It is definitely time for a little baby to arrive!

It is definitely time for Jackson to be here. We have been anxiously waiting his arrival and had thought he would be here by now. Around the first week or two in August I was busy getting last minute things together before he came and closed out my work projects. I went to the doctor, and I had started dilating. We thought this was great news because I didn't dilate at all before Kaitlyn came.

Now I am sitting here and it is August 28th and still no Jackson. His due date is exactly a week from today and I have been miserable for the last three weeks. Ahh, me! Last week, we had a false alarm as I was throwing up with contractions, but they subsided and I went home. I felt pretty bad the whole week. Now this week, I have a huge rash on my belly. It itches and it is hard to sleep.

Anyway, an induction is in order and just got a call for it to be Tuesday, 9/4. I hate to be whining and can't wait to be out of this state and see little Jackson. I just have a feeling he is going to a real sweetie and endear us all to just cuddle with him all the time.

Kaitlyn is telling everyone that Jackson is in mommy's tummy, and I can't wait to finally see her face when he is actually here. We have been talking about it so long and I have been so big for so long that I am sure she will not know what to do. I am so excited to be able to get back to regular physical things too so I can play with her more again. Right now it is so hard to get down on her level or have the energy.

I know that it will be tough with Jackson, but my take on everything is that anything is better than this. I can't do anything I want to do and that is tough to accept right now. Even though I complain, I am thankful for this because I can look back when there is a day that is hard with having two and know that it is still easier than the physical state and pain I am in now trying to take care of Kaitlyn.

Daddy dressed Kaitlyn and put her in pigtails this morning all by himself while mommy slept in.

More to come soon...

Showtime!

Well, I haven't been blogging too much or taking photos because of how enormous I am. It is hard just to get off the couch without help from Brandon. hehehe.

We went to the doctor for the 36 week visit. I am almost at 2 cm dilated. I thought something had started happening this week. I have been trying to clean up, all I can think about is what is around the corner and how our lives are going to change, and practically staying up at all hours at night. For example, last night I was up from 1:30 am to 2 am just finishing up washing some dishes, and then I got out a pad to write out a grocery list. What am I doing???

I think we are ready, but I just don't have that feeling like I am totally ready like I did with Kaitlyn. I keep thinking of how Kaitlyn is going to adjust. She has been totally enamoured with her babies lately, and I hope that is a good sign. It will be fun to have her help me change a diaper and see her eyes get very concentrated on one little task.

Even though I have been miserable physically and down right hormonal at times with some complaining, I feel this has been another good experience because it is God's little miracle coming to life once again.

One prayer request: Brandon's grandfather is gravely ill. He is moving home this weekend. Brandon plans to go visit this weekend in Louisiana. He is concerned that I will go into labor, but I think the odds are in our favor that we have some time right now at least.

Reading is fun!

Here is a sample of Kaitlyn reading on our way to the Dallas World Aquarium for a little family outing this weekend.



Unfortunately, the Dallas World Aquarium was packed, being renovated and Kaitlyn was tired of all the people so we didn't stay too long. She had way more fun in the pool the next day with Uncle Stephen, who came over and showed us his mad pool skills! Other than that, we have been playing it lowkey. And what has really been wearing us out is trying to work with Kaitlyn to listen and obey her parents better. What a struggle with a 2 and a half year old right now; but we just forget about any power struggles when she is so cute reading her books!

A Very Meche Weekend

This past weekend was a weekend for celebrations. Since I am due around my 30th birthday in early September, we decided to celebrate early with a little Murder Mystery dinner at the Gaylord hotel in Grapevine. It was sooo much fun. We had a group of about 30 and enjoyed a buffet of all sorts of food and a murder mystery based on the Old West.

I loved getting out for the night and enjoyed seeing friends I haven't seen in awhile! Kaitlyn was a little confused to see everyone leave her at home, but she did very well and needed her sleep.

