Cue laughter.

The time has come. It finally happened. Yes, another first in my life as a parent. Josh finally noticed that Lauren does not have the same "parts" as he.

Oy vey.

I was changing Lauren's diaper, like I have a million times before, and Dustin and I were talking about something completely irrelevant. Josh came over to ask me a question, looked down at Lauren and said...

WHAT IS THAT?!?!?

This is about the time Dustin started busting up and thanking God that Josh asked me and not him!

Me: Well, that's where Lauren pees.
Josh: **giggling** Uh...how? She doesn't have a pee-pee, mom!!
Me: Well, girls don't have pee-pees.
Josh: Well, what do they have?
Me: They have vaginas.
Josh: Wait...
Me: **Looking at Dustin with desperation.**
Josh: So...
**Pause**
Josh: You don't have a pee-pee either?
Me: Uh, no.
Josh: Mom...that's crazy.

Oh my goodness. By the time he had gotten all of his questions answered I was exhausted! And Dustin just sat there and laughed at me.

I told Dustin that's fine...because when Lauren starts asking those things HE can answer HER questions! Have fun with that one, buddy!

Friday I had class in Des Moines for the afternoon and Titi offered to join me for the ride. It was so nice just having another adult to talk to. I didn't have to entertain her, I didn't have to constantly feed her, I didn't have to take her to the bathroom and I didn't have to listen to her whine and cry. All of which are things I'm used to doing with my passengers.

Thanks for coming with me, Titi...and thanks, mom, for watching the kids!! It was a nice break!

Saturday I started the first "phase" of our annual Christmas craft. I got some crazy notion I could try making my own Gingerbread for our Gingerbread Christmas Trees. I like to pride myself on my cooking skills. However, baking is another story.

If my talent was based on the amount of Food TV Network I watch...well, I would be Emeril! Unfortunately, though, it is obvious I do not learn by watching. So, after some "non-Christmas"-like language and a few burned batches, I hung up my apron and called it a day.

After that, I decided to focus on something I knew I could do...decorate! Every year I seem to put up more than the year before even though we are minus our tree in the family room this year. And that's only because after seven years, artificial trees tend to show their age. Well, that and I'm to cheap and tired to go out and buy another one this year. So, I tried to make up for it in other areas.

The kids each got new lights on the trees in their bedrooms and Lauren LOVES, LOVES, LOVES her pink lights. My goodness - what joy a few Christmas lights can bring to a child!

Then there is the tree in the new basement; however, it has no decorations...only lights. I'm thinking maybe we'll go buy a bunch of child-friendly decorations once the "day after Christmas sales" begin. But again, I am to cheap and tired to go out and buy any right now. The kids only really care about the lights anyways so as long as they are content...I am content.

I tried to change things a little this year so I put the cranberry garland throughout the evergreen and tree in the living room. I like it a lot and always love it when I find a good use to something I already have. After buying another 18 strings of lights this year, this is a little of what we ended up with...until I get some more energy and find some place else to decorate.







After everything was cleaned up on Saturday night we had our family movie night. The feature was Scooby-Doo, the snack was popcorn and even the dog fell asleep. That is...until Lauren knocked over the popcorn bowl and then it was time for bed.

In between cleaning, laundry, baths, cutting the boys' hair and finishing up our Christmas cards, the kids put their "touch" on the Christmas crafts on Sunday.

They both had a blast and it really was a good project for both Josh AND Lauren. Trying to find something that they would both be able to participate in was kind of difficult this year.



Here's Lauren listening intently to Dustin tell her how the "pretties" go ON the tree...and not on the wax paper.






And of course...Lauren found a way to eat most of the "pretties" instead of using them to decorate.





Surprisingly, there wasn't even that big of a mess to clean up afterwards. So if I can only master the art of Gingerbread we may even attempt an entire house yet!!!

Well, I'm off to play with the kids a little before it's time for their bedtime and then I get to start some serious gift wrapping. Lucky me.

Baby Update: 26 weeks

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days.

I hate this ultrasound tech.

For oh so many reasons, one of which I cannot tell you.

Great news...baby's heart appears to be normal. So...no further testing at this time. Thank the Lord!

Heart rate was 136, baby weights 1 pound, 11 ounces and measuring right at 25 weeks, 0 days.

My blood pressure was 120/80 (which for me is great) and I'm down another 3.5 pounds. At this rate I'll weigh less than I did after I delivered Lauren!

However...we got stuck with the same crappy technician that we had last month and instead of giving me 12 photos of the feet she gave me one. One photo. And even I cannot tell what the heck it is. She handed it to me and said, "Uh...well, here's one photo of the head."

Thanks, lady.

Much to be thankful for.

