Christmas Greetings from our unborn fetus

So another year has passed, and it is Christmas Eve again. Now, these days I no longer feel that impending sense of wonder on Christmas Eve. Actually, maybe wonder is not the right word. Maybe desperation is more appropriate. You know the feeling. The presents have been sitting under the tree, tauting you for weeks because you have no idea whats in them. Then there is the stuff you have no idea is coming cause Santa has it well hidden. So all of Christmas Eve you had this feeling of urgency, like you had to go to the bathroom but there was no way to do it until (if you were in my family) 7 a.m., not that that meant you didn't go into you parents room every 12.2 seconds starting at about 4:30 asking them is it was time yet. Alas, those years of fantastic desperation are gone.
So what can be done to bring back the magic of christmas, to restore that childish wonder? Our answer appears to be to get out Liam's water soluable finger paint and celebrate this oh so important holiday by smearing christmas greetings in technicolor on my wife's gravid belly





So Merry Christmas to all and to all a little adolescent regression. You can afford a little relapse now and then. We, at least, clearly won't fault you for acting a little like a child this time of year.

Merry Christmas,

Nate, Jen, Liam and new addition yet to be named

Package from Papa and Corinne

We got a great package from my dad and Corinne, filled with wrapped presents and treats. Liams favorite were a pair of gloves that he now has me put on him daily. Our tree which used to have two presents under it is now filled with fun things to open tomorrow. Thanks Dad and Corinne. We love you! XOXO

Our first NorEastern Storm

So we got hit with an Ice storm a few days ago. It left us without power for a few days off and on. It made me re-think my food storage and ways to cook and stay warm. I'm not kidding wherever we go Mother nature takes her anger out on us. But don't worry we have good insurance and live on the second floor so flooding shouldn't be an issue. Nate still had to get to work that morning and had to use his keys to outline the door to get it open and another 30 mins to get the inch thick ice from his window off so he could see enough to drive. I'm glad it's over and happy to have my heat back on.

This is a picture of what Liam's window looked like that morning and what it looked liked after we cleaned it off. Also one of our plants. It is so amazing every leaf, and branch was covered like it was encased in glass click on the picture and it will enlarge it so you can see the detail. really interesting. And another one of our street that you could have ice skated on had I had skates to do so.

Not so Happy Santa

We went to visit Santa and the camera doesn't lie. He didn't want anything to do with him and couldn't get off his lap fast enough! Maybe next year???

Jingle Bells

So Liam has gotten into the Christmas spirit and learned Jingles bells and Frosty the Snowman. No it's not in perfect english but not bad for his first carols.

Liam LOVES the tree. He loves to take the ornaments off and have me put them back on countless times during the day. He also wanted his own "light" like the Christmas tree.

Oh Christmas tree

Not bad for my first time stringing lights, (what a pain!) decorating, and keeping Liam from destroying it in one single swoop.

shake ye booty!

This was Liam's favorite part of the tree hunt.

Tree Hunting

We have now been married six years, and sadly have never bought a Christmas tree other than the 2ft fake one our first Christmas. Since we aren't going home this year and we do have a child we decided to go and get our first ever Christmas tree. We found a cute little Nursery on one of the many country roads out here.
We chose what we thought was the perfect tree and had the guy do his "magic" on it. In the process we found out that our tree had a "clubbed foot" or in other words scoliosis of the trunk and a big knot at the end which would not work with a stand.
Being the way that I am. I didn't care if it was a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. That was the one I wanted. They had to cut off a foot at the bottom to get the club off and marked it half price.
We tied it to Molly's car and brought 'er home. And she fit perfect in the corner.

Nates little run in

So I am not going to describe this post because Nate has said that he wanted to put in his two bits about it first. But to keep you in suspense, all this was done at 5 a.m. going under 10 mph, and total damage cost $3000.00....

The first snow!

So a few weeks ago we were sitting enjoying a Sunday evening when Nate looked out the window and noticed that it had been snowing for awhile. At this point I had Liam in P.J's ready for bed, but nothing was stopping him from going out side to play in it. He has really enjoyed the movie Frosty the Snowman this season and so when he saw the snow the first words out of his mouth were, "Happy Birthday." Yes that's right. Because those are the first words that frosty says when he comes to life. My little genius.
I eventually got him to put on his coat and gloves and we built a small snowman at ten o clock at night.

What does daddy do when he gets home?

I have told people that the minute Nate sits down after work he falls asleep. It doesn't matter where, he just needs to sit and it's like I slipped him Tryptophan and he is out cold. I finally took a picture to prove it.
Thanks to our hard working Dad!

Big Boy Bed.

