As Promised ...

37.5 Weeks

Doctor's Report

As of yesterday ...

I'm 1 cm dilated, still 50% effaced, and the baby's head is "really wedged down in there." No wonder my hips have felt completely out of wack the past week. The doctor said I could stay here for a while, or I could have the baby any time. :)

It's kind of funny. Every appointment towards the end, I secretly hope the doctor will send me directly to the hospital and say I'm having this baby now. Then, on the way home I realize that I'm actually going to have to bring this baby HOME with me afterwards and be up all night with it and I feel perfectly content waiting the extra few weeks until my actual due date. I think all the waiting is just such a tease.

Jon has finals this week, so I've been instructed to hold off on going into labor until he's finished. I'm sure that won't be a problem. :) Then he has an entire 2 weeks off until he starts his next class. YAHOO!!!! I cannot wait to have him all to ourselves again for a little while, with no school work hanging over his head! He has been INSANELY busy for the past several weeks. Which pretty much makes me INSANE as well. Only 2 more years of this craziness ...

Okay, that's all for now! B-Mama, along with my nesting hormones, has inspired me to get a little spring cleaning done. I made of list of things to do in each room ... and it's 5 pages long! Better get going! (p.s. I'm going to save the baseboards until I'm DESPERATE to get this baby out -- all the squatting down is sure to help things along!)

TTFN!

37 Weeks and Counting

Holy. Cow.

I'm now at the 37 week mark, which means:

1) My baby is officially full term

2) I officially feel like a cow

No belly shots this week, but I can assure you that I'm huge ... everywhere except for my belly. Even with Tanner it never really got that big -- in proportion to everything else, that is. Oh my. I have my work cut out for me once this pregnancy is over! Thank goodness for the treadmill we just purchased! I've been walking on it a few times a week, when I can't get to the gym. There is never anything good on TV while I walk, so I usually end up watching "A Baby Story" and sobbing whenever they hand the new baby to the mother. It's a good thing this all happens in the privacy of my own basement ... I would be a little embarrased if I was at the gym ...

I started my weekly doctor's appointments this week. The good news is that the baby is head-down. I am 1/2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. This doesn't sound like much, but keep in mind this is about where I was when I first got to the hospital to deliver Tanner. In any case, the doctor said I'll most likely be pregnant for a few more weeks. :) My next appointment is Monday. I'll keep you posted on any progress! And if I can get my husband to take a decent belly-shot, I'll post that, too. Hopefully, these pics of the little guy can hold you over until then. :)

Thank God for Grammies!

In case you haven't figured it out yet -- my mom ROCKS.

Seriously. She just left and I already miss her. Jon was gone for most of last week between school and a trip to visit his brother, so I was more than ready for some adult company (and a helping hand!!) by the time she arrived late Friday night. She reminds me SO much of my grandma -- her mom -- whenever she comes. She always brings tons of extra stuff with her and goodies for everyone. This time she brought Tanner some puzzles, a new bath toy, a pair of adorable monkey slippers, and material to make him a cozy blanket. (She says Tanner is her hobby :) My grandma used to always bring us those candy orange slices covered in sugar --- mmmm ... I loved them. And then, as we got older, she would bring the bonuses she got from makeup counters like Clinique or Estee Lauder! We always knew we were loved and thought of!

Anyways ... after she got her Tanner-fix, we put him to bed and got our jammies on to watch a movie. I had rented "My Best Friend's Girl," not really knowing what it was about. Yeah ... not a good one to watch with your parents. Very Very Very inappropriate. (Think "American Pie," but 1000 times worse.) I put myself out of my misery halfway through and fell asleep while my mom stayed up laughing. The best part about going to bed when my mom is here is knowing that I can sleep in as long as I want in the morning since she can't wait to get up and start the day with Tanner.

I finally mosied out of bed on Saturday morning around 8:45 and joined in the fun downstairs, where my mom and Tanner were playing "store" and Tanner was ringing up groceries and bagging them. He's actually really good at it which tells me we spend waaaaaaaay too much time at Target. We spent the morning trying to call my sisters and make them jealous that they weren't here, then eventually got our act together around 11:00 and headed out to run some errands and take Tanner for his first visit at Chucky Cheese's. Our first stop was Babies R' Us, where I got almost all of the baby items I needed to be prepared for Landon's arrival. I got to shop in peace while my mom wondered around with Tanner on his new monkey leash. Yes ... it sounds barbaric, just like locking him in his room at night. But ... he LOVED it. It is the cutest little stuffed monkey that he wears like a backpack and it's tail is a leash. He actually cried when it was time to take it off. I'll have to post a picture of it soon -- he's been making us put it on him around the house and follow him around with the leash. Hilarious.

