Who Dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints...Who dat!

Oh when the Saints go marching in, oh when the Saints go marching in...and baby I'm gonna be in that number, when the Saints march to Miami!

That's right, last night history was made in the NFL as well as in New Orleans.  My long awaited, beloved Saints won their championship game and with that scored a ticket to the Superbowl.  Typing these words seem surreal.  I'm not a big sports person.  I'm not even really emotional about sports and I have NEVER turned on ESPN, even  when my hard working husband has asked me too. ** edited to add-- I am very into Saints football...always have been....always will be....I was a season ticket holder for several years....I love me some saints football...anything else I could take or leave it ya know.....  This week has been a week of first for lots of things....

- my first playoff game
- my first NFC championship game
- my teams first NFC championship victory
- my teams first invite to attend the big dance
- the first time I turned on ESPN was this week and my husband wasn't even home
- the first time I cried at a Saint's game
- the first time I sat and prayed in the last 30 seconds of a game for a win
- I scored my first ever Superbowl tickets
- I will be attending the first Superbowl the Saints have EVER played in
- my first trip to Miami has been booked
- the first time I felt the caboose move and I happened to be in the dome!

The game was gut wrenching, emotional and one a hell of a football game.  I held my breath for the entire 2nd half.  I covered my eyes, my ears and cursed loudly.  At one point I considered listening to the game from the lady's restroom so I didn't have to see it.  It was all quickly becoming too much.  But in the end, in a miraculous overtime, in which we freaking won the coin toss and in which our kicker actually got the ball through the goal posts, we did it....who dat say dey gonna beat dem saints....not Minnesota!  not brett favre!


I was elated....here we are mere seconds later!

Our day started off great, we met up with some friends headed to the Big Easy for a late lunch, walked a little down Bourbon, and then headed to the dome. 

Upon arriving at the dome, it was wild.  More black and gold then you would ever dream off.  The New Orleanians were wild or as they say....crunk  ((v.) mixture of crazy and drunk).  Yes, New Orleanians have added a word to our vocabulary to describe the way of life during a Saint's game.

Our opponent was the Minnesota Vikings and their quarterback Brett Favre, who grew up in South Mississippi and lives a mere 10 minutes away from me.  I am essentially in Brett Country, which made living here the past two weeks a little tough, because I am not partial to Brett at all.  I don't get it, he lives here, but he plays for Minne-freaking-sota.  New Orleans is less then 2 hours away...pull for the home team!  Maybe I don't get it because I didn't grow up here or see him play in college, or maybe I'm just New Orleans through and through, but this city girl didn't feel too bad about winning the game.  Sure they played well, but we came out on top and that's a ball game.  Sorry Brett, but I'm glad my team is going to the Superbowl, I wouldn't have it any other way!

Upon arriving at the dome we saw plenty of these signs...

and plenty of these....

And you know they were both right!

Because when it came down to it, we pulled out a Victory.  In overtime...but, WOW! What a game!

Here we are with our friends, who are surprisingly still our friends after the game.  They were partial Brett Favre fans since they went to school with him and watched him play in college and they were partial Saints fans.  I *almost* felt bad cheering when they knocked Favre on the ground...almost being the key word.  Celebrating with the other 80,000 people our big WIN!

The dome was wild and I can only imagine the condition of the revelers and Saints fans that continued the party down on Bourbon!

So one more big WHO DAT!

And boys I'll see you in Miami!

The Saints are coming.....the saints are coming....the saints....

Shoes and Saints

For some time my children have been complaining that their shoes are too small.  In fact Meredith refuses to wear any shoes other then some Target look alike Uggs.  Trust me they look adorable with her smocked dresses for church.  Noah has also started complaining.  He rarely complains of anything, but he has gotten to the point of refusing to put on his blue shoes. 

I have stated to my husband numerous times the past couple of months weeks, that the kids needed new shoes.  He has asked me numerous times to please go and get them some.  I haven't....I know mother of the year.  It's not that shoes are so damn expensive, which they are....or that they outgrow them so damn fast, which they do.....it is the mere fact that I need both tikes with me to try on new shoes to make sure they fit which can be hairy at 1 o'clock in the afternoon.   See once I pick them up from school and mother's day out, then feed them lunch it is way too exhausting to corral them back into the car to go to a shoe store.  Especially one that contains a train table and calico critters table and that will inevitably end in a fight when it is time to leave the store.   So that is honestly the bottom line, I'm just a too big a chicken to get my kids shoes.

Until this week....  This week my husband laid the smack-down.  Which he never does....so when he did, I knew he was serious!  He said....quote/unquote..."you know those Saints tickets we have for Sunday, well if the kids don't have new shoes by then...we won't be going."  He said this Monday...today is Friday and today the kids got some new shoes....in fact Noah got two new pairs of shoes....one navy pair and one red....he said  "I wan wed shoes momma!"  and how could I refuse.  Everyone should have at least one pair of red shoes right!  I knew what his dad would say to that so I bought the navy ones too!

