He's Here!

...and has been for almost 3 weeks...

Oliver Edward arrived November 2nd at 11:03pm weighing in at 6 pounds 9 ounces and 19 and a half inches long. He's beautiful and healthy and a sweet-tempered baby. I couldn't love him more!

Almost There!

It's almost baby time :o)
Though my due date is still more than 5 weeks away, we know D Day is fast approaching. I have been on bedrest for the past 2+ weeks and am definitely restless, though of course I'm thrilled that Oliver is staying put. Our goal has been 36 weeks (which Seth didn't quite make it to), and that brings us to November 1st. That's a week from Monday. That's soon. I don't actually want him to come on November 1st. That's my mother-in-law's birthday. In fact, I don't want him to come any day during the first week of November. That would allow for the potential that his birthday could fall on Election Day through the years. Truth is, I think he's coming on October 30th. Puts a damper on my Halloween with the kids for this year, but it's just a hunch this momma has.
Anyhoo...I'm looking forward to settling into our new life as we know it!

Pumpkin Pancakes

Who doesn't love fall? Raise your hand. Useless task, I know, since I can't see your hands and would rather believe that none of you would raise it anyway. Fall is the most amazing season of the year. I suppose it is one of the perks to living where I do...WNY is beautiful in the fall. It may be possible to have a different favorite season in other parts of the (deprived) world. Anyhow - I LOVE the fall. I love the crisp autumn air, the apples (we go pick our own), the fall-scented housewarmers, the pumpkin pie, sweatshirts and bonfires, there's more, hold on. Oh, the pumpkin pie (stay with me here), the pumpkin lattes, the pumpkin bread, the pumpkin donuts, the pumpkin carving, and yes, the pumpkin pancakes. I made some for dinner last night and they were good...with real maple syrup.

Apparently the code for my former background went kaput. I've avoided posting anything because it was stupid-looking to say the least. I tried replacing it a few times with no luck so just stayed away. This morning I tried again and -VOILA - I have a new background. Perhaps a little premature, but anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE the fall and would quite possibly prefer it year round. Maybe I'd get tired of it after while...nah.

It's a...

I had my 18 week sonogram one week ago today. As much as we tried to fanagle, Ron couldn't make it to the appointment with me. He really didn't want us to find out the baby's sex but I was determined to know. It is not in my nature to straight up go against his wishes but did I mention I was determined? I hate the thought of going through an entire pregnancy not knowing what the baby is! SO...I asked the sono tech to figure it out and put the answer in an envelope for me to take home. She agreed. It's amazing what the untrained eye can recognize when the switch is flipped to 4D, however. I thought maybe I could tell myself, in the quick pass she took past baby's "parts." Anyway, I came home with a sealed envelope that Ron refused to open. How rude...
It took until Friday - and he said it was only because I had an inkling - to open the envelope. Sydney was sitting in the room with us not knowing what we were even doing. Ron opened it and showed me. Then he gave the labeled picture to Sydney. A sweet pout quickly turned to all-out sobbing. "I don't want it to be a boy!" she cried. Heartbreaking, really.
So there ya have it...it's a BOY!
:o)

Yesterday we went strawberry picking. Another momma and her 3 little boys went with us and we went for a playground picnic afterward. We had a beautiful day for it and the kids (all 7 of them) behaved really well. When we were first getting ready to head out into the field to pick, the kids had partnered themselves up in pairs - very cute. Sydney took Vincenzo (a 2 year old twin), Shane took Tuscan (the 4 year old big brother), Noah took Matteo (the other twin), and they decided that Seth could be with me and Shannon...

Though it was cute that they took it upon themselves to buddy up, it wasn't until I was uploading pictures late last night that I was struck.

I had brought my camera with intentions of snapping lots of gorgeous sunshiney strawberry pickin' pictures. It was enough work trying to pick berries while constantly scanning the field to be sure all kiddos were in sight. This photo - or portion of a photo - caught my eye. This was after we had gotten into the field and were starting to pick...the kids were just kind of going about their business, but Noah was still holding Matteo's hand.

