15 Months and 5 Weeks!

Today Finn is 15 months old and I am five weeks pregnant!

I can't believe how fast the time has gone by with Finn. He is getting more independent everyday and getting into more things! He is constantly messing, pulling out stuff, eating paper, going places he is not supposed to, being sneaky, and trying to climb everything! He is also the sweetest little thing I have ever seen!

He loves to eat and drink juice boxes. I think he would sit and drink a juice box all day long. He loves to be able to do things on his own. Mr. Independent! He does not like the potty! I will sit him on it and he jumps up quicker then I can say "sit on the potty". I guess he will do it when he's ready. He has started watching cartoons in the mornings and is glued to the TV.

He LOVES being outside. As soon as he hears our door open, he runs over and puts his arms up wanting me to take him outside. He is definitely ALL boy.

He has started lifting up the toilet seat and playing in the toilet. Yesterday he threw 2 whole rolls of toliet paper in the toilet! He also pitches fits when he doesn't get his way or if you take something from him.

He can drive me NUTS sometimes, but as soon as I pick him up and hug on him I forget all about him making me nutty! 

 I love to sit and rock him when he is sleepy or just waking up. That's the only time he will sit still long enough to let me hug on him. I love when we read him books at night and he takes his fat hands and rubs them all over every page trying to feel what he sees. I love seeing how much Finn adores Jared. I love everything about him. I thank God everyday for giving me an adorable, sweet, and mischievous little boy. I don't know what's in our cards for this next baby but if he/she is anything like Finn I will be so happy!

 Nothing interesting on the pregnant side! Besides me eating everything in sight I am feeling the same as before! I have been so busy with my Thirty-One stuff I haven't been able to even think about anything else. Mindi and I went out shopping this morning and I got excited when I saw the baby stuff. I want to buy it something even though it doesn't need anything!

 If it is a girl Mindi has tons of stuff and if it's a boy I do!

I am looking forward to having NOTHING to do this weekend! I am going to rest and clean up around the house. I have been so tired lately I have been slacking in the cleaning department! I need to do a good spring cleaning! I also have lots of projects for Jared to do. I want him to start working on the basement so I can make Finn a playroom down there. All he is interested in right now is turkey hunting!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Potty Training

I think I am going to start working with Finn on using the potty! Since the new baby will be here in 8 months I wanted to get a head start. I have no clue how to even start. I did put out the potty I have and I will tell him to go sit on the potty. He will go sit on it but I know he has no clue what it is. Just something to climb on!

I think I am going to let him sit on it in the morning when he gets up and right before bath time, and just talk about the potty a lot. There is an Elmo Potty Time video that I want to get and let Finn watch it.

I think if I can have him at least somewhat potty trained by the time the new baby gets here it will help a bunch!

Are you wondering where the "waste" will go! Ha! I found this in my Mom's basement and I thought it would be cute to paint and use it for Finn. I need to find a container of some sort to put under it!

I think we have a LONG way to go! Ha!

Any suggestions or pointers would be great. I am thinking it is going to be hard with a boy! I will probably be cleaning ALOT! Ha!

Big News!!

After 4 of these little test..........

Looks like we are having another baby!

I have been really tired the past few weeks and I wasn't having my normal before "that time" of the month symptoms. I decided to get a test Saturday, and took it Saturday evening. A plus sign came up but one line was very light. We thought it was just showing where the line was supposed to be! So I took 2 more, one Saturday night and one Sunday morning. They were still really really light. I took one this morning and 2 lines came up in 2 seconds and they were both dark. I guess I should stop wasting my money buying test. Ha!

We are still in shock right now, and need lots of prayers! We are a little nervous because Finn will not even be 2 yet when the new baby gets here. We are also very scared that this baby will come early like Finn. We don't know why Finn came early, but I think that's what worries us the most about this pregnancy.

Were we trying? Not really. I have been thinking about having another baby and we actually talked about it the other night, and we pretty much decided to wait about a year. God had different plans for us! A child is a gift from God so how can you not be thankful and excited! I know it's going to be tuff at first, but we will be just fine! I guess we will need another crib, double stroller, and a BIGGER car!! I know we have plenty of time to figure all this out.

I am NOT excited about giving up Dt Dr Pepper..sigh..or gaining weight.

I am about 4 weeks and my due date is December 23.

Please keep us in your prayers during the next 9 months!

 

Zoo

We had a great day yesterday at the Zoo. Finn is still young for him to really pay attention to all the animals, but he did have a few favorites!

Finn's favorite person in the whole world!

Finn loved the Ostridge.  This thing was standing right in front of us and he kept pointing and laughing.  I have learned that Finn's 2 favorite animals are goats and ostridgdes.

We are definitely not getting him an ostridge for a pet, they are creepy!! Ha!

He also loved the seals.  They we're swimming by the glass right in front of us to.

I really liked the elephants!

 I was exhausted after we covered the whole Zoo!

