10 on Tuesday the 4th

I haven't done one of these in a while... and look it's actually Tuesday.

1.  I'm so done with heart issues.  This past weekend, my father-in-law went in for chest pains/racing heart ended up staying in the ER all day and had a heart cath done.... Today, my dear friend N had the same thing happen. She went in last night with chest pains and feeling "not right" and they did stress test this morning followed by a heart cath tonight. SO glad both are okay and no heart blockage was found for either but I'm all done with that! No more. (please)

2. Matthew had soccer practice tonight, I was actually waiting on them to come home when I started writing this and they've since come home. Matthew said he had a good night. (Jamie took him solo. 7pm practice is a little late for the smaller kids and it was rainy weather so I opted to keep the little ones home tonight). They got their uniforms for the season tonight. Black and White are their colors. Matthew is number 13 this time. For baseball he was 7.  What's up with the odd numbers for sports!?

3.  I don't think I posted any pictures from the trip my mom and sister took on here, I did on facebook but I thought I'd include some on here because I like them.  My mom and sister surprised me for my birthday. It was awesome. I was having a hum drum morning (to say the least) and they made it spectacular. Could not believe no one told me they were coming!  It was pure shock and astonishment on my part when my sister came flying out of the backseat in an unknown car in my driveway.  It was awesome. Here's some highlights.

4. Jamie bought me the coolest birthday present. I'd mentioned wanting one and he bought it for me!!!  A food mill. Needed to make .... 

....grape jam, as shown below. Love it! I can't wait to learn more uses for it. I just have to read up on it. I'm in a jam making thrill right now. I've done three batches of pear jam and one batch of grape jam and look forward to making more more more! 

5. Speaking of birthdays... Jamie's is Thursday. Just throwing that out there. I wish he'd give me hints or clues or just out right tell me he wants something but he doesn't. I have a couple things picked out I think he'll like, just wish I had a 'wow' factor gift this year.

6. Jamie is going to get his 'wow' factor soon enough though... as we're building (we... ha!  a friend is building...)  a new office for Jamie.  We're going on over 1.5 years at this job, working from home and it is TIME to kick him to the curb  provide him with his own space! For the past 1.5 years Micah's nursery, the guest bedroom and Jamie's office have all been the same room. Now, we'll have Jamie in his own office and I'll get to set up a not so cramped nursery/guest bedroom.  We've been wanting to display Jamie's Asian collections for a long time and this is so wonderful. It will be a fantastic addition to our house. We are so blessed to be able to do this right now.  Here's a work in progress picture... this is the frame work for a new closet within the space.

7. speaking of jobs.... my best friend started a new job today. And I am so amazingly ecstatic for her. I wish so badly that I could go to MO and party with her over it. She quit the corporate world and is now enrolled in the most important job of her life... FULL TIME MOMMY!  God is good. God is so good! She's still going to be working some, but she'll have flexibility with her own scheduling and the best part... she'll be working from home! Yippie! I'm so excited. Can you tell???

8. Coupons have been low lately.  There has not been any fantastic sales or anything worth rushing right over or buying 10 of lately. (I  did buy 6 peanut butters the other day, but man alive we go through the peanut butters). I'd really like a good sale. A really really fabulous sale with coupons galore to match up with and walk out of the store feeling awesome about myself full of "stockpiling" type stuff. My pile is dwindling and I don't like it.

9. I've managed to hurt my left thumb over the weekend. Typing, or worse, texting without a left thumb is quite hard. Also is brushing your hair (I didn't today, just threw it up into a messy pony tail) or doing the dishes or anything that requires two thumbs on a normal basis. Makes you thankful God decided people should have thumbs, huh?

10. ...  I've been in a dinner funk lately.  We had chicken and dumplings last night, and wow. I'm so ready for fall/winter comfort foods. My kitchen gets SO HOT when I cook big meals and we've been doing light easy meals as much as possible with summer so hot this year, but last nights dinner was so good we were reaching for thirds (SHHHH!). I can't wait for the yummy casseroles and crockpot meals that fall cooking brings.

