OH NO! This was Monday.....

Monday Mumbles.


1. Wow, has Memorial Day thrown me off! Us off, I should say. I completely blanked that this was Monday and I should be mumbling. How awful!

2. I wasn't alone in the confusion, however. Hubs got done mowing the lawn earlier this evening and attempted to come in and watch 60 Minutes. Guess what? That show is on SUNDAY. Yeah, we're a good pair. One of these days we'll drop the kids off at the school door with no way home and there won't be any school for them to attend.

3. This weekend I had some very strange baby sensations. I would say with certainty that they weren't what I would expect "labor" or "pre-labor" to be like, however....at one point Sunday afternoon I felt like the baby was going to stick a hand out of my woo-haa and say "heeeeeey!"

4. I just glanced over at Hubs as he lies here next to me, and I must say - Men....armpit hair is NASTY! I don't want a man that shaves, but ewwwy. Hair is just...it makes me gag sometimes.

5. More baby-prep was accomplished this weekend. I sorted the baby clothes and washed 0-3 month items. All the gender neutrals are folded and put away, and all the "definite" boy 0-3 items are folded and in a pending pile.

6. Over the next two days I have to finish up Till's laundry so that when he is done with school on Wednesday, he can pack and prepare to be at his grandmother's for most of the summer. I think these summers are good for him and good for us.

7. I caught myself watching Bridezillas this weekend. Sad. The fact that I was watching it AND the women on there. Do people really.....REALLY....treat others like that? Oh wait. The entire time I watched it, I couldn't help but think....some of these women? They remind me of ladies at my work. And THAT is sad. For them. Truly. I had to turn it to keep from getting angry with women at work.

8. I need to take up a Mumble thanking my mom for this weekend. I know I mentioned it in my "Relaxin'" post, but really, Mom. Thank you. Saturday day and night and Sunday morning were really nice. I got a lot done without feeling like I was busting my bum between the chores AND the kids. And I can tell how much fun they had as well. They enjoyed themselves a LOT. Can't wait for all the summer weekends you take them too! (you did mention summer weekends, right? Ha!)

9. SATC II was good. I think I liked the first movie better, but the second was good. I'm a sucker for the girls, the story lines, the nutty behavior....and I'm NOT a movie critic by far. I watch them for enjoyment and rarely walk away stating I disliked it. Then again, I don't watch any movie that I worry about not enjoying....LOTR series, for example...or Star Wars...or Star Trek.....or Harry Potter.....sci fi stuff? Not for me. Romantic Comedies? My style. Simple. Light. Fluff. That's what I need in a movie.

10. Sorry the mumbles came so late, but that's why blogging is great. It's here forever for you to read. :) Have a great Tuesday!

Relaxin'

My mom's side of the family is gathering today. An hour and a half away from my home. Mom and I both agreed it might not be a grand idea for me to be that far from the metro area this close to the due date.

Personally, I think Mom just wanted the boys to herself and I just wanted to spend some quiet time alone.

And that's what we both got. Hubs took the boys down to meet her half-way and they'll be spending the night with her. I'm currently sitting at home, alone, flipping channels, playing spider solitaire, and sorting baby clothes by size and boy/gender neutral designs.

Tonight, Hubs and I will have a date. He said we get to go see Sex and the City II. Yea!

Baby Musings

"What" are you having?
We're having a baby. :) Hopefully a healthy, happy baby. A dirty, stinky, crying baby. I joke a lot about not wanting a baby girl, about fearing the later years, the sassy attitude, knowing she most likely won't like me, at least at some stretch of our time together. My boys are so forgiving of their Mama and her weaknesses. I know how girls are, and I fear. However, whatever joins our family, we're excited. I'M excited.


On the Move
I distinctly recall loving the feel of TO as he twisted and turned inside me. With OJ, I distinctly remember how painful each movement he made WAS. This baby doesn't really hurt me, but it is certainly very, very active. And for whatever reason....either I'm more tuned in or it's just that much more aggressive in its movements.....I feel like I can actually TELL how it's moving sometimes. So cool.


Big Brother Love
OJ and TO have been so affectionate with Baby. Literally and physically affectionate. They are constantly kissing (OJ) and hugging (TO) my belly. When I take them to school, TO always tells Baby bye-bye. The teachers laugh and I smile. I already know that TO is a good big brother, and I think that OJ, with a little help, will be as well. Now if we could just get him to behave and mind US.....


Excitement and Nervousness
With the third (or fourth for Hubs), you ask? Yup. Even more so than we were with OJ, I think. Because TO was such an easy baby and great toddler, we took OJ's arrival too lightly. We just thought we had it down and failed to see the true joy and individuality that a new addition to the house would bring. We didn't fully appreciate how a new child could mix up the balance we'd created, at least not to the extent that OJ did. Now we know that this baby will bring it's own specialness to the family and I'm excited to see WHAT, exactly, that will entail.

