Random

Once again, I've gotten pretty good at updating this blog very little. It isn't that things aren't going on, it's just that I don't find them interesting enough to write about or I just don't make the time. I'm sure you find this happens to you too!

I don't take many pictures of myself, but here I am at 35 weeks. Bulging, I know... some days I feel like a whale and other days I feel pretty darn good!

One one of the few days we've had without rain, James got to paint outside... which, by the way is much less stressful for me since I'm always worried about him spilling paint inside :/

And here's a pretty bad picture of me with my handsome little boy- Again I'm 35 weeks pregnant, and that's why James is sitting up on top of the bump :)

April

So apparently I'm pretty good at updating my blog about once a month, maybe skipping a month here and there.

It's April already.

I'm almost 33 weeks along and this baby boy is active and doing good. Growing right on target.

We haven't been terribly busy; still waiting patiently for warm, spring like weather around here. Today is warm, but very rainy so I feel like it's right around the corner.

We've had a few trips here and there- to visit Nanny and family in VA, to visit Jay's parents and family in WV and a trip back HOME to NYC to visit friends and family.

Here are some pictures from over the last couple months.

Not much to update, but there is a certain little boy's birthday coming up that will deserve a special post very soon!

James and I went to visit my mom in VA and this is James and Bear. Sadly the day we left Bear had to be put to sleep. She was about 15 years old and suffered from various problems. It was nice to get a couple last pictures of her- she'd been such a great dog over the years!

This is James spinning on the sit-n-spin at the indoor playground we go to twice a week. He loves that little thing!

I gave James a haircut. Doesn't he look thrilled!

More to come! :)

Food Battles... please help!

Neither Jay or I are really picky eaters but somehow we created a very picky eater. As an infant James ate what I gave him, then he developed a mind of his own, began picking up what he wanted to eat and skipping over the other things. He doesn't eat much meat- it has to be chopped up very small in spaghetti sauce so he can't really see it and he'll typically eat Chick-fil-A nuggets, but no other type of chicken nuggets (I've even tried re-using the box).

I'm really at a loss. His menu of what he'll eat and what he wants isn't exactly the greatest. He used to eat Peanut butter but it seems to be falling off the list too. I've taken him to the store to help me pick things out he wants to try but that hasn't resulted in anything other than him choosing muffins or cereal or snacks.

In the past month I've done a few things, taking cues from the Supernanny and others. Whatever I made for dinner for Jay and I, I also gave to James and asked that he take at least a bite. He refused, throwing a fit, ended up sitting in the naughty seat (time out) about 9 times until we hit bed time then he went to bed without even trying it. Then I tried the same thing again, but also gave him a few other things along with the "main dish" like fruits and veggies I knew he'd eat, and once again he threw a fit and refused to even try it.

Then, sadly, I gave up. He was going to bed hungry and I was spending the whole evening, and sometimes the whole day, frustrated. He's very strong willed apparently.

He's a good breakfast eater... likes oatmeal, cereal, waffles and pancakes. He likes fruit and he eats a good bit of veggies, both raw and cooked (likes the raw ones especially with hummus). But it's the meats, the main dishes that we are struggling with. He won't try grilled chicken, any other pasta except spaghetti, any meats, sandwiches, mac-n-cheese, or practically anything that doesn't look like something he knows about.

Am I choosing the wrong battle? Am I forcing him to try too early, to sit at the table and take x number of bites before being excused? Any tips to help expand his eating habits without constant time out, tears, and him saying "I don't want to, I don't want to" over and over again!

oh sigh!

Gratitude

Even though I just posted about the books I've read, here is another one. You may have heard about it, you may even have been encouraged by it already. I'm talking about Ann Voskamp's "One Thousand Gifts."

I can't say enough about how her search for grace, for joy, for completeness led her to a place of gratitude in all things. I could type quote after quote from her book that's really spoken to me, but I will just encourage you to pick it up yourself. Well here's one from the page I just read...

"The real problem of life is never a lack of time.

The real problem of life - of my life - is lack of thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks - take the just one loaf, say it is enough, and give thanks - and He miraculously makes it more than enough.

I am a mother-tired, but when my soul doth magnify, my time doth magnify."

and she goes on....

Pick it up. Be encouraged. Create your own list of One Thousand Gifts.

Reading galore!

My husband says I'm a nerd. I guess because I read a lot and fast and quickly run out of books to read and have to, I mean HAVE to go out and buy new books. I do enjoy getting books from the library but I'm a bit of a collector and I love to have shelves and shelves of books (though most of ours are currently in storage.)

Anyway, here's what I've finished this year so far...

"Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen- soon to be a movie starring Reese Witherspoon and the vampire guy from Twilight.

"The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison- a classic that is currently on the banded book list

"Room" by Emma Donoghue- a 2010 hit! Written from the perspective of a 5 year old who was born and raised in a 11x11 room.

"The Invisible Bridge" by Julie Orringer- a novel debut. She is the author of "How to Breathe Underwater" which is my favorite book of short stories.

"House Rules" by Jodi Picoult- the first I've read by this author, but I was interested because the main character has Aspergers syndrom, which is what my nephew has- but not nearly to the degree that this character does.

All good reads and I'd recommend them to anyone!

Oh BOY!

That's right, we are expecting another little BOY.

I hope these pictures don't weird you out. Some people find them strange and a little gross, but this is our baby, so of course I don't.

James is going to have a baby brother and he's excited... well I won't say excited because seriously I don't think he understands, and we aren't really pushing the topic because it's still months away. Currently my due date spans between May 30 and June 3.

While I'll admit I was hoping for a little girl, I'm now looking forward to having two boys. We're still working on names for this baby but in the mean time I'm beginning to feel better, feeling the little kicks and punches here and there, and growing little by little.

Seeing this tiny miracle is just amazing! I'm so thankful for the blessing and for this healthy pregnancy. :)

Happy New Year!

I've never been big on celebrating a new year, or staying up to watch a countdown and crystal ball fall down a 10 foot pole. It's just not appealing to me. So, I celebrated by sleeping. You may call me lame, but that's just the way it is. My son gets up by 7 am every morning and wakes me up with his crazy dreams throughout the night!

In any case, I'll welcome 2011 with open arms. Last year was a rough one, but there were also some smiles and laughter through the tears. I still have a hard time believing my dad is gone sometimes. My mom's house has been renovated pretty dramatically and I know that helps, but even at Christmas this year I expected to see him driving down the driveway or sleeping on the sofa. It's still a strange feeling and something that lots of my family is still adjusting to.

Here's what I have to look forward to in 2011:

• On the 10th of this month we find out if this baby is a boy or girl
• Finding a church here in State College
• Meeting some friends
• Having a baby
• Adjusting to said baby and having James adjust as well
• Possibly sending James to a preschool

I'm sure there will be a lot of unexpected things to come this year and I'm ready to take them on!

Happy New Year to all of you :)