The Waiting Game

 We're all getting super excited for this little girl to make her arrival.  This picture was at 36.5 weeks.   I'm now at 38 weeks. (2 weeks to go!) This pregnancy has been completely opposite from the boys'.  At this point with the boys I was pretty miserable and felt like a whale.  With her, I still feel pretty good and sleep marvelously. I have been measuring right on, whereas with the boys I was usually measuring about 2 weeks ahead.  At my last appointment, 37 weeks, they did an ultrasound to check the growth of the baby.  They said her head was below average (ab 45th %) but her legs were really long (ab 75th%) they estimated she weighed about 6lbs 14oz at the time of the scan, which puts her right at 50th% for weight.  They usually gain about 1/2 a lb per week for the last month, so we're thinking she may not be a 9 pounder like her brothers were.  I also hadn't progressed at all with the boys until I was in the hospital on pitocin. At 37 weeks I was at  a 3, and 60% effaced.  Dr said she's in launching position and there is a good chance she may not wait for her due date. (don't they say that to everyone though to get their hopes up.... we shall see.) Hopefully nothing happens this weekend with all the ice and snow we're supposed to be getting. 

The boys went with me to check out the hospital where we will be delivering.  Houston loved looking at all the "tiny babies" through the window to the nursery. We stood there for like 5 minutes while he told me about all the different tiny babies.  It was pretty cute.  I hope he's just as excited about a new baby a couple weeks after she comes home.  Heath counted how many babies were asleep and how many were awake, told me the report, then was ready to move on.  One of the delivery nurses gave each of the boys a newborn hat so they could practice being big brothers.  They liked the idea of being trex dinosaurs a little bit better.  (I was pretty surprised that they could fit those onto their heads) We still don't really have any names nailed down. I think we're some of the worst at naming children.  Neither of us want to make the decision.  Anyways, any suggestions would be appreciated.  : )

This boy...

 The other night Houston was super excited for dinner.  He sat down at the table and was eagerly waiting the whole time I was preparing it.   Once I was finished I looked over and he was out.  Apparently he got sick of waiting. 

 We have a little crock pot on a timer that we make cracked wheat mush or oatmeal in almost every night for breakfast.  The other day I woke up to some noise in the kitchen.  I found Houston eating mush right out of the pot, "I hungie for mush Mom!"

 This is Houston's preferred way to read a story these days. 

A Quick Trip

 G&G Fo had planned to come visit us for the past 2 weekends, but each time we had a big snow/ice storm so they weren't able to make it. Heath would be so sad each Saturday morning he woke to find they weren't able to come.


Finally there was a break in the weather, so we enjoyed a fun weekend with them . 

We had a fun morning at home, then went to the science center.  This was such a treat.  I haven't been brave enough to go on my own when I can't chase after Houston if he takes off. So we haven't been in quite a while.  The boys just love this place!

 Photos courtesy of Houston.

 I guess they didn't winterize the fountains this year.... oops.  It sure looked neat though! There was still a bit of water shooting out of the top of each ice mound.

They treated us to lunch at PFChang's.  I've always herd a lot about this place but had never been there myself.  All the food was marvelous! So good!  When we got home I may have googled knock off recipes from their restaurant.  

Daddy was able to take a study break and meet up with us too, so it was a super fun time!


As we were leaving PFChang's it started snowing again.  G&G had a snowy drive home, but they made it safe and sound.  Thanks for the super fun weekend! We can't wait for anther one.

Fire House

 Our church playgroup took a visit to a local fire department. Heath was super excited, and asked me every day for about a week leading up to the tour if today was the day. Finally the day came!  First they took us on a tour of the fire house. They showed us where they ate, slept, worked and played. When the tour guide fireman would ask if anyone had any questions Heath always had one for him. One was, "Is fire a liquid like water, a gas, or like ice, a solid?"  (He had asked me earlier but I wasn't 100% sure) FYI it's a gas.  He also asked him, "When do you go home to play with your kids?" "Why are you called firemen and not watermen?" and "Why is there a pile of hay outside?" (they had a bow target set up so on down days they could practice shooting for their deer hunting.)

Our boys weren't too keen on taking a picture with all the other kiddos and no Mommy.

Houston wasn't so sure about this whole fire house thing. The whole time we were there he was clinging to my leg.  This is the jump seat in the fire truck.

Driving the big rig!

Houston wanted nothing to do with the big truck.  Only in my arms would he go close to it.  Heath on the other hand couldn't get enough!

