Cake History

Yes, I committed to making my kids' birthday cakes from scratch... for the rest of their lives, I guess. It is a challenge I have put before me and I dare not go back...even in the face of nausea. I gave up making the cute cupcakes for his school this year, but I dare not relent on the Spiderman cake.

For the record, there will be no more Spiderman cakes. No matter how JLS begs in the future...no more! When I made this commitment, I started with Elmo. Easy enough. Then, I made a cow for JLS. It was pretty easy, but not as cute as the picture I followed. After that one I decided to stick with the formed cake pans.

The next birthday was Lightening McQueen. I thought it was rough. However, it was heaven compared to Spiderman.

And a basketball...like Elmo, you just can't go wrong with a ball of one color.In the end, after three hours of icing, Spiderman turned out OK. Lawzy, those webs and lines....not for an unsteady hand like mine. In fact, I carried it so carefully to the car and placed everything around it so neatly so it wouldn't get squished on its ride to the party. Then, JLS runs up and so proudly throws the Houston paper in the back of the burb. And it lands smack dab on the top of the cake. The HOUSTON paper...not a tiny little Bartlesville paper. He thought he was being so helpful. It was all in slow motion for me. I just couldn't stop it. At least I got a picture pre-paper episode. I recovered and it tasted delicious. The 5 year-olds didn't care one bit.

So, if you feel possessed and need a good form, I have the above to conquer your cake baking needs! You can borrow them anytime...especially Spiderman. I might even let you keep him.

Party Pooped!

JBS's birthday was on Friday. This meant school celebration Thursday, family dinner Friday and kid party Saturday. A three day event just about wiped us all out. But, JBS was in heaven for three days as the top dog and it was all worth it to see him so excited to be 5!

I had big plans for something clever for his school celebration. However, every time I sat down to make a grocery list, I got nauseated just thinking about cooking. So, at the last minute my own personal childhood dream was fulfilled. I ordered those cute Clown Cones from Baskin-Robbins for the class. They were a total hit. Even, the teachers ate one! Success. And I didn't lift a finger except to dial the phone.

The family party was a dinner of hamburgers, corn-on-the-cob and onion strings. Delish! I love a good kids meal. JBS was thrilled with all his gifts from grandparents and us. JLS and JBS both received a Camelbak and are so excited for the next family bike event. JBS received a Nintendo DS for Christmas and was SO excited when everyone gave him games for his birthday. The fact that he has already figured out those games completely amazes me.

This was my first year to relent to a kid party. In years past we have always had family and family was enough and JBS never cared. This year he did and I gave in. The actual birthday party was at our church. They have this really cool indoor playground called the Safari Stop. It was different than any party we had been invited to so far, so I decided to have it there. Little did I know it would be just what the doctor ordered. They planned and provided and did absolutely everything except the cake. Of course, I have my own hang-up on birthday cakes. I will show that to you tomorrow... I worked hard on that cake, but when we showed up the party room was decorated, pizza and drinks were ordered and served, she took notes on gifts, it was a dream come true, especially for a fragile preggo like myself.

A great time was had by all. Happy Birthday, JBS!

The Announcement

We are having a baby!

Hello, Friends! I really didn't mean to be sneaky at all about sharing our good news. I have just felt so bad that I haven't really been thinking clearly. I also assumed that by the time you are pregnant with #3, people often think, "Again?" Plus, I am still early, so prayers are still coveted!

We are thrilled, but right now I am so NAW-shuss that I don't think about much else besides getting through the day with my cute toots. JBS has been a complete angel. If I tell him my tummy hurts (the best way I know to explain it) he shows up with yogurt at my bedside telling me yogurt is good for my tummy. If he catches me throwing up, he says, "Mommy, stay there. I will bring you some water" and he shows up seconds later with a cup of water. He has been a precious little supporter...and absolutely dying for a baby sister. The minute he found out we were having a baby, he named the baby...."Sissy" for a girl and "Jeet" for a boy. I have the same questions as you on that one...

JLS knows there is a baby in my tummy and looks through my belly button on a daily basis to check in on it. The doctor already told me not to lift the boys, which has been a trial to explain. However, today when I offered to carry JLS to bed for naps he said, "No, Mommy, Baby!" And he walked himself to his room.

I have definitely improved from already visiting the hospital (on my anniversary, no less) for what turned out to be dehydration. I am the kind of sick that you can only measure on a weekly basis in hindsight. The daily improvement is so small. THIS is so new to me. I was a little sick with JBS, and I had ZERO sickness with JLS. Every pregnancy is different, that's for sure.

