Easton Lately

A few things about Easton I don't want to forget.

He calls the laptop, the flat-top.

All "th" sounds are replaced by a "p".

He loves to talk on the phone.  To pretty much anyone. For a LONG time.  Several times after 15 minutes of talking to Uncle Jord-man I've had to essentially take the phone away.

And now for a few pictures:

Hanging out, waiting for daddy to lock up the church:

In his Sunday best (he wouldn't let me tuck in his shirt before I took this picture).  He LOVES wearing his suit and matching his daddy.  I need to start looking for a good deal on a suit the next size up.

26 weeks

I try to keep these lovely updates to just when I visit the doctor, since I figure more than that is boring for you and me. Because the doctor's office is monitoring my weight, I had another appointment this week.

I'm happy to report that I gained 2 pounds and it was as if the weight issue never existed since it wasn't even mentioned in my appointment.  I do have to go back in another 2 weeks though, so I suppose that means I'm not off the hook yet.

Other than that it was a very uneventful appointment.  Baby's heartrate was good (150 bpm), my blood pressure was good and I continue to measure on track.  Kendree was not as content to sit in the stroller for this appointment so she spent the time sitting on top of me while I laid on the table.  The hardest part was trying to keep her away from the gel they use for the doppler.  Easton was just excited that it was blue gel and then made a noise just like the heartbeat as we left the offices (yes, all the way down the hall, and out through the waiting room).

I continue to feel really good.  I'm starting to actually notice that I have a belly that gets in my way (the nerve!).  I have bumped into a few people accidentally when I stop, but don't account for the extra inches out in front and can't fit through anything sideways that I can't fit through frontwards.  No heartburn yet and I have yet to find something that I crave consistently with this pregnancy (unless having ice in all of my drinks counts).  I realized the other day that we are just a bit over 3 months away from this little one making his/her debut and that caused a minor panic attack, but I'm just taking it one day at a time.  What gets done will be done and what doesn't will have to wait until, well, when my free time emerges again (so like FOREVER).

Looking back: 24 weeks, 20 weeks, 18 weeks, 16 weeks

Cousins

I'm [not so] patiently waiting for more pictures that I know my sister has, but the kids really enjoyed having their cousin Alayna around to play with the last two weeks. These are some pictures of the time they spent figuring out grandma's remote control school bus.

And then some pictures of the morning before Erc and Alayna got on the plane.  Getting all three of them too look and smile was impossible, but I got a few good ones.

Kendree - 18 months

At 18 months Kendree:

• First official stats:  Kendree is 22 lbs. 9 oz (25th %tile) 32.5 inches tall (75th %tile) and looking very healthy!
• Tries to run everywhere.  I love this stage of movement as she usually can only get one hand pumping along with her legs and then gets busy watching her feet and totally runs into something (don't worry, I only laugh if she isn't actually hurt).
• Really wants to be a big girl on stairs.  She just wants to walk up and down them, thankyouverymuch.  She will crawl up them, but if she feels like she has a sturdy enough handhold (like on the door frame coming up the three steps into our house from the garage) she'll attempt to walk up by herself.
• Recently decided that Ronnie and I are Mommy and Daddy instead of Mama and Dada.  This can either be the cutest thing ever, or the most annoying depending on her mood and tone of voice.
• Is not afraid to stand up for herself, but as a result can be a little bit of a bully.  We are especially working on hitting and biting (Easton only bit a handful of times in his entire life, so this one is a new one for me).
• Went to nursery for the first time on Sunday and LOVED it.  Was completely entertained even when the other kids were leaving and seemed surprised to see me standing there to pick her up.  Ronnie and I LOVED having our hands a bit free-er (we have to take advantage of our next 3 months as we'll be right back at it after that).  I found myself looking around for her during the 3rd hour of Primary (the time I am usually on Kendree duty).
• Takes one nap a day and now that I can stretch out her awake morning to after 12:30 p.m. she's becoming a much better napper (better meaning longer in my world).  She usually sleeps at least 2 hours and leans closer to 3 hours several times a week.
• Loves her big brother with all of her heart and wants to be JUST like him.  This usually drives him insane.
• Likes to give my belly hugs and kisses although she has no idea what that belly will do to her little world in 3 short months.
• Loves to read books but MUST be sitting on your lap to do so.  Not next to your lap, or standing near you, ON your lap. period.
• Got three new teeth this month (her top right tooth-next to the front teeth on July 22nd; her top left molar on July 24th; her top left molar on July 25th).  Those were a rough couple of days. In case anyone is keeping track (I know you aren't) that brings her tooth total to 6 on top and a very lonely 2 on the bottom.
• Loves babies.  We visited a good friend and her 2 month old and Kendree fully believed that she should be holding that baby all by herself.  The baby also needed her pacifier at all times and the baby wanted her own baby doll to play with as well.  I have a feeling that setting this new baby on the floor while Kendree is awake will not be an option.  Easton was completely oblivious to Kendree when she was little, but I don't think that will apply.
• Has started throwing herself down when having a fit.  Most times this only serves to hurt her.  Like the other day when she did it on the tile kitchen floor and discovered how good that feels.
• Really likes to color with crayons.  She finds the container of crayons at least once a day and brings it to me so I will pull out the giant pad of paper from under the couch and she colors to her hearts content.
• Is a "picker."  One of her favorite activities is to cover a paper in stickers and then spend the next 30 minutes (no joke) picking every single sticker back off of the paper.  She also loves to pick at her many mosquito bites while we ride in the car.  No band aid or tape can keep her away.
• Lights up our lives.  We love that girl!