Feeling better..

Finn's face is looking better! I am so happy it is getting better. It takes a huge weight off of me. Now I know it was the Amoxicillin for sure.

Now I am having some allergy problems, but if Finn is better I don't care if I feel bad or not! As long as he is ok, I am ok!

We are going to the Zoo on Friday and we are looking forward to that! It is supposed to be hot and sunny! Finn loves animals so I think he is going to have lots of fun!

We have an awesome Zoo about 30 minutes from us. I am excited to see the new Honey Bee Garden. They built this huge bee hive and it wasn't finished last year when we went. I really don't like bees but it looked really cool! If a bee flies at me I will be running away like a crazy person! Ha!

This was taken on our little Zoo trip last year! Finn and Harper we're only 3 months old!

The LORD is my strength..

I am very overwhelmed and stressed right now.

Finn is having a allergic reaction to the Amoxicillin he has been taking for his ear infection. He has little red bumps ALL over his face. It looks horrible. I feel so sorry for him. I don't think it is bothering him as much as it is me, but it just frustrates me so bad. I took him to the doctor yesterday and he pretty much blew it off. He never said if that's what he thought it was or not. He will NEVER take Amoxicillin again that's for sure.

I feel like we live in the doctor's office. I told Jared on the way over that he should go back to school to be a Pediatrician instead of getting his Master's. He could definitely do it, but he won't. Darn..

I know it's not life threatening but I think it frustrates me because I'm not 100% sure if it's from the Amoxicillin. I am pretty sure that it is, but it could be something totally different. It could be food, his new sheets (I did wash them), or anything else that he has been in contact with. I just don't know..and I want to know so I can stop doing whatever is causing it. Ughh...

Then the doctor I saw said I could give him Benadryl if I wanted to and told me to give him a teaspoon. We'll I figured out later that a teaspoon was way to much for his size. Seriously? What if I would have given that to him? Luckily I went with my own instincts and used only 1/4 of a teaspoon.

I have a really busy week and things keep coming up to add to it. Anytime away from my family stresses me out to. I don't like to be away from them very much, as you already know about me! I have 3 Thirty-One parties this week and a lot of other things that I have to do.

Tomorrow morning I am taking Finn to a gymnastics class with Harper! I think he will have so much fun, if he is ok to take. I will just have to see how he is doing tomorrow morning.

I know everyone goes through times when life seems to overwhelm us. I have so many things on my mind right now. It seems like all I do is make decisions all the time, and make choices for my family. I think that during the overwhelming times in our life it could also be a time when God wants to teach us something more about ourselves and his love for us. He has a reason for everything. It makes us stronger!  I have to constantly remind myself that during these uncertainties that everyday brings, we have the assurance that God knows what we are facing.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  Psalm 28:7

Is it really Thursday??

I seriously didn't know what day it was until I saw everyone was doing Thoughtless Thursday from Katie's blog!  Staying at home I feel like I lose touch with the world! Ha!

Monday's and Thursday's are not my favorite days because Jared has school on Monday's and a sales meeting on Thursday's. Boo..We love for Daddy to be home early! Finn is luvin'  some Daddy here lately. He wants to be with him all the time! Ok enough rambling.

I made some AWESOME Chicken Salad last night and I have to share the recipe.

I got the recipe from Meredith. She is such a sweetie. This is a picture from last summer. Jared works with her husband and she had sent some to work with him. Jared came home talking about how great this chicken salad was so I had to have the recipe!

(I hope you don't mind if I share)

Chicken Salad:

3 Thick Boneless Chicken Breast

4 Celery Stalks, chopped

4 Green Onions, chopped

2 Cups Seedless Grapes, sliced in half (I did fourths)

1 Bag of Cranraisins

1 Bag of Paula Deans Sweet & Salty pecans, chopped very fine*

1 Container of Marzetti's Ranch Veggie Dip

2 Apples, peeled and chopped very fine (I only did one)

Boil/Cook Chicken breast (I cooked mine in a pressure cooker), chop in fine pieces, mix all ingredients together.

* I couldn't find Paula Deans pecans so I used some that were Pecan Pie flavored.

Jared and I ate half of it just standing there after I made it. It was so good.

Today I am going to try and change Finn's room back to his normal room! Our roof leaked last year and it is just now getting fixed. (A brand new house by the way). Of course it was in Finn's room so we switched the play room and Finn's room until it was fixed. I just got Finn some new bedding (with owl's of course) so I am going to do something new in his room. I HAVE to change things often. I get SO tired of the same ole thing. I really didn't like his bedding I originally got him anyway. If you see any cute owl things for a little boy's room please tell!

Being a Mom..

Today I am going to have a vent session! I have been stressed out because Finn still won't eat. He is normally a BIG eater, but ever since this weekend he has not wanted to eat at ALL. He will eat certain things but he is being very picky and it's not like him. I am stressing over it but I guess he is old enough to let me know when he is hungry. I have always wanted him to eat a lot and now this not eating is really bugging me.

