Placenta brain?!?!
I have recently been made aware of this term, and I am starting to wonder if there is some truth to it. Now, let me preface by saying that I have been very cautious not to "falsely blame" ignorant mishaps on pregnancy. I am showing very little, so the pregnancy is really not a highlight of discussion with those other than close friends and family.
I have had very few "cravings" if any, and rarely do I "use" the idea that I should have cravings to coerce my hubby into getting some ice cream for me (though I HAVE used it once or twice:). Though I have trouble getting to sleep comfortably and have to get up several times in the night, rarely do I mention it to anyone.
HOWEVER, two weeks after finding out that I was pregnant, I lost my beloved wedding ring--broke my heart and still does make me tear up when I think about it (which is every time I look at my hand). I have lost my phone, blackberry, purse, and wallet on countless occassions. I leave things everywhere, and I am constantly having to make several trips back in the house to get something before we can leave. I leave my keys hanging in the front door (defeats the purpose of locking it, by the way). I lost my camera case with a very expensive camera (gift from employer), debit card, and drivers license (rather important when you are needing to fly back home) at Disney World. Praise the Lord, it was in lost in found. We also had to have our car jumpstarted when we got back from Palm Beach, because I left LG's dvd player on.
While, before I was pregnant, I did have "blonde moments," this is entirely different. I didn't send out Christmas cards this year, I forgot some gifts until the last minute (when I am usually on the ball and ready to roll for Christmas), and twice I have let the dish water overflow in the sink, because I got sidetracked doing something else. Once we got to Palm Beach, we had to purchase a pack n play for LG, because...you guessed it. I forgot it.
Today, I either locked my keys in the car or lost them somewhere in Wal-mart. Laura Grace and I had to call her daddy for a ride back to the house, and Josh (gracious hubby that he is) is on his way here with the other set of keys, so we can go check the car and search out Wal-mart again! By the way, he is catching on quickly and did not even question my stupidity.
So, anyway, this is just a general "wonderingment" (I DO know that is not a word, but I like it). Should I be concerned, or is this a natural tendency of "placenta brain?"

I just love how sweet she looks and how well she holds her crayons! Laura Grace really loves to color!

KINDERMUSIK

I had some friends inquire about Kindermusik, so I thought I would share a little about it. It has been wonderful for Laura Grace. I am sure that the success of it with your individual child is contigent on that child's interest and even more so on the individual teacher with whom you work. Her teacher happens to be wonderful--very outgoing and friendly.
You purchase your materials at the beginning of the semester, which include cds (of the music you hear in class), books (also that you read in class), and an instrument (typically UNannoying ones:). All of these materials coordinate with that particular semester's theme, and that is obviously based on his/her age group. Each class begins with the teacher singing a "hello" song, individualizing it for each child, and always ends with the "goodbye" song, which LG sings ALL the time at home. The kids dance and sing, listen to poetry and ryhmes, have storytime with the teacher, and work on different things such as high/low, loud/quiet, long/short sounds, etc...
Obviously, this is going to be different for each age group. Laura Grace started in the 18month-3 year class when she was 14 months, and she did very well. She may not have learned very much in the beginning, but she caught up to the other kids very quickly as far as participating and learning. A couple of things to remember is that it is very involving of the parent or caregiver (some days I feel like I've just finished an aerobics class!), and it also requires outside reinforcement (at home). Singing the songs at home and listening to the music has put Laura Grace at a great advantage over those kids who clearly haven't had that.
It is fun for me too, since I don't get a LOT of adult interaction during the day, and because LG lives in a different city than I do and than where I attend church, I don't know many people in her area, so this has opened doors for meeting other children her age.
Hope that is helpful at least a little. I think it is a great learning tool.

All dressed and ready to head to Kindermusik.... I just had to post this picture!

I am a little out of order here, but I forgot to post about our wonderful trip to Disney with our dear friends, Aaron, Selena, Rese, and Evan. We had such a great time with them, especially since it had been almost TWO years since we had seen them last (at our wedding).

We stayed at a great condo with them (thanks to THEM), and had 4 day park hopper tickets (they actually had 5 day tickets and arrived a day earlier than we did). We visited Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios, and Epcott. It was SO FUN!

