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Monday, December 6, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
16 weeks and counting
Well we are 16 weeks pregnant and know we are having a little boy in May. According to my plan with my doctor, if everything goes on schedule and without complications, we will have an induction on May 9, 2011. I hate to say it but i like having it all planned out and hope we can keep on that track unless baby comes early which i doubt considering my other two children both had to be induced. It works out perfect cause my father-in-law has to take his 2011 vacation by the end of this year, so he can plan to be off around baby time to help with our other two children and possibly my out of town family can make plans to be in town on the baby's arrival which has never been possible before. Some people have been looking at me like crazy and think planning it out is crazy but hey i like my life organized and everything on the calendar..it keeps me focused.
So far this pregnancy i have had many ups and downs. I was miserable first trimester and lost about 5-6 pounds from nausea and exhaustion. Then i had a week or so of feeling okay then the heartburn and vomiting started while the other symptoms calmed down. Currently this week i have been doing well and have had none of the above symptoms, knock on wood, but i am not holding my breathe that i am symptom free yet. This child knows he is the last and wants me to remember it well.
According to my Dr. apt yesterday i gained 3 lbs this month but i had just left the Chinese restaurant and ate 2 plates so full i could barely walk afterwards...i assume it was at least 2 lbs of extra stuff so i am thinking i am up a pound or so which is great...lol. We will see what they say at my next apt. in January after eating well for the holidays! I would love to keep this pregnancy around 15-20 lbs total so i have been eating much healthier and being so sick has drastically changes the amounts of food i eat and frequency of my meals. I still crave sushi 24-7 and anything super spicy but i am trying not to eat the spicy things later at night to limit the heartburn.
I finally feel like i look pregnant but lots of people say i barely look pregnant, i assume they are just being nice cause i am overweight and it is hard to tell, lol. Family on the other hand have noticed i have lost in some places and gained in the belly so i feel confident they aren't gonna lie, right?
I love that the kids kiss my belly and talk to my belly, i think it is adorable to see them kiss me and tell him good night when they go to sleep at night. I think Hailey is starting to get excited even though she didn't get the sister she wanted so desperately. She seems to understand when i tell her that just means i can spoil her more and we can have more time together just the two of us while daddy keeps the boys busy! After i told her that she sounded a little bit more reassured.
I have been organizing all my stuff and getting rid of the girl things and taking inventory of everything i have but won't really start shopping until after the holidays and Christmas since i have no clue what i will be getting and if any of it included baby stuff which i assume it will! We don't need many big things except the car seat. I need bottles, new sheets, a baby bath, and lots of clothes and a cool diaper bag but we have basically everything else already.
I am excited for this holiday season and even more excited for the upcoming year. The first week of January we get our 20 week ultrasound and will get confirmation on how our baby boy is doing and that he is for sure a baby boy...but we think the pictures are very convincing. I have added a couple of pictures for your enjoyment taken by either my 7 year old daughter or my 2 year old son, so don't except perfection but they are still cute!
So far this pregnancy i have had many ups and downs. I was miserable first trimester and lost about 5-6 pounds from nausea and exhaustion. Then i had a week or so of feeling okay then the heartburn and vomiting started while the other symptoms calmed down. Currently this week i have been doing well and have had none of the above symptoms, knock on wood, but i am not holding my breathe that i am symptom free yet. This child knows he is the last and wants me to remember it well.
According to my Dr. apt yesterday i gained 3 lbs this month but i had just left the Chinese restaurant and ate 2 plates so full i could barely walk afterwards...i assume it was at least 2 lbs of extra stuff so i am thinking i am up a pound or so which is great...lol. We will see what they say at my next apt. in January after eating well for the holidays! I would love to keep this pregnancy around 15-20 lbs total so i have been eating much healthier and being so sick has drastically changes the amounts of food i eat and frequency of my meals. I still crave sushi 24-7 and anything super spicy but i am trying not to eat the spicy things later at night to limit the heartburn.
I finally feel like i look pregnant but lots of people say i barely look pregnant, i assume they are just being nice cause i am overweight and it is hard to tell, lol. Family on the other hand have noticed i have lost in some places and gained in the belly so i feel confident they aren't gonna lie, right?
I love that the kids kiss my belly and talk to my belly, i think it is adorable to see them kiss me and tell him good night when they go to sleep at night. I think Hailey is starting to get excited even though she didn't get the sister she wanted so desperately. She seems to understand when i tell her that just means i can spoil her more and we can have more time together just the two of us while daddy keeps the boys busy! After i told her that she sounded a little bit more reassured.
I have been organizing all my stuff and getting rid of the girl things and taking inventory of everything i have but won't really start shopping until after the holidays and Christmas since i have no clue what i will be getting and if any of it included baby stuff which i assume it will! We don't need many big things except the car seat. I need bottles, new sheets, a baby bath, and lots of clothes and a cool diaper bag but we have basically everything else already.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Drumroll please..........
