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Blog Challenge Day 16

Something I'm looking forward to:

First on the list is the obvious - Brookelyn being born & me not feeling like I'm being kicked in the kidney constantly!

Also on the list:

Summer vacation for the kids

Sam's end of the year dance recital

Relay for Life in July

Nash & Caleb's birthday's

Taking the kids to southern UT this summer (Trav's idea - Sam wants to go back to Oregon)

Being able to work in my flowerbeds/yard

Taking the kids swimming this summer

Finishing the boys room & getting them moved

Redecorating the bedroom upstairs for the girls

Getting to go back to my job in the fall

Finishing some of my sewing projects (the other rag quilts, clothes for the kids, etc.)

Travis going back to school

Blog Challenge Day 15 & Labor & Delivery Trip #3

Blog Challenge: My family

What can I say about my family? I have such a huge family since I've been married for 12 years (in July). Trav's immediate & extended family feels like my family. I call his grandparents grandma/pa and feel like I've been a part of the family forever (14 years kind of is forever isn't it?).

My family? Well, my family is nuts. Just ask anyone in it! We've had lots of changes in our family since I got married.

The Maughan side of the family numbers nearly 100 now! Insane to think about that! I doubt we'll ever get a complete "family photo." We did attempt one for grandpa's 80th birthday 4 years ago & had a fairly decent turn out. But, there have been lots of babies born & more than one wedding since!

The Reeder side of the family is growing too. My sister and I aren't the only ones with the great grandkids anymore! That's fun! Especially for my kids! It was sad when my grandparents sold their home they had lived in for 43 years last fall. I loved that place! There were so many memories there. But, I'm sure there will be great memories in the new place too.

My immediately family? Well, there's plenty of craziness there too. I never imagined when I got married that my immediate family would end up like it has. Not that it's bad, it's just very different than what I ever imagined it would be.

My "little Bown family"? Well, I love it. I love them all. Even this rotten kid that keeps sending me to labor & delivery but refuses to be born! I love their different personalities and just watching them turn into actual people vs babies. Samantha is such a diva & last time Trav was home he heard her talking to me from the back of the Expedition. He turned around and looked at her and said, "Are you like, from like, the valley?" She of course had no idea what the heck he was talking about. I however giggled quite a bit. I told him that wasn't even the worst of it! She's much more like that when he's not around! I think it has to do with her BFF next door who has a 15 yr old cousin she lives with! Nash is such a tender heart. Don't get me wrong, the boy has a temper. But, when it comes down to it, he's the one that hugs me at least once a day and says, "I love you mom" out of the blue. Caleb is a wild man. That boy is going to be the end of my sanity! My mom said "Not only does he look like you did, but he acts like you too." My thought to that comment? "Oh crap!" He's like Nash in that they both come up with the most random, off the wall comments completely out of the blue that just catch you so off guard you have to stop and ask yourself if you heard that right. Some of my favorites from Caleb right now are "I 2! I do it!" "Buffalo, Buffalo, Buffalo (what he says when you ask what the buffalo says)", "Stop saying that!" "Mingo, mingo, mingo" Took me awhile to figure this one out. Mingo is Flamingo. Duh mom. My mom and I giggle each time one of these comes out of his mouth (which is at least a 100 times a day). So, there you have it. My thoughts on my family.

