Talia's new tricks

I recently discovered that Talia has learned how to count to 10 (actually 11).


Surprise! She also knows how to (mostly) sing the ABC's. Evidently I need to keep up with her development a little more closely. :)


I'll tack this one on, just for fun. I love that laugh!

Ultrasound!

I had a baby check-up this morning. Everything looks great. The kids came with me and so were able to hear the baby's heartbeat. I'm not sure they really understood what they were hearing, but they were excited to get to "hear the baby." I think Benjamin thought the baby was trying to talk to him. All the way to the car he kept saying, "The baby say, 'shwshwsh' to me!"

The best news was that I asked if I could schedule my ultrasound for 18 weeks so we could find out the gender before Christmas (last time she told me we would do it at 20 weeks). She said, "sure!" So we will find out--boy or girl--on December 23rd. I am so excited!

Just in case you don't know or remember how we operate...we'll tell you the gender, but you aren't getting the name out of us until the baby is born! :)

In other baby news.... Here is my 3 month "belly shot." I am starting to get a complex. Everywhere I go people are saying, "There's no way you are due in May"..."You're only 3 months pregnant?"... and "Wow! You're really popping out there, aren't you?" Maybe I've forgotten, but I think I've gotten more weird comments this pregnancy than the other 2 put together!

I've also felt a little bit of movement over the past week or so. Just little "squirms" and wiggles, no robust kicks yet.

Baby Update

We don't have much new to report, but I had a doctor's appointment today (my first real "baby appointment") and everything is looking great. I am 12 weeks now, which is always a relief as this point marks a significant decline in the chance for miscarriage. I am also feeling much better and starting to see my energy return.

We were able to hear the heartbeat for the first time, which is always an amazing experience. I don't think that little "swish swish" will ever sound commonplace, no matter how many times I hear it. :) Seth was able to come with me, and even better, we were kid-less (thank you, Christy!) What a fun morning!

For those who have asked, we will probably not find out the baby's gender until the first week of January.... Sigh. That seems like a long time from now. Hopefully the time will pass quickly as we have lots of celebrating to do in the next couple of months.

Misc. cute pictures

Cheesy smiles

Benj loves for me to make him this "hat"

Benjamin is in the toddler version of AWANA this year. He LOVES his "Honeybees" shirt.

Speaking of LOVES... Talia loves her accessories. "Pitty necklace, Mama."

We had a fun visit with Mima in October for Benjamin's birthday. One highlight was visiting Huber's Family Farm where we picked out "cumkins," as Benjamin calls them.

Creative juices are flowing

Benjamin has recently started to pretend. This has been a very entertaining development for me as I happen upon his make-believe world from time to time.

Pictured: Benjamin meticulously "parking" all of his cars in a jam-packed make-believe parking lot. Believe me, he had in his mind where each and every car belonged and did not rest until each one was in place.

Another gem: Mondays are an exciting day in our house. During breakfast (my children take at least 30 minutes, if not 45, to eat breakfast) all sheets, blankies, and sleeping "friends" disappear for 2-3 hours. This, by the way, is not the exciting part. The kids wander around all morning wondering where in the world their beloved possessions have gone. But around 11:00 a buzzer sounds from that mysterious room in our house where children rarely venture and voila! the precious belongings reappear smelling distinctly sweeter than before. Last week Benj wandered into his room to find his bed freshly made and his friends all lined up against the footboard. He grabbed both of his very best friends, Bear (who is washable) and Giraffe (who is not), by the scruff of their necks and staged their joyful reunion:

Giraffe: "Hi Bear!"
Bear: "Hi Giraffe! I'm all clean!"
Giraffe: "I'm not wet." (Translation: I am not.)

Talia, by turns, has also discovered a new realm of play: taking care of her "babies." (Right now her favorite "baby" is a cuddly soft bear dressed in a pink bunny costume.)

The other night I was picking up toys in the kids room. It dawned on me that I hadn't seen Talia wander past in several minutes. Recalling the last time I ignored the impulse to check on her (resulting in the breaking of my glasses), I went to find her. I found her in the kitchen, diligently at work strapping her bear into her booster seat at the table. When she succeeded in snapping both buckles she pushed the chair up to the table. A little while later, as I was changing Benjamin's diaper, she toddled into their bedroom, "baby" in tow, also bearing an unknown white item in her other hand. Upon investigating I found she had a small wad of diaper wipes (who knows where she found those....) She tossed her bear on the floor, plopped down beside her, and began copiously wiping. Looking up at me she said proudly, "Change diaper!"

Epilogue: Later I was recounting this story to Seth on the phone and Talia, still clinging to her bear, looked up at me and smiled charmingly. As an aside to her I said, "Little girl, is that your baby?" Her smile got bigger, like I had just told a great joke, and toddling over to me to pat my belly she said, "Nooooo. Baby in Mama's tummy." I guess she's just practicing.

Happy Birthday Benjamin, VeggieTales style

Yes, I do realize my son's birthday was last month. We celebrated on time, I just forgot to post the pix. Thanks, Mamacita, for the reminder.

The food: the shattered remains of the popcorn ball meteor and jello (from "The Gourds Must Be Crazy"), Mr. Twisty's non-cheese curls for food allergic children (from "Jonah"), and of course everyone's favorite veggies in bite-size.

The stars of the show

Benjamin enjoying his food.

Benjamin is still talking about his cake. "I eat Bob!"

Benjamin's best friend, Alister moved away just before the party, but they were able to come back to town for that weekend. Yay for them!

The playset (loosely transformed into "Madame Blueberry's tree house") was a big hit with kids of all ages. Just throw 'em in the yard with nice weather and some toys and the party is a hit!

The Shoes vs. the Pots in a crazy throwing-stuff game. For those who are not VeggieTales fans, my apologies. This stuff probably doesn't make a bit of sense.

Benjamin got 4 new VeggieTales DVD's for his birthday! Thanks everyone! He is still enjoying his "new movies."

Sully and Boo

Here are our happy little trick-or-treaters:

"Boo" and "Sully" from the Pixar film Monsters, Inc.

Talia sees no need to stick around for more pictures.

Well OK. One more with Benjamin's big Sully smile. :)

All *3* kiddos are in costume. (The baby is a pumpkin. Get it?)

Daddy is a Storm Trooper.

At this house Talia was prepared to empty the entire unsupervised bowl of candy piece-by-piece into her own bucket. The monkey is our little friend Jesse. Both of our kids were so excited all day to go to Jesse's house in their costumes.

The kids really got into saying "Trick or Treat!" Talia would say it over and over between houses, but not actually to anyone handing out candy. Benjamin, by the end, was shouting, "Trick-r-tweet!" as we approached doors.

Here are our worn out little trick-or-treaters. Benjamin just wanted that "hat" OFF. Poor guy. He's trying to look happy. :)

Jesse's Nana brought some big Monster Cookies, which Talia thoroughly enjoyed. Benjamin was perfectly happy with his chosen lollipop.

Benjamin has taken to taking his candy out of his bucket, piece by piece, and then putting it all back in (in the same manner). He's not trying to eat it, he just wants to look at it. :) Funny boy.