My Babies

True love. Does that make you tear up or what?

At the Hospital

We arrived at Grandma and Grandpa’s house and took one last picture of our family of three. Matthew was not cooperative, but was happy to wave us goodbye and have a grandma fun day.

It is less than an hour to baby time. We are admitted into the hospital and have a room with a great view of the Puget Sound. The weather is overcast with grey clouds hovering over us. It is 55 degrees outside, but no rain… yet.

The worst part of Erin’s anticipation is already over, the IV. One attempt and it is in. We listened to the nurses give us the standard questions and procedures of the operation. Erin’s nerves kept her shaking the whole time until a baby started crying next door. Something about the baby’s cry made Erin remember why we are here, and she is now feeling calm.

Good Morning, Baby Day

I woke up at 5:30am and Mom and big brother Matthew were still in bed. I sat in the living room and surveyed the house. It had undergone a deep cleaning for the last two weeks, and now looks like a model home for a new development. It was the calm before the storm with no sounds being made except for the clicking of my laptop keyboard checking Facebook. I'm already getting into the baby day mood after reading about one of my California friends' wife giving birth to triplet girls yesterday. They are lucky to have a birthday of 8-9-10 at 11am. Their combined weight is still less than what baby Jane's birth weight is expected to be because of the gestational diabetes.

I have now showered and everybody is awake. Matthew knows today is baby sister's birthday and says "8-10-10." He wants to watch Clifford the Dog in our bedroom while Mommy and I finish packing and getting ready for the day.

When Erin showers, I ask to make sure she can have one. I've been teasing her since last night because she can't eat or drink anything after midnight. No crackers, coffee, or even ice chips; maybe a shower is too much water for her.

In 15 minutes we are heading out the door to deliver Matthew to Grandma and Grandpa's house to wait and play until Jane arrives. I'm sure he will have is fill of playing with trains, gardening, and throwing rocks into the water.

As of this moment only 3½ hours left until baby is here...

Momma Whale & Super Sale

Yes, I am very pregnant in this photo. This was taken just 10 days before baby girl is scheduled to arrive. But here I am for all you bloggers to see.

We have been eyeballing a bike seat for Matthew and found one at a super yard sale a few weeks ago. He has so much fun wearing his "helmeck" that we got at the fire station and riding Daddy's bicycle.

If I weren't so very tired from waking up at 4 every morning, I would tell you more, but for now, that's all she wrote.

Check back soon for baby girl's birth story!

Life with a diabetic mother

"Mommy, I need my medicine. I pinch my belly."

He then proceeds to lift up his shirt, take a flap of belly skin, and press the drumstick in.

"I'm all done poking my belly."

Summer Reading

Dirt Date

Matthew loves to play in the dirt. Digging, shoveling, just sitting -whatever. The other day he told me, "C'mon Mommy. Let's go!" I asked where we were going. "On a date," he replied. When I got to where he was standing in the yard he handed me a shovel and said,"It's a dirt date." Since then he has taken me on several more "dirt dates".

This was not actually one of them. I snuck up on his independent play time because he looks so darn cute in his hat just playing away in the dirt. Notice the rain boots. He took off his tennis shoes (and socks?!) and put the boots on before he headed out to the yard.

I love this kid!

Happy Birthday Matthew!

Ok, so I'm a month late posting this, but give me a break! I am very pregnant people. It's exhausting! We had a Zoo themed party for Matt with all his friends. He loved all the attention and having people at his house. he was not so fond of sharing his toys.

He opened all of his presents by himself and took time to thank and hug everyone after each opening.

His favorite gift was a dump truck set from Grandma and Grandpa. He hopped right on and scooted around the house wearing his "fireman" hat.

Some of Matthew's favorites at two are digging and scooping with dump trucks, coloring straight lines and circles, drinking no caff (milk with cinnamon), going to the zoo, playing trains, and still all things pink.

546

That's the number of times I will have to draw my own blood in the next 11 1/2 weeks. Sigh ... I was really hoping diabetes would pass me by this time around. Just to make myself feel better, let's look at the bright side:

I've already been through this once before.

I own my own glucometer.

Insulin is a wonderful drug that can safely control my blood sugars.

I won't gain any more weight.

I do not need to be on bed rest or any risky medication.

Baby won't be any later than August 10. (A little earlier is ok with me!)

My new OB handles all of this herself - no other doctors (except the nurse specialist on her staff)

I know I can do this and do my part to keep my baby healthy. Anyone want to diet with me?

Almost 2

I had the infant carrier out for the baby girls I watch. Matthew climbed on in "baby sisser's chair" and asked me to pick him up. Umm, no thanks!
We were getting ready to go somewhere (probably the zoo because Matt was excited to hit the road) and I told him he needed a diaper change first. He ran down the hall, opened his bedroom door, grabbed a diaper, and called me over when he was situated as pictured. Ok kiddo, if you know that much you are ready for potty training!
This was taken at 6 am. Enough said.

Mother's Day

We spent a lovely sunshiny day in Tacoma. First, a picnic lunch overlooking the Narrows Bridge. Then on to the Camp 6 Logging Museum in Point Defiance Park. Matthew enjoyed the train ride through the wilderness. Next, we strolled around the park in the wagon watching the ducks in the pond with their ducklings and the turtles sunbathing. Then we found a nice spot to blow some bubbles.
Here are my fellas - the man who gave me a child and the boy who made me a mommy. Ahhhhhh. True love.

24 Weeks

Matthew wanted to show off his "big belly" too. Here he is with baby sister at 24 weeks.

He loves his new "gulasses" and wears them at every opportunity (like when we were at a friends house last week playing indoors). Here he is posing with his new "octopus" (?) who also has "gulasses". Oh yeah, he will tell you that Auntie Jackie made his new jacket and Daddy made his haircut.

Riding the "Stricoco"

Sweet Sleep at Last

Matthew was supposed to be napping the other day but he was whining instead. I went back to check on him and he said, "Mommy, kids motocycos. Bery loud!" Poor baby! He couldn't sleep because our neighbors were out back riding their quad! So I let him sit next to me on the couch until this happened:

Subataschla

Tulip Festival 2010

Matthew is napping right now so I should be cleaning or showering or napping, but, since my fan (mom) is giving me a hard time, I will blog instead.

We took Magm and Auntie Jackie to the Tulip Festival this year. It was freezing cold, but sunny and beautiful. (Note to CA readers, sun does not equal warm here as I had to remind both Mom and Jackie.)

Matthew loved seeing "many tulips - pink!" and especially loved splashing in the puddles in his froggie boots.

We made quite the day of our trip leaving bright and early for flower sightings, stopping at a yummy Mexican restaurant for lunch, then getting Jackie to work, re-caffeinating, stalling at Ikea, and finally dropping Mom at the airport. Phew!

Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?

Matthew is a cookie monster! He BEGGED me to bake some the other day, and hey, who doesn't like a freshly baked cookie? I put the first batch out to cool while I refilled the tray. Matthew decided that waiting was for wimps and helped himself. Yummy!

Yogurt makes me happy

My little actor

I don't think Matt will be a football star or baseball legend, but he just may be an actor ...

PS - Joshua can make the faces too! Check out his mad face.

Cereal (or something like it)

Matthew has been enjoying big boy foods like cereal and sandwiches ("samish"). More syllables always make a word more interesting, don't you think?