Interview with Wyatt

I published the Interview with Reese last week, and now it's Wyatt's turn.  He is not as interested in answering my questions, but what can I say - he's a boy!  I don't have much to add on to his because I think he answered them  pretty honestly - ha!  Some of his answers have changed since last summer, but a lot have stayed the same! 

What is your name?  Wyatt
How old are you? 5

What is your favorite color?  Blue

Who is your best friend?  Hunter and Evan and Derek

What is your favorite animal?  Baby rhinos, baby giraffes, baby elephants - but not poachers.  I hate poachers.  Oh, and dinosaurs and snakes.

What do you want to be when you grow-up? A paleontologist.  But I can still live at home right? (Yes.  He also wants me to bring him a peanut butter and jelly to work every day.)

What is your favorite Movie? I don't like movies very much (LIES - he loves The Lion King.)

What is your favorite book? How Babe Ruth saved Baseball (he checked this out at the library last summer!)

What makes you happy? Going to the zoo, going to Busch Gardens, going to Disney World

What makes you sad? When Reese hits me. (Then maybe you should leave her alone  Cough, cough!)

What is your favorite food to eat? Mac & Cheese

What is your favorite Snack? Cheetos

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas and Storm Trooper Night (apparently this is Halloween)

What is your least favorite food? Broccoli

What is your favorite song to sing?  The Admirals Favorite Song (We Are Young by Fun - the team sang it at the Calder Cup parade)

What games do you like to play? Baseball, hockey, basketball, golf, soccer and football
What are your favorite sports teams? Yankees, Lakers, Dolphins and Packers.
Who is your favorite baseball player? Derek Jeter and Curtis Granderson.  And you know that I like A-Rod even though you think he's yucky. (Seriously, I've done everything possible to make him think that A-Rod is terrible.  He has a mind of his own, apparently.)

What is your favorite thing you did all summer? Going swimming at Didi and Pop Pop's house

Name 3 words that tell all about you? Happy, shy, energy (Yes.  To all three.)

Baby Minnie: 38 Weeks

• How far along: 38 weeks
• Size of baby: 20 inches and 7ish pounds?  Wyatt was 7  pounds, 12 ounces, Reese was 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and Hudson was my biggest at 7 pounds, 15 ounces.  I think we're going to tell them at the ultrasound tomorrow that we don't want to know what she weighs!
• Total weight gain/loss: Pretty sure I packed on 2 more pounds this week for a total gain of 6 pounds!
• Cravings: Buffalo chicken dip and ice cream cones.  I was so stealth, I made a huge thing of dip on Thursday and didn't tell Brian (he has been really good about actually losing weight and going to the gym over the last two months - I'm trying not to let my pregnancy cravings affect him!).  It was soooo good!  And I didn't eat it all in one day :).
• Maternity clothes: Yes.
• Gender: Girl!
• Movement: All the time!
• What I miss: Sleep.  And maybe living a life without hip and joint pain.
• Sleep: 3 or 4 hours a night?  My hips are in constant pain and it makes it really hard to sleep.  I also get comfortable and in just the right position and then end up needing to go to bathroom!  I have been up the last 3 nights from around 3:30 until 5:45ish.  I'm kind of bummed that I keep missing the endings of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
• Symptoms: Basically everything that comes along with having a giant stomach.  I'm also going to be completely honest in case anyone actually cares, but it is amazing to me how different this pregnancy has been.  Not just lack of sleep, etc., but also the ligament pain that comes with the scar tissue I've formed from having three C Sections.  It is incredibly painful, and I am in constant pain. Even if I'm not doing anything, there's pain.
• Best Moment this week:  Lots and lots of movement!  Honestly, I had a terrible moment this week, but it ended with a really great one!  Last Friday at 3:30, the surgery scheduler at my doctor's office called and told me that due to a scheduling issue at the hospital, I was NOT going to be able to deliver on my scheduled date, and I would have to deal with another doctor delivering the baby.  Um...no.  I told her that I scheduled my date purposefully, and that I absolutely didn't want another doctor to deliver my baby.  The same doctor has delivered all my kids, and I feel incredibly comfortable with her.  She was the first doctor I saw at the practice, and after everything I've been through with her - Wyatt's emergency C Section (which she held off doing for hours because I absolutely didn't want it), Reese's NICU stay (she called to check on her), and even Hudson's event free birth - she's who I feel most comfortable with. So I told the scheduler that she needed to call and check with Dr. W to make sure that she couldn't do it on my scheduled day.  I got a call back 45 minutes later (which was good, because Brian was going to call so we didn't have to wait all weekend) - they were only pushing me back, they weren't changing the date!  I know that this is because my doctor is incredible and she knows how I feel about her delivering my babies.  It is sooooo nice to know that I have a doctor that a) recognizes me by name, and b) will stand up for me and my baby.  I can't wait to thank her tomorrow at my appointment!
• What I am looking forward to: My ultrasound and appointment tomorrow.  Maybe finally deciding on a name?  At this point there's no rush - we'll know when we see her I guess!

