Z's lost tooth and a pregnancy dream

Z's first lost tooth

Z lost his first tooth on Friday evening, right before bed.  He kept trying to avoid it and cover his mouth, but it was just hanging on by a thread.  So, Daniel started tickling and "wrestling" with him.  Once his mouth was wide open, he wrangled him still and yanked it out.  Z admitted that it didn't hurt that bad, but he was mad at his Dad for about 15 minutes.  Previously, he would just cry and cry and cry when we talked about pulling it out for him.  We sent him to bed upset, but I put his tooth in a baggie and put his name on it.  As Daniel and I were relaxing downstairs, watching tv, Z came down and went right to his Dad and gave him a hug and let him take his picture.  He had a few minutes to think and realized that his Daddy wasn't so "mean" after all :)

In comparison, Malachi lost his middle bottom teeth first, 2 weeks before his 7th birthday.  Z lost his first tooth from up top and was about 6 years, 4 months.  Malachi all ready stated how it wasn't "fair."  I guess it's just something he's going to have to get over.  His little brother may pass him at a few other things later on in life.  Being only 19 months apart his its advantages and disadvantages ;)

Interesting pregnancy dream

We finally found a home for a sweet, Kiev.  There's just not room in our home for her with all the baby furniture, and I think the small space was actually starting to drive her literally crazy.  She's been living with her new family for about a week and a half, now.  We miss her a lot, but we know that this is in the best place possible for her and a better home.  With all that said,  last night, I had a dream...

Every night she used to clomp up the stairs to the middle room and plop down near our door (bc we didn't allow her to lay in our bedroom).  So, in my dream, I woke up to hear Kiev's footsteps coming up the steps.  I remember hearing her plop down on the floor.  (In my dream) I thought it was weird that she was somehow back in our house (it seemed very real), and I got up to go to the bathroom.  She was laying on the floor where she had been in the previous months.  I finished using the bathroom (in my dream) and went back to bed, passing Kiev.  I remember laying back down and thinking how strange it was that she was in our house, but I was comforted to see her, again.  Now, of course it was all a dream, but I really, really thought it happened last night.  It was quite strange.  I miss my pup, but I know that this is the best situation for us all.

On a lighter note, I now have to make the sweeping/cleaning under the kitchen table a job.  There's no dog to eat the crumbs :(  The boys have a new chore.

"Car Games"

The boys have created 2 games to play in the car.  The first was created today, while I ran into the post office to drop off some letters before heading to work.  The second was created with a little help from their Dad on the way back from our visit to NC.

Ultimate Rock, Paper, Scissors

So, this came out of their minds this morning.  Too funny!  I hop back in the car from my 60 second walk into the post office and back to hear, "Rock, paper, scissors...water/dynamite!"  Now, I've heard the dynamite before.  It's a southern thing.  Then, the question comes out, "Mommy, does dynamite beat water?"  Good question.  This momma isn't so sure.  As we continue our journey down the road and the game continues, I hear (granted I can't SEE the hand gestures to go with these), "Rock, paper, scissors, angel!"  Arguing ensues over what beats what.  So, I remind them it is called "rock, paper, scissors" for a reason.  They are only supposed to use those 3.  To which I am told, "This is Ultimate Rock, Paper, Scissors!  We can use whatever we want!"  The next one, came out of the mouth of the almost 8 yo, "Rock, paper, scissors, Jesus!"  Well, don't you think he beat his little brother with that one?!?  I started laughing, and Z started to argue about it.  I had to give in, and say, "Well, technically, Jesus beats everything."  Z consented, but there had to be a rule made by the boys that you couldn't use Jesus as an item in Ultimate Rock, Paper, Scissors.  Before too long, there were birds, gators, sharks, etc.  Don't you love imagination?

The Number Game

As we were traveling on our 9 hour journey from the Charlotte, NC area back to our home in Lancaster County, PA, we start having a family conversation/guessing game about 1 of MJ's favorite topics...NASCAR.  We end up going through all the numbers, 1-99, and naming all the Sprint Cup drivers, some of the Nationwide & truck series drivers.  Then, the game turns to numbers (in any order) of any sports player (NFL, NBA, MLB).  I think this entertained us for about 2 hours.  While, Z couldn't participate a whole lot (or me, either) because he's just not as obsessed as his big brother, it did give Daniel, the driver, and the whole car a time of enjoyed interaction without electronics or interruptions.  There were tons of giggles and lots of "Good job!  You should have known that one!  Way to go!"  Love time with my boys :)

We're Still Alive and Exist

I know that blogging isn't as "fashionable" as other social media, like Facebook, but I do like keeping the blog up, like a memory book.

Tomorrow, I will be 38 weeks pregnant.  We almost had a baby 2 weeks ago, but after 8 hours of labor, it fizzled out.  She tricked us all.  The midwife even apologized that she admitted us because she was sure that we were going to have a baby soon.  I guess little Moriah Joy decided that she didn't want to make her appearance yet.  Last week, I woke up a little after midnight and endured 3 hours of labor before it fizzled out, again.  Not only does it "trick" me into getting excited, but I am so exhausted for at least 24 hours afterwards.  It is not fun.  As much as I am ready to hold her, I have 3 boys who are equally excited if not more to meet their baby daughter/sister.  Daniel has even been looking online for natural ways to induce labor.  I know, I know.  This pregnancy has been ROUGH, to say the least.  I'm soooo ready to be done.  All these contractions have been coming for months now.  My legs, ankles, and feet are swollen and have been for awhile.  Apparently, I've been looking 9 months pregnant since I was about 6 months...or so I'm told by many Chick-fil-A customers.

Malachi has completed 2nd grade with flying colors.  His school doesn't given As & Bs.  They give I (improvement needed), M (making progress), & C (Consistently).  Malachi had several Ms in the 1st-3rd quarters.  That's not horrible, but it's not "perfect" either.  I'm so happy to say that he ended the year with all Cs (which means, he basically got All As).  We are so thankful for a great school and a great year for MJ.  He had a stellar teacher and got excellent reading help this year.  He's definitely ready to be a 3rd grader!  He was missing his front teeth pretty much all school year, but they are finally coming in :)  He's growing so big and strong and smart, and we are so blessed to have him as the oldest child!

Ezekiel finished half-day kindergarten.  He's reading really well and his math skills are getting pretty good, too.  I'm still not a huge fan of the "half-day" thing, but Z did learn and had a great year.  I just know how great Malachi's kindergarten year was and how much he learned by being there all day.  Z has been to two different physical therapy places, but the most recent seems to be working best to help strengthen his leg.  His muscles are deficient from the hip all the way down, but he is starting to make progress to straighten out his walk and build muscle.  He is very excited to be a big brother.  He was quite bummed at first that he was going to have a little sister, but now he is just excited to have a baby to hold and help with.  He'll be an excellent helper, too!

I am loving working at CFA!  I started as a team member, spent a few months in the "service" team as a Team Leader.  A few weeks ago, I was promoted to Talent Director (HR).  All the employees are so great to work with, and they have been so wonderful about working with me and all my preggo problems.  It has been a pure pleasure to serve others in that capacity.  The job is much less stressful than teaching and quite a welcomed break.  Who knows what God has in store for my future, but I am fully content to be in the place that I am right now :)

I'll try to update a little bit more often once Moriah arrives.  Be blessed!