Ten on Tuesday...on Wednesday!

1. Life with 2 children is BUSY! I know other moms have shared this little tid-bit of information with me, and it's really true. It is a bit of a juggling act. We're still trying to find our way....but I hope to be a well-oiled machine one day! Don't even get me started on how few times a week I shower or how little time I have behind the computer......

2. The lack of sleep is catching up with me. I keep saying I will nap....and it never seems to happen. I say I should go to bed early....but that never happens either. I felt VERY grouchy this morning as a result of 3 weeks of broken sleep. I felt better after a big cup of coffee!

3. I can't believe my baby girl is almost 1 month old!!

4. I'm still trying to decide when I should put Olivia in her room. We are up every 2-3 hours at night so it's pretty convenient to have her right beside me. Ralph says it's totally up to me. I'm having mixed feelings. For some reason, it feels too soon.

5. Ralph has to take a business trip to Atlanta for ONE WHOLE WEEK.....starting on Sunday! I'm freaking out a little. Those are going to be some LONG days with no breaks. Eek. I'll be going to bed at 9:30 every night for sure! Just one more reason to keep Olivia in our room for a little while longer.....

6. My sister, Kelly, was in town for a weekend visit. I guess short and sweet is better than nothing. I hadn't seen her since the Summer, so it was really nice to have some time together. She was here for the baby shower and she got to see our new house, and meet her niece for the first time.

7. Olivia had a little milestone! I tickled her cheek and she smiled and let out 2 big giggles!! Mommy was, of course, in tears. I don't care if it was gas....it was the sweetest sound. She loves to smile in her sleep.....she must be having sweet dreams.

8. What is it with boys and their fascination with electronics? I don't get it. If I push the power button and the TV comes on, I'm happy. If I push play on the DVD player to catch a chick flick, I'm happy. It can even be a full-screen version. Not so much the case for Ralphie. We just got a new $230 bulb for the big screen TV and a Blue-Ray DVD player. Sorry honey, I really don't see the difference.

9. I've heard of putting Prep-H on puffy eyes......

....but Zincofax bum cream as a moisturizer?? Olivia had a mini facial this morning. Courtesy of Hayden. Thank goodness he missed her eyes! Guess she'll have to get used to these sorts of "tortures" at the hands of her big brother!

10. I had a mini heart attack the other day. I was in the computer room and Hayden was in the family room with Olivia (who was asleep in her swing.) Suddenly, Hayden was standing beside me saying, "here you go Mommy!" WITH MISS OLIVIA IN HIS ARMS!!! I tried not to freak out too much but my heart was racing. I don't know how he muscled her out of the swing, and managed to carry her without dropping her?! The funny thing was, he was totally supporting her head the whole time he held her.

Hayden and Olivia

I can't help but smile when
Hayden gives Olivia
snuggles.

He asks if he can hold her.....
and he gets better and better at supporting
her little head.

Love their facial expressions here!
Hayden is proud.....

Olivia is bewildered.

Aawwwww....sweet little smooches
for his baby sister's
little head.

If they can make MY children look like angels.......

The latest and greatest from
our awesome friends at
BIG PICTURE photography.....

our little pea in a pod

peek-a-boo
blue eyes

she sleeps.....
but not for long

absolutely angelic

Bye bye button!

Woo-hoo!!
Olivia's stinky little belly button stump finally
fell off yesterday!

She kind of has a cross between
an innie and an outie....

an ounie? an intie?

I think my hubby is worried it's more of an outie.

I said to Ralph......."who cares!?
If she hates her belly button,
maybe she won't wear midriff bearing tops!!
Or maybe then she won't even think about
piercing her belly button!"

She's perfect regardless.

Thoughts on Thursday!!

After a brief hiatus, I am going to try to continue my 10 on Tuesday posts. I'll have to ease into it.....5 minutes behind the computer is sometimes a challenge! I sure think I am going to have lots of "material" now that I am trying to parent TWO children!!

1. Olivia's last Dr.'s appointment was yesterday. She is tipping the scales at 10 lbs already!! With the 18% whipping cream that I produce, it's little wonder. It was so nice to have them dote on her about what a healthy and strong baby she is. I, of course, beam with pride whenever anyone tells me how beautiful she is!

