Can't Believe We Have a 5 Year Old Boy!

Wow, it feels like I was just writing a post about Harrison's 4th birthday and now he's 5!!! This is a milestone year, it's starting Kindergarten, entering a new phase of life, the last year to use only one hand to show how old you are, and really starting to be a bigger kid! Nate and I are both feeling a little sad and wanting to slow time down. But we're also loving our clever, articulate, affectionate, loving, helpful guy, and lots of that comes with age.

Harrison had a very busy birthday! It started with having him help make his cake in the morning. I loved licking the beaters as a kid and enjoy letting my kids do it too. I have also made a little tradition out of taking pictures of them licking the beaters of their birthday cake each year.



At one point I said something about him being 5 and he was very surprised that he was already 5. "I thought I was still 4."


Then it was off to his last day of Vacation Bible School. He went every morning last week from 9:30-12:00 and loved it! It was put on by the same church where he went to Pre-School and one of his teachers, Miss Jane, was in charge. It was only $30 for the whole week, so I really couldn't resist. He had a great time singing songs, playing games, making crafts and learning Bible stories.


Here he is with some of the other kids in his Laughing Lobsters group and his counselor. There were two other boys in the group too.


Then we came straight home for his "party." In my family, we only did friend parties every other year. The off years we did family parties. Seeing as how we have no extended family here and our family is so small, we decided that on the off years we are going to have small parties. Once I explained that to Harrison, he was fine with it and very excited about his small party. It also works out very nicely that the small parties are falling on the year that mommy is pregnant!

So, we had Harrison's two closest friends, Logan and Andrew over for a pizza lunch, eaten off of Ben 10 Alien plates and cups. He was over the moon about those things! So easy to please!

Then we opened presents. Harrison loved the Transformers shirt (that Andrew's mom, Ashley made!!! She's so crafty!) and the Transformer toy!

He also loved the Ben 10 Alien Maker and extra aliens from Logan.

They all insisted on playing with the toys for the next 30+ minutes. I swear, with boys, there's really no need to plan anything. They just love playing.

We finally forced them to come over and eat cake.

I really wanted to make this Martha Stewart Chocolate Frosting that my friend Erin makes, so I ran it by Harrison and thankfully he was fine with it. The most amazing thing was that Nate actually loved it too. My husband loved a chocolate baked good, that's one for the record books. It did have yellow cake, that probably helped and he said it was because the frosting tasted like real chocolate. Must have been all those chocolate chips melted in there!

Then we headed over to Chuck E. Cheese. Except the one closest to us was closed, so after some scrambling on the cell phones, we located the next closest one, drove to Englewood and 45 minutes after originally getting in the car, we were there!

They all had lots of fun, and I was loving that this party was so easy and cheap! (Nate always uses these coupons he finds on-line for 100 tokens for $10.)

Speaking of Nate, yes, he was a part of this entire day, but unfortunately, the only picture I got was of him doing what he loves to do at Chuck E. Cheese, the basketball game. He also loves the football game and got TONS of tickets by being the high scorer several times! He's just a big ole' kid.

I must say that in my pregnancy induced impatience, I was VERY unimpressed with the customer service at this Chuck E. Cheese. We waited a long time for tokens and then an even longer time for prizes. But the kids didn't seem to mind.

So we finally got the kids home almost 2 hours later than originally planned (again I was feeling so happy that we did a small party and there were only 2 moms to call with updates on our delays).

The fun did not stop there. Next, Nate and Harrison went on our church's Fathers and Sons Campout! Harrison was very excited (or "exciting" as he says) to go camping with his Dad. I thought it was the perfect way to end his 5th birthday!

When I asked him what he had for dinner, he said marshmallows. Nate says he also had Udon noodles at a restaurant on the way up, but apparently that wasn't nearly as memorable.

Here are he and Logan outside of Logan's tent. Notice Harrison still has his Ben 10 Alien Maker! Nate and Harrison slept in the back of our Pilot. I wish they had taken a picture of that!

Here are the three musketeers together again!

It's so great to see little boys doing what little boys are meant to do -- play outside, get dirty, and climb on rocks.

Elizabeth and I missed the boys. Harrison said on his way out the door, "Mom, while I'm gone, keep thinking about how much I love you." Then when they got back and I told him how much I missed him he said, "Did you remember to think about how much I love you?" He's the sweetest little guy! The day after his birthday he also said, "Mom, can you believe that you and Dad have a 5 year old boy? That's a pretty crazy idea."

I totally agree! But man, do I love that kid!

For the Record

Thank you all for your congratulatory comments and well wishes. To respond to a few of the comments -- the Red Raspberry Pills might be working, because I'm not as nauseous as I was with the other two. Also, I take them at night. They would probably be more effective if I took them during the day, when I'm actually experiencing the nausea. The problem is the thought of swallowing pills is kind of gag-inducing. I've tried the Unisom with B6, but it makes me oh so sleepy, so I only do that at night. Which does seem to help a little for the next day.

