Almost there

Well, we've just about gotten through it. The Piano Recital is over and done with, and went off without a hitch, except Erik smashing his finger in the church door. (Can't wait for another little boy :)) We've gotten through Tim's, Dad's, 60th b-day party, which was at our house on Sunday (switched from the night before the induction, thankyou Tim). Today I finish up my visiting teaching for April, and get some of the last minute shopping done (which mom tells me not to do, she can do it when she gets here- do I ever listen????). And tomorrow Mom flies in to try to make me sit down and relax (it won't work, I bet you it won't). Then......Thursday morning....6:00 A.M. we're in the hospital getting pitosin pumped into my system. If everything goes as smoothly as it did with Erik, we should have a new little hurricane added to our family by noon or 1. I'll post pictures when I get a spare second.....which could mean NEVER! Grandma Renee bought me a magnet for my fridge which reads "Mothers of little boys are busy from SON up to SON down". Hopefully I can get at least one picture posted for you all. WISH ME LUCK!!!

Ashley's first Piano Recital

Piano is over for the year and I'm thrilled and relieved. The recital was excellent, all the kids played really well. I always tend to get just as nervous for them as they get for themselves. But this year was really nerve wracking. Ashley was playing for the first time, and I had the mom nerves along with the teacher nerves. She did really well. She's a really great little student. I always vowed I'd never teach my own kids, because it's a nightmare. She wouldn't take from anyone else, so I finally agreed.....conditionally. As soon as she starts fighting me with the practicing it stops, and she gets a different teacher. So far she's really self motivated and reminds ME when she needs to practice. Hopefully that will continue. She just started taking lessons about a month and a half ago and REALLY wanted to play in the recital. I was hesitant since she's been playing such a short time and she's so young. I finally gave in, and she did really really well. The video is the first song she played (memorized) called "the zoo". Tim wasn't able to get her second song, Erik was sitting on his lap, and wasn't going to allow it for anything, which is unfortunate. Her second song was even better than the first. I'm very proud of you, Ashley!

Pregnancy pictures.

Alright, this post is for those who have asked for pregnancy pictures. I warn you again....I'm not cute during pregnancy, and I look like a whale! The last two pictures are of my family, and me with Ashley....SHE looks cute The last 3 pictures were taken on Sunday.

The sound of silence

So, normally Erik won't sleep unless he's in his own bed or in the van. If he falls asleep in the van I can usually transfer him to the couch and he'll continue to sleep (see previous post). I have never had him fall asleep in the middle of play. So anyway, Friday Myken, a friend of mine, and I took our kids swimming for a couple of hours. Apparently this completely wore Erik out. Myken took him home and dropped him off with Tim, while I stayed for Ashley's swimming lessons. Tim could hear him in the kitchen playing with the child lock on the cupboard doors on my island. Suddenly.....silence. And this is what he found when he investigated the silence.

Silly kids

Here are some cute pictures of the kids. 2 weeks to go!

Help, I'm a meanie!!!

My patience level has dropped with my comfort level. My poor family. I don't remember being this mean with my other two, in fact, Tim has said I wasn't this mean. Of course I didn't have 2 other kids with my other pregnancies either. Just one example; I got a new pack n' play the other day, and I set it up to make sure it was what I wanted, and Erik kept touching it....just touching. It drove me bonkers! He was in tears, I was frustrated. Help, how am I going to make it another 3 weeks without my kids hating me, my husband hating me, and me hating myself for being such a monster???!!! Where's the intervention?

Doctor's appointment

Well, I had a doctor's appointment on Friday. I knew going in that since this is the last 4 appointments, all modesty was out the window. However I didn't anticipate having the doctor walk in with a group of nursing students. Nice. He introduced me to them all, and asked if I minded if they observed. What was I going to say? Get out? In for a penny, in for a pound I guess.
Anyway, everything is looking good. He's head down, and has definitely dropped (the doctor could feel his head). I'm a WHOLE half a centimeter dialated, and 50% effaced. I was a little upset cause I put on some weight, dang birthdays anyway. 3 1/2 weeks!

4 1/2 weeks? Too Long!

I know in the past I have said that I wasn't ready for this little boy to be born, because, since I have 1 boy I know how rambunctious and energetic they can be and it is easier to keep this one on the inside. Katie, I don't know how you do it!!! Twin boys....eeeesh. I've changed my mind. Get this child OUT!
I had heartburn all last night (even after taking 4, YES 4, tums), so I added a pillow to elevate myself, and woke up with a splitting headache. My sciatic nerve is killing me, and I'm having those awful ab muscles stretching pains. I don't have ankles anymore, just donuts wedged up over my feet, and I cut myself twice shaving my legs, cause I can't seem to get to them anymore. CAN I BE DONE YET????
Up side....I can't reach my feet, so Tim finally put my lotion on for me last night. I haven't gotten a foot massage since I was pregnant with Ashley.
Oh, and by the way....HE has a name now....Connor James Tremayne.

