Glad I'm not an elephant

even though I might feel like one sometimes.

An elephant's gestation is 22 months. That is a LONG time. Nine months is starting to feel like a long time. Pregnancy has been a bit more tiring this time around. Chasing Kaden, working, and such has made me more achy and tired. As the date gets closer, we all get more excited and a bit more anxious too. I am excited to meet the new baby boy. We have not even come close to deciding on a name...any good ideas?

35 weeks (and hoping for only a few more). I had an ultrasound the other day and things are good. He weighs in at about 5 pounds and squirms around all of the time. He seems to look almost identical to Kaden, but what can you really tell from an ultrasound?



I'm so excited to have 2 little boys. It will be so fun to watch them grow up together. Kaden is so excited about "baby brudder". He talks about him all of the time. He smothers other little babies we see. He is so full of love and kisses. My friend's baby was crying and he was so worried about him. He kept bringing blankets, bottles, binkies, rice-crispy treats, and loves to the baby. He might end up being TOO helpful, but I am excited to see the love he will show for the baby.

Out on the lake

We had the best afternoon with my dad today. We went out on the boat right after a storm and it was beautiful. The water was so peaceful and calm. I am in love with this place and can never soak up enough of the sights, smells, sounds, etc.

I love this picture of my daddy. My mom has been gone a lot lately. She is taking care of her mom, who is terminally sick with cancer. It's a rough time and I know my dad is getting quite lonely. He loves this old boat and I am so glad we could accompany him today.

Kaden had a blast. I had to dive to grab him a few times. He has no fear at all, and I think he would have toppled over the side of the boat, head first, a few times. He loved letting the water spray his arms and face.

Couldn't get the rascal to hold still for one second.

"I do it, Papa!" He's in that, "I-want-to-do-everything-by-myself, don't-help-me, I-will-melt-down-if-it-doesn't-work-how-I-want-it-to," stage. Sometimes endearing, sometimes downright annoying. I'm glad he is wanting to be independent, though. I love that Kaden and his Papa are such good pals.

And this picture is just too silly. I told him to stop jumping in the boat and he pulled this face. And what is up with those flared nostrils? He totally looks like a monkey and that bottom lip couldn't stick out any further. He is such a faker and I don't fall for these faces. He gets mad when I laugh at him, but seriously....that is the goofiest thing I have seen in a while.

Our life is so exciting...

at least to me! haha. We got a new bed!!! YESSSS. I cannot tell you how long I have been dreaming of this day. Matt picked out our queen bed when we were engaged and it was reminiscent of sleeping on a cement slab. Hard. As. A. Brick. Sweet, sweet Traci bought us a nice memory foam pad and pillow top which made a world of difference.

There were still problems though. A 6'5" man is not supposed to sleep in a queen bed, especially if his mobility is impaired. Matt rolls into the middle of the bed, bends his knees, and you can imagine the space it leaves for me. I push him all night long, he straightens out, then his feet hang off the end. Things only get worse when I get bigger by the day, Isabel feels the need to sleep by my head, and Kaden finds his way in. It's not a pretty picture.

Oh, but this is such a pretty picture...

Matt received some trust fun money from Denver Options, a brain injury association. It is a one time allotted amount. We spent a year on the waiting list and carefully thought about what we need/want. We decided to use it for this bed (GIANT and soft!), and for an awesome recumbent bike...which deserves a special post all its own. I think that the bed benefits me more than Matt, but so far, we are more than happy. I actually get giddy thinking of all the space I get to swim in at night...untouched by bony knees, furry paws, and a squirmy toddler. It is a piece of Heaven, to me.

Oh, it's just so big and beautiful!

obsessed

I have been working less lately, and spending more time with munchkin. It is a bit more stressful in the financial department, but I love the extra time with Kaden. He makes me happy all day long. He is so cheerful and fun and I can't help but delight in him. I finish massages mid-August and will take an extended break. I am really looking forward to it, actually. There are things that I am trying to work on at home. Kaden hates it when I work at home, so I have to be creative and a bit tricky, but we figure it out.

*

I love it when I wake up in the morning and realize I have no agenda, no meetings or appointments, no schedule. Sometimes I go to bed having pretty much accomplished nothing, but for some reason, it feels kind of good. Because, really, I have accomplished a lot. I played with a smiley, loveable toddler all day. I got slobbery kisses, cleaned up countless messes, played in the dirt, made my bed 50 times, listened to constant jibber-jabber, and exhausted myself watching him run and jump around.

*

I know I talk about my little mister all the time. I know I post a million pictures and reiterate myself in every way possible. I am serious though, being a mom to this little boy is a million times better than I had imagined....and I imagined it to be pretty darn good.

getting a little bit closer...

And it's a good thing, cause I just keep getting bigger...but I guess that's the point. I am getting really excited and ready for little man #2 to come along. I haven't really done a thing though, so maybe I should get in gear.

Here are a few recent photos...my face hidden behind the camera, and the dirty, filthy bathroom mirror. I promise that I do clean it, occasionally.

28 weeks

32 weeks

And this little monkey would be the reason that glass is practically never clean.

I love the little monkey and can't wait for him to have a baby brother. Likely, another little rambunctious, energetic monkey. I think they'll be the best of friends. In fact, they will be, I have decided it ;) I hope it's that easy....

Boys like

Doggies, adventure, and girls...


What a little gentleman.


Should I be worried about this? Look at how serious he is about this kissing business! Arms around her...eyes closed... For now, I think it's one of the cutest things, ever.

My brave boy.

There is nothing cuter than a boy and his dog. Kaden an Toby love each other. Kaden follows him around the yard, loves on him all day, and talks about him nonstop when we're gone. Toby sleeps by Kaden's bed when he is napping and waits for him to get up. They are so cute together and I love it.

This kid...

Drives me nuts sometimes!
He never ceases to amaze me...the things he can get into.
Don't ask me where I was or what I was doing while he was getting into trouble. Things like this happen in a matter of seconds...


"HEY MOMMY!"

The best way to eat chocolate is with a ladle, of course. He knows how to get things done.

"mmmmmm, it's deewicious!"

This picture is not accurately showing the incredible mess to be cleaned up. And, that is my cell phone amongst it all. I wonder if it still works.

I kind of wanted to get mad when I first saw all this. It really seems that sometimes everything I do is undone faster than it takes to do, and I can't keep up. He literally is into everything. The other day he pushed a tall bar stool up to the pantry, a chair up to the bar stool, and climbed up to the top shelf to reach the "Oh's!"...his favorite snack.

Even though initially I am exasperated, the humor of the situation usually takes over. His glee with this mess was hilarious, and I can't blame him for wanting to eat chocolate from a ladle. But, I ask you (and myself), how on earth with I handle two rascals?...