oh, baby!

And, not just a Justin Bieber hit, either.

We're having a baby!

Peanut Krieger is due to arrive on or near March 2nd, 2012...and we couldn't be more excited.

Here's to a big, healthy, new baby, less morning {psssshhh all day} sickness, and another wonderful pregnancy experience.  After two appointments, making it almost through the first trimester, and hearing a strong little heartbeat (at 170 bpm), I feel comfortable telling the world.

In just a few short months we'll become a family of FOUR.  Holy moly.

Wish us luck! =)

Bittersweet.

Tomorrow is the first day of school.

Why I love school:

1.  I love to have a routine.  I like to have a time schedule, a plan, an outfit picked out, a to-do list.  It's totally my personality to talk to adults (instead of toddlers) all day.

2.  I absolutely adore getting to know my 13 and 14 year olds.  I love their drama and awkwardness.  I love their love for adults other than their parents -- me. :)  I love being an ear to listen and I love seeing the smiles as they have a great year.

3.  Jack loves daycare.  He likes people and friends.  He loves my aunt's cooking!  He's so stinkin' cute when he runs and says "maaamaaa" when he sees me.  He pairs that with a little penguin waddle run to me and then heads right for the "sues" (shoe) tote.  Totally worth it.

4. I feel so accomplished when I'm working.  I know what I need to do and what I've done.  There's a good feeling in knowing I've accomplished something in my day.

Why I don't love school:

1.  Jack.  This summer has been filled with so many fun things with my big man.  We've learned every.single.animal.sound.  We spend probably four of five days out of the week at the Clive pool.  I'll never forget the laughs we'd get from the lifeguards when he'd run up to the little fish and said "bblubb bblubb" so intently.

2.  Pajamas and sweat pants.  I've been back to work for a week now, and by the end of the day I want to rip my regular people clothes off.  Literally.  Sweat pants and stretchy clothes have filled my summer wardrobe...and now I'm back to fancy black pants (which suck, by the way) and layers.  However, I'd probably be a 500 pound stay-at-home-mom if I wasn't required to wear actual clothes.

3.  No to-do lists, cleaner house, and lots of free time.  This summer has been awfully relaxing (in between a couple of grad. classes).  I will miss the extra time.

4.  Naps.  I don't know why we don't build in naps into our school day?  This momma could sure use one everyday, right after lunch time.  20 min power nap in my storage closet?  I wish.

As you can see, the first day of school is bittersweet.  I leave the house with a crying Jack saying "momma" as loud as he can (as if he already knows he's back to daycare for good).  I come to school and hang out with some amazing tweenie boppers.  The day flies by.  My to-do list never ends...and get to put new outfits together.  Real outfits.  I hope my straightener is ready.  I hope my classroom at school cools down (or I'll be opening my windows in the winter)!  And, I hope this year goes as smoothly as possible.

Here's to year four!  Man...I really am getting old.

Happy back-to-school to all the kids and teachers out there!

Girls...

You know those times where you stay up until the wee hours of the morning...without even glancing at the clock to realize it?  When you laugh so hard because you bring out some of the most embarrassing stories that only your very best friends even remember?  And, when you lay down away from home thinking about how good you really do have it?  That was my weekend.

After about an hour of driving, I picked up Lexie (after we found the perfect place to "store" her car for the weekend -- sorry gas station for the temporary resident =).  Then, it was four hours in the car with my dweebs.  We talk, literally, every second that we're together.  We got stuck in a Minnesota traffic jam...at a stand still.  Lexie says "Come on, let's roll down the windows and jam!"  So, we did just that.  A little "bottoms up" and "taffy taffy" {thanks Rap and Hip Hop of 2000 from Pandora!} karaoke was quite the show for the cars around us.  We laughed until we cried, as usual.

Autumn just moved to the Miniapple (actually Bloomington, MN -- literally up the street from the Mall of America and IKEA).  Double score.

We stayed up late.  Past midnight both nights...which is way out of the ordinary for this momma.  We chatted about boys, high school, shopping, weddings, babies, careers and everything in between.  There isn't a stone unturned when the three of us are together.

