Not Again...

So...for the second time in less than 6 months, we have no electricity! We were hit with an ice storm on Tuesday evening...which proceeded to accumulate on tree limbs, which then began to break and fall...and well, knock out the power around the entire city (you may have heard...). Anyways. We are one of the lucky ones that won't have power for 7-10 days (that is the current estimate). We are so SUPER lucky! (can you read the sarcasm???)

Remember last September when we didn't have power for 8 days (is that correct, Jonathon? ;)), and we all said "at least it is warm out, and you don't have an infant to care for..." . Well, look here...it is FREEEEEEZING, we have an infant and a toddler...AND no electricity! I am not sure how much I can handle of this, emotionally... apparently we did'nt learn what we needed to learn (patience?) the first time.

Luckily, we have amazing family! The first night Uncle Rob and Aunt Yvette opened their very clean, kid free, home to us. They made us dinner and gave us nice comfy beds to sleep in! Then yesterday, Nan and Paps opened their door to us as well...and we have taken full advantage and moved in! We even kicked them out of their bedroom! ;) So...on the very positive side, we are warm, fed and with loving family. We couldn't ask for anything more (except electricity).

Thank you to everyone who has offered your homes, food, blankets, clothes...etc. We really appreciate it and hope you all know that the offer is reciprocal.

I will keep you updated...

Picture of the Day

A day in the life...

This is how Samuel sees the world...

Pictures of the Day

Samuel, going home...

Nan, Nathan and Samuel

Nan and Samuel sharing a moment

He is Here!

And...then there were two! On January 15, 2009 at 10:31pm, Little Tyke turned into Samuel Nicholas Ice. Here is his first story:

As most of you know, I am probably the most impatient person when it comes to being 9 months pregnant. I think I just get tired of the "countdown" and just want the birthing process over with already. This time wasn't any different...especially when you go in for your 36 week doctor appointment and the "process" has already started, and your lovely (she really is lovely) doctor says (and I quote) "wow! you are already 3cm dilated...make an appointment for next week, but I doubt you are pregnant by then." . And so...the countdown became THE longest countdown in the history of countdowns. Every day I was like "will it be today?" Every contraction I was like "is this it?". It got to the point where I really thought I would be pregnant until December!!!! Regardless...I woke up on the 15th, so utterly frustrated and irritated with still be pregnant that the contractions that began at 10am didn't even phase me. Nan and Paps had taken Nathan the day before and kept him all night, so they brought him home around 11, and we had our usual of McDonald's "dippy" lunch. The contractions had continued about every 5 minutes, and were getting a little uncomfortable...however I had convinced myself that "this wasn't it. this was just a fluke..again!" At around 1:30 or so, Jonathon became a little worried and demanded that we head to the hospital. I reluctantly agreed, knowing full well that they were only going to turn me away and tell me to go home and wait it out.

We showed up at the hospital, the monitored me for an hour only to tell me that I still was 1cm short of being the "admittable" dilation. So they told me to go walk for an hour. I have to tell you...Jonathon and I had a fabulous time walking around that hour. I was having contractions, and they were getting pretty painful, but it was so fun just walking hand in hand with my husband...and laughing, making jokes, just enjoying the moments together. It is an hour that I will truly cherish!

After that hour, they checked me again, and I had progressed to 5cm dilated...so they admitted me. I got a sweet labor and delivery suite (thanks to the nice nurses that hooked me up, and the fact that it was a slow birthing day). Within an hour I had an epidural, and was dilated to an 8. I will say that this doctor that gave me the epi did a fine job! Tooooooo good, I must say. I couldn't feel a thing, not even my toes! With Nathan, the epidural just took the edge off, but I was always able to feel my legs and could have probably still walked if needed. This one, no way. I couldn't even lift my legs! After a couple of hours (and a Purdue basketball game) later, a kind nurse "accidentally" broke my water...and with in an hour I was ready to start pushing.

10 minutes later, Samuel Nicholas was here. I will say that he gave us quite the scare upon his arrival. He was completely non responsive when he was first born, and for about a good 10 minutes afterwards. It was one of the most disturbing things to see nurses rushing in the room, not answering your questions (other than "he is just stunned", whatever that was supposed to mean) and looking worried themselves. They began tubing his nose, and hitting his tiny little back to get him to cry or respond. I kept asking the doctor if he was okay, and she kept reassuring me that he was...yet he wouldn't cry. Once again, the reason was because he was just stunned because he was born so fast (?)...yet at one point I did over hear the nurses ask how much drugs I had. I am not a doctor nor a nurse, so I may be talking crazy here...but I think the Little Tyke was drugged up with an epidural! I really think the amount that I was given affected Samuel.

