Wednesday, June 17, 2009

"baby brother" update

(If we don't give this kid a name soon, Jilly's going to call him "Baby brother for the rest of their lives!!)
Bottom line, between sonograms and the Doc, I have to start trying to take it easy. "Baby brother" is not growing as much as everybody would like, I'm not putting on the weight necessary for the little guy to grow properly, and I'm already starting to dilate. Most of the issue is that I have a very hard time "slowing down" as people say, there is just too much to do and not enough time to do it. Between the end of the school year, horse shows, trying to keep a household afloat, and trying to raise 3 kids and keep a marriage together...something has gotta give, and usually it's my sleep, or skipping meals. But that has to stop now, and now I have to try to make time to take care of myself so that "Baby brother" is taken care of. Most of all, I need to be careful so that the Doc doesn't plop my ass in the hospital on complete bed rest...which his threats are getting more and more serious with every visit. Here's to a quiet and uneventful rest of the pregnancy.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

quick update

Cooper is ready to walk, she can take a few steps at a time and then...BOOM on her butt, too cute. She also loves to play peek-a-boo with anyone she can see. She will give you kisses, "lovie dovies" (really just hugs, but Jilly loves to say it to Cooper) and give you fives. To me what is most impressive about Cooper right now is that you can ask her "Where's your Binky?" and she will say to you "Binky" and start looking for it. Not only can she recognize the object, but she can say it too!

Jilly is...well, just Jilly. Too damn cute for words one minute, and then she turns right around and is infuriating. I wouldn't have it any other way...well maybe more cute and less frustrating, but that's parenting for ya! She is looking forward to the summer and being able to ride her Friskey Whiskers more (especially now with the Diego saddle pad that Gran-ma just made for her!). The other day she had convinced herself that her Riley Man was coming over to play with her. After almost an hour, I finally had to tell her that I would talk to Aunt Amber about Riley Man coming over for a day to play sometime soon. (Reminds me, I have to call Amber about that!)

Bug is really excited to have only one week left of 6th grade, and now we are faced with what to reward her with for getting on the honor roll for the whole year. (So not a fun conversation when us parents can't even agree on what any of the ideas should be!) Hopefully we can do/get her something nice for working so hard all year long.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

What I want to be...

One day Jilly, Cooper, and I were sitting around the table eating lunch, and out of nowhere Jilly announces "I'm a teacher Mommy". So I asked her what she was teaching, to which she replied "Juice boxes." I about fell out of the chair I was laughing so hard. I have no idea if the juice boxes were the students being taught, or the subject being taught, but she was so very serious that she was a teacher, and started to get mad at me, thinking I was laughing at her. I had to explain it was the "so serious" face she was making that was making me laugh so hard. She ended up forgiving me, but it took a while.

A bit of a scare

Also on the 26th of May, we had a sonogram. With in 2 minutes, we were told that we'd be having a son (a HUGE shock to me at least...I was convinced that I could only have girls, and was FINE with that! I mean I have pink, purple, and Barbies coming out my ears!!).

Later that night, the Dr. called and asked if I could come back for some more measurments. Apparently, both the tech and the Dr. overlooked something, and wanted me to come back on Thursday. I went back, with my heart in my throat, only for it to be nothing. The Dr. remeasured, and got numbers that he was happy with, and all is well.

(Not even out yet, and this little guy is trying to give me heart attacks!!)

3 year check up

On Tuesday May 26th Jilly went to the Dr. for her 3 year check up. She was 37 inches tall (40%), she weighed 28.6 lbs (25%) and her head measured 18 3/4 inches (30%). Dr. Moore was very happy with her over all health...until he looked in her ears. Little Miss had an ear infection, but had absolutely no symptoms, never said anything hurt....nothing! So, we got some antibiotics, and it's now all better.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Beans 1st show




On Memorial Day, Fay held a show out at Sunny's Corner Farm. I thought it would be a great idea for Jilly to be in her first show that day for a couple of reasons. First, it was "at home" to make her and Friskey a little more comfortable. Second, with Grammy being in town already, I thought it would be wonderful for her to see her
Great-granddaughter's first horse show. Third, I did not want Bob and Darlene to miss this first in Jilly's life. So we got all dolled up, got the pony ready and headed down to the ring.
Fay was nice enough to lead Jilly in the show, and Jilly had an absolute blast! She sat up "tall and pretty, just like Buggy" and walked her "Friskey Whiskers" around. Before the judge made her final decision, she asked both the girls in the class a question about their ponies. The judge asked Jilly "What do you hold onto to steer your pony?" And Jilly told her "my reins", the judge was very happy, and said "thank you" to which Jilly replied "Oh, you're welcome". It touched my heart to hear Fay
tell me how nice and respectful Jilly was to the judge.
When it was all said and done, Jilly walked out of the ring with a first place ribbon, but more importantly a smile ear to ear. All of us adults understood that this was going to be her only show this year, but she has other plans. At Courtney's next lesson, Jilly said "I show again with Buggy?" And I started to explain that it was going to be next year...but she didn't get that, so I had to tell her "Friskey Whiskers is scared of the trailer, so he can only show if Fay does another show here at home." So, we'll see how long it will last.

