Wednesday, April 29, 2009

My Eggs Are Expired

So I'm finally updating our Easter story!! It's been so long that I've thrown out our Easter eggs! Yikes!! Oh well, it was still a beautiful weekend and Jesus still lives!!!

Easter at Grandma McInerny's was so much fun! The Easter bunny brought a beautiful basket of goodies and hid tons of eggs in the backyard! Levi had a great time hunting eggs and looking through his basket.

Here are pictures of my beautiful niece, Izzy! Isn't she just the most precious thing ever!?!? I'm so proud to be her aunt!! :)

Here she is resting on daddy.



Levi loves ducks!!




Easter at Grom's was equally as fun and exciting with lots of eggs to hunt also. By this time he had the hang of it and thought "hunting" was the best game ever and cried when we stopped. I think he has daddy's inner desire to hunt things.





Sunday, April 26, 2009

Say Cheese!

Lots to catch up on! Enjoy! :)



Levi with Uncle Davey on our visit to Virginia!


Uncle Davey, Levi, and Grandpa


Grandpa teaching Levi to drive.


My beautiful niece, Isabella!




What a cutie with daddy's hat on!

Say "cheese"!! (And he then says cheese with a big smile!!)


Family photo

Easter pics to come!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Night and Day, And Still No Pictures

I want to share some thoughts on how this pregnancy is going. Not that it's necessary to record these things, in fact, I'm hoping that this baby girl never reads this because she may feel a little slighted. Her mommy loved just about every minute of being pregnant with her big brother, Levi, but now with her, she's ready for her get out already!!!!

Before getting pregnant with Levi, I dreamed of being a mom and I dreamed of being pregnant. I would always admire a pregnant woman and her bulging belly with wonder and amazement. So curious as to what it would feel like to be pregnant. I also envied women who had little tiny babies to hold, cuddle, and take care of. From as far as my memory takes me, I've wanted to be a mom. It's in my blood. I love to mother and nurture things - except plants, I hate plants and gardens!! Anyway, once I was pregnant I was so excited to experience pregnancy and to eventually experience motherhood. My attitude and expectations were so positive, full of life and energy, and happiness. I had an optimistic view for everything. I was even THRILLED to give birth! Labor and delivery excited me!

After the initial sickness and fatigue wore off around week 16 of my first pregnancy, I was overtaken with this amazing sense of energy, motivation, and blissfulness. I felt on top of the world and was loving being pregnant. Food tasted like it was sent down from heaven. I ate what I wanted when I wanted it and thankfully my weight was not going through the roof. I didn't' really eat alot of food or even alot of bad foods, I just didn't stop myself if I wanted a bowl of ice cream after dinner. And I didn't hesitate to not bake (and eat) a whole pan of brownies. Even the third trimester of my first pregnancy was great. I had very few complaints, but I didn't pay attention to them or even dwell on them. After all, in a few short weeks, all my dreams were about to come true.

Now, what's left to dream? That's what comes to mind these days. Since I found out I am pregnant, I have had the worst attitude ever! It seems like my mood has been stuck on "bad" for 24 weeks. I have a hard time being nice and considerate, when before those things (at least I think) came quite naturally. Plus it's hard to be in a good mood when you are constantly tired, lethargic, nauseous, and unmotivated. The nausea has started to fade over the past week and a half, thank goodness. And my energy comes and goes. My mood however, hasn't seen "good" in a while. Oh, I pretend I'm in a good mood. Slap on a happy face and keep going, I'm good at that. But inside I'm pretty blah and, well, hateful! Some of you, and I'm really, really sorry, have had to deal with my poopy mood first hand. I tell people at work that they will like me better when I am not pregnant anymore...we'll see!! I feel so guilty that I feel this way. This baby girl (who I WISH had a name) deserves so much more! I deserve more for having to put up with illness, fatigue, and feeling like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed everyday for the past 24 weeks!! I've always dreamed of a big family and I want more kids. I just hope I don't look back on this pregnancy and have nothing good to say about it.

Other than my mood and nausea, there are a long list of complaints, but there is no need to list them off to you. No one wants to hear them. I'm so frustrated that we don't have a name picked out yet. Not even a top five. In fact, there is not one name that Scott and I both like equally. He seems to like modern, popular names, while I like older names that do not get used. I don't know why the name thing bothers me so much, but it has really affected my mood and the enjoyment (or lack there of) of this pregnancy. There are times when I just wish it could be over. I want my baby girl with every last drop of my being, but I just don't like the feelings I've been having. I'm being selfish, and I know it.