Houston liked the "Baby fire truck" though.  He was willing to sit on it and watch the other kids.

They had a practice fire extinguisher that shot out water. Heath did this like 4 or 5 times.  He loved it. 

It was definitely a highlight for him.  

The firemen were all so kind and great with the kids.   They had one guy dress up in his fire suit and crawl on his hands and knees so that the kids could see that they are just normal guys in those big scary suits.

Heath told me on the drive home that when he grows up he wants to be a fireman, because firemen are so nice, but not the one that goes into the burning building to save people, the one that stands on the ladder and shoots water on the fire.

 For a couple days following the boys were firemen all day long.  Heath had to get his raincoat, "because it is like a fireman's coat"  and asked for syringes to shoot water onto the fire.

Heath would go lay on his bed and say, "Mom sound our alarm!"

Then He & Houston would run to save all the people in the burning building.

Then shoot "water" all over it to make the fire stop.     It was sure fun!

Happy Love Day!

We had such a fun Valentines Day, complete with another big snow storm.     We cut out and coloured hearts.

Made yummy heart pretzels.

Ate chocolate dipped strawberries.

Love these two!

Made Valentines for Daddy at the Library.

and drew pictures.  (This is spiderman)

I had to add this, Matt looks so creepy...  The boys had received a couple free meals at Church's Chicken for doing the winter reading program at the library.  Heath has been so excited to use them.  We decided to keep them for Valentines day and go out to dinner all together again.

With the big snow storm coming in we decided to have a late lunch out rather than dinner out, so as soon as Daddy got home from school that day (about 2) we hit the road. Matt and I were expecting to buy food for ourselves, and the meal should have cost about $17, but the man at the register said, "You guys look like such good family. You've got some good boys there. How does $9 sound?" Sounded pretty good to us!  Sometimes it pays to have a 4 year old that loves to talk to everyone about everything and make friends with complete strangers everywhere you go.

 After gorging ourselves with fried chicken and sides we drove down the road to Coldstone Creamery.  Last semester Matt's class put on a talent show that we attended.  Part way through the program they asked for volunteers to come up and participate in a hula hoop contest.  Heath had been begging to go up on stage to do something all night, so we let him volunteer.
(he obviously didn't get that trait from me.)  He had never hula hooped before, but gave it all he got and shook those hips really well.  (Heath calls it Hula Hipping) He won a gift card to Coldstone creamery so we put that to good use too.   : )

 Poor Houston was so excited for the ice cream, but then fell asleep before we made it home and didn't get to enjoy the tasty treat.

Heath on the other hand....

February

 Heath is such a sober knight. 




I normally vacuum the living room at least every other day.  The last few weeks it's become a bit more uncomfortable to vacuum, so I've only been doing it when the floor REALLY needs it.  It had been about a week since it had been done and Heath said to me, "Mom, did you know you forgot to vacuum for a lot of days?  Our living room is getting really messy in here. You need to vacuum today please." 

I taught Heath how to vacuum that afternoon.  : )

Between all their various Christmas presents these boys are set!  They could play this all day long.

I love Houston's stance in this picture. He is ready!

 Houston is super excited about the new baby. He comes up to me about 5 times a day and says, "Kiss your big fat baby belly?" Then gives it a sweet soft little kiss. 
Almost every morning Heath asks, "Is my baby sister going to grow out today?"
The other day Houston said to me while we were eating lunch, "I love your big fat baby belly. Baby in it. Tiny baby come out. Tiny baby needs her tiny binkie. Tiny baby needs her tiny diaper." It was all said in a very high pitch super cute voice. 

This has changed our lives. (well not too dramatically, but it's pretty awesome!) It's a SAC (stuffed animal chair) It took just under an hour to make.  There is a zipper across the bottom of the chair so you can store all your kids stuffed animals, extra blankets, sheets etc in it.  Yep. pretty awesome.  And the boys LOVE it.  Houston has fallen asleep in it a night or two.

Heath asked me, "Mom, does spiderman pick his nose?"   "I guess so, he probably has boogers just like you."                              "Oh, great!" and he proceeded to pick his nose.  

Grandpa Hansen got the boys an aweseome Cowboys and Indians set for Christmas.  This has been one of the best toys ever! These boys will happily play with it ALL day long. It's what I pull out when I really need some time to get something done.

