Report on the third ultrasound

Mike and I went to my dr appt last week while his mom watched the kids. Thank you, Mom. Everything went very well. I had only gained one pound--which is really not that important, but I am grateful. Anyway, I measured correctly for how many weeks I am. The baby's heart beat was nice and strong. When my dr looked at the ultrasound report, it didn't even mention the spot on the baby's heart and all the growth measurements were right on track. Thank You, God!

Play Date at Sheri's

My friend, Sheri, from church, invited some of us moms over yesterday. Altogether, there were 4 moms and 8 kids (outside the womb--1 in:)). Sheri provided yummy treats for us and lots of fun for the kids.

Here is Clayton riding Thomas the Train

Here is Jenelle riding Thomas.

Here is Jenelle on the triangular trampoline complete with handle and a talking counter.

It was very fun to get together with the moms and kids. Thanks, Sheri, for providing the time and place for us.

Mike's ingenuity

Mike had wondered for awhile what was behind the wallpapered section above our kitchen cabinets. Last weekend, he decided to find out. He took out just one board and found an empty space. So, he cleaned out the dust and made it into a cabinet for all those things you need, but only use once a year or every couple of years. He's going to do the same thing all around the kitchen.

Here is what the finished product looks like.

For a long time, he has wanted to make us a spice rack. So, he bought two identical spice racks and dumped one set of the spices (since they were duplicates). We washed them in the dishwasher (which I am still LOVING). Then he put the other spices we had in our pantry in the empty jars and labeled them in his very neat drafting penmanship. One of the coolest parts is that he put the whole thing on a slider. We pull it out, find the correct spices (which are alphabetized, of course) and then slide it back. He sure does a good job of making sure we can use all the space we have!

Clay's growing up

Here is the last picture of Clay sleeping in his bed with the bed rail.We removed the bed rail from his bed. We set up the tri-fold mattress right next to his bed in case he fell. He fell the first night and I put him back in. The second night, he cried out. He was at the wrong of his bed and was afraid to try to get back to his pillow because he didn't want to fall off. The next couple of nights, he was fine, so I didn't unfold the tri-fold mattress. Not so smart of me. The next night, we heard a thump. He fell off, but he's done well since. We'll keep using the mattress next to the bed (where he prefers to take his naps so he doesn't have to worry about falling off) for a while longer. It's SO much easier to make his bed now. Yeah.

Jingle Bells

I know that Christmas is over and I have told my kids numerous times that it is over, but...they really got attached to Christmas songs. Here is Clayton singing his version.

Epilogue (to the clean bathtub)

After Mike was done with the air compression hose for the bathroom difficulties, he used it to clean the curtains, the lamp shades and the halogen light. Since I already dusted that room this month, the extra dust can make itself at home till February. Then he wrote the kids' names in the carpet. That was pretty cool.

The next time it was time for baths, we did showers instead. I didn't have to bend over and they were done more quickly. Next time, I just need to make sure Clay knows how to keep the shower nozzle directed inside the tub.:)

A clean bathtub

On Saturday, while Mike took the kids for a bike ride (to celebrate getting new tires for his bike), I cleaned up the house a bit, cleaned the bathtub and got the bath water ready for the kids. When the kids came back and were in the bath, I was doing something--can't remember. I wasn't feeling real productive. Anyway, we got a call from the bathroom that there was (the dreaded) poop in the bath! Ugh. I told Mike and we went in together--I needed the moral support.

Sure enough, the report was correct. We got rid of most of the poop and had the kids stand up so they wouldn't be contaminated more than they already were. While Mike cleaned the toys in the sink, I decided I wouldn't be running fresh bath water, but would just shower the kids off. As Mike cleaned the toys, the sink filled up with water. Bummer. So, I got the kids showered and dressed in their jammies. Then I cleaned the bathtub, again.

Mike got the sink unclogged--finally. He had to use compressed air to get it cleaned out. I said, "Do you want to do the bathtub, too?" He opened the shower curtain and we discovered where all the yuckies from the sink ended up--blackness on the bottom of the twice cleaned tub. Gross. Mike had to open up the back of the bathtub--which has an opening through our room on my side of the closet. I told Mike I would take the kids to get take out. A little adventure. The kids don't get to ride in the van in their jammies very often. When we got back, Mike had finished unclogging the tub and we had dinner. God gave me the strength to clean the tub for the third time in one day and to go ahead and clean the sink and counter, too. At least now I don't have to clean the tub till the middle of February now.:)

Third ultrasound

Mike and I went for our baby's ultrasound this morning. My parents watched the kids--actually took them to a train exhibit at the museum. The technician spent a lot of time with us--me first and then with Mike, too. We would definitely recommend going on a Saturday--hardly anyone was there. Anyway, we got to see the baby move a lot. The baby was blowing out of his/her mouth and sticking out his/her tongue a lot. Then one time, he/she put a fist on the forehead as if in "The My Head Hurts because I ate ice cream too fast" pose. The technician gave us 4 pictures. My doctor wanted me to have this ultrasound to make sure the baby's measurements are still correct with the number of weeks. She doesn't expect the light spot on the heart to have gone away. I have an appt this coming Thursday when my doctor can tell me the results. We are encouraged.