I feel horrible I haven't even touched her room yet. I guess I've cleaned it out, but that's it. There are a few things hanging up in the closet, but that's about it. I have no idea what color to paint the walls. I have no idea what bedding I'm going to use or how I'm going to decorate her room. I almost feel like I can't if I don't know her name. Isn't that odd? Why am I so picky right now? I blame the hormones. It didn't bother me at all that we weren't certain what Levi's name was going to be. I was excited to work on Levi's room and pretty much got started right away, once I started feeling better.

Maybe I'm being too hard on myself. Who cares that her room is filled with Levi's toys? Does she have to have a name yet? There are still 3 months and a few weeks left to decide what her name will be. I guess I just wish I could change my mood. I'm looking forward to our upcoming vacation in Gatlinburg with our family. And then my mom will be off for the summer and we'll be doing fun activities...all while dragging someone else's kid along for the fun. Oh well, such is life. I do love spending time with my mom. She has a way of making me feel better. But the poor woman sure puts up with alot. I remember at Christmastime I was at my worst. I felt so sick and my mood was as stinky as a pile of fresh manure on a hot summer's day. And she so kindly, and lovingly, ignored it and loved me through it.

Everything is different about this pregnancy. It's like night and day. Although, I'm only halfway through. Maybe the second half will be more joyful....one can only hope!

Oh, and I still don't have pictures to post.

PS Before you start offering advice on what might make my mood better (which I will gladly accept) just know that I've tried chocolate and that doesn't work! ;-)

PPS Sheesh, you had no idea you were entering a world of negativity, did you?

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Let the Punishment Fit the Crime

So, I haven't blogged in, oh say, 3 and 1/2 weeks! Which means I've been busy and procrastinating. Probably more of procrastinating, but who's keeping track? The bad thing about not blogging for a long time is that there is so much to catch up on! And unfortunately, my camera is out of battery juice, so I have no new pictures to put on this blog. So that just adds to my punishment. Like my friend Katy, I hate to post a blog without pictures. There will be pics in the future, I promise. So, let the punishment fit the crime. I don't like blogging when there is so much to say, and when I can't upload pictures, and when my page has Easter images on it when the holiday has already passed. Have I learned my lesson?

For those who haven't heard, we had our ultrasound a few weeks ago and found out that we are having a girl! I am very excited, yet very scared at the same time! Plus we are having a very difficult time picking out names. But I'm sure we'll figure something out.

That's really been the biggest news around here lately, other than getting to know my new niece Izzy. She is so beautiful and such a sweet baby. I'm a very proud aunt! I wish I had new pictures to show you!! Well, I do have the pictures, I just can't upload them today. (And I promised myself no more procrastinating!!!)

What else? Hmmm....well we are ready for another year at the Race for the Cure. This Saturday my mom, dad, Scott, Levi, me and my friend Jenny will be walking in the 1 mile family walk. We've done this for the past 3 years, this year's race being our 4th race and this year marks the 5th anniversary of my mom's breast cancer. So after this year she will be considered a 5-year survivor!! Yay, mom! Every year they do a special parade for all the survivors at the race. It's a really neat experience, emotional, but very neat. So many emotions run through your head as you see all the women walking through the crowd. You see women younger than me and women who have been a survivor for more than 40 years. It's amazing. I'm looking forward to it again this year.

That's it for now. I'll be back soon with pictures...hopefully!

Friday, March 20, 2009

It's A Wonderful Life!!

So many awesome things have been happening and are about to happen! Life's just great!! My niece, Isabella Rose, was born on Wednesday, March 18th!!! We had a fun St. Patrick's Day on Tuesday, and in only 3 short days we'll have our ultrasound and know if this little kicking baby is a boy or a girl! I just can't handle all the excitement! PLUS, Levi and I are heading to Virginia in a week to visit my brother and his family. THEN, in May we are taking a trip to Gatlinburg WITH my new niece! Doesn't get much better than that!! :)

Here is my precious little niece, Izzy! Isn't she just beautiful?? She weighed 6lbs 14oz and I think
19.75" long. Mommy and baby are doing well, and we are just ecstatic that she's finally here!!



Here are the happy new parents! Brian (Scott's brother), my lovely sis-in-law, Nicole, and of course, the most precious one of all, Izzy! :)


Some of you will be pleased to hear that Levi's been feeding himself with a spoon, not all the time, but about once a day. He has been feeding himself for a while with just finger foods and anything that requires a spoon, I've been happy to feed to him. But, I realize my baby is growing up and I need to get over my messy food fear. He's been feeding himself yogurt and applesauce, and he's quite proud of himself too!


