Hi, What's Your Name?

I feel like I start every blog post with "sorry I've been MIA".  But...it has been awhile.  And we've been working on a few home decor projects that I can't wait to share with you.  Unfortunately I don't have pics uploaded, so those will have to wait.  I just wanted to check in and say hi.

The only baby bump picture you will get from me. :)

I'm currently 31 weeks along in my pregnancy and counting down to baby #3.  It's a bit scary, but really I'm so excited to meet this little guy.  And get this pregnancy over with.  :)  Is it weird I just want to run? Like even just a block.  It sounds so good to me right now.  To move without waddling or wincing.
Today at the park I noticed my super shy daughter instantly making a new friend.  And it's got me thinking how funny it is that it happens every time when we go to the playground.  Kids instantly go up to each other and after quick introductions are playing like they've known each other for years.  I wish I could do that with the other moms.  "Hi what's your name?  Want to play? OK!"  But it's not quite like that.  Once you make that crossover into motherhood, or even adulthood for that matter, it's hard to make new friends.  Although I think it might just be me.  Like my daughter, I'm pretty shy (hmmm, wonder where she gets it from?).  Ever since we moved into our new house, and new area, I keep thinking that I really need to find a friend.  Motherhood can be lonely if you don't have some sort of network.  I need a good friend who's also a mom, and one that has kids the same age as mine, and one who likes to do the same things as me and has the same sense of humor.  That's not too much to ask is it?  I just feel so dumb trying to meet people.  I feel like she's too trendy, she's not in the same stage of life as me, her kids are much older, her kids are too young, does she even have kids, she won't like me, she already has 3 best friends and I wouldn't fit in, etc. etc.  Phew.  Every now and then I hang out with my high school friends or my sister in laws, and it is so easy.  Our kids get along and nothing in our friendship feels forced.  But that time with them makes me wish I had that closer to home (my HS friends and I are spread out about an hour apart).
Now I know this sounds really pathetic like I'm the wallflower in the corner with no friends.  And I guess I am. I'm finding comfort in the fact that no one really reads this blog...but I'm curious how people out there find that one friend they can call up any day of the week and say 'meet us at the park'.

I don't mean for this post to be a downer but it's just been weighing on my mind lately.  Glad I have this weekend to relax and recharge, despite the pouring rain.

Fresh

Well it's been two months since I last blogged.  I don't know what it is lately but when I go to click on blogger I have this "ick" reaction.  But be assured we had a great holiday and even though January is being its usual cruel self to us, we are doing OK.   We've spent the last week cooped up at home, all of us sick (me even in bed for 2 days which is realllly hard with kids) and miserable.  But I think we are finally on the upswing.
(Oh and we woke up this morning to no water.  So double yay! Fortunately my handy hubby figured it out--our water meter was completely frozen--and fixed it within an hour.  It's hard to go without water even that long!)
So our big news is that sometime before Halloween we found out that I am pregnant.  Baby #3! And I know, I know, remember that post about me not wanting more kids?  Well I just couldn't shake the feeling we were supposed to have another one.  As much as I fought it I just felt like I needed one more.  And I know why I put it off for awhile.  Because everyone acted like if I have a 3rd child, I had to have a 4th.  Because you can't have an odd number of kids!  What about when you go to Disneyland?!  Who is going to sit by themselves on the rides??!?!
Well I finally came to the conclusion that I am not planning my life around a freakin trip to Disneyland.  I'll have 3 kids and everything will be fine.  After all, I grew up the oldest of 3 kids, and no, my life wasn't torn apart every time we went to Disneyland.
So there is no pressure to have 4.  None at all.
Aaaaaaaanyway we found out a couple of weeks ago that it is a boy and I am soooo happy.  Because holy lands, is my daughter hard.  Last night we had scones for dessert and she ran to her room BAWLING because hers didn't have enough butter on it.  We just stared at each other like,  "What just happened?" She is the only girl I can handle.
Baby boy is due the end of May.  And I already feel HUGE.  You know those darling girls that get pregnant and look like they have a little basketball stuck under their shirt?  Yeah that is so NOT me.  I am a beast when I am pregnant.  A huge, fat, ugly, hormonal beast.  So here goes! Another four months until I feel human again!

Man, I sound so maternal.

