Anella Kay

on the way home from the hospital
very proud siblings!

Here are a few pictures of Anella Kay. I'll post the story later. :-) She's a sweetie!!!!!

Anella!!

This is Kara guest blogging for Krissy while she does her stay in the hospital after finally giving birth to little Anella Kay today. Anella (don't you just love that name??) arrived at 11:36am and weighs 7lbs 7oz and is 20 inches long. Krissy did excellent, and I'm not just saying that because I'm her big sister. I'll let her tell the whole birth story, but because I was there I get to be the first to say she did a great, great job. One of the most controlled women in labor I've ever seen!


Here are some pictures to hold you over until Kris can post the whole story!

look at all of her black, black hair!

she even already has black eyebrows and lashes!

bright, black eyes

mommy loves her

minutes after birth, look how pink she is!

Nesting

With nothing else terribly interesting to talk about I would like to address the idea of nesting...

I think the whole thing is made up.

I mean, if I don't switch out my kids summer things for fall,(which was the first time I was told I was nesting) who will? And if I don't mop floors when they need it, (or when my child poops on them) are one of your cleaning ladies coming over to do it for me? Or get out the bassinet or wash the sheets... you get the idea. All of these things are times when I was told I was nesting.

I have a chore list that I try to stick to some what regularly and it works out pretty well for me. But all the sudden when I am doing the same chores I have always done, with an occasional drawer clean out, this means I'm nesting? At this point I think it's just another way for people to express that they are excited for me that I'm at the "end" of my pregnancy because otherwise I've been nesting for many, many weeks.

If it does indicate delivery, exactly who decided the span for how long I still have to wait? I'm sure I could find corners to clean or something if that would help.

Trick or Treating and a humble heart

Here are a few shots of yesterday's trick or treat fun at the mall. It was a very nice time with no headless goblins or blood-stained axe murderers like I was afraid there might be.

On a much, much more important note I am trying very hard to keep my lowly, slow and stubborn heart in line with my Father's on the date for this baby. I was talking to Kate N. at church and it was good to hear that her baby's three days past due seemed like 3 weeks also.

Part of my issue is just what Melissa talked about last week in that I won't admit defeat, even to my heavenly Father who has more strength to give than any earthly person could. (Even though I am sooo grateful for Bonnie's "earthly" help too!!) I realised last night that I am being so... what word sums it up?... arrogant.

I'm still struggling with details I won't go into but the point is that I just won't give up the idea that my day for when the baby would come (5 days early) was better than my Father's.

I know when I hear myself say this that it is horribly wrong and that my perspective of this is so much smaller than I even know or can appreciate. I know my little perspective on life is like looking through a pin hole compared to what my loving Father sees and has planned.

So, all that to ask that you would pray for me that I would continue to follow Jesus' lead. To follow how he walked in total obedience with such peace knowing his Father was in control.

Control over Lazarus' death, which I'm sure seemed very wrong to many people for those 3 long days,control over every lame person that was left lame as Jesus made his journey's (you know he didn't heal them all) and finally control over his death, I'm positive this was heartbreaking and challenged the faith of the believers then.

Jesus knew and was at peace with only the exact tasks and timing that his Father called him to and I want to live in that same peace until this little one comes.

I don't know any answers to the details that seem wrong but I know that this is one lesson I've been clearly poised to learn. Conviction is a good thing.

Our clan on the move. Cowboy leading the way and bumble bee bringing up the rear.

The loot!

"pleeeeease?"

Dora, requesting a bear rather than candy. :-)

-2

I guess negative two is the day I'm on now. Notice how happy the little baby on my countdown thingy looks? I'm pretty sure this is how my baby feels. "Yeah! One more day in the warm, quiet, safe womb!"

I've realized how... mundane my life is by trying to blog every day about it. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly thankful for the mundane and I wouldn't try to spice things up around here but it's not a whole lot that's worthy of telling every day.

John Patrick had another accident in his pants yesterday, this time at the mall. So we were that family which is the whole reason I don't like the play area. Who knows how many times a day there is a child playing with dirty pants and his mom doesn't know?

Crestview Hills Town Center is having Trick or Treating today from 11-1 so we're going to go take advantage of that free candy. I can tell you what will probably happen with it all. I'll tell myself that the kids shouldn't have that much sugar then I'll eat it all myself.

