Blog-leeching

Here's what we've been doing.

Cali Cali

The past couple of days I have been spoiled. Lee won a trip to a resort in Southern California. It has been relaxing. Today we had a leisurely breakfast (picture #1) overlooking the ocean. This afternoon we lounged by the pool. This evening we went to the Beachcomber Cafe and had dinner and watched the sunset. It was beautiful. I am feeling blessed.

Raspberry Picking

This morning we did our annual raspberry picking with Nana LuEllyn. Lulu ate way more than she picked (as evidenced by her face and jeans). Teddy hung out. He ate his first raspberry but could not be convinced to eat a second one.

On the way out, the nice lady told us there were kittens. That was all Lulu needed to hear. It added an extra half an hour to our excursion.

She kept trying to hold them both.

Mama Karoline has always had a special place in her heart for calicos.

PS My husband is a sucker and I do not doubt that we will have a cat in our house sooner than later. I love them but it is kind of nice not finding hair stuck to everything.

Whose kid is this?

The child I swore I would never have...My little rugrat, Lulu.

I always used to judge people with the unkempt kids. You know the ones with snot, food, koolaid, mismatched clothes, etc. Now I have one. My Lulu is...how do you say...strong-willed. I prefer to say feisty (I have also heard people call her spicy, decisive, and naughty just to name a few). My mom calls her EmmaJean (As in a Herdsman from The Best Christmas Pageant Ever).

In this picture, she is wearing an undershirt with chocolate stains and Hello Kitty rain boots. Her hair is a tangle of the finest, most easily breakable, nothing-colored hair with her bow cast aside hours before. She is doing a "statue" pose on the driveway.

I love every bit of her and have chosen to pick my battles (and if you've met her, you know this is not a major one). sigh. Maybe Teddy will be my "perfect" child...

I would like to publicly apologize to all of the moms I have have judged, looked down my nose at, and KNEW I would never be like.

New and Exciting

So...I am blogging from my phone...in bed...in my sister's basement...who knew?

This guy fell asleep sitting up.

This cute girl is snuggled next to me.

Good night.

MiniLee

The other day we were outside playing (yes, Lulu is still in Ariel pajamas. yes, she is wearing hello kitty rain boots. Let it go.). She had a stick and was popping bubbles and so Lee grabbed a stick and they started sword fighting. I, in my most maternal voice, said, "Daddy, we never play with sticks."

So being the ornery 10 year old boy trapped in a 30 year old's body, Lee hid the stick behind his back and pretended to look innocent. Guess what MiniLee (aka Lulu) did? Yup, this is my two mischievous kids pretending they don't have a stick behind their back, nor were they being naughty. I caught them.

She said she wanted her picture taken, so I obliged. I think she has been watching too much ANTM.

Cute Babies

S, I stink at blogging, but...I borrowed my in-laws fancy camera and have been trying to take cute pictures of my kids. Next time I will try not to choose a time so close to bedtime for the photo shoot.

"Please, just let me go to bed, Mama."

A short bath first...

After we put Teddy to bed, the outdoor fun began. It has been super hot around here lately, so we have been limiting our outdoor time. Tonight seemed like a good night for a princess to enjoy a popsicle.

Shortly thereafter, Lulu wanted to help me water flowers, which led to running through the spray, which led to spraying. She said she was a "water princess."

The dress got a little to wet and was inhibiting her stride.

Flashback: strange how the body changes in a couple short years...

After we were done with the hose, this is the face that goes with, "Can I just have one cookie, please, Father?"

Needless to say, she got the cookie.

Laughing Teddy

Cousin Time at the Children's Museum

A couple of weeks ago, all of the cousins decided to play at the the Children's Museum. The Murray grandkids were in town because their parents were in Ethiopia. Here are all seven posing before the playing and exploring began. Nanny got them all matching M&M shirts.

Lulu loved the babydoll and the glider-rocker. Can you guess what she's been seeing at home lately?

She also enjoyed flying the planes.

Apparently this is the way all of the cool kids dismount the aircraft...over the wings on their bellies.

Lulu and Mac building some rockets.

Lulu and Mac flying the big plane. Macker seemed to be taking the pilot role more seriously. Lulu was just along for the ride.

My smiley little man, Teddy.

More super serious pilots, Hank and Scott.

Followed by a little lunch in the food court.

New Nephew

Katie and Scott passed Ethiopian court today, so I officially have a new nephew and Teddy has a new cousin BFF.

Ethiopia

Katie and Scott are in Ethiopia. They are finally meeting their son.

Please, Father...

Lee and Lulu have the sweetest/strangest relationship. For the past few months when she has really wanted something, Lee has her end the request with, "Please, Father." It cracks us up and she knows it. I have even gotten a few, "please, mothers," in the past few weeks. Lee told me to document it, so of course, she got shy...

Dedication

A couple of weeks ago we had Teddy dedicated at church. For the occasion, Lulu wore that was mine when I was little.

Our little family on the stage with one of the pastors.

Afterwards we had some Coldstone and took a family picture.

The babies with their daddy.

Are we even?

So...I know I stink at blogging, but will these cute pictures make us even?

