All posts by JB

Jake

Little One

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I suppose I should write a little something about little one.  It’s so hard to keep up with pregnancy posts while I have 2 toddlers to talk about.  Such is the life of the third child I guess.

I’m 18 weeks along already and have made the switch to maternity jeans.  I put my regular jeans on before church on Sunday and while yes I can still zip them up…I dont’ need to wear them anymore.  So comfy maternity pants it is!

5 short months from this week we will meet this little guy/girl.  Seems like the time is truly flying by this time.

I have felt little one move for many many weeks (probably since around week 11 or 12) but just this week I’m starting to feel movement every day.  That is my favorite part about being pregnant.  I love the little love taps that only he/she and I feel. 

As usual, I don’t really have anything fun to share except one thing.  I think I have my first pregnancy craving ever.  Toffee.  If someone places toffee anywhere near me I am incapable of not eating it.  And if it is homemade you can forget it.  My afternoon snack is often one dove dark chocolate.  This week I decided to change it up and buy some dark chocolate with toffee bits inside.  Every day this week I have eaten 4 or 5 of those suckers.  What is my problem??  Once I start I literally can’t stop.  If anyone wants to play a cruel joke on the large pregnant lady trying not to gain too much weight this time around…send me a huge bag of toffee. 

We have our 20 week sonogram on January 31st and I’m really praying for a healthy report.  As I get older with each pregnancy (duh) I get more and more nervous each time we have this sonogram.  I know I’m being dramatic, but I’m just hoping everything looks healthy for this little one.

*For the record I really don’t know if I think baby is a boy or a girl.  However, when I picture our family I always picture Little One being a girl.  Take that for what’s worth (which isn’t much).

Alison, Videos

Alison is 2!

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Oh my sweet, sassy little girl.  How are you already 2 years old?  First of all, your personality turned 2 about a week ago.  All of a sudden you went from my sweet compliant happy baby…to a toddler who loves to tell me ‘no’ (still with the sassy smile) and not give me kisses.  I can handle all of it, but you HAVE to stop holding out on the kisses!!!

You love your brother more than anything.  If Reed does it, you are definitely going to do it too.  This is not such a great thing for Mom and Dad since Reed is quite a punk.  You can also hold your own against him.  He plays pretty rough with you and you usually take it and then give him a swift kick in the leg…or bottom…or arm, really whatever is closest.  I don’t want you two to fight, but it is strangely making you love each other more.

You absolutely love to make us laugh.  You are into putting on Daddy’s hat and Mommy’s shoes (even the heels, yikes!) and walking around to make us laugh.  We need to take more video of your little voice and the funny things you say, because you.are.funny.  You also love to tell us when something is funny.  Everything is either ‘very’ hot, or ‘very’ cold or ‘very’ funny.  You love the word ‘very’.  Cracks me up.

Other than your brother I would have to say that Duke and Yaya are your favorite people.  You like to make a phone out of all sorts of things…shoes, blocks, toy phones, my phone, etc.  The person you ALWAYS call is Yaya.  After you talk to Yaya you always ask for Duke.

At the doctor on Friday we got your 2 year stats.  You are in the 40th percentile in both height and weight.  Still a skinny little 25 pounds, and 33 3/8 inches.  If the rule of thumb is right you will be around 5ft, 6in as a grownup.

You love Elmo and Pooh bear, and pink and purple.  Basically I think you just love to talk.  Anything you can identify and talk about you will do so.

You love anything with carbs and sugar.  Enjoy it now little one!  The only thing we have a hard time getting you to eat is vegetables.  You do a great job with meat and fruit and dairy and bread (of course).  I have to say your favorite food are probably scrambled eggs and ‘squishy’ yogurt.  It could be a whole lot worse…

You FINALLY sleep well.  You are trying to give up your afternoon nap, but we aren’t going to let that happen just yet.  Thankfully you sleep really well at night and wake up happy and sweet.

I’m afraid you really are ready to start potty training.  We need to find a long weekend that we can devote to being at home and then get started on that process.  Reed is your biggest cheerleader about potty training.  For whatever reason he really wants you to use the potty.

All in all…I love you little girl.  I was so nervous about having a girl after the crazy sisters I have (I was never the crazy one, just had to make sure that was clear!)  but you are truly a gift.  I can’t imagine my life without you and I dearly love watching you grow up.

