It's a.....
I know everyone is probably wondering if we know the sex of the baby, and yes...as a matter of fact we do! Katie is getting her wish of having a little brother! Although I am a bit nervous about what to expect, I am sure it will be wonderful (I keep telling myself that!). Katie likes to talk to her little brother at night, especially when I am reading her bedtime stories. Sometimes she even provides him a synopsis of the story we are about to read, as well as reasons why she likes the book. I would like to secretly videotape her doing this one night but I have a feeling it wouldn't be as good. And I have to admit to spying around the boy section of Macy's and Babies R Us, just to make sure that there are cute boy clothes out there! And yes, I have bought a few things too.
We don't have names picked out at all! Although we know we want a "classic" name, Pat and I haven't agreed on any that we both like yet. I am fond of Nicholas. Pat likes Austin. I actually like Austin and would agree to it, except for a certain pre-occupation he has with a certain city, school and football team. I think my exact words were, "Why don't we just name the baby 'BEVO'?" and instead of a laugh I could see the wheels in his head spinning...(just kidding!). Anyway, we haven't gotten anywhere on that issue. Katie suggested we name him Patrick. "Not Pat, mommy, but Patrick." Touching though it was, we don't really want to do the whole Jr. thing. Maybe a middle name. We'll see.
Katie is all geared up for our upcoming trip to Disney World. We're leaving on Saturday and returning a week later. We have planned quite a few things but mostly we plan to take a lot of breaks and take it easy with a day at Daytona Beach thrown in , and a day relaxing at the resort pool. We were able to make reservations for a Breakfast with the Princesses, and I'm hoping she enjoys that. She doesn't know about the breakfast plans, but has already asked if she can wear her Sleeping Beauty Dress, tiara, and shoes to Disney so that the princesses can see her and tell her what a beautiful princess she is!
This photos is Katie in her Easter Dress. She chose it completely by herself, and it isn't at all surprising that it is a polka dot dress. She has always loved dots! We just finished painting her room pink last weekend, and her walls will be polka dotted as soon as mom (ie me) decides to order the big dot wall stickers that I found in a magazine. The furniture will be delivered on Wednesday, but we dont' think we will have her moved in until next month sometime.
Last week I was in Miami for the annual Responsible Care conference. I am not really fond of Miami, although I really haven't been many places other than the Hotel Intercontinental and a nearby shopping plaza. The conference itself seemed better than in years past, and I do enjoy seeing many colleagues from other companies.
It is past my bedtime and my eyelids are heavy so I better stop for now. Hope everyone has a great week!
Springtime
Well, it is finally Springtime. As usual, I haven't written in a while, so I have a lot to catch up on.
My pregnancy is moving along nice and smoothly. For those of you who remember, my pregnancy with Katie was anything but uneventful, and I had 2 months of bedrest to contend with in 2003. This time has been almost problem free. I had bleeding again at 8 weeks but the problem solved itself--like it was
supposed to last time. I am already at 18 weeks -- almost the halfway mark--and will have an ultrasound this week. Hopefully, "little one" will cooperate and let us know exactly who is going to join our family. Everyone keeps asking me if I have any inkling what it is. Yes, I do...a boy or a girl. My initial thoughts about wanting a girl have morphed into a state of "whatever we have is fine".
I barely remember February and March. Seriously--aside from going to work every day, I think I slept through 2 months straight. I'm glad that the 1st trimester fatigue is over--I seem to have a lot more energy just in the last couple weeks.
Katie is very excited about the prospect of a new sibling. She has, on occasion, insisted that she is having a brother. One night I was rocking her and I told her that she COULD have a sister--that we don't get to choose--and all of that. She thought for a minute and said, "Well, it's ok if it is a girl. Then the
next baby can be a boy and the
next baby can be a boy". Hopefully she isn't going to hold her breath. I'm feeling kind of old already...I don't think baby 3 & 4 will be a reality for us!
Katie has also told me that she "isn't going to want me to play with the baby" and makes comments that "this baby will be daddy's baby to take care of". We could be in for some trouble..
The Durango trip was nice. Katie loved skiing. I think she was on skis only an hour a day for 3 days. One of the days, her little daily report card said, "Best in class". We didn't check to see if that was written on every child's report, preferring to think that she is a skiing natural. (Taking after her dad, of course--not me!)
