It's a Boy!!!

This was a week we had been waiting for!  Tuesday marked the 20th week - the halfway point - of this pregnancy!  Wow, I can hardly believe it!  On Tuesday we had our ultrasound appointment, and we decided that we wanted to find out what the baby was this time!  We I sort of wanted to wait and be surprised at the baby's birth, however we knew that if it was a girl, we needed some time to process shop!

Halfway to meeting Baby Baker #3!

From the very beginning, the boys have thought this baby was a girl.  They have called the baby "baby sister" for the longest time!  Zane kept telling me he just KNEW it was a girl - since we didn't have any - and he KNEW he was right!  I think Mason (and myself) were convinced it was a girl just because everyone else was...and the novelty of a girl sounded nice, huh?  So the night before the ultrasound we all voted.  Boy - 1; Girl - 3.

We got to our appointment and didn't have to wait long until they called us back.  She asked how many kids we had, what they were, and if we wanted to find out what the baby was.  We said yes, she put the gel on me, put the doppler onto my stomach, and this was literally the FIRST thing I saw:



I guess he wanted to be SURE we knew!

I saw that and said "Is that what I think it is?" and she said "Yes it is.  Apparently the two of you make boys!"  Matt wasn't quite with us yet - I don't think he thought we'd find out so soon - so he squinted, leaned forward and said "Oh.  Okay!"  Then he said, "I guess we'll have to try again!"  (Um...NOPE)!  Of course I cried...it's just so amazing to see our little pumpkin up close and personal and know everything is developing on track and that he's okay!  Such a relief...too bad we can't have an ultrasound more often!  During the appointment, we got to see him putting his hands by his face, make his mouth look like a little bird searching for food, swallow, cross his feet as if relaxing, and sticking his whole fist in his mouth!  Such fun!

Profile

Close up profile

Baby Baker #3's current stats:

• Boy!
• Healthy heartbeat
• 12 ounces
• Due January 7th

Mama Baker's Stats:

• 20 weeks - halfway!
• Gained "a little" too much weight (oops)
• No diabetes...yet...but will be re-tested in 6 weeks so stay tuned
• A little tired
• Feeling a little large
• Happy as can be!

Hi everyone!

Nice healthy heartbeat (his heart is the black circle in the middle)

That night we wanted to tell the boys at supper, so I picked them up but didn't say anything.  As we were playing with the neighbor boys, Zane all of a sudden looked at me and said, "Mom, what is our baby?"  I told him we would wait for Dad to get home so we could tell him together.  He seemed to be okay with that.  So when Matt got home we headed to one of our favorite places...Pizza Shoppe.  I had the ultrasound pictures in my purse and when we got settled I showed "the one" to Zane.  I pointed to the area and asked him what he saw there...he said "a foot?"  I told him what it was...he smiled, said "aah.  Well maybe our next baby will be a girl!"  (Um, what is up with these guys...seriously)?  Then he got all giggly and excited, put his arm around my neck, and hugged me.  So I guess that was a success...and Mason just kept repeating the name of the body part that told us it was a boy...loudly...oops!  That's a boy for you!  Oh yes, I made sure to remind the boys that I will now be the QUEEN of the house!  HA!

I put these sign by some cookies I frosted with BLUE frosting at work the next day!

So that's our big news for the week!  I'm very relieved knowing I will know what to do with this baby and that I have everything we'll need!  As Matt tells me, I'm already starting to "nest" by sorting/organizing closets, pantries, etc...guess I really want to spend my maternity leave taking care of my baby, not my house!

Zane-isms



• I forgot to mention this last week...on Zane's second day of school, he came home and said, "Mom, I was a little naughty today."  I asked him why and he told me "I hit someone on their butt."  He looked sad and knew it wasn't a good choice...while I talked to him about why it wasn't a good choice...and he said, "But they told me to!"  So then I talked about how it doesn't matter if they told him to, that it wasn't right.  All of a sudden he got this grin on his face and said, "I'm just kidding!  I was good!"  Little stinker!

Mason's Marvels





• One of Mason's favorite new words is "FINE!"  He says it in response to EVERYTHING!
• The other morning the boys were wrestling on Zane's bed and I said, "when the baby's here you won't be able to wrestle with him.  He'll be too little.  To which Mason said, "Oh, we can fight with our baby when he gets big?"  Good reasoning Mason!
 

Zane's First Week of Kindergarten!

Seriously...I can't even believe I'm typing that ZANE IS IN KINDERGARTEN!  Where in the WORLD did six years go?

