Happy Halloween!

Our nanny brought the monkeys by my office this morning, along with the other two children she takes care of. They insisted on putting their halloween costumes on and were just the cutest while they were here. We had to take some computer pictures of course:
My Mr. Incredible

My Superman

We had a theme apparently. I am planning on slicking Superman's hair back tomorrow. They expected candy from everyone at work!
I can't wait until tomorrow, my mom is coming to surprise them. She is dressing up in a costume and coming to trick or treat at our door. They will love it.

Funny Random Photos

Here is a silly picture of big monkey when he came to work with me last week. He had leftover swollen pink eyes.


Here I am (my belly anyway) just now after my not so successful run (it would really be TMI if I told you). I am 16 weeks and 1 day.

Budget out the window

I just spent the morning doing some Christmas shopping. A major purchase that I probably should not have made without letting my husband know, but it is for my husband and something he really has wanted for some time, and I got a good deal. I ordered this from overstock.com. I hope it turns out as great as the dining room table and chairs I ordered from them a few months ago.

I think he will be so happy. I am having it delivered to work so I can bring it home and surprise him closer to Christmas.

I ordered the Bella Band a couple of weeks ago and am wearing it today for the first time. I love it and recommend it to any pregnant mommy. I am still too small for my maternity pants (I am quite a bit smaller than I was with little monkey with all of the running I have been doing) so I am having a hard time keeping them up. But I am limited in my non maternity pants. So I put the band on with my too big pants and they fit wonderfully. It holds them up and I feel some support from the band as well. I got the one with the lace at the bottom so it looks like a cute little cami underneath my sweater.

I am really looking forward to using it after the baby is born. I am not very modest when it comes to a slippage of bewbie when breast feeding, but I absolutely hated having my "rolls" showing when my shirt was lifted to feed the monkeys. So this will solve that problem. I may have to break down and get a couple more!

Birthing wish

Being that I am pregnant, everyday at some point I think about how I would like to deliver this baby.
I should give some background to my birthing history. Big monkey was born via c-section after laboring for days (not too bad) and then the doctor breaking my water at an early point and increasing the pitocin so she could get home in time for Sunday dinner (we overheard this for real). I pushed for nearly 4 hours and the little guy would not come out. He was high in the pelvis and sunnyside up which is not condusive to delivery, at least not for my body. I had the epidural turned off after 30 minutes of pushing but they would not allow me to stand or squat (I really felt the need to do this with all of the back labor). Anyway, things did not go as planned and I was finally so exhausted I begged for the c-section.
I was incredibly depressed after this. Weird, so excited to have big monkey, but I just could not get the series of events that led to my c-section out of my head. Finally I had a break down and seemed better afterwards. I ended up pregnant with little monkey when big monkey was barely 6 months old. I switched doctors and immediately discussed a VBAC (vaginal birth after c-section). My doctor was on board with a few stipulations 1. no induction, 2. no pitocin, 3. no waiting after due date, 4. if she felt something was going wrong we would immediately be swept into surgery. I got her to push the repeat c-section date to one day after the due date. And I tried hard to get the little guy to come on, but with no such luck. I had to show up for the scheduled surgery and was a bit sad. Then all of a sudden, I went into labor, very early labor. I should probably have put a stop to the scheduled surgery, but I just kept thinking about all of those people out in the waiting room. I should have thought about my wishes and what was best for the baby and me. Oh well, it probably turned out for the best considering he was nearly 2 pounds heavier than big monkey at birth and had his cord wrapped around his neck several times. Chances are that I would have ended up with an emergency c-section. It was so hard after going home, not to be able to pick big monkey up when he was crying, or vacuum, or any of the other stuff I wanted to do to feel normal.
So now to the littlest monkey. I immediately addressed the idea of a VBA2C with my doctor. She was very hesitant to say much. She said it usually does not get done (law suits, etc.), but she did not say no. She said we could talk about it as we got closer to the end of the pregnancy. I just would really like to try. I know it sounds insane, but I just can't shake the first birthing experience and still look at it as a failure. I know, I had a healthy baby boy and was just fine afterwards. That really is the most important, but it is just something in my head. I don't think I am the only one who has felt this way, they have support groups for women about this topic.
I have a big plan in my head for this birth. I plan on using no drugs and am thinking I may need a third party in the room with me (well really 5th party since my mom and husband would be in there). I need someone there for me that would not be so emotionally involved. Someone would know my wishes and help me stick to them without seeing their wife or daughter in pain and thinking immediately of how to stop the pain. I am thinking of a doula. Or I have this old college friend I met up with recently who has no children, is in the mental health field, lives a couple of blocks away, and can tell it to anyone straight. I am thinking about asking her to be my advocate.
Of course all of this is going purely on the idea that my doctor will go along with my grand plans. It will be something I pray about and probably stress about until it comes time or I figure a way to get it out of my head.

