I Feel Like a Human Being Again...

...and so I should probably blog. But, I've been gone for so long, what's one more week. See you in 2010!

Pumkin Patch- A BLTN post

We didn't make it to the good pumpkin patch this year. We intended to and tried several times. Morning sickness won in the end and we ended up at home for most of the month of October. We did get to the smaller patch at the end of Grammie's street. It wasn't as much fun as last year (mainly because all I wanted to do was lay down) but it got us into the Halloween spirit.

So many pumpkins. Which should I choose?

Patiently waiting to go into the petting zoo. He was so excited but then cried the entire time he was in there.

Pretty sure this one is bigger than you, buddy. He thought it made a nice drum.

We'll try to get to Peltzer Farms next year. And the apple orchard. And off the couch. :).

*BLTN-better late than never

Eating for 2, Drinking for None

That's right. We're preggers again.



I guess the cat's out of the bag since 'The Hubs' has a serious issue with keeping his mouth shut. I suppose that I can't blame him. He is super excited to be a Daddy again. I'm pretty excited too. I just think that neither of us thought this would happen so soon.


A few months ago, 'The Hubs' and I started to discuss trying for baby number 2. We thought we'd have to try for a while before any success and were planning an October or November 2010 baby. Boy were we wrong. According to our OB, the first try did it.



Let's rewind a bit...


I went to Von's with Tyler about 3 weeks ago for a routine shopping trip. Well, about as routine as it can be with a 2 year old. All of a sudden, in the cereal aisle, I felt dizzy and broke out in a hot sweat. 'Oh, my gosh', I thought, 'I'm pregnant'. I darted over to pick up a home pregnancy test before leaving. (Of course, while we were checking out 'The Boy' threw a fit and, as the checker scanned the pregnancy test, he looked at me like, 'you poor lady'.)


The next morning, I took the test and...negative. I knew that I was pregnant and that it was probably too early to test so I tested again a few days later and...negative. I started getting frustrated and began feeling more symptoms that I hadn't felt since I was pregnant with 'The Boy'.


I was so convinced that I gave up drinking and stopped lifting the heavier weights during my workout. I just knew that I was pregnant. So I went to the OB and had some blood work done. I thought that they would process it and get back to me in a few hours but, since it was a Friday afternoon, I was told that I would have to wait until Monday.



Meanwhile, I took a test on that Sunday morning and...

...positive! Halefrickinluja! I'm not crazy after all.

We are expecting our second little bundle of joy sometime this June. I haven't been to the OB to date the pregnancy yet but, according to the due date calculator on Parents.com, we are due June 19th. Our first appointment is November 6th, so I will update after that.


I am now 6 weeks sober, ahem, pregnant and feeling way worse than I did with my son. The nausea is pretty bad and I have recently made best friends with my couch. Don't expect to see the good version of me for awhile. And please don't tell the crappy version of me how sick I look.





We are so excited to share our news and can't wait to keep everyone posted about our newest 'Little'.

Sick Mommy is Still a Great Mommy

I have been feeling a little under the weather for the past few weeks and, three days ago, woke up full blown sick. I'm talking coughing up a lung, hugging the toilet, making best friends with my couch, sick. My kid, however, is not sick and even if he was, he'd still be running all over the place.

It's been pretty boring around here according to 2 year old standards. Mommy can't play outside, can only play trains for a few minutes before feeling dizzy and still can only take so much Laurie Berkner. Thankfully, 'The Boy' is fairly good at entertaining himself these days.

Today, while I was half awake on my new best friend, 'The Boy' came up to me and said, without any prompting, "I love you, Mommy." And then he gave me a big hug and a kiss, again without any coaxing whatsoever.

Thank you little buddy for making me realize that, even at my worst, I am still your best.

Blogger I Love

I'm a blog stalker. There I said it. It is my opinion that if you choose to broadcast your life and not set the private button, I am entitled to feel like a member of your family. Just Johnson's are not set to private and you get to see our kid and laugh at all of our nerdy adventures so it's only fair that I get the same in return.

I'd like to introduce you to Beth, my favorite blogger of the month, mommy blogger of Unskinny Boppy.


Check her out by clicking above!

She's hilarious and says every nasty thing about Thomas the Train that I only wish I could voice aloud. Other things I love about Beth, she hates the word shunting as much as I do and
has the courage to state what is really going on between Handy Manny and Kelly. ( For the record, I have thought this for months. Your not fooling anyone, Disney.)

Hope you all enjoy her "unskinny mommyisms" as much as I have.

Don't Say He Ain't Trying

Thanks you, Barry! I knew you deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. I ♥ America!