The next day, we scored the 99 cent breakfast at IKEA.  Then, we filled not one, but two giant carts with goodies for our houses and apartments.  Later, we walked to the MOA, and finished off our night with some fancy italian and Ciao Bella.  Oh, I can't forget the Nikon timer-set pretend photo shoot before dinner.  It took like ten tries to get one good picture. Oh, and then we ended up with giant scoops of ice cream at a local ice cream shop.  We got totally different ice cream cones...but man were they good. It was literally the perfect girls weekend.

 

 

When I'm out of town with my girls...it helps me to realize the happy things in my life.  I am taken away from poopy diapers and nap schedules.  I am left to laugh and reminisce, and remember that there was a Jenni who wasn't a mom.  I totally miss Eric and Jack, but I enjoy having the nights away to make me appreciate everything about my little family.

I am so very thankful for my friends....who really are my family.  Jack has lots of aunts. :)  I know just who to send my cute new video of Jack dancing to the Iowa fight song to.  I know just who adores getting a picture of him swinging at the park next door.  And, I just love that from middle school to middle age I will have these girls in my life.

Now if only I could get them to Waukee...we do have a really great mall nearby...

 This is my "Autumn is hungry" face.  Watch out when she's hungry.  Or, be sure to carry a Snickers in your purse...

Love you, girls! =)  

"Together forever, never apart.  

Maybe in distance, but never in heart."

Big Dude Room

{Gasp}.

My big man is in his big boy room.  

Sleeping soundly in his twin-sized bunk.  

Climbing down and out in the morning and opening his own door when he wakes up.  

Playing, drawing, stacking blocks, and reading...well more like toddler mumbles.  To him he's reading.

I found Jack's new PB quilt and we went a little crazy at IKEA awhile back.  We found the perfect bunk bed and rolled with it.  With a vintage car theme in mind, I was off to decorate his new space.

We decided to move his actual room to our spare.  It's a little bigger, further away from our room, and has a smaller closet than the other room.  As a boy, he really doesn't need a ton of space for clothes.  Surprisingly, Jack actually loves his new little space more than his nursery.

My goal:  to have the best little playroom/bedroom for a toddler!  I want to be the house that his friends love to be at.  Having a bunk bed will hopefully cement that (along with all of my snacks and baking that will come, too!)  It's filled with jack-friendly stuff:  a toy box, a reading nook filled with his fav books, a chalkboard/easel, a tiny, toddler-sized table complete with crayons, markers, and Elmo coloring books, and more.

I can honestly say I had never walked into an antique store until just recently.  I was skeptical of going...but it was a blast!  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are antiques, don't you know?  It sure made me feel old to find MY toys from when I was little in the nooks of the antique store.  We searched and searched for vintage car collectibles.  I wandered around looking for the perfect statement piece when I stumbled across this USA tin wall hanging.  It. was. perfect.  Then, I found the vintage truck, some old apple crates, and some old license plates.  I paired all of the old things with new, fun, rustic-y pine kid toys and shelves (giving our house a nice, different look...as compared to all of our chocolate brown/black furniture everywhere else!)  I couldn't be more happy with the turn out.  

 

And, turns out, Jack slept from 7 pm - 6:30 am the first night.  No falls, no waking up being scared, or anything!  He is such a big boy.

 

And, here's a few of our "getting the room ready" pictures.   You can tell he loved it before it was even finished!  He poses like a little Baby Gap model now, cheese and all.

Hmmmm....open it so I can see the sun!

Things I didn't know...

...until I had a toddler.

1.  My house will never be spotless.  Clean, yes.  Spotless?  Not until Jack moves out...or at least stops dragging his little, tiny, covered-in-either-spaghetti-or-boogers hands along the walls.  Today, I was heading down our stairs and I noticed about one hundred little hand prints lining the stairwell.  Hmmm, do I was or paint?! :)

2.  Timing is everything.  Will he make it through this car ride?  Is he going to be good at the pool today?  Will he sit through this dinner without screaming/throwing food?   The one question:  what time is it?!?!  If it's nap time, the answer is N.O.   If it's close to bed time, NO.   Don't mess with Jack and his sleep.

3.  Toddler babbles are SO easy to decipher when it's your own kiddo.  I remember babysitting for so many kids when I was younger.  I never understood the babble.  Now I get it.  "Naaakkkknnn".  Oh, sorry Jack you want your napkin?  "Poo" depending on facial expression either stands for poop or pool.  It's easy to tell which one it is :)  The list of these goes on and on.  I just love when he talks!