So, we had already been to "meet the teacher" night and Zane wasn't too excited after that, which left me wondering how the first day would go.  We began by making sure he was in bed at a good time, the same time, each night.  Tuesday night before going to bed Zane informed me he wanted an alarm clock so he could wake up "by himself."  So I found a spare that we had and he was in business!  We set the alarm, read some books (including books about starting kindergarten) and it was lights out. 

The morning of his first day!

Well, that morning I got up and started getting ready, and I heard his alarm go off.  It wasn't waking him up for a while, but finally it did.  He went to the kitchen for some cereal and milk.

Getting "fueled" for his first day!

I continued to get ready, then started getting Mason ready.  Zane asked me to bring him his clothes, then I asked him if he was getting them on.  He said, "No.  Come here, Mom."  So I went out there, and this is what I saw:

All dressed...tying his new school shoes!

I was so proud!  He was definitely determined...considering we told him that in order to go to kindergarten you had to be able to tie your own shoes!  (Note:  I was still holding it together REALLY WELL at this point...stay tuned).  And not to be outdone by his big brother, Mason was in the background saying "Take a picture of me, Mom!"

We had to have a bag of Fruit Loops!

Then we had to take the obligatory first day of school photos...this year with his using his hand to show which grade he was in (a "0" for kindergarten).

All ready for his first day!

And showing off his backpack...

Both angles look great!

And once again, Mason had to step into a photo...



Our precious boys on the first day of school (notice Mason's backpack...and new shoes...has to be just like big brother)!

Mama wanted to pose with everyone

Dad wasn't thrilled but I made him (how cute that Zane put his arm around him).

Mason's bummed...he wanted to go to school too!

We loaded up into our two cars (because we both had to head to work afterwards) and took Zane to his new school.  (Note:  At this point I was STILL OKAY).

Zane in front of his new school...he's a Pirate!

And again, Mason having to have some camera time as well!

The boys in front of school.

We took these photos, headed inside, signed Zane in, and THAT is when I lost it!  All of a sudden it all hit me like a ton of bricks...my baby...at "big kid" school...going in knowing noone and nothing...I sure hope someone there loves and cares for him as much as I do!  Sure puts my job, as a kindergarten teacher, into perspective.  I finally "get it..." those moms who won't leave my doorway with tears in their eyes...I get it!  So I hugged him, told him to have a great day and that I loved him, and I started crying.  I quickly put my sunglasses on and turned away (I didn't want him to be scared or worried or think it was a bad place to be).  Thought I was in the clear...then he put his arms out wide and said, "one more hug!"  Oh man, how could I resist?  So I gave him one more (sunglasses still on) and walked out the door.  Matt peeked in after I walked out and told me he ran off and started playing.  Whew!  Relief!  I think at that point it just all hit me...life is going to be going in fast forward from this point on.  I hope I can stop and enjoy it as much as I should!

After school I picked him up and he had a huge smile on his face and came running with a huge hug as well.  I asked how his day was and he said, "It was GOOD!"  He could barely wait to show me his new STAR folder and show me that he had a GREEN day on his behavior calendar!  I was so excited to see him and to ask him about his first day!  (Weird that I am now the parent of a kindergarten student asking about their day...makes me wonder what the kids in my class say)!  So the best story he could tell me about his day...get ready for this..."Mom, at lunch I had a chicken sandwich.  There was a lady there and she had ketchup.  She put a dot, dot, dot, smile on my chicken sandwich.  She made a smiley face on it!"  "Sigh..."  As a teacher I thought "Really?  THAT is what you remember most about your first day?"  But honestly it really goes to show you that it's the little things that matter to them!!!

Special day = eating off of the special plate!  Never mind that it has McDonald's food on it (Zane's choice)

The rest of the week continued to go well.  Zane had all green days, which made us so proud of him.  I was especially proud when I opened his daily folder and had this note from his teacher (2nd line):

So all summer Zane has been begging and beggin to go to Build a Bear Workshop.  I kept putting him off and putting him off...telling him we'd wait for "this" or "that" or "after school starts and you do well..."  I was so proud of how well he adjusted to his schedule and new school that I decided to surprise him!  So Friday after school we went to eat supper first, then Matt just happened to drop us off by Build a Bear.  Zane and I started walking and I asked him if he saw any places he wanted to go to...he spotted BAB and said "how about this?"  I said "Yeah, let's go" and he got the biggest smile on his face!  We had a lot of fun together!

He chose a tiger...here he is "stuffing" it!

Making a wish while squeezing his heart!

Giving tiger a bath

Zane and tiger...who we named "Pirate"

.Matt and Mason picked us up, so we went to have some frozen yogurt to top off the night.  It was a great night to end a great first week of school!