Something silly happened the other day when Levi was wearing these brown athletic pants. You know, the kind that make the "swishy" noise when you walk? Well, he's always had a problem keeping pants around his waist, but this particular day was especially hard for him because he's started walking. So going from his knees to walking caused his britches to go down below his diaper. It cracked me up!! I don't even know if he noticed!!



These are pics of us goofing around on St. Patrick's Day. I took a few self portraits of the two of us, but I didn't have make-up on and I looked terrible. Vain, I know.


Well, that's it for now! I'll share the good news of our ultrasound on Monday! :)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Pregnancy

I feel bad that I haven't really talked much about my pregnancy. Only because when I was pregnant with Levi, that was my world and it was always on my mind. Now, there are many times when I completely forget that I'm pregnant!!

I am 19 and half weeks along and I've been feeling lots of movement. I love feeling the baby move, especially at this stage because it's not painful and it doesn't keep me from sleeping! :) I'm always comparing this pregnancy to my first, but I tell myself not to try to come to any conclusions regarding this baby's gender in comparison to how my first pregnancy went. Every baby is different and every pregnancy is different, so I'm clueless! I'm very anxious though, to find out what we're having. Our ultrasound is on Monday, and I canNOT wait!! Everyone asks if I'm hoping for a girl, since I already have a boy, but it makes no difference to me. There are positives to both; if we have a boy, Levi and the new boy will be close and can play trucks and wrestle each other, but if we have a girl, it will be fun to buy girlie things and see what it's like raising a girl! I've always wanted a daughter. My mom and I are very, very close and the bond between a mother and daughter is like no other relationship in the world. I dream of having that with my own daughter. What's funny when people ask me if I want a girl since I already have a boy is that they assume we just want 2 kids. So many people today seem like 2 kids is the American way! I would love to have 4 kids, but we're taking it one at a time! ;)

Speaking of girls, my niece will be born any day now!! I'm absolutely THRILLED to be having a niece and I'm so happy for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law to be having a baby as well. What an amazing experience and I'm excited for them to experience the love and amazement of becoming a parent. Isabella Rose will be here on Thursday for sure if she doesn't come any sooner! Nicole, my sister-in-law, has been having pretty strong contractions for a while, but they just aren't close enough together to be admitted to the hospital. :( So, I'm just holding on for Thursday! Can't wait to meet you Izzy!!!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Such a Big Boy!

Levi is growing up before our eyes! He's doing so much that it's hard to keep up with!! Here is a list of Levi's achievements:

  • He is walking! Yay! He's only walking about 30% of the time, but he has taken many steps by himself. So he has the confidence, it's just that he knows he can crawl faster than he can walk at this point. I'm guessing it's only a matter of weeks before crawling is extinct.
  • He talks ALOT! He is always babbling and saying things in his own language.
  • He says "eeewwww" when you ask him what a cow says.
  • He says "bah, bah" when you ask him what a sheep says.
  • He roars at anything that resembles a lion
  • He says "guck" anytime he sees a duck, goose, or little chick.
  • He makes a high-pitch noise whenever he sees a cat...not sure why!
  • He says "nana" for banana.
  • He says "e-i-e-i-e-i" when we sing "Old MacDonald".
  • He sometimes will mimick what I say, but doesn't use the words again.
  • He puts phones, mp3 earphones, and shoestrings up to his ears...not sure about the shoestrings, but it's cute!
  • He LOVES books and brings them to you to read to him! It's usually the same 3 or 4 books (out of about 30) that are his favorites, mostly of animals.
  • He loves to stand on his four wheeler and rocking horse, such a little daredevil.
  • He loves to pull all the toilet paper off the roll. And sometimes wipes the floor with it.
  • He knows where to put the puzzle pieces on his animal puzzle.
  • He knows a great deal of signs, such as "more, please, eat, milk, drink, hat, dog, shoes, ball, baby, love, and all done". We are working on "hurt, sorry, socks, story, sleep, and bath".
  • He gives hugs and kisses! They are awesome!!
  • He's not a big eater, but he's a good eater. He's finally eating veggies and meat! :)
Levi continues to be the happy, laid-back, little guy that he is! He is such a joy to be around and I miss him if I'm away from him for more than an hour!!