Friday, May 31, 2013

extremes


This was May 29th.
After we had over six inches three days prior.  



This was May 2nd. 



Seriously.

Like several others in our little town, we had a wet basement.  10+ inches of rain has that effect.

What a mess.

But it could have been a lot worse.

In the meantime, we are still going about life.  Cleaning up {throwing away A LOT of things that we haven't even looked at since we moved in six years ago}.  Preparing for baby {Hannah wants to play with all of the baby stuff I've been digging out}.  Enjoying summer weather when it isn't raining {anxiously awaiting the pool opening next week}.

It's the little things, like hopping in the truck at 8pm on a Thursday night and driving to Daddy's office to get ice cream.

Minus the big lick I took off the top, this is an award winning ice cream cone -- Brent could work at Dairy Queen.


Happy kids with ice cream filled tummies.  


Monday, May 27, 2013

ice cream!

Lucas likes to climb to the top of seed bag mountain.  He thinks it's a pretty neat space to have all to himself.  


Hannah's little legs just can't reach... it will only be a matter of time!  


Besides getting to see Daddy, another special treat about going to Dad's office is ICE CREAM!  
Great Pa stores his ice cream machine here and our customers really enjoy that!  

A good reason to do business with Brent :)  




Wednesday, May 22, 2013

sibling certification

Lucas and Hannah attending the Big Brother/Big Sister class at the hospital in anticipation of Baby Perry arriving in approximately six weeks.  Since Lucas IS already a big brother, this was just a "tag along" class for him.  Do you remember when he did this when we were expecting Hannah?  Check it out here.  How little does he look?  Time flies!  

The kids made a special bib for the baby, read a story about the baby and what mommy and daddy will be doing to take care of the baby, how big brothers and big sisters can help with the baby, and even how to change a diaper.  Then we toured the floor of the hospital that the kids will come visit baby.  

Buttons that they proudly wore AND wanted to wear again the next day.  In fact, Hannah asked to wear it to bed the other night.  :)  


Learning how to change a diaper. 
Both kids were intrigued - but I would guess there won't be a lot of help from them in this category.   



Proud of our soon to be Biggest and Big siblings.  

Friday, May 17, 2013

farm field trip

Lucas' preschool class visited Brown's farm recently.  I was so proud of him to know some of the answers about what the animals eat, how the pigs stay cool and what is planted in the fields.  Our kids aren't {technically} farm kids since we don't live on a farm, but we sure try to teach them how important agriculture is to our everyday life.  Growing up on a farm absolutely impacted both Brent and I and we try to expose our kids to it as much as possible. 


Lucas and a sweet baby chick.  Some of the kids were afraid of it and didn't want to hold it - I love that Lucas wanted to get one in his hands and feel how soft the feathers were.  


Casey and Lucas.  
We toured the farm in the hog cart, which was a great way to move 20 preschoolers, 2 teachers and half a dozen parents without any mishaps.  


Checking on one of the four week old pigs.  


The pig hut "slide." 


Mom and Lucas.  

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

soccer

We have entered a new phase in our family - extracurricular activities.  Lucas was old enough to play soccer this spring and when we asked him if he wanted to play, he was giddy with anticipation.  The weather was not really on soccer's side this spring (cancelled practices and games) but the kids still had a great time when they did take the field.











Bo, Lucas, Coach Amber, Maci, Reece and Keeley. 


Coach Amber is a Hawkeye fan, but she LOVES Lucas' Iowa State gear :)  






Lucas, Ava and Bo.






All decked out in many warm layers. 


Taking a break with Dad. 




Grandpa and Grandma made it to lots of games!  


Maci, Bo, Lucas and a player for opposing team. 


Kade and Hannah passing time at practice... 


Lucas really enjoyed his first year of soccer.  He learned a lot but most of all had lots of fun.  I think we'll be out on the cold and wet soccer field again next year!  

Sunday, May 12, 2013

our mothers

My mom and mother-in-law have taught me numerous lessons about life, marriage and parenting.  I'm thankful for them in many more ways than I could say in a blog post... Love to our mothers on this Mother's day and EVERYday.
Mary holding Teresa - one day old.

Connie holding Brent - one day old.  

Friday, May 10, 2013

Flashback Friday

Feldpausch kids at Christmas... 
estimated 1990.


