I'm screwed...

Ok. So this post might not make much sense b/c Mike and I agreed that we wouldn't share the name of the new baby until she arrived.

HOWEVER,
when we found out it was a girl (about 4 months ago) we were trying out different names and we asked JJ to say them (cuz, c'mon on--what's cuter than a two year old w/ a speech impediment saying words that you want him to say??)
So, it was really cute when he said one name--for sake of argument, we will call that name "Baby Yadda Yadda."
And since it was cute to have him say it, we would ask him to say it all of the time.

Well, that name stuck. And am I still crazy about the name? Hmmm...it's ok...
But now, I like a new name--let's call it "Baby Blah Blah."
So every night, JJ will talk to my stomach and say, "There's Baby Yadda Yadda!" and I try to throw in little interjections and say, "Well, we could call her Baby Blah Blah--which name do you like better? Baby Yadda Yadda or Baby Blah Blah?"
And he gets very serious and stern and says, "It's Baby. Yadda. Yadda."

(Man this would be so much easier if I could tell you the names we are considering...BUT moving on...)

So, now I feel compelled to name the baby Baby Yadda Yadda b/c JJ is convinced that is her name. Again, it's a cute name but it's starting to get really popular and I worry that I don't like the name as much as I now like Baby Blah Blah.

Confused? Sigh. I warned you this probably wouldn't make much sense. Please offer tips if you have any!!

Why it's all worth it :)

Hi~
A little background--
Every night, JJ and I spend a some time together working on the laptop--there are so many great educational sites out there that work on his emerging skills-- like counting, the alphabet, signing, colors, shapes, etc etc etc.

Well, we found a new site last night that has crocodiles around a pond of fish. All of the fish are different colors. You have to listen to the website and read the captions to follow the directions of which color fish to click on. For example, "This hungry crocodile wants to eat the blue fish--click on the blue fish."
Well, JJ thought it was HYSTERICAL that when you clicked on the fish, they would get this horrible look on their faces and then spin away like they were drowning (does he have a sadistic sense of humor like his mother??)
He was absolutely dying in the beginning but by the time I turned on imovie, he wasn't laughing as hard but it's still funny to watch him crack up :)

Enjoy!

A Better Place...

Happy Evening,
My hormones have mellowed, much to the appreciate of those around me ;) and I wanted to share with you all (especially those of u with Macs and itunes) some great children's music. The Land of Nod does some great "Nodcast Podcasts" of children's music that JJ and I love.
Go to http://www.landofnod.com/blog/mitchellandjenkins.aspx
and you can either listen directly to the music or download the podcasts for free. JJ's favorites are Dan Zane and Elizabeth Mitchell and I have to agree--my kids got great taste! I really enjoy the children't music that has come out as of late--thank goodness the days of Barney and other cheesy music are a thing of the past. We also love Laurie Berkner and They Might Be Giants (oddly one of my college favorites!) that have switched over to the kids market and have some great songs. So look them up if have a chance!

So, JJ and are lying on the couch listening to good mellow, hippie, happy kids music. Not many better ways to end a hectic day :) Good vibes to you all~

Pregnancy Sucks

*DISCLAIMER* I know pregnancy is a gift and a miracle and I am blessed and I am growing a beautiful baby and yadda yadda yadda...
HOWEVER, today I am feeling all of the negatives that come along w/ pregnancy and I need to vent >:[

I hate heartburn. Explain to me how drinking water and breathing can make everything from my throat to my stomach feel like an inferno. Let alone, that I can't even get near all of the food that I am craving--chicken wings, pasta, pizza, any fast food, orange juice...

I hate iron pills. I miss going to the bathroom. enough said.

I hate hormonal imbalances. I am so moody (gee, can you tell from this post??) and I hate that I go from stark-raving mad to weepy in a matter of 2 seconds. Poor Jayson. He must think I am going to snap any minute--or that I have snapped and this is what the second coming must look like.

I hate leg cramps. Why, oh why must I wake up every night howling and shaking Mike out of dead sleep to help me rub out these little bastards??

I hate braxton-hicks contractions. Either be the real thing or get out of the way and stop bothering me.

I hate sleep deprivation/exhaustion. I miss sleep. I know it will be worse when the baby comes and I am up feeding and burping and changing poopie diapers--well, actually that doesn't sound so different from what I am doing now--minus the poopie part. Damn iron pills.

I hate dumb people. Some of the comments I have received at work: "So, how much weight have you gained exactly?" "You are only 7 months?? You are so BIG!" "So when is the big day?...Really?? Not until April?? Wow, that's far away..." and my favorite: "Sorry, I forgot that the baby is sucking your brain cells and intelligent jokes go right over your head." Death to dumb people.

Now I know I should be thankful--thanks to this little bundle of kicking-at-all-hours-of-the-day-and-night joy, I have shiny hair. I have great long nails. I can postpone jury duty. I could probably almost park in a handicapped spot and not feel that guilty about it. Almost.
And ya know, I have a very patient husband (never mind the cautious look he always keeps in his eyes like he is watching a rabid dog) and a very cool kid who puts up w/ all of my crap. I am not in Iraq, or Britney Spears, or running for president.
I CAN make it six more weeks and I WILL pop out this baby and then, rest assured, I will be back to bitch about how hospitals/labor/postpartum/newborns probably suck too. Gosh, can you wait to read about those too??? Hello?...*crickets chirping*...anyone still out there??

Book Recommendations

Just wanted to share the best books that I read in 2007--go figure they are teen books but I think any adult will love them--
My students were after me for months to read them but I thought, "hmmm, vampires and teen love? No thanks."
Then I finally gave in and loved them!
The best was Twilight (number one in the series) and then New Moon and Eclipse were pretty good also. I can't wait for number four this fall!

7 mo pregnancy pictures

We are taking pregnancy pixs this time around--we did 5 mo, now these are from the 7 mo shoot--we will also do 9 mo and then post baby when there will be four of us in the photo!

BACK IN BUSINESS!

New Year, New attempt at keeping this blog up and running~
I'm struggling to get back into the blogging business but I really want to keep our friends updated with pictures of Jayson, our life, and ofc the new baby!
I'm 30 weeks (tomorrow!) and I'm having a hard time not having flashbacks--I hemorraged at 30 weeks w/ J and ended up in the hospital for what felt like months on end. So, if we can ge past this week, I think I will feel a bit more calm.
My goal is to make it 6 more weeks and then what happens, happens!

We had our "refresher" child birth course yesterday--we are attempting a VBAC this time around...after hearing all about natural labor yesterday, it makes me wonder which is better/worse?/easier--a natural birth or a c-section...at this point, I feel like I'm dreading both! Maybe this one could just stay in until she decides to walk out delicately and softly on her own...

Well, it's after 10pm and some of us have to get up in the am, work all day, and then come home and be a single parent all night (gotta love working on opposite shifts from the hubby....arg...) so I should put down the laptop and walk away...
Here's to continuing this blog (attempting for the third time!) and talk to you all hopefully soon!
night!
~L