Christmas 2011

Oh my goodness. How has Christmas already passed??

Here are some pictures from our celebration. The first few are Christmas Eve,

then there are some from Christmas morning. Our goal is to incorporate my

Polish Xmas traditions with George's American ones. It will involve opening

presents both on Xmas Eve night, and Christmas morning...just have to get the

kids to believe that Santa is real without them thinking we're crazy.

I think I have a few more years....right? 

Literally the best pic she would give me in her dress.

My smiley boy eating Santa's cookies.

Scarlett got a baby doll, stroller, and bottles. She is OBSESSED with feeding the baby.

The best gift was an antique shop find. More to add to the fire truck collection.

Doll had a glitch and wouldn't stop crying. Even grandpa tried his best!

Thank you Daddy for staying up until 3:30 am putting together and wrapping the big gifts.

Oliver opening up his train set!

He was, and continues to be, the HAPPIEST kid ever. He LOVES this thing!

Ollie and Scarlett's kitchen. Scar Scar loves to make Daddy coffee in the morning!

Here are the kids quiet and content after an eventful morning!

 

 

Anatomy Scan

On Friday the 23rd we had our anatomy ultrasound!

I scheduled it for the 23rd since that was the last day before Christmas

that we could possibly do it...the purpose being just in case we caved

on holding off on finding out the gender. I thought it would be cute to at

least have the tech write it down and put it in an envelope so we could open

it on Xmas.

LUCKILY

we were able to hold strong and NOT find out the gender!!!

We have our boy, we have our girl, we have every piece of clothing

both of them ever wore along with all the baby gear/toys any baby

needs...so really, why not??

I don't think there are very many surprises left in life, especially surprises

that are received after the incredible work that labor and delivery is.

My goal with Squishy is to go completely natural. I remember the incredible

high I had after I gave birth to Scarlett with no meds, and throwing in finding

out what my precious baby is in that very moment of nature's strongest high,

is something worth waiting for.

Furthermore, I've thought greatly about the relationship I have/will have with

Squishy throughout the pregnancy. It has been different than it was with the other two.

As I feel baby moving inside my belly, I am not focusing on gender roles in the future,

ie, "in a year I will be buying tutus for my baby girl" or "I can't wait to have another

little wrestler"....I have no dreams of blue or pink.

I have nothing more than the thought of a child. I will have a little baby in a mere

4.5 months. It is weird how differently I think of this Squishy because I cannot

create preexisting "norms" of what it will be like "one day". There is just right now,

and my baby. It's truly incredible. If I have any more children, I don't think I'll

want to find out what we're having.

The best shot of Squishy!

George fooling around and taking pics...

This is my second child in a row that would not give me a profile ultrasound picture. Kind of frustrating, since I love the cute little profiles...but oh well, Squishy gave us a nice straight on face shot. :) 3D ultrasound countdown starts now...can't wait to see baby again!

Little Swimmers; Heat 2

Here are my swimmers together tonight.

They were having an absolute blast.

And because I can never seem to get both looking

at the same time...

Here is Scarlett looking:

And here's Oliver looking"

ALMOST got them both!!

18 Weeks

We've got a bell pepper sized Squishy in my belly!!!

I feel that I significantly "popped" this week.

I'm feeling baby every day now, but only when I'm

laying in bed at the end of the night and there are no

distractions. They're still just little love taps, not real kicks. 

I'm nowhere near where Squishy can

interrupt me during work with it's tossing and turning!

Not that that won't come too quickly...

We get our FIRST ultrasound on Friday the 23rd!

Xmas present for Mommy and Daddy!!

It will be the anatomy scan and we DON'T want to find

out the gender...

Ugh, we're gonna need massive amounts of strength.

Wish us luck!!

Little Swimmers

This swimming position is a new favorite in our house!

Did I give birth to a little elf??

Look at how adorable she looks!!!

To FREAKIN' die for.

And here's my chunky monkey, my baby..oh, 'SCUSE ME

BIG boy!

