Sweet Memories.

I've had some sweet moments with our little man lately..I'm thankful for these precious times.  

Last night, Noah woke up around 11:30 calling for Mama.  I'm not sure what was happening..I didn't really care..I just took the opportunity for some snuggle time with my boy.  After I sang to him and tried to lay him back down and he wouldn't go, I decided he could watch a bit of a movie with me.  So I turned on a movie and we snuggled, and while Noah was resting his little head on my belly, sweet Baby Duey was kicking Noah. First bonding moment?  Makes my heart so warm.  

Today we worked on making candy for our neighbors.  We made peanut butter buckeyes, and Noah's job was to place them on the cookie sheet.  He did a great job.  He gave his mama some confidence too; I gave him a bite of the filling and he promptly responded with "NUMMY!"  So stinking cute. 

To end our morning...our adventure became less super sweet and a little more nerve wracking.  Someone locked himself in Mama and Daddy's room.  Our locks are the kind where you twist the lock...so I called Brad in a panic and had to confess that Noah had locked him self in our room under my watch.  

GOOD JOB MAMA! 

When I called Brad, I was so at a loss for what to do I was laughing hysterically.  I couldn't control it.  It wasn't even funny to me, but I didn't know what to do.  I had my penlight out and was shining it in the hole and trying to figure out how to get it unlocked.  I kept asking Noah to try to unlock it.  No go! 

Thank goodness for Tom and Rose - Tom heard Brad on the phone with me and got ahold of Rose, and they had the perfect tool for our little man.  I think all in all it was only probably 30 minutes of him being locked in the room.  He did great...made a big ol' mess of the room.  I'm so grateful that Rose had the tool.  I was ready to call the police or the fire station :) but thankfully that was not needed!  

So our little adventurer is getting so big.  I'm just not sure what to do with him! :) I love it!  

So here's the thing.

My craving this pregnancy...donuts.  

ALL THE TIME.  

I don't just want them. I truly think I NEED them.  Today I had to stop and get gas on my way to a class where I would IN NO WAY be burning those donut calories off...but I bought three donuts.  THREE.  I ate every single one too before I even walked into class. (I had visions that I would bring 1 or 2 to class with me to munch on but no luck)

I then felt super proud of myself for eating chicken, carrots, and broccoli for lunch (which was quite delicious, actually, for hospital food). 

But my pride stopped there as I went grocery shopping when the class ended and bought myself a whole container of donut holes (I told myself Noah and I could have them as a special breakfast snack together- but who am I kidding? I don't let that kid have that much sugar- just his mama) 

So I'm a little concerned.  As the doctor gave me my lab slip yesterday morning for my glucose test.  I legitimately fear that this may not go well for me.  I mean the sweets I have been craving are just out of control.  With Noah I craved cupcakes..my coworkers could attest to that...LOTS of cupcakes..but that was kinda it on the sweets front.  This time..if it's sweet I want it.  (Salty too...I also bought chips and queso today at the store) 

I so wish I had the desire or the self control to be one of those pregnant women who really did only eat organic foods and took such great care of herself. 

Sweet baby inside of me..Mama is sorry.  Please don't come out craving donuts.  PLEASE. 

All this to say...Leah Gibson, your blog inspired me.  I told Brad I'm interested in trying to look into this whole gluten/wheat thing after the baby comes.  Let's be real here..it's not happening while I'm pregnant...I'm find it a victory to get a relatively healthy and quick meal on the table every night..so I'm not going to start any new crazy trend.  But please keep blogging about your adventures in this..I'm kinda interested in learning more, and I'm really just not a researcher.

In other news..Noah is hilarious. All the time.  That boy cracks me up.  I LOVE it.  He truly is the best gift we have EVER been blessed with in our life.  I find myself getting tearful sometimes just thinking of how life is going to change for us when he's not our only kiddo anymore.  But the kid is awesome.

Also, I go back and forth every day it seems on whether I think Duey is a boy or girl.  This week I'm back to boy..but as I was looking at baby girl onesies today I almost cried (not an exaggeration I cry easily when pregnant) and got all silly over the fact that this could be a girl.  Praise the Lord, my fears are beginning to subside over the girl thing. Laura S. I would love to get your email to see how you are handling all this with your 2 almost 3 precious little ladies- I've been meaning to comment after yours and keep forgetting! 