So that's my ten for this Tuesday.  What's yours?
(Add a link in the comments if you have a blog and do your own 10 on Tuesday)

10 on Tuesday

1. How did this happen? Micah is two months old today? Life continues to spiral away from me some time. Now is one of those times. When the pediatrician's office called to confirm Micah's two month appointment, I sort of sat there on the phone thinking, "Huh. Really?" How is he two months old already? But look at this face!! He's so stinkin' cute. I can't stand it some times. My blondie with blue eyes. He's so pretty. I just took this tonight, so it's accurate. Two months and bright eyed.

2. You see that child there, in the next picture?
The one holding his baby brother...

Yah, we just signed him up for Kindergarten.... I have such mixed feelings about this. I know he's ready to go. But given our food history, it's hard to release him into the wild, I mean... let him go off to "big" school by himself and do lunch every day and and and... He's ready for it though. He keeps asking if it's August yet. HOW do I have a Kindergartner?


3. Speaking of food issues... Matthew has done really good lately. I was so concerned that bringing a baby home into the mix of things would really hinder or make us back track and truly, that hasn't happened. Matthew's done a great job lately of trying new things and eating the foods we've already established. We do have bad moments, but they aren't all bad. The biggest thing is being able to make a sandwich for lunch. AND he doesn't seem to mind what kind of jelly/jam we use with it. Which is neat. I was STUCK on grape jelly as a kid and I'm happy to report that I now like other kinds.


4. With our picked strawberries, I'm really tickled proud to say that I actually made my very own strawberry jam (with the help of a sweet friend, thank you L) and I'm so pleased. It turned out really well. I plan to give a few jars away, but it's really nice to have something on the shelf that I MADE for my family to eat. And with the amount of pbjs I see in my future for school lunches, these jars will be eaten up. I'm hoping to go picking again just for the objective to make batches of jam.


5. I have made a post about Mother's Day in years past but this year do you know what... I didn't have Jamie take a picture with me and Micah. OOOPS. I will say though that his dedication day was Sunday and I have some pictures of this. They aren't great but that's okay. The important thing is that we stood with our church family and pledged to raise Micah in the eyes of the Lord, training him up to know his heavenly Father as best we can.

Here's Micah getting his diaper changed before the
dedication at church. Look at him as if to say
"Here fine. Here I am. Do you have to keep taking pictures of me?"

Please notice the cute bear pjs. Sigh. Mommy forgot the dedication outfit at home. Good job Mommy. Honestly, I know it doesn't matter in the long haul and it was fitting that his pjs the night before were bear ones. Our little Micah Bear.

The whole family after he'd been dedicated.

And here's what it looks like after such a long and busy day....

6. Family night--- Mother's Day night, we put in the movie Tangled and popped pop corn and shared in really our first ever "family movie night". And you know what? It was fun. Sure we had to stop the movie 4 times for Micah's fussiness and once for Matthew to potty... Mark wanted to eat Matthew's popcorn and and Matthew didn't handle that very well, but all in all it was fun. We enjoyed the movie together and it was nice just being a family.


7. My first "girl cake"...

Here's Kate's version of Tinkerbell. You could tell that, right?

8. ChuckEcheese AKA KIDS VILLE. We went to this very fun place for one of my friend's daughter's birthday party on Friday night last week and wow. there were kids EVERYWHERE. But the boys had a ton of fun. Micah was passed around and survived a bottle out in public instead of me nursing. Matthew found a little independence running around all over. Mark really had a blast with the games. He didn't care (or maybe understand) about the tickets, he just wanted to play the games and ride the car rides. I loved watching them have so much fun.







9. Have I mentioned on here lately how much I love my stockpile room now? Well I do. I love it. I actually went out there and organized a little more today after Mark and I took a publix run spending less than half of what we saved. Coupons rock. I had my first "How do you do that?" conversation with a person behind me at Kroger yesterday. That was cool. I spent 30 something and saved 79 with their Mega Deal event this week. Free is so fun.


10. I'm blanking on a ten so here's just another picture for you...

all three of my boys

10 on Tuesday

1. Waiting stinks. I'd so love to be in labor right now. Which is just a sad sick thought be/c who WANTS to be in labor, let alone love it? I'm sure I'll be begging for it to stop once it starts but for now... I'd really like to be done. I'm cranky and miserable and my fuse with my family is thislong. But. Every day this baby cooks in here is a day he or she doesn't have to cook under a light. By Thursday or (God willing before) Friday we will be blessed with this new baby to come. 7am Thursday morning induction. Let's go!

