Summer Successes

1.  2 am pee trips.  I know...this sounds terrible, right?  But nothing says officially potty trained than your 2-year-old stammering out of her room, announcing she needs to pee, and then heading straight back to her bed.  It's the most adorable little moment ever.  "Have to go potty, stop and go right away mommy.  Daniel Tiger says"  -- Kate.

2.  A dolla makes me holla, honey boo boo.  Our movie theater has $1 movies -- this week it was Peabody & Sherman.  Both kids made it through the entire movie.  We found something Jack will actually eat -- popcorn.  All of his and half of Kate's.  I love this stage of 4 & 2 - where I can walk out of my house with two fruit snacks and an extra pair of cinderella underwear and I'm set. {#untildecember.. :)}

3.  Pool pass.  GENIUS!  Last year, I wouldn't bite the bullet.  So, if the weather sucked...we wouldn't go.  If we had anything else going on - no pool.  This year, bologna!  We're getting a pass.  I think we've gone 7 times already.  It's down to a science, people..  in fact, my pool bag is pre-packed for tomorrow already.  My kids are little fishies and I love getting a tan and getting out of the house.  And, the snack bar has snickers.   Do I need to say more?

4.  Mathlete, Diva, and Athlete?  We're sure that Jack's our mathlete.  As I picked him up from the child watch at the Y yesterday, the lady hanging with him said, "Wow, he sure knows a lot.  He was filling me in on how mountains formed and informed me that the bug that landed on the lego table was an insect because.."  I'm sure he asks 32,586 questions a day.  Today's doozie:  "Mom, why is bird poop white?  They eat bugs and insects and they aren't white.  Hmm....our poop is brown and I don't eat all brown food.  Mom, why is our poop all brown?"  ----whoopsie when you don't know the answer to a 4 year old's question.  Kate is my diva.  She loves her nails painted, tells me how she wants her hair done in the morning, plays dress up most moments of the day, and is incredibly sweet.  I cannot wait for prom dress shopping and girls trips together.  BK3 must be our athlete?  Maybe he won't search for butterflies during t-ball practice and won't be describing the cloud formations during soccer?  Maybe he will understand how to kick a ball...or throw a basketball into a net? :)

5.  10 fingers and 10 toes.  Our elective gender reveal ultrasound was fabulous.  I saw all 10 fingers and toes, watched my little man snuggle up, and picked out some adorable hankerchief bibs for the new little babe.  I then went on a shopping spree - whoops!  Anyone remember me HATING baby blue?  Good thing boy clothes have gotten so much cuter -- the new baby blue is NAVY and I. Love. Navy.  The only problem?  What in the heck name will go with Jack and Kate?  We're stuck.  We may not have a name until we see the little booger.

6.  9 whole years.  We celebrated at Roadhouse with our little munchkins.  Perfect and chill.

I love summer.  I love finding the joys in our regular ol' "stay home day mommas" together.

Cheers to it being June --- and I have ALL of JULY and almost ALL of August this summer!  Many more Krieger adventures to come!

I don't ever want to forget...

Why hello, week 14 and a half.  I feel like myself.  Selfishly -- I almost forget I'm pregnant at this stage in the game.  Goodbye yuck.  Hello, MAGIC.

There are things about pregnancy that only happen during this wonderful stage of life.  I vow to embrace, remember, and enjoy.

1.  Please look at my belly.  Yes, it's growing.  No, it's not just a look-alike-tummy brought on by my other two kids.  There is a real live baby growing in there.  Look away, strangers!  Literally I am so proud of my growing bump these days.

2.  I've found a new love for lemonade, ice cold water, and even little kid juice boxes.  I get a big smile on my face when Eric walks in with a Snapple just for me.  Ridding my life of caffeine is hard.  I give in most days.  But I try real hard to go without it most of the time.  I mean, have y'all tried a fresh squeezed glass of lemonade lately?  Beats the sugary fizz of pop any day... especially in this 90 degree summer weather.

3.  Walking into the mall and straight into Motherhood.  When not preggo -- I avoid even looking in that store.  I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm pregnant for goodness sake!  And, for some reason they have the CUTEST clothes when I don't need them and the most god-awful ones when I do.  Silly as it is, I walk into that store like "yep - I'm pregnant.  Ask me my due date, won't ya!"  I hold that Motherhood bag proudly as I walk around...because let's be honest it's the only place I can buy clothes other than Target and Old Navy. :)

4.  Pickles and ice cream.  It's so cliche -- so it must be a scientifically proven fact?  Everyone knows I hate ice cream -- which makes me so non-American, right?  However, I've eaten two entire cookie ice cream sandwiches in the last week.  I refused to share even a nibble with my kids!  And, I've stopped counting how many Claussen jars I've actually finished.  Something about calcium and vinegar while preggo, eh?

5.  Baby names, nursery decor, doctors appointments, cravings.  There's an endless supply of things to talk about ---- assuming whoever I'm talking about wants to listen.   Having pregnant friends around at the same time is SO MUCH FUN.  It's like they get you -- in this most awkward, strange, changing stage of your life.   Oh, and those commercials that "spoke to me" before we had conceived?  Yes, they sway me.  I've already bought Pampers Swaddlers in newborn.  And, I cry at most of them.  ME - the girl who cries once a year!