Well, the big 2008 trip to Ohio is here and gone already. We get to see that side of the family so infrequently that it makes leaving them very difficult for so many different reasons. As usual, though, we shared many laughs, much food and many memories.

I had killed myself getting everything packed for everyone last week and by the time Wednesday night arrived I was exhuasted. I had harped on my brother about being ready to go at 5:00 am sharp and yet I'M the one who set her alarm but didn't turn it on!!! So I woke up at 4:27 am and immediately went into "freak out" mode!

Thankfully, by 5:10 I had two sleepy children, five bags, four pillows and four adults all loaded up and ready to depart. Not bad!!

The kids were awesome. I mean, on the scale of awesomeness....they were off the charts!! Lauren was buckled in her car seat for every waking moment of our 12 1/2 hour trip out to Ohio EXCEPT for when we stopped. As soon as the RV was put into park she would start whining to get out. So we would let her run around, sit on the bench, change her diaper, play with leggos and then as soon as we were ready to go she'd hop right back into her seat. She was an angel.

Josh played Memory with Dustin and I, worked in his Kindergarten workbooks and played Uncle Joel's PSP. Never once did either of them complain. Never once did I hear, "Are we there yet?" Never once did I want to rip out my hair.





Friday was pretty much a "free" day. We tried to sleep in a little but of course the kids woke up like an alarm clock and demanded breakfast.



Joel and I took Grandma and Grandpa out to do a little shopping while the kids went with Sandy, Dad and Dustin to a park. The kids had a blast and had the perfect opportunity to run off a little energy!





Friday night Aunt Sue put me, Joel, Sandy and Dad to work. She made about 30 desserts for the party (no lie) and the hardest part was showing some restraint and not eating everything!





Dad and I got back to the apartment around 11:00/11:30 and spent the next half an hour pounding on the door and calling Dustin's cell phone so he could wake up and unlock the door. Yeah...I was not happy.

But by Saturday morning the kids were ready for a quick dip in the pool. Josh got to show us what he's learned in swimming lessons and I was thrilled to see how comfortable he is in the water now. That alone was worth every penny!! Lauren had a ball jumping into the water and "showing off".





By Saturday afternoon the party was ready to begin!!! It was just perfect! I'm guessing around 100 people showed up to congratulate Grandma and Grandpa on 65 years of marriage. Lauren, of course, loved all the attention from the older people. So she spent most of the time dancing around...well, when she wasn't eating.






After the party the entire family went out for dinner together. And while some families would need to rent a hall...we all fit at one table. Either way...it was great to see some extended family.




After church on Sunday we all grabbed a quick bite to eat and then it was time to head off again.




Saying good-bye is always hard because we get out to Ohio so infrequently. Between that and my pregnancy hormones my emotions got the best of me. As Dad said...it's "So long" not "Good-bye".



Well...you guys know the rest. Bad weather, crazy toll lines and a hotel stop later we arrived safe and sound.






Baby Update: 25 weeks

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Today is the ultrasound to re-check the heart and my regular OB appointment. We'll see how much damage all those goodies did on my weight. I will be sure to post as soon as I get home tonight.

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We're home!!!

Thank God!

We ended up having to pull off around 2:30/3:00 this morning and stay at a hotel thanks to some nasty black ice.

I will post more later but wanted everyone to know that we are home and praying Dad makes it to Minneapolis safely.

One Hundred Things To Do Before You Die

I just wanted to see how much I've done. I wonder how it compares to other people...

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else's blog to your own.

Forty-one....not bad!

Preparation

Nothing much to report from here.

Lauren had her 18 month check-up on Friday and she screamed through the whole thing (even though Dr. Anderson didn't go anywhere near her for the first fifteen minutes). She is 35" tall (97+ percentile), weighs 29 pounds (97 percentile) and has almost all of her teeth already!

She's a big girl, but perfectly proportioned (just like Josh always was). So Dr. Anderson was very happy.

Saturday we spent all day fighting with the bi-fold closet doors in Josh's room. Eight hours and a trip to Menard's later...one of the doors broke and we are back to where we started from on Saturday morning.

Sunday I worked on laundry and cleaning while Dustin organized the garage and consolidated all of the remaining construction supplies. By mid-afternoon my van was back in the garage. Thank the heavens!!!

And after we began seeing progress in an area of our house that didn't involve the basement we got pumped and decided to put up our Christmas lights outside. While Lauren napped Josh and I checked strings and replaced dead lights while Dustin hung them.

After Lauren woke up we ran to Wal-mart to pick up a few items for our big trip to Ohio and got home just in time for me to make supper.

