Ready, Set, Toe!

I'm happy to report my chubby swollen toes are pink and my fingers are freshly french manicured. I'm ready now. Although if this is all a ruse, I may have to get a touch up before Anna really arrives.


Yesterday I spent some time doing laundry...okay I was up till 1 AM. I despise doing the laundry but I wanted to wash everything and fold it. And it had to be done before I went to bed.


Today is a special day. Kyle and I are celebrating our 5 year anniversary. We're taking John to my parent's for a sleepover so we can go to dinner and enjoy a quiet evening....maybe even rent a movie! (What's a movie??)


The other night we busted out our wedding video thinking John would enjoy it since he likes pointing out family members in the Bethancourt Cruise Photobook Erin made on Shutterfly. John thought it was cool for about 15 seconds but Kyle and I watched it and reminisced about our wedding day. It seems so weird that John wasn't even a blip in our minds then. And here we are expecting a little girl.


What a difference 5 years make but I'm so happy to have been on this journey with you, K-bug. Who knew all our adventures, moves, and experiences we would share in these past 5 years. You're my best bud and a terrific father. I can't wait for us to welcome Anna into our little family. Happy Anniversary!

Physical Limitations

Today I met up with Shannon at a park near our homes. She was watching another little boy from John and Justin's MDO class so they joined us for an impromptu outing. Three little boys and one ball could be a scary combination but everyone shared very well and we made it out of the park with no one getting hurt or having a meltdown. Amen.

We decided to go to Mickey D's for lunch since neither one of us wanted to go home and deal with lunch. Although the location leaves much to be desired, the McD near my house apparently has a big indoor play area and is usually not overrun with kids.

Shannon and I ordered food, Justin and Jake took off for the play area, and John was stuck to me like glue. Jake came back to us saying "Justin help, Justin help". Being the awesomely distracted mom's we were, neither Shannon or I really paid attention to Jake's plea. I finally got my drink and headed to the play area to keep an eye on the kids. There I was confronted with the reason for Jake's plea....Justin was, in fact, stuck waaaaaay at the top of the play area in a netted tunnel, tears streaming down his face saying "Mommy help!" Jake was trying to help his friend and the adults were oblivious. wonderful. I took a deep breath and tried to reassure Justin he was OK and I would rescue him. HA! I started to go up the weird triangle stairs that were way too tight for a regular adult, much less a big preggie like myself. After 3 attempts I soon realized this was NOT happening. I physically could not get up there and I'd have to wait for Shannon to rescue her child. I felt very bad because I know if that were John I would want to get to him right away and I could see how nervous Justin was.

Apparently they messed up Shannon's order so she was taking a while. I finally talked Justin through getting across the tunnel and another woman in the play area took pity on my sad state of not being able to maneuver the playground and climbed up to encourage Justin to come down the big slide. He came down with a huge smile on his face and all was well. Needless to say all the boys stayed on the floor level after the incident.

What an exciting morning! Earlier this afternoon I was experiencing some mild contractions here and there and wondering if my attempt to contort myself is causing me to progress a little more. I battled through the discomfort and took the opportunity to go ahead and finish packing my hospital bag just in case. Who knows. I'm feeling fine now but if I needed to run or even walk fast for any random reason I think she might just fall out. However, she really needs to wait to arrive until at least tomorrow afternoon. Hold on, Anna! Mama has a mani and pedi scheduled for tomorrow morning and I really would like to have cute toes and fingers before you arrive.

Ho Ho Ho - Merry Christmas!

Well, look-y there....Kyle is enjoying his Christmas present.....finally!

For Christmas I decided to order Kyle an Amazon Kindle. He is an avid reader and it is soooo hard to shop for him and I KNEW this would be the perfect gift for him. The saga began when I saw it on Oprah in October (along with a million, billion, trillion other people). I was going to buy it soon after but decided to wait. I thought I would wait until the day after Thanksgiving to see if it went on a Black Friday sale or something. I checked the website a week before Thanksgiving and they were still available...whew!

Friday morning after Thanksgiving I rushed to the computer to order one, sale or not, at this point it was getting too close to Christmas.

Sold out. NOOOOO!!!!! Those darn Oprah-followers (which I suppose I am one of) bought them all up. I had to wrap up a book and write "Kindle" on it so I could give something to Kyle on Christmas day. How cheesy. I was bummed but Kyle was excited. Especially since we heard Kindle 2 was on it's way. Hurray! It came today and the mail lady who delivered it said "Enjoy it!!" She must have been delivering these things all day as this new Kindle just came out and all the people on the waiting list must be getting them.

So I'm kind of glad that I waited because now Kyle has the newest version which must be the thinnest electronic device I've ever seen.

