A few things...

1. Yesterday I made a whole grain and wild rice box mix with our dinner. It was a brownish rice with darker brown grains throughout it. Henry, who loves rice, sat down to eat dinner and took one look at the rice and excitedly said, "bugs!" Patrick and I were cracking up that he thought the darker grains of rice were bugs. He was eating around them and handing the "bugs" to us. I just think it's funny that he thinks I would serve him bugs for dinner and that I (of all people) would eat them!
2. Isn't it weird how chocolate retains its shape when you cook with it. For example, when you bake chocolate chips into brownies once the brownies are cooled the chocolate chips are still in their chocolate chip form. How does this happen? I know this is a very deep thought.
3. Our new bathroom is underway! I'm so excited to report that we are adding a 1/2 bath to our 1st floor! A much needed (and wanted) update. Patrick started working on it yesterday--mostly the demo stage. Then last night we went to Lowes and picked out our sink, mirror, light fixture and paint colors. He's going to be working on it this weekend. I can't wait until it's up and running. I'll be posting pics.
4. I'm off to New York! I leave tomorrow to visit my best friend from childhood, Katie and her family and will finally meet her baby. I'm feeling a bit anxious about leaving Henry and being away from him. It will be the longest we've been apart. I know he will be fine and he'll get to enjoy some time with his grandparents. Something I just realized is that I went to NY when I was pregnant with Henry and now I'm going pregnant with this baby. Hmmm, interesting. I'll be sure to post pics of that visit, too.

Henry and the tractor

Every week a tractor and dump truck team up to clear the big garbage from people's houses. People can put anything on the curb here...anything! For instance, when Patrick was re-doing the drywall in our house he had to first tear out all of the existing plaster walls and other nasty stuff (don't know the technical names) and all of that was just hauled to the curb and the tractor came on it's designated day to haul it away. Today was the tractor day and our neighbors had lots of tree limbs from a tree they cut partially down in their backyard. So Henry had the chance to watch the tractor show right in front of our house. He was glued to the front porch until the tractor was done and turned off of our street. I decided to take a few videos of just the tractor, too so that we can watch it anytime since that's Henry's favorite new thing to do on the computer!

Some Pregnancy Reflections...

Well, I'm 22 weeks along. 5 1/2 months already! And the time is flying this time. I did vow to myself that when I was pregnant again I would try not to complain about things or rush things along. I vowed to just enjoy every moment of pregnancy: each flutter and craving and pound. Here are some reflections on the past few weeks:
1. The heat: It is so hot! I am such a summer lover and I'm trying to make the most of this warm summer weather. Henry and I have been going to the pool and spending a lot of time outside. But I'm the first one to put my chair in the shade...a place you would have never found me before. Being pregnant in the summer is definitely hot. The good twist is that I usually freeze whenever I go into stores or restaurants in the summer because of their air-conditioning. Not this summer...when I'm inside I finally feel just right. I really haven't found myself cold once!
2. Peanuts, almonds and peanut butter: I have been loving anything and everything with peanut butter added, sandwiches, celery, apples, or just by the spoonful. Also peanut butter ice-cream has become a new favorite. I've never been as crazy about peanut butter as I am now. Also I have been loving almonds. I buy them in resealable bags at Target and carry them with me everywhere! It helps when I get hungry in between meals.
3. Maternity clothes: Ok, so I said I was vowing not to complain and I'll try to stick to that. I will just say that not only are a lot of styles not very fashionable or flattering, but I've found that many of the pants/capris I've tried on seem to be very bulgy in the behind adding to their unflatteringness. What is up with bulgy bottomed maternity pants?
4. Kicks and flutters: This little one is really starting to move! His movements are getting stronger and now some of them can be felt outside my belly. Patrick just got to feel him move for the first time. These little flutters are one of my very favorite things about being pregnant.
5. "You poor thing!": I had my first comment for this pregnancy noting from someone how big I'm getting. One of Patrick's great aunts said to me, "I'll be praying for you." I thanked her thinking that with two little boys, I'll need all of the prayers I can get! She proceeded to say, "they tell me you're only halfway through and have to make it all the way to October" then she kind of sighed. How funny! I don't feel huge or that I'm not going to make it. It's funny how people perceive things.

I'll keep adding to this list of reflections as time goes on. I also need to start taking regular pictures. This is the first posed picture we've taken with this pregnancy.