Party part 2

We were very fortunate to have Grammy here from NJ to celebrate Jilly's 3rd b-day with us. We had some great homemade bar-b-que food, (wings, ribs, dogs, burgers, salads...all the good old stand by's). The weather was great, not too hot, not chilly to be outside and enjoy great company and good food.

The kids had a blast running up and down the driveway. Riley enjoyed telling us all what Grand-ma's license plate spells. That boy knows his letters, what sounds they make, and even how to make words...he is out little super genius!



We then moved inside for cake and presents. Unfortunately, Sunny and her family couldn't join us, but Sunny did make sure that Jilly had a princess cake (painstakingly made by hand...you rock Sunny!). Jilly had a blast with the cake and candles, and even more fun opening her presents. It was a great party for a great little girl.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Looking Back











I have been able to take a picture of Jilly each year at the precise moment she was born. (It's a little easier to deal with a little bit of grumpy from getting up at 7:49 am because Mommy had to have a picture, but there was no way I was going to do it to with Courtney who was born at 12:17 am!!) I can still remember how long I waited for Jilly, and I how I felt when the test said pregnant. It was almost like I had my own personal miracle. Then she arrived, and it seemed that my life was complete. (Little did I know that we would be having more...!) She filled a void I didn't realize I had until I held her for the first time. She is my precious little Jilly Bean.

Lessons learned

Courtney had a horse show on Saturday the 23rd of May at Fox Chase Farm in Middleburg. She learned 3 very valuable lessons that day. One: Always listen to your trainer...she really does know best. Two:Sometimes a judge just doesn't like your pony. And three: You get a new slate after each class (well, you're supposed to...).

Had Courtney listened to Fay about her position in the ring, maybe (doubtfully though) things may have been a little different.

The judge she had was very new to judging, and it was obvious. She had her favorites picked out before they even began moving, and even when one girl could not control her pony (it took off, and she almost ran over someone else) and Bug still didn't get noticed. After not pinning in the pleasure class (a first on Moose, Bug has always at least received a 6th place in a large field in one of the three classes) Bug and Moose went in for the flat for the Short Stirrup class. Fay came over to us as the results of the class were being announced, and in her opinion Bug should have gotten about a 4th place, but again the judge had her favorites and no matter how good others were the favorites were on top. At Fay's suggestion, Bug and Moose did not even do the other 2 jump classes.

On the way back to the barn I asked Courtney why when she does not pin well in the very first class, does she start to fight with Moose and give him attitude? And she told me "Well, if we don't do well in the first class, then we won't do well all day." After a few more questions I finally figured out what she was trying to say. Poor kid thought that what she did in one class carried over to all the other classes. She did not realize that once you leave the ring and a class is over, it's over and you get the slate wiped clean and get to start over. (The things kids think about!)

Now that Courtney gets that she can shake off a bad class and come back even stronger in the next class, I think we are going to see a whole new Courtney and Moose Man.

Monday, June 1, 2009

Party time


Even though it was over a week early, Jilly had a birthday bar-b-que at Aunt Sara and Uncle Billy's house. We celebrated early so Aunt Dot and Paul, Barb and Ryan could be there with us to have some fun. Everybody enjoyed the food, Jilly loved all her presents (some more then others...details to follow) and had a great time playing in the back yard with "Blakey" (why she decided to start calling him the is a mystery to all!)


As for the presents, she had been asking for one of the little dinosaur friends for over 2 months. She loves playing with it, and likes to take care of it like it were real. "Baby Dino has to eat now Mommy...Baby Dino has to go potty Mommy" it really is something else.


She also fell in love with a little stuffed white horse (go figure, my kid loves a horse?!?)

Chorus concert


On May 14th (I know, I know...but Im still trying to get caught up!) Bug had her final chorus concert as a 6th grader. They sang a bunch of songs, danced and did a wonderful job. Cooper was bouncing to the beat, and Jilly was well behaved, it was a fun evening. Maybe next year we can get Courtney to look like she is having as much fun as she says she is!