Chucky Cheese's was quite the experience. Not exactly what I remember from the Showbiz Pizza days, but Tanner had a lot of fun. He was very upset when it was time to go -- we can't do anything fun without tears at the end. He was asleep by the time we pulled out of the parking lot, though, so my mom told me she'd stay in the car with him if there were any more errands I had to run. It was AMAZING being able to run into 6 different stores and get what I needed without feeling rushed. We even stopped for ice cream on the way home. I TOLD YOU -- my mom is super-cool :)

Now it was time to get down to business. The main reason my mom came was to help me get all of the baby stuff ready. We did some SERIOUS laundry since Landon has inherited a RIDICULOUS amount of clothes from his brother. I think even if he wears 1 outfit every day from the time he's born until he's three months old, he still won't be able to get through all of his newborn and 0-3 mos clothes. We also organized the nursery as much as we could and I got my bag packed for the hospital. We finished the evening off watching "Made of Honor" with Patrick Dempsey while my mom worked on Tanner's new blanket.

This morning I got to sleep in AGAIN and woke up just in time to get showered and pick up Jon from the airport. Tanner was SO excited to see his Daddy when we walked back in the door! I spent the rest of the day getting all of our baby gear out, and generally doing as much as I could to feel prepared for the big day. I feel REALLY good about everything I accomplished this weekend and I'm starting to feel very excited and "ready" to meet my new little boy! My mom offered to watch Tanner so that Jon and I could go out to dinner like real adults and have a "date," so we took her up on it and headed to Applebee's for boneless buffalo wings and their Oriental Chicken salad. I fretted all the way home about what my doctor is going to say at my appointment this week "NO MORE COOKIES FOR YOU!!! YOU CANNOT GAIN ANY MORE WEIGHT!!!!" But when I walked in the door "1/2 Ton Mom" was on TLC and now I just really don't feel so bad anymore!

So, all in all, the weekend was fantastic and I am feeling incredibly lucky to have spent it with my wonderful mom. I only hope that I can be half the mom she has been to me!

Making Progress

Thank you for all of your advice and encouraging words after my last post! I thought I'd fill you in on where I'm at now. Jon says that I'm obsessed. (He's just now realizing this??) However, he did accompany me back to the BOB dealer today just to see if maybe we could fit the duallie in my trunk if we were a little more creative. And ... SUCCESS!!! We made it fit! Well, I made it fit while he looked over my shoulder ... he wanted to make sure I could do it all by myself since that's how it will be most of the time. Anyways, we drove away with smiles and celebrated with Starbucks on the way home.

Now, as far as finding a good price: I had previously looked on Craigslist and Ebay for deals on the BOB, but couldn't find anything. After your comments, I looked again and have found a few potential purchases. I really just wish someone would inform the bidders on Ebay that it's silly to bid on an item until the LAST minute. Otherwise, you're just raising the price for everyone. Seriously -- get a clue. I also found a great price on the 2007 model, so I'm keeping my eye on several different websites. Now that I know which stroller I want, I feel like the big decision has been made and I can just wait to buy until I come across a good deal.

With less than 5 weeks left before little Landon arrives, I'm definitely getting into nesting mode. My mom is coming next weekend to help me organize the nursery and go through all of our newborn clothes. Today I bought some new PJs to pack for the hospital. I'm excited to start getting things out and really preparing!!

We had a really nice weekend here. Good friends over for dinner on Friday night (once Landon comes we'll have 5 boys between us!!). Grandma and Grandpa Hall came to visit for the day yesterday and we took Tanner to the children's museum, where he wore all 4 of us out. And today, Jon woke up early and made us all pancakes while I got some extra sleep. Then we went to church and shopping together and Tanner actually behaved -- well at least a little bit. Shocker. He's been SUCH a stinker lately. Just TERRIBLE. It's definitely time to start a little discipline around here. Just a little funny tidbit from our outing -- as we headed into Macy's, I told Jon that I wanted to look for some pajamas. "I'll just go upstairs while you browse the men's department," I said. "I'll leave Tanner with you." HA! The look on his face was priceless -- a mix of fear and panic. Like, "how do you expect me to shop with him around??" Hmmm ... Tanner came with me and had a great time pulling all of the clothes off of the racks and onto the floor. Wonderful.