He recently just finished up a book that was over 1000 pages long. Too bad I didn't get it in time for him to read THAT one on the Kindle. This benefits me too. You see, now we won't have piles of used books everywhere and I won't have to haul pounds and pounds of books to Half-Price Books anymore. Thank you---clutter averted!

****Anna Update - Breaking News****

I went to my scheduled doctor appointment today and one of the first things she said was "You're welcome to have your baby any time now. After 36 weeks most babies do perfectly fine and can go home with the mother". Good to know. Mental note: Need to pack a bag and get the infant car seat out of the attic.

As she did the exam to check my dilation, we chatted and then her eyes got really big and she said "Ok, you're at 4 cm and about 40% effaced. This baby is coming so be ready". So basically our little princess could make her debut any day now. YOWSERS.

I'm basically half-way dilated. So she said if I'm at 6 cm at next Tuesday's appointment she recommends going straight to the hospital because at that point if I were to go into labor I may not make it to the hospital. And I really don't want to give birth on the freeway, thank you. On the flip side, I could still be just 4 cm dilated and then we'll keep waiting. BUT worst case scenario (and very probable) is that we have 1 week left. AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, the joys of uncertainty. Hmmmm.....I think God is trying to teach me to let things go here. I like planning so this is very difficult for me. Also, I've been obsessed with getting Anna's room ready and doing so many "projects". Maybe this is a wake-up call to get a little down time before she arrives and not be so busy. Grrrr....I don't like this lesson! Time is not on my side here.

On another note--little John is just not feeling like himself today. I kept him home from school because he was acting so strange this morning. Yesterday he coughed all day long but today there is no cough, no fever but he's terribly lethargic, clingy, and has no appetite.

Gotta run. I just finished lunch, John is resting in his bed, I need to get to work on finishing Anna's room once and for all, and get to packing some stuff for the hospital!

Guess I Wasn't Invited....

...to "Guys Night" at the Bethancourt's...

This evening after dinner I was trying to get some stuff done in the office and I heard Kyle and John making lots of noise in his room. I heard John yelling "CARS!" and Kyle going "WOOO!".

I finally went in to see what the ruckus was about and discovered they had built a styrofoam ramp/driveway from some old box packaging and were running John's collection of Chevron cars into one of his baskets. The room was a mess but it was fun to see my two men having some manly fun together, pushing and bumping cars on this makeshift ramp. I think I can honestly say this set-up would have never crossed my mind but I'm glad Kyle came up with it!

See, Grandpa! I love my Chevron cars!

This morning we went to a music class called Tots N Tunes at 2nd Baptist. It's only our second time to attend but John LOVES dancing and music and he is really getting into this class. It was fun seeing him enjoy the songs and try to imitate the body motions. He loves the bubbles too. The best part is it's $10 for 9 weeks. Can't beat that. We joined pretty late and there's only a few more classes left but for $10--who cares?!

The Opinionated Artist

Today I was busy crafting again. I'm a little embarassed to say I'm painting a little wooden plaque to make a bow holder for Anna (I know, it's getting ridiculous. Now that I've done all my "big" crafty items I'm finding silly things to do but, whatever, it keeps me entertained)

So as I was painting this little plaque John came up to me, pointing and saying "paint! paint!" I didn't even know that he knew the word. I know they paint a lot at school so it shouldn't surprise me that he knows what it is. He was so insistent on painting that I had to stop what I was doing and set up some paint for him. After stripping him down to his diaper, of course.

He was really into the painting but he gets very upset when he sees paint on his skin--"dirty, dirty". I had to keep reassuring him that we would clean him up later. I guess my constant use of antibacterial gel has really rubbed off on him. In fact, if he wants a snack he comes to me and rubs his hands together, knowing that cleaning his hands is the first step in getting a snack.

oh, my.

Also, today he refused to eat dinner even though I fixed something that I was pretty sure he would like. I finally had enough of his whining and took him out of the high chair. I decided if he wasn't going to eat he could just leave the table to play and forgo dinner. As soon as I put him down he went and sat at his table and ate dinner happily there. Interesting how these little people have such strong and unusual opinions that sometimes can't be verbalized. But apparently that did the trick. We sat at our table, he sat at his and we all enjoyed our dinner.

Sentimental Feelings

Last night I re-organized John's little clothes into plastic bins to be put away. I finally took down all of his nursery crib bedding and Kyle and I adjusted the crib mattress height to it's highest setting. It was a little sad removing all of the twinkle twinkle stuff, his quilt on the wall, and his cute little blue crib sheets with white stars. I am very sentimental about "things" and there was something sad about removing all the little "things" that have been in place since Baby John Thomas first came into our lives. There will never be another baby just like him.