4.  Sweatpants.  If I were truly a stay-at-home-mom, and not just a pretend one for the summer, I'd live in sweatpants.  I actually miss regular clothes, but who needs those when you're on the floor, up and down, and all around with Jack?!  Not me.

5.  When in doubt, hand him the little snack pack Ritz Crackers cup (that costs $1!!!!).  Works every time.

6.  Elmo is diverse.  I love that there are all different kinds of people and characters on there.  And, word on the street is.. :)  Who knew I'd watch so many kid shows?

7.  Whatever you think your little will love to play with...will end up in the corner.  A little pot with a spoon and a pretend tomato is all Jack needs to have a good time.  He's going to be a chef.  Or, a box of crayons.  He won't color with them, he will just take them out of the box, put them in the box, repeat.  And/or color on everything except his Elmo coloring book.

Even after 20 months of being Jack's momma, I'm still learning everyday!  Toddlers are not easy to predict, but they sure are fun to hang out with. :)

Dear Jack,

You are my favorite.  From your cheesy smile, to your mumbles that only I can decipher...you make every day at home this summer so much fun.

Yesterday, you were kicking around a soccer ball.  I said, "Man, you're going to be good at soccer someday, Jack!"  You, intrigued, responded with a pointed finger and "uuuuuckeeer", as if I had just said the magic word.  How could I not give you a sucker after that?  Call me a sucker.

Our big man.  You eat cereal with milk like a champ, walk up the stairs like a big man, and you even sleep in a regular sized bunk bed all night long.  We decorated your room in vintage cars and you spend so much time in there now.  From your scribbles on your easel with "talk" (chalk), to the smooches you give each. and. every. stuffed. animal as you take them off your toy box, you melt my heart.

I love when you blow me kisses, even though you just kiss your hand.  I love when I ask you what sound an elephant makes, as you roar and do a silly little hand motion that's so wrong, but to you it's so right.  I love that I have to count each of your toes...and at the end you throw a big "puuuuuh!" to tell me they stink.

Every night, daddy gives you a bath.  We put your jams on, and you two men head upstairs.  Every single night, Daddy reads you Goodnight Moon.  You're usually requesting "moo miii mooon" by 6 pm, but we drag you along usually until 7.  By the end, you're yawning and falling fast asleep, just like clockwork.  Around 6:30 or 7, you climb out of your bed, open your door, grab a few snugglies and your blankie, and head straight for my side of the bed.  My. favorite. part. of. my. day.

 

You know some letters already, too!  We taught you letter 'o' in the bathtub, and you walk around searching for 'o's.  You also know j, e, and sometimes a.  So stinkin' smart.  We  found this little time out chair at an antique store shopping for your big kid room.  You go along with your pointing finger "saying" each letter.  When you get to 'o', man, you shout it out! 

Jack, you've brightened my life.  I love hearing you sing, I love watching you scowl your eyebrows as you've done since the first day I met you...as if you're soaking in the world around you.  I love when you reach for my hand and grasp my fingers just like you did for the first time, still, at 20 months.  You continue to amaze me; I'm so proud to be your momma.  Just as I do now and forever, I love you to the moon and back.

Love,
Mama

Interesting weekend...

A week or so ago we had big plans.  Our friends were coming down from the loo, and a group of us were going downtown Des Moines for a much needed night out...or so we thought.

Friday:  my friend's house was broken in to.  Afraid it would happen when they were visiting, they stayed in Waterloo.  Eric was sick with a fever, chills, and more..

Saturday:  our other friend's daughter was sick with the flu.  That left just Eric and me.  Well, we had my cousin babysitting Jack overnight, so we decided to just roll with it.  Biaggi's for my favorite Farfale Alfredo pasta and some relaxing not-feeding-my-toddler dinner chats.  We were then off to the movies!  Wait, a text from my cousin said Jack just puked all over.  Oh, great.

Needless to say, that weekend wasn't meant to be.

Puking toddlers.  WAAAaaaay different than baby puke.  It's not easy.  It's gross.

