36 weeks and counting...

Well, today is 36 weeks... I delivered at 36 weeks and 1 day with Sam! Needless to say, I am in nesting overdrive!!! I have been taking care of Sam all morning because BJ is in Sam's new room painting - he should be done with that today - and we got the border and it is going to look AWESOME with the paint. When he went down for a nap, I went out and cut bushes in front of the house. They were just too tall and bothering me - BJ came out and busted me and got upset with me. Next, I finished that and went to take my shower - decided it was dirty and was on my hands and knees scrubbing - BJ came in and scolded me again!

Normally, this wouldn't be a big deal, but we want Jake to stay in my belly as long as possible so that his heart is as big as possible when he's born... but, selfishly, I would be JUST FINE delivering today! I am extremely large (well, at least this time I am all belly - it's just large to me b/c I can't bend over or get up off the couch without looking like a turtle that landed on it's shell!)! You know it's bad when you have Sam pulling you saying, "Up, Mommy!" Nonetheless, I am trying SO HARD to take it easy and 'relax' (as much as is possible with an 18-month-old), and all that not-so-fun-stuff! But, my mind is still going 190 mph... thinking of stuff I could/should be doing!

All that aside, the pregnancy is still fine. I am over being pregnant, but was pretty much over it at 10 weeks too! All this stuff to deal with (MILDLY swollen ankles, tired all the time, using the bathroom all the time, can't sleep due to the frequent trips to the potty, indigestion, reflux, uncomfortable, inability to move quickly - quite necessary with Sam around - I could go on...) is getting really old! I want my body back!!!! Oh, Well... it could be so much worse, and I realize that!!!!!

Another thing I 'need' to do is update my blog!!!! =) I guess the more I have done before Jake gets here, the less overwhelming I think it will be to 'catch back up'... huh - not likely, but a good thought!!!!

Sam is getting cuter and smarter everyday... I was talking to Mama and Daddy on the phone and was telling them how Sam can flush our toilets now - I see a Sam-blur running from the kitchen to the bathroom, hear the toilet flush, then see a proud Sam walking out... just because he HEARD me talking about it! BJ said, "What's up Homey?" at the dinner table last night, and Sam now calls everyone Homey... that's just a small sample of what this child remembers and notices!!!!! I asked Mama this morning if they had said something to Sam about a girl in one of his books looking like or being a 'dork'... Mama started laughing and said she didn't think Sam had heard her, b/c they were reading and she had said it under her breath! He didn't say anything after she said it... but remembered when he and I were reading that book!!!!!! He's just amazing me everyday with how smart and observant he is!!!!!

All right - Picture time...

Here's Sam in his Varsity hat - Mimi and Pop Pop took him, and he had the best time - I think it had more to do with Mimi and Pop Pop than anything!

Pop Pop saw this Shrek chair, and had to get it for Sam... it passes gas when you sit in it - it's the funniest thing, and Sam LOVES to make it 'Shrek' so that we'll laugh at him...But first, he had to mess with Mommy since I had the camera...

Jumping back in the chair to make it 'Shrek' - yes, I know, it's about as safe as it looks! If he falls out, he usually jumps right back in!!!

Don't think it's all fun and games... Sam has to pull his weight around here!!!! He is helping his Daddy bring in the groceries (Stormie is just trying to see if she got anything - she feels she is tortured enough to not have to do any work! =)And he's helping his Daddy carry the ladder up to his new room to start painting...Geez - you would think a man as strong as Daddy could do this by himself!!!Sam's favorite past-time - reading books! He knows what everything is on every page - right down to the clouds! He is SO smart! He is constantly wanting to "weed"!!!!

Even in the car - we have to have a book!Sam loves his "Baby Jake"! We can ask him where Baby Jake is, and he lifts my shirt and points and says "Baby Jake." And, if we ask if he loves his Baby Jake, he hugs and kisses my belly... so, so adorable!!!!I promise I'm not forcing this on him, he was just pulling his head up as BJ snapped the picture!!! =)

Little Jake and the Pregnancy

I haven't updated much, if anything about the pregnancy... we have had a lot going on! First of all, the baby (Jake) and I are doing great! I will be 35 weeks on Saturday - just a week away from when I delivered Sam. I have been much better with this pregnancy than with Sam even... just A LOT more tired (thanks to Sam), terrible acid reflux (I told BJ that is his fault b/c I bet Jake will be a hairy baby =) and indigestion. I still have bouts with nausea, but it's not that bad - especially after 4 1/2 months of constant nausea!!! I, so far, have not experienced Fiona feet - or legs (the girl ogre from Shrek) - I think I would have a melt-down since I have to wear shorts and skirts! I have hot flashes and now can TOTALLY understand these women going through menopause!!!!!