Well it looks like our family is going to have one sex outnumber the other and i got the short end of the stick in that respect. My dreams of ribbons, bows, tutus, and monogrammed little dresses are no longer an option. Thats right folks we are having a little BOY!!!!! I am very stoked to find out it is another boy though. Grant is such a great little boy at 2 years old and i can't imagine another one even 1/2 as cute as him. It will be his buddy and they will be around three years apart. I am excited the bunk beds we just bought will come in handy more now than ever and that they have the option of sharing a room. In addition it will save me a little money on clothes with all Grants clothes being saved. I am very happy even more so than i ever expected. We took our boy list from 35 names down to 5 names last night but we are having a hard time getting it narrowed down further....well the hubbys having a hard time. Three of the names which are my favorites are not common at all and he isn't sure he can handle an untraditional name even though he helped pick them out...i told him he could sleep on it, lol.
I am impatient...i have already been on etsy and all the clothing websites checking out matching outfits for the boys and all the adorable little baby hats i can get made for him. Luckily he has a super talented grandma who will be making some for him and has already mentioned making a special outift/hat for coming home from the hospital...i am very excited to see what she has planned! Her work is amazing! My first main purchase after picking a name are monogrammed diaper covers so i can get his picture taken after he is born...i can't wait for all our photoshoots we can do! My best little prop! lol. Well i better go and get editing some of the pics of my latest 2 week old session Gavin, but in the meantime i will post my ultrasound pics. You will see that it can't be denied that he is a boy!!!
I am impatient...i have already been on etsy and all the clothing websites checking out matching outfits for the boys and all the adorable little baby hats i can get made for him. Luckily he has a super talented grandma who will be making some for him and has already mentioned making a special outift/hat for coming home from the hospital...i am very excited to see what she has planned! Her work is amazing! My first main purchase after picking a name are monogrammed diaper covers so i can get his picture taken after he is born...i can't wait for all our photoshoots we can do! My best little prop! lol. Well i better go and get editing some of the pics of my latest 2 week old session Gavin, but in the meantime i will post my ultrasound pics. You will see that it can't be denied that he is a boy!!!
I told you!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
15 weeks and random things
Well this pregnancy is moving along very fast...and the end of the year is almost here! So much has been happening in the Steele household over the past couple of months and it just keeps getting crazier. I am finally sailing into the 2nd trimester and i thought the 1st trimester bumps were over with and then the vomiting has struck me all over again....and worse than ever before. I am miserable and wore out.
We are in the process of rearranging the whole house to get ready for the new baby and it is a lot of work. We are getting bunk beds this week for Grant's room and so the baby bed will be moving back into our room until the baby arrives. I am a little apprehensive about him having a big boy bed where he can move around at night but he is such a good sleeper i am really hoping this works out to our advantage.
We should find out Monday the sex of the baby and i can't be more happy about it. So many people say why don't you surprise yourself but i just can't do it...i am a planner and love to shop. I want everything ready when the baby gets here, no surprises! So we have all the baby gear taking up a huge area of our room which also had to be rearranged to make room for the nursery in the front area of our room.
In addition, with Christmas right around the corner we just got all 5 boxes of Christmas gear out and set up in the living room. In doing that i had to move a HUGE amount of the kids toys out of the living room/playroom to make room for our massive tree and i still am not sure i have taken enough stuff out...but i have no room for anything else anywhere else. With the new bunk beds going in Grants room i barely shoved and rearranged to fit all the extra toys in his room. This should be very interesting with Christmas toys on the horizon.
I am freaking out just a little bit. I feel like the house is in a frenzy and all 1/2 completed and i feel so tired and sick that i just want to lay on the couch and do nothing for awhile. Unfortunately that isn't possible....but i am very happy and thankful for the chance to have all this chaos....yeah i know i don't sound like it...but you are where i can vent and release all this pent up blahhhhhhhhhhh!
I am excited for the Holidays and the big changes coming into our household. I am so Thankful for a God who takes care of my family and friends and provides so much for us. I am thankful for being sick and God trying to show me that life is not a box of chocolates 24-7 but we still need to be gracious and thankful even when it is the hardest thing. I plan on celebrating this Thanksgiving giving thanks for all my blessings and i hope you do the same.
I'll finish the post of with some recent pictures of some of the adorable kids i've had a pleasure of photographing this month!
I'll try to add some pics of my own kiddos soon and my photoshoot for my friend Missy's 2 week old little baby boy Gavin i'm taking this week. Happy Holidays!!!
We are in the process of rearranging the whole house to get ready for the new baby and it is a lot of work. We are getting bunk beds this week for Grant's room and so the baby bed will be moving back into our room until the baby arrives. I am a little apprehensive about him having a big boy bed where he can move around at night but he is such a good sleeper i am really hoping this works out to our advantage.
We should find out Monday the sex of the baby and i can't be more happy about it. So many people say why don't you surprise yourself but i just can't do it...i am a planner and love to shop. I want everything ready when the baby gets here, no surprises! So we have all the baby gear taking up a huge area of our room which also had to be rearranged to make room for the nursery in the front area of our room.
In addition, with Christmas right around the corner we just got all 5 boxes of Christmas gear out and set up in the living room. In doing that i had to move a HUGE amount of the kids toys out of the living room/playroom to make room for our massive tree and i still am not sure i have taken enough stuff out...but i have no room for anything else anywhere else. With the new bunk beds going in Grants room i barely shoved and rearranged to fit all the extra toys in his room. This should be very interesting with Christmas toys on the horizon.
