Happy 1/2 Birthday, Leo!

As some of you may know, I'm kind of a strange ranger about 1/2 birthdays. Maybe it's because in my classroom, we usually only celebrate 1/2 birthdays. Maybe it's because I like to make more work for myself, or maybe it's because I love to do fun things for my boys.

December 28th is Leo's 1/2 birthday, and for the past 2 years I made him a cake with "1/2" on it. This year, unfortunately, I was in the hospital getting my second blood patch, and didn't get to make him a cake. I had a really hard time with it too. Maybe it was the emotions, or the headaches, or feeling guilty. Whatever it was, I cried a lot and felt bad.

I don't have any pictures of Leo with his 1/2 cake (there was no cake). I don't have any pictures of Leo at his 1/2 party (there was no party). But I can say,

Happy 1/2 Birthday, Leo! I've loved being your mommy for the last 2 1/2 years! I love you!

Happy 1/2 Birthday to you!
Happy 1/2 Birthday to you!
Happy 1/2 Birthday Dear Leo,
Happy 1/2 Birthday to you!

Love,
Mommy

Can I Play in the Snow?

What?!? Are you kidding me?!? Aren't you the same little boy who wouldn't walk in the snow last week because it went "crunch, crunch?"

Sure, Leo. Daddy, would love to take you out in the snow! Gotta love 22 inches!

Merry Christmas!

Well, as you can see from the previous post, our Christmas didn't go as planned. But then again, nobody in NWI had theirs the way they were planning either. We got 22 inches of snow between December 23rd-26th. Justin, Leo, Eli & I were home bound for the duration of the storm.

So Christmas morning, Leo, Justin, Eli & I had our own Christmas. We got up early, had a picnic in the living room, watched "The Grinch", and then opened presents. Well, I guess I should clarify a little more.

Because of all the pokes I got in my back, I was leaking spinal fluid. Not a very fun feeling. Imagine the worst headache you've ever had in your life, and multiply it by about a million. So the only thing I could do was "drink caffeine, band my belly, and lay flat."

So Justin and Leo sat around and opened presents. Eli & I were on the couch watching. Leo wasn't into opening his presents. He remembered playing with one of the presents that I'd wrapped, and was interested long enough to open that one. Silly boy!

Justin did all the opening. :) The boys gave me a robe that I'd asked for so that I could have a new one to take to the hospital. (Oops...)

Leo got a bunch of new toys, Eli (poor baby) didn't have one present under the tree. However, I did have a bunch of clothes for him in my closet. Justin got some clothes and the series of "The Office." (Which we've watched in order now, due to the fact I was on my back for about 5 days.)

Because of all the snow we didn't have Christmas Eve Services at church, so we are going to wear our outfits on Sunday, and take our picture then. I had a really cute pregnant outfit to wear...Oops!

Although Christmas wasn't quite what I planned, it was filled with wonderful memories and a lot of learning experiences. I am so grateful to Justin for everything that he did for us while I was unable to get off the couch. He was a champ!

Welcome to the World, Eli!

Things didn't go according to my plan. I was supposed to have 2 weeks and 2 days left before baby #2 came into the world. I was going to get the week before Christmas done at school, clean my house, have Christmas with our families, get my toes done, make meals, and so much more. I had 2 weeks and 2 days left.

I guess nobody mentioned that to Eli. He decided to change things up a bit for his very anal mommy. On Monday, December 21st, I woke up at 2 o'clock AM with a funny feeling. I knew something was going to happen. I woke Justin up and told him that I thought my water broke, called my doctor and my mom, and we were on the road to Sanford by 3 AM. After what seemed like forever (ok, really it was about 2 hours) they decided that we were going to do a c-section before 7 AM.

I got in the room, and got ready for my one poke and numb legs. Seven pokes and a different anesthesiologist later, I was still moving my feet and feeling everything. The last thing I remember is being told to take 5 deep breaths. I woke up crying a few hours later because I was so mad that they were putting me to sleep. Little did I realize that we were already done, and I'd already missed it. :( In case anyone ever questioned it, Justin is the sweetest husband ever. He knew I would be sad to miss Eli's first cry, so he got our camera ready and recorded it for me. I love that man!

My Eli was born at 6:46 AM.

Since I knew that we were having a boy (I'm a good secret keeper! I've known since August!), I didn't know how big he was or how long he was or what he looked like. Jus introduced me to my dear sweet Eli. (He didn't have a middle name for about 6 hours.) He had lots of dark hair like his brother, but didn't really look too much like Leo. Crazy how that happens!

In my plans I had 2 weeks and 2 days left. I missed the last week of school, I didn't get to have my "normal" Christmas, but you know what, my Eli was well worth the change in plans.

Eli William

6 lbs. 3 oz.

19 inches

December 21, 2009

6:46 AM

4 Pointer!

No, not a 4 point buck...

a 4 point bucket!

Leo put this together all on his own today, and was having fun making 4 points at a time. This boy loves basketball!