Here's a pic from this morning, right after he took off his PJs and diaper in the middle of the kitchen and started parading around. I chased him into his playroom, where he thought it'd be fun to throw all of the pieces from his train table onto the floor and then climb on top. (Remind me to disinfect before our next playgroup.) Really, I know I should have yanked him off and not permitted any of it, but it was so darn funny.

Hope you have a great start to your week! Praying that God gives me the extra patience and sense of humor that I'll need to make it through each day with my little monster!

Stroller Sighs

I can't sleep. (And apparently neither can my husband since I've started snoring now, in my 9th month of pregancy.)

And, truly, it's for such a SILLY reason.

I've yet to decide on which stroller to buy and I wake up at night with my mind racing, trying to analyze my options. I know this is stupid. I know it's just a stroller. I don't get to take it with me when I die. But seriously, I feel like it affects my quality of life. And I literally cannot make any other decisions concerning the baby until the stroller is sitting in my garage. Oh, I'm so shallow! So I'm just going to lay it all out there. Here are my concerns. Keep in mind that I've spent upwards of an hour every day reading every review possible :

• We've budgeted $300 to put towards a stroller/strollers. Anything over that I have to come up with myself. (Not quite an easy task when you don't work.)

• The main things I think I'll use my stroller for are: daily walks, jogging, places like the zoo, farmer's market, etc. I rarely go to the mall or even out shopping since that's just no fun anymore with a toddler. In fact, I got our stroller out about 2 weeks ago and realized that I hadn't used it since Christmas!

• I HEART BOB. I want a Revolution Duallie. (Yes, this is double our budget -- but worth it??) I even found a store that sells them and dragged Jon and Tanner there with me to check one out. Jon and I both agreed that it rocked. However, we were a little concerned that our carseat isn't compatible with the adapter. Then, we tried to fit it in our trunk and it wouldn't fit. For a split second, I considered getting on my hands and knees and BEGGING Jon to upgrade us to a mini-van this year instead of next so that we could accomodate this wonderful stroller. (I'll blame that little bit of insanity on the hormones ...)I cried on the way home. Because I was disappointed it wasn't going to work and I was upset with myself for being upset about something so materialistic. Did you get all that? And now ... I just keep thinking ... maybe we could have maneuvered that stroller just a little bit differently and somehow made it fit ... Anyways ... it's hard to spend $600+ on a stroller that's not 100% perfect. And they literally can't be found used.

• So then I think ... how about buying a cheap jogger that stays in our garage and then another stroller to keep in the car. But the jogger has to be decent because it's already hard enough for me to run 3 miles and if the jogger is crappy then I know I won't use it. And I could just get a sit-n-stand for the car??

• Part of the problem is that we have a Chicco carseat, which is compatible with NOTHING. Except for maybe the Bumbleride Indie Twin, which I'm really starting to think might be our best option. Again, it's way more that we want to spend, but might be a good "all-in-one."

So there it is. Go ahead and say it -- I'm a total stroller snob. You were all so sweet to leave me comments and suggestions after my last stroller post. Any more wisdom you might be able lend?? I'd love to be able to get at least a few weeks of good sleep before little Landon comes and the real sleep deprivation begins!!!

All Tuckered Out

I should have known it would be "one of those days." After all, I had a lot of things on my to-do list today, and that, most assuredly, means that Tanner will be more mischieveous than usual. Hmmm.

We started the day with breakfast, where I decided to let him drink his milk out of his own little mug instead of a sippy cup. He was doing great ... until I turned my back to dry some dishes. When I turned around, I caught him at the refrigerator trying to fill it with water from the dispenser on the door. Thankfully, the water dispenser was locked, but the milk was everywhere. No use crying over spilled milk, huh? I just wiped it up and went about my business.

Got Milk?

