Minnesota TImberwolves game

pre-game Nacho smiles, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Jacob took Sammy to a Timberwolves game Friday night. I would have loved to go, too, but tip-off was at 7pm and that is just too late to have Freds out. So Jacob and Sammy took the $200 a piece tickets and gave the $150 tickets (one row back) to Nate and one of his friends. (One the perks of working for a Fortune 500 company!)

Sammy had a really good time. He and Jacob rode the light rail down to the Target Center (a highlight in itself), they got nachos and ice cream, watched the players warm-up, saw the pre-game show and made it through the first quarter. From what Sammy told me he had a blast. Next up, Twins season!

More pics from the outing up at Flickr, just follow the link under the picture.

Jackrobatics

This is what I've been calling the baby's movements lately. Jacob thinks it's embarrassingly bad. But it's so fitting because this baby is in constant motion. I don't think anyone really believes me. Constant. Motion. And he gets the hiccups all the time, too. It's cute and wonderful and amazing and miraculous, but it can be weird at times, too. Especially when I'm just sitting here minding my own business and a freakin' knee glides across my middle. "Hi! Baby in here!" Weeeeird.

When the OB was doing my belly check on Monday (29-week appointment) she had to keep moving the doppler from side to side to pick up his heartbeat. And she heard and commented on the hiccups, too. Sweet validation. The ultrasound tech also struggled with him holding still long enough for her even to snap a picture for measurements. What a turkey!

Y'all say a prayer for us that while he's not resting (or letting me rest) in the womb, he'll be a mellow, docile, sweet sleep-loving baby once he's born!

Almost forgot! The OB also said he's measuring to be closer to Freddie's birth weight (a hearty 9.2 lbs!!!) than Sammy's (a mere 6.2). She basicially told me to expect another 9-pounder. Yeehaw.

current reading

current reading, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Just in case anyone is interested in our progress. There is none. We have yet to solidify a name for Babycakes #3, although Jack might be the current front-runner.

And for what it's worth, I really like Aiden. :) I just don't know if it's the right combo with our last name. Of course, I reeeeally like Javier, but I feel like that's problematic with the last name, too, at least as a first name. Think about it - there would be, like, a gazillion dudes with the same first-last name combo.

Other names we've discussed:
Joey (but I'm not sold anymore, I keep thinking "baby kangaroo")
Tobias (Jacob called the baby this for a while and it's kind of grown on me - for a middle name, maybe)
Anthony (Tony Stark anyone? :D )
Wyatt
Dylan
Rhys/Reece
Presley
Jude

Who knew choosing a name could be so challenging?!

What do I do with this hot mess? Book overload!

What do I do with this? Book overload!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Suggestions, anyone? I straighten it, they destroy within seconds. But we love books. Help!

All About Me! poster by Sammy

All About Me! poster by Sammy, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy made this poster for a school assignment. Most of the other kids at his preschool left their posters to be hung up along the hall at school but Sammy loves his so much he brought it home. He was special person the week of Jan 11th.

The answers to his questions read:
Name: Sammy
Birthday: Nov 13
Fav Color: green
Fav Toy: remote control crane (although I'd argue this and say GeoTrax... but what does Mom know?)
Fav Food: strawberries and bananas (Sammy *loves* his fruit!)
Fav Animal: giraffe
My family: Mommy, Daddy, Freddie, Emma the dog and a baby brother on the way!
When I grow up I want to be: an airplane pilot

An early anniversary present.

etsy.com Anniversary Art, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

I found this on (customizable) print at vol25's store on etsy.com and bought it as an anniversary present for us. Great news is that J loves it as much as I do, and it looks great in our room. Score!

Sick Freds.

No pictures, please., originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

It's been a not-so-fun week at our house. Just for Freddie and me to a lesser degree. Sammy and Jacob seem to have escaped from the... unpleasantness.

Freddie's big boy bed!!!

Freddie's big boy bed!!!, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Last Saturday Jacob took down the crib in Freddie's room (because Freddie was hanging out of the bars and about to nearly destroy the thing before Baby #3 got a crack at it). And we finally set up a twin bed in his room.

He pretty much loves it, and has done so well with the transition! The first night I sat at the top of the stairs and walked him back to bed probably a dozen times between 7:30 and 10 pm, and he woke the entire house up at 6 am after sneaking out of bed and knocking things off the wall, but since then he's back to his normal sleep-loving self. Freddie can be super tricky and challenge me at nearly every turn, but this boy is a happy sleeper and for that I am eternally greatful (no way would I make it as his mama with him being a poor sleeper!).