So now...on Sunday I'm headed to the dome!  WHO DAT Baby!

What he says...some of it is absorbed

Patience is a very big word in our house.  Since Meredith was born it is used daily. 

"God grant me the patience to get through this day."
"Because counting to 10 helps mommy find her patience."
"Meredith have some patience, I will bet there in a minute!"
"Noah, where is your patience?  One second and I will get it!"
"Have Patience.....PLEASE!"

I don't think a day goes by that I don't utter the word patience to someone in this house or to myself.  In fact I don't think a day goes by that Josh doesn't utter it as well.  We are big at instilling patience in our household.  Maybe because my husband has gallons of it and I have none and hope to instill a little into our kids.  I am learning to get some of my own,  having 2 tikes has definitely helped me out.

A little background about what comes next.... At Noah's mother's day out program there is a handicapped door entrance.  It has a red button a few feet in front of it and when you press it, both door magically open.  Lots of parents stand outside the door with very patient children waiting for the doors to shut so the kids can have their turn pressing the magic button.  Not me and my kids, if the doors are already opened we just repress and walk in, I don't have time to wait for them to close and do it.  Most of the time we are rushing.  The rule is Noah presses it on the way in since he stays there and Meredith on the way out.  I established this rule after 3 weeks of them running and fighting over pressing it.  It works for them and me and my sanity.

Anyway today I was caught off guard with what happened...

"come on guys let's go, remember Noah presses the button on the way in Meredith!"

"Noah, hurry, hurry, go press the button!"

we were a good 30 feet away, 3 little kids were coming up quickly behind us, Noah looked over his shoulder at Meredith and said...

"Have pay-shens TATA!"

And that folks is what I call DAMN good parenting!

hectic or daily life?

Just last week I thought to myself...Wow! Noah hasn't really entered the terrible twos, maybe we'll skip it.  Well guess what...I'm eating those words for sure.  Today he was slapped/spanked 4 times.  Why?  Because nothing else works.  I didn't spank him hard, not even enough to make a mark, but when I do he screams and cries because his heart is very broken.  Time outs don't work, screaming is extremely unproductive, and no matter what I do, he just goes about his business.  The spanking works for a little while.  I am sure it will wear off soon.

He is now going through this phase of throwing fits, hitting his sister, biting again and being aggressive.  It's typically not in his sweet little nature.  He has also gotten extremely whiny and his sleep is not as great as it used to be.  I finally figured out the culprit, he is cutting three of his 2 year molars.  One is already out, the other 3 are busting through AT THE SAME TIME.  He has chewed a hole in all of his uh-ohs or pacifiers.  He is frustrated that none of them "work."  He hands it to me and orders me to "fix it momma!"  When I tell him I can't he says  "need new one."  So now I'm between a rock and hard place....do I buy new ones or make him suffer through and wean himself while teething?   Although if I buy more I am sure he will just chew those up as well.  UGH....life.

These are now my worries, my hurdles to overcome in daily life. I remember the days of yesteryear when I did swallow studies and treated patients with memory and cognition problems due to stroke and head injuries and even gun shot wounds...hey I worked at charity hospital.  You never knew what you would see.  Then I did some work in nursing homes where I managed 300 patients diets and also did therapy on a daily basis.  I also worked in schools systems where I managed caseloads of children between 40 and 70 kiddos.  How did I do it?  How did I go from that to dealing with a 2 year old's tantrums and a 3 year old's going on 4's attitude?  I'm pretty sure my old job was much easier and I believe I was also better at it.

Today I went to the local cell phone store to get some tutoring on my phone.  I have a master's degree, but can't work my new cell phone.  I didn't get very far in my lesson, between trying to listen to the knowledgeable cell phone man, arm wrestling a 2 year old and then listening to the play by play of everything the 2 year old was doing wrong by the 3 1/2 year old.  At that point I scooped them up, thanked the guy for his time, grabbed my little sanity that was left and headed to the car.  It was there that I listened as a whole bag of $4 Reece Pieces were dumped into my Gucci.  I quickly followed that by an "OH SHIT!"  I try to use my favorite words only in extreme circumstances in front of my tikes....this was one of them.  The tikes just looked at me, knowing better than to ask for my purse to eat out of it.  Smart tikes.

Evidently the cell phone store was not enough to end our day or our outing and from there, I then went to the grocery.  It all goes downhill from  here.  Here I lost my patience, despite taking several moments to quietly and out loud count to 10.  I again spanked, threatened and was defeated by the tikes.  After racing threw the store, throwing things in the buggy, cursing myself and Dr. King for giving us this wonderful Monday off, I headed to the check out.  The computers were down, but I was determined not to leave without my groceries.  I felt like I had just survived the Cold War, or at least ran a 26 mile marathon.  I spent another 15 minutes waiting for my debit card, credit card or check to go through.   Finally it did....1 point for the momma.  Once we were in the parking lot, I wrestled a little boy into his car seat and patiently waited for my other tike to snap herself in independently.  I spent 20 minutes in the parking lot.  I repeatedly said my mantra in the store and in the parking lot..."God grant me the patience to get through this day and wisdom to know when to just go home and get in bed!"   Meredith repeated it in her most worrisome tone as well "God please give my momma her patience back...she needs it!"

