Merry Christmas from the Strautmans!

The Unscheduled Bath

I have a little story to share about how fun it is to be a mom. This happened several weeks ago, when Levi was about a month old or so.

I was sitting on the couch, feeding the little guy, when he started scrunching up his lil body and making that face. Oh yeah, you know the one. So I hear that he's successful in getting out a poop, and feel the back of his pajamas to make sure nothing felt out of place. We had already had one poopsplosion so I was cautious. Everything seemed to be fine and dandy, so we finished our feeding, then went to his room to get him dressed and ready for the day.

I start pulling his pajamas up (it was one of those cute lil gowns that make middle-of-the-night diaper changes a breeze) and suddenly realize my hand feels wet. Yep, it was another poopsplosion. Fabulous. And by pulling up his pajamas, I just smeared it up his back. Even better.

'That's okay, this one is wipeable, I can take care of this.' I think to myself. After about nine or ten wipes, I've finally got the kid squeaky clean, and start wrapping up the messy diaper and all of the wipes. In my haste, I forgot the most important part of any diaper change involving a little boy. That's right, the baby washcloth covering his boy parts. Yeah, soon as I got him cleaned, he promptly peed. All over his face, stomach, the changing pad, the dresser, my hand, pretty much everything.

Yeah, forget it kid, you're getting a bath now.

So we had a nice little morning bath. Once Levi was all clean I wrapped him up all nice and snug in his hooded towel and laid him down in his crib. I turn around and start stripping down the pad from his changing pad and wiping down the dresser. As I do, I suddenly hear what sounds like....rain. Rain hitting plastic.

I turn back around and sure enough, the kid had kicked free of his towel that had been wrapped around him and peed. Again. At least this time he was aiming down and missed his face. Instead he got the crib mattress, the side of the crib, and the carpet. Fabulous. Have I mentioned how much fun little boys are??

Luckily, that was our only unscheduled bath (so far). Keep your fingers crossed that it's a long time before we need any more!

The many faces of Levi

Blessings

I'm in bed, trying to fall asleep after Levi's 2:30am feeding (have I mentioned just how very early 2:30 is??). Chris is on my right, breathing heavily but not quite snoring, and Levi is in his cosleeper to my left, doing a little baby snore. I love listening to my blessings! ♥

Smiles for Mommy

Daddy's not the only one that can make Levi smile! :)

Happy Halloween!

Daddy and me

Levi is just starting to learn how to smile, and we have such a fun time trying to coax smiles out of him. Levi started being a little fussy in his car seat during Sunday School at church this morning, so Chris took him out and started playing with him (quietly, of course). Levi obviously loves his daddy!

Nap time...it is not.

Nap time? Who needs nap time? Not me!

Momma needs nap time, that's who!

Hello maternity leave!

When I first found out I was pregnant and began planning my maternity leave, I originally thought I'd work til about September 10th or so, which was about a week and a half before my due date. As I got further along and kept getting bigger and more uncomfortable, I kept pushing up my maternity leave start date. I finally settled on four weeks before my due date, mainly because that was the earliest I could start, unless I had any complications.

So I went to my regular doctor's appointment on Tuesday, but happened to get a little lightheaded while I was there. When I told my doctor I have had a few problems with dizziness for the past week and a half or so, he said he would be more comfortable if I stopped working now, and would take me off. Said it was nothing to be concerned about, it is a fairly common problem in late pregnancy, but he would prefer me at home so that I can put my feet up or lay down, or whatever I need to do to help alleviate the dizziness.

So, as of today, I'm on maternity leave. And not scheduled to return to work til mid February. What!?! Yep, you read that right, February. :) I know I've been so blessed with a job where I earn a decent amount of leave, and am able to build up more by working overtime, and I plan on enjoying every minute of it, especially once our little guy gets here. Up until then, well, my plan right now is survival, since I am eight months pregnant in August in Southern California. Thank heavens for air conditioning!!

It just keeps growing...

So I meant to take a 30 week picture, and...forgot. Oops! But I took a 31 week picture, that's close, right? He's definitely getting bigger in there!

Can't believe there's only 9 weeks or so left til I get to meet our little guy! Now please excuse me, I've got an undecorated nursery I need to get to work on!!

24 Weeks

Halfway there!

