Jon's biggest surprise

Jon, Tanner and I all went for the 18 week ultrasound. There had been many jokes around the house of what they would do if we were having a little girl. Both boys like to tease me that if it was a girl they would send her back. I was perfectly fine with whatever we got. I really enjoy all the baseball and football games and Saturdays that are filled with whatever sport Tanner is currently playing. I have gotten used to the several nights a week practices and the snack and drink schedules. I know how to do boys but somehow we all knew it was going to be a baby sister that was coming to us.
When they ultrasound tech asked if we had any guesses we said a girl and she said "yes, you guessed right". Jon's first question to her was, " how many people are surprised in the delivery room". The technician thought he meant how many people wait to find out and are surprised in the delivery room, but I knew that was not what he was asking. I told her no - he is asking how often you are wrong. She said quite convincingly, never. She said the sex is not one of the harder things to decipher on the ultrasound.

As we drove home and let the rest of the family know there were many squeals of delight from my mom and sisters. I also let it sink in and was overjoyed she was healthy and finally seemed like a reality. I know the boys were happy she was healthy and growing fine but I am sure they would have been planning in much greater detail had it been a boy. I do think Tanner mentioned that she was still going to have to play football.
As the months dragged on Jon refused to paint any room in his house pink and Tanner said the only dolls she will have are GI Joes.





As you can see Jon was surprised in the delivery room and everyday after that. He has said since we have had Ashleigh that he is SO happy he had a daughter. He says it is even better than a son. Not that he doesn't love them both the same and unconditionally. It must be some sort of evolution thing passed on all the way from the days of cavemen that men need to raise their boys to be able to go out and kill the animals and bring them back for dinner.

With a baby girl there is none of that. She is perfect in his eyes. (well she is very close to perfect, ask anyone but especially to her dad). Nothing is too good for his baby girl and she can have all the dolls she wants and then some. I am sure he would now paint the room any color and he has since put up shelves that now hold the first of what I am sure will be many dolls.

Happy Grandparents Day

Last Sunday was grandparents day. I have been meaning to post this for a couple days.

Last weekend we spent the day and had dinner with Jon's parents. Jon's dad, Mac, Gramps, Grandaddy Mac said that "these kids are the best thing that happened to our family". I believe he is absolutely enamored with his latest granddaughter! I think he feels lucky to have his family growing and healthy and happy. I know I feel that way!!

We are very lucky to have many grandparents in our family. They add so much to our children's lives. Their long lives remind us that this too shall pass so we should focus on the important things.

I am trying to be more like both of my grandmothers everyday. If I can just be one tenth as giving and generous as my Grandma Pat I will be a better person. I have also learned from my Gami Sue to always think of the positive things first and speak kindly to those you love.

I will add more pictures as I get them. I have lots of pictures of Grandpa Ron and Grandma Joann but none of them on the computer.

Palin bloggers

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=180276

I guess I should probably seperate my family blog from my political one but this is funny so go ahead and watch!!

My background sucks and our week in review

I am so frustrated I can't get my blog to have a cute background. I must be really technologically challenged. Also I can't edit drafts no matter how many times I click the edit button. Help!!

Anyway here are the highlights of my week.
Ashleigh - finally got tooth number one last weekend and tooth number two a couple days later. Her constant runny nose finally stopped as soon as the first one popped through. Her runny nose is back today after only a 6 day reprieve so I guess she is working on the top teeth now. Ashleigh finally figured out the walker, or got long enough legs, on Wednesday. She had a great time at Cari's scooting around on all her miles of tile. On Thursday my hopes of being able to leave the room with out her on hip were dashed when she learned to climb out of the walker. I have often found her standing on her bumpers in her crib and lifting her leg in an attempt to get out (yes she is finally sleeping in her own bed). She also stands on toys in her play pen I am afraid I will soon have a very adept escape artist on my hands.

Tanner - so I am in my first fight with Tanner's reading teacher and it is only the first month of school. I think it was well into the school year last year before we had to meet with Tanner's teacher and it was at her request. She was Crazy with a capital K so I was hoping this year would be better. Unfortunately, Tanner's reading teacher is "crafty". Her bio says she likes to scrapbook in her spare time. And we all know know that even the nicest things I have to say about "crafting" is not G rated. To me craft project are kind of like golf, very expensive and boring for people who have a lot of free time. Okay so not all crafting is useless - if it is something you will use around the house it also has to be easy enough that I can make it while drinking wine.
So anyway Tanner has a book report due every month and these are at home project that are "crafty". He got a D on his one turned in Friday and I was soo mad! He got fine grades on all the portions that had to do with the book, like telling about the beginning middle and end, the characters, the highlights, his review, etc. The report was supposed to be like a book jacket with the meat of the report in the middle and other stuff on the panels and a drawing on the front with the title author and Tanners name. So she gave him a 4 out of 10 on the front. He hand drew a very nice picture of the main character in a cloak like he wears in the book. It was great and neat and I can't draw at all so I was very impressed and she gave him a 4 out of 10!!! It had all the required elements but was not colored, but the directions didn't say to color. It would look good colored but it was a very nice pencil drawing either way. I can only guess it wasn't artistic enough. So I had to send a rude email telling her I thought art projects disguised as book reports held absolutely no value and I was not concerned with my sons ability to cut, draw, paste, color or scrapbook. I am concerned about his ability to describe a plot, main idea and character, point of view etc. Which he did just fine on the book report.
Next months report has us making puppets... this is going to be a very long year!

1997 vs 2007

Having a baby in 1997 vs. 2007.

THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT
136
The number on the scale the day I gave birth to Tanner.
Also the number on the scale the day I found out I was pregnant with Ashleigh. J

Digital Cameras
We don’t have hundreds of pictures of Tanner. We have a lot and we have a lot more studio pictures with him but that was because we didn’t have the ability to take a couple dozen EVERYDAY! Remember when you had film in the camera and had to have it what’s the word – oh, yeah developed.

The Internet-
In 1997 when I was pregnant with Tanner there was some internet but you still had to go to the library for most any research paper – can you imagine not being able to Google something??? There certainly weren’t 15 different mom’s groups I could join on-line or Web MD to go to make you worried about how many baxton hicks contractions were too many. There were no week by week email updates on the pregnancy or on line forms discussing the benefits of natural childbirth, breastfeeding vs.bottle feeding, how to make organic baby food you get the picture.

THINGS THAT ARE THE SAME
Speaking of natural childbirth –
Epidurals are the same – they DON’T work!! When you have to push while you are getting and epidural it’s too late. And if you have your kids ten years apart you can’t imagine that this would happen to you twice!

Most everything else. Cribs, bottles, diapers, waking up all hours of the night, teething, colic all the same. But that feeling of calm unconditional love at the sound of their first cry and first laugh and the feeling of holding them close while they sleep and watching them change and grow also the same. Having Ashleigh has reminded Jon and me what it felt like to fall in love with Tanner. It’s the same thing all over only better because we get to watch Tanner fall in love with her too.