I am freaking out just a little bit. I feel like the house is in a frenzy and all 1/2 completed and i feel so tired and sick that i just want to lay on the couch and do nothing for awhile. Unfortunately that isn't possible....but i am very happy and thankful for the chance to have all this chaos....yeah i know i don't sound like it...but you are where i can vent and release all this pent up blahhhhhhhhhhh!
I am excited for the Holidays and the big changes coming into our household. I am so Thankful for a God who takes care of my family and friends and provides so much for us. I am thankful for being sick and God trying to show me that life is not a box of chocolates 24-7 but we still need to be gracious and thankful even when it is the hardest thing. I plan on celebrating this Thanksgiving giving thanks for all my blessings and i hope you do the same.
I'll try to add some pics of my own kiddos soon and my photoshoot for my friend Missy's 2 week old little baby boy Gavin i'm taking this week. Happy Holidays!!!
Shutterfly 50 Free Holiday cards
Well it seems that Shutterfly has saved the day again this year. All bloggers get 50 free Holiday cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards just for being bloggers, what could be better than that!!We got cards from them last year and i was truly amazed at how stunning they looked. This year i planned on ordering them again and i saw this promotion just in time.
All you have to do is go to http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/ for your submission form. It is super simple and in a couple of days you can order your free cards.
I just got the kids outfits completely bought and planned on doing a photo shoot with them this weekend for the "perfect" picture for the cards....soon enough they will be ready for you to see! I am excited and so should you, get on over to Shutterfly and order your Christmas http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards or Holiday cards today!!
Some of my favorites include:
Then again if you are not that interested in sending out massive amounts of cards for Christmas or the Holidays you can also get cards for other occasions like the birth of a new baby, birth announcements http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birth-announcements are always a big hit and Shutterfly makes the process even easier for all of soon to be new moms. Good luck and go order your announcements or cards today!
I know we are in the process of deciding if we need one for a boy:
OR
A BABY GIRL.....hopefully we will know in three more days!
All you have to do is go to http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/ for your submission form. It is super simple and in a couple of days you can order your free cards.
I just got the kids outfits completely bought and planned on doing a photo shoot with them this weekend for the "perfect" picture for the cards....soon enough they will be ready for you to see! I am excited and so should you, get on over to Shutterfly and order your Christmas http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards or Holiday cards today!!
Some of my favorites include:
Then again if you are not that interested in sending out massive amounts of cards for Christmas or the Holidays you can also get cards for other occasions like the birth of a new baby, birth announcements http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/birth-announcements are always a big hit and Shutterfly makes the process even easier for all of soon to be new moms. Good luck and go order your announcements or cards today!
I know we are in the process of deciding if we need one for a boy:
OR
A BABY GIRL.....hopefully we will know in three more days!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
10 weeks
Today i ran by my doctors office to grab an OB consent form to take to the university in a week or two for my ultrasound the students will give me and ended up having an appointment in addition to it. I have been feeling really puny this pregnancy and overly exausted and neaseated more so than with my previous two pregnancies. So when i told my nurse that she said she had a cancelation and asked if i wanted to see the Dr. today and get my labs out of the way, i was like HELL yeah!
So i had my labs, got to hear my baby's precious heartbeat(a galloping horse), and got a home remedy from him to hopefully help my symptoms until we get an answer if there is anything to see. He is testing my vitamin levels and my thyroid on top of all the other first OB apt. labs.
Before my appointment i took Grant to the Ear, nose, and throat Dr. and got his 18 mth check-up since he has had tubes...and they both fell out since the last appointment. It is a double edged sword. If he has outgrown this we are in good shape and then no more ear infections= no more specialist! If he hasn't outgrown it then most likely with winter afoot then Grant will end up very sick again with a never ending ear infection and will be stuck with a repeat surgery for tubes again...which i am praying won't happen...but Hailey was five when she had her tubes placed so i am not optimistic :(
In other news, we just got back from a gorgeous wedding in Iowa of a dear family friend and it was absolutely perfect. The drive down and back was long and tiring but very much worth it! I will try to post pics soon but i haven't even turned my camera on in the four days we have been home. Exaustion set in and today is the first day i feel like i might be back to the world of the living...but a nap is coming on soon!
I have been trying to plan out how we will set up the baby once he/she is born and i just can't decide what to do. Do we put the nursery in our room where there is plenty of space(our room used to be two bedrooms previously) and get rid of all our privacy again but it will allow me to be close for breastfeeding! OR do we have the baby share a room with Grant and try to squeeze in a crib and twin size bed into a room already extremely full of a billion toys but technically plenty room for two kiddos. If it is a girl is that fair to him and/or the baby to share a room and how will i decorate with two opposite sexes in one room? It has been making me crazy and i just can't decide what the best answer is as of yet, but i need to decide soon because i would like to have the bedding picked out and bought by Christmas and Grant switched over tho the big boy bed so we don't have any problems with the baby having his bed...what do you think?
