Reflecting

As the year comes to a close I am ANXIOUSLY awaiting the arrival of the newest man in my life, as well as reflecting on the last twelve months and how many changes they've brought about.

At the close of McKinley's first year of preschool, we discovered we were about to become a family of four and were so excited but quietly so...in May of 2010 we had a miscarriage.  This pregnancy began exactly one year and one week after the last had begun!  I've never written about it just because it was tough to get through and I want to keep this ongoing story of our family as positive as I can.  But I suppose with Baby almost here it's important to note that the loss we experienced will never be forgotten and that we were able to accept it by knowing my Dad finally gets his own grandchild in heaven. 

This year has had it's challenges, as every year should, but we are blessed that my health has hung on through the end of the pregnancy.  In just a few short days we will be holding "OUR BABY", as dubbed by McKinley and life will get even more interesting!

Christmas 2011, a recap

Well, we are just a few days from meeting this new baby boy...he's hung in there so well!  So have I, according to my OB, who informed me that he is SHOCKED he wasn't forced to take the baby BEFORE Christmas.  My blood pressure is high, but it's held out.  I'm so uncomfortable.  I am HUGE.  I know it is so, so worth it, but this is the really hard part.  A few more days...

So, in the meantime we've had this little thing happening called Christmas.  Scaled down considerably, we managed to get the tree up.  The stockings too.  We put McKinley's tree and his own decorations in his room and truly, that's is all.  Seriously, we're taking a pass this year...we are days away from having a baby!  It was nice, our tree was beautiful and it was just right...for this year. 

We continued our annual tradition of driving through the park to view the Christmas displays with hot chocolate on Christmas Eve.  We also went to family mass.  McKinley helped us put a plate of cupcakes and milk together (see?  It's ALL different this year!  I purchased some yummy cupcakes from our favorite cupcake shop, Caboodle to have on hand over the holiday.  They graciously gave me 6 extra in the holiday spirit.  Such a sweet couple!  I taught them Swing back in my dance days.).  Note:  Santa did NOT have any complaints!  He must enjoy a good Caboodle cupcake as well.  We all worked on the reindeer food and dance and left out our key for Santa.  As usual, I read The Night Before Christmas.  This year McKinley was really into the story, it was so sweet!  Then it was off to bed...

Christmas morning was perfect.  I made cinnamon rolls (don't get too excited...we're talking pop-the-can rolls from Pillsbury.  Again...9 months pregnant here! LOL!), we munched on those while McKinley opened package after package, after package, after package.  I think I took a little nap...accidentally...my Mom came over, we played, then we headed over to her house where she and I managed to put together a little dinner.  It wasn't fabulous, but we were glad for what we had on really short notice.  See, with the high blood pressure issues we weren't planning anything too far ahead.  We only finalized our plan to stay home two days before, so throwing things together was key!  It worked!  We were happy.  I personally crashed hard that night and was so grateful that Cary was off the following day. 

Christmas was wonderful, I can't believe it's behind us!  Though we missed many family celebrations with both sides of Cary's family and my Godparents, I loved the ease of staying home together.  We knew with the stress on my body this was exactly what we needed.  Next year will be even more wonderful!  Two boys to love and adore and spoil! 

Now, time to tear down that tree and put the finishing touches on the new nursery and get ready to ring in 2012!
Merry Christmas!
Lynn



Reindeer Food!






Yes...that is MY BELLY that McKinley is resting his arm on during our annual reading of The Night Before Christmas





Well that's a tear jerker!

Tonight was the school's annual Christmas Program.  This year McKinley is a wise man (fitting, no?), and might I add, how adorable is that child?  As usual, the preschool kicked off the program with their sweet rendition of "Mary Rock". 
It came time for the Wise men to make their grand entrance...Cary is recording it on our camcorder, I'm snapping away on the still...almost time...I see McKinley's face light up!  He looks right at me!  Aww!  So sweet, he found me in the crowd!!!  (Dare I suggest, how can you miss me?  The Belly is like a beacon in the night.  Did I mention people who've given birth to twins have asked if I too am having twins?  No, I'm not kidding.)
So, there's my boy, climbing the short stairway with his two Wise men Dudes.  Just before he hits the stage a voice called out across the gymnasium, above the boom of the CD playing "Mary Rock"...
"HI MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
And a BIG wave!
All to me.
Huge lump in my throat, I began laughing and crying at the same time.  Everyone looked back at me.  Everyone. 
Big belly, laughing and crying (not a pretty combo, folks) and I get, "So, that one's yours, huh?"
Absolutely.
That one is definitely mine.