So, I found this cool, but a little creepy widget. I like it so I can show the boys what the baby looks like every week. You can keep up with us that way!

In closing, I must have left the kitchen abruptly last night. I was actually going to the foyer to pick up some balloons that were left from JBS's celebration. As I was leaving the kitchen, JLS said, "Mommy!" and I hear JBS tell him, "It's OK, JLS, she's just going to throw up. She'll be right back."

To which JLS replies, "Aye."

Six Years Ago

Babe and I were married in January of 2003. In March, I went to see my favorite doctor, Dr. Wenger, for a cold. While I was there, she told me I needed to have a baby. This was so unlike her, but she explained that with my history of surgeries (from Crohn's) and multiple potent drugs I had taken that it was almost guaranteed that I would have fertility problems. She said to get busy now, so when I was really ready to have a child, I could be ahead of the game knowing I was already having issues. I had no reason not to believe her, as many of my close friends were struggling through infertility. So, I told Babe, and with the justification that I was most definitely going to have issues, we moved forward in confidence.

A month later, I was "with child." What a blessing to be able to conceive so easily, but holy cow! If you had asked me just 4 months earlier at my wedding if I would be having a baby that soon, I would have laughed in your face. In fact, when Babe returned home from playing golf to hear me tell him we were going to have a baby. He rolled over on the couch and said something close to, "Whatever!" We were so not expecting this. Our plan was definitely not God's plan.

Even though I was twenty-eight, I remember staring in the mirror in disbelief telling myself that I was still a child and I couldn't be a mom. I was the baby of my family and I liked it that way!

The next few months turned into a whirlwind of activity. Another surprise occurred when we put Babe's house on the market, thinking it wouldn't sell. It sold the first week we had it on the market. We had nowhere even in mind to move and had to be out of that house in 30 days! The market in Tulsa was in a slump and very few houses were even for sale in the area we decided to look. Being nauseated and pregnant, the last thing in the world we wanted was to renovate another home. (We had just completed renovations on Babe's house.) So........ we bought a fixer-upper. That's about how our story goes.

After a disastrous closing with the previous owner, we almost walked away from the house, after we had moved in (without closing). Not sure where we would have "walked", but I was neurotic after living in a house for a month that wasn't ours, that needed to be completely renovated, and I couldn't raise an ax yet.

September thru December was so chaotic, I hardly remember it. We put in a new kitchen, added and changed plumbing, electricity, paint in every room, floors. That was only the beginning. However, by mid-December, I was large and in charge and was sick of workers invading my home...my home that I wanted to be nesting in. So, all work halted. Christmas Eve day, I was put on bed rest at my doctors appointment. Life was changing...quickly.

On January 22, we had gone to bed when I awoke to our dog, Toley, chasing a buzzing something under my bed. Did Babe hear it? Of course not. So, I got on all fours, and surprisingly without high-centering my 9 month pregnant belly, scooted under the bed to destroy the horsefly that was keeping me and Toley awake. I went to the restroom and returned to bed. However, I started feeling a little pain...and more pain and I was sure I was in labor. I told Babe. Once again, he rolled over with absolutely zero alarm. I was really only 38 weeks, so I shouldn't be having a baby, yet. After an hour of increasing pain, I got up, got ready and started to leave our room...without Babe. As I was walking out the door of our bedroom, Babe roused enough to ask where I was going. I said, "To the hospital!" Finally he got the picture. We arrived at the hospital by 1am and 9 1/2 very long hours later, JBS was ours.

He was a scrawny 5 pounds 13 ounces with zero fat on his long and lanky body. He looked like an alien. His newborn "going home" outfit fell off his shoulders. He was just so small. Within 2 months he tipped the scales and went from the <50%>100% in weight, height, and head circumference. My scrawny baby grew into a brute overnight. By 6 weeks he was eating rice and at 3 months he was inhaling baby food. His pediatrician said, "Feed that boy! He is hungry!" Before his 5th month, he had outgrown his carrier and was a permanent fixture on my hip. Everyone kept telling me by 2 years his growing will slow down. He grew and grew and we flew past 2 years. I was buying new clothes regularly every 3 months to accommodate his cute little creased body. As big as JBS was, he was the gentlest little guy and he rarely cried. He woke up giggling and lept in to my arms to snuggle every morning.