This flashback Friday is for my brother.  When we were going through photos for Ann's funeral, we found several doozies, as you can see here.  :)  He requested I make this photo a flashback Friday.  I think mostly because he looks fine (minus the purple turtleneck?)There are so many things I could talk about... but let's just mention my glasses, perm and bunny sweater.  Super awesome.  

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Baby #3

I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone!   I need to get organized and get some things ready for baby's arrival.  Eek!  The next few weeks will fly by!

I love being pregnant and have no legitimate complaints... just some little whiny ones :)

How far along?  33 weeks

How big is baby?  about 4 pounds  ~ think pineapple

Gender?   No idea!

Weight gain?  Not sure, but less than my first two pregnancies.  I don't know how much I gained for either of them... my doctor has never made an issue of it, so I don't either.

Maternity clothes?  Mostly, but I'm still wearing some regular clothes (which I never did with the first two pregnancies).  I really need maternity shirts for the length to cover the belly at this point.

Sleep?  Mostly good... waking up for bathroom breaks.  I do partake in a nap once in a while... :)

Symptoms?  Oh, the heartburn!  Lots of it and lots earlier than other pregnancies.  Other than that, feeling wonderful!

Movement?  Baby is pretty active.  At my last appointment baby was head down so some of the movement has changed positions recently.  Baby's most active time of day is 9-11pm at night.  Hope he or she isn't a night owl!

Food cravings/aversions?   I haven't had a ton of cravings this pregnancy... except... I did consume a LOT of Reece's Peanut Butter Eggs during the Easter season.  It was real bad!  My appetite has declined quite a bit because I'm simply running out of room for food.  Early on I had aversions to lots of smells (most commonly raw meat) but no aversions recently.

Belly button?  In - just like the other two pregnancies; I don't anticipate it popping out.

Wedding rings on or off?  On.  No swelling but that might change if/when the hot summer temperatures arrive.

Happy or moody?  I'm 90% happy pregnant lady, but I do have to admit to some mood swings.  I know it's a combination of tired and emotions, but I do feel bad after I've "recovered" from those situations.

What I miss?  Sleeping on my stomach and the ease of rolling over in bed - it's getting harder and harder...

What I'm looking forward to?  Picking a name... well, picking two names - a boy name and a girl name.  Any suggestions?  We haven't talked about it AT ALL.  Time is running out!

Upcoming apppointments/events?  I always look forward to the next appointment because I love, love, love hearing that perfect little heartbeat.  I'm also looking forward to Lucas and Hannah having Big Brother/Big Sister class at the hospital soon.

Labor signs?  I *think* I might have had a few Braxton Hicks in the last week.  I didn't have anything at all with other pregnancies, so it's hard for me to know.  Since I was induced with Lucas and Hannah, I sort of feel dumb about contractions/going into labor.  I have NO COMPLAINTS about their labor experiences, though, and I would totally take labor & delivery just like the first two!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Hannah

Hannah has matured a lot in the last few months.  I don't know if she understands that a baby is coming and she's going to be a big sister, or if she has just grown up.  She continues to climb on everything, is always asking "where are we going?" and has lots of facial expressions.


Hannah never wants to keep her shoes and socks on.  Ever.  She loves to pick out whatever footwear she will be wearing, but they never stay on long.  Within seconds of being buckled into her carseat - they are off.  

On a day we were enjoying the snow this winter, Hannah insisted on pulling out her stroller from the garage and wanted to sit in it.  Guess she was in need of a rest.  Within a few minutes Hannah had her snow boots off!  She had her hat, coat, mittens and snow pants - but hey, kick off the boots!


On another snow day, we built a snow family and one that ended up being named the snow doggy.  Everyday until he melted Hannah had to check on snow doggy - petting him and giving him kisses.  She loves dogs.  The first thing she asks Papa Richard is "where is the doggy?"  At the mention of going to Papa Steve and Gramma Connie's she wants to see Sadie.  On the couple days of nice weather we've had this spring, she always wants to check on the neighbor's dogs, George and Izzy. 

She is animal crazy.  A bird had flown into the garage one night and the next morning Lucas opened the kitchen door and the bird flew inside.  Without too much effort we got the bird back outside but the kids remember it!  Hannah asked where the bird's coat was - she was worried about it being cold.  




If Hannah has been quiet for just a little too long she can usually be found in the bathroom doing one of two things - 1) brushing her teeth or 2) putting on a band aid.  She loves both.  