Sorry, Aunt Leigh Ann and G.G. for not having a baby for you to come see this weekend. Hopefully we'll get to see you soon. :-)


Since I haven't had any pictures for awhile I decided to find something amusing for you're viewing pleasure and I'll take my camera with me today. :-) These are from our days as "just friends" (read- John liked Krissy, Krissy was cruel and strung him on forever). The second picture is John flying right over my head, the picture was taken literally the split second before I screamed and hit the ground. Only in Iowa can you stand at the end of a runway and be almost hit by a small aircraft with only the corn to tell on you.

Good morning poop

I now know the reason I can't have this baby right now: Because my lot in life is 3 year old poop. Since my story on Tuesday a certain little boy has pooped in his underwear one time on Wednesday (luckily it at least stayed contained this time) and then this morning I was awaken but John saying, "Kris, John Patrick took off his diaper in bed and stepped in it and there is poop all over the house." Yes, folks, this time it's in the carpet too.
Does anyone have any advice on this? He is being punished for it at this point. He's well aware that it's wrong but I have no idea what he's thinking. Even though he's potty trained he has never pooped in the toilet. He has though, always waited for a diaper at bed time or nap time. Any ideas are welcome.

On the baby front, I did have some more minor contractions late last night that didn't hurt but were enough to keep me in suspense until 1:30 in the morning. I guess that's progress? At least that's what nice people keep telling me. Thank you to all you nice people.

We're going to play at the play area in the mall so I can walk some more. :-)

Here's a little funny my mom sent me!

Oh, the suspense!!

Anyone want to make it a game? Who knows if this will make things feel any faster but maybe more fun. I wish I could find some way of putting a calendar or something on my page but I don't even know where to begin so we'll have to just post comments. Have at it.

1. Boy or Girl (the heartbeat is slow but my babies were backwards of the old wives tale)
2. Day of birth (I won't hold it against you if you pick next week...but you won't be my favorite blogging friend.)
3. Weight (Again, if anyone other than Melissa says anything over 9 lbs, I may have to take you off my blogging friend list. :-) I figure if you've delivered a 9 pounder yourself you've earned the right to guess it.)
4. Length (Consider the fact that he/she is about 5 inches from falling out and still lodged in my ribs.)

Now, what for a prize? That depends on which one of you wins. If I don't deliver until two weeks from now, you're prize is one standby ticket to Webster City, Iowa to help me with a newborn while the other 3 family members are in a wedding. :-)

On the bright side: John's mom flew in last night so help has arrived!! I can't tell you how helpful she is. She is currently playing grocery store in the basement while I sit here. I love her. And my sister Kelly stopped by last night just to play with the kids outside for a while, so sweet. And then, to top off the evening, Betsy brought by a delicious chicken broccoli casserole for dinner so I didn't even have to think about that. God is good. Why is it so humbling to have help?

Also, This has really made me focus on trusting the Lord's timing and not my own. I know he has the date set perfectly. I just have to keep reminding myself that he is controlling it, not me. I think I depend on my plan way more than I realize. I know he ultimately directs but I don't rest in that, I rest in knowing the routine and plan. Does that make sense? So this is causing me to rest in Him and not in my knowledge of "the plan". I found a verse in Psalms yesterday that goes through lots of the ways he shows his power and one of them was causing the deer to have her fawn at just the right moment. Thank you Lord.

One more day

No baby yet.
I have to start all conversations this way right now because every time I call anyone they think I'm in labor.
I like my mom's theory: this is a cozy little one who can hear the chaos of life outside the womb and is smart enough to stay put. Seems reasonable to me.
We went for a walk at the park today which didn't seem to help but was very, very enjoyable. Again, the camera is in the "baby ready bag" so no pictures. John Patrick tried to find a bear but to no avail. Dora just walked/ran her little heart out trying to keep up with us. I love the smell of crunchy leaves and wet dirt from the morning frost. The kids threw some rocks in the creek and we just enjoyed the morning.

