To the 18 year old me,
Today you are graduating from High School. Enjoy the day. Have fun with your friends. Give your Grandmas extra hugs because you only have four more years with them. And as an FYI avoid the spiral curl hot rollers, it's NOT a good look for you.
Don't stress the lack of dates in college. That Joel guy will finally come to his senses before your senior year starts. And skip the late night munching and high carb foods at Walt's. The extra 20 pounds will be hard to get rid of. One other thing - major in Home Economics. History and political science won't be very helpful in your day-to-day life 15 years from now.
Speaking of life in 15 years. You are not going to believe yours! You live in Rhode Island. Yep, surrounded by Yankees. You even sound like one (at least to Southern ears). You own a comfortable house, ranch style which you will still dislike. And you will be pregnant with your 4th child.
That reminds me, you're going to want children after you've been married for 3 years. Joel won't be ready for a few years beyond that so relax and enjoy the freedom. Sleep in. Take spontaneous day trips. And enjoy being a couple with few responsibilities.
'Cuz once the babies start coming that will all change. In fact, 15 years from today you will wipe poop off a little boy's legs and tush, scoop it up off the floor with only a wipe, use your hand to make sure it all rinses off his underwear in the sink and clean it off the foot of his big brother - all before breakfast. I'm proud to say you won't even gag or think twice about it. But, I will spare you the stories of catching vomit with your hand and wiping boogers with your fingers. I know 18 year-old girls have their limits. Let's just say what is unthinkable for you now will become a source of amusement in 15 years.
Last but not least, enjoy fried catfish and hushpuppies and a Sonic Route 44 Vanilla Dr. Pepper every chance you get. Those things aren't found in Rhode Island but you will crave them often.
Much love,
The 33 year-old me
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
The post you've all been waiting for.
It was never my intention to go this long without posting. I certainly haven't lacked for blog-worthy material! I'll just plead tiredness and leave it at that. Here's a brief synopsis of the last few weeks.
* My hubby turned 33 (love you, Sweet!). My "little" brother turned 30 (I remember bringing him home from the hospital!). And Joel's niece turned one year (where did the year go?!).
* I had the stitches removed from my leg. Joel offered to do it but I declined. I ended up taking all three kids with me (it goes without saying that we were late for a 9 AM appointment!). Will & Ben watched the doctor with fascination as she worked.
* Will cut Ben's hair (but I couldn't tell where). Ben cut Ellie's hair (again, couldn't tell where but combed out LOTS of loose pieces). Ben also cut Ellie's new shirt from Gymboree on the second time she wore it! I was more upset about the shirt than the hair, even if I did get it on sale! There are days when I tell Joel he's lucky he has 3 kids when he gets home - that was one of them!
* Ben is ALMOST potty trained. And Will's "accidents" have gotten fewer lately. It's amazing what kids are willing to do in order to get dessert after supper. We have two incentives going for each boy: go all day dry and get dessert, a potty chart for which they earn stickers.
* Ellie has decided shoes are optional and if she wears them she likes them on the wrong feet.
* Yesterday I looked out my window to see two full moons in my backyard, in the middle of the day no less! This has become quite the trend in the last week or so. They don't want to take the time to go in the house. Hmm... I seem to recall a certain now 30 year old doing something similar. It's that Y chromosome thing again.
* Two of my friends are pregnant and both due in December. Amy's 2 kids are 6 months younger than each of my boys. This time we're only about 6 weeks apart. We've been commiserating a lot. Christie's oldest is 6 months older than Will, her second is almost exactly a year older than Ben, and her third shares his birthday with Ellie. In fact, she called my hospital room from her hospital room after her delivery. It's always more fun to be pregnant at the same time as friends. = )
I think that about catches us up one the last few weeks. Now moving on. Today I had "THE" ob/gyn appointment. An ultrasound. We decided the boys, at least Will, are old enough to understand the pictures of the baby and enjoy going with us for the ultrasound. So Joel took off work this morning and we all trooped to the doctor's office.
Where we waited. And waited. And waited. AN HOUR LATER we made it into the ultrasound room. You understand that my little gang was not on their best behavior after all that waiting! The tech explained that they were running a little behind because the baby before us "wouldn't cooperate." 15 minutes I understand. But an HOUR?! I can't help wondering what would happen if I showed up an hour late for an appointment with them.
Will was fascinated and had lots of questions (when does he not?). We saw the four chambers of the heart, the brain, spinal column, arm bones and leg bones. The baby appears healthy and is growing well. The due date appears accurate from this ultrasound. I find that amazing because my other 3 had due dates moved back, and moved back again, and were still "late."
She said I have a slight placenta previa (placenta is close to the cervix) but she says it's so small she knows it will move out of the way as the baby (and uterus) grows. But to be on the safe side I go back in 6 weeks for another ultrasound. I'll be going alone to that one, taking a book with me, and praying I get to sit in the waiting room alone for an hour. = )
I'm also still 2 pounds under my weight from my first appointment at 8 weeks. The nurse assistant questioned if I've been sick a lot. Not lately. I eat eat whatever I want. She said I need to gain 3-4 pounds every month from now on. She recommended nightly ice cream sundaes, cheese and crackers, peanut butter and crackers and granola bars. I found it interesting that she did not recommend food high in nutrients, just high in calories. Lest anyone get worried, let me assure you this is the way I do pregnancy. The pounds will start coming soon. But I only gain 20-25. Mainly because I try to eat when I'm hungry instead of the 17 jillion snacks "they" say to eat all day. Don't get me wrong. I eat whatever I want.
