Lauren and Spencer are pleased to announce. . .

. . .that soon they will be having a new little brother or sister to play with and help take care of. Estimated date of arrival is December 10, though I have a feeling that date may change a bit. The doctor measured the blob in the ultrasound today and said I was a week behind where I thought I was, i.e. almost 7 weeks instead of 8 weeks. Well, we all know how accurate 7/8 week ultrasounds are. I remember Spencer's OB saying the 8 week ultrasound size didn't correlate with the estimated date based on my last period so he retook the ultrasound snapshot and measured it until he got a size that gave him a date closer to the originally projected one. Now there is some good science.

Right now 'it' is just a blob about the size of a raisin, but it does have a beating heart and seems to be doing just fine. I wish I could say the same for me. I'm sick, all day long I'm sick. I eat small amounts of stuff all the time though I never feel like eating really. Last week I craved red meat until I had a steak on Tuesday (anniversary lunch) and now I never want to see another steak again. This week I like vinegar so I'm eating pickles and salad with Zesty Italian dressing and feta cheese, made with pasteurized milk of course. I'm not sure how I'm doing it. When I think about eating pickles my stomach turns but then I eat them and nothing comes up. I get a sensation of tingly, puckery goodness and then I feel sick again. I suppose next week I'll like something else. The one thing that has surprised me is my tolerance for cold water. That was the unquestioned vomit-inducer with Spencer, but I like it. . .for now. It's been 90+ degrees here the last few days so I'm really glad I've been able to drink cold water.

Spencer and Lauren are really excited and very interested in the baby's development, especially Spencer. I found a website that shows pictures each week of the developing embryo and fetus. Spencer is so fascinated by them. He sits on my lap and points to all the different parts so I can tell him what they are on the baby. Both of them have been practicing how to take care of babies with little dolls. I think they will do just fine.

I shall keep you all abreast of any baby news at it becomes known to me. Depending on how confident I feel I may even venture a guess as to what we'll be having.

Eight Years

On Tuesday Ben and I celebrated our eigth anniversary. I can't believe we have known each other for almost 10 years! It was a simple day, but I had fun. We had a really nice lunch together sans children and then did a little shopping, mostly for a certain girl’s birthday party coming up.

I told Ben that the customary gift for this anniversary is knives. He complied. I now have a wonderful set of Wusthof Trident kitchen knives. They came with a free hand-held sharpener, free sharpening steel, and a wood storage block that I had to send in for. I'm so excited to prep veggies and meats with these knives. I took out the chef's knife on Tuesday and sliced up an apple. I was actually kind of scared to think that such knives were now in my home. The first set we had I don't consider real knives. They were nice and useful. . .but not like these knives. I figured after eight years of meal prep and with several more in the future I deserve some really nice knives. I confess I feel almost like I've brought a gun into the house though. I have put the knives away and hidden them until the storage block comes because I'm too scared to have them anywhere. Spencer saw them and said, "Link sword!" He was referring to the sharpening steel, which he has taken a fancy too. I think these knives will be kept in a cupboard until we have more counter space to hide them on.

For anyone interested the traditional gift for the eighth anniversary is bronze/rubber and the modern gift is linens. I'm sticking with my knives.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Spencer and Lauren like to watch the PBS show Clifford. A couple weeks ago Spencer was watching while I was getting dressed. The show ended and the PBS host, Miss Lori, asked, "Do any of you have a best friend like Clifford?" Spencer's instant response, "No" made me laugh and then think how sad it sounded. I believe he took the question literally. He does not have a big dog named Clifford for a friend, but he does have friends.

Last Friday the kids and I visited the Discovery Science Center with some friends. There was a Clifford display set up and we even got to meet Clifford. Now when Miss Lori asks if Spencer has a best friend like Clifford I wonder if he will say yes.

The first stop was dinosaur land where we saw a cut away dino with a series of tubes and balls for its digestive and circulatory systems. Here is the stomach model.

Anything climbable must be climbed. Spencer gave it a valient effort. If he reaches any farther his pants will tear!

It's a good thing these dinosaurs were plant eaters.

The little kids section was perfect for Spencer.
This tail slide was in the full sun and quite warm. That did not stop Spencer from go down it again and again and again.

