Jason, Kujo, Mr. Kusick, Coach

The next one up is my dear older brother Jason!

Let's start off in the beginning. Jason is 2.5 years older than me. As kids growing up we were the best of buds always hanging out. I probably was a nuisance at times to him, but the funny thing is I don't really remember us fighting much. Now, Anna and Jessica, we fought, but Jason, not so much. We were two grades apart. Every summer, our Kusick Grandparents would take us two on trips together each summer. We would either head to Branson or Colorado. Good times. Jason was still a nut then, and maybe even more so a nut now.

He was the oldest son, and I do remember being the oldest son, Dad was kind of hard on him. He was always at Dad's side on whatever project Dad may be doing at the time, and as any of my siblings will agree along with Mom, my Dad is not really the easiest guy to work with. Anyways, Jason and I would always go off on adventures, to the woods, creeks, lakes, or what have you.Just exploring I guess, and being kids.

In high school, I was my brother's biggest wrestling fan. See coming from the middle of no where, (Grade school in Frankenstein) there were no sports to play, except I mentioned before a summer baseball league. Jason played that, but I don't know that he liked it all that much. I will have to ask him. Anyways, he started wrestling his freshman year of high school as 103 lb weight class with not a lick of experience, just a hard work ethic, a desire to never lose, and pretty tough overall. He was what you would call a grappler, and earned the name "Kujo". Kind of scary I know. What's funny, is this nickname still sticks from many old highschool friends to him today. He was JV his freshman year, and went on sophomore year to be varsity and place 4rth in state. A major upset to many of the already placed wrestlers. Junior and Senior year varsity again, and he placed 2nd in state at 119 weight class as a senior. You know I can name several people to this day of people he wrestled and his best most amazing matches. I rarely missed a meet, and because of becoming such a great fan, I became Head Statitician( the girls that went to all the meets and tournaments, and kept scores) my junior and senior year. I know really cool right? haha! Anyways, Jason surprised more people than ever. This boy from the country that came to wrestle at Helias (our highschool was a big wrestling school) and out of nowhere was a pretty Darn good wrestler. He showed them.

Jason went on after highschool, and worked on the night shift at a factory for over a year, and then decided he thought he would prefer going to college verses working his tail end off day in and out. So, off to college, where he graduated with a bachelors in Physical Education. He also wrestled in college too, and even has his picture hanging up at the CMSU gym now.

He met his future wife there while attending, and I will never forget it. Jason told me he had a girlfriend, named Crystal, and I was like whatever! haha. When Jason, got his girlfriend, we hardly ever hung out or talked anymore, he was too busy being a gay boyfriend, making recordings on cassette tapes of him talking to his beloved girl. Looking back on it, Jason was an awesome boyfriend, that apparently loved this girl very much. She was going to school there to become a nurse.

Well, the story goes, that they end up getting married, and having two of the most adorable children ever.

So, some points that make me admire my brother. One, he is the spitting image of my Dad. I have always thought both of them to be pretty good lookin for family anyhow. Haha. Both in shape and bald:) I would say they are freaks of nature to some point that they both are so incredibly strong(like my other brothers too) and are very very smart when it comes to working out and lifting weights, and writing work out programs for people as a hobby. Jason has taught himself so much about supplements and the human body. Which intrigues me also, being the vitamin nut that I am.

He is currently working at a High School as the ISS teacher, and if that wouldn't take patience, I don't know what would. He is also a wrestling coach. So, not only a full time working husband, but a Dad too.

And this is one of my most favorite things about my brother is him as a husband and a father.
First, as a husband. Crystal is one lucky woman, as I know she will agree. I mean before when I said, Jason was a "gay" boyfriend- he was. He did all those things that make you want to gag yourself when you see other boys do it for girls. Crystal was his queen. But as a woman myself, I learned that is what we want, and Crystal found it in my brother. It's pretty cool, when you can say your brother is an awesome spouse. He does these little things for her, that just make me smile.
What a goodlookin couple!