The other night I sat in our room listening to the boys in their beds. Their conversation went something like this. "Houston, I think our baby sister is going to come on Monday."  "NO Heath! She is going to come on Fursday." "No Houston! She's just going to come on Monday. I just know. You're too little to know."   "I not too little, I two." "Well she's still going to come on Monday." "No, Fursday."

One day Heath Houston and I all had a BM within about an hour of each other.  While I was helping Heath finish up in the bathroom he said, "Mom we all went poo together! Do you think Daddy's pooing at school too!? Then our whole family would be the poo family!" 

Houston loves to pretend he's Daddy fixing things.  He'll get his tools all situated and say, "I'm Daddy.  I'm workin. Bye Mom" then he goes off to work.

These boys absolutely LOVE fruit.  We can bribe them to do just about anything for an extra banana or apple or orange. Pull out a strawberry or a kiwi or grapes and they'd jump over the moon for you. (We don't only give them fruit as a bribery tool,  they eat several pieces a day.)   Our fruit basket was empty one day and Heath said to me, "Mom we have to go to the store today."  then Houston chimed in, "Mom, go buys fruit?!"

The other day we had oranges with our lunch.  Houston being the independent 2 year old that he is wouldn't let me peel his orange for him. "No, I dowet!"   So I gave him his fully intact orange.  After about 2 minutes he had that sucker completely peeled.  I was so surprised!  That's one determined little two year old.  

Houston also loves to pretend he's a puppy lately.  Watch out though, when he's in puppy mode he LOVES to lick faces.  I don't know where he got the idea that puppies do that all the time, but he sure loves to slobber his big old tongue all over our cheeks. 

 We were tidying up in the garage and the boys found a little box of high heels that I'm not in any condition to be wearing these days.  Heath thought they were so cool and was wearing them all over the house that afternoon.  Houston on the other hand wanted nothing to do with them.  Houston finally agreed to try a pair on after Heath had asked him probably 50 times.














Sorry there are like 10 pictures, but I thought this was just too funny! Apparently heels were not made for super heroes.

While we were visiting Grandma & Grandpa The Wizard of Oz became a favorite movie for the boys.  It has now become a silly funny nonsense word they love to yell out at random and laugh and laugh about, except they both say it, "The Lizard of Boss!"   they also love to say, "Do you know your ABC's?" and laugh hysterically at each other.  Silly Billy!

We had a really busy long day last week.  At 5pm Heath said to me, "Mom why did you let us stay up SO late tonight.  I'm so tired. Please let us go to bed."   Don't worry, we ate dinner and went right to bed.  : )

The other night as I was shutting the door after saying goodnight to the boys and Heath yelled, "MOM!" This is something that drives me a little bit crazy. They both do this and seem to wait until the very last possible second to yell, MOM then proceed to say um, um um, um um, um.....  can I have a drink of water (or something like that).    So you can imagine what was going through my mind when he yelled MOM!  I said, "What Heath?"  "Mom, You're my favorite person in the whole world.... and I love you."   I had to change my attitude a bit after that.  Sorry for thinking poorly sweet little Heath.

 This has been the snowiest year I can remember.  We have had more days with snow on the ground, than days without since we've been back home.  I'm so grateful for our nice big living room.  It would make for some long cold days if these two had nowhere to run around inside.  We're also really grateful Daddy rides the metrorail to school each day and hasn't had to try to brave the crazy roads this winter.

Houston has gotten really good at saying the prayer all on his own.  The other day he was blessing our lunch and said, "Please bless Daddy."  then looked up at me and said, "Mommy, where's my daddy.  He's at school, AGAIN?!"   Houston sure is a Daddy's boy.  If Matt gets home before they're in bed Houston will just want to be held by Daddy for a good 5 minutes or so before anything else can happen.  On Saturdays and Sundays He's Matt's little shadow. 

 This is Heaths new super hero.  His name is Knight-Terro.  He's a good guy. His superpowers are that he can fly super fast, and he is super strong.  

This little toy is one of Houston's all time favorites.  He loves to carry it around like his little briefcase.

Super Muscles!

 This is Knight Kent (not to be confused with Clark Kent.)

When Knight-Terro isn't saving people, he wears his glasses (thank you Mr Potato Head) and puts his super clothes into his shirt so that no one will know who he is.

This was another one of our long busy days.  I was making dinner in the kitchen and came out to find this.  : )

Stretching with Daddy.  Always a favorite at this house.

Sometimes rocking horses can be space ships too.

 Other times they're airplanes.