Here are a few photos from the dinner:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=hhuz2tp.2t768ac1&Uy=qtsgqp&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0

On Sunday, friends, Judy, Emily and Brooke hosted a little shower for Jackson. It was nice to just see the girls and we all had fun seeing all the blue little outfits for him. I think the biggest hit was the A&M stuff; however, I still think the BU onsie was a hit with me! A&M usually wins out around here so if I can get some BU in, that is awesome!! He also received his first pair of boxers - so cute!

Here are a few photos from the shower:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=hhuz2tp.5re5irgx&Uy=-cocmcq&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=1&UV=538727928588_453670843505

It just amazes me at how friends always come through for you and do amazing things to show you how much you are loved. I felt so loved and cared about this weekend and am so appreciative of all of my friends that I have made throughout the years. My goodness, I had friends from junior high and elementary, college, post-college and post-baby all come this weekend and I just don't have the words to express my gratefulness and thankfulness for them.

And of course, my family and Brandon's family have been so supportive and loving in preparing for a new baby and helping with Kaitlyn while I am physically tired and unable to do all I want to do. It has been wonderful this experience has truly come from the Lord above to help show the way because I have definitely had hard times with this pregnancy! And to Brandon, a round of applause for all of his hard work in organizing the dinner and helping more than anything around the house and with Kaitlyn. I couldn't imagine doing it on my own!

Welcome Baby Noah Zafereo

Just thought I would help share the good news, our friends, Judy and Jason Zafereo, had their baby boy on Monday, named Noah Francis. He came about 12 days late and weighed 8 lb. 6 oz. Kaitlyn was so excited to hold him TWICE. It was a special treat to get to hold him again before we left the visiting room yesterday.

Judy is doing great and both she and Jason are just so relaxed and happy to have him now. They are going to be great parents. (Just a note - Judy is one of the hosti for the baby shower this weekend. I hope she can make it for a little while.)

He had a lot of hair and just reminded us of Jackson's impending arrival. It was so sweet to see how Kaitlyn was gentle with him and just waited patiently to hold him and be by the baby. She is quite the big girl helper now.

100th Post

Well, this is the 100th posting to this blog since we started last year. Wow, can't believe it! This will be a great entry because we have a little story to share on how Kaitlyn is showing her understanding of Jackson. Well, at least, we think she is, and she could definitely have a different song and dance when we bring him home in the next 6 weeks.

Yesterday, she had her first swim lesson with Haley, the swim instructor, coming to our house. As we were getting ready, I was talking to Kaitlyn about helping to take care of Jackson and asking her where he is.

Her friends Zoe and Ian came to join us in the swim lesson. Both of them have baby sisters. When Ian's baby sister, Emily, arrived with Ian, Kaitlyn just loved to look at her and help keep her pacifier in her mouth. Zoe's mom asked Kaitlyn if she had a baby as in baby brother. Kaitlyn said that her baby was in mommy's belly. It was just too cute to hear her. Of course, by now she recognizes mommy's huge, gigantic, enormous, large, bowling-ball shaped belly.

Kaitlyn did great in her swim lesson and took straight away to Haley. We practiced blowing bubbles, kicking and pulling our arms.

Swimming On Own!!

Included video of Kaitlyn swimming on her own in the pool with her lifejacket!

As for our little munchkin, we finally got one full day of good ole' sunshine on Saturday and played in the pool, perhaps a little too long, but it was well worth it. We put on a little lifejacket for Kaitlyn, and she just wanted to swim around all day long by herself. Now we are in the market for one of those swimsuits with the floaties in them because that would keep her up to play around on her own more. Of course, we are right by her side all of the time, but she is now at a point where she wants to do it all by herself, which is great to see her learning and exploring on her own.

July's Potty Update

Kaitlyn is making great progress. It has been a month since we first had our Potty Party and introduced potty training. This week she is beginning to feel more comfortable on the potty by waiting for the pee-pee to come, and shows us signs of needing to go before she has an accident. She is starting to tell us and even letting #2 go while on the potty. She is a pretty regular little person, and for awhile things were out of whack, but I see things getting back to regular everyday. This is great news for her mommy who "feels" so big; it is hard to get up when sitting with her in the bathroom.

