Thursday, June 27, 2013
June Fun in the Sun
Thursday, May 30, 2013
The Month of May for the Montys
It's been just about a month since my last post....things have been busy around here, and I am feeling less overwhelmed that I may have sounded in my last posts (finally).
A couple of updates:
- Nick and I have been putting a lot of time into the house. We still have plenty we would like to do, but all in due time. I am working on my before and after pics and plan on posting right before the baby comes to give me more time to finish things up! We have had the ground level painted, fixed the lawn so it's actually green (Nick has worked many hours on his grass!), dressed up the laundry room, painted Jake's room and our room. We are working on what will be the baby's room and the playroom/guest room as well as finishing up the backyard and organizing our garage. It feels more and more like our home everyday. Jim & Terri came up this last weekend and powered thru so many of our projects. It was awesome for Nick to have someone to help him other than his wife :)
- Jake is so much fun! I love, love, love being home with him and thank God everyday that I am so fortunate. He is full of personality and shows more and more of it all the time. Unfortunately, 'no' is a new favorite word... but we are working on 'yes' and other positives. He has his toddler 2 moments - sometimes several of them, and all day long - but overall he is a really happy, easy-going, good natured little boy. He is one chatty Cathy these days and seeing his language continue to develop as well as watching those wheels turn in his head as he learns new skills & tricks is really amazing. Kids really do re-introduce the world to you. We spend a lot of time on the slides at the parks, playing with trucks, trains, cars & airplanes, and most recently we went to a trampoline gym for toddler time - it was a blast! He jumped and ran for the full 90 minutes with a huge smile on his face. He is all boy no doubt about it. And, a sweet boy at that... he says 'lo lo' (love you) and leans in for a kiss every night and minds his manners by saying 'pea' (please) and 'di do' (thank you) all the time - makes me so proud!
- Baby boy is growing, growing, growing! In the last ultrasound (28 weeks) baby boy is at about 80% percentile and very active... with another large head. We make big boys with big heads. The technician gave us a 3D picture, but the little guy obviously wants his face to be a surprise on his birthday (see next post for photo). His hands are covering his face, but the shape of his head and his cheeks are full like his big brother. We are so excited to meet him and are very anxious for his arrival. We say our prayers everyday for a healthy and safe delivery. Just 10 weeks left. We can schedule the C-section in 3 more weeks and are hoping for an August 8th delivery.
- I am making friends!!!! With the advice of Julie Kafoury, I invited my neighbor, Shantel and her husband Tom over for Cinco de Mayo celebration when Stephanie, Zach and Mia were up for a visit. It was a hit if I don't say so myself! Shantel was kind enough to start inviting me to join her and some other moms to parks and playdates for the kids shortly after we met. She is just wonderful and I really enjoying spending time with her and her 2 girls. Julie suggested I invite her and her husband over for dinner, drinks, desert... whatever. So, just like asking someone out on a date, I got super nervous and awkward, but went out on a limb and did it. We had a blast. It's so wonderful to have a new friend that is also my neighbor. Shantel was kind enough to send me her home phone line should something happen prior to our family getting here with the baby's arrival. I can breathe.... I also met a friend at church, Claire. Claire and her husband Zack moved to Bothell from Boston a few years ago and actually lived just blocks from where my parents are now. We hit it off immediately and exchanged phone numbers. Since then, Claire has been kind enough to also introduce me to other girlfriends and we have gotten together regularly. Claire has 2 boys and is also a new stay at home mom, so we have had lots in common. It truly is mom-dating. I am pretty cautious about putting myself out there because I have encountered more of the 'crazies' than the normal girls. I am very thankful for the new and the not so new friends of mine here. That too makes it feel more and more like home.
Those are some of the updates in the Montgomery family. There are several more that I drafted in my mind for several other blog posts that obviously never saw the light of day, but hitting on the highlights here!
Friday, April 26, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
15 Weeks Left...
With only 15 weeks left until we meet this next little stud, I am getting more and more anxious about having 2 kids under 2 years of age. I know we will survive and the most difficult days will be a blip in time (or a blur rather), but I have NO IDEA how I am going to manage no family and very few friends less than 3 hours away (ie. Portland). Seriously. There are also things that I hadn't counted on struggling with the 2nd pregnancy. Things like:
• Join a moms group before the second one arrives. This will provide a chance to meet neighborhood moms and possibly make new friends. Maybe I'll even find other area moms with children the same age and I can set-up play dates. I am desperately trying to make new friends. And as Nick jokes I am the 'neighborhood stalker'. I am always peeking outside the windows to see who is out and about, socializing with who, and most importantly who has young children. I am the creep that now will friend you on Facebook or get your number for a play date if you seem 'normal'. Jake, Lyla and I go for walks daily (sometimes twice daily) to potentially run into someone I saw outside, or strike up conversation. Really doesn't feel that different from college when the girls and I would get all dolled up to 'study' at the library (aka. run into the crush of the week). :)
• The difficulty of carrying around one child/baby while pregnant with another. Given that he just truly started walking consistently 3 1/2 months ago, he is still carried around quite a bit as he learns to navigate safely.
