Christmas Parade!

Only 12 more days until Christmas!

We went to the city parade today. We really loved the prancing pony. Have you ever seen a pony prance? It's the cutest thing ever!

There were some pretty interesting floats and displays. We didn't stay the entire time because we wanted to avoid the traffic, but for about an hour we enjoyed the sights and music and the kids got a bit of candy.

Here's Xavier turning Orian to face the camera for a picture, haha!



Isabella and Daddy:



I really liked the HEB float:



Reindeer firetruck!



I also got a haircut:



Aaaandd...I got my nails done!



And yes, my skin does have a nice pale sickly glow! Many apologies for not being tan!

My Wish List

I feel disorganized in planning and preparing for the new baby. One minute it seems urgent and the next I feel like it would be silly to begin preparing now.

I will be 35 weeks tomorrow. Two weeks until full term. Of course I have no doubt that Dahlia will give me a full 5+ weeks to prepare. I guess that's part of my hesitance. I don't want to get myself excited when I know I will likely go past 40 weeks.

And then there's Christmas. I feel like it's Christmas first, then baby. I don't want to start getting things set up and make it crowded during Christmas.

I did get the infant car seat out and scrub it down and wash the cover. It looks very nice. I will probably need to clean the stroller as well, but I don't forsee using it a lot. It is just too bulky. I will probably wear Dahlia in the Moby Wrap on most outings. I was serious about getting a double stroller for a while (and a generous friend offered to gift me with one her children had outgrown), but I don't see why I can't use the umbrella stroller for Isabella and the Moby Wrap for Dahlia. I think that will work.

So many things I realize are wants or "nice to haves" but not really must-haves, so I have to keep reminding myself of that.

A big thank you goes out to Angela Marie for sending me just a ton of adorable baby girl clothes. She included everything from sleepers and onesies to fancy dresses and two piece outfits and in all sizes. I am terrible with thank you notes, but I am very appreciative for her thoughtfulness and generosity. Dahlia's dresser is F-U-L-L!

Adrian told me last night I should make a list of baby needs/wants to help me focus and not feel so worried and unprepared, so here's my list:

1. I need to pick up diapers. Seems premature just yet. But after Christmas I'll grab some Pampers Swaddlers in NB. We have wipes, but I think I will switch back to Sensitive instead of Baby Fresh.

2. Alcohol swabs for umbilical cord care.

3. I need to check on my breast pump and make sure it is fully functional and super clean. I don't think I have any bottles, so I might pick up one or two.

4. Breast milk storage bags and Lansinoh.

5. We are not sure if we will do pacis or not. I got a couple to stick in Dahlia's stocking (yes, she has one!). We'll see if she likes them or not.

6. Bassinette sheets. I can never spell bassinette correctly. I have a few, but I think more would be better.

7. Along those lines, probably a few more blankies. Or not. I still have Isabella's blankies, but it's cold here and it wasn't cold in Hawaii, so more might be better.

8. Waterproof pad for the bassinette.

9. Baby book. That's a want.

10. I have a baby bathtub, and just need to scrub and sanitize it.

11. Baby wash cloths. Probably don't need. Can probably wash her with regular wash cloths. I have a few baby towels too. Maybe a couple more would be good. I can't remember, but I think I did actually use those with Isabella.

I am going to be washing so much laundry.

12. I have a mini-swing and a bouncer. I just need to check them out and make sure they're very clean.

13. I have 2 bassinettes. They need to be cleaned and assembled. Actually I think I only need one. I won't need one upstairs, so it would overkill to set up 2 downstairs. They are very portable.

14. Here is the bassinette I want. This is not really a part of the list, haha, but I think it deserves a number nonetheless. I don't know if anyone else has ever seen one of these, but it's freaking sweet. And it costs as much as a nice piece of furniture.

Behold the Fisher Price Zen Collection Glider Bassinet:



Is that sexy or what?

15. Diaper bag. I have the "breastfeeding diaper bag" the formula company gave me at the hospital after I had Isabella (ha!), but I am so not going to use that. I think a backpack type diaper bag would be the most convenient. I have expensive tastes in diaper bags, but I realize a bag is a bag is a bag.

GAP had one that was not too insanely priced and had lots of great features but I don't see it on their site anymore. I guess any backpack could work. I won't have a lot to carry, really...diapers, wipes, diaper sacks, some extra clothing, snacks for Isabella...my wallet...what else, really? We are kind of low-key.