2. I love the boys talking to the belly. I will miss that part.

3. Not sure I'll miss any other part of being pg though.

4. I love my mom being here. Oh what in the world would I be doing without her here. I'm so so blessed that her job is this flexible enough where she can stop and come. She's still working. There is work to be done, but she's here. And I'm so grateful.

5. My dad will be here soon. I miss him. I love him. I can't wait to see him this weekend.

6. Is it sad that the sales change at Publix on Thursday and I'm considering giving SOMEONE, anyone a list for me? LOL Publix rocked the BOGO deals last week. We stocked up the freezer meals and instant oatmeal last week.

7. Matthew's eating has been steadily going well. Well, at least as well as can be expected. We're making slooooooooooow progress. Pray with me please that as we add this new life into our house, Matthew will not be derailed from the progress we have made. I'm so proud of him lately for his new foods he's been trying. We have a really good system right now. Hopefully those coming in and out of the house helping will help him stay on course too.

8. Mark needs some attitude adjustments! He KNOWS something is happening. Good grief. He's TWO and PROUD OF IT right now. Little ornery snot. He's fussy and stubborn and so stinkin cute it's hard to be cross with him. His little world is about to be rocked.

9. Have I mentioned my mom is here? I'd be sunk without her here. Sunk.

10.... HAPPY (early) BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST BEST FRIEND EVER.... I love you NIC!

10 on Wednesday

All day Monday it felt like the weekend with Jamie being off work. Then yesterday in my head felt like Monday... so I woke up today ready to do my "Ten on Tuesday" for the first time in a long time and heh, I'd missed Tuesday. Oh well, here's Ten on Wed for you.


1. I'm so stinkin' happy for my best friend and her new job! I'm also praying for other job situations.

2. Mark caught the bad bug. I thought we were so in the clear. All day Monday, no one was puking. All day Tuesday, no one was puking... Tuesday at 9pm, however, in his bed, Mark started. Ugh. We knew we were in for a long night. Jamie cleaned up the puke while I held Mark on the couch. I passed him to Jamie so I could start the laundry since his lovey (boc) blanket was nasty. While starting the laundry, Jamie got puked on. He passed me Mark and striped down and Mark puked on me. It was one of those laugh or cry about it scenes. I started laughing and couldn't stop. We got all cleaned and settled on the couch and Mark puked on me again. He's now on Jammy 3, I'm on Jammy 2... By 11pm, he'd gotten sick twice more and we'd both changed clothes again. By 1am, we were more than all worn out.

3. Jamie's parents brought us their old couches. We now have new couches in our living room! I'm so tickled. They are GREAT couches! (THANK YOU GUYS AGAIN!) This morning I had a carpet cleaner come and treat them with sanitizer and a carpet protectant something or another with a steam cleaning treatment. This is what our living room currently looks like, as the couch cushions are drying. I'm sure I'll post "new couches" pics when we are put together.


4. This is what Mark is doing while he's recovering without a couch to sit on. Pedialite in one hand, sitting with his new pillow pet and watching Blue's Clues...


5. I love my kitchen aid already. LOVE IT. Here's a picture of my new favorite toy. And so much for "I'll be making bread soon" in my previous post. I so made sugar cookies yesterday to try it out.

6. Random thought about my hearing aid... I hate battery day. Every ten days you have to change the battery. Nice huh? That's kind of often. More often than I thought it would be anyhow. But regardless, there it is. So on battery day so far this has happened... 1 time I was at a friend's house when my low battery beeped and shut off and I was without a new battery. That pretty much sucked. 1 time I was driving and had problems hearing Matthew in the backseat and was getting frustrated with "the stupid thing not working" and after I'd dropped him off, it beeped. A little "ohhhh" moment occurred when I realized that I probably was struggling be/c the battery was failing. Today though... today, I heard the beep beep warning that it was going to die, but forgot about it. So then BAM it shuts off and I'm like "what?! ohhh yahhh..." sigh. Most of the time I totally love it. It's been such an amazing gift to be able to hear all these things I was obviously missing. When the kids scream, I don't love it so much, it can actually be painful if Mark is crying loudly in my arms or something, but that's not the norm. (We'll see how we do with a wailing newborn). I'm learning why when you hug someone with a hearing aid you hear a little squealing going on... it's be/c the microphone gets covered and causes feedback. This is slightly annoying but not overly painful. It's nice to not need the captions on TV anymore. All in all, it's wonderful. Battery days however, I haven't mastered yet.

