33-1/2 Weeks: Closer But Not Close Enough

Holy HUGE Belly Batman!!

I swear there is only ONE baby in there! It's hard to tell people I still have 6.5 more weeks of this because I am SO HUGE! They are polite enough to not say anything but you can tell by the shocked look on their faces!

I cannot even begin to tell you how ready I am to be done. I am so completely over this pregnancy. It's has been much harder being a full time Mommy AND being pregnant than it was to sit in an office for 40 hours a week (as I did with my previous two pregnancies).

I think it's pretty obvious how tired I have been just from looking at the picture. I blame the anemia and a 21 month old named Shaun who never stops moving. I also haven't been able to get very comfortable at night. And then, when I do finally get to sleep, my mind doesn't seem to shut off and so I have been having some really bizarre dreams.

Rumor has it that it's Mother Natures way of preparing you for the "sleepless" nights that come with having a newborn...well news flash Mother Nature...this is not my first rodeo and I remember what sleepless nights are like and therefore do not need to be "prepared". If it is all the same to you, I just assume get my sleep now! Thanks!

AI: Girls Round 2

Last night the girls sang and I was so happy to see that Crystal was released from the hospital to preform. Season 9 NEEDS her! I have to say that I enjoyed last night. There were some train wrecks (*cough* Haley) and some really bad song choices (*cough* Didi) but overall it was really great.

My Top 3:

1. Siobhan Magnus: She was hands down my favorite of the night. I think it's because her song was upbeat and she totally nailed that note. I want to see more of her. I think she is super quirky and as Simon says, "very interesting".

2. Crystal Bowersox: From the beginning she has been one of my favorites. I love the tone of her voice and I think she is an amazing performer. She is definitely one of the front runners.

3. Lilly Scott: Similar to Crystal, she has a very unique style and I like watching her. I agree with the judges when they say she is great because she knows the type of artist she wants to be.

Honorable Mention:
I am giving an honorable mention to Katlyn Epperly strictly because I really liked her performance of Coldplay last night. Yes it was slow, but everything else about it was amazing. If she upped the tempo just a touch, it would have been my number one.

The Weakest Links:

1. Haley Vaughn: That was a train wreck, and every painful, awkward second of that song I spent feeling bad for her.

2. Lacey Brown: While her performance was a vast improvement over last weeks, and I love her voice, it just can't compare to the other ladies in this competition right now. I do not see her in the top 12.

3. Michelle Delamor: The judges seemed to like her. I just didn't. I know part of it was song choice. That song makes me throw up in my mouth every time I hear it regardless of who is doing the singing and what the arrangement sounds like. I don't think she'll go this week but she doesn't get me all fired up wanting to vote for her so that is why she makes it in my bottom three.

So my predictions for who is going home tonight (even though last week I was 1 for 4) are:

1. Jermaine Sellers
2. John Park

1. Haley Vaughn
2. Lacey Brown

Let's see how wrong I am tonight! I'll read about it tomorrow morning.

AI: Guys Round 2

I have to admit that I was shocked to read (yes read...I can't stand the result show and never watch) who was voted out last week. So it won't surprise you to see that the same lousy singers in my bottom three last week are going to be there this week too!

My top 3:

1. Lee Dewyze: I think I love him. He needs to be a little less deer in the head lights but his voice is just amazing! He actually reminds me a lot like Elliot Yamin (he was in the top three and he always had that deer in the headlights, terrified, nervous look). Best of the night, hands down!

2. Andrew Garcia: I am still a fan, though I agree with the judges that he may be going backwards. I liked last weeks song much better but his voice is awesome and so if he can just step it up he'll be really great.

3. Alex "The Mullet" Lambert: So he gets the award for most improved and I laughed out loud when Ellen used her "banana" analogy again. I really enjoyed him even though I am still having a hard time getting past the mullet.

The Weakest Links:

1. Jermaine Sellers: All I can say is OH. MY. LORD. I am still scratching my head over how he managed to make it to the next round. It was painful (again). I mean seriously, am I missing something with this guy?

2. Aaron Kelly: Yeah...I said it. OK I get it, he is 16 and yes he can sing, but holy crap, did his Mom pick out that song? I mean really. I couldn't even sit through it. It was awful. I was shocked that the judges liked it. Within 20 seconds I was done. That was the first time since watching this show that I actually used the FF button on my DVR during a performance. That was just too much for me. I couldn't stand the cheese factor.

3. John Park: He reminds me of Anoop (from last year) minus the charm and charisma. Because he lacks the charisma that Anoop had he simply just bores me to tears.

