The Name Game

Well, now at 22 weeks, I have decided that I am ready to start thinking about names for the baby. When we were picking out names for Alex and Jenna, a friend of ours had let us borrow a book. Rather than asking for the book back, again, we went out to Barnes and Noble and bought our own baby name book. I tried using the Internet, but nothing compares to sinking into the couch with a pen and paper and looking at all the names we could choose for our baby. So, I have made my first list for boys, which must be compared to Joe's list and then whittled down several times. I won't share any just yet as neither Joe nor I have fallen in love with any of the names. I am now working on my girl's names and although I am already on the "M"'s, the list is very short. Oh, and our decision to name our first two kids was not a conscious one based on our own initials. It just worked out that way, so don't expect an "A" or a "J" name. If it happens, it happens by chance and not on purpose. I'm not sure if Joe has begun his girl's list yet. But all this talk of baby names has sparked the interest of Alex and Jenna. They have arrived at their own lists and I am so very glad that the decision is NOT theirs. Alex's list is for boys only and include Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Darth Sidious, Jayden Core (his favorite character from a Star Wars computer game - I actually really do like Jayden and it is on my list, just not Core for a middle name), Emperor, Mace, and I think Yoda was mentioned also. Do you sense a Star Wars theme here? (Use the force!) Jenna's list was much smaller and in her mind, gender neutral. Her number one choice is Ben 10. Not just Ben, but Ben 10 - her current favorite obsession. Then she said Ariel for a girl or Eric for a boy (Little Mermaid), followed by Chad Vader. Have you seen these mini-movies on the Internet? They are totally inappropriate for my kids, but thanks to Dad on a Mom's night out, Alex and Jenna were introduced to Chad Vader and have fallen in love with them. Joe has told them they are not to repeat anything they hear on a Chad Vader movie - so that should tell you something. Anyway, I think you can see from their choices why I am glad that the kids are not choosing the baby's name. Then again, on Joe's list for boys is his traditional Scottish fave - Hamish. Hmm, will we ever get this baby named?

It's Official

Alex is now officially registered for kindergarten. The meeting was at the school last night and I wasn't prepared for it at all. I had believed it was an informational meeting, telling parents things they can do to get their child ready for kindergarten, and that the paper work would be handed out, but would be turned in during registration week in August. No. That wasn't the case. Some of the paper work had to be turned in that night. I had no phone numbers with me for doctors or emergency contacts. I hadn't really decided on half-day or full-day. I just wasn't ready for it all. Then, the meeting began and I was thrown by some of the information. The first blow hit me when they said school would begin around the 15th of August. That's the middle of August, not the end of August as I had it in my mind for school beginning. It hit me that I would NOT have a full summer with Alex this year. I would NOT have almost two full months after the baby is born to help Alex adjust to that huge life change before embarking on another. The second blow hit when they said that on the first day of school I am allowed to walk Alex to the door of the building but that they do NOT want parents coming into the building and taking their child to the classroom. I knew that day would come, but not the FIRST day. Pregnancy hormones don't help, as I felt the tears come to my eyes just thinking about Alex beginning the next phase of his life. A phase more and more independent of me. There is no more I can do now. I've already held him back, it's time for this next phase. It's just such a long day. He will be gone from 8:15am when I drop him off to 3:20pm when I pick him up. I just hope that I can prepare myself over the next 6 months for this change. I think a lot of tissue will be needed for that day.

Snow Play

Yay! I finally have access to some of my pictures again (computer died, long story, sore subject with Joe and his lack of progress in restoring my access to our pictures). ANYWAY, these are some pictures of us playing after our big snowfall in the beginning of February. We got a bit over 12 inches and took full advantage of it! Joe and I rediscovered how much fun it was to get in the snow!! Joe built the fort and I built the snowman. Where were the kids that were supposed to be helping us? Making snow angels, pulling down icicles, and waiting for us to finish so we could have a huge snowball fight. And, just to let you know, that is Joe's coat that I am wearing as my belly has outgrown my own winter coat. I was told, oh just wear one of your husbands coats, not a bad idea if your husband isn't a foot taller than you. Oh well, it got me out in the snow. I went back inside to start lunch before the kids started the snowball fight with Joe. At one point I looked out the window and saw Joe down on the ground with Jenna on top of his chest and Alex pounding snowballs at him. Poor guy. The day ended with the kids demolishing the fort in about 5 minutes. It was so much fun watching them taking running hits at it and then jumping up and down on the blocks of snow. I was supposed to have been cleaning inside that day. But who cares if the house went messy for another day if it meant I could make these memories with my family.

Stomach Flu update

OK, so I never got hit. I woke up Friday morning knowing that I had gotten a cold instead. Friday went well. No puking from anyone. Joe was back at work. Friday night, out of the blue, after one puke free day, Jenna wakes up at 10:30pm and projectile vomits four rounds - all over her bed, all over herself, all over me. Nasty. Saturday morning Joe is off to prompt care and spends the rest of the morning there. I clean up the previous night's aftermath, still feeling miserable with my cold. But, Jenna was back to normal. She just didn't want to eat and who could blame her. The rest of the family's stomachs are now returning to normal. Alex has caught my cold and is in the miserable stage, while I'm feeling better in that department. However, I have decided that my morning sickness has returned. What is making it worse now is this ever-so-active baby doing gymnastics! Not so much fun when you are feeling queasy and someone is doing somersaults in your stomach!! My only question, is there a way to safely douse your house in bleach?

Stomach Flu, Stomach Flu, How I Hate You!

The stomach flu has hit the Robeen household. Alex was the first victim and spent last Thursday night vomitting his entire dinner, afternoon snack, and part of his lunch (yep, in that order) up. I waited for Jenna to be struck next. Friday, Alex is better and the rest of us are fine. Saturday and Sunday pass, I am happy to think that it was only Alex. Monday, happiness gone, Alex gets hit AGAIN! This time the poor boy spent most of the day in the bathroom with it coming out the other end. It was the first time he has had this type of flu and he handled it well. By Tuesday he has recovered. Wednesday I wake up to find Joe lying on the bathroom floor. Next victim. He takes the day off of work. I throw up twice that morning, but decide it is pregnancy related (yes, I know. I am almost 20 weeks along!!!) Thursday, 1 AM, Jenna cries out and we don't reach her in time - vomit all over her bed. UGH!! She spends the rest of the day on the couch. Joe is better and heads back to work but I summon him home early because I feel horrible, I have more laundry than humanly possible to wash, especially when there is no laundry detergent, and poor Alex has been ignored all day. This morning, we all woke up feeling pretty good. I still have not officially gotten this stomach flu....yet. I think I have been feeling queasy and ill partly because of the pregnancy and partly because I think I'm going to get the flu, so I'm making myself feel ill. We have all been on the flu diet this week...gatorade, bananas, crackers, jell-o, sprite, chicken noodle soup. Today, I decided I was going to feel fine and eat like a normal person. So far, so good. Of course, because I have decided that I am fine and not sick, I'll probably wake up in the middle of the night with the stomach flu.