So, we run to get Jack, drive him home in a fabric-less carseat (which looked awfully interesting, who knew all of the pieces came off?  Thank goodness) and snuggle him on the couch.  My favorite part of the whole weekend were all of the extra snuggles from my sick man.

LEAST FAVORITE MOM MOMENT OF ALL TIME (well, so far.):

Jack starts to puke again.  {Tell me why I gave my sick little man HOT DOGS and CHEESE PUFFS for dinner?  Gross with a capital G.}  Eric hangs him out as far as his arms could reach and said "Honey, I can't do it, this is nasty!"  So I grab my little pukey boy.  I put him over my shoulder and say "It's okay buddy, get it all out." as calm as I can...thinking the whole time I am going to throw up.  I am going to throw up.  We get him into the tub, my clothes sans hot dogs into the wash, and Jack and I snuggled some more {with a towel this time.} 

***Love how even though he's sicker than a dog, he still smiles for the camera.  CHEESER!***

He woke up normal and happy as can be.  Thank goodness!  We all ended up with the bug.  Even our little dog Maggie had the pukes.  Nasty deal, anyway!  I was glad it happened BEFORE school started.

Kid pukes on mom, check.  Another mom moment for the record books!  I can't believe I held in my Biaggi's the whole time, too!

The word potty....

...has a whole new meaning in the Krieger house!

This week is my attempt at focusing on potty training.  Why not, right?  Wouldn't it be nice to have this little man out of diapers? A while back my doc said he was ready (even though most boys aren't until closer to 3).  He tells us when he poops, is WAY into anyone going to the bathroom, and just overall understands what we're saying now.  So, here we go into another adventure in mommy hood -- potty time!  {warning...this post may be tmi if you're squeamish}

Potty-training Monday:

7:30:  tighty-whiteys.  So stinkin' adorable on Jack's little butt.  He says "uh oh" and feels around trying to figure them out.  As he walks away, I sigh and think about how big my little man really is getting.

7:35:  unknown liquid drips from Jack's highchair at breakfast.  I check.  No, it wasn't his water or his applesauce.  PEE!  Gross.  I am NOT cut out for this.  After five minutes, a delayed "oh no" comes from Jack when he realizes he's wet.

7:40:  diapers!  Genius.  Who tries to potty train their 19 month old?  I give up.  :)

7:50:  "poo" "poo"  "poo!"  I take Jack to the potty.  He sits, plays with tp, and gets down.  Repeat.  Pull up on for the second time.  A few minutes later... "ohhhhhh no" with squeeze faces.  I scoop Jack in my arms {as he squeezes his poop out!} and set him on his little potty.  Poop in potty success!  Clean pull-up for once -- yes!  Jack stands up and cheers and I have to corral him to clean his little butt off before he's off to play.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing in diapers.  I think we'll take this whole potty training thing slowly.  Stats to date:

3 poopies
1 pee (he said he had to poop and then accidentally peed!)

I think that's pretty darn successful for a little under two.  We've got a ways to go...

5 things I never knew about potty training before I was a momma:

1.  I never realized just how many times you say "potty" in a day.  Do you need to go potty?  Did you just go potty? Do you need to go poop on the potty?  Do you want to sit on the big or little potty?  The list goes on...

2.  I can clean poop of Jack's butt any day of the year.  It's nasty cleaning out a little training potty.  Why is it so different?!  {insert gag noise}

3.  Pull up = fancy, more expensive diaper.  There's really NO difference.

4.  One poop in the potty does NOT mean potty trained.  Darn it.  I did a whole lot of celebrating, including sending poopie pictures to Daddy at work...thinking we had succeeded!

5.  No one wants to see pictures of Jack's poop.  Not even his dad.  Who would have thought?

Wish us luck in this adventure.  Goal:  Jack's 2nd birthday?!  November 30th.  Hmm...can we make it?

Sharks or Cars?!

Last night, Eric and I hired a babysitter and went for a night-on-the-town just us to.  No, there wasn't a diaper tucked in my purse.  No, we didn't have to ask for a high chair at Biaggi's, and there were no bite-sized hot dog messes at our table.  It was nice to get away and chat about life together.

