::rainbow::

We had something that I have never seen before - a double rainbow!  We didn't get the great pics of the actual rainbow we wanted, but we did get some funny pictures of Lily.  The wind was tearing along.  All day the Shorties kept talking about the HUGE rainbows we got to see.  

::school family tree::

Lily had to make a family tree for school.  I had a few rules for this project.  I got veto rights on all pictures.  I had to look hot in all pictures of me. And all else was free game.  I love the poster that she came up with with.  

::poor lizzie- for real::

Feel bad for Lizzie.  I cut her hair again.  This has to stop.  If I were you I would call animal protection on me.  I have been watching Animal Cops and I am seriously waiting for them to show up.  I have got to learn how to cut her hair.  PROMISE!  By the next time I will actually spend some time online trying to learn how to not abuse her.  

::week 8::

8 week old baby

Dear Nugget,


Things are different with you than the other two rounds.  You are staying pretty true to your middle of the night barf fest.  I am trying not to take Zofran (anti-nausea med), but you seem to really like it.  The real issue is equilibrium.  I am dizzy lots of the time and you can only be dizzy for so long before you brain thinks it barf time.  BUT - it could be so much worse.   


We go in on Thur to get our first ultrasound.  All this one really tell is that my dates are right and to set an official due date.  You're really too little to tell at 8 weeks much else.  Something REALLY bad would have to be wrong to see it when your that little.  The 20 week ultrasound is when they take a look at your little body and make sure you are coming along ok.  All of pregnancy is a little bit scary for an NICU nurse - but I try to just sit back and enjoy the process when I can.


Your Dad and I actually had a nice talk about names.  Still Gwen (Gweneth) for girl.  But Sam got vetoed from the boy list.  Right now your name if your a boy is John Thomas (or Johnathon) and we will call you Jack.  Not Jackson because Daddy doesn't like that.  


I can't wait to feel you kick.  But I have about another 8-10 weeks till I can even hope for that.  


Love your face -


Mommy

::mom vs. work::

Work work work.  I love the job.  I really do.  Even if it isn't the perfect little love santuary that it used to be it is still the right place for me.  But something has to give.  I think I need to go weekend option.  If you are not familiar with weekend option it is a specific shift for nurses that allows them to work EVERY STINKING SINGLE weekend.  In return for that sacrifice they only work two days, but get paid for three.  I think it might be the ideal situation for my family.  I would be home all week with the kids.  That makes me feel calm, just thinking about.  I would be 100 percent in charge of getting them too school and making sure all the school stuff if done and done problerly.  I would be able to always make sure that every one is fed and taken to the correct activity at the correct time.  Snow day?  Who cares.   Basically - it would come down to me being in complete control of the things that need to be controlled.  And I LOVE that idea.  LOVE IT!  The bad part is missing out on that weekend time.  But then I get my Lily for five full days all summer!  The best playtime in the world.  But I would miss out on all the social activities.  No saturday baby showers or work related parties.  Terrible.  But I would just have to find other ways to socialize.  Like standing Friday Children's Museum playdates???  Then I would hire my fabulous girl who helps me now to do the occasional few hours during the week so I can do grown up stuff or volunteer at school or work on photo stuff.  She would also do every Saturday with the kiddos.  Then Josh would be in charge every Sunday, which he would like minus the football games, which he will work around.  What am I over looking?

::children's museum preschool::

Our super wonderful children's museum has son wonderful "Mommy and Me" classes.

We just did one called "Winter Wonderland"

They had some amazing activities.

Like a tub full of icebergs for the polar bear to play on.

Forgive that the pictures are all on my iPhone.

Some great stamping activities, that Max was almost totally uninterested in.

He does art at home.

But he thought the glitter shaker was big fun.  

He loved the sensory table with rice.  

I really need to make him one.  

I am getting him this activity for Christmas.

Which they happily will sell you at the super stellar gift shop.

And this one too.

And he loved this key toy.

Which Santa might also find for him. 

The class was $10 and I can't wait to do another one. 

He didn't do hardly any of the things that he was supposed to do but I didn't want to be that crazy parent that drug their kid from art center to art center forcing them to make stuff just so they feel like they get their money's worth.  She was there.  Lots of she's were there.  We do lots of art at home, so if he didn't want to then we could just play with the toys.  The whole point is to grow and learn in a social setting.  Right?

::flattered - lots::

I am growing as a photographer.

I still have lots of room to keep going.

Sometimes I get a really nice image and sometimes I don't.

But nothing really flatters me quiet as much as when someone uses an image that I took.

Like as a facebook profile or in their badge at work.

But this is a first for me - my picture made it to a Holiday card.

No joke.

Big stuff.