So i had my labs, got to hear my baby's precious heartbeat(a galloping horse), and got a home remedy from him to hopefully help my symptoms until we get an answer if there is anything to see. He is testing my vitamin levels and my thyroid on top of all the other first OB apt. labs.
Before my appointment i took Grant to the Ear, nose, and throat Dr. and got his 18 mth check-up since he has had tubes...and they both fell out since the last appointment. It is a double edged sword. If he has outgrown this we are in good shape and then no more ear infections= no more specialist! If he hasn't outgrown it then most likely with winter afoot then Grant will end up very sick again with a never ending ear infection and will be stuck with a repeat surgery for tubes again...which i am praying won't happen...but Hailey was five when she had her tubes placed so i am not optimistic :(
In other news, we just got back from a gorgeous wedding in Iowa of a dear family friend and it was absolutely perfect. The drive down and back was long and tiring but very much worth it! I will try to post pics soon but i haven't even turned my camera on in the four days we have been home. Exaustion set in and today is the first day i feel like i might be back to the world of the living...but a nap is coming on soon!
I have been trying to plan out how we will set up the baby once he/she is born and i just can't decide what to do. Do we put the nursery in our room where there is plenty of space(our room used to be two bedrooms previously) and get rid of all our privacy again but it will allow me to be close for breastfeeding! OR do we have the baby share a room with Grant and try to squeeze in a crib and twin size bed into a room already extremely full of a billion toys but technically plenty room for two kiddos. If it is a girl is that fair to him and/or the baby to share a room and how will i decorate with two opposite sexes in one room? It has been making me crazy and i just can't decide what the best answer is as of yet, but i need to decide soon because i would like to have the bedding picked out and bought by Christmas and Grant switched over tho the big boy bed so we don't have any problems with the baby having his bed...what do you think?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
8 weeks
Well i have been useless for the past month. I can't believe how drained this pregnancy has made me. Normally i am a little more tired and nauseated but this time i am just puny! I feel bad because i have all these responsibiliities and i have barely been staying on top of them. Then again i have been doing them just not always the best of my ability. I keep hoping in a few weeks this will all start to lift and i can get my old crazy Erin energy back...some of my ADHD would be great right now! We are right at the 8 week mark and next Tuesday we have our second ultrasound. I am so excited for it and can't wait to see our little peanut. We are still concerned about the possibility of twins but i have been trying to put it on the back of my mind until the ultrasound, no point in getting worked up over it if it isn't true. I know we can handle two but we just didn't have it in the plans...lol...then again God works in mysterious ways, right?
Other than my utter exaustion we have been super busy. I am now a Girl Scout Brownie Troop Leader for my daughter's troop and it has been alot of work to get started but it is reallly fun. I know every week our meetings will be a new experience where the girls can learn how to be better little citizens. It is exciting! This week we are letting the girls learn more about what it means to be a girl scout, set goals for what they want to do this year, and hailey is going to show them how to make origami. My goal is to have one girl show of something they can do or a special gift they have every week! I think it will be a great way to help with public speaking and to build confidence in each girl!
Other than that we are just getting ready for the holidays and all the weddings we have in October. I am super excited about my best friend kim's wedding this Sunday, 10-10-10. I am thrilled for her happiness and can't wait for them to start making babies..lol. I am her maid of honor and i am over the moon to spend this day with her and her soon to be husband! Also this month i am honored to make another trip to Iowa for a wedding with my mom and the kiddos for an old family friends wedding. I get to spend a short amount of time visiting my family and see a gorgeous wedding. I can't wait!
I am sure i will write again next week after our ultrasound but for now i need to get working on my lessons for girl scouts then get ready for Fall Festival time...the best time of the year, lots of fried foods and carni rides. Yum-yum!
Other than my utter exaustion we have been super busy. I am now a Girl Scout Brownie Troop Leader for my daughter's troop and it has been alot of work to get started but it is reallly fun. I know every week our meetings will be a new experience where the girls can learn how to be better little citizens. It is exciting! This week we are letting the girls learn more about what it means to be a girl scout, set goals for what they want to do this year, and hailey is going to show them how to make origami. My goal is to have one girl show of something they can do or a special gift they have every week! I think it will be a great way to help with public speaking and to build confidence in each girl!
Other than that we are just getting ready for the holidays and all the weddings we have in October. I am super excited about my best friend kim's wedding this Sunday, 10-10-10. I am thrilled for her happiness and can't wait for them to start making babies..lol. I am her maid of honor and i am over the moon to spend this day with her and her soon to be husband! Also this month i am honored to make another trip to Iowa for a wedding with my mom and the kiddos for an old family friends wedding. I get to spend a short amount of time visiting my family and see a gorgeous wedding. I can't wait!
I am sure i will write again next week after our ultrasound but for now i need to get working on my lessons for girl scouts then get ready for Fall Festival time...the best time of the year, lots of fried foods and carni rides. Yum-yum!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Race For A Cure
Hailey and me walked in the Susan G. Comen Race for a Cure on Saturday and it was a great morning. The weather was absolutely perfect, cool and sunny! Everyone could feel the power and happiness...pushing for the greater good. It was a mazing seeing all the survivors with their flowers and lives....
