Friday, November 30, 2012

The diabeetus

So it turns out that I did not narrowly escape the awesomeness that is gestational diabetes. Upside: with Eli, I didn't gain another pound after I started the diet. I'm already at half what I gained with the other two, so This may be the pregnancy where I don't gain 60 pounds. Downside: lame, restrictive diet and a bazillion finger sticks.

I remember the basics from Eli, and I'll be meeting with the perinatologist and the dietitian next week, but if anyone's got some awesome GD recipes, PLEASE throw them my way!

a.k.a. "The Last Hurrah" I totally braved the elements to go out and get these, and I intend to eat most of them tonight. 

Monday, November 26, 2012

Thanksgiving on the coast

Our last minute decision to head to my dad's for Thanksgiving was one of the best decisions we've made in a while. It was perfect, absolutely perfect. We didn't have anything planned except to hang out, so it was super low-key and low pressure. My dad lives on a pseudo-ranch, so Eli got to ride a three-wheeler and play in the goat pen (side note: WTF? The kid won't get within 20 feet of a feed-high sheep at the zoo but he'll jump right in the middle of thirty "real" goats and sheep who are anxiously awaiting food.) Thanksgiving was delicious and I made a really crappy cheesecake and a really awesome apple pie (from scratch!) 




The next day we went to one of our new favorite beaches that has amazing tide pools and is usually pretty secluded.



We also got all gussied up for the aforementioned awesome photography deal for our Christmas cards. The outfits I put together were perfect, and after a brief battle of the wills Syd agreed to wear her dress and brand-new red sparkle shoes. Of course, after driving an hour to a beautiful winery, Sydney flat-out refused to look at the photographer. And the two times she came close, Eli decided to give someone bunny ears. It was such a cluster-fuck that C made the kids solemnly apologize and sit for "as many pictures as Mama wants" when we got back to the house.


We slept in every morning until 8:00 while our kids were entertained by grandparents and/or iPads, watched movies, and had an overall awesome and much needed holiday. Now we're back, and kicking into high Christmas gear. This year we're debating buying a fake tree or getting a real one (since we're not getting C's sweet sweet discount anymore). I am intrigued by the idea of not having to water a tree or figure out how to get rid of it when we move and remember it's still behind the house in January Thoughts or opinions? 

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Randomy random

Snippets from a disjointed train of thought...

Waldo is totally the third kid. C went to his very first doctor's appointment (except for the ultrasound of course) last week. Syd came too, and she got to help the doctor find Waldo with the doppler. She thought she was very, very cool. It was so adorable I almost didn't freak out at the radio silence I'm getting so used to (Not to worry. Waldo just continues to be evasive. This is going to be the baby that gets stuck under furniture.) In other exciting news, the doctor said that my sugars were "Especially high" and so we get to bump the glucose test up a whole month! I had raging gestational diabetes with Eli, and somehow escaped it with Syd. Though in hindsight I probably was undiagnosed, given that she was enormous. I'm really motivated to avoid having a twelve pound baby, and gestational diabetes does come with risks, so I'm happy to get tested as soon or as often as I need to. But the diet is such an epic pain in the ass and it eliminates everything delicious like french fries, cereal, and almost all baked goods. So I'm totally bingeing this week, before I get the results back and have to act like a reasonable, responsible adult. Bring on the orange juice!

I was IEXed (indecent exposured) today at work for the very first time, which given where I work is pretty impressive. Or more likely, the first time I ever caught someone. Such a creeper. We're literally having a conversation, like normal people, and I look down to see him going at it (I really tried to think of a more creative way to say that, but go look up "Euphemisms for masturbation" People are sick.) So I say the first thing that comes to mind, which is the uber-professional and clinical "DUDE?!" and this butt-head goes, "Oh. Sorry about that." like he bumped into me at the grocery store. So then the write-up is a whole freaking package, and I have to be counseled by several custody staff. The whole thing took over an hour. And the whole time people kept asking if I was okay. Which started to make me wonder if I should be more traumatized or feel more violated. But really, it wasn't traumatizing. Just gross and sort of pathetic. It's not like he spit on me. Or worse. Aaaannnnd, the award for most awkward and disturbing mental picture goes to...

C took the kids to the Children's Museum today and Eli came home with a sign for over my bed that says "I'm thankfull for you." Which literally made me cry. That kid is so freaking sweet sometimes. Also, kind of a sociopath. During his parent-teacher conference we learned that he'd not only snuck his DS to school, but he got it confiscated during recess. The teacher assumed we knew all this, since a parent has to retrieve the confiscated item. Except in Eli's case. Somehow this kid was able to con the office staff into letting him have it back against policy. And kept it a secret for over a month. The teacher's exact quote was, "I'm pretty sure he'll run the world someday, but first grade probably isn't the time for it yet." But on a more positive note, he's doing great academically. She said he's at the top of the class in reading and finishes his assignments so quickly that she lets him keep a library book in his desk so he won't disturb (read: distract) his classmates. He thinks this is about the most awesome thing ever.

The goal this month is to finish the month in the black. It's not going so well. And not really for any good reason. There's been a couple of awesome groupons and there's a good chance I can get our Christmas card picture taken by the photographer we like for super cheap. I obviously need a contingency fund. And to reevaluate my priorities. But yay! Christmas card pictures! So, so, so hoping it works out.

At the last minute we decided to head to my dad's for Thanksgiving. It's a drive, but I had the strongest urge to spend the holiday with family. Luckily I was able to not only get it off, but figure out that they owe me about two days vacation. So I get to go out of town AND it doesn't screw up my maternity leave plans.

Speaking of, I was writing to a friend yesterday and realized that I'm six months pregnant. WTF? When did that happen? And when did three months get so short? And why has it taken me 24 months of pregnancy to discover the awesomeness of leggings?