But I'll tell you what REALLY made me sad the other day:

When John and I would read his bedtime story in his old room, we'd see a moon or stars in the book and he would point to the wall where his quilt was hanging and show me that his quilt has a moon and stars too. Well, the other day we read a book in his big boy room and came across a moon and he immediately pointed to the wall saying "moon" and then he looked at me confused and turned his palms up like "where's that thing on the wall with the moon and stars?" Ugh! That was sad--for me. John didn't seem to care too much past that....but it bothered me a little....

But of course I'm excited about little Anna Maye too. I needed to replace my sadness last night with something happy so, even though it was 12 AM, I put the crib-set ensemble I made on the crib. I've been waiting to see the whole thing put together for months. The room still needs to be painted but I couldn't resist taking pictures.

Sorry the pictures are so dark but the flash made the fabric look completely awful so I turned it off.

Someone Get This Kid to a Club

This is my new favorite song....I ask mommy and daddy to play it "uh-gain" and "uh-gain".



Think I can pick up the chicks with my funky dance moves?

Pictures of John's Room

Welcome to my humble room!

...you just caught me while I'm relaxin' here on my big bed...

My name all done up in rope

Bulletin board


I can practice my quick draw in this mirror....and for all those Longhorn members of the family, let me clarify...the pistol is shooting at the longhorn here

See the nice initial hooks Mamaw gave me for Christmas??
My coloring table



Later, dudes...thanks for visiting!

Somebody Stop Me!!!!!!!!!

Behold, we shall be blessed with a girl. She will be called Anna. And she will wear dresses.

I found this tiny little dress at Macy's today. I haven't bought any clothes for her since the one at the Nutcracker Market and today my will was weakened. I had to get this one. It is so adorable that I purposefully bought it 0-3 month size just so I could frame it as soon as she outgrows it.

I also have been looking for a "coming home" outfit for her. Again, Macy's pulled through (let me just give a shout out to Macy's for having some adorable kids clothes and they're usually on sale or you can use a coupon--both of which I did for these purchases)



On another note:
My precious little man is on day 3 of sleeping in his big boy bed, naps and nighttime. So far he has done a stellar job. I'm actually extremely, EXTREMELY surprised. I expected a battle and lots of waking up in the middle of the night to redirect him to his bed. So far, so good. He's sleeping peacefully right now. I seriously can't believe it.

Big Boy Bed Update

Nap time turned out OK. After about an hour and a half of chatting to himself John finally konked out. I saw on the video monitor (aka: SpyCam) that he did actually get up out of bed once to retrieve a paci from the floor. I guess since he was up he thought he would try the door. Too bad I reversed the lock on the door making him a little prisoner in his own room. When I saw him trying to escape I just went inside and put him back in the bed. He kept sitting up so it took about 7 times of going in the room, not saying a word, and laying him back down. Thanks, Supernanny, for that technique. It was like pushing a "reset" button over and over.

So tonight was John's first night in his big boy bed (do you see the small tear leaking from my eye). He looked so grown up sitting in that big bed. Kyle and I read him a few books, we said our little prayer, I tucked John into bed, and we haven't heard a peep from him tonight. I hope I don't jinx ourselves. I'm sure there will be struggles ahead but so far it actually went a lot smoother than I thought.

I will post pictures of John's cowboy-themed room soon. Debbie, Kyle, my mom, and I have been working on it a lot the past week. Thanks to them for helping tired, waddly, slow me. The headboard is in the garage airing out a bit more. Debbie slept in the room with it the first day I got it back from the woman who painted it. I think we almost killed her with the fumes so we are letting it "neutralize".

The Things We Do

Today was registration day for current students at John's Mother's Day Out school. Last year Kyle went to the school, application in hand, at 7 AM in order to reserve John a spot. The doors didn't open till 9 AM.

This year some friends and I decided 7:30 AM was a good time to show up since all our kids are there and--at least for me--there's not too much demand since John is repeating his toddler class (he was the youngest and the teachers recommended he do the class again).

Well I showed up at 7:30 and I was the 16th person in line. One of my friends was already in line and said she arrived at 6:45 and was #12. What? When did #1 get there? Seriously. I'm pretty sure I'm safe because the others in front of me were all trying to get into the 3 and 4 year old classes. I've never waited in line for concert tickets, a book signing, or any sporting event so this was interesting. I took my lawn chair and hung out like a groupie. I met some other nice moms and chatted with the ones I knew so it was more like a social event I suppose.

Ok, so today is John's first time in his big boy bed. We're trying it out for nap time first. He's been in the room for about 45 minutes and has just been talking loudly to himself. Now he's sitting up looking around. Hmmmm.....he hasn't got out of the bed yet but I think that's coming soon. I should sign off so I can keep a closer watch on him....