2. My daughter already has an eating disorder. She's a total puker. Just like her mommy was.

3. My kids can throw up or pee on me. I can wipe a poopy bum. Boogers are no big deal. Olivia's belly button stump.....GAG! Ralph is in charge of keeping it clean 'cause I nearly throw up every time it almost comes off. Hopefully that happens soon. I nearly fainted tonight when it twisted around and came off on one side.

4. I think her eyelashes grow more every day.

5. Is it wrong that I have already thought about painting her toenails and piercing her ears?

6. I am tired. I forgot how having only 2-3 hours of sleep at a time can wear you down. I don't feel like a total zombie. But, I don't nap. I can always find something "better" to do. Like watching Ellen while I snuggle with Olivia (during Hayden's nap.)

7. To get out of the house to go ANYWHERE takes a minimum of 2 hours. Just when you think you have one child ready, the other poops her pants. As you are changing said poopy diaper, someone else is taking off his shoes and socks! And I refuse to leave the house with no makeup on, so I need a few minutes too. Wow. I can see that outings may be kept to a minimum for awhile. Miss Olivia is eating every couple of hours so no mall-crawling for awhile.

8. Hayden loves his baby sister. He loves to tell me when "she's stinky" and I need to change her bum. He loves to "pet" her head and give her kisses. He wants to give her a soother when she cries. He likes to stand at her side and "mix the water" while she has her bath. We are still working on the concept of "be gentle" but for the most part, he is pretty great with her.

9. Do all older siblings act naughty while Mommy is nursing the baby? Hayden always seems to get into something he is not supposed to while I am immobilized. Gia, the kitten, takes the same opportunity.

10. Why can't we immediately drop the pregnancy weight gain the minute we have a baby? I gained a whopping 50 lbs. I have only lost 35 lbs. I want it to be warm and summery outside so I can get in gear and start walking again. Another 20 lbs. would be perfect. I vowed to get really fit after my second child......I'll work on that after I get some more sleep!

1 Week Old....

.....and Uncle Nick & Auntie Keri
are already working on
Olivia's portfolio.

I still can't believe she's here.
She's so precious.
We're so blessed.

Olivia Sanne Deters

Our new baby girl FINALLY arrived

on February 27th!

All 9 pounds 5 ounces of her.
22 inches long.

We have a daughter.

I thought the day would never come.

For all the time it took her to decide exactly when to arrive,
she appeared in record time....
2 1/2 hours!!

We were on our way to the hospital
when my contractions went from 10 minutes apart
to 5 minutes apart very quickly.
We checked into at triage at 11 PM.
By 11:30 we were in our labor room.
3 pushes later, and Miss Olivia was born at 1:30 AM!!

The proud Papa with his new little girl.

Olivia's first bath.
She really didn't cry much at all.
It seems she has a pretty easy temperament....so far....

Hayden is thrilled with his baby sister.
He loves to "pet" her and give kisses.

The amazing Keri Blakeney was at it again.
Capturing life's perfect moments....
perfectly.

Awe and amazement.

We think she is pretty wide-eyed and
alert for a new baby.

Our first few sleepy hours at home.

Can't wait to see what the next few days will bring......

I've got nothin' for ya'.......

No baby.
This whole situation seems so surreal.
I keep thinking that maybe this is some cruel joke
and that I actually won't have a baby
at the end of this adventure.

I can't even explain how strange it feels......
to be pregnant forever,
but all the while thinking we are NEVER
going to meet our child!

The other reality.....
Mom and Dad have been her since last Friday.
They thought their grandchild would have
made an appearance already. Not.
They have to be back to work, in Saskatoon, on Monday.
Ralph starts his new job on Tuesday.
After 3 weeks hiatus.

I might have a couple days of help, if I'm lucky
and this baby arrives by the weekend,
and then I'll be on my own.
A new mom of TWO!!
I'm freaked out.

Call Guiness....

I'm going to go down in history
as the ONLY woman who got pregnant
but NEVER delivered her baby.

