National Night Out

Last night was National Night Out. This is a night to learn about safety and emergency preparedness in your community and and get to know your neighbors a little better. Our community put on a great party (way to go Lara). The fire, police, and EMS departments all came and the kids got to check out there rides. There was also a fun train ride and pony ride. We got a lot of useful info and met a few more neighbors we didn't know before. Oh yeah, I also won a door prize. A really neat emergency kit. Not just a first aid kit but Emergency kit. Lets just say it has a flashlight.

Four before Five

Over the weekend we decided to spend some time together with the four of us before there becomes five (hopefully any day now). We went to Zilker Park, a great park here in Austin. Of course the best part the park is the Zilker Zepher train ride. Jeff had never been on it before and the boys and I will never pass up a trip on the train with a good snow cone. This is Barton Springs pool behind us. A landmark in Austin. A natural springs pool that is very very cold no matter how hot outside.

The kids love this park it has a huge playground. Dylan loves anything with a wheel, so of course the old firetruck in the park is a big hit.

My boys waiting for the train ride to start.

To Do

Thats right no baby yet, and since I am just sitting around waiting and thinking of things I should be getting done I thought that I maybe if I posted "the list" then I would have to do it all. These are in no particular order, just need to be done.

1. Kid hair cuts

2. Pay bills

3. Wash all bedding/sheets

4. Dust

5. Decorate for Halloween/Fall

6. Clean guest room enough for guest to sleep in

7. Clean bathrooms

8. Scrub Floors

9. Clean Fridge, Microwave, and Stove

10. Make some freezer meals

11. Pack a bag to take to Hospital (you would think that I would have done this already)

Okay! Wish me luck!

My Handsome Men!

MoHawks

Tyler is really into spiked hair and mohawks lately. He discovered it works best in the bath tub and insists that Dylan has one too.

Seriously...2 More Weeks!

So I am to the point were I feel like I have been pregnant forever, and long enough for that matter. I really don't think I can take it much longer. I went to the doctor today and there really isn't any hope in sight. Jeff keeps telling me that I have to remember that our other kids weren't ready till 40 weeks, but to think about 2 whole more weeks makes me want to cry. Oh wait, I do cry when I think about it. I really don't want to be induce either. They induced me with Dylan and I hated hated it. I also thought today that what if they were to let me go to 42 weeks because I am going to be stubborn about not being induced? That would be crazy, not to mention a whole nother MONTH but also a huge baby. Jeff says this is me being silly, which I know. They won't let me go that long, but I want it to come NOW. Today at the doctor all hopes where demolished when she said "no dialation and wow, a very thick cervix. You would think for a third baby we would have some progression by now." Thanks doc, see ya in a week! I was so depressed after my appointment I ate a whole bag of gummy bears and now I think I am sick. Just can't win. Jeff is saying it isn't coming because we don't have a name. We do have a short, well, long list, and really Baby Boy Megerle sounds okay to me for a few days. Just like with the other two, I need to see him and see how I feel. Any suggestions? Did I mention that every morning I wake up he seems to be getting higher in my rib cage? Moving the wrong direction. Maybe if I hang upside down he would move the right direction. Not a bad plan. Watch out David Blaine!

Pre-K

My little boy started Pre-K today. He was so excited to go back to school. We switch schools this year so everything there was new for us. We loved our other school, but this one is just a little closer to home and a few other kids from our church are there. I did get a little choked up as I left him there at his desk, trying to trace his name. I can't believe how fast he has grown up and I am sure I will be a blubbering mother next year when I have to leave him in Kindergarten for a full day. He said he had fun, but he is funny when I ask him what he did he says "I don't know."

