Crazy Fast Update

Aidan is finally over the horrible never-ending sickness of last week. I washed his sheets more that week than ever before! He finished it all off with a nice ear infection and is still taking some antibiotics for that. Glad it's over though.

We started working on brick patio in back yard and hopefully will get some more work done on it this weekend. So ready to have that project finished!

I am doing a shoot for a music video for the band Leeland. I got asked to do the shoot last week and we've had a couple days of filming so far. Today we are doing another quick shot after the little one wake's up from his nap. This will be the first time I am taking him with me, so that should be interesting. The stylist is coming to my house for makeup and hair, so that will be nice.

Seth is in South Carolina for work and gets home tonight. So excited! He is pursuing a new job working with his company that would require a relocation. He is currently on his 3rd week of a trial period. We still have a little while before we agree to anything, but it would definitely be a nice promotion for him.

And, I am planning a quick trip to AR tomorrow that is still in the works...trying to decide if I can swing it all.

Oh, and I had a random sonogram yesterday that did not completely reveal the sex, but gave us an idea. Also found out that I have placenta previa (again). With Aidan it was only partial and resolved itself by the 3rd trimester. This time they say it is complete which could be quite problematic. Praying for some good news at my midwife appt./diagnostic ultrasound on May 5th (6 days!).

Sick.

Aidan caught his first stomach bug and threw up in the nursery at church on Sunday. He was acting totally fine before we left and even acted fine after the fact, but then proceeded to throw up in the car and then later at home. He didn't eat anything for the rest of the day. Yesterday, he was running a fever all day and didn't want to eat or drink much of anything. He was completely lethargic and would just lay on the couch or in our arms and sleep. He is doing better today (not completely) but the fever is gone and he seems to have a little more energy.

It has been interesting for me because I have a really weak stomach when it comes to vomit and other bodily fluids, so it has not been easy cleaning up after him. Seth does a great job though and I am so grateful for his help.

Another weird thing that happened yesterday was that I kinda passed out/fainted. I had not had much to eat and was just standing in the back yard talking when I suddenly starting blacking out. I grabbed Seth's arm and was able to tell him what was happening so he was able to hold on to me when I collapsed. I haven't done that in years. I guess I was too focused on taking care of Aidan that I forgot about myself and the little baby growing inside of me.

Conversations with a 2 year old

Last night, Aidan heard me reference the mall to someone and then minutes later he started desperately saying, "a mall, a mall, a mall." I asked him if he wanted to go to the mall and he said, "yesh." Then, he wouldn't drop the subject. He kept going on in on in desperation a little past the point of being cute. I figured since Seth was gone we might as well go to the mall, so I told him we would go. (We rarely go to the mall and yet somehow Aidan figured out the word "mall" and can recognize it easily--the child has a ridiculous memory) Anyway, he kept on talking about the mall, so I asked him why he wanted to go there. His answer: "a get ike ceam" (to get ice cream). Apparently,  you do something once, and you are stuck doing it forever. We got a free kid's cone at Chick-fil-a (right by the mall) and Aidan was so happy.

Several weeks ago, Aidan found a hot wheels car among his toys. I don't think it has been within sight for months. He came running to me yelling, "danta, danta." I asked if he got the car from Santa (a true fact, although I was amazed that he remembered that, since he hated the whole experience). He said, "yesh" and proceeded to go and find the pic of him sitting on Santa's lap to reiterate the fact.

Aidan has this beloved microphone that he got for Christmas. He just started called it a "mic" a few days ago and the other night he held it up for me and said " a mike.....and bob." He has a great uncle named Mike that he has only met twice, but somehow recognized his picture at my mom's house a week or so ago. Bob is another member of the family that he saw around the same time and I guess he associates the two of them together. So funny!

What I Enjoy About Life

Sunny warm days for wearing skirts and flip flops

Taking long walks with the double stroller and still having energy for the day

Getting a little bit of sun on my face and arms

Eating popsicles in the evening with Aidan

Getting my Real Simple magazine in the mail

Reading while the boys are napping

Figuring out how to manage life with two little ones and dreaming about life with this little one in my belly

Feeling the baby kick

Drinking lemonade

Grilling out and sitting outside

Listening to Aidan "sing" and play guitar

Running errands with my buddy

Going to Deanna Rose and the zoo

Making my bed

Turning on the fans in the house

Eating ice cream

Laughing with Aidan before bedtime

Picking up the house and enjoying it afterwards

Abiding in the Lord

Anticipating the future and the newness it holds

The renewed energy the second trimester has brought

Lying in bed after a long, productive day and just reveling in the comfort of my pillows and cool sheets

What's Cookin' at Our House IV: Quick Meal

If you are pressed for a time, here's a great meal idea using the following:

Seth and I are big fans of Indian food and our fave restaurant is Korma Sutra (a small Indian restaurant with amazing service and food). I found this sauce at the local grocery store and loved that it was made without extra preservatives, sweeteners, or hydrogenated oils.

The meal was a quick fix. I had cooked up some chicken previously, so I just added that with the sauce and made some brown rice. Once the rice was ready, the chicken and sauce went on top. Add a quick salad and throw in some organic tortillas toasted and buttered, and you've got a great spicy meal. I had wanted to try my hand at making some homemade naan, but because I was crunched for time the tortillas were a great alternative and were perfect for dipping and scooping.

