BRRRRRRR!!!!!

thankfulness

I think every parent goes through a moment when they hold their breath and hope that everything is fine.

Day before yesterday, Kai was trying to climb a table, pulled a lamp cord, and the lamp came tumbling down. It happened only feet away from me, and it was so fast, and so loud that I was powerless to get to him fast enough.

Someone or something up above must have been watching him, because the lamp missed him and exploded behind him. He had glass shards in his hair and on his jammies, but not a scratch on his body. I think I checked every square inch of him! Really freaked me out. I'm so glad he's okay. And so thankful that Peter and my mom did a good job of cleaning up the glass shards.

ps) I hate carpet!!

Yesterday was great, today I am useless!

Yesterday I had a photo shoot in downtown Austin, and since I was meeting my clients right in front of the Austin Children's Museum, Peter said he'd take the kids to the museum while I was shooting.

My session ended right when the museum closed and they came out, pinwheels in hand with HUGE smiles on their faces. It was absolutely adorable!

We had a couple of minutes so I snapped a few shots of the kids. It is so extremely rare to get them together. Must be an age thing? How is it I can bribe other people's kids so easily and yet my own I just can't figure out?

So I was running after a 2 and a half year old for my photo shoot and doing lots of jumping around and squats and today I was totally and completely useless. Could barely move. No dishes, no laundry, bare minimum child feeding... really it was BAD. Thank goodness Gams and Pops fed us. Cause man oh man... I was in trouble! haha

Bad Blogger!!!

I've been neglecting the family blog! Terrible!

Truth is... I've just been tired! We had a cold snap that had us kinda stuck in the house. And we really haven't been going anywhere so that we wouldn't spend any money. So I haven't really been taking very many pictures of the kids in the past couple of weeks - shame on me.

The weather has turned gorgeous - our second day in a row of over 70 degrees. We took the kids to a playground yesterday. Ryenne was quick and I couldn't get any good shots of her.



And Kai Boy is starting to test me more. He takes off his diaper almost daily and runs around the house nekkid. I have to corral him and get his diaper back on. Can't say that I blame him... he's so darn cute nekkid! He also discovered his sisters pink cowboy boots. He's been wearing them for two days straight!



I've been doing pretty good - just tired. I'm on day two of getting swollen which isn't any fun at all. It's by no means as swollen as some women get, but I can feel it nonetheless. It's so hard to sleep when Ry has bad dreams or when Kai wakes up and all the peeing I have to do every couple hours. Eek! I just keep telling myself... almost there! But then I realize that when P3 does come it's not going to get any easier! haha

The loft is painted a beautiful purple-grey thanks to Gams. The electrician is coming on Thursday to finish his stuff and then we can figure out the flooring. And move the office!!! WooHoo! So excited about that!

Dentist all around!

Our dental insurance has been in effect for a while now, but it hadn't really been on my mind until I reached this "nesting" phase and found a dentist. This afternoon the whole family went in to the dentist!

This was Ryenne's first time and she was scared. We had prepared by reading Dr. Seuss' Tooth Book and talking about how dentists are friendly and they want to help us keep our teeth clean and perfect. But once we got there and she saw the dental chairs she kinda freaked out.

The dentist was amazing. She was so understanding and gentle with Ryenne and put her completely at ease. Ry walked out with a big smile and goody bag and not afraid of her dentist. Peter and I each had our check-ups and we need just a teensy bit of fillings but not too bad for not going to a dentist in YEARS. I was so proud of Ryenne though. Big girl... wish I had taken pictures of her (but I was holding Kai through her exam).

32 Weeks!

Getting to the end of this pregnancy slowly but surely! We did a really fun photo shoot this week out in the field at the entrance of our neighborhood. It was kinda funny because it was right around 4:30 - 5pm so all these people were coming home and probably thinking, "What the heck?"

Anyway, I felt so pretty and lovely. Ryenne was my creative director and did a wonderful job. Maybe another photographer in the making?

Peter was my photographer and I'm so proud of him. I truly love them! Without further ado...

below: first I metered for light on Ryenne and she gave me a kiss (check out her leg! hehehe)

I heard the cutest thing...

