Boys...

I had my big ultrasound this past Friday. Clay was able to work from home so that we could all go to the appointment! We were about 10 mins late but the ultrasound tech was running behind so it was almost an hour past our appt. time before we got back. The kids were starting to go crazy and I was wondering why I wanted to bring them, but once we got back in the room and they got to see the baby on the tv I realized it was worth it! Jack just sat and watched but Brody was really into it! He kept saying 'baby' and 'ooooo' which was very cute! She did all of the measurements and listened to the heart beat first. Everything looked good and the baby is measuring right on track! She even switched to 4D and we got a cute profile! When she went to look at gender Clay (and the tech) could tell almost instantly that it was a boy! No denying! I have to say that there was part of me that really thought we were having a girl this time around, but I guess deep down I know I will have all boys so I really wasnt that shocked! We are all excited for another boy! Jack and Brody each got their own pictures and are very proud of them! Brody has been carrying his pictures around telling everyone it is his 'baby brudder!' He has even taken the pictures to bed with him! I am sure they cant wait for another brother to wrestle with and play Star Wars! Now comes the hard part...choosing a name. Boy names are hard for us so it will take some time!

After the ultrasound I had to stop in the doctors office for a quick visit. Dr. Nickel went over the ultrasound with me and also the blood work from my last appointment. Everything looked good, but the blood work did show that I was anemic. I know I was anemic with Jack, and maybe Brody, so this came as no big surprise. So now I get to take iron in addition to my prenatals! I guess that could explain why I am beyond tired all the time. I really am feeling good now, but I could sleep all day long if the kids would let me!

If you listen close you can hear Brody saying it is his 'baby brudder!'

The boys showing off their pics from the ultrasound!

4D profile!

New York City...

(At Grand Central Station)

Clay had to go to New York for some work meetings this week. He knew that his schedule would be a little lighter on this trip and was able to convince me to come out with him! His cousin, Emily, and her husband and girls were so generous and agreed to come stay with the boys for several days so I could go with Clay!

We flew out on Sunday morning and came home Wednesday. The boys went to church with Emily and Jason and apparently did really well! I was a little nervous they would have a hard time but Brody fell asleep during most of sacrament meeting and Jack helped out in primary and gave the Article of Faith! I am glad they were good for them! From the sound of it the boys did well and had a great time! I am so glad they were in such good hands and I didnt worry about them at all! I did miss them though and was glad to get home on Wednesday!

I am not a fan of flying, but I have to admit that I was a little excited about flying without kids! The flight out was nice! I slept on take off, read my book, and played some games on my phone (Clay was sitting in the row behind).  No one else to worry about and I got to sit in the Exit row so there was more leg room (you know, because I am so tall)! The landing was pretty rough. It was bumpy and I was sweating the whole way down. Not cool. Usually I lean forward to help but with my ever growing belly I couldnt really do that so I wasnt sure I was going to make it, but we landed and I happily got off!

(Right outside our hotel. We were lucky to be able to stay right in Times Square!)

We took a cab to the hotel (first time in a cab) and met up with Steve! It was good to see him and I am so glad he was able to come out and spend a day with us! We were all hungry so we decided to head out to Bobby Van's Steakhouse! Steve ordered his steak medium-rare and I ordered mine well done. I do have to say that I should have asked for medium-well instead but I could not get over how red Steves steak was. Somehow he convinced me to try a piece and it did have some nice flavor to it, but I just felt like I was eating a cow! I loved the contrast between our 2 pieces of meat though!!

After dinner we walked around a little. It was beyond cold and after not too long we were all frozen and decided to call it a day!

Clay had a full day of meetings on Monday so Steve and I were on our own! We decided we needed to head over to The Today Show so we woke up at the crack of dawn, got some hot chocolate, and made our way over! Man was it cold! There were not very many people there so we had a good spot (or so we thought)! It was a fun experience, we got to shake hands with Al, we saw Matt and Anne, and we even got on tv briefly (although they skipped right over where we were standing and so we had to move behind people so you really had to look to find us)! After a while we were so cold that we decided to head back to the hotel, but we stopped by the windows to see if we could find Natalie and instead found Reese Witherspoon! Steve and I were so excited! She was so cute and even waved at us! I couldnt believe how star struck I was...totally never thought I would be like that! After we got our fill of The Today Show we headed back to the hotel!

We took the subway down to see the World Trade Center site. Apparently you had to have tickets to get in so we didnt do that. We ended up heading over to the Statue of Liberty!   

After our adventure we walked for what seemed miles to try and find some NY pizza! We were about to give up and then we found a place. It was pretty good but I prefer Chicago pizza!

We were exhausted after pizza and headed back to the hotel to rest until Clay was done! Then we headed out to dinner and walked around some more! We stopped by the Empire State Building but decided not to actually go up! 

We also stopped by Grand Central Station! Such a beautiful building! Steve had to get on the road so we headed back to the hotel and said goodbye!

Tuesday Clay had some work to do in the morning so I was on my own! I took my time getting ready and did some shopping in Times Square! After I got some lunch I headed back to the hotel to wait for Clay! When he was done we decided to go find the Manhattan temple. 

The temple was right by New York City Ballet and we almost got tickets, but decided to pass! I also had to have Clay take my pic by Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week!

