Sadness

Yesterday Jenna, another mom I know from the local playgroup circle, passed away due to complications from Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Jenna and I had been in the same playgroups with our children for the past three years. I never got to know her as well as I did my other playgroup friends, but certainly am saddened by her passing. Although she was sick, it was very surprising that she passed away. She leaves behind her husband of eleven years and three children, a seven year old daughter, a 4 year old daughter, and a sixteen month old son. The family also suffered the loss of Jenna's unborn son William, with whom she was five months pregnant. I am so sad to think of her husband and their family and the challenges they will face without having their mom. She was a dedicated, stay-at-home mother for her children, and I can't imagine the devastation they are feeling. It's really made me think about my own family and children, and certainly hug them a little bit tighter, and a little bit longer. I take so many things for granted, as I think most of us do, and I really want to try to slow down and let people know how I feel about them, spend more time playing with and loving my children, and less time worrying about "stuff".

Jenna stayed very optimistic through her battle with cancer, and this was her third fight in her lifetime. If you're a spiritual person, please say a prayer for her husband, children, and extended family and friends. I can't imagine what they're going through right now.

Rest in peace Jenna and Will.

Chattanooga

We took the boys to Chattanooga today. It was a lot of fun! They were very well behaved, especially for two children who got up very early and took no naps. We went to the aquarium, rode the incline railway, and drove up the mountain to check things out. Here's a link to the pictures. http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=167203706/a=22991490_22991490/t_=22991490 There are a couple of photos thrown in of D&H playing with their "very best friend" JT. David's arm is wet in some of them from dunking half of his body into the sturgeon tank to pet them . . . I think he would have jumped right in if I had let him! Henry was more interested in just running around the aquarium than actually looking at anything. And they LOVED the incline railway. We'll definitely go back.

Tiny Baby

This is my ultrasound photo from yesterday. I realize it's difficult (OK, nearly impossible) to determine this is an actual human being, but I've been assured it is. The larger blob in the dark hole is the baby. Cute, isn't he/she? I think it looks more like Chris at this point. All is well with the baby blob, there's only one (!), and it's little heart was beating away like crazy. I'm starting a baby's gender poll, if you'd like in on it. My vote is girl. Chris isn't committing at this point. My due date is February 3, but I'll have the baby somewhere between 10-14 days earlier than that, assuming all goes well to that point. I was so excited to see my doctor and her nurse Melissa. I love them! When you have three babies in three years, you become quite attached to the office staff at the doctor's office! And I was so thankful my favorite lab girl still works there, because she's SO good at taking blood. Having blood taken, thanks to a very negative experience about 12 years ago, is on my top three list of my LEAST favorite things to do. This girl is so good I can hardly even feel the needle. Like, if I wasn't looking wouldn't know she had done it. I wanted to kiss her.

I think we're going to go to the movies today. David and Henry will probably last about 14 minutes, but we'll try it! And, lucky me, I woke up with a nice fat swollen eye, due to a sty. I seem to get these all the time now, which is odd to me. I never got them before I was pregnant with David, and now I seem to get them quite frequently. I hate it!! It's ugly, itchy, and hurts. Hopefully it will go away soon.

Here are the photos of the zoo, David robbing his piggy bank, and the boys in their sleeping bags. http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=167162318/a=22991490_22991490/fromupload=true/t_=22991490

Things not to do while driving

These are all things I witnessed drivers doing in their cars, during rush hour traffic, on I-24 while on my way to the doctor yesterday. PEOPLE! What are you thinking?! Keep in mind, this is not a long drive -- it took me approximately 35 minutes.

• Reading the newspaper. Not while stopped at a traffic light, because of traffic jams, etc. WHILE DRIVING.
• Shaving
• Applying makeup
• Eating, eating, eating. It seems most Nashvillians get their breakfast to-go.
• Drinking from cups bigger than their face, without a straw. Hi, can you see the road?
• Using a laptop
• Turned around in the seat trying to hit the child in the backseat as the child was ducking and weaving about as much as the car was
• Speaking into one of those hand held tape recorder things that I've only ever seen one person actually use. Oddly enough, that person was David's ENT, and that was who I saw driving and using it!
• Getting dressed. Seriously, you can't take the extra 45 seconds to put the shirt on before you leave the house?
• Of course, talking on a cell phone.
• Holding a map on the steering wheel with one hand while turning the page with another, looking at the map. Um, which hand is STEERING YOUR FREAKING CAR?
• And my personal favorite, text messaging. If you can't text message on your cell phone without holding it directly in your line of vision while swerving like a drunk in and out of lanes, just call the person.

A trip to the zoo

Sorry I haven't updated in a few days -- there's not been much to report! I've been feeling very gross lately, nauseous all day and very unmotivated to do anything. Hopefully this passes soon!