American Idol - Season 9 - Top 12 BOYS

So last night it was the boys turn. Overall, and I know I am in the minority, I enjoyed the boys over the girls. I am hoping, though, that nerves are a big factor in how mediocre both nights were compared to years past. So, on that note here are my picks for top three and bottom three.

My Top Three:
1. Andrew Garcia: He's been my favorite out of anyone since his first audition. I completely disagreed with the judges on that one. I LOVED his song. It was definitely my favorite of the night.

2. Casey Jones: He is not my favorite but his performance was one of the best of the night. He has a very cool voice and I am sure he'll do well in the weeks to come.

3. Lee Dewyze: I honestly don't remember this guy much during the Hollywood rounds but man I LOVED his voice and became a fast fan. Probably not the best song choice but I thought it was really solid. There were some very boring performances and that was not one of them!

The Weakest Links:
1. Jermaine Sellers: This guy was the worst of BOTH nights, if you ask me. That was painful to sit through. If this guy doesn't go home then I'll be scratching my head.

2. John Park: He gets the award for worst song choice of the night. That was just the most bizarre choice of song. He has a really good voice but he may have blown it with that song choice.

3. Alex Lambert: It was a close call between him and Tim Urban but I am choosing Lambert because he was so awkward to watch. Sure he has a decent voice, and even though Tim Urban couldn't hit the high notes well, I felt so uncomfortable watching Alex. My other issue with Alex was that I couldn't get past the mullet. All I could think watching him was, "DUDE, get a haircut!"

My predictions for the four going home would this week are:

BOYS:
1. Jermaine Sellers
2. John Park

GIRLS:
1. Ashley Rodriguez
2. Lacey Brown

American Idol - Season 9 - Top 12 GIRLS

It is that time of year again. I am finally glad that we're on to the live preformances. For this round I have chosen to list my top three and bottom three, because frankly I am too lazy to analyze all 24 contestants!

Last night the girls sang and while no one blew me away there were three that stood out above the rest, in my opinion. So without further ado:

My top three:
1. Crystal Bowersox - she sang Alanis and I get what the judges said about her being almost copy cat but, in my opinion she has the most potential out of any contestant.

2. Didi Benami - I LOVE her voice. She has that the singer songwriter voice that I can get on board with and I could see myself singing along with one of her singles in my car. It also helps that she didn't sob like a newborn baby during the judges critique.

3. Siobhan Magnus - not only is she a hometown girl, but she has a very powerful voice without sounding DIVA-ish (ie: Beyonce, Mariah, Jennifer Hudson). Was it the best song to showcase her? Probably not, but I remember her "haunting" song choice more than any other performance of the night.

Weakest Links:
1. Ashley Rodriguez - I want to like her, first she is gorgeous and she's another hometown girl (right next door in Chelsea even). That being said based on what I had seen during the auditions that was a HORRIBLE song choice and made her sound very weak, IMO.

2. Lacey Brown - Another one I want to like. I LOVE her voice. I LOVE it. But SNOOZE with the choice of Landslide.

3. Paige Miles - She is completely (to use a Simon-ism) forgettable in my book. Not the worst but definitely not the best either. At least I remember the worst singers performances. I don't remember her performance AT. ALL. so that can't be a good thing for her. I don't think she'll be going home but she needs to do something major to help me remember her next week.

Project Organize!

So as I mentioned in a previous post, I have been working on organizing the toys into toys bins and Sterilite Ultra Latch bins, and I am happy to report that it's almost complete! I have taken photographs of each bin (thanks to the Mailloux's) and used paint pens to write what goes in each bin. I feel pretty confident that we'll be able to keep the clutter better organized. Now when David picks up his toys at the end of the night, they will go neatly in the proper bin instead of being tossed all together in one box. Eventually, we'll start having Shaun clean up too, but for now it's more trouble than it's worth.

30 Weeks: Shamu's Got Nothing on Me!

Friday marked 30 weeks. We are coming into the home stretch (assuming we have this baby on schedule which we all know doesn't happen!). Everything still going smoothly. I am now seeing the doctor every two weeks and have actually scheduled the rest of my appointments.

On Wednesday I go in for another ultrasound. I love seeing Squishy on the "TV". I was hoping the reason for all these ultrasounds (every six weeks) was because I am considered to be V.I.P since the Doc works at the hospital, sadly however, it's just because I am OLD and FAT! *insert laugh track here*

Yup. Now that THREE is the first number of my age, I am considered slightly more high risk. Then add my BMI into the mix and well...they just want to make sure Baby Evan is growing as he should be! So far so good, and it's no skin off my back. It's been nice seeing him so much!

