Baby bean update

At 15 weeks, the nausea is not completely gone. It is a little better, but not gone. It still comes around if I eat too many sweets, or if I eat a big meal. For the last few days, I have been thankful for the nausea as it is the only symptom I have right now. I am still a little early to be feeling any movement. And since my appt 2 weeks ago, I haven't heard the bean. Not to mention, last week while picking up the kids at daycare, I slid and did a faceplant right in the parking lot. I know my stomach really isn't big enough to worry about actually hurting the baby if I hit it, but when we didn't have any luck with the Doppler at work last week, I was a little concerned.

We took a listen this morning before I left work. And lo and behold, there is a little person in there. The heart rate was about 150. He/she is a little squirmer. We had to do some chasing, but were able to catch the bean on the Doppler for a minute or two or at a time. I have to admit, I am relieved. I think I can relax now until my next appt on Mar. 20.

They call me Tater....

Tot! Remember the comedian Ron White? The "They call me Tater Salad" guy? Well, apparently, I have one of his relatives. Making dinner tonight (impossible cheeseburger pie, yum), Tatum was roaming around the kitchen. So here's our conversation:

Me: Hey, Teeter Totter.
T: They call me Tater Tot.
M: Tater Tot? Is that your name?
T: No. My name is Tatum Myra Princess.
M:Is that right?

The princess playing in the snow
And the prince

No, I wouldn't normally recommend letting your children lead each other around by a leash, but it kept them entertained for awhile.
And who can resist a sleeping prince?

Travis is 8!

Eight short years ago, Travis came into the world. We welcomed him at 11 pm, February 26, 2000. He was a skinny, little guy, only 6 lbs 10 oz and 18 1/2 in long. He was our quiet man. And stayed that way until he was about 3-4. Then he came out of his shell, and all of his emotions came with him. I called him my melancholy child. He is a smart, sensitive, strong willed, sarcastic little person. A mini replica of his mother. 3 days old
3 months old
4 months old
6 months old
7 months old
Where did the hair go?

9 months old

I'm sure he'll hate me for this pic when he's a teenager

First Halloween
First Christmas
1 yr old

I know, it could be Teagan, but really, it's Travis.

The beach bum at 18 months

Computer geek

Yes, he is asleep.

3 years old

4 years old
5 years old
6 years old
7 years old
Almost 8

I didn't really get any pics of this birthday. Saturday, Bobby took the two older boys to see the Monster truck show at Trav's request. Then they got to spend the night with Aunt Krista. (She did take some pics, so check them out there) She took them shopping at Toys R Us for birthday gifts since they had money to spend. They spent the rest of the night chowing down on pizza (because of course, Krista has a better selection of pizza places in the BIG city), trying out all their new toys, and watching movies on the big screen TV. She even spoiled them with chocolate donuts for breakfast. Sunday night, they came home, where we had a family dinner of maple roasted pork loin, buttered corn, green beans with red potatoes and double chocolate gooey butter cake a la Paula Deen. And yes, I cooked it all. :op

Tanner is 11!

Eleven years ago, I became a Mom. Tanner was the first, the practice model, the child I would learn how to become a parent to. Bobby and I were young, 23 and 25, and I'm sure we didn't completely know what we were getting into. I know we've made mistakes along the way, and I hope Tanner will eventually forgive us for those. Probably not when he's a teen, but someday. Tanner Jacob came into the world at 6:52 am, February 16, 1997, weighing all of 6 pounds 11 ounces. He was a petite little guy.
But quickly grew into a fat little critter. Check out the rolls. He gets the butt honestly, from both parents.

He's always been a fun kid.....
a little moody,
a little curious, a little obsessive, (he wore the "Steve" shirt for days on end)
a little sweet,

a little cantankerous,
and a wee bit zany.
Through the years........
Age 1
Age 2

Age 3
Age 4
Age 6
Age 7
Age 10

We took him out to dinner for his birthday, where he put away a steak, potato, salad, and dessert. I don't know how we'll keep him fed as a teenager. He loves food, and is thankfully, one of my less picky kids. Still not too fond of fruit, but at least he eats a variety.

Tanner is my techno kid. He's all into video games, CD players, MP3's. His latest obsession is Guiter Hero III. And if he's not responding to you, there's a good chance, he's in his room playing it. He'd much rather do that than homework or chores.

He's a smart, funny, stubborn, loveable, annoying preteen. And I gotta admit, I love the ornery booger.