Once we arrived at the homestead I couldn't turn around and put the kids back inside in their beds, even though I really wanted to.  We all have had a bit of cabin fever.  It was finally warm outside, the sun was shining bright and we all needed a little vitamin D.  So I sat in the sun and cleaned out my purse while the kids played and rode their jeeps in the driveway.  I removed receipts, useless paper, crayons, a princess pen, 3 hot wheels, 2 chipmunks, a toy train and 500 Reece pieces.  I got all the change and important things out and then dumped the purse over the trash bag.  One little chocolate Reece piece fell on the ground.  Meredith walked over and picked it up and said "Here's an "Oh Shit" that you dropped mom!"

Yes, it has been an Oh Shit kind of day.  Now if they would just take a nap that would be great.

Where I'm at...

Here goes some rambling because honestly I've got nothing for you.  I'm feeling better....better, not great.  I'm still sluggish and throw up every other day to every three days.  That's great, but not at all would be so much better.  I still get  nauseated daily, but not getting sick.  Which means I'm gaining weight, I know, now I'm throwing up and gaining weight.  4lbs in a month!  4lbs!  I would like to blame it on the muscle gain since I've started back regularly at the gym, but I'm going to go with it has to do with all the shit I have been eating since I've gotten an appetite back and am not worshipping the porcelain gods!

Now if I could only do something about the extreme fatigue.  You would think officially being in my second trimester I wouldn't be not so tired. I think working out at the gym kicks my ass at night.  Although I feel great doing it and right after, I am exhausted by about 4:30.  Maybe it's the gym and the tikes that wear me down.  Hell they wore me down before I was preggers, now I'm really dragging ass!  I know, I'm not winning mother of the year award lounging on the couch.  On a good note, I have started cooking again.  The kids are happy.  They hate to eat out.  Or they don't eat out.  We buy them extravagantly priced chicken nuggets for them to waste, but if I cook at home they gobble it down.  So back to cooking it's been.

The kids are great.  Busy, but great.  Noah started mother's day out 2 days a week....he LOVES it.  He loves to ask continuously "what dat noise?"  And whenever you ask him why?  He responds with "Because said so!"  He also wants to "wide in big twuck momma!"  He says that when he sees any 18 wheeler, garbage truck or any other larger truck on the road.  When I try and explain that he can't he gets really upset and cries.  Then he ask "wanna touch twuck momma!"  He is very verbal, he knows what he wants and he tells you what he wants.  Listening to him working on forming sentences warms my heart, you can tell he is the child of a "speech teratist!"  He generally is a very good child, he listens well, he shares when told with tears, but he shares.  He doesn't get into too much trouble, but he is busy.  BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!  He never sits still, well except for when he fell asleep on the hard wood floor in front of the tv which had one of the daily soap operas on.  Is that it, soap opera?  I think I called them soap bops when I was little.  Hell I don't know, I don't watch them, this one just happen to be on and he was too tired to ask me to put toons on instead.

Meredith is Meredith.  Serious as ever.  At night she plays Dr. B.  The girl one, because my Dr. B, the boy one who is the ob, is married  to her Dr. B, the girl one who is the pediatrician.  Did you get that?  The Dr. B's are married, the boy an ob, the girl a pediatrician.  I refer to them as girl and boy, because that's what she does.  They are really man and woman, with 4 of their own busy tikes!  Anyway every night she is Dr. B, the girl one, however she delivers the baby in this scenario, like the boy one does in real life.  So I lay on the couch, sofa, floor, wherever she tells me while she checks my vitals and then the Margot's, then she yells " Call the AMBULANCER" (yes I said ambulancer, isn't it cute!) and then she starts shouting things like "Don't worry, Ms. Mandi....I'M GONNA GET THAT BABY OUT!"  Yes, I am very worried when my 3 1/2 year old shouts things like that.  How can you not worry?  I'm thinking she might be a surgeon one day....she has absolutely no bed side manners.  She is also pregnant right now.  Yes, she is also carrying a girl baby, who she has named Girl Tate.  It's more of a double first name then a first and middle name.  Every morning I hear...."Momma your belly is getting so big!"  And I thank her for noticing those 4lbs I put on this month.  Then she retorts with "well look at mine it's getting so big too!  Don't you think?"  So then I comment on her every growing belly.  She is seriously too much, her imagination is awesome.  I love it!

Speaking of growing belly, today a few ladies in my circuit training class noticed the baby bump.  It is there.  I was 17 weeks with Meredith before I showed.  I'm still wearing all of my own jeans and shirts.  Although the bump is totally there.  I mean it is hard to hide it in yoga pants and a tight fitting yoga shirt.  Oh well, I'm preggers right.  

So there you go internets, that's where I'm at.....what about you?  What's going on?

Happy Birthday Poppa!

