Belly Pic

Many people have been expecting belly pictures from this pregnancy again since I was so good at getting pictures when I was pregnant with Trey. Well... here is your photo! My friend Melissa took this during our shoot a few weeks ago. You can find information on her photography business here.

Update on Us

• We are 98 days from my due date for baby #3!!! I can't believe that we are getting close enough for L.C. to be thinking about getting the infant seat out of the attic and mentioning other "getting ready" stuff. I feel like we are still so far away and at times it seems like this is a never-ending, no-progress pregnancy. At other times I am shocked and amazed that I could be this close to having another baby when my (other) baby is not even 11 months old yet!
• I am no longer working! It was our plan for me to quit working in February when the baby comes. A few weeks ago I was informed that my contract would end Dec 31st. Then the Friday before last I found out the funding for the program I work for had been cut. My clients each got a budget to assist them in becoming more self-sufficient as they worked their recovery plan. With the money gone, it was pretty much useless for me to continue meeting with them since they are in treatment with other counselors already. I spent two days last week calling clients & meeting with them to give them the news and to wrap up my case files and reports. Last Thursday was my last day of work. I was not thrilled to give up the income, but I cannot contain my emotions regarding being able to be with my kids for 3 bonus months! I have so much peace with the timing of this whole process. I will be able to get the kids stabilized on a structured routine before the baby comes instead of several changes at once.
• I think I panicked a tad too soon on the thumb sucking deal. Over the past couple days Trey has only put his thumb in his mouth a few times and it didn't seem to be for sucking at all. He likes to make all kinds of noises by humming and moving his thumb back and forth or pulling it out real quick and making a popping sound. Also, I have been able to "hide" the pacis several times throughout the days and he has been happy. I love hearing his little voice and listening for new sounds that he can make. It sure does help to have that paci out!
• We believe Pheoby will be able to start K4 after the new year. We tried to get her into the Liberty Elementary program, but she did not qualify due to her lack of "need." We got a letter that says she is welcome to go to a neighboring school that has openings. We have the paperwork ready and I hope to submit our request tomorrow. It will be good for Pheoby to be back in a structured learning environment. She loved "school" when she went to The Growing Place. I just know she will love K4.
• I thought I was in the market for a new vacuum, but I was sorely mistaken! We have been using my mom's hand-me-down 20-some-year-old Rainbow for several years now. It is a great system and it works great, but to be honest I would like to have a simple pull-it-out-vacuum-and-put-it-back vacuum that would make small jobs so much easier. So... this afternoon I was all revved up for a major vacuum project and got my room 1/2 way done when the thing seemed to die. I checked the standard things real quick.... you know, the power switch, cord plugged in, assembly. I didn't see any problems so I quit, leaving all the stuff right in the middle of the floor for L.C. to confirm that it was really a goner. It took him all of about 7 seconds to determine that the cord was not plugged in well. UGH! I don't need a new vacuum after all! Now, I don't want you to think I was excited about shelling out the money for a new vacuum, but I was excited about the potential of having a new one! I guess I know what I am doing first thing tomorrow.... gotta finish the vacuuming! ;o)
• Pheoby had her first dentist appointment yesterday. She was very brave and said it didn't hurt at all. She does have one tiny cavity that we will have filled next week and she has asked that I go back with her again. I am not looking forward to this one because our insurance doesn't cover the "laughing gas" and she will have to get a shot to numb the area. I sure do hope it doesn't hurt! I am trying to be brave and I am definitely trying not to let on that I am nervous about it. I just want it to be a good experience for her. We shall see.
• Tonight Pheoby helped me clean the kitchen... the whole kitchen... until we were finished! What a blessing it is to have a helper! I am sure it helped that she decided before hand that we were super heroes. She picked two lightning stickers, one for each of us to wear, and we went about using our super powers such as super cleaner, super rinser and super lifter. It was fun! It really helps to have extra help and the company was huge moral support!
• One last Pheoby story and then I am going to end this update... We set up Pheoby's tent in the living room tonight. I thought she would play in it for about 5 minutes. Nope! She has been in there for about 45 minutes. She has some toys in there with her. She has books, flashlights, and some animals. One of the animals she has with her "talks." With the door and windows zipped closed (I think she feels she is in her own little world and we can't hear her) she squeezed the hand of the dog who said, "will you play with me?" Pheoby responded in a stern voice, "NO! It is your bedtime!"

Thumb Sucker?!

What kind of kid decides to start sucking his thumb at 10 months old? That is insane!!! ;o)

Yup. So we definately confirmed today that Trey likes sucking his thumb. We have been noticeing it over the past several days. At the beginning it seemed like perhaps it was just something to do or that he was teething and chewing on it. But, nope! He is definately sucking.

Now... to be fair, the boy does LOVE his paci and has it 80% of the time. I have been trying to take it away more and more so that he will be more vocal, but I am second guessing that choice now. I don't want to push him toward the thumb if he really feels the need to have something.

He did spend the first 5 minutes of his life outside the womb with the thumb firmly planted in his mouth. I presume he had lots of practice for several months. Perhaps he was distracted from the thumb because we have been good at supplying his needs over 9 months. Maybe now that he is getting bigger he may just remember how simple it was way back in the day when all was cozy and simple. Who knows!

What I do know, however, is that I will be pushing the paci like crazy for the next several days!!!

Moments Photography

My good friend Melissa Little came for a visit last weekend. We became friends when we both lived in Michigan. Her husband was the Youth Pastor at Croswell Wesleyan. She just moved to Wichita, KS and has officially started up her own business, Moments Photography. She offered us a great deal on a multi-location shoot while she was here. I don't have the CD with all the pics on it yet, but she offered me some previews today. I am thrilled with the results!!! Let me know what you think.