Not only do I get to see him more but this guy is a mover and a shaker. Not only does he kick, but he shifts from side to side, making himself all comfy cozy, not exactly comfy cozy for Mommy! He has adapted the Rock's signature move, giving me that people's elbow at least twice a day! I did find out at my last appointment he is head down so lets keep our fingers crossed that he stays that way.

Happy Valentine's Day

Today we had our Valentine's Day party at the Rec Center. It was a blast (as always!). It was a breakfast this time which was a nice change and the food came out great! Even though Shaun is still young to understand all this; it was fun making out Valentine's for him and going through his mailbox after the party! David, of course, loved making out his own Valentine's this year and passing them out! He even got his BFF Briana a rose because you're never too young to be a gentleman!

28 Weeks and 12 to Go!

We have entered the final stretch, the third trimester. In 12 short weeks (OK more like 14 but whatever!) our sweet Evan will be making his grand entrance! I feel pretty good. My belly looks as though there is more than one in there. It's MUCH bigger than both my previous pregnancies. I am starting to worry I am going to have a 10 pounder!

I am still exhausted. I never got that second trimester energy and it only seems to be getting worse as the time goes on. Oh well, thankfully I have a wonderful husband who doesn't mind eating take out Chinese food on a regular basis! In my defense I have been battling this nasty cough going on three weeks now.

It's disappointing though, because I REALLY need this whole nesting instinct to kick in. Sadly, though, I don't think my genetic make up is conducive to nesting. I did, however, start a project to help get the toys organized into bins. I started this on Monday and it's not even close to being done. The little that has been done was mostly with the Doc's help! Perhaps someday I'll get organized!

Transition FAIL

On Friday we decided that since the new mattress arrived we would set up the new toddler bed and begin the transition of Shaun into (a) a big boy bed and (b) sharing a room with his older brother.

The Doc put the bed together and I put on the new bedding. Here are the boys checking it out.








7:30pm...time for bed...or is it?!


Shaun LOVED his newfound freedom a little too much. Our plan was to put Shaun to bed at 7:30 and then we would bring David up at his 8pm bedtime. However, Shaun never fell asleep. Once David got into his bed and we shut the door, Shaun climbed out of his bed and right into David's bed. Shaun thought it was great, he could get out of bed and play! We tried putting him back into his bed and rubbing his back so he would fall asleep, but eventually we just had to put him in his crib. The first night it was 10pm before he fell asleep. Night two, yielded the same bad results and by 9:30pm he was back in his crib.

We decided to try moving the toddler bed back into his old room, hoping that we could at least get him used to the bed without interrupting David's sleep. The first night was a SUCCESS! Tonight is the third night in his new bed I am starting to feel very optomistic that he will be transitioned before Evan arrives!!!

David on Ice!

Today we took David ice skating for the first time. The place we went to has crates that the kids can use to help them balance. Within a half hour he was feeling very confident and was able to push around the crate very well! I think it helped that his BFF was there who is has been skating for a couple months now. The kids had a blast nad maybe next time we can even let Shaun give it a try!

Maybe They Should Say Trot & Drew:

Santa brought the boys personalized chairs for Christmas but after the boys go to bed the cats make themselves at home.



It's good thing the slip covers are machine washable. I am anticipating them to be covered in cat hair very soon!

6 Months: A Total Blur!

I woke up Friday morning, 24 weeks pregnant, and thought to myself - it's been 6 months already?! I thought Shaun's pregnancy went by pretty fast, but this one has been a complete blur. It's hard to believe that in just three short months we'll be getting ready to meet Baby Evan.

Evan is as active as I remember Shaun being, if not more. The Doc jokes that it's correlated to the increased caffeine intake from each pregnancy. With David, I only drank coffee during the last three months and only during the work week. With Shaun, I was drinking a Medium Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee every work day from day one and then sometimes on the weekends. With Evan, I am drinking a LARGE Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee every single day! What can I say, I need my caffeine more than ever these days.

With the 6th month came the heartburn. Let me say that I did not miss this. I had some really bad heartburn with David starting around now but with Shaun it was occasional and not nearly as bad. Evan is proving to be more like his oldest brother David. It has me wondering if the old wives tale will continue to prove true. The worse the heartburn the more hair the baby has at birth! It was true for David and Shaun, so if Baby Evan has a head full of hair like David did then I will be sold!

Today I got to see Baby Evan again. It must be this hospital's policy to do a scan every six weeks, because I have another one scheduled mid-February. The girl who did the scan got a really neat picture of Evan's face in 3D. It was kind of cool, I must admit. Normally I feel like they look all weird and alien like but this shows his eyes, nose and lips so perfectly!

