I think I just want to post some pictures here, recap what's happened this summer. I wish I had more time to post this summer but with the new house and the pregnancy and the rental and the heat...the awful ridiculous heat...and this stupid broken computer it hasn't gone well. Here's some of my favorite things I missed posting about in picture form from this summer.
Spinning in the back yard with Dad. Again and again!
Dad's new remote control toy.
From the front!
My nephew - check out those baby blues!
We spent almost every evening at the water table. Water saved this summer. These two boys are becoming such good friends - I'm jealous of all the fun they'll having in the next few years. Cousins are awesome.
At the "Choo-choo" park. Eliot spends every trip screaming "All Aboard" at the top of his lungs. It's cute to me, but a little loud to some of the kids.
The Children's Museum is so much fun now!
We love any and every park.
We made it up to the cabin a few times too. It's incredible how long these boys can play in the water! The cabin is the first time Eliot has ever skipped his nap. He's also a bit of a mess by the end of the day.
Chris had a busy summer clearing this area of rocks. I'm kind of sad that we don't have a finished product picture - it looks so nice now, I'll share soon!
A birthday party was a big hit. Matchbox cars are now a favorite. So many boys....
We went to a wedding and Eliot danced for hours.
Grandma's visiting.
One absolutely incredible sunrise off our deck...
The best end of summer haircut ever!
Hanging out and goofing off is always a favorite.
We went to the fair - Eliot's second - and he started the morning by eating an entire corn dog. Then donuts and a little bit of my raspberry malt. Eliot is a natural fair and food lover.
This is the luminarium at the fair - definitely worth the money. It was supposed to be rather zen-like but we missed that part with a 2 year old...and probably ruined it for others. But it was very cool.
Eliot loves curious george.
My mom is so great with these boys. She never complains about how exhausted they must make her.
Discovering more local parks. I played here when I was little. Full circle and all that jazz.
After a day at the zoo, falling asleep in our arms on the way back to the car. It must be great to sleep that hard.
Eliot and I went camping with a group of ladies and their kids. It went ok...would have went better if both of us hadn't been sick.
Fall came - and is almost gone already. Piles of leaves are awesome fun though.
Can't you tell we're at the apple orchard here?! We are. It was so hot - 80+ degrees - I've never picked apples in shorts and t-shirts. It was fun though. Great end to a great summer. To think that next year there will be two little guys to share it with!
I feel guilty - I actually found out this baby was a boy last Monday but really just haven't had the time to post.
Part of the problem is that I am constantly on my Kindle Fire now and barely ever bother to start the computer because....well...why bother?
How freaking adorable is this picture? I know only mothers love these but I want to kiss that nose already!!
But! Baby! So cute! And perfectly healthy according to the ultrasound. I don't know if this little guy realizes the money he has saved me in clothing! It just keeps getting recycled...although I really can't help myself and have already bought him 4 new outfits. Because of sales, and cuteness and oh my god look at how tiny these little outfits are!!! I forgot how small people start out (well, maybe not the people I make...ahem 9 lb 5 oz Eliot).
The baby is looking right at you in this picture. His head is facing towards the left of the screen. Isn't he handsome?!
So we are so excited to meet you little baby. Eliot doesn't know how amazing and important you will be forever and forever in his life, and you have ready-made entertainment! Just wait until you see how hilarious your big brother is! He sure makes me laugh. I can't wait to see your personality, your looks, who the heck are YOU!?! It's crazy, all I can picture is Eliot, but I know you're you. And I want to hold you and meet you and learn all about you.
You've been kicking away lately, letting me know you're safe and sound...and maybe a little pissed off when I eat Indian food. Forgive me for the spice - it's SO GOOD!
In regards to this pregnancy? I'm feeling ok. Sick this week but I've been lower energy in general this time around. Chris painted the nursery this weekend, and we have been furiously looking at names. Boys names are so hard you guys! I think we finally have a couple we like though. I hope.
This right here would be my 100th post! Woohoo me! I've been writing here since 2009 - I'm pretty proud I've kept it up even if I have slacked a bit in the last few months.
That part is sad. This summer was so packed full of fun and family. I even have pictures to share - but my computer is dying and won't upload pictures. There's no money for a new computer due to the new house and new landscaping and new water heater that we SURPRISE had to buy when the old one exploded. So just let me break it down. Eliot loves parties, the cabin, all types of water unless it sprays in his face, and his cousins. He's adorable and precocious and just plain precious. He is so much fun and we laugh so much sometimes it hurts. Chris is working hard at work and at home. He takes care of...almost everything sometimes. I need to buy him a beer sometime. I'm finally feeling better after 8 weeks of morning sickness. And I'm so very happy about that.
I keep thinking of this new little one as basically another Eliot. I cannot imagine having a child who is anything but Eliot, just like before Eliot I had no idea what he would look like or who he would be. And although I always doubted parents when they said this, I really really don't care whether it's a girl or a boy. I see pluses and minuses to both, and I will love any baby. I do have to admit to a little baby girl clothes perusing though. Some of that stuff is so freaking cute - although the new baby boy outfits make me squeal (inside) too.
So there it is folks, 100 posts. I will try to get some pictures up on this beast soon. For now I'm going to bask in the accomplishment of those double zeros.
