Reminders...

It ocurred to me this morning that this the same point in the pregnancy when Sam and Ben were born....24 weeks 4 days. I'd already been on bedrest for four weeks and then I went into labor. That's a strange/scary thing to remember. This is when they were five days old...that's a preemie diaper that Sam's wearing!

As much as I'm tired of being pregnant (already), all I have to do is look at this picture and I have no complaints. This picture is a good reminder of why I'll do anything possible to avoid having another 1 lb baby. I'm so grateful that things are going well and that so far we haven't had troubles with this pregnancy (knock on wood!!!). So, here's to another 3+ months of being pregnant!

Legalized Torture

Today was the last day of a two week session of swim lessons for Sam. Let's just say that things didn't go exactly as I expected. He normally loves the water and isn't really afraid of it, so I thought that this would no big deal. Hmpf. We even signed him up at Mission pool, which is further from our house, just so that we could have Brooke (Sam's beloved sunbeam teacher) be his instructor. He was so excited to get started! Andrew, on the other hand, was pretty disgusted that he wasn't allowed in the water, he kept trying to take his clothes off. Here they are waiting before the first lesson starts...

Getting ready to start, a little nervous but still willing...

Finally in the water and with somewhat of a smile on his face...

Day Two: WHAT HAPPENED?? That was the beginning of the downhill spiral.

Things just got worse when I talked to the doctor that night and found out that he should be wearing earplugs. The trauma of the earplugs could not be acurately captured with a camera. Talk about screaming...torture...for both of us! Okay, I wasn't screaming, but I wanted to! I was mortified. All of the other moms whose kids were so well behaved watching me wrestle with my hysterical child. Finally, I got the earplugs in, tore his shirt off of him and literally dragged him to the pool and dumped him in to Brooke. As I turned to go back to my seat, seriously horrified at the scene that I had just caused, the moms who were sitting around me throughout the ordeal started clapping! I was a little confused but then they said that I'd handled it so well and started sharing their war stories about kids with tubes in their ears and other swim lesson nightmares. That made me feel a little better. For a little while. Until the next day, and the next, and the next when the scene was repeated (but never quite as bad as the first day).

Andrew found ways to amuse himself but still was pretty disappointed that I never let him in the water. Joe came a couple of days to watch. We were hoping that having daddy there to cheer him on would help Sam, but it didn't. At least he got a little escape from work!Final Day: It was about 70 degrees outside and overcast, I wished that I had brought a sweatshirt for myself, yet I was forcing my child into the pool. What a great mom I am! They put them in lifejackets and threw them (literally) into the deep end. Apparently, he got the hang of it and relaxed, but there were a lot of screaming and tears involved.

Well, we survived and I'll probably make him do it again next year...at least we won't have to deal with earplugs next year. I just hope that he's not too traumatized!

Two Boys in a Boat

The boys got to experience something new and exciting this week. They got to go on a boat for the first time! Now, when I say boat, I'm talking about an ancient little motor boat that my dad inherited from his dad...this thing is at least 30 years old, maybe closer to 40! But, the boys didn't care, it was a great adventure for them! We went after Joe got off work and just took a couple trips around the lake in the little boat. It was beautiful!

Sam couldn't talk about anything else for days leading up to the excursion, but when it came right down to it, he was pretty nervous! This is right after the boat was put in the water...

Here they are, life jackets on, ready to go...kind of! They wouldn't smile for anything! The first trip out was with just Grandma and Grandpa. Immediately after this picture, Andrew climbed in G'mas lap and didn't leave it the whole time!
After that, it was time to take a break for some dinner, then they were right back out!
This trip was with Daddy and G'pa. (I opted not to go out, due to the fumes, my tendency towards motion sickness and how easily I'm nauseated these days!) On this trip they were loosened up a bit more...
I love the expression on Sam's face in this picture, he's so intense!

And, of course, they loved just playing in the water after the boat rides were done. It was a hot day and the water was just the right temperature!