Now, as the question of what we tried for. TMI WARNING: The rest of this should not be read by people who will be embarrassed reading about people "trying" for a baby --although I assure you, there are no graphic details. Katy, don't read it unless mom says you can.

This will not be a short answer. For those who don't know, we follow the "Shettles Method" of gender selection. My mom used it for at least 3 of us and had 100% success. She is known in various parts of the world as the "witch doctor" because she is a big advocate of this method and has aided countless people in getting the gender they want by sending them "the article." I have become her little apprentice as I too feel the need to let the world know about this method and tell anyone and everyone who wants to hear all about it. We tried for a boy with Harrison and a girl with Elizabeth so we are two for two. Let it be known that I have also successfully helped one friend get the girl she wanted. I am currently helping another friend who is trying for a boy. I'll keep you posted on that one.

This time we wanted another boy. Due to extenuating circumstances (a 3 week business trip that was ill-timed), our timing was thwarted, so we somewhat left it up to chance. THE RECORD SHOWS THAT IF WE DO NOT HAVE A BOY, WE KNEW WE WERE TAKING A RISK GOING INTO IT. If it is a girl, it will in no way effect our success rate as we did not follow the method strictly enough. Also, if it is a girl, it will be okay because I DO want another girl, and I want one more child, so we would very diligently try for a boy for the last child. However, I do feel like it is a boy, because I'm not nearly as sick as I was with Elizabeth and I am craving salty things more than sweet things (I craved salty with Harrison and sweet with Elizabeth.)

Also for the record: These are my feelings on whether we really have control OR Heavenly Father has control. I believe that ultimately Heavenly Father has control. He can make miracles happen and He can do whatever he wants. However, I also feel that He has given us agency to make choices. For instance, people try to plan WHEN they want to have children and take measures to prevent conceiving children when they are not ready for them. Usually, these measures are successful and people do not have children unless they are trying to. Sometimes, these measures are overridden by what seems to be the hand of God. I think the same goes for trying to choose WHAT gender of child you want. There are biological facts that can be used to put your odds in favor of having a certain gender. If you are aware of these facts and use them to your advantage, you will most likely get the gender you tried for. HOWEVER, if you are meant to have a different gender, I do believe that Heavenly Father can override biology and make that happen. So, I figure, if you do everything in your power to get one gender and end up with the other, you can take comfort in the thought that you were truly meant to have that gender and that Heavenly Father intervened on your behalf.

I also believe that some women's/men's/couples' chemical make-ups strongly favor one gender (as evidenced by families with all of one gender), and that they may be unable to produce the other gender. To those people I say, it's still worth a shot. You may as well try. My mom can tell you lots of stories of couples who had all one gender and then did the method and got the other gender.

So, there you have it. I hope I haven't ruffled anyone's tail feathers.

There is an early detection test you can get at the drug store for $30 that is 80% accurate to tell you what you're having. I could take it next week. If I decide to, I'll let you know. Otherwise, we'll all have to wait until September for the ultrasound. Unless this baby is uncooperative, like Elizabeth and I have to go back once a week for a month to finally get a good view. Then it will be October.

Pregnancy is all about patience, of which I have very little.

I've Been Busy

Wow, did I ever fall off the face of the blogging planet.

It may not appear that I am so busy on days like today, as I lay on the couch and watch TV/sleep all day, but believe me, I am. I'm busy building a new baby inside my belly. That's right people, we're expecting #3 on February 7th. I know it's pretty soon to tell (8 weeks), but I have never been one to keep it secret for too long. And I had my first official barf fest today, so I figure, I earned the right to tell the world. I've been nauseous for 2 weeks, but today was the worst so far.

If I seem cranky, lazy, or mellow, you'll know why. Or shall I say, extra cranky and extra lazy. My poor family gets the brunt of it. Harrison told me the other day, "Mommy, you're so mean to me everyday." Now that was about the most heartbreaking, but unfortunately true, thing I had ever heard. I have been trying much harder since then to overcome my tired, queasy, hormone-infested self and be nicer. We haven't told them yet, I figure it's a really long time to wait for a little kid. I have just told them that Mommy doesn't feel good.

Just to make myself feel a little better about my little boy, in the last couple of weeks he's also told me, "You're the best Mommy in the whole wide world," "You're the most gorgeous Mommy in the whole wide world," and asked, "How come you know everything, Mommy?" Oh how I wish all those things were true and even more so, I hope he remembers all of those feelings more than the mean Mommy feelings.

I really am excited about having another baby, it's just hard to remember that in this yucky part. It should pass in another month or two.

The Cut-Cut Game

Almost every mother I know has had a child cut their own hair, I just thought it would never happen to me. Just like I thought my babies wouldn't come out looking like aliens when they were born. Why would I put it past my child who has decorated my carpet with red nail polish, stuck two beads in her ear, smeared Aquafor all over the keyboard of Nate's beloved piano (Honey, it happened months ago, and my hour of cleaning with toothpicks was so effective, you didn't even notice. Just yesterday you confirmed that you love the way it plays. I'm explaining myself on the off chance that you actually read this post!), played in her own poop, and been the culprit of countless other catastrophes?