Modeling the outfit from China that Grandpa Cali bought her:

 And now the outfit from India:


Swimming (picture stolen from our friend's blog):

On Kendree's official 18 month "birthday" I neglected to take pictures until after dark when we were waiting for Daddy to lock up the church.  With the need for flash, I got some pretty fantastic photos:

And this one from our trip to see Rockies is pretty great too!

So, we're going to go with this one as the "official" 18 month picture.

 Now for some videos: Kendree showing off her India outfit:

And Kendree dances.  Please ignore that saggy bum diaper she is about to shake off.

Baby #3 Quilt top #2

And another quilt top is done.

This one matches the boy crib bedding that I still need to actually make.  I fell in love with the chevron pattern and found this fantastic tutorial to walk me through it.

Now I just have one more quilt top to complete (the one for the girl bedding) and I'll begin work on the actual bedding portions.

A seemingly simple idea...

Last month my parents celebrated their 31st anniversary.  As the oldest, I try and think of present ideas for us kids to give them...cuz let's face it, every anniversary is kind of a big deal.

This year I thought of the perfect gift.

Inexpensive.

Meaningful.

Something they would never do for themselves.

I recruited all of my siblings and we sorted/put all of the printed family pictures into albums (they were previously kept in a cardboard box in the storage room).

What I didn't anticipate?

The hours and hours and hours and HOURS of sorting, and re-sorting, and putting pictures in chronological order just to find a new stack of pictures that needed to be inserted and then there was the album stuffing, and the vinyl cutting...

But in the end, we had an inexpensive, meaningful gift that both of my parents love (well, they better!).

And 16 albums later, I give you this...

Whew.

How to make a pregnant girl happy in the summertime

Alternately titled: One more reason I love my family.

1. Have a dad who has worked in the heating & A/C business for much of his life (on the side, since he has to keep up appearances as a college professor).

2. Have a husband who lets you make the decision of whether getting an A/C is crucial for this particular summer, or if you can hold off one more year.

3. Be pregnant, so that no part of the above mentioned decision is very difficult.

4. Have an uncle who owns the family heating & A/C shop.  It also helps if he bought a few extra A/C units in the "old" style (freon instead of puron) which are still sitting in his warehouse collecting inches of dust.

5. Have a brother who will entertain your 3 year old while the dad and the husband finish up a few things (this brother should also carry anything that anyone wants and run to get random tools and things from random places).

6. Find a local friend to do the "charging" of the unit and solder all of the pieces together.  In his off hours.  For pennies on the dollar of what other places were quoting.

7. Set your thermostat for 74 degrees and bask in your coolness.  Literally.  Also, an ice cold Diet Dr. Pepper and a good book will only enhance the experience.

The Jord-man and Easton playing a little football:

 Ronnie dutifully hooking up wires (electricity was off, don't you worry).

 Daddy-O putting the finishing touches on the inside unit thingy (very technical term there).

Seriously, the best thing we have done all summer.

24 Weeks

And here we are 4 weeks later. I've gotten a few comments from co-workers asking if I'm sure that I'm not due until the end of November, so I suppose that means I am looking a little on the large side. :)  I'm just convinced that my body is really good at stretching this 3rd time around.

Everything is looking good with baby and I'm measuring right on schedule (so take that co-worker ladies!).  The doctor this appointment (there are about 10 in the office I go to and I have yet to meet them all) was very concerned that I have only gained 8 pounds since my first appointment and as such is making me come in every 2 weeks to have a weight check.  I tried to tell her that I eat PLENTY (with lots of unhealthy snacks as well) but she was unconvinced.  When I was telling Ronnie about it, he suggested I slip a few weights in my pockets for my next appointment to appease them.  (and just to calm any that are concerned about this weight thingy....I began this pregnancy on the heavy side for my weight, which means that I can gain just 15 lbs. total for the pregnancy and still have a healthy and normal baby.  I figure that 16 weeks is plenty of time to gain at least 7 more pounds.  Also, I gained 23 pounds with both of my other pregnancies and fully expect to gain at least that with this pregnancy, my weight gain just comes in the latter half of my pregnancies).