Exhaustion

Yesterday was the end of a long, emotional week. So busy at home and at work. I lay down on the couch last night after putting Tyler down and dosed off for the night. According to 'The Hubs', he came in to watch TV with me and found me asleep at 8:30! I believe it because I'm pretty sure I can remember drifting off while listening to Tyler play with his trains in his crib. I fell asleep before a 2 year old! I think I need a vacation.

Two Places at Once

Warning: Vent ahead!

I wish that I could be two places at once. I'm not talking about vacationing in two totally different locations at the same time or even standing on either side of a state line (ahhh...A Walk to Remember). Since the middle of this year, my heart has been constantly pulled in opposite directions and, unfortunately, there's not much that I can do about. it.

My two places are work and home. I am sure that many of you working moms out there know exactly how I have felt for the past four months. When I am at work, my head (and heart) are with my little man and when I am at home, my head (and heart) are at work. I only work three days a week but, when I went back it was two six hour days that soon turned into two eight hour days and on-call weekends, and now has turned into three eight hour days (but no more on-call, thank God).

Let me start by saying that since I was a little girl, I knew that all I wanted was to be a mom. A stay-at-home, making crafts, taking my kid to play group, volunteering in the class room, mom.

When my husband and I were first dating, I explained this to him. He said that there was no way. I was working too hard in school to just throw it all away. I felt differently and thought that, when the time came, I'd be able to convince him that the best place for me to be was at home, raising our kids. (My mistake, I know. But, I was still naive and under the impression that I could change a man. I stand corrected.)

Let me also say that I love, no, adore my job (the one that pays me in dollars, not smiles). I have worked very hard to be where I am in my career. I am a hospice nurse and I feel that the work that I do is very important. I love my coworkers and I have never dreaded going to work or looked at the clock to see if I was close to being done. I love my patients and their families and I care for them as if they were my own family.

At home, my son needs me to care for him, wipe his tears away and give him hugs when he is feeling down. At work, my patients and their families need me to care for them, wipe their tears away, and give them hugs when they are feeling down.

If I just had some job where I clocked in and out, dreaded going in and didn't feel like my work was meaningful, I would say that staying at home would win. Hands down! But, I have a job in which families invite me into one of the most precious times of their lives to get them all through it. Because the work I do is so meaningful, I would find it impossible to walk away (if I could).

Today, I had a breakdown. I broke a promise and I felt like I was forced to choose my work over my son. 'The Boy's' cousin had a Halloween party today and last week I told him the Mommy would switch days so that we could go. I couldn't switch. I have a meeting tomorrow that I had to prepare for and a company depending on me. Although I have a son (who doesn't understand) who is depending on me, work came first. I felt like the worst mom in the history of mom's

I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. And apologized. And sobbed some more. Even as I write this, I am teary eyed. Of course my patients and their families don't hold a torch to my son. I love him to the moon and back. I only love my patent's and their families to the moon. If I could choose, 'The Boy' would, of course, win.

But I can't choose. My husband is a civil engineer and due to our failing economy, lost 20% of his salary four months ago. In order to maintain our lifestyle and provide our son with all we want to, I had to work more. I know it is only three days, but it's three days that I miss my son terribly.

I often wonder how other families make it happen and stare at our budget searching for ways to cut back. We cannot. So it is what it is and I will continue to be torn.

Vent: Over.

Choo! Choo! Tyler is 2!

Tyler loves trains and what better way to celebrate his second birthday than with a Thomas and Friends party. Thank you to all of our family and friend for celebrating with us. We had such a blast. Warning: Many, many pictures ahead.

JOHNSON STATION

We used black duct tape to make train tracks on our walkway. They led through the door and into the party room.

Close up of our banner from Celebrate Express

I was so excited to find this old railroad sign at an antique store and it was perfect for the front door.

More train track in the hallway

The dining room was the first room the guests saw when they walked through the door. I made this train to display the cupcakes. I felt so crafty making this and for me, that's huge.



Closeup of the cake train

Back of the cake train

Front of the cake train (can you tell that I am proud of this one?)

The Tyler Express- train number 2

Choo! Choo! Tyler is 2!



Wooden letters I spray painted - Choo! Choo!

The gift table and the party bags above it. I gave each kid a bag of candy, bubbles and a train whistle. They received these at the end of the party for good reason. I would like to apologize to all you parents for sending your kids home with such an annoying party favor.

Happy Birthday banner that I made. I had never made a banner before and found them to be super easy.



Another banner that I made

Party room where we opened gifts


Tyler is 2!

