What is Santa going to bring?

The kids and I were talking about what Santa was going to bring this year. This is how the conversation went with Logan.

Me: What do you think Santa is going to bring you?
Logan: A BIG train

M: What do you think Santa will bring Cameron?
L: Playdough

M: What will Santa bring Dad?
L: A arrow and a new hunting DVD

M: What about me?
L: Probably nothing because we won't have any money left to give Santa after he buys me stuff. Oh yeah, you are getting another kid. That's what you get mom.

I laughed really hard when he said this-how could you not.

Twilight Movie Review

I loved reading the Twilight series. The books were very entertaining. I loved reading about Bella and her growing relationship with the popular guy, Edward. The books made me nostalgic for high school. There was such a magic with the story...popular vampire boy falls in love with new plain girl. While reading I was in a trance...I couldn't put the books down. When they kissed, you could feel the passion radiated from the book. When Bella was in trouble, your heart pounded waiting to see how Edward would save her, which was always a powerful moment. The movie however was a huge disappointment. I was grateful to be sitting by a friend that laughed the entire way through with me. It seemed to me that it was a budget film gone bad! (As if budget films are ever good.) I could of filmed it in my backyard and done a better job. The special effects, the script, the camera angles and even the actors were horrible. Edward was nothing like the Edward Cullen in the book. He was a dork, a creepy dork. The other Cullen's were pasty with their white powered makeup caked on. I about peed my pants when Dr. Cullen was introduced-his face looked like a clown getting ready to perform at a birthday party. The scenes with Bella and Edward were nothing but passionate. They were awkward and cheesy-the elevator music in the background didn't help much. At times, it seemed that Edward was searching for words, like he just memorized them and had a hard time remembering what to say. Even though the movie was a bit cheesy, Bella was awesome. I couldn't help but think of what is to come of her in the next two movies. I hope that with the amount of money they are making on this film, they will put a little more in the next two. They should also give the actors some acting lessons. If you've read the books, go see the movie. It will make you appreciate the power of your imagination.

Logan's Addiction

Logan has this addiction that he seriously needs an intervention to help him quit. He is obsessed with “little books”. Some may say “How cute, he loves small books.” Yes, this “need” for having a tiny book was cute at first. I would search the store for a small notepad but now it’s plain irritating. We will walk into a store, a house, or even the library. The first thing he says is “Let’s look for a little book for me.” I use to enjoy helping him find his small book, but I soon realized that once he has that tiny book in his hand-the thrill of having it would last only a short time. Then the book would go into the drawer with all the other small books his obtain. The cycle then would start again. He doesn’t read the books, he doesn’t write in them, all he does is carry them around for a short time and then discards them. Beware your house is not safe! He will find a small book to take with him. He has come home with a small Bible (which he carried to school for months), a quote book of famous last words, and tree labeling book. This past week I declared that we will not support his addiction any longer. The books he had, needed him. They were sad that no one was reading them, or writing in them. Before any new books are bought, the old ones need to be used. He has agreed to start using them…only time will tell.

BABY WIGGLES

Here is baby Wiggles-this will be my official name for him/her. To make things easier, lets just call "it" a him. He wiggles sooooo much. During the ultrasound he kept twisting and turning in every direction. I tried to get a glance at any female or boy parts, but most the time I had no idea what I was looking at. When the tech would say, here is his arm, I thought it was a foot. :) These picture are awesome! It's so surreal to look at them knowing this little baby is growing inside of me. It's amazing the love I feel already. I'm half way to meeting you Baby Wiggles!! (Yikes, only halfway-why does pregnancy take so long?)

Can it really be this easy?

I hope I don't jinx myself but Cameron did not cry at all tonight. I laid him down a little early thinking he would be crying for at least an hour. Well, he just played in his crib for an hour!!!!!!!! He didn't cry for the binky once tonight. I guess we will see how he does the rest of the night, and in the morning.

**Night update: Cameron woke up once around 2:30. He cried hard for about 5 minutes. He talked for about 5 minutes. He went back to sleep within 15 minutes of waking up. I'm so proud of him (& myself!) When he woke up at 7 this morning. He told me how his binky was broken. Thanks Becky for the great idea of cutting the binky. I hope this transition continues to go smoothly.

