Really, I can do that too....

maybe not. Ryan's sisters husband has made some serious physical changes. In just 12 WEEKS. For the cause of the Gold's Gym Challenge. And if he wins he get 14k. And I promise it is him in both the before and after.... no joke and no stand-ins. Just Joe.

Tanner turned 7

Born in San Diego, a hefty baby at 9lbs. He was our only child for 4 years... he's moved with us 8 of our 10 times, has always been very strong-willed, and still maintains to need very little sleep. He's been there when Ryan finished undergraduate, started and finished medical school and started residency. He's snorkeled the world famous Tobago Keys, watched a whale breech near the shore on a desolate beach, has a passport stamped that many adults don't have, loves flashlights and has a collection, and is great with Lego's. He growls and likes to wrestle and seems to run everywhere in the house. Landon is always happy to see him and Emma knows she can always get praise from him in her dress-ups. He wants to be like his dad, and I can see both Ryan and I in him in different ways. I can't believe I have a seven year old and can't hardly remember what my life was like before him. For certain, not as good as it has been now that we have him.

10 months

2 1/2 years on our first island.
a good swimmer early on
3 1/2 at preschool graduation 5 years old
just this year

Worth Mentioning

- I heard Tanner tell Emma to stop singing her song since she didn't know how to sing it right. Then he asked her, "Do you even know what you are singing?" She stopped and then just kept singing. Yes, he was annoyed.

- I think Landon has hit the terrible 2's a bit early- or maybe Ryan's vacation ruined him. He doesn't want much of me anymore. Just Ryan and Ryan and Ryan and maybe the Wii. Possibly that is due to his Allergy Visit. (next item)

- Landon has had rash reactions for over a year requiring adrenaline shots and steroids to stop the reaction. I took him to see a specialist where they grid his back and pricked his back 48 times. I had to hold him still. Maybe that is why he likes Ryan more than me? Anyhow, he has namely, Dermatographic Urticaria (Skin Writing disorder) that causes him to react more strongly to things that bother him. He is allergic to egg yolks, ragweed, grass, mold, pet stuff. Ryan feeds him fried eggs which went against my gut instinct (I mean who feeds a toddler that?) and the egg yolks have prompted his latest outbreaks. As for the the Skin Writing disorder- it is annoying and my Allergist said only 2-3% (readings say 4-5%) of the population have it.

- Partly due to the above item, I had to stay home from church because of runny noses or allergies and rashes.

- At my ultrasound last week they measured this baby at 75% instead of 50% meaning I have a big baby. I KNOW. So, that prompted her to want to see me every 2 weeks and watch my sugars again. I'm having braxton hicks frequently and at some point I just have to sit down. (like all the time) This is how it went with Landon. And he was 3 1/2 weeks early and my dates weren't off and he was 9.3. I think I feel a pattern repeating here. I won't make it to 38 weeks for sure. My placenta moved. So far I am okay for my 3rd vbac.

-Ryan built a playhouse under our swing set.. he thought it was more for Emma. She gets booted out a lot from the tramp and big boys. Well, once it was finished, the big boys moved in. I even overheard, "Ya, you should put a flower box on the window!"

- My mom is going to have more than a few grand baby's this year. I'm not announcing for anyone!

-Landon won't say "mommy" or "ma" or "mama" or even "mother" yet. I try so hard too! I hear "Daddy" during the dark hours of the night. It's my call I guess, since Ryan does not hear his name being lovingly yelled.

- Emma does not want to wear anything unless it is a dress.

Our 3 year old Emma

Emma officially turned 3 yesterday.

She was born a little over 2 weeks early and had some breathing and jaundice problems... we were so happy when she finally was able to stay home. Tanner, 4 at the time, hated leaving her in the NICU and told Ryan, "Boys don't leave their girls!" This still makes us smile... there is no way we could ever forget our Emma.

Days old:

At one:
At two:

3 years old, blowing out her shared birthday cake from Grandma Sue's birthday.