We are NOT ready for the baby yet, as Sam's room still needs to be painted and decorated. We have a theme: Planes, but that's about it! I hit a 'nesting' wall last weekend, and we went and bought a bunch of stuff we will need for the baby. I also got Sam some fall clothes once I walked outside the other morning and it was COLD... my baby only has shorts and t-shirts that fit!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!!!! Still have LOTS to do! I will post pictures of Sam's new room as we get it going - the vision in my head is incredibly cute... we'll see about the execution!!!! =)

As for Jake, he is just fine as long as he is in my tummy. We have found out through MANY MANY different doctor visits that he has three heart defects. Of course, we were (are) in shock, and have shed many many tears through this whole process, but, the good news is that it is fixable/repairable, and he will have a normal life once he gets through surgery - baring any complications. He will have to make yearly visits (once we get to that point) to the cardiologist for the rest of his life, but should otherwise be a normal little boy. It should only take one surgery to correct the defects, and we know in advance, so those are both huge blessings! Another huge blessing is Lyndsey Piland. She works at Children's where Jake's surgery will be, and will be in the Cardiac ICU where Jake will be recovering.

Obviously, our family and friends have been awesome! Especially my parents. Bless their hearts - they have literally dropped everything to be at our side. They're there to watch Sam during the NUMEROUS doctor visits and are at the doctor visits too. I just can't put into words just how much they have and are helping and just how LUCKY and BLESSED we are to have the best parents in the world! I really don't know what we would do without them!!!

The love we have felt from friends and other family has just overwhelmed us! God has been and IS so good to us. He has surrounded us by the right people at the right times, and is guiding us and giving us strength we didn't know we even possessed. We couldn't do this and make it through without our faith in Him.

I'm not going to lie... we have good days and we have bad days. I can be doing the simplest little thing and have a break-down. Other times, I feel like I can 'forget' about it and just try and be normal. I think Sundays are our hardest days - mainly because there are so many caring and loving people who just want to check-in on us and love on us... wouldn't have it any other way, though! Sam is an awesome distraction, since he has no clue, and is just his cute little self all the time!

We have created a 'Care Page' to update friends and family on Jake... his exact condition, doctor visits, and, eventually his birth and the long process of surgery - or the wait on surgery, and his recovery and all that stuff.

Here is the link to the page. You'll have to sign in. If you end up having to search for the page, you have to type the name exactly: LittleJakesHeart

http://www.carepages.com/ServeCarePage?cpn=LittleJakesHeart&seed=723705&ClusterNodeID=jb03&tlcx1=choa

We can't say thank you and we love you enough to our friends and family. I'll still use my blog to update on how we're doing, as the Care Page is more of an informational-type of page!

Look at me!

Look at me... two blogs in one week! I found some more pictures!!!

He's such a little ham!

Just like his Daddy... happiest when he's eating!

New games to play at Mimi and Pop Pop's!!!At least he has range!!!Mimi teaching Sam something new...See how fast he catches on?

Hee Hee Hee...And more to play with...
Bye, Bye!He's already driving too! They grow so fast! He LOVES the "Moo"... aka Mule!He's so sweet and thoughtful! And he loves his Mimi!

At last...

Well, I quit trying to promise anything until I was actually going to do it!!!! So, here are some new (well, July, Aug and Sept) pictures of Sam!

He is growing like a weed, and he repeats everything we say! He is so adorably cute that I just can't ever seem to get over it! We laugh at/with him ALL the time! Just the other night, BJ was watching Clemson beat Florida State, and he got excited after they scored. Sam got excited too and started pumping his fists and jumping around - then he gave BJ a double high-five! He is just full of cute stuff like that!!!!!

He FINALLY started (somewhat) smiling for the camera a month or so ago!

And posing...When it gets quiet for longer than, oh, say TWO seconds, I know it's time to go see what he's up to... here is what I found - yes, he's in a fish bowl, and he, obviously, thinks it's SO FUN!And that it's a game to get in and out!!!!Daddy's little helper. I didn't get back with the camera quite in time to get him squatting next to BJ REALLY observing what he was doing!Push faster, Daddy!

Always up to no good!Sam loves his big doggie... he is always picking it up and carrying it around!Too bad it used to be Stormie's "safe place"!!!!!! This is Stormie during Sam's nap!!!!!

We like cream cheese now, can you tell?First of all, Sam has to have his milk (Moke) and water on hand at all times; second, I pulled out mine and Bo's little table, and Sam absolutely loves it! He's such a big boy with his milk, water and Cheerios (Chose) at the table!!! What a little ham he is!!!!
Looks are DEFINITELY deceiving right here. It would appear that he is quietly reading a book at his table, but, in reality, he is about to stand in the chair and try to climb on the table - then start running to get into something else!!!!I don't know when/how he learned this, but opening presents is no longer an obstacle!And the best part of the gift... the box!And he is so creative!!!! =)

Stuff Mommy's don't want to forget...

