Pink or Blue?

The doc is 97% sure of the gender of our Peanut. We are scheduled for our 3D ultrasound in about 6 weeks. Between the 3D ultrasound and the ultrasounds we get every visit, I'm sure the doctor will become more sure (either way).:) The doc claims she's never 100% sure until the birth. OK, I'm fine with 99% sure.

You can cast your vote on the right!

*Edit*

Based on some comments received, sounds like I should have provided more info about the ultrasound clip. Sorry to the 23 people who have already voted!

When looking at the ultrasound, you are looking between the legs from the bottom. At one point, you see an arrow pointing right between the legs. Then Peanut does some squirming and we end up looking at the head.

Hope that helps!

Reflections of a 3 yr old

Dyl and I stopped to get gas after dropping the kids off at school this morning. As we waited in the car, Dylan was observing some birds flying in the sky. We watched them glide back and forth.

The gas pump clicked off. I got back into the car and started driving.

Dyl proclaims, "Angels are BIG!"

What?

I asked, "How do you know that, Dyl?"

Dylan responds in a matter of fact tone, "Because I've seen them before."

This is getting interesting.

"You have? When?"

With enthusiasm Dyl says, "Daddy's an angel!"


Hmmm.

"What makes you think Daddy's an angel?"

"Because he's BIG!"

There you have it. We are fortunate to have a BIG angel right in our home. I believe in angels, but I had no idea we had one living with us!

Fun in the sun

Last Sunday afternoon, we hit the road. Destination.......sunny St. George! Some of you might be asking, "Where is St. George ?". Southern Utah, my friends. Which means, more sun and more warmth than northern Utah. St. George, like Arizona, is filled with beautiful red rock and fabulous palm trees.

Our first stop was for Rob to check into the conference and to enjoy ice cream at the opening social. The theme of the conference was, "More green, less screen"--getting kids outside more.

P Diddy was happy to bring home a souvenier.

We then checked into our hotel. On the way up to our room the kids were thrilled to grab a complimentary cookie. I have to admit, there is something thrilling about complimentary items.

As usual, this is the first thing Dyl Pickle does when we go to a hotel.

Naughty, naughty! Don't worry, after I got some good pics, I put an end to the fun. (But that doesn't mean it didn't happen again during our stay--too tempting!)

And this, is the first thing Parker always does when we check into a hotel.
My poor kids (ya, whatever) are deprived of cable at our house, so Parker's search for Cartoon Network begins immediately!

Lexi Lu was the first to discover this fine treasure.

Lexi: "Mom, what is this?"
Me: "A safe."

Lexi: "What do you do with a safe?"

Me: "You put valuables in it. Items you don't want stolen and want to keep safe."

Lexi: **GASP** "Can I put my cookie in it?"

Oh, the treasures of a little one!

While Rob was busy listening to presentations, preparing presentations, and giving presentations (he gave two), the kids and I did a lot of sun worshipping. We stayed true to the conference theme, "More green, less screen." The monkeys did a lot of this........

I did this with them......

Yes, I was a party pooper mom. I kept my swimsuit cover on and didn't immerse myself into the water, for a couple of reasons. Number one, I hadn't taken the time to look for my maternity swimsuit before leaving and squeezing into my swim shorts while 15 weeks prego, was not a pretty thing! Number 2, although it was sunny and warm, it was not toasty swim weather. High 60's to mid 70's. Yes, the water was frigid!

That obviously didn't stop my monkeys!

We also did some park hopping. A big thank you to the internet (my best friend while there)! The city had a great park and rec website to tell me all about the parks along with the addresses. The phone book was my second best friend. I used the map in the front often.

On St. Patrick's Day, we took our lunch to a park. Gotta love the green!

Skipping rocks in the pond. Always a fave!

We went to a petroglyph park. Petroglyphs are always interesting to look at. I would love to know all about the stories they tell.

The petroglyphs were in a rather small area that seemed to be misplaced around the neighborhood that grew around it. Needless to say, it was a brief stop, but worth it.

One night there was a BBQ for the conference. The BBQ includes some form of entertainment each year, plus swimming in one of the fabulous rec centers.

The swimming is always great, but the entertainment was better last year. This year they had an upcoming country singer perform, last year they had a hypnotist. The best part about the hypnotist was Rob got up on stage.

Sadly, he did not manage to fall under "the spell" of the hypnotist and shortly sat back down. It was sure hilarious while it lasted.

Seeing as how food is an enemy of mine while pregnant, I was very much looking forward to NOT cooking for three whole days!

We rarely go out to eat while at home, and when we do the kids are used to picking something from the $1 menu. So this is also a huge treat for them.

The first night we went to ....

Parker remembered this restaurant fondly from last year and was ecstatic to return! He orders a huge burrito and what he doesn't finish, he sticks in the fridge in the hotel and reheats it for a snack on another day.

A favorite food stop last year was....

Really yummy Hawaiian food! To our despair, when we stopped last week, it was no longer in business.:(

Instead we went to 2 Fat Guys Pizza. We had heard raves about the pizza.

