a new 'trick'...

I was soundly sleeping this morning, when all of a sudden I heard my son crying...


right outside of my bedroom door!

What?! Jordan sprung out of bed faster than I've ever seen him move, and sure enough, it really was Corban at our door. Uh oh. He hadn't been fussing or crying, or even babbling... we heard nothing in the monitor (which I double checked, and it was on). We could see his escape route when we got to his room- but now the dilemna- what do we do!?
I can't close his door because it'll get too hot with his space heater. I could try a gate, but it'll be just days before he figures out how to climb over it, I'm sure. I guess we'll have to do the inevitable, what we've been planning on doing anyway... moving him to his big-boy bed.

Anyway, we're off to an ear re-check appointment, with a little detour at Super Target. Then home again, home again. We've stayed in a ton this week, and it's been good for us, I think. Especially with my sick kiddo.
Oh- and I finished the trim in one of our living rooms. I've decided to take it one room at a time, one per day. It's a lot less overwhelming this way.
And that dreadful nausea you get first trimester of pregnancy? Well, first and second, if you're like me? Well- it's returned. And gag reflex is in full force. I'm just waiting for the stomach contents to follow. Why oh why? Isn't it enough that I'm toting around 30 extra pounds, a watermelon in front, have absolutely no energy, a zitty face...? We really have to throw in morning sickness again? Haha. Baby Girl, come quickly. :)

And on that note, I'm off. I need a glass of ice water like I need my next breath. Adios.

I'm just sitting here, nearing 2 p.m., still in pajamas... listening to my precious son exclaim "Football! Football!" over and over and over. Oh, but he stopped, and now he's singing a sweet song, in a language that only he understands. Have I mentioned lately that I absolutely love being a mom? Seriously. This week hasn't been without challenges, a few pulled hairs, some tears, but I wouldn't trade a minute of it for the world.

Enough of the sentimental babbling. Look what I just bought!:

I only ordered the bumper pad, as it was all we needed. I have really cute sage green curtains, and am still debating on what color(s) we'll paint the walls, but will probably do a creamy yellow and tan. My in-laws are giving us this neat looking dresser they have, and we'll paint it cream. If I find a rocking chair at Goodwill or on Craigslist, I'll purchase it, possibly paint it too... same with a book shelf. I'm having fun dreaming up a nursery... (Oh, just to add- it's from Pottery Barn, but I got it super clearanced and paid $29.99 [originally $80] for it... the same as I was going to pay for the one at Babies R Us!)

Corban's 'big boy' room is slowly being mentally assembled. And we have (in real life) some pieces of it, but none of them are actually in the room. We're doing an 'outdoor/camping' theme for him, and I'm really excited about it. We've got a green comforter with tan sheets and tan curtains. I'm using big ole sticks for his curtain rods. We don't have this bedding set, but are getting most of the matching room accessories- a lantern, lamp, pillows, wall clock, etc. It's from Target, and is Wollrich brand, in case you're wondering. I'm sooo excited about it. I haven't officially decided on wall colors for him yet either, but they will be mostly dark tan/brownish, and I'm debating between a shade of orange and green. So we'll see. I like colors, lots of them, in case you haven't noticed. Most rooms in our house have more than one color.

Anyway- I made a delicious (if I do say so myself) pot of chili for lunch today. Jordan was actually able to come home and join us, so that was a nice treat. Corban eats up his time with Daddy. I love watching the two of them together. But Corban is napping now, and my house looks as though a tornado has made its way through it, mostly because instead of following behind and cleaning up, I laid on the couch and watched as Corban emptied baskets, pulled things off of shelves, etc. So- I'm off to put this place back together, and perhaps nap myself... or at least snuggle up on the couch and read a book.

just mama today

Good morning!

Yesterday was in fact a long day, but we survived. And today is off to a much better start, despite the sink overflowing with (stinky!) dishes, laundry needing to be washed, and trash sprinkled throughout the house from our white elephant gift exchange we had Sunday night with the youth group. Those are small things, right? My mom had this cross-stitched wall hanging growing up, and I always loved what it said... "So quite down cobwebs, and dust go to sleep. I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep." Oh, to maintain such a perspective! But if I've ever seen it, believed it, it's now.

I've been hit in the face with ample doses of reality here recently, and it's been good. It's good to realize what really does matter, what's worth letting lie, when to call it quits, when it's worth being worked up. Granted, I've got a long way to go before this realization makes the trek from my mind to my heart, but it's a place to start. I know that I will never look back on these days of Corban as a toddler and think, "Man, I sure wish I would've done a better job keeping up with the laundry. I sure wish my kitchen floor was cleaner..." So, right now, while he sleeps, I'm enjoying a few 'me' moments, and then I'll suck it up and get to work. But when he wakes up, I'm all his. We've got some time we need to make up. Our life has been chaos the last few months, a routine non-existant, our time just at home in our jammies to play and lay around and read books and snuggle-- hasn't happened. And I only have a few more weeks with just my sweet boy, and I want to savor every last second. So- off to work I go. I'll tackle the dishes now, and then we'll see what else gets accomplished, but I'm ready to just be Mama for the day.

not off to a good start...

