It's a...........

Baby! Isn't he/she cute? I am a little biased, being the mother and all. So today I had the big 20 week ultrasound. We had decided we weren't going to find out this baby's gender, and I was very firm with that choice. Up until 2 days ago. With the opportunity there, I wanted to cave. I like to be prepared. I like to buy cute little clearance outfits. But it is hard to do when you don't know whether to buy pink butterflies and matching big and little sister outfits, or blue with trucks. But I stuck with our original plan and I have no clue whether the baby is a boy or a girl.

If you ask Mackenzie, she swears it is a girl. And that her name should be Gabriella. Not happening even if she is right. I am a little afraid she is going to be disappointed if the baby is a boy. At least I can say I had nothing to do with it.

Dear Blog,

I am so sorry I have neglected you lately. Just count yourself lucky. You are one of the many things I have been neglecting. I only have one good excuse, and even that one is pretty lame as far as an excuse goes. Being pregnant does not make me the most motivated person. Although lately I have had random bursts of energy, I do feel pretty sluggish. Almost like someone is sucking the life out of me.

Besides the lack of motivation (which is really just a nice way to say I have been a lazy bum), I also haven't been a very nice person lately. So I try to have limited contact with the outside world. Mackenzie's random fevers help me to achieve this since it forces me to stay home. I am also rediculously emotional. I was catching up on my DVR watching, and cried no less than 3 times. Over Dancing With the Stars! Come on, this is not your typical tear jerker show. I am just not myself, and really haven't been in a mood for the world (or my 5 readers) to see.

My life has really been incredibly boring. Making sure children are clean and fed are my main priorities. If those things are done, it has been a productive day. I do realize that I neglected to blog about Mackenzie's 3rd birthday, and have yet to post pictures of our summer vacation. Maybe some day I will have a strange burst of blogging energy and will update those things. Just don't count on it.

It might be different if I didn't read other people's blogs. People who are witty and who live exciting lives. I am dull and I feel like my attempts at humor fail. Maybe I would be a better blogger if I lived someone else's life. But then I might just have to leave my house.

So Blog, I am sorry. Will you forgive me? I know better than to make promises I can't keep, but I won't skip whole months of time again.

Your partner in crime,
Samantha

One week of 3rd grade down...

Many more to go! Bailey is really enjoying 3rd grade already. I know, it is early, but he likes the challenge and being more independent. His teacher called us to tell us what a wonderful kid he is. (She gets points for calling us with praise of our child after only 3 days of school!) If only he could be that good at home! He ended up not getting his #1 choice for a teacher, but so far he is happy with choice #2. She is young and is still super excited about her job which I love. Bailey has really had good teachers. I love his art teacher. Bailey is no artist and is well aware of this fact, but the art teacher has them do lots of different projects that don't necessarily require art talent. So the projects he brings home are actually quite eye catching. To me, a great teacher is one that inspires students to enjoy a subject even if it is one they don't necessarily like.

Mackenzie doesn't mind being home by herself. She enjoys having mommy to herself and getting to choose what show to watch on TV. She is always telling us though that "Bailey is my best friend!!" So cute.

More than a month

How time flies when you are having fun! I can't believe it has been a month since I have written anything. Oops. We were on vacation for two weeks in New Jersey, and the other two weeks I have been trying to adjust to being home! The summer has flown by quickly, and although I am sort of sad to see it go, I am happy Bailey will be back in school. He does well with a set schedule of things to do, and his summer schedule of tv watching and video game playing just isn't working. So back to school he goes on Monday! Right now he is having an end of the summer mini vacation with his Papa (my father in law) in Iowa watching the World of Outlaw racing. Glad I got to stay home for that one! They simply adore each other and it is so neat to see such a special relationship between the two of them. Friday is the Meet and Greet for Bailey's school where he will find out who his teacher is and who is in his class. I don't quite understand why they need to wait until the last minute to let the kids know who their teacher is going to be. Bailey is a planner and likes to know what is going to happen. He has a teacher in mind that he would like to have, and I am hoping for a friend or two in his class as well. Lucky me, I get to meet the teacher all by myself since he will still be in Iowa!

Hopefully soon I will get pictures of our trip on the computer and will post them. Right now Mackenzie is sick with what seems to be her monthly fever illness. I am hoping tomorrow she will be better!

Goodbye!

On the 4th of July, we had a dear friend of the family pass away. Our friend Kathren, whom we called Katie, passed away in her sleep, just as everyone would like to go. The thing is, she lived to be 104! I can't even imagine living to be that old. She lived a rich full life, although the last couple of years have been harder for her as her mobility diminished.

I was lucky enough to know her, and for her to love me. I met her when she was 94. Our first outing together was not very pleasant. I was having a rough time, and I was immature and didn't know how to deal with things in an adult way, so I was sure I had ruined any chance for Katie having a high opinion of me. Somehow I was wrong. I thought she had forgotten the incident, as I had tried to do, but she has reminded me quite a few times of our first meeting! She never forgot! Yet she looked past that first impression and got to know me and loved me for who I was.

My father in law took Katie for years to the hair dresser on Saturday mornings. After her appointment she would take him out to lunch. Sometimes my father in law would invite us to come along, and we would enjoy a wonderful lunch with Katie at her favorite restaurant. This restaurant went out of business, and a few others were tried, but it just wasn't the same. So she and my father in law started going to McDonald's! They always went through the drive through, which made it easy, but can you imagine a 100 year old lady going to McDonalds? Many times when my father in law was out of town I would take her to her hair appointment. I felt so honored to be helping someone out. We would park underneath a tree and eat our lunch and just freely talk. Even though Katie had trouble hearing and seeing, there were some days when I felt like she heard my every word.

She loved Bailey. She always loved to see him. I have a picture of him with her when he was 2 in his halloween costume. Mackenzie got her middle name from her. Katie never had children, but I wanted her legacy to live on somehow. She wasn't a perfect lady, she made mistakes and many times didn't mince words, but she was a good person and a good friend. We said goodbye to her today, but I know I will see her again.

Princess Mackenzie

Let's Go Cubs!!

So the spring baseball season is over! What seemed like a million rainouts and chilly weather in the beginning ended up being crazy hot in the end. The team ended up 5-7, which was about middle of the pack in their division. I think it is funny how little league has divisions. Bailey had so much fun playing. He is a baseball junkie. He is constantly playing, watching, or talking about baseball. He probably gets it from me.

Jared was head coach again this year. He only had two returning kids from the previous year, but the new bunch of kids were great! So many nice kids and great parent support. Jared fell in love with each kid, and would send personalized emails after almost every game to the kids mentioning what they did good in the game.

Here are some pictures from the final game of the season. But in August, fall ball will start up and we will be doing this all again!


I love how this picture turned out!

Bailey playing 2nd base. He played a lot of shortstop this year, but I think he is better at 2nd.

Bailey reaching first after a hit and being coached by Coach Scott. He's been great to Bailey!

Leading off, ready to run!

Team picture after winning the final game! (Bailey is the one hugging his teammate, if you couldn't pick him out. Actually there were a couple kids that I had trouble telling who was who with Bailey. Bad mom, I know)