Jeez!

I heard Ryan moving around in the kitchen this morning, but I really wasn't paying attention. When I went upstairs, I saw that Olivia had scrambled eggs, cereal, and orange juice made especially by Ryan. He went on to make himself a fried egg. What a guy!

A comment from Kate

As we were driving home today, the song "Buttons" by the Pussycat Dolls was on the radio. If you aren't familiar with the song, the chorus says: "Loosen up my buttons baby..." Kate said, "Why can't she just loosen them herself?"

Could it be a boy?

Two things have occurred in the last week causing me to think that I might be carrying a boy. Up until then, Thad and I had both assumed we would have another girl. Here is why my mind is swaying toward blue:

1.  The pencil test. My trainer Stacey did the infamous pencil test. Most of us who have been with child at Healthpros where I work out have been accurately 'pencil tested.'  Sure enough the pencil swayed one way for a boy, twice in a row for the girls, and then it went back to boy.

2.  This morning while drinking my vitamins (more on my awesome liquid vitamins later), I took a gulp and gagged twice.  The only other time I gagged while pregnant was once while having yogurt while pregnant with Ryan. 

Both of these pretty lame reasons, but it keeps the fun in guessing!  The real test will be when I have my gestational diabetes test. If you didn't know, I failed the first glucose test with all three kids. I did have gestational diabetes with Ryan but not the girls. If I have it again, I will be certain it's a boy.  Good thing I have another ten weeks or so of not worrying about my sugar intake!

What do YOU think it is?

16 weeks...or 4 months pregnant

I absolutely hate this picture, but this is what I am looking like these days. If I stand in the other direction, I look even bigger!

My current obsession

I have a new guilty pleasure in life, but it doesn't cause weight gain! I will start with the one that's been around longer:
1. Club977 the 80s channel. Whenever I am on the computer at home, I get my itunes going. Then I click radio and listen to this station--religiously. You can also go to their website: www.club977.com

2. VH1 Classics. Thad upgraded our Dish Network subscription so he could get an extra 40 or so sport stations. While I was scolding him for the waste, I realized that I can now watch the good old videos of the 1980s. Plus, I get to see some good ones that I had forgotten about...

I forgot how much MTV, and furthermore, music was such a big part of my childhood. I have always loved music, but wow it's like stepping into a time capsule, and I love it! Don't get me wrong, I have a plethora of CDs, but this is way, way better.
If you are an 80s music freak like me, take a moment to enjoy one or both of these.

A new blog for us to read!

My sister Erin is now a "blogger."  I knew that some of you tried and true blog buddies would welcome her with open arms. So here is her link:

http://gillettglimpses.blogspot.com

Here come the questions

Yesterday I finally told my students that I was pregnant. I learned that it was the worse kept secret in the school.  Apparently they could tell a long time ago, had heard somewhere, or just had a hunch. I guess when you are pregnant with #4 it doesn't take too much time to grow larger. It's a bitembarrassing, but oh well.

Now I am getting the random questions:  do you know what it is, are you going to find out, when are you due, have you had an ultrasound yet, is this it, are there twins in there, etc.  Kids who I had last quarter will pop into class unannounced congratulating me.  

I know I  talk a lot, but stuff like this makes me uncomfortable. I don't mind discussing horror stories with people about my kids or telling a funny story, but when it comes to "good news" I just don't want that attention. I even had my mother tell my sister because I just didn't want to do it. 

For now, I am just letting it happen, but it will be nice to have the summer off so I don't have 90+ pairs of eyes watching me grow.

On another note: Thank you for your responses regarding Kate. I think I really thought I was the only child with a whiny child.  It's not so much the whining, but her inability to do stuff on her own that is frustrating.  I guess we just (naively) assumed that she would hop on a bike, want to play sports, and be 'tough' like her brother.  I think it's also being magnified more because Olivia shows more independence already than Kate ever has.  Wonder what the next baby will be like?!

Frustrations...

I am a little tentative in writing this, because in no way to I want to come off as ungrateful, unkind, or anything else. But, Thad and I have grown increasingly frustrated with our second child.  

To her credit, Kate is our kindest, gentlest, most sensitive, and loving child. She has a heart of gold.  However, what we struggle with is:  whining, helplessness, lack of coordination, and an overwhelming need to follow others.  Ironically, the things that we have found most difficult about Ryan are polar opposites of Kate's.  Part of the problem is that these traits that we struggle with regarding Kate were a non-issue with Ryan.

Examples: 

1.  Riding a bike...we went for a 'family walk'/bike ride. Training wheels were a struggle for her!  With that comes the whining that drives me crazy.  Last night she wanted the training wheels taken off. Thad about lost it after ten minutes.  There is no drive to push through fears or to just try a little bit.  "I can't" is something we hear too often.

2.  She wanted bangs a week ago. You would have thought that WWIII had broken out. That was all she talked about for two days. One kid said her hair looked weird, and she was so devastated. (Not that I don't sympathize with her, but I would like her to not care quite so much as a FIVE year old.)

3.  Every other sentence is: "How come I can't..." or "It's not fair that..."  She has even said that when Olivia or Ryan is sick b/c they get popsicles.  Excuse me did you want to throw up all night?

I could go on and on, but that isn't very nice. The point is that there is no such thing as an easy child. Strengths from one child could very well be another's weakness.  I remember when we were in Oklahoma City for Elli's wedding.  We came back after a long weekend to a son who taught himself to ride bike.  Shave Ryan's head or do whatever, but he could care less.  And of all the issues we have with Ryan, he does not whine at all.

For now Thad and I need to work on our lack of patience dealing with this.  I know all you moms out there get stressed out with your kids too. Thanks for letting me vent. Now to be honest, I would like to go find Miss Kate and give her a big hug!

The joys of potty training

I am pretty confident in saying that Olivia is potty trained! She has no problems going #1. Going #2 took awhile longer (she held it for three days), but once she had done that a couple of times, it has been relatively easy.
Last week she chose some Ariel panties. Tonight I came home with some Minnie Mouse ones. You can see that she is very proud! We are too.
Of course it won't be too long before we are out buying diapers again...so the $$ saving will be short lived!