I made these fun little signs to label all of the food. Everything was named after the trains on Thomas and Friends - Thomas' train wheels (wheel shaped mac and cheese), Gordon's garlic bread, Lady's lemonade, etc.

Our patio where we served dinner




Thomas the Train jumper- there is only one of these available in all the Inland Empire. We were sooooo lucky to be able to get it!

Hey, Birthday boy!

Having so much fun bouncing





Time out for some apple juice. Bouncing is such hard work!




Sneaking jelly beans for the fifty thousandth time. The jellybeans were in little train dishes that I made. So bummed that I didn't get a picture of them.

My nephew, Cade. Such a cutie.





The kiddos playing on our new swing set

Okay, here comes the meltdown. 'The Boy' enjoys holding a train or two at all times. It doesn't matter what he's up to, he's always holding a train. So the meltdown started when one of his pals dared to pick up a train that 'The Boy' was not currently holding. 'The Boy' (of course) decided that he wanted to hold that train immediately and, since he's not the best sharer yet, had a meltdown when I explained to him that it was okay for other kids to play with his trains.

'The Boy' was not amused so, I thought we should get the party moving and blow out the
candles. Also not thrilled with this.



I will smile through this. You're 2 kid. I am bigger and stronger and you WILL HAVE CAKE!
NOW!

He calmed down once the singing started and even made an effort to blow out his candle.

For the very first time in his life, 'The Boy' could have cared less about cake and wanted only his trains.

Maybe...

Maybe not...

We even survived present time.

Of course, only interested in the trains.

Thank you every body for celebrating with us. We had such a great time and loved that each of you were able to be there. See you next year (at some party facility that is not my house).

Happy Birthday 2 You, Tyler!

Our little man turned 2 on September 26th. I cannot believe how time is flying! We had a few celebrations for 'The Boy'. Welcome to the family, kiddo. It's called a birthday weekend around here.

Friday night, Grammie, Pop, Mimi, Papa, and Grandma came to celebrate with us. We ate pizza (teetzah) 'The Boys'' favorite. We opened family presents or at least tried to. We started with the super fun playhouse from Grandma and Grandpa. After that, it was difficult to get his attention for anything else. We did get through his new easel (thanks Grammie and Pop) and a new dinosaur and play dough (thanks Mimi and Papa).

Saturday morning, 'The Hubs' and I woke 'The Boy' up and sung "Happy Birthday" before bringing him downstairs to meet his new favorite toy- a train table. He played non-stop for 4 hours forgoing breakfast and lunch so that he could hang with Thomas and Friends.

His big bash was on Saturday night with all our family and friends. (Pics soon to come.)

We practiced and practiced! Still needed a little help from Daddy.

This took hours to put together but it was so worth it. He loooooves it.


'The Hubs' and I are singing "happy Birthday" on the other end of the camera. Note how 'The Boy' cares only about one thing.

This action shot was taken as he was charging for his new toy. I soooo need a new camera. All the good pics in this post are from Grammie and Pop's.
Let the fun begin. That's Edward the big engine on the ground. 'The Boy' took him to bed the night before.

Mission: Bathroom Makeover, Complete

'The Hubs' and I have been working on a makeover for the downstairs bathroom for months and we are happy to report that it is (finally) complete. It all started with the idea of giving our hardware a little lift and one thing led to another resulting in a complete head to toe makeover.

4 months later, several arguments, a few coats of paint and more cursing than I have heard out of my husband's mouth since his Navy days, we have finally achieved perfection (for now).

Hopefully, next year we will be able to afford the granite counter top that we just couldn't stomach shelling out the cash for right now.

Before:

The old towel rack that started it all.

Boring!

After:

A new mirror, faucet and buffed counter top.

(Don't mind the annoying glare from the light fixture or my hand and the camera peeking in from below.)

New brushed nickle shower curtain rod and wainscoting shelf. The picture is hung where the old ugly towel rack once resided.

Same cabinet with a fresh coat of paint and new hardware.

New satin nickel faucet. 'The Hubs' was very proud of this one.

What's a Beach Cottage bathroom without a vase full of shells?

The toilet paper holder that (also) started it all.

New home for the towel rack. I still think that it is hung too high but 'The Hubs' says it stays that way.

Wainscoting shelf (stores toilet paper)

New artwork from Homegoods

A different view







Homemade built in shelf that took place of the standard medicine cabinet that came with the house. We got this idea from Dane and Janelle- thanks you guys! You saved us from a lifetime of tolerating the ugly medicine cabinet.





Another view.

We worked so hard on this project and for so long. Hope you all love it as much as we do!