Friday, January 28, 2011

Birdy! Birdy!

My husband loves feeding the birds.  He finds it necessary especially in the winter when they cannot get what they need because of the abundance of snow covering the ground.  At first I didn't get it, but now after enjoying the benefits of it for the past three years of living together, I love and appreciate it.  Everytime I look outside and see the yard full of birds filling their bellies with bird seed, sunflower seeds and suet, it makes me happy.  Also, I know it makes Jude happy as well.  Whenever one of us sees them in the yard, we run and get each other and yell "birdy! birdy!"  I know that when I look back when I am older and think about those moments, my heart will smile.








Beautiful, right?  What is it that you didn't appreciate initially, but did later?  Leave me a comment and let me know.  I can think of quite a few things!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Snow Much Fun

I have been eager to find a day that Clint, Jude and myself could play outside in the snow when it was still a little light out and when it wasn't miserble cold out.  Tuesday it finally happened.  I had dinner, delicious chicken and vegetable stir-fry with rice, on the table when Clint walked in the door.  We ate, bundled up and headed outdoors.  Jude liked it a lot.  Then, he saw his swing set and his dolphin swing hanging from it and HAD to get on it!  My baby loves to swing.  He loves it most of all when daddy sits in the swing next to him and swings with him.  It was getting dark so we said it was time to go in and of course a meltdown ensued.  On our way up to the house, he spotted his sled and cried because he wanted on.  Clint pushed him around on it and he could not stop laughing.  Of course, when the ride ended he cried again. 

I cannot tell you how much I love spending family time. It is when I am happiest. With another little one around, the joy will be doubled!







Feeling good.

Today was another doctors appointment.  It was the first time meeting with my doctor since seeing the specialist and having my uber long ultrasound.  I got weighed (which was a number I was happy with), had my blood pressure taken, gave a urine sample, got my belly measured and listened to the heartbeat.  Then came time for the doctor to ask his question he always asks...."Do you have any questions or concerns?"  I asked a few personal ones...then said that my husband has been complaining because I am breathing so heavy and that I am a bit congested, which I know is normal with some pregnancies, but wasn't this was with Jude.  He said it is perfectly normal.  Next, I asked if the rest of my pregnancy would be treated as high risk.  He said that he would be monitoring me more closely with routine ultrasounds and that after the birth the baby would be highly evaluated, but "no" he would not consider me high risk since my ultrsound results were good.  Not being high risk is a great thing, right?  He felt good about everything, so in turn I did as well.  I left feeling really good, but obviously the possibility of the baby having Down's Syndrome will be in my mind throughout the rest of the pregnancy and will prepare accordingly "just in case".

Also, knowing that I am crazy about staying in the "healthy" weight gain range of 25-35 lbs, he warned me that I will be entering my last 20 weeks of pregnancy soon where the amount of weight I gain will increase much faster.  He said that I should expect to gain about 18-20 lbs, which will keep me in the healthy range with what I have gained so far.  This will put me at less than 30 lbs for my whole pregnancy.  This is my goal.  With Jude I gained 29 lbs and it came off very quickly.  I hear the second time around is more difficult, but I have goals set already.  We are heading to California two months after the baby is due for the wedding of a wonderful college friend.  I must be beach ready before then.

Lastly, he mentioned that I would need to get another glucose test after my next appointment to test for Gestational Diabetes.  I had it with Jude, so I am thinking I will have it this time around.  This morning actually, when I woke up I suddenly got lightheaded, had a cold sweat and got sick.  This might be related to my sugar levels.  Of course, I forgot to mention this at my appointment.  I hate that.  After I leave, I think of a gazillion more questions I wanted to ask.  I need to write them down. 

So, all in all---the appontment went well and I am feeling good about it.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Halloween festivities

This year for Halloween I decided to make costumes for Clint, Jude and myself.  I loved the way that Jude's turned out and he looked absolutely adorable.  We went as the Rubble's from the Flintstones.  Clint was Barney, Jude was Bam Bam and I was Betty.  We had a Halloween party to go to at my sister in law's house.  It was a lot of fun. 

I made Jude's costume mostly out of felt.  The skirt and bone that was attached are both felt.  The triangles and straps are made of a furrier material.  I didn't want it to be itchy or irritating the whole night.

 
Here is my little Bam Bam. 

I love his belly hanging over.