Happy Birthday Poppa!  We had a great time at lunch celebrating with you today!

And we hope you get that championship tonight for you birthday!  So in honor of your alma mater!

ROLL TIDE!

What they say....random

Momma, when baby Margot cries, I'm gonna say...."It's okay Margot don't cry, it's only a monster!"

****

Noah come put on your shoes.

Why?

So we can go get Ta-ta

NO!

Why?

Cause....cause said so!

****

Noah let's play choo-choo....say okay!

Ohh-kay

Noah you be dis one....say okay!

Ohh-kay

Okay noah now you drive dis way,  Noah now say Stop train

Say top tain!

No, noah don't say "say stop train", just say "stop train!"

Say top tain!

No NOAH!  Say "Stop Train!"

Say top train!

Nevermind Noah just play

Neh-mind baby jus pay!

****

Mom when I grow up I wanna be Beyonce,  I'm gonna sing single ladies too!

Oh bug I  hope one day you are a Beyonce.

Why?

Because then you can take care of mommy!

When you are little? 

Yep when I'm a little old mimi!

****

Momma, momma nuggle.....nuggle!

I lay with my littlest tike

Can you give momma a hug?

No

Why?

Cause said so

I reach over to give him one anyone

mush, Mush, MUSH ME MOMMA! while pushing me away

Noah I'm not smushing you!

Silly baby! giggling all over himself

Greetings from the Artic Tundra

No, I'm not seriously in the arctic tundra, I'm still here is South Mississippi, where it was 21 degrees.....read that people 21 degrees when I woke up this bright and early this morning.  With a wind chill of 15 degrees.....yes, I said FIFTEEN degrees...I didn't even know the temperatures could go that low here in the South. I mean we are in the South, not as southern as I used to be down in New Orleans, but still pretty freaking South.  The kids and I are so not used to it.  I mean putting on jackets and hats to head outside, it's just plain easier to stay in. 

Tomorrow though that all changes, Meredith goes back to preschool, with a hat and gloves, and thermal underwear if wehad any!  Yep, tomorrow we have to head out the house in these frigid conditions.  Tomorrow means back to our reality.  Back to the gym, back to the school, back to dance, back to all the other errands that I normally run.  I've really enjoyed our Christmas break, I'm sure when the tikes enter big school, I will enjoy these breaks even more so. 
We have had lots of fun during our time off, we went on a little overnight stay, saw many christmas lights, seen movies, rode in a horse drawn open sleigh, made smores over a firepit, made Christmas cookies, took art lessons, had multiple playdates with friends, lots of Christmas parties, unwrapped many a present, visited with often not seen family, hung out with cousins, spent many a day in our pajamas, spent many morning watching Cars in my warm bed snuggled together, we laughed, smiled and were just plain merry.  The time has flown, I'm gonna miss having my big girl home with us every morning, but she is really excited to get back to school and dance and back to seeing her little friends.  She misses them and her teacher Mrs. K. 

So, so long Christmas break, we look forward to meeting up with you again next year!

what she says....a love story

Seven years ago this very month, Mommy and Daddy met.  Daddy was a doctor and Mommy was a speech therapist at Charity hospital in New Orleans.  Daddy helped the sick people feel better and Mommy helped them learn to eat and swallow and talk again after they were sick.  That's where we met.  Then we fell in love, got married, had baby Meredith, then baby Noah and now we are about to have baby Margot or Camping.

Mommy can you tell me dat story again?

Sure.....repeat the above verbatim as verbatim as I could remember.

Mommy I love dat story.  Can you tell me it again?

Okay one more time.....Seven year ago this very month, Mommy and Daddy...

Wait...Mommy TURN IT LOUDER!

Huh?

I can't hear TURN DA STORY UP LOUDER. (We have bilateral ear infections...poor baby.)

Okay...SEVEN YEARS AGO THIS VERY MONTH, MOMMY AND DADDY....REPEAT THE REST OF THE STORY VERBATIM

Mommy I love dat story. 

Me too baby, it was a New Orleans love story. 

Can I be a New Orleans love story too?

Sure!

Okay Noah can be da doctor and help people and I will be da speech tere-ra-tist like you.

The speech therapist?

Yeah, da speech teratist and teach people how to talk and walk and eat.

Sounds good.  Mommy can I be da doctor too? 

Of course!

And da speech teratist.  

If you want, you can be anything. 

Okay. 

Mommy why you weren't da doctor?

Because it was easier to stay home with you one day being the speech therapist.

Okay I'll be da speech teratist and stay home with you when you are little.

Sounds good buggy!

I love how they think at this age....so logical.

A new year....anticipating lots of new adventures

I have to say that 2009 was a great year.  I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful home, 2 fabulous tikes who mean more to me and my husband than anything and another blessing on the way.  I mean seriously, it's just been a great ride.  Every year that I have known my husband has gotten better and better.  Saying I'm a lucky girl doesn't even begin to cover it. 

