Garbage Man's Ball Take Five

Last Saturday night, we went to the annual holiday get together given by major accounts at Casella Waste, for the fifth year.  Otherwise known as The Garbage Man's Ball.

First off, the fact that Todd and I have done anything for five years in a row is a bit mind blowing.  Sometimes it seems like we just met and sometimes it's like we've known each other forever.

I enjoy this party.  The place is nice, the food is good and we usually spend the evening just chatting, no kid talk anywhere!  In the past, I've stressed out about what to wear, so I prepared two months in advance.  Except the outfit just fits now...it's not going to take me through the next three plays!  (I am HUGE.  I mean my STOMACH IS BIG.  People have started holding doors open for me and offering to carry stuff...that didn't happen until my 7 month last time.  And it's a big pregnancy belly, not jiggling layers of fat.  It's pretty crazy.)

Bethany and Brianna were nice enough for the third year in a row to babysit.  I tried to have the house in order for them and put the kids in their rooms for rest time so I could get things done.

And my little wild princess, who almost never takes a nap and never sleeps anymore but her bed, did this.

(This is why I love my camera lens.)

See her gripping her Little Mermaid and Flounder bath toys. She was OBSESSED with them for a week, carrying them CONSTANTLY. I hoped this didn't mean she wouldn't sleep at all for Bethany, but I knew Bethany can handle whatever she dishes out!

I was actually ready on time, complete with new shoes with fancy jewels and feathers.  Note:  even if they are flats, new shoes while pregnant are a BAD idea.  My feet were killing me all night.

Handsome Daddy posing with his princess before we left (she is wearing the hair cut apron used on Adam earlier in the day, which she decided made a fine cape.  Erin was nice enough to leave it for her...)

We spent most of the night talking to the Trichillos.  Joe works on compactors for Todd and rents space in the Dewitt yard.  They've known each other a long time.  I have gotten to know his wife Sylvia pretty good the last few years.  (This was after an awkward conversation with a woman who told me her infertility woes when she found out I was pregnant, which I was fine with, but once she realized what were discussing at length, she seemed uncomfortable.  I tried to tell her I knew how she felt...I struggled for a good ten years...but it's hard to back-up when you're pregnant with your third kid.)
Anyhow, we were sitting on stools that killed my back.  It was the first night that the awkwardness of my body was really killing me.

But the food did not disappoint.  They bring it around on trays (so you're forced to be polite and take one I guess ).  Shrimp and grilled lobster were the best.  Everyone talks about the food, so I don't feel so bad that I love it so much.  My old man husband was drinking Vodka and Tonics with the Trichillos, happy to have a pregnant wife and DD.

I got tired, really tired.  But when the large couch was free, I ran over and sat in it and Sylvia joined me.  Suddenly, I wasn't so ready to go home!  The party ended  a bit earlier than in the past.  Everyone seemed tired or sick.  We left at 10:20, one of the last to go.

Bethany and Brianna were great babysitters.  Beth said she didn't have to do much...Bri even sung Adam to sleep!  (May I note that he is in love with her?  From the minutes she walked in the door, he was stuck to her!)  Abbey didn't go to bed right away and hung out for a while, but was asleep by 9:30pm.  They even did a craft together.  I'm excited because I know in a couple of years I will have the BEST babysitter...almost as good as her Mom, whom I used to call the baby whisperer, but am now calling the Abbey whisperer, because Abbey loves her.  Well, the jewelry she lets her wear helps :)  When Bethany is there, I don't worry AT ALL because I know that nothing Abbey throws at her will intimidate.  And that's a tall order!

Adam's Report Card

I met with Miss Elizabeth and Mrs. Sugar, the principal, for almost an hour yesterday to talk about Adam.

It was a far cry from our first meeting, a week into school, where the teacher seemed to think Adam was some type of behavior problem.  She told me since then, she's gotten to know him and once she understood that it was a language barrier, she could see what a happy and sweet kid he is.  Sometimes when the kids don't behave, she says to them "You are making me sad right now".  She said that to Adam's table last week and he tried to comfort her.  Miss Elizabeth says most kids his age are not that in tune with emotions nor have that kind of empathy.  I told her I can't even shed half a tear, because he gets so worried.

On his academics, he excels.  She was impressed when he tested him on the alphabet, he would give her a word that starts with a letter instead of just the letter.  Usually an animal.  Adam really LOVES animals.  She is impressed with his knowledge of how letters make sounds and words.