A little while -- and a few more spills -- later we were upstairs and Tanner was playing around while I changed some sheets. As I finished my job, I could hear the little stinker in the bathroom. There he was, with Daddy's Old Spice in hand, rubbing it across his face. At least he smelled good afterwards. (And thank goodness he wasn't playing in the toilets, his new favorite hobby -- although he very well could have been doing that and I just didn't catch him.)

Okay, Mom! I'm ready for playgroup! I'm bringing all my friends with me!

Later this morning we went to playgroup and he fell asleep in the car on the way home. I transferred him into his bed, but heard him awake and playing just a few minutes afterwards. I had just gotten everything out to put another coat of paint on my bathroom walls (this is coat #5 ... a whole other blog entry in itself) so I left him in his room to play for awhile. After I was finished, I quickly cleaned both upstairs bathrooms since he still sounded content. Finally, after everything was put away, I checked on my monitor and saw that he was laying in bed. Not sure if he was asleep or just bored, I went in to check on him. This is what I found.

Hmm ... someone's been busy!

Yes, we're going to have to do something with those cords ... YIKES!!

Oh, my busy boy, how I love you!

A House Full of Boys

I'd love to tell you that my home is a soothing, relaxed little haven, where family members are calm and the atmosphere is peaceful. But, alas, this is our reality.

I think I like it better this way anyways. ;)

Suprise!

I'll be honest. I had zero expectations for Valentine's Day this year. Not only did I just get some MAJOR spoiling for my birthday, my husband has been CRAZY busy since the beginning of the year with school and work. I honestly didn't even think he'd remember that tomorrow is Valentine's Day, he's got so much going on in his head right now. Which was completely fine with me.

That's why it was SO cool to find this on my doorstep after running errands this morning. Aren't they GORGEOUS?? And the best part is, they came with chocolates, too, and a sweet sweet note from my main squeeze. I'm LOVED!!!

33 Weeks

This morning was my 33-week doctor's appointment. Everything looks normal and I'm feeling pretty good. I can't believe my due date is less than 50 days away!! WOW! After my next appointment, I'll start seeing the doctor every week -- that's how you know things are getting close! I'm so excited to meet this little boy, and I know Jon is, too. Tanner is another story, though. Every time I ask him if we should get a baby to come live with us, he says, "NNNNNOOOOOO!!!" And Jon is always asking him if he's ready to be a big brother yet ... "NO! NO! NO!" He totally doesn't know what's happening! I predict he'll be a completely jealous older brother, but also very excited to have a new baby around. Anyways ... for those of you who requested a belly shot ... here it is! :)

Note To Self:

If you decide the best way to keep your little boy in his big boy room is to lock him in, be sure to keep a key somewhere in the room.


Just in case you happen to accidentally lock yourself in the bedroom with him ...


... and nobody else is home


... and you don't have a phone.


Thank God I had a hairpin in my hair today! It would've been a LONG afternoon and evening!

Just a little pre-nap baking

Thanks, Mom and Dad!

What a refreshing weekend we had! And it couldn't have come at a better time. After an entire week of staying at home with a sick, whiney, bored little boy, I was at my wit's end. I was a frazzled, lonely, hormone-overloaded, weepy mess by the time Tanner and I arrived at my parents' house on Friday afternoon. I had arranged for a quick trip to Michigan this weekend to attend a baptism for my cousin's new little boy and to get out of Jon's hair while he did some serious studying for his midterms. As soon as my mom got home from work, I walked into her arms, crying ...



"I'm the worst mom ever."



"Why?"



"Because I can't stand my own child!"



"Oh, honey ... "


And from there, I was completely spoiled and taken care of all weekend. My parents are so good at making me feel loved and easing my burdens. They made sure I got plenty of sleep -- even taking the monitor with them to their room at night so I wouldn't have to worry about getting up with Tanner. They totally took initiative to play with Tanner, feed him, and keep him happy. And the best part is that they truly enjoy every minute of being with him. I love being at home with them. We didn't even do anything special ... just spent time together, watched reruns of The Office (HILARIOUS), and laughed at Tanner. It was a great weekend and now I am refreshed and ready for a new week!



Here is a video of my dad sledding with Tanner in the backyard. It was so much fun to watch them and remember when he used to take US sledding when we were little!

Just wondering ...

... if any of you have daughters that insist on doing things like this.

