Dangerous Wonder

Today we went and visited the Venetucci Farm to get a pumpkin and enjoy a nice fall day out. It ended up being a little windy and dusty but we had fun none the less. Dean helped to pick out a pumpkin that will make some yummy pies! We wanted to go on the hayride, but the line was very very long and we didn't feel like waiting. It's been a while since we even took pictures of Dean, much less posted them. So I thought this would be a great photo op!

Daddy and Dean in the pumpkin "picking area".


Dean getting his face painted. He was such a good boy and held very still.


The completed artwork! :)

I have the greatest husband on earth! He came home early yesterday from his business and totally surprised me with a night away as early celebration of our anniversary considering we probably won't be able to go anywhere overnight then. Kyle met me at my Dr's appointment, which by the way went well. He and my Dr got to catch up on fishing and hunting stories. Oh, and yes the baby is head down and ready to go whenever. I always find it funny that when Kyle comes with me to appointments he and the Dr spend more time chatting then I and my Dr. After that we went to Grammie and Gramps where Kyle dropped off stuff for Dean to spend the night. His first overnight all by himself! Kyle had planned this all out before he even left on his trip much to my surprise. We got a suite at a local hotel, which for me was perfect. Lately I've been dreaming about sleeping in a bed I don't have to make, eating food I don't have to cook, and soaking in a jetted tub. Yes, how simple the dreams of the stay at home mom and housewife! :) We had an incredible relaxing time and though we didn't stay up late or "paint the town red" we still had a lot of fun. Of course the one morning of the last 15 months of my life that I could sleep in I was wide awake at 7 am. Wouldn't you know? Still it was nice to not have to get up and do anything. After breakfast and a movie (Evan Almighty), I did get a short nap in. Glorious. Dean was having such a good time with Gramps and Grammie that he stayed with them and went to a softball game in the afternoon. Kyle and I took advantage of the opportunity, got a late lunch, and went to the theaters to see a movie. Unfortunately there isn't much good out right now. Kyle ended up seeing a low budget sci-fi movie and I went and saw a teeny-bopper movie that grossly glamorized college and "greek life". All in all a great get away. I so appreciate Kyle's thoughtfulness in planning all this for me. The break from being Mom was just enough to make me miss my boy and be grateful for the little blessing he is. Now I have this week to finish preparing for little Abi and the introduction of some estrogen into our family dynamics. I think I'm now ready!

I don't think I realized just how tired I was toward the end of my pregnancy with Dean. I have the nesting bug BAD this time. The bad part is that I'm finding out no matter how much I get done I always find more to do. The other morning I decided to clean the top of the refrigerator. Now it's not like it didn't need to be cleaned. In fact I hadn't cleaned it in the two years we've lived in our house. Gross, I know; but it's more a factor of out of sight out of mind. However the other day it didn't matter that I hadn't seen the top of the fridge in two years it was getting cleaned. And then while I was doing that I decided to clean the microwave, which has by the way been cleaned in the past two years. :) Anyway, my point is this list I started a few weeks ago with the goal of completing before Abi comes isn't getting any smaller. That brings me to the good side of nesting though....it has me totally distracted from any and all contractions. Not that they are that strong anyway, more like the Braxton-Hicks type; but at least they aren't consuming my attention like they did last time. I figure at this rate I should be half-way through labor before I even realize it. Well that's my hope anyway. I remember I used to tell my patients who were sick and still pregnant that it was far better to be at home because you have things to distract you, whereas when you are stuck in bed there is little else to think about other then every little ache and pain. I think the same applies to labor. Even if it is another 42 hour ordeal, perhaps it will feel like less if I'm not timing every contraction from the first one one. :) Ahh.. the lessons we learn!

I can hardly believe that Dean is already 15 months old. He really is no longer my little baby! He had is check-up Thursday and did very well. Mama remembered to bring his Teddy (his best friend) to comfort him after his shots. He still cried a lot, if you know my son you know how dramatic he is, but clinging to Teddy seemed to shorten his hysterics a little. He weighed in at 27.5 lbs and is 34 in tall. His height is literally off the charts while his weight is between 75-80%. Dr Ryan says he still sleeps a lot because he still growing a lot. He grew 1.5 in and gained 2 lbs just since his 12 mon appt. I guess he's getting enough to eat! :)

Now that Dean has started using sign we are being more intentional about making him use it. He's gotten "more" down really well, especially cause he knows it has results! Now I'm trying emphasize manners and please and thank you. Still not walking yet and no one seems worried. I'm not really worried either, I'm just getting too pregnant to be able to carry him much! He walks along and around everything, now I think it's just a matter of him being brave enough to let go...... Funny how those life lessons repeat themselves in so many different ways over the course of our lives. How often do I fail to let go of something for fear of falling, failing, or the unknown? I hope to be able to teach my son to not only trust me, but more so to trust his Heavenly Father to always care for him.

So I think I'm seeing a type of Murphy's law at work in my life, but before I get to that... I'm realizing I haven't taken pics of Dean in awhile. I'll blame it on being preoccupied with many other things. We still take Dean to the park and swimming, but I just don't have the mental energy to keep track of a camera on top of everything else. I will try to get some taken though soon. Dean I think is finally slowing down growth wise. At least he still wearing most of the clothes that we started the summer with. He has put on a few more pounds, which is making my life a little bit harder. He is so close to walking, but just doesn't have the bravery to let go. When I take him to the park I let him practice walking after he swings awhile. He really does enjoy walking as long as he feels safe. I kind of wish we had one of those walking harnesses to try as I wonder if that would help. Oh well, not going to invest in one now. We have plenty of other more important things to get.

Ok, back to my Murphy's law statement. I am noticing that just as I am needing to get more things done in preparation for my sister moving in and Abi coming, I'm having more contractions. Not anything painful, but definitely more frequent especially as it gets later in the day. I'm not overly worried that I'm going to go into labor early, but I do try to lay down when I notice that they are getting too frequent. It is frustrating though when I want to continue to work on things around the house. I'm the type that will rest better after Abi's born if I know that there is nothing pressing to do. I have a hard enough time resting as it is. This time around though I am much more aware of the need to rest when you can with a newborn.

Kyle has been a great help though and we are getting quite a bit done. I had to laugh over this past holiday weekend. Both Kyle and I grew up hating the Labor Day holiday as it always meant work around the house and never felt like a holiday. Now that we are older what do we do for Labor Day?? Work around the house!!! :) Maybe our parents weren't so crazy after all!