Happy Birthday, little man.

Little bean update

I had another appt today with my CNM. No real concerns. The nausea is still here and has gotten progressively worse. Which is weird for me. With my other kids, I had morning sickness that started right at 6 weeks, but was gone by the second trimester. This time, it started at 6 weeks, and worsened at week 10. I'm into the second trimester now and just wondering when in the heck it is going to end. I did learn that I cannot nonchalantly nosh on handfulls of jelly beans unless I want to be nauseated for hours. The last two nights at work were bad. I had to stop myself from gagging several times before walking into patient's rooms.

Anyway, enough vomit talk. All appears well with the little bean. She was able to find the heartbeat right off, which was reassuring. I tried to listen at work with the aid of a couple other L&D nurses. We just determined that our Doppler sucks. I only gained 1 pound since my last visit. Yay! I'm sure the nausea helps with that, but I'm also trying to cut out alot of the junk I used to eat. I am starting out way above where I should be, so I'd like to keep the weight gain to a minimum this time. Especially considering that all the other kids have kindly left me with an additional 10 pounds (at least) once they exited my body. I am still fitting into my jeans, although sucking in the belly just isn't feasible anymore. There's definitely a little bump growing down there.

Our next appt will be in March, when we'll be having the US. And no, no one is invited.

Happy Birthday Krista!!!

Today is my big sis's birthday! She's uh, older than me. I know what the best gift would be, and I wish I could give it to you. But until then, know that if Mia was home now, she'd say: Sheng Ri Kuai Le, Ma Ma. Now, where's the cake?

Being a SAHM

Okay, let me just preface this by saying, I am technically, not a stay at home Mom. I do work full time as a L&D nurse, but, my schedule works out so that every third week, I have a 7 day stretch when I get to play at being a SAHM.
I noticed, after the past week, that it is possible to get more accomplished when you are home all day long versus working 12 hour night shifts which require you to sleep during the day when you are home. I have cleaned, done more laundry, and cooked more in the past week, than I have in a long time. Of course, part of that might be because the pregnancy fatigue is letting up. I haven't left the house in two days, but I DIDN'T HAVE TO!!!!
You can also have days as a SAHM when you celebrate your SAHMedness by staying in your pj's until 3 pm!!! No offense to any SAHM's who like to dress before 8 am, and have a full schedule planned for every day. But this is my blog! I enjoy the freedom and spontaneity of doing whatever I want or nothing at all.

To recap our week:

Saturday was resale shopping day, where I caved and bought maternity clothes. I can still squeeze into my jeans, especially since I keep the spare "fat" pair around for emergencies. But with maternity tops, I can disguise the fact that if I want to wear clothes and eat all in the same day, I must unbutton, uh, and sometimes unzip my regular jeans.

Sunday: Cleaning, Super Bowl, and early to bed. Actually, during the Super Bowl. Bobby said it was a good game in the last couple minutes. I can't recall. The last thing I remember is Tom Petty.

Monday: We took a trip down to Centerville to see Uncle Travis, who was feeling like crap but still managed to cut Teagan's unruly hair. (I still need to hold him still long enough to snap a pic) We dropped by City Barbeque for a Pig Up and Go pack for dinner. Yum, yum, yummy. Bobby, being the Texan that he is, loves brisket, and I hate to cook it. Ergo.....
We also stopped by McD's which we are prone to do whenever we leave the house. What is up with that place? I am convinced they slip drugs into their McNuggets because I swear my kids are addicts. But, hey, all white meat chicken, 1% milk, and apples! It's healthy, right?

Tuesday: More laundry, and hanging out in pj's. We did bake chocolate chip cookies, which I had to stash before the little people ate them all. I'm still not sure whether the older boys got any or not.

Wednesday: More laundry. (Does it ever end?) I also managed to rearrange and clean Tatum's room. I'm sure it won't stay clean for long. And, I made meatloaf for dinner! I love meatloaf! Why does it seem like it should be so hard to make? It's really not, but that is why I avoid making it.

Thursday: On the agenda for today, more laundry. A trip to the library to return and pick up more. And a stop by the grocery for more milk ( I should have stock in the dairy market!), and to pick up stuff for King Ranch Chicken. I found my recipe the other day while I was lazing around in my pj's. I used to make this all the time, but have't made it in years. Seriously............. Y E A R S. (Does it bother anyone that I say grocery, and not grocery store? That so irks my husband. Why, I ask, why??? Damn Texan.)