We went to the zoo today. Nothing like walking around the zoo in 90+ degree weather. . . the boys had a great time, and they were so cute carrying their maps around looking for the animals. We're very lucky to have the zoo so close, because it's a great, fun, easy trip for us. We saw the whole zoo this time, which we've not done previously. I have some pictures, but the camera's in the car and I'm too lazy right now to go get it. I'll update with the photos tomorrow.

Chris is on vacation for the next two weeks, so we've got some fun day trips planned. We thought about spending the night in Chattanooga, but decided against it. David and Henry aren't great sleepers in places other than home, and Chattanooga is a little over an hour from us. We'll just go more than once if we decide there's more we want to do there. We're going to the Tennessee Aquarium (www.tennis.org) one day this week, and also going to Cave City, Kentucky to go to Dinosaur World (www.dinoworld.net). There are several other things in Chattanooga I'd like to do with the boys, like go to the Children's Creative Discovery Museum (www.cdmfun.org), walk along the riverfront, go to Rock City (www.seerockcity.com)ride the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway (www.ridetheincline.com), and ride the TN Valley Railroad's restored vintage train (www.tvrail.com). David and Henry are way into trains right now, so we'll definitely be doing the train-related things.

I have a doctor's appointment in the morning to have blood done, hear the baby's heartbeat, and have an ultrasound. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm sure everything will be fine, but it's always so reassuring to go to this appointment and physically see and hear that everything is fine. Let's hope there's just one baby in there!

Splish Splashing

We went to the park/pool this morning with Julie and JT. I love going there, because the pool is large enough for David and Henry not to get bored, small enough for me to see them everyplace in the pool, contained enough that they can't/won't leave the area, and they get so tired out! And it's only 2 feet deep so I don't need to constantly be in the pool with them. Nor do they want me to. I love it! Today we only stayed for a little over an hour, because David woke up at 4:30 this morning. WHAT THE HELL!? Needless to say, by 12:30 when we left the pool he was tired and crabby. And he went right to bed for his nap, which he never, never, never does.

Henry looooooves that pool, and he's so cute "swimming" and splashing around. He fell in love with JT's water guns today and was "gitting" everyone in sight with them. He's such a sweet boy, always snuggly and lovey. He is talking SO much now, and I love to hear Henry and David have little conversations. He's such a good boy. We're so lucky to have such wonderful children.

Chris only has two more days of work before vacation! Woo hoo! We're definitely going back to the pool!

David just woke up from his nap. . . we're going to go get some ice cream. They don't know yet, and they'll be so excited!

Manic Monday

How has another week gone by?? At this rate, my pregnancy should FLY by. It doesn't feel that way so far!

We had a pretty full weekend. Friday David had speech, and I had to deliver a cake during his speech appointment. I can't leave him at Vanderbilt by himself, so Chris stayed at speech with him, and I went to Franklin to deliver my cake. (It's about 20 minutes away.) Henry came with me because he was asleep in the car, and of course woke up before we exited the parking garage after dropping David and Chris off! Coming back took much longer than it should have and I didn't get to see any of David's appointment. (I am able to watch his speech therapy appointments through an observation window/mirror.) Chris enjoyed going, and he said David did really well. Henry was so cute when we brought the cake. It was delivered to a doctor's office, and Henry said, "Here's you cake!" He's such a nut. We went to lunch after speech, and the boys were really well behaved. We went to Logan's, where you can throw peanut shells on the floor, and they thought that was hysterical. They've been there before, but I don't think really understood the whole concept of the shells last time. This time they were all about some peanuts!

Saturday we hung out and played here, went to some garage sales, and just relaxed. I had these two large cakes to do for a party on Sunday, so I kept busy with those.

I'm not doing any cakes for the next three weeks, and I'm very glad for the vacation! I'm not sure how I'll manage doing them when the baby's born, but I'll figure something out. I know I'll take some sort of "maternity leave", but would like to continue doing them once I've gotten some sort of routine established with the baby. We also gave Christopher his father's day gift on Saturday, mostly because it was in the trunk of my car and he would see it! We got him a small shed he's been wanting for the backyard to keep the boys toys, etc. in. He likes it, but there are some broken pieces so we'll take it back for a new one. I swear half of the stuff we get from Lowe's is broken, missing a piece, totally the wrong thing in the box, or some other weird mistake.

Sunday we ran to the mall in the morning, then David and I delivered my cakes. Chris was in bed, because Sunday night is his first night of work for the week. After the cakes, I brought the boys to my in-laws house and we played there for a while. They live on a "farm" (not a working farm right now) and the boys LOVE running around there. They're going to spend the night on Friday with them, which David and Henry will love.