I swear, if I don't have a heart-attack by the time he's two I'll be lucky!

Good Mornings

Yesterday: breakfast with Mickey.

This morning: coffee with Daddy.

Could life GET any better?

A Surprise On My Doorstep

Yesterday, I was so excited to receive an awesome package from Amazon.com with two great books and an adorable onesie for the baby. However, there was no packing slip included, so I don't who to thank for this wonderful (and thoughtful) gift and Amazon wasn't able to help me. If you are the giver, I would LOVE to know!!

Finally!

I'm BAAAAACK!

Several days in a row of no nap for the little guy is just NOT very conducive to blogging, that's for sure! Night-time in the big-boy room is going great, but nap-time is another story! We only have a few toys (legos, stuffed animals) in Tanner's room along with several books, but they sure do keep him busy while he's fighting sleep! I don't mind him playing quietly until he's ready to go to sleep, but it is important to me that he does sleep at some point! Otherwise we have a cranky toddler and, ultimately, a cranky mommy by early evening! He actually spent a few afternoons in a row just reading and playing up there for 2-2.5 hours without sleeping! YIKES! Luckily, yesterday and today he's actually started falling asleep again. I was about to start putting him back in the crib for naps!

ANYWAYS, thank you for all of the sweet birthday messages. I had a FANTASTIC birthday! My parents came to town for the weekend and babysat so that Jon and I could go out. We actually went to see two movies with dinner in-between at Cheesecake Factory. YUM!! And I do have to say ... I totally made out on birthday gifts! Jon got me a remote starter for my car. What a treat in this frigid weather! I LOVE hopping into a toasty car whenever we go somewhere! And my parents got me a Keurig single-cup brewer so that I can make myself a cup of joe whenever I want. Can I just say -- HEAVEN?!! 60 seconds and you have a hot mug of great coffee with no cleanup whatsoever. I'm so lovin' it! (and feeling REALLY spoiled!) I have some lemon-almond biscotti baking in the oven right now, just waiting to be dipped into melted white chocolate. I have to have SOMETHING to eat with all that coffee, right? (Note to self: watching Food Network while pregnant is NOT safe. You will only want to cook everything you see.)

Besides the birthday, life is just normal. I'm starting to feel pretty pregnant and have trouble sleeping at night because I'm just uncomfortable and have about a million things running through my mind. Tanner has been sick with a cold this week, which has left us out of the loop with friends and activities. I'm trying very hard not to get cabin fever and have spent 2 of the past 3 mornings meandering through Target just to get out of the house for a bit. I'm also trying to be creative and think of some new fun things for Tanner to do at home. We baked cupcakes together for my birthday and he thought he'd died and gone to heaven. Boy, did he love pouring ingredients into the bowl and mixing things together. He did have a meltdown, though, when it was time to put them in the oven. He really is enjoying anything that seems like "real" work -- putting dishes in the dishwasher and helping me unload, sweeping the floor, prepare food, etc. I would LOVE to hear any good ideas you might have for ways to keep toddlers busy. He's just going through a stage right now where he's not that into toys.

Okay ... gotta go get the biscotti out of the oven. Enjoy the pics!

Ready for a Playmate

Oh ... to keep a little boy entertained. Another mom told me at MOPS this week the days with your children can seem SO LONG, but the years go by so fast! Good to remember as I collapse each night from the exhaustion of trying to keep Tanner happy and busy!

I've been working on the railroad ...

Mommy said I need to start pulling my own weight around here.

I'm being careful, I PROMISE!

Can you BELIEVE she's letting me do this? The floor is soaked!

Breakfast with Friends

"Hey, Mr. Giraffe! Leggo my Eggo!"

Stroller Suggestions

Being in the market for a double stroller now, I am finding that it's much harder to find a good one than it was with a single. Every review I seem to look at begins with the words "There is no such thing as a perfect double stroller." That being said, do any of you moms of 2+ have a suggestion for a double stroller that you are happy with? Please share if you do, and tell me why you like it!

Success!

Update on Night #2:

Tanner stayed in his bed all night until 7:30 this morning. We're celebrating with yummy waffles for breakfast! Keeping our fingers crossed for another good night! :)

* Update as of 1/24 -- Things are still going really well! Tanner still tries to beat us out of bed as soon as prayers are said, but once he realizes that the door is locked, he climbs right back in bed and goes to sleep. We actually moved all of his clothes into his big-boy room today, so it's official -- we've got a big boy!