Monday Mumbles

Happy new week to you all. Mondays are FABulous, aren't they? Okay, maybe not....but I thought I'd try a little reverse psych on y'all. Or is it ya'll? I think it's y'all....YOU ALL. Life's mysteries.


1. I shamelessly took the homemade chocolate chip cookie that TO received after t-ball practice today and snarfed it. Since the coach was concerned with the whole "peanut allergy" warning on the chips package, I took it upon myself to stay concerned as well.

2. My dad had one of those thermometers that sits outside and then has a digital reader inside that tells you the temperature of both indoors and out. It broke last weekend. I said, "Great! Father's Day gift it is." No, he went and purchased one for himself this week. And apparently it has a dude on it that dresses for the weather outside....as the highs and lows shift. Swim trunks as the temps climb, pants, sweater, stocking cap as the temps drop. I'm certain I wouldn't have picked out as cool a thermometer as that.

3. Whenever I drive now adays, I admit to plotting the "I think my water just broke, Officer!" sob story if I should be pulled over for speeding. And no, I don't feel guilty.

4. Speaking of admissions, I get a little giddy proud flutter when I see TO excelling at something. For example, being one of two kids that can consistently throw the ball accurately to first base during t-ball practice. Or shooting and dribbling a basketball with some sort of form already. Oh, and the whole school/academia thing. He's good at that too.

5. So in equal prideful moments (terrible sin, I know....that pride), I love watching OJ follow TO around and mimic every single thing he does. And then he'll turn around and fight TO for what's "his", whether that be something tangible or just space in the living room. He stands his ground yet knows enough to follow and learn.

6. When a couple work gals mentioned a baby shower and being upset that they didn't know the gender so they couldn't plan very well, I instructed them to NOT throw a shower. Call me strange (if you don't already), but I have a sense of guilt for accepting a shower after baby #1. BUT.....my lovely friend Michelle organized a cake-eating only gathering during our weekly team meeting and surprised me last Thursday. She picked out the cutest darn cake too! It was decorated like a toy box. Thank you, Michelle!

7. And, at the cake-eating surprise, they presented me with a very generous gift card. VERY generous. Thank you again.

8. I don't want to call this station "new", but it's fairly new I think. Here in town they've got a station they call Gen X and it's playing stuff from the late 80s and 90s. I drove home from visiting my best gal pal and her new hubby this evening....JUST ME....and I thought I was pretty cool being kid free (minus the alien in the tummy) and being out at 9pm on a Sunday. Oh, and jamming to the Gen X station and Rick Astley.

9. I've avoided the daycare's special photo op sessions until this most recent one. I couldn't take it once I saw the pics and that they'd put the kids in outfits that matched. I have to share them with you. Here is OJ, the fisherman, the prep boy, and the all-boy attitude:



10. Here's TO, same three poses:

Mid Week Mumbles

Just a few things....what's going on with the Tooj house.

**TO had his Spring program and Kindergarten graduation. Teacher Ms. Maria snuck us his First Grade certificate afterward as well. During the singing portion of the program? Yup. TO was the loudest.....just as he was at the winter program. I guess when you remember the words and the other students need help getting through, it helps to be loud. ~ahem~

**I was able to pull my feet up close enough to my face so that I could paint my toes. It was a feat, I tell you, but it helps to sink into a chair, bend your knees, and hike your legs as if you're having the baby. Good practice.

**Plum colored, in case you're wondering. The same that was already "on" my toes from the wedding last month. I did a touch-up job.

**My feet need rubbed, but I'm not certain I could convince Hubs to come in here and do it for me.

Monday Mumbles

Happy Monday to you all. The sun better shine or else.....


1. I walked into the bathroom at work this morning and it spelled like a fruit smoothie blew up in there. Of course, I suppose that’s better than the alternative aroma of an elephant’s butt exploding.

2. We laid off the potty training with OJ about a month or more ago. On the weekends, I always ask him if he needs to go and this weekend I started putting him in big boy pants again, just to save on diapers. He received two pee pee stickers! I even dared to send him to school in big boy pants this morning….just to see.

3. I was reminded to check the fax machine today…..as if it’s not part of my every day. The dude that usually hovers around it all day and distributes is out on vacation for two weeks and his manager felt it necessary to remind me to do my job. Thanks.

4. This baby is doing some sort of spread eagle dance in my stomach. I feel it from bottom to top, side to side. Owwie.

5. At drop-off this morning, TO’s morning teachers stated, “Every kid needs to be like Turner.” Apparently he’s so well-behaved at school, just grabs a book, sits and reads….my response was that he saves all the “fun” stuff for home. Whining, fighting, instigating arguments. This set-up is always the better alternative, I think, though. Good at school, ornery at home.