I think she is on to us about this "other baby" business. She actually used my big belly for a pillow the other day when we were sitting on the couch. At least, it is coming in handy for her, too. She does tell us that baby Jackson is in mommy's belly. And she has been especially clingy lately and wants me to pick her up a lot more.

She has loved to take an old diaper of hers and change her babies' diapers lately. I don't think I will fight her to change Jackson's. Heeehhee.

Mmmm, That's Yummy!

Is it me or does it take forever to get anything at Wal-Mart? I went today for the first time in weeks for groceries. Since I was up in the night with some heartburn, probably because I had a spicy chicken salad at lunch, I thought I could take a nap and get the grocery shopping done while Kaitlyn was at summer school. No can do. I spent two hours at Wal-Mart alone - part waddling around because I move slow now and part because that place is just so huge. I can never make a quick trip to the store anymore, but maybe that is part of pregnancy as well because everything looks so much better to eat when pregnant.

For about a week now, whenever Kaitlyn plays in her kitchen or groceries or even eats a meal, she says, "Mm mm, that's yummy." But yummy comes out a little different in her pronunciation. I caught it on video.

Busy June Weekend

It was a busy June weekend for us. I am entering my 30th week of pregnancy and things are definitely slowing down for me, except I feel I have so much to do before Jackson's arrival. I am taking today to rest from the weekend.

Also, several friends and family have experienced a loss in their family as well as a family member being very sick in the last week including Katie Cottrell who lost a family member this week and a close Meche family friend who is in the hospital with swelling in his brain without a reason. Please keep them in your prayers.

Alert: Kaitlyn just told me she had to use the potty and we went and she immediately went #2. I think it just may be more of a regular thing for her now. So cool!

In the morning on Saturday, Brandon's Bro and wife, Spencer and Christy came over to swim and we had quite the crew. She is six weeks behind me with a girl. I also went by some garage sales in the morning and bought a couple of toys for $3 and a double jogging stroller for $30. This double jogging stroller is awesome and like new. They normally go for around $250 or if you find a used one at least $100. I am sure we will get some use out of it in the fall when it cools down for walks.

We went to a barbque at Brandon's new boss' house. We were there for a really long time, and I was definitely talked out by the time we left. It was funny because all the guys went in the back to hang out, and that was when Brandon received requests for his famous impression ability. He is pretty good at doing impressions of people. He says co-workers always request him to do his old boss.

On Sunday, Kaitlyn's friend, Emma turned 3. She had a pool/Hello Kitty party. Her dad carried Kaitlyn and Emma around the pool over and over. They loved it. Kaitlyn had no problem going to him as long as she was playing in the pool!

In addition, I found a swim instructor that comes to your house for swim lessons and a good place for pizza - Pizza by Marco's off of Park and Tollway - yummy. Anyway, she taught at the Emler Swim School, and is very reasonably priced. Several friends have expressed interest in using her too so we may be in business to start our own class around Pool Time Fridays. I have got to call and find out more information for July and part of August.

Sweeter than Sweet

Another potty update. I couldn't contain myself when I picked Kaitlyn up today on her second day of summer fun at The Ark Preschool. She went No. 1 and No. 2 in the potty! Yeah for Kaitlyn! I am so proud of her.

I know this is a slow process and she is doing agreat job of learning how to do this thing we call going potty on the toliet. As a mom, it is wonderful to see your child pass another major milestone. The teachers all smiled as I talked about how exciting this potty training experience has been. And how thankful I am to be able to work on this now with Kaitlyn before Jackson is here.

I tried to get a little movie of her licking a popcicle today, but wasn't fast enough. It was cute how she stuck out her tongue just to lick a part of it and that was it. She was pretty worn out today as she didn't have a nap and konked out around 5 pm. We woke her for dinner and then she went back to sleep.