So, I am very sad to see 2009 go.....well some of it.  There were some events (uh-hm major rennovation) that I thought would never end.  Just thinking about it is causing me to break out in hives.   However, there were many great memories and a new year means my kids are getting another year older, more independent and growing up.  Time waits for no one. 

So here is a recap on some of the highlights and lowlights of this year, I mean what's the good without the bad:     Noah started walking, we put our house up for sale,   we took our first camping trip,  I turned 30 , I suffered with kidney stones again,  Meredith turned 3,  our house came off the market and started down the path of losing one's insanity,  the construction started, we went on one of our 3 beach vacays and came home to hell on earth, my sister graduated from law school,  we had our first dance recital, we went back to the beach, the remodel continued,  I began drinking heavily, I started going back to the gym, one tike became pacifier free,  I went insane, but I got a new kitchen and living room,  we went back to the happiest place on earth,  I avoided you for a long time, Noah turned 2, I found out I was pregnant and that pretty much sums up our year.

Ahhh, the trip down memory lane.  I didn't think I would do that, but it was fun.  My blogs were also way more entertaining in the beginning of the year if I may say so myself.  Read entertaining if my mundane life, entertains you.  

Anyway 2010 is here.  I'm back I am anticipating no major life changes this year....besides adding another little mouth to feed, gaining 40 pounds, hopefully losing it to, undergoing my 3rd c-section and you know becoming the mom to three tikes ages 4 and under......now that doesn't sound like anything life altering.  I mean I will not be putting the house up for sale or doing any more major remodeling projects, yes, nothing remotely close to any of that.
Happy New Years interenets!  I hope there are many new and exciting adventures awaiting you this year too!

A weekend of fun in the Big Easy

You never realize what you have until it's gone.  Isn't that the old saying?  I loved growing up in Nola.  The Sunday morning breakfasts at Cafe du Monde.  The Saturday and Sunday strolls through the quarter.  Having a muffaletta at Central or a ham and Swiss at Maspero's.  Seeing the Christmas lights at City Park.  A Sunday Jazz brunch at Arnuad's.  All of those things that I did in Nola became a luxury when I moved out of the city.

So this weekend we packed up the u-corn, as Meredith would say, and headed to the big easy.  It's important to me that they know this city, love this city and realize they will forever be a part of this city!  We started off by meeting some friends at a Jazz brunch at Arnuad's.  The food was delish.  The girls loved eating at a fancy restaurant and Noah loved the music.  After that we finished up a little bit of our Christmas shopping at a few stores that our quaint little town doesn't have.  That evening we headed out to get a Bud's Broiler hamburger and see the lights, however I forgot they weren't open on Sundays, so we opted for Burger King and then straight to city park.   The kids were amazed!  We strolled and saw the lights, rode the carousel and took a very cold train ride, through the park to see more lights.

At 9:30 we headed back to our hotel in the big city and put two tired tikes to bed.  The next morning we ordered them room service and I wondered if they realized how special that was.  This was a treat and I hope one day they appreciate it!

The next day we got all dressed up in our Christmas clothes and hit the city!  We rode the streetcar and walked around and grabbed a quick bite to eat.  After lunch, we took the kids to The Teddy Bear tea at the Roosevelt.  Wow!  Seeing the kids faces as they walked into the magical North Pole made it all worth it.  Seeing the magic that they really believed in, was priceless.  We had tea, tea sandwiches, hot chocolate, scones, petite fours and dessert for days!  The kids loved it.  As we were leaving they were already asking when they could go back.

The kids got to see Santa and meet Mrs. Claus (this was very exciting for Meredith, not so much for Noah as you will see!)  They also go to meet Frosty and Rudolf although my all too smart 3 1/2 year old proceeding to tell me neither of those two were real as they were just costumes.  When I asked her how she knew this she said..."Mom, Frosty was not cold....it is just a costume."  I couldn't argue or lie, I said you are right, the real Frosty and Rudolf are at the North Pole getting ready for Christmas.  Wow, they grow so fast!

All dressed up at the Roosevelt....this is the best I could do with both...it was Noah's nap time and he was exhausted!

Noah in one of his happiest moods!

Meredith so excited about the tea and the fact we are leaving the lobby!

The magical North Pole....can you imagine being 2 and 3 and walking into this?

Noah showing off his tea sandwiches!

Meredith taking it all in!

The adult tea sandwiches

I think she was excited to see Rudolf even if he was just a costume!  Noah told him "no see you!"

Mrs. Claus singing songs and reading stories.

Noah liked Mrs. Claus as much as he liked Santa.

Saying good-bye to Frosty...after this she reiterated he was again "just a costume momma!"

Leaving with our new teddy bears...Noah's favorite part!  All those scary costumes!

To my newest tike

Dear Caboose,

Today I am almost 10 weeks pregnant with you.  Time sure has flown.  No I am kidding.  I found out I was pregnant with you at 3 weeks....who does that?  Your impatient mother that's who.  Yes, I found out exceptionally early and now it seems I have been preggers forever.....okay 7 weeks of throwing up is a really long time, it can seem like a lifetime....trust me!

