Riley & Hayden

Our friends the Bolingers came over last night, and Jason snapped this picture of the babies-to-be.  Lorenda is 21 weeks pregnant, and I'm 35 weeks as of Saturday.  Riley will be their first, and I can't wait to meet the little man!  The four of us all lived on the same floor in a dorm at NSU and have remained friends ever since.  Which is saying a lot, considering the shenanigans that went on during our college tenure.  Makes me laugh to think back on those days.  It also makes me want to keep my children home from college! 

House update: the trim throughout the first floor has all been glazed and looks amazing!  Our bedroom is painted, the entryway/living/dining wall texture, paint, and glaze are scheduled to be completed this week, and the office and nursery will be finished, too.  We ran into our painter at church this morning, and I couldn't help but give him a big hug... he's fantastic.  If you or anyone you know is looking for a paint company, use Victory Painting.  You won't be sorry.

I'm having a really hard time picking the color for the nursery, and I need to decide by tomorrow.  The designer I worked with suggested a light cream to keep the room light, airy, and spa-like, especially since it will be a guest room in 2 years. The only problem is that I totally failed to mention that Hayden's furniture is all going to be cream as well, and the color we chose isn't quite enough of a contrast.  So now I'm looking at a huge color sample wheel, pulling my hair out trying to come up with the perfect cream... one that's not too fleshy or too beige or too yellow.  Ahhh!!!

I started packing the bag for the hospital tonight.  We learned our lesson after Emerson came a little over a month early.  It was so much fun getting my 0-3 month plastic bin out and going through the teeny-tiny clothes!  I can't believe I'm going to have a newborn soon.

I made it...

Okay, so I dropped Emerson off first yesterday.  She, of course, ran right into class, tickling her teacher's leg on the way in, saying 'tickle, tickle' and yelling greetings to all of her friends.  I actually had to call to her to get her to come back and give me hugs and kisses.  Then it was off to Jax's room.  His teachers are precious older ladies with very calming personalities, so I instantly felt at ease.  He was pretty clingy, but when I kneeled down, gave him a hug and kiss, and told him I was leaving but would be coming back to get him, he instantly let out this howling cry, complete with an almost gasping sound, like he couldn't believe I was actually going to leave.  I made it out the door, walked to put his bag in his cubby, then the waterworks started.  I seriously started crying.  An older woman caught me in the hallway and gave me a 'bless your heart... it'll get easier' peptalk, which of course made it worse.  I went into the nearest bathroom, pulled myself together, then walked back to the edge of his classroom door to listen.  He had already stopped crying. 

I spent the next 4 1/2 hours running errands in somewhat of a daze.  It was like I wasn't quite sure how to act by myself, not having to keep small children in check.  Checking off my to-do list for the day was a breeze, and getting to do it at a leisurely pace was unbelievable.  Given that I'm not moving quickly PERIOD at this point in the pregnancy, I was in much less pain because I could stop when I needed to and just rest.  I think Hayden has dropped significantly in the last week because I'm feeling some severe and intense pressure down there, almost like the 'ole 'undercarriage' is trying to split apart.  Lovely, isn't it?  I'm curious to find out at my next checkup if I'm dilated at all.  I wouldn't be surprised if I am.

I stopped by the new house first thing this morning (kids stayed with a babysitter) and met a friend-of-a-friend designer so she could help me with paint colors, fabric swatch choices for drapes, etc.  So helpful!!!  Worth every dime and really helped me narrow my ideas to create a beautiful flow from room to room.  One of the biggest challenges in my brain is how to combine Jason's love of old-world style with my recent discovery and love of softer hues mixed in with more contemporary and classic fabrics and pops of color.  I'm going to run get some paint pints later this afternoon after naptime, and hopefully the hubby will like what I've narrowed down to!  This is the fun part!

Heading to Cheesecake Factory tonight with my MOPS table from last semester.  Can't wait for some girly conversation and yummy food.

Jax's Big Day

I'm having a hard time this morning... my baby is going to pre-school with his sister!  I'm praying I don't lose it when I walk away from dropping him off.  I know he's going to be fine, it's just a big milestone.  Emerson started her preschool class right before she was two, but she's a little more independent than he is.  I keep reminding myself that it's only two days a week, 5 hours each day, and that it'll be good for both of us.  Plus, I technically need to be working for Daddy one of those days, and the other I'll be running errands, grocery shopping, and getting things done at the house.  And when Hayden gets here, she will get Mommy's undivided attention for those two days.  So it's a blessing that his class had an opening mid-year. 