Family, Holidays, Videos

Christmas

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Christmas was lovely.  Truly a wonderful day filled with WAY too many presents and lots of fun family time.  I won’t bore you with a bunch of commentary, all we really want to see are pictures, right?

**That first picture is of our family lighting the advent candle at church.  We were truly honored to be invited to perform such an important role in the Christmas advent season.  Thank you for offering this opportunity Pastor Laurinda.

*Reed was in 7th heaven when Mark took him out on stage to welcome the congregation to the 11:00 service.  I couldn’t wipe the smile off his face until nap time.

Family, Holidays

Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving was pretty unevenful for the Baldwins this year…except that we got to share the news of baby #3 with all of our family.  It was truly a gift to be able to share the news in person with most of our family in the same weekend.

Wednesday afternoon we loaded up the kids and headed for Victoria, TX.  Randy’s grandmother lives there and go to Victoria for either Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve every year.  It is about a 3 hour trip, so this year we decided to spring for a hotel room in Victoria Wednesday night to break up the driving.  And wow. It was a fantastic decision!!  We had a great day eating good food with family and playing outside.  It felt more like Easter weather than Thanksgiving weather, but I’m not complaining!

Saturday morning we had brunch with my grandmother and family while Randy went to the UTSA/SWT football game with his sisters.  We all had a great day.  Sunday was the end of the festivities and we spent it at Randy’s Aunt and Uncle’s house.  All around a great weekend.  Pictures are below.

Jake

Party of Five!!

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That’s right.  The Baldwin’s will be a party of 5 starting in June 2013.  We are both crazy excited and Reed is curious.  Not sure he is excited yet, but he definitely wants a brother and not a sister.  Alison has no idea what’s going on and that’s perfectly fine.  It is hard to believe that when Reed was Alison’s age I was in my third trimester and about to deliver.  I’m thankful for a little more space this time.

I am 8 weeks along and we have seen the heartbeat once and baby twice.  There is only one baby in there though…I really keep thinking I will get lucky and get twins, but not this time.

We are not going to find out the sex of the baby until his/her birthday.  The main reason for this is because I have c-sections.  Alison’s burth was a little anti-climactic for me since she was a scheduled c-section.  I knew she was a girl, I knew her name was Alison Michelle, I knew the date and even the time of her birthday.  While we were still in the hospital I told Randy that when we have a third baby I don’t want to find out the gender in advance.  So for all of you who hate people who don’t find out…SORRY!!!

Family, Holidays

Halloween!

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My mom had the brilliant idea of Reed and Alison dressing up as Hansel and Gretel for Halloween.  When my dad was a little boy his dad was in the military and they were stationed overseas.  He has an authentic German hat and mom just found it at my grandmother’s house.  This hat is awesome.  In great condition and over 50 years old.  We had to put it to good use.

Reed is a punk and always has been.  He does not want to do ANYTHING he doesn’t want to do.  (No idea where he gets that from.  Seriously).  Alison was so sweet to him and always tried to encourage him to wear his costume.  On Halloween night she even gave him her candy so he would wear the hat and take a picture.  My sweet girl…and my punky boy.  Here are a few pictures from the pumpkin patch as well as Halloween night.

Randy

Oh Rrrrrandy

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My sweet husband. I’m sorry, but this story is too funny not to share.

Saturday night we were playing in the street and Ali skinned her knee. To be fair, it looked like I would cry about it too.

We brought her in and threw her in the tub. She was screaming bloody murder even after we got her out and I was holding her. I ‘hastily’ barked at Randy to go get the frozen peas and carrots from the freezer. He started to ask a question and I ‘might have’ barked to just go.

About 2 or 3 minutes passed and I started yelling for him. I said ‘Husband! Where are you!!!’.

Randy comes around the corner with an opened bag of peas and carrots…and a bowl full of them that he had been heating in the microwave. He had a deer in headlights look because he was completely confused. I couldn’t help it. I busted out laughing histerically. I guess he didn’t know about using a bag of frozen vegetables for an ice pack.

We all got a pretty good laugh out of that one.  And Randy got an late evening snack of peas and carrots.

Reed

The Crocodile and the Soldiers

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The other night I was reading the Easter book to Reed (his choice of course). When we came to the page where the soldiers took Jesus away he gently put his little hand on my arm and said:

Mom, stop. When I become a crocodile I will BITE those soldiers and they will not hurt Jesus.