I want Finn to listen, but I don't know if spanking is the right thing for him? He has been pitching these temper tantrums when we do tell him no. He is very strong willed (thanks to Jared for that) and gets irritated very easily. I don't want to give him the wrong message about hitting but I do want him to respect us and know what NO means.

I took Finn back to the doctor on Monday and he said his ears looked fine now but he looked like he had blisters in his throat that were pretty much cleared up. He said he could have had that Hand, Foot, & Mouth virus. The doctor at the beach didn't even look at his throat. Sometimes I think doctors just say something just to pacify us Moms??  Can you tell I'm frustrated today!

Then another thing I'm wondering about is when to take Finn's paci away. He doesn't take it all the time, mainly when he sleeps, naps, or when he is really fussy I will give it to him. I am afraid if I keep on he is going to get more attached to it, but he likes it when he sleeps and I don't want to take it away to soon? 

Being a Mom is a very hard job if you think about it. All the decisions you have to make for your children. What they're going to eat, to breastfeed or not, what there going to wear, where they're going to school, punishing them or not punishing them, when to take away the paci, when to change to 1 nap a day, to take them to the doctor or not to, the list goes on and on.

And yes, everyone has their own opinions. That's why God made us all different. I have my own idea of what parents should do for their children, and I see everyday what I think "should" be done with children. We shelter Finn from the world and from getting germs. Do I think it's the right choice for him, not so much, but it's just what we do. I stay at home with him and try to not let him get germy. He still is sick ALL the time? I think we are starting to lighten up a little bit. I don't want to hold him back from playing on playgrounds and interacting with other children because I am afraid of him getting germs. I don't like to leave him, I know everyone says it's a good thing to be away, but I just can't. When I wanted to have children I wanted to give my whole life to them, not give them to a babysitter all the time. When I go out somewhere, I want to go where he can go. If he can't go with me, I don't want to go. I do feel like Jared and I are good parents. Finn is happy, healthy, growing like he is supposed to, and doing everything right.

 I LOVE being a Mom more than anything in the world. It has opened my eyes to a whole new life. I shouldn't complain because all of these hard decisions I think I have, there are Mom's having to make life changing decisions for their children and families. I have so much to be thankful for!

All we can do as Mom's is ask God to guide us to make the right decisions for our children. I know with God's help I WILL make the right decisions for Finn! 

 If you have any suggestions or idea's that worked for you please share!

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Proverbs 16:9  

Catching up!

Easter 09

Easter 2010

Just going to warn you that there's going to be a picture overload on this post!

With this warm weather, long weekend at the beach, and a SICK little boy I haven't had much time to get on the computer.

The weather at the beach was beautiful and I wish we could have enjoyed it more, but Finn had an ear infection so we ended up at the doctor's office on Friday (while my family was on the beach boo).  By Saturday night he had a fever of 102.8 and it really scared me and Jared. Something about a high fever just doesn't sit well with me. I called the nurse I don't know how many times, and everyone I talked to acted like fever was a good thing?? After his antibiotic kicked in everything is getting back to normal. I pretty much worried about him all weekend.

We did get to go out the first day and It was so nice. There was hardly anyone on the beach yet. Finn ate sand and went back for more! Finn and Harper got to run wild down the beach! Finn was feeling fine Thursday during the day, Thursday night is when the fever started.

Finn's first time eating a cheese doodle. As you can see he loved it!

Mimi (my Mom) and Sawyer started a tradition making a bunny cake for Easter every year. None of the kids were interested in watching Mimi make her cake but we made it anyways!

We only had 4 laptops with us! Ha! I would say we are all obsessed with computers. It's pretty sad. Chad (B-in-L) works in the computer field so we look outside and he is climbing the back of our condo trying to but this antenna thing on our roof (to get better reception for our internet). It was pretty funny! (We pick on him for being a computer nerd!!)

There is a park about 2 blocks from our place at the beach. They do an Easter egg hunt and have a bunch of fun things for the kids. Finn wasn't feeling well so he wasn't too impressed with the egg hunt! You can tell by the look on his face he wasn't having a very good time. Poor thing.

This morning we went with Finn and Harper's school readiness teacher, Mrs. Marla, on a field trip to a local farm. Finn had a lot of fun. Anything outside he loves! We had to postpone it for after Easter because of the tornados. But the weather was great so it turned out to be a good thing.

He LOVED these goats. He wanted to pet and feed them. He was laughing at them and it takes alot to get this child to laugh!

This was the best picture we could get with the Easter bunny! Ha!

We made a stuffed bunny out of a sock and dyed an Egg!

I can't believe how fast it got HOT here! It went from cold to 90 in no time. If this is any indication of what this summer is going to be like we are in trouble! I guess we will be joining a pool this summer.  We won't be able to play outside without water! I wish I could talk Jared into putting a pool in here...maybe one day!