Brian Reganism

Alright everyone, I've been given the assignment by my brother Brian to spread the good word, no not the gospel (though I'm sure he wouldn't mind that), but the good word of Brian Regan. If you've never heard of him....for shame. He's just our absolute favorite comedian ever. He's completely clean, and HILARIOUS! Listen to him here on my blog, or look him up on youtube. You won't be sorry.
I'm totally jealous because Mom and Tacee are going to see him live at the college in Missoula this weekend. :(
ENJOY!!

7 weeks left!

Well, we've got 7 weeks, and a couple days left till baby number three is born. I'm already on the books at the hospital to be induced on April 9th at 6:00 a.m.! I think I'm excited...I know how active boys are and I think Baby Boy Tremayne is easier inside, but I can't wait to see him. This has been the easiest pregnancy so far, except I feel like I've had a constant cold all winter long. I had a doctor's appointment on Monday, and I've put on a total of 9 lbs. this pregnancy. Yay!! Definitely a switch! With Ashley I put on around 60 lbs. Erik I put on about 30 lbs.
The kids are really excited about the new baby, Although Ashley has moved past this pregnancy onto the next when we'll (obviously) be giving her a baby sister. They are so cute. They love to pet, hug and kiss my belly and are always talking to "baby". It would really be nice if they could call him by name, but we STILL haven't decided on a name. Thankyou everyone who voted on the poll, but Tim decided he didn't really like any of those names anymore. ARGHH! I am open to any suggestions anyone might have.
So I told Tim that we were scheduled at the hospital for April 9th. He then told me that we are having his Dad's 60th birthday party on April 8th......fine......at OUR house......not so fine. He says he'll take care of everything...cooking, cleaning, hosting.....and that I was not to lift a finger. We'll see if things develope that way.

Groundhog day

Well, looks like Punxsatawney Phil saw his shadow. 6 more weeks of winter. Now, I never understood that.....My calendar says it's 6 more weeks of winter regardless. But who am I to question Phil, Seer of seers, Prognosticator of all prognosticators. According to Ashley, It means there's 6 more days till Christmas. My first thought was...crap...I haven't even STARTED my holiday shopping.

Winter Blahs

I think winter has me in a slump. I can't seem to get up any energy or motivation this month. So that's my excuse for not blogging more. And to be honest I really don't have anything interesting or exciting to say- I just thought I'd let you all know, I'm still alive. Here are some really cute pictures of the kids to make your visit worth it though. :)

New Year's Resolutions

Well, here's another year. What happened to 2008? I think I blinked and missed it, it went by so fast. It's taken me a little bit to even think about New Years Resolutions. Erik had the flu a couple of days ago, and Ashley had it yesterday, now I'm not feeling so hot. Figures Tim (the only one of us who DIDN'T get a flu shot) feels fine. Anyway, my new years resolution this year is a continuation of last years, which has gone on a brief hiatus until April. Last year I was able to lose about 40 lbs. until I got pregnant in July. My goal since July has been to gain as little weight as possible with this pregnancy and make sure I continue exercising through this pregnancy so I can be ahead of the game when the baby comes. I turn 29 in March and I would really like to make a good start into my thirties, feeling good and looking good. So my New years resolutions for the year are to not go utterly insane being a mom of three, and to get to my goal weight by the end of the year. Wish me luck, and I'll try to keep you updated.

Erik's (not first) haircut

Erik's hair was getting too long. He was getting a rooster tail in back, and I was wondering where his ears had gone, so Tim got the clippers out and gave him a buzz. It was pretty cute, Erik loves getting his hair cut. Usually I take him to a salon, and he sits there nice and quiet and let's the beautician cut his hair. (His idea of leaning his head forward so she can get to his neck, is to open his mouth wider :) ) Erik didn't appreciate the fact that he was COVERED in hair. But he is a pretty smart little boy, he recognized the resemblence between him, with his arms, legs, and stomach covered in hair, and Daddy. Tim may not appreciate the fact that this is now public knowledge...sorry honey! This isn't the first time Tim's hair has been discussed by our children. My 5 year old daughter, who is also a smarty pants (too smart for her own (or our?) good sometimes), once told him that he is a mammal because he is covered in fur. We got a real laugh from that one.

