Seven Quick Takes: Some long weeks...

1.  It's been a long two weeks.  The kids have been really "off."  Not sure if it's the changing weather or what, but we have been quite a mess over here!  I think the main issue is that I'm backing up the computer, so it has to be on 24 hours a day for 16 days (2 days left!), so the kids are sneaking on the computer to watch Netflix and Nick Jr shows at all hours and it has been a constant battle that I have pretty much given up on.  Normally, our computer is turned off until schoolwork is done.  I just have not been consistent enough with harsh enough punishments, I guess.  Schoolwork is not getting done until late afternoon each day (sometimes finishing while at the ballet studio), and everyone is so irritable with too much screen time!

SJ not happy to have to do Kindergarten in the car while the girls were in ballet!

 

2. BOY OR GIRL?  Monday is my big ultrasound and I think that has also got me feeling a bit emotional and anxious.  Not only does it seem like a huge deal to actually know the identity of this little one, but I also worry about the ultrasound itself...will everything be okay?  And on top of that, being halfway through my pregnancy makes me that much closer to the dreaded c-section.

Yesterday I got a call that my doctor has to go to a funeral on Monday morning, so I'll have to see his nurse practitioner.  I was so upset I was starting to panic and was breathing really fast.  This shouldn't be a big deal; I don't have any big complications at the moment, but it made me feel helpless that I can't talk to my doctor for another month or longer.  And I think that's the gist of it...I feel so helpless in pregnancy and delivery, so every little change or complication just exaggerates it.  It pretty much ruined my day and I spent the evening crying on and off.  Look out for the emotional pregnant woman!

3. Yummy meals!  I guess my appetite has come in full-force this 2nd trimester, too.  I have done a lot of home cooking this past week with some meals that most members of the family have enjoyed!  I've been prepping or even making dinner at lunchtime so that things are ready to eat after ballet or soccer or whatever is going on in the evenings.  I've made most of these before, except the first two.  These have been the big hits (not healthy meals at all, but at least it's not fast food!)...
Copycat Chick-fil-a Nuggets
Pioneer Woman's Perfect French Fries
Cream Cheese Crockpot Chicken
White Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken Parmesan Bake

 4.  Tommy is nearly potty-trained!  Our big three year-old has been doing great the past couple weeks, thanks to SKITTLES!  One for #1 and five for #2 and he is hardly having any accidents and even staying dry at night.  This is a huge feat that didn't seem like it would happen anytime soon.  It'll be so nice to have a break from diapers and then only one in diapers once the baby arrives.  I think that will be a first!  This will be our biggest spacing at almost 3 1/2 years apart, so I'm hoping that getting Thomas out of diapers and working on his behavior issues now will help us to have an easier transition when the little one arrives.  I still need to write up his birthday post.  Two more days until this computer thing is hopefully solved for awhile and I can delete old photos and download the new ones, especially his birthday and the Disney photos!

5.  Gig 'Em Aggies!  Tomorrow is the Texas A&M/Auburn Game and we're planning to go up to College Station for some game day fun!  St. Mary's Catholic Center (where we met) is hosting a tailgate party, and we're hoping to watch the March-In of the Corps of Cadets, walk around campus a bit, and visit St. Mary's.  I've been wanting to go up on a game weekend for several years (the last game we attended was 5 yrs ago).  It's a bit out-of-the-way for our Houston trip this weekend, but hopefully it'll be a fun family day, with a possible quick stop to say hello to the Godparents on the farm, before heading into Houston for some weekend time with family.  I'm so happy that Steven will be driving on this road trip.  The past few I've driven alone and it's not easy!  We're hoping to get back in time for ballet on Monday evening; we'll see how it all goes.

6.  Busy bees.  The photo above is from the first St. Francis Nature Club of the new school year last week.  It was hot and bugs were attacking us, but it was a much-needed time out of the house!  I'm grateful that another mom has taken over the nature club this year, which gives me one less thing to worry about, since I'm heading up the co-op.  The girls have ballet three nights a week, and in another week they will start Saturday practices for The Nutcracker, Steven Joseph usually has soccer one or two days a week, the three youngest all attend the Atrium on Friday afternoons (and MC sometimes helps), and the busy season of 4-H has begun.  The girls will be doing the 4-H Food Challenge next month and are having weekly practices for that.  I also just got them registered for their homemaking entries for the County Livestock Show in January.  I hope I can figure out how to slow our days down a little more, so that all these activities don't overwhelm me.  I'm already starting to feel a bit crampy here and there, so I know I need to turn things down a notch!

7.  I had a very early morning today.  I woke at 4:30am and couldn't get back to sleep, so I decided to go to Walmart at 6:00am.  Blair the Night Owl is not usually a morning shopper, but it was great to get that done this morning so we had a few food items in the house and some much-needed laundry detergent.  Our road trip will begin early tomorrow morning, so I'd better get some rest.  This post has taken me all day to write!  One day I'll get better at blogging again.

Hope you all have a lovely fall weekend!