Work Day

Today is the day. The carpets are getting installed as we speak. The ripping out of the old blue rug is finished, and the guys just hauled the new rug up the stairs. Our bedroom is only a quarter of the size, and a simple square, so that part should be a breeze compared to the girls' rooms. They are hoping to be finished by the end of the day, and I would be as happy as a clam if that comes to fruition.

The counters should be here any minute now, and will supposedly only take three to four hours to install. If that holds true, then my husband will have plenty of time to hook up the plumbing to our sinks (and dishwasher) before he leaves for Ohio tomorrow afternoon. I'll be able to put my toaster and knives and coffee pot back in the kitchen, instead of the hall, dining room and bathroom where they are now. And then I will be as happy as TWO clams.

Here is a before picture of the kitchen:

Stay tuned for the after pics!

Starring Maggie as Harrison Ford

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I'm Finished!

I have reached that lovely, magical point in pregnancy where I am 100% over it. Every twinge or pang is contemplated far longer than necessary because OMG can I please just go into labor already? I am irrationally (but also sometimes rationally) angry at most everyone and everything. My husband's work schedule? Makes me angry. My kids' school schedule? Angry. OB appointments every week? ANGRY! Snow? *Eyes crossing with rage*

My kitchen has been ripped apart for 10 days, so we've been eating a lot of junk. We're getting new carpeting in our room and upstairs, which means that all closets and dressers have to be emptied out by Monday morning when they arrive to rip out the old carpet. And did I mention that the new counters are getting installed at the same time? Right in time for SOB to make an ill-timed trip to Cleavland, hip hip hooray.

So again, I'm just trying to focus on the little pleasant things that occasionally pop up. For example, Lucy's idea to take duck sauce packets to school for show and tell. They're learning about the food pyramid/triangle thing, and since I mentioned earlier about all of the the crappy food we've been eating, we have duck sauce in abundance. Or my son, shooting me the most serious of looks from across the breakfast table as he informed me, "The truth is, I am Iron Man." (Guess what movie Sam watched with SOB this week?) Or Maggie as Harrison Ford.

Anything that can make me smile these days is to be cherished.

Five Going On Fifteen

So my boy turned five on Sunday. Which was kind of a big deal, for both of us. However, along with his increase in age, we've been experiencing an increase in attitude. I think it might have more to do with the events than it does the age, because we had a similar issue around Christmas. It seems as if, when he knows there is going to be a big celebration and he's going to get a lot of attention/presents/candy/etc., he can't properly manage his excitement. The manifestation of this mismanaged emotion is often erratic and nasty behavior. We get lots of backtalk, lots of aggression against Lucy (and sometimes his classmates) and loads of general wildness. Throw into the mix that we had a few days of glorious weather last week that allowed us to spend great quantities of time outside, and now we're back to being cooped up due to ice and snow, and you've got the perfect storm for a rotten, if not adorable, five year old boy.

I know that by next week he'll probably be back to normal, so I'm just trying to keep my wits about me while keeping his behavior in check. Because it feels like just yesterday I was able to cradle this boy in my arms, and I know that the next five years will slip by in the blink of a eye. I don't want to spend them being annoyed with him.

And I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to spend them locked in his room.

Checklist

1. Throw successful party for Sam's 5th birthday

Saturday afternoon from 12:30 until 2, there was cake, pizza and the type of unbridled mayhem that can only be had at a child's birthday party. We had the party at a gymnastics center, so it was a very physical event. Close to thirty kids came, and the amount of running, jumping, screaming and sweating was intense. When it was all over, they asked everyone to sit for a photo, and the kids were exhausted and soaked. Observe:

A good time was had by all, as far as I can tell!

2. Register Lucy for school

This morning I had the great pleasure of getting up earlier than I do on a school day and venturing out in the freezing rain to stand in line at the local middle school so that I could sign Lucy up for pre-K. Because I live in West Virginia, where they haven't heard of the internet. At said registration, we were informed that despite our obvious dedication to the education of our collective children (see above, with the rain and getting up early), there was no guarantee that these beloved children would be given a spot in the pre-K program unless they were classified as special needs or low income. Even though it is now legally required for 4 year old kids to attend pre-K in the state of West Virginia. So if they don't win the pre-K lottery, we either have to pay to send them to a private program or get them diagnosed with a minor speech delay, as per the subtle recommendation of the school official I spoke with. Nice. And did I mention that I have to repeat this process for Sam in April? GOOD TIMES!