Owie Feet

Yesterday morning I woke up to Justin coming home from basketball a little early. I didn't know what was wrong until he showed me his ankle. Ouch! It didn't look pretty at all! He stepped on another player's foot and turned it over. He was moving slow and limping. I asked if I should call my mom and get my dad's crutches. He didn't laugh. :(

He's been icing it and keeping it up. Leo told me that he had a owie foot too. So we had to put an ice pack on his foot too.

He loves his daddy!

Snow Day!

We had our first snow storm of December yesterday and today. We got out of school early yesterday! :) (I love early outs...we rush home to take a cuddly nap together.) Last night I got the call that school would be two hours late. That is also so wonderful when they call it the night before = extra sleep in the morning, and no early phone call! Then this morning after Justin (what a dear, sweet soul) had blown out the driveway and sidewalks, he answered the phone call saying that we would have no school today.





I have so much to do at school to get things ready for our Christmas party and for my long term sub, but I don't have much of a voice, so it might be good that we get to hang out today. As excited as I am about the snow...I LOVE a white Christmas!...there is someone in my house who is less than impressed with the fluffy white stuff.

I'm not sure if it's the cold or why he dislikes it so much, but he WILL NOT walk in it. He stops at the door of any place we are and says, "I hold you, Momma. I hold you." I am sure hoping we get over this or that there is no snow come March when I have to take the kids to daycare.

Hey wait a minute...if he is claiming a phobia of it now, do you think he'll continue this when he's older so he doesn't have to help scoop? I might just have a genius on my hands!

Decorating the Tree

Because our little Leo has "asthma" we were told that real Christmas trees were out of the question. Made me sad, I love the smell of a real tree, but, anything for Leo. :)

Justin and I found a tree that we really liked that was on sale for nearly half of it's original price in October, so we snagged it! It was in a box in our garage, and I'd decided I better get it up and decorated soon or it would never get put up!

On the Saturday we got it out of the box, we put a few branches down and Leo said, "Oh, it's beautiful!"

First, I couldn't stop laughing because it was only 1/2 of a tree. Second, when did he learn the word beautiful? Third, do I have someone who would like to decorate the tree as much as me?!?!

We waited for a few days before we put the decorations on the tree. I made Justin and Leo sit in the room with me and listen to the stories about our ornaments. (When I was growing up, my mom and I would put the tree up and talk about all the ornaments. Each ornament symbolized something, a vacation, a birth, a relative. It is one of my most favorite memories! Thanks Mom!)

Leo loved helping decorate the tree. He told me where everything had to go. Listened to my stories, and acted more interested than his father. I love that boy!

Leo picking out the ornaments that were going to be put on the tree.

Listening to my instructions!

Giving a little advice for the "special" ornaments.

Getting ready to hang up one of his ornaments.

One month to go!

Fabulous Fridays

Fridays are by far our favorite day. Well, Leo and I anyway. We love staying in our pjs all day, watching Little Einsteins, doing laundry, having "picnics," taking a nap, and just hanging out.

Leo enjoying a juice box. He calls it a red one because there is a red apple on the front.

Leo in his pjs and enjoying mac & cheese at our picnic.

Leo & I at picnic time. Yes, I realize this is a very bad picture of me, but he doesn't care how I look! I love that boy!

There are only a few fabulous Fridays left for just Leo and I. Soon we'll be adding baby #2 to the mix. I'm guessing the pjs, Einsteins, laundry, picnics will continue. However, I'm guessing Leo will be the only one who gets a nap...

Oh well, I'm sure we will love our new take on Fabulous Fridays! We can hardly wait to meet the new one!

Fall Fun

Leo has been enjoying the mild fall that has been going on this last month or so. The other afternoon Justin took Leo out on the back porch to play ball.

He had such a fun time sticking leaves down the cracks on the deck. He loved the crunch that the leaves made. He's so silly.

He also was playing basketball and football with his dad. Justin is so excited that he can finally be "all time quarterback." He's always talked about how he wanted a little one to play with so he could do that. Leo is a little bit scared of the ball...but loves it and runs and dives into the end zone. We've now had to limit football before 7 o'clock at night, or he will be too wild at bedtime!

Great shot, Leo!

Posing for me! :)

"All Time QB" and his receiver

Have I ever mentioned how much I love fall?

Happy Halloween!

Our pirate had fun on Halloween walking in the leaves, visiting a few houses, going to G'ma Jan & G'pa Jan's house (Yes, he calls my dad G'pa Jan instead of G'pa Randy! :)), and going to his 2nd wiener roast. It was a fun day!

My new favorite picture of Leo, that I took. (No, I can't compare to our photographer!)

Walking in the mulch.

The leaves made a great sound when he crunched in them!

Sitting by the pumpkin that I carved at my parent's house.

Mommy & Leo by the pumpkin.

The "Great Pumpkin" and her "Little Pumpkin."

Daddy, Mommy & Leo

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Carving '09

I'm not really sure what happened to us this year...

