It's A....

GIRL!

To say we were surprised would be quite the understatement. I made the sonographer look, look again, then look some more. I am still having a hard time believing it, but I have no reason to think otherwise.
I will post more on reactions when I (hopefully) put the sonogram pictures on here...but the general reaction was over-the-top excitement, but Marjie beat them all. She made me feel like I'd just won the gazillion dollar lottery with her ecstatic screams. Of course, this is way better than some stinking lottery.
We truly are blessed. Three healthy children...and we get to experience raising both boys and a girl. Thank you, Lord, for our life!

Kisses Make It Better

Grant always has been a slightly more affectionate child than his older brother. Jeff and I have attributed that to Connor being more "prickly" like me, while Grant is more outgoing and physical, like Jeff. Grant will hug me for no reason and kisses are available on demand.

I have noticed in recent weeks a trend with Grant.

Every time he bumps into something or thinks he is hurt, he comes running to me for a kiss. I will then kiss said owie (which has only posed a problem once--when he hurt his bottom), ask him if it's all better, and he replies "yes!" and runs back to playing.

I love this age and stage.

Yes, we sometimes (though less frequently now) have dinner battles, I have to provide him a choice about everything including which shoe he would like to put on first, and he can get whiny.

But he still believes that his parents can fix anything. And that is special.

I still remember being sad the first time Connor told me that my kiss didn't make his owie feel better.

I just hope Grant doesn't realize it for a while yet.

Connor's take on Baby 3

One of Connor's after-school teachers pulled me aside the other day and told me about a funny conversation she had with Connor.
She prefaced it by saying that Connor is usually very subdued and quiet in the after-school program and generally doesn't talk much to the grownups.

She was talking with him about our family and if we were going to have another baby ever (I suspect b/c they've noticed my expanding waistline and got curious!) and Connor immediately piped up:
"Yes and we find out what it is in TWO WEEKS!"

She then asked him if he wanted a boy or a girl.

Connor replied, "I want a boy."

Teacher: "Why?"

"Because if we have a girl, we're going to have to take her to ballet and stuff. Yuck."

Waiting

Here at our house, we're on a countdown. Ok, it's just me. No one else seems nearly as concerned as I am with the possibly life-altering information we will find out next week.

I might be a touch on the over-dramatic side on this.

Next Friday, we find out what our baby is. Of course, this is depending on baby's cooperation, I've been told. I am leaving nothing to chance, and having a big caffeinated drink before we go for our sonogram. That kid is gonna be hyped up and moving so we can see the parts!

Everyone here is rooting for a boy. Except for mom of course. It would be really nice to have someone on my side (besides the dog, who is also a girl). The boys spend most of their time with Jeff arguing about who gets to be on his "team" for various activities.
We were in the car the other day, and I kid you not, the kids were screaming at each other over who got to be on dad's team. We weren't playing a game, we weren't even TALKING about playing a game, but by golly, they were each going to be on dad's team!!

I would like for someone to want to be on MY team once in a while. Not that a girl necessarily would. And boys are great...truly. I've always said I'd take a house full of boys over a house full of girls any day, and I mean that.

I just kinda want to buy pink this time.

Halloween Festivities

And here they are, the all-important costume pictures!

Getting the boys to smile naturally (Connor has inherited my fake-camera-smile) was quite the challenge, but I did manage just one with my little peace-nik.

I REALLY thought we were going to have trouble getting stubborn little Grant to wear his costume, but he surprised me! He was excited to put the costume on. Now, the cape? That required a little trickery from Dad. Grant did not want to put it on...until he was told that "Daddy wants to wear it" and Daddy put it on. Hmmm...all of a sudden it held more appeal. I was able to wrestle it from Jeff (who occasionally dreams of being as superhero!) to complete Grant's costume.

Before it was dark, we stopped out at my parents' house. It was Friday night and still daylight savings time, so it was nice to show off the costumes and get some goodies early.

Connor worked all night on getting the perfect "mean pirate" face. I think this was his best effort.



Connor may have been being a rocker pirate. Not really sure, but he was having fun!

This was the first house the boys went to trick or treat at, next door to my parents'. I WISH I'd had my camera ready when the lady came to the door. Grant's expression was pure terror...until she offered him candy.

See, I think this "mean pirate" is pretty good too. He really just got better as the night wore on. Even occasionally saying "Trick or Treat" in his "mean pirate" voice.