I could barely catch my breath or stop the tears. 
This precious moment was caught on video, by Cary and by Lori, the assistant in McKinley's preschool.  The following day she couldn't suppress her excitement when she told me her husband had been recording the entire thing for the school and that she watched the big moment over and over again that night.  So did we. 
I was emailed about it.
Friends from school talked about it.
It's most certainly worthy of America's Funniest Videos, a favorite around here, if not McKinley's wedding...or graduation...or all of the above?  I think this video will fit nicely between the story of The Vick's Baby Rub and The Pecan.
My Sweet McKinley Shane.  Oh, he and his Daddy...and his unborn baby brother have my heart.

Certainly makes for a very happy holiday season,
Lynn



Showtime!



Seconds before THE moment...he sees me!

Adorable!

Christmas at the Zoo!

Always one of our most favorite Christmas activities, our annual visit to the event didn't disappoint!  It was lovely, fun and fairly warm (read: this pregnant chick walked most of the zoo sans coat and endured several stares and even a gasp or two at the sheer size of THE BELLY and the fact it wasn't hidden behind a coat.  I was HOT). 
McKinley enjoyed decorating a cookie, visiting Santa, sharing a treat with his parents and, no surprise, the beautiful nighttime train ride through the zoo.  So many beautiful lights! 
I admit, I completely hit my wall toward the end of the evening and had to take a rest while McKinley & Cary rode the carousel.  They had a great time though and I took a little break. 
Our trip wasn't complete without visiting our very favorite tree on the zoo property at White River Gardens.  It's always breath taking, total photo op!  The zoo is always gorgeous at Christmas but I'm always so amazed by the gorgeous display inside the Greenhouse at the Gardens.  The poinsettia varieties are magnificent. 

We ended our night with a late dinner at Red Robin....YUUUUUUUM (admit it, you just sang the jingle.  I did.), where we got our biggest laugh of the night: me fitting in the booth!  Holy Baby Belly, Batman!

Loving the holidays,
Lynn

We don't need mistletoe!

In front of our favorite tree

Art a la Cookie

Train ride...should've seen me trying to squeeze in and out with THE BELLY!

Our sweet McKinley

Clabber Girl Country Christmas

What a wonderful day!  McKinley, my Mom and I visited the always busy, always fun Clabber Girl Country Christmas today.  McKinley completed every craft they had to offer, we had a yummy lunch, took a very chilly carriage ride and saw the red-suited man we all adore. 

I wobbled around with McKinley and Mom and even made it up on the carriage - much to the surprise of the young woman taking the tickets, who literally stood at my side with her mouth open and was no help at all and made me feel like a beast.  Ha!  

None of that matters, just look at the smile on this boy's face.  Love it...and I cannot wait to take TWO boys next year!

Lynn

 

Kind of alarming...

I'll be the first to admit things have been extremely stressful lately...and we've been so busy.  We had a major wake up call over the weekend.  Saturday evening I began having pains in my stomach, which eventually I came to realize were likely cramping and contractions.  We cancelled our evening plans and laid low.  They eased through the night but started up again Sunday morning.  And I am swelling a lot.  So much so that I can no longer wear my wedding rings.  I had swelling with McKinley but not until I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in my third trimester.  This is a full month sooner than last time.

We decided not to take any chances and went to the hospital.  My Mom, who just had a surgical procedure in Indy on Friday drove home from staying with my Godparents.  She picked McKinley up and off we went.  She was certainly in no shape to be sitting for us, but we had no other options (we tried...) and she was more than willing. 

At the hospital they immediately hooked me up to monitors and a blood pressure cuff.  It was found that my blood pressure was pretty high, not my norm.  I also had an infection that was causing my cramping and also creating the contractions.  Nothing threatening to the baby, thank God.  However, I've been told to immediately cool it.  No more riding for hours in the car on vacation, no more long trips, more rest, more water.  Time to scale back. 

I have testing to be done and will now be monitored for my blood pressure, which was still high.  We have to watch for pre-eclampsia.  Drink water, water, water.  Guess what that makes a really pregnant woman do?  Hahahaha.

Anyway, all is well but it scared us.  I will be slowing myself down considerably until further notice.  Yikes.
Lynn

Mamaw

Today we received some sad news.  Cary's beloved Mamaw has passed.  She hasn't been well for a long time but she was so strong through her battle with dementia.  Mamaw adored Cary and all of her grandchildren.  Ever since I met Cary I've heard funny stories of Cary and Mamaw's relationship and the things she did for him.  She threw him pitches in the back yard rain or shine, heat and snow.  She lovingly washed the uniforms - scrubbed stains out with a tooth brush.  She made pie after pie, and none since have lived up to hers in Cary's eyes.  She wasn't keen on the idea of Cary's permanent move to the Haute, therefore she wasn't exactly keen on me for a while.  Understandably, my Grandpa was never keen on any boy I dated (though he never met Cary...).  She eventually came around to the idea and after we were married she was immediately asking for Great Grandchildren from us.  When McKinley was born she was quite taken by him, and he was quite taken by her as well.  He was drawn to her.  I remember it brought tears to my eyes to see them together.  She was too deep in her dementia to know about the baby, but we know she will always be with us and her Great Grandsons in spirit. 