Anyway, I'm feeling great.  Despite the look of a huge stomach, I still feel like I can move in a relatively normal way.  I get a very stiff left hip if I sit for too long, but with two kiddos keeping me busy at home, this has only happened when I go into the office and can sit uninterrupted.

Ronnie and I are basically avoiding name discussions at this point, so I don't have any updates there.  We'll see if I can convince him to have a conversation about it sometime soon. :)

The ladies at work are also convinced that this one is a girl, although they were convinced that Kendree was a boy, so we can see their rate of success.  In my head I think of this baby as a girl, but I think that I just assume I'm having whatever gender I had last time (since in my head Kendree was a boy).

Easton has decided that he would like a boy baby, but whenever talking about the baby he uses girl pronouns (her, she, etc.).  If you ask him what he wants to name the baby, he responds with nonsense words (last time it was Friess).

I think that's it for now....any questions?

Wanna look back? 20 weeks, 18 weeks, 16 weeks.

Summer in Cheyenne

Consider this post a catch up post...a few of our summer events.

About two weeks ago we had a massive hail storm.  It was crazy loud and hard enough that we tried to keep the kids away from the windows.

View out our front door:

 And a (obscured) view of the backyard:

 After it was all over and Ronnie was trying to get rid of the massive puddle of standing water right next to our back steps (seen below) we let the kids out to play with the hail.

 They sat contentedly throwing the leftover hail for a good 20 minutes.  Once their little hands were frozen, they were ready for a break.

 A few days later, when we actually needed to water the front lawn again, Ronnie was setting up the sprinkler.  One thing led to another, and soon Ronnie, Easton and Kendree were all SOAKING wet.  I got two (pretty poor) pictures of the soaked boys.  Everyone sure did have fun though!

Frontier Days

We were excited to enjoy our first Frontier Days as official Cheyenne residents this year.  Thanks to the companies we work for, we enjoyed everything for free!  Even better!

Ronnie and I were able to go to the Jason Aldean concert as well as the Darius Rucker concert.  Imagine that we have a picture pretty much identical to this one from the Jason Aldean concert and you get the idea.

 On the last Saturday of the rodeo, we had sponsor passes and decided to go early for the chute tour.  The best part of this hour in the grueling sun was the pictures you got to take in the chutes. 

 We had 4 passes, but Kendree is free until she is 2, so we invited my brother Jord-man (aka Easton's favorite person EVER) to join us.

The rest of the chute tour was a bust, unfortunately.  I like to think that we were the guinea pigs so we can tell everyone we know not to waste their time.  The look on Easton's face pretty much sums up how he felt about it.

 And Kendree wasn't very excited either.

In addition to things at Frontier Park, we enjoyed the Thunderbird airshow from a nearby ranch with my friend from high school, Jodie. (unfortunately no pictures of Jodie or her two darling kiddos...I'm a picture taking slacker).

Easton getting ready to go to the pancake breakfast and airshow.

 And those boots on the person that can actually walk in them.

 Now we've got the right boots on and our ear protection ready to go.

We loved all of the excitement of Frontier Days and can't wait for next year (when we can consider ourselves veterans). :)

Baby #3: Quilt top #1

I love a quick and simple project and this quilt is just that.  Each of my kids have one...I call them my every day quilts. (see Easton's, Kendree's and the extra boy one--that is currently sitting in a tote). The ones that get dragged to the store, church, you name it.  They get washed a million times and I love them!

Just 64 4 1/2" squares and a 4 1/2" border around the whole thing and bada-boom...it's done!  I don't pre-wash this fabric and use 100% cotton batting so that the whole thing will shrink to have that "vintage" look and feel.  I'm even going to be brave and attempt to machine quilt this puppy on my machine...we'll see how that goes!

By the time it's finished, I'll post the fabrics I used...just for reference.

I've done the hard work...

As long as hard work=finding the cutest, easiest flower for you to crochet.  You'll still have to actually crochet these puppies yourself though!  I used many a youtube tutorial, but this one is the best.  The flowers come together in a snap and you aren't cursing your crochet hook by the time you are done.

I made about 30 of these total, but I decided you didn't need to see a picture of all 30, I'm sure 8 will suffice.

 Close up!

 And one on our pretty little model (ignore that the flower doesn't match and the dirty face).  Obviously she was a little hungry as she was signing "food" when I took the picture.