Thursday, November 15, 2012

One down!

This is going to be Syd's "big" gift. It's still missing a bib and another couple diapers, and I want to throw in a couple baby bottles from the dollar store, but I love how it's looking so far. She's going to love it!

Monday, November 12, 2012

Aaaaaaannnddd.....GO!

Y'all, Homemade Christmas 2.0 has commenced. Supplies have been ordered/bought/procured and I have what will likely turn out to be more ideas than time. I was getting a little worried because I was really stumped, but over the past couple days it's been a crafty avalanche of ideas around here. I'm so freaking excited! I was worried about whether the kids were going to be on board, but I mentioned buying a gift the other day and Eli says, "But Mom, it's HOMEMADE Christmas!" So we're good. Santa will still be bringing "elf-made" gifts, but both kids have very, very small lists (as in, please kid for the love of God, your grandparents will be asking soon and I need more than one thing). I'm working very hard to restrain myself from going further than I need to. Which we all know is not very far. Both kids are going to be thrilled with the one or two things they've been asking for for over a month.

We're also trying to be a bit more frugal this year, although to be honest that's a goal we start with every year. We ended up not getting the previously mentioned house, which sucks, but also made a nice (and hopefully not too expensive) learning experience. And one of the things we learned is that our finances are a mess. They're not out of control, but they're not exactly "streamlined." So our goal for the next few months, before we try again, is to clean them up. One of the ways to do that is to pay off these stupid, small balance credit cards that we just drag along month to month. And one of the ways to do that is to not go crazy buying stuff the kids don't even want. We've also agreed between all seven of our combined siblings (and spouses) to eliminate gifts for each other. Grandparent gifts will be homemade by the kids (though I'll probably help :) ) I tell you all this in the interest of accountability. Because I'm sure my gift-buying restraint will waver as the holiday gets closer.

Anyway, back to YAY Homemade Christmas!! I'll try to post pictures of my progress, especially on the kids' gifts. Some of the others will have to wait until after the holidays because their recipients have been known to stop by the blog. But rest assured, all will be awesome.

What about you? Are you making any gifts or doing other things to cut down on the holiday-induced spending splurge? What about stockings? I'm totally stumped there.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Big Girl

I've been really worried about how Syd was going to react to the new baby, especially since the new baby is a girl. She's not exactly a "sit in the background" kind of kid, and she seems to cherish her role as the family baby. Luckily for us, and of course, we shouldn't have worried because Syd has become OBSESSED with being a big girl. We went garage-sale-ing today and it was so, so perfect. Sydney told me this morning that she wanted to look for "Big girl toys. Not baby toys because baby toys are for babies. Big girl toys." 
From left to right: A princess sword, "Big girl puzzle," "Big girl phone," and balloons
And the girl scored. She's been running around swinging the wand around, saying, "I destroy you!" If you tell her it's a wand she corrects you and tells you that it's a Princess Sword and that she's a Princess Ranger. The puzzle was immediately identified as a "big girl puzzle" because it has 70 pieces. Which she joyfully watched me put together after her nap. The phone was a bit of a stretch but she made it and keeps calling her aunt and cousin. The balloons weren't a big girl toy, but it totally cracks me up because they're left over from someone's 13th birthday. 

She's so funny right now. She's tentatively potty training, but she tells me that she's going in her diaper and declines the potty as often as she's willing to sit and try. She wants to help me cook dinner every night and gets super-angry if I won't let her help with every aspect. 

Other things I want to make sure that I don't forget:
If she loves something, it's "prettyful" 
She says she's as strong as a kangaroo whenever she lifts something heavy. No idea why she thinks kangaroos are so strong.
Her favorite breakfast is "Ebby Geddy" (peanut butter and jelly) but she'll only eat the very middle of the sandwich.
She flips through her books and tells these awesome, long stories with beginnings, middles, and ends. Then she asks, "Wasn't that a great story?" 
She keeps calling us different names. Yesterday we were Mami and Papi. The day before was Mother and Father. Today it's Mommy and Daddy. If she's talking about C, she'll call him by his name. 
She's started rubbing earlobes for comfort. She'll rub her own if she needs to, but if we're holding her or snuggling chances are she's got her fingers on our ear. She even climbs up next to Eli so she can rub his ear. It's about the sweetest thing ever. 
She has three babies that she alternates between. Their names are Tasha, Pinqua, and BlueBlue (aka Tasha, Uniqua, and Pablo ala Backyardigans)
She hates when strangers call her "cute." Yesterday a store worker heard her complain and so said, "That little girl isn't cute at all!" Syd was simultaneously dismayed and totally pleased with herself. 

She's so, so fun right now. I don't know how she packs so much personality into such a tiny little package, but I'm so grateful that I get to be there to see what she'll come up with next. 
She's a pretty awesome Big Girl. 

Monday, November 5, 2012

Talking up a storm

Last night Syd climbed up on my lap and took the pen I was using to make out my grocery list. She flipped the page and announced that she was writing a letter to a friend's daughter, Hannah.

Me: Sydney, that's so nice! What are you going to say? Are you going to tell her that you miss her and can't wait to play with her?

Syd: Mmhmm

Me: She's going to be so excited. I bet she'll say to her mama, "I can't wait to see Sydney!"

Syd: Mama. Babies don't talk.

Me: Oh, Hannah talks now. I talked to her mom and she said that Hannah says a lot of things. I bet next time you see her she'll be talking up a storm!

Syd: (Without looking up) Well that sounds kind of scary.

This girl cracks me up!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Mini-vacation

C and I are out of town. Together. With no kids. We wandered around for hours, went into shops full of breakables, and ate dinner at a restaurant without a kids' menu. And while I miss the babies, it's been SUCH a nice day.