Earlier in the day, before he was overcome with the spirit of being a pirate, Connor had a much more angelic look about him. I surprised him by showing up at his Kindergarten Halloween parade. It was really cute, seeing all of the kids in their costumes. I was, however, reminded that I want nothing to do with teaching elementary school. While I was waiting for Connor's class another Kindergarten class was using the bathroom. As they came out, they were standing in line. One of the boys came out of the bathroom and announced to the teacher, "I got pee on my costume."

Yuck. Um, I might have kept that to myself.

The day after Halloween, the Zoo hosted a "Pumpkin Smash" day which in theory is much more exciting than in reality.

This was the highlight of the day for the boys.

We did take some time out between watching the kangaroos and tigers eat pumpkins to visit the Baobob tree playhouse.

Grant, while waiting for the Kangaroos to get their pumpkins. It was all quite disappointing. The zookeeper just tossed pieces of pumpkins at the kangaroos and they either sat there and got hit or grabbed a piece and started eating. Not too exciting. Actually, the tigers were pretty cool, puncturing the pumpkin with his teeth.

Overall, Halloween 2008 was fun. It was great that Grant was more "into" it this year and worked very hard to keep up with big brother.

They got oodles and gobs of really good candy...seriously, our neighbors didn't go cheap at all this year, I am used to a bucket full of smarties and tootsie rolls. No, these kids got the real deal, chocolate candy bars, reese's cups...good stuff!

It was a great weekend though Sunday, when whatever respiratory ailment the boys had last week finally caught up to Jeff and me. We spent the majority of the day woefully lamenting our inability to breathe from one nostril or the other.

"Wicious!"

If you haven't heard Grant say the word "Delicious" you really should give him something yummy. He has been saying it all the time with (almost) everything he eats.

"Mmmm...Wicious!"

Try it, it will bring a smile to your face.

Pumpkin Patch

Note: My camera ran out of batteries, and I had planned to put in new batteries before we left and forgot. I only got two pictures....neither of which involves any pumpkins!

We finally made it to our yearly trip to the Pumpkin patch...only we tried something new this year. See, in the past, we've been able to go to the local 'patch and have a good ol' time without paying the high ($8+, yikes!) price of admission. Connor is a very reasonable child and understands that if we have a talk beforehand about what we will and won't do, that is just the way it's going to be.
Completely reasonable.
Grant?
Not so reasonable. He IS only two, plus has a little more...how shall I say...forcefulness to his personality!

So, me being the cheapskate that I am decided I was NOT going to shell out $30+ just for admission to the pumpkin patch--that doesn't even COUNT the pumpkins! I looked online for "Free pumpkin patches in Kansas City."
And I found one!

It is located in Sibley, MO, which is north of Grain Valley. Not too bad of a hike if there isn't a 10-mile backup on 1-70 where you literally sit still for 20 minutes only to see NO ROAD CONSTRUCTION ahead (though the signs warn you it is coming!) So we did what any reasonable person would do. We drove in the lane that was apparently "coming to an end" all the way to our exit.
Whew. I am glad Jeff was driving. I am just not that brave.
So, we made it to Sibley, which is a lovely little town.

Jeff and I always think we want to move to a small town, it looks so quaint, so carefree. They probably have jobs and life too, though.

Anyway, the pumpkin patch was great. There was a cool orchard store where they sold apples, jams, frozen berries, and apple cider. Let me tell you--I think apple cider is gross--this stuff is G-O-O-O-D!
We went on a little tractor ride out to the "patch" which was a little sparse. I am thinking we went a little too late in the season. All of the big pumpkins were "mashed" according to the boys. Fortunately, there was also a big section of small "pie" pumpkins and there were lots of great little ones to choose from. We took 5 home because I was all set to try to make my own pumpkin butter.
What can I say, sometimes I feel like a farm girl. Next thing ya know, I'll be churning my own butter.
We got some good-looking apples, some cider, and those pumpkins, but then had to be on our way. It was past nap time for someone. Oh, and Grant too.

On our way home we were watching the rolling farmland and the cool old farm houses, and Jeff said, "You really would like to live in the country, huh? I've converted you!"
I said, "Yeah, that would be great, we could have 4 dogs..."
Grant, excitedly from the backseat: "FOUR DOGS!"
Jeff: "and maybe a cow?"
Me: "Nah, it's too much trouble to milk it every day and night."
Jeff: "Really?"
Me: "Ok, we can get a cow, but I want to hire someone else to milk it."


Ah yes, I think I am still a ways off from living the farm life.