And here I am pregnant with Hudson at 37 weeks! I think I might be bigger this time?

iPurge

Pictures from my phone and Brian's phone this week!

Hudson is unstoppable when it comes to big kid toys.  He wants to do everything that they do.  Including putting on Buzz Lightyear wings and running around my house like a crazy child!

Reese, Hudson and I waited in the car on Saturday for the rain to let up for baseball practice (it didn't).  She wanted me to take her "birthday picture."  She also told me that day that I should let her answer my phone because everyone that called just wanted to talk to her!

Here is the birthday girl, chowing down on her salad at Red Robin.  She cracks me up!

With one of the princess balloons that Daddy got her for her birthday party.  Yes, those are Christmas jammies.  She likes long sleeves and long pants year round.  She gets cold.  She even wears socks to bed!

Hanging out and watching Doc McStuffins before bed.

It's grainy because it's a picture I took of a shirt on zulily the other day.  Brian sings "Beth" to Reese every night before bed, so I thought he might like it.  And she's about to own it!

Wyatt's back to school postcard came in the mail on Thursday!  He is going to be in Mrs. Boyle's kindergarten class this year.  Reese's post card still hasn't gotten here, but we know that she has Ms. Stephanie and we'll meet both of their teachers tonight at Open House!  I can't believe that Open House is tonight, I can't believe that school starts next week, and I can't believe that this little guy is about to be in school 5 days a week!  It's seems crazy that this is his third year of school, and his third Open House - he has gotten so big!  And he's already asked me if we're going out for ice cream tonight.

3 year old class

4 year old class

Reese picked out this new dry erase workbook at the store the other day, and she's been practicing her letters.  Her B's were dreadful at the end of the school year last year, and they've gotten much better with some practice this summer!  I can't wait for her to get back to school and back to her Phonics Book!

Nothing like crowding around Daddy's phone to watch Arthur in the morning.

She got this crown for her birthday and is currently all about playing "Princess Doctors."  I'm still not sure how the two are incorporated, but if she's going to play Princess, I think it's great that she wants to be a doctor, too!

Party Up!

If there was one thing I learned from Reese's birthday party last year, it was that I LOVED having it at The Little Gym.  I actually worked as a birthday party  hostess one summer at the waterpark, and people used to tell me how much they loved not having to do anything.  I never got it then, but I was 21 and really had no idea what I was doing with kids!  Ha!

Knowing that I was going to be 38 weeks pregnant this year and up for virtually nothing, it seemed like a great idea to go back.  There was no cleaning the house, no getting party food ready, no finding a way for us to entertain 16 kids.  Just fun for them and stress free for me! It was Reese's first choice for a party as well, so I knew she would have a great time.

The kids hit the ground running as soon as they walked in.  They started by running through the lobby and then making their way to the gym.

"No, it's not your birthday party, it's my birthday party.  And I'm not 40, I'm 4."

I love that she is reaching out to get her brother to come to with her!

He declined, she she decided to put her arms around Sophie and Mady instead.

This was Wyatt's favorite thing.  He came home and told me that he would like for me to replace our carpets with mats like The Little Gym.  It may not be a bad idea!