I had to stop myself numerous times from crying because the emotional toll of the morning was hard to take. I listened closely to the stories of survival and death...i tried to take it all in and remember. I thought about my family that were taken too soon. I thought about how my kids didn't get to spend time with them and how i didn't spend enough time with them. I thought about how their kids didn't get enough time with them. I thought about the good times and thougth about the time when we will all see each other again soon. It was a breezy day and i remembered that we always say the wind are a way for the sdeceased to give us kisses! I pray for a cure! We miss you so much!!
In memory of:
Renee Lasse -my grandmother
Diane Domeyer -my grandmother
Debbie Domeyer -my aunt
Chrissy Wegmann - my aunt
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
God has a plan
This little baby shows me what God can do, this baby is so tiny he/she doesn't even have a heartbeat yet. Somehow my body is already in protection mode and trying to figure out how to make this baby work with our schedule...our constraints...our life. I am in awe of the power of God. This has made my day, made my week, made my year, i am happy!
In May, we will be having our third and final child and i am so grateful and blessed for this opportunity! My family is grateful and thrilled. My daughter is keeping track of the baby's size and comparing it to blades of grass and pieces of food and our son is pointing at his belly and saying baby! My husband is praying for just one but i am saying whatever is thrown our way we are happy with. I am in awe and so happy, thank-you God, THANK YOU!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
My life
I guess i was a little down yesterday when i posted about my job blues. Job hunting has times where you feel overwhelmed. With our economy in the tank it is even harder than ever to get a job at a decent salary and keep it. Human Resources, my degree, is a hard degree to enter into and being an older woman(30) with children and a short job list i am not always the first pick. I am trying hard to listen when i am told God has a plan.
Right now i am trying to focus on getting caught up at home and getting through my days without disaster. We have been very busy with the start of soccer season and Girl scouts. When coupled with a calendar full of doctor appointments, photo shoots, and homework for Hailey is has been slightly hectic. As much as i complain about it i know that is the life of a parent and i do love it!
I have been looking at the kids and staring in awe at how much they have grown lately. Grant is 2 1/2 and full of life and laughter. He is ALL boy and full of spunk. He is extremely independent and mechanically inclined. Instead of watching cartoons he watches the speed channel. He loves drag racing, nascar, and all the shows on test driving and fixing cars. He gets mad if i turn it off. He won't drink plain soy milk anymore only chocolate soy and loves Capri Sun juice packs. His favorite food is chinese and eats edamame almost daily as a snack. He is in size 2 shorts, 2-3T shirts, and size 7-8 shoes depending on the brand. He is doing well in speech and almost didn't qualify for services. He is speaking many words and some two-three word phrase but many only family understands. We know he understands every thing it is just getting him to clearly enounciate the words.
Hailey is 7 1/2 and so grown up now. She is at that stage where she wants to be an adult but still throws the tempers like a baby. It can be difficult but i have been trying hard to discipline accordingly. She lost another tooth last night and was so excited, i was excited mainly because she still believes in the tooth fairy!!! FYI-our tooth fairy leaves two dollars just in case you wondered. She had her first orthodontist appointment this month and we decided she has four baby teeth that we need to pull to make room for her permanent teeth. Then at the end of the year we have another appointment to see if she is ready for early braces..they said by the time she is 9 we will probably need some help because of her massive crowding. I had extensive work as a kid so i am sure she is in for a treat, yikes! She just learned how to ride her bike without training wheels, don't laugh. I know it is a little later than most kids but Hailey is very sensitive and doesn't think she can do many things. We wanted to wait until she was ready and it was a huge sucess. She learned in about 5 minutes. Literaly within an hour she was doing circles and breaking perfectly. Amazed to say the least...
Then she is in Girl Scouts year three and we are just getting started but i am so proud of all she has learned throughout the past couple of years. I believe they have helped her be more confident and a better person. Soccer is still iffy, she isn't the most focused girl on the team and we are hard on her for it. At the same time we understand that she is a kid an dwill have days where she could care less to be there. She is very good at kicking when she does pay attentiona dn i am hoping in a few weeks when the games start she will really pick up the pace and do awesome. She is wearing mainly size 8/10 pants and the same in shirts and a size 1-2 shoe. She is sweet and loves art. She makes beautiful portraits of people and 3-D creations. I can't wait to be able to get her art lessons and see how she grows and all the can learn from them.
This weekend we are going on our first family trip of the summer...maybe a little late but a trip at that. Since i was on vacation with the kiddos all of June visiting family we just didn't make time once we were back to go on trips all four of us. So this weekend we got some free tickets to a St. Louis Cardinals game on Friday night. Afterwards we are going to stay at the the Hyatt Regency at the Arch which is a bit out of our normal price range but we thought it would be a special treat for us all. We got a suite and hope to have a little time to swim before or after our festivities. Then when we wake up Saturday we are hitting the St. Louis Zoo. Grant has never been and Hailey hasn't been since she was 4 or 5 and it is our favorite zoo within 5-6 hours. Then we will head home. Jason has some tatoo work getting done Saturday night, yeah i know Uber important right, so we need to get home for that. I think it will be a perfect way to start our Labor Day weekend. We are hoping to finish the weekend off with a small family gathering with my mom, and brother's family but nothing is set in stone. We also have Holiday world tickets burning a hole in my pocket but i am unsure if we will go this weekend or not...it is all a waiting game. I will try to post more pics soon...maybe even some of my own kids. I have been a bad blogger lately, i forgot how nice it feels to write all of your frustrations, hopes, and dreams down. I like sharing with you ...not that anyone but myself read my blog but maybe that is why i feel so happy. I can write anything i want and not worry about what anyone thinks!