We walked through Central Park and then took 5th Ave back towards Times Square. Lots of shopping! We stopped in FAO Schwarz and Clay had to try out the Big Piano!

We had dinner at a great mexican restaurant and finished it off with an amazing warm chocolate cake and banana ice cream! After several days of walking, walking, walking, I could barely move. It was so bad that I noticed bruises all over my knees/legs. So not cool. I had a blast in New York but was ready to head home! 

The plane ride home was great! We had to get up really early but we were both able to sleep for a few hours and we got to sit next to each other! It was the smoothest flight/landing. I am finally recovering from all of the walking and it is good to be home!

Brody and Sun...

This past week Brody had a day where he wasnt feeling so good. I was going to take a shower and noticed him following me into my room looking sad. So I put him on the chair with a blanket and his stuffed animals and took a shower. When I got out, this is what I found...

Sad and so cute! He spent most of the day resting and cuddling on the couch! By the next morning he was feeling a ton better. Good thing because the sun has been coming out and the weather hasnt been too cold so we have been trying to take advantage while we can. It is crazy to see how many people emerge from their houses when the sun comes out around here!

  

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Potty update:

I have to say that as much as I was dreading this whole potty training thing again, and Brody was having accident after accident, it has gotten a lot better. He will keep his diaper/pull up dry during the day if he has them on. He even has been really good about keeping them dry during naps and even sometimes at night!! He is starting to tell me when he needs to go...not always, but we are getting there! If he has underwear on he will sometimes start to pee and then stop himself and tell me so we can go to the bathroom! He is still having trouble with #2, but I guess that is to be expected. I can tell when he needs to go because he gets real anxious/nervous and doesnt want to sit on the toilet. It will come. He loves to read Brown Bear, Brown Bear and so he will often 'read' it to me when we are in the bathroom!! Pretty sure he has it memorized now!

And while he is getting better about not having accidents, we still have our fair share. Yesterday morning he refused to put underwear on and so he was naked and the next thing I know he pooped on the floor in his room. Not cool.

And then on Sunday he told me during sacrament meeting that he needed to go so we walked down to the bathroom. Now he is not used to keeping his pants/diaper on while going (it usually has to come all the way off) so he was a little distracted by that. And there wasnt a potty seat in there so he was trying to grab on to me. Once I showed him he could hold on to the toilet he then had no hands free to 'point' so as he started to pee it was coming out of the toilet onto his diaper/pants. I tried to help and ended up getting pee on my leg. Needless to say it didnt go well. We are still working on that I guess!!! And at least he is telling me when he needs to go! I am very proud of him and the progress he is making...he might be ready for preschool this fall after all!!

VIP Day...

Jack had his VIP Day at school this past Tuesday! He was so excited that we all got to go and spend the afternoon with him!

Jack took Brodys hand and helped him find a box of toys and let him sit down and play with him...he can be so sweet and caring with Brody!!

Then Jack got to ring the bell and it was time to clean up and sit on the carpet. Jack got to hand out the name cards to all of the kids!

When he found his name he put it up on the board and then had to write his name! They talked about his name (how many letters, which letters should be capital, how many syllables, etc) and he got to pick one letter to underline. He picked 'k' and he got to use the frog pointer to find the letter on the wall. Then he went around and gently tapped each friends head with the pointer to see if anyone else had a 'k' in their name (I was very surprised with how gentle he was)!

He got to point to the month and add the day up on the calendar! And they talked about the day of the week as well!

Then he checked the weather outside and decided it was cloudy and windy!

He got to get the flag and hold it during the Pledge of Allegiance!

He is such a shy boy! I think it was worse because we were there, but you can tell he doesnt like having all of the attention on him! His teacher, Mrs. Morman, had to constantly turn him around to face his friends and tell him to speak up! Poor kid!

He got to show his friends his robot poster we made! It told all about him and had some pictures of his family!

And since he is obsessed with Star Wars he brought in his Millenium Falcon and some of his guys to show the class (sorry, it is a little blurry).

They even did a cheer just for him and he got to use the pom poms!

Mrs. Morman then read them a book, Corduroy, and they rotated through different stations. We got to work on a few special projects while the other kids played and worked on their own projects!  Brody had a hard time (I think it was a combination of things-wanting to play with toys, starting to feel sick, and being tired) so Clay finally took him for a short drive and he fell asleep in the car while I stayed with Jack! After we finished our projects, Jack got to go paint his Corduroy in the paint room! They got to play outside for a little bit before coming in for a snack. Jack got to hand out the snack (we decided to bring popcorn and M&Ms) and 'slime' and after a prayer they got to eat! Then they sang a goodbye song and we were done!

Jack, Mia, and Olivia waiting to go back to class!

It was a fun day! I love his teacher and was able to talk with her a little about Jack. She said he is doing really well. He knows his letters and numbers and feels that he is ready for Kindergarten! She said they are working on conflict resolution. Jack gets frustrated easily and when he is having a problem with one of the other kids he wants her to solve the problem instead of trying to talk with the kids. So they have been working on that! He is the same way at home so it didnt surprise me in the least...and we are trying to work on it as well! He may be a quiet boy, but he is eager to learn and I am so glad he is able to learn in such a positive, uplifting environment!