After supper and baths the kids decided to sit and watch Dustin finish the lights while eating popcorn...all from the comfort of our living room. That was about the time I realized that I hadn't taken any photos this weekend. So I ran and got my camera, took one picture...and the camera died.

So enjoy.



Since Dustin will not be much help in preparing for the trip from here on out I am swamped and up to my neck in random lists that help me not forget anything. Tonight I made mini blueberry muffins and banana bars for the trip. The kids were a big help with the baking so before bed they each got to enjoy their reward.




Tomorrow I will hopefully start the "actual" packing and then on Wednesday do last minute laundry and finish packing.

Wish us good luck with the 10 hour drive...and please pray that we arrive safely. And if we happen to arrive still speaking to each other...all the better.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Baby Update: 24 weeks

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Out of the mouths of babes

Conversation #1

This morning we were heading to Menard's to get a few things for our weekend projects and Josh was commenting on the freshly fallen snow.

Josh: Mom, do you know why it's not good to run on ice?
Me: Um...for the same reason it's not good to run at swimming lessons, like you did this week: because you can fall.
Josh: Yeah.
Me: You're lucky you didn't fall and crack your head open.
Josh: Yeah...I just fell on butt. And that's already cracked open.



Conversation #2

Josh: Mom...I want to play in the snow today.
Me: Josh...I know. You've told me a dozen times already.
Dustin: You can when we get home but it is already starting to melt.
Josh: (angrily) Doesn't Jesus know that little kids like to play in the snow?

Tonight

I'm in my room getting ready for bed. The kids are fresh out of a bath and Lauren and Josh are in Josh's room.

Josh: OW!
Lauren: Waa! OW! OW!
Josh: OW!!! MOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!
Me: Guys! What is going on in there?
Lauren: Owwwww!!! Maaaa!
Me: Josh!! Lauren!!
Josh: OWWWWWWW!!!!
Josh: Mom...Lauren pulled my hair like she was trying to pull it all off so that I'd be bald!!!!
Me: Why did she do that?
Josh: Because I didn't want her wearing my underwear!
Me: What?

That's when Lauren comes around the corner, looking like this:



What is wrong with these children?

Better luck next year

Ask anyone who knows me. In preparation for our annual Christmas photos I've been killing myself to put together two perfect outfits for each of my children. I looked all over in Des Moines, Williamsburg, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids for each perfect piece.

I had Lauren's dress and killed myself to find a suitable matching tie for Josh. I ended up scrapping the first dress and found a second dress instead because I had a matching tie. Then I couldn't find the headband. Then I couldn't find a purse.

All that gas, all that energy, all that running around was a monumental waste of time because Lauren was in no mood for pictures on Saturday.

To say it was a disaster would be putting it very, very....very mildly.

I got one photo of Lauren by herself and that is only because I threw her into the chair and ran. And what I ended up capturing was her sitting in a little chair, pointing at the camera and yelling at me. Doesn't that scream, "Merry Christmas."

Every single one of Josh's pictures turned out. He is a model. Always has been. Lauren is the drama queen. And our Christmas card this year will reflect that.

Some people think the photo is hysterical and the other half can't believe I'm sending that out as a Christmas card. Either way, I don't care. Because the last thing I was going to do is reschedule so that I may go through that 30 minutes of hell again.

As soon as we left the photo shoot we rewarded Josh by letting him ride the indoor Merry-go-round at the mall.



And wouldn't you know it...Lauren was all smiles and waves.



That little girl is lucky she's so darn cute! Do you have any idea the restraint it took to not scream in frustration? Dustin got off the ride and said, "Where was this little girl 10 minutes ago?"

We worked in the basement all day on Sunday and had nothing but a hung door to show for it. Yet another day of disasters.

Not to mention Josh had been coughing quite a bit and I was considering taking him to the doctor for his cough and right on cue he started complaining of an ear ache. So I took him to the Insta-care and sure enough the poor thing had bronchitis and an ear infection.

Thankfully, I was already off on Monday due to our office moving back downtown. AND...speaking of which...CHECK OUT MY NEW OFFICE!!!!



Everything is in disaray but we are all thrilled to be back downtown! The cubicles aren't in yet, the break room is half finished, Jim's furniture isn't in yet, boxes are every where...well, you get the point.

With all the chaos in my own home...this feels ironically familiar. I thought you might all enjoy seeing our new office since the last photos of our old office were pretty depressing.






It will certainly be beautiful when it's all done!

Baby Update: 23 weeks

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.

Seven years ago today....

Hard to believe some days...and others it seems twice as long! ;-) In those seven years we've been through two houses, two and a half pregnancies, eight cars, two dogs, one camper and countless laughs. So I guess we don't have too much to complain about...except each other (every once in awhile).