We didn't have one pumpkin at our house this fall! Maybe it was the weather; maybe it was lack of energy; maybe it was that I felt yucky. Whatever it was, it was not cool!

On Friday morning we had to take Leo to the ENT to get his adenoids checked, and as we were coming home I asked my mom if she had an extra pumpkin for us to carve. She couldn't believe that we didn't have any pumpkins, let alone our patterns all ready to go.

Thankfully, she had one for us. (And it wasn't rotten!)

When Justin got home from work, we talked about what we were going to carve. He was NO help at all. I don't know what happened to him this carving season...he better step it up for next year!

Anyway, my mom, dad, and Melia trudged over to our house to do some carving. I usually do all the cleaning of the pumpkins, and Justin does the carving. But, as I've stated, he was out of it, so for the first time I carved the pumpkin all by myself!

And if I do say so, my pirate ship rocked! Melia has a really awesome picture of it, and when she had a chance to send it to me, I'll post it.

Here are some carving party pictures:

My mom & I up to our elbows in pumpkin guts!

Melia capturing every detail for her Halloween book. (She'd only let me take a picture if she wasn't looking or had something in front of her face. I thought she looked like she was in her "element".) :)

My mom working on her three pumpkin tree.

The pattern to my pirate ship. Lots of hole poking!

Leo finally got in on the action to take one picture. You can see the pumpkin carved in the back.

I LOVE pumpkin carving parties!

And just in case you didn't think we were hard core carvers, take a look at my mom's power saw!

She also used one of Justin's power tools to drill star holes in her pumpkins!

And the Piarate Says...

Argh! Happy Halloween!

Shiver me timbers ~ that is one cute pirate!

Cutest Outfit Ever

I was told today when I got Leo from daycare, by our favorite Shannon, that Leo was in the cutest children's outfit she had ever seen.

Thanks Amy & Sabrina for helping me be so cute! :)

He Loves "Bolleyball"

My little Leo is in love with going to "bolleyball" games. (A.k.a. volleyball). Well actually, he isn't really in love with watching the game. He's more in love with the popcorn, water bottles, and watching the numbers on the clock go up. He will sit on my lap and tell me the score and what is coming next.

Megan, Leo's babysitter, who is on the team, gave me a poster to hang in my classroom. Well, big mistake...I showed it to Leo. I have not been able to pry it out of his hands yet!

Tonight when I got home from work he went right to the fire place and grabbed his poster and just starred at it. He honestly looked at it for about ten minutes, saying the girls names and numbers.

I think he wishes the Lions good luck the rest of this season!

A Punishment Gone Wrong

Way wrong...

We were having one last hurrah of summer, and had BLTs with sweet corn. Leo was eating it off the cob (until of course I wanted to take a picture of it...). So Justin had to cut it off. Mr. Leo ate it out of the bowl, but got a little full/bored and started throwing it on the floor.

We told him he had to pick up each piece of corn when he was done eating. He ate for a little while longer and announced that he was all finished. We let him get of out his seat and pick up the corn. It went well for about 2 pieces.

He would pick it up and put it on his plate that was on the floor waiting for him.

No, he didn't tip the plate over (which I was pretty sure was going to happen).

Nope, instead he started eating the food off of his plate again. So he sat on the floor and had a little picnic for his last hurrah of summer...

Does this look like the face of a little boy who should be in trouble?

I didn't think so either...

Happy 125th Birthday LR!

Corn Show '09 was lots of fun!

For the first time since I can remember my ENTIRE family was able to attend the festivities. It was great to have everyone there.

Leo, Gavin, Katelynn, Grandma Jan & I went down on Thursday night to play BINGO. Leo loved calling out the numbers after the caller did them. It was funny to listen to. Katelynn cried and cried when it was time to go. She was NOT finished I guess! Gavin kept asking, why didn't I win? Why didn't I win? I told him he'd have to come back for the Feather Party in November and try his luck again.

On Friday, we went down and ate at the church stand (of course!), walked around the booths, and sat at the button drawing for a little while.

On Saturday, my mom, sister and I got up early and froze our legs off as we did the 5 mile walk. Ok, in all honesty, we didn't do 5 miles. Someone couldn't make it that far. We then went home, and got ready for the parade. Leo took a 45 minute nap, and I was a bit worried about how the afternoon would go. But, he did great! He loved the tractors, floats and suckers he got at the parade.

After the parade we took the kids down to the rides. Leo and Katelynn liked the "jumpy-jumpy." Kate liked it so much she wouldn't come out!

After the jumping we went and road the cars. That was right up Leo's alley. He LOVES to drive, and didn't want to come off the ride. Next was the merry-go-round. I couldn't go on it because I get motion sick, so Auntie Jill Marie held Adri and Leo and Justin held Katelynn.

Ben, Gavin, Justin and Leo enjoyed the big slide. Justin was just glad it wasn't a water slide. He always gets stuck on those...

The whole weekend was a lot of fun. Can't wait until next year when we can do it all again!