a little bit of everything...

I'm 16 weeks pregnant today.  My days feel very busy!  Jude just started a new thing at work, so his schedule is very different, which totally throws me off.  I've had to start being creative to keep my, almost three year old busy during the day.  And I think Isaac gets bored with me when josh is napping and it's just him and I :)  While Isaac naps, josh and i have been doing fun crafts or activities together, which is really fun.  I have some fun idea cards that have come in handy lately.  The boys have been sleeping great and napping great too!  And then of course, today, Isaac is being a stinker about going down for his morning nap...  I can't wait until those dumb molars come in!  

Josh's birthday is in a month, and i just decided today that we will be doing a pirate themed party.  All those moms who have done pirates before me... give me some of your great ideas!!  I really need to start working on the invitations... and i haven't even started shopping for Easter baskets...  ugh.

Isaac started signing "please" and "thank you", which is adorable!  He's signed "all done" and "more" for a while, but i finally got him to say the other two, which i count as quite an accomplishment.  It's the little things right?  He's saying animal sounds now too:  quack, baa, moo... it's very cute. 

I feel like my energy level has finally started to get back to normal... so I've had the energy to clean my house, which has been driving me crazy for weeks now!  I still have a lot to do, but at least i feel like I'm getting somewhere.  I probably should be folding laundry right now actually :)  

So i gave up Facebook for Lent this year, and I was incredibly surprised by how lonely i felt!  And then... it made me kind of sad that my only connection with people is through FB, and that i would feel lonely because of it.  I feel like it's something that has to change... but I'm not really sure where to start.  I think more than ever, I'm really missing community, and connection.  I think it might be time to talk my husband into joining a life group.  We'll see how that goes.  I really miss having close friends... and it makes me sad to think about how things change over time.  

We are working on converting Josh's room into a "big kid room."  I know this sounds crazy, but he's still in his crib.  I asked him how he felt about getting a big boy bed, and he wasn't thrilled with the idea.  I told him that the new baby would need to sleep in his crib, and then suddenly, he was ok with it :)  He's such a sweet boy. 

May 11th is our ultrasound appointment, so we're excited to find out if we'll be having a little boy or girl.  Josh keeps saying it's a boy, so we'll see :) 

         

   

Due date: 10/6/11

Well, we are pregnant. ha! I can't help but laugh, because I'm still getting used to the idea. We had not planned on having another little one quite this soon, but on the other hand, let's face it, we know how these things happen! The day before i found out, i was laughing about how when josh was Isaac's age, i was pregnant, and how completely CRAZY that was! well, there you go. I'm 10 weeks, and due October 6, 2011.

I am a little bit worried and anxious about what our lives are going to look like with a new addition. I'm already praying for patience and my sanity! I am also so very grateful that we have been able to get pregnant without any problems, and so far, everything with the third is going just fine. I got to see the little nugget a couple days ago through an ultrasound. There was one strong little heartbeat, and a lot of wiggling going on :)

When we tell people, almost everyone asks me: so you're hoping for a girl?? And honestly, I can say that I'm not. Boy or girl, I will be totally content. I always say that i would love to buy clothes for a little girl :) but if we had another boy, that would be totally fine with me!

Since this is our third, the topic has come up quite a bit about if we will be "done" after this... and i have to say, it's a little sad thinking that this could be my last pregnancy, but at the same time, also a little bit thrilling! haha! I'm so incredibly tired all the time, and chasing after two, very active boys all day doesn't help either! I know it's only going to get worse as my belly begins to grow... so we'll see. Who knows. Jude keeps saying he wants a boy, and then the fourth to be a girl, so she will have to tell potential boyfriends that her dad is a cop, and she has three older brothers :) Don't know if that will happen, but Jude is a very wishful thinker ;)

In other news, the boys are so fun, and busy! They're outside right now, playing with bubbles. It's so fun to hear them play outside, and giggle with each other. Don't get me wrong, there is already quite a bit of fighting between those two, but i cherish the times they are kind to one another.

Isaac turned one a couple weeks ago, and Josh will be three in May. Where has the time gone? Joshua is very cute about this baby... i picked him up the other day, and he said: "mom, be careful, don't hurt the baby in your tummy." very sweet. I asked him if he wanted a brother or sister, and he said, maybe a sister?? :) Joshy is a very good helper, and such a sweet kid. He's so smart, and very sure of himself.

Isaac is babbling quite a bit, and saying a couple words here and there. He's my cuddly baby. It amazes me how different two kids can be! he's walking all over and very attached to mommy right now. He makes funny faces all the time, and loves to tackle :)

Jude is officially off probation!! It's been a long journey, but I'm very proud of him. We are so thankful for his job, and feel like God really led us to where we're at right now. I couldn't be more grateful.

ok, time to get dinner ready...

planning my baby's first birthday :)

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Another new year...

Where do i start...

