You're my Pumpkin.

Wonderful October.
This month was great. Ben and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary. So much has happened since we knelt at the altar and were sealed for all time and eternity.
We moved from Nova Scotia, started a family, and changed career plans. All great things.

We had a great feast at El Ranchito. We ordered all we desired and left smiling  and aching of satisfaction, basically we pigged out. It is somewhere we wish to return soon. And it was our first night without our adorable son. His first stay at Gramma and Grandpa for the night. We missed him and were at the same time grateful to get the best sleep we've had since his birth. Sleeping in is a luxury as parents. Also I can not forget to mention that Ben gave me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers I've ever seen, they lasted me over 2 weeks. I love flowers but my husband way more.

HALLOWEEN!
Our theme this year was Star Wars. We had hoped to borrow our friends costumes of Princess Leia and Darth Vader. Sadly it didn't work out. Ben ended up been schedule to work that night. We had no costumes, only Levi did have one. He was Yoda. Before going to my in-laws, I found for 20$ a Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper costume. I miraculously fit in the Storm Trooper costume with my big belly and went out with Levi to trick-o-treat.  We knocked 12 doors and then Levi said to me "Up!" I knew then, it was time to head back. Levi is too big and must be weighing about 30lbs.

So here are some comments we received that night: "That is adorable", "What a cute Yoda" , "What a cute sheep" What a cute rabbit". I really tried to hold it in. It was Levi's first time going out for the hunt, he was confused to knock at people's doors and receiving candy. He does not eat candy but we did get healthy fruit bars.

Here are a few things Levi has been doing lately: identifying cars: tatas van, grammas car, tells you that he is filling his pants but will say no! if you ask, dances to all sounds: classical music ,printer ,washing machine , salsa music, learning to put words together, a little helper with laundry, cleaning, garbage and recycling. Two of my new favorite words are "O-ha" = oja = leaf in spanish, "an-hahaha" = naranja = orange in spanish.
Oh and I did finish Levi's quilt about  a month ago, just take a look at him laying on it on my front page. It turned out great. Levi loves it.

Velvita cheese!

 Time is tickin'. I am over 30 weeks and getting nervous. Taking care of two is not my biggest worry, only the D-day. All I want to see happen is my husband by my side when Zoe comes to join us. Yes! Her name is Zoe but only to me. Ben has yet to come up with another name that we both will approve, that or she will be Levi #2. I've searched for her name, prayed about it and went to the temple to receive an answer and I made up my mind. Marriage does not permit me to be selfish and I agree. It will be a joint decision.
Zoe is definitely making herself notice these days. Every night, I feel so bloated and uncomfortable. Like my belly cannot stretch out any more but it can. For my first pregnancy, my innie bellybutton became an outie. Pregnancy #2 has not yet. Levi enjoys saying Hi! to Zoe, rubbing my belly and hugging it. Its sweet, I'm sure he knows mommy is going trough something and maybe that there is truly a baby inside, who knows. Siblings are great, I know he'll be happy to be a big brother. Thanks Virginia for the Big Brother to be t-shirt you gave us and Zoe's first pair of shoes.

October is an important month for us. It will be our third wedding anniversary. I've been looking at our wedding pictures and Levi's first year album and feel overjoyed to have been so blessed and know that we are sealed for all time and eternity. Every one in the world can receive these blessings, it just a matter of choosing to have them. Heavenly Father loves all His children, it's true. Once you know of His love, it will change your life forever.
October is going by pretty quickly, we were sick for 2 weeks, Thanksgiving dinner with my and Ben's family,had a Swap event at Virginia's (it was a hit!) and will be going to a Baby Halloween Party. Levi will be Yoda this year, Ben as Darth Vader and hopefully I will find mine soon.
Ben is crazy busy these days with school and work, he has been lacking sleep all week. He is currently having a nap with Levi. I love seeing them together awake and asleep. We are so blessed.

Funny story this week. Levi was snooping under the bathroom sink and found one of my pads (new of course) and called it "cheese". He was confused with the Velvita cheese squares I purchased last week. He is a cheese monster. We had a good laugh.

Hips don't lie.

My hips don't lie, I am extra curvy these days, pregnancy can do that to you.
Summer has been all about family. Kids growing, a baby born and visits from family.
August started with my birthday, I'm getting old. I feel that I need to get the babies popping, because my time is running out. Levi is now 18 months and baby#2 is on its way, crossing our fingers for January 2012.
A few weeks ago we found out that we are having a girl. I screamed my lungs out in the car, when Ben opened the envelop and showed the pink cookie. Just what I was hoping for. During the ultrasound we saw her squirm, suck on her lips and thumb, rolling and saw her crossing her legs (she's a lady). She is gorgeous and looks like his daddy, that nose is a Cole. It is not a button nose like Levi but a straight pointy nose. Levi did get the reddish tint, that was amazing. I find he looks like my mom but his head shape is growing to be like his daddy and has a long torso like him too. The shirt I put on him today, looked too short and it's size 18months.

