6 Monthiversary

I'm such a great mom.  Because the first post I have on my blog about my new baby is for his 6 monthiversary. Actually, I think that makes me a good mom, but a terrible blogger.

Whatever.

6 months ago I went to the hospital to have a baby.  (And rightly so, judging by this picture.  At least my booty looked small!)

I had decided previously that I'd have an epidural not because they're fun and I enjoy the funky sensation in my spine for months afterward, but because I was tired.

Frankly, I really would have preferred to just sleep and let my body do what it knows best.  I mean, quadriplegic women have babies, right?  And how much pushing can they really do?  Why can't I do that?  *pout*  So I was induced in the morning, and I got the epidural when I felt like it, which was before things got really uncomfortable.  (So different from Alex's natural birth.)  Between pushing--which I did because I was supposed to, not because I wanted to--I chatted and joked with the doctor and my husband.  I've never done that.  Usually I'm in the zone and nothing exists unless I can hear you or you're touching me (and I might not want you touching me).  But this time I had an "Okay, let's get this over with" attitude.  So weird.

Anyway, when all was said & done, all those begrudging pushes gave us this:

8lbs of Weston Matthew

The nurses loved his apricot halo of hair, and the charge nurse insisted that she be called back in when he was bathed, because she just had "...to see that hair when it was dry!"  Funny.  From Day 1 Weston's been a really super chill baby.  Even in the hospital he didn't cry much.  I remember lying there feeding or snuggling with my little guy in the middle of the night, feeling so bad for the mother of the screaming baby next door.  I kinda' wanted to go over and offer to hold the baby or swaddle 'em up real tight or something.  Poor baby.  Poor Mom!

So for 6 months our family has reveled in a really chill baby.  I think that either the Lord knew that this time of my life is a bit crazy and a happy, relaxed baby would be a blessing; or that Wes just knows that as #5 he doesn't get all of my attention.  Or both.  While we were living in MIL's basement, Grandpa would boast to his clients that "This baby never cries!  I've never heard him cry, ever!"  So when Little Man got fussy, I'd be sure to hand him to Grandpa.  (It helps that as Grandpa's age increases, his hearing doesn't.)

This kid is a charmer and a flirt.  A little eye contact is usually all it takes for him to break into a great big grin.  It's so big that he often has to turn away or put his chubby fists up to his mouth.  This boy has grown women giggling.

We call him Little Man, but really he isn't.  Well he used to be.

Lookit that teeny tiny little bundle tucked happily in my hospital gown!

And technically he is a small human.  But a couple of weeks ago I stepped onto the scale with both of us, then just me.  I did the calculations in my head, but the number didn't come out right.  So I did it again.  Same numbers, same mental math.  Then I used a dry-erase marker on the bathroom mirror (they wipe right off with a little square of tp, so they're the best for love notes, to-do lists, phone messages--whatever!) to do the math.  Sure enough, Mr. Weston weighed in at a whopping 20.6 lbs...at 5 1/2 months!

We call him Ginormo Boy.

And the funny things is that he's not fat.  I mean, he's a baby and he's got some chunk on his thighs and cottage cheese on his butt and everything, but he's not FAT.  Just solid!  He's very proportionate...for an 8-month old.  I moved him into 6-9mo clothes at 4 1/2 months.  Crazy.  I can't even touch my fingers around his ribcage.  I also call him Bohunk.  And Lug.  But mostly I call him Cutie Guy.

   1 month--looks like both of his big brothers

2 months--puttin' on the chubs

(And who's feeding Abby the Miracle Gro?)

3 months--his first controlled arm motions

4 months--a redhead party!

5 months--NAKED BABY!

6 months--'sharing' his blanket with his big sis

I think I'll keep him.

How To Eat an Elephant--er, update my blog

We're getting settled.  Yay!!!  We're renting a house that everyone that sees it says is really, really cute.  And it is.  I was ambivalent when we first saw it, but it's really growing on me.  There are some things that I adore, like the LIGHT!!!  There are windows everywhere.  I don't have to turn on a single blasted light during the day.  Even in the basement!  It's so great.

Every day I blog.  In my head.  I miss blogging.  And I'm not exactly sure how or when I'm going to catch up.  But I've had an idea, and I hope it will work.