I had been debating whether or not to take Jude trick or treating.  The weather was super cold and Clint was away.  Then, my mom called and said she wanted to come over, go to dinner and take him trick or treating.  So, we did and I am glad we did.  Jude loved it and within 2 or 3 houses he had the whole "trick or treat" down.  We didn't go for very long but Jude got tons of candy.  I think being the coaches son worked in his favor because parents of his players were giving him multiple handfuls.

It's been two and a half months since Halloween and we still have a lot left over since we don't let him have sweets often.  His favorite candy is now "ruckers" also known as suckers. 

Here is my mom and Jude (all bundled) leaving Confer's, our local grocery store.

Such a cutie.

Getting candy....lots of it from this house. 

Assessing the goods.

Putting the lid on tight to keep others out.

All in all, Halloween was great.  I think  Jude had a great time with both the party at his Aunt Amanda's and Uncle Tony's but also the trick or treating part.

Just thought I would post Clint and my costume as well. 

Clint and myself.

Mt sister in law, Amanda as Marge Simpson and I.


Friday, January 21, 2011

Field Trips

I've been meaning to post about some of the adventures that have taken place in the fall but am just now getting around to it with this post.  Therefore, please excuse the long post that is about to occur.

I want to start first with a trip that Jude and I went on to the Montrose Orchard this fall.  We asked his Grandma (Clint's mom) and our niece Addison to come along as well.  The trip was organized by the SKIP program that Jude goes to on a weekly basis held at Montrose Schools.  It's a wonderful organization.  It is much like a big structured play date.  The kids meet on the rug for a few songs and story time.  Afterwards, there are stations for them to explore different  activities each week.

Jude had a great time at the orchard.  I think his favorite part was climbing on the straw while waiting for the tour of the orchard to begin.  He also enjoyed all the animals he saw, especially the horse.  It was his first real trip to the orchard and I think we will make it an annual event.

Here is Jude looking mischevious.  Isn't he darling?

 Playing in the straw.

Such a joy.

The tractor coming to pick us up for the hay ride. 

Watching cider be made.

Apples on the conveyor.

A horse in the animal farm area.

Staring at his favorite animal....the horsey.

Jude's first donut ever.

Snugging his Grandma.  (He calls her Grandma Horsey bc she has two ponies).

He was amused with putting his head in the openings.

Picked out a perfect sized pumpkin.

Pround of his find. 

 Jude and I on the hayride.


The next field trip we took was also organized by SKIP.  It was to the local Fire Department.  Its purpose was to teach families about fire safety and also allowed the kids to explore the trucks and equiptment.  I mostly wanted to go just  so Jude could see the trucks.  Clint met us there after practice so it was good family time. 

Here's our little firefighter.

Looking at the uniforms/gear.

Jude with daddy.

 Mommy looking terrible and Jude looking cute as always.

I love this picture.  He was looking at his reflection on the inside of the fire truck.

Another adventure was taking Jude to his first dentist appointment.  This was really important to me because I care very much about his teeth and want him to know the importance of good oral health as well.  Even before his first tooth, I was using the finger brush to clean his gums.  Now, I am proud to say that my little boy LOVES brushing his teeth!  It makes the process much easier since he doesn't put up a fight.  I usually start by brushing them myself and then letting him brush for awhile on his own or vice versa.  When we do it in the evening, we usually make it something he does as part of bath time.  He loves running the toothbrush under the bath faucet.

His visit to the dentist went well.  He especially liked the waiting area for the kids.  He liked sitting in the big chair, but did not like laying back and having the dentist look in his mouth.  Luckily that only lasted a few minutes.  The dentist was impressed with Jude's and mommy's brushing of his teeth and said that his chompers looked great! 

 Here he is in the waiting room playing with toys.

 My big boy in the chair waiting for the dentist to take a look in his mouth.

Lastly, we spent winter family night making gingerbread houses at the elementary school in Montrose. I thought it was a lot of fun.  They had reindeers for the kids to look at, all the items needed to make the gingerbread houses and also Santa came for a visit.  Jude loves animals so all he wanted to do was hang out with the reindeer.  When we did finally get him back to the gingerbread house, he mostly ate the candy and cereal that was to adorn the house.  Finally, Santa arrived, whom he loved the previous year and Jude wanted nothing to do with him.  You will see how that played out in the following pictures.

Jude's favorite part of the whole night.

Jude eating the goods.

The final product.

Daddy playing with Jude's marshmallow gun that I bought him.  He shot it right into his mouth.

Not a fan.

Traumatized.

Didn't like Santa but was happy he got a book out of the ordeal.

Well that is it for field trips for now.  I have some things to post from Halloween and Christmas.  I can't wait to show you all Jude's costume that I made.