Just this year, we were granted a lapse in growth (and break in our checkbook).We have actually made it through a season without having to buy new clothes. Those precious jowls are gone and even though he loves to snuggle if its the wrong moment, or in front of the wrong person, he will wipe my kisses off his cheek. (sniff sniff)

My JBS is a big boy now. He can't wait to start Kindergarten and go to elementary school. The scary part is that I remember my kindergarten class like it was yesterday. I can still smell the room and see the colorful lockers and all the toys. I thought life took longer than this. For some reason as a child, it feels like I was driving around in first gear. As an adult, life is in 5th gear and revving for a 6th.

My first born is 5 today. JLS is 2 1/2, the little toot, and my third born is 8 weeks in utero.

Lord, please let the clock tick slowly...my babies are growing up too fast!

The Children's Museum

Babe had MLK day off this year, part of the new perks of working for a bank means we get bank holidays! Yeah! We decided to make a day of it and go to Houston to The Children's Museum and out to lunch. The boys had a blast. It was 2 1/2 fun-filled and completely overstimulating hours hopping from one exhibit to the next. They were in heaven.

JLS is obsessed with "pow's". He loves cows and the fact that this one could really be milked...God bless his little heart. I am certain it started beating double-time when JBS showed him how to milk it.

They had a mock HEB grocery store, which was so cute. All the kids were scurrying around with their baskets gathering pretend food to scan through the cash register. We did it over and over and over...until Babe made the executive decision to move on! It was so exciting to use a cash register...

Outside, which was easily enjoyable, was a waterworks display with all sorts of water exhibits. Wet and all, they loved it. JLS was the loudest child yelling, "Boat! Boat!" as he watched his boat travel through all the stops to get to the bottom of the exhibit.

There were lots of "big kid" science exhibits that will be loads of fun in years to come. For now, the boys were just entranced with all the bells and whistles...literally.

Here JLS is learning about force and how to pull himself up using the rope. That child is a scrapper. He may be skinny, but he can certainly pull his own body weight.

The boys were amazed at the "real" mustang they had in the museum. The hood was clear, so you could see through to the moving parts and they were actually allowed to "drive".

JLS is going to be my puzzle man. He was obsessed with this contraption. You use the cranks on either side to raise the blue square to the top without dropping the ball in a hole. This one was as big of a hit as the cash register.

Learning how wind can keep the ball afloat....

JBS, the quiet observer. When we first walked in the museum they had a machine made of bike chains. Each chain connected to another and when the crank was turned the entire wall of colorful chains moved each other. There were plastic frogs on the chains and colorful knick knacks that epitomize a children's museum display. When one of the chains was moved, it moved the leg of a metal Elvis. It was really cute. I said, "JBS, look at Elvis and how his leg moves." JBS asked, "Mommy, who is Elvis?" and I told him Elvis was a famous singer. To which he posed, "Mommy is Elvis the King of Rock and Roll?"

Why, yes, JBS, in fact he is. And where in the world did you hear that? Timing is everything. He certainly retained that information for the right time.

Meet the Klampits...

The weekend after New Year's Day was gorgeous in Houston. The weather was beautiful and warm and everyone in The Woodlands was out and about. We decided to take a bike ride to the YMCA to sign JBS up for soccer, have a picnic and ride home. Both boys were insistent upon riding their own bikes and not interested at all in riding in the bike cart. We huffed and puffed our way to the YMCA, several miles at least. It felt so good to be out and getting exercise in the middle of winter. All goals were accomplished. I signed JBS up for soccer while Babe and the boys played soccer and Frisbee in the fields and ate a picnic lunch.

We loaded up and headed back to the house for what looked to be, a good long afternoon nap by all. JLS was our first to get the thousand yard stare and load into the cart. Within a few minutes, JBS was right behind him. The rear view of Babe pulling the cart with two boys, plus two bikes draped over the cart was hilarious. I was laughing out loud when another biker rode past and said, "Boy that's a regular SUV!" Yes, we were the Klampits with everything we had piled in and on that bike cart.

These are the days!

The Merry-Go-Round

At The Woodlands Mall in the food court is a nice little merry-go-round. The boys marvel at it when we pass it and I always tell JBS, "Ick, there's germs everywhere on that thing." The thought of playing on the mall indoor playground packed with kids or hopping on the merry-go-round with all those snotty-nosed kids spells sleepless nights for me when my kids get sick. Selfish, yes. We have been known to eat in the mall food court before and I lather the kids up with Momspit before and after. You just can't be too safe!