Happy Father's Day and A Present from Kaitlyn

It was a happy Father's Day for Brandon! We enjoyed The Meches coming to visit and Brandon hanging with his dad on Father's Day. Kaitlyn did well the whole weekend going on the potty! She is starting to recognize the need to go and say poopoo on the potty beforehand, but we have to still try and catch it.

On Sunday early evening, we went to the mall to ride the carousel. Kaitlyn really enjoyed herself, so did dad. Then I took her to the potty, which is located right by the ride. She went on the potty there. It was so cool!

Uncle Stephen came to visit today and she got so excited that we didn't make it to the bathroom.

Tomorrow she will go to the second summer session on The Ark Preschool. I was worried about it; however, she has really gotten the potty thing a lot more in just the last couple of days. I hope tomorrow goes well. She will be in the 2 year old room with a bathroom right there.

Amazing Update from Rest of Today

Okay folks, we had an amazing day potty training. How unexpected! She got up and we went potty this morning, count 1. Then tried about every 45 minutes in the morning, until went pee-pee before nap time at 11:30, count 2. We did the whole take a turn bit. So I went first and then she went! Then when she woke up at 3. She went again and we took turns, count 3. And lastly, tonight at 7:30 pm, she went poo-poo on the potty, count 4. Four times!!!! Wow, we got a lot of practice in! In between 3 and 7:30, we went swimming for a long time, so who knows what happened then, but we had to get out of the bathroom, so it was a good break.

I knew she had it in her and now we wait for the breakthrough where she tells us she has to go. I am just elated that we are making good progress. Of course, I have to tell myself we are going to have days that we may step back.

For those of you who are asking for tips, here a couple we have learned the last few days, not that I am an expert, but these things worked for Kaitlyn:
1. Have a fun sticker chart to encourage them just to sit on the potty - giving and putting a sticker on after just trying helped to bring her to the potty every time we said let's go. ("Potty Training in A Day" book is what I went by for all of this.)

2. Once we started her on the potty, there was no turning back to diapers. It was underwear the rest of the day and training pants for naps/night time.

3. We had a potty-training doll and this helped Kaitlyn because she is into dolls/babies right now.

4. We had a bucket of small presents from the dollar store, etc. for when she did go on the potty and this has been great motivation, once she figured it out.

5. We got the "Potty Power" video and she has watched this over and over. She loves the songs. We also bought a few books she can read, but not as much into those right now. But this is how we started the whole thing, was to alternate between the bathroom and going to read a potty book or see a video.

6. I would sometimes bring them into the bathroom. Having a portable video player helped to keep her on the potty as well as games/coloring/cards so we could try and catch her.

7. What has helped the most was our excitement and big, happy and smiling faces. We would race to the bathroom, get excited over stickers, her just sitting on the potty or just staying dry. She definitely picked up on our fun and excitement as well has having family members being excited for her.

Tonight, I couldn't help but see how she is turning into a BIG girl right before our eyes. She read Brown Bear, Brown Bear all by herself. I read it first and she started to. She was saying all the names twice and then turning the next page and saying that animal just like how it is written. I hope she becomes a great little reader! Then she can read me a night time story and I may just fall asleep and can't be moved!

Potty Update Number 2

Well, we like number 1 and number 2. Yesterday, Oma came over to help as I had some project work and had to go to the office. Kaitlyn went pee-pee and poo-poo on the potty after being closely watched. Her face says it all.

Last night we stayed in the bathroom for a good 45 minutes from 6 to 7 because I knew she needed to pee-pee, but as soon as we got up to pick something up outside, there was an accident.

This morning Kaitlyn got up around 7 am and we went to the bathroom first. We only sat there for about 10-15 minutes and she went pee-pee. I think maybe she is feeling a little more comfortable to let go.

We plan to work on it today and tomorrow only. We cancelled Pool Time Friday so we can just focus. I see a little progress everyday like this morning. I can't wait to see everything click and she goes to the bathroom first before she has an accident or tries to get there first.