Obviously I am in denial of the possibility of my children looking ugly.

But they did look like aliens when they were born. And she did butcher her bangs. Okay, I'm kind of exaggerating. I've actually seen much, much worse. But still, I'm bummed about it. Especially because I've been growing them out and loving her new look, sans bangs.

Right when my visiting teachers arrived yesterday morning, I looked at Elizabeth and thought, "Why does she look a little crazier than usual?" Then it hit me, "Did you cut your bangs?!!?" She said yes, and then I lost it and embarrassed myself in front of those poor ladies just trying to do their duty. On the 7th, I might add (quite impressive).

So after they left, I made a quick phone call to one of my fashion consultants who helped me decide to try to turn them into "swoop" bangs.

Some of you may have heard a story from my past which would lead you to believe that hair cutting is not exactly my forte. And believe you me, if I'm using thinning shears, it's really not. I do slightly better with normal hair cutting scissors. But I still don't think my skills would threaten anyone's job security at Fantastic Sam's.

I pulled them back for church so no one had to see her way too short, homemade haircut bangs. (Notice the tiny ones that wouldn't stay back).

The coordinating coral and eyelet church outfits lifted my spirits somewhat.

Until we got home and took her hair out. Then I remembered that my children do in fact look ugly sometimes. I guess it goes along with the theory that I've developed to make myself feel better about not getting ready everyday: Letting people see me at my worst makes me look that much prettier when I actually put forth the effort to get ready.

P.S. Children's scissors can in fact cut hair (all the grown up scissors are up high -- I did actually TRY to prevent this one).

May this be the first and last time any of my children play the cut-cut game, the name my cousins developed for this lovely ritual when they were children.

The Green-Tongued Graduate

Last month, this little guy "graduated" from pre-school. They also did a cute program that they had been practicing for months and he had sung me all the songs, so I knew he knew them. Trying to avoid a repeat of his Grinch impression at the Christmas program, I STRONGLY encouraged him (and bribed him with ice cream after) to be happy at the program and sing the songs. He was happy, he did most of the motions, but I didn't see much singing going on.

Of course we still got ice cream.

When he went up to get his "diploma" he kind of stomped up there with his shoulders slumped and his pelvis and chin pushed forward (this is his "I'm embarrassed and uncomfortable being in the spotlight" pose). I wish I had gotten it on video. It was pretty funny and got a good laugh from the audience.

Here Harrison is with is beloved teacher, Miss Kristie. He talked a lot about how much he loved her, was going to miss her and "would never forget her" the last week of school.

This is his other beloved teacher, Miss Jane. He said all the same things about her. He really adored both of them. I did too. I think they were great for him. Like Fraulein Maria, they were firm, but kind. Just what he needed.

As promised, we went for ice cream after with the Jensen's. Unfortunately it was during Nate's "business" trip to CA, so he missed the whole thing.

Logan and Harrison were their usual silly, crazy selves.

Elizabeth was being extra funny that night and totally hamming it up for the camera.

Cute kids. Fun friends. Good times. Yummy ice cream.

None of the florescent stuff for me. When at Baskin Robins, I always have and always will order the chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

In the Genes?

Last week both kids fell asleep on the way home from running errands. I brought them both in (thank goodness I have kids who can transfer!) and laid them each on a couch. Later I looked at them and they were both sleeping like this:

Must be in the genes.

Oh, how I long for more days of both kids taking naps. Elizabeth still needs one, but she only gets one on days like this. She won't lay down and go to sleep, and I've never been good at making a child who doesn't want to take a nap take one.

Sleeping babes are SO easy to love!!!

Happy Birthday, Gamma!

I promise, I really did start this post on my Mom's Birthday, May 13th. But it was a Wednesday, which are my crazy days (play group and mutual, with Nate in school until 10:30 PM), plus that day was Harrison's Pre-School Graduation. So, then it got neglected. It was supposed to be a tribute to my mom, because when I asked Harrison what his favorite thing to do with Grandma was, he said, "Cooking." That's my boy.


My mom is a very accomplished baker. She is also a great cook, but baking is her specialty. I am the opposite, because yeast scares me with it's finickiness. Here she is making her delicious dinner rolls with my kids when they were visiting in April.







I'm really glad I got these pictures. I have SO many memories of watching my mom make these rolls. She has her special ways and does it the same every time so they are uniform and perfect. I should have taken a picture of the finished product. Each one is a little masterpiece.

I'm so grateful to have a mom who is a true homemaker. She is such an example to me and tried her darnedest to teach me how to make a house a home. Even though I mostly focus on the things she taught me that involve food, the other lessons are lurking around in my mind, sure to surface one of these days!

I love my mom, Nate loves my mom (and wishes I were a lot more like her in some ways), my kids love my mom. She is great. I hope she has LOTS more birthdays to celebrate and

many more opportunities to cook with my kids!