Today I am 13 weeks 2 days pregnant. Today I saw our baby on an ultrasound and heard the words "everything looks normal." What a great thing to hear. I didn't cry all day until about 10 hours later as I was rocking Eliot later, singing to him about peanuts and trains. And then suddenly I sobbed - catching both of us completely off guard. Because yesterday I was convinced something was wrong. Yesterday I was convinced this wasn't really happening. Up until today, I hadn't really mentally participated in this pregnancy. I couldn't. I was so scared. So I haven't written anything here in weeks. Not even about the house or Eliot or anything because I think I had put up such a wall that I couldn't even face myself. Such a wall that it took my 10 hours to even react to the news that this baby is ok.
I know nothing is guaranteed. But we all know nothing is guaranteed for any of us from day to day, but for today I know that the biggest hurdle of the first trimester is over now. And our baby looks normal. Such a boring word for such a wondorously amazing thing. Thank you for normal.
Now I can look to tomorrow. Look to finally take down this wall I've built so I can really welcome this baby into our family.
I'm happy. Over the moon. Really. I can't wait for you to come home little one. Your family is ready for you.
A 2 year old with better things to do than have his picture taken.
Eliot -
It pains me to think that you won't remember this year. We all had so much fun, especially you. You started walking and started talking in sentences. You are sweet, love to cuddle when you're tired, love water, love to swing (ok, that one has never stopped), love to sing, love to play "get you" for hours, love to run up and down "hee-lls" (that's hills, with two syllables and a southern accent), love cartoons, games, trains, trucks, tractors, and you are always asking to go outside. You are so adorable sometimes I just want to eat you. You've become a lot more independent though (and therefore let me nibble on your knees less often), and lately have taken to pointing at yourself and proudly stating "I do it!" or "I Eliot!" Yes darling, yes you are. You are so you now, so much your own person and I am so proud of you.
You are my joy, but you are stubborn. This year has introduced us to picky toddler eating. There are things I know you'd love (like pie! Sweet delicious pie!) that you refuse to even put in your mouth because you haven't seen them before. I have to make sure I pick my battles with you because you'll win unless I physically prevent you from something, which really feels unfair, and I'm sure you hate it too.
Most nights you still join us in bed around 3am, but we don't mind. I think I miss you too by 3am. Speaking of 3am, did I mention how loud you are? You have no inside voice, everything is a yell, and stated about 20 times (ship! ship! ship! choochoo! choochoo! choochoo! pizza! pizza! pizza!). You just have to make sure people are paying attention. Listen to you yell Mamadada (sometimes we are one entity) over and over at 3 in the morning is a little less cute.
Our new nightly routine consists of "books in bed" as you call it. Where we attempt to limit you to four seven books to read in our bed. When we're headed to the bedroom you'll look at me and say "Mama too? Mama too?" Just to make sure I'm coming. It breaks my heart every night little boy because I know some day you will not be cuddling between your mom and dad in bed reading stories, you will probably hate being reminded that you ever did. There will be a last "Mama too?" a last "books in bed" just as there was a last time you had a bottle, sat in the baby swing, sat in a bouncy chair. It's so funny how we used to use those things so often and then never even noticed when we stopped. Will I notice your last "Mama too?" I'm pretty sure I won't, I'll just look back at some point and realize we don't do that anymore. As this time-warp of a year has proven, I only have a short time with you like this. That I have to jar "Mama too?" up in a bottle and keep it close to my heart, as sappy as that sounds. (Being a mom has given me a whole new capacity for sappiness, don't even try and stop it). But Eliot, no matter how big you get I will always come when you need me. I'll strive to be whatever you'll need me for at the time, even though I love your two year old needs for now and wish they could always be this simple. I know some day you might need me to disappear for a while, or drop you off at a corner, but just know you can always have your Mama too when you need her. That's the beauty of growing up though. You keep moving on to something more fun, more appropriate for your age and abilities, and you always let us know when it's time to move on as long as we listen.
I love you Eliot. I can't wait to see where you take us next. Happy second birthday.
I'm scared to even write this post. I'm scared of the possible negative outcomes. I'm so scared to open up my heart to this baby, knowing that it could all end so quickly. But here we are, and I'm 5 weeks pregnant, and no matter what I say I know that I am head over heels for this little one and there's nothing I can do about it. I know I have been more reserved about this pregnancy, I've been slower to get excited about things, taking my time with planning anything, not really even bringing much up with Chris. I just don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but sweet baby, I love you so much already and you're so wanted and I hope with all my might that we get to meet you and take you home. Please be ok in there. There's so much love and amazingness out here and a big brother who would love to meet you too.
Love,
Mama
It's pre-dawn. I'm up because I can't sleep. I'm so excited. So anxious. So nervous. Last night was Eliot's last night sleeping in this house. Tonight is my last night, and today we pack. It's so weird, I remember moving in here, crying after everyone had left just because. Becase I was overwhelmed, excited, anxious, nervous. I wonder if I'll be able to sleep Saturday. With the new smells and sounds. More importantly I wonder if Eliot will be able to sleep.
I can't believe we spent 7 years here. I feel so old when I say that. It went by so fast. In 7 more years I'll be 39 and Eliot will be 9. I'm not ready.
Eliot is up. The weekend of moving has begun....wish us luck.
I'm a traffic engineer married to a car guy. A fairly laid back, slightly crunchy new mom. If you didn't get it from my posts, I'm crazy about my kid. My animals are awesome - but we ignore them too much. If I had time my hobbies would be reading, snowboarding, running, and working out. I don't have time. On occasion I drink too much tea and lately I've been going to bed before 9pm. It's wild and crazy, feel free to follow along.
