Happy Green!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!! This is a short update - nothing big to report. I do have pictures on my camera, they just haven't made it to the computer yet. We have been enjoying some nice spring weather - and after a week of rain our snow is now gone as well. Going from almost two feet of snow to nothing in one week really pushes the spring fever into overdrive!! The boys have been loving being outside - but Ty likes to wander to the neighbors yards/driveways or worse yet, the street - and now that he's so mobile, he's running faster than I can waddle behind him! Thankfully Pete is on Spring Break this week and has been a HUGE help around the house. I am having a hard time moving around now and tasks that once seemed so simple can now quickly send me into contractions or pain where muscles have torn. Things with baby still seem to be going well - next Dr appointment is on Friday. Less than a month to go and we will meet this little one! My parents came for a visit this last weekend and my dad was flipping a quarter to determine the baby's gender. After the first flip, he decided to try two out of three, then three out of five, then four out of seven, etc. He finally stopped after ten flips - all heads - deciding that the quarter MUST know baby's gender since the probability of ten straight heads is not very likely. To know if heads was for a boy or a girl, you must stay tuned until baby is born!! It is uncomfortable to sit at the computer for very long, so when I am more ambitious, I will post some more pictures. For now, thank you for your prayers on our behalf!

Into March we go!!

We are trying to keep up as things just keep going here. The weather is warming, but we still have a lot of snow. We have tried to take advantage of the warmth and get some fresh air - and usually end up with two soaked, mud-covered and cold little boys. I have been spending time getting the baby's room ready, washing clothes and putting them away. It has sparked quite a few interesting conversations with Drew - he's such a funny kid sometimes. One afternoon while playing in the snow Pete put the boys up in the tree in the front yard for pictures. Drew loved it, but Ty wasn't too impressed. I think most of it he just doesn't like being all bundled up. It's too restricting!!Ty is growing so fast. It's hard to believe that he is now older than Drew was when Ty was born!! He seems so little/young! He has a big awakening coming when this next one arrives!

If you ask Drew where the baby is, you will get a long answer - Ty has no clue!!! Drew has already asked if he can help take care of the baby, give baby hugs, rock baby and hold baby. A couple of times after I thanked him for the big hug he corrected me: "No mommy. Hugging Drew's baby!" At least Mommy gets the kisses on the cheeks still!! Lastly, a few pictures of story time. The second picture is blurry, but I love both the boys' expressions in it!! Who thought animal sounds could be so funny!

Freckles and "mommy happy!"

It always seems the boys flip a switch and go from good, fun and manageable, to difficult, crabby and ornery when Pete is gone during the week. They usually sleep better when Pete is around too and this week seemed more drastic of a change than usual. The first night Pete was gone, Drew was determined it was morning at 12:30 am. Then when I did get him back to sleep shortly after one, Ty woke him up again and 3:30 and none of us went back to sleep after that. Yesterday morning they did make it to 5:20 - so that's considerably better, but still early. This lack of sleep sets the stage for two tired boys and one very tired mommy. Even still, we are finding plenty to smile and laugh at. As I was attempting to complete a necessary task that is getting more difficult with my growing belly, I was starting to get frustrated. Drew, seeing my frustration and not wanting it to continue, jammed his hand inside his jeans, ran up to me saying, "Drew dry! Drew dry! Mommy happy!" and proceeded to shower me with kisses like I do him when he's dry. Ah yes...
And freckles have been frequent topic of conversation when Drew discovered one on his finger, and a couple days later another on his leg. He was very distraught and wanted it off - telling me to wash it. Even showing him my freckles made no difference. This week that changed. My sister sent the boys some Valentines gifts, and Ty received a set of 3 Thomas the train water toys. It included Thomas, James and Rosie. Rosie has lots of freckles painted on her face and Drew was quick to point them out. Now he wants me to put the freckles on his face!! Out of the blue now, a couple times a day, he'll walk up and ask, "Mommy? Frecko? On? Frecko face?" Then, this morning, I walked into the living room to find Drew with his pants around his ankles. Since we are working on potty training I sprang into action, not wanting to clean another mess in the carpet, and asked what he was doing. "Frecko? Mommy, where go? Where Frecko go?" So not only does he want more, he's making sure the ones he does have don't go anywhere!!

Wow - lots going on this last week! First - many of you have been asking and I thank you all for your prayers. At my Dr. appointment my blood pressure was no longer high - which means no bed rest for now at least. Actually, my BP was low this time! Everything looks good with baby and now me too - still having lots of contractions, so when they start I just have to make sure to rest right away. After being on bed rest for the last two months with Ty, this makes me VERY happy indeed!

Saturday we headed to GB for my cousin's baby shower and spent some time visiting with my brother and his wife, my parents and my grandma. I was driving on the way over and there was just a beautiful sunrise. The sun was a brilliant red - Pete took pictures through the car and they don't do it justice, but thought you might enjoy seeing one of the better ones. Just remember, it's through a dirty windshield in a moving car!!It was fun seeing everyone. Drew handed out his homemade valentines and Ty showed everyone his walking skills. My cousin's shower went very well and we are all eager to hear of baby Noah's arrival. We

even got a couple of "preggo" pics!At the shower there were many pictures and boy - Ty sure looks like several of the Calkins' baby pictures. My brother, my cousin, my dad, my grandpa are just a few I'm sure, but it was fun to compare them!The most recent bit of "new fun" now that Ty is walking - he can be "super" just like Drew. They love having their "night-nights" tied around their shoulders and running around the house. While they usually do this right after breakfast before they get tubby time or dressed, they ask for it much more than that...but mommy gets tired of re-tying the blankets!!And even though you can't tell by pictures - we ARE trying to break Ty of his nuk. He just has an older brother who can now reach it from the high places and give it back to him!! Drew will often cry harder than Ty if it is dropped beyond reach or lost!