7 Things

Anna tagged me in this fun game to reveal seven things about me you might not know. This took some thinking, do I really want 7 things known about me?! Here we go....

1. I met my husband in Walmart. We both worked there over a summer I was home from college. There was no Target in town!
2. I am a vegetarian (have been for 19 years) and have been craving big fat juicy steaks, bacon and fried chicken this entire pregnancy.
3. When I was growing up, I wanted to have 10 kids but only give birth to one... channeling my inner Angelina Jolie?!
4. My feet sweat profusely in black shoes and black socks (I have both on today).
5. I CANNOT stand for a throw rug to be crooked, and now big monkey can't either.
6. I went to Indiana University and loved it, can't wait for basketball season to start back up.
7. I like to bake, especially for other people.

Okay, I am tagging anyone who reads this and wants to participate!

Another good weekend

We have finally cooled off a bit here on the Gulf Coast. It was a gorgeous weekend and I even got to wear long pants without sweating to death.
Unfortunately, I was in the WORST mood ever on Saturday, and for no particular reason. Incredibly hormonal is all I can figure. I wanted to scream, or kick, or cry, or run away all day. My poor monkeys. They were so good. I was very aware of my bad mood so I tried to explain to the monkeys that I was cranky and sorry if I yelled or snapped at them. They seemed to get it and tried their best to behave and be sweet to their cranky mommy. We did well, until I had the bright idea of taking them to mass Saturday evening when they had no nap and I was a royal witch. We ended up leaving during communion (I never do this) and they lost their trains for a day and tv for a week - this sounds bad but they only watch tv a couple of hours a week, if that.
Big monkey played his little heart out at his last soccer game of the season. I was so proud, he very nearly scored a goal. He was very sad afterwards when he realized he was not going to see his team mates again for a long time, if ever. He is such a softy.
We went to the county fair Sunday evening. The monkeys had a blast and it was so fun seeing them in awe over the big rides and all of the lights and people and food! I was so tired at the end of the day, I just wanted to crawl back to the van!
I ran 9 miles Sunday morning and part of that was a hill that was nearly a mile long! It was awful but we did it and did not stop once. I am eager to get the half marathon over with. I want my finisher's shirt and necklace and massage!!
We are going to carve pumpkins tonight or tomorrow night. It is supposed to drop off cold here, really cold for here with lows in the mid 30's. I can't wait. I just need to get the gas turned back on for the heat!

I like to move it, move it!

Birthday pictures that I promised at the beginning of the week. He had a ball. We all had a ball. Yes, this giant shark was in my back yard and I am sure they could see it from the moon! We had it all weekend and got our bounce out of it, worth the money the minute I went into the monkeys' room and they were standing at their window (instead of taking a nap) squealing with delight as their daddy put the air in it!

Big monkey was so excited about all of his presents, but really loves the geotrax set up that he got, he is studying the airplane here.

They actually wore the hats, we have come a long way from the screaming 1 and 2 year old parties. We even played games.

Big monkey danced a little jig when we were singing happy birthday to him. It was so cute. He was SO into the birthday. I hope to keep it that way. I still love my birthdays, they are meant to be special days that are celebrated.

Little monkey was into wearing the lion mask, we had a madagascar theme including the "Move It" song. He went around roaring at everyone and making a few little ones scream!

So my baby is 4. I still can't get over it. He ended up with pink eye Monday, not sure where that came from, but it reminded me he is still my little one - especially when he is sickly and needs to cuddle.

My son the soccer star

We have only one more soccer game this season. This past game was on the same day as Big monkey's birthday party, and his grandparents were there to watch. He did everything we talked about not doing during the game, he was very distracted by the tremendous amount of fun he was going to have during his party after the game, I am sure.