7. I miss couponing. Is that dumb? I really miss scoring deals and bringing home 15 items of the same thing for Jamie to go "we needed that?" hehe. It's been a while since I've hit a goooood deal on something. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of my deals after school is back in session. I'd like a good deal on several things we're low on. Cereal being one (yup, again).

8. I can not believe that at the end of this week, we'll be at 29 weeks along with the pregnancy. 30 weeks seems like "nearing the end" so I'm almost nearing the end. 11 more weeks and there will be another body in this house.

9. I hate food. I hate food. I hate food. ... okay that's not true... I hate meal times. I hate meal times. I hate meal times.... Matthew's food battles are getting more and more heated lately. I try so so so so hard to not lose my cool. Yet it is so so so so hard to stay calm when he's pushing pushing pushing. Some days, we do good. I feel like "wow! we're getting the hang of it. we *can* eat a meal together." Some days, not so much at all. Again I will praise the gift of OT and pray that week by week we can gain insight into Matthew's issues and needs and break down his walls of programmed responses and controlling behaviors. We have come so far and I dont' want to overlook that with a sad update, but it's not easy that's for sure. He can now eat chicken nuggets from Wendys. This makes "grabbing a bite" less trying. No more "can I have a side of apples and a side of bacon" orders. Lunch no more is a granola bar and bacon at home. We're making real progress, it's just sloooooooooooooooooow going.

10. I'll end on something cute rather than down... If you have kids or grandkids and those kids don't have "Polar Bear, Polar Bear what do you hear?" go get it now. Oh mercy. Mark has memorized who comes next. And will tell you in order. It's so friggin cute I can barely stand it. I love how he says "A-ming-go!" for Flamingo. I'd also recommend the same author Eric Carle's "Baby Bear, Baby Bear, what do you see?" Super cute books.

10 on Tuesday (even early in the day, how about that)

1. I will miss Jessica again, it was GREAT to see them this past week when we were able to meet up. I will have pictures soon. Ayden and Matthew are still best best friends even though they now live states apart. You would have thought Matthew’s never had a friend besides Ayden the way he acted when they were back together. He loves so completely. It’s beautiful.

2 . We did Lilburn Daze on Saturday, I will also have pictures of this soon. We had a good time. Mark is still almost too young to do anything except the petting zoo which he loved. We shared an Italian ice while Jamie and Matthew rode the hayride. It was fun. Next year, Mark will be able to do the crafts and chase keep up with his brother. Thank you to Lisa for the beautiful earrings.

3. Jamie’s granddaddy isn’t doing well. I’d be grateful for any and all prayers for him and the family.

4. My best friend is flying worlds away today. I am praying for a speedy speedy trip (HOME) and safety for all involved. I hope that when they get there they can settle and come home fast and if it can’t settle I still am praying for a speedy trial. I ask God to give her an extra portion of strength to endure all she must while away from her family.

5. My church is hurting. My husband feels wounded and fooled. I feel empty and confused and hurt. Lord please don’t leave us in our time of need. In Deuteronomy you promise to never leave or forsake us. We’ve lost the men that are meant to lead your sheep, Lord don’t leave us untended. We pray for their healing and for ours.

6. I’m tired of feeling totally completely emotionally drained.

7. On a positive note again, I’m super excited that we ordered our beach pictures and now I have to count down 6 weeks for them to come. (maybe not so positive) I’m not great with patience! Thank you Mom!

