Hot and Cold

After a borderline frustrating trip to Smith's today with all three kids, I pulled into my driveway and felt the air conditioning on my face.  Should I even go in?  I thought.  It was so hot outside and I still had to unload the groceries.  But I wasn't alone in the car, the kids were there, and anxious to get out some energy.  So I gave a big sigh and announced my usual, "We're home!"

Now they are in the backyard with popsicles and sidewalk chalk.  They're crazy for wanting to be out there; even the dog knows it's much cooler in here.  Not as cool as the car, though.  I got the groceries in the house and now I'm just waiting, melting, for Ben to get home.  I'm going to a family gathering for females only tonight; Tae and I are going.  I know it will be nice to see everyone and it's good to get out of the house, but I'm going to miss Ben.

I can remember feeling this way since we first got married.  I just want to be with him all the time.  He makes everything better and easier.  He's like the whip cream on top of life and I love him to bits.  Work's been really busy this week (his "real" job, and his side work as well) so he's pretty occupied.  I miss him.  I want to watch a movie with him and hold hands.  But it'll have to wait until another day.

Oh, how slowly the minutes tick by when you are waiting.  I should have a popsicle.

No interesting title

It's a Thursday and I am feeling shlumpy.  So I thought, what the heck, let's post some pictures and write some random nothingness.  And by "let's" I obviously mean just me.  So behold Thursday thoughts.  And p.s. formatting in Blogger gives me grief; oh so much heartache. 

  

Canon is having a tough life right now.  Every time I say he can't have or do something that he wants to, he cries and whines and it's the end of the world.  He thinks he can convince me if he tells me, "But mom, I really really wanted a drink of juice."  Oh, I think sarcastically to myself, if only I had known that you really really wanted that thing--my decision would have been so much different.  The picture above in the carseat was after he cried himself to sleep over some issue.  25 minutes later, he woke up crying again,  picking up his argument exactly where he had left off.  

Luckily, though, he does still have moments of happiness.  The other day, he was so proud to show his little brother how well he could get dressed, which then inspired Keller to follow his example.  It was a wonderful brother moment.  Those two are so goofy together at the breakfast table, by the way.

     

We went to a Peck Family Reunion in Heber last weekend and had a good ole' time.  The kids loved being outside and getting dirty.  This is the swing/ripcord thing that all the kids spend their time on.  It was real camping, apparently, because when I held Taesya that night, I realized she'd wet herself at some point earlier in the day.  "I dried all off, though, mom," she said.  Oh well.  Our dog, Lacey, loved roaming free with all the other Peck dogs.  She scared some of the other kids, though, since she was the only dog larger than the size of a cat.  

Keller tasted a pinecone, which was not as delicious as the watermelon that he spent most of his time eating.  Keller is learning to talk currently.  It's adorable, for sure, but it's getting exhausting for me.  He thinks that he has to report every thing that he sees, does, or wants, to me.  ALL DAY LONG.  It's great practice for him.  I'm encouraging him to go tell Taesya and Canon about things sometimes.

Canon hugged my baby belly yesterday.  It was cute.  I rocked Keller to sleep last night and felt that big boy next to my tiny little girl; it was a nice moment.  I love my kids and I feel truly blessed in life right now.  Daily life is beyond redundant right now, but I'm doin' my best.  Kids start school soon!  That'll be a change.  Ch-ch-ch-changes.

Cooking with Chef Tae

She dictated this recipe to Canon in the car and he careful mixed up (pantomimed) all the ingredients.

5 cups peanut butter
2 cups sliced radishes
4 cups olive oil
4 cups deoderant (which they removed after I laughed)
2 cups chocolate chips
3 cups cat hair
2 cups frog slime
2 more cups olive oil
(I may be forgetting one or two ingredients)

Mix it all up and put it in a pan in the oven to cook for 6 minutes.  Then cut it up or decorate it.

We all had a piece and Keller thought it was quite delicious.  Yum.

Let's get Physical

The good news for today is that my exercise routine is working.  I have gained less weight this time around than I have any of my previous pregnancies.  Boy it was great to hear that, because working out is like pulling teeth right now.  It is tough to get going, but I feel proud afterward.  And today I feel especially proud: 12 pounds instead of the usual 20+ is a definite improvement.  Yay me.

I've been trying to do something active every week day.