The Big Move

As of this coming Friday, I'll be officially 30 weeks pregnant.

Which means that I've known I'm pregnant for about 26 weeks.

Which means I really haven't slept well in about 25.5 weeks because I've been so nervous about THE BIG MOVE.

I've been researching it, analyzing it, preparing for it, and talking about it with anyone who will listen nonstop since we found out that we were pregnant with Landon. And finally, the time has come. Tanner officially moved to his bigboy room/bed last night, which is a little bit sad (sniff sniff) because it truly means that he's a big boy! But what a relief that we are finally doing it! Whew ... I can breath again. And maybe in a few days, I'll even be able to relax and just enjoy these last several weeks of pregnancy. The rest of this post is just details on how we're doing so far with the transition -- more for me than for you since I know I'll have to do this again and probably won't remember WHAT I did when it's time for the next one to make the big move! (Sidenote: it's amazing how quickly you forget these things! I remember asking my mom after Tanner was born about specific details on how she parented us as newborns. She always said that she couldn't remember and I would look at her like she had a second head and think ... "what kind of mom is she?" Now, I understand. :)

Night #1
Blackout curtains hung -- check
Bedrails installed -- check
Stool ready to help him up into bed -- check
Room baby-proofed -- check
Cutesie fabric stapled to bottom side of top bunk -- check
Nightlight -- check

Everything was planned to a T and ready to go. Just before putting him in the bathtub and starting his bedtime routine, I decided to check the guard that we installed on his door handle so that he couldn't "escape." I wanted to make sure we could still open the door from the outside when the guard was on. NEGATIVE. I quickly took off the guard, dismantled the door handle and reversed it so that the lock is now on the outside of the room. Yes, we've decided to start by "locking" him in. It sounds barbaric, we know, but a fireman just came and talked to us at our last MOPS meeting and stressed the importance of sleeping with doors CLOSED and always making sure you know where your children are during the night in case of a fire. So ... that's that.

Went through our bed-time routine. Got in bed with Tanner. Read a book. Said a prayer. As soon as I got up, he shot out of bed and I practically had to race him to the door. I tried the "stand at the door and calmly walk him back to bed" SuperNanny trick a few times, but he was literally getting back to the door before I was. Then I thought I would just let him cry, but after 5 minutes I couldn't take it anymore. I went in and laid down with him. He thought it was play-time and took about 90 minutes to fall asleep. After he was asleep, I got up and went into my own bed and tossed and turned all night, checking the video monitor literally every 10 minutes. Tanner slept most of the night, but woke up around 5, so I went in and laid down with him again. It took him another hour to fall back asleep.

Nap #1
Talked to some other moms at MOPS. Our leader (who has 4 children) said I really shouldn't lay down with him while he falls asleep or else he'll expect it. The speaker actually recommended that I try the SuperNanny thing again. Another mom said she just held the door closed (it didn't have a lock) and let him cry. Sooo ...

Tanner fell asleep in the car. He usually transfers pretty easily, so I just took him upstairs and laid him in the big-boy bed. Then, I closed the door and locked it and waited outside, glued to the video monitor (I love that thing!). He came to the door and cried for about 3 minutes, then went to his bed, then got out, got his "man-purse" filled with animal figurines, took them into bed with him, got out of bed, played and read books for about 30 minutes, and finally fell asleep on the floor right next to the bed. Slept for about 2 hours.

I'm feeling encouraged ...

Night #2
Go through bedtime routine again. Tanner shoots out of bed almost before I do after I say "Amen." I close the door and let him cry for 8 minutes. Then, I start the "SuperNanny" walking him back to bed. After 15 minutes of this, I decide it's really over-rated. I close the door and lock it. After 5 minutes of crying at the door, Tanner climbs back into his bed and falls asleep. (Once again, the video monitor ROCKS). He's been asleep (in his bed) for about 30 minutes now. Hopefully tonight will go smoothly! Although, I'm definitely prepared for some middle-of-the-night tears and tantrums.

More updates soon!

Pray for us!

