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

14 weeks (and 4 days): Belly & The Mom-Mobile!

Today I am 14 weeks and 4 days along (with 178 days to go) in this pregnancy and everything is still smooth sailing! The mild queasiness that I had early on is gone but I am still feeling pretty tired. I think that has more to do with the extremely active 16 month old who loves to get into trouble than the actual pregnancy.

I am showing now so I decided to take the first belly shot of this pregnancy (taken yesterday)


I am also excited to show off our new purchase. I am now the proud owner of a Mom-Mobile (otherwise known as a 2010 Toyota Sienna). I felt like a kid on Christmas morning when I finally go to drive it off the lot and it was mine! It will be nice having all the extra space when Baby Squishy makes his entrance this spring!

Shaun+Refried Beans= HUGE MESS!

What can I say, he LOVED them!

12 Weeks: Baby Squishy's First Portrait Session

Today we had our first ultrasound. It was a long 12 weeks, since with my two prior pregnancies I had already had ultrasounds done at this point. Everything looked great and Baby Squishy is measuring exactly on schedule at 12 weeks. I am feeling tired still, but I'm looking forward to that 2nd trimester boost. Thankfully, the queasiness I was feeling early on has subsided. It was something that I never experienced with David and Shaun and I have to say that it was not pleasant.

David is excited about the baby. He'll say "Mommy, there is a baby in your belly". He also says it is a boy baby because he wants another Shaun. We have had a conversation where he has told us his new "brother's" name. Went something like this:

David: Mommy where is the baby?
Me: You know where the baby is.
David: In your belly!
Me: That is right, is it a girl baby or a boy baby?
David: It's a boy baby, his name is Trouble!
Me: Trouble?!
David: YES!

Turns out after hearing him say the baby's "name" over and over he was saying CHARLES. From the back seat of the car it sounded like Trouble which he now thinks is hilarious! We're trying to explain to him that Charles is Daddy's name and we're going to pick a new name for the baby.

We also found out today that there is a very good chance that David will be getting his wish for another brother. During the scan the tech showed us the legs and I hear Charlie behind me say, "Am I seeing boy parts there?" The tech went back to take a look and, sure enough, there was "something" there. She agreed with Charlie's assessment of what that "something" was but wouldn't say with 100% confidence, since it is still very early and that it might "retract". I'm not sure if that would be a good thing either, though - retracted boy parts... Regardless, Charlie is convinced of what he saw and he now has me convinced. We'll know for sure the Monday before Thanksgiving.

Here are Baby Squishy's first pictures!




The creepy 3D image:

The Big E

This weekend we (along with the Stacks) headed to West Springfield, MA to go to the Big E. If you are not familiar with this it's a HUGE fair out in Western MA. It's probably as big as the Topsfield & Deerfield fairs combined.

The original plan was to go to the fair on Saturday, spend the night in a hotel, and head home on Sunday. Mother Nature had other plans, however, so we used Saturday as a fun day at the hotel and went to the fair today! The kids had a blast at the hotel. Honestly, I think they had more fun at the hotel than they did at the fair! We stayed at the Homewood Suties in Holyoke and, thanks to Brian, really lucked out with the rooms we got! We even got to take the kids swimming in the indoor pool!





Thankfully the Stacks were able to switch their room to the one across the hall. The way the rooms were designed we were able to put our boys in the bedroom shut the door and hang out in the living room area. The Stacks came over and we just left the two doors open. It was nice to be able to have some adult time while the children slept! In the morning we enjoyed the free continental breakfast before heading over to the fair.



This was my first time going to the Big E. I was very impressed. There was a lot of interesting food, vendors and the kids enjoyed the rides!









And of course no fair would be complete without seeing the animals. An Alpaca even gave David a kiss! I was sad I didn't have my camera ready for that one but he was so excited.

Fun with Shaving Cream!

I know that Tic Tac Splat is supposed to be messy but was that really necessary David!

And Baby Makes FIVE!

You read that right! We are expecting baby #3 and come spring (April 23, 2010 to be exact) we'll be a family of five! Today was my first appointment and it went very well. I was a little sad that I didn't get to see Baby Squishy via ultrasound. They do not do them at the office so I'll have to wait until my first trimester ultrasound which will be about two weeks from now.



The news was a bit of a shock to us as we did not expect this to happen so quickly! It's a little overwhelming but we are also very excited as this will be the last baby for us! Cross you fingers for that GIRL!!