That's it for now.  Relaxing now after a fun night of candy making for the neighbors and coworkers with the sweet hubs.  He rocks.  Have a great week!

Just a note

Baby is riding LOW this time.  

Low Rider.  I think that's what I'll call the baby now...just joshin' I'm sticking with Duey.  But still.

I feel like when I sit down it's much tougher to get up than it should be..my belly is big but not that big. Plus I have to use the ladies room.. CONSTANTLY.   TMI?  Sorry. 

I'm not uncomfortable..it's just strange how different each time can be. 

It's funny because last time with sweet Noah I felt like I couldn't breathe when I sat down..this time around I breathe just fine, so I'm thankful for that.  

I can't lie...it makes me suspect that sweet Duey is a girl.  

Also all the wives tales say it's a girl..except for like one - the Chinese Calendar says boy...it said boy with Noah too but I never knew that until this time around.  :) 

I promised the ladies in Austin that I try the drano trick.  Google that bad boy.  It's happening. But only when I can find some drano..because according to Mr. Dave Campise...the king plumber...drano is a terrible terrible thing.  So I hate to waste the money on a big ol' container that will ruin the pipes.  

All that to say..I still maintain I think our little nugget is a boy.  Brad is dead set little one is a girl.  Noah is indifferent.  I keep asking him and he looks at me like I'm crazy.  :) 

That's it for now..soon to come a play by play of our perfect weekend in Austin.  It was beautiful. Truth. 

Have a great night.  4 loads of clean laundry to be folded are calling my name...BOO.  

All at once.

We have a tendency to make changes all at once. 

This summer we decided to move across the country..and then found out we were pregnant.  Nothing like mixing two incredibly emotional changes together. 

This week.  

Brad is out of town for a whole week

I started my new job

Noah is going to daycare for the first time ever

This morning I was just a little high strung.  I got up super early and packed everything up because I was so afraid we would be late.  

(The daycare shares a parking lot with the hospital but I felt I needed to be 45 minutes early- just in case haha)

Work is going well.  I mean...it's all just classroom this week.  I keep comparing it to Heart Hospital.  I have to say...that's a little unfair to my new job.  I mean it's just a totally different ball game. The other nurses starting with me are very nice, one of them is also starting in ICU with me so that's nice.  

Yesterday I had a minor breakdown as I found out I was scheduled for both Thursday and Friday night this week, after having orientation M-W and then with Brad being out of town.  Thankfully, it was easily correctable...so I'm off the schedule for the unit until the 27th.  My breakdown lasted all of 45 seconds..and it was completely internal, but you know how I've talked about the ugly cry.  I had a moment where I thought "OH NO- WHAT DID I DO?!"  In 45 seconds my thought trail was something along the lines of this: 

I'm scheduled this week?

Why didn't they call me?

What would have happened if I didn't come up here today and clarify?

SERIOUSLY, why didn't they call me? 

I can't work those days...

How on earth will we figure this out? 

Wait- WHAT- I'm orienting on NIGHT SHIFT?

This isn't a night shift position.

RIGHT? 

Or is it? 

OH MY GOODNESS- did I take a nights position.?

No.  

No...they said it was both...

30 second pause for conversation with my supervisor something like the following:  

Our conversation was something like this in all of 30 seconds:

Me: "Oh I'm working this week?  Or are those going to be taken off since we're orienting?"

J: Oh no we'll just take you off of those.

Me: "Oh ok..and I'm orienting nights? This is a day and nights position right?

J: Oh yeah definitely, we just needed to get you on the schedule.

Me: Got it...I will orient days too?

J: Definitely. 

My brain: AMEN! Thank you. Rachael, seriously, breathe you big freak. 

P.S. I went back today to get it all figured out and the schedule ended up perfectly.  Seriously, I'm actually really excited about starting.  If only my brain could get it under control.  

Oh well.  Makes for entertaining thoughts. One more day of work and daycare.  WOOO .  

P.S. Sitting in a chair for 8 hours..while pregnant.  Just not that fun.  I think they may think I'm weird with as much as I reposition during those classes.  