3. Create ultra-cute super hero to save the world

Need I say more?

4. Have this baby

Damn. I hate having unfinished business on my checklists.

My Boy is FIVE!

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This one has been a toughie, but in a good way. I love you Sammy!

Hopeless Romantics

Because SOB and I are so, so in love, on Valentine's day we went shopping for the most romantic things you could imagine. No, not sexy outfits or jewelry, silly! Counter tops and exercise equipment of course! Aren't those the items that instantly come to mind when thinking about our national holiday for love and romance? No? Really?

Well, let me tell you something. Watching your husband demolish counter tops can have a titillating effect. Unfortunately, my father was his co-worker, so any excitement I may have been feeling was pretty much squashed. And even if it hadn't been, my husband won't come within 40 yards of me at this point in my pregnancy, so it was probably better for me that my dad's presence dampened my libido.

Anyway, starting on Monday evening, with the help of pry bars, saws and brute strength, most of my kitchen looks like this:

I say most because my loving husband (and father) spared me the pain of removing the section of my counter with the sink. While I can tolerate the idea of no sink, i.e. no water (and no dishwasher) in my kitchen for a prolonged period of time, the later we can postpone the dry spell the better. So the sink goes Friday morning. Tell me that isn't romantic?

And if the sight of this beauty in your basement doesn't get you all hot under the collar, well, then you should get checked out by a licensed physician. I can't wait to get all sweaty and worked up on this bad boy!

Here's hoping your manufactured romantic holiday was a lovely as mine!

YEAH TOAST!

These two are cut from the same cloth, in almost every way. Their temperament and personality are so similar, and they even look quite alike. And? They both love toast. I mean LOVE. So sometimes on the weekends they'll sit on the step and share some perfectly browned, buttered toast.

I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise that this is one of Sam's favorite songs!

My kids are funny.

Me and My Girl

This photo of me and Magoo reminds me of this one of me and Sam from back in the day. Another thing I'm trying to enjoy is time with the kiddos, so when she jumped in on my self portrait session a few weeks ago I relished the opportunity to snap away.

Holding It Down

I am just so, so ginormously pregnant. I took this photo almost a month ago.

When I tell people I'm not due until St. Patty's day, I get looks of amazement and sympathy. I've gotten more than my fair share of the semi-insensitive "Wow you're huge!" or "That's going to be one big baby!" comments lately. And at my last two doctor's visits, I've been measuring big. I know that isn't the end of the world, but it is unusual for me. The last 1743 times I have been pregnant I always measured right on schedule. Coupled with the fact that I've been sick more or less since Christmas, and you have the makings of one miserable mama.

I've been trying, I really have, to embrace this pregnancy. Even if SOB isn't thrilled about the prospect of permanent fertility control, I am willing to take matters into my own hands.

see more Historic LOL

Well, not exactly like that, but you get my drift. I am willing to go under the knife to prevent any future accidental offspring.

So knowing that I will not be having any more children, I really want to be present and enjoy, when possible, these last interminable weeks of gestation. And there are times that I can step back and just relish those kicks and squirms that make my whole torso change shape, or when Lucy comes over to 'pet' the baby, or when Maggie sticks her finger in my belly button and shouts BABY!

But most of the time, I am just plain miserable. I don't sleep well, all of the congestion and sickness make me vomit more than I have at any other time in my life, I can't carry my non-baby baby around, or anything else for that matter, my feet hurt, my hips hurt, my back hurts, my husband doesn't like the name I want to give the baby, and IT SNOWS EVERY GODDAMNED DAY.

Despite all of that, I'm going try my best to focus on the more positive aspects of things in the coming weeks. So hopefully for you and me, this will be the last bitchy post for a long while.

But if you notice things get photo-centric here, well try and send me some happy vibes. Please?

Who's the Boss?

Pretty as a Princess

I am suffering from an attack of phlegm and malaise, so expect to see more picture until the spell passes.

Almost There...

Six more weeks to go