SERIOUSLY

 Nick got himself ready for school today in this little "get up"......he was genuinely surprised when I told him he needed to change. And take off my tank top. Then I asked for a picture and he asked, "So who you gonna send it to, mom?" I promised no one and he posed quickly before heading back upstairs to his closet!

WE'RE HAVING A.......

Oh, is this an exciting post! Finally I can tell....we're having a baby!! We've been very quiet about this little one for way too long. Now the secret's out!

This week has been SO emotional for me! I think I cried every day, sometimes a couple of times. Stress and emotion just completely overtook me for a few days. October 1st of last year is the day we went in for our 20 week check-up and ultrasound with Baby Joe. I delivered him the next morning. This baby's due date is one day later that Joe's was so not only have I been sad about losing him, but also so anxious that the same horrible nightmare was going to happen a second time with this baby. I could hardly wait for the ultrasound, as long as it was all good news. I knew in my heart everything was okay, I really did. From the moment we found out we were expecting, I just had a calm feeling about this baby's health. But my brain would not let up and the "worried momma" thoughts were making me crazy! Below is the entry I wrote about the day in the baby's journal:

I seriously do not know if I am going to make it until one o'clock. Will it ever get here? It seems like we have been waiting forever to see you on ultrasound! I just need to make sure you are okay and that everything is growing perfectly and then I can settle down. Until then......I woke up at 4am today. Ben and I have been to the park, exercised, made lasagna and frosted cupcakes and it is only 10-something in the morning! We will have to keep ourselves busy so the morning goes by fast. As soon as he gets on the bus for preschool....I am outta here! Daddy is meeting me at the ultrasound place at 1:15pm. Please time, fly by....... 


Our afternoon was fantastic! We had a really long ultrasound, looking at every little part of your body! Oh, you are sweet and perfect and looked so beautiful. We could see your little fingers and toes and everything.   The doctor said everything looked great and that you seem to be right on track. Whew! What a relief those words words for your dad and I. My pleading prayers had been answered. I cried.

Now the exciting part......the first ultrasound tech we had was totally on board with writing down your gender in the envelope instead of telling us. But the second tech said, "Absolutely not. The doctor does not allow anything written down. It's either verbal, now, or nothing." Our hearts sank, of course, because that totally ruined our big plan. I told her the plan, how we wanted to find out your gender together as a family, but she didn't seem to really care. Then, as she was looking at the computer screen, she said all of a sudden, "Give me that envelope. No one has to know about this picture. I don't want to ruin the plan." HURRAY! We were so relieved! Plan back on! We stuffed the sealed envelope into my purse where it would be nice and safe. And hidden when the doctor came in. We got an all-clear report, almost, from the doctor. He said you looked great, but that my placenta was partially attached over my cervix. If it doesn't move out of the way as my uterus grows, there won't be anyway for you to come out and I will need to have a c-section. Of course that doesn't sound fun but whatever it takes to get you here safely! Everything else he told us was great news and soon we were leaving the office. Dad went home to meet the kids from school and I drove out to Gymboree. It was so hard choosing a boy outfit and a girl outfit!! There were lots of cute things, but eventually I settled on a tiny light pink tutu and a brown and orange weiner dog sweater. I told the girl at the counter that I was pregnant and asked her if she would please open the secret envelope, then wrap up which ever outfit we needed. She was so excited!! "Oh, it's like I am part of the family!" she said. I left the store and wandered around for a few minutes and then went back. She was very careful about making sure I didn't see what was on the small credit card screen as I was checking out. Unfortunately, I caught a glance of the total when I signed my name and my brain went wild. I had looked at the price tags of both items and the total didn't match either one! The clerk mentioned she tried to adjust the prices so they were similar but what had she done? I started calculating sales prices in my head but still, my total matched nothing. I tried not to think about it but I did, all the way home.

The present...I thought the big (?) mark on the front was perfect!

By the time I got home, the kids were all there. I snuck in the house, passed through the living room and hid the wrapped present behind the couch. Olivia was sitting in the kitchen and said, "What are you hiding, mom? You are always hiding something when you duck through the living room instead of walking through the kitchen." Oooooh, smart kid. We gathered everyone in the family room and told them we had some fun news but first they had to solve a puzzle. We gave each kid an envelope with letters in it and told them to work together to solve it. Ben started crying because he didn't have all the orange letters in his envelope. Nick started to cry when Olivia was figuring out the puzzle faster than he was. Dad and I looked at each other and commented on how well this was going.....

