26 weeks

I was asked twice today if I was having twins. No, just a giant one.

Winter Update

Polar Express:

We went to Polar Express -- Christopher loved the train. He didn't care about the entertainment on the train. He did talk to Santa at the North Pole and requested a "Real Pig" for Christmas.
Christopher picked this hat out by himself, he loves it and wears it all the time.

Family at Train Station.

On the Train -- Mom and Christopher

Gold train tickets -- these were punched by the conductor and spelled a letter.

Christmas Program for Daycare

Christopher's daycare has a Christmas program each year. His daycare does allot of activities. This year his class sang "Frosty the Snowman". Christopher is wearing his Frosty hat.

My cute little boy.

He loves Hats.

Still not a big fan of the Big Guy.

Pregnant Momma
People have been requesting pregnant photos - I do not have many - this one is a few weeks old- So I am already bigger! Our little girl is growing. She is 15 inches long and weighs about 2.5 lbs. I can't believe she will be here in 3 months. I have 1 onies. I better get moving.

She is much more active that I remember Christopher being. I feel her moving and rolling and kicking all the time. Maybe she will be a dancer.

Mom trying to rest -
The boys are not allowed in the bed. But I go to bed first, they sneak in and lay down until Dad finds them.

Christmas is in 1 week -- I have so much to do. But, I can use the "I am Pregnant" excuse this year.

Here comes the Pink stuff! It is a Girl!

We went to the Pumpkin Patch. The kids follow Tony like the Pied Piper.



Momma and Christoher

Olivia 3, Cooper 2, Christopher 2.5

We had an ultrasound last week and we are having a girl. My due date has moved to March 30 according to the ultrasound. She was 8 oz and 18 weeks. The tech had to take a lot of pictures and extra measurements (since I am old). Our baby girl looked perfect, the tech said everything looked great. That was good to hear. My belly is getting very big. I need to take some photos. I took a photo of my belly every week with Christopher. I already and depriving my 2nd child before she even gets here.

Christopher carried a Mr Potato head around for 2 days after the ultrasound and told me it was "his baby". He even put the baby in his bed at night. He will be a good big brother, even though I think this will be a big adjustment for all of us.

Out Broadway house is coming along, Tony, Bill and Dad have been working everyday. The plaster is almost done, the water is almost done and the furnace is almost done. I am ready for all the almosts to be all dones. I wanted to be moved in by Christmas, but we are not going to be ready by then. I want to be there for the new baby gets here in March. So now I am moving my move in date to January.

Christopher dressed up like Superman for Halloween. I had bought him 2 costumes; lion for walking around town since it is warmer and Superman for school party. But he really liked the Superman costume and wanted to wear it every time he dressed up. He thought he was Spiderman instead of Superman.

I have been working allot and been very busy. HR has laid off and fired so many people that we are working with a skeleton crew and still have a large workload. My husband is starting to worry about my work schedule and being pregnant. I feel very good, but just get tired by the end of the day.

Christopher and I are going to get our H1N1 shot today. I have not been able to find anywhere to get them free or cheap, so we have a Dr appointment today to get them. I pray that none of us gets the flu, everyone who has it has been out for at least a week and has felt bad for 2 more.

Baby on the way

Good news --- we are expecting a second baby in April. Our due dute is April 5th, but I still think it is March 30 according to my calculations.

I didn't trust this test, because the 2nd line was light pink.

So I took another that was easier to read.
By the way -- 2 pink lines mean pregnant - regardless if it is light pink.

I had a ultrasound at 6 weeks - didn't see much. Actually, I couldn't see anything. But the Tech promised me there was a baby in there. I did hear the heartbeat.

I had another doctor appointment last week (11 weeks) and again heard the heartbeat.

I have an ultrasound scheduled for Oct 29 - I will be 16 weeks and they may be able to tell the sex of the baby during the ultrasound. We will wait and see.