About 8 inches

Well, we got some snow last night. This is a view out the front door of our house, Tim definately got his exercise shoveling this morning. I love the beauty of snow and how it lays such a pristine blanket over the world. It makes everything seem so clean, and pure. MELT ALREADY!! My mom is driving down from Missoula tomorrow morning, and I'm VERY concerned about her safety driving that stretch between Butte and DuBois. Very Trecherous. If you have a second, say a little prayer that she gets here safe. If this snow could just go away for 24 hours, and come back after that, it'd be great, in fact we could have a blizzard after that and I'd be happy. That's not too much to ask is it??? Well, I may not be appreciating the snow as much as I should, but the kids sure are. They love it! I think they especially love that they get a mug of hot chocolate after playing in the cold. I think Erik has taken to putting on all the gear (hat, gloves, snowpants, snowboots), stepping out the door, coming right back in and asking for hot chocolate with marshamallows. He hasn't realized yet that he can just ask, and not have to go through the wardrobe fiasco. Oh, well, it's cute. Ashley has been wanting badly to make a snowman, unfortunately the snow we've been getting is the dry powdery type. Not at all suitable for making snowmen. :(

All Music-ed out!!!

After this Sunday I refuse to have anything else to do with music until after the holidays. Usually the music is one of my favorite things about Christmas. This year I'm all music-ed out! I have 8 piano and voice students that I work with (which I get a break from until the 5th of January!), and....I participated in the choir for our Stake Christmas Music Program, helped organize and plan our Ward Music Sacrament Meeting for Christmas as well as am singing in the choir for that, singing in a small group, and conducting the YM and YW in a song. I also helped organize and plan our Relief Society Christmas Music Program which is also this Sunday, and am singing in a trio for that program. Ahhhh! I LOVE music, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. On our sleigh ride next week, we're required to sing for our supper. I told Grandma she could count on me for some loud clapping and whooping, but I'm not going to sing a note after this Sunday. I refuse!

SNOW!!

Yea!! Finally, snow! Well, only a couple of inches, but still...SNOW! I am of the mindset that if it's going to be cold...it better be snowin'. Just cold is miserable, especially here in Idaho. I don't know what it is that makes Idaho so bitterly cold in the winter, but it's the kind of cold where you step outside, inhale, and your nose hairs freeze over. Don't go outside with wet hair, it'll break off at the ends. When Tim and I first got married, we spent Christmas down here with his family. His mom gave us one of those fish bowls that have a plant in it and a beta fish, telling us that if we could keep the plant and fish alive for a year we'd be ready to have kids. I'll bet you can see it coming. We stepped outside her house, walked to our car and got in. In the time it took us to get to the car......the plant died. So far I'm doing better with my kids, Ashley's made it 5 years. Cross your fingers.
Tim's family has a tradition of going up to Mountain River Ranch for a sleigh ride and dinner every year after Christmas. We've experienced the gammot- no snow so they put the wheels on for a wagon ride, wet rainy mud bogging rides, and beautiful snowy sleigh rides. I'm PRAYING for the beautiful snowy sleigh ride this year. Keep the snow coming!!!

Makes 15 Dozen??!!

So, the other day I went to Sam's club to get some groceries. I saw a box of sugar cookie mix, and was immediately craving sugar cookies (that happens a lot lately) so I bought it. Well I got the box home and noticed it said: Makes 15 dozen cookies. What in the heck am I going to do with 15 dozen cookies, I thought to myself. I know....Have a sugar cookie decorating party! So I called up about 8-10 of my friends who have little kids who aren't in school yet, and invited them over decorate sugar cookies! We had a blast. These pictures were taken soon after we started, so SOME of the kids are still at the tables instead of up playing in my kids' rooms. About halfway through the kids decided that would be more fun, and the sugar cookie decorating became the duty of the moms, which is how it's supposed to be I think. Mom's in the kitchen decorating cookies and chatting and kids playing....sounds like the right dynamic. Anyway, it was a blast! May have to become an annual event.

Amy's Christmas list

So for the benefit of my husband, who has absolutely no idea what to get me for Christmas, here it is....The published copy of Amy's Christmas list.
- the baby to quit kicking my organs and stick with the front of my belly
- Mitt Romney to be president
- a clean house with no effort by me
- perfectly behaved children
- 2 (count em...2) workable showers
- my family to live closer to me
- more snow
- shipping to be cheaper to Mongolia
- world peace
- and I guess if those other things aren't workable....a bosch mixer would be okay.

Random Thought

What's the point of writing down birthmarks and especially locations of birthmarks when kids are little. My son has a freckle on the back of his leg that keeps moving closer and closer to the back of his knee. I used to have a freckle right under my bellybutton, but after 3 pregnancies, that freckle is about 3 inches to the right now. Tacee has a birthmark on her.....well, anyway, you get my drift. I sure hope cops don't put too much stock in birthmarks as identifying information when they're looking for a suspect.