Monday, March 31, 2008




Kids

So did everyone have a spectacular weekend? I hope so! I went shopping on Saturday because I was having a serious case of the pregnant blues ( hormones are lovely!) and we all know that there is nothing quite like shopping to cure a downer. For me that usually means buying clothes for my daughter...it is my passion, addiction, obsession..... so what that she dresses better than I do, it is so much fun!!! With spring here, the outfits that I LOVE are endless, and I just really can't say no. However, this Saturday was supposed to be for the daughter in my belly, so I was in baby shopping mode. That lasted about 20 min., then I made my way into the toddler section. It was all over from there. It doesn't matter what it is.. shoes,panties, socks, shirts, dresses..... well you get it, and I have to have it!!! I have to!!! I think that I may have a problem, don't they have counseling for this kind of thing? I just can't stop!! My bags were quite big and quite full, and of course I just couldn't wait to show off all of my great new "baby" things to someone! Unfortunately, my husband doesn't have a lot of interest in the clothing that are children wear (which most of the time is a blessing, he doesn't know how much I actually spend! shh!!...), so I didn't have a very interested audience. I showed him anyway..."uh huh, uh huh, yeah, uh huh" no interest at all. Didn't even notice that after I separated the three children's clothes into piles ( remember, I was going BABY shopping), that Lakin's was practically falling over, where the other two just had a small , well, you couldn't even really call it a pile. I sorta felt guilty! I swore that I had got more for the baby! Where did it all go? I honestly don't know what happened... she really hardly got anything at all!! I didn't even get the right sizes, so quite a bit is going to have to be returned...by then I won't like it anymore anyway, so she'll probably end up with even less!! But Lakin's clothes are soooooo... cute!!! I haven't seen her in any of it, except one outfit ( which was great!) and to get her in that I had to bribe her with the promise of a bath. She loves clothes, when we are leaving, but is impossible when it comes to trying them on. I just can't wait to see her in them all!! Now, I'm not going to neglect my new daughter, her time will come, and I will be in a constant state of stress choosing which daughter to buy for. That is the wonderful thing about having a boy, especially one who will only wear t-shirts and basketball shorts and pants. That is why I actually wanted darling Emma to be a boy. then I never had to worry about the stress of dividing up the clothing! Lakin could have it all! I'm just not really that impressed with the newborn girls clothing that's out now, but it was the same with Lakin. When she gets into the 12 month clothes ( assuming it's summer) her closet ( wait, she doesn't have one...), will be overflowing, too. Anyway, I have some pictures that I took last night, for no reason, except that my children ( mainly my weirdo son) wanted pictures of themselves falling. I don't know, the oddities of children... thought they were funny, well, sort of.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Coloring Eggs