Christopher doesn't understand but he know what a baby is... he says "babies cry". He and I were rocking in his room and he tried to climb into my sweater, when I asked what he was doing he said "I am a baby in your belly". He also has told me that he has a baby in his belly, as he rubs his belly. He is too cute. I worry about not giving him enough when I have 2.

Donn Snedaker

We have had a difficult few weeks. Our friend Donn Snedaker passed away. Sned was like a Father to Tony and a Grandpa to Christopher. Christopher was named after Sned.

Sned was a teacher at our school for 32 years. He taught Tony, Me, all my siblings, my nieces and nephews. I truelly believe that no child accidently ended up in his classroom. He accepted the kids that needed extra help; educationally and emotionally.

I have been giving and doing philanthropic deeds forever, but I feel like I am not doing enough. Tony and I have sponosred 4 orphans for the last 5 years. All are out of the orphanage and have graduated vocational training. We have sent Christmas gifts to hundereds of kids in the orphanages each year. We sent blankets, sheets and coats to every child in one orphanage. We give food to the food panty, give toys to the daycare but am searching for a way to fill my philanthropic void.

Sned helped kids much deeper than what we do, I want to be like him.

Slip N Slide

We had a fun cookout with some Alpha Phi sisters -- Christopher played on a slip n slide. I did not think he would like it, but boy was I wrong. He loved it and would run to the slide, then crawl the length of the water slide. Too funny. Good thing the big boys were patient.
Watching Alex slide fast.


Christopher with Alex McComb

So cute

Missy takes great pictures. Of course I forgot my camera. And did not get a picture of Missy, Jen Wilson and me.

We also visited our friends who just had a new baby and Christopher even let me hold her. I asked him if he wanted Momma to have a baby and he said I could just take Lila. I don't think Lila's family would agree. I wish I would have gotten a few pictures, she is super sweet.

I tried to get Christopher's hair trimmed, but all hair dressers were booked. Tony had been telling me he would cut it, and I had been holding off. I gave in and Tony used the clippers on all of Christopher's curls and blond locks. I almost had tears when all the hair started falling to the floor. Tony stopped during the first swipe to see if I was OK, but I said You can't stop now. Tony was joking with my nephew Rodney, telling him it was his turn. Rodney jumped onto the stool - so Tony buzzed him too. They look cute.

Christopher looks so grown up, not like a baby at all. He has been doing a very good job with potty training and tomorrow we are going to go with no diaper at daycare. Daycare said they are ready for him - I think that will be helpful for me. But I need to keep it up all weekend. Sometimes diapers are easier, for me. But it will be great when I no longer have butt duty.

Summer Fun

Christopher loves Leo and talks about him all the time. Leo is a water boy and jumps right in the pool but Christopher just wanted to sit on the edge and kick water. Leo's dad was Tony's room mate in college. It is funny to see this picture of both of them as Daddies.

This picture reminds me of my brother Bill - he use to wear cowboy boots and underroos when we were kids. Christopher was dancing all around the house in this outfit.

Grandpa Joe bought this horse for Christopher for his Birthday and for 6 months he would pet it but would not get on it. One day last week, he climbed on it by himself and started riding.

For the Fourth of July there was a parade in town. Christopher liked it because it had firetrucks, ambulances, and horsey cars (that is a Mustang). Then we went to the Obermeyer's for a cookout. While the dads shot off fireworks the moms and boys hide under an umbrella from the rain. The little boys liked a few of the small fireworks but would not look up in the air to see the larger ones.

Christopher and Leo play so well together.

Christopher made this "4th of July" shirt at school.

Christopher's first Reds game

Christopher has seen the Reds at Spring Training but we have not taken him to a game a Great American Ballpark. When I came home from work he was already asking "ballplayers?", "ballgame?". He had a fun time - he ate 2 hot dogs and a bag of popcorn and drank a soda. I wanted to get him some peanuts but I was afraid he would puke. Those 3 things (hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts) are his favorite foods.