Soon the puzzle was solved. WE ARE HAVING A BABY! It was surprised giggles all around...

Ben was still crying. We pulled out the present and told them it was time to figure out what our baby was, a boy or a girl. "Right now?!" Oh, that was exciting for them. Nick and Ben both thought you were a boy. Olivia thought maybe a girl. And Dad said he KNEW you were a girl. We let Ben open the present. It took him about a year. My heart was in my throat. C'mon, child, rip that baby open! He was still far from having it undone, but I saw a light pink fluffy thing slip out the side of the tissue paper and I screamed. Really screamed. I think I scared Olivia, I screamed so loud. "It's a GIRL! It's a GIRL!" Out came the pink tutu and it was confirmed. YOU ARE A GIRL! I cried. And Ben cried, too. He wanted a brother......

Hurray, hurray, hurray! We have a baby sister on the way! We are all so excited to start getting ready for you. Olivia already has big plans.....decorating the nursery, matching outfits, etc. etc.  And the boys are going to be the best body guards a little sister has ever seen. What Dad "knew" all along has finally been proven. And I am thrilled to be thinking pink again. Really, it didn't matter if you were a girl, boy, or monkey..I am just so happy you are healthy. But girls are super fun to dress.......

We celebrated with the yummy lasagna dinner and pink and blue filled cupcakes. Then it was time to call the Grandma's and Grandpa's and everyone else to tell them our exciting news! They were all surprised and can't wait to meet you!

Grandma Joan and Grandpa Cookie sent these pretty flowers after finding out you are a little girl...

Everyone is soooooo excited!!! Love you, baby! XOXOXO Mommy

STASH

I just happened to be near by when Nick opened up the front pocket of his backpack this morning......

WHERE THE HECK?! I'll bet he had at least 10 suckers in that little pouch. And just look at him, he looks like a street peddler flashing illegal goods! He's obviously smuggling them from somewhere and then stockpiling them. School? The "Great Start" jar? One may never know....

APPLE ORCHARD

Ben has been waiting and waiting for the trip to the apple orchard with our playgroup. Today was the day and 10:30 could not come early enough for him! We had a great time picking apples and going on the hayride. A beekeeper taught the kids all about bees and then showed us a real hive! Ben loved the farm animals, too, especially the little kitties. It was a beautiful morning to spend outside with friends!

I have my apples, momma!

Ben LOVED the hayride!

Ben and his friend, Elyssa

The kids had been asked not to chase the chickens...it was all Ben could do to leave that little fella alone!

Standing on a pumpking to check out the bee hive

He was SO excited to finally be able to eat one of his apples!

FRAGALINA

Fragalina Francesca is Olivia's "other half" and she is absolutely hilarious. I don't know where she came from, but wow is she funny! It's the face she makes and just the way she says weird things like, "Do you want to wear my socks?" and "Excuse me, have you met my dog? He has heart worms" that make us cry with laughter. Thanks Liv, and Fragalina, for livening up our house!

STUDENT COUNCIL

Look who's running for Fourth Grade Student Council Representative! Good luck, Olivia! 

The poster went up on Tuesday....

Thursday was election day and Olivia was totally ready. Her speech was ready to go and she was feeling good about it....

THREE THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT OLIVIA SMITH:

1. I started my school career in Germany at the age of three

2.  If I could go anywhere in the world, it would be to Guatemala to hike the volcanos

3.  Over the summer I ate a real cricket that was salt and vinegar flavored!

GOALS AS CLASS REPRESENTATIVE:

1. Make sure (fellow student) Daniel has lots of fun things organized to keep him feeling like a part of the class. Surprise party once his Chemotherapy is done.

2.  Plan field trip to take kindergarten "buddy class" to outdoor class room to catch frogs, but not the poisonous ones;)

GOALS AS SCHOOL REPRESENTATIVE:

1. Talk to art teacher about recycling all the milk cartons into a huge tower-building art project

2. Hold a "Healthiest Class" competition for the whole school. Kids earn points for no tv days, riding their bikes to school, brushing their teeth. Class with most points with a party and special certificate at the end of the year.