Well...the family room is SOOOOOOOO close to being done. Dustin and I literally almost killed ourselves this weekend but it felt so good to spend time in our new family room last night and watch the kids dance around to Christmas music.

On Friday, Dustin and I put two coats of primer on the walls and bought all the trim for the rest of the family room. That alone took most of the day.

Then Friday night Titi had graciously called and offered to come over and help with the kids for awhile. I told her I would love to take the kids to the mall and an extra set of hands would be greatly apprecaited.

She came over around supper time and as soon as I opened the door I could see she almost immediately regreted her offer. If I could have thrown her in the house, locked the door and run away from the situation...I would have. Josh was having a SEVERE fit. I'm not talking whining and crying. I'm talking "throw yourself onto the floor, scream till your throat bleeds", hateful, hour long fit. Last week was crazy busy (partly thanks to the addition of swimming lessons) and he was literally exausted. Add to that his new "Kindergarten" attitude and his inability to listen and you have a disaster waiting to happen on your hands.

Thankfully, we made it through the fit and ended up going out to the mall. He totally did not deserve to go but honestly, I needed to get out of the house.

Saturday morning we were up and working by 7:00 am. Dustin and Josh went over to mom's to help with some demolition and I worked on painting 26 pieces of trim until they got home. I stopped to make lunch for the boys and Lauren and quickly headed right back down stairs.

I started having some braxton hicks contractions and figured I should take a break around 2:00 and took a quick nap. Woke up...and went right back to work. We didn't quit until 1:00 am on Sunday morning. It was, by far, the most exhausting day we've had so far. Then Sunday morning we got up, I made waffles and by 8:00 we were back working.

We quit briefly yesterday to feed the kids lunch and pick up some items at Menard's and went right back at it last night. Josh and Lauren totally got into helping clean furniture and rip up the protection on the floor. Everyone was so excited to see it come together.

I can't even begin to describe the amount of blood, sweat and tears Dustin and I have poured into this basement remodel. We have always taken pride in our home...but last night, between the exhaustion and frustration of the project, I was beaming.

I couldn't even sleep! I went down two more times after Dustin fell asleep to just look at it! Sad...but true.

Here are the photos I took this morning. Of course we are just in the middle of putting it all back together and, of course...it didn't take long for me to put up a Christmas tree or Lauren to leave out one of her toys.






You can still see reminents of disaster not far in the background and there are still some major things that need completed. BUT...you can actually begin to see the final product!

I have a dozen errands to run this evening but I promised the kids we could go play in the basement as soon as we got home.

I can't wait to start making memories down there!

Baby Update: 22 weeks

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Second glimpse of Baby Bricker #3

Today was our ultrasound and 20 week OB appointment.

We picked Josh up from school so that he could join us for the ultrasound. When I was pregnant with Lauren he would get so upset that he never got to "see baby" and he was always very excited to see my ultrasound pictures. We thought he was finally old enough now and are so happy he was able to join us today.

The ultrasound went okay. I guess.

Baby (a/k/a "Shorty") was kicking like crazy and rolling around in there. The ultrasound technician had Shorty look right at us and he/she was waving at Josh. He thought that was hysterical.

She had to take a million measurements and would periodically show us cute images of Shorty. When she showed us the profile Josh said, "Ohhh...mom, what a pretty baby."

In the end, Shorty weighs 13 ounces, his/her heartbeat was 158 and he/she is measuring 2 days ahead of my due date. Oh...and Dustin swears it's a girl. But Josh and I think he's crazy.

Unfortunately, I knew something was up when the technician kept looking at the heart over and over again. I have another ultrasound scheduled for December 2nd so that they can re-check the heart. I know from my last two pregnancies that they look for the separation of the four chambers and the valves closing completely. I am not sure what looked "abnormal" but Dr. Hocking said that she wanted another month of growth and maturation before they did another scan of the heart.

Obviously, it's not really what we were expecting to hear today and the next four weeks (until the next ultrasound) will probably drag on and on. So Dustin and I will continue to pray for a healthy baby and trust that unless my doctor tells me to worry, I will do my best not to.

In the meantime...I will just keep staring at these precious photos...




The technician spent so much time on the heart that she didn't really pay attention to what she was printing off so we have a ton of pictures of his/her feet and a cute profile. So at least we will have another chance to get some more pictures at our next ultrasound.

As soon as I saw the profile picture I got shivers...because he/she looks just like Josh and Lauren did when they were babies! As Dustin said, "Uh...that's a good thing!"

First Image: Profile
Second Image: Both feet
Third Image: Both feet
Fourth Image: One foot
Fifth Image: Facing front, head to right side and arm on top with hand by forehead