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.  :) 

Emerson's big month

We've had a whirlwind of activity starting in early December, and most of it is due to lil' Miss Emerson.  First she attended her friend Kate's 3rd birthday party, and as you can tell from the pictures, she had NO FUN whatsoever.  :)

Next was her preschool Christmas program.  Her class sang two songs, and she marched right out on stage with a big smile, sang her little heart out, and even hollered "Hey, Dad!" to Jason.  Little ham.

Finally, last Saturday she and I were invited to a Mother/Daughter Christmas brunch at my friend Kelly's house.  Kelly's daughter Anna is one of Emerson's favorite friends, so this was an extra-special outing for the both of us.  Kelly had a full brunch prepared for both the little girls and the mommies, and Santa made a surprise visit, much to the girls' delight.  It was a fabulous morning!

HaydenWatch 2010

I'm now 32 weeks and livin' large.  Yes, it's as uncomfortable as it looks.  Yes, my center of gravity is totally off, and I tip over easily.  Yes, I need assistance getting up from a seated position on the floor.  And yes, it's all going to be worth it to finally have her in my arms. 

Cuteness in the form of ABCs

Jax has been saying his ABCs daily, usually multiple times daily, and usually at a decibel level harmful to most small children and animals.  That boy just doesn't really have a quiet switch.  I love it.  I love that he's aggressive and tough, and then when he does something he knows he shouldn't, he looks me right in the eye and whispers, "Sah-wee Momma... HUG" and leans his head over for the kill. 

We finally got him to say his alphabet for the camera.