What an awesome weekend.

Oh my goodness.  This weekend was wonderful.  I'm so thankful, especially because of the week we have ahead and all the craziness that this will mean. More on that later..let's talk about the sweet weekend!  

We have to first give a huge thank you to Mimi and Grandpa Bud for coming up and hanging with our precious boy so we could have some Mama/Daddy time with friends!  

This weekend we had our first Austin visitor and we were so pumped!! One of our dearest friends, Anish, headed up this way to hang with his cousins and us for the weekend.  It was fabulous.  We had deep dish pizza, saw the new Bond movie, and braved the cold wind and rain to watch the Bears/Texans play some football.  It was awesome! Noah joined us on Friday night for dinner, but Carl and Rosemary kept him both Saturday evening and Sunday evening so we could go up to the city.  It was so nice!  Here are some pics...

My man.  I just love him.

These two are besties. 

Watching the Aggies ruin Alabama's undefeated season.  We root for the Aggies in honor of our dear Aggie friends back in Texas.  

At the game again.  We loved our seats.  We sat with Tom, Rose, and Alex.  Even with the rain...it was a great experience.  I do wish the Bears could have had a better game..but being a Colts fan it was a short mourning period for me.  (Jackie, I hope poor Alex isn't sick...I think he may have been the wettest of all of us) 

Before the game..we were with quite a few Texans fans...they let us borrow the flag but made me cover up my Bears gear.  

In honor of Veterans day..

In other news..because I'm in a picture mood (and a shout out mood) shout out to Rox and Jake!  Thanks guys for getting our dresser for us!  Rox is my go to girl on where to get the best deals..she filled me in on these online garage sale sites that she checks all the time and gets great deals. So I decided to join them and see what was in store.  Then BAM I found this beauty for 40 bucks on one of them (and Rox saw it for 35..so YAY I got it for 35) But of course it was the Indy group I joined..so those awesome Standeford's picked it up for us this weekend!  I'm so excited!  Seriously.  35 dollars.  Baby Duey now has his/her first item in our home! 

And finally..because this makes me giggle every single time.  Our son loves dogs..and this one in particular, though I'm not sure Gracie feels the same way.  Last week we were able to spend some time with El and Rose on Tuesday afternoon and Noah was digging it when Rose was feeding Grace some snacks.  P.S. El I edited the medicine part...but it makes me laugh out loud every single time! 

Also p.s. have I mentioned that I love being closer to El and Rox, and walking through these second babies together.  Love you both.  I feel like the Lord really blessed me with your friendships..especially when I was hurting so much missing our loves in Texas! Excited we've been able to spend time together lately :) 

And finally...we are closing in on two weeks til Austin!  YAY!!!!  Can't wait to see you all.  

Late night ramblings...

P.S. I just looked at the clock after I titled this and realized it's only 11:30.  Brad's been down for at least an hour, Noah went to bed at 7:30 (more on that in a few).  So in my head it's like 3:00am but nope.  :)

Speaking of Noah going to bed at 7:30 - it was 9:15 before he fell asleep.  Someone gave him swedish fish a little before bedtime.  I don't know who did that.  Certainly is wasn't his mama trying to get him to get still and face time.  Definitely not his mama.  Or maybe it was.  Kid threw a P-A-R-T-Y in his crib tonight.  Oh well.  So cute.  Can't blame him right?

Assisting in the party atmosphere is the train that goes by our house like every 5 minutes at night time.  Brad looked at me earlier and said "Clearly whoever drives that train doesn't have kids."  I'm not kidding..so many trains on this fine evening.  I usually don't notice them but tonight they were making their presence known.  Brad went in to check on Noah at one point (he had managed to get his arm caught in his crib) and Brad said when he was leaving his room Noah was calling out "choo choo" 

Currently I am watching a movie and knitting a scarf, ya know and blogging.  (On the movie boggle (one of my favorite things) and knitting were both referenced in a cat-lady type of manner - nothing like being called out but I'm totally not a cat-lady) 

Speaking of knitting.  My scarf is a Bears scarf - orange and blue - I feel a little like a traitor as I am a MAJOR colts fan.  But we're going to the game on Sunday night in Chicago..and I refuse to be cold...and I happened to have some orange and blue yarn that was just hanging out not being used so a scarf it became.  