Cary, his brother and cousins are all so very, very lucky to have the gift of a Grandmother well into adulthood.  Some of his cousins are in their 50's and are Grandparents themselves!  It doesn't quell the grief, but I do hope it gives them some consolation to know they were so blessed. 

Today I'm praying for my husband and so very sorry for his loss.

I love him with all my heart and wish I could take away his pain.

 

Lynn

Virtual Trick or Treat 2011

Man I love Halloween!  This year was the best yet!  Well, except that I am way too pregnant to be planning a Halloween Party...that was a bummer, but in the end, the best and healthiest decision.

This year when we began asking McKinley what he might like to dress up as he insisted on being a train.  Well, I wasn't exactly sure how we could pull that off.  None of us liked the Thomas costume (no offense...), and the engineer...it's been done...a lot.  So, I gently suggested a conductor.  It was like a light bulb turned on simultaneously in our heads.  McKinley said, "How about the Conductor from the Polar Express???" I was thinking it as he was saying it.  It became my mission to replicate the costume.  Cary too!  We went everywhere rounding up little bits of what we needed to create the Conductor, the result?  Right on the money!  And incredibly adorable too.  I mean, who doesn't love a four year old in a dark mustache?!

As always, we carved pumpkins, watched the Great Pumpkin and toasted pumpkin seeds and made yummy cider.  All of our favorite family fall treats, love it!  We also visited the Halloween festivities at the park, the train was a trip...I could barely slide in because of the belly!  Hilarious!

We made our annual trip to Zoo Boo, McKinley chose to wear his beloved Mail Man costume again since we hadn't yet completed the Conductor.  He looked so cute and we had a blast as always.  We decorated cookies, we played games, and of course, we rode the train!  It was a great time, always a favorite of ours. 

The Sunday before Halloween the school hosted the first annual Trunk or Treat.  Because of our crazy October schedule and the pregnancy, we thought it best not to decorate our trunk and instead walk through.  I'm glad we did, but next year --- LOOK OUT! 

Cary was on vacation this week so he got to attend McKinley's school Halloween Party with me.  It was so fun having him there, especially since I'd signed us up to bring the party treat (chocolate dipped s'mores...on a stick..YUM!) and needed all the help I could get carrying anything these days.  Lordy, the belly is big.  Anyway, the party was a major success, the costume was perfection --- SO McKinley! --- and everyone had a great time.

On Halloween we made our usual rounds and walked the Boulevard.  I'm extremely exhausted from that walk, not smart on my part, but I wouldn't miss it for the world.  On our way around the neighborhood we ran into several people we know, including McKinley's buddy Isabella, her brother Ian and their parents! 

We ended the night at my Mom's house where we got to trick and be treated!  We brought along the left over Party Treats and shared them with the Sheere's and Mom.  We were all really wiped out.  Leaving for a little getaway though, so time to pack!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!

Lynn

 

Field Trips!

This fall has been full of fun for McKinley at preschool.  His class took two field trips over the last few weeks, one to a local apple orchard, the other to a local fire station.  I was lucky enough to have my Mom join us at the orchard and Cary at the fire station...I'm getting pretty big and my balance is thrown off, so having the extra hands are wonderful. 

We all enjoyed the fire station as much as last year.  This year the station had a brand new ambulance, state of the art, and McKinley and his buddies all got to take a tour.  It was pretty exciting!  Equally as exciting was the city bus ride to and from...especially when one rider decided she needed to exit the bus and would rather walk than to ride with one big happy preschool family!  Her loss! 

The apple orchard was great too.  It had gotten cooler, the perfect fall day.  We enjoyed hearing about the picking process of the employees and seeing the entire process of how the clean, separate, bag and sell the goods.  All the visitors got to take home a nice bag of apples, we added some gourds and butternut squash to our stash before we headed home.  So much fun, it's nice to have some really great opportunities in McKinley's preschool.

I've also included a photo below of the "About Me" poster project we completed together.  Homework!  No, really, it was so fun to gather all the stuff then build it with McKinley.  I LOVE how it turned out! 

Loving the fall!

Lynn