How we love her... we can not help that she loves pink or princess' or babies. Potty training was finally a success when I encouraged her that "only big girls who don't where diapers can hold our new baby." Ryan hopes she grows up to take care of us.. her daughterly duties to her father I suppose. She likes to feel the skin of our stomachs (sometimes annoying), loves to eat salad and strawberries, grapes and watermelon, and she is already sensitive to the feelings of others, noticing sad, hurt and happy emotions, especially of her family. She reminds us that "we are friends." She had a birthday dinner of Pizza and had picked out any carton of ice cream that was pink on the outside- no surprise to us.

Circus Birthdays for 2

Tanner turns 7 and Emma turns 3 this month- we combined there birthdays for one party.

The kids bounced and slid (maybe some parents did too)...

Played in the obstacle course (races of parents against kids and spouses against spouses)...

Played in the tot room...

Shared a cupcake cake with ice cream...

Before...

And After...
But mostly, 2 happy kids that we love so much.

The Getaway- 10 things to say

1. I left a fridge covered in typed memo's (food, habits, emergency contact) & an envelope with health insurance cards for Ryan's mom and we were on our way to Nashville for almost 2 days. I don't think she even had to use any of the memos advise- Grandmas always have a way. I think the first day was spent crossing the streets and looking behind me to want to instinctively tell a child to "stay with me" and waiting to feel a little hand on my back. But, Ryan had no childless transition problems. I realized he walks too fast most of the time- maybe that is why I am always the one with the little "attachments".

2. Our hotel was in downtown- the city is very clean. We weren't too far from Broadway that had a strip of honky tonk's that were each showcasing different local talents. Ryan kept wanting to go in.... I felt a bit awkward being so pregnant and entering a bar. Not really my scene. He understood- not his either. But a fun place.

3. We had by far the most wonderful meal we have ever had at (Morten's). So relaxing and the food was phenomenal- worth every cent of splurge.

4. We went to the Country Music Hall of Fame (only ever need to do this once), Grand Old Opry Hotel (amazing and where we will stay upon a next visit) the Opry Mill Mall (why can't Louisville have one too?) , The Rainforest Cafe, some guitar store for Ryan, the Apple Barn, and walked and walked and walked. I brought the wrong shoes.

5. We talked and talked and talked. And laughed. And it was nice to have time to listen to just him.

6. I still didn't sleep well. I think maybe one more night would have cured me of my habit formed periodic arousal's due to children that don't sleep well. Ryan slept fine. As always.

7. We shared meals almost everywhere we went. And that was nice- especially not having to share with a child on the lap.

8. I realized Ryan drinks a lot of Diet Coke... at every meal. The doctors substitute I guess.

9. I'd take this stage in our relationship over any newlywed phase. Really knowing him and him knowing me by far beats out the initial stages, for example. Ryan, " I think that food is too weird for you, " and me, "You can have as LONG as you want looking for new tennis shoes at the Nike outlet. I will just sit right here and you can take your really LONG old time." How comforting to know each other like that, right?

10. That I really do love him. And when our children are gone I really will enjoy just him. I'm certainly one lucky girl.

Grandma Came to Town

She had her birthday here too. It was a sad day when she left yesterday, but the kids enjoyed her so much and Ryan & I enjoyed visiting with her. She loves each of her children and grandchildren and sees in each of them their own special gifts... we will all rise up and call her blessed one day for certain. Thank you for all your help and service mom!

I'm getting so excited!

First, I must say that I have been blessed with dear girlfriends at each different transition in our journey of continual moves. That said, I love my friend Stephanie that let me back out on a girls retreat so that I could surprise Ryan and take him away instead. It was a hard choice to make- but, Ryan and I are coming up on 9 years and we have gotten away once- when Tanner was 6 months old. I will not count each time I have been recovering in Labor & Delivery and he sleeps on the fold-out as a "getaway", sorry. And with #4 around the corner, Steph understood. And that is why I love her.

So, Ryan's mom is coming this Wednesday. I all but kept it a surprise until Ryan tried to pick up some moonlighting shifts and so I had to tell. But, I held it in for a while. We're getting away just for the night to Nashville but will be gone for 2 full days. Alone- without the kids. Is that enough time to miss them?

She'll be here to help with a birthday party this weekend and we will have her here for her Birthday as well- on Sunday. She leaves Monday, which I sense will be a really sad, sad day further proving we live to far from family as always. Curse the residency phase, okay, and maybe the Air Force phase as well.