Right now i am trying to focus on getting caught up at home and getting through my days without disaster. We have been very busy with the start of soccer season and Girl scouts. When coupled with a calendar full of doctor appointments, photo shoots, and homework for Hailey is has been slightly hectic. As much as i complain about it i know that is the life of a parent and i do love it!
I have been looking at the kids and staring in awe at how much they have grown lately. Grant is 2 1/2 and full of life and laughter. He is ALL boy and full of spunk. He is extremely independent and mechanically inclined. Instead of watching cartoons he watches the speed channel. He loves drag racing, nascar, and all the shows on test driving and fixing cars. He gets mad if i turn it off. He won't drink plain soy milk anymore only chocolate soy and loves Capri Sun juice packs. His favorite food is chinese and eats edamame almost daily as a snack. He is in size 2 shorts, 2-3T shirts, and size 7-8 shoes depending on the brand. He is doing well in speech and almost didn't qualify for services. He is speaking many words and some two-three word phrase but many only family understands. We know he understands every thing it is just getting him to clearly enounciate the words.
Hailey is 7 1/2 and so grown up now. She is at that stage where she wants to be an adult but still throws the tempers like a baby. It can be difficult but i have been trying hard to discipline accordingly. She lost another tooth last night and was so excited, i was excited mainly because she still believes in the tooth fairy!!! FYI-our tooth fairy leaves two dollars just in case you wondered. She had her first orthodontist appointment this month and we decided she has four baby teeth that we need to pull to make room for her permanent teeth. Then at the end of the year we have another appointment to see if she is ready for early braces..they said by the time she is 9 we will probably need some help because of her massive crowding. I had extensive work as a kid so i am sure she is in for a treat, yikes! She just learned how to ride her bike without training wheels, don't laugh. I know it is a little later than most kids but Hailey is very sensitive and doesn't think she can do many things. We wanted to wait until she was ready and it was a huge sucess. She learned in about 5 minutes. Literaly within an hour she was doing circles and breaking perfectly. Amazed to say the least...
Then she is in Girl Scouts year three and we are just getting started but i am so proud of all she has learned throughout the past couple of years. I believe they have helped her be more confident and a better person. Soccer is still iffy, she isn't the most focused girl on the team and we are hard on her for it. At the same time we understand that she is a kid an dwill have days where she could care less to be there. She is very good at kicking when she does pay attentiona dn i am hoping in a few weeks when the games start she will really pick up the pace and do awesome. She is wearing mainly size 8/10 pants and the same in shirts and a size 1-2 shoe. She is sweet and loves art. She makes beautiful portraits of people and 3-D creations. I can't wait to be able to get her art lessons and see how she grows and all the can learn from them.
This weekend we are going on our first family trip of the summer...maybe a little late but a trip at that. Since i was on vacation with the kiddos all of June visiting family we just didn't make time once we were back to go on trips all four of us. So this weekend we got some free tickets to a St. Louis Cardinals game on Friday night. Afterwards we are going to stay at the the Hyatt Regency at the Arch which is a bit out of our normal price range but we thought it would be a special treat for us all. We got a suite and hope to have a little time to swim before or after our festivities. Then when we wake up Saturday we are hitting the St. Louis Zoo. Grant has never been and Hailey hasn't been since she was 4 or 5 and it is our favorite zoo within 5-6 hours. Then we will head home. Jason has some tatoo work getting done Saturday night, yeah i know Uber important right, so we need to get home for that. I think it will be a perfect way to start our Labor Day weekend. We are hoping to finish the weekend off with a small family gathering with my mom, and brother's family but nothing is set in stone. We also have Holiday world tickets burning a hole in my pocket but i am unsure if we will go this weekend or not...it is all a waiting game. I will try to post more pics soon...maybe even some of my own kids. I have been a bad blogger lately, i forgot how nice it feels to write all of your frustrations, hopes, and dreams down. I like sharing with you ...not that anyone but myself read my blog but maybe that is why i feel so happy. I can write anything i want and not worry about what anyone thinks!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Give Me Strength
I always thought when i got done with my bachelor's degree that finding a job would be easy...well for some that might be so. For me it isn't! No one wants an older mother who has been a stay at home mom. They have overlooked my extensive volunteer experience, my ability to run a home based business, my ability to juggle a home, family, school...all at one time. I just don't understand! I want to work, i am ready to work, i am responsible...why don't people want that!