Ahhh, his proposal. What a great story! Jason had taken some progression pictures of him going down on one knee with a ring in his hand. They were at a park on a swingset, and he threw them into some other pictures he had, and when she flipped to those, and the final one, she looked to see Jason kneeling in front of her with ring in his hand and asking her to marry him. Pretty cool, huh.

Next, Jason as a Dad. Man, he is just a downright awesome Dad. It is so amazing to watch your brother become and be a Father. He is and always will be a kid at heart. Sometimes, I like to say that Jason has more maternal instinct than some women I know. He is such a great teacher and caretaker of his little girl and little boy.
Told you he is a nut.



I love this one.


Jason, one last thing. Be reminded when you read this. I am still cooler than you.

Your biggest fan

Who would you say is your biggest fan? Last night, about 3am, when I do my best thinking of course; I started pondering about relationships, and worrying about what is to come with another addition to the family here very shortly. Marriage is not always easy and honestly throw a few kids in there it can be even harder to focus on your husband or wife. I will be straight forward and say, I am downright scared of the changes that are going to happen in our family in the next month. I don't think I would be normal if I wasn't though. I question, how we are going to give Benjamin enough love and attention with another baby. I question, how are we going to give each other enough of that too. Last night, I was just watching Ben, and there are moments I truly want to explode with how much I love him. Am I capable of multiplying that by two. Well, I think so. I think God knows I am, and it just happens when the baby comes.

So, the worry, is Jake and I don't really get much time with each other as it is. And when we do, it is few and far between. Last night, I was sitting on Jake's lap at the computer. And Ben saw this going on, and thought it was pretty funny. Then he felt left out so wanted to sit on someone's lap.

Then it clicked in my head. I think I am Jake's biggest fan as a father, and I really hope to think he is my biggest fan as I am a mother. So, easy enough, we just need to show each other that. Be the most supportive father/husband, mother/wife of the other and vice versa, and it makes it all sound pretty simple right?

So, my key to having a loving healthy realationship with your spouse while having children is be their Biggest Fan. Root them on when they are down, support them when they need that support, compliment them when you you admire them for something. Admiration is such a strong word and has so much good meaning. When a husband and wife admire each other how blessed of a relationship is that.

Don't get me wrong, Jake and I have our fights, and boy can we get mad at each other. We are so far from being the perfect husband and wife than Jane and John Doe down the street. But I know we work with each other each day to make our worlds revolve. We hate to fight with each other, and the relief when we make up is nothing short of amazing to me. Then we wonder why the heck are we fighting anyways. Is it really worth it? I am not saying that any of this is easy, and I am definately not an expert.

The best times are when you get along so well with each other, you almost suprise yourselves. You just can't beat it. You CRAVE for more satisfaction in your relationship. I totally believe that no couple goes into a relationship to fail. It is a human charactaristic to succeed. Why not be successful together.

So, Jake I will do my best to be your biggest fan!

TIRED, TIRED, TIRED!

I don't ever remember feeling as tired as I am right now. But actually, I am certain I was before when Ben was a brand newborn at home, only sleeping every two to three hours.

Truly, I am exhausted, and I don't have my little crutch called caffeine right now to give me my little boosts. How I truly crave an Iced Mocha from Starbuck right now! That would hit the spot!

The heat probably doesn't help. I had to travel some for work on Friday, and was out and about walking in the humidity, and I think it got to me. I started to feel really light headed, and I had been trying to chug down the water to help. I feel horrible for those that have to work outside all day in this heat!

Ben's sleeping schedule hasn't helped the last three nights. He keeps awaking to what I think is painful eye teeth trying to come in. Poor guy, but it's like he just can't get comfortable at night. Nor can I for that matter, and when I wake up to get out of bed to check on him or go to the restroom, which is around three times a night, I have the hardest times trying to get back to sleep. I will literally lay and roll around back and forth for up to an hour and 1/2 trying to get back to sleep. It is so frustrating, cuz I already know I am exhausted.

The way I see it, is preparation for Jonna to come in the next few weeks. I just don't remember being this uncomfortable at night when I was pregnant with Ben. I really don't remember even having half of this trouble. That's okay, it could definately be worse! Enough complaining I could be one of those mothers that have to be on bedrest, and I could not do that!

