5 Months!

Here I am, 5 months pregnant. I took this picture a week late because my camera has been broken. I had to use my camcorder to take the picture. This past month was a whirlwind of emotions... I just couldn't stop crying when I would start! Ah, hormones. Gotta love 'em. Lee has been a huge help with this. He just listens and gives me hugs. Then I'm better.

Anyway, things are going really well. The baby has been very centralized these past couple of weeks and I feel lots of movement from the inside. I felt my first kick with my hand the other day which was cool. I have even felt the baby have hiccups a couple of times :) We are scheduling an ultrasound sometime in the next 5 weeks or so to see the position of the baby and all that jazz. We aren't finding out the sex of the baby, though. Don't get your hopes up! (Secretly, I am dying to know.)

We have the nursery half-way completed... and the boys are getting really excited about having a baby in the house. They now think it will be a baby sister :) They always ask me what the baby will sound like, look like, and when he/she will be here. It is fun answering all of their questions and seeing them get so excited.

Until next month... may my belly get bigger and the baby stronger!

Valentine's Day 2009

I had the BEST Valentine's day ever this year! I am not just saying that... I really did.

Lee started off my day by having a massage therapist come to our house and give me a 90 minute massage! He helped her set up the massage table in our family room, started a fire in the fireplace, and then took the boys to breakfast and to run some errands. How nice is that? I enjoyed my massage sooo much and really needed it. Lee told me that he is going to have her come back one more time before I have this baby to give me another 90 minute massage! I can't wait.

When the massage was finished the boys walked in. Krue was carrying a dozen beautiful red roses and gave them to me. Kiefer handed me a cute card that Lee helped them pick out. They had recorded their voices on the card saying things like, "Happy Valentine's Day, Mom. I love you." It is precious.

All day long I was showered with compliments from he boys... "Mom, you the best." "I love you all the way to outer space!" "Your the best Mom in the whole world!". "Your pretty, Mom." I don't know if anyone told them to compliment me all day... but somehow they knew. They made me feel like the best mom in the world.

That evening Lee and I got dressed up and went to a Valentine's day Habanera Party at the Country Club. Heath, Amy, Neal, and Melanie were there, too. There was great food, socializing, and dancing. It was fun! Lee gave a really really good toast, too.

I don't know if the boys could ever top this Valentine's day again. It was perfect!

I love the special men in my life.

Birthday Party/Welcome Home Party

On February 7th we had a birthday celebration for my mom, Amy, and I. This was an extra special celebration because my grandma (Mamaw) was released from the hospital that day! Mamaw went into the hospital several days before this complaining of an irregular heart rate. They kept her in the hospital for monitoring and tests. At one point she was transferred by ambulance to Lutheran Hospital for a procedure to check the "plumbing" of her heart. All looked good! She was released on beta blockers until they can figure out was is causing the unpredictable arrhythmia. The beta blockers make her feel tired and not as peppy as she normally is.

We were so excited and thankful to have her home. It was a happy occasion indeed!

(The following pictures are off of my mom's camera. For some reason they won't enlarge. You'll have to click on them to get a better view.)

Mamaw and I enjoying a little chat.

Mamaw and her children. Dwight drove here from Virginia, and David drove from Chicago when they found out Mamaw was in the hospital.

Throwing together a spur-of-the-moment birthday meal.

Cute picture of Amy, Lee and Chris.

Amy, Mom, and I blowing out our birthday candles (with the boy's help).

Opening presents...Peace.

A shot of some of the people at the party.

The Carpool Crew!

Yes, I take these turkeys to preschool and pick them up every Monday and Wednesday. We get lots of comments when we are walking in, hand-in-hand. It is cute! The kids enjoy riding to school together and like to watch and sing "Veggie Tales". Lauren and Krue like to help me pick up Kiefer and Graham in their classroom after school... Kiefer and Graham run and hug each of them excitedly. Lauren is a big help with getting the younger boy's coats on. When the preschool teachers see these four walking out together they say things like, "Boy that is a spirited group" or "You've got your hands full!" or "I'll bet that group keeps you hopping." Yes, this group of personalities keeps me moving, laughing, and learning for sure :)

Kiefer is 3 Years Old!

Wow. I can't believe my little man turned 3 years old on January 29th. That time went so fast! Kiefer had such a dramatic entrance into this world... he had to endure some pretty tough stuff at a very young age... NICU, breathing treatments, asthma, lots of allergies. We feel so blessed that Kiefer has overcame almost all of these things! He is now a very, very healthy boy who is super smart and LOVES life. What more could we ask for?

Here are some fun facts about Kiefer at the age of 3:

Personality

-Wakes up every morning and comes down the stairs (with a different stuffed animal each time) saying a cheerful, "Good Morning, Mommy!"

-Very social, lots of energy, and likes to go. Kiefer asks me every morning, "Where are we going today, Mommy?"

-Such a good cuddler and hugger! He is always ready to give anyone who wants one a hug.

-When Kiefer gets hurt he runs directly to his Mommy :)

-Is a great eater... but no thank you on the veggies.

-Kiefer is so kind, polite, and loves to share.

-If something doesn't go the way Kiefer thinks it is going to go (Ex. going to bed instead of playing with Daddy some more) we will see the waterworks. He is pretty happy most of the time.

-Kiefer puts a smile on everyone's face. He lights up a room.

-Is a nurturer... "Mommy, I'll go get my animals and rub your back so you can feel better. Okay?"

-Is so ticklish!

-Loves to laugh... and we love his laugh!

Likes

-Stuffed Animals, Music, Cars, Books, Sports, and the Wii.

-Putting a blanket on the ground and cuddling on it.

-Accessories!

-LOVES his brother, Krue. They are best buds. They crack each other up and get along so well.

-Cute animals.

-Babies.

-Dancing to music.

-Sparring and wrestling his Daddy and brother.

-Cuddling with his Mommy on the couch.

-Back rubs.

-Coloring, Cutting, and Painting.

-Making messes.

-Going places and seeing people.

-Cheese! We have nicknamed him, "Cheese-fer".

-Birthday parties.

-Pictures!

Dislikes

-Runny noses and coughs.

-Dill Pickles.

-Vegetables.

-Any food that is too hot (temperature).

-Feeling alone.

-When other people are sad and crying.

-Not being able to go outside and play.

-Staying at home all day long.

-Going to bed.

Talents

-Very coordinated.

-High kicker and fast runner.

-Flexible.

-Remembers people's faces and names.

-Can recognize all of his classmates names by himself.

-Can count to 20.

-Knows all of the letters and what they sound like.

-Gets along well with everyone.

-Is an orange belt in taekwondo!

-Knows how to snow ski and drive a jet ski :)

-Can recognize different types of cars as we are driving down the road.

Moving Up In Rank!

In the beginning of January, Krue and Kiefer both moved up in rank in their Taekwondo classes. Kiefer tested out of his white belt and into an orange belt (and he wasn't even 3 year old!) Krue tested out of his camo belt and into a green belt. We keep all of the belts they have tested out of on a plaque on their bedroom wall... so they were very excited and proud to add their new additions to this plaque.

Mr. Steinman presenting Kiefer with his new orange belt. When Kiefer was called up for the belt he exclaimed, "Mom, I get my orange belt!"

Miss Madi is one of the student helpers in Kiefer's class. Kiefer LOVES Miss Madi and I think Miss Madi is pretty fond of Kiefer, too. She drew Kiefer a picture for his birthday which was so cute.

A very proud Kiefer.

Krue at home with his new green belt!

Checking it out.

Showing me some moves.

And one final pose.

Kiefer had to get in on the action and show me some of his moves, too.