Little Gray Tooth

Last week I noticed Emerson's front right tooth had turned smokey-gray overnight.  I showed Jason, and we both wondered what had happened.  Then I remembered about a week before, she had fallen on our neighbors' driveway while running and busted her lip.  It never even occurred to us that she might have hit her tooth as well.

Thursday I took her to our dentist and had them take an x-ray.  The dentist said more than likely her little tooth is dying, but unless it starts to get infected or causes pain, there's really no reason to take any action.  So, our little munchkin has a cute little gray tooth for now.  I guess I could've taken a picture for visual effect, but I don't think I've taken an actual picture in about a week now.  Each day I pass by my glorious little camera sitting on the kitchen island, and my nausea takes over and says, 'Hey Lady, don't even think about it.  You don't feel like it and they won't pose for you even if you try!'  The video camera has been suffering as well.  I'm sure Em and Jax have been secretly rejoicing. 

Today was so much fun.  I got my hair cut first thing this morning, then we took the kids to the neighborhood pool right after lunch.  I've gotta say, my daughter is a little fish.  Armed with her little hot pink arm floaties, she would trot over to the side and jump to Daddy, going completely under each time and loving it.  No fear, that one.  I guess I should look at swimming lessons soon.  Jax was completely content to lounge in his baby floaty armchair contraption, play with his mini blue kickball, and watch the festivities. 

Off to bed, my friends.  After one last raid of the fridge, of course.  If I can eat a quick snack before hitting the sack, it seems to help overnight.  Not my waistline, but my inner tummy's peacefulness. 

One last note, I'm so flippin' mad at the dog.  He took my only pair of swimsuit bottoms under the bed and chewed them up.  These are the pair that I wear underneath whatever swim skirt or board shorts I have on, so they're not outwardly important, but inwardly very much so.  Grrr.... it's about to be all-out war with him.  Anyone want a psycho jack russell? 

Bublé

Last night I went to the Michael Bublé concert with Jason's parents and his brother Travis.  Oh my gosh, is that guy good.  Phenomenal live voice, outstanding performer, and really funny, too.  I told Travis on the way back to the car that he makes you want to be his friend.  If you ever get the chance to see him live, do it.  No matter the cost, just do it.  Totally worth the $90 tickets, and coming from a budget-conscious momma like me, that's saying something. 

Starting tomorrow, everything at Old Navy is 30% off, both in-store and online. 

Nausea is kicking my butt today... I haven't felt like doing anything.  My poor kiddos are looking at me like I'm the most boring person ever to walk the face of the earth!  We did go outside briefly this morning to finger paint on the back porch.  Emerson was way more fascinated with using the hose to water the empty pots, and Jax just wanted to eat the dirt and sit on my lap. 

I'm literally counting down the minutes until naptime for all of us!  Today has been thrilling! 

Weekend recap

So the third child who is currently about 1/4" in size must not have very good hearing. Or he/she must not read Momma's blog. I specifically asked him/her to not make me sick, and he/she has decided it would be hilarious to do just the opposite. The nausea set in last week, and today I've had a couple of dry heaves. Oh, the glorious dry heaves! They're usually a precursor of more spectacular things to come.

During my pregnancy with Jax, my father-in-law gave me a piece of cinnamon gum, and I noticed it helped take the edge off my nausea. Needless to say, I spent the rest of the first trimester with a piece almost constantly in my mouth. Last Tuesday I texted Jason and asked him to bring home the cinnamon gum. His reply back? 'Bless your heart.' He knows and understands all that the cinnamon gum represents. Bless his heart.  He has to live with an imposter for the next 11 weeks or so and patiently wait for his energetic, joyful and fun wife to return. 

Jax got a mild case of croup this weekend.  Poor baby has a barking cough and stuffy nose.  His breathing was pretty bad Friday night, so we steamed up the guest bath, and he and Daddy spent a good 20 minutes in there.  Jax fell asleep and Daddy got a nice steam facial.  Today Jax has improved quite a bit, but I'm assuming it'll be a few more days until he's completely out of the woods. 

Yesterday was Father's Day, of course!  Jason's parents, brother, great-grandma (GiGi) and great-aunt (SueSue) all came over.  I made two batches of chicken tetrazzini and stuffed mushrooms, Travis brought over Olive Garden salad and breadsticks, GiGi and SueSue made yummy veggie appetizers and dip, and Jason's mom made a strawberry cake.  Delish!  It was a nice, laid-back day, and the kids enjoyed the extra attention.  While I was changing Emerson's clothes last night, I asked her what she learned at church that morning, and she said, "God loves Jesus."  I said that, yes, she was right, and asked what else God does.  She said, "Ummm, he loves to eat dinner." 

The natives are getting restless here in the office, so I'm off to prepare lunch.  Yuck.  Food sounds so disgusting right now. 

On your mark....

Jax loves to yell.  He always has and probably always will.  I love that he's all boy, rough and tumble, and loud and proud.

Here he is playing his new favorite game with his Daddy.  The only problem is he gets so excited, he can't quite wait until it's his turn!



I love his forced laugh about halfway through... as if to say, 'Daddy, look how funny I am! Hahaha!'