20 weeks....finally halfway there! Let the countdown begin!

Here I am! (and here he is...)

So...yes. I've been a slacker and haven't been updating lately. Eh. Whatcha gonna do, it happens. :)

But, for the biggest news of all since I last posted.....we're having a boy! Yes, I grew up with just a sister and no, I don't know a single thing about little boys...but guess I'm going to learn huh? Here's our baby boy:

The top ultrasound is his profile. He's laying down with his arm up by his head. The second is of the bottom of his feet, turned sideways, with his little toes over to the right. Cute huh?

We also have a very clear picture of his...um, boy parts, but that one I'll refrain from posting all over the internet. :) He might read this someday, you know. But just know, it's definitely a boy. The sonographer even said, "Yeah, this is quite definite...you can buy as much blue as you'd like!!"

So, I suppose it's official. I'm going to have a son. Wow. That just makes it seem...so much more real! Before, it was a little mango, or sweet potato, or whatever fruit it happened to match in size that week. Now? It's a boy. Yikes! :)

hello second trimester!

We made it! Well, made it to a third of the way done, but that's something! Today is the beginning of my second trimester, and I am welcoming it with open arms! My morning sickness is finally starting to get a little better. It's definitely still there, but better than it was. I lost six pounds the first trimester, but I'm sure that will turn around very quickly (and then some). So, I'm proud to present my first baby bump picture...

It's kinda small still, but it's there! Fourteen weeks down, twenty six to go!

rain, rain, any day...

Normally I have to work on Sundays, but this weekend I was able to switch days and be off with Chris today. I was really excited when the weather report said it was supposed to rain today, quite heavily at times even. I love the rain, and love to be cocooned at home with a storm raging outside. Unfortunately, here it is at 4:15 in the afternoon, and the most we've gotten so far is just a little sprinkle for a few minutes. Boo.

So here I am, waiting....and waiting....I keep hoping to turn around and have my windows look like this...

Hurry up rain! I'm waiting!

Best four years....so far

Today was our four year wedding anniversary. Sometimes I just can't believe how much I love that man! And turns out, he kinda loves me too!

Look at these beautiful roses delivered to my work today, one for each beautiful year. Awww, I know, right? Then I opened the card, and got even more teary-eyed.

Now granted, it doesn't take much to get me emotional lately, what with these pregnant lady hormones and all, but doesn't that just make you smile? Happy four years to my love, here's to many many more to come!

Best mom (and grandmom) ever!

Yesterday I was hard at work playing cards answering life and death phone calls when one of the girls from the front office comes down to the phone room and hands me this:

Inside the bag were the mini breakfast sandwiches that I adore but can never get to Chick-fil-A early enough to get. I hadn't even mentioned them to my mom, and she drove out to the far edge of Riverside to pick me up some and surprise me with them. How fantastic is she?? Yeah, I lucked out in the Mom department!

How I love that man...

So Chris and I talked about Valentine's Day, and decided we weren't going to do anything this year. No gifts, no cards, and we'd go out to dinner a few weeks later to celebrate our 4 year wedding anniversary instead. Plus, we both worked all day and had to get up early the next day. We're just getting too old to celebrate holidays on weeknights I guess!

So Valentine's Day rolls around, and off to work I go. All around me, my coworkers are getting flowers delivered to them from husbands and boyfriends. I was still happy with our decision not to buy anything, but I have to admit I was just a teensy bit jealous of the beautiful bouquets surrounding me. And lo and behold, look what was delivered to me!

Chris totally ignored our mutual decision to not get each other anything for Valentine's Day. And I totally love him for it!

Just a little bit of news...

You may have noticed I haven't posted anything on my blog in a little while. I could give you lots of reasons, but the main one is that I've had one certain thing on my mind for a couple of weeks now. I wasn't quite ready to share it, but since I couldn't think about anything else, I didn't have anything else to talk about! But it's finally time to share...

I'm pregnant!!

I'm just over 8 weeks along, and due September 21st. I had my 8 week appointment on Tuesday and Chris and I got to see the heartbeat. It was so strong and fast and...alright, I admit it, I cried a little when I saw it. But just a little! :) It's been quite a journey to get here, and we're just thrilled! Keep us in your prayers, and get ready to meet the newest Strautman this September!