare. So Titi was nice enough to come over and watch him for the day. Only to get a phone call from our daycare provider on Tuesday night....she was in labor. I swear when it rains it pours. So Titi came back on Wednesday, Josh went back to Larry for Thursday and Friday Grandma Toni watched him. Talk about a frenzy.

Thursday I had my doctor's appointment and ultrasound. I'll post the pictures tomorrow, but someone had his/her legs tight and crossed at the ankles so determining the sex was IMPOSSIBLE! I was so disappointed. I had looked so forward to that appointment for weeks only to leave with no answer. So as every pregnant woman does...I cried. I'll give the rest of the details with the pictures from the ultrasound.

I went to work for awhile on Saturday (tax season is here again!) and once I got off work we went to the timber to pick up the plow for Dustin's quad. We had a great time and Josh had fun playing in the snow.




There were rumors of a snowstorm for today but we had NO idea that we were going to get what actually came!! I think we have about 7 inches of snow and Josh, Mattie and Daddy had a ton of fun in the white stuff!!

We plowed out our house and then drove over to Dustin's work to plow over there. Josh and I followed him in the truck and I snapped this photo at the stop light. It was hysterical.

Then we went over and plowed out Mom and then Titi. We got home and tried to take a nap but never seemed to actually fall asleep. It was a full day and we are busy picking up the house so Grandma Cathy can watch Josh all week.

Anyway, here's a few more pics from today!



FYI - The picture above is of Josh making "Joshie Angels"...not "Snow Angels". I was corrected a number of times.

Speak and He listens

I have been so swamped with work lately that I've had numerous "blog worthy" experiences but just haven't had the time to get online. Tax season has started very early this year...that is for sure!

Like I said, I've already been working long, demanding hours and this weekend was no exception. Bad things started happening the minute I picked Josh up from Angie's and kept happening until I finally hit rock bottom on Monday at about 2:00 pm. So many awful things occurred this weekend that I couldn't even begin to start mentioning them all. I started spotting...again, my daycare provider threw a big curve ball at me, Josh found his Gameboy, then threw his first MAJOR temper tantrum since the stupid thing had first disappeared (It has officially been removed from his possession...permanently), I worked way too much, we didn't get Josh's room finished, etc., etc., etc. It just kept coming. Then I went back to work and I literally got dumped on by 8:03 Monday morning.

Honestly, the fact that my breakdown didn't occur until Monday at 2:00 pm shows that I am doing better with some relaxation techniques. ;-) However, I went into Amy's office and just started crying. I told her that I have been feeling so inadequate lately and that I'm killing myself and still don't feel I'm doing a good job in any area of my life. I don't feel like my work is getting the dedication it deserves, I don't feel like my husband is getting the help he deserves and I don't feel like my son is getting the attention he deserves. After a 15 minute rant, I literally raised my hands to the sky and looked up and cried, "I just want someone to pat me on the back and tell me that I'm doing a good job." I cried a bit more, got back to work and called Dustin to tell him that I wasn't in the mood to cook.

We decided to meet at a restaurant. We sat down, they brought our salads and Josh reminded me to not take a bite before we all prayed. On a side note, the boy has become the little Prayer Police. We ate our dinner and just sat and all talked about what we would do later that evening. We were almost done and this couple got up and got ready to leave. The woman comes over and puts her hands on Dustin and my shoulder and looked at Josh and said, "I just have to tell you that you are the most well behaved little boy I have ever seen in a restaurant. You're parents have done a good job teaching you what is appropriate behavior. So, GOOD JOB Mom and Dad!" I'm telling you, I felt like I was slapped by God. We all thanked her for her kind words and she told us that she taught Kindergarten for 30+ years so she was absolutely qualified to make that statement. We all laughed and they went on their way.

I didn't even tell Dustin about what an impact that woman had on me until the next day. I haven't had an experience like that before. So blatant, so obvious. So many times we ask for God's help, His advice, His strength, a sign from Him...anything. Sometimes we don't think he's listening but on January 8, 2006, I was personally reminded that he is indeed listening. We just need to be ready to hear him.

If only all His messages were that easy!

With all the hoopla of the week I've completely missed my 19-week update and I'm actually closer to 20 weeks! Well, here was my update this week...