16. This is a want. A full-size swing. There's really no *need* for anything but mommy or daddy's arms, but realistically, with a toddler and two growing boys, there are going to be times I wish I had a swing.

Isabella broke hers so there's not a hand-me-down one. I do have the mini-swing although I have concerns that Isabella will be sitting on Dahlia in that one, haha.

I could find a cheap one, but I have a very specific one in mind. Adrian says I can have it if I can come up with half of the cost of it. It's the Graco Sweet Peace Soother. I guess it's technically not a swing. But it has great reviews and incredible features.

Part of me knows it's superfluous and part of me just wants it.



My other unneccessary want is a co-sleeper or an Amby hammock, but I do realize it could get seriously ridiculous with so much gear in the house.

So, I guess the list of "needs" is pretty short:

- diapers
- wipes
- alcohol swabs
- breastmilk storage bags
- waterproof bassinet pads and possibly a bassinet sheet or two
- some sort of diaper bag or backpack

Items that are wants but that I'll probably get:

- baby book
- some extra blankets
- extra wash cloths and baby towels

Maybe, maybe, maybe - Graco Sweet Peace Infant Soother

I don't know if I'm forgetting something important. I probably am! Although, the bare essentials are really a car seat, a pair of breasts (I guess just one could be ok, too, LOL), and a few warm clothes. And I've got those things. Oh yeah, diapers. I don't know if that counts as a need universally, but it does at my house.

I don't think I feel any more organized.

Ooooh my other want is an exercise ball for labor. I used to have one but it didn't make the move. See. Not organized.

As a little side note, I read a poem in my HynoBirthing book last night that really, really touched me and I wanted to share it, and I figure this is as good a place as any.

Please, Mom and Dad...

My hands are small. I don't mean to spill my milk,
My legs are short -- please slow down so I can keep up.
Don't slap my hands when I touch something bright and pretty. I don't understand.
Please look at me when I talk to you. It lets me know you are really listening.
My feelings are tender -- don't nag me all day. Let me make mistakes without feeling stupid.
Don't expect the bed I make or the picture I draw to be perfect. Just love me for trying.
Remember, I am a child and not a small adult. Sometimes I don't understand what you're saying.
I love you so much. Please love me just for being myself, not for the the things I can do.

-- Author Unknown

I don't know if it's hormones or what, but I can't read that without crying!

Thanksgiving + Birthday Pics!

Just some pics from our Thanksgiving trip!

It's Just Never Easy, Is It?

This month has just flown by. It's hard to believe that it's going to be Thanksgiving tomorrow. It seems like just yesterday I was wondering if it was too early to put up Fall decorations when it was still blistering hot outside.

At least it has cooled down some!

Things have been kind of hectic around here. Saturday night we got a call from Orian's teacher, requesting a conference on Monday or Tuesday. As it turns out, Orian is failing EVERYTHING. Yeah, EVERYTHING. He has a 10 in spelling!!

He just doesn't do his work in class. He might start something but only does a small portion of it before he begins goofing off.

All his testing shows he has a high IQ and that his abilities match (and often exceed) those of his peers, so it's not like he's struggling and doing his best and just not making the grade.

He is just extraordinarily lazy. I'm about at my wits end with it. We can motivate him for a short period of time, but as soon as he thinks he can start sliding by, he will. UGH.

Tuesday after the conference his work had improved. He simply HAS to get serious or he will repeat the 3rd grade. Pretty sad for a kid recommended for TAG.

Annnyways...

So, it's been getting colder here. Isabella hasn't been playing outside as much lately but she insisted on Monday. It was cold so she was in tights and a long-sleeved dress, but she quickly stripped off her tights.

She enjoyed drawing with sidewalk chalk and picking small flowers. (Ignore the yard, Adrian has decided mowing season is over, LOL)





We had a busy day that day and she had gotten up early so she was cranky. After the Parent-Teacher Conference, we came home to find a package from my new favorite website (www.figleaves.com). She entertained herself by peeling all the shipping stickers off the box.

I left the room for a few minutes and noticed that she was quiet, even for sticker-peeling. Imagine my surprise when I came back in the room and discovered that she was dead.