Way behind on belly pictures, but here is me at 36 weeks!


And this is almost 37 weeks with Ben!

THE POTTY DANCE!!

That's right, this Big Mama and her big man Ben were doing a fun ring around the posey potty dance last night, because BEN WENT POTTY IN THE POTTY CHAIR ON COMMAND!!!!

I have gone back and forth in the last two months abou potty training with Ben because he shows the interest, but I just don't want to push it if he isn't ready, and set him up for failure. Plus, everyone tells me how much later boys potty train than girls. Don't get me wrong we are anxious, but I still don't want to push it.

I let him sit on the potty when he wants to, and he never goes. Just after two seconds of sittin up there. He smiles, and then acts like he need TP to wipe, and then off he hops to flush. He has done this for at least two months now.

Well. last night, I had let him run through the sprinkler in his clothes and diaper, and after he was done, I stripped him down, and just put a pair of mesh shorts on, not wanting to waste another diaper before bath time. Well, he was very thirsty and downed two glasses of milk right after he was done playing. I kept asking him to tell me if he needed to go, and he would look at me and smile. At one point, he got up out of the recliner he was sitting in with me and started grabbing himself, and I noticed a little dribble heading down his leg. I was quick to pick him up and rush to the threshhold of the potty chair. Of course, he cut off in mid flow. Thank goodness, we didn't have a trace of pee to the bathroom. Stripped his shorts down, sat him up on the toilet on top of the Elmo potty lid, and said, "OK, Ben, go potty now." He looked at me and smiled, and then even pushed his "weewee" down(as mother's of boys you know they HAVE to do this) and DO YOU KNOW HE WENT POTTY?!!! And he pottied for several seconds, so I was thinking AWESOME JOB! and we celebrated. I expressed how proud I was of him, we did a POTTY DANCE, and you could tell how happy he was too! Then we went to get some icecream as his reward in the kitchen.

We tried to call a few people to let them tell Ben how proud they were of him, but the first one I got a hold of was Uncle Jason and Ava, and they kept telling him Congratulations and Way to go! And he just grinned from ear to ear. Crystal said in the background, "Did you ever think you would get this excited about potty in the potty chair?" And all I could do was laugh, because no, I don't remember the last time I was so excited!

Well, as we sat at the table, I looked outside to see dear old Mugsy chewing up our garden water bucket! GRRRRRRRR, and ran outside to give him a a scolding. I came back five minutes later and saw that WELL, Ben finished going potty in his booster seat! Darn it! But he knew right away he was wet and wanted his pants off, so he is making the connection still.

Anyways, that was our exciting night!! I still don't want to push it, but we are going to try it out more this weekend!! I don't want to get my hopes up.

WAY TO GO BENJAMIN! If he only knew how proud this Mama was!

Three weeks and counting, Any Guesses?

Had a great checkup today for me and Jonna. We had an ultrasound checking out her size, my fluid, and her heart, and everything looks okay! She still has the "faint" fetal Pac's as the ultrasonagrapher referred to it, but the heart still looks awesome. No fluid around it to worry about. HR was about 148 again.

I gained almost a lb, and this morning was my first notice that I may be swelling some, cuz I couldn't get my wedding ring off. I am going to blame it on this darn heat. Being the heat index is over a 100 the last few days, and muggy as all get out.

The ultrasound measured her at 5 lbs, 15 oz. So, just as an estimate a baby gains about 1/2 lb a week in the last month, so I assume she will be right about Ben's weight(7lbs 2oz), but maybe a few ounces heavier. So, lets take bets now guys! My guess is 7lbs, 7 oz. and 21 inches long. She still has hair on her head, and I guess it will be dark brown.

What are your guesses?!

