Shock (sh awk)

Today made me cry... took my breath away... caught me by surprise. It's hard to surprise me, I catch on to a lot of things and can often see things coming. It's even harder to provide me shock, joy, fear, and disbelief in one telephone call. But Jen from the clinic did.

I had some routine blood work that I needed done and I started watching the results come in between meetings, I didn't think twice about them... they are just numbers, nothing too crazy, the clinic was going to call if they needed any follow up steps done.

They called... one test came through while I was in a meeting. They called to tell me that we were pregnant, which explained some of the numbers and that final test was the dead giveaway. I don't know what's in store for us over the next 40ish weeks but I won't forget that phone call.

What's even more amazing to me is that this day has been lucky for me two years in a row... on the 22nd in 2015, we got to see our beautiful Eleanor and find out that she was a girl and that she was perfectly healthy.

Phone rings:
ALR; This is Amanda.
Jenn: Hi Amanda, we got your test results in. Did you have a chance to look at them?
ALR: Yeah, I did, I wasn't sure what some of the numbers meant.
Jenn: It means you're pregnant.
ALR: 
Jenn: Merry Christmas.

Later that night.
ALR comes home
ALR: Eleanor, did you have good day with Dad?
gets on the floor with her
ALR uses EER's hand to point to MJR: Dad
ALR uses EER's hand to point to ALR: Mom
ALR uses EER's hand to point to MJR: Dad
ALR uses EER's hand to point to ALR: Mom
ALR uses EER's hand to point to EER: Big Sister
MJR looks at ALR: You're pregnant?!
ALR nodds.

**This post was post-dated and released at a later date for reasons determined by ALR/MJR 

Festivity (fes tiv ih ty)

It's beginning to feel a lot like CHRISTMAS!!! We are getting closer and the planning and whatnot is in full effect. Sure I'm a bit behind on baking, the only thing I've made to date has been a complete flop, dang caramel corn. 

We've officially made it through one of the harder weeks of the no-daycare situation. This week here was the schedule. Monday with Kaplas down the street, Tuesday with Mom in the office until Len got too crabby, Wednesday with Candy until 2 and back to the office with Mom, Thursday was Dad/Daughter day, Friday was with Auntie. We both are ready to go back to daycare for the schedule and consistency. It did break my heart on Monday as she had so much fun with Evan and Arianna that she's been missing out on the kid interaction and that's something we haven't been able to consider. We don't know yet when daycare will open up again from the construction but I'm hoping it's January 3rd - I have really high hopes. 

This week we also partook in our first big child Christmas rite of passage, Eleanor went and saw Santa! She was so dang cute! She sat on his lap, looked at him and began to smile, laugh and clap her hands. No meltdown, no fuss, even one of the elves exclaimed how cute she was and asked to hold her. Afterwards, we went to Hallmark and picked out her very first ornament. Matt is big on providing choices for her to choose. So there she was with three options... teddy bear, boots, and sheep - she had her favorite right away! She held the box, gummed it, and we had a hard time getting it out of her hand to purchase. She also won over the ladies at Hallmark who were excited to help her. It was a special night that made my heart sing for my little girl and her first holiday season.

We were busy and on the good for the weekend too. We visited

Mom in the hospital on Friday and Saturday. She had gotten an infection after her surgery and it creeped up into her eye. She was happy to have guests and it was a short stay, she was released on Sunday. I'm glad she was in the hospital for this short stay... finally forced her to calm and listen to her body and also got her out of the cold. It has been very cold here for the past weeks with temps in the negative 20s. We are hoping to just be above 0 for a bit to give us all a break. Saturday was a day to get stuff done around the house... cleaning, vacuuming, shoveling, and whatnot. Sunday was the Moser Christmas. This was Eleanor's first family Christmas celebration. She got tuckered out by the end of the day but she opened up a few presents, watched her cousins play, was passed around by the family a bit, had dinner, and then we crashed at home. All in all in was a nice day with the family and a wonderful start to one of my favorite seasons.