Big monkey is so proud of his very first trophy! He carried it everywhere Sunday night after their "celebration".

Mommy is tired

What a GREAT, exhausting weekend. Big monkey had the best weekend ever - he told me so. I was so happy for him. He just really genuinely enjoyed being center of attention and turning 4. I don't remember how many times he talked me into letting him blow out another candle. Every time we sang happy birthday, he got up and danced until it was time to blow out the candle and make a wish. Too cute. I have many pictures to sort through and then I will post some. I am trying to recover from the festivities and my 8 mile run yesterday. I need a day to sleep!
Catch up soon!

Happy Birthday Big Monkey

Friday, October 17th is my baby's 4th birthday. I can not believe he is growing up so fast right in front of me. I wanted to follow along in bloggy world style and write a little about my first born:

Dearest Big Monkey,

Four years ago you came into your daddy's and my lives and you took your time about it. You were on your terms and no other terms! Mommy was in labor for 2 days before going into the hospital. Another 24 hours of labor later and 4 hours of pushing, mommy decided you could come into the world via c-section. It was not the way we had planned, but I was ready to meet you and was exhausted.
So there you were, my wonderful perfect little boy. Amazing in every way, and you still are. I am amazed everyday by the immense love I feel for you, how smart you are, how caring you are. You are the first to notice when I have had a haircut, or am the cranky mommy. You love to be my snuggle bunny at night still, and I dread the day this stops. You are so much like your mommy in so many ways. We both lack the enthusiasm for mornings, are know-it-alls, and enjoy an extremely organized day. You are the best big brother ever, always looking out for Little monkey and anyone else "smaller" than you. I love watching you take charge of situations, even at your young age. I love how you can sit and read for ages in your room at night. I love how you will just crawl onto my lap when I am sitting down and tell me I am the best mommy ever and not even want anything in return but a hug. You are my special big monkey. My first born. The little man I am learning things from every day. You will always have an extra special place in my heart since you were the first. Be patient with me as I grow as a mommy and as a person with every new stage in your precious life. You have changed our lives in so many positive ways, and I am so thankful to God for you.
Happy Birthday Big Monkey! Mommy Loves You!!


Brand new to the world, with daddy.

So sweet!

Always the funny guy!!

Fun Photo Meme

Connie tagged me for a fun meme. The rules are to choose the sixth photo from your sixth album and post it with a brief description and/or the story behind it. I had to go into iphoto as well and pick from my sixth album and so on. So here is my photo


Here are the monkeys last winter (before the Easter Bunny traded bobbies/pacifiers for the Lion King movie) snoozing away. The monkeys share a room and even share a bed. We have bunk beds that we can separate into two twin beds, but they seem perfectly content to sleep at opposite ends of the same bed. As you can see from the picture, this often ends up with two little angel boys sleeping side by side with their heinies in the air. I went in to wake them up on this particular morning and simply could not resist taking their picture. I am glad I did, it is a wonderful memory and they did not even wake up! I am dreading the day they are too big or think they are too big to share a bed, they will really be grown up then!
Thanks Connie, for taking me down memory lane!

And now six to be tagged:

Lacy
Aunt Sherry
Me & My Boys
Baby Boy Lori
Multi Slacking Mama
Sasha

Littlest Monkey appointment Week 14

Just got back from my doctor's appointment. It went well, eventually. I peed in the cup, stood on the scale (yay for gaining a bit of weight), had blood drawn, and laid on the table to hear the heartbeat. 10 minutes of searching for the VERY stubborn child later, and no heartbeat still. Okay, by this time I am panicking. This is something that happened with little monkey, but we were only 11 weeks along and it is not uncommon. But we are 14 weeks along here and there should be SOMETHING!! So my wonderful doctor tried to calm me telling me that my uterus was growing, no problems were occurring, we would take a look with the ultrasound. I peed again and then hopped on another table. Right away she found the heartbeat, yippee! But don't you just hate the serious looks ultrasound techs have when they are clicking and typing and pointing?!?! I thought I would throw up. I have been feeling a bit small this go around and it started making me panicky. But then I got to see the newest monkey and that heavenly feeling came just like with the other two. Little fingers scrunched up in fists by the face, nose profile, itty bitty feet, heinie, and fluttering of the heart. Just. Amazing. Loved it.
So, everything is fine. No visible markers for any complications at this point. Just a very stubborn baby, or shy! She said she could not tell the sex yet. There was no visible penis but it is early still. I told her I have two boys already and she looked harder trying to figure out the sex. But nothing. Oh, well. I am just so relieved and ecstatic that things turned out well and I got a sneak peak and some pictures!
I can't imagine not feeling completely blessed about this baby. I thank God every day for giving me the pleasure of being a mommy to three little monkeys.