ahhh.... the tradition of coloring eggs! I remember doing this, but for some reason I remember it taking time. Of course, maybe I'm remembering a time from when I was older, and being a girl, I imagine that each egg had to be just right. Well, not so with my kids. 14 eggs were done in about,oh, 10 minutes. Of course after they were done, we didn't have very happy children, so back into the colors they went. Lakin kind of just "plopped" her eggs in and by the time we were finshed, the red and blue dye were no longer in the cup, but on the table. She was fond of one particular egg, and would "plop", pull out, hold dripping in her hands, then " plop" back in. That egg had a lot of brown undertones from being put into so many colors. But it was a BEAUTIFUL egg! Gavin was a little more careful, but each egg was dunked in multiple colors at least 5-6 times. He, at least, managed to keep the dye in the cup. By the time the third cup was no longer standing, I had to call it quits. I do think not touching those eggs so they could dry was one of the hardest accomplishments both of my kids have ever achieved. But then we got to do stickers!! what fun! By the time it was all said and done we had 12 eggs left ( well, 11 , with no cracks), to find the next morning, so I had to pull out some plastic ones, too. They had a wonderful time, and Lakin's ready for "egg painting" again. Already can't wait for next year!
Went to the doctor today...35 weeks, not long to go! Whet ahead and did my Strep B test, which for those of you who remember, was really very simple and painless. A quick swab of the cha and " dungeon". I, of course, have never had this particular test done before because normally they do it at 37 weeks, and I have never made it to that point. I have officially been "strep B swabbed"!!! I was imagining all sorts of tortorous devices ( particuarlly the metal "openers") and being in stirrups for ever, but nope! Not even stirrups are required. We did a quick check of my cervix, since the good ol' Doc. seemed a little nervous with the 4 contractions I had in about 10 minutes of talking to him, but all is well. I'm only dialated to about 2 and I'm " nice and long", his words there. I am officially a fat ass, topping the scales at a forever indisclosed weight. It is very easy to say that I have NEVER been this heavy before. None of you will EVER officially know the number!!! But, I will say that I have gained 1 more pound this week (oh joy!) and have officially gained 19lbs! Which, I've been told, is great.....hmmmm. I ask you, what's so great about gaining 10 lbs in 2 months???? I know, I know....it's good for the baby. It's easy to say when you don't have to worry about loosing all that "good" weight for the baby, after she decends from your womb. I don't want most of this weight to be " baby" eathier. No way would I ever look forward to pushing anything over 7lbs. out of this passageway. This one should hope ( as should my delivering doctor...and my husband) that she follows along with my other darlings and stays in the 6lb. area. Anyway, I'm officially still fat as a whale, and will probley continue to be for the next two weeks. Everyone be prepared for another little Ridgway ( who I have no high hopes of actually resembling her mother) to be seeing us soon! But those of you attending this weekend will get to enjoy the humor of seeing me waddle one more time. And oh yeah, don't forget to check out my cankles!! They are glamorous! All reddish, purpleish, and very, very, cankle-y! I love 3rd trimester pregnancy!! ( and the vomiting of 1st and half of 2nd)
On to other more exciting baby news!!!! Ms Jami and her lovely other half have produced us another girl!! She found out just today and there is excitement all over ( well, Daddy would have prefered a boy, but he'll come to his senses!). She, of course, will have short lived excitement, because her weenie ass will, no doubt, be on bedrest within the next month or so. I do not believe that the state of pregnancy is for the likes of her. Compared, mine has been a breeze!! But I do have to point out this one tiny little thing, but only because I'm such a loving best friend....her jeans are to tight!!! Not just in the belly....worse....in her butt!!!! I like big butts.....he, he, he!! I can't wait until she has a big ol' swollen belly, but at least there will be some proportion with the weight gain in the "trunk" so she doesn't fall over. Ahhh... she is so lucky to have me, don't you think? But at least I'll have someone to loose baby fat with, but by August, I really hope the majority of mine is awol. Not to mention, she will most likely endure another c-section, because she has to be drama, drama, drama, and will have a long, miserable recovery, so that will give me even more time to have the weight gone. I guess I could just get really, really fat in that time and use her as an excuse to wait to loose the weight. After all, my hubby is overly confident that I will be back to being "skinny" within, like, a day. He wants me to , ideally, be back to the size I was when he met me. Which I can assure you, will not happen, if I need to remind any of you, that was about a size 2 (with give). I haven't been that small since BEFORE I had Lakin, but I guess he can hope. Wouldn't he just be devestated if I come out 4 sizes bigger!!! Poor man, poor disillusioned man. I'm sure he'll be willing to hire a personal trainer or pay for care while I go to a gym..... oh wait, wrong husband, I better get my magic "weight" wand ready!! I love that man so much! Unfortunatly, I doubt I'll have the energy to wipe my own butt for a while, let a lone exercise. Let's just hope it's mostly water and after birth, because we know it's not my boobs, and it better no be this child!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Love!!





I had to hurry up and grab my camera the other day, because I know that one day I will need this proof that my children do love each other!! They are a little blurry ( it's really hard to take pic.'s of moving kids), but they are still cute!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Baby Shower







Hey everyone!! Well, the baby shower is over. One more milestone in this pregnancy completed. Before to long it's going to be waa..waa..waa.. ( from me, not the baby) poop, poop, poop.... well, you get the picture. I'm not really ready for this particular pregnancy to come to an end ( if my cha stopped it's constant torture of my body, that I would be okay with), but unfortunately, I know it will be sooner rather than later. Since I'm rather enjoying this pregnancy, lets just hope she stays put until April. We have 7wks. left at most!! Kind of scary, actually. The thought of my vagina expanding to the size of a watermelon and going through self-induced, excruciating pain, just isn't something I have pleasant thoughts about. Maybe I can start asking for an epidural at about 35wks., just to be on the safe side......



For everyone who was able to make it, thanks for coming! For all you others ( Heather) sorry you couldn't make it, but you really didn't miss to much excitement. Actually, it turned out pretty well, I think. I didn't get overloaded with things, but I also didn't get a bunch of stuff we don't need. What I didn't get, and I would greatly appreciate, is the money for an add on so the baby has a room..... any givers???? That's okay, I'll give you time to think it over. I did get a really cool swing from my madre, that is just the greatest thing ever. I can't wait to use it!! Lakin's already turned it into a swing for her baby's, but it's just not the same! It has all sorts of cool sounds, 6 speeds, and the greatest part is no batteries necessary! It plugs into the wall!! Wonderful, wonderful idea! I got a bouncy seat from Jami ( which my darling son seems to think is a spring for his Bionicles) and a high chair from Tracy. Those were all the bigger things, but there were many other little items ( bottles, wipes, clothes, etc..) from everyone else, and we really appreciate all of it! It doesn't look like we are going to have to buy much of anything, maybe a few bottles and binkies, but that's about it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Well, I guess we will probably put ourselves in debt with the price of formula.... but that's something we will deal with then. Hopefully, little Emma- Grace isn't a big eater.



I only have a few pictures, but Tracy and Jami took some and when I see them I'll get copies and post some. The few I have aren't grand,but I'll see what I can come up with.