Your baby weighs about 9 ounces (260g) and measures about 5.6 to 6.4 inches (14 to 16cm) from crown to rump.

Her skin is thickening and developing multiple layers- the epidermis and the dermis, the deeper layer where it will form fat. Your baby is now also developing a waxy protective coating for her skin called vernix caseosa. The vernix protects your baby's skin which is continuously submersed in amniotic fluid. Vernix, which is particularly thick around the eyebrows is held in place by tiny downy hairs called lanugo.

Your baby can now grip with her fists. Toenails and scalp hair are growing.

At this point, it may be possible to determine the baby's sex by ultrasound, if the baby cooperates, but the ultrasound technician will rarely guarantee the sex based on the ultrasound results as mistakes are sometimes made at an early ultrasound.

You can hear the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler ultrasound device or a stethoscope.

Sing it, baby!!

I have attempted to infuse music in my son's life since he was still in the womb. I remember laying in bed and playing Mozart to my tummy, I loved singing to him in church when he was just a baby and I continue to find ways to encourage him to listen to all types of music. Even with all my hard work he is not how I was at his age. My mom tells me stories of when I was just 1 or 2 and I would dance like crazy to Aretha Franklin or when I would sit at a parade and bop back and forth when the marching band would come by.

I had put to the wayside any hopes that he would share the same passion for music that I have; however, I think he's just a late bloomer!!! We were going to Angie's the other morning and I saw him nodding his head to the song on the radio and attempting to sing with it. It's one of my favorite songs right now and I just about started crying.

We went right out and bought the cd and now we listen to it over and over again in the morning. I've posted a link to the song below. It just warms my heart to hear a little child sing, "Waiting on the world to change." He tries so hard and it is the cutest thing ever. If I thought he'd let me tape it, I would.

This is gonna be a long one, folks!

Boy, I think with the holidays I'm just a bit behind. We've been so busy lately and it doesn't seem to be slowing down.

First things first, we certainly hope that everyone had a wonderful New Year's and that 2007 is a going to be a great year for everyone. We didn't make it to midnight but instead watched the ball drop in New York and called it a night.

This weekend Dad and Thomas came down and we did a TOTAL transformation of the nursery. Saturday Dustin, Josh and I worked on cleaning out the room and painted the ceiling.





Dad and Thomas arrived around noon on Sunday and we had already installed the new ceiling fan. We went out and got paint, installed the plantation blinds and look at the "almost" finished product!!!







I don't think I could possibly be happier with the way it turned out. The only thing we have to do is paint a horizontal stripe for the "chair rail" in either a pink or blue.

We also did a total transformation in our bedroom; however, there are no pictures in existence to verify that activity. We cleaned our hearts out and poor Josh looked at us like he completely understood he was getting the raw end of the deal. I wanted to say so badly, "Yes, I know we make you clean your own room. Yes, I understand you'd rather be watching cartoons. Yes, Mom and Dad should be able to do this by ourselves. But isn't this fun?" He's a good sport and an even bigger help.

This weekend Josh's room will be the one getting a makeover. He unintentionally made his mother and father feel awful about the fact that we didn't paint his room. So we're going to paint his ceiling, replace his fan, get plantation blinds and paint a cool strip around his room. I'm hoping it will make all of us feel better.

With all this excitement, it's hard to believe that yet another week has passed by. Yesterday I hit the 18-week mark and now my half-way point is a mere two weeks away!!! AHHH!!! Anyway, here's the update I received...

Your baby measures about 5.2 to 6 inches (13-15cm) from crown to rump and weighs about 7 ounces (200g).

The buds for the permanent teeth are forming behind those that have already developed for the first teeth.

Your baby's nervous system and brain development continue at a spectacular pace. By this week, your baby's motor neurons, which connect muscle to the brain, have grown into place so that your baby can consciously direct her movements. Millions of neurons inside your baby's brain are growing and forming connections and the nerves in her body are being covered in a fatty substance called myelin.

Your baby's ears are now placed on the sides of her head and her limbs are now in proportion. Your baby's tiny foot is just one inch long, but is in perfect proportion to the rest of her leg.

Your baby can hear your voice and recognize it.

I think the biggest thing for me about this week's update is the fact that the baby can hear us and recognize our voices. That is absolutely amazing to me!