Here is another funny conversation that happened in our house this morning:
Dora from the next room-"Mommyyyyyyy, Buggy hit me!!!!"
Me upon entering the room- "John Patrick you know you shouldn't hit Dora."
JP- "I didn't hit her." (Keep in mind he's usually the dependable one right now.)
Me- "Dory, you can't say buddy hit you if he didn't."
Dora to John Patrick with an acquisitive look on her face- "Buggy, you no hit me?"
JP- "No, I didn't."
Dora, very matter of fact- "wow."

This is where I bow out. I don't understand how she could have mistaken being hit but she was good with that answer and he never stopped playing long enough to let any of it bother him so I just chalk it up to one battle I didn't have to mediate. Great parenting strategies from Krissy.

One more question: Has anyone actually had fried green tomatoes. Since it was supposed to freeze last night John picked all the green tomatoes on the plants in hopes that they'll ripen inside but if they don't does anyone have any good ideas?

2 days left!!

Warning: If any boys other than my husband read this blog this may be to much for some of you.
I had my midwife appointment this morning and come to find out my due date is Thursday the 23rd not the 22nd. :-) The ultrasound tech made it one day earlier but what I didn't know is that if I know my last day of my last period that is more accurate.
And some great news! I'm almost three cm. dilated, 60% effaced and at +1. So, if any of you don't know what that means, I'll quote the midwife, "wow, this baby is low in your pelvis." To which I replied, "yes, thank you, I know."

While we wait, how about a little story of my day yesterday? I really thought it was going to put me into labor just because of the emotional exercise of the day:
It started off good, I even got a decent night sleep. But then John Patrick decided to poop in his underwear. He doesn't do this often anymore but it was one I won't forget. He had on overalls so that makes things even more interesting.
After getting him cleaned off and in new clothes I go back downstairs to start cleaning the dirty clothes, which now puts my laundry schedule for the day off because that's a whole load of 3 things I didn't plan on, but I can take it. After starting the laundry I check on the kids only to realize that there is poop on the hard wood, no, make that poop all over the whole first floor! He was wearing socks and apparently didn't realize he was dropping poop and tracking it everywhere. You can imagine my joy in thinking about mopping the whole first floor. (Remember the baby suspended in my pelvis?) So I get the kids fed and into naps and get everything mopped and squeaky clean. I figure this can only help put me into labor, right? So after naps when we're all peaceful again I thought it would be nice to redeem the day with some cookie making. I know, to some of you this is not the way to take stress out of a day but my kids have gotten really good at following directions and besides that chocolate sounded really good. So, with eggs, sugar, melted chocolate/butter and vanilla mixed in the bottom of the mixer and flour, cocoa, salt and baking powder on top I told John Patrick he could put the mixer head down so I (and I did say "I") can start it. I'm sure you all see where this is going? He can't control the desire to work the buttons and turns it on HIGH. Flour, cocoa, chocolate eggs and more go FLYING all over my squeaky clean, freshly mopped kitchen... I didn't even have the wits to turn it off right away I was in such shock. After coming to my senses and getting the darn thing turned off I just stare at him, Dora, and I covered in... everything...then I see my whole counter, blinds, floors... you get the idea, basically one/third of my kitchen covered and I just start crying. Which of course causes Dora to start crying, then John Patrick and we all just stood there one messy, sticky, weepy bunch trying to figure out what to do next.
That's basically it. I got the kids scraped off and down stairs for some glorious cartoons and decided rather than clean up I would call my sisters and mom in order to make the situation funny before I tackled cleaning it. I really wanted to take pictures but the camera was upstairs where it has been for 3 days now in the hospital bag, waiting.
I will say this, I thought it was a good idea to guess at the amount of the dry ingredients that went flying and add them back to what was left of the wet just so I could eat cookie dough while I cleaned. :-) What? It helped.
I'm off for a good walk. :-)

Are you kidding me?

I know this doesn't have anything to do with my baby countdown but I saw another add with Kelly Ripa holding a bunch of towels on top of a washer and dryer and I about laughed my head off. Does anyone actually believe that she has EVER folded her own towels?!? Or made a single batch of cup cakes? Please. They could have at least chosen someone who has played the part of a mother once or twice. Bonnie Hunt for example, at least she has played a mother of twelve.

Baby update: I really thought maybe last night was it. I was feeling a little achy with some minor contractions and (unfortunately) some lower back pain... but, no. I even packed our bags completely so we were ready to go...but, no. waiting...waiting...

3 days to go!