Mondays:  Walk on treadmill while Tae's at tumbling
Tuesdays:  Prenatal yoga DVD at home
Wednesdays:  1 hour workout at the gym, half cardio, half resistance
Thursdays:  Water aerobics
Fridays:  Pregnancy exercises and stretches from What to Expect

Plus I walk the dog every other day for as far as I can handle.

I think exercise is nice during pregnancy because my motivation changes.  There's no way I'm going to lose weight, so I think a lot more about getting my heart pumping, working my muscles, becoming more healthy.  It's like I'm putting money into a bank that will eventually make this baby that much better off in life.  Why I suddenly care about being active, considering that this is my fourth time doing this?  No idea.  Weird.  I guess it was just time.

Anyways, I just wanted to share that I'm doing something good and it's paying off.  So glad.

Snapshots of a Thursday

A man was walking across the street in the direction of Walmart.  He wasn't old, but he had a pot belly.  He was pulling behind him an oxygen tank and smoking a cigarette.  Slowly he made his way to the curb.

A hispanic-looking teenager was riding his bike away from the grocery store.  It was one of those smaller bikes that guys like my little brother ride to be cool, I think.  His hair was spiked; he was handsome.  He carried a red rose, packaged in the usual grocery store wrappery.  He carried it low at his side as he rode.  I wondered who the flower was meant for.  

A tall dad carried his little girl on his shoulders.  Holding his hand was his son.  Both children were younger than seven, I would say, and blonde.  The little boy looked like he was getting a little tired of walking, but Dad encouraged him on.  It was sweet.

The three blonde bombshells of my life

These were all taken with my new.... yes, you guessed it -- DIGITAL camera!  Nothing fancy; but I now have the option to capture a memory and share it the same day.  I'm excited.  Still have my trusty SLR for better quality photos, which I intend to use for some fun kid portraits soon.  I'm thinking I'll pick a different location and time of day for each kid, try to capture each of their personalities.  Should be fun.

I'm melting.

It's ridiculously hot around here and the swamp cooler isn't really making a dent.  All I want to do is lay around and wait for the sun to set.  For naptime today, I literally sweated myself to sleep.  Terribly terribly sticky, hot, and miserable.

Feeling wimpy a bit

(Wish I looked this cute)

I'm five months pregnant and beginning to feel very out of shape.  Granted, I have been eating lots and lots of junk.  I crave sugar all of the time, and especially when things are tough at home, I eat way too much of a good thing.  So when I hopped onto the elliptical today, I was tired after about a minute.  I seriously considered sitting on a bench for the hour to at least get my money's worth out of the daycare.  But I plugged along.  It was so hard today.  

I did what I could do.  And I got a break from the house and the kids.  My brain was empty for a small chunk of time and that felt wonderful.  I hope this rough workout doesn't become a trend, because I still have a ways to go in this pregnancy.  As for today, though, I'm proud that I worked my heart and my muscles.  Go me.

And Bingo was his name-o

Actually Jovie will be her name-o.  We finally decided.  Maybe it didn't seem like a long time to you; but as I went through every possible baby name on babycenter AGAIN, it felt like this process would never end.  I am very thorough.

But now it's settled and we're happy.  Our little girl will be named Jovie Beth Peck.  Jovie means joyful, which I think is an excellent goal for my daughter.  Joy does not come naturally to me; I have to work at it.  Beth is after a very good friend of mine, who is basically the epitome of a wonderful mother, friend, woman: she is kind, patient, loving, and genuine.

When I name my kids, it's sort of like I'm making a little wish for each of their lives.

Taesya Fe (faith)
Benjamin Canon (power of God)
Keller (dear friend) Davis
Jovie (joyful) Beth

I love my little kiddos and I'm so glad that each of them are here (or on their way.)  I'm a lucky mommy.

Blessings

That little being inside my tummy is officially a girl.  And she is lovely.  I felt mesmerized as the ultrasound technician showed her to us.  We saw her brain, heart, stomach, kidneys, arms, legs, and feet.  She was very active throughout and she seems just perfect.  I loved seeing her long kicking legs and her cute little profile.  I started to imagine Ben and I with a tiny little girl in our arms and I got very happy.  December is so far away, though.

I feel peaceful and happy, in the midst of feeling pretty sick this week, thinking of my daughter inside me.  What a wonderful blessing.