Ok, luckily she wasn't dead, but I've never seen a child fall asleep in a more alarming position and I've seen kids fall asleep in A LOT of positions. No worries, I laid her down and didn't leave her like that!

Yesterday was busy too as I had so much work to catch up on to prepare for our trip. One of the things I worked on was a set of votive candle holders with colored leaves and decopa...decopague...decopaj...with water and glue...and tissue paper.

Isabella had a great time "helping" and painting with water and drawing with her crayons.



Later when I finally got her down for a nap (naps 2 days in a row...it's incredible!), I worked on the kids' annual Thanksgiving shirts. I'll post pics of the boys wearing theirs when we get back, but here's Isabella's T-Day outfit.



I would have liked to pair her shirt with a denim skirt and some crazy fall-patterned tights but we didn't have that, so instead she gets hokey turkey pants, haha!

And of course, things can NEVER go smoothly. Yesterday Xavier came home from school and informed me that he had left his "jacket" at school. What he meant by "jacket" was $30 GAP pullover hoodie that matches his brother's and is absolutely perfect for pulling on when it's cold and taking off when things warm up.

I was not happy about it. The boys keep leaving crap at school.

I sent him back to go get it. He had left it in his desk, which is not allowed. His teacher took it out of his desk and then another student came in and took it home with her.

How this student didn't realize it didn't belong to her is beyond me. And how his teacher didn't realize that Xavier wears it to school several days a week and so it must belong to him...especially since it came out of his desk...again, beyond me.

I was a little angry.

Xavier felt horrible about it, and he kind of should. He has to pay attention to his things. I don't look for the hoodie to come back. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised.

Of course, that doesn't do us any good for the Thanksgiving break.

I took him to GAP and got him a new one. The only pullovers they had said "Football" on them, so we got a zip-up. The new one has a fur-lined hood and jacket lining inside. It's a size 12 too so he should be able to wear it next year and then gift it to Orian.

So now I've got cleaning, packing, and cooking to do. And of course I'm sick again. But I'm excited about our trip!

Changed my mind...

I don't know if it's the sweater or what, but I think I look bigger, so I decided to post a 32w1d pic for comparison. From the front I just look like a regular fat person, though!



Also, I finally figured out how to fix the other post, so if you want to see the pics, be sure to go back and look. :)

Successes and Epic Fails

After the weekend was spent getting the kids' rooms (except the loft) in order, I decided this week to tackle our master closet, FINALLY.

I didn't take a before pic, but let me paint a picture with words:

The floor was covered in stacks of an unholy number of ACU pants and tops. Random books scattered about. A duffel bag here, a small luggage bag there. A huge, impeding stack of coat hangers made opening the door all the way impossible. Here's a shoe. Oh, look, there's its mate. Oh, no it's not. Baby clothes. Maternity swimsuit. A t-shirt I didn't know I had. The shelves were exploding with t-shirts and jeans and shorts and everything else.

Some minimal effort at folding and stacking in an organized manner had been made, but not enough. The closet bar was straining under the weight of 12,003 shirts, pants, and dresses no one will ever wear.

Now the photos you are about to see may not look like much, but please believe me when I say it's a HUGE, monumental improvement.






Look at the floor. It's empty!



I took some pics of the boys' room too. It's not the most awesome room ever, but at least it's clean!







And here's their closet...



Orian's Lego bucket is in the closet, and he plays Legos in the closet, LOL. It's a little weird.



It's a relief to have those things taken care of even though there is still so much to do. It takes me a while to get things done because when I start to work on something, THIS happens:





Among my other recent failures, pumpkin fudge. It was more like pumpkin sludge. Delicious, sweet, sugary sludge. Nice.

And then yesterday I ruined my area rug. I was vacuuming and smelled a burning smell. I turned it off immediately, but it was too late. Not sure what happened, but there's a melty, burny hole in my rug. D'oh!



Arrgh.

I am 32 weeks today and took a pic but when I uploaded it I noticed I look pretty much like I did at 29 weeks. So, if you want to see a belly pic, look at the one from 29 weeks. HA. I seriously didn't see any change at all.

PS - I had to do and re-do, and then do and re-do again this stupid post because it kept messing up. Because I put so much effort into it, it's only fair that EVERYONE who even GLANCES at it leaves me a comment. Seriously.

