Boy or Girl

I am now 18 weeks and everything appears to be healthy with the little one.  I had my ultrasound last Friday.  The technician, Brian and I saw 1 healthy spine, 2 arms and 2 legs, no cleft palate, 4 heart chambers, all the organs in the right place, everything measuring the right size and 3 knees.  3 knees? You read that correctly.  There was a right knee, left knee and a weenie.  We are having another boy and the kids couldn't be happier.  Some were concerned that the boys should not be outnumbered.  We are excited and now we have to come up with a name.  The most difficult part, in my opinion.  Below are the first peaks at the little guy.
* The 3 knee joke came from the technician who got it from another dad during an ultrasound the week before.  I thought it was kind of cute and funny.  Brian is probably groaning that I shared it.
* The 3D pictures didn't turn out as well because she had to look through the placenta because he was turned towards it and wouldn't roll over.  But if you look closely and use a little imagination it looks like he is giving the thumbs up or looks like Prince John from the animated film Robin Hood.

Definitely Living the Good Life

I got lost again.  Actually I was sucked into 2 books (The Phantom Tollbooth and the Hobbit), helping in school classes, shopping for maternity clothes (mostly a yuck, although I found a cute dress and some large shirts for $6 at Old Navy that should hopefully get me through until warmer weather), preparing taxes, doctor appointments and just enjoying the wonderful life I live most of the time.  I complain a lot about how hard it is to be home all day with kids doing dishes and laundry over and over and over and over.  I even get way too grouchy about dumb things (something I am working at).  But several times over the last month I have paused and really thought about how good I have it.  I owe a lot of this to Brian and am so grateful for him. It is not just financially that I  am thankful, but I am extremely thankful for his supportive and loving nature. I complain when things are not the way I want (like having him home for dinner every night) but he does everything is his power to help this family run efficiently, to allow me to have time to pursue my interests and to become a better father and husband.  Now to learn to enjoy it all the time and to constantly show my appreciation to that wonderful man.

On to less sentimental thoughts, this year the kids and I out did ourselves with the Valentine boxes.  They turned out great and were so easy and cheap to make.  I was able to help at Kelsey's class party.  She informed me that I need to help 2 more times in her class to catch up to the number of times I have been to Macy's class this year.  I get kind of tired of the competition/fair idea that my kids have.

President's Day weekend was probably one of the best ones we have spent as a family.  I don't know what was different for me but maybe I really took the time to be with the kids.  We went to the dollar movies on Saturday with the intent to see Wreck It Ralph but it was sold out so we hit Hotel Transylvania.  Then we went and had dinner with Emily and Jake and played games.  The kids had fun playing with their cousin and hanging out with grandma and grandpa. Sunday came and we ate dinner at home with only the 5 of us.  We enjoyed everyone's company and conversation. I am sure there was some fighting but I only remember the enjoyment. After we played Just Dance and I forced the girls to dance to songs I like. Then Braden had to have a turn to play wii Resort (he is a little addicted to Super Mario Brothers so it was a success to play something else with him).  Monday we went swimming at the rec center and it happened to be free that day because of the health fair.  After it was the first pleasant trip to the mall.  That hasn't happened in a long time, except for when I have been by myself.  I have hope that we can have another enjoyable weekend like that in the future.

A Girl After My Own Heart

This is what Kelsey brought home from school the other day.  She is definitely my daughter.  Glad I will always have someone to hang out with my inside.

My Birthday Present

My birthday is coming up and Braden is finding all sorts of things he says he is going to give me.  Here are just a few gift ideas.  A couple of weeks ago I got him a drink or something.  He was very grateful and said "because you got me a drink I will get you a bat for your birthday.  A bat just like dad's so you can hit it (the ball) really far."  This morning he told me he was going to get me a shower.  That way dad could have one and I could have one.  He found one problem with that gift.  He wasn't sure where I could put it.  The best idea so far came this afternoon.  I was watching TV while folding laundry.  Braden was with me so the best show that I could find that we were both happy with was the Andy Griffith Show.  Of course there were commercials targeting specific audiences.  One happened to be for Ducolax.  It's catch phrase was about not making you go but helping you relax so you could go.  Right after Braden tells me "I'm going to get you that for your birthday so you can relax."  Not sure I will want to open a gift from him.

Another funny moment that happened during the Andy Griffith Show.  Braden at Don Knotts (Barney Fife) and said he looked like my brother.  The best part is I had just thought there was a slight resemblance.