Things I have learned this week:

There is a reason the directions tell you to leave Pizza Rolls in the microwave for 2 minutes. It is not a suggestion. If you bite into one, inevitably, the boiling ingredients will drip onto your chin causing a first degree burn. It's much better to pop the whole thing into your mouth. Of course, then you will have to walk around with your mouth hanging open in an attempt to suck in enough cool air to keep your tongue from melting. Or you could wait for them to cool, but what kind of pansy ass does that? Better yet, leave them to the kids. I'm sure the reason they are classified as kid food, is because they have absolutely no nutritional value anyway.

As many times as you are willing to pick up puzzle pieces off the floor, your 2 1/2, almost 3 yr old will be willing to dump them one more time.

Wearing jammies all day is comfy!

If you tell your 2 1/2- 3 yr old child that this is the last pack of diapers we are buying because he will use the big boy potty, he won't.

My 5 yr old girl must be the most obstinate human on earth. That's what she calls people, by the way. It's always "Mommy, look at that human." "That human is sleeping". "Those humans are funny". I guess because, in her world, you are human, or animated.

You must repeatedly remind 10 yr old boys if you want them to accomplish anything.

Even if you avoid organized religion, your almost 8 yr old will find a way. He has always gone down to the church youth center half a block up from us. I never thought anything of it, because they have games in the evenings and they feed him. I thought he just liked to hang out. But, apparently, he is paying attention. He told me last night that you can't go to church if you're mean. So when I ask if Mommy or Daddy would be allowed to go, he said no, because we're mean. Little brat. But, ahahahahaha, I can use this to my advantage. Just 5 minutes later he was pinching his sister. I said, hmmm, you can't go to church if you're mean, right? That seems mean. His response, I didn't pinch her hard.

If you think your 5 yr old and almost 3 yr old are playing too quietly in the playroom, they are probably in your room, shredding styrofoam.

It is possible to drown in children's clothing, especially if you have 4 of them, and you are buying for one who isn't even here yet. The problem is that I am frugal. So I buy things on sale, or used, when they are available. Like, I bought garbage bags full of boys 14-16 clothes during the summer thinking that Tanner would fit in them eventually. Well, eventually, came sooner than expected. So, now the boys have 7's, 8's, 10's, 12's and 14's in their closet.

If you tell your almost 8 yr old boy to go comb his hair before school, he may come out of the bathroom like this.
And he will ignore you and continue to eat his cereal while you snap his pic.
If your 5 yr old asks, "Mommy, where is your ring?" What she really means is, I was playing with your expensive diamond ring and now I can't find it, so where do you think I might have put it?
Yellow Labs really appreciate rain and mud.
The smell of wet Yellow Lab will trigger morning sickness.
If you let your 2 1/2-3 yr old help make meatloaf, there will be big chunks of Saltines mixed in.
Bacon is gooooood! Microwave bacon, without the popping grease, is even better.
If you ask your 5 yr old if she spilled cereal in the playroom, she will lie, even though she knows you saw her take it up the stairs.
If your 2 1/2-3 yr old tells your 5 yr old that she is NOT the boss of her dolls, he is WRONG!
My 2 1/2- 3 yr old has got to be the most hilarious human on earth, without even trying.

Pictures

Okay, I finally got a little energy. Not only did I upload some pics, but I actually cleaned my house! I did some laundry and cleaned the downstairs bath, living room, dining room, foyer, and family room. (Bobby and the boys did the kitchen, it was not left a mess). I think I wore myself out though, because it took me nearly all day, and I crashed sometime during Tom Petty. I think there were two teams playing in the Super Bowl, but to be honest, I don't remember, since I kept drifting off. I was ready for bed at 7:30, and headed upstairs about 8:30. AND!!!!! I managed to only get up once to pee and slept until almost 7 am!!! I know. You are as excited as me. I can tell. Anyway, this is Teagan last Sunday before he headed out to get his stitches removed.
And, here he is a week later. Luckily, I never get his haircut so it's even less noticeable. LOL
Tatum, of course, had to pose since the camera was out.
And this is what she does when she's alone with the camera.

Bobby let the rabbit out to play in the kitchen last night. Teagan thought he might be a little lonely playing all by himself, so he brought him a playmate.
He doesn't seem too impressed, does he?
I think the stuffed rabbit was telling him secrets.
And Tatum, alone with the camera again. The girl is such a ham.