No, I will never be able to give you the whole speech on how I was in labor for 19 hours with no epidural and so on....nope that one is for your sister.  Your story will be more like for the first 10 weeks of your life as an embryo or fetus (whatever the politically correct term at the moment is) I laid on the floor all day and night, vomiting and wishing for death day after day.  Yes, my child that will be your story when you are 16 and crying how unfair life is and how unfair that you don't have a car or license, or that your brother and sister are away at college with no curfew and your home stuck with me, with a curfew.  I am perfecting that story now in anticipation.  You just wait.

That being sad, this pregnancy thus far has sucked.  I have not going one full day without vomiting or other disgusting ways of expelling bodily waste.  Nothing taste good, my energy level is zilch and honestly I've been perfectly miserable.  However, I'm super excited and can't wait to meet you....I know I really do feel that way, it's just hard right now.

In case you ever wonder what I am craving with you right now at 9 1/2 weeks preggers, here you go.  Pickles, lots of them.  Nachos, with lots of chili and cheese!  Pizza, I don't know if I am craving that or just able to eat it, but I eat that alot.  No sweets or chocolate, although I still eat it.  NO soft drinks.  If I drink coke or another soft drink it comes right back up.  Vitamins or pills of any kind like Tylenol are unbearable and almost immediately follow with gagging and again throwing up.  I do like orange juice, homemade pancakes, frozen french toast sticks and the occasional sausage biscuit from McDonald's sound great, but sometimes after it is front of me, I can't eat that either.  Night after night I cook and don't eat.  Okay I lie, once or twice a week lately I cook and don't eat.  Your dad then runs and gets me something I try to eat and most of the time throw right back up.  I just can't eat what I cook, the smells really gets to me, but I sit and pretend for your brother and sister.  The other nights, your dad will pick up something and bring it home.  I am way to exhausted and sick to go sit anywhere...the thought just makes me ill.  However deciding what he will bring home in this little town with limited choices is awful.  We play the "what can I eat" game and no matter what it is, it still isn't tempting or good.  I keep trying sushi which is touch and go, sometimes I keep it down and others I vow never to eat it again.  See how it's been.

Yesterday I went to the doctor and we got another ultrasound.  At my 7 week ultrasound there was you and your little heartbeat of 151 and two very large polyps.  Scared the crap out of me.  I read online that they could increase the chance of a miscarriage and cause pain.  The pain wasn't my worry, you can guess what was.  At 9 weeks I went back and had another ultrasound to see what was happening with the polyps and got to see you again.  You looked great.  A nice, strong, super fast heartbeat of 187 (higher than your brother and sisters ever was)  and you were moving all over.  We could see your tiny arms and legs flailing all over the place.  It was weird.  Thank goodness the ultrasound tech pointed out your head and feet, because at first I had them upside down.  There was also one very large hematoma, Dr. B said it was a hematoma and not a polyp and it would either go away on it's own and it was nothing to worry about.  Your dad has hung your ultrasound pictures on his office door right next to all your brother and sisters pictures, he is very proud and super excited too!

I am going to go on record here and saying that I think you are a girl.  I thought you were a boy at first, but now I am definitely thinking girl. Which means you are probably a boy, I was wrong with your sister and brother.  Your dad also thinks you are a girl, along with most everyone else.  Your sister prays nightly for a sister and has named you Margot.  It's cute isnt' it, but don't be silly she didn't really name you.  I liked it alot and asked her if she did and that was it she loved it and if you are a girl you will be Margot.  Even if I name you something else I think she will always call you Margot.  In fact, if you are a boy, Meredith will probably still call you Margot and she will probably want to dress you in pink too.  She really wants a sister, however I think Noah would love a little brother.  Right now he doesn't really get it or care, he calls himself "baby."  You are totally going to rock his little world.  He may take some getting used to you.  Don't worry he will, Meredith adjusted just fine to him after many months!

Well my caboose, I just wanted to fill you in on my first trimester, I am hoping it gets easier and more fun soon.  Your brother and sister are besides themselves that I am so sick.  Meredith wants to know "momma why Margot always is pushing it out?" and little Noah always says "you otay momma, you otay?" We are very much looking forward to July and meeting you, my little #3!

Love,
momma

The Saints

Let me just start off by saying "I believe!" 

I have been a Saint's fan for as long as I could remember.  Win or lose, which lose was more like it, I cheered them on and sported my black and gold.  God I love that city and that team.  Josh and I had season tickets until we moved to Mississippi, then with real jobs and babies on the way we let them go.  I am kicking myself now and I am number 70,000 on the waiting list to get them again.  Even though we still have real jobs, live far away and have a baby on the way.  Why?  Well this magical season has sparked my love for the Saints and it's been way too long since we have been to the dome yelling, "Bless you Boys!"

I didn't intend on doing a post about my Saints, I was waiting until we won the Superbowl.  However my friend Amy did one a few days ago on her blog "The saints are coming" and I had to share it.  So head on over and read it.  I love her post and her pictures.  I think it captures the true essence of a Saint's fan!