I have one word to say about 2 Fat Guys Pizza. Eck! It was extra greasy and not so tasty. Rob wasn't impressed with it either. There you have it. My short and disappointing review of 2 Fat Guys Pizza.

We left sunny St. George on Wednesday morning. But, our adventures didn't end there. On the way home, we stopped at Cove Fort.

What's Cove Fort you ask? You'll have to stay tuned until next time!:)

Cool

Dyl Pickle was coloring yesterday.

He said to me, "Mom, is this getting cool?"

I walked over to take a peek. "That is awesome, Dyl. I love it!"

Dyl: "Really?"
"Yes! It's getting to be cool!"

I love his almost-four-year-old mind.

Do you see what I see?

Buds on our flowering pear tree............

The first signs of tulips and daffodils..............

Spring is coming!

Spring fever is biting at my toes.

Even my kids show signs of the fever.

A couple of weeks ago, Lexi asked me, "Mom, can me and Dylan have a picnic on the front lawn?" Sure!

She made them both peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, gathered a basket and blanket and off they went.

They picnicked next to the last snow pile.

The other day, Dyl brought me his lunch box and said, "Mom, can you make me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and put it in my lunch box?" Sure!

After I handed him his lunch box complete with his PBJ, he helped himself to a baggie (Great Value brand of course);) and put one oreo cookie in it, followed by one girl scout cookie. Then he said, "OK Mom. Let's go to the park."

How could I resist that?

We did, at least, wait for Lexi to get home from school.

It was brisk and windy, but that didn't stop them.

The fun continued after we got home. Out came the beloved pinwheels, pillows and blankets.

Bring on the fun.

Bring on spring!

Spontaneity

Spontaneity is a characteristic that I am lacking in. And let's face it, having kids doesn't necessarily help in that area. While I love them dearly, it is a bit more difficult to be spontaneous with three little monkeys. When I look back at Rob's and my married years before kids, I wish we would have taken advantage of our freedom with more spontaneity. However, I have also come to realize that as a mom, I can still find ways to be spontaneous with my little monkeys.

Lexi is thrilled to ride the bus home from school. The bus drops her off, along with many other kindergartners in the neighborhood, at a corner near our house. All the moms congregate together while we wait for the bus and get our 10 minute fix of adult conversation.

While waiting for the bus, a mom shared some fun news with the other moms around. "It's free day at the zoo today!" We then started making plans to all meet at one house, 30 minutes later, to caravan and carpool to the zoo.

The battle immediately begins in my head. I was looking and feeling especially grungy and sickly that day. We still needed to have lunch. There's so much to do at home.

BUT there's always so much to do at home AND this would be a great opportunity to have fun with the kids. We used to go to the Denver Zoo often and the kids have asked several time since being in Utah, "When are we going to the zoo?" A million thoughts going through my mind..........

Then my dear friend gave me an easy out, "Jamie, let me take Dylan and Lexi and you go home and rest." Oh, how glorious that sounded!

So what did I decide to do you ask?

I took my two little monkeys to the zoo!

The human animals, the kids and their friends, fit in very well with the zoo animals.

Dylan only lasted a few minutes in the reptile building. He was plugging his nose the entire time and asked me a couple of times to take him out. This boy cracks me up! Yes, I did take him out.


Good times=pure exhaustion.

(Yes, Lexi is wearing her Mardi Gras jewelry.)

I am so glad I went. We had a fantastic time together and with our friends.

Add a sticker to my chart, please! I was a spontaneous mom.

Sparkles

Lexi asked me a few days ago why our blog wasn't decked out for St. Patty's Day. So today she looked at some blog backgrounds with me and chose this fantastic sparkly St. Patrick's Day design.

Thank you, my princess, for adding sparkle to our lives in so many different ways.

25 things

I'm following Brooke's lead and posting my 25 random things from Facebook. It took a while and was kind of tedious but I do enjoy reading other's 25 thingers!

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.(To do this, go to “notes” under tabs (or the + sign) on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.).

1. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't thank God for the new day I get to spend with my healthy rambunctious children and amazing husband.
2. I LOVE that I can turn a faucet and get hot water. Especially for my nice steamy showers. How lucky are we?3. I have never had a professional pedicure or manicure. Not that I wouldn't enjoy one, but is it really worth the $?
4. I was raised on a dairy farm.............and know very little about dairy farming. My husband gives me a hard time. I did a tiny bit on the farm, but mainly my two bros worked their fannies off with my dad and us girls (all 5 of us) worked our fannies off with my mom at home and outside.