I'm working on being more frugal, using more of what we have available, being more resourceful with meals and things.  It's a fun and needed challenge.

Our first visitor from Austin gets in tomorrow.  We're so excited!!  We have Anish coming tomorrow, then we get to head to Austin in a few weeks, and then the Mullins come to Indiana.  YAY!!!!! I mean seriously it's like a whole month of greatness!  

That's about it.  Have a great night!

It's November. What.

I don't even know how that happened.  

Last week for Halloween sweet little man was a lion.  I wanted to be all creative and make his costume, but then my exhaustion won out...so we bought one.  Regardless...he was adorable.  He actually loved it.  He kept pointing to houses with lights on and saying "this this" "there there." He was loving it.  He tried to walk right on into a few of the houses, so I think we can say it was a success.  So stinking sweet.  After he was finished he was super cute dumping his candy out of his bucket and putting it back in over and over.  

The election is today.  I, for one, will be so thankful when the decision has been made.  Noah and I went and early voted - best decision ever.  It's hard to remember, but I've been working on telling myself, that regardless of what happens today absolutely nothing is outside of God's control.  He is sovereign.  No matter what the outcome today, it is not a surprise to Him.  Because of this, I can rest in the peace of knowing that while this country feels a little out of control, it's just not.  I know who rules this world.  I know Him, he's my Father, he's our creator, and he loves us.  So I'm trusting today...no matter the outcome.  

I start my job on Monday.  I'm feeling very excited and sad all at the same time.  I've missed using my mind for nursing...even just one day a week.  I've missed serving people this way.  I'm sad because I'll obviously miss our sweet little man..that's hard.  Also because Heart Hospital was the best job ever.  I'm really not exaggerating...I loved it.  So I"m really hoping to feel that way about this one.  

As I am starting my job on Monday, Noah starts daycare for the first time ever on Tuesday.  We've picked one that is right next door to the hospital and we both feel really good about it.  I'm so sad that he has to go to daycare, but I'm actually really excited for him to have some interaction with kiddos during the week, and some structured learning too.  Think it's going to be good!  

Sometimes my heart is ugly.  I feel like Brad gets the brunt of this.  I don't just feel this, I know this.  Here's a true confession for you, because if I put it here...maybe I'll the accountability will be good.  Since moving here, my discipline has really been lacking.  My relationship with Jesus seems to have been put on the back-burner which is ridiculous considering I have so very few things going on.  I have been so very convicted because I've been watching friends doing some really awesome things for Jesus.  My response to this usually tends to be a little extreme.  Something like "Brad seriously what are we doing with our lives? We're useless.  We need to be serving people.  Why are we such slackers?'  Seriously this goes on and on..and that's just not fair to Brad.  I know the problem.  The problem is me. My heart.  My laziness.  I don't have any big revelation...other than I'm asking the Lord to change my heart, and to help us get plugged in to serve.  Relying on Him, because I've clearly been trying other solutions and they aren't working. 

While we're on the confession thing...I am scared out of my mind to have a little girl.  Don't get me wrong..I will LOVE and ADORE and sweet baby girl.  I know that.  I'm just terrified.  Brad, my sweet and ever-level headed husband is of course not worried either way.  He's certain that no matter what we'll be just fine.  Sometimes I love that mindset of his, sometimes I think I may go crazy.  I have all these fears about how on earth I'll handle a little baby girl...not so much when she's a baby...later.  When she's a toddler and she wants to play beauty shop and she realizes her mama doesn't own any nail polish or makeup.  Or when she's a little bigger and realizes mama has no idea how to do her hair.  Or when she's a teenager and I'm trying to help her work through the pain of being a a teenage girl and realizes her mama never has the right words.  For some reason..those moments don't scare me as much with a boy...but I guess because I know what it's like to be a girl...I just want so badly to parent well.  I ache in my soul for our children to know Jesus..and to find their peace and identity in Him.  I ache to remember that it's not up to Brad and I.  We just have to do our best.  The Lord can handle it.  

Anyways..that's about it for now.