Levi is growing so fast, he is now going to nursery, drinking from a cup, sorting and lining up his cars,swimming in puddles, taking naps in his bunk bed and understanding more short instructions. Today in the car he was signing the alphabet and burped in the middle of it. We are working on manners, it will come.
We bought him this week an Elmo stuffed animal and a baby doll. We were told the baby doll would prepare him having another little person around. It does not have a name , like our unborn baby, for now her name is "bebe". She's been sleeping in his crib during the day, he knows that babies need a crib to sleep in and that means sharing.
Tonight at our home, we had Ola & Noah, Suzette & Devyn over. Levi can share, is gentle but sometimes not so much. I am just glad he's not violent. Our kids are growing together, they are months apart and learning about the same things. My hope is that they will remain friends during adolescence, it's really tough to be LDS when you're in highschool. I would know, I was the only member at my school.  These mommies are wonderful and strong believers.

Our goal these days is to find baby#2 a name, Levi to know about 200 words before he is 2 years old and enjoy the rest of the summer . 






     

Writing on the wall.

"Writing on the wall" what does this really mean? In our home it means Levi's scribbles all over our white walls. Thankfully, this time it was pencil, Ben had to use the eraser to fix it. Ouff!
This summer, we have been enjoying the sunny hot weather and spending time outside. We bought the year before a kiddie pool, cost less than 10$ and have used it over 5 times. Advice:buy items at the end of season, things go on sale for good prices. It was a great purchase and well worth it. He's not only been swimming in the baby pool but also the lake,the  inside and outside pool, splash pad. He has been swimming in style with one of the cutest swimsuits, frog suit with matching hat. We have received lots of compliments.

 Today, it was our family day. Ben had the day off and we biked for over 3 hours. I biked and pulled the bike trailer with Levi in it and Ben roller skated all the way. We didn't stop once we got home, oh no, right away we changed and went for a swim. So, I'm exhausted, my quads are hurting, my butt is sore but I feel great. Remember folks, I am a pregnant lady, I  biked while pulling her toddler and was going mostly uphill during this adventure. I did quit on my way back, I was a block away from home when I decided to walk the rest of the way home. I just couldn't do it, I was feeling sick. I am proud of each other, it was long. As for Levi, he had a nap on the way there and back, but did stop at half way , he went on the swing and went to the splash pad. We will be doing this again soon.
Other news: we are having my family over soon and will be seeing more family the week after and Ben got an A on his Clinical psychology class. I have a smart husband.
Summertime is great!

He knows!!!

I caught Levi in his room with the bottom dresser drawer opened and emptied on the floor. He knows how to open drawers and jars. He didn't stop there, he opened the kitchen drawers and emptied what he could, while mommy was trying to pick up the rest. ARG... and thumbs up for you baby, you're so smart. It does mean more work, to tidy things up but it was meant to happen.
Levi has been saying new words, two of my favorites this week is "please" and "mango". He is now enjoying trying to blow bubbles, coloring, playing in puddles and using his utensils and cup. For comfort he has been sucking on his bottom lip and touching his and my belly button.
 Ben, my wonderful husband. He made a toy wooden chest for Levi's toys. Amazing! I showed my dad and ,said he needed one too. Its a light wood with a padded blue leather seat/cover, that matches perfectly with his bed comforter. He is talented. He is soon going to finish his summer courses and finally get somewhat break from it all. Levi's father's day gift to daddy was peeing on the toilet seat, one drop might have gone in the toilet.
As for me ,my tummy is growing. If you didn't know me well enough, you'd think I was fat but really its a baby bump. I have geared up on summer clothes, yoga shorts, and one bigger t-shirts. Pregnancy has been better to me, less barfing but more blotting and other unpleasant things. Our bathroom is cleaned regularly, almost every day, it needs to because I'm spending lots of time there. I'm excited and looking forward to that first ultrasound to see our baby and to know if its a girl or a boy. I like to ask Levi where the baby is, he points to my belly. He will soon be the Big Brother.

Brain Freeze!