After the 4th inning we walked around and he saw the river with the boats --- another exciting site. We had to walk around because there was an annoying White Soxs fan behind us and Tony couldn't take it much longer. The Reds did win, would have been nice to be sitting by the annoying White Soxs fan when they lost.

They were having fireworks after the game - but we didn't stick around to watch.

On the way home I asked about his favorite part of the ballgame and he said it was the boats.

He also went to a public potty for the first time -- all exciting news.

Big boy bed

I converted Christopher's crib into a toddler bed two days ago. He is getting so big. He probably weighs 40 lbs. It was becoming difficult to pick him up to put him in bed. He has been eating like a machine lately - so I expect him to have another growth spurt.

He has slept in the bed without issue, he does have a safety rail. The first night I heard him crying and all I could think was he is stuck between the safety rail and the bed... I rushed in his room.... he just wanted chocolate milk. I worry about him all the time.

He woke up early today, I could hear him on the monitor "Momma, hold you! Momma, hold you!" So at 4 this morning, I went and held him and we rocked. He said he was scared. He has been telling me lately that he is scared of stuff. I don't know if he was really understands this concept, or if he knows that "scared concept" gets attention.

I held him, even after he fell asleep. He looked so sweet and precious sleeping. I held him until he began turning and rolling because he is outgrowing my lap. Other nights, He has asked me to put him in bed after a few minutes of holding because it is too hard for him to become comfortable on my lap any longer. It is bittersweet to watch him grow so quickly. He is such an angel.

More May stuff

Mothers day --- We bought me a new stroller for Mothers Day. Christopher is so tall that he has outgrown his old one. He likes his new one.


For the Indy 500 ... the Daycare had a Box care race. Tony made a Ford pickup truck from boxes and we decorated it. Christopher ran around the house with it on, but at the race.. the pressure was too much.. he was looking in the crowd for us, instead of running.



Yesterday we went tot he Stapp Farm in Greensburg. Christopher once again enjoyed the monkey and the tractor. He also feed an ear of corn to a giant steer. We also played with 3 baby goats that were 2 weeks old. He watched a 2 week old buffalo drink from a bottle. It is a cute place with bears, steer, deer, lamas, camels, goats, donkey, wolves, buffalo..... all kind of animals.

On the Tractor.... his favorite part

May

We took Christopher to the Cincy zoo. He enjoyed it. He walked most of the time. His favorite animals were the monkeys and his favorite part was the train and the popcorn. We only stayed a few hours and then he was tired and fell asleep before we got out of the parking lot.

Momma and Christopher

When he wasn't walking - this is where he would ride.

Waiting in line for the Train.

On the Train --- All Aboard

Easter

I have been bad about posting pictures --

Easter, we went to Moms house and the kids had a great time - only the 5 littlest hunted eggs and the big kids help hid -

The kids lined up at the door.. waiting for the "Go". Christopher in front, Olivia is there but not visible, Maggie in purple coat and Avery is tallest. Angela bought all the girls pretty Easter dresses. Cooper did play also, but missed the line up.

Olivia and Christopher looking at Brito.

Christopher wanted to open each egg as he found them.

I think this is the cutest... Daddy and Christopher watching the water.

Time is flying by

We took Christopher to KiddieKandids in BabiesRUs for his 2 year old photos. It seems that I always get his photos taken when he has not had a nap. The ladies at KK were very good with him. I will take him there next time - I am fed up with Sears.
I was not suppose to get my picture taken - but Christopher was melting down - and during that time - she took a few photos.

We are all going well - Tony has been working on the Broadway house everyday -- My new estimated date for completion is June (Yes, I have been moving it back for 6 months). I can't wait to get moved in -- there will be so much more room -- and maybe my house will no longer look like a pig barn.

We spent last weekend at my parents farm - my brother Bill has a campsite set up there. Tony and Bill have been friends for 20+ years - so they always have fun together. The dogs and Christopher can run and play. We have an old camper that we are fixing up. I am going to sew cushions today. Our plan is to try this camper out - and if we Love it -- then we will buy a camper.