CLOSING (RAP SONG):

My name is Livi Smith 

And I'm runnin' for president

If you elect me

I'll set you free

From school lunch,

hot lunch

teachers too!

I'll bring ya Pizza Hut Pizza

If you follow me through

We'll have field trips parties and fun stuff to do

This class is gonna rock when you vote Livi Lou!

Unfortunately, the day didn't go as planned.....Olivia said her speech went really great, that she remembered to have good eye contact and that hers was the only one that made people laugh. BUUUTTTT.... when one of the other girls running got up to give her speech, she froze and started to cry. She could barely get out a "Vote for Me" before running back to her seat. All the kids felt bad for her so she won. On sympathy votes! Olivia came home a bit disappointed but she was actually more worried about her friend that she was about losing to her. I didn't tell Liv this but I was ticked! Throw the cry baby out if she can't handle it. How is she going to get up in front of the entire school??? Oh, well. I have to remind myself that this IS fourth grade... It was a really good experience for her -I am so proud of her hardwork- but the thing I am most proud of is how she chose to make her friend more important than the win.  She could teach me a thing or two...! Way to go Liv! We love ya!

P.S. Olivia's teacher has emailed me twice since yesterday about how it all went down, to check on Olivia, and to let me know that it was "a very, very close race. A REALLY close race. A she-just-about had-it-(before-the-cry-baby)-kind-of-race." That's my girl....

BUTTERFLY

We have a cilantro plant out front that little bright green catapillars just love! Chris first recognized them as the type he used to watch as a kid so we have been bringing them inside and observing them as they cocoon and then turn into butterflies. It has been such a fun experience, seeing the kids check on them every day and talking about what exactly is going on! Our second catapillar just emerged yesterday and we can not get over how beautiful he is!

The broken cocoon

Mr. Butterfly

BEN

 This little guy is the love of my life right now. He has just come out of a ratty 3-year old phase (see BACK TO SCHOOL, PART 2 POST) and blossomed into the sweetest, most agreeable, obedient little boy on the planet. I can't WAIT for him to wake up each day because he is so fun to be around. His smile and that dimple and those little teeth light up a room. He laughs and chit chats and tells jokes like a big school-aged kid. And some of the stuff he says cracks me up. Here are some favorites:

"I willn't" (I won't)
"Fiiiiiine!" (When giving into to a parental request)
"Shut it, Nick!"
"Mom, I want dinner." (It's 6am, you mean breakfast...)
"Dear Heavenly Father and Jesus..." (Beginning of every single prayer. And he never forgets to pray...)
"Meany Nick!"
"You the best dad in the world, dad."
"Thank you for this meal, mom, thank you."
"Oh, _______! That's my FAVORITE!" (Could be just about anything in the blank...)

Most days he and Olivia are best of friends while he and Nick have kind of a love/hate relationship at the moment. If they are doing something imaginative and adventurous, they could not be any kinder or more loving to each other. But if they are tired and bored and looking for someone to bug they almost always find each other and then the war begins! Both of the big kids are really cute about including Ben in their games and even when their friends come over to play. Very rarely is Ben on the "outs" and I know he feels so special and big when he is included!  Of everyone in the world right now, Chris is hands down Ben's favorite person. Every minute he is awake, he wants to be with his Daddy. To Ben, Chris is the strongest, bravest, smartest daddy ever and he tells him so all the time!

Striking a deal with Dad

Did I mention that this kid loves his Dad?!

Outside of family, he loves his little friend, Elyssa, and the little playdates they  have together. The great thing about Ben is that he also plays really well on his own. He sings and dances and builds legos and reads and makes forts and draws and all kinds of things. 

He is just my buddy and we even have a good time running errands together and, his favorite, going out to lunch. (It hasn't always been this way, trust me. But right now it is great!!) Thanks Ben for being the sunshine in my every day. I love you with all my heart. You are so so so special to me! And you ARE my baby, even if you don't think so! xoxoxxo

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!?!

Chris and Nick went last week's Monday Night Football game... Kansas City Chiefs vs San Diego Chargers. They were so excited! The game didn't start until 9pm our time, so Nick came home from school and went straight to his room for a nice long nap! Then it was off to karate and then home for a quick change before leaving for the stadium. Nick couldn't get his jersey and foam finger on fast enough! Here they are, ready to roll:

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It poured rain on you guys but,thanks to your trusty ponchos
and umbrella, you stayed comfy and dry!