Thanks to my mom and dad for the fun experience! Dad's been talking about taking his grandkids out on the boat for the last three summers and we finally did it! While we were there, Sam saw some other people fishing, so now he's convinced that's what he wants to do next time. Hmmm, that will probably last about five minutes! Oh well, he'd probably be talking about those five minutes for days!

Welcome to his world

I don't know where he got it from, but Sam has been referring a lot lately to things in "his world". I think it's a distinction between real life and books/movies/etc. That's the best I can figure, but it sure is cute. For example, several weeks ago we were leaving a store just after a brief rainstorm. He immediately stopped and seemed shocked. He pointed to the sky and said, "Look, I didn't know there are rainbows in MY world!!" And he was thrilled with the discovery! Oh, to be four again!

Another funny Sam-ism, while I'm on the subject...

Saturday we were driving somewhere as a family and Joe was teasing Sam about some silly little thing. Sam let out a little exasperated sigh and said, "Dad, you drive me nuts!" Hmmm, wonder where he's heard that before?!

Okay, and one other bragging note on Sam. Last sunday he completed his first talk in primary. I was so proud of him! He's been assigned scripture or prayer several times but has always frozen once he gets up to the microphone. Once, he even had the entire scripture memorized, word for word but still, got too scared/nervous to deliver. But, not this time! With his daddy by his side he only hesitated slightly and then he repeated the whole thing loud and clear for all to hear. He's getting to be so grown up!

Fireworks!!!

We had a great 4th of July! Friday night we had a backyard campout, which means that we just set up the tent and slept out there. Our boys are going to have a strange idea of camping because they think that it involves a movie. We brought out the laptop and watched a movie in the tent, which they had fun with, but it's not exactly a true camping experience! Oh well! They had fun in the sleeping bags and eventually fell asleep. I insisted on an air mattress for me, but still ended up back in the house before the end of the night. I'm such a wimp! But, the boys loved it!

Saturday afternoon we went to my aunt and uncle's house for a family BBQ. It was fun because I had cousins and their spouses/families in from out of town that we got to visit with (although I forgot to take any pictures there...) After that, we went out to the farm. My friend, Abby, invited us to go to her parents farm property that is outside of Spokane County so fireworks are legal. I as suprised that my boys didn't get scared by the loud but ones...but they sure weren't! The baby, on the other hand, was kicking up a storm!

It was a late night, but the boys LOVED the fireworks. It was lots of fun! Thanks for the invite, Abby!

Drumroll, please......

We had our ultrasound today and the best is news is that the baby is doing great and the second best news is that it is a...


GIRL!!!!

Yeah! We are so excited, I finally get to have some pink in my life! I can't wait to start shopping!

What a Guy!!

Last week was my birthday and, as always, Joe went to a lot of effort to make it a wonderful one. I woke up around 6:30 to the sound of a balloon popping in the living room. He and the boys were out there decorating with balloons and streamers, it looked great. After checking out what all the commotion was, I was sent back to bed. A little while later they brought me breakfast in bed, french toast with fresh strawberries, mmmm! After cleaning up the kitchen and the boys, he went into work a little late. Before leaving, he let me know that he'd taken the afternoon off and would be home around lunchtime. After he got home I got to do whatever I wanted (which included some shopping for myself and by myself, some quiet time to read and a nap!). Meanwhile, Joe was decorating my birthday cake...he'd baked it (from scratch) the night before and he spent the afternoon assembling. He's called my mom and gotten the specific recipes so that he could make just what I'd wanted. It was wonderful!

After we were all up from our naps, we had the "birthday party" with the boys. This was when I opened my presents and we had cake and ice cream. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the new Wii Fit that I'd gotten...it was a little awkward with my growing tummy, but still fun!

My folks came over in the evening to babysit so that we could go out to dinner (and it was supposed to be a movie also but we got mixed up on the movie times and ended up being WAY late so we decided to go a different time).

All around, it was a wonderful birthday. I felt loved and spoiled, it was great! I'm so grateful for my wonderful husband and all that he does for me. So, one year older...and inching closer to the big 3-0, just two more years... yikes that's weird to think about!