NFL Inspired

I've shared enough headaches about the girl recently, it's finally time for the boy to shine.

***deep sigh***

Oh, where to start? He's my football-maniac, mesmerized by everything sports-related.

For flag football, he needed gloves

His favorite team is ... ANYone who plays NFL
He can spit out the name, position, and jersey number of any player that is remotely good
He knows plays, penalties, and the purpose
He'll let you know if they "shoulda had that"
He was honestly frustrated that Jarin and I were not taking him to a Bears game
He plays with the 5th graders at recess, and scores on them

Attending only two Iowa games already this season was "just not fair"
He'd rather watch ESPN than a cartoon/movie any day
He's frustrated if you walk in front of him while he's watching a game on TV
He DVR's any games he can't stay up late enough to watch
He's infatuated!

So, here's the down side... he's also very consumed by the attire, brand names, and look of football players. He thinks he needs new shoes everytime a style is highlighted on ESPN; he wants new gloves because of the brand; he needs a new helmet that has a face mask designed like the pros; and he wants to wear shorts with tall Nike Elite socks.

Seriously, he's 6!!! We've made the deal with him that he can wear shorts if the high will be at least 60 degrees. (We all know that day isn't coming in Iowa until April!) But, today, he begged to wear shorts. Dad made him a deal that if he promised not to take off his pants, he could wear shorts underneath. Little did Cade know that daddy teaches JA at his school, and out of coincidence, Jarin ran into Cade in the hallway today.

He was wearing shorts.

I soon receive the heated phone call at work, and Jarin and I are quickly creating the "game plan" for the evening. We determined that I would continue on with my night and act as though I am not aware of "the incident"; I'd see what he's wearing at pick up, ask him about his day, and see if he mentions running into daddy today. Ultimately, we're going to find out how honest this kid really is. Oh, game is on! And mom and dad are teaming up to outsmart the boy.

Yeah, well, he played Joe Cool with me tonight and ignored the fact that he just tried to pull a fast one over on us. Then Daddy came home, and he was BUSTED!!!!

So, what witty stories are we going to be dealing with in another 10 years?

Thoughts from a Working Mom

I read Allison Tate's blog the other day: The Mom Stays in the Picture and I spent the next couple days collecting my thoughts about the message and how I compete. While I appreciate and agree with her message to have mom say cheese with the kiddos, what this blog did for me was even more than that... it begged the question: am I spending enough time with my children?

The answer is clearly no. There are not enough hours in one day to work full-time, be a wife, daughter, sister, friend, and aunt, and still find the amount of time in one day to be with my kids as much as I wish I could. I've found in just 6 years that children grow way too fast. While I sweat those moments that Allison speaks of (preparing for birthdays, Halloween, and Christmas), it is usually because I'm trying to force 2 weeks of planning into 2 days. I never have the time I want to live, save, and cherish the moments as I wish I could.

And it's because I am a working mom.

If I could share my thoughts with my kids, I would tell them this: I wish I could be home with you every day, to take you to school, read to your class, join the field trip, allow you to be a "car rider", eliminate the need for someone else to feed you an after-school snack, help you with homework, or let you run in our backyard. I wish I could enroll you in gymnastics or read "book cart" with you after school, so that you didn't have to stay up so late at night to fit in all the activities. I wish you knew that I cry when you do every morning that I have to leave you at daycare, so that I can be at work on time. Know that it's your pictures on my desk that get me through the day, and it makes my day 100 times better when someone asks me about you.

I would also tell them that I love my job. I want to make an impact in children's lives who aren't as fortunate, blessed or loved as you are at home. I wish there was a better way to show you what I do each day when I leave you at daycare. If only you saw what I work for every day, you would know that it's all worth it. I know your heart would be as big as mine is. I believe you would understand that there is room in my day for both -- you and my professional passion.

And some day, if it's possible, I promise to give more time to you when you need it most. When going to school isn't always fun and light-hearted, when days are long, recess isn't an option, and gym isn't what you look forward to. When kids make fun of each other, making friends feels like a war, and when peer pressure gets the best of some... I promise to be more present during those days. If and when that day comes, we'll owe it to daddy for all that he does to make that possible.

Until then, we'll keep taking pictures to remember all the fun that we have together now. I love you.

TMI of Pregnancy

I've always said that pregnancy is beautiful; that God has created a magical experience with motherhood; and that it's one of the most unexplainable treasures that a woman can ever live through. However, I have determined one (of many) non-gorgeous moments of carrying a child: Vericose Veins.

The back of my legs look like a frickin maze blocked by blue blood vessel borders, which have continual deadends. They feel like they may explode at any point, and the only relief comes from medically perscribed compresion hose. And, isn't that a thoughtful invention! Every morning, I sit on the floor of my closet, in my bra and unds, trying to bend over to touch my toes just to pull on these wicked pieces of therapy. Let's be honest, they take the strength of a moutain lion to get them over your heel, and once you get that completed, you're out of breath and lucky to have them stretched up and over your thighs before one of the other two kids (or husband) breaks into the closet to laugh and stare at you as if you just landed from outerspace.