Yay for Freddie being such a big boy! (And a tiny sniff for my baby growing up too quickly!) Now, we are just looking forward to that other big boy milestone -- potty training! (I doubt there will be misty eyes for mama with that one!)

Welcome, Michael!

Dom&Michael, originally uploaded by dancgbear4757.

My step-sister Dominique and her husband Moises welcomed their baby boy into the world last Friday, January 8th. Baby Michael weighed in just under 8lbs (!!!) and around 19" long, if I'm remembering correctly.

Congrats, guys! We are so happy for you and can't wait to meet your sweet baby boy!

A boy's lunch.

A boy's lunch., originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

We try to follow a "no toys on the table during mealtime" rule but sometimes a graham cracker is just too perfect a ramp to pass up.

Leave your child with me, she'll go home a Texas fan...

Kaia and Freddie rocking the Texas garb, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

I tried to indoctrinate Kaia while I was watching her this morning. I dug through Freddie's (Sammy's) outgrown clothes and dressed her for the occasion (National Championship game v. Alabama is tonight!). I even tried to get her and Freddie to "Hook 'em" but they both busted out with number ones. I'll take that! :) Aren't these two year olds so cute?

Texas Fight!!!

Happy 2010!

We took the boys and Jacob's parents to the Minnesota Children's Museum for their Sparkle-rama party on New Year's Eve. The kids had a blast and we very happy to be back at MCM after a brief respite since the weekly visits of the summer.


rockin' out on air guitars made at MCM


with Grandma and Papa, who were visiting us (from Texas!) for the week after Christmas


the 8pm ball drop - Sammy *loved* this part! You can't really tell by the pictures but there were hundreds of beach balls being thrown down and around the museum and a band was playing, too. I imagine it was a lot like New Year's at Times Square ;)

Merry Christmas!

Wow! Where did December go??? Here's a picture from Dec 22nd - Jacob and I took the boys to a (free!) gingerbread house building even at a local park rec center and afterward Santa stopped by. The boys spent much of the that night searching the sky for Rudolph's red nose and listening for Santa's sleigh bells as he returned to the North Pole to get ready for Christmas!

Here is Freddie diligently working on his gingerbread house.

It's a BOY!

Here he is!


Here is the ultrasound picture - from two weeks ago! True, it is a not so great picture-of-a-picture but I was tired of waiting to figure out our scanning software. We have many more 3D pictures of our sweet baby, and I'll hopefully post whenever we can scan.

He is perfect, healthy and 100 percent precious. From the u/s pictures he looks a lot like his big brother Sammy! (so super cute!! !:) Jacob and I are thrilled beyond belief with our third baby boy, due in early April. Due date was April 13th, but the ultrasound tech said he is measuring for a due date around April 4, 2010. We think we have big boys, no surprise there!

My guys at the Holidazzle Parade

My guys at the Holidazzle Parade, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Talk about great timing! We were already downtown at Orchestra Hall for the General Mills Hispanic Network's Holiday Party and on our way out we noticed we were right along the route of the Holidazzle Parade - hooray! Luckily it was a balmy 30 degrees, too!

Sammy in the snow

Sammy in the snow, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

This is our first genuine snow of the year, meaning multiple inches sticking around on the ground. He is so excited to be out playing in the snow again!

A quality snow...

Snoooooow, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

A few pictures of our part in the Midwest's recent snow/blizzard activity. The snowdrifts were very impressive. The cold was, too, but nevertheless the boys couldn't wait to get out in it. Jacob took them sledding Tuesday and Wednesday nights and they all returned pink-faced and freezing - it's pretty and fun but it's single digits out there!

A joke Sammy thought was hilarious...

Q: Why did the banana go to the doctor?

A: He wasn't peeling well!

Family Christmas Photos - Thanks, Sonja!

Many thanks to my generous and talented friend Sonja for volunteering to take pictures of our boys for our Christmas card. Here is an example of her work - a rare family photo. She did a great job, especially considering she had some major crankiness and an uncooperative child to work with.

Look for a Christmas card coming to a mailbox near you!

Just for fun, here's another of my failed attempts at a decent picture of these guys:

ha! nice goggles, Sammy....

Our Christmas tree and little elf.

decorating the tree, originally uploaded by sweetietooth.

Sammy did most of the tree decorating this year and did a very nice job. I think he was sad when we ran out of ornaments.