Well, my babies are growing and growing fast. Isaac is officially walking (yesterday he walked across the living room!) and Joshua is potty trained! I look back at 2010, and am so amazed with how God blesses our family. I love my husband even more than the day i married him. We have two healthy boys, who make us smile every single day. We love our new home, in brea. Jude is really enjoying his job, and very good at it. I feel absolutely giddy that i get to be a stay at home mommy. And we're already looking toward the future of how our family will grow (not yet, just looking forward to it). I am so lucky. I don't mean to sounds cheesy or lame, but seriously, very lucky.

At church this morning, our pastor talked about three chairs, and what each chair describes: commitment, compromise, and complacency. I am sorry to say, that i realized i am definitely in chair number 2, compromise. I know God, but don't rely on him. He is not a huge part of my everyday life, marriage, work, etc. Not only do i have to work on that, but he also talked about how chair 2 people, usually raise chair 3 children... because kids can see through you, and see hypocrisy. This is weighing very heavy on my heart. I'm sure most parents feel this way, I want my kids to know Jesus. To be in heaven at the end of their life, etc etc. "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Chair 1 people live for Jesus, and work at "being" the church... work to move more people into chair number 1. They have a relationship with God. I realize that i know these things in my head, and I've heard them many times, but i think i have moved away from a relationship - something personal and intimate - with God. I don't want that, and i don't want that for my family, for my children.

So, now... I'm wanting to move into chair 1. What does that look like? How do i get there? I don't want this week to go by, without doing something. I don't want this YEAR to go by, and be in the same place i am right now. i need... i want a spiritual breakthrough.

"take my life and let it be, all for You and for Your glory. Take my life and let it be Yours. Glory to God, Glory to God forever..."

I forgot to talk about our trip to Washington! We went the last week in August, and the boys did so well on the plane ride! Josh, the one that I was worried about, did so well. He watched a movie, relaxed and ate snacks... not a big deal at all. Isaac on the other hand, wasn't as happy as i had hoped! he yelled for a lot of the trip, on the way there. I felt so exhausted when we landed! On the way back home, when I flew alone with the kids, they both slept the entire ride home! I still felt exhausted, just from carrying everything, and isaac, and keeping a hand on joshua, but i was SO thankful that they slept!

We had a great time with family. There were lots of kids josh's age, so it was so fun to see them all play together. I was so glad they got to meet everybody, and especially great grandpa. We took some really great pictures with grandpa. When we got back home, we were saying a prayer for our meal at dinner time, and i was about to say "amen" when Josh said: "and great grandpa too." So cute! I love Washington, and being able to spend time with our family. I am always a bit "homesick" when i get back to CA, just because I love it so much.




As it turns out, it's a lot of work to travel with kids! I don't see that happening again, any time soon! Isaac's sleep habits totally changed, and he no longer sucks his thumb and goes to sleep. I used to brag about how easy he was (serves me right i guess). Now, he cries for about 15 minutes every single time i lay him down to sleep. But I'm sticking with it... and hoping that eventually, he'll just lay down and go to sleep like he used to.


I have a question to any mom's out there who are/have potty trained children. I'm feeling very discouraged at the moment, and I'm wondering if what we're experiencing is somewhat "normal" for potty training. Josh goes pee in the potty just fine... it's great! However, he poops in his pants all the time. I don't know what to do at this point. Will he just "get it" eventually? Or are there tricks out there that i should try that I don't know about? Is it always hard for kids to learn to poop in the potty? If you have any feedback, I'd love to hear it!


Other fun stuff I forgot to mention in my last post ...

Joshy counts to ten! One day, he even made it to 20, but skipped a couple of numbers in between :) We're working on colors and shapes etc. I have flash cards that we've been working with. I also want to do some number and letter cut outs and hang them in his room. He's like a sponge... so might as well :) He really likes sesame street right now, and that show is great for learning letters and numbers! He loves his daddy too... which is just adorable. This past work week for Jude, every day Josh got up from his nap, he would ask for Daddy, and then say: "me need daddy"... so cute.


Isaac claps his hands now, whenever you sing Patty cake. And he says: Da-da-da-da. No mama yet, but I'm working on it! While we're eating, I'll ask him if he wants more (with baby sign language) and he'll start clapping, which is pretty close to "more" so i count it as signing!! :)


I'm really looking forward to the fall season, and all the holidays coming up. The weather has been so nice and cool this week... i just love it!

King Update :)

I can't believe we're in the middle of October. Seriously, where does the time go? I guess that saying is pretty accurate: When you're a mother, the days are long, but the years are short.

This is what the King's have been up to lately:


We started the whole potty training process with Josh. I wasn't ever really in a hurry, but just kinda felt like it was the right time. He started to hate getting his diaper changed, and I was kinda tired of changing big kid diapers anyway! He's been doing really well! We still have some accidents, but I'm very proud of him. I think the key is consistency. And I realized the reason why i didn't start earlier, was because i am very lazy :) At the beginning, and even sometimes now, I take the blame for most of the accidents, because I lose my consistency.


