TFT - Poop stinks

My Thoughts For Thursday will not be deep this week. Not at all.

Ever since I became pregnant, strong smells make me gag - food, diapers, cheese. I have NO idea why, but it makes me really nauseous and I have to hold my breath a lot of the time.

Today, I went to change Acadia's diaper, and realized that she had a.....poopie diaper. I will give you the opportunity now to either start reading another blog or continue with mine. I, like always, gagged a little, then went to throw it out. The diaper made it into the garbage, but the poopie fell out and landed in her diaper holder we have attached to the changing table. I swore. Seriously. I think I swore more then that I have in the past year. I picked up the poopie while still holding my breath and threw it in the trash. The poopie promptly hit the side of the garbage can and fell on the rug. Honestly.

Not to worry - the poopie finally made it into the garbage, and after I threw up in my mouth a little, I put Acadia down for her nap so I could come out and make my lunch. What a day!

TFT - Poopie stinks.

Wordless Wednesday: Fall

Because I'm "that" mom

I'm just going to say it. TV is a wonderful thing. I know there are some parents out there who won't let their children watch any tv, but I'm not about to join their ranks. Acadia loves Curious George and we watch it every day at 3:30.

The one thing that I can count on to calm her down is to watch herself on video. Lately, if she's really cranky and nothing is working, I will ask her if she wants to "watch baby Cadi", and she will always, always, say yes and run over to the couch. She will ask for the same video to be played over and over and over again. And if watching herself on tv is what will turn my little girl back into an angel - I am willing to play these videos over and over!

Ni nights, baby

My Aunt Mimi made this beautiful quilt for Acadia. We have used it every night in Acadia's crib since A. Mimi gave it to us, but it's only been the past two months that Acadia has asked for her "blankie" during the day time. It's now as important to us on road trips as diapers are - we have to have blankie with us at all times. Just recently, Acadia has started to play a little game of "ni nights, baby", where she will lie down and either pull the blankie over her, or ask us to wrap her up in her blankie. Here is a small clip of her newest and funnest game. It might be hard for you to hear her, but she also says "cheese" now whenever I break the camera out! LOL!

Did I mention they're NUMBER ONE?!?!

They're # ONE!!!

I have never, ever wished I was a sports writer until this moment. Honestly. Whatever I have to say in this post, just will not do it justice. Today was the best game I have ever watched in any sport. Ever. My cousins, Jillian and Sydney (who play field hockey for Rice HS), were in the finals today against Stowe.

Although Rice beat Stowe two times (out of the two games they played) in regular season, Stowe has won the state championships the last four years in a row. Stowe seemed to dominate in the first half of the game, but what the heck do I know? I don't know anything about field hockey.

BUT - and this is taking from the Burlington Free Press, Rice came back, "scoring a goal on a penalty corner with no time left in regulation to force overtime in the Division III state championship game... Then the resilient group of Green Knights (14-3) made it a memorable one when they prevailed in a penalty-stroke shootout, securing the program’s first crown and halting Stowe’s four-year championship reign."

Let's me just explain something to you. The score was tied 1-1 when Stowe scored with THREE minutes left in the game. I doubt very much I should type what was said throughout the crowd in the sidelines when Stowe scored. Let's just say that I will not allow Acadia to say any of those words for a long, loooong time. I can only imagine the thoughts of the parents surrounding me, mentally preparing themselves to pick up the pieces of their daughters when the game ended.

Instead, Rice scored to tie the game with NO TIME LEFT on the scoreboard!!!!!!!!!!! I have never seen anything like it! And I have never experienced the pure joy and complete happiness that was felt on the sidelines. Screaming and tears - this game was just as much a win for the parents, who have loyally gone to every game wearing their Rice jackets and cheering their girls, as it was for the players themselves.

As the BFP article said, they then went into overtime and won in the shootout. It was an amazing game, and I am so, so proud of my cousins!!





The shoot out




Holding the trophy for the first time!


Aunt Becky waiting to congratulate her girls!




My very, very proud Uncle Bob





The beautiful Bouchard Family


Look at Uncle Bob - I don't think there was a prouder dad!!

Uncle Buzzy and cousin Bailey

Sisters!

The very proud cousin!

The seniors

Music Class

TFT - Caring about strangers

Is it possible to care about complete strangers? I definitely think so! I would never, ever want to live in a world where it wasn't possible to care about strangers. A little over a month ago, I saw a clip about Stephanie and Christian. They were in a plane accident in August, and are now in the hospital. Christian is in rehab, and Stephanie is still in a coma. They have four beautiful children, and I can promise you that if you read Stephanie's (nie nie) blog, you will fall in love with her. Strange, isn't it? How you can feel like you know someone from reading their blog? Strange in a good way, of course.

