I have created a condiment monster..

Well, I should have known better than to offer Jace ketchup (since Steve is a condiment addict), but I have now created a monster. Last week we were eating dinner and he pointed to the bottle, so I gave him a little. He proceeded to stop eating his regular food and just scooping the ketchup into his mouth. We finally tought him it is for dipping, but now whenever it is around he wants some. And the tonight we went out for Italian and got him tortellini with the tomato sauce on the side, so he could dip it. Well he decided he did not like the pasta (just by touching it- he has texture issues with pasta still), and proceeded to just eat the sauce. Luckily he liked the bread and the chicken steve and I had in our dishes, or it would have just been tomato sauce for dinner. I have gotten to the point where I can never guess what he will like. We have had no luck getting him to eat cheese of any kind, but then last night he could not get enough of queso and chips.

Today we had big plans to go to the zoo, but then the weather was not as pleasant as we had hoped, so we headed to the children's museum. Jace had a fun time running around, it kept his attention for a little over an hour. After a quick trip to Sam's Club on the way home, he passed out. I think we will wait to take him back again when he is a little older.

Looking through a new lens

Well, with Jace and I finally feeling better we had a good weekend. I finally got to use the new lens on my camera, and while it is a learning process, I am excited about it. The lens allows you to take portraits with really blurring out the background- they always seem to be my favorite. The trick is getting the shutter speed to match up with the aperture to not overexpose the pictures- thank goodness for digital- lots of practice shots..

So recently someone asked how I was feeling, and followed with the question about how this pregnancy compares with the last. I decided there was not too much difference between the two actual pregnancies (same symptoms) so far but the differences come from that I have Jace now. With the first when I was tired I simply took a nap or if I felt bad I just retreated to my room. Now with Jace, normally his needs comes him first and then at the end of most days I just pass out on the couch (before 8 is not unheard of). Makes me wonder how mom's with 7 kids possibly do it.

So I cannot even believe that I am admitting to this, but we just got the last of our outside Christmas decorations down this last weekend. We have become those people. The lights did not bother me but the large wreath was just too obvious (we did at least turn the lights off). I do have to say that there are some people who still have items out including yard ornaments, so we have beat those people. There were excuses we kept coming up with, like I was too sick to watch Jace while Steve did it, but the reality is these last few required the extension ladder which Steve loathes. I cannot blame him because I am not a heights person either, and we keep saying we will pay someone to do that part, but his cheapness comes out so he sucks it up (he says he has reached his limit this year, but we will see next year).

Anyone out there have a front loading washer and hate it? We are considering getting one, and luckily I get a good deal through work, so it makes the additional costs easier to swallow, and when you read how much water it saves, less detergent you use, and how much more gentle it is on your clothes, you start wondering what is the catch. I did read the cycle time takes longer, which is not a big deal to me since the capacity is so much more than my current machine.

And then there were four

So in case I forgot you on the email- we are expecting in July. July 24th to be exact, but if I have a c-section (which I am currently leaning toward) it would be sometime the week before. We are excited. I keep telling Jace there is a baby in my tummy and he is disappointed when he lifts my shirt and it is just belly. Today we asked him where his baby is, and he lifted up his shirt to show us his belly. I wonder how much of it he gets- just funny. I went to have some of the first ultrasounds Friday. The doctor said he could have told me the sex but Steve was not there and I know it would only be 80% accurate so I passed. Steve was disappointed I did not just have him write it on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope- now we have to wait until February 20th. My sister-in-law is due the day before me so my mom has two chances to get her granddaughter (but so far they have decided that they will not find out the sex beforehand).

The other highlight of the week was Jace had his first dentist appointment. We had noticed some plaque build up on his bottom teeth and were struggling with how to best brush his teeth, so we decided it was time. Amazingly Steve said it went rather well. He supposedly just sat there while they cleaned them, which is hard to imagine because he throws a fit a minute into brushing. They also gave us brushing pointers which have worked- more or less pinning him down. And we even get in some flossing- amazing. I was happy to read that children only get 20 teeth, which means Jace is almost done. He is not REAL bad when getting teeth, but he is irritable and extremely drooly. Feel bad putting a bib on a 17 month old, but it is bad.

Other than that we are just trying to get back to healthy. Jace was doing well until yesterday and the runny nose and really bad drooling is back. His teeth are hurting which is evident by the drool and a finger always in his mouth. My fear is the ear infection never went away again (after third antibiotic)- he is sometimes tugging at his ear and has started to not like baths which are usually signs his ears hurt- might call the doctor again this week. After not having ear infections for such a long time now we cannot shake this one. I got over my bronchitis but am now on another antibiotic (more specific) for a horrible sinus infection. I have had sinus headaches before but this just lasts day and night, and nothing seems to relieve the pain. Finally two nights ago I started feeling better at night, so I am getting some sleep at last. But now during the day one side really hurts and it spreads into my teeth. But it has become more bearable day by day so maybe (cross my fingers) I can be back to somewhat normal in the next week.

Catching Up

Well, I apologize profusely for being such a slacker, it is not in my nature... I was hoping that Steve would take to doing some updates but no luck so far, so I am going to do my best. I had this feeling that I could not do updates without pictures, which we have also been bad about doing, but as I read my friend Corrie's blog, hysterically laughing, I realized it is just nice to know what is going on in people's lifes even without pictures.. So I will post once a week regardless of my picture situation to keep you all up to date.

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. My mom and dad came for the week and then Mike and his family joined us later in the week. It was a full house but we had a great time. Jace and Dylan got to actually play since Jace is now walking- the favorite toy was definitely the wrapping paper role. We celebrated Christmas early- Jace loves his Mickey airplane.

Then quicker than we knew it Christmas was upon us. We took Jace to his first Lights in the Heights. We went early- he loved the parade and we were done before the crowds were too bad- mom loved that. Then for the Christmas we drove to Mississippi- I was very nervous about an 8 hour drive. Jace is at the age where he will watch TV, but he is not all that interested. Well several episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse along with good timing with his naps made the trip very bearable. We had a great time with Steve's parents- Jace loved riding around the yard in the little red wagon. He enjoyed Christmas and was in to it much more than we expected- a lot of it was the joy of ripping the paper off but he actually then played with the toys. He got an Elmo- was not so sure about that, but he is warming up to him.

Well, all good things come to an end, and we crashed. The day after Christmas Jace got a cold, which meant sure enough I was to follow. We both have been suffering the last week. After trips to the doctor- Jace for an ear infection and me for bronchitus, the antibiotics are slowly kicking in. Jace felt pretty good today, thank goodness since daycare starts tomorrow. I am on on the other hand still struggling- just need to take it easy enough so I don't get pneumonia this time around. Steve had to be mom and dad in the week he was hoping to take some time off and relax. Kids change everything!!