We've finally started getting some of our housework done in preparation for the family addition. We have moved our office to our (former) formal living room, and we are preparing to get started on Katie's big-girl room. We have been informed that it will be pink, with polka-dots. I was kind of wondering how I would do polka dots but we found an ad for some big dot "wall stickers" that supposedly we can get at Lowes, so I have high hopes that those will work out better than me trying to stencil dots on a wall. Last time I started a painting project, Katie was 1, and I set out to paint a little table & chair set for her. The table and 2 chairs were completed about 6 months later. The other two chairs are still in the garage. They are primed and ready to go, so if anyone wants a weekend project, just let me know ;). Needless to say, I'm not exactly a do-it-yourselfer.
Our good friends Charles & Donna have decided to build a house in Sugar Land and began the process of moving this weekend. It is so sad for all of us, as it was so much fun to have our close friends living in our subdivision. Donna and I had a garage sale last weekend and despite the tornado warnings and hail, as well as annoying people from our homeowners association who were taking down our signs (which they had no right to do), we managed to make quite a bit of money and sold a lot of stuff, too! On the bright side, some other friends, Robb & Janelle, have decided to buy Charles' & Donna's house, so we will still have friends in the neighborhood.
Mom & Dad came down to visit us last week, and while it was short, it was lots of fun. I took a couple days off work and Mom & I got to go to Old Town Spring and get a little shopping done. Katie loved playing with Grandma and Grandpa, and insisted on Grandma helping her with everything, and I have to admit that I enjoyed the break. "Grandma needs to help you? Oh darn...." On Good Friday, Pat, Katie & I went to San Antonio to spend Easter with his family, which was also lots of fun. Normally in Houston, Easter is a warm holiday with lots of outdoor activity. This year, however, was the exception. On Saturday it rained all day and the thermometer on my car read 37 most of the day. Today was nicer...but Wednesday and Thursday it should be 87. Winter coats one day...shorts the next!
Michelle should have her baby next week--scheduled for the 19th. I can't wait to meet my newest niece. I do have quite a nice collection. It's kind of fun to go shopping and "need" to buy for every little girl size from 9 months to 5 years!
Pat and I are taking Katie to Orlando for Vacation next month. We just told her last night. She understands that we are going to Disney World but really doesn't know what exactly it means. She had a great time at the Rodeo Carnival in March so I think she's going to have a great time.
Well, that's all I can think of for now. Hope everyone is doing well. Drop me a line when you can! (
karen@e-scheel.com).
So much for that idea
So much for my whole "boring year" plan. I think I must have jinxed myself. Only 5 days after writing that last post I found out (drum roll please) that I am pregnant! I know that sounds like really exciting news but seeing as we weren't exactly planning this big event, it has taken a teensy bit longer than usual to come to terms with the idea. You see, I can do math, and there is no possible way I could be pregnant. And so when I finally HAD to test, I bought a CVS brand pregnancy test. It was $12 for 2 tests. The cheapest available, because, you know, I wasn't going to spend money to get a negative reading. If I had the slightest inkling that a little digital readout would say "pregnant" I would have splurged and got the EPT. So there I am, sitting in the bathroom, looking at this little stick and saying out loud "YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME." I hadn't even told Pat that I was taking the test, so then I had to figure out how to let him in on the good news. I figured that since I just had the shock of my life, I would go ahead and let him have one too. So I slipped on the cap, cleaned it up, and took the little tester up to him. He was calmly sitting at his computer, doing something financial, I think. I just said, "Hey, what'cha doin?" And then "I have something to show you". So after the shock wore off, he said he needed a drink, which was COMPLETELY unfair, because I had wanted one too. But none of that for me. No, it is 7 more months of Welches Sparkling Grape Juice. A fine substitute for Pinot Grigio, don't you think?
Lucky for me, I have had nearly no nausea. I sometimes feel a little funny in the morning if I don't eat right away and I let it go too long this morning, but even then, I didn't get sick. A couple crackers and I am good to go. I have been so hungry. And a little on the tired side. Katie is going to start to think that it is normal for me to fall asleep with her every time she has to lay down for a nap, or go to bed at night. Pat usually wakes me after 30-45 minutes and I let him know if I want to get up or go back to sleep.
Anyway, now that we are used to the idea of a new family member, we are pretty excited. The due date is September 9th. We told Katie last week. She is VERY excited and says that the baby "Needs to be a boy. Because we have 2 girls in our house but only 1 boy". I guess it is important for universal peace that we have gender even-ness in our household? Secretly (or not-so-secretly, since I am posting this on a blog) I hope it is a girl. But as I have always said, we don't get to choose so I guess that part really doesn't matter.