Because I hate photo-less posts, here are some from our Christmas.

Oh and my brother got home from Afghanistan, safe and sound!  It is such a relief.  I just wish his home wasn't across the Pacific!  Can't wait to see him in March when they come out here.

What to do With All of That Halloween Candy

We had a great Halloween, and as usual my kids got tons of candy.  And guess what do we do with all of it?  Make a Christmas countdown chain!  We did this last year, and I cannot for the life of me remember where I got the idea.  But it cut our Halloween stash down so much that I knew it would be something we do year after year.  And the kids loved doing the countdown each day in December.

Just start by rolling out a reallllly long piece of saran wrap, add pieces of candy, wrap them and tie a ribbon in between.

I just did it for the month of December (25 pieces), and it cut my kids Halloween candy stash down to 7 pieces each.  Now that I can handle.

And of course, save the best for last:

A New Look and Our Halloween

Before I talk about Halloween, have you seen the new blog?  It is amazing!  Colleen of Paisley Boulevard did a redesign for me and I love it!  Don't you? :)  I cannot thank her enough for all of the time she spent on this little tiny blog and want her to know how grateful I am for it!

What a great October we had!  First up was the pumpkin patch a few weeks ago to pick out our pumpkins.

Next up was the Halloween party last Saturday.  I did my old standby vampire costume, and my hubby was a Peruvian since he had a few authentic pieces--but I didn't get a picture of him.

Scary!  The hubs ended up winning both the chili contest and the pumpkin carving contest.  I might have to post the chili recipe here some day, it really is delicious.  And here is the winning pumpkin:

Along with our other non award-winning pumpkins:

Trick or treating with the kids is always fun.  They both get so excited and their excitement is infectious.  Every time Bud got a new piece of candy he'd say his bucket was getting heavy, or that he was getting "lots and lots" of candy.  Here's our kitty and football player:

Hope you all had a great Halloween!

My Little Scholar

We interrupt this ridiculously long trip updating to bring you photos of my baby girl.  She started preschool this week and we did some photos to celebrate.  Huge thanks to my friend Laura who took most of them, even though for some reason every time we tried to get baby girl to smile she gave us this weird full lipped pout.  I have no idea where that came from.

Preschool is going great by the way.  We are both ready for this transition.  No tears from this mama and never has a child been so excited to attend school.

My Mini-Me and an Ice Cream Cone Cake

Last week my daughter turned 4 years old.  I was so excited all morning for her and kept calling her the birthday girl--even put sprinkles on her waffle.

Gotta love the expression.  So all of a sudden she says to me, "Please stop saying it's my birthday."  I was like ok whatever, I can play it cool.  Then I suddenly had to laugh because that is exactly what I would say!  Literally.  I was kind of worried (not really worried, but you know concerned) that she wasn't going to enjoy her day. A few hours later she was talking about her party and excited so I was relieved to see that she was in fact still 4.  Not on the verge of being in her mid 30's.  :)  

The day of her actual birthday we went to her restaurant of choice for dinner (McD's.  Where else?) and then gave her her big gift.

 Here it comes....

 A new bike!  She was so surprised.  We kept asking her what she wanted for her birthday but she'd always say she didn't know.  So we got to do whatever we wanted.

 She loved it!

Then that weekend I did the most low-key (and easiest!) birthday party ever.  We met all of our family at a park, let the kids play, and did cake and ice cream sundaes.  It was a lot of fun and it felt great not to be worried about details, games, decor, etc.  I need that once in awhile.

 

Dad brought her flowers on her birthday and I so wish this photo was focused right!  Arg! Yes the hubby wears neon at work.  He's so on trend. lol

Happy Birthday baby girl!

Summer 2012

Hey all, how's your summer?  We are having a blast.  Instead of describing every detail I'll just share some pictures.  Ok and a few details.  We bought a small boat--it is so fun!  Perfect for our little family.  We took the kids on their first camping trip. It was a huge success!  Even though it is a lot of work, I can't wait to go again.  

Hope you're all soaking up the sun and enjoying the warm weather...I cry just thinking about winter.  These are all from my Instagram account (ambermomof2 is my screen name, come and join me!).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Last Mother's Day my mom gave us tickets to Wicked for this month...and it finally came! It was so amazing, and fun to be with my mom and sister in-laws, who I love!