Happy Half-Birthday to Randy!

Yes, Randy finally has a birthday stocking. Maybe one of the reasons that I have rationalized putting off that project for so long is that Randy thinks that birthdays, let alone half-birthdays, are kind of silly. A holiday celebrating the fact that you didn't die is usually the kind of comment I get out of him in relation to his special day. (He knows better than to bring things like this up in regards to my birthdays, smart man.)

But I think I've finally broken him. After getting pampered with special meals and presents an extra day of the year, I think he might be getting the idea why most of us like birthday holidays. In any case, we love him very much, and think that he is a very special dad/husband worth celebrating.



These two have a very special friendship. Full of love . . .



. . . and block building . . .



. . . and giggles . . .



. . . and BASEBALL!



I think he's pretty okay too. My snuggle partner (yes Ben, in the middle of summer we still share a blanket--it's cozy!) . . .



. . . My love. Have a happy day!

Baby Brother has a Blanket . . .

. . . And a theme (elephants) . . .



. . . And blessing booties . . .



. . . but no name yet. Hey, ask Randy if he has looked over the list of names I have oh so carefully compiled for his review on the convenience of his ipod!

What to do when they won't let you do anything . . .

So I started contracting with this baby at around 16 weeks. This, I knew from previous experience, was not a good sign. This was particularly heartbreaking for me since I had been totally under the weather with crazy morning sickness since 5 weeks, and the drugs I had been taking just started helping when the contractions started. In any case, I have been extremely blessed with a lot of help--from my husband, mother-in-law and wonderful Mom who have helped lift a nineteen-month old that I am not supposed to be lifting, and allow me to stay off my feet as much as possible.

Which brought me to a new dilemma . . . how to spend my time. Joe lent me a Nintendo DS game which has helped ease the boredom. Wesley is of course an endless source of joy and entertainment. But still, when you sit on the same couch for weeks at a time, I have needed a variety of projects to keep my hands occupied and my mind from going completely berserk. So I've been playing catch-up from the time I was doing nothing more productive than throw up.

First priority (after a couple of baby presents I had to get done for sisters-in-law with new babies/babies on the way) was an afghan I had promised Randy for his birthday last year. No, not this past January, a year ago January. Ooops, sorry honey. Here is an up-close shot of the cable pattern:


With that done, I realized that Fathers' Day was two weeks away, and that I had promised my dad a pair of slippers *cough* last year. So I whipped them up, dubious as to how they would turn out. It was a pattern that required felting--which basically means you knit a huge version in 100% wool and then wash it in warm water until it shrinks to the appropriate size. Then the finished product is thick and stiff. Kind of a cool concept, but I had no idea if this would turn out to be a hit or a disaster. Randy, upon seeing the slippers pre-shrunk was betting on disaster. Here is a before photo, with one of my dad's regular slippers beside:


My wonderful, kind father was very generous in his praise of the finished product (sorry no picture. I assure you they did shrink to the appropriate size) so Randy had to eat his Andre-the-Giant comments he was making earlier in regards to my project.

Then I had a long weekend where I hadn't made it to the yarn shop (did make it to the hospital for some fun labor check-ups) and I had no projects. So my mom found some extra yarn from her stash and I whipped up some cute soap-sacks (kind of like a loofah that holds a bar of soap).

Next project: a monkey that I'm setting aside for either Wesley's birthday of Christmas. That's right--I'm thinking ahead to those post-baby months when I won't be doing anything but feed and change a little one! Here's the wee primate:




So now I'm on to projects for Baby Brother: an afghan, an elephant, and a blessing outfit.

And for Aunt Mandi who complains if she doesn't see one of these often enough, here is my Wesley . . .

(side note: the blanket he is holding is the product of bed-rest 1.0)

Wesley's First Game

About a month ago we took off for a Mariner's game with Grandpa Johnson. This was Wesley's first game . . . and he loved it!!!!



He had garlic fries and even some of Grandpa's hot dog, and he was in HEAVEN.



He and Grandpa are pretty good pals.



We all had a really good time--the Mariner's even won!

And a few more pictures I found on my camera that I couldn't resist sharing:

A house full of boys!

We got our ultrasound done last Thursday where we found out the gender of our new little munchkin. And . . . it's another boy! But with how cute the first one turned out, how could I wish for anything different?







Plus it will be so fun for them to have a friend so close in age. I am almost halfway through this pregnancy, and we are looking forward to meeting this little guy. He has been kicking like crazy, so I think we are going to have another little monkey coming!

So Maybe a Little Bit Dead . . .

This pregnancy has been difficult so far. I thought I was sick with Wesley--which I was--but this little one has really given me a fun time so far. Fun as in going to the emergency room after not being able to drink for two days fun. Not fun: nurses trying to insert an IV into veins that keep collapsing because you are dehydrated. And this was WITH zofran. Oi vey.

So I think we have finally found a combo of drugs that keeps me alive and out of the hospital. The only downside is, that when it gets bad I'm so sedated I totally miss my family by being in bed knocked out for days at a time. Luckily I haven't had to do that too often, and Zofran does help most of the time.

So there's my "doctor's note" for being an absentee blogger. I thought that while I was not throwing up I would post a few pictures of Wesley, and update you on what our little guy is up to these days.





Favorite toy: Noah's arc. He can play with those animals and that arc for hours.

Favorite book: Goodnight Gorilla. He knows his animals and loves to point them all out.

Favorite animal: His little monkey that we gave him in the hospital. He has to sleep with that monkey, and bring it out of the crib with him in the morning.

Favorite activity: Anything outside. He is an outside boy, and loves to go exploring. He likes to pick flowers, but doesn't like sticks on the path. Oh, and he likes ladybugs.

Favorite outfit: Anything with his cowboy hat.

We have really been blessed with this little guy. He has such a gentle spirit, loving and sweet. He gives the best cuddles and hugs. He is so obedient, and has recently started learning right and wrong. He likes to go up to something that is a "no-no" and point to it and then shake his head with a big grin on his face like, "I know I'm not supposed to do that!" He hasn't started to push boundaries yet (I know it's coming) but is getting more and more independent each day. He loves to play with his daddy, especially building legos and taking them apart. Recently he discovered Go-Gurt, and is a huge fan. But he is a picky little bird. He won't eat regular yogurt from the container, or spagettios if they aren't a certain brand. He'll eat pretty much all fruit, likes cheese, but from day to day it's anyone's gamble what else he'll acquiesce to eat. He is so easy right now--which is a blessing since I have been feeling so rotten. We are having so much fun having this little guy as our friend. We love hanging out as a family and playing when mommy feels up to it, or going on a drive somewhere together. We love to see him experiencing the world--he just eats it up. I think we are pretty in love with our little Wesley. What do you think?

So it's Been Awhile . . .

Here are a few things that we've been up to.




Wes is such a funny little guy. He now officially "toddles," and is very meticulous about certain things. Like picking every sock fuzzy out of his toes at night.



He knows he is cute, and likes to be funny and make us laugh. Classic example.




He loves his big boy silverware, and takes the cutest little bites with his fork and spoon.




He got the coolest rocking horse from my Dad for Christmas. He made it, and it is absolutely gorgeous.



When he sleeps, Wes is still my little angel baby. I still peek in at him at night before I go to sleep, to make sure he is tucked in. He snores . . . it is so cute.



The first Christmas where he was really involved, and he thought it was pretty cool.




He is the happiest, shiniest little guy. I love his cheesy grin.




Sleeping in his high chair. Way too much delicious Christmas food!





Our happy family. So happy, and the first one turned out so cute and so well, that we decided to add another one. Look for the new addition September of 2010.