He's talking a lot too. Full sentences, and i love it... most of the time ;) It's definitely a hard age, because he has opinions now, and knows what he wants or doesn't want. One day, if i heard "no me want to" one more time, I probably would have hurt somebody! And like tonight, we went to down town disney for a little while, and he HAD to hold his sunglasses, and have the hood of his sweatshirt on his head... the whole time! hilarious, and so cute that he is becoming his own little person! He loves to mimic Jude's every move too, which is adorable, and kinda scary at the same time! He's really into Toy Story right now, and grandma bought him his very own Sheriff Woody doll... which he LOVES! He's sleeping great too, and it feels like so long ago that i would PLEAD with God to help him sleep through the night. My little boy is growing up so fast.


Isaac is sitting up now, and kind of army crawling around a little bit. He's really good about sitting up, and playing with toys by himself. He lasts even longer at that when his big brother is close by to entertain him :) He's really a happy baby, and is very interactive now. He fake coughs now, and smiles easily, to most people ;) he's been having separation anxiety a bit with me... but I'm pretty sure that's normal. He LOVES to pull my hair and bite my chin... and now that he has teeth, it hurts a lot! He has 7 teeth all together. He's eating fruits and veggies, and is not picky at all. He started to self feed too, with baby puffs and some of those Gerber yogurt melts. and of course, thinks it's so funny to throw them off of his high chair too! I call him my wet noodle, because he loves to just throw his body backwards and hang upside down... i could just squeeze him!! It's really fun to see the differences in their personalities.



Jude and I are doing well too. I've realized how important it is to stay connected as a married couple when you have little ones. It can happen so easily, because you're busy with the kids, and then tired after the kids are in bed! We do our best to make time for each other... even if it's just chatting before bed time, or something like that.

Life with two kids is much different than just one. I remember being told that while i was pregnant with Isaac, but you really don't get it, until you're there for yourself. Some days i find myself barely hanging on... and then other days, it's great! thank goodness my parents are close by! A lot of days, while jude is at work, I'll retreat over to their house, just to get a breather... and to have extra arms around to help me! Don't get me wrong, I love my kids! So very much. But some days are tough :) I try to remind myself to cherish every second, whether it's good or bad, because before I know it, my two little baby boys will be grown. And, I'll probably even miss these years!

Anyway... That's where we're at!

They are best friends already :)

growing boys...

well... where do i start? It's been very busy for us. Joshua's birthday party was great, we moved the first week of June, Isaac weighs 22 pounds, and now we are getting ready to leave on vacation tomorrow.

Josh is such a big kid, and amazes me how much he's grown! He's saying sentences now, and talking all the time! he'll say little catch phrases like: "watch this" or "oh man" too, which is so funny. he pretty much repeats everything he hears now, which is very dangerous! he loves our new house, and is outside all the time. It's so great that i don't have to worry about our pool anymore. He LOVES his baby brother so much, and always likes to help mommy take care of him ;) Discipline has been tough at times, but i really think he's catching on! ha! you know what they say about terrible twos! He's not really showing any interest in going potty on the big boy potty, so i'm not in any hurry. He's gone pee on the potty a couple times, and thinks that's pretty cool... but that's about it. he continues to impress us with his athletic skills :) He dribbles the basketball, and plays baseball... oh and football is one of his favorites. It's hard for me to get him out of his bronco jersey!

Isaac is such a sweetheart. He is big too! ha! Off the charts, and the nurse laughs every time we weigh him! He's wearing 12 month clothing now, and just cute as can be. He goes to sleep on his own now... i started quite a bit earlier with him than i did josh. I think i learned my lesson! he sleeps great at night, and naps are kind of hit or miss, it depends on the day i guess. He has TWO bottom teeth now, and loves to chew on everything. He just recently started "yelling"... that's the best way i know how to describe it. He just wants to be heard :) He's very easy going, and loves his big brother. He also loves daddy very much, and smiles at him all the time. Everybody else has to work for smiles from Isaac, but not daddy :) He's growing up so fast, and I find myself enjoying the stages more with Isaac, because i've learned through josh, that they don't last long at all.

We moved in June, and we absolutely love our new house. Once we were settled in, we couldn't think of anything that we missed about the old house... and that's a good feeling. We're in a great neighborhood, and we've made it our home. And, it is pretty cool to have such a great view from our backyard too!

Tomorrow, we leave for WA state! This will be both Josh and Isaac's first plane ride... and i'd be lying if i said i wasn't a little bit nervous about it! It's only a 2 1/2 hour flight, so i'm hoping they do well, and that we're not "those people" who have screaming kids on the plane! :) I'm really looking forward to my family meeting my boys, and for them to meet their great grandpa Zollner too. I think it'll be a great time, i am really looking forward to it!

Until next time :)

sorry, i tried to add photos, but it's not working right... I'll try again soon :)