My Toughest Critic

So, last week, Tanner started saying "truck" out of the blue. He only says about 20 words right now, so this is a really big deal! Of course, just about any vehicle is a "truck" to him, but we'll work on that! Anyways ... he's very into the "-uck" sound now and is also saying "duck" and, my personal favorite, "yuck."
Here was the conversation last night at our dinner table:

Me: "Mmmmm ... isn't this yummy?!"

Tanner: "YUCKKKKK." (Complete with scrunched up face and shaking of the head.)

Hmmm. Has Jon just been lying to me all these years about my talents as a cook?

Enjoy the pics from this last week!

Helping Daddy Shovel.

Jon couldn't find his coat and hat, so he used last year's. A little small ... and no gloves! But Tanner didn't seem to mind!

Jon looks THRILLED to be out there, doesn't he?!

Go Tanner! Go Tanner!

Wanna see my belly?

Hmmm ... this looks WAY yummier than what Mommy fixes.

I think I might have a coupon for that.

Christmas: Part II Pics

Christmas: Part II

Wow! Has it really been almost two weeks since we got back from vacation? And I'm JUST NOW blogging about it? Time is just flying ... and in my defense, I've still been catching up on sleep after 2 weeks of sleepless nights while we were away. I mean, how do you turn away a sweet-smelling little boy in his footie pajamas when he wants in your bed and you're on vacation? I just didn't have the heart to let him cry in his crib while we were sleeping in the same room as him. And so ... I have paid the price -- sheer exhaustion. The GOOD news is I have been reminded that it is, indeed, possible to survive on very little sleep. The BAD news is I have also been reminded what a cranky person I am when I'm tired. Hmmm ... I'll have to work on that before Landon's arrival. :)

Anyways ... on to Christmas: Part II.

We returned home from Jon's parents' house the day after Christmas, opened a few more presents, unpacked, did some laundry, and re-packed. The next morning it was time to leave for a week in Orlando with my side of the family. My parents have a time share and got enough units for alllll of us to spend a week there together. We had a GREAT time. Jon, Tanner, and I stayed with my mom and dad while the other three siblings and their spouses/girlfriend shared another unit.

We spent our first day (SUNDAY) at Magic Kingdom with Lauren, Daniel, and my mom and dad. This was definitely my favorite day. There really is just something special about Disney. I can't wait to go back with more kids. Tanner LOVED the rides but was always devastated when they were over, crying and throwing a tantrum when it was time to get off. It was actually kind of hilarious. Poor guy. The great thing about Disney is that most of the rides are low key enough to take your toddler with you. That being said, I could NOT understand why anyone in their right mind would take their toddler into the haunted house. Inappropriate. Instead, we took Tanner to Pirates of the Carribean --- much better. (What was I thinking???? Skeletons?) We ended our day there watching the Christmas parade and by the time it was over, we were all ready to go home.

The next day (MONDAY), the men golfed while the rest of us went to the pool. Now, pool time has definitely changed since becoming a mother. No more laying in the sun, reading a good book, and snoozing (although that sure sounded wonderful!!!) Lucky for me, both of my sisters were willing to take turns with me playing with Tanner in the pool. And Eric's girlfriend was nice enough to take a nap in our room while Tanner was napping so that I could stay outside a little longer. Without everyone's help it would have been a LONG trip, for sure!

On Tuesday, Jon, Tanner, and I went to Sea World with Pat and Katherine. We thought Tanner would LOVE it because of all the animals, but it was SO crowded that it was hard to really see anything or even get from one place to another. The good thing was that our admission was free through their Hero Salute program. We did make reservations that morning to have Breakfast with Elmo and we all LOVED it! It really was so much fun and Tanner was just beside himself he was so excited to see the characters. (And he's not even a huge Elmo fan or Sesame Street watcher.) I would highly recommend it if you're ever there with a little one!

Wednesday: Universal Studios with the whole fam. I hadn't really considered taking Tanner here because I didn't know how toddler friendly it actually was. They had a great kid zone that he loved and we spent all of Tanner's awake time there. Now ... as a pregnant woman, you are allowed to do absolutely nothing ... but at least they had really great food options :) Since that evening was New Year's Eve, my parents graciously offered to babysit Tanner so Jon and I could go out with the rest of the crew to a Japanese Steakhouse. We had SUCH a great time and were so thankful to have a nice dinner out without having to worry about the little guy!

