our "water rat"

Darren has been loving swimming this summer. Which really isn't much of a surprise because he has always been a water baby. This summer he has discovered his love of the floaties. He was in the pool once with them. Dan and him were swimming, got out to jump back in. Dan jumped and before any of us could react he was in the pool right after Dan. He went under, Dan was able to grab him right away, Darren said "Don't help me Daddy" so Dan stopped. Darren then doggy paddled over to the ladder climbed out and did it all over again. It was like a switch went on in him and he just figured out how to swim on his own. For a moment I was sad because it made me realize just how fast he is growing up. But then again it is a lot of fun to swim with him! Here are a few pictures from our recent trip to the pool.
After all that swimming the boys were tired! It was such a great day! We have renamed Darren our little "water rat". Dan asked him if he was a water rat. Darren said "Nope, my name Darren." Kids can say the funniest things.

its all about Me

Well this week I remembered what it is like to just be myself again. Yes I am still a mom and a wife, but this week I had time for me. To do what I wanted to eat what I wanted and to be lazy when I wanted.

As most of you know Dan is working out of town. Yes we are doing that again. This job will not take nearly as long, but still being pregnant and taking care of a 2 1/2 year old all by myself is madness. But we get through knowing the light is at the end of the tunnel. This week was different. Uncle Randy and Aunt Amanda took Darren and their niece Kaitlynn for the whole week. And Dan is working out of town. That means I got to just be me this week.

Monday was a little weird not having anyone but me to get ready for the day. I ordered pizza and bread sticks from Pizza Hut, which I only ate one piece of pizza and two bread sticks but I was able to order the toppings I wanted. Then Tuesday I had a half day, and cleaned like a mad lady. Then I warmed up some left over pizza and fell asleep on the couch watching Twilight, a movie I wanted to watch. Then Wednesday night I didn't feel guilty about hanging out with the volleyball team for a little too long after the game was over. Tonight a friend and I went for the longest walk in history, and it felt great! It took us over an hour. But it was great to catch up and vent and laugh. I didn't have to worry about Darren being antsy in his stroller or it being past his bed time.

So here's to a week of being me!

New Addition

Dan, Darren and I are excited to announce that we are adding another little bundle of joy into the family! My due date is December 22nd. However my C-Section will be scheduled for the second week in December.

I am very excited to be pregnant again. After all the crazyness that happened when I was pregnant with Darren, I am just hoping for a happy and healthy 9 months. And So far so good, not a signal complaint. Other than the fact that nothing ever sounds good to eat. I have so many aversions this time around, and even one day I couldn't keep anything down. That really sucked.

Just recently had my 12 week check up, Dan was able to make it to hear the heart beat for the first time and his mom joined us too. She was super excited to come with me since I didn't think Dan would make it home on time. The doc started to listen to the heartbeat he goes, so you hear two heartbeats and we all just about passed out. The doc then went on to explain that the slow beat is mommy and the fast one is baby. Dan said, " Ok doc there is just one baby right?" He laughed and said yes just one baby. We all let out a slow sigh of re-leaf. Baby was at a healthy rate of 165 beats per minute.

Darren was really excited at first, he would come up and rub my belly and say,"Baby in mommy's tummy." He is really excited to be a big brother, we would ask if he wanted a brother or sister, and without hesitation he would say sister. Then last Friday when I picked him up from daycare, Sue was asking how I was feeling and we had a small chat about the new little one and how Darren was feeling about it. So I asked him if he wanted a brother of sister he said, "Ummm, no thanks." So that has been his answer lately. I think he is starting to realize he won't have mom and dad all to himself anymore. So I am glad we started the preparations early.

Any advice on preparing Darren for his new sibling is welcome!

Most Likely Moving

Well the referendum didn't pass. Where are we going to move? Most likely over to Appleton. Yes I know that they have made cuts too but at least there is more than just ONE high school.
Easter was good, but the weekend was busy and it went really fast. Darren loved hunting for Easter eggs. He also loves the new basketball hoop that was given to him. Loves it!Here are some pictures from Easter.

coming home

I know this is said, but every time I come home for a visit it just isn't enought time. I have so many people I want to see and places that I want to go because Point have nothing. I am completely exhausted, and still didn't do much of what I wanted to do.

Most of you know that I was born and raised in booming metropolis of Appleton WI. There is just so much more to do in this town, well at least in comparison to Stevens Point. First and most important in my book the mall! Shopping, especially for someone who dresses in the same dress cloths week in and week out. Stevens Point in the past couple of years just got a Kohl's, which don't get me wrong is pretty awesome. But I wouldn't plan on finding much there since it is one of the only places to shop in town it is usually VERY picked over. Then there two other stores in which I like to shop at, which again are always so picked over! I can never find my size or anything professional enough for my profession. Grrr

Second, things to do with Darren. In Appleton there is a building downtown dedicated to kids and learning. Also this place called Monkey Joe's, which is all giant blow-up mazes and jumps and slides. This is where we took Darren today and he is completely worn out tonight. Stevens Point has a over priced and crappy Children's Museum. In the winter there are not many places to take kids to let them burn off constructive energy. And thanks to the full moon this week(at least that is what I am blaming it on) Darren has more then enough!

Third, my family. I don't feel like I need to elaborate on that.

some cute-ness

Darren is much like his father in that he is just plan funny. He makes me laugh everyday. Dan and Darren have come to enjoy a piece of pecan pie together almost ever night. Dan has become the expert on Pecan pie, he pretty much has to have one on hand at all times. Darren gets so over the top excited, I tried to catch him on camera doing his pecan song.
He also has other quirks like when he gets up on the changing table he just kicks back to relax. Like this...
Every time he puts these glasses on he makes us take a picture of him.


And his smile is so bright, just seeing that when I get home from work everyday makes even the worst of days that much better! He isn't the greatest at the fake smiling yet but I think you get the picture.

From here...

Sometimes I feel like I have no idea where to go from here.  I have a good job, a nice house(small but nice) and a wonderful family.  I am truly happy in Stevens Point, Wisconsin.  I just sometimes wonder what else is out there for me and my family.  Maybe it is just a little cabin fever, being stuck in the house since the end of October.  I try to get out and go work out at the YMCA, Darren always loves going to play with his friends there.  But it just isn't the same as getting out and going for a run in the summer.

Now that I think about this a little more I start to feel like this ever winter about this time.  I think about the awesome farmers market downtown on Saturday mornings.  Feeding the ducks down by the river, listening to the city band play as we do it.  Chasing Darren around the most fun park I have seen.  Swimming at the pool at Jan and Dave's house. 

OK well for now I will chalk it up as cabin fever. But I will say summer could come early, and it wouldn't hurt mother nature too terribly.