Some of the kids listening to instructions!  Piper, Darby, Tyler, Mady, Gavin, Audrey, Reesie, Sophie, Derek, Wyatt and Natalie.

This kid is silly!

Reesie caught a bubble on her finger.  She was very excited!

How grown up does Hudson look sitting at that table?  He insisted on eating his chips with a plastic fork!

I ordered Reese's cake from Harris Teeter.  They didn't have a Disney Princess cake, so I improvised like I did with Wyatt's.  They actually had this cake in pink as a Barbie cake.  I asked for them to make it a blue Cinderella cake and then brought some of Reese's princesses.  I think it turned out super cute and it was so good!

Reesie and Piper eating.  And whispering.  And trying to ignore the boys seated next to them.

The cutest part of the party was when Reese stood up and thanked everyone for coming.  That was followed by her running up to me and telling me that she wanted to give everyone their goody buckets.  She kept running back and forth to the lobby to grab them and then she would take them into the party room to pass them out.  Her favorite part of birthday parties is the goody bag, so I know she was anxious to give them to her friends!

She had a really great birthday, and it is all she has talked about!  I'm glad that she had such a great time.  She is very excited to welcome her baby sister into our family, but I think her world is going to get shaken up a little bit next week when she's not the only girl!  I'm glad that this last week can be a lot of fun for her before she starts school again and gets a baby sister! Of course, I don't know what we're going to do in a few years when we have two birthday parties to celebrate less than two weeks apart - ha!

Reese's 4th Birthday

Reese turned 4 yesterday!  Her big party with friends was today, and we had a low key day for her big day.  I made blueberry muffins for breakfast, and then we went to Brian and Wyatt's baseball practice - which ended up being rained out!  Brian went to work and we spent the day at home playing, watching the Doc McStuffins DVD that Wyatt "got" her for her birthday (he told us exactly what he wanted to give her!) and taking a nap before her birthday dinner!

Before we left to meet the grandparents and Brian at Red Robin for dinner, I set up Reese's presents by her Minnie Mouse chair.  I sent Brian to Toys R Us on Friday to get her birthday presents.  You know the saying about a kid in a candy store?  Yeah, Brian's like that, but he's an actual kid in a toy store.

She had a lot of fun at dinner.  I thought she wanted to get a grilled cheese and fries?  Nope.  She talked all day about a salad with ranch dressing and french fries.  And she stood by that at the table.  The child wolfed down almost an entire side salad!  When they brought her ice cream sundae she gobbled that down, too...after Brian got rid of the whipped cream.  She doesn't like that!

She couldn't wait to open her birthday presents!

She got a few Brave toys, a Doc McStuffins toy and, her favorite thing?

A doctor dress up outfit and a Doc McStuffins doctor bag.  I actually sent Brian back to the store Saturday morning because we were watching the show and Reese told me that she really hoped she got Doc's doctor bag for her birthday!

Reesie told me that she wanted pink cupcakes for her birthday.  So I made her pink lemonade cupcakes with pink lemonade frosting.  I think that they were delicious.  So did all of the other grownups.  Reese, Wyatt and Hudson?   Not so much!  Hudson threw his down and said, "Yuck!"

And speaking of Hudson, I know I said I wasn't going to try and potty train him, but I did take it out, and he has been following me to the bathroom.  He followed me in yesterday and he actually went to the bathroom.  I looked down and I was shocked!  I think  that the cloth diapers really help, because he did it again today!  I'm not even trying to train him, and he's choosing to do it on his own. 

He doesn't quite understand that these aren't his toys!  He picked the brothers from Reese's Brave set right up and I guess he started giving them a check up...he loves Doc McStuffins, too!  He sees her on TV and shouts, "Doc! Doc!"

Reese was so sweet last night when I tucked her in.  She told me that she loved that she got to spend her birthday with her family, and she couldn't wait for her birthday party today.  She is the sweetest!

Happy 4th Birthday Reesie Piecey!

Brian and I can not believe that our little girl is a 4 year old now!  It seems like just yesterday that she was born (although, it gets easier not to think about that experience as she gets older).