After they did get him to respond, the nurses said that we could hold him for a couple of minutes but that they were going to take him to monitor him for a while...which they never did. After about 10 minutes, they came back and said that he was doing fine and they didn't need to take him at all. A relief!

Meeting Samuel

Samuel

Proud Poppa.

Happy family (minus Nathan).

So there you have it.
Samuel Nicholas Ice
6lbs 10oz
19inches
January 15, 2009
10:31pm

Cold Day at the Park

What do you do when it is winter, freezing cold, and you are sick and tired of being couped up in the house? Well, you brave the freezing cold, bundle up and head to the park of course!

Cheeky

Picture of the Day

The Bump

Update: No baby. No changes. Nadda. Zilch. Zippo...nuthin'! I assume I won't be pregnant forever...however, do you remember that story I told you a while back about hiking with my Dad out of the 50miler, and at one point I firmly believed that we would never, ever, never, ever get to the car? Well...welcome to my world of being pregnant! I am really starting to question whether this Little Tyke will just graduate college from my womb. ;)

Moving on...I have gotten a few requests to see what I look like 25 months pregnant...so...here you go. These were taken last week:

I didnt get any good shots of my face without the camera hiding it...because, well, I was taking pictures of my belly. So, you know what my face looks like...pretty much the same during pregnancy :)

I will keep you updated on any, IF any (ever), news...

Stay tuned...

(predictions are still being taken...so far, most of the dates have passed...)

Prediction

Okay folks...we are almost 3 weeks from the due date for Little Tyke...so here is your challenge:

Predict the birth date.
Weight
Length/Height

Here is some info on Nathan...I was two weeks early, he was 6lbs 13oz and 19in long/tall.
Further info...I went to the OBGYN today for my 36 week appt, and I am 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced..

So yeah. Predict away in the comments. Not sure what the "winner" will receive...but I will think of something.

(P.S. Scroll down for the Christmas 2008 update and pictures!)

Christmas Day...How it was spent...

And this is how our Christmas Day was spent....

What a great Christmas all around! Good friends, family and food (though I was SUPER lazy and didn't even make a nice Christmas dinner.), and no over spending. Perfect!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas as well!

Christmas 2008!

Christmas morning...started a little earlier than we had hoped (why is it that we, adults, expect to be able to sleep in just a little on the morning after Santa comes? We should know better! ;))...but definitely worth it.

Because Santa brought Nathan a "mega gift", and set it up in the TV room, we decided to open all our wrapped gifts first and then let him see his "mega gift". Its a little backwards from "normal", but I think we are still trying to figure out what OUR "normal" is where Christmas is concerned (things change when you have family in and out, kids, traveling...etc). At this point in our kid(s) lives, they don't know the difference anyways :)

Nathan got quite a few gifts...some Curious George books, a Thomas toothbrush that plays the Thomas song for a good 4 minutes (to which Nathan said "Momma, does it ever turn off?"), some bathtub roller soap...and a BUZZ LIGHT YEAR!

Opening his Buzz Light Year.

"Come on Momma...just open it!"

"Ahhh, come ON Momma!" (still trying to get Buzz out of the package...they don't make those things easy!)

After Buzz was finally free from his packaging, and Jonathon and I had opened our gifts, we took Nathan into the TV room for his "mega gift".

And for the "Mega Gift"

A train table and train set! Just look at that face! Complete excitement, yet disbelief and questioning "is this ALL mine?"....

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve 2008! Let the fun begin!!! We all woke up to a wonderful breakfast from Nathan's Grand Dad and a visit from Gretchen. Nathan wasn't quite sure what all the hoopla was about (I don't think he fully grasped the meaning of Christmas, or Santa Clause. He just knew he got to open gifts...and lots of them). Regardless it was a pleasant morning.

Before noon, we headed to Nan and Paps' house for Christmas Eve dinner and more gifts:

One of Nathan's favorite toys was a large Thomas the Train carrying case, which Nan and Paps bought for him. He LOVED it!

Here he getting a little tired (no nap) but not wanting to give up playing. The floor is oh so comfy!

After a fun filled day at Nan and Paps' house, we came home and started the tradition of making sugar cookies for Santa! Nathan LOVED being able to cut out the cookies:

Making a snowman.