I Know I'm Pregnant But....

...do I look stupid too?

We had a handy man here for several days doing some odds and ends in our house--repairing hurricane damage and switching out our lovely gold faucets for some more updated ones.

The drama began when, after buying the last faucet at Lowe's on Bunker Hill, I immediately raced to the Lowe's on Ella to buy a matching faucet so as not to waste Mr. Handy's time and my money. When Mr. Handy was putting in one of the faucets he noticed it had a broken part. I needed to run to Lowe's to exchange the part. I run to Lowe's at Bunker Hill. This particular part is proprietary. The only way to replace it is to open another box and give me the part from another faucet. Problem: I bought the last faucet at this store so I'm out of luck.

Mr. Handy is sitting at my house...clock is ticking...time's a'wastin'

I run to the Ella store. I tell the man my dilemma and that the man at the other store said he was going to just open another box and give me the part. This man inspects the broken part and says "it looks used". Well maybe it looks used because Mr. Handy was installing and re-installing it in order to get it to work. I show him my receipt that says I bought it that day only a few hours earlier.

So the guy half heartedly opens a new box and says "Oh, hmmm, I can't get into this faucet it requires a certain 'torque' to get to that part. I don't have that tool"

me: "Well, this is a hardware store. There isn't a tool in this entire store that you can use to open this faucet up for me?"

Lowe's idiot: "no. I can't do it"

me: "What are you going to do for me then because I have a plumber at my house and he needs this part now. Is there another part here I can buy?"

We walk to the plumbing area. I'm really annoyed here. Lowe's idiot is staring at the plumbing parts

me: "So, explain this to me. Does my plumber have a magic tool that he used to get the faucet open? Why can't you do it?"

Lowe's idiot: "I don't have the 'torque' to get it open. It requires something special."

GARBAGE! WHO DO YOU THINK I AM, LOWE'S IDIOT?!?!?! I also hate his use of the word 'torque' as a noun and not an adjective. I know what torque is. I took 2 years of engineering structures class. You can't use fancy words to fool me. If I had more minutes to waste I would have given this person a little more piece of my mind...I know more about tools, construction, and even plumbing than the average Jane. I have used a pneumatic nail gun and a band saw (not at the same time though) and I own (and frequently use) power tools! Save your thinly veiled lies for those who really don't know what they're talking about.

I end up just buying a whole new faucet and take it back to Mr. Handy. I ask Mr. Handy about his "special tool". He rolls his eyes and says, "an allen wrench". Yes, that elusive allen wrench that can only be found when you wave pixie dust in the air and click your heels 3 times.
Grrrr...some people.

I returned the defective faucet and considered running back to the plumbing area to hurl the 10 pound box at the dude. But I refrained. Don't mess with Preggie Bethancourt. She'll kick your butt....and may even bust a pneumatic-driven nail in your head.

After all that, the faucets look lovely and work great. If anyone needs a handy man my guy is really excellent. He did a terrific job. Can't say as much for the brain-dead Lowe's guy.....

We've Got The Sickies and The Smilies!

I've been MIA lately due to congestion, the occasional bout of insomnia (even though I am so tired), and complete physical exhaustion. My immune system is freaking out on me this last trimester. I've also been taking iron pills for anemia. My doctor said that preggies usually have a hard time clearing their sinuses so when you get something it takes forever to clear it out. Apparently that has happened to me. Today is the first day in 3 weeks that I can actually taste my food (hallelujah!) and don't have to carry a Kleenex in my pocket.

I feel much better today so I'm looking forward to resuming some of my projects. I'm not one who likes to be down so these last few weeks have been rough. I was at the park today with 2 friends that are also due in March and I was glad to commiserate with them about our misery. I'm not the only one who is feeling this way, apparently. I'm glad I was able to talk with them because I was beginning to think I was going a little crazy....

One of the girls was kind enough to satisfy our cravings and brought us chocolate milkshakes from DQ. I think we were quite the sight--3 preggies chasing our kids and drinking chocolate milkshakes in 60 degree weather....whatever...we're pregnant, OK?

OK, so enough complaints. One thing that does make me feel much better is seeing John do silly things. Today at dinner we were talking about him smiling at the girls and being flirty (not sure how we got on that topic). Every time we told him to smile he made this crazy, squinty eye smile that made us crack up. He kept rolling his eyes into his head. We finally had to bust out the camera and take a video. Hopefully they won't ask him to smile for a picture at school. I'm afraid he'll scare the heck out of his teachers with this wacky grin. (Now I know why my mom used to tickle me when we'd take pictures when I was little---in order to get a half-normal smile and not the toddler version of a "smile")

oh--and excuse my cackling laugh--yowsers I'm loud.