Today we went with Julie, Nicole, and their boys to a park with a wading pool, two playgrounds, picnic areas, and a walking trail. The pool was perfect for the boys -- they could do it by themselves, and they had a ball. We ate lunch in the picnic area then played on the playground. They had a lot of fun, and it's a great park for their ages. We're going back again on Wednesday. We all came home and took naps. This afternoon/evening I brought the kids to my parents house for a visit. My dad is leaving tomorrow morning for Massachusetts for a few days, so I wanted to see him before he leaves. (For those interested in the finger story, he got his stitches out today, and it looks much better than I would have expected!)

Tomorrow we may hit the free movies (http://www.regmovies.com/, click family film festival) or we may just chill out at home. I think we need a day to just hang out here -- I feel like we're constantly on the run. Wednesday we're headed back to the park. Thursday we have nothing planned, and Friday David has speech. Friday is also the first day of Chris' two week vacation! He's so looking forward to being off. We don't have any plans, other than a few day trips. He's also off for a week in October, and I think we're going to go to the beach then. It will be the last vacation we take for a while, I expect, because I don't really see us going anywhere next summer with a newborn, a 2 year old, and a 3 year old. . .

Have a great night!

Chatterbox

I'm starting to regret diligently taking David to his speech therapy appointments. . . He won't SHUT UP! The boy is definitely my child, as he talks constantly. Including in his sleep. We're working on one person talking at a time, so he's constantly saying, "Excuse me. Excuse me. EXcuse me. EXCUSE me. EXCUSE ME!" Today in the car he was upset because we went to the bank drive-thru and the man working there didn't send a lollipop back for David and Henry. David was complaining about it, whining, and I told him that's a special treat we don't get all the time, and that if he was a good boy I would give him one when we got home. He said, "I'm not a good boy, I'm being a little brat!" He was right!!! He also asked me where we were going while we were in the car. I told him to the store, and he asked which store. I told him Old Navy, and he said, "Old Lady? What they sell there? Grandmas?" I cracked up, and told him they sell clothes. We got there, and what's the first thing we see? An old lady. He said, "I TOLD you they sell grandmas here!"

I think it's time for Henry to move to his big-boy bed. He currently is in a crib with a tent on it, because he was climbing out. Today I went to get them out after naps, and BOTH of them were playing at the train table. Um, hello? Henry had unzipped the tent from the inside and climbed right out. I'm not ready for him to be in a bed!

I need help with name suggestions for Simpson baby #3. I realize this is extremely early to be thinking about a name, but we take forever to pick one. Literally the entire nine months of the pregnancy. Henry didn't have a middle name until we went to the hospital! For boys I like Jack, William, and John. For girls I have a much longer list, obviously because I have never gotten to name a girl! I like Amelia, Charlotte, Caroline, Mary, Emily, Annie, and Katherine. Chris is no help at this point, suggesting things like Gilligan, Ginger, Homer, Bart, Tres, Tresina, Number Three, etc.

I'm off to do some cake stuff. Have a good night!

Hump Day

I can't believe we're halfway through the week already! What have we done so far this week . . . Monday Henry had his cleaning at the dentist. Chris and David came, so we made it a family trip! There's a "tree house" in the waiting room that David loves to play in, but he was continually concerned while we were there that it, "not mine turn now?" He, unlike Henry, is not very cooperative when it comes to having his teeth cleaned. Chris went back to the exam room with Henry and said he did a great job. And I found it really comical that one of Chris' ex-girlfriends was the hygienist who worked on Henry! I bet that's the last time Chris volunteers to go to the dentist with the boys! We went swimming in the afternoon after our naps.

Tuesday . . . I ran some errands in the morning by myself. A rare treat! Chris and the boys played outside while I was gone. I used some birthday money to get some new clothes. Baby #3 is making my clothes get tight QUICKLY! I guess three babies in a little over 3 years leaves a lot to be desired in the way of stomach muscles. When I got home, we all ate lunch outside, took naps, then went swimming. I had a cake to do for today, so I was up late doing that.

Today we cleaned up the house this morning, then delivered this cake. We came home and played outside in the sprinkler. Or, as Henry said, we "made rain". David's imagination is crazy these days, and he had a whole story he was telling Henry and me about going for a walk with his big red dog Clifford in the rain, slipping in a puddle, stopping to get some strawberry milk at Publix, and needing a map to find his way home. Sometimes I'm amazed at the things he says, especially since he's only three and didn't speak until this time last year!

I have three more cakes to do this week and should really work on some stuff tonight, but I'm too tired. I'm going to hit the sack and get busy tomorrow morning! Have a great night!

The Weekend

Happy Birthday to my dad today! I won't post his age, but I'm sure most of you could figure it out. . . born in 1952 is all I have to say. I can't believe that. 10 years ago I would have thought that almost 60 was old. As in -- and I realize the stupidity of what I'm about to say -- grandparent old. OK, so now that my own father IS a grandfather and is getting closer and closer to 60, I realize it's not so old. I also realize how fortunate I am to still have my parents, that they're healthy, and that I've got such a great relationship with them. We're so lucky to have them living close to us now, and I'm thrilled they are able to be here while David and Henry (and #3) are growing up. So, Happy Birthday Daddy!