Black and Gold superbowl, that's what I want for Christmas!

What he says....to cute!

"Momma, Momma....Under, under....hear it?"

"I hear that thunder"

"Momma, under doe BOOM BOOM!"

What was I thinking...

Last night as I laid in bed very nauseated after having thrown up my dinner, bathed two kiddos and got them in bed I started thinking about what the hell I was thinking when I decided to get pregnant again????

I mean yes, I do what a third little tike, but pregnancy just wasn't on my agenda.  It's amazing how short a mother's memories are.  The morning sickness, which was really bad with my other two tikes, with Meredith being the worst, is so much worse this time.  Why didn't I think of that when Josh and I were trying for this baby????

Or the weight I will gain. I'm not one of those ladies that only gains the 24-30 recommended lbs.  No I gain well over 40 with both of mine.  And then with Meredith I had so much fluid intake during her delivery do to complications I came home weighing more than when I went in.  I remember crying...."but she was 6lbs 9oz, I should of at least lost that much!!!!"  But no things don't work like that.  I didn't remember that either until that little stick had two lines.

I think I got to celebrate my pregnancy for one week before the gloom and doom started. I mean I have thrown up every day for the past 5 or 6 weeks.....I know be jealous, very jealous.

But the reason I was thinking I wanted to get pregnant came to me as I ran up stairs to comfort my 3 1/2 year old who was having a nightmare and who I tucked all snugly into my bed.  Then as soon as she was down had to run back up to grab my handsome little man who was also crying because his sister's nightmare woke him up. As I watched my two little tikes sleeping peacefully snuggled in my bed, I was thinking that it really doesn't matter what you go through in those 9 months leading up to the point of meeting your newest miracle.   The only thing that matters is the end results which is worth it all.  Even that dreaded c-section.  

So little caboose, I can't promise not to bitch and moan the next 7 months or even question my sanity or reason behind getting preggers, but I will tell you this.....deep down I know exactly why I did it, because you are worth it.  And on that morning in July I won't remember one bit of this.....morning sickness or anything.  Can't wait to meet you my little caboose!

What she says.....a rendition of our nighttime prayers

Dear Jesus,

I know you get to pick if it's a boy or a girl, PLEASE remember I ALREADY have a brudder.

Fank you,
Meredith

****

Dear Jesus,

I know I am eider getting a Margot baby or a Camping baby....I would love a Margot baby.  I already got a brudder!

Love you,
Meredith

****

Dear Jesus,

I do want a healfy baby....I also want a girl baby.  But I know it might be a boy.  Please remember I already have a brudder.

Love,
Meredith


****

Any guesses on what sex she wants the new baby to be.  And yes, if it is a girl Margot is a strong consideration for a girl name.  In fact it is almost 99% going to be that.  I also have her middle name picked out.  As for a boy I am 100% sure we will not be naming him Camping, nor will we name him Bargo which is her second choice!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

For the third year in a row here in South Mississippi, big snow flakes have again fallen from the sky.  The kids are definitely going to think this is the norm....hell what do I know maybe it is. 

It started Friday night about 8:00pm.  We were having a big Christmas party at our house and the kids were at a friends house with a babysitter so we couldn't wake them up immediately to play.  When the party was over and we did go get the kids about 9pm, they were not at all interested in waking up to play in the snow.  In fact Meredith told me it was too cold and she was too tired.  Thankfully there was still plenty on the ground the next morning and they got to play in it then. 

Meredith loved it, she laid right on the ground and made a beautiful snow angel.

Noah was very unsure of the snow.  He would walk a little and then yell "I'm guck....momma help....I'm guck!"  Silly boy anytime his feet got covered in snow he would yell this and refuse to walk any further.  He also wore his sisters old pink boots, because he refused to wear the green john deer boots I bought for him.

The kids loved the snow, hopefully it will snow again this year and definitely next year!

Santa Claus came to town!

For the fourth year now, Santa has visited our house to make sure the kids were being good and see what was on their list.  It is always interesting to see what I thought was on the list the month or two before when I filled out the paperwork and then what the kids actually had on their list that night.

Apparently I put the kids wanted a trampoline, which is not happening this year.  Thankfully Meredith had no idea what Santa was referring to when he said "I heard you want a trampoline"  because she quickly followed up with "No, I want a pink vacuum."   The vacuum is totally doable this year, the trampoline is definitely not happening!

So here they are with Santa, I'm going to go out on a limb and say Noah was not his biggest fan!  Maybe once he realizes all the toys that big red guy brings he might change his mind...probably not though!

To my birthday boy

Dear Noah,

Happy belated birthday!  Can you believe you are two?  Me either.  I'm not sure how it happened or where the time went.  I swear just yesterday you were learning to sit unsupported.  Do you remember those days, because I am trying to figure out how we got from there to here so quickly.