Processing new directions is hard for me, but we knew that.  Mrs. Sugar talked about how she did an art lesson and he needed help figuring out the steps until the numbers came out and he did it on his own and put them all in the right order.  When Adam has confidence in something, he flies along.

He has finally started doing his projects alone, without step by step from the class aid, Mrs. Pelow.  I felt so proud looking at his projects!

We all agree how far he has come and feel once his language catches up, his academics will be above average.

I found out he can start a zipper and do big buttons on his own.  He likes me to do it for him.  I informed him I knew better when I got home!

Adam loves school and he is trying so hard.  Miss Elizabeth says he is pretty social now and the a lot of the kids like him.  It's time for Mom to stop staying during play time, I know...I need to cut the cord!

I am very proud of him and seeing how far he has come, the fact that he and Abbey need help with language doesn't worry me like it did...keeping me up nights for much of the fall.  It's just a hurdle they have to jump, it doesn't have to define the rest of their lives.

Tuesday Morning

My left hand hurts. My wrist is killing me and half seems swollen. Not sure why.

Finally got my car back...I missed it.

Sleeping is becoming physically more difficult. My stomach is really out. She's a foot long and really starting to move a lot. Sometimes it seems she's shoving my diaphragm. I want a massage.

Teacher conference this morning. For pre-school. To go over his report card. Things have changed.

Tried Siri finally. She is kind of useful.

October 2012: Adam's Fourth Birthday Party

The Saturday before Adam's birthday, we held a party at the Kidz Club in Phoenix.  We even invited his class, though only two kids came.  I guess it's not that uncommon....I wasn't really surprised as Adam's party was the fourth Saturday IN A ROW there was a class party!  And it was Halloween weekend.  Lots of our friends and family came and the kids had a blast.  Just look at Abbey...this place was MADE for her!  Look at her dancing....and she couldn't get enough bubbles.

Uncle Chuckie and Aunt Missie.  The one problem with this place was the food situation.  We couldn't bring our own and we didn't order their pizza, which I guess we should have.

Potters/Walkers.

Adam playing with Jack.  He really, really likes it there.

See how much fun he is having with this playhouse?  Tammy took most of the photos, though I took these two.  I'm not sure about the rest...I'm getting old!

More of wild Miss Abbey who climbed on EVERYTHING.

Uncle Bobby and Daddy playing some air hockey.

Quinten and Adam cooking in the kitchen.  Love it.

The wonder on Abbey's face when she's excited....

Cake time!

Adam LOVED his Yoda/Darth Vadar cake.

Candle Daddy picked out.C

He just was dying to touch it.

Blowing out the candles...he's FOUR!

Abbey and her typical enthusisiam for cake and ice cream.

Daddy and the birthday boy...don't you love his Yoda birthday boy ribbon?

Daddy and his kids.

The kids all had a blast.  We missed the bounce n'around because it was closer and we could bring our own food, but I think that was just the adults....because the kids seemed to really like it.  It was a lot of fun and I was glad to see Adam really enjoying his birthday.

Thursday Update

Finally feeling fairly recovered from the plague and after a week of a lot of discipline, Abbey is back on track.  Not perfect of course, but she's doing a lot better.   It's funny it only took a few days of really clamping down for her to get the message.  She's way smarter than I sometimes give her credit for.

The uncomfortable part of pregnancy has kicked in, including the numbing and tingling of my hands.  As I type this, I can't feel the middle finger of my right hand.  Baby is moving a lot.  Last night, Abbey was lying on my lap, leaning on my stomach and baby starting kicking her.  It was pretty cute...a sign of her actually personality.  She was NOT thrilled that Abbey was leaning on her space :)

It's cold out.  Too cold to take the kids places, which is fine because my car is in the shop.  You know, to fix the hood and bumper that some jerk rammed into while it was parked in front of the school.  Still irritates me.  Haven't seen that truck since.  And I look.  It's like throwing money out the window which really, really ticks me off.

Been trying to do my winter hibernation cleaning/organizing, but it's been hard with the plague.  I got a few things done, like cleaning and sorting the knife and utensil drawers.  It's harder and harder to prune household stuff because that's an area I rarely add to.  It's the kid stuff taking over this house!  I'm trying to sort through clothes upstairs but it's VERY slow going.  There is no real "nap time" around here anymore.  I make them go in their rooms, but I have to leave their doors open so they at least rest.  But my time for big projects is limited.