Our night started with picking up my favorite little babysitter -- Melisa.  She's a former student...one who just has it all together.  She was my mini-secretary.  She'd show substitute teachers the way, organize my room on a daily basis, and was my go-to office runner.  There will be NO replacing her in the years to come.  Best yet?  Her mom is a daycare provider...so she spends her afternoons and summers wiping kids mouths and changing diapers.  Score!  As we left, we saw a crying Jack waving "bbyyyyeeee" out the window.  Within minutes I got a text that said "Jack's happy again, he has applesauce!"  She's so good.

Biaggis.  My favorite little Italian getaway.  It is one place you would not want to take a toddler...so we end up there only when we're sans-Jack.  Bruschetta, Farfalle Alfredo, and lots and lots of adult conversation.

Jordan Creek.  Without a stroller!  Oh man, the fun that can be had when we're not on a little's schedule.  We bought our movie tickets to Snow White and the Huntsman and were left to kill some time before the showing.  So, naturally, off to Pottery Barn Kids we went.  I've had my eyes on a quilt for Jack's big kid room, and we already bought his bunk bed set from Ikea last weekend, so I was dying to go to my favorite decor store for little kiddos.  Bonus?  Eric let me get the quilt!  It was on sale ($40 off!).  I also bought the sham.  My decorating wheels are spinning so fast!  The movie was an edge-of-your-seat kind of a show...totally worth watching {and, weird as this may sound, I HATE movies}.

Wellman's.  The West Glen hangout of anyone who lives in WDM.  We stopped for just a few and watched people.  I know I'm only 26, but places like Wellman's makes me feel old.  I bet these people don't have kids at home.  Or, at least I hope they don't.  :)

When we got back home, our little babysitter had cleaned the garage, taken 20+ pictures of Jack from the night, and baked homemade pb and chocolate cookies.  Simply the best.

These were taken by my babysitter! So cute!

Now that the night is over, and our 6th anniversary is passing through as I type, should I decorate around my Jack's new quilt with cars or sharks?!  I am thinking old, raggedy cars like this.  But, maybe I could do kind of a beachy, shark theme like this?  Hmmm.....we'll see.  I can't wait to see the room all put together.

What will I do when ALL of the spaces in my house are decorated?!

Eric = Daddy!

Dear Eric,

I remember the day like it was yesterday.  We were absolutely smitten for each other. The world shrunk into all-about-you-and-me and nothing, and I mean nothing, else mattered.  Often times, we'd forget the time, didn't have a care in the world, and could stare into each other's eyes for hours on end without a flinch.

It was your 16th birthday.  You had a Pontiac Grand Prix, royal blue, from 1900 (slight exaggeration).  You, in your eyes, were the coolest 16 year old on the block.  You so smoothly said "I have three girls that want to be my girlfriend now that I can drive.  I could date "option a", or "option b", or "option c".  {insert long awkward pause as I was NOT amused}.  Then you said "Will you go out with me?" followed by a little kiss and your quirky smile.  Of course I said yes and the rest is history...

Fast forward 11 years.  Man that makes me feel old {I remember old people saying "boy, that makes me feel old" phrases.  Does that make me old since I say them?  I'm guessing so.  Sad.}

We're nearing our 6th wedding anniversary.  You know what "they" say, time flies when you're having fun, right?  I cannot believe it's been that long since our wedding day.  Another day I'll never forget; "I got married and I got 21?!"  Oh, Eric, you never cease to amaze me.

You as a dad. {sigh}

My, where do I begin?

You, Eric, are the best dad to our little man Jack.  The way you snuggle him in and tell him "It's nuh-night time Jack, just like big boys, be sure to stay in your bed.  I love you." gives me goosebumps.  The way you jump out of your chair (which you know isn't like you) to sing "rubber ducky" in your awkward, out-of-tune voice just to make Jack laugh in the bath tub each night.  And, how can I forget that you let me sleep in every Saturday.  In my half-asleep state I secretly listen to you whipping up pancakes and singing the "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse" theme song over and over.  I hear you and Jack pounding, singing, and forming a bond that no one will ever break.

Jack loves you, so, so very much. When I pick him up from daycare, he does his little waddle run and proclaims "daaaa dee".  Yep, that's right.  It's mom, not dad, sorry Jack.

Jack loves you.  We love you.  

Happy Father's Day --- cliche I know --- to THE best dad in the world.  Period.