News Flash!!!

This morning I had a different strategy. For the last two mornings, she has had an accident eating breakfast at the table. We had just sat with her on the potty beforehand too.

This morning, I brought our portable DVD player and we sat there for awhile with a video. Then we got off to say bye to Daddy. Then I said let's get our breakfast and bring it in the bathroom with us. She had muffins while sitting on the potty and then went pee-pee on the potty! Yeah, man, it was so exciting! That was my whole goal today, if we could just get her to go this morning, the easiest time.

We have been telling her that if she went on the potty she would be able to open a present. This morning she was able to finally open another present! She was excited! Hopefully, this will start a snowball effect, but if not, at least I know we can do it with a little patience and time.

Update on PT

After a couple of days of this, Kaitlyn likes to wear her underwear and watch Potty Power, but we haven't had much luck with going on the potty. We are being patient and know that it is alot to only be going back and forth to the potty or stay in the bathroom for a long period of time. It is like she is holding it so she doesn't have to pee-pee on the potty.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day.

Potty Training Update

We have been preparing for the Big Day (Potty Training) for awhile now and it is finally here! We decorated the bathroom and living room along with treats, prizes, stickers, star chart and the necessary potty items.

Kaitlyn woke up this morning at 7:30 and we were excited. She woke up tired, but soon got excited too when we told her there was a present waiting for her. She opened up her potty doll, Dolly. She was amazed and loved the decorated bathroom. We then talked with Dolly alot and Kaitlyn fed her breakfast.

We then went straight into talking about Dolly and how she is wearing big-kid underwear and how she goes pee-pee and poo-poo on the potty. Dolly had several accidents in the morning with water on her big-girl pants and we put in some baby prunes for a BM. Dolly also went on the potty all by herself and got a treat and sticker, which Kaitlyn really got when she promised to do what Dolly did.

Kaitlyn got very excited when Dolly went on the potty and got a treat. She understood the concept. She also loved her potty books and loved the Potty Power video. Our motto today has been Potty Power, Kaitlyn especially loved this motto. We worked with the doll until lunch and kept going back and forth from the bathroom to party room to read books to Dolly to help train her.

After lunch, Kaitlyn took a nap. We were ready for her to wake up to start on the real business at hand. She took a three hour nap so she didn't get up until 4:30 pm. She then got a call from Superman to encourage her to do what Dolly did today and about becoming a big kid. She then opened up all her big kid underwear including Curious George and Dora the Explorer underwear that had been wrapped.

She picked out Curious George to wear and from there we rewarded her with stickers for staying dry. We then upped the anty with trying to go on the potty. She also got rewarded for sitting on the potty to try. We tried a few drinks on her to get her to need to go pee-pee. She stayed on the potty for quite awhile and we entertained her with songs and beads and just waited, waited and waited. She was already sitting on the potty and her face got really big and then we heard the pee-pee. She didn't go pee-pee until 7 pm and she had been up since 4:30.

She then got to pick out a prize and received a lot of praise. We were very excited to hear that sound! So today, another day at trying even if it is a little more low-key than yesterday.

Summer Time - Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty

(Not responsible for run-on sentences, etc. I am extremely tired from our trip; however, I wanted to catch up on some blog writing or I will procrastinate until it is too late. heehehee.)


So we are about to embark on the last trimester of this pregnancy and as we do, we have so many goals to meet before Jackson gets here. We are almost complete with the room change. Here are some recent photos. Kaitlyn is pretty in pink with flowers and birdies. Jackson is blue and is an all-star with red stars and baseball/basketball/soccer. We still need some decorations and want to work on that this month. Maybe Big Daddy will bring back something from Yankees stadium on his trip to NYC for this little all-star!