Which leads to my most exciting news....I am getting a cabinet and counter top on the empty side of my kitchen!  Nothing fancy as we don't want to dump more money into the house... but I need it!  When I thought of three kids and no more counter space, I thought I'd go nuts!  I can get rid of the cabinet sitting right in the middle of everything with the microwave and have storage and counter space!!!!  This is VERY VERY exciting for me!  Kevin came yesterday and measured.

Garbage Man's Ball this Saturday....

Abbey-Sourus

We have entered a rough period with Miss Abigail.  She is digging her feet in, asserting her stubborn nature at a new level and overall yelling a lot.  So I've realized I have to dig in deeper.  The if you don't stop screaming you are going in your crib until you do method has commenced.  An hour and 15 minutes Thursday (as a I ran a fever) and only 20 minutes yesterday evening as she then fell asleep.  She gets so mad, throwing everything out, including her sheets.  The worst part of this stage is that it's hard for everyone to focus on all the wonderful things about her when she acts like that.  Her loving nature, her sense of humor and fun side.  I let it get to far, because I know some of it is fueled by her frustration about not talking as well as she'd like to.

I do know it's my job to direct her right so that she can use all that for good, not evil.  Abbey has the tenacity to be anything she wants.  Seriously.  And I'm glad to say I don't thinks she'll ever be a follower or sleep with some guy to get him to like her.  That part I like.

I told her last night that I love her not in spite of her flaws but because of her flaws.  I don't want her to eve think I only love the easy side.  That's not true unconditional love.

No Rest for the Sick

Yesterday we had a follow-up sonogram from little Miss as they had been unable to see the details of her heart, face and diaphram the first time.  She's pretty stinking cute, even in an ultrasound.  The doctor told me everything looked perfect. Thought it's no guarantee, it felt like such a relief.

And as for the plague of which I seem to be slowly dying of?  Which has made it hard for me to get through each day and get anything done?  Too late for the flu shot, it's not that uncommon as I am immuno-compromised from being pregnant and that I can take Tylenol (which I do) Sudafed (Um, isn't there a stimulant in that????) and Robitussin (which has a depressant!).  I never take much of anything when I'm pregnant and I don't like the idea of adding those things, but I am thinking of trying the cough syrup since my cough has kept me from really sleeping in a month.  His best advice?  Try and get some rest.  Sigh,  Would love to, accept the aforementioned cough, the Abbey who likes to yell at night and the Adam, who now likes to get up through the night and turn on his light.

This is how it goes:

Adam, does something hurt?  No.

Do you feel sick?  No.

Is something bothering you?  Are you scared? No.

Do you need something?  Water.

He is rebelling, Adam style.  He wakes up, gets ideas and wants to be awake.  The third time last night, at 4:30, I took his light bulb.  He needs his sleep.  He is sleeping in now.  I'm not surprised since the first time I caught him was at 1:30.

Maybe I'll sleep again in 2031, when this last kid graduates from school.

Thanksgiving 2012

This past Thanksgiving, I took things up a level.  I've been cooking  turkey (sometimes with Todd's help) the last four years, but kept things really simple.  Had one or two guests.  This year, I had three...Bobby, Holly and Kathy.  And I made more dishes and actually homemade my first pie...pumpkin....which turned out pretty good.  I was running back and forth between the oven downstairs and up.  Todd let Bobby leave work early and he helped keep on eye on the kids....and Todd came home and made the potatoes.  He also did a lot of dishes that day.

Of course I had to sneak outside and try and get a portrait of my adorable kids all dressed up.  Abbey picked this dress out at Target.  She LOVES it.  It was chilly out so I didn't torture them too long...I didn't really get the "perfect" shot.  But I liked the photos anyhow.  I kept saying hug Abbey and Adam tried but the sun was killing him.  Doesn't he look so handsome in that outfit?

Love this photo of Adam and Uncle Bobby.  Adam has fun all the time, but he's not up and down emotionally, so it's rare to catch such a look!