Dylan + Dentist = One less tooth

Okay. I am finally ready to talk about it. I don't know how many of you remember that about 6 months ago Dylan broke one of his top front teeth because we are bad parents. The dentist was able to do a small root canal and then put a cap/crown on it and you haven't been able to tell since. Well, until now... This is a picture of his fully toothed mouth from just weeks ago. (I am seriously holding back the tears right now so thank goodness you are not reading this in real time.) Anyway... what happened? Well, here is the full tooth out of his mouth. That is right, they had to pull it. We were once again bad parents and he pulled a glass off of the counter and it hit his face/mouth and broke the cap off. When we took him to the dentist we had high hopes that they would just be able to put another cap on, but upon further examination the tooth had suffered more damaged and cracked up the middle. There was nothing they could do. (Crying again) If they didn't pull it, it would eventually abscess and he would be in a lot of pain and they would pull it anyway, so they just did it right then. He was so brave and Jeff stayed with him while Tyler and I went to the other room. This is how he looked on the ride home. A little swollen and bloody but he fell asleep anyway with the gross gauze hanging out of his mouth. It has been a week and I have been trying to get a good picture of it but this is the best I have gotten. This whole thing has broken my heart, and every time he smiles at me with his toothless smile I ache all over. (still crying) I know, I really need to get over it since a new tooth won't come in for years, the dentist said most kids don't get those teeth till they are 7, and he is not even two, but I miss it. I got him a haircut thinking that might help me and it hasn't. Still toothless. The only good thing was that I got his and Tyler's pictures taken just days before the incident and they turned out great with two beautiful front teeth. I know it will stop hurting eventually (for me) he is already over it, but for now the only thing that brings me comfort is that I got my first front tooth when I was 5, so maybe he will inherit those genes and a new tooth will come in sooner than later. Well, enough of my pouting, just wondering... When did you get your first tooth?

Fun with a Box

It still amazes me that my kids are fascinated with boxes. They having been playing with this box for days. Pushing each other around, closing the other in, and then just hanging out in it. They seem to love eating in it the most, but still, who needs toys and furniture when you have a good box?

Five Weeks

So we are on the five week count down. It occurred to me the other day we really should start getting ready. Things like finding the car seat, the bassinet, maybe buy some small diapers. I guess it really could happen any day. Neither Tyler or Dylan came till there due dates, so I'm really not that worried, but I guess you never know. My last appointment I lost weight which is not really normal for this late in the game, but it has been a rough couple of weeks because I have been so sick. So over the last two weeks I have been trying really hard to pack it on and keep it down so we will see what happens on Friday.A funny thing that happened over the weekend was from Tyler. He gave me a hug, under the belly, and said, "Mom, can you see me? This baby in your belly is getting to big. I can't see you anymore!" He cracks me up. Now I am going to go to the doctor on Friday and they will tell me I am measuring small. Don't you just love pregnancy? By the way, this picture is courtesy of Tyler so I could see how big my belly was.

Jeff Turns 30!

Friday was Jeff's Birthday. He turned 30. Poor guy had to work all day and didn't get home till almost 8. We picked him up some dinner and took it to him, by the time he got home we were all almost asleep, and needless to say we were all in bed by ten. I guess we are all feeling the effects of old age, or the 8th month of pregnancy, or thoughts of a 3rd boy to chase after. Saturday was a better day. We were going to leave town that morning, but decided to stick around to watch the first UT game of the season with some friends. I made a big 30 chocolate cake and we had a little celebration with all 30 candles during half time. Tyler thought daddy was very special that he got to have 2 days for his birthday even if one was kind of crappy.

Happy Birthday Jeffrey We LOVE You!

Tyler pictures

When Tyler can get his hands on the camera he loves to take pictures. He actually doesn't do all that bad here are some of his better shots.

Double trouble

My boys have figured out that when I am in the shower for 5 minutes all bets are off and they somehow have free reign of the house. It usually involves them getting into food but you never know. These are pictures just from this past week.

They love ice cream, just like there dad, right out of the carton.

Dylan loves Lucky Charms or at least the marshmallows. I made the mistake of leaving the box on the counter after breakfast and he dumped it all out and ate all the marshmallows.

Brothers

The boys have been playing and just being so well together lately and I have snapped a few shots that I just couldn't pass up.

"Good Morning Mom, please get out of our way we are trying to watch cartoons."

Reading books together in the front window.

We love Jello, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And don't forget the whip cream.

Sharing! Tyler was riding the spin round thing and Dylan decided he needed to share. The best part of this is that Dylan is saying "share, share" and Tyler is saying "get off!"

This is Tyler upset in timeout for throwing his nuggets from his happymeal that he got for being a good boy while we were out! Dylan was so upset that Tyler was in timeout that he sat with him and shared his nuggets with him till the timer went off.

We love these boys!