The Waiting Game....

My due date has come and gone.
I didn't think it was possible.
STILL NO BABY!!

Had another Dr.'s appointment this morning.
If I haven't had the baby
by next Thursday, God help me,
then I will have an ultrasound
and yet another Dr.'s appointment to discuss my options.
(Just pull it out at that point!!)

I don't think I'll still be pregnant next Thursday.
Though, I never thought I would still
be pregnant now!!

Mom and Dad arrive from Saskatoon tomorrow.
They have been waiting for the
perfect time to come....and I wish we could predict
what that would be.
Tomorrow is as good a day as any in my mind!!

The longer we wait, the more chances are that this baby
will have the same birthday as his/her mommy (February 23rd.)

Maybe I'll go into labor tonight......
I could do 5 on Friday from 5th floor Labor & Delivery!!

2 Days to go?@#!

2 Days to go?@#!

You were thinking no news is good news, right??
Wrong!!

I think the baby is doing some sort of
starfish pose with it's arms and legs out to avoid
making an appearance!

And don't give me that crap about having
made such a nice home for the baby, now it doesn't want to come out.
I don't buy it.

I am trying to enjoy the last few DAYS.....I HOPE....
of this pregnancy but at the same time,
I just want this child to arrive.

I'm impatiently trying to be patient.

4 Days to go?@#!

4 Days to go?@#!

I had a lovely movie night with my sister-in-law
Tessa last night.
We saw Confessions of a Shopaholic....cute.
Ate lots of popcorn.
Had lots of cramping......from popcorn or baby??

I feel super nauseous this morning.
Supposedly flu-like symptoms can mean
that labor may be near.
Dear God, I hope so.

I will be bouncing on my yoga ball all day.
And drinking pots of Raspberry tea.

5 Days to go?@#!

5 Days to go......
and still no signs of going into labor
with baby #2.

5 days?@#!
Come on, little one....
let's get this show on the road!!

We are so anxious and excited to find out what you are.....
you just need to make
your appearance.
This weekend would be awesome.
The Dr. I love is delivering on Saturday.....

10 on Tuesday

1. THIS BABY IS NEVER GOING TO COME OUT!!! I have never felt this impatient waiting for anything in my whole life! I am up to pee 3-4 times a night, and every twinge/pain/movement I feel I think, "is it starting?" I have had dreams that it is a boy. I dreamt last night that it was a girl, and that no one liked the name we chose. My bet was that the baby would arrive on the 8th......so much for mother's intuition.

2. In related news.....I am huge. I didn't realize how huge until I saw this photo......yikes! I grow big babies.....that sounds like a bad bumper sticker. There is one thing to be grateful for.....NO stretch marks!!


3. I am driving my husband crazy. I have been unbelievably thirsty the last month, and I LOVE ice cubes. No matter what I am drinking, the glass is 3/4 full of ice. I always swish the glass before I take a drink, so that the ice cubes don't stick at the bottom and splash beverage all over my face, and it drives him bonkers! Who knew something so little could drive Ralph mad??

4. I have JUST developed the pictures from the 3 week backpacking adventure to Europe that Ralph and I took. In the Summer of 2005. I wanted to get them scrapbooked and put in an album before the baby arrived. It may have to wait another 3 or 4 years.

5. I did hem the baby room curtains. They look pretty good. Now Ralph wants me to hem his new Tommy Hilfiger jeans. I don't think so.

6. The baby room turned out quite nicely. Now, it just needs a BABY!!!

.....another successful project thanks to Word to the Wall!
I will be ordering more stars to fill things
up/out a bit.

....the very cool sheets that took me forever to find!

7. Some days, Hayden naps. Some days, mommy tries to bribe Hayden to nap. Sometimes the bribes work and sometimes they don't. I think he's too smart for me. Yesterday, I was just about to settle in for a nap and I heard him upstairs. I found him pant-less. Hmmmmm. I asked him why he wasn't napping. His response was "no nap, no Panda movie." I guess the Kung-Fu Panda DVD was a crappy bribe. Maybe I'll go back to the chocolate bribe.....it seems more effective.