Audiologist Appointment

So, I took Ben to the Audiologist today to have his hearing checked. Wow, it was a very neat visit. They tested his ear drums using a tympanogram (Tympanometry is another test for middle ear fluid. Tympanometry helps the health care provider find out how well the eardrum moves. For tympanometry, a soft plug that is about the size of a person's little fingertip is placed snugly into the ear canal. The probe is connected to a machine called a tympanometer. The child hears a low noise for a short time while the machine records how the eardrum reacts. An eardrum with fluid behind it does not move as well as a normal eardrum.)
Then, she put us in this little box/room, while he sat on my lap facing her outside the box and she observed him as sounds occurred. Then she put some ear phones in and tested some more.

All went very well, I think. His right ear is great, and in the clear. His left ear, has fluid behind the ear drum, and he has slight hearing impairment from it. The results will be sent to the doctor today, and see what he says. The Audiologist, doesn't think it is effecting his overall development, and would be surprised if he would recommend tubes. So, we will go from there.

On a side note: Benjamin was absolutely perfect at the appointment. He listened so well, and did everything that the Dr. asked him to do. Even sat still with the headphones in while we were in the box. I think he may have thought it was a game. I am so proud of him!

Brief Update

Today, at the doctor: Gained 2 lbs, doing good. Jonna's HR 148. Her Fetal PAC's are back and is much more apparent than last checkup. Next Thursday, we will do another Ultrasound on her, just take a peak and see that everything looks good. Doc isn't worried about the PACS to much. She told me today, that in all of her deliveries, she has never had a baby she delivered that still had the PACs after birth. That is reassuring, She has been a doc for a long time, and delivered lots of babies!

She checked me and I have not progressed, which was a big fat R-E-L-I-E-F! I really prefer not to go early if I don't have to. Reasons for contractions could be several things: Tired, Carrying Benjamin, or my body has gone through this before and is already stretched out and more prepared for baby to be delivered. She is head down, but not completely engaged, which means she isn't ripe, just yet.

I will be excited to see her again next week in the Ultrasound!

Four weeks from today, I estimate that I will be holding my baby girl!!!

Exactly four weeks from today!

I will be having a baby!! Jonna will be here, unless she decided to make an early arrival, which I am beginning to think is very possible! All day yesterday at work, I was very uncomfortable, and reading the signs, was having a lot of preterm labor. I just kept drinking water, and walking around to try to be as comfortable as possible. I think Jonna has also moved to a lower position which is affecting my hips a lot. I can't imagine for any reason going this early, but I am starting to realize I probably should get a little more prepared, like pack a bag for the hospital, and have back up people for daycare pick up for Ben just in case. A few other tidbits here and there.
Ben was so sweet to me last night, because when I would get pains, I would go lay down on the bed and he would come in to hug me, and say, "OK?" and then lay by me for a minute or two. Just a good caretaker of his mother. Really, I don't even know if Jake knows what is going on, and doesn't seem to pay much mind, but I think that is just the way he is. He figures I'll be fine up till birth.

Last night, I woke up to some contractions about 6 minutes apart. They hurt pretty bad, and I got up walked and drank a glass of water. It took a while to get back to sleep, but once I did, I was out like a rock, and woke up exhausted. So, mabye I am just really tired which is adding to the discomfort. I have some stresses going on that probably don't help, but oh well. Such is life.

I have an appointment tomorrow, so we will see what Doc says! I don't know if I mentioned last time, but last appointment, her irregular beats had come back, but not quite as often. I would say over a 15 to 20 second period, she would have an off beat. Where as initially, her beats were all over the place. So, Doc didn't seem too concerned. It would be great to hear good news tomorrow about that. Even though I shouldn't worry, I do. Especially as the time gets closer. I just pray every day over and over again, for a healthy, strong little Jonna!

Back to the grinding stone! Hope all is well with everyone!

Showers and Spray Parks

My ritual in the morning is quite humorous, at least to me. And I don't know how long this will keep going.