So yesterday when I got home from church, I decided to clean the toilets. I ventured into our master bath, which is usually left completely alone- door shut and all. We literally do not use it for anything. It's got an avacado green sink and shower stall, torquoise shag carpet, etc. Nasty. On top of that, it was never cleaned. Like ever. The shower has layers upon layers upon layers of nastiness sitting in it. I spray the outside of the door and the bottom along the floor with bleach weekly, because there used to be a nice layer of mold growing there. Yuck. But, that's as far as our involvement goes.
So back to yesterday... I go in to clean the toilet. The shower head has always leaked, and you'd always hear a drip- but when I was in there I noticed that the drip was water hitting water. Uh oh. So I hold my breath, open the door and see that there is water standing completely even to the lip of the door (it's just a stall, remember- not a tub). Oh, crap. Upon further investigation when jordan got home, we realized that it has overflowed, as the front and floor are both damp. Crap again. So- I make my way downstairs, unsure of what to do at this point. I am in kitchen and start trying to think about what would be below that shower (it's upstairs). I then realize that it'd be my kitchen by my oven. I walk there, look up, and find a wet ceiling. Oh brother.
At that point, I called Jordan, and then went up stairs to start filling a pitcher and dumping water, trying to empty the stall. It was a very slow process. When Jordan got home, he got out the shop-vac and emptied it that way. He poured draino or something along those lines down the drain, and it's still sitting there, 24 hours later. Well, that plus more water.
We're waiting to hear from our insurance guy, and will go from there I guess. I'm just hoping and praying that it's not going to cost us a ton of money!!! I'm a little anxious about it all, really, and cannot wait to hear what Monte has to say.
Anyway, on top of that, we were up a good portion of the night with Corban- he's got a terrible cough and just coughed all night long- it even kept him up this time, which it usually does not. :( He's definitely not acting himself today, so I'm going to have to call the doctor, yet again. My poor kiddo is always sick! I was going to have someone watch him for me today so I could go to my OB appointment and then to chemo with JD, but they're sick and Corban's sick, so that won't be happening. Overall, I'm in a pretty foul mood. lol. I would really like to curl up in my bed with a good book, but that won't be happening. And I want so badly to be there with JD. But, it's best that I stay away with my son being sick and all.
Anyway, I'm off to finish getting ready. A happier Monday to you!

7 things about Corban at 7:30.

C-O-R-B-A-N

1. My son is already in bed... and has been for 30 minutes. This is what happens when afternoon naps are neglected.


2. My son is a human garbage disposal. He will wrestle you down for that bite of popcorn, or climb Mt. Everest to reach that slice of orange. There's no measure he won't take to get himself a bite of cracker. So beware. You've been warned... now warn your kiddos.


3. Mr. Corban has the best laugh in the whole entire world. There's not a greater noise in the anywhere. Debate with me if you must, but I'm telling the truth. And if you heard him, you'd agree.


4. Mr. Corban also has quite the temper. I'm currently experimenting with disciplinary action, so if you have any suggestions- do tell. So far ineffective: spanking, time out, going to bed, restraining.... All that's left is removing limbs. But I'd like to keep him alive past his second birthday, and keep him in my custody as well. Hmmm.. But for real- he will yell at you, throw himself on the ground, slam his fists and kick his feet, and my personal favorite (not)- headbutt. What I've done today and I think if I consistantly do it, we may get somewhere... but when he would throw a fit (which was often, unfortunately), I would take him to a chair in the corner of the office, sit him on my lap, and hold him close, arms down to his side. Oh, he screamed, reared back, etc. but after a minute, he'd just be sad. And then I'd pray with him, tell him I loved him, and let him go about his business. A time-out of sorts, I suppose. The parenting part of being of a parent is hard, ladies and gentlemen!


5. Corban, or stinky boy as he's often referred to around my house, associates any spelling or letters said with Old Mac Donald. You sing the ABC's? His response: "O-O-O-I-E-O." You spell his name? "E-E-E-O-E". You sing Old Mac Donald? "Woof. Woof." The kid's a riot. :)


6. His brain works just like his fathers. I'm serious. If you know Jordan at all, you know that, well... he's a little off the wall. Corban thinks on the same field, I think. For example, I asked him to put away the football playstation game cases (which he searches for and carries around all day long). He looks at me, walks up into the office, into the kitchen, opens the cabinet, sets the games neatly in a pot, shuts the cabinet and comes back down to the living room. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. He picked up a piece of paper in the office. I asked him to put it in the trash... so he walks into the kitchen, takes a little turn into the bathroom, opens the toilet, puts the paper in, shuts the lid, walks back out. I couldn't help but laugh! I've also found a glass of milk in that drawer underneath the oven, shoes in kitchen pots, diapers in the toilet, etc. Oh what a boy. :) Also like his daddy, he loves to laugh and make others laugh. And he's darn good at it too.