Trip #3 to Labor & Delivery

When I went to the dr. on Monday I told him I was still having contractions but that they weren't regular. Big surprise, right? This morning I had the privilege of being woken up at 2 am by contractions. They stopped soon after. This afternoon as I was getting ready to go pick the kids up at school I started having some wicked contractions. Ones I had to stop for because I couldn't walk through. Ones that were giving me shooting pains and burning sensations. So, I called mom to come get me & Caleb & take us up to get the kids. I had promised them I'd take them to the book fair today so I couldn't bail on them. We went up to the school and visited the book fair & were able to find some lovely purchases (it was buy 1 get 1 free this time & they all picked 2 things plus we got a book for each of their teachers). After the book fair we had 30 min. to kill before piano lessons. Mom took us home and hung out with us. At 430 my mom took Sam to piano lessons and then came back to sit with me and the boys. At 5 my mom went & picked Sam up from piano lessons and then came and grabbed me and the boys so we could go to Nash's soccer game. Nash got to play almost the entire soccer game (I think not all the kids showed up or something). He even scored the first goal for his team this game! Whoo hoo! Maybe running like his dad isn't such a bad thing after all! During the entire game I kept having contractions and when I walked over to the playground (the game was at Lincoln Elementary) I told my mom it felt like the baby was going to fall out. She told me I looked like I was walking like she was falling out. Thanks, that's comforting. Nash's team lost 5-2, but he had a great time playing. After the game was over, we came back to our house where I decided to call and talk to the dr. on call. He wasn't very helpful. He told me that it's hard to tell over the phone since he can't check me to see if I've progressed. He also said it's normal with your 4th to be able to feel pressure (pressure is one thing, I felt like her head was going to fall out any second). He told me it wouldn't be a bad idea to make arrangements like I could go fast and it wouldn't be a bad idea to come in. Gee, really? So, we dropped the kids off at my in-laws house (I'm sure they're sick of my children by now) and went to Labor and Delivery. I was hoping that the 3rd time would be the charm - so was my poor mother! When we got there & they finally checked me, the nurse told me I was 75% and a 2 at a -2. I about cried! On Monday my dr. told me I was at 75%, 3 and at a -2. My cm had better NOT be going backwards! I was ready for a second opinion! After telling the nurse what my dr. had said on Monday she agreed to put 3 on my chart b/c "there's just a tiny difference between a 2 and a 3." Gee, that makes me feel better. I asked if walking would help make a difference. She said it wouldn't be a bad idea. So, we walked for 30 min. and then had to get back on the monitor for 10 min. and then walked for another 20 min. At the end of that time the nurse checked me again and said "Sorry. No change. We can't keep you." Big surprise. So, after getting the rest of the tape from the monitor they needed, I was given a ticket home. I told my mom I wanted to go to ColdStone Creamery to wallow in self pity. Since we were both hungry, we ended up at the Pita Pit instead. That was good, not wallowing in self pity good, but good. After our dinner we went and picked up the kids. I think they're getting a bit too use to the idea of drop off and pick up later without a sister. I think they might freak out when they actually get a sister out of the whole ordeal! An hour after getting home, here I sit writing on my blog, checking facebook and email & STILL having contractions. Awesome. Is it Monday yet?

Blog Challenge Day 14

My make up bag:

Those that know me know I generally don't wear make up. Why? When I was a teenager my skin was sensitive from my eczema that I had a hard time finding make up that wouldn't make me break out. When we finally discovered Clinque wouldn't make me break out, that's what mom bought me. Unfortunately it was expensive. So, I worked hard to make it last.

I've never been one to wear much make up anyway. I hate mascara because I always forget I have it on & end up rubbing my eyes and smearing it. I also hate taking it off at night so I if I do wear it, I generally don't take it off before bed. Instead, I wait until morning & jump in the shower. Is that so bad?

I do own make up these days, despite not wearing it very often. In fact, I don't think I've bought make up in about 2 years! I've bought Mary Kay and Avon, as well as WalMart. I keep my varied assortment in a Kaboodle (remember those?). I also have a cool make up roll up thing my mom made (I had them on my etsy site for awhile) so I can take my make up with me when I travel.

When I do wear make up, I keep it fairly simple - black or brown eye liner, brown eyeshadow, blush & powder base, and finish with chapstick or a light lipstick/lip gloss.

So, there you have it. My oh so interesting make up bag!

Caleb's Owl Blanket

So I bought the flannel for this blanket some months ago. Caleb was with me when I bought all of it and has been asking almost daily since then when his owl blanket would be done & he could use it. Of course, he's also been asking me to take the pins out of the binding of his new quilt so he can wrap up with it on the couch too...Goofy kid.

Anyway, when the kids left this weekend I told Caleb I'd try & finish his owl blanket (I was close when he left). I spent Saturday night and part of Sunday sewing on this dang blanket. By the time he got home Saturday night, I had everything but the snipping done. I laid it over the couch so he'd see it when he walked in the house. When he came in I pointed at it and asked him "What's that?!" He looked at it kind of confused for a minute and then with a big grin on his face says, "My owl!" He climbed right up on it & didn't want anyone else sitting on it. He was climbing under it & even laid down on it to watch a dvd for a minute. When I sent them to bed he asked if he could sleep with it. How could I say no? So, he went to bed with a giant grin on his face and an enormous owl head covering his body. It was cute.

I started having some pretty good contractions this afternoon so when the kids and I got home and settled down I grabbed the owl and a pair of scissors and plopped on the couch. Caleb was not happy that the owl was on me and I told him he couldn't have it on him. Finally I convinced him to lay on the bean bag & I'd put the tail over him while I snipped the other end. I'm amazed I didn't chop a finger off because the kid did not hold still and would not leave the blanket alone! It took a couple hours of snipping, but I finally got the sucker done. I got the picture snapped and threw it in the wash to fluff up the rags. It should be ready for lovin' first thing in the morning!

Poor Nash asked when I was going to either do an "I spy" or his teddy bear blanket for him. I couldn't tell him Grandma Terri almost has his "I spy" blanket done for his birthday in 3 weeks. So, I told him "I can only do so many at a time bud." Hopefully that will help him hold out until his birthday! He should be happy though because I've decided I need to finish the clothes I cut out for the kids at the beginning of the school year. ONE of the shirts in that pile is for him! Guess I'll have to do that shirt after I finish the skirt I started on for Sam yesterday! That poor boy - he has totally got the middle child affect taking place! Good thing he won't be the only middle child any more - soon.