Every morning, the end of last week and this week, Ben gets up as soon as I get up. I have been so thankful lately that he has been sleeping from about 8:15pm to 430 or 5am every night. Which in the Holee household is absolutely wonderful! Usually, when he gets up, I just grab him and put him in bed with me. Usually, Jake is already up getting ready to leave or is at work. We sleep or lay in bed till my alarm goes off at 5:55, and then I see if I can magically move from the bed without awaking him. It hasn't worked. So, we talk for a minute, to put him in a good mood of course. Then we grab a sippy cup, blanket, his "Animal" book and "Firetruck" book and he sits on the bathroom floor while I shower. The funny part about it is he points to pictures and animals, saying them outloud, and I (while showering) talk to him back through the shower curtain and reassure him, or ask "OK, what is that one?" And we have conversations back and forth till I am done. Then we brush our teeth together. I go dress him, and then bring him to the living room to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I am amazed because Ben is still not one to watch TV for long periods of time or at all, and he will sit there for a good 20-25 minutes to watch that while I get ready for work in our bedroom. This ritual has made our mornings pretty darn easy, and I am loving it. Then, I think about throwing a newborn into that mix, and get a little worried. We will just adjust again, as any of you parents know is a "constant."

Also, last weekend Jake, Ben, and I along with his Sister Jessica, and her children went to Stephens Park in Columbia. It was awesome. First off, free!! Second it has a swimmable lake, and a spray park. BEN LOVED the spray park, and attached are a few photos.

Ben and I having some fun getting wet. That water was cold!! Ben didn't mind, but Mama isn't as tough!


Ben and Jake, you couldn't get Ben to slow down much! He was just too excited!

Isn't she adorable?! You are lookin pretty hot yourself, Jake. Nothing like my good lookin man holding his little neice, Sydney.

Jessica, Syd, and Ben

34 weeks

Just cruisin along with pregnancy. 34 weeks, and a count down of a little over four weeks till C-section day. This pregnancy has been quite different from my pregnancy with Ben. I can honestly tell you now, if Jonna is healthy and ready, I am all for going earlier than my due date. With Ben, I was still quite nervous, and didn't know what to expect. And truly, had a wonderful third trimester. Not to say this one is bad, but I am more tired,and uncomfortable with Jonna. The fact of having toddler Ben probably doesn't help. But also picking up 30lb big brother is taking a toll on my back. And I don't remember getting so uncomfortable from some of her kicks and movements. Ben stayed to the lower left side, Jonna is mostly in the middle with her hind rump usually above my belly button sticking out time and time again. She is head down, and has been for over a month now. She is growing because at points I feel her rump stick out and then on my lower right side another big bump will move out at the same time, assuming this is her little head. The funny thing is often she will lay that way while I rub her rump or head, like she really enjoys the massaging. Ben is preparing for her coming by taking care of a stuffed dog he has. He will put it in her swing and rock him, and now he likes to put him in her bed with a blanket and pillow. He puts his fingers to his lips, and says SHHHHHHWWHHHHH! Sleepin!It's so funny.
According to babycenter.com she is 4 and 3/4 lbs and she is almost 18 inches long. Also, as a sidenote, they mention that most babies born between 34 and 37 weeks are healthy, may have to spend a few nights in the neonatal unit for the lungs to finish maturing, but she will be good. It is just nice to know that for any reason if I did go this early, Jonna should be all right! I also want to mention, how much I love saying her name and talking about her. Jonna! I think it is beautiful, just like she is going to be. Overall, we are really just very excited! We know what to expect moreso this go around, and knowing the joys of Ben, makes us that much more anxious to see Jonna. I know the time will be here before we know it! Also, i better add a few pictures of Ben today. Notice the new pool we got for Ben! Quite a sore subject with me still. As you all know, Ben had a swimming pool, but Mugsy decided to use it as a chew toy along with our garden. Not HAPPY!

And he also got a basketball too! He still loves balls!!
After church, we headed to Grandma and Papa Kusick's and he played on the slip and slide. Too much fun.
At times we turned the hose off hooked to the slide because Ben was totally wearing himself out. He literally ran up and down at least 50 times, saying, "Mark, set, go!" He was so out of breath. This is him telling Grandma, that the water was gone! "Where did it go?" he says.
And then we were back at it.

You wanna know what I think?!