Baby Evan in 3D


Everything is measuring pefectly and they estimated that he is now 1lb 11oz., though the Doc would tell you that it's not even close to an exact science! It is always fun to see our little man squirming around.

Here is his profile picture with his foot by his face:

White Christmas!

Looks like we'll have our white Christmas after all! Sunday we were hit by a massive winter storm. The south shore was hit real bad getting up to 2 feet in some places, while we ended up with a little under a foot.

The Doc had to work all day Sunday and since the boys and I were snowed in I decided to bundle them up and take them outside to play!



David LOVES the snow, he loves sledding and throwing snowballs (thanks, Uncle John).



Shaun...not so much! It probably didn't help that he refused to keep his mittens on and when he fell his hands got cold.




It was hard not to laugh at his meltdown. Poor kid...he was so mad at me that he decided to throw one of his famous tantrums (the kind where he falls to his belly and puts his face to the floor). He didn't take into account the snow on the ground this time and white-washed himself. I think he'll find he likes the snow if he keeps his mittens on!

Shaun - 18 Months!

Today was Shaun's 18 month check up. He was a completely different child today! What a difference 3 months makes because this time he was laughing and smiling instead of screaming and crying!

Everything looked good. He is still behind on his speech but getting better and he is trying to say more and more words. He has his own way of communicating with us so he is not as frustrated as he was 3 months ago. As far as Shaun is concerned talking is overrated anyway! He would much rather climb into his own high chair using our kitchen table! He is also bigger than David was at 18 months, so David better watch out because Shaun is going to tower over him soon!




Shaun's 18 month stats:

Height: 2' 9" (or 33 inches) = 70th percentile
Weight: 25lbs 15oz = 50th percentile

David: Future Baby Doc?!

Ever since David was a doctor for Halloween he has been obsessed with everything medical. When he sees the Doc wearing his white coat...he says: "Mommy, Daddy is a doctor and I am a doctor!". He likes to check our blood pressure and our ears using his "doctor tools".

Today I had an appointment with the "Baby Doctor". This is only the second time seeing him, since every other appointment I see the Nurse Practitioner. He's really nice, but I've only met him once, so I didn't really have any particular feelings on if I would like him as my doctor. Well today he won me over! This was the first time I had to bring David to my appointment, since normally I can schedule them when he has playgroup or school so that I only have to bring Shaun.

He was very interested in the equipment he saw in the office, and my efforts to tell him NOT to touch anything went unheard. When the doctor walked in David started talking to him right away. He told him about how he was a doctor for Halloween and that he brought in his sheep that he got at a birthday party yesterday. He just kept right on talking. The OB was great and asked him questions, and even asked if he would like to use that Doppler that David couldn't stop eyeing!

His eyes lit up and so he hopped up onto the table waited for the Med student to squeeze the "jelly" on my belly. He then went to town trying to find that heartbeat! It didn't take him long, either, and when he heard the sound I had described to him earlier (whoosh, whoosh, whoosh) that morning he smiled so big at me. He was so proud of himself! The doc just let him keep on moving it around while he asked me some questions and we finished up the appointment. He was in heaven! It totally made his day, and he couldn't wait for Daddy to get home so he could tell him what he got to do at the doctors office!

We have another formal ultrasound in a couple weeks, and he'll get to come to that one (I didn't bring him to the first one). I think he's going to get a kick out of seeing the baby this time!

20 Weeks: Halfway There!

It's hard to believe that we are halfway to meeting baby Evan. It seems like yesterday I was just finding out that we were expecting. My pregnancies are (thankfully) so uneventful, that sometimes I forget I am even pregnant. I look forward to that first feeling of movement because it helps make it that much more real to me.

I remembered that with Shaun I felt him move just after our 18 week scan. I was hoping the same thing would happen this time as well. A couple days after our ultrasound I felt Evan move! This is the third time going through this and it still catches me off guard. It's the weirdest feeling, but also a really neat feeling!

The next big milestone will be when other people can feel him moving. I am pretty sure that won't happen until about 25 weeks but I don't really remember.

Trim Up the Tree With Christmas Stuff...

Friday was a lazy day, where the boys and I stayed in our jammies all day! It was pouring rain and there was no way I wanted to venture out to the stores with the boys in tow on Black Friday. The Doc had to work but decided to go in a little later so we decided it would be the perfect time to clean up and put up our tree! I thought for sure we would only have room for our small 3' tree. Last years spot is home to our treadmill and we can't exactly move that anywhere else but thanks to the Doc's furniture rearranging, he was able to make a spot for our big tree!