Here is a video about Stephanie and Christian:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiKPeNIAETc

Here is Stephanie's blog:

My advice is to read it from the very last post to the most current post. Trust me - you will love this blog!
http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

If you are interested in C&S as much as I am, here is Stephanie's sister's blog. She is giving daily updates: http://blog.cjanerun.com/

Wordless Wednesday

Tar-jay

Going to Target with my mom and sister = Best night ever

Apple picking

We went apple picking yesterday with the (soon-to-be) Duvals at Adam's Apple Orchard. We sneaked in on the very last day of apple picking. There were a ton of apples left to pick which we were a bit surprised about. I figured with it being the last day of picking, there wouldn't be much left. We all had fun - Acadia was in a great mood and loved eating the apples :)

Trying new foods

Since the beginning of the summer, we have pretty much just given Acadia what we are eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This includes going out to dinner, so she has had Mexican, Italian, Japanese and Thai. The other night we went to a Vietnamese place in Essex and she added that to her list of foods.

Looking through the menu


Picking out her dinner


Trying Vietnamese for the first time!

Getting ready for Halloween

I'm such a sucker for these things...

I saw this on the Today Show and have watched it twice on-line. And, yes. I have cried each time.

http://gannett.a.mms.mavenapps.net/mms/rt/1/site/gannett-kare-3323-pub01-live/current/launch.html?maven_playerId=articleplayer&maven_referralPlaylistId=playlist&maven_referralObject=892995313

Buddies

"So, I'm all - MOM. I don't want to pee pee on the potty right now. It's cold. I do not feel like sitting on that damn potty again. Please just let me pee in my diaper."

"OMG. I went through the SAME thing last week!"

Sigh. Parents....

TFT - Loving two

I have been thinking about this poem a lot lately...

Loving Two
I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before. I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you. But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast. But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three.

I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.
I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments.

And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life.
~Author Unknown

Happy anniversary

9 years ago today, we kissed for the very first time in Acadia National Park...9 years later, you are still the only person I could ever imagine kissing...Thank you for making this life we have together possible...you were and still are my very best friend - I love you...xoxo J.

A not-so wordless Wednesday...

Well, if the video worked for you, then you were able to find out that Matt and I are expecting our second baby!! I am just shy of three months along and due in the beginning of May. We are so thrilled and can not wait to meet the newest (and most likely final) addition to our family. We had our first doctor appointment on Monday, with an ultrasound, and everything looks great - the baby is growing as he/she should and the heartbeat sounds good.

We are working on turning Acadia's playroom upstairs into her new "big girl" room, and the new baby will go into Acadia's old room. It's hard to see our baby growing up so quickly - it's very bittersweet.

Top two questions:

1. Will you be finding out the sex? No, we will not be finding out the sex of the baby. We loved the surprise aspect we had with Acadia and definitely want to repeat it!
2. How have you been feeling? Actually, not so well. I have had morning (ha! more like all day) sickness, which had recently subsided - thank god! I have been also very tired, which is to be expected. Besides that, everything has been fine. I have been thanking Matt weekly for picking up random items at the store - lemonade, sour patch kids and jolly ranchers, as the sourness has really helped with the morning sickness.

We are very excited to share our ride with you all with this blog - it's a shame I wasn't blogging when I had Acadia, because I find that this is a form of therapy for me :) Luckily, I kept a diary with Acadia, so I kept track of all our appointments, thoughts and fears that way.

Thank you for all your sweet e-mails and phone calls - we love you!!

And all she cares about is her snack....

She likes her alone time

Whenever I leave Acadia's bedroom door opened, Acadia runs into her room, shuts the door and runs to her rocking chair to read. For some reason, she finds this hysterical; I think because she's never alone, she loves her little alone time.

Poor Acadia...

This is what happens when your parents 'think' they're still cool. And yes, she really did start shaking her head and telling us no. I guess you can feel embarrassed, even at the ripe old age of one!

http://kypod.blogspot.com/2008/10/musical-paradees.html

You learn something new every day...

Apparently Matt and I lick our fingers when we turn the pages of Acadia's storybooks...

Her new favorite toy is...

the remote control! She'll grab it, giggle like crazy, then run and hide, all while trying to change the channel on the tv.

It's cold in our house!

TFT - Christmas

I know, I know. It's only October. But there are stores out there already selling Christmas stockings, ornaments and plastic trees! I have bought my nephews their Christmas presents, but haven't gotten much further than that. We have started socking (that's the term, right?) money away for Christmas every week, in hopes that this year will be the first year that we don't worry about money. Sigh. We can dream, right?!

Our families normally do secret santa for Christmas, which really alleviates a lot of stress. Last year, we actually decided to do away with secret santa, and just buy for the kids. SO much less stressful!! It helps us focus more on what the day is all about, instead of just running around buying and wrapping presents.

Last year, I had all my presents bought and wrapped by October, and although one of my friends made fun of me...a LOT...it was SO nice to have everything done and enjoy the holiday season.

TFT: What are your secrets for keeping Christmas less stressful?

Wordless Wednesday: Her first fort

Pumpkin picking

Mazza's Fest

I think I can speak for every Vermonter when I say I love fall! There are so many fun things to do here and the foliage is just breathtaking. It is probably my favorite time of year; I look forward to pumpkin pie, apple donuts, hot apple cider, and going to the Mazza's Harvest Fest.

Here are some pictures from Sunday :)

Trying to pick out a pumpkin




Wondering why she can't lift the pumpkins


Finally! A perfect one for our girl...






A little cold!


Having her very first cheeseburger with fries!


In awe of the clown



Checking out the goat