The kids are all better and active and lively and sweet. Kai is starting to test me though. He's climbing on everything so I find myself saying throughout the day, "Kai Boy, NO!" And he looks at me and will either try it again or he'll come running for a hug.

And I told Peter that wouldn't it be funny if he grew up thinking BOY was his middle name? Because we always call him "Kai Boy" or just "Boy"... occasionally when he's being really naughty I bust out the "Kai Eric Dagupion!!!!" and then he knows I'm really serious.

Then Peter told me the cutest thing: He had thought "Boy" was his real middle name for a very long time! Cause growing up he was "Peter Boy" or just "Boy" and it took him actually reading his full name when he was big to realize that "Boy" wasn't actually his middle name. Is that not funny and cute and endearing all at the same time?

don't you just hate it when...

the kids are sick? Kai is practically done with his cold but poor Ryenne is on day two of waking up like this:

Is this not the cutest most pitiful thing ever? Poor little snuffy nosed girl!!!

And I took Kai on a photo shoot at the birth center the other day and he was sooooo good playing with toys while I photographed the midwives. Here is with the toys... and then a super smiley, snot-nosed, drooly little boy...

Oh how I adore them!

where the heck does time go???

I was planning on taking a 30 week belly photo and commenting on how I'm "almost there" and then I realize that I am now 31 weeks and missed it. Where does time go? I'm convinced there must be a black hole in my couch that steals time and the remote and baby socks.

Week 31 (plus 1 day) so baby is about 3.5 pounds and according to websites will be gaining half a pound per week from here on out. No wonder the kicks and jabs have me falling to the floor several times a day.

Gahhhhh.... seriously!

Day 3 of the snifflies for the little boy. Poor thing. He is just NOT sleeping well.

Anyway, last night he went into the laundry room and slipped and fell and I went in and scooped him up and realized he was soaking wet... with DOG PEE! Head to toe, little man was covered and thusly, I WAS COVERED. It was thoroughly disgusting. Sometimes I would like to throw my dogs out the window.

We showered and Kai went to bed. I got up with him several times last night. Then in the middle of the night Ry wakes up - straight as a board - puts her hands over her ears and starts laughing hysterically and then lays down fast asleep again. Scared the shnykeez out of me!

So I'm sleeping well and then I wake up to an odor. A very unpleasant odor... get up and realize a dog has sharted all over the carpet. GAH. I have HAD IT. I realize it's cold out but seriously??? Pee and poop in the house??? SERIOUSLY???

Anyway, that was last night. This morning was great. Breakfast with Gams and Pops. And since Ry and Kai went on a huge growth spurt and have very little clothes that fit, Pops treated them to a bunch of new warm clothes that fit. So sweet. They are both thrilled.

We had a wonderful day with Gams and Pops and naps all around this afternoon. Chicken's in the oven and we're having some nice family time. A great end. I think the dogs are sleeping downstairs tonight though! haha

tsk tsk

No New Year's Eve OR New Year's Day post??? Bad Mama! Tsk tsk.... and I had this whole thought of writing about this past decade and all the changes I've had in my life. Ah well....

Really though... it's just been a rough couple of days! Kai boy has a snotty cold and the nights have been miserable. I haven't had one night in the past couple of days that have left me without a snot ball vomit on some part of my body. Little boy gifts for his mama... LOL.

Peter worked on New Year's Eve, so me and Ryenne snuggled up together and watched a movie. She is terrified of the noises that fireworks make so she spent a good hour and a half with her hands over her ears as the neighborhood came alive with popping noises. Kai slept through that entire part.

The fireworks ended at about 12:30 and Ry passed out. Then at 12:36 just as I shut my eyes, Kai woke up for me and was up a good portion of the night. Poor baby.

New Years Day I invited myself over to my parents and they made me and the kids a wonderful breakfast (otherwise it would have been the tired mama special: cereal!). Came home and rough-housed with Ryenne and then my hips and body hurt so my mom came over and made dinner. AMAZING eggplant parmesan and a separate pan of chicken parmesan. Have I mentioned how glad I am to have my parents nearby? Cause really.... it's awesome.

So that's the start of 2010. We just have to conquer Kai's cold and it'll be all good. The budget is looking good, sticking to plans, trying to organize.