Goodness, where does the time go? I need to prioritize this blog a little more or no one will ever return! LOL!!

Tanner is really developing a personality! I see characteristics from both Tobin and me. He is smiley and laid back most of the time = Tobin. He is stubborn and grumpy when tired = me! He knows when he is scared of something..i.e. the yellow bathtub duck or the vacuum sweeper. Poor little guy cries a river of tears from both eyes and shakes! He has learned how to climb and will try to hike his leg on anything that he would like to scale! He climbed up and over Tobin, from the floor, only to get to the remote! He really wants to walk and tries to get up on one leg, but won't stand up unless he has something with which to steady himself. He will stand alone, not holding on to anything, for over 30 seconds. Then, he gracefully falls to the ground!

He sure is a curious lil' guy! He races to the dishwasher or the refrigerator as soon as either door opens. He will lie on the floor and look or reach under the doors. He has also developed a love for any kind of ball. He enjoys rough-housing with Daddy and they have a whole different style of playing than he does with me. In the picture above, Daddy is playing "What's in the Pickle Barrel?" As soon as he says that, Tanner rares backward and flips downward! Sheesh!

School is getting pretty hectic for me. You would think that after MAP testing, things would die down and it would be smooth sailing until the last day of school. Instead, the kids want to be entertained or they want to watch movies. They sure don't want to work. I, on the other hand, have a ton of paperwork stuff to do dealing with Career Ladder, entering online grades, and preparing for my sub next year. Kids are getting suspended or placed in ISS left and right, but grading their late work is a pain!
14 days of school left though and I am on the countdown.

I am starting to feel the pain with this pregnancy way earlier than with Tanner. I am showing a lot earlier and quite a bit more this time as well. Sleeping is becoming more uncomfortable, plus I am getting up more often in the night. Tobin and I can both feel her kicking and rolling around. I have had three ultrasounds and still have five to go!! They really want to keep track of things this time as we are seriously trying to avoid another NICU experience with baby #2. I will say though that one good thing about school getting out in two weeks is that my wardrobe will get a lot easier and more comfortable!

Well, Tanner turns one in less than a month. He will have a Baby Einstein party. I have no clue how our house will be big enough for the ones that I plan to invite!
I just cannot believe that almost one year ago, I thought I was wetting my pants only to find out that my water had broken and I would have my first and only son seven weeks early. What an emotional roller coaster that was and what a busy time in our lives as we drove back and forth from home to the hospital five times per day. Seeing him as a five-pounder and all hooked up to machines nearly broke my heart, but look at him now! God is great! Look at that big boy crashed out for his nap time. I really don't think you can tell he was ever a preemie!!!

Since I last posted....

My life has become CRAZY!!! So much has happened since I last posted...

1. My dad had open heart surgery on April 1st. He had a thoracic aneurysm that was 8 cm wide!! VERY SCARY!! Luckily, my prinicpal allowed the whole MAP schedule to be altered so that I could be with him. I spent the night in Joplin, with two of my sisters, so we could spend the evening with him prior to surgery. I shed lots of tears since he was very scared. There was no big, strong oldest-sister-thing going on whatsoever. Both of his parents had the same surgery and never left the hospital. My grandma died during surgery and my grandpa died as they took him off the ventilator. The surgery for dad went well, but lasted about 5.5 hours. He was in the cardiovascular ICU for several days. I went back to the hospital in Joplin to visit that Friday and he was doing much better. He has since gone home and is recovering slowly.

The picture on the right is my sister Tricia, introducing Tanner to her 4 month old, Baby Tristin!

2. Tanner has been sick with some kind of stomach virus that has him making more poop than a kid his size should be able to create. He ended up on a BRAT diet consisting of bananas, rice cereal, applesauce, and toast. He also had to be put on a medication for the horribly raw rash that developed and a product called Culturelle, which is an expensive probiotic for kids (that replaces the natural flora in his gut). I have to rinse out the wipes before I use them so it doesn't sting/hurt so badly. It's very sad. He is still very active. He's constantly standing or crawling, and desires to be mobile at most times. His personality is definitely developing and we're loving it!

3. MAP testing (state tests) was over on April 3rd for me, but a fellow friend and co-worker went into labor, and I was asked to administer the four days of MAP testing for her English classes. That finally ended yesterday, and barring anyone in the math department falling ill, I should be finished with MAP for another year!

4. My sister and her boys arrived last evening. Tobin, Tanner, and I were again a part of the welcoming committee. It was wonderful to see them again! The boys have grown so much and are both talking much more than they were over Christmas Break. Melody brought up Griffin's crib so we can use it for our little girl when she arrives.

5. I am officially past the halfway mark for this pregnancy! This past Thursday was 20 weeks. I am showing WAY more than I was at 20 weeks with Tanner. The "all-day sickness" as I like to call it, has greatly slowed, but not subsided completely. I think my energy levels have improved, but it is a little hard to tell with so much going on! I am currently planning her nursery within a tight budget. Still no definite name chosen yet. She is a energetic lil' thing, all 6 inches of her, as she kicks me frequently throughout the day and night.

Mel and the boys will be here for a week, so that will be non-stop fun! Tobin's brother and family are in town for Easter as well! This coming Tuesday is the next high-risk pregnancy Dr. visit, as well as the next OB appt. I'll try to do better at updating anyone that is keeping up with me and my family! HAPPY EASTER everyone!