I did fulfill the part of my resolution where I said I wouldn't go anywhere. I haven't traveled since the Holidays and it has been very nice, although I have to admit I've been kind of lazy. I probably get more done around the house when I'm stressed and have no time, because it is January 29 and my Nativity set is still up. The tree is down, but there are decorations everywhere. I keep saying, "maybe tomorrow" but it doesn't happen.
Pat started school this month and seems to like it so far. He has been studying a lot and I haven't heard much complaining so I'm taking that as a good sign. He also started working last week--doing contract work for a company some friends started up years ago. It seems like a good match because they needed someone with Pat's experience to work part-time, and Pat wanted to only work Part-time while in school. Finding part time work as an Engineer is difficult, so I am hoping this works out. Plans to move to Austin are on hold for the time being--I need to keep my job for the medical insurance for our family, and the FMLA time off for me when the baby comes. And long term, I think we may still move there, but it won't likely be this year.
I won't get to ski in Durango this weekend. Any of you who know me well can guess that this is like a dream come true. I can sit and scrapbook and read novels all weekend. Pat will be skiing, of course, and we already had Katie signed up for her first lessons, and she can't wait to go, so we'll let her enjoy that.
Maybe boring isn't so great after all. A baby adventure! What fun
My Resolutions
I want 2007 to be a boring year. Yes, boring. I am hoping to just go to work every day, enjoy family time on the evenings and weekends, and keep travel to a bare minimum. Yes, that includes trips to Austin and San Antonio. Anyone who spends time with our family knows that we are never, ever home., especially on the weekends. But not in 2007. There will be no family illnesses that cause bedrest or frequent trips to the doctor (Well, I hope that for everyone!). No one will lose their job due to crappy bosses who make promises they can't keep. No home improvments with companies demanding more money than contracted. None of that. Just plain old boring life. I might get hooked on a TV show or something. Maybe our 2 years of filing will get completed. Maybe Katie and I will enjoy our love for crafts and make a bunch of stuff to give at Christmas next year (ok, maybe I'm going overboard). 2006
tired me out. I want to have energy. Lose weight--sure, Get more exercise--sure, but most of all I just want to spend time with Pat & Katie.
In the past, I have had the attitude that we should do everything. If invited to do something fun or go somewhere new, I always wanted to do it. After all, you only live once...and all that. However, I guess I have come to realize that it comes with the price of never having time to settle down and enjoy our home and each other. We leave on Friday nights...come home on Sunday afternoon, and spend the rest of the day catching up on laundry, running to get groceries, paying bills, and getting ready for the week ahead. It will be nice to spread that out over 2 days instead of doing it all in 5 hours.
I said it in my Christmas letter--we are never, ever bored. But maybe it will be good to be bored. Especially if bored means what we did this past Sunday. The weather was incredible - 60 degrees and sunny. We let Katie ride her tricycle around the block. She shouted "ACORN ALERT" whenever we came across acorns on the sidewalk (which was approximately every 6-10 feet). Pat and I dutifully picked them up for her and later lined them up on the kitchen windowsill. We played basketball and "Monkey in the Middle. We made homemade pizza and Pat cooked it on the grill. Katie & I drew with chalk on the driveway. I tried to teach her how to hopscotch. More practice is needed ;). This stuff, I realize, is not boring. It is home. It is life. We enjoyed every minute. Someday I'll post the photos on my Snapfish album so you can see what fun we had!
So that is my New Year's Resolution. To stay home and be bored.
Did I tell you we are headed for Durango, Colorado in a few weeks? :)
I know everyone is probably wondering if we know the sex of the baby, and yes...as a matter of fact we do! Katie is getting her wish of having a little brother! Although I am a bit nervous about what to expect, I am sure it will be wonderful (I keep telling myself that!). Katie likes to talk to her little brother at night, especially when I am reading her bedtime stories. Sometimes she even provides him a synopsis of the story we are about to read, as well as reasons why she likes the book. I would like to secretly videotape her doing this one night but I have a feeling it wouldn't be as good. And I have to admit to spying around the boy section of Macy's and Babies R Us, just to make sure that there are cute boy clothes out there! And yes, I have bought a few things too. 