5. I wish that I had one ounce of organizational skills in my blood. Nada. Zilch. Zip.
6. I have a baggie problem. Most brands of baggies stink! Then it makes my food taste like that stink. If I'm in a store that I don't shop at often and I'm unfamiliar with their baggies, I open up the box and smell them. My favorite brand is Walmart's Great Value. But even they stink sometimes. I know, I'm weird. I inherited this particular curse from my mom.
7. I'm also a water snob. My water has to be ice cold and filtered. Water from the tap simply tastes funny-- especially if it sits for a few minutes.
8. I love drinks. Non-coffee and alcohol related that is. Starbuck steamers, virgin mojitos, smoothies, lime rickies, cherry limeades.................I could go on and on.
9. How am I supposed to come up with 25 of these things?
10. I love the ocean. The smell. The sound.However, the older I get, my desire to get into the ocean and play lessens. My boogie boarding days are nearing an end (or have they already ended?).
11. Friends are an important part of life. Throughout my life, I have been privileged with great friends.
12. I've been to Hawaii 5 times. Only because my husband grew up there and his father still lives there. My father-in-law makes our visits possible. Spoiled I know.
13. I really stink at driving stick shifts. Yes, I'm a farm girl who knows little about the farm and stink at driving stick shifts. (Laugh it up Becca!)
14. I miss dancing. I signed up for two dance classes last year, one was a hip hop class and the other was a ballroom class with my husband. Yes, my hubby was going to dance with me. However, both classes were canceled. The ballroom class just started back up tonight. Unfortunately, it gave us more time to think about how we really shouldn't spend the money on a ballroom dance class. Paying for the babysitting was the real kicker.
15. I'm wondering if it really is worth the time it is taking to type these silly random things.
16. I'm also wondering if the 10 people that tagged me on this are really going to read it.
17. My husband just asked me, "Are you a Facebook addict now?"
18. I went to my second doctors appointment today and had my second ultrasound.
19. The doc records the ultrasound on a DVD. We showed the kids tonight and they loved it.
20. Technology is amazing. I love that I can see the peanut growing inside of me and hear it's fast tiny heartbeat. When we say Peanut today, it looked like he/she was waving at us. Love it.
21. Never before with any other OB docs have I had to wait at an appointment while they are occupied at the hospital delivering a baby. Until now. I've been to my current doc twice and have waited both times. My luck ran out.
22. I love fresh fruits and veggies and can't wait to inhale them this summer.
23. I can't wait until I can enjoy inhaling ANY food. Nothing tastes good when I'm pregnant. Especially if I have to cook it.
24. I love campfires and smores. Sitting outside under the starry sky on a warm summer night. But don't exactly enjoy sleeping in a tent. Does anyone? Really?
25. I love a good rainstorm. I miss Colorado rain. It would often rain for a short time in the afternoons and then be done (more so in Colorado Springs than Denver--interesting). Just long enough to keep the grass green and make the air smell good.

I can't believe I'm actually done!I'll tag a few people plus anyone who wants to do this. I know. I'm "copping out". It's all good.I'm also tagging people that may have already been tagged (too much effort for people NOT to read).:)

One day later revision: Ok. I thought of one more to appease those of you who think I cheated....even just a little bit.:)
26. We have lived in our home for 1 1/2 yrs and we still have no living room furniture. Just a piano. No signs of that changing any time soon. This way, the LR serves as a great dance room for the kids.:)

Tonights family entertainment.......

Tonight before dinner, I had to dash to the porcelain throne.

The kids followed me .

Their conversation went something like this. Warning! It may be too much info for some.

Parker: "Are you OK Mama?"

Dylan: "Is she throwing up?"

Parker: "Be quiet, Dylan." He actually said it sincerely and was trying to provide some peace for me.

Lexi: "Yup, she's throwing up. What's in there?" Inquiring about the contents in the toilet.

Dylan: "What is that?" As he points into the toilet. "Is that blood?"

Lexi: "Yup! I've never seen anyone throw up blood before!"

Me, when I had a second to force some words out, I quietly squeaked: "It's licorice." I couldn't let them think I threw up blood now, could I?

Lexi: "Oh ya, Mom ate some licorice."

Lexi and Parker left the bathroom.

Dyl: In a very sweet voice, "You don't feel very well do you Mom?"

Is it that obvious?

Forget American Idol. What did your family do for fun tonight?

Hello Peanut!

Here's our little two inch Peanut!

You don't see much action in this clip, but Peanut is an active one. We caught Peanut waiving at us at one point.

I've had a different doctor with all my babies and each time the doctor says, "You have a very active baby!" Apparently, they are rambunctious from the very beginning!

While it's definitely not a unique name, there's a story behind our name Peanut.

Early on in my pregnancy, before the kids knew, we went to the library. The kids picked out their maximum allowance of books and off we went.

When we get home, Lexi shows me a book she chose. The name of this book is none other than "Hello Peanut!"

We sit down to look at the book together and sure enough. It's about a little girl asking her mom, "How big is the baby?" The mom replies, "As big as a peanut." With each turn of the page the mom's belly is a little bit bigger and the little girl asks the same question, "How big is the baby?" The mom replies with easily recognizable objects for the little girl. A dot, a peanut, a tadpole, a mouse, and the final and my personal favorite, "As big as an elephant."

Aren't we glad our babies really don't get to be the size of an elephant?! Even though we feel that way!

Lexi couldn't have chosen a more perfect book at the right time. She especially enjoys calling the baby Peanut.