It's just hard looking at that little backpack and lunchbox.  They're so cute.  Plus Daddy's in Wisconsin right now doing training for his teams there, so I'm missing him. 

Hormones, be gone! 

We closed!

We officially closed on the new house yesterday!  The kids haven't seen it yet, so we're gonna try and take them over tomorrow and let them run around like crazies.  Monday morning the painting crew is showing up, so it'll be under construction for a while.  We plan on staying here until we get renters for this house... we have another showing on Sunday.  I'm fully trusting that the right people will come along this month so that we don't have to make two mortgage payments! 

I thought I was going into early labor tonight... turns out it was just gas.  Very low, painful, bloat-causing gas that felt like she was trying to make like a baby and head out.  I was on my hands and knees at one point.  Jason was like, 'Don't you even think about having this baby early.'  The hands and knees position did help for the release of the trapped gas.  Oh, the glorious things that go on in the Van Valkenburg household during my pregnancies.  Jason is one lucky man.  Because right now I'm HOT.  Smokin' hot. 

Another funny thing along the lines of why he's lucky to be married to me: two nights ago I actually let out a bird noise as I was falling asleep.  Not just any bird sound, mind you, but a true "CAW!" that can only be described as a sound a crow would make before descending on prey.  Have you ever made a random sound that wakes you up?  No?  Just me?  Anyway, it woke me up, and I started laughing and asked him if I had just made a weird sound.  He was like, 'Um, yes, you did in fact just caw at me.'  I lost it at that point and about peed myself.  Another HOT side effect of pregnancy. 

Here's to a fantastic 2011 (we're supposed to say 'twenty-eleven' instead of 'two thousand eleven,' right?).  I'm not planning on staying up until midnight.  This bird is just too tired. 

Pics & Quotes

The last few days, I've been on the phone with more than one person who has asked how my Christmas was, and they inevitably joke about being glad that it's over.  I must say I truly enjoyed our Christmas this year.  On Christmas Eve, Uncle Trav came over and rode all cramped in the back seat with the kids to look at Christmast lights around town.  Talk about a trooper!  We feasted on potato soup in Panera's bread bowls before we went... yummy. 

Christmas morning was fun with the kids.  We started our gift-opening pretty early because I had to get the turkey in the oven, but everyone was happy to oblige me.  I calculated I only spent about $70 on the kids together, so I was thrilled when they acted like they had received the best presents in the world.  I guess that's par for the course for kids under four.  They don't yet understand that there are really cool, expensive toys out there.  I'm trying to keep that fact away from them as long as possible. 

Daddy was naughty and broke the afore-agreed-upon budget limit between the two of us, which he does every year.  I shouldn't be surprised, but each year I am.  I feign indignation, he feigns ignorance, and I'm sure we'll play this little game until we're both gumming our food.  I love that man. 

Before I post some pictures of our festivities, here are a few of my favorite Emerson & Jax quotes from the past week or so:

* Emerson came running down the hall from her bedroom wearing only her panties, yelling, "Yook, everyone!  I'm naked-ing!"

* Jax's first sentence was "Hey go, Mom" (here you go, Mom)... said while handing me his empty milk cup.   

* Emerson walked into my bathroom wearing my bra over her clothes and shouted, "I love wearing my nipples!"

* When Jax is asked a question of whether he'd like to do something, he responds with, "Ummm.... Sure."

* Jax's new cute word-of-the-day is 'see-gow-ies' (sunglasses).  Makes me laugh every time he says it. 

* Finally, when he wakes up in the morning, he stands in his crib and calls to each of us, "Momma, wheh ahh you?  Daddy, wheh ahh you?  Sissy, wheh ahh you?" 

Happy New Year!

Disclaimer:  I am not responsible for any negative side effects you may have suffered while viewing the picture of the great white whale above.  I should have given ample warning.  :) 

Merry Christmas!

Saw this on a blog I follow and had to link to it as well.  So darling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWq60oyrHVQ&feature=player_embedded

Merry Christmas to you and yours!  I can't wait to wake up and open presents with little munchkins in their pj's with crazy hair, puffy eyes, and morning breath.  Daddy included.  :)