And because they are over $100 a pop, you can only afford one pair. But with just a couple days of continuous wear, they are stretched out. Not, of course, in the areas that you need them to be (like in the heel) but at the thigh. Great, so Sunday (as I am walking/jogging a 5K) I feel them begin to slide down. Finally, I mention to the hubs that they are now down past my knees and not at all assisting in the pain that is throbbing on the back of my legs. His response: "do you want to stop to pull them up?" Oh, yeah, let me start my morning-closet-routine in front of thousands of people. It's not as simple as just pulling up an athletic sock.

By the way, did I mention that I'm only 16 weeks? My last pregnancy, I started wearing this fashion accessory at 28 weeks, and by the time I delivered at 37, I had vuvla veins. Honestly, did you know those existed? I didn't either. So, if that progression happened in 9 weeks last time, I wonder where I'll find painful, popping, protruding veins in the next 24 weeks.

Sixty Years

A life is not lived, if not lived to the fullest. For Clyder, I have to believe that he fulfills his life with enjoyment. He treasures his family, has a passion for his career, adores his hobbies, and shares his interests with others. Whether it's cheering for the Vikings, Twins, or Hawkeyes, bird-watching, beer-drinking, card-playing, Western-watching, or coin-collecting, my father-in law is always teaching my kids to love what he does. He's a man that doesn't show much anger, keeps even-keeled, and has the biggest heart. He will always tell you hello and ask how you are when he sees you, and doesn't ever forget to call on your important days.

Today, Clyde celebrates 60 years. These years aren't something that he has many regrets for. He is a man that is rooted in his heritage, proud of his upbringing, and willing to look for the best in each day ahead. He's a man that many would be lucky to duplicate. Happy Birthday Clyder... and cheers!

The Latest (and Greatest!)

I remember a few months back, talking to my sister about this blog, and she said to me, "I would never have anything to say in a blog!" Some days I wonder if her view on that has changed now since having Hayden and watching her changes, milestones, and new accomplishments. In the moment, you promise to never forget how old they were when they said "mama", or where you were when they learned to use the potty, or when they got their first tooth (or lost it!). You always believe that your family trip will stay fresh in your mind and that their first soccer game will be a memory forever. But, let's be real.

 

With both of us working full time, trying to keep up with house chores, cleaning up after two kids, and hauling them to every activity under the sun... I can't remember any of it! So, that's why I started this blog years ago, and while I'm not always the best with posting regularly, I do try to capture a few of my favorites. Everything from the funniest things that come out of the kids' mouths to my baby sister's big day is recorded here.

 

So, you wonder what the latest is?

 

 

We're on to #3, and couldn't be happier! We found out just before week 4, and quite possibly I started showing that same day. Seriously? Who does that happen to? I thought maternity clothes came out of the closet in the 4th month, not the 4th week!?!?!

 

We also decided not to inform the kids right away. There is such a risk of them telling everyone in the grocery store that "mom is having a baby!!!" that we decided to wait until we were really ready to spread the news. However, my mom came over one day during week 4 and asked, in front of the kids, "how's the baby?" Immediately, I had four eyeballs staring me down and asking, "what baby?," "where's the baby?"

By week 5, I was in bed by 8:30 and ready to scream it from the roof tops! How could I honestly hide it any longer? Beyond a little fatique and this "bump" (which my mother informed me my belly button was already popped out) I haven't felt anything - no nausea, headaches, cramps - nothing.

So, week 6 is a different ballgame. I could stay in bed all day. I wake up with the requirement of water and saltine crackers. I am obviously pregnant to the outside world now, and the kids have blatantly asked if I have a baby in my tummy. Yep, they even honestly expressed that "it's bigger" and that is how they knew. Ah, the frankness of a 4 year old. Jarin and I decided to tell them this week. We read the book Baby Bear and the Bundle of Joy, and they were pretty excited to be getting their own bundle soon. The reality is that Cade just wants his room downstairs so that he can watch the 70" TV whenever he wants!

Fast forward to week 7 and I've now announced it at work! Done hiding it. One, I'm so excited, and two, I can't button my pants. I pulled out the belly-band now and have run out of baggy dress clothes in my closet. I go to the doctor next week, but it isn't until 12 weeks that you even get to hear the heartbeat. I might have to figure out a way to get an early ultrasound. Shoot, enough people have asked if I'm having twins.... you'd think that'd work.

During week 9, I started reading the books that the doctor sent me home with last week. And by the first night, I slammed them shut. They told me that twins were most common in women in their early 30's AND I shouldn't be showing until 20 weeks. Yeah, well, see for yourself what 9 weeks of pregnancy looks like on me:

 

Week 10 and 11 went by pretty fast, although it's amazing the amount of pressure I'm already feeling. The vericose veins are starting to pop out of my legs, and I see TED hose in my near future. Already wearing the maternity pants... finagaling the rubber band around my pant buttons for the last 5 weeks is getting old.

 

We headed out the doc during week 12, and it was confirmed that everything being bigger, worse, more painful, and more exhausting was just a sign of having a third baby. Holy crap. How do those crazy moms of 8 kids do it? Heartbeat was strong and solid at 158 beats per minute. They couldn't guarantee that there was only one bambino cooking though, so we headed for an ultrasound on Friday. And here is the beautiful profile....

 

 

Jarin scoped the screen trying to identify the gender, but it couldn't be determined by our expertise :) Heartbeat was 146 though, so our guess is boy. Either way, there is only one, and the baby was bigger than anticipated -- due date is now moved up to March 26th.

 

15 weeks down, and 25 more to go! ... if I make it that long.