We have a date...

... now we just need a name!

Wait, isn't that supposed to be the other way around???

The funny thing about repeat C-sections... they are scheduled.

As of today, our baby's birthday is scheduled for May 15, 2012.

Do I have any grand delusions that this is for sure the date? Of course not! If you were around for Raven's birth, you know the story of my water breaking the day before my scheduled C-section with her... so I have no expectation that this date will necessarily BE The Date, but it is fun to plan ahead, at least. We also have the possibility of being bumped from our scheduled date/time if an urgent/emergency C-section were to need to happen, as we are utilizing the on-call doctor of the day.

As stated above, now we just need a name. With Raven we went into the hospital with two names, and I'll confess that even though I thought I knew her name, we never checked in the operating room, and I was fearful to announce it until I was back in my room after recovery and could see the little card on her bassinet. (And, yes, Raven was what I was thinking her name was, so thankfully that all worked out!)

Very excited that in about 6 weeks and 1 day we'll get to meet our new little peanut... it's amazing how quickly this is coming upon us! And, finally with Child #3 I am practicing the advice that I give... I only need to be concerned with diapers/wipes, a place to sleep, and nourishment for this child... everything else will come when it does. Yes, that means that the room that I started decorating in December hasn't been touched pretty much since December, and that means that I haven't even pulled the clothes out of the basement yet. But, we have a car seat - which really is probably the most important thing as it's the only way we can get the child home - and we have some diapers and a loving family to surround this new little bundle of joy. Yay!

So... here's hoping and praying that work doesn't stress me to the point where I go into labor early, that God's plans for us are that this baby be born at a healthy weight and time such that we can enjoy my maternity leave at home instead of in a hospital, and that the Big Girls are as accepting of their new sibling on the outside as they have been with baby being on the inside. *grin*

Erin

Who do these children take after?

I wish I had a picture to go along with this post.

Julia: Would prefer not to wear socks. Removes socks as soon as possible upon entering the front door, and if possible, will attempt to leave the house without them. Don't even ask her to wear socks to bed. Doesn't care about the weather, type of shoe worn, etc. Simply doesn't want to wear socks. Even prefers tights to socks.

Raven: Changes socks as many times as physically possible in a day (i.e., as often as she is able to sneak off to her dresser without mom or dad catching her). Loves socks, especially those that she can pull up to and over her knees. Is very particular about the designs on her socks. Likes to wear socks to bed, and has been known to get up and change her socks in the middle of the night. She will then proceed to change her socks yet again in the morning. Does not care if said socks match her outfit.

Need help?

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So maybe Adam doesn't care about what his socks look like, but Adam likes to wear socks. And, typically he'll wear longer socks over shorter socks. He tends not to wear socks to bed, but he is a sock-wearer, and to the point where he rarely wears sandals - and sometimes when he does, despite social conventions, he wears socks with them.

Erin? Would prefer never to wear socks ever again. Doesn't even like tights or pantyhose - Julia will learn eventually. ;) Abhors wearing socks to bed. If feet are cold, would prefer to wear slippers or actual shoes than put on socks. Even in the dead of winter. (And yes, I've worn my Birkies more than once in the last, umm... week. :)

Ha!

Raven Amended

Adam emailed me today to remind me of something neat and sweet about Raven that would be good to add to "her" post from last night.

Raven is learning her manners at daycare, and she's fairly good with please. But, what's interesting is how good she is with "Thank You", and especially when she uses it.

Raven says "Thank you, daddy" after you brush the snarls out of her hair and "Thank you, mommy" after changing a diaper or checking her temperature. She takes the good with the bad and says "Thank You" to it all.

erin

Windy Saddle

A few weeks ago we drove up to Windy Saddle, which sits just west of Golden.  We left right after dinner just as the sun was beginning to set, and for once we remembered to take the camera with us (unlike our trip to Colorado Springs – grr).

Icicles

These icicles were hanging off our overhang two days after our 17” snow… February 5.  One of the neatest things I’ve experienced in Colorado is how quickly snow disperses, especially when the sun peeks out.

Socks

Someone soooooo proud of herself for picking out her outfit… and her SOCKS… for the day.

Raven

Raven.

This picture was taken on our snowiest day of the year.  My boss had told me the night before not to bother coming in, and the girls’ daycare canceled at 8 PM on Thursday night, and we watched 17” fall on February 3rd.

Raven.

Almost potty trained.  Twice.  Obstinate that way, and I mostly have adopted the path yet again I was forced upon by Julia.  I’m convinced there is no such thing as training your child – really, it seems to be a matter of being patient until she is ready.

Cannot be bribed for anything.  She likes you to think she can be, though.  Only to throw it back your face. 

Sweet.  Loving.  Cuddly.  Very sweet.  Loves to gives kisses (for mom, dad, and Julia, it *must* be on the lips).  Loves to say, “I love you.”  And you want nothing more to believe that she understands what she is saying because of how honestly she says it.

Has The. Best. Smile. EVER.

Julia

Four-and-a-half can be rough.

But, there are days that are full of nothing but giggles and smiles.

Lately we’ve been working on what it means to “be nice” to mom and dad.  I witnessed first hand some of the bad behavior Julia picked up at school – yesterday I watched her watch another little girl with her mom – the little girl was throwing a wild fit, screaming, yelling at her mom, etc.

Not five minutes later, I had the girls with me, and Julia started acting Just. Like. that little girl.  However, I was having none of it and pulled her off the the side.  “Julia, is that how we talk to mom?”  “No.”  “What happens when we talk to mom like that?”  “I go to time out.”

Julia had a good trip home, but last evening and this morning was full of vinegar for that girl.  Suddenly my little sweetheart has developed an attitude and it’s her little sister that has become The Good One in our house.  Umm, how did that happen?

(Raven, I will forever give you that title if you would please stop pooping your pants and try harder to use the potty.  “Okay, mom!”)

But, Julia still has her sweet side, and you can see it here.  And she wants nothing more most days than to stay home with me, to “be a family”, to watch Dora, to read books – she’s still a good girl and still my sweet girl.

But let’s face it – she’s entering a stage where she’s learning and growing and testing her boundaries daily – and that makes four-and-a-half a little rough.

Erin

See How They Run

In January we took the girls to the Science & Nature Museum in Denver; despite the fact that we’ve been there a handful of times as we have a membership, there is always something fun for the girls to do and every time we go we look at something different.  Adam had taken them to this exhibit before without me, and wanted to show me the exhibit that captures a person running.

Can you tell which girl is which?  Of course Julia is on the left.  I have to giggle EVERY time she ran, she ran with her head down like that, whereas Raven just scooted straight across.

That’s right.  I’m finally downloading pictures from January even though I still haven’t posted Christmas pictures either… ha!

Erin

Best Friends

(Adam gave Julia this stache with his iPhone at lunch today.)

Julia was watching Dora this afternoon and Dora asked the kids who their best friends were.  Julia’s immediate response: “Raven and mommy and daddy!”

Aww!