You can’t make this stuff up.

*as I was telling Randy this story he told me that the night before he had the same conversation with Reed during the Easter book. But this time Reed grew up to be a dragon and not a crocodile.

Family

Monday Kids

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We have a strange phenomenon in our house. Fridays are the worst day. By Friday afternoon both kids are done with it. They are done with school, they are done with morning, they are done with the weekly routine. If I’m honest, we are all like that…but the difference is that Randy and I get that the weekend is here so we can be happy still. Fridays are the worst. We basically just try to survive them. (The days Reed gets sent to the office are usually Fridays too.)
But Monday. Monday is the best day of the week in our house!

By Monday morning both kids are ready to get dressed and get to school. They both have great days at school, and then when we pick them up it is all smiles and ‘Mommy I love you’ and hugging each other. No joke. Every.single.Monday.

Last night was exceptionally awesome. Reed was over the top good. He helped Ali do everything, then he tried to help her to make good choices so she wouldn’t get in trouble at the dinner table. After dinner they both went on the back patio and played together. It was awesome. Then we went for a walk and Reed let Ali sit in his lap to ride in the blue car. (Mommy fail for not taking the camera with us!). To cap it all off, as I was putting Reed to bed he looked up at me, pulled me in for a kiss and said ‘Mommy, I love you’. Then he told me he was ready for bed. Who is this child…and can he come back another day??? Can everyday be a Monday???

Alison, Reed

Kid Update

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I apologize all the time that I don’t update the blog enough, so I’m going to stop apologizing every time I DO update. That’s just annoying.

Alison turned the ripe old age of 18 months 2 weeks ago. The next day she took me into the bathroom and went poop and pee on the potty. I might have freaked out a little. I am not ready for that yet. Then she woke me up at midnight to change her barely wet diaper. I am definitely NOT ready for that!! The next day at school she made her teachers take her to the potty. Good Lord. Thankfully, she hasn’t pushed it anymore since then. She’s just really whiney if she has poop in her diaper (and I can’t blame her for that!)

She is already learning about lady things. The other day she walked into the kitchen wearing her sun hat and my purse. If only my eyes could automatically take a picture every time something awesome happens…I didn’t get the picture.
My sweet little girl is turning into quite the sassy toddler. She is figuring out how to defend herself against her brother. I don’t want her to fight…but I am excited for her to stand up for herself. She is learning to bite and scratch…NOT a fan of that!! She brought Reed to tears yesterday from the bite she gave him. Yuck. Not ready for fighting.

Reed is turning into a big boy right before our eyes. He can now get completely dressed. And he can buckle himself into his car seat. And as proud as I am, I still love when he crawls into my lap to read a story, or for a quick cuddle.  He has the funniest sense of humor right now, and I really want to videotape him all the time.  He is at the fun age when sill things absolutely crack him up.  He has just discovered Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  There is one episode that Cubby says this pit of tar is ‘stinky’.  Reed almost fell off the couch from laughing so hard.  He asked me to rewind it so he could hear it again.  Love this age.  He also says the funniest things and I REALLY want to do a better job of writing those funny things down.  If someone calls him Reed Baldwin he will say ‘my name isn’t Reed Baldwin.  It’s Reed Banana-head-muffin’  and then he doesn’t laugh, because he is dead serious.  So I laugh.  Just cracks me up. 

Unfortunately Reed is becoming very physically aggressive. As much as we address the issue with him, we don’t seem to be getting through. He gets sent to the office once or twice a week for punching other kids. Even at home he is constantly punching things. I realize he is a boy and I have no experience with 3 year old boys…but I can’t have him become a bully or be the mean kid at school. Does anyone have any constructive advice for me? I have no idea how to teach him to control his impulses and how to teach him that attacking other kids, or me, or Alison is not the way to show your emotions.  Sorry to turn this update negative, but we just dont’ know what to do. Normally I would call my trusted pediatrician…but he isn’t here anymore to give me advice 🙁

All in all, the kids are growing and learning and turning into such sweet little people (aside from the violence issues.  I swear we don’t let them watch violence on tv and we aren’t violent people at all.)  Alison has this sweet little smile that melts my heart everytime, and when Reed puts his arm around Ali to protect her or spontaneously blows raspberries on her belly to make her laugh it fills my heart to overflowing.  I can’t imagine life getting better than it is right now!!!