And Her Name Is....

After much deliberation and discussion and countless veto's, we have decided on a name for the newest member of our family. She will be named....should I spill? Maybe we'll just wait until she is born. What? Me keep a secret, that is going to be SO hard! I doubt I'll make it, but Tom wants to. So I'm going to give it a try! It's a name we have thought about before but not one I've mentioned much.

Here's to me keeping a secret...I'm betting I'll spill!

P.S. The middle name is still up for debate

Couch Days

I hope all had a wonderful Valentine's Day with the ones that they love. Noelle really got into it this year and woke us up bright and early Saturday morning shouting, "Happy Valentine's Day!". Despite the early time we couldn't ask for a more sensational way to wake up.

I received a gorgeous bouquet of red roses from Tom. Of course, they were a gift for Noelle and I. She loved them and kept pointing out that her middle name and mine is Rose just like the flowers.

While Max was taking his morning nap Noelle and Tom took advantage of two heart shaped cake pans, buried way in the back of the cupboard. Chocolate Chip pan cookies are something Tom is very good at baking and we didn't want to risk him screwing any other recipe up.

Because Noelle has a inherited sweet tooth we frosted one of the heart cookies and let her go to town with red sprinkles.

We (really just me) have been very lazy lately. At a doctor's appointment last week I was put on "bed rest". The doctor told me that I should be on full bed rest but understands that I need to take care of Noelle and Max so it's really not an option for me. I have been on the couch as much as possible during the day and then when Tom gets home he forces me on it for the remainder of the evening. He has been wonderful about picking up my slack. Dishes, laundry, even basic clean up of toys are all things I'm not supposed to partake in. That leaves him a very long list of things to do after returning from a long day at work.

As I watch him rush around in the evenings tending to the children and doing all the housework, I have a heavy guilty feeling inside. I instinctively rise to get the children their needed paraphernalia and Tom gives me an annoyed look while I turn around to head back to the couch. I know that the baby needs me to rest. She needs at least two more weeks (that would put me at 35 weeks) inside me so that steroids will not have to be used to help lung development. It's tough. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

First Week In Feburary

Noelle's first (and most likely last) snowman of 2008/2009 winter:

This was Superbowl Sunday. Of course our day consisted of tending to the children. No parties like the younger crowds, or people that have friends. We played outside and the kids were in bed at 7:30pm and 8pm respectively. Then Tom and I watched the game together. Nothing special but it was nice.

Thursday this week Noelle, Max, and I went to the Detroit airport to visit my Mom during a long layover she had. Unfortunately, we have not seen her since Thanksgiving (that is way too long, but that is also life) and it was a very lovely visit. Granma gave Noelle a little makeup kit that included fake tattoos. They were a huge hit! She, as of now, has 8 tattoos, I have three, and even Tom and Max are sporting a few sparkly heart ones! Getting her to bathe is a bit tricky because of the fear of losing them.

Friday Auct Ceecee came to help out. It was a WONDERFUL visit and help. She let (actually ordered) me to just relax and made food for me, tended to the children's needs, and was an overall great help. Saturday Tom and I were able to take off and return some items from Christmas and do some shopping for the new baby. New pink crib bedding, diapers, pacifiers, you know, the essentials for a newborn. We also had went out to lunch. We were gone for awhile (about five hours) and the children did fairly well. Noelle has entered a very bratty phase, partially her age and partially because I let her get away with too much. That presented a challenge for Charlotte, but she is tough and doesn't give in!

This morning the children decided to play with some hooded towels and be superheros and Little Blue and Pink Riding Hoods. It kept them entertained for a long period of time.

Today we took advantage of the warm weather and played outside for awhile. Max loved pushing the shovel and through an absolute fit when we had to come back into the house. When spring and summer roll around Max is going to be one of those dirty little boys that never wants to come inside! We better get a swing set to keep him busy and a fence to contain the beast, not that I would ever take my eyes off of him while he is outside!