Catchin' up with Miss Heather

Tonight a long-time friend of mine from the church I grew up in came over for dinner.  I've known Heather longer than I care to try to calculate.  She comes from such a great family... her parents and brother Bryan are some of my favorite people ever.  I went to prom with Bryan one year, and because this big 'ole world is actually really small, Jason went to college with Bryan's wife Erin.  Anyway, back to Heather.  She's one of those people who's mature beyond her years, funny and charming, and drop-dead gorgeous.  In fact, Emerson expressed that sentiment to Miss Heather tonight when she was on her way to bedtime.  She went over to Heather and said, 'Miss Heather, you're so beautiful' and stroked her hair.  We had to talk Heather out of taking our daughter home after that.  It was so cute! 

The minute she walked in the door, Jax immediately went nuts over her.  I've never actually witnessed my son flirt before, but let me just tell you, he turned it on tonight.  He was literally giddy and was totally showing off with his block-throwing and top-of-his-lungs-yelling abilities.  Such a typical man.  Am I right???

Here's baby Jax getting some sweet lovin' from Miss Heather. 

You can check out Heather's blog HERE. 

Peace out, people.  I'm tired and ready for bed.  Bun-O-The-Oven is making sure his/her Momma is getting plenty of rest these days.  It has always amazed me how a person who is currently the size of a sesame seed can already be taking control.  Fascinating and terrifying at the same time! 

Jax's 1-year photo session

Taken last month by Kelly Stocksen, our wonderful photographer!  She discovered this quaint little church in Collinsville with gorgeous landscaping surrounding a little pond.  It was a beautiful location, but sweltering even at 7 in the evening.  Gotta love Oklahoma in the summer!   

Go to Kelly Stocksen Photography and click on 'Enter-the-Site.' Then click on 'Proofing' and enter 052810vanvalkenburg as the password.

Oh MY

Here we go again!  Three children 3 and under should be EASY, Right?  Right?????  Lord help us all! 

I must say that finding out this time around was so much fun!  Finding out about Emerson was thrilling, of course, but there's so much unknown with a first baby.  With Jax, it was definitely less of a big deal, and part of me was even a little worried about what it would be like to add another sibling.  With this bun in the oven, I'm ecstatic!  I'm sure it's because I know what a true person I'm carrying right now and how much joy another baby will bring to our family.  But also I'm just feeling a sense that this one will complete us.  We'll see.  Stranger things have happened. 

We haven't told the kids yet... well, I guess technically Emerson is the only one that would even be able to understand.  Jax would just yell 'BALL!' or give us his war face.  Which, now that I think about it, would probably be indicative of his true feelings about not being the baby anymore. 

Sweet baby Van, I love you so much already!  Even though you are the size of a poppy seed, you are being prayed for and thought of constantly.  You be a good little boy/girl and don't make Momma sick, okay?   

Online book

Right now if you go to A Story Before Bed, you can record yourself reading "The Isty Bitsy Spider" for free. Just make sure you have a webcam. It's cute because the pages turn automatically on the book while the video of you reading it is off to the side. I think Emerson's going to love it!  *Update:  I just had Emerson watch it, and she said, "Oh, that's cool, Mommy.  Good singing!" 

The last few weeks, Jax has decided he's going to start a little vocabulary. His current words: Mama, Dada, Dah (Dog), Ball, Ny-Ny (Night-Night), Buh-Buh (Bubbles), Shoe, PaPa, MeMaw, Nose, and Uh-Oh.  He starts panting when he picks up his stuffed dog, and he carries around an old cell phone while saying 'Woah' for hello.  I'm loving this age!

Sweet baby Avery is ONE!

Jason and I were so blessed with a visit from my sister Miley, her husband Eric, and their little girl Avery this past week!  Avery turned one on Saturday, so we celebrated the little miss on Friday night.  I can't even tell you how much fun we had with them!  We don't get to see them very often, and the fact that our little ones are two months apart makes it extra special.  Jax and Avery were so darn cute together!  We got a babysitter on Thursday night and ate at Fusco's Riverside Grill (yummy), and Friday Miley and I took the kids to the pool (first time for all three of them)!  I miss them so much I can't stand it.  Thankfully we'll all be together again in August at my brother's house in Nashville! 

This one's a gem

I finally found time this week to get caught up on my video archiving, and this one was taken on Jax's birthday.  I have a sick sense of humor, I know. 

Rough anniversary

Today marks 8 years since the Mr. and I tied the knot on a gorgeous summer day.  I know it's cliche to say 'it was one of the best days of my life,' but I truly enjoyed my wedding.  Very laid-back, a beautiful church, an outdoor reception, and friends and family surrounding me... my idea of perfection. 

So fast forward 8 years from that lovely, dreamy day, and right now I'm typing in the office to literally get 5 minutes of peace.  Emerson has been a bear since I picked her up from preschool, Jax is cutting molars and has been crying non-stop since 3:00, and Daddy came home from work early with an advanced sinus infection, so he's hibernating in the bedroom trying to get some sleep and relief.  Ahhh!!!!  Serenity now!!!

But you know what?  Amid all of the chaos and the noise and the stress I've experienced today, there's nowhere I'd rather be.  There's no one else I'd rather be married to, even when we can't seem to finish our sentences when the rugrats are running around.  There's no one else I'd rather see at the end of a day when he walks in looking ridiculously handsome while I quickly wonder if I've brushed my teeth that day.  There's no one else I'd rather share Oreos and milk with or go on a hot date with.

Jason, I love you more today than I did 8 years ago.  Thank you for being the husband and father you are.  Sorry you are sick on our anniversary, sweet boy.