6. I saw my reflection in some windows on the way into work this morning. Holy COW, I stick out like a huge balloon.

7. I almost got side-swiped by an EMT mini-van this morning. He really had no care at all about the fact that HE was merging into MY lane. I honked. He stopped. Rolled down the window. Waved me forward. I didn’t even shoot him a dirty look.

8. I was proud of myself too, by the way. Not for refraining from being mean, but because I didn’t wet my pants.

9. OJ and I had a back-and-forth argument yesterday. Don’t worry, it wasn’t really an argument. Giggling was involved. It went something like this: “Owen’s a big boy.” ~giggle from OJ~ “No, Owna baby.” “Noooo, Owen’s a big boy who sleeps in a big boy bed.” ~giggle from OJ~ “Noooo, Owna baby. Baby bed.” “Noooo, Owen is a big boy with big boy pants and a big boy bed!” ~giggle from OJ~ “Nooooo, Owna baby in baby bed. No big boy pants!”

10. And yes, we’re working on OJ’s pronunciation.

What the Hell Happened to the Sun?

Seriously.

We had a horrible, dreary, cold, snowy winter that lasted for EONS. Literally. I'm pretty sure that's what the local weather people stated. Eons.

Now?

It's the middle of May and I've resorted to cleaning and watching "Seducing Cindy" on Fox Reality Channel. Blah.

At least the closet of TO and OJ's room has been redone. Till's "stuff" has moved downstairs, things that needed to be trashed were trashed, cubbies were moved into the closet for TO's clothes.

Hubs took TO to a movie, just the two of them. I think Till is sad to be left behind, but this is some one on one time for TO. OJ was sad to be left behind too, and even more so now that I've forced him to nap. I needed it, though.

Did I mention it's still raining? I think I might cry.

Monday Mumbles

Ten random things to start off the morning. How are you doing? You good? Good. It's Monday. Did I mention that?

1. I used to make fun of my mother for having a "table" stomach when she was pregnant with my twin sisters. Karma is a bitch.

2. I'm done being pregnant. And I still have four (+?) weeks to go.

3. I'm tired.

4. I'm hungry.

5. OJ was awful this morning. AWFUL. Wants his oatmeal, doesn't want it, wants it, doesn't want it. Cry cry cry whine cry. I wanted to crawl back into bed and never wake up.

6. Till was helpful in getting the trash out, so that was a relief.

7. TO got dressed, shoes and all, without much prompting. Good thing, too, I couldn't take much more.

8. Did I mention I was tired and hungry?

9. It's raining, so that excuses my grumpiness. At least in my mind.

10. I'm at work and I have a huge pile to tackle, but I want nothing more than to lay my head on the desk and go to sleep. Too bad I can't even bend over that far to get comfortable.

Weekend Update

The Great Switch has slowly been developing in the house. It's far from complete and the baby room is currently a disaster, BUT.....progress is being made. To recap what exactly is switching, you must know where we started.

Till the 12 year old and TO the 5 year old were sharing a room with a bunk bed. Full bottom, twin top. Our bedrooms are tiny. This bed served its purpose, but it's time had passed. My best gal pal got married and wanted to relieve herself of a twin bed. The timing was perfect.

Down came the bunk bed and in went the twin and the toddler bed. OJ the 2 year old had been sleeping in the baby room in the toddler bed but recently relapsed into babyhood and wanted the crib. I obliged for about a month or so. I am too pregnant and tired to fight it. BUT.....

The time came. Till needs some more space and with another baby on the way, we needed more room. For six years, the basement room (it's been a room, for storage and dust and nothing more) has been ignored. Unused. It's not ideal living space, tiled and a bit on the dark side due to the faux wood paneling and faux brick wall that was installed. Long term plan is to tear it down and dry wall those two walls. BUT....

For now...we've converted. Twin and toddler bed have become TO's and OJ's room. The basement non-room has become Till's. Both are a work in progress. See for yourself.

Here's OJ in his toddler bed. The transition went a bit like, "No....baby bed. BABY bed." He'll get used to it. That was last night. Tonight, no fight. Then again, he's constantly surprising me, so who knows what he'll do tomorrow.

Here you can see Till putting clothes away. To the left, against the wood paneled wall, are the shelves we purchased to store his stuff and keep things off the floor. It IS a basement, and I worry. A couple of rugs are thrown down to make it a bit homier until we find more permanent flooring solutions. In the open space to the right, against the brick wall, will be a desk that is sitting in the garage. It just needs to be get unburied and cleaned off. The switch has been started and will probably stay in this form for the next month. Till will complete 6th grade and the baby will come. During the summer when he's away at his grandmother's, we'll do more, complete more, get things more homey for him. For now....he's just excited to have that space to himself.