For years I wasn't able to really keep a schedule.  Sort of, but not really.  And there are so many things that beg to get done every day, that I'm feeling rather overwhelmed.  Unpack boxes.  Hang photos.  Finish the will paperwork.  Clean the kitchen.  Fold the laundry.  Feed the baby.  Pay bills.  Change our address with a handful of entities.  Pull weeds.  Exercise.  Read with Cora.  Plan a menu.  Make dinner.  Sweep.  It's endless, and I feel like if I spend lots of time doing one thing (like cleaning) that other things suffer for it (like hanging pictures, and I'm just waiting for a really nice one to get kicked, then stepped on).  So I've come up with something that hopefully will work:

My Schedule
6:45--alarm
7:00--get up, do 7-minute ab workout, read scriptures, pray
7:30--kids' alarm, breakfast, pack lunches, take them to school
9:00--quick tidy
9:30--computer time (email/blog/facebook/billpay/freecycle/craigslist/diaperswappers/youtube)
10:30--yard/garden time
11:30--shower
12:00--lunch
12:30--read with Cora
1:00--household stuff/errands/laundry/unpacking/menu planning
3:15--pick up kids/snack time
3:30--outside for either gardening OR play/exercise time at the park
4:30--homework/meal prep
6:00--dinner
6:30--clean up
7:00--bedtime routine
7:20--5-minute clean-up
7:30--family scripture study/prayer
8:00--bedtime story/tuck-in
8:30--ME time
10:00--BED

It hasn't worked yet.

So I know it still needs some tweaking.  Everything's okay until after school, when everything falls apart and we're not eating dinner until 7:00, and I never did get any exercise in.  I'll work on it.

Riah told me he's proud of me for making this up.  He said that he's glad that he'll be limiting my facebook computer time.  Not like I was an addict or anything, but we are both aware that sometimes it uses a bit too much of my time.  Like every day.  When I first showed him my schedule, his first question was one to verify that I'm not going to freak out and get frustrated and angry that little things keep messing up my SCHEDULE!!!  Crazy things like, say, feeding a baby or looking at my children when they talk to me.  Phht!  What does he think I am?  OCD?  Of course not!  O.C.D. isn't in alphabetical order.  Duh!```

Anyhow, hopefully this will help me to be able to eat my elephant in teeny tiny bites instead of being overwhelmed at the sheer size of the herd.

Wish me luck!

A note to my Blog

Dear Blog,

I miss you.

It's been quite a while since I've paid you any attention, hasn't it? Let's see...about 3 1/2 months, actually. And there's so much to tell you, too! I'm so excited to share all the juicy details of Life these last few months, but I can't just yet.

I know. I'm sad, too. One of these days we should stay up all night, just you and me, catching up. We'll download pictures together, reminisce together and generally get all caught up. I don't know if the 'stay up all night' thing would really be a good idea, but who knows? Maybe it would...on a day when I can just let the kids watch movies until 2:00 in the afternoon and fend for themselves in the food category while I sleep in.

Why have I been so distant? Why can't I just stay and visit now? Hmm...let's see... I think I can help you understand this in the easiest way: A LIST!!!!

Priority Things To Do Either Right Now, Yesterday, Or A Week Ago:

have baby

feed baby

change baby's diapers

help get everything together so Hubby can start Nursing School

Christmas

more feedings

more diapers

referee a few fights...an hour

help get ready for NYE company

enjoy NYE company

recover from NYE company

get Hubby ready to move three hours away to start Nursing School

cheer and breathe a sigh of relief that he's IN!!!!!

change phone provider to save cashola

look for a job in a city three hours away

find desk

go through paperwork

renew life insurance policies for older 3 kids

get policies for younger 2

feed baby

change...well, you know the drill

start exercising

search online for good prices for cloth diapers

get overwhelmed at the options

decide which cloth avenue to go down

search more for cloth diapers

find em

find more

message and meet strangers to make purchases

start on the Cloth Diaper Adventure

do taxes

start exercising again

get paperwork to finish taxes

be a Mom

be a Wife (long distance)

celebrate an anniversary without a Hubby

finish taxes

You see...that's just a little of what's been on my plate lately. And for most of the time, I've also had a squirmy one on my lap. So my plate AND my lap are full. So are my jeans, for that matter--thus the exercise. My heart is full, too, of love and longing to have ALL of my sweet family reunited. ...and Lee reunited with his Mega Blocks which are in storage.