I am discouraged and saddened. I love being a stay at home mom and i love taking care of my family but my time to go back to work is NOW. I need it for my own sanity. I need adult interactions and meaningful work. I want to prove what i can do. I have always felt a step lower than my working friends, i am smart and i am good at what i do. I just wish i could express that to others. They look at my resume and go straight to my work history which was sparse before starting my daycare. In high school and college i worked two or three jobs sometimes 60 hours a week...but they don't see that. All they see is a person who has only worked restaurants and daycares and has no TRUE experience. I am beat. I am tired of explaining how smart i am, how well i multi-task, how great i am at the computer. How even though i have kids and a family that i am dependable and will come to work on time and consistently!
I am nauseated at the thought that we want a third baby and it might happen before i find a job and because of that i might never find a job. If it is hard to find work now i can't imagine anyone in their right mind hiring someone who will need a maternity leave or all the appointments that go along with a newborn. I am confused and unsure of what i am doing...i am conflicted. I am wondering if i should put my desires for another baby on hold for awhile to pursue my dreams for a career. When i know that now is the best time for another child. The fact that we don't want to wait any longer, we don't want to be older parents, we want our children close in age.
Is it really that important to find a job? Do i need a career to feel complete? Will my husband be happy if i don't find work right away? I am just not sure...i am scared, i am tired, i am beat....i want this to be easy even when i know this is my biggest challenge yet! I am ready to push through this and reach my goals but i am not going to give up myself and y beliefs to get there.
I need a company who is family friendly and willing to let me prove myself. I want to find a company who will encourage me and push me to do bigger and better things. I know i will find it but please God let me have the strength and patience to wait for the perfect time to come! I really need it right now!
I am discouraged and saddened. I love being a stay at home mom and i love taking care of my family but my time to go back to work is NOW. I need it for my own sanity. I need adult interactions and meaningful work. I want to prove what i can do. I have always felt a step lower than my working friends, i am smart and i am good at what i do. I just wish i could express that to others. They look at my resume and go straight to my work history which was sparse before starting my daycare. In high school and college i worked two or three jobs sometimes 60 hours a week...but they don't see that. All they see is a person who has only worked restaurants and daycares and has no TRUE experience. I am beat. I am tired of explaining how smart i am, how well i multi-task, how great i am at the computer. How even though i have kids and a family that i am dependable and will come to work on time and consistently!
I am nauseated at the thought that we want a third baby and it might happen before i find a job and because of that i might never find a job. If it is hard to find work now i can't imagine anyone in their right mind hiring someone who will need a maternity leave or all the appointments that go along with a newborn. I am confused and unsure of what i am doing...i am conflicted. I am wondering if i should put my desires for another baby on hold for awhile to pursue my dreams for a career. When i know that now is the best time for another child. The fact that we don't want to wait any longer, we don't want to be older parents, we want our children close in age.
Is it really that important to find a job? Do i need a career to feel complete? Will my husband be happy if i don't find work right away? I am just not sure...i am scared, i am tired, i am beat....i want this to be easy even when i know this is my biggest challenge yet! I am ready to push through this and reach my goals but i am not going to give up myself and y beliefs to get there.
I need a company who is family friendly and willing to let me prove myself. I want to find a company who will encourage me and push me to do bigger and better things. I know i will find it but please God let me have the strength and patience to wait for the perfect time to come! I really need it right now!
Saturday, August 21, 2010
It's been a long time
To say that i have fell out of blogging would be an understatement....i have fell off the planet, well except Facebook! It seems that i have made myself overplanned and overworked all summer. I feel like the job of a stay at home mom is even crazier now that usual.We took a month long vacation to visit family in Iowa. Luckily the trip was very relaxing and i was able to meet my sister Katrina with whom i feel like i was able to have a great connection with. Just recently i found out Katrina is expecting so i will become an aunt again, an unexpected but wonderful surprise. The kids got to ride four wheelers and go carts all day and even fish a couple of times but mainly we just laid low and spent time together which was much needed.
Currently, I have been looking for jobs a couple of hours a day. I have had a few interviews here and threr but most of them don't pay well so we have declined the positions. I am going back on Monday for my second interview for a job that seems perfect for me but again the pay is borderline...but we might have to compromise as a family and take something below what we want so i can get started.
I have been doing photoshoots at the rate of almost 1 a week (which is alot for this beginner). I am loving it. I have been getting more and more props and getting better at rearranging my house to accommodate shoots i have indoors. I am really really hoping that for Christmas i can get some good lighting because that is my main issue right now! We are also looking into a better camera but we will see what happens!
I have been volunteering at Hailey's school weekly or more...and the doctor appoinments have been weekly for the past month. Combine all that together with our normal everyday life and the beginning of school and school activities i think i might go crazy! Hailey is playing Fall soccer again this year so we have two practices and a game each week. On top of that she is a Girl Scout and has usually two meetings a month. Then i am a PTA mom and have one monthly meeting and about 4 activities every month....so it can get a little hectic on the schedule.
BUT i am very thankful for my hectic life. I figure it means we are living life to the fullest. We are not sitting home being couch potatoes or lazy bums but spending time doing the things we love most. Sometimes i just want to relax and have a break so i am trying t oschedule more alone/relax time into our schedule but i know as the kids get older they will start doing more on their own and will need us less freeing up some time. I don't want to miss a second of their activities. School has taken up so much of my time i have had to miss many of these activities and i won't miss any voluntarily again soon! Those moments are so very precious!!!