• Changing diapers while dealing with morning sickness. Awful.
• Total exhaustion all the time. I don't know how moms cut caffeine out entirely with a toddler running around - it's my saving grace!
I know that after this baby is born I will basically be trapped at home all day, every day. Someone is always going to be sleeping, but I am going to try to have baby boy #2 sleeping on the go so Jake & I can get out and enjoy some fresh air. I also know I am going to be so tired, it's going to be hard to stay on top of it all and I know this will be a struggle for the perfectionist in me - but I have to let it go. Not so sure how I will get both kids in and out of the car, let alone do a big grocery shopping trip as the boys are likely going to take up the entire cart - but I am so blessed to have married an amazing man & partner that I know will help me get thru with with lots of laughs... and lots of wine.
Some advice I have read & received:
• Accept help whenever anyone offers. If anyone offers any help at all from making meals to babysitting to picking up a few things from the grocery store, take them up on it. This is hard for me to do, but I am committed to doing so! I really need it.
• Find some “me” time. This is a must for me I know it. I cannot be a good mother if I don’t take care of myself. I am looking into gym memberships vs. Stroller Strides so I can put the kids in the childcare, while I workout & shower ALONE in that 2 hour window of time. And, if I am having a bad day, I can skip the workout, grab a magazine and flip thru it while sitting in the locker room.
• Enjoy every small moment you can. It's going to go fast enough as it is, so do try to enjoy all the little moments.
• Join a moms group before the second one arrives. This will provide a chance to meet neighborhood moms and possibly make new friends. Maybe I'll even find other area moms with children the same age and I can set-up play dates. I am desperately trying to make new friends. And as Nick jokes I am the 'neighborhood stalker'. I am always peeking outside the windows to see who is out and about, socializing with who, and most importantly who has young children. I am the creep that now will friend you on Facebook or get your number for a play date if you seem 'normal'. Jake, Lyla and I go for walks daily (sometimes twice daily) to potentially run into someone I saw outside, or strike up conversation. Really doesn't feel that different from college when the girls and I would get all dolled up to 'study' at the library (aka. run into the crush of the week). :)
However, all this said, we count our blessings every single day that we are fortunate enough to have each other, 1 healthy child and another on the way. Just last week I was reminded of how beautiful each day of our life truly is. And, I know that once our boys are grown, we are going to long for these days all over again (....and hopefully in the coming weeks, all my stalking will pay off and I will have a new friend to write about :))
Thursday, April 11, 2013
William L. Colnon
April 11, 2013
'I know we are all feeling a little bit sad,That we've lost our Grandpa, our friend, and our dadTogether we have cried an ocean of tearsAs we feel so empty and hold many fears
But Grandpa would want us to know he's in a good placeAnd that he watching us all with a smile on his faceAs we have made him so proud, as proud as can beThat he has raised such a beautiful and special family
Thinking back now I really must sayI feel lucky and privileged to have known Grandpa to this dayFor in my life, you have played a special partThe memories I will treasure and keep close to your heart
For me, I am glad my little baby he got to meetAnd for all of us, be grateful, his life is now completeTo each one of us he has loved and caredAnd a family, be thankful for the good times we shared
Although he has gone we will always be togetherAnd his spirit will live on each one of us foreverWhen you look to the sky, look for the brightest starAs that will be Grandpa looking down on us from afar
And now I would like to thank the good Lord aboveFor blessing us with our Grandpa with his kindness and loveDear God, if it is not too much fussTake extra special care of our Grandpa as he is very dear to us
Grandpa if you are listening say a prayer for us every dayBe sure to protect us and guide us on our wayWe know when God called you, you had to goBut we want you to know Grandpa we miss you and love you so.'
For My Grandpa
But Grandpa would want us to know he's in a good placeAnd that he watching us all with a smile on his faceAs we have made him so proud, as proud as can beThat he has raised such a beautiful and special family
Thinking back now I really must sayI feel lucky and privileged to have known Grandpa to this dayFor in my life, you have played a special partThe memories I will treasure and keep close to your heart
For me, I am glad my little baby he got to meetAnd for all of us, be grateful, his life is now completeTo each one of us he has loved and caredAnd a family, be thankful for the good times we shared
Although he has gone we will always be togetherAnd his spirit will live on each one of us foreverWhen you look to the sky, look for the brightest starAs that will be Grandpa looking down on us from afar
And now I would like to thank the good Lord aboveFor blessing us with our Grandpa with his kindness and loveDear God, if it is not too much fussTake extra special care of our Grandpa as he is very dear to us
Grandpa if you are listening say a prayer for us every dayBe sure to protect us and guide us on our wayWe know when God called you, you had to goBut we want you to know Grandpa we miss you and love you so.'
- Ilona Blake
I miss you so much already, Grandpa. I am at peace knowing that you can hold Grandma's hand once again. I love you more than words.
Em
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