When Grammy and Big Daddy were here over Christmas, Grammy and I "had" to hit a few stores and Big Daddy was in charge of his toots. They rode the trolley, walked the mall, and we found them in line for the merry-go-round. JLS was ecstatic. When I saw JBS standing to the side he said, "Mommy, there are germs all over that thing!" Of course, I tried to convince him to ride pulling out the Momspit. He wanted no part of the moving animals, he said he wanted to ride....the bench! Steady and cautious, I tell you. JBS didn't end up riding, but JLS was pleased as punch to be on the (work with me here) "Grrrrar!" as he held up his hands to make claws.

Thank goodness for Big Daddy. He doesn't care about germs. And, he loves that little JLS.

Who's the Boss?

JLS's speech has been improving each week. Even his teachers tell me how much more he is talking. That makes me so happy because I feel like that means he is gaining confidence in his words. However, his words aren't always words like we know words. He has this strange habit (and I am sure it is something developmental) of not completing his words. He will say, "ba" for "bath" and "mo" for "more." It's cute, but in May he will be three and I want him not to struggle with his speech so long that he knows he's different. He also uses his own "signs and sounds". For "tractor" he will imitate driving with his hands and make a "vrooooom" sound. One day he came to me and made a burping sound and said, "Bake." He can't say JBS's name yet. In other words with limited vocabulary he is still able to tattle on JBS and tell me he burped. The toot.

So, one day while we were out and about in the car, I was evidently telling JBS that he was not the boss. As precious and helpful as JBS is, that often goes to his head and he likes to start bossing JLS around about little things. After I firmly said, "JBS, you are not the boss," JLS quickly puts his hand on his chest and said, "Mommy, me bah."

Evidently everyone in this house thinks they are the boss. We'll see how that works out.

Max

JBS's granpa gave me money to buy something for the boys for Christmas. I took them to Barnes and Noble, thinking they would pick out something educational, like a book. However, JBS fell madly in love with a soft little Golden Retriever dog. He said, "Mommy, I just don't have anything soft to nuggle wif." The next minute JLS discovered the black lab puppy and ran across the store yelling, "Sally! Sally!" (not quite so articulately) Sally is Grammy and Big Daddy's Black Lab. We went in for something educational, we came out with 2 more stuffed beings that need a shelf to sit on. Lucky us.

I was working at the computer the next morning when JBS woke up. He came straight to me for his morning hugs and said, "Momma, you gotta say a pwayer for Max." (Max is the dog's name.) Of course, I inquired as to why I needed to add him to my prayer list. In the most serious of voices, JBS said, "He has been up all night throwing up." He told me that Max kept him up all night and then he had to clean it all up. "Boy, JBS, that sounds like you had a rough night." "Yep." "JBS, what made him so sick?" Without missing a beat he said, "Bad bone." He pursed his lips and tilted his head in only the way JBS can do when he is oh, so serious. "Mom, he ate people food and he just isn't supposed to do that."

For three days JBS woke up and told me how sick Max was. He just wasn't getting any better. I even gave him a chewable Pepto-Bismol. Grammy and Big Daddy were here by then and Grammy said, "JBS, it is time for that dog to be well." A miracle happened over night. The next day he was well. Praise the Lord!

This morning, JBS woke up and told me, "Mom, it has started all over again. Max threw up all last night."

Poor Max hasn't had a good day since he was rescued from Barnes and Noble and brought to a good home. Let's all keep him in our pwayers...

Meet John

For Christmas this year Santa Clause decided to give both my niece and nephew, Go-Go and G2, a hamster. That's TWO varmits in my sister's house...ick! (I dread the day of special animal requests.) However, G2 was so excited and named his hamster, Nut. Unfortunately for me, I will never get to meet Nut because he was mean and was returned to the pet store for someone else to adopt...

When they returned Nut, G2 picked out another hamster. Vin was talking to G2 about Nut on the ride home when G2 told Vin that the new hamster's name can't be Nut. Nut was the mean one, so this nice hamster needed a new name that didn't remind him of Nut. Vin agreed and told him to think of a new name. When he got home he said, "Mom, I know what I am going to call him." Vin listened expectantly when G2 said, "John." For those of you who know me, as crazy as it sounds, Babe's given name is John. We like to call him Babe, but his mom likes to call him John. Vin laughed and said, "OK, " secretly wondering if he was really naming his hamster after Babe. When they arrived home and told Paulie that the new hamster's name was John, Paulie asked how he spelled it. G2 looked at Vin and inquired, "Mom, how does John spell his name?" "J-O-H-N" So, J-O-H-N it is.