Happy Mom's Day

To everyone! Everyone that is a mother, that has a mother, that has a mother-like figure watching over them, or watching over their children, who wants to be a mother, who doesn't want to be a mother and has the foresight to know it!

I had an omelet and potatoes and a tall glass of milk delivered to me in bed this morning.

I went to the kitchen and saw flowers.

Cards.

A gift.

Hubs doing dishes.

Kids momentarily getting along.

My sis and mom were still here from their overnight stay so I greeted them briefly before they left 20 minutes ago.

Sis shared some of my breakfast.

Mom got some flowers too.

Time to go help Hubs. I hear OJ getting into trouble!

Funny Boys

I've discussed my disdain for boys reaching the teenage years. Well, they also provide a bit of humor.

They start to stink at age 12. Some before, some after...but our particular 12 year old is developing "the funk". He requires nightly showers and deodorant. We always hope that he remembers to apply the stick, but often Hubs is asking, "Did you remember to put on deodorant?" That took awhile, but he appears to remember most days.

Apparently, there was an incident (I didn't know about) some days before where he was wrapped in "the funk", and Hubs told him to go scrub up his pits and apply fresh deodorant to make it through the rest of the day/night. I guess he decided, after doing that, to apply some of Hubs' cologne as well. Came out smelling like flowers. AND funk.

Hubs instructed him that while it was okay to use a squirt or two of the cologne when he was heading out of the house, there was no need to use it when he's just hanging IN it. On top of that, his allergy and asthmatic brothers could possibly be set off on an attack. He thought the message was received. But this almost teenager is starting to get the itch to smell and look good. ALL the time.

He just showered this evening and was getting ready to head to the store with Hubs. He squirted on cologne. Worried he's going to run into some pre teenage girl at the local Wal-mart at 8:30 p.m., no doubt.

The discussion that ensued alerted me to what's been going on around here. I am just shaking my head. Here I thought girls would be harder, but these boys....sheesh. Not only is Till the near teen squirting cologne, but TO the t-ball playing twerp plays hattsie with the girls on his t-ball team when he should be sitting on the bench, cheering for his teammates.

What? I didn't tell you that story? Yeah. Hattsie. Hitting ball cap bills together and giggling. I'm doomed, I think. They're too much like their father.

Monday Mumbles

Ten random things on this Monday morning. In case you're wondering, my feet hurt.

1. Baby has hiccups right now. Body twitches or ticks that happen occasionally (eye twitching, anyone??) are usually annoying, but this not-so-little pulse from the hiccups doesn't bother me a bit.

2. Yesterday, I actually went into work for an hour and a half. Sad. I know. But I just couldn't imagine starting my Monday off with the HUGE pile that's waiting for me. I put a tiny dent into it, but it was at least SOMEthing.

3. OJ cuddled with me last night while the boys and I watched America's Funniest Videos. He initially wanted "Dada" but I convinced him I was a good cuddle buddy too. Hubs was busy resting with a headache, so OJ got my inflated baby milking boobs to rest his head on instead of Hubs' man boobs.

4. He doesn't really have man boobs....but they could stand to be tightened up a bit. Just sayin'.....

5. Our first t-ball game was cancelled due to the field being saturated Friday day and night, but we have a game slated for tonight. I'm excited to see if TO enjoys himself. I think his allergies are bothering him which keeps him from feeling 100%.

6. We made major progress on the room that is currently TO and Till's. Till will be moved to the basement in the next week or two and OJ will move in with TO. We took down the bunk bed (full sized bottom, twin top - took up too much room). Okay, Hubs took it down by himself. But then we moved in the twin I inherited from my newly wedded girlfriend and the toddler bed. Till is actually excited to see the room like this, I'm not sure he wants to move now.

7. Good news from the slow-moving bedroom switch? OJ seems excited to move into the toddler bed...at least he was fighting TO for it while we were rearranging. We'll see what he does when it comes time for real sleeping arrangements.

8. This baby is now flipping circles inside my belly, digging its head down low, thrusting its feet or SOMEthing up high....does it not understand that I HAVE LIMITATIONS on how much I "give"????

9. What's with the Toyota Avalon commercial where the car is floating on the clouds? Seriously? And that look that the pilot and the flight attendant give one another at the end? Gag me.

10. Last night, TO kept repeating, "Can I have some booty?" and then giggling. He was referring to what pirates call "treasure" (I believe they caught some of the Pirates of the....blah blah on tv the other night). He was obviously giggling because he understands, to SMALL EXTENT, that booty for pirates can be funny when referencing it as a question. I fear what he'll do to me when he begins to date.