But very often during my day, my brain is full of you. Fun things to share with you. Cute pictures to post, adventures, emotions, successes...just EVERYTHING!

Miss you.

See you soon.

I promise.

Dyann

Proud of the Shiplap

It's never too late to learn something new.

One of the families that Hubby was close to in high school had a dentist dad who added a wing to his house and built a cabin on their lake-side property in the woods. Ever since then, he's had a dormant bug for wanting to have the knowledge & skills to be able to do that. More specifically, we've talked numerous times about our family building our house. Live in an rv or job shack on our property until we get the garage built (with living quarters upstairs), then move into that while the rest of the house is completed. He dreams of being up in the trusses, calling out measurements to Abby so she can mark & cut the plywood that he, Alex and Lee are sheeting our roof with. (Age-appropriately, of course.)

I'm totally on board.

Alas, Life has delayed our plans by at least 10 years. Ah well.

However, I had my first taste of interactive house-building last weekend. Because we'll be here in the in-laws' basement longer than planned, and because we'll be joined by someone small & cute within a matter of weeks, Mom-in-law has decided that this is a great opportunity to replace the downstairs shower with a bathtub.

Hubby has been in home construction for the last 13 years, so he's got the tools & know-how. I've learned some of the lingo & rules & stuff from him talking about his day at work, but don't have any hands-on experience, except for wall-painting.

Until now.

Yes, that is me, 34 weeks pregnant, drilling holes through treated 2x4s and into the existing concrete. Afterward, I hammered anchor bolts in there and tightened them so the walls don't go anywhere! Yay me!

I also learned the correct way to mark stud positioning (besides just finding my husband), and wield a nail gun. Okay, that part was a little scary, 'cause not only is it heavy, it can cause serious damage if it misfires or someone is being stupid with it. I have a very healthy respect (fear) for nail guns.

Over the last 13 years, I've gotten used to listening to Riah's technical speak and letting some of it run by because I don't always understand how words like gable, popout, facia and witch's tit correlate. (I only wish I were kidding about the last one.) However, I've gotten better, and by asking a few questions and glossing over the details I can get the general idea. Friday evening he surprised me with something really random, though:

"See how (somethingsomething) post (somethingsomething) stud (somethingsomething) shiplap?"

"I'm sorry. Did you just say that, "...the post and stud are proud of the shiplap?"

*looks at me like I'm asking if he just said that the sun was yellow*

"Yeah."

"Honey, that's not English."

'Stud' and 'post' are words that I can understand. How they can be proud of something called shiplap was beyond what my "supeerior eentelect" could piece together. (Extra points if you can nail the movie quote (pun quite intended.).) So here how it goes:

See how the thick post on the right and the 2x4 studs just to the left are sticking out a little past the surface of the horizontal pieces?

It would seem that the tongue-and-groove horizontal pieces are called shiplap, and because they're recessed a bit,

the post and stud are proud of the shiplap! Who knew?

Well, I do.

Now.

And it seems you can teach an old dog new tricks.

Happy 3rd Birthday Cora!!!

Happy Birthday Little One!

Well, I can't really say that anymore, can I? You used to be a little one, though.

But you've gotten much, much bigger than you were...sometimes a little too big.

Despite the crazy ride that you've led us on, you really are a sweet, sweet princess.

Well, a princess with a twist.

From the very beginning you've been willing to try new things.

Some haven't been your favorite,

...but others you loved from the start.

You aren't afraid of adventure,

...and you know where to come for comfort when you need it.

You've always been loved, and always will be.

I've been noting things lately that you say, because you're just so funny. Today some of my favorites were:

"Mom pat."

"Honey, I'm not fat, I have a baby in my belly."

"No, Mom pat."

"Sweetie, I have a big belly because there's a baby brother in there."

thinks for a moment

"No, Mom belly pat."

"Evvybuddy tention!"

When Dad copied one of your cute antics:

"Dad! Topy me!"

"Don't copy you?"

"Don't topy me!"

After Lee 'helped' you color your picture:

"No! I mad you daw peypah!"

And when I took a picture of your 'mad pace,' you said, "Mom pictah me happy tung."

You make me laugh, Sweetie. You are by far the best surprise I've ever had.