Prego Me

So yes I have been pregnant before and have two beautiful boys to show for it and yes we also know that I am not a pregnancy fan, but this time around I am trying to be more positive. Well I don't think I can take it much longer so here is my two minute rant of disliking pregnancy. I have been more tired and worn out this time around than anytime before and all I want to to is lay in bed and watch the Olympics all day long. That is if I could lay in bed comfortably for more than ten minutes. Lay on my back=can't breath and feel like I am going to pass out, lay on side=maybe a good 20 minutes but really not comfortable. I have also now called the doctor on two separate occasion asking if there is something wrong with me which there has been and had to make one trip in to them (got a pain killer for strained muscles) and the other to the hospital (dehydrated and recieved two bags of fluid) and now I just feel like a big baby. I don't think I ever had to call for anything with either of my other pregnancies. I don't want to clean my house or make dinner and my poor kids just watch cartoons all day if we don't leave the house which is most days. Thankfully Tyler starts preschool soon and Dylan actually likes just chillen with me in bed playing with toys. I also keep having this dream where we all die and go to heaven I am looking down through the clouds and my visiting teachers and ladies in the ward come to my house and sort through our things and I am really ticked off and embarrassed that my house is such a mess. More specifically my room, bathroom, and mainly closet. Thats right, I am not angry we are dead just that my house is dirty and now people know it. So does this motivate me to clean up? No. Oh well, with my other pregnancies I always used to dream that just Jeff died so we should be okay. So that brings us to Jeff. He has been so great and trying really hard to be home as much a possible, but Austin has had a record breaking 100 degree summer and work has been so busy. When he is home, I know he is tired but he has been so good at helping me out with the kids and giving me a break if I need it. Thank you babe. Tyler and Dylan have also been playing pretty well together lately and hopefully that will only get better. Soooo... Maybe I don't have that much to complain about, and it probably is really just me being silly but if this baby could come a little sooner than later I wouldn't mind. Better yet, if the stork could just drop the perfect baby off with a good name (no we don't have one yet) and I don't have to be pregnant anymore that would be even better.I don't usually do prego pics so this is all you are going to get. Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention that I feel huge, struggling to tie shoes, pick things up, (never felt that way with other pregos) but at my last appointment they assured me that I am actually smaller this time around. Thanks a lot lady! Are you trying to make me feel worse!

Grandma Dickson visits

My mom came for a very short visit. She watched the kids so Jeff and I could go out, went and got a mani/pedi with me and ran errands with me that I have been trying to get done. Jeff also appreciated that she helped me sort and fold through the mounds of kids clothes that I need to organize before the baby comes. That and we found a whole new wardrobe for Dylan, so I guess I don't need to go shopping after all. It was so great having her here even for a short time. Thanks mom!

So I am only posting this picture below because Jeff thought it was soooo funny that my huge belly/boobs are squeezing poor Tyler out of the pic.

Jeff is nesting

Jeff felt we needed to get a few things done around the house before the baby is born. We each picked one thing. I picked painting the walls to get rid of the yucky flat unwashable manufacture paint that can't be washed of yucky kid marks, and Jeff picked floors. We got wood laminate installed everywhere but the bedrooms and bathrooms. I didn't take any before shots so only people who have been to my house will know the before, but trust me it looks so much better without yucky stained white carpet and cheetoo and marker covered walls.

The red walls were already there, Jeff and I painted those a while back. I guess I should have put my curtains back up to before I took this picture, it looks much better with them up. Oh well.

Swim Lessons

The past two weeks Tyler was in swim lessons. He had a really fun time and has learned a lot. Yes, he wore those goggles everyday and won't go in the water without them. The first day of class he actually wore them all morning, at breakfast, getting dressed, watching cartoons, and then all the way to lessons in the car. I think he was excited. We are very proud of him, he improved a lot and can do a lot of things now that he couldn't do before, especially on his own.

Tyler took lessons with his buddies Jaeden and Audrey. They had so much fun together.

Duck Adventure and Friends

My old friend Carmen, her boyfriend Shawn and his daughter Ellie, came to town this week. We all got to hang out on Monday and had lots of fun. We went on the Great Austin Duck Adventure. It takes you on a tour of downtown and then splashes into Lake Austin. The best part of course is that they give everyone duck quackers and we quack at people on the streets of Austin. The quacking was Tyler's favorite part, unlike driving into the water, when he announced that he didn't want to because he didn't have his floaties.

Carmen with her quacker and the UT Tower. Dylan loving the water and Tyler asking when we will be back on land.

After the duck tour we went to lunch at the Hula Hut, a Austin landmark restaurant. It is right on the lake and we sat outside on the deck over the water. Tyler was okay with this for some reason and enjoyed seeing the huge fish and turtles in the water below.

Thanks for hanging out with us Carm. We had a really fun time and enjoyed finally meeting Shawn and Ellie. Wish you all were closer to see you all more often.