We had a great weekend. I had a couple of cakes this to do, one of which was for David's old speech teacher Ms. Bev's little girl Ella. We were very excited to see her. After going to Ms. Bev's we went to my parents house for a birthday party for my dad and me. My in-laws David and Sheila came, and we all had a lot of great food, swimming, and yummy cheesecake and cupcakes. And the best part was I didn't have to make anything!!

Today we just hung out, cleaned up, took naps, and went to Target.

We've got a pretty busy week. Henry has a dentist appointment tomorrow morning for a cleaning. He normally does very well (unlike David at the dentist!), so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he does tomorrow. I have four pretty big cakes to do this week. We're going swimming on Tuesday with our friends. Wednesday we have a play date and a cake to deliver, Thursday we might hit the zoo, and Friday we have speech and a cake to deliver.

Here are some more pictures from the weekend. Have a great night!

Birthday Business

Birthday Lore
If Your Birthday Is June 5
You have very definite emotions, love deeply, and hate intensely. You play wholeheartedly and work with enthusiasm and concentration. You make and act upon all decisions quickly. Usually kind and thoughtful, you sometimes speak brusquely and harshly under provocation.

Happy 76th birthday to my grampy!! And Happy 30th Birthday to me! Thirty freaking years old. . . I have to say I thought it would bother me more than it is. In fact, it doesn't bother me at all! I've had a great birthday so far. Chris and the boys got me some beautiful pearl earrings. When Chris got them out of bed this morning, the boys came running down the hall to me. David said, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!" and Henry said so enthusiastically, in his funny little voice, "Happy DAY Mama!" It was so sweet. We took them to their first movie today. They did really well. We didn't last the whole movie, but it was a good start!

In other birthday news, in January we'll have another Simpson birthday to celebrate, as Simpson Baby #3 will be making an arrival! I don't have my exact due date yet, but it's sometime at the end of January. We're VERY excited. (And glad we got that minivan!)

Don't Give Him the Finger

Here's a picture of my dad's finger. Believe it or not, it actually almost looks worse in person. I have to say that, of his most recent accidents, I find this one to be the most visually disturbing. It's gross, so if a nasty bloody mess isn't something you're into, close your eyes and scroll down now.

Seriously, this whole blog post will be gross. As I'm sure you've realized if you've read any of this blog, we're in the process of potty training David. It's been about 2 months now that we've really started to be consistent with it. He only wears a diaper when he's sleeping now, and he's doing so great. However, it's only within the last week that he's started to occasionally tell us when he has to go to the bathroom. Previously, I would just take him when I thought of it. I feel like we're making real progress now, because he's gone three times by himself today. One time I went in to check on him, and he had pooped. He was standing over the toilet peering in and said, "LOOK MAMA! I did a poop!" I told him how proud I was, to which he replied very seriously, "Did you see that my poop looks like Mickey Mouse's head? It's even smiling at me!" Are. You. Kidding. Me? Did you notice my fecal matter looks just like a freaking dancing, singing rodent with big shoes? No, I didn't catch that on first glance. Thanks for pointing it out. He was so enamored with that poop that the whole family had to file into the bathroom to inspect it. I have a feeling he was the only one who saw M-I-C-K-E-Y looking back. . .

Why does the week seem to drag along, and the weekend goes so quickly??

Friday David had speech and did really well. I'm so proud of how far he's come in the last year. We ran some errands after speech, then all came home and took a nap. We went Friday afternoon to Nicole's house to visit and have dinner with our other friends, and to see Kelly who was in from Texas for the weekend.

Saturday I had Julie's baby shower brunch here, and we had such a nice time. Her friend Mary was in town from South Carolina, and I loved her! Julie got lots of nice things for Lily June Carolina, and we all ate too much food. We had a lot of fun looking at all of the baby stuff and chatting. We went Saturday night to the Acorn in Nashville (www.theacornrestaurant.com) for dinner to celebrate my 30th birthday. (Insert *GASP* how can Kim be 30 already? here.) It was nice to have a night out with my girls at someplace other than Chili's! I don't know that I'd necessarily go back to the Acorn, but the night was very fun.

Today we just hung out here. I've been getting caught up on laundry, we ran to Lowe's this morning, and the boys and I played outside this afternoon. There was a lot of searching for bugs, eating ice cream, and running around. They're pooped and crabby now, hitting each other and being mean.







My mom just called and told me that my dad almost cut his finger tip off using a saw to finish their new deck. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! The man can't go a summer without an accident!