I find it funny that my first pregnancy I followed all the dietary guidelines and gained about 28 pounds. And birthed a 6.5 pound baby. The other two I followed my own plan, gained just over 20 pounds, and birthed a 9 pound 9 ounce and a 8 pound 11 ounce baby. Hmmm... I wonder who's plan works better? Then there's poor Joel who gains 10 pounds with each pregnancy but doesn't get the benefit of delivery and nursing. = )
Moving on. Here for your viewing pleasure is Baby #4 at 17 weeks 4 days. Can you tell what you are looking at?
***Just in case you're wondering. Baby #4 is a boy. Which I totally knew already because this pregnancy has been so like Will & Ben's. I will do some serious evaluating of our room options while we are on vacation next week (not that I haven't already been thinking things through!). It's a little wild to think I'm the mom of THREE boys. But I'm ok with that. = ) In case you are wondering about names, that hasn't been settled yet. I'll let you know when it is...maybe. = )
* My hubby turned 33 (love you, Sweet!). My "little" brother turned 30 (I remember bringing him home from the hospital!). And Joel's niece turned one year (where did the year go?!).
* I had the stitches removed from my leg. Joel offered to do it but I declined. I ended up taking all three kids with me (it goes without saying that we were late for a 9 AM appointment!). Will & Ben watched the doctor with fascination as she worked.
* Will cut Ben's hair (but I couldn't tell where). Ben cut Ellie's hair (again, couldn't tell where but combed out LOTS of loose pieces). Ben also cut Ellie's new shirt from Gymboree on the second time she wore it! I was more upset about the shirt than the hair, even if I did get it on sale! There are days when I tell Joel he's lucky he has 3 kids when he gets home - that was one of them!
* Ben is ALMOST potty trained. And Will's "accidents" have gotten fewer lately. It's amazing what kids are willing to do in order to get dessert after supper. We have two incentives going for each boy: go all day dry and get dessert, a potty chart for which they earn stickers.
* Ellie has decided shoes are optional and if she wears them she likes them on the wrong feet.
* Yesterday I looked out my window to see two full moons in my backyard, in the middle of the day no less! This has become quite the trend in the last week or so. They don't want to take the time to go in the house. Hmm... I seem to recall a certain now 30 year old doing something similar. It's that Y chromosome thing again.
* Two of my friends are pregnant and both due in December. Amy's 2 kids are 6 months younger than each of my boys. This time we're only about 6 weeks apart. We've been commiserating a lot. Christie's oldest is 6 months older than Will, her second is almost exactly a year older than Ben, and her third shares his birthday with Ellie. In fact, she called my hospital room from her hospital room after her delivery. It's always more fun to be pregnant at the same time as friends. = )
I think that about catches us up one the last few weeks. Now moving on. Today I had "THE" ob/gyn appointment. An ultrasound. We decided the boys, at least Will, are old enough to understand the pictures of the baby and enjoy going with us for the ultrasound. So Joel took off work this morning and we all trooped to the doctor's office.
Where we waited. And waited. And waited. AN HOUR LATER we made it into the ultrasound room. You understand that my little gang was not on their best behavior after all that waiting! The tech explained that they were running a little behind because the baby before us "wouldn't cooperate." 15 minutes I understand. But an HOUR?! I can't help wondering what would happen if I showed up an hour late for an appointment with them.
Will was fascinated and had lots of questions (when does he not?). We saw the four chambers of the heart, the brain, spinal column, arm bones and leg bones. The baby appears healthy and is growing well. The due date appears accurate from this ultrasound. I find that amazing because my other 3 had due dates moved back, and moved back again, and were still "late."
She said I have a slight placenta previa (placenta is close to the cervix) but she says it's so small she knows it will move out of the way as the baby (and uterus) grows. But to be on the safe side I go back in 6 weeks for another ultrasound. I'll be going alone to that one, taking a book with me, and praying I get to sit in the waiting room alone for an hour. = )
I'm also still 2 pounds under my weight from my first appointment at 8 weeks. The nurse assistant questioned if I've been sick a lot. Not lately. I eat eat whatever I want. She said I need to gain 3-4 pounds every month from now on. She recommended nightly ice cream sundaes, cheese and crackers, peanut butter and crackers and granola bars. I found it interesting that she did not recommend food high in nutrients, just high in calories. Lest anyone get worried, let me assure you this is the way I do pregnancy. The pounds will start coming soon. But I only gain 20-25. Mainly because I try to eat when I'm hungry instead of the 17 jillion snacks "they" say to eat all day. Don't get me wrong. I eat whatever I want.
I find it funny that my first pregnancy I followed all the dietary guidelines and gained about 28 pounds. And birthed a 6.5 pound baby. The other two I followed my own plan, gained just over 20 pounds, and birthed a 9 pound 9 ounce and a 8 pound 11 ounce baby. Hmmm... I wonder who's plan works better? Then there's poor Joel who gains 10 pounds with each pregnancy but doesn't get the benefit of delivery and nursing. = )
Moving on. Here for your viewing pleasure is Baby #4 at 17 weeks 4 days. Can you tell what you are looking at?
***Just in case you're wondering. Baby #4 is a boy. Which I totally knew already because this pregnancy has been so like Will & Ben's. I will do some serious evaluating of our room options while we are on vacation next week (not that I haven't already been thinking things through!). It's a little wild to think I'm the mom of THREE boys. But I'm ok with that. = ) In case you are wondering about names, that hasn't been settled yet. I'll let you know when it is...maybe. = )
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