I wanted to add some of my photos from this summer and the photoshoots i have been doing! Hopefully it won't be this long again before i write but i can't promise that. O yeah and we are trying for our third and last child currently so my hectic life will be blessed with a little more chaos and we couldn't be happier with our decision! I will make sure to update you when it actually happens.
Currently, I have been looking for jobs a couple of hours a day. I have had a few interviews here and threr but most of them don't pay well so we have declined the positions. I am going back on Monday for my second interview for a job that seems perfect for me but again the pay is borderline...but we might have to compromise as a family and take something below what we want so i can get started.
I have been doing photoshoots at the rate of almost 1 a week (which is alot for this beginner). I am loving it. I have been getting more and more props and getting better at rearranging my house to accommodate shoots i have indoors. I am really really hoping that for Christmas i can get some good lighting because that is my main issue right now! We are also looking into a better camera but we will see what happens!
I have been volunteering at Hailey's school weekly or more...and the doctor appoinments have been weekly for the past month. Combine all that together with our normal everyday life and the beginning of school and school activities i think i might go crazy! Hailey is playing Fall soccer again this year so we have two practices and a game each week. On top of that she is a Girl Scout and has usually two meetings a month. Then i am a PTA mom and have one monthly meeting and about 4 activities every month....so it can get a little hectic on the schedule.
BUT i am very thankful for my hectic life. I figure it means we are living life to the fullest. We are not sitting home being couch potatoes or lazy bums but spending time doing the things we love most. Sometimes i just want to relax and have a break so i am trying t oschedule more alone/relax time into our schedule but i know as the kids get older they will start doing more on their own and will need us less freeing up some time. I don't want to miss a second of their activities. School has taken up so much of my time i have had to miss many of these activities and i won't miss any voluntarily again soon! Those moments are so very precious!!!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Graduaton-FINALLY HERE!
Well i am officially a college graduate, not just another associate degree and yes i have two of those but finally my bachelor's! I am a 30 year old who has finally accomplished the greatest achievement for myself EVER! I have been walking on the moon ever since i took my "final" final yesterday. i am sure Sunday when i walk and shake that hand i will be even more elated. I have never in my life felt so good about something i have done, my mom is so proud, my kids are excited and my husband has been praising me all week. I am sitting here crying thinking of what a hard time i have had getting here. It has been a true struggle both financially and emotionally. It has taken precious time from my kids and my husband that i can never get back, it has left me exhausted and wore down.....BUT it is the best thing i have ever done.
I have learned a lot about myself and the strength i have. I have learned that i can do anything i set my mind too. I have gained self-esteem and the will to keep trying for something bigger and better. I have learned that busy is good. I have learned that the world is so much bigger than where i live and i have it GREAT compared to a vast majority of the world. I am BLESSED beyond what i can express. School has given me the courage to look beyond my dreams and shoot for the stars. I can do anything....and i will!
I have decided that i will go back for my master's at some point. It is a goal i have set for myself for the very distant future. I have faith and it is a goal i will complete, i will succeed. BUT for now i am going to enjoy my family. Enjoy my photography. Enjoy looking for a position in a career i am passionate about. Enjoy the summer. Enjoy watching my kids grow up with a mom who will make all the soccer games, PTA meetings, and girl scouts. I mom who has the time to spend quality time on her family and just enjoy everyone and everything!
I am getting ready to start a new chapter in my life and i feel it truly is the best time i have ever had. I am BLESSED! I am blessed!
I have learned a lot about myself and the strength i have. I have learned that i can do anything i set my mind too. I have gained self-esteem and the will to keep trying for something bigger and better. I have learned that busy is good. I have learned that the world is so much bigger than where i live and i have it GREAT compared to a vast majority of the world. I am BLESSED beyond what i can express. School has given me the courage to look beyond my dreams and shoot for the stars. I can do anything....and i will!
I have decided that i will go back for my master's at some point. It is a goal i have set for myself for the very distant future. I have faith and it is a goal i will complete, i will succeed. BUT for now i am going to enjoy my family. Enjoy my photography. Enjoy looking for a position in a career i am passionate about. Enjoy the summer. Enjoy watching my kids grow up with a mom who will make all the soccer games, PTA meetings, and girl scouts. I mom who has the time to spend quality time on her family and just enjoy everyone and everything!
I am getting ready to start a new chapter in my life and i feel it truly is the best time i have ever had. I am BLESSED! I am blessed!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
2nd Infant Shoot!!
I am really getting into this Photoshop thing...it is highly addictive! I have done two infant shoots and a maternity shoot. Then Monday i have another shoot that is an engagement/wedding shoot for a good friend of mine who just got married a couple of weeks ago...they wanted it simple at the courthouse and haven't gotten any pics yet of just the two of them! I am still learning and see so many flaws in what i am doing but i know it is a learning progress and i am learning new techniques every day! Here are a couple of pics of my most recent infant shoot. Hope you like them!
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