Josh and I were so blessed this past weekend. My employers, Jim and Michelle took us to Palm Beach, FL via private jet to help with Laura Grace and enjoy the holiday weekend with them! They put us up at the Four Seasons Resort, beachfront. Our room had a beautiful view of the ocean, and the weather was perfect!

I have now passed my half-way mark in my pregnancy, and I am looking forward to seeing this little guy at my next ultrasound on the 18th. The positive side of having a "complicated" pregnancy is that I get to see lots of my little man! I can't wait to have him in my arms!

Here are a couple of pictures of our Easter weekend in Florida!

Update: Just a quick note to thank everyone for your prayers. God has been very good to us--He always is, of course! The specialist ruled out any major problems, that could have been a reason for the abnormal blood counts and concluded that the problem lies in the placenta rather than the baby. I will just have to be cautious, so as not to go into labor too early, and they will likely not let me go past my due date.
And.....it's a boy!
Thanks again for your prayers and thoughtful notes! Please keep this baby boy in your prayers as apparently I haven't created the best "home" for him at the moment. I have promised him that I will make it up to him though! :)

Isn't she just precious?!?! She had beautiful long curly hair, but at twenty months, it just became unmanageable, so she got her first real hair cut. I think it is very sweet.

Pregnancy Update: I have recently had some complications--an abnormal blood test, so I will see a specialist on Wednesday. I would appreciate your prayers! I am presently at seventeen weeks, and I am already so in love with this baby!

WOW! I doubt anyone actually checks this anymore, but just in case, I'M BACK!

I had wonderful holidays home with my family! Attached is a picture that descibes the week quite well... We were spoiled as usual by both of our families, and even by our "adopted" family (Laura Grace's)! They were all so good to us!

I feel like I haven't sat down since we got off the plane New Years Eve here in North Carolina.

Partly, that is because we found out shortly before Christmas that we are expecting our first baby in August!!! I have been sick very little, thankfully, but I have lost ALL energy I once had!

We are very excited and nervous at the same time. Oddly enough, I am not nervous at all about taking care of a baby--I feel like I am prepared for that part (prepared as one can be), but pregnancy is all new for me of course and has already had its challenges. I am thirteen weeks, so I am certainly not looking "pregnant" yet, but I am feeling chubby and my clothes are getting a tad too fitted for my taste! An ugly place to be. At the same time, this is the most wonderful time of my life, I know, and the challenges will be far outweighed by the joy with which we will soon be blessed.

My nephew celebrated his first birthday yesterday, and I hate not being home for the milestones in the lives of the little people who are SO important to me (Stephen, Chae, and Preston)! He is SO precious and has been such a blessing to our family--a perfect little guy.

Josh's varsity basketball team made it to state!! This team has grown so much, and he is so proud of his girls...and I am so proud of him! I will meet him in Raleigh tomorrow night and stay the night and hopefully watch them play Saturday (if they make it to the final four). Go Knights!

Well, I will TRY to be more faithful. Don't give up on me yet--this blogging thing is about to become a whole new world with Baby Golden!

I am on a roll today, and I just HAVE to share this picture. We have been working on self-feeding a lot lately, mostly because Laura Grace is very independent and anxious to learn. However, it seems that Ms Sara is the only one, patient enough to "let loose!" Isn't she precious?

The weather has been amazing here in North Carolina, and we have spent several weekends at the beach lately. Here is a picture of "my little angel!"

Catching up . . .

The holidays have kept me busy as usual, and my blog has taken the hit for it! I am back now, but for how long, no one knows . . .
My mom has been very sick, and it has been difficult not being "home" to help her with the holiday festivities. Josh and I will fly home on Christmas Day, and we are both looking forward to our vacation there!
Laura Grace is as precious as ever, growing so quickly--I cannot get enough of her. A week away from her at Christmas is going to nearly kill me, though I will be with family--bittersweet, I suppose.
Our nephew, James is home and doing well. They are planning a visit down in April at which time we will be able to meet this little guy!
Josh is busy coaching, and I