The boys putting up the tree


Shaun trying to help!


David fluffing out the branches!


On Saturday night after we put Shaun to bed David helped me put up the ornaments while the Doc worked some other decorations.



Putting up the Angel


David showing off his hard work


It's my favorite time of year, the smell of chimney smoke in the air, the lights, the music and seeing all the decorations around the city. Now all we needs is some snow!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thanksgiving weekend is coming to a close and it was another great one! Thursday we had turkey at my parents house and today we had turkey at the Doc's Aunts house on the cape! I love having TWO Turkey Days!



We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

It's BOY number THREE!!

What can I say...we're good at making BOYS! We had our ultrasound today and confirmed what we saw at the 12 week ultrasound, that baby number three is in fact another BOY! He is perfect and healthy and really that is all that matters!

He was not cooperating very well but at least he showed us the goods. I was a little sad that we didn't get a good profile picture like I got with David and Shaun. I found out though, that I get to go back in 6 weeks for another ultrasound so that is neat. Maybe I'll get a better picture then!



As we have done in the past we have chosen his name, so from this point forward Baby Squishy will be known as Evan Michael. David is so excited that he's getting, as he puts it, another Shaun!

18 Weeks: BIG Fall (you could say it's a hat trick)

And by hat trick I mean, I have now had a major fall in all three pregnancies. The first fall I was 21 weeks along with David and somehow rolled my ankle on a wood chip. The second fall I was 15 weeks along with Shaun and slipped on the wet floor after coming off the El. I do not know what my problem is with staying on two feet while pregnant. It's actually a little ridiculous.

Here is what happened. Yesterday I was cleaning up after lunch and turned around to head back into the kitchen where I slipped on David's sweatshirt that he had taken off. It couldn't have just been a graceful fall on my butt, no, I fell hard on my hip after my arm got caught in trashcan cover, spilling some contents of the trash out all over me. I mean, really. I hurt all over.

It was just me and the boys when it happened but that doesn't help the ego, I still feel like the biggest klutz. My arm has a huge bruise where it scrapped against the trash cover, and I have a slight limp. Not to sound like a drama queen, but it feels like I might need a hip replacement (OK, it's not really that bad but man it hurts like hell!).

I got ZERO sympathy from the Doc who laughed at me (again) while calling me a FEEB for the rest of the night. This was the worst of the three falls, I am banged up and bruised and this time it's more than just my ego.

As you can see from the picture above I am HUGE! I feel so much bigger this time around, but I am going to chalk it up to the fact that it's the third time my body has endured this. Other than the fall this has so far been another uneventful pregnancy. Monday is our big ultrasound and we'll find out for sure if Baby Squishy is in fact a boy like we have thought since our 12 week scan.

School Pictures

Last Friday David had his school pictures taken. I can't wait to see how the class picture comes out. The kids in his class are just so cute. I took this picture of David with his BFF after the pictures. They are growing up so fast.



David is learning so much in school. Next Tuesday we get to go early to hear them sing us a Thanksgiving song! I am going to take a video so be on the lookout!

Leaf Pile Fun

Last week at Grammy and Papa's house, the boys had some fun outside playing in the leaves.

Only a Matter of Time...

Before we end up in the ER with Shaun. He climbs up onto the coffee table, climbs the ladders at the park, tries to walk up and down the stairs and (as you can see from the picture below) likes to climb up on the couch and sit on the window sill.

Halloween 2009

Well another Halloween has come and gone. This year the David was a Doctor (just like Daddy, he said) and Shaun was the Pillsbury Doughboy (except most people thought he was a ghost because he refused to wear the hat).

We had lost of Halloween fun this year. First was the Fright Night on the 25th. It's run by the city and there were bounce houses, pony rides, free pizza, music and more. The boys had a blast.

David in the bounce house


Shaun with his BFF Alexis in the haystacks


David and his BFF Briana


On Thursday (the 29th) was David's Halloween party for School. The parents were able to come inside and quickly take pictures of the kids dressed up. Everyone looked so cute. Here is a picture of David and his BFF Briana after the party was over.


Saturday was our busy day with our Halloween party at the Rec in the morning and then off t0 NH for some trick or treating with the Stack's. This was Shaun's first year going door to door for candy. Last year he was just my little baby, being carried around in the BabyBjörn!

David and the Great Pumpkin at the Halloween Party



Me & Shaun at the Rec


David with his Dracula mask, he won it in a game!


The gang before heading out for CANDY!


Trick or Treating in NH