I just wanted to start my blog with statement because for some reason, that thought has crossed my mind a couple times today, and I bit my tongue. Then, I started thinking about my siblings again. One in particular:

Anna Banana

She is #2, second oldest of all of us, and she is nothing short of a fireball! 4'9" Superwoman, would be a pretty good description. And very ornery. She is one that will let you know what she thinks, and doesn't hold back. Sometimes, I wish I had more of that in me.

Growing up,I remember Anna being quiet, mostly stuck to herself, and we always joked that she slept all the time. So many of our home videos of us back in Frankenstein, show Anna sleepin on the couch or just loungin around. I think she also had to grow up quickly, just like Jessica. In taking care of her younger brothers and sisters.
Anna was a runner also. I remember she got me running with her to gradeschool in the morning. I think it entailed about a mile of gravel road, and another mile of blacktop.
Anna always wore the cutest clothes and I do remember that the majority of clothes we got were hand me downs from one particular family that had girls that were Anna and Jessica's age. The best part was, they were THE Coolest clothes ever. I am talking "Girbaud", "Guess", "Z-cavarichi." Those that are my age know what I am talking about. Well, Anna and Jessica would get first dibbs, and being the pain in the butt sister I was I would always borrow without asking. Anna and I would get into some real trash talkin fights about the clothes, but I guess we always made up later.
I mentioned before she was a runner, and a pretty darn good one. She ran Cross-Country, and I think went to state two years in a row. She also ran Track, relays and 300 Meter Hurdles. She placed in state (5th?) running the hurdles her senior year. I mean, that is pretty aweseome considering the hurdle went up to her chest. I remember watching her run, it was always quite exciting.
We became great friends when she went away to college. Somehow, I think I made it up to visit her every month or every other month, when she went to College in Warrensburg. Those were some pretty good times, weren't they Anna? We may have had a little too much fun.
I don't want to get myself into trouble here, but it use to be a "thing" to go and "T-P" friends' houses. Anna started me on that. Hahahha,hmmmmmm..we probably did that a few too many times. I remember one time, I had to jet across a road because we saw the car's headlights coming, and I jumped over the other side to fall down and embankment, crushing my big toe in the process. Anna proceeded to tell Mom, that we were out late, had headed to Taco Bell, and Maria fell and stubbed her toe on the curb. Good cover Anna!
Onto the later years, Anna graduated from Warrensburg, then proceeded to enlist in the Army, wow. She decided that wasn't for her after several years, and She married Matt, a whopping 6ft 2in, and had two darling little girls back to back.


Elle(6) and Mati(4). These two girls are pistols just like their mother. Elle is gonna be "Big like her mother" and Mati is going to take more after her Dad.


Anna has worked for the government in Veteran Affairs and HR for several years now. She is always on the search for "Bigger and Better" which is one thing I love most about her. She is not one to settle and is capable of conquering the world if you ask me.

She is not one to slow down, and always is up for anything. She was down visiting the other weekend, and was awesome. She was so much help, and it was so much appreciated. She even watched Ben for a day, so Jake and I could go to the Lake.

She just graduated with her Master's and you know not two minutes after the ceremony, she was saying, "ya know, I think I will go get my doctrate".

So my question is, Who wouldn't admire Anna Banana? I could probably write a ton more, like watching her play Rugby in college and playing co-ed, watching her take out guys twice her size. Or the fact that her and I would have push-up contests with random people and win. Or maybe that fact that she is also the best mother ever. Her girls are her world, and you would know it at first impression. So, cheers to you Big Sis! I hope to continue and have just half the motivation and drive that you have five years from now.

Maternity Pics with Jonna-2009

First, I want to give this HUGE thank you to LORI!! Wow! I asked her as a friend to take some maternity shots of me. And boy did she get some shots. I am so happy with all of them. She had never done anything like this before, and you wouldn't know.