8. Our basement looks AMAZING. You have to wait a little while longer for pictures.....but if you ever need a place to stay, the spare room is done. And very cozy. Ralph and I were joking that we should have put a lock on the door do it could be my secret hideaway!!

9. The potty is officially "broken." My floor is very grateful. It is so funny to watch Hayden's little bare bum "ninja" over the big toilet seat. It's even funnier if he accidentally dunks a foot as he's swinging his leg over.

10. Was anyone else getting used to plus temperatures and no snow? I'm looking at a mini-blizzard right now and I don't like it. Plus, I have no shoes that fit well so, extra snow sucks for the girl who has been going barefoot! I need to get some Ugg's for my birthday.

10 on Tuesday!

1. I am still patiently(???) waiting for our new baby to arrive. Any day now, little one....please!! Castor oil, raspberry tea, spicy food, Clary sage.....bring it on!!

2. Another Dr.'s appointment today and all is well with me and the baby. (I've even lost a couple of pounds...yay!) IF I make my appointment next week, she said they will "strip my membranes" if I would like......doesn't that sound like fun?! Just one more reason this baby should come sooner than later. I've been feeling a little "off" these last couple of days so maybe things are starting??? Dare to dream.

3. I have been practicing saying aloud the baby names that we have chosen. I want to make sure that they feel right. I don't practice the girls name too often because I do think we're having a boy, but I like our final decision on the names either way. Yay!!

4. Coffee and S'cream is a great concept.....and a gong show!! Tessa and I took the kids on Thursday and all I can say is "wow." After an hour, I was exhausted and ready to go home!! The boys had a great time ripping around, and Tessa & I enjoyed a delicious coffee and a cinnamon bun. I won't say that we had a nice visit because there was little time to chat while monitoring the children. The best part of the day?? Hayden came home with a "new" pair of shoes.....one left size 8 and one left size 9!! Even funnier is the fact that I just noticed it on Sunday night. I'm surprised Hayden wasn't running in circles......or complaining that his feet hurt!

5. We bought Hayden new shoes yesterday. A cool pair that Mommy picked out, and a pair of Lightening McQueen sneakers that Hayden picked out. I normally hate "cheesy" shoes like that, but he was in love and they were only $10. Why argue? It was only when we got home that I noticed they light up when he walks. He loves this feature. I, not so much.

6. The basement is really taking shape. Ralph was a maniac on the weekend and primed all of the walls, stippled the ceiling, did one coat of regular paint, put up light fixtures and hung the 3 doors!! It looks awesome! We are having the carpet installed on Saturday, and then the furniture can go in. Let's be honest, I just want to get to the decorating part!

7. I HATE sewing. I suck at it, too. Hemming a pair of panel curtains should be so simple.....and yet it isn't for me. I end up having a total anxiety attack. It's like so many things that look simple enough but somehow become so daunting when I attempt them. (ie: Skating. One of those things that looks like it should be easy, but I just can't do it!) Ralph, on the other hand, is a sewing wizard (He can skate circles around me too!) He's even made a full bunny costume for goodness sake!! I really think the sewing in our house should be designated a "blue" job. But how can I ask him to sew curtains when he's already working all day and busting his ass in the basement in his spare time?

8. I am LOVING my new washer and dryer. The dryer has a drum light that you can turn on while the clothes are drying. Why do I need to watch my clothes dry, you ask? I don't. But I can if I wanted to!

9. Hayden is also loving the new washer and dryer. If he has an accident, he won't tell me. (And for Hayden, an accident can be as little as a few drops of pee and he needs to completely change his outfit!) He just strips down, puts his clothes in the washer, and runs around with a bare bum until I go and get him clean underwear and/or pants!! Then he likes to watch his underwear while it's in the washing machine...."there's Mater.....there's Mater.....there's Mater again...." We lead a truly exciting life.

10. Ralph has been talking about what kind of dog we should get this Summer. My thoughts automatically go to something small and cute. Like a beagle. His thoughts are always of big, manly type dogs. He's on a Boxer kick lately....but I hear they slobber. I have no idea what we'll decide on. Anyone have a case for something other than another Shepherd?