Here is a quick recap of our last month. The Boy is doing great. He weighs over 13 pounds and sleeps 8-9 hours swaddled in his crib at night. I am thankful. During the day Teddy prefers to sleep in the carseat or the swing. During the day he likes to have his face/head loosely covered. It looks like he is suffocating himself, but he loves it. He is smiling and "talking" a lot more lately.

The Girl does well about 90% of the time with being a big sister. She likes to "help" me do everything. Her new favorite thing is making sure they have the same Sesame Street character on their diapers.

Today she asked to hold him and I said yes. Usually she holds him for about 5 seconds and said, "Your turn, mama. He heavy." Today she held him long enough for me to run and get the camera and snap a few shots while never rarely taking her eyes off of Clifford. I will take what I can get.

The teen years are going to be fun...

So here is the situation...

Lulu doesn't like to try new foods. She says she doesn't like them before she has even seen or tried them. Last summer we discovered that if we change the name of something we want her to try to a word she has never heard of, she will give it a chance. Last summer she wouldn't eat peaches, so Lee asked her if she wanted an apricot. of course she wanted an apricot.

For the past couple of months she has refused to eat pineapple. I think it is because the word "apple" is in there (which she legitimately has tried and doesn't like). So we asked her if she wanted an apricot and she did. We have done this a couple times, and it cracks Lee and I up. Last time Lee had me grab the camera. He said he wants to show it to her when she is a teenager and convinced she knows everything.


Obstinate child:

First Night Video

Thanks to Kers for taking some video. This was from the first time Lulu met Teddy, just 2 hours after he was born.

Nanny

Nanny wondered why she wasn't on the blog. Here she is.

I slept

Thanks for all of your prayers. I had a good day yesterday and good night last night. Yesterday I got removed from everything (catheter, IVs, and they even removed the port) and they let me shower. Yesterday morning we had plenty of visitors in the morning (Katie and Robyn, Papa Jerry, Nanny and Papa, the Harkers, Nana and Lulu and a smattering of hospital people to ask questions, poke, prod and check things), but I got to take a 1.5 hour nap during the afternoon. I was a new woman. Last night, Uncle Lance stopped by, as did Laine and Ben. I slept from 11:45pm-2am and 2:30-6:25am. I think I am ready for the day.

So, there are all of the details about my day, but more importantly, I think my emotions are starting to settle (not that a relapse is out of the question). I don't think I have shed a tear since the OR on Friday when they told me I had a healthy baby boy. As I type, I have a sweet little boy sleeping on my lap and a sweet bigger boy sleep on a cot next to me. Life is good and I am blessed.

And some pictures (they are limited because although I can see mt camera I cannot reach it to upload. Maybe if I remember, I will do it later.:

I can't sleep.

It is after one am. I can't sleep. I had a baby boy via c-section at 5:28pm...yep not quite eight hours ago. I am so tired and I can't sleep. I haven't slept soundly for about month. I have been fighting sleep since around eleven am. The new.baby is sleeping soundly in the nursery. Lee is.sleeping soundly on a cot.next to me. This.could.be one of the few.chances I have for awhile. Pardon all of the extra punctuation. It is the result of fat fingers, no sleep, and a small cellphone screen.

What should I do? So... I am writing to you all. Sorry to make you suffer through my insomnia.

I am not sure what to tell.you. Today went smoothly. Long day of waiting. Over the past few weeks, I have been an emotional wreck. Those of you that know me, know that I have always been prone to tears without much provocation. It got worse while pregnant with my Girl. Even worse after I had her. Even worse when I got pregnant with number two. These past couple of weeks have been a downright sobfest. I just kept mourning the loss of my.little family of three andfear of how that translates to being a family of.four.

So far, so good. Lulu had Uncle Lance there when she woke up from her nap, shebgot to come to the hospital to meet her new.brother, and gets to spend the weekend with a lot of Nanny/Nanaa time. It is probably like a little vacation from me for her. When we come home on Monday is when I think it will get tough. Prayers for a smooth (as possible) transition would be appreciated.

Hmmm. I know this is boring, but I still can't sleep. Ugh. Maybe it is the muted beep/ speak of an iv inches from my head. Maybe the iv port itself poking into my wrist. Maybe it is the blood clot preventing calf squeezers. Maybe it is the catheter. Maybe the large diaperish thing I have under my gown. Maybe it is the fact that my new cellphone has a data (aka time wasting enabling) plan. Maybe it is that I haven't eaten for thirty-plus hours. You pick.

So...here,s to hoping that you won't have to endure another post of a new mom's ramblings. Sorry to subject you to this, but thanks for suffering with me.

It's about that time...

Well kids...I am sorry that I have been a bad blogger of late. I have things to post and time to post them and no motivation. Sorry.

The biggest news is that Baby Rozeboom #2 is slated to arrive Friday at 5pm via c-section. I have been a huge balls of emotions for the past month and I don't foresee an end in sight. Sorry. At least you can't see me crying about the end of our "golden" one child era.

I am starting to get pretty stinking curious about this little person. I will keep you all updated.

Thanks for your prayers as we begin this new chapter.


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