~Daily Smiles~

We officialy have no "down time". There are no mandatory 10 minute breaks, no 30 minute lunch, no potty breaks without company and if I smoked, I would not be alone in that either....

Life is good.

Yesterday my first really good belly laugh came in the form of my dear, sweet, think-outside-the-box daughter. I asked her to clean up her room and put all of her baby things away. I may have mentioned that she needed to "fill up the pink box" by the time I came back down the hall... she did - with herself. I was snort laughing... the route in which her genius mind works is amazing.



Then there is my son. He who lives for the 3 main man ideals: eat, sleep, poop. Done. End of story - please do not make the mistake in thinking there are other important things in life. There are not. The picture above is my sweet son with a little smirk. This occured after he let out the loudest, stinkiest fart ever... then followed the gnarliest poop filled Huggie that you have ever seen. Yes, EVER! I lovingly said, "Oh my God Tyler! That was disgusting!!!" Then came the smirk. He is a smart ass, just like his Mommy.

Isn't he cute!?

Tonight after bathtime, Katelyne was lovin' her little brother... My 2 most precious little beings. While there are days I could scream and drink heavily, I am constantly amazed that Eric and I created these 2. All of the love we have for each other was poured into these guys. And they are amazing.

I hope that Katelyne appreciates and loves her little brother more everyday as I do my little brother... and I hope Tyler realizes that Katelyne is the coolest, most beautiful, smartest girl ever... as my brother does me. :-)

~Me~

So, this is me... At least this is what I see myself as these last couple of weeks. I am a cow. Nothing more than a milk buffet that makes a wierd noise every once-in-a-while. I think that is why "Mom" is so close to "Moo".

My little guy was born at 8lbs 14oz (Hey! You expect a small kid from a cow?!). Well, yesterday at his 2 week check-up he was a cool 10lbs 5oz. I was actually beating myself up these last couple of weeks thinking I was not producing enough for the little guy - since he literally eats every 1.5 - 2 hours. But no, he went and gained almost 2lbs! Well, never underestimate your ordinary looking dairy cow. We are interesting creatures. While we may seem simple at first, what with meandering slowly with no apparent destination, we are carefully calculating our next moo-ve.

But first, a little rest..... Oh wait! I have to feed again.

"The bar is open!" - Tom Cruise, Cocktail

:-) Nicole

~Happiness Is...~

My two wonderful, happy, healthy, beautiful kids...

While I am up most of the night into the morning feeding, diapering and burping like crazy... it is the first part of the morning, that includes the sunshine, when both of my kids are in bed with me all snuggled in watching some news, that fills me up. To talk with Katelyne and hear that she slept good, to hear Tyler's coo, are two of my favorites things, but NOTHING compares to Katelyne leaning over, giving Tyler a gentle kiss, a slight squeeze and a soft hand pet, saying, "Hi broder... good morning - you sleep good?" Melts my heart everytime....

While life has been an absolute zoo around here: with baby, toddler, work, business, house chores and Mommy/Daddy time... I realize that my most precious moments are those in the early morning hours with my two little loves at my sides.

Watching Katelyne grow so quickly into this headstrong, vivacious, independent, smart, funny, beautiful little girl has shown me that while these young baby stages go like a flash of light, it does get better. Each day there is more love, patience, learning and togetherness that I wouldn't trade for anything... I have realized now, at 30, what my Mother meant all those times she would say, "my children are my life..."

Thanks Mommy :-)

Nicole

~Tyler Jamison~

Ta Daaaaaa!

Well, as of April 7, 2009 at 8:53pm, my cute little family of 3 has inched a little closer to The Duggers. Eric, Katelyne and I welcomed our little Tyler Jamison into our broad. He weighed in at 8lbs, 14oz and was 21 1/4" long. HUGE!

Funny, the doc said he would be a "good size". I guess from a mans perspective that is a good size when fishing, or when hunting. From a womans perspective that is not a "good size" when birthing something. It is painful, tiresome and just plain crazy.