Sam is growing SO FAST... and he's talking SO MUCH... and he's doing SO MUCH!!!! I just don't want to forget all of his little idiosyncrasies, so I am putting it all on 'paper'!!!!

• At first, everything was a doooooooog or a baaaaaaaaalllll... but now, there are a lot of words in his repertoire!
• Boon=Balloon
• Kee/Tee=Key (when he's looking at a key!)
• Mock=Milk
• Hot=Hat or Hot... whichever applies!
• Nana or NANA=Banana
• Chose=Cheerios
• Wah or Wahter=Water
• BiTe=Bite or Bike... whichever applies!
• BoaT=Boat
• Chee or Tea=Cheese
• Bree=Bread (both are major staples in Sam's diet these days!)
• Bock=Box or Book... whichever applies!
• Po=Pillow
• Hone=Phone
• Oooee or who=shoe (our fault for always telling his feet and shoes are SHEWEEE!)
• Bobo=4-wheeler (I dunno!)
• Mama is also "MY mama"
• Dada is "MY dada" sometimes too
• Rock=Rocky
• DoG or DoGGee=Stormie (LOVES his Dogee!)
• Dog Gone=All Gone
• Gaw Gone=Gone Gone (always with the arms out and hands up!)
• Pane=Plane (usually accompanied by Bo - b/c he flies a plane)
• Tee=Tree
• Toes=Toes or fingers
• Pie=Paci
• Nack=Snack (usually followed by the yelling of NANA!!!!)
• Boon=Spoon
• Nee Yot=Need Out (good thing he already knows what he NEEDS!)
• MeMee=Mimi
• Pop=Pop Pop
• BeeBee=Baby (usually accompanied by lifting my shirt or looking at a picture of himself!)
• Uh Oh= Uh Oh!!!!! And it's true!!!
• OOOn=On (used most as we're getting in the car b/c he wants his DVD player on)
• Licht=Light
• Toes=Toes
• Eye=Eye or Ice (whichever applies!)
• Hi and Bye Bye are usually accompanied by the pageant wave... SO CUTE!!!
• Dog can be a dog, Elmo, cow, pig, bear, frog... you get the picture
• Bo=everything else when he doesn't know what else to say!

He says sentences in his own language, but I can't yet make out what he's saying except for a word here and there... this kid is FOREVER talking, but I absolutely LOVE hearing his little voice!!!

I have some funny pictures to post, so I am going right now to the Sony site to order that darn cable that I have lost and hoped would show back up, but hasn't!!!!!

Farm Life

First thing's first... our newest little addition is a BOY!!!!!! Absolutely NO QUESTION there!!!! As of this week, we like 'Jacob Robert' for his name... and we'll call him Jake. We'll see if this sticks! Right now, I'm so tired of thinking of names that this one is just perfect!!!!

We have been at the farm for the past 5 days "camping"... yes, you heard me - pregnant, with a 15-month-old, and camping!!!! We bought a travel trailer last week, picked it up on Friday and hauled it out to the farm to 'break her in'!!!!!! Here's a link to the factory site in case you're just not able to picture what in the world I'm talking about!!!!

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/floorplanview.asp?name=83&page=wood&series=LETTrailers

It has a tub that's perfect for bathing Sam, and bunk beds for when the boys get older, a kitchen, dinette, a living room, and a queen sized bed!!!! Just perfect for our little family!

It was SO MUCH FUN!!!! Mama and Daddy were there in their motor home, and Bo was there with Jenn in his camper! We had great food, LOTS to do, and the time just flew by!!!!

Memories:

• BJ backing a 31-foot trailer for the first time with 5 1/2 spectators... he did a great job, and he's a VERY good driver! Kudos for the Tahoe that wasn't even squatting under the weight! Glad we got a "truck" SUV instead of something smaller!!!!
• What a great sense of accomplishment for the men to realize that we actually HAVE filled up this 8,000 square-foot barn they built!
• Trailblazing is no problem with three men, a chain saw, a machete, big tweezers, and a woman to tell them where to cut and to mark the trail!
• We now have trails pretty much covering the perimeter of the 100 acres!!!! It's VERY cool to be able to ride on them!
• The ghetto-fabulous pool is wonderful when the swamp butt is just too much to bear!!!!
• Sam had absolutely NO schedule, and, with all the entertainment, it really didn't matter. When we were ready for him to sleep, we would fire up the mule and take him for a short ride... did the trick every time! I need one of those at home!!!!
• Sam loved riding the 4-wheelers, the mule, the tractor... it didn't matter!!!
• But, MAN, is he Pop Pop's little buddy! Pop Pop couldn't go anywhere without him! And if he tried, Sam cried and ran after him!!!! Daddy can't stand to hear him cry, so Sam was always right beside him or on his hip!
• The food was always great, but trying to find leftovers between three refrigerators and kitchens was a bit of a challenge!!!!
• I have a super bruise on my butt from bouncing across the field on the back of Mama's 4-wheeler!!!!!
• Jenn has 4 yellow jacket stings on her from 4-wheelin over their nest!!!! Never fear, Bo and Daddy went back and sprayed them... and hopefully killed them!!! We're lucky it was only 4 stings... 4 Benadryl later (and a nap =), she was good to go again!
• My belly has some bad heat rash... itches like crazy!!!
• Stormie ate rat poison! Obviously not enough to hurt her, thank goodness!!!! It was one of those blocks, and Mama saw her chewing on something, so she went and checked it out. She freaked out and hollered at BJ (I was off on the 4-wheeler), who proceeded to stick his finger down her throat to induce vomit (he's such a good daddy); Mama found the package and read NOT to induce vomiting, so they fed her bread and made her drink water! All the while, mama was telling BJ that "Tammy can't handle this right now!" BJ broke the news slowly and calmly, and Stormie is just fine. Mama caught her early, and she was just shredding the block and not really eating it... thank goodness!!!! Nope, she's not the brightest bulb in the pack!!!
• And who can forget Milo and Otis??? We left Rocky and Stormie in the barn while we all went 4-wheelin. BJ and I came around the trail nearest the barn to find Rocky leading Stormie up the trail towards the pasture... they looked like Milo and Otis in Homeward Bound!!!! Except they were going the wrong way!!!! Rocky was probably about to ditch Stormie!!!!

I guess that about sums it up... I'll add more if I think of them, and I'll definitely add pictures to this post when I get them from mama... I still can't find my stupid camera cord to download pictures, so we just used Mama and Jenn's cameras!!!!!!

Hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th!!!!

Update by Pictures

I haven't forgotten... I have put some updated pictures of our little man on here... finally!

I am feeling good - getting bigger by the day it feels like! BJ and I went to youth camp in Panama City last week - I started swelling in my legs and about had a emotional breakdown! Turns out it was probably just the food, late hours, minimal sleep and sun! Lesson learned! Sam was at Mama and Daddy's keeping them PRETTY busy!

He's just at that stage where he is ALL OVER the place, but doesn't exactly listen unless you have a hand on him pulling him away or whatever is required to distract him! All that said, he amazes me everyday! He will repeat words we say, and actions we do... so cute! He smiles and laughs ALL the time! But when he's fussy, watch out... he's making up for the extremely happy baby he is!!!

Here are a couple of pictures from his party... he ATE so much of his cake!

Here's the pretty cake!And he loves to help us when we go into the fridge... sometimes you can't even see him! Well, he really likes to help no matter where we go!!!He knows where to find his Goldfish too!!!This is Bo's $75 jet ski I was talking about! Isn't it a beaut???

And it fell off the back of the mule as they were driving it back up to the garage! Funny, because no one cared... we (they) just put it back on and kept going! Jennifer was letting us know that it wasn't her fault!!! =)

Everyone rode it, but, my blog, my picture! Preggy showed them all how to do it!!! =)Except Sam, he wasn't so keen on getting on this thing! (No, we didn't even put him in the water!!!)Isn't this ghetto-fabulous? Who says you have to make more than one trip???

Sam's starting early - talking on the phone while driving!!!And he's trick-riding already!!!! But he's really safe... keeps both hands on the wheel at all times - well, most of the time!Can't stop playing... even for milk!!!! There's no reason when you can drink and drive!!!

Playing is such hard work!Sam and Kaden at the park! What a difference 6 months makes!!! Kaden is sitting quietly until Mommy decides to get him out... Sam is ready to go run and find something much dirtier to get into!And here's Sam showing Kaden how to really PLAY with his cool toys! They actually sat there and stared at each other for a little while... it was so cute!And here's Sam's first escapade in the pool! He loved his boat!Really, he did!!!
Sprinkler water is just a TAD BIT cold for Sam...

So Mimi had to show him how it's done!And off we go to play in the yard with Rocky!This is the grin that says, "I know I am not supposed to be doing this, but I'm going to do it anyway!!!"This is the perfect speed for his car... he doesn't like to be far from someone or for us to use the remote to drive him!!! YET!!!!Sam's favorite place to play... on the hearth!!!!And he sleeps... but not for long, the flash woke him up!!!! But isn't he sweet????

So now you can see where the time goes! Nap time is 1-3 hours a day, but that's shower and get stuff done time for me now... no more 2-3 naps a day for us!!!! I still love every minute of it, though! But, I won't lie, breaks are nice! You know you have a hectic life when youth camp with 200 teenagers is a "break" to you!!!!