New Furniture in the Girls' Room, Less Crap in the Boys' Room

This morning I made Pumpkin Waffles with Maple-Apple Syrup (well, just regular maple syrup...we were out of apple juice!). Adrian and the boys were crazy about them.

Maple-Apple Syrup
1/2 cup maple-flavored syrup
1/4 cup frozen (thawed) apple juice concentrate
Waffles
2 1/3 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Powdered sugar, if desired
1. In 1-quart saucepan, heat syrup ingredients, stirring occasionally, until juice concentrate is melted and mixture is warm.
2. Heat waffle iron; grease with cooking spray, vegetable oil or shortening. In large bowl, beat all waffle ingredients except pecans and powdered sugar with wire whisk or hand beater until blended. Pour batter onto center of hot waffle iron. Close lid of waffle iron.
3. Bake about 5 minutes or until steaming stops and waffle is golden brown. Carefully remove waffle. Sprinkle with pecans and powdered sugar. Serve with syrup.

(From the Betty Crocker website)

Yummy!

I spent pretty much the ENTIRE day working in the kids' rooms. We bought a super cute girls' dresser set on Craigslist and Adrian picked up most of it last night and then went back this morning to pick up what wouldn't fit.

I'm super impressed with him! This stuff is pretty heavy and he got it all up the stairs and the pieces all put together all by himself.

While he was gone Orian and I moved Isabella's old dresser into the boys' closet. It's a baby dresser, but hey, it's in the closet. No one's going to see it. And it's not too obviously baby-ish. Well, yeah, it kind of is.

The boys had some of their things in plastic storage drawers in the closet, so now those will go in our master closet. It's a scary mess in there so I'm going to be organizing it tomorrow.

Last week when the boys brought their laundry down I thought it seemed like a pretty small amount.

It was.

The boys' closet was 1 foot deep in dirty clothes. Nice. I have been too sick to really go up there and check on things and I guess THAT'S what happens when I don't go and check on things.

When Adrian got the girls' dressers assembled I wiped them down with a magic eraser and they look great. There was some crayon on one of them and it came right off. The dressers are wood but have some sort of laminate finish, which I like because it makes them super easy to clean.

I re-organized the girls' room and sorted out the toys and clothes. Dahlia will have plenty to play with when she's ready! Isabella loves her dressers. She calls one of them her "house" because she can open up the cabinet and get inside.

Here are some pictures of the new dressers. Isabella has torn the ribbons off her wall and I haven't fixed it yet. I don't know when I will because I need a new, more stable, less caustic method of attaching the ribbons. Ideas, anyone?

The dressers don't look as clashy with the paint as they do in the pic. In the room lighting they actually look very nice with it.











The dressers don't match the bed, but no one uses the bed anyways! Well, the Carebears sleep there, but Carebears aren't picky.

The boys' room was a major project. What a mess. They just never put anything away properly. I can organize and organize and re-organize and within days it's back to looking like crap. Ugh! I guess that's what boys do. Keeping things straightened and neat is not really a boy priority.

The closet dresser is now a school clothes dresser and then the main dresser in the room is for play clothes. I sorted through several big boxes of toys they had crammed in there and found some interested items.

I found some missing clothes of mine and Isabella's, too. And one of Adrian's socks.

I condensed all the Lego pieces into one HUGE box, much to Orian's delight. The boys were really excited by all the toys we found. I keep telling them that if they would keep things put away in the right places they would have more fun because they would know where things are.

I got their bookcase straightened up and re-boxed all the stuff in their room. Really, the only toys in there are the Legos, the UB Funkeys, and the Gameboy stuff. I like it better that way. Toys in the loft. Clothes, books, and beds in the bedroom.

I didn't take any pictures because I was waaaay too tired when I got finished several hours later. I should have taken before and after pictures!

I ended up with 2 trash bags filled with loose papers, broken toys, and crappy fast food toys. I hate those stupid fast food toys.

I had a My Pet Monster (the kind you draw on) that I could have given away but someone had written something about farts on it, and it dried that way. I don't think anyone would want that. LOL.

Tomorrow is our closet, laundry, laundry, laundry, and then hopefully some projects. I have some Thanksgiving outfits to do for Isabella and then the kids' "Thankful" shirts they wear every Thanksgiving. And two different votive projects.

I should be doing Thanksgiving crafts with the kids. I am really slipping. But I'm finally feeling better, so maybe this week. We're running out of time!