Thursday: Most of the guys went to the Georgia/MSU bowl game. (Lauren and Daniel are both UGA grads). My dad and Jon golfed. And us girls tried to keep Tanner busy -- it was a little too cool outside for the pool.

Friday: Boys golfed. Girls went to the pool. Tanner had been unusually cranky, and my parents suspected an ear infection, so we ended up taking him to a pediatric clinic at like 9pm and found out he had strep throat. I'm sure everyone was SO glad they'd been making it their mission to get kisses from him all week! (His little puckers are just IRRESISTABLE!) As far as I know, though, noboday else has gotten sick. Unfortunately, our last evening was spent in a waiting room, but all was well once we figured out the problem and got Tanner started on some antibiotics.

Saturday: Flight home. Hmmm ... I don't know what else to say except for this was a long day. The plane was PACKED -- both of them, since we had a connecting flight. The good news is that I was seated between my mom and Jon (my two favorite people). The bad news is that Tanner ONLY wanted on my lap, which is just a little uncomfortable when you're in your third trimester and there isn't much room there anyways. That's all I'll say.

So, all in all, our trip was FANTASTIC. Thank you, Mom and Dad for treating us to such a wonderful trip! We all agreed that what we enjoyed most was the precious time we got to spend with each other.

*I'm working on the pics!!*

Christmas: Part 1

Yes!! We survived our pre-Christmas illness and are all doing well in the Hall House! The last few weeks involved a whirlwind of activity, but lots of good times with the people we love most -- our family!


A few days before Christmas, we left to spend the holidays with Jon's side of the family. Believe it or not, this was my first time spending the night at Jon's house on Christmas Eve and I was excited to take part in all of their Christmas traditions -- I know they are all so meaningful to Jon and his brothers! We started Christmas Eve with some sledding (boys only) and a fancy brunch. Later on, we all went over to my parents' house for drinks and appetizers and our first annual White Elephant exchange. The gift exchange was a lot of fun, although Jon couldn't fathom why anybody wouldn't want HIS gift, and wound up stealing it from somebody since he liked it so much -- a pocket I.Q. Test :) Tanner was in heaven that evening with everyone giving him food from their plates and the platter of Christmas cookies just within his reach on the dining room table.


After lots of yummy food and conversation, we headed back to the Hall house to put the finishing touches on our gifts for Christmas morning and get some sleep. Jon and I weren't sure who was more excited about Santa coming -- Tanner or US!! Unfortunately for all of the other adults, Tanner was up and ready to get down to business at 7am. The girls and I headed to the top of the steps, where everyone waits to hear the train underneath the tree, signaling that Santa indeed came! Little did we know that all of the boys were going to shower, brush their teeth, do their hair, get dressed, etc, before heading downstairs. I fully support everyone brushing their teeth, but the showering was a little excessive. :) I'm just saying ...

We opened gifts for the next several hours -- it took Tanner a while. (Note to self: you don't have to wrap EVERY SINGLE ITEM for a toddler.) He LOVED his little trike on rockers (it converts to a tricycle) from Grandma and Granpa Hall, his travel magnadoodle from Aunt Kat and Uncle Pat, his Barrel of Monkeys from Uncle Steve and Aunt Kristin, and his little animal set from mommy and daddy. The animal set came with a little bag to carry all the animals around -- we've started calling it his man-purse since he carries it everywhere. Too funny. Anyways, after all that unwrapping, it was naptime for Tanner and I, followed by our annual Hall/Shirley Christmas dinner and a movie.

The next morning, it was time to head home and prepare for Part 2 of our Christmas vacation -- I'll post about that next! Enjoy the pics!

Maybe next year, Santa!

The carousel at the mall -- a preview of our Magic Kingdom fun.

Watch out! Coming through! Next year, I'm sure the boys will attempt to hook him up to the back of their car, pulling him around the cul-de-sac. This will be over my dead body, of course.

A snowman who's just my size. Thanks, Uncle Pat!

A Royal Flush. You can just give my winnings to Mommy.

Mmmm ... my 27th cookie. Christmas ROCKS.

Lovin' It.

Santa went COMPLETELY overboard and had this last present waiting for Tanner when we returned home. Thank you, Santa!!