8. I love my mom. I am so blessed with her role in my life, her support and unconditional love.

9. I miss my sister.

10. I’m already missing Nic.

10 on Tuesday

1. I love our new family picture. It will be on the left side here soon enough. I'm so so glad I had the camera with me (when am I without out it---wait! Don't answer that) on Sunday. We were actually sort of coordinated and I thought very cute! Look, we're ALL looking and smiling in the same direction! When does that happen!? (Matthew looks a bit washed out, but his shirt is light blue stripes and his pants khaki)


2. Matthew about broke my heart this morning, talking about his heart breaking: After he was being rude to me getting in the car for school I said, "you need to dig down deep in your heart and figure out how to be nice to me." He thought for a minute and said "but .... if I dig in my heart, I'll break it" ... How do you even go about explaining that one to a four year old? Sigh. Melt. Rip. Break.

3. I love our Occupational Therapist. OT might be a little (LOT) overwhelming and it's scary and it's hard and unfun and and and... but I love her. This week we've come so far. We really can see a difference. Now is everything BAM! fixed? no. But we knew that going in to it. And next week I *know* will be rough based on what we've already discussed the changes we'll try for, so it will be a long road still, but I'm certain we're on the right path currently. We have our next appt in the early am.

4. (I'd started this list earlier and got distracted) I just got back from water aerobics. Good grief. This class beats me up. It's amazing what you can do in the water that there is no way at all by any stretch of the imagination that you'd be able to do on land.

5. I've begun dreaming about (plotting/planning/pestering) the nursery. I've got two beautiful boys and do you believe that I've never had a "nursery"? Well, I haven't. And I want one. And I want a cute one.

6. I'm looking forward to Friday night with my moms club friends!

7. I got an appt today to see an ENT next week. This is step two in "Will Kate need a hearing aid?" The answer is probably yes, but we want to see what this doc says, the first one, an audiologist wanted this doctor's opinion about something in my middle ear before proceeding.

8. I want to go back to the beach.

9. I love my husband.

10. I hate the dishes.

(Sorry if some of these suck tonight. I'm tired.)

10 on Thursday

Well I missed Tuesday completely for a couple weeks in a row, but I thought I'd add one this week anyhow.

1. we're going to the beach! we're going to the beach! the hurricanes better stay away, we're going to the beach!

2. I started a water aerobics class (FINALLY after months of debacle about it) and had a great time Tuesday night. Tonight will be class number 2 of 20 and then I'll miss next week be/c of our vacation (see number 1, we're going to the beach!). But I'm really looking forward to this class. I think it will be a big help in thwarting more weight gain and I think it will be nice to get to do something for me!

3. The children better sleep tonight, that's all I'm saying about that.

4. Matthew started therapy for his eating issues. Last week was his evaluation appt. Yesterday was his second appt. He did well. SHE is amazing. I will do whatever she says for the next however long we go. We are seeing small baby steps that some might think we're crazy for applauding (ie: touching food with his pointer finger) but I don't care what anyone else thinks right now besides Ms. Jennifer. I'm proud of Matthew for even the smallest of accomplishments. I'm so thankful that we're able to find him the help he needs.

5. Whoever invented Blue's Clues should be given a medal or a trophy or something. It's the only thing that will keep Mark's attention on the TV. It's a Godsend at times. I don't know what we're going to do without our recorded episodes next week (See number 1, we'll be at the beach!)

6. Matthew had some trouble "walking in line" today at school. Ms. Brenda told me about the experience while she and I chatted before time to pick him up. I asked him about it and his mouth hit the floor, "how'd you know that?!" he said. Ah-ha! I finally know the feeling my dad must have felt all those times I climbed into his car at school and he said something that he shouldn't have known yet but did and he said "I have spies everywhere." It's a pretty cool feeling, Dad. *wink*

7. Tomorrow will be 14 weeks. I'm so blessed. "Dear God please keep this baby safe and healthy and growing. Thank you Lord for getting us through the first hump. "

8. Omega Trail is underway~ I love this so much. It's awesome for me to focus my energy into something so worthwhile while the rest of the world is obssessed with halloween. If you don't know what the Omega Trail is, go to my church's website here and see what it's all about. It's basically a walk through of the end times, like a tribulation trail. But there is more detail for you than that there. Last year Matthew and I were in Heaven and Jamie was behind the scenes! I can't wait to see what's in store this year.

9. I'm very excited to get to see and hug my mom in a very short while. (see number 1, she's going to be joining us... at the beach!)