A Vent

So here I go again. Going to get some frustration off of my ever growing pregnancy chest.
My father in law is a different kind of breed. We just have very different views on things, especially family and raising children. He is my husband's step father since hubby was about 4 years old. Has no experience with children any younger than 4 since he has no children of his own. And yet, he is all knowing on how to make a boy a man. Really, not getting started on that, I have other topics to go on and on about.
My husband kept putting off telling his family we are pregnant with our third. Not because we like to wait until the first trimester is over, but because he did not want to hear a lecture. And I think he is hurt by the fact that my family and the rest of our friends are always so happy for us. Yes, we were lectured after we found out we were pregnant with little monkey. I am sorry, I don't need to hear someone tell me how I can not afford a second baby for half an hour on the phone after I just told them the happy, albeit shocking, news. I just kept reminding them what a gift from God a baby is. My mother in law takes every available moment to tell me that two children are enough and I should feel thankful to have them and not over extend myself or my family. I have never hidden the fact that I would love to have a large family.
So anyway, my husband tells me (as we sit down for mass Saturday evening) that he told his dad and asked him how he should go about telling his mom (she is out of the country working right now). Apparently my father in law said he thought she was probably really stressed out enough with work and not to tell her until she could get through some of the stress! Yes, our new littlest monkey blessing is a major cause of stress to them. I could not even speak when he told me. I actually started getting teary eyed because it made my heart hurt that someone would feel the baby growing inside me is a cause of stress. We have never given them a reason to think we could not make ends meet. Our monkeys are well fed, happy, clean, well dressed and I think well taken care of. We have never asked them for ANYTHING, in fact I go way out of my way to NEVER ask for anything or make mention of things I need to get for the boys. I just don't understand. Anybody get this?!?!
I could go on and on about it, but I don't think it is good for my blood pressure.
Big monkey's birthday is Friday and we are having a birthday party for him Saturday afternoon. Pretty much always the same time of the year that we have this party. Father in law is not going to be able to make because he has a previous engagement. This is about normal. He lives less than 2 hours away and comes to visit the monkeys every 3 months or so. I don't mind the infrequency of his visits, in fact I am grateful. I feel bad for the monkeys, who do like him, and for my husband who worships him for some odd reason. At least I have my parents - wonderful grandparents that drive 5 hours for just a day visit if they can work it in!
Okay, enough. I need to get calm before my doctor's appointment later this morning. Get to hear the littlest monkey's heart beating away! LOVE IT!

Beautiful Monkeys

Here are a few pictures of my adorable monkeys from the weekend. They had a great time at the shrimp festival. Big monkey absolutely LOVES some shrimp. He even asked for it for his birthday party.. don't think so!!




Go ahead and tell me how adorable they are!!

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Yes, today is my birthday. The wonderful day I celebrate being brought into this world. I told you that I like to make sure I get many well wishes on my "special day" (think I was spoiled as a child?).
So far, I have gotten two email birthday wishes. No personal ones. My family was asleep when I left, usual occurrence. I am waiting for a phone call with my little monkeys wishing me happy birthday. I probably will still be waiting this afternoon. My husband is not as excited about birthdays. He had a rough childhood (just kidding - sort of).
So, I am sitting here having sugar babies for my birthday breakfast. I would prefer milk duds, but you go with what you have!
I have a big post to put up later, after everyone wishes me Happy Birthday.
Thanks!!

Happy Weekend

I plan on having a good weekend. Well, after I have four kids all day tomorrow. I am going to take them to the park and my office to see the Halloween decorations and then out to eat with the mother of the other two during her lunch break. Should not be too bad.
I am making a promise to myself not to do ANY house cleaning tomorrow (other than the beds). I don't want to exhaust myself for the rest of the weekend. We have a soccer game, a shrimp festival to go to and some birthday celebrating to do.. since mine is Monday. I will be coming to work on Monday (I usually take the day off). I love to have people tell me happy birthday all day long. I am not ashamed to publicly announce that it is my birthday, no matter what my age. I also think I should be taken out to lunch several times next week.