2 years- A letter to my boy

My dearest Seth Aidan,

I love your name and what it means: "appointed/chosen fire". You are such a strong personality and have brought such wonderful joy into our household. I had no idea how much love my heart would hold for you the day you were born and it has continued to grow so immensely that I wonder if I can hold it all. You have surpassed all my expectations and you have been such a refreshing part of my every day life. It has been a great learning experience these past two years, but I am so blessed to be your Momma and thankful to the Lord for the privilege he has bestowed on me.

You bring such joy to my heart on a daily basis and I love the way you love so freely. You have really become quite the affectionate one lately and you offer hugs and kisses willingly and openly. My heart melts when you sweetly turn your face up and kiss me on the cheek. You always have to kiss the "otha one" too and that just cracks me up.

You are talking and communicating so well that I can hardly keep up with your ever-expanding vocabulary. I love the way you say, "tan to, ma-ma" (thank you, ma-ma) when I give you something. Your voice is so sweet and pleasant to my ears.

You love love love music and have started "singing" songs a lot lately. You will sit on your chair with your toy guitar or microphone and just sing away. It is absolutely precious. Sometimes you will even stand up and stomp your foot to an imaginary beat. It is great!

You are a wonderful help to me on a daily basis and you are very sweet with Oakley. I am so impressed with your tenderness towards him and to your friends. You definitely have your moments of being rough, but you are mostly gentle and kind.

You love to clean! You are always very concerned about dirt in the house or on your hands or wherever. You like to sweep and wipe the floors. You enjoy washing yourself with washcloths and you love to help with the laundry. You are always excited to help with any task and I try to find ways to let you do so.

You also love to bake and you love dough! You help pour in ingredients and stir and turn on the mixer. You are an impatient little cook though because once things go in the oven you cry until they are ready to eat. You also love to play with playdough and will sit for a long time at the table to play.

You love to be outside. You enjoy the park and the sandbox. You also love to go on walks. I think you could live outdoors.

Aidan, there are absolutely no words to describe how wonderfully blessed I am to have you. I can't wait for this next year and the years to come as I get to know you more and more and see you grow up into a young man. I pray you will love the Lord and others with a tender heart.

I love you,

Momma

Birthday Pictures!

Sunday, April 4th, was my little Aidan's birthday. We had a blast celebrating with family this year. Since it was also Easter, we went to church together as a big family and then went to Seth's parent's house for lunch. My whole family was there as well.

I made a delicious lemon cake with lemon icing and it was a hit. I made some cupcakes too!

We had a wonderful meal together and spent the afternoon watching Aidan open gifts, taking a walk, and playing at the park. It was a beautiful day outside which was extra special too.


Aidan received some great new toys: Melissa & Doug food cutting set, Melissa & Doug clock, Elmo guitar, little chair, tent w/ a tunnel attachment, play dough stuff, clothes, legos, Boggle Jr., and Mr. Potato head. He has been having a blast with all his new stuff.

Here is my big birthday boy and his cute blonde curls!

He was trying to be funny here....such a ham he is!

Swinging with Grandpa!

We had a wonderful day and I can't believe my baby boy is already a 2 year old!

Blessed

We celebrated Aidan's 2nd birthday on Easter Sunday. It was a great day spent with family. Aidan had a blast and so did we! I'll be posting pics soon from our day.

This week I am on "vacation." Oakley is spending the week with his grandma, and I am feeling the freedom. :)
Monday morning was MOPS, and the afternoon and evening were spent relaxing with Aidan and Seth. Today, we had a wonderful waffle breakfast, I took a long walk in the windy warm weather, and then I had my 16 week appt. and got to see the baby on a sonogram again (they couldn't get a heartbeat b/c he/she kept moving around too much). I found out my placenta is anterior and the baby's heartrate was in the 150-160 range. I was disappointed that they weren't able to tell the gender because the baby was not cooperating, but it was fun to see our little one again. I scheduled our big ultrasound for May 5th (just about 4 weeks from now) and I am so excited! I've also still only gained 1 pound so far which is nice because I am hoping that if I gain about 1 pound a week from now on I'll hit my goal of 25 pounds.

In other news, Seth and I are getting ready to leave for a night out. We are staying at a bed and breakfast near here and I am so looking forward to the time together. Aidan is off to Mimi's house and we are home free.

I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

A feeling I know too well

I was looking at my post from a couple of Fridays ago and it struck me how funny it was that I was feeling the same way. Friday again....Seth gone all week, and I am near meltdown.

There was a lot of fussing and whining going on at my house this week. A lot of sleeping issues too. Aidan fell down the stairs and got the worst looking black eye and scrape that he has ever had. I wish I would have taken a picture, but it looked so bad, I just couldn't. His eye is still a little blackish/greenish and the scrape is less ghastly looking, so I don't feel guilty taking him out and about now. I was a little worried I was going to have child services hunting me down.

I was saddened by my grumpiness this evening. I felt completely done in. I didn't want to clean up any more messes or fix anymore food, or deal with any more whining. I wanted to run away....The problem is, that is a feeling I feel way too often on Friday evenings when Seth is in class.

The great thing about today however was that it is Good Friday. And the good thing about that is....I am reminded about how good I really do have it, how blessed I really am. I was able to go to a Good Friday service tonight and it was refreshing, sorrowing, humbling. I was moved to remember that Christ suffered for me. He suffered something far worse than piles of dirty dishes, screaming children, and lonely nights. He suffered the sin of this world, and part of that was for me. When I feel like I have the short end of the stick, it is good to be reminded of the cross. The beautiful cross, where He died for me.

Thank you......for turning my feelings into something new, something expressed to You, as gratitude for Your wonderful gift.