Look how much fun they had :)  They were pretty good that day.  Weren't too interested in the food, but that's not really surprising!  I felt like a Mom on a holiday for the first time with all the cooking and hosting.  All I needed was a flower apron and I'd be the consumate Italian Mama,

Turkey turned out well, if I do say so myself.  I have no interest in cutting it, but Todd has a manly electric knife he whips out for these occasions.

And here's Abbey, past nap time as we get ready to eat, wanting her juice.  And NOT happy she was waiting.  That girl and her looks!  It was a nice day, but I was TOTALLY exhausted.

Adam's 4th Birthday at School

 Adam's actual birthday was on a school day.  The kids get a crown and Moms bring in a special snack.  I brought in Hershey bars because there had been FOUR other birthdays in October and the kids had gotten tons of cupcakes, so I asked the mom of the student who is severely allergic to peanuts something he could eat and she told me Hershey bars.  The kids were into it, for sure!  Adam enjoyed it being his birthday... and helped me hand the snack out.

Doesn't he look like such a BIG BOY??  Four was a BIG year for our son.

October 2012: Adam's Open House

Way back in October, the week before Adam's birthday, Adam had his very first Open House.  It was a school harvest dinner and the pre-schoolers were the entertainment.  We didn't go to the dinner (it was sold out anyhow!), but brought Adam over for his performance.  Can you see his curly hair up there?  Miss Elizabeth is handing him his pumpkin for one of the songs.  The only shot I got below of him looking at me.  It was our first time watching Adam perform.  He stayed in place, but struggled a bit with focus (which was why his Christmas performance was so amazing).  I was proud of how hard he worked on the songs.

There he is waiting for his other prop.  They did several songs!  My kid...the only curly in the bunch.

Afterwards, the three of us walked over to his school and Adam showed his Daddy his hook, chair and mailbox.  He was pretty excited.  It was a big night for all of us...our first kid's first Open House!

Adam's Christmas Pageant

On December 18, Adam was in his class Christmas pageant.  Adam was the lamb.  His line was "L is for lamb".  Todd and I were so excited to see him.  Above, he is walking in.  A bit reluctant, truth be told, and Mrs. Pelow, the TA, held his hand to give him some courage.  Poor kid was also really sick that week, but he was a trooper.  Isn't he cute?  Below, he's walking by us, his lamb on his head.  He colored it black and when the kids asked him why he sang them baa baa black sheep. They looked confused.  Apparently only old moms like me teach their kids the old nursery rhymes!

Headed to the stage!

He did so good!!  He switched all his props and did his line.  He said it twice because he said it a bit too early, but it was so cute.  He did the hand motions in all the songs and stayed focused.  We were so proud!  Santa came after, but he told us he wanted to go home.  He wasn't feeling good...I know because he didn't even want to wait for cake!  I was so proud, I couldn't stop grinning.  Adam Charles Butler is growing up.

And here's an extra photo from the Christmas party I took (which was the following morning)...  He is watching Santa with rapt attention.  The school did a good job getting him involved with Christmas...it's all he talked about for a month.

It's a Girl

Baby Butler #3 is  a girl.

I knew it.  I mean, I really knew it.  I guessed (wrong) with both the other kids.  But I had a strong feeling.  I had to go into the ultrasound alone as we couldn't get a babysitter.  Todd sat outside in the car with our kids.  She was all curled up in a ball.  First time ever I had an ultrasound where my child wasn't going wild.  She didn't want to wake up and I have to go back in two weeks as they didn't get a complete look at her heart.

I am little intimidated by the thought of raising two girls.  I had pictured a house full of boys.  But this feels right.  Abbey is very social and I think having a sister buddy will be nice once she gets used to it.

And both Todd and I agree, we are done.  Of course, you can't always a hundred percent dictate the future, but three kids is enough for us!  And I found a comfort I wasn't looking for or expecting in knowing how my family (God willing) is going to look.  My husband, our son and our two daughters.  The Todd and Chrissa Butler family.  I can picture the next 20 years (not that it'll go how I picture ha).  I know that our last daughter (God willing again!) will graduate from high school in 2031 (YIKES!).

Once we figure out the house thing, it will feel amazing to know we are home.  In our family of five's home.  And that will be where our family grows up and grows together.  I have amazing memories here, but since the plan is to leave, I'm always kind of waiting to see what happens.

I wonder what she will look like?  Adam and Abbey look so similar....I can't imagine the chances that the third kid will look the same!!!

I have the family I dreamed of.