All this time, Babe had no idea he had an admirer in G2. Sweet and quiet G2 must look up to Babe for some reason. Enough that his hamster is now Babe's namesake. If you can only imagine how thrilled Babe was to discover so much.

Christmas Finale (I think!)

My parents arrived to the sultry heat on the 26th of December. It was as muggy as a summer day. The next day, of course, the temperatures dropped to the 30s. Welcome to Texas. I was so happy to see them, heat and all. Their coming was the only thing getting me through the holidays, having not gone home for the first time...ever!

The first gift JLS opened was this awesome football bank. He was so proud of it he immediately walked upstairs to him room and put it on his bedside table. JLS only speaks "ball". One of his greatest treasures that he received was from my mom. She found an old picture of my dad rounding a base when he played baseball. She had it blown up poster-sized and framed for JLS's room. I love it...he will too when he realized that man on his wall is Big Daddy! (Take note that it is the 26th and JLS is in T-shirt and shorts.)

This pic of JBS is representative of all the pics I took that didn't come out. JBS got a Nintendo DS and he is quite smitten. Mom gave Babe a few things, but the hi-light for Babe would be the new Sham-wows. (I drove off with his first one Mom gave him drying on the back of my car--oops! He wasn't happy with me...) Dad received the only thing he ever wanted. A gift card to a hunting supply store...be it Bass Pro, Cabela's...he doesn't care. He will hold on to that card for months until the perfect item comes to his head and only until then will he spend it.Mom and I gave each other...the same gift! I don't think this is the first time that has happened. It was an embroidered Oklahoma pillow. They are so cute. In fact, they will go on Penelope's Pitstop soon...
We received many wonderful gifts and we were truly blessed by family this Christmas. We are so grateful for Jesus and for the season of Christmas.

Now, it's time to move on!:)

Christmas as a Family

By Christmas Eve we were all alone. Babe's family left early in the week and we were having Christmas in Houston alone. While Babe treasure's being at his own house on Christmas, I treasure being around lots of family. Of course, I love being in my own home, but I sure missed the big family Christmas...this was my first Christmas EVER to not be at my parent's house. sniff sniff.

So Christmas Eve night we had dinner and went to church for Christmas Eve Service.

When we got home, we opened one present (the jammies) and prepared our cookies and hot chocolate for Santa. We also were careful to include carrot sticks for the reindeer. Christmas day, when we were playing outside (in the humidity) we even found the "butts" of the carrots in our garden. The reindeer must have eaten what they liked and disposed of the ends...hmmm.

Christmas morning was hilarious. JBS came in to our room about 7am after walking right past all the Santa goodies. JLS woke up about 7:30am and got in bed. When Babe and I decided to get out of bed I asked if anyone knew that Santa came last night. A light went off in their heads and they ran to the den to see their stockings...

Santa is going to make their wives very happy one day. The boys LOVE to cook, so they got a kitchen for Christmas. They absolutely love it. They are learning to cook cookies, enchila-la's, hamburgers. It's been a source of great entertainment.

The individual hits include JLS's airforce jet. Babe and I fall asleep every night hearing the music of the jet thru the monitor. Yes, JLS snuggles with his jet.

The only thing JBS wanted was a Transformer jet...and that is what he got. Thrilling...

Sweet JBS wanted to buy something special for JLS, so he bought him a remote-control tractor...vroom vroom.

Don't be disappointed. Christmas is still not over! We have one more celebration to discover.

The Event

After we opened Christmas presents and had Christmas dinner (that of which Babe was in charge) with Babe's immediate family, the rest of his family arrived Sunday. The extended family, mostly from Beaumont, arrived after church for the big event. The event that I had been cooking for for what felt like a month. I really wanted to try one of these slide shows, so I thought I would give a repeat performance of all the food. I hope you enjoy!(So, the slideshow is giving me a hard time. See the slideshow above.)

It was fun having everyone over, and I think everyone enjoyed being here, too. And the big announcement was made......AJ, Babe's sister is expecting her second child in August. What a great reason to gather the family! Here she is, the Momma-to-be!This is Babe's cousin, Laura, and her handsome new hubby, Steven. This is the wedding I attended in August after being up all night with the stomach bug.....my head spins thinking about it. I wish I was functioning better...

Gambo (Babe's mom) and Aunt Sally (her sister, Babe's aunt)...

KM and JBS sneaking food when no one was looking.

I remember my days at the Christmas "kid table". All I wanted was to sit at the "adult" table then and now I wish I could just sit at the "kid" table. And let my mom serve me, cut my food, carry me, wait on me hand and foot. Oh, those were the days...