As mentioned before, we headed to KC for some fun with friends and their children. It was a blast. Ben was just one of 7 kids running around the Sand's yard. Six of them were three or younger. It was so much fun to see them go crazy with each other.
Lori, Ben and I snuck off for a while to get the pics! You will notice that there aren't any pictures of Jake in them, well he had to work, and wasn't able to come with us. But you will see in some of the shots, on my thumb I am wearing Jake's wedding band, just as a reminder of Dad! AND this is what she came up with:

OK, so bare belly pics, I really don't like. It is really weird for me, and I don't know what else to say. But this picture with Ben just caught a really awesome moment, so I am sharing. But this will probably be the only bare one, I do share.

The only way to get Ben to smile right now is by saying, "Show me your teeth!" and this is what you get. PURE ORNERY BOY!

Do you see how LITTLE those shoes are?

My little ham!




Some more fabulous shots!




This last one is my ALL TIME FAVORITE, so far!


She told me she had several more to come, but these were her favorites! Is she incredible or what?!

This time 2 years ago....compared to today.

I was doing some reading in my old journal, and this time two years ago I was about 34 weeks. I had just went to a bachelorette party where I danced the night away. I hosted a wedding shower, and had just gone to a baby shower for myself. I was counting down for one month to go.

So, today, I am almost 33 weeks and not doing anything quite that exciting, but am planning to head to KC this weekend for some fun with some friends! It will be just Ben and I being that Jake is working ANOTHER full weekend. Boooo. We will do some swimming, playing, eating, and relaxing. And I even talked a friend into taking some maternity shots for me. I am very excited. Hopefully, that will be a good post later to view.

I am feeling good besides my darn back going out on me time and time again. I constantly have to stretch. I think the main problem is carrying around my not so little 29lb toddler on my hip. It's just very hard to carry him up front now, unless I rest him on top of my belly, but that is starting to get a little uncomfy. That and constantly bending over doesn't help either. But I really don't like to slow down, so I will just have to power through the next 5 1/2 weeks.

Jonna's room is almost completely done, we just need to finish painting the changing table we got. We bartered Jake's computer assistance for it. So, kind of like we got it for free.

I am still working out two times a week. I don't think I worked out much more after 32 weeks when preggo with Ben, it was hurting my hip and belly. The working out helps a lot with my back right now. I am interested to see what my weight gain is because I am literally starting to feel like a house.

Ben has been a great helper as always. He loves to feed Mugsy, water the flowers, water the garden, hoe and rake the garden, wash dishes, bake cookies, eat cookie dough (of course), and still sweeps the floor. He likes to read books to himself, and sing songs too. (Wonder where he gets that from)
His vocabulary continues to grow. And has more and more sentences that come out randomly. I learned that he talks when he wants to talk, and will talk to us when he wants to be heard. He loves to Run! "On your mark, get set, go" all the time. He just runs randomly from one destination to the other. And he is pretty fast too. I started the racing several months ago when we walk home from daycare. Well, right now, I am having a hard time keeping up with him. He stops, and looks back, and says, "come on" and then sprints off again.

The other morning, I got sick in the sink. (You would think I would learn to have food in my stomach by now when popping five vitamins at a time.) We had been sitting at the table having our breakfast of some really good french toast I prepared, and well, let's just say I had to scrub the floors and sink down pretty good about five minutes later. But as I was getting sick, Ben was turned in his seat standing watching me so concerned, saying, "Ok Mama? Ok?" Over and over again. In between throw ups, I tried to reassure him I was fine, just a little sick. Telling the story now, kind of makes laugh. And when I get teary eyed watching a movie or commercial, he will come to hug me and ask me if I am ok too. It is so darn cute. Things like these just tell me how much my little boy is growing up.

So, hopefully I will have some pictures to post soon. Getting ready to plan Ben's Bday party on the 5th of July. Work is busy as always. All is well in Holee land.

A little piece of Heaven

Fresh cut tomatoes from the garden with salt and pepper sprinkled on them. My love for tomatoes prepared like this I think I inherited from my Dad. Can't get much better than that. The ones you buy at a supermarket don't even compare!

We planted six tomato plants this year, but they will hopefully yeild fruit sometime in July. So until then I found this little Market close to our church, and they will be getting my business weekly! (typing this in between bites of my sweet and just a little salty fresh tomato).