Best meal: Lynn did a nice job putting together the meal for the Christmas. I contributed mac and cheese with a lettuce apple salad to her ham, green beans, potatoes, and garnishes. 

Berklee watches Eleanor playing on the floor in true Eleanor fashion, comes up to her and raspberries.

Berklee's mom: No, no, Berklee we don't spit.

Berklee (who is tired from three days of Christmas fun) meltsdown: But I was just playing!

Berklee's mom: when you spit, you spread germs.

EER: Plllllb!!!!

Berklee meltsdown again: SOb, But she's doing it... waaaaa!

ALR looks at EER: You aren't helping this situation.

EER: Plllllllbbbb!

Septenary (sep Tuh ner ee)

So... we had another blizzard... the last one was named Blanche. I don't even know if this one had a name or if this was a continuation of the first one. But the result was more snow, more wind, lower temps. Matt and I had a romantic throw back in this snow... it was like our second date all over again.... I put on my snowpants, he grabbed his shovel and we shoveled snow together. The big difference this time is that Grandma stayed inside with Len in the warmth and I tied the dog around my waist so he wouldn't run off. AND we didn't stay up talking until 3:00 in the morning afterwards! Ahhh, memories.

This week's hero was Michele - she came and saved the day by spending the week at our house. It was so wonderful to know that she was safe and sound at home. That we didn't drag her outside in the cold and snow and that she wasn't being shuttled anywhere. I'm anxiously waiting for daycare to say when they are opening again but this week's saving grace was Michele.

Aside from putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree, we did a few more things... I put up a few more decorations, we bought a few gifts, and we even started to make some of Len's Christmas presents. She needs a bit of help this year but I anticipate her to take over more as she gets old.

Len had a couple big updates this past weekend... Matt walked into her room and someone was sitting up and ready to go... that forced us to drop her crib and pack and play down. Now she's even more of a jailbird! She's also celebrated her being 7 months this past weekend. Another reminder that my baby really isn't a baby but a toddler in training. Some days I feel her growing and developing like sand slipping through my fingers. It's so bitter sweet for me... I love seeing her grow and learn but it's almost scary how fast it happens.

 

We also had a picture hanging party and gave my Grandma her Christmas present. Instead of items, I take her out on the town for a night... we go to dinner and then to a show. This year we started the night off with Johnny Carino's as a family and then her and I went to the ballet. It was a lovely night and a beautiful show. Act II was my favorite, seeing the dancers with such grace. I got home that night and Matt busted me trying to go on pointe.

On Sunday, we headed out to the farm to check on Mom who had facial surgery. She hasn't been doing well but then again she's never had a surgery that's been a breeze. 

Update on the protest: They are blaming the ND government for creating the storm... geoengineered weather warfare, which according to them has been going on for years citing examples like Occupy Wallstreet and Woodstock. They also say that China has been doing it for years and this was likely created by weather balloons or drones. It's awful coincident that they day they were told to leave was bookended by storms.

Best Meal: Matt and I had a date night out Wednesday, we went to JL Beers. We didn't do anything out of the normal... had our usuals. We always enjoy their burgers... from there we went to Target and Scheels. Awww, the lives of young parents.

MJR: I think my mom is disappointed in us.
ALR: What? Why?
MJR: Because of all the places, we went to JL's.
ALR: But we never get to come here, because we can't bring in Sassafras.
MJR: I know.
ALR: And it's just not the same to pick it up and bring it home.
MJR: I know. 
ALR: Well, I don't want to disappoint her,
MJR: I know.
ALR: I don't feel like you are listening to me.
MJR: I know.

Squall (skwawl)

Well it's been a crazy week...

This was the first week that we started dealing with no daycare. Our daycare is moving and are between buildings due to a jerkface landlord. It's all going to be okay and in 6 weeks it won't matter. Until then, we are playing a game of "Who takes the baby?!"