When we think of the people we want leading us, we make lists of qualifications - must be smart, savvy, strong, experienced, educated...you know the list. Here, Matteo didn't know that Noah hasn't even been to preschool yet. He didn't care that he's barely 4 inches taller and not quite 2 years older. Nor did he realize that Noah has never picked strawberries before. But that didn't matter - Matteo had the faith of a child. God tells us to have faith like a child. These babes don't question our abilities. They trust that we will lead and care for them and keep them safe. Even a child barely older than themselves. How precious, too, that Noah took Matteo by the hand and led him. To where? Who knows what he had in mind - but he was willing, and Matteo trusted.

Shades on the Windows

Ron leaves for work by 6:10 in the morning - six days a week. He gets ready to leave the house in a tiptoe, quietly shuffling from room to room being mindful not to wake anyone. He does this because he loves me and he knows I'd give anything to slep in a bit in the morning. Seth, however, couldn't care less how much sleep I think I need. By 6:20 most days he is standing on the side rail of my bed, leaning in real close, his face inches from mine, demanding, "Mommy, Momma! Ah eeyaw. Mommy ah eeyaw!" I know this doesn't sound so bad but you have to understand that when I say 'demanding' what I really mean is he yells and cries at me before I'm even conscious. And then yells more and louder if I'm not up and running to the kitchen in under 4 seconds. And God forbid my pregnant self should feel the urge to stop at the bathroom on the way.
What is it that makes this 2 year old bounce up just minutes after daddy leaves? I have tried pleading with Ron to try and be a little quieter, that he must be making too much noise. He has since convinced me that if I don't even hear him getting up in the same room, then why should Seth? And why would he not get up while Ron was still here?
Perhaps the fact that we have lived here for nearly six months and still haven't gotten any curtains/blinds/shades on his bedroom windows has something to do with it. Maybe that would also explain why he started out sleeping a bit latert and has gradually been getting up earlier. So yesterday I bought shades. The room darkening kind. And I am getting them up today. And tomorrow we are sleeping in until 8.

Lame-O

I worked last night. And had stuff to do today. Stuff that required that I skip the sleeping portion of my day. Bummer. And it was hot. And humid. And I'm pregnant. And...just kidding - that's enough of that. My mother in law hosted a birthday party for Brandon at a bowling alley today and I had committed to bringing a couple food items. It turned out to be a good day, the kids had a blast (how pathetic that I forgot my camera and thus have no super-cute pics of Seth "wo-win"). By the time we were ready to head home, I was sleepy, nauseated, and crabby. Once we got home, I continued to feel the same and the kiddos were spreading thin. Some time in the sprinkler segued to bath and bed. Of course we came across an impromptu invite to the drive in...after the kids were sleeping. Sounded fun. And I bet it was for the kids whose parents are not so lame. Thankfully they don't know what they missed out on!
Instead, Ron and I took an exhilerating ride to the late-night post office while a sweet teen sat here and watched TV. My dear husband did, however, satisfy my craving for soup (did I mention it was hot today?) with a stop at Chili's on the way back home. And chips. With salsa. Yum.

Umm, hi...my name is Karen and I own this blog?

So, I think I may have forgotten that I even have a blog...and only remembered it while I was reading the blog of another mom and saw my own on her bloglist (thank you Tracey!). While I wouldn't call it free time per se, I am working just part time right now - so will make time to keep my dear audience entertained. Ha. All 3 of you who have given up on me. Ha.
Apparently it has been a full year since I've been here. So, yeah, I passed my NYS RN board exam last July and have been a registered nurse since. I worked on a medical/surgical floor at a hospital for 8 months while Ron played "manny" at home. During that time, we lived through one son leaving for Marine bootcamp and another starting Kindergarten, found out we were expecting a baby, sold our house, lost our baby, spent 2 months living with my parents, and bought a new house. That brings us to January...then since February, Ron took a job as General Manager, I took a part time position on a Mother-Baby unit at a different hospital, we found out we have a new bean due in November and we are working on the house and yard like busy little bees.
Needless to say, the past year has tried us thoroughly but has built our faith and character tremendously. God is good. I'm sure many have followed us on Facebook, so realize that this is an extreme summary and does not share the slightest detail of what the year has held. Truth is, I can't just pick up and start writing without acknowledging that I missed a week (or 52). [insert wink here]