Haircut Heartbreak

Yesterday I took Henry to get his haircut. I brought him to the same place he's been going since his first haircut and to the same stylist. I think yesterday was his 6th or 7th cut. The only real difference was that I was holding him on my lap since the booster chair was already being used by another child...so maybe my perspective of the cut was different. I told the stylist the same thing I always do, "He just needs a trim in the front, sides and back." You know, trim things up, make it look neat, and keep it out of his eyes. Well, about halfway through the cut when she'd made her way around the back and to the front I started to sweat. I noticed that she was cutting well into the sides and doing a lot of layering. Yes, layers. By that time she only had one side left, so I knew I couldn't say just keep it long on the left! More sweat. By the time we got into the car, I was so sad. I really felt heartbroken about his haircut! I called Patrick who had left me a voicemail to see how the cut went, and I started crying. I could barely talk about it!

I will say that Henry is darling and he looks adorable with this hair or any hair. I just was surprised at my attachment to his hair. Everyone keeps telling me that it will grow back but I still feel so upset because I feel like with all of these silly side layers it will never be the same. It's a big boy haircut and I think that's maybe what I'm struggling with. Maybe it's just part him growing up? He is almost 2, I suppose...

Henry's big boy haircut (and sweet little camera smile!)

It's a.....

BOY! It is 100% for sure...he was ready and willing to show his gender when the ultrasound began. The ultrasound tech placed the paddle on my tummy and immediately she said, "so you for sure want to know? It's a BOY!". He's healthy and everything measured well and on track, praise God! She took lots of pictures--we brought home about 10--and she said she wasn't supposed to take so many but he was just being so cute. He kept opening his mouth and putting his hands inside and then he would take out his hand and suck his thumb and then we saw him sticking out his tongue, too. It was really cute. We are a bit surprised that it's another boy because I really thought things were different with my pregnancy this time, but we are thrilled and guess we should have just listened to Henry all along. He always told us he was going to have a "bubba" (translate: brother).



It's a Boy! Look at the outline...

These two pictures show him putting his little hands in his mouth.

Here are his little footprints.

His darling profile...I have one of these that looks almost identical from Henry's 20 week ultrasound!

Home!

Today was my first day as a full time stay-at-home mom! I'm loving it. Friday was my last day at Montessori and last week was my last week babysitting for our friend's baby. Both were sad to say good-bye to, I will really miss my co-workers and the sweet children at school, although I know I will stay in touch with several of them (co-workers that is!). It's hard to completely withdraw from that other world-having the chance to shower and get ready complete with a blow dry and nice, coordinated outfit and get out of the house for a guaranteed several hours. As well as feeling like I am financially contributing to the household and supporting some of my spending. I think there are definite things I will miss about not working anymore. Financially we knew that in the fall once the other baby arrives, it won't make sense to continue to work part-time and pay a sitter to watch two babies. Patrick suggested starting to stay home in the summer and having extra time to prepare for the baby and spending time with Henry-I quickly agreed before he'd have a chance to change his mind! I'm really looking forward to this time, but I also know that there's a chance that this will get lonely and I'm hoping to get involved with other moms and get involved in some groups or Bible studies or something.

Our first day was spent going to the park and zoo (the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington). I loved waking up this morning and knowing that I didn't have to rush to get ready or be anywhere at any certain time. I think it will be a fun summer.

A random side note: a lady at the zoo stopped me to compliment Henry's hair, she then asked, "is that his natural hair color?" Too funny, no he's a two-year old with a hair-dye every 6 weeks.....

French Doors

They're done! The pictures above are from start to finish--the doors arriving on the truck, waiting in the garage, before/afters. Bless Patrick's heart...he finished painting the doors and walls today (after the doors were installed, he had to tear out the remaining wall next to the doors and re-dry wall to make it more even in addition to creating trim to match our existing trim in our house)and now it's a finished product. We are loving this update/change to our dining room! We get so much light into our dining room and living room and also love the view of our backyard. We've been using our deck more, too just because it's such easy access. So for those of you skeptics that disliked the idea of taking out the old (and character-filled) long window...what do you think? I'm really hoping we added character and didn't lose it!

Memorial Day Weekend

Here's my dad showing Henry that riding in the wheelbarrow will be fun...it tipped right over and Henry wasn't sold!


I especially love these pictures of Henry and Gabe with my Grandpa

Henry is totally fascinated with Sandi's guinea pig. He's still learning about being gentle with little creatures!

Here is Henry bending over pretending to eat the grass just like the guinea pig!


We went to Rockford last Sunday and loved being able to visit with family. We went to my Dad and Sandi's house and got to see Cory, my grandparents and Sandi's mom who we call Mimi, my Aunt Anne and Sara and Gabe (Dan was home working on their hardwood floors). It was so good to see everyone and also to get our two boys together again. I love any chance we get to get Henry and Gabe together and it's getting more and more fun as they get older to watch them interact. They're totally aware of each other and watch what the other one is doing. Henry is so fascinated with other children right now, and he usually calls kids "babies"...even if they're way older than he is.