Christmas Card Help

I know, it seems a bit early to be writing about this, but all of the good deals on Christmas cards are going on right now and I really want to get in on them. I always seem to have a creative block when it comes to coming up with a good Christmas card. They usually turn out well, but I freak out until I can figure things out!
My main problem is coming up with cute picture ideas for the monkeys. I can take an okay picture. I am by no means a photographer or "talented" in photography. I really don't know what half of the buttons on my camera do.
Another hard part is getting in the Christmas picture mood considering our highs are still in the mid 80's.
So please, help me figure something out. I don't know if I want the typical kids on the beach picture (though we have not done that one yet).

Baby loves some vinegar

I have to admit that I just ate very nearly an entire 5.5 ounce bag of Zapps salt and vinegar potato chips. This is gross in itself, a lot of grease and salt and I don't even want to look at the nutrition label. The funny thing is that I really do not like the taste of vinegar. I can't stand it. The scent burns my nose and I have never been a big fan, at all. Well apparently baby (or littlest monkey) LOVES vinegar, enough to make me feel like I NEEDED to eat the whole bag in just over an hour at 9 o'clock this morning. And now I want to puke.
Meanwhile, I had really intended on buying stuff to make fake bacon sandwiches. Our wonderful Winn Dixie did not have the fake bacon. Dang them!

Weekend Update

We had a nice weekend here at Casa Banana. Busy, but enjoyable. I can not say it enough, I love my 3 day weekends. I don't know if I will ever be able to go back to 5 eight hour days at work versus 4 ten hour days.
The monkeys and I ran some errands Friday, which included going to the Walmart Neighborhood Market to try out grocery shopping. I usually go to SuperTarget, but had the bad idea of trying out the market. The monkeys were incredibly well behaved, which is surprising considering they usually go nuts as soon as we enter a Walmart. I will be returning to my wonderful SuperTarget though. Walmart did not have everything I needed, and I spent a considerable amount more than I would have at SuperTarget without everything on my list (or the temptation of Target Clearance items).
We cleaned a bit over the weekend, but just really did some relaxing and fun stuff. Big monkey had a soccer game Saturday morning. I was very proud of him, he did not sit on the field once, or chase a single dragonfly (they are really bad right now and I find myself watching them). I did offer a reward if he participated and stayed upright the entire 3 quarters he played. It was a very intense and aggressive game! I was incredibly shocked at the size of the other team (hello China - can we borrow a doctored birth certificate?!?). But no one got hurt.
We all camped in the backyard Saturday night to see how the monkeys would do on a real camping excursion. The monkeys had a blast and big monkey insisted on doing it again that very next night. Mommy's back and the fact that I had to pee all night just was not going for that. It was fun to watch them though. Little monkey was a bit nervous, or so I gathered since he slept nearly on top of me all night. We got a little wet from the dew and the boys thought that was hilarious.
Sunday I opted to take only little monkey to mass. Big monkey had a stuffy nose so he got to stay home and be lazy. It was nice spending some alone time with the little guy. It never fails, he poots every time we are in church.
I got my 6 mile run in, it was a nice leisurely run. My husband had dinner fixed for us when we were finished, a girl could get spoiled.
Now, back to reality. I am starving, have to pee, barely fitting into any of my clothes. Pregnancy suits me!!

Lovely, Lovely

Oh lovely fall weather, how I love thee! I just got back from my run in the park. The weather has finally started to cool off here on the Gulf Coast. We have highs in the lower 80's and the sun is not so hot. It makes for lovely daydreaming runs. I am SOOOO glad to be done with the gym (partly since I will do some strength training there). I just love to get outside and feel the sunshine on my shoulders. It is also good that I get off the treadmill and onto some hills since Atlanta seems to be much hillier than I thought. Being pregnant, I should really say I am jogging. I feel so slow, like I am barely doing more than a walk, but it is for the best. I do think I will be ordering a baby belly support very soon. I could feel it getting heavier as each mile passed. I tried one on the other day and I wish I could get away with wearing it all of the time (pregnant or not)! You don't have to suck anything in, it does it for you.