7. Corban Gabriel McG is all boy. Everything about him screams masculine, with the exception of his forever-long eyelashes. He has more energy than I could ever dream of having. He's obsessed (seriously) with football. He's very rough... likes to wrestle and tackle and throw and growl. Loves cars and dogs. Dislikes anything that requires him to be still or quiet. Wouldn't dream of watching TV. Thinks dolls are made for throwing. Laughs at bodily noises. He's very strong-willed, determined. Climbs anything that he can. Loves Daddy so much it's unbelievable. Refuses to say 'mama' ever... He's not a snuggler, but gives love head-butts on occassion, and chin kisses when the mood strikes. He absolutely loves to sleep, and let's you know when it's time for 'niiiiii niiii'. He will lay his head on you if you've got his blankie and he has his paci, but only for a minute, and he wants put in bed and left alone. Will win your heart with just one smile, have you wrapped around his finger with a bat of those gorgeous eyes. He's my precious, sweet sweet boy and I cannot imagine my life without him. He brings me more joy than I ever dreamed possible. The depth of the love I have for him far surpasses anything I ever imagined bestowing on anything or anyone.


And- he's darn cute too. :) See?

in case you were wondering...

• what 34 weeks pregnant looks like, the second time around:

• what my kitchen (okay, one corner of it) used to look like:

• what that same corner of my kitchen looks like now:

• what my bathroom used to look like (and please, take note of the choo-choo train border, peach walls, and red-white-blue SHAG CARPET):
• what my bathroom looks like now:
  

And that, folks, is just a small taste of the improvements we've made on our home. If I didn't hate the way pictures worked on blogger, and if I didn't need to be preparing my house for company, I would show some more examples. But that should be enough to whet your appetite, no? :) Happy Tuesday!

Well, I had planned on finally painting my trim during this time, but a snack and a hot shower sounded better, so here I sit.
I just ate some Tomato Basil wheat thins, and they leave the most terrible taste in your mouth! Gross!
Did you realize that it's December?

Whoa.
I am winding down on the pregnancy side of things. I'm 33 weeks and some odd days, putting me less than a month from full-term, and like 6.5 weeks from my due date. Whoa. In case you didn't catch it, my pregnancy is almost over. My life with just one child is almost over. My days of being a family of three... almost done. It's hard to wrap my mind around really, but it's becoming more of a reality every day. One of my best friends is 3 days past her due date, but she's been my reference point this whole time... once Wendi's there, I'm almost there. And, well, she's there! She'll be having baby Audri any time now. Whoa again.

I'm feeling decent, just very pregnant. Baby Girl is sitting so low. My belly is getting huge. Braxton Hicks contractions becoming more frequent. The number on the scale is getting high. The number of shirts that still fit me... low. I'm tired, alot. Nesting in high gear. Wanting to eat chocolate and popcorn constantly. You know, those kinds of things.

My son is awesome. No really, he is. And cute too. What? It's true. :) I can't get enough of him. He's talking and babbling up a storm. He's getting so stinkin' smart. And he's wierd, like his daddy, already. But he gives the best slobbery kisses and sweetest little hugs... and most terrible headbutts when he doesn't get his way. He's a really good cleaner-upper, and loves Daaada sooo much. And DayDee. And I-Zee. (those are two of his four uncles- he loves the others, just doesn't say their names). He loves dogs and lights and outside... except says them as 'dawdee, yights, and ayide'. I can't forget to mention that he is absolutely obsessed with football. Seriously. It's incredible. He looked at a Peyton Manning book for a whole entire HOUR. If you have children, you know this is quite a feat. He'll even somewhat watch it on TV, which won't hold his attention any other time. I love being home with him, and I really, truly love being his mom. And I tell him that every day, and I want to tell him that every day for the rest of his life.

JD is doing really well. Really, really well, all things considered. He handled first round of chemo pretty easily, with some nausea and tiredness, but really that was all. He's beoming quite the Scrabble player, and that's frustrating. :) He kicks my rear more often then not! No, I'm so proud of him and his attitude and how he's carried himself and walked through all of this... along with my parents but specifically my Mom. She's left no question in where her hope lies or Who she trusts. I can say without any sort of reservation that God truly is getting the glory and honor and praise despite the adversity being faced. My Mom is an awesome woman. If you don't know her... well, that stinks. You're missing out. :)

My husband... well, he's really good looking. He got a hair cut this week, and man! I'm a lucky woman. Haha. But seriously, we enjoyed being able to just relax together this week and have time together as a family. We've got a busy 3 months coming up (on top of the addition of a child!), but most of the things we have, we get to be together for. I'm thankful for that. He's been really really awesome for me this last month, holding me while I fall apart, praying for me, encouraging me to be there with my family. He's a good man, and really I mean it when I say I'm a lucky woman. :)

Anyway, there's an update on my life in a nutshell. Maybe I'll have more exciting things to say or pictures to post later in the week. Until then.... enjoy the Christmas season!