6.  When something lands on the floor --- I find every way OTHER than bending over to get it.  Jack, can you grab... oh gosh I don't even like typing that.  HA!  Or, the grab-with-my-toe method for lost socks going from the washer to the dryer.  Anything on the floor is fair game to stay put until daddy comes home.

7.  Grocery stores are such and adventure.  Why, yes, Hy-vee, I do need that giant bag of pink and white frosted cookies.  Thank you for putting them on sale for me!  Or, finishing an entire box of frozen waffles for the first time in my life?   Some of the weirdest things sound amazing, while some of my usuals (chocolate!) sound awful.

I'm sure there are more -- but here's my short list. 
This stage is so fun. 
I have 11 days until I know what baby k#3 is...and then Eric (and my summer budget) is in trouble. 
I love this. 
I cannot wait for baby snuggles and teeny pampers.
June 20th, I'm ready for you!

Kickoff to summer 2015

Today is day 2 of our kickoff to summer.   Day 1 rained all day and we were bored and waiting for daddy to come home all. day. long.

We started the day off at the Y for our mommy-works-out-in-quiet-while-kids-play time after breakfast.   The kiddos have started this hold each other's hands wherever we're walking stage and it's incredibly cute.  They get quite the attention when they walk in like this!  Jack graciously shows Kate how to push the button to make the door open and then coaches her when it's her turn to try. {and I melt}

 

I've decided that next summer we'll be chasing two kids while snuggling a 6 month old, so chances of the pool everyday are rather slim.  So, we're going to rock the pool this year!  My neighbor suggested getting life jackets for the kids and I scoffed.  And then drove to Target. :)  We packed a little picnic lunch (even though pool rules say no outside food -- whoever made those rules must not have kids) packed our pool bag full of our new PB towels, threw in the sunscreen and goggles and were off to the pool!

It was an overcast day in the high 70s.  I didn't bother putting on sunscreen because it was super cloudy and not too warm. Which, eventually ended up in a little sunburn...whoops.  You really can get sun through the clouds!

I would say today's pool experience was easy.  Yes, I said it.  I went to the pool by myself with two little kiddos and I would call it easy!

First of all, Leslie you're a genius.  These darn float vests are phenomenal!  Anyone with littles -- do this!  Anytime their little feet gave way or the water got a little too deep -- they'd start floating.  It was hilarious!  After they got used to the feeling....they were jumping into the deep end over and over!  It was such a chill day.  They both listen, are both potty trained....it was just plain fun.  As soon as they needed a break from the pool we sat and ate our picnic lunch.  We came home around 2 and Kate napped until 4:30!

We finished our day with Jack's first t-ball practice of the year.   He has the best coach...ha Eric!  The kids actually looked like they knew what to do!  4 & 5 year old t-ball is pretty adorable.

Here's to a fun-filled 3 month long last summer as a family of four!  We've got quite the bucket list and I'm determined to try it all!  Next stop -- movie in the park tomorrow night -- staying up WAY past our 7:00 bedtimes!

Magic

It was an interesting time in the Krieger household.  Jack had recently turned 4 & Kate turned two.  Kate decided she was done with diapers and was potty trained rather quickly {mostly thanks to our wonderful daycare family -- she SO rocks}.  She also wanted "big girl tups" like Jack.  Soon, we were sippy cup free, diaper free, and for the first time in 4 1/2 years...baby free.  That's right...baby free.  I carried a regular purse for the first time.  All I needed was a handful of fruit snacks and we were out the door in seconds!

We had a big kid and a growing toddler. 

Should we have another?
But we have a boy and a girl.
And they're so easy right now.
What in the world name fits with Jack and Kate?
I love and miss snuggles.
Shoot!  I want lots of grand kids.
I can't imagine not having more...

We went through all the motions trying to decide what's next for our family.  To be honest, as soon as Kate joined us -- I thought -- hmmmm she's going to be a great middle kiddo.  Easy, chill, independent, quick learner.  I wasn't ready to be "done".  Yes, we have a boy and a girl -- but can a mom like being a mom? HA!  I like kids...no matter the gender.  So, why should we stop?

Then...this happened.

Pregnant ladies.
Pampers commercials.
Bottles, formula, onesies.
Teeny baby shoes.
Pottery Barn Kids - nursery section.

Everywhere I saw pregnant ladies, strollers, babies, diapers.  EVERYWHERE.  I didn't think -- ha, sucks to be you I'm out of that stage.  I thought...hmm I want that. 

I need the pregnancy magic.

We both agreed if more were in the cards we were ready.  I remember wanting SO BADLY to be pregnant again.

Fast forward to now...

I'm 13 weeks and finally getting out of my 1st trimester funk.  It has been everything but magical.  I'm extremely everything -- excited, grateful, nervous, sick, uncomfortable.

I feel like I forgot to do this last time -- this is not all roses and cute bumps and wonderful.  Sometimes pregnancy just plain sucks!  And, this time I promise to remember.  And cherish.  And I vow to be continually thankful for this growing our family journey we're on right now.

Yes, I feel yucky.
Yes, I'm incredibly excited and thankful.
Yes, I WILL be a good sport.
Hello, Motherhood Maternity...ugh.