So we decided that it was time to move Liam from the crib to his new Big Boy room and bed. Not because he didn't like his crib anymore, nor was he trying to climb out. In fact he loved his crib. You would tell him it was nigh night time, read a book, say prayers, sing a song and place him in the crib and walk out of the room with no complaints! Piece of cake. So why would we move him is what you are thinking? We'll if you'll notice that baby timer, there is not a whole lot of time left before we need that crib for another warm body.
It was a little tough at first. The first night I asked him if he wanted me to lay by him and now the minute you tell him it's bedtime he says "by you, by you."
I was able to pretend to lay on the floor then crawl out of his room. (good parenting huh.)
Now we do the same routine with the crib and when he whines and says "by you, by you," we ask him three questions which he repeats " I'm TOUGH, I'm FRONG (strong) and I have big USCLES! (muscles)" At which point we are able to leave the room. Not shut the door, and about every five minutes he calls my name and I reassure him that I have not left him 'til he falls asleep.
Overall I think it was a success. Next milestone, Potty training.

Three little Monkeys sitting in a tub

We take turns watching a few kids each month so we all get two date nights a month to enjoy without the kids. This was one of the nights it was our turn to watch. They definitely get themselves into all kinds of trouble. I was just thankful they didn't turn the water on.

34 weeks down, 38 days to go...How do I feel???

So it has been awhile since our last post. Nate is on the MICU this month it's a Q4 which means he takes a 30 hr call every fourth day. Comes home sleeps for about five hours 'til dinner, eats with us, plays with Liam and is back in bed and up again at 4:30 for another day. Today was his first real day off in two weeks and it was heavenly. He was able to come to church and help me carry Liam and watch him for a bit in nursery.
As far as the pregnancy goes, I am still a little under what I gained with Liam. but with all the holiday parties we have this month, I'm sure that I'll catch up.
My belly has started to itch, which means the stretch marks are soon to follow.
I now live on TUMS for every meal. The acid reflux has made a permanent presence in my esophagus (thanks Dad).
I'm getting up every 45 mins. to pee during the night.
and have braxton hicks anytime I exert myself harder than a "brisk" walk.
So what am I saying...This baby is starting to wear out its welcome. However with Liam I was anxious for his arrival and would have been glad to go into labor early just to be able to lay on my stomach again and get my body back. However with this one, I am terrified!!! I'm a little worried about having two boys in the house and Nate at work all the time. But excited to get my body back and have the feel of a newborn, my newborn in my arms again.
To all my friends and family out there with 2,3,4,5 kids, you all deserve a medal and a foot rub from your hubbies.

29 and still has it!

So real quick, today is Nate's birthday (the 12th), and I just wanted to show everyone what a great hubbie I have. He does push-ups every night and morning (forget the gym, he's too tired.)
Liam has watched him do this night after night and decided it was his turn. He LOVES to copy everything dada does.
Afterwards he let us know that he is "Tough,Strong and has big muscles."
So happy 29th to my best friend. And may I add a mean looking push-up man!
I love you!

Why do I do this??

To all those who keep asking if I "look pregnant"? That's the problem with living away from family and friends, they don't get to see you everyday. This was taken a few weeks ago before "pregnant fat face Jenny" set in. I feel huge! But No I'm not the biggest. I'll take another pic in a few weeks to compare. 9 weeks and counting...

"Just old enough to Pillage!"

Arrrrgh. So I figured this was my last year to dress Liam up. Next year I'm sure he'll have an opinion on what he wants to be. I decided on a pirate, but he wasn't a huge fan of the jacket or the hat for that matter, but posed perfectly for these pictures.

What do you do when your husbands are on call?...

You dress up the "kids", yourselves and go out trick or treating on the "real Halloween."
We were a total hit! Dozer and Liam were on their best behaviors and a few house even had dog treats. But now we are trying to figure out how to out-do this year next year? Any ideas?

The Crew

A Pirate Halloween

So come to find out (and I might have put this in a previous post, but can't remember.) I found out at the beginning of the month that here in PA or our area atleast, each city has a "designated" trick or treat day. I guess for safety? Well ours was the 25th this year.
We dressed up our little Pirate and out into the cold we went. (also a new thing for Halloween, it was always 95 degrees and 100 % humidity when we lived in New Orleans. Dressing up seemed a cruel and unusual punishment.)We had a great time and Liam Loved all the Halloween decorations.

Every Pirate needs a ship

So Nate tested his surgeon skills, and cut out and awesome Pirate ship. I think he did great but we both decided he should stay with anesthesia.

Spidey meet Pirate

We went trick or treating with our great neighbors. Sam was Spider man, "but not a scary one." Which he told the people giving out candy.

Let's get the treating started

So this is really Liams first Trick or Treat. Last year we did trunk or treat and he didn't really understand it, but this year, he got the whole walk up to the door, but he still would rather have had the lawn decorations or rip the straw out of all the bales on every front porch. I think next year he'll be a real pro.