This weekend the boys and I stayed home (grandparents were all out of town and I didn't really want to try out the races with both of them) while Matt went to the races.  We had a fun time!  We went out to eat, went to Target a couple of times, got a movie, and just hung out at home.  I happened upon an amazing blog...that totally inspired me...and made me want to reorganize my entire house!  It's called IHeart Organizing, written by a mom of 3 boys.  She's inspiring!  Check out here blog here.  All I know is...I want to be her!  I've always thought organizing stuff for a living would be fun!  If only it would all stay that way!  Needless to say...it's all I could think about, so I tackled our pantry.  I must say...it does look pretty good now!  I already have a HUGE list of ideas that I'd like to tackle around here...but in due time...since I don't know that I can afford all I want to do right now!  (Matt told the boys he thought I was "nesting...").

Iowa State Fair!

Last week began our "back to reality" check!  I know all of you are feeling SO sorry for me...it's okay if you aren't...cause I am!  We had 2 days at home before heading back to work/daycare.  Naturally it was rainy the first day so the pool was out.  We ended up meeting Matt for lunch that day.  Then Tuesday we had haircuts and went to the pool for one last hurrah!  I'm sure going to miss the laziness of summer!

Wednesday was my first day back...reality check #1!  The boys both went to Jo's.  It was very easy to get them up and going, they were very excited to spend their days with Jo, the girls, and the kids!  I enjoyed each and every moment of having only ONE drop-off and pick-up...since that's coming to an end soon!  Thursday was a crazy day.  Zane had Back to School Night and I had Parent Orientation.  Zane's started before mine, so I was planning to go for a little bit before heading to mine.  Everyone else had the same idea as us...go early.  We got there and there was a HUGE line out the door (they had the doors locked).  Then I realized I left all of his supplies at home, so Matt had to go back home to get them.  Then when we went in, we found out his teacher is Ms. Thomas so we headed toward her room.  When we got to the room, there were so many people in there that we couldn't even get in the room!  That made Zane very uncomfortable and he was clinging to me.  Not what this Mama needed!  We made our way in and found his desk.  I began reading the letter his teacher wrote him...started crying...so skipped ahead and put the school supplies in their place.  We were supposed to go around the room to get acquainted, but there was NO ROOM TO  MOVE...and I was needing to leave...so we just left.  I got to school at 6:10, which was when my meeting was to start, with parents lined up on both sides of the hallway waiting on me...whoops!

Wow, he looks SO excited...NOT!  I hope it was just that he was overwhelmed with all the people!

After work on Friday, we headed to Des. Moines for the Iowa State Fair.  This is something we do every year...it's kind of a family (okay Iowa) thing!  Matt has been there every single year since his birth (starting at 10 months old), so we hate to quit going now!  The boys were really excited to sleep in the camper, see Grandma/Papa, and ride tractors!  Honestly, Mason could have just ridden the shuttle buses, climbed up and down on the tractors, and left a happy kid!

My oldest "deere"

My little "deere"

Little farmers!

Zane thought we weren't going to let him out!

But Mason played along!

Matt & Mason going down the big slide

At the bottom...I thought this picture was funny!

Zane (upper left) and Adam (middle) on the big slide.  Adam met us at the fair Saturday and Sunday!

On the shuttle bus...headed down to the fair!

Watermelon...so refreshing!

Mesmerized by the trains!

Corn dogs...best ever at the fair!

Why feed yourself when Grandma will hold it for you?

Mason stopped by this huge inflatable Scope bottle and said "take mine picture"

We were standing there talking when Mason walked up to Zane, hugged him, then they started dancing!

Goofy boys!

Zane on the big tranpoline!

Zane was SO proud to finally figure out flipping!  He worked and worked at it and kept getting so frustrated!

Mason was NOT a fan...Zane ended up getting to have his turn for him!

Another fair favorite...cotton candy!  This time seen as a mustache!

Zane-isms

• One day we were having lunch at home and Zane wanted a regular cup.  He said, "I'm going to drink like a real man!"
• Zane had a toy that wasn't working so I told him he'd have to have Dad fix it when he got home.  He said, "Dad is a genius!"
• Matt took the boys to Cars 2 the other night.  As they were in line waiting to get their snacks, Zane looked up at Matt and said, "This is like a dream!"
 