20 minutes

Yeah!!! Today I didn't cave with giving in with the pacifier. I cut off the top of the binky and when it came time to give it to Cameron he looked at it all confused. I told him, "Oh no, it's broken." He started to cry really hard. But I still laid him down and said, "You can have it." He threw it at me. When I left the room I set the timer for 20 minutes. After 5 minutes I went into his room and kissed him, told him it was nap time. I think I went in one more time. By the time 20 minutes on the timer was up, he was asleep. I hope it goes as smoothly tonight!

The Binky

Cameron has a binky that he uses only at night and nap time (there are a few moments I pull it out so I don't pull out my hair). It's funny because it took him a good few months to even take one. Now, Jared and I are trying to figure out when we should take it away. Today I tried and couldn't do it. Cameron has never cried at nap time or bed time (since he was at least one). Today he cried for 15 minutes and I cave. He looked so sad, and bewildered. I've never heard him cry that hard either. He has a blanket that he loves but he also LOVES his binky. He has never gone to sleep w/o a binky (except in the car). We didn't have to experience this with Logan b/c at 15 months Logan gave the binky up on his own. I did help Kate, the little girl I use to watch, stop using the binky at nap time but it seemed easier...even though she cried HARD, and I felt sick to my stomach. I stuck with it. But it seemed she was playing with it half the time, throwing it out of the crib or chewing on it. When she tranistion she seemed more ready...I just don't know if I should wait until Cameron does the same. Does it really hurt for him to have one? How old is to old? I know it will just get harder and harder. He really needs to learn to fall asleep without it. How do you teach that? Is crying really the only way? Any advice would be great.

4 BOYS...

About a three weeks ago Jared and Logan went to the pet store to get fish. When they came home, they had a little baby kitten with them. I was very surprised but the minute I looked at the kitty and held it I fell in love. Jared said it was a girl and her name was Lucky. He thought it was a fun "sign" that our baby would be a girl. Last week I took Lucky to the Vet to get shots. The little girl kitty is actually a boy. Hmm what does that mean with our "lucky sign"! I thought it was pretty funny that we can't even have a girl by choosing one! Lucky is very very cute and cuddly. He lets the kids drag him all over the place. He never scratches or bites them. Even though he is a boy, he is perfect for our family.

BABY FRIEL

Reading over past blogs, I've discovered that I haven't even written about baby number 3. I'm really not sure why. I think that there has been so many other things going on in our lives that my little growing belly was forgotten. Not today! This post is all about baby Friel-watch out. You might read a little more information than you wanted to know about me. LOL
I'm 99% sure that this baby is our last. I always thought I would just have two, but then Cameron was a born, I knew we would try for a third. In my heart I knew we were suppose to have one more. At 18 weeks I'm just about half way to finding out what this little runt will be. Yup, that is right, we aren't going to find out what we are having. I get my ultra sound next week and I'm dying to know. But then I think about being in the hospital when the baby arrives and how fun it will be to have the doctor shout "It's a ....." I get all giddy and happy when I think about it. I'm telling myself it's a boy. Just because I feel the chances of us having a girl are unlikely. We got pregnant right away, we have two other boys, and my sister cursed me when I was little that I would only have boys-thanks Marsha. I'm also not finding out because I don't want to hear other people's disappointments for 5 long months. I can just hear it, "Oh you are having another boy...that's to bad." Everyone knows that I would love a little girl. Sometimes I even start to cry when I think about having a little girl. I would love to see what a little Jared and Liz mix together would be like. I love to think about her personality, what she and I would have in common, etc. I love my boys more than anything and having another boy would be wonderful-especially with all the boy stuff we have. But the truth is, all I want is a healthy happy baby. When this baby is placed in my hands I'm not going to feel sad or upset if it's a boy. I'm going to feel complete joy. Gender will not matter.
The biggest problem for me with not finding out is the "planning" and being prepared. But I've decided that I'll have everything washed and ready for a little boy. If it's a girl, my family will be in charge! With four sisters (and two brothers), and a wonderful mom- things will be done by the time I return from the hospital. I don't need to know the gender to make sure I have plenty of diapers, blankets, and other essential baby items.
This pregnancy has flown by. The first few months were exhausting both emotionally and physically. I had some issues that made me think I was going to miscarry. Then came the all day throwing up. Now I find myself enjoying food again-way to much. I mean I actually crave food. The other two pregnancies I hated food. This one I want candy, chocolate, chips, soda, pasta, salad, cheese, BBQ sauce, apple pie, beans, oranges, and bananas. I have wanted to avoid most meat especially hamburgers and fried food. The smell of a fast food place makes me want to vomit. The most overwhelming craving has been soda-which I'm not a pop drinker so this is really strange for me. The first couple of weeks it was diet coke with a lime. Then just diet coke. Now it's diet cherry coke!! Totally random.
At about 14 weeks I started feeling the baby move. Now I can feel him/her a lot. I love this feeling. I even miss it when I'm not pregnant. I have felt really good the last two months. Sometimes I even forget I'm pregnant-that is until I look in the mirror and see my stomach sticking out. I haven't had any massive headaches. Gosh, with Logan and Cameron i had migraines every night. My biggest complaint would be that I'm extremely tired ALL THE TIME. Jared says I talk about sleep to much. I probably do b/c I'm just so tired. In reality aren't we all tired -kids, work, play, its exhausting.
I went online to find some old wives tales. Here are my answers to them:

You are carrying the extra weight around the hips and bottom, so it's a girl. The hair on your legs isn't growing. So it's a girl (I just feel like I shave less b/c I wear pants more than shorts.) I'm carring low. You are going to have a boy. (Maybe I'll redo this one later, isn't all babies low in the beginning?) Sleeping in a bed with your pillow to the north indicates that you will be having a boy. (Well it's not by choice, that is how our bed faces-north. I don't have any other way I can sleep.) Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread. You are having a girl.Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with Mom-to-be, so it will be a girl. (Jared never gains weight, he looses it b/c he works so hard and doesn't eat!!) The maternal grandmother has grey hair. BoyYou had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl. You are not looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a girl, because girls steal their mother's looks. (I've had a lot of zits, and I just feel blahhh. My maternity clothes are 4 years old. Everything fits weird etc.) Your chest development has been quite dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a girl. ( I swear ever morning they grow more.) Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is an odd number, it will be a girl. A needle on a thread held over you belly moves from side-to-side, so it will be a girl. Your urine is a bright neon yellow color, so you will have a boy. You are craving sweets, which means that it is a girl. Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl. You have been craving fruits, so it is a girl.Your baby's heart rate is 140 or more beats per minute, so it's a girl. (last visit was 155) You must have orange juice every day, so it's a girl. (This baby loves orange juice...it moves around right after I drink it.) You are not having headaches, so it's a girl. Your belly looks like a watermelon, so it's a girl. You show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl. You use the body of the mug, so it's a girl.

Based on my answers it's a girl. Some of these questions are so funny...like the mug and hand one. Those are quite random. As I get closer to April we will have to have a bet and and a due date prediction. Until then I will try to post more about BABY FRIEL.

Watch out...Liz was in the kitchen

One day last week I found myself with some spare time :) LOL The kids were outside getting dirty therefore not inside needing to be entertained. I decided to attempt to make bread. All of my teaching buddies have all talked about making homemade recipes where as I make food only from packages. I searched online to find a yummy sounding bread recipe that seemed easy for beginners. When I went to the store to buy the ingredients I had to ask where to find the yeast. But at least I knew where to find the flour. Before I started cooking, there were a few terms I had to look up, such as punching out the dough after it has risen and shaping the dough into loaves. Thanks to the Internet I had a step by step guide to making my first loaves of white bread. I am happy to say it turned out great. Everything went smooth, from the yeast puffing up. To the dough rising. The smell of fresh baked bread was so yummy. The final test was the taste. I would rate the bread a 7. I'm not a huge white bread fan, but it was delicious with honey and jam on it. It was fun to try something new in the kitchen. I can't wait to make wheat bread next.

Simple But Sweet Halloween

Halloween was a blast. Logan had the hardest time trying to decided what he wanted to be for Halloween. It went from a lion with claws, to an astronaut, to just nothing. Then one day he found this cop costume and said he wanted to be a cop so he could put people in jail. (Which lead to ongoing questions about jail and who goes there. How long someone goes there for...etc)

Cameron was a little frog. He didn't even flinch when I put him in his little outfit. They both had so much fun going door to door to get candy. Cameron caught on quickly of the idea of showing the person at the door his bag to get candy. Logan loved coming home and sorting all the different kinds of treats he got. He had to see all his choices before choosing one to eat.