10. I wish I could do something, anything to take the stress load away from those I love. My husband, my mom, my best friend... It just isn't fair that they are shouldering so much all the time. I wish I could take some. I wish I could help more, do more, be more... it's hard sometimes. Life is hard sometimes. ... Next week when we're at the beach (no. 1!) we'll pass by the due date of our angel baby that went home to Heaven this past spring. It is wonderful to know that there is another baby growing and thriving and this baby is a blessing to my heart, but I still mourn what we lost. I know that without our first loss, we wouldn't have Mark and without this loss we wouldn't be currently carrying this miracle baby-- but it doesn't take all the pain away. I'm glad to have the distraction... I remember last year?? the year before?? I forget, one year, we were at Nana's house over the weekend that was the anniversary of the first loss. It was good to be there, distracted. I'm glad God knows when to plan things. I remember being annoyed that we couldn't plan our vacation any sooner into the summer and had to wait until September to go. I know now though that God knew I'd need to escape reality in this next week, and be with my mom all at the same time... God is good. So yah... number 10: Things are hard, but God is good.

10 on Tuesday--The Nic edition

Here's my ten on Tuesday trip review:

1. She met me at the airport with my favorite starbucks drink (coffee-free of course)! What a way to start the trip. Nothing says, "Hi. I love you" like being greeted with starbucks!

this was us Friday night

(((Jessica, do you see the bump shirt?!?!)))

2. I think my most favorite part of the trip might have been our waffle driveway picnic breakfast and sidewalk chalking time with the kids Saturday morning. The only thing missing in that special time was my own boys. We were out there for a long while and it was so beautiful. Not a cloud in the sky.

Waffle breakfast picnic

Nic with her cuties

Nic and Jonathan

Allie and Aunt Kate

3. I love my pretty toes!

4. I loved catching up on movies I hadn't seen yet: The Proposal (SO FUNNY) and Romy and Michelle (it was good!)

5. Nic won the pie eating contest.

6. I loved when Allie and I read together on the couch.

7. Jonathan is getting WAY too big and WAY too smart.

8. Allie is beautiful. She's going to be a heart breaker.

9. Oh look! I got a birthday cake, with candles and singing and everything. I hated that Matthew missed it. but isn't it so pretty?!

10. March is a very long way away.

10 on Tuesday

Two in a row. Nice huh?

1. We had a great time visiting Nana this past weekend. It had been over a year since the boys had been down there to see her. Jamie had seen her twice in between though. We’re hoping to go down again around Christmas time and then if I can travel again in Feb for her 90^th birthday! The five hour drive isn’t too bad when you break for a meal and gas part way. and it really is worth it to see all the family we just don't communicate with otherwise. They are such sweet and fun people. I love being down there.

2. I still can’t believe I left my camera there. We got the car unloaded and started putting up things and I thought “OH NO!” sigh. Oh well. Hopefully it comes soon.

3. Matthew is doing good at school. I’m so pleased with where he is and how he’s doing. He has a tiny bit of homework most nights. So far it’s been color a picture or write your name or something, but it makes him feel important. I also really like it. It adds a bit of structure to our afternoons. This is nice for me. Mark is also enjoying this time be/c he gets to eat colors color pictures.

4. Thought I’d update about something mentioned in last week’s 10 things… I did square away the plans to go to KC and see Nic. I’m so tickled. I’m getting to go next weekend the 27^th for two nights, by myself. Thank you to Nic for arranging it and a giant thank you to Jamie who’s staying home with the natives. It’s going to be a long time until late March or early April when we’ll see each other again but maybe this mini trip will get us through.

5. Something else to update… I mentioned we’re expecting again. I have a repeat ultrasound on Thursday. This was the marker where I was planning on telling people, so I’m praying that we’ll have good news Thursday, since I spilled the beans early. I can’t wait to see this tiny miracle again and to hear the heart beating strongly.

6. It is way too early for me to know if this one is a girl. Please don’t ask. You’ll find out when I do, after the baby is born. After losing two babies to Heaven I wouldn’t care if it was part alien in there as long as it’s born. Healthy is my goal. I don’t care so much about he or she.

7. My birthday is next week. I’m glad for it. I’ll be back on an even number. I’m not superstitious at all, but I just don’t like odd numbers. 27 has been a hard year. Hopefully 28 will be better.