The week started with the baby at work because we got almost 20" of snow, it was Eleanor's first snow and it was the perfect type for little girls. It was snowman snow....thick, wet, heavy, and in abundance. Was glad Eric is with us because between him and Matt, they definitely took turns shoveling and blowing. I even did a bit of blowing to help them keep up. The snow came down in 3 days, cancelling school and requiring Matt to go into work from 10 pm - 6am. Our house had a schedule all of it's own. I was so glad there was a break on the final day so Dad could clear the path to the interstate and Mom could come and watch Len for a day. She also took a turn with Auntie for a day. Next week she's spending quality time with Grand

On the weekend we did some holidayish things. We decorated Matt's tree. It's a fresh year... so Matt, Eric, the baby, and I went and picked it out... We went with a 8.5 foot Frasier - which has the soft, short needles. I have been putting decorations up for a bit of time now. It's a bit different this year as I've been slowly putting them up around Len's wake/sleep schedule. I'm hoping that as she gets older, that we do this together but I have a feeling we are a few years out.

The protest is still going on. It's getting old for us locals and I'm disappointed to see who the victims actually are. I watch these individuals expect and demand things without following the proper rules set forth. This past weekend I was at Lowe's. I watched a group buy a heater... the cashier then had to tell them not to run it inside as people will die and that it also had to use diesel. In the diesel there has to be an additive so the heater/diesel doesn't gel up. I then watched the protests wander around Lowe's looking for the additive to put into their heater. This further told me that they are not prepared to be here and in the weather we are enduring and will endure over the rest of the winter.

We also took a trip out to the farm. We are having some problems with Sam. We found out from a vet visit that he's mostly deaf with a side of selective hearing. It's hard as there are times that he wants to work for you or come and can't seem to get it and then there are times when he takes a 3 mile run or you have to go pick him up from across town.

Also on the holiday turn, we watched a holiday movie! A Hallmark special.. "Every Christmas has a Story" It was actually Matt's idea to watch it. He wanted to watch it because the Bismarck Airport's logo was featured. The movie was set (not filmed) in ND.

Best meal: Matt and I snuck into Panera with a sleeping Eleanor... even with her waking up, it was a nice meal after the Pride of Dakota show. Matt and I always like that one, even though there are a ton of people.

ALR: Have you thought about what we are getting Len for Christmas?
MJR: No.
ALR: Like you haven't thought about it or no, we aren't getting her anything.
MJR: We don't need to get her anything, she won't remember.
ALR: I know... but I will, I don't know if I can live with the guilt.
ALR sighs
ALR: I suppose if we get her a bond, it's not that glamorous to take a picture with for the memory books.
MJR: We could do that.
ALR: I feel like I'm do all the thinking here.
MJR stares.

Beholden (bih hohlduh n)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Baby's first Thanksgiving! We spent the holiday in Lansford with Michele, Randy, and Eric. This was the first holiday I've spent with Eric since being in the family and I know him being there meant so much to Michele. The day started off with the parade with the grand finale being Santa's arrival.

The dinner was amazing. Matt smoked a turkey. Michele made Randy a roasted turkey, two different styles of green beans, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, Grandma Lee's fruit salad, and I supplied the cranberry chutney.

Eleanor had her first bite of meat... my dad would be so disappointed to find out that it's not beef but instead turkey because she had to have turkey on Thanksgiving! She really enjoyed having dinner with us and it was fun to sit down as a family of to take it all in. I love Thanksgiving... growing up I never understood why it was a big deal to my mother, but now I understand... it's not about anything but food and family... my two favorite things.

Best meal: Michele did an amazing job with the meal from start to finish... the pies were so good - everything made me happy and full. I could eat a whole tray of stuffing myself!

Michele: Look, Eleanor, it's SANTA!
MJR: Mom, she doesn't know who Santa is.
Michele: Well, I'm showing her, it's him right there... SANTA!!