What do I do when I go past my due date? Start counting negative numbers? :-)I can't hardly believe I will. I feel like this baby is going to just fall out at anytime... who knows.

We enjoyed our first fire last night. It was all we anticipated it being. We were going to roast marshmallows but we had such a late dinner that by the time I cleaned up the kitchen and John had read all the library books we decided bed time was a better idea. :-) After all, we are trying to go to early church and 815am sneaks up on us quickly these days! I did get to enjoy sleeping by the fire as it died out since the couch is my bed. Poor John can't sleep with me in the bed and I'm usually to hot in our bedroom to sleep much so this arrangement works best for me. I can't wait for the first night I get to sleep in my own bed again after the baby. It always feels like a new mattress! Even if I only get two hours of sleep at a time.

I love this picture because Dora is looking at John with such a cute, excited look on her face. Trust me.

One more thing: Dora ate tacos on Saturday night and spaghetti tonight. I guess this is just an encouragement to say "hang in there" if you ever get one of these... types. Not that she eats anything now but that's progress. The funny thing is that I tried so hard to have some "plan" and it turns out "just keep trying" in any way we could seems to be what works. :-)

Count down- day two!

This morning as I enjoyed sleeping in on the couch I heard John Patrick come downstairs and start playing with his toys. Shortly later I heard John get Dora from her bed and attempt snuggling with her. Sometimes she'll do this for him. Never for me. But, this must not have been one of those mornings because soon she was sticking her chubby cheeks through the railing of the steps saying, "Hi Mommy! I no daddy!"
When she made it downstairs I heard this conversation take place:
JP- Hi Dory, you wake up?
Dora- Dee da do nee nu (or something close to that)
JP- Yeah? You got your baby? (John brought them each a small toy from his trip)
Dora- Nu noo me da too la
JP- You lost her shoes?
Dora- uh, huh.

Question- How does he know what she's saying?

I would love to do a count down until our new baby like Melissa did but we don't know the date exactly so I'll just have to take each day at a time. These are some of the happenings as we wait:

1. Brace yourself for #1... Dora ate salad! Two nights ago we went out as a family to Olive Garden (which has raised it's prices by the way, I'd rather go to Macaroni Grill for 14.50 per plate) and Dora was so happy to be sitting right next to Daddy that she ate exactly what he ate which was a salad! Not just one bite either. She consumed a decent amount before she eyed the bread sticks and came to her senses. :-)
2. Thanks to my mom and Woody for spending the night last night while John was on his last trip before taking time off. I've been having some minor contractions for a few days now so I was a little nervous to be by myself. My kids were thrilled of course and I enjoyed a nice evening of Anne of Green Gables with my mom.
3. We still haven't arrived on a girls name. John finally just told me to decide. But me being indecisive as I am, that doesn't really make the decision any easier. Oh, well. I really wanted to break the track record of choosing the name during labor but it looks like that's what we'll do anyway!
4. I've been enjoying having a clear calendar and nice cool weather with my kiddos. John and Jason built the coolest sandbox for the kids that they LOVE so I just swing in the hammock while they play. It's great.
5. I think Kate's little Annie is still going to be smaller than my baby when it's born. I told her she has to have her weighed the same day I deliver. :-) She's such a peanut.
6. Dora has just discovered the fine art of tattling. She now runs to me at any offence and says, "Buggy hit me!" Even if she's the one who tried stealing his book and all he did was keep it from her. It's still in the funny stage, I think that will pass soon!

A 3 year old's random observations

Yesterday:

JP- "Mom, are you wearing Daddy's shirt?"

Me- "No, this is my shirt."

JP- "Good job mom, I'm so proud of you!!"

Please come soon, little one, everyone around here is anxious for "normal" to return!

Today:

Me- "Let's find some Halloween crafts on the computer."

JP- "Okay, you go to that dot com and print something."

:-)

Again with the double posting

Well, I can't help it. I was looking for a picture of JP and me from past October's and I couldn't resist sharing how much life has changed. These pictures are taken two months before Dora was born and John Patrick didn't know the meaning of sharing or sister or playmate. :-) He has been a terrific big brother and I know he will be such a sweety with the new one too. So, here's to John Patrick!!

dresses and dancing

Dora and I are trying to pick out a flower girl dress for her duties in Iowa this November. Some friends have graciously let us borrow a few to try on.