8. Life is just so hard sometimes. So unfair. Course no one said life was going to be fair and the Bible even speaks of the hardships and heartaches we will have. Right now I’m thinking specifically about Lindsay and Mandi. I hope you precious dears are hugged and loved today.

9. I’m very pleased for my mom. She started a new job yesterday and is in a new season in her life.

10. I need a nap.

10 on Tuesday

So one of my friend of a friends does this 10 on Tuesday thing on her blog and I've been wanting to do it for a while but kept forgetting actually ON Tuesday to do it. She just posts 10 things that are on her mind on Tuesdays and I love reading it. Sometimes the things are very matter of fact, some times they are random. So here goes, my first 10 on Tuesday for you.

1. Matthew went back to preschool today. Is summer really over? He was NOT happy about me arriving to pick him up though, so I fully realize he had a great day and I'm thrilled at where he is and the education he will receive there. He told me some things about shapes today and already has his first "homework!"

2. Mark may actually drive me freakin bananas with the fridge letter magnet things. He's OBSESSED with them. He can't quite manipulate them into the holder the right way though, so he fusses louder and louder until you come help him get it the right way. He can say A A C or A C C but not yet A B C, we're working on it.

3. Mark likes ketchup. I don't know why this just flew into my head though, it's kind of nice. Matthew wont "dip" anything, so it's nice to see my second born is taking a liking to one of my staples of life, the red stuff.

4. Grocery shopping is a challenge with two children and such a breeze with just one. Mark and I did the shopping while Matthew was at school today. I didn't forget to give the lady my coupons, no one argued with me about the items placed in the cart, no one needed to "help" me put the items on the conveyor belt, no one begged for a cookie... ah. It was nice!

5. Naps should be mandatory. I have been really tired lately and needing to nap right with Markie. It's a toss up as to what I make Matthew do. If I think he's worn out enough, he has to lay down too. If I think he can handle just a little "rest" time, he has to stay on the couch or on my bed and watch a movie, while I close my eyes. Hopefully the house wont fall apart or burn down while my eyes are closed.

6. I totally miss my best friend so much it really hurts. We are plotting and I am really hoping that I can see her again SOON. Otherwise it may be next year before we get to see each other in person. And that. is not. okay. I also miss my sister dearly. I hate that she's so far away and am very excited about spending some serious time with her over Thanksgiving, but even that sounds way too far away.

7. Man! Tracy, you have my serious major props! This 10 random thing stuff is hard. I am like sitting here thinking "what else? what else?" Ha!

8. The cutest thing on the planet... okay there are a few but man alive, when I'm pouting or cry out or even just frown, Mark will run up and say "momma??" so sweetly and have to kiss me. It's so precious. I love my little tender heart. Okay, another cute thing (Should this be another number?) is when Mark echos me singing Jesus Loves Me. OMG. So so cute. It's so cute. Half the time he'll sing the echo, and half the time he'll sing the next word and not echo me. It's precious. I'm desperately wanting to get it on youtube soon, but the attempts I've made at recording him have been interrupted by him or others. so I need to try again.

9. While I'm writing this, Mark is one leg (with his letter thing) and Matthew is on the laptop playing a game. He just said, "Mom can I do elmo?" I'm pretty sure he was on a different website when I set him up there. How'd he get to Elmo? How is he so smart? I swear this child is going to be smarter than me by age 10. Already he asks some hard questions and wants to know answers to things that just blow me away. He's so smart and logical like his daddy. I love him very much and am so proud of how big he is growing every day.

10. Well since I'm struggling with 10 things... I will leave you with this... in March if the Lord is willing to so bless us again, there will be another little person by the name of Hobbs in this world. I wasn't planning on telling my blog world just yet, but there you are. We're expecting a tiny miracle due sometime in March. I couldn't be more excitedly nervous if I was asked to be. This was a complete surprise and shocker as we were actually preventing such. I had been focusing on my weight loss and doing well at it... we were decided that we'd get through Krystle's wedding in JUNE next summer and then revisit the issue after that. After I was healthier. After I was not needing to be in a matron of honor dress --- that is so beautiful and I love love love it and can't wait to wear it and PRAY it will fit over my then postpartum belly. EEEK! So there you have it world! We're pregnant again! God is funny sometimes, huh?