He is beautiful though - I was told I am supposed to use the term "handsome". He is so peaceful when I listen to him breathe. He will coo and give a little half smile to me when I talk to him and I think, is already totally fascinated by his big sister. If he is with me and she runs behind the couch yelling or making some noise he will quick move his head in that direction.

We are all well. Tyler and I are finally getting a sleep pattern established and Katelyne has decided that, while she loves him, poopie diapers really make her gag! (Yes, it is a cute gag, but none-the-less a gag!)

Thanks to everyone for your support and love - all 4 of us appreciate it. :-)

Smiles,

Nicole

~Still Pregnant~

So, today is the day! What day you ask? Why it is Sunday, March 29, 2009 - how exciting is that! Today was the original due date, before my Doctor moved it to the beginning of March and then reconsidered and moved it back to the 29th! Oh Yeah! Fun times.

Nothing too exciting happening though. Went to Skipolini's Pizza in Walnut Creek on Friday - they have a Prego Pizza said to induce labor within 48 hours. Well, we had that at 6pm on Friday and it is 9:30 on Sunday - Nothin'. I did have some MAJOR hearburn after the pizza and was unable to sleep unless I was sitting completely upright - Not comfy. So, I went to Target and Safeway, Shampooed carpets, bathed the dog, did 6 loads of laundry today - Nothin'. I also ate a whole Pineapple - Nothin' (except heartburn). My back is sore - so that is either progress or gas.

I plan to do some more walking tomorrow. Maybe Katelyne and I will head over to Janie and Jack... LOVE their clothes and the price tags usually get my insides moving! Then, if I actually purchase something usually Eric's insides will move too! :-)

I do LOVE this dress though:

It is $48 and if I make Katelyne wear it everyday for 48 days then really it is only is $1 per wear - right!?

We'll see.

Wish me labor dust!


:-) Nicole

~Groundhog Day, GO AWAY~

So, I was off to the doctor today for what I thought would be an informative, eventful and somewhat exciting...... Bummer.

I was told that, like my precious daughter, my son is comfy. You see, he is enjoying the lavish lifestyle of ice cream, Girl Scout Samoas, french fries, perfect weather, stable economy... you know - margaritaville. Only his large shaker of salt is the food-on-demand.

So, like my daughter, it appears as though I will be overdue - again and again and again. Dumb groundhog!

I am off... not to sleep, but to run down the street, pushing my car, drinking raspberry leaf tea, stopping every 5 minutes to do a set of jumping jacks, a set of squats... then I may return to drink castor oil... Ok, I will pass on the oil, but the other stuff is set in stone.

Please send an inhaler, as I will need it... to get out of bed - BEFORE I do the above movements.

"labor, labor, labor..."

:-) Nicole

~It's Almost Over~

Well, I am officaially 38 weks today. Almost done - yes, for good.

While this pregnancy has been bumpier than any roller coaster at Disneyland, I am a little sad knowing this is the last few weeks that I will feel one of my children move, kick or get the hiccups in my tummy.

Soon, I will have a new little baby boy to hold. I do believe that this time will be a little sweeter as I know first hand how quickly it will all pass by. I will spend the extra time, watching sleep and listening to him breathe on my face as I hold him. I will worry less about the dishes in the sink "just in case" someone comes over and worry more about working too much and loosing the precious time with a newborn.

My life, as it stands right now, will become more chaotic, less controlled, more hurried, less organized and I am thrilled. Soon, we will be Eric, Nicole, Katelyne AND Tyler (not to forget my fur-baby RoxyAnne). That is amazing. So, yes, I rough roller coaster of a ride, but nothing I would ever change... it has, however it happened, brought forth this fantastic, loving, happy, strivng little family unit. I am blessed.

Even if this was my family.... I am blessed.

Soon to Mommy to 2 Kiddos,

Nicole :-)