Weapon of Mass Destruction

I don't often watch Phineas and Ferb, but my children like it. Even Cora, who asks for "Pinnis Pehrb." (Pronounce it like Ferb, but without the clear 'r' sound. Hard to type.) When I do watch--or overhear--it, I like it. I like that it's clean, there are no questionable scenes, no teenage themes, no scary monsters, buxom lycra-clad heroines or bad guys. Well, except for this guy:

But honestly, I love him. Professor Doofenshmirz and Perry the Platypus are the best part of the show! Without them, it would be really lame. I love that every single episode he comes up with some sort of invention that does something terrible, and always ends in '-inator.'

--Metal Destructinator (turns metal into broccoli)

--Evil Perry the Platypusinator (creates evil clones of Perry the Platypus)

--Nannyinator (creates an army of babies because who's going to counterattack a bunch of babies?)

So funny!

Oddly, all this -inator talk reminds me of something that you wouldn't usually associate with destruction:

Yes, my own personal Destructinator. (Note the zero pieces of tomorrow's lunch that have NOT been nibbled.)

It began rather innocently, with her climbing out of her crib, unlocking the door, opening it and coming downstairs when she was supposed to be napping. We added those white childproofing door knob covers and they helped for a bit. I was very surprised at her solution:

I only wish I was kidding.

Soon her barely-2yo 'skills' progressed to removing the twisty tie from the hamster cage (even after I threw in a couple of half knots with all the twists) and after a while we had to lock the parakeet in her cage. Like with a padlock. And a key kept way up high. I really wish I was kidding.

She looks angelic, doesn't she? Just missing a halo. Right. Let me remind you of this fun encounter.

Don't even THINK of leaving an avocado on the counter to ripen.

When we moved into our bachelor friend's house, the fun really started. My favorite, of course, was hearing Alex outside yell, "Cora, No! Moooommm! Cora's on the roof!" Yeah. Nice. Did not take the time to grab my camera for that. (Did take an awful shot with my phone 'cause I'm an awesome mom like that.)

Other fun things were having her experiment with a b.r.a.n.d. n.e.w. tube of toothpaste

and bring the landlord's "toda" into the bathroom so she could have a drink.

(My all-time favorite.)

So I'm thinking that I either need to have Homeland Security keep an eye on her or borrow her. 'Cause she could do something crazy to some bad guy somewhere.

Professor Doofenshmirtz, you have met your match.

Coming out of the Closet

I haven't been really consistent about my blog posts lately, and there are a few reasons:

--moving

--no internet

--moving

--looking for housing in a different city

--having such a bad attitude that I'd better just keep my trap shut so nothing horrid comes out

--taking lots of pictures, but losing my camera usb cable

They're all decent reasons, but in reality it all boils down to this one:

Yup. Surprise! (For the 2 followers I have who aren't family or friends I've seen lately.)

This pic was taken the last weekend of July. The girl on the left is my very own chicklegirl, who was sweet enough to swing over on her 'day off' because my Riah & his siblings were participating in a sprint triathlon close enough for her to visit. I sure love her!

So for all of you who are wondering, "Why on earth didn't I know? Or did I know but just forgot?" the answer is, "because Dyann is a little odd."

A couple of years ago I got a weird hair and mentioned to the Hubby, "I think the next time I get pregnant I don't want to tell anyone. I'll just let them figure it out."

I know. Who does that? Who keeps a pregnancy secret from everyone in the world except the hubby & the landlord? Well, I guess I do. This time. Hubby's mom found out when we moved to her neighborhood in June, and his siblings, dad & stepmom found out the end of July...when I was about 5 months along.

The ladies at church were asking around 2.5 months. Geez! That's what comes from having zero torso, I guess. My favorite conversation came from a woman my mother's age who watched me grow with Lee & Cora. She put her arm around me and said something lovingly prying. I responded that we're not announcing it yet. Her honest, fabulous answer was, "Honey, you did tonight." BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I love her.

Details: currently about 29 weeks along (6.5 months or so), due November 23rd. My ovaries, however, have not read the book about fertility and timing and such, so I'm calling it 'just before Thanksgiving.' Getting very large, but do not know for certain the gender. Want a girl, think it's a boy, will be happy with whatever we get.

So while the reasons above are perfectly valid, the main underlying one is the fatigue & nausea (1st trimester), low energy (2nd trimester) and reduced mobility (3rd trimester) that comes from growing another super cute Monkey.

I'm really looking forward to kissing that round little noggin.