She is so good at taking care of her babies - all (what seems like) 100 of them.  Rocking, feeding, burping - she is a good mama.  She also likes to pretend to do my hair - dry, brush, spray - the whole bit.  As much as she loves her cowboy boots, the dirt and animals, she is a girly girl, too.  



I would have loved to pack her up and take her with on my second trip to Belgium but I thought she might get hungry on the 9 hour flight.  



She also may have inherited my worst habit - junk food.  She loves cookies, candy, treats, anything sweet!  If I am in the kitchen for more than five minutes, she automatically is scooting the bar stools around the kitchen "I watch" she says.  But it isn't as convenient for her just to watch... she has to "help" by taste testing, stirring, pouring, spilling, etc.  I love her eagerness to help so I usually just try to limit the mess and clean up whatever creation we have.  


Hannah and Lucas have started playing a lot of hide and seek around the house.  She loves to cover her eyes and count to ten.  She always looks in the same spots for Lucas so it isn't too challenging for him, but he is a good sport.  Most of the time, Hannah refers to Lucas as "Brudder." 


Somewhere Hannah picked up on the words "chicken butt."  What?!?!  Yes, you read that correctly.  Anyway, we've told her it's not really a nice thing to talk about and we don't need to say it.  The other night at Dave & Maggie's something made her think of it.  She said it, everyone laughed and we said "no more."  Maggie was holding her and she said it one more time.  Maggie said, "Hannah, mommy said no more."  Hannah looks over at me, looks back at Maggie and MOUTHS THE WORDS chicken butt.  I can't even make this stuff up - this girl is going to give me a head full of gray hair.  But I do love her and boy, does she make us laugh! 

She's growing up fast and has her own personality.  Her best saying is, "love you, mama."  

Monday, May 6, 2013

Lucas

It is incredible to watch your kids grow up.  Right before your eyes they change, mature and grow.  A few stories about Mr. Lucas...

I don't know how it even started, but sometime in the last few months Lucas and I started this little saying.  "I love you." 
"I love you more."
"Nope, it's not possible."
"Yes, it's very possible.  I love you more."  
It usually goes on like this for a bit and spirals out of control; the quotes could be from either of us, it's fun and makes us both giggle.  


There were lots of discussions in the last few months about Aunt Ann and Uncle Koen.  Lucas had picked out a picture that he wanted to color for Aunt Ann from his race car coloring book.  When he had finished it, I reached for it to start tearing the page out of the book.  Before I could even get started on the serrated page he was asking what I was doing... he wanted her to have it, but he wondered how it would get to Belgium.  I told him we'd mail it from the post office.  He was concerned about it getting wet when it went across the ocean.  :)  I suggested we take a picture of him with the picture and email it.  That solved all the issues, including the speed at which snail mail travels. 


I may be a bit of a pushover at bedtime.  You see, this is the time of day that I think about how fast the kids grow up and I might let them get away with an extra something or other that I might not usually.  On this particular night, right at bedtime, Lucas told me he needed to draw me a picture.  Oh, he is so sweet.  So I let him stay up a little later and the creation began.  As you can see, there were many attempts at the perfect "people" for his drawing.  

This was his final piece, a family picture:



How much do these two love each other?  Of course it isn't ALWAYS happiness, but they do like each other.  
After Brent and I were in Belgium back in February, then I was taking a lot of trips to my parent's with Ann's arrangements, then we were all on the road for the funeral - the kid's bedtime routines were all sorts of messed up.  While trying to get back on track there were some night time frustrations.  One night, we could hear Lucas singing to Hannah at bedtime to try to soothe her.  He was making up his own tune, but it included things like "close your eyes" and "don't be sad."  Such a good caretaker.  Watch out Hannah's future boyfriend(s)!


Also at bedtime quite a while ago, Lucas asked to say his prayers by himself.  What could he be praying for that he doesn't want me to hear?  Like any good parent, I stuck my ear to the doorway to eavesdrop.  "Dear God, please let there be two babies in mommy's tummy.  A boy for me and a girl for Hannah.  Amen."  So sweet that he wanted a playmate for each of them, but I did follow that up with my own small prayer - "Dear Lord, one perfectly healthy baby is sufficient.  Thank you."  




Saturday, May 4, 2013

~~ something is wrong with these photos ~~

SNOW!
May 2, 2013







Then, MORE SNOW on May 3, 2013.