Mason's Marvels

• I was playing with Mason with his tractors and I couldn't get something to work.  Mason said, "Dad will get it when he gets home.  He's superman!"
• Mason's been doing everything he can possibly think of to NOT fall asleep at night!  He'll say "Mom, you didn't read me a book.  Dad, you didn't read me a book.  Mom, you didn't rock me.  Dad, you didn't rock me.  Mom, lay with me.  Dad, rub my tummy..." and on and on and on.  Sometimes this goes on for almost 2 hours!  The other night he knew I was getting ready to leave his room, so he started crying for Matt, and I told him Dad wasn't coming in again.  He looked at me and said, "Well you're mean!"  I said "No I am not" and he said, "See, you're mean!"  Then after I left he came to our room crying and said, "Mom, you're mean.  You're making me sad!"  Seriously!  Deep breaths...

A Week At Grandma and Papa Farmer's!

Catching up for a couple of weeks...last week the boys stayed in Iowa so I was a little "off scheudle" without them and completely skipped blogging...whoops!  But I did get a TON of things done around here...house cleaned (check), sub-basement cleaned/organized/stuff donated to goodwill (check), dates with my honey (check), classroom set up (check)! 

Before I forget to mention it, we did get Mason's stitch out.  We went in five days later, just me, Mason, and Zane.  Apparently Mason's skin heals quickly...it had grown over the stitch...so needless to say it was NOT a fun time!  I had to hold him down...my legs holding his legs down...my arms holding his arms down...while the doctor and nurse both tried to get it out.  Then another nurse came in and tried.  Then the doctor again.  Then the nurse again...all the while Mason was screaming "Stop it!  Mom, stop it!  Don't touch me!  Leave me alone!  Quit it!  Mom, stop it!"  It was EXCRUTIATING!  Finally everyone came in and it took FOUR of us holding him down to get the one little stitch out!  Misery!  And to top it off, they told us we couldn't go swimming for SEVEN DAYS!  Really?  I left there crying...it was our last full week of summer vacation together!  Um...I didn't really follow directions and 2 days later I put waterproof band-aids on the owie and we went swimming!  Whoopsie!

On to the boys' week on the farm...they get to do this every year and they LOVE it!  This year they didn't even talk to us on the phone...I just enjoyed listning to them playing in the background when I called!  Here are some pictures of their adventures on the farm!

They played with the auger a lot!

Zane has  been wanting to fly a kite for weeks now...and can't catch a good wind at home.  They got this one to fly, and then the string broke and it flew into the cornfield!  Darn!

One day they went to the Corning pool...they had a blast!  Mason was taking a break here!

Zane went down this slide over and over and over again!  Mason would go up, but didn't want to go down, but finally did and had a blast too.  He really liked the twisty slide on the right...but they couldn't go down two at a time so he had to quit that...and was really bummed!

Papa and Mason sliding

Running through the sprayers

Zane on the twisty slide

Zane getting sprayed

Classic Mason on the farm...if there is dirt, grease, or mud, he always finds it!

Silly boy!

I got these shirts for these guys for Christmas...they say "Fishing Buddies" and their names.  We took them on vacation hoping to get a photo there...and that didn't work out...so I asked if they could take it this week.  Apparently Mason was less than cooperative, so this is the best we got!

Popsicles AND wrestling with your brother...what could be better?

Throwing rocks into the creek.

On Friday Grandma and Aunt Reeta took the kids to the zoo!  Here's Reeta, Kenna, Zane, Keaton, and Mason.

Austin, Keaton, Zane, and Mason checking out the giraffes

The boys and Grandma

Posing by the dinosaurs...Mason making sure they are staying put!

Zane and Austin riding a camel.  Mason was insistent that he ride a camel and was impatiently waiting...and the minute it was his turn, he changed his mind!

Playing in the park after returning from the zoo!

Our little monkey!

Whee!

As you can see, the boys had an AMAZING week!  They are so lucky to have grandparents that make them the center of their world!  When we got home on Friday, Mason was giggly and hiding and pretty excited to see us.  Zane, on the other hand, pouted and ran into the other room!  I knew he would have a hard time leaving...he always does!  He says "mom and dad just don't know how to play with us."  Dagger...right in the heart!  Mason came up to me, gave me a hug, and said, "I really missed you Mom!"  So sweet!  Zane didn't say much, until Saturday afternoon he was excited to give me an envelope and inside was this note:



"Mom.  I love you.  I missed you.  From Zane."

That made me feel better!  Today, however, when he figured out we would be coming home, he started his meltdown...and I expected it to happen all night tonight, but it didn't (we lucked out).  At one point he said "I miss Grandma" and started crying and said "I just can't stop it."  Poor buddy, he loves them so much!

On another note...when we got home tonight we had no electricity!  Apparently there was quite a storm...that only lasted about 10 minutes...but left a huge wake behind...lots of trees down, power out, etc.  We were lucky to have power back in about 4 hours...but others are still without it tonight.  I pray they get power back soon!