Lauren liked climbing on the dung heap. Every so often a brown ball would fall down the tube and be added to the heap.

This vapor mist was in front of the tiger exhibit entrance. At first niether wanted to go through it, but after the first time they had loads of fun running back and forth into the mist. I didn't mind because it was refreshingly cool in the mist.

This little gizmo had Spencer fascinated. He could have looked at it for hours without even blinking. They really should build a cry room in every ward house and put one of these in it. All the little boys will be held in rapt attention.

Here is the plastic Clifford. He has a small slide on his tail. Once again it captivated Spencer.

Now both Lauren and Spencer have met Clifford the Big Red Dog. They were both so excited to wait in line and get their picture taken with him. Lauren knew it wasn't real though. She said she could feel a person's hand inside the dog paw.

Potty Training Rewards

The newest potty training scheme, since the underpants bleed, was devised by Grandma Snow. Spencer and Lauren each helped to draw a picture of Link. Whenever Spencer does his business in the potty he finds a heart piece for Link and gets to put a little heart sticker on his picture. Lauren finds heart pieces for her Link by doing reading lessons each morning. When they collect 5 heart pieces they get a prize. The prizes include baking cookies or bread, Easter candy, playing Super Smash Brothers Brawl and other Link related stuff. Today the kids have five heart pieces so we made cookies!

Centennial Farms

The kids and I also did something educational today. I discovered that the Orange County fairgrounds has a running farm open to the public and it is free. The minute I learned it was free I knew the kids and I had to go. Spring is the perfect time because the new little babies are being born and Spencer loves baby animals.

Here are my two farmers.

These little piglets were born two days ago.

Spencer loved petting this little goat.

This was the most favorite part for the kids. With all the animal noises going on they both loved being the cow and mowing back at all the animals.

When the Commercial World Fails You. . .

Make your own stuff! I looked on the internet yesterday for Linkware undies and found nothing. Today the kids and I bought some more training pants, now we have 6 pairs, and we drew some pictures.

Spencer loves them and I think they will be a great encouragement for him. If he gets Link wet, he can't wear him any more. He'll be so sad when the first pair gets wet. So far we have one pair of green Link and one pair of red Link. Lauren wanted to draw Zelda on a pair of her undies too. I just love the back of the red Link pair!

At least now Nintendo merchandise distributers know there is a market, albeit a small one, for Legend of Zelda underwear and training pants.

Link Gets Potty Trained

As you can see from the picture Spencer is having a ball. Too bad I cannot say the same. Spencer seems ready for the transition out of diapers. He wakes up dry in the mornings (provided he hasn't had too much to drink the night before), his verbal expression is much better, he can follow simple instructions, and I've noticed him trying to help the rest of us with our bathroom hygiene while perched upon the porcelain throne. He is very interested when Lauren goes to the bathroom, especially in public restrooms. He likes to look into the toilet and flush it and will even hand out toilet paper. Once he even tried to help use the toilet paper while Lauren was seated. The only trouble is he doesn’t seem to have any interest in using the toilet himself.

Lack of personal motivation poses a huge obstacle in my push for having a diaper free home. I do have a plan though. Ben will be out of town this weekend for a business retreat and since it is conference weekend as well we will be at home with nothing to call us out. Therefore we will undergo an intensive four-day weekend of nothing but training pants and underpants. For those of you asking, no, today has not gone well. I am very hopefully for tomorrow mainly because I have to be in order to maintain my belief that my son will not be in diapers when a Sunbeam.

What I need to do is find Spencer’s button. Lauren says if we had Link underpants it would be really easy for him to be potty trained. Does anyone know where I can get Link underpants? Link stickers would also be good. I’m trying to encourage him with Easter candy.

“If you go to the bathroom in the potty you can have some candy. Would you like some candy, Spencer?”

“No.”

Arrrrgggghhhhh! The frustration! If you take that Link video I posted a few weeks ago and reverse the roles, i.e. I am Link and Spencer the shop keep, then you have my day of trying to explain and encourage potty training to Spencer. This is good on some level because at least I am learning some empathy for my son.

Here is the backside of Link in underpants. Lightening McQueen just isn’t working right now, but maybe Spiderman would. . .unless of course I find Link somehow.