I had Ryan home for Conference Weekend. BOTH days. He was here to witness Emma knock over my favorite floor lamp, which shattered into a million pieces and took an hour to clean up and dinged up my new table a bit. This was in the midst of the Sunday Morning session. Oh the reverence.

He's working today (I should clarify, he's on his two week block of official vacation from residency shifts, but that gives him the opportunity to pick up some urgent care shifts that can pay a pretty penny in our book of poverty). Tanner's first day of Spring Break- which has felt like a little boy fest from park to our backyard. Unfortunately, he was also not here to have witnessed Landon throwing my only good house phone into a sink of water. Don't think it's gonna make it through. Forgive me if my phone just rings and rings...

ps- Tanner asked if I was as good as a "strong guy"? For certain I said, just am not that good at bending over right now with my tummy.

pss- Sorry for myself Mandee G. that I won't meet you- but I know that I would have loved you.

My blog turned 1.

I found that my blog has been worthwhile for my little family this past year- I have always kept a journal, but this has been a really interactive way to record life happening to us and has helped me keep in touch with others.

This past year I had "blog on the mind", which morphed to "don't forget, when you get to it, blog this:...", to "blog on pause" and I think I have finally settled in on a routine I like. It's not longer taking over, but is fun to have around when I put it in balance. If it goes on pause again, I know it will always be here. Just like a nice little friend.

"Code 13" at the Zoo & Julie

Now that I know what "Code 13" means, I think it important to share for Louisville moms like me who frequent the zoo with young children. It means large animal (cat) out of the exhibit. Code 13 was our day at the zoo. I saw Zoo Staff running really hard and it caught my attention to the point that I thought, when you run like that it causes a bit of a panic feeling. So, I was already on alert. Then I was yelled at to get to safety in the Giraffe House and I could hear on the walkie talkies of the zoo workers "out the back gate" and "too much cross interference" which I interpreted to me too many people on the walkies talking at once. Anyhow.

I had this conversation with Aunt Julie (more like a sister) after my zoo trip. Julie was our sometimes babysitter & my moms littlest sister. While growing up she told us if we put quarters in the ground, Popsicles would grow there. We did put quarters in the ground, and they did grow, and she had no problem robbing us of any spare change we had. Additionally, we would rub her back for looong lengths of time for a stick of gum, she gave me my first strawberry shortcake tape player, and dated a boy named"Leaf" and I went to visit him with her once- I remember thinking he had such a weird name. She made "Chinese Eggs" which I thought were so fancy and yet were scrambled eggs chopped up so much they were like little peas. I rode the bus to the mall with her and she was always the most fashion savvy- hence being queened "best dressed" in High School. And to this day, she is still the most perfectly dressed person that looks good in anything. It makes my sisters & I all pretty envious. Anyhow- back to my phone conversation with her today:

Me: I took Emma & Landon to the zoo this morning.

Julie: Hey, you have to be careful about zoos you know. Especially since that tiger got out of that cage (in San Fransisco over Christmas). I won't go there anymore.

Me: Yah, I know. I was thinking about that today. Then there was a "Code 13".

Julie: What's that?

Me: An alarm for a "large animal out of the exhibit" that required us to quickly be ushered to the Giraffe House for safety.

Julie: SEE! You can't go to the zoo anymore! They are not safe. If one animal gets out due to bad safety standards you have to assume the zoos have poor safety standards at the other exhibits. I can't believe that happened to you! I tell you, don't go back to the zoo. Ever. Again. I mean that animal could have got one of you! Oh my gosh!

She took another call and then called me back and said she was going to tell her husband. I told her I called Ryan at the Urgent Care and he said, "crazy things always happen to you." He lightly laughed at me especially since he KNOWS I followed that SF zoo case and honestly had been looking at the animal enclosures to see if they could get out. Now I know they can.

I will go back, but if there is ever EVER a "code 13" again I will run for my life. And that will be my last trip to that zoo. And, I won't tell Julie cause she will have said "I told you so" and besides, Emma could not stand the smell in the Giraffe House and that was pushing her to her limit- I would hate to get stuck there again.