Nick wasn't too talkative the next day after being out sooooo late (or early I guess) but he did say that he had a "great time," that "Miley Cyrus' dad sang that song at the beginning," and that he "saw ALOT of limos!" Chris was excited to report that their seats were great, the stadium food delicious and that they had a blast!

BEN LOVES.....

For his first preschool project, Ben had to make a collage of things that were important to him. We entitled it, "Ben loves..." and included pictures of him doing all his favorite things.....

Applesauce...and lots of it!

Building cool things

Playing with my dog Charlie

Reading with my sissy

Cuddling daddy when he comes home from work

Being silly

Riding my bike super fast

Retrieving the mail

Picking flowers

Kissing my mommy

This picture was taken after his project was finished but this is totally one
of his favorite things to do....work on "projects" and fix things!

BE-BE

Do you see it? It's light green and yellow...

Nick's favorite blanket in the whole world has gone missing. Really missing. He had it on the airplane to Grandma's and I swear it was laying around the house all week while we were there. In packing up to leave Chris' sisters house, Bebe was no where to be found. Phone calls were made with the hope of of finding it but no luck. I kept promising Nick it would show up and someone would mail it to us but I am not too sure that will happen. I mean, it's a little waded ball of strings, carefully tied together with various knots. The blanket was actually a baby gift to my mom when she had me. I, however, did not take to it like Nick did so it was practically brand-new when he fell in love. I do hope it shows up, even if years later, just so I can keep it for him.

NICK'S BIRTHDAY

Wow, what a celebration! I think it started in June. Or maybe May. Nick plans his birthdays well in advance and down to the very last detail, many times over! This year was no exception....for weeks preceding his big day, we laid down at night and talked and discussed and "nailed down," as he called it, all the final details. As always, it turned out just the way he wanted it to!

The day started early, 5:55 a.m. (This detail was non-negotiable....6 a.m. was to be the very earliest he could get out of bed...!) The kid hardly slept....he was still awake at 11pm when we tried to sneak in to decorate his room....Nevertheless, we dashed downstairs  for the birthday breakfast. The table was ready for him with all of his presents. It practically killed him to save a few for later, but he did! His favorite surprises of the morning were the Silly Bandz from Ben, shoes from Mom, slingshot from Dad, and candy treats from Olivia. The look on his face when he opened those Silly Bandz was priceless!

Brother of the Year.....

The face of a kid who never thought he would get a sling shot....

After his breakfast of cinnamon rolls and sausage, out he went to try the new slingshot. Note the color of the sky...black. Pitch black.

The after-school party plans included Nick's two best buddies and his favorite mouse:

The kids had a blast playing games and redeeming their tickets for treasures like Laffy Taffy and tiny plastic bugs. Then home we went for Nick's pizza of choice, Papa John's with cheese, and Rootbeer.

Nick had very specific ideas for his cake as well....six layers, white inside and out, Kansas City Royals logo perched on the very top. Got it, mom?! I was so nervous that I was going to mess up that I had to say a little prayer before I started decorating!

He loved the cake and looked like he was going to dive into it while we were singing!

His eyes really were bigger than his tummy...never once could he eat a whole piece of this cake!

After cake and ice cream and a little playtime outside, it was time for the remianing gifts. Olivia and I had put together a little scavenger hunt with clues for him to find his last gift from the family....

...and we had him running all over the place! Check out his sweaty little face....

All too soon, the party was over...and my boy was officially one year older! Nicky, you are the best! I absolutely LOVE the way you get so excited for your birthday and all the thought you put into making it just perfect. You have a sweet, crazy little personality that keeps me laughing every single day. The things you say and the jokes you tell are the funniest on earth. You are so stinkin smart and your heart is so big and tender. I adore how you think about things so very carefully. I love that you would still sleep in my room every night if you could and that you kiss me twice and ask for "kissing hands" every time you leave for school. I miss you, too, when you are gone, but I am really proud of how hard you work and all the things you are learning. You read like the wind and, unlike your mom, think math is the greatest thing ever! Good for you! ( How else are you going to be able to count the oodles of money you make selling lemonade in the driveway?!)  I can't wait to see all the awesome things you do as a seven year old! Love you forever,

Mommy

XOXOXOXOX