Those butt cheeks are so squishy and cuuute!

I'm gonna miss him when he gets too old for Mommy.

He's such a love bug, and is finally cuddling with me every chance he gets.

He never lets too long go by without saying he loves me,

and I never want that to change.

When he came into this world,

I finally met my Prince Charming.

Zoolights!

This is so not like me,

but I'm actually trying to take less pictures.

I don't know if its having such a busy schedule...

or my kids growing up so fast...

but I'm trying, during this break from classes, to really

take in my kids and enjoy every moment I have with them...

These moments are precious because once classes

 start, its another 10 weeks of no interrupting Mommy. Sad face.

So anyway....

Here are a few pictures from PDZA's Zoo Lights display!

Oliver was absolutely entranced and loved every

minute of it. He pointed out everything he saw!

Scarlett could care less and lazily laid

in her stroller.

We went with our friends from the east coast,

and here are the boys together for a pic, sorta.

Don't mind the hot chocolate spill on Oliver's coat.

He's a sophisticated Starbucks kid, who couldn't

quite hold on to the drink in the dark car! Ha!

Here's the huge polar bear in the gift shop.

And here was the best I got trying to get both kids to pose.

Yeah, the whole 14 month old thing doesn't help!

Look at her. She is such a mini person.

Too adorable!!

14 Months

Here's Little Miss Thang...

Still won't accept a sippy.

This child has been a battle and I've noticed that

I just haven't cared enough to be diligent about

switching away from the bottle.

Oliver was on strictly sippys by 13 months...

But I had a lot more time on my hands then...

She only drinks from her bottle a little at a time.

She seldom can finish a bottle in one sitting anyway,

so she is definitely ready for a sippy...

Plus less spilling would be a HUGE bonus.

Size 4 nipples don't hold in liquid!!!

Mommy has a weeks vacation coming up, and I will

be trying to conquer this.

Not that being on a bottle is a bad thing at all,

it just seems easier for me with the sippy. :)

More updates on Scarlett:

She loves to make engine noises when playing with cars. She is definitely picking up a lot from her brother.

She can follow more complex commands like, "Bring me your shoes" "Put your cracker on the table"

She can identify her nose, toes, feet, and she's almost got her ears.

She LOVES brushing her teeth so she brushes twice daily!

She is a little dancer. Music makes her move her tush and she loves to bounce and spin. She automatically gets in a happy place when dancing.

Anything that is soft, she will find a way to snuggle with it!

She loves to "cook". If she is playing with pots and pans and mixing spoons, she loves it. She even likes to "feed" us her creations.

Which reminds me, she loves to share her food. If she is eating anything, after she gets a good fill, she always tries to share by basically forcing it in your mouth. She means well...

She has to sit on the toilet and watch me get ready every morning. She likes when I [pretend] to put powder and blush on her! This is where I notice a difference between my kids and I don't know if its biological gender roles [nature perspective] coming through, or what....but Oliver would always like to be in the bathroom with me too (but not as often) but he always had toys to play with or books to read and never took notice of my makeup.

My Scarlett is basically becoming a little toddler, who's more coordinated, understanding, and not a baby anymore.

Gosh, I have to keep reminding myself that she's going to be a BIG sister soon.....



17 weeks

17 weeks! Squishy is the size of an onion!

This was the week I had to bite my tongue from last week. This whole week I experienced morning sickness again, and it was not fun.

It made me question my prior prediction of boy...

But I still have a feeling there's a little boy in there.

Other than the sickness I did start feeling Squishy more.

Maybe a few taps every 3 days. Nothing big,

but enough to reassure me there's a little person in my belly

And I thought these next pictures were fitting since Scarlett's jammies are quite the campflauge.

I mean really, can anyone even see her?

Santa Pictures 2011

Sorry for the poor quality. Its a phone pic of the picture.

Now if it were up to me I would never have been in this picture. Haha.

Oliver is still very shy and reserved (only in public!).

He had decided that "Santa is a bad guy" all on his own.