We have set the date of the "Big Potty Party" for Kaitlyn, this Saturday. She is really ready to go now, and I have been finishing up some reading on some successful strategies for potty training in a day, hopefully, but there will be a lot of follow up in the next week, as well as getting gear for potty training - pull ups, portable potty seat, seat adapter and learning how to get her on the seat easily, potty videos, books, etc. We are going to have a big indoor picnic with special drinks to get her to drink a lot, and model a lot of potty training in the morning. In the afternoon, it will be time for her to go to it and put in motion what we have learned. We are in for an all day event and will hold all calls, except for Kaitlyn getting a call from encouraging family and possibly Superman. Yeah!


And we just got back last night from our big trip to Destin, Fla. with the Colemans. Destin really is a great family destination, except it isn't exactly easy getting there. We planned to leave on Wednesday, May 30 and were stuck in an airport all day. We got up at 5:45 am, left by 6:15 to make an 8:50 flight. We were then stuck on the plane on the runway for three hours in the middle of a huge storm. The flight was then cancelled and we had to wait for another flight at 4:30 to Houston. Then we waited on that flight for an hour before take off. We then literally ran through the airport to get on a smaller plane to Destin/Ft. Walton. They gave Kaitlyn's seat away and she had to be passed back and forth to me and Brandon as we were sitting in different rows. Even though this was tough, no dinner, and I was about yak from motion sickness and exhaustion, as with all of us adults, the girls, Kali - 17 months, and Kaitlyn did really better than expected. No all out cries or anything. We did loose Kaitlyn's Doodle Pro that kept them pre-occupied for the better part of the three hours waiting on the runway in the morning.

We saw a couple of doggies in the airport and that definitely helped as well as escalators. Kaitlyn loved riding on them.


The rest of the trip was nice because we walked right on to the beach, had umbrellas and didn't have anywhere really to be. The water was great and we even saw a couple of dolphins. Kaitlyn didn't like the beach as much as last year, guess the bigger waves were a little frightening. However, after a couple of days she and Kali went out with the dads before the big waves and liked the water. Kaitlyn kept saying Big Waves and Come Water Come. She liked to stomp out the sand castles as well. She loved the pool was always her favorite. She has been swimming a lot kicking her legs and moving her arms while on her belly.


Having Kali and Kaitlyn together was really the best. They were great friends and copied each other a lot. They always looked for each other and asked where the other one was if she wasn't around. They liked to wrestle and of course, play keep away and take stuff from each other.

We met a lot of people from Louisiana. They were great and helped take some photos for us. I think a highlight for us was to go to Fudpucker's restaurant. They had aligators in the front and we bought a couple of shirts. Kaitlyn and Kali liked making faces more through the window than anything.

Here is a link to the kodak gallery photos. I took close to 200, but most of them are duplicates, so I moved a few good ones to the front.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandingSignin.jsp?Uc=hhuz2tp.7mvp0mtt&Uy=pysvng&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&UV=300247468042_657628831505

Here are two videos from the trip: Kaitlyn and Kali dancing and Brandon/Troy boogie Bording and a surfer wiping out.

On Our Toes

Boy are we on our toes. Kaitlyn has now unlocked and opened the front door and walked out by herself. She has gained a lot of dexterity so she can turn those locks and knobs easily now. We are putting in more locks at the top for sure!



Today, Kaitlyn went to the dentist for the first time as recommended by our pediatrician. All is well with those 20 baby teeth. She was so great in the dentist's chair. She sat still and wore sunglasses so the glare did not bother her eyes. She received the bubblegum toothpaste flavor and even let the dental hygienist floss just a little bit. She even nodded when asked if she wanted the sunglasses back on or off.

To see video, click here:
http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n301/kleinerbug/?action=view&current=MVI_1923.flv

Three Piggy Opera

Kaitlyn performed last night the Three Piggy Opera for her school's end-of-year program. She was in the pig pen along with the other toddlers and she did pretty well trying to do the hand signs. She loved wearing her Piggy headpiece and would not let us take it off all night.



She then played with Ian, who calls her a girlfriend, and had a cookie to top it off. She starts summer school in early June and it will last til mid-July. She will be going back to school right when we are due with Jackson.