This picture is just to make Grammy and Noni swoon. She looks so innocent, doesn't she...

We were trying this dress when Buster got a little jealous and wanted his picture taken while dancing. Doesn't he look like he knows how to tap dance in the first shot?! He reminds me of Fred Astaire in Royal Wedding... actually he was about to fall on his bottom. :-)

One year ago

I know, two posts in one day. But I was thinking this morning that we have been in this house just over one year now and there are so many things I am thankful for and I want to post my thanks for the good things God gives even though we don't need them:

• The basement- It's not a huge house but there is soooo much to be said for a basement. So often when I go from the basement to the second floor I feel like a queen in a castle. Our old house was on a slab.
• A playroom/guest room- Although there is no closet and no windows in this basement side room it's still great to have a place for guests so they don't have to sleep on an air mattress in the living room anymore. It's a lot easier to keep the kids from waking guests up now!
• Kitchen cabinets and drawers- when I was unpacking it was like getting our wedding gifts all over again, platters and appliances I hadn't seen in three years.
• A fireplace- Definitely a bonus, we love a good Sunday afternoon fire when the weather is cool.
• A linen closet- Why houses now are built without them is beyond me.
• A pantry- I love having enough space to by canned goods that I may not use that week!
• Room to grow- Again, it's not that big but we can see our family having plenty of room as long as God wants to keep us here.
• Dark/quiet nights- John and I grew up in the country so we still love to listen to the quiet night and enjoy the darkness while we sleep. (Okay, except for Friday nights during racing season when Florence speedway is open! We aren't that close so it must be really loud at the raceway!)
• A flowering yard- I think I've said this before but it's so much fun enjoying the fruit of someones labor from 20 years ago. We had so many daffodils this spring I probably cut 10 vases full without making the plants look bare.

Fun with Grammy

My mom came over Thursday to give me a little rest and to get a grand baby fix. It was wonderful and the funny thing is that we both felt rejuvenated by the time.

I got to go to the grocery store and library by myself and the whole time I had a funny feeling. I think it was a combination of thinking I was forgetting something, or the feeling you get when the kids are just to quiet they can't be up to anything good.

This will be a cabinet someday but right now the kids have just realised they fit in it. Probably not a great habit to form but it was funny the first time. Probably also not a coincidence that they were calling for Grammy to come see them, not Mommy. :-)

Yummy iced pumpkin and leaf cookies. Mostly fall colors, except the blue, John Patrick insisted on blue.

My favorites

Some friends and I went to a park on Monday to get some pictures for a local pediatric dentistry office. The dentist goes to our church and he asked me to take some shots of some kiddo' s for his walls. Here are some of my favorites of our park outing Monday.

Dr. Greenhill wants everything in black and white with the vignette border. That's why they all match. If you all want a disc of them to mess around with them yourself, I can copy them for you and bring them to church.

Thank you so much for coming out and playing with us, it was fun!!!! I have lots of pictures that are so cute and have so much potential for funny captions but I thought I better not post 25 pictures. :-)

Pumpkin Farm

We went to Benton Farms in Walton today. They had a petting zoo, hay rides and lots of other things we didn't do because I didn't think of it until 30 minutes before it closed. But we had a great time. And came home with two pumpkins for a dollar a piece, free coloring books about milk and two happy kids with pumpkin cookies in their tummies. Here is Dora and a rabbit also named Dora.

John Patrick looking over Dora's shoulder. The way he spent most of the time in the barn. He's a little more cautious than Dora with animals.

The looks when I showed them how to scoop the goop out of the pumpkins say:

Dora- "Don't bother me I'm busy." John Patrick- "You want me to touch what."

In the end John Patrick loved helping poke the eyes and other shapes out of the face and Dora was only interested in pulling the guts out. She didn't want a face on hers at all.

Great day!

This is John Patrick's new line for describing the weather.
This morning while he and Dora were playing outside and I was making lunch he came over to the screen door pushing his John Deere mower and very sweetly said, "Hey mom, great day for mowing!" :-)

(Can I just say i love blogging for the sake of remembering to tell these stories to my husband and mother. I usually say, "John Patrick did the funniest thing today.... what was that...")