Missing sippy cups

On Christmas Eve, I left Jenelle at my parents' and took Clay with me to pick up Mike (so that we could drive home together at the end of the evening). When I left Jenelle, she had been drinking her juice. When we got back, the juice cup was no where to be seen--for more than 2 weeks it was missing. I finally decided to buy her some new cups. It hurts to actually spend the money for those! Anyway, the same day I bought the new cups, I decided to take the kids for a ride in the double stroller. (I may not be doing that again for awhile--I'm so slow and out of shape right now!) When I lifted the stroller out of the van, there was her sippy cup, with prune/grape juice still in it laying down. I was grateful to find it.

Two nights ago, Clay's milk cup went missing. I saw it close to 8pm and then no more. I prayed about it asking God to help us to find it. I had searched everywhere I could think of, but couldn't find it. I told Mike at dinner, "I guess we just have to wait until we smell it to find it." After the kids went to bed and I was relaxing on the couch, Mike was searching. He found it under Clay's changing table all the way against the wall. It didn't smell as bad as it could've...and thank God, we have a dishwasher that cleaned it thoroughly. Hopefully we can keep track of our cups from here on out!

I'm glad that God cares about even the smallest details!

Today

Thanks to Jessica watching the kids, I had some free time. I used it to go to Walmart. It was SO nice to take my time shopping and stop when I wanted to. I didn't have to tell anyone to sit down or not to touch or not to open anything. It was a relaxing experience. Then I went through Starbucks and got Denise and I our Caramel Lite fraps. I went to her house and got to visit for awhile. I was dropping off some pictures because she has graciously and generously volunteered to finish Clayton's baby book up to one year--before baby #3 comes! I can't begin to repay her, but the frap helped she said.:) I came home after going through Del Taco and getting one of their $3 value meals (no upsizing) and put the Walmart purchases away. Then I picked up my kids. What a nice and productive day! Thank you Jessica and Denise!

My 35th birthday--2 weeks ago

Both sides of the family came over our house to celebrate my birthday. That was special. I enjoyed having everyone here. We ordered pizza (4 of them and had about the equivalent of one left). There were 18 people here in all. My family brought my dessert called "Donna's Brownies". It has a layer of brownie on the bottom, then a layer of melted marshmallows and then a delicious chocolate layer (like thick frosting) on top. It was very yummy. Mike smelled it and wasn't even tempted--too much chocolate, so you know it was good!Clayton blew out my candles before I could. He was remembering Jesus' birthday 3 days prior and since Jesus needed help blowing out His candles, he thought I needed help, too.

The candles were lit again so I actually had a chance to blow out my own candles.

Jenelle and Shannon made things out of clay.

Mom and Dad Hekman

Mom and Dad Reynolds

Mandi, Marlene and Shelle, who is holding Keri

The mens' room--or where they congregated to watch the game

Mike, Clay, Matt, Brian, Ty and Eric

Jess and Ethan were here, too, I just didn't have a good shot of them.
Thanks for a great birthday everyone.

Christmas Morning

We celebrated our little family Christmas on Christmas morning. We listened to our Charlie Brown/Linus Christmas ornament that tells the Luke 2 story. Mike and Jenelle posed at our breakfast

They showed their Hekman chins.

Clayton is not to be left out.

Singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is traditionally when we spend time with my side of the family. First we went to the half hour Christmas Eve service at church and then we came back to my parents' house to eat (too much) and open gifts. We didn't leave from my parents' until about 10:30PM. Since they were using their 5th wheel to stay while my sisters were visiting, it made a fun place for the grandkids to watch movies and hang out some.

Here are the two "married-in"s to the Reynolds' clan.My sisters and me--we're in order of oldest to youngest, in case you wondered. I'm the youngest.:)

5 out of 6 of the cousins

5 out of 6 of the cousins with the grandparents

The three girl cousins happy to be together

It was a fun evening. I love it when we all get to be together!

Before we opened gifts, we recited the Christmas story
as recorded in Luke 2. Obviously my mom knows it well!

Pre-Christmas get together

Since Mike's brother, Dan, was in town, we decided to have everyone over to our house. We ended up with enough food for far more people than we had (10 altogether including 3 kids). It was fun just to be together. Strange as it is, I took no pictures of Dan that night.:)

Jessica sat on the ground and got some company.

Mom and Dad Hekman

Uncle Mike gives nephew Ethan some attention.

Matt, Jess and Ethan--leaving early due to a necessary bedtime for Ethan.