Have you heard of the great sale at Costco? Jumbo freezes on sale. Woohoo! It has been a hot summer and I have been craving freezes. Levi loves them and for the first time today, had his first brain freeze. Ouch but hilarious at the same time.
By the way, we're pregnant. We are so happy and in disbelief. My family and others are cheering for a girl. It really doesn't matter girl or boy, either way he or she will be super cute and super loved. We are again expecting a winter baby. How am I feeling? For those who remember my first pregnancy, I was having diarrhea and I was barfing at the same time, appetite got smaller and craved for fruits, tomatoes and Nutella. This time, it's dry heaving, occasional barfing, diarrhea again, blotting, need to go to the bathroom regularly. For foods fruits, tomatoes and Nutella are still a must , and my new craving for Freezes.
I have to say, I have been praying more often to my Heavenly Father to help me cope with it all, so I can take care of Levi. Prayers have been answered and my doctor has recommended drugs, but those will have to pass. I survived with my first pregnancy without using any drugs and now, I will try my best not to use them again. I am grateful for modern medicine but only in desperate needs and as recommended by your doctor. I'm not desperate yet! Ben has been wonderful as always, helping me out with everything and been sympathetic. I love him, he is a wonderful husband and great father.
"Still want 5 kids?", I get this question often and I do ask myself the same, "Can I really do this another 3 times after this little bundle of joy comes??? I don't know, but I did a few hours after my first baby. I said "One down, four more to go." My mother-in-laws answer to my reply was "Bless your heart".
I am scared of a few things for this pregnancy: natural labor instead of C-section, 3 first months of sleepless nights and baby blues, constipation and recovery. I think pregnancy is not the tough part , its the afterward ....DA...DA....DAaaa. Besides my fears , I am so grateful once that baby is out. You feel this flow of love just overcome you and feel so happy and grateful to be its mom. Motherhood is so amazing. I love to be a mom. I have tears just thinking about it, 6 months to go.
Other great news, my best-friend Virginia is back with her family and hope , they are staying for good. My brother will be visiting us in July for two weeks and by August I should know if I'm having a boy a a girl.

Life is great!

Appreciation!

This week has been super busy and overwhelming for my poor husband. Sadly, that is life and time will not stop for anyone so they can get a break. Aside from all obligations and responsibilities, family support must be felt.

Yesterday, I was not feeling too well. I'm not sick, just felt blah, tired , not comfortable in my own body. Ben was tired from his 8 hour shift, standing for that period of time with no air conditioning in the building. Plus he worked 28  hours this week , is taking 2 classes, one of them is a 3 hour lecture twice a week. He has had no days off and is currently working today, Sunday. I wish they would respect him more and honor his desire to keep the Sabbath day Holy. Basically he was tired.
We debated on whom should go and get some groceries or give Levi a bath and do his night routine.  I was certainly not bugging in about going out, so we agreed on just eating what we had.  Levi is not a choice, plus we LOVE him so much,  of course we will care for him. I finally started to get Levi ready when Ben said: I'll go and get some groceries.
Once Ben came back he handed Levi a Hotwheels' car and me, a magazine + chocolate covered almonds. He said these gifts is to show us that he appreciate and loves us. How sweet. I haven't been craving chocolate covered almonds but they are my favorites. Thanks Honey! We appreciate you too.

Second story. Last week I taught about prayer and had 3 activities during our 40 minutes lesson. We had fun. At the end I asked my kids: "Do you like my lessons?" -"Yes Sister Cole!!!" That made my day. I've been teaching in Primary for over 2 years. Let me tell ya, I have learned lots and still am. I thought that I was just filling in a calling that it really wasn't meant for me. I was wrong, I'm glad that I was.
This week, the lesson was about the Holy Ghost. I organized a scavenger hunt for my class, as a gesture of my appreciation for their appreciation for me. I had 5 rules.
1.Not aloud to speak unless asked to speak
2.No running in the church
3.Running is aloud outside of the church building
4.We must all stick together
5.If rules are broken, all must go and sit in Sharing time for the last 2 hours of meetings.
I was very stern and clear about all the rules. Rules were repeated many times before the hunt. Class had 3 chances or else.
The kids seemed to enjoy the lesson, and I didn't need to stop the lesson because of broken rules. This was a success. Hurray!!

Levi was impressive too. He stayed in nursery for a whole 15 minutes by himself, no Gramma. She has been taking him, he is just too busy for Sunday school and Relief Society. He will be there, once he turns 18 moths. Our baby boy is growing up.
This week has been nice and sunny. We've had lots of fun going to the park and picnic with the Coolest Mommy group, Devyn's birthday party, hanging out with Grammy, gardening with Carolyn, going to the park with daddy.

 Life is wonderful. 

Remember to appreciate and love one another.