Sooooo, he was NOT thrilled about this "opportunity".

I also know that he is almost 3 and understanding and remembering

lots of things. I knew he would be traumatized

if we left him with Santa and ran. I just couldn't

perpetuate the whole "bad Santa" thing.

We took a bullet for the team to make Oliver comfortable

and he was content sitting on Daddy's lap.

You can obviously tell he's still not comfortable, but he's not screaming!

The best thing was that Santa took some time to talk to Oliver after the picture. And much to our surprise, Oliver talked back!! Usually if someone he doesn't know talks to him he kind of shuts down and hides behind me.

But NO! Oliver told Santa what he wanted for Christmas and got some candy and really engaged. I was super proud of him.

Now I can't get him to stop talking about how much he loves Santa. Sucking it up and taking a picture with Santa for my child was a great decision!! Now let's hope I can skip it next year. Haha!

Raking Leaves

Here is my crazy boy raking leaves.

He was really serious about it!

I wish my videos would post bc I took a few priceless ones. :)

Sleepy Baby

Silly girl fell asleep sitting up.

I couldn't help but grab my phone and take lots of pictures.

She is so darn cute!

Chocolate Milk Mustache!!

In honor or Movember last month, Oliver loved copying Daddy and giving himself milk mustaches.

Silly boy!

Gingerbread Trains

Mommy had never made a gingerbread house before.

When I saw the train, I HAD to get it.

Oliver loves trains and I knew he'd love it,

and let me tell you...HE DID!

This is what it should have looked at...

My interpretation...

Oliver directed where the candy went...and ate a lot of it!

Aaand Scarlett "destroying", ha!

Letters to Santa

Oliver told me what he wants from Santa.

He signed off the letter with his hand prints.

We took this over to the Macy's Santa mail box.

Oliver loved dropping the letter in there!!

Each letter = Macy's donated $1 to Make A Wish.

I'm okay with that.

Decorating for Christmas

CAUTION: PICTURE OVERLOAD

Here are some pics of the kids decorating.

We did it right after Thanksgiving,

becasue really...

Why waste time? Right?

Ha.

Scarlett was enamored by the sparkles. Oliver was GREAT at helping.

I was pleasantly surprised with how helpful and careful he was.

Thank God for plastic ornaments! Scarlett had lots of fun.

He told me to take a picture and wore the Santa hat...HAPPY mommy.

Yellowstone ornament. Can't wait to go on another vaca and pick up one with a family of 5!

She loves those candy canes!

Again with the posing and LETTING me take pictures. I'm milking it!

Yup, our family's motto!!

Loved the added touch of the tiny wreath lights!

Two Silly Billys

My kids are the light of my life.

These pictures crack me up.

This one came out blurry, so I'm sad.

But they are super cute, so I'm happy.

And this was an outtake. Horrible lighting obviously.

But again, look at my babies.

I love that this is my life!

♥

15 & 16 Weeks

And here I thought that school ending would put me back to updating regularly...
Pshhh, yeah right!!

I've almost been boycotting the laptop. If it wasn't for my phone, I'd never be on the Internet.
I think I've just needed a break and I've been spending time teaching my kids about Christmas and our traditions, etc. It's been a blast.


So, to get back on track:

Here are my 15 and 16 weeks pics.

15 weeks; Squishy is size of an orange.

16 weeks; Squishy is length of an avocado.

Nothing has really changed since last update. I hardly know I am pregnant other than my weird cravings.
Squishy hates anything sweet, i.e., cupcakes, chocolate, pastries...
All the stuff I liked is now aesthetically appealing...but my taste buds turn these foods into garbage!

Squishy has been craving SALT!! And veggies. Veggies dipped in ranch are a must have. The only sweet food this baby has really enjoyed have been satsuma oranges. Other than that it's Lays plain potato chips, carrot sticks, pickles, and string cheese.

Physically I feel great. I hardly notice any sort of fatigue and though my belly is growing, I'm still able to bend and stretch and jump, etc.