At 4 she is lively, funny, silly, loving, and loud!  There is no inside voice button on her.  She cares about everyone, and she doesn't always get that just because she wants to "take care" of her baby brother by playing with him and picking him up, that doesn't mean that he wants her to do it.  She occasionally gets the message when he screams, but lately it's been him smacking her away and her crying that helps get the message across!

She is my little helper - she cleans up and steps into help without being asked.  She keeps her room clean (thank goodness) and she puts things away as she's done with them (yes, I know how rare this is - her big brother is her exact opposite).  She helps me "serve" dinner.  She likes to pick out her own clothes in the morning, and doesn't always like it when I have a different suggestion!

She is 100% a Daddy's Girl and 100% a Mommy's Girl - she just prefers Daddy to me!

The current loves of her life are Doc McStuffins, Mobi Go, her Teddy, books, books, and more books, Dora (still), Minnie Mouse, aaaaaaaaaaaaaall the princesses (but Cinderella is her favorite), and arts and crafts. She loves to paint with watercolors, color, and practice writing her letters.  We can definitely see a difference in her fine motor skills this summer - her letters are getting so good!

She can't wait for school to start, and I know that she is going to just love it!  I'm very excited for her to start the school year and get back in her Phonics book and get back to learning.  And I know that she will be excited to see her friends and get a little time away from her brothers!  Ha!

Happy Birthday Reesie!  We love you so much!!!

Interview with Reese

Last summer I did this interview with the kids, and wanted to do it again this summer.  I figured I needed to get Reese's done before she turns 4 (TOMORROW), so I asked the questions yesterday.  As always, she cracks me up.  I'd love to do it again in the winter when Brian is home more (I think you can see how much she misses him in her answers).  Maybe she'll actually talk about me?  Doubt it!  Ha!

What is your name?  Reesie Piecey

How old are you? 3 for 2 more days

What is your favorite color?  Purple and Pink

Who is your best friend?  Ryan and Griffin

What is your favorite animal?  Monkeys with pink bottoms (baboons - she loves Rafiki)

What do you want to be when you grow-up? A princess

What is your favorite Movie? Lion King 2

What is your favorite book? Cinderella

What makes you happy? When Daddy's home and gives me hugs and kisses.  And loving Daddy.

What makes you sad? When Daddy's not home.

What is your favorite food to eat? Mac & Cheese and Pizza

What is your favorite Snack? Goldfish and Pretzels

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

What is your least favorite food? Fish

What is your favorite song to sing?  American Honey

What games do you like to play? Soccer, baseball, basketball and football and tennis
What are your favorite sports teams? Yankees and Green Bean Crackers
Who is your favorite baseball player? Derek Jeter

What is your favorite thing you did all summer? Going out for ice cream

Name 3 words that tell all about you? Happy, silly, love

And a few notes that I wanted to add:
Her favorite song is "American Honey."  But she also sings an absolutely adorable version of  "Switzerland" by Bison and "We Are Young" by Fun.  And yesterday she asked me to listen to "Century Girl" by Kelly Clarkson.  When I asked her to sing it for me, I was able to surmise that she actually wanted to hear "Since You've Been Gone."  Ha!

Her favorite holiday is Christmas right now because she wants a Leap Pad.  She loves playing games on my phone, and she saw a Leap Pad at Target the other day and thought it was an iPad for kids.  She said she wanted one for her birthday, but that isn't happening.  I told her to ask Santa Claus for one.  So right now, Christmas is her favorite.  But I know that her favorite holiday right now is actually Thanksgiving.  She asks me at least twice a week to name all the food we get to eat at Thanksgiving, and her eyes get big and she says she can't wait for it!  Plus, she also knows that Parker will return around that time!

I would also guess that her favorite "game" is puzzles.  But soccer, baseball, basketball and football and tennis are also good choices. 

My children have chosen the Packers as their favorite football team on their own.  Brian is a Dolphins fan, but I don't think he's dedicated to raising a new generation of Dolphins fans.  Why put them through that?