Daddy helping him roll the dough...

Cutting out a candy cane.

It was a great Christmas Eve. The cookies turned out great...Nathan was ready for bed and excited for Christmas Morning and SANTA!!!

Santa Through The Years

Last night we met up with the Freemans and took Nathan and Audrey to see Santa at The Mall. My...how things have changed. Lets recap:

Here is Nathan, back in 2006...his first Christmas, and his first Santa encounter. Completely oblivious...but darned cute!

And who can forget last year's debacle! I am still surprised Nathan actually sat on Santa's lap long enough to get a picture taken. Just looking his this picture, I can actually hear his cry of "Mommy...who the heck have you given me too???? DON'T LEAVE ME!!!"

And...now this year...awww, what a sweet little boy. He was a tiny bit apprehensive, but you could tell he was wanting to be brave. We made sure he saw other kids sitting on Santa's lap, so that he knew that it was okay. We prepped him to tell Santa what he wanted (a train, a Buzz Lightyear...and a Christmas Tree. We have a Christmas Tree, so I am not sure why he wants another...regardless. :)), and he did as he was told. We honestly, did try to get him to smile, but the mere sight of a camera and Nathan shuts down. He HATES to get his picture taken anymore (thanks to me, I am sure)...so this stoic face was the best we could do. :)


P.S. I am convinced this Santa has a twin. Doesn't it look like the exact same Santa in all three pictures? Though...they are each at different malls?

Picture of the Day

Holiday Dance

You really must watch the following video (thanks Erin for posting this on your site, and hopefully it is okay that I have copied and put it on mine)...Please pay special attention to the one, and only, child in all red running around and dancing as if he is part of the group. I give ya ONE guess as to who that is...

a>

And, the video cuts off before all the girls run out the door...with the Boy in Red following behind.

Again, you really HAD to be there to witness this...as the video does not do Nathan's performance justice. Lets just say, I pee'd my pants in laughter (umm, not kidding...).

Hiccups

Yesterday, I went and got Nathan up from his nap, and he had the hiccups:

Me: You have the hiccups! Where did you get the hiccups?
Nathan: The Grocery.

~~~~~

The above account will REALLY be funny to my mother who often tells the story of when I got the chicken pox, and was asked where I had gotten the chicken pox from...my reply was (of course): K-Mart.

Introducing...

Now that we are approx. 6-8 weeks until delivery (good heavens I hope I am not overdue!)...I thought it would be a good time to introduce the Little Tyke to the world (from this point forward, he will be referred to as Little Tyke...because he has no name, and we are not even remotely close to deciding on one. Little Tyke sounds better than No Name Ice.).

I want to make sure the world (ahem, you dear reader) is clear as to why I have not talked too much about being pregnant, how I am feeling, or posted these pictures yet. I do not want you all to think that we are anything but super excited to add to our family. However, there is a difference between totally wanting another child (or children), and being faced with actually having to care for another child. As with anything, the reality is way more daunting than the dream, fantasy, and "want". SO, that being said, I think we all (and by "all", I am including YOU...dear reader) have been in a teeny tiny bit of denial (come on, admit it!). I know I was...up until a few weeks ago when tying my shoes no longer became an option. ;) NO MORE! With 6-8 weeks left...let us embrace the new Little Tyke. He is sooooo cute already! Don't ya think?

Just Relax...

Overheard this morning while getting into the car to go to Mommies Day Out ("School"):

Nathan:Momma, my cup, my cup....Momma, my cup....
(this is said as I am carrying him, two bags, his toast, two sippy cups...a popping belly...and one of the sippy cups fall to the ground)
Me: I know, Nathan, I see it buddy, I will get it...just a second...
Nathan: Momma, my cuppppppppppp...
Me: Natey, I will get it after I get you in the car. Just Relax...
Nathan: No, Momma, I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna relax...

(again, probably more funny in person)

I DO Like Green Eggs and Ham, Sam I Am...

Yesterday morning, I broke down and made Nathan some green eggs ("green eggs and ham", as you HAVE to call it for Nathan to be satisfied). He kept whining, again, that he wanted some...so I made him some. He LOVED them (not enough to want them this morning...but loved them nonetheless). Here are the results:

A satisfied little boy, I must say!

On the funnier side, after I made the eggs, I brought them into Jonathon to see...he was running on the treadmill, he took one look at the eggs and just about puked at the mere sight of them. Well, we know who WON'T be requesting green eggs and ham for breakfast! ;)