But yes, you are two.  Your daddy says I baby you too much.  I let you get away with things I still don't let your sister get away with.  But you're the baby right?  That's what I keep telling myself.  And you are and you always will be.  Even when the caboose arrives.

You have totally swept me off my feet.  I fell in love all over again for the third time.  It was a love just as strong and powerful as the 1st and 2nd.  When you were born that early morning 2 years ago I grew a whole second heart and I love you with all of it.  I cannot describe it in words, but I love you my little boy.

When I found out you were a boy, I was elated.  I secretly wanted a boy.  I know you aren't supposed to say that, of course I wanted you to be healthy, but I also wanted you to have a penis.  And when I found out you had one, I was beaming inside.  See I didn't grow up with any brothers, it was just me and my sister and then along came Meredith and we know she is all girl.  Pink and sparkly are her domain.  But, you were brand new.  And you totally intimidated me at first.  I had no idea what to do with a little boy and those little boy parts I wanted you to have.  But I learned quickly.  I'm amazed at all the boy things I have learned in two short years.

You have changed my lift little man.  That phrase momma's boy doesn't even cover it.  You are such a little momma's boy.  And such a little boy.  You are into dirt, playing rough, getting messy, trucks, trains and airplanes.  You are rough and tumble and have no drama.  Rarely do you shed a tear.  You do know how to work the lip, but tears are not your thing.  However at the same time you give the best cuddles, you climb in my lap look at me and say "Wuv you momma....es cuddle!"  And cuddle we do.

You love to talk and you have the vocabulary of a three year old.  You talk non-stop.  You also love to sing. LOUD.  Even in quiet places like church.  You answer the phone when it rings, you tell me which way to go when I'm driving, you tell me how to fix things, or when to sit, come and play or when you want anything.  In fact you are very bossy...you get that from your dad and your sister...definitely not from me. 

You have climbed out your crib and now sleep in your "boo bed."  You love your blue bed, it has blue sheets and you named it that yourself.  We tried calling it your "big boy bed", but you would have none of that.  It is your blue "baby" bed.  It is definitely not a big boy bed.  You make that fact known immediately.  Because you are the baby.  Your refer to yourself as the baby.  I often here you say "baby do" or "baby's turn" when referring to yourself.  I could eat that up.  See why it is so hard for me to accept you are two.

Part of you wants to grow up.  To follow your sister and join in on the big kid games, yet part of you still wants to be the baby and snuggle and cuddle and be carried everywhere.  I'm okay with that, if it is possible I promise to carry you in on your first day of high school.  Which hey at the rate you are gaining weight may very well be possible.  You weigh no more than 24lbs fully dressed.  You are my bean pole, very tall and very thin. 

You got a John deer gator for your birthday.  Absolute best gift ever.  You love that thing.  You drive better than your sister does, hell you drive better than your daddy does.  Don't tell them I said that...they would totally cry.  You are such a big boy on that thing.  You drive it all over the drive way and even go off roading.  All too soon I know it will be a real vehicle and so I beg....please s.l.o.w down.  Stay little, just for a little while longer. 

I love you my big two year old....my baby!
Love,
momma

I'm back....but making no promises

Well here is my first blog in almost forever.  I had to just take a break.  For a while I quit reading blogs, quit blogging, in fact I went ahead and took my own blog out of my favorites.  Life just felt like it was too much and as much as I wanted to head over here and write down the million cute things my kids were doing and saying or blog about birthdays and holidays and every little mundane thing in between I couldn't.  Seriously, I could not bring myself to even log in to blogger.

In the last week or so I started trying to catch up on blogs, it made me miss mine.  A lot.  Then I had several request by friends (mainly Carrie) to please blog.  And then one from my husband.  So that did it for me.  At least two people missed me!  I'm not promising to be here everyday,but I feel the urge to blog again so here I am. 

Playing catch up. That probably won't happen.  But I will blog about my birthday boy whose birthday I neglected on the blog.  And since this blog is for them to one day read, I will definitely post that soon.  Noah man, I am sorry.  I just needed a moment.  One day you will understand that.  Or maybe I am just preparing you for middle child syndrome now.

In other news.  In case you haven't heard Internets.  I am preggers with number 3.  The caboose.  And yes there is only one little caboose in there with a nice strong heartbeat.  Along with two very large polyps, but that is another worry for another day.  What is life without something to worry about your children.  This has been the month of worries for me.  I am hoping next year will be a lot less worrisome.  I am also hoping in the next week or so I can stop vomiting, but I'm not expecting that to happen either.   For the record little caboose, I have been sicker with you than I was with either your big sister or big brother.   

Noh a big brother....WOW that is scary....I hope saying that gets less scary in the next 32 weeks!  I have to admit the thought of having three little stepping stones soon scares the crap out of me, but I'm ready!

So here I am back in action.  I hope you all have missed me.  Expect some more of me and a whole new look soon. I think the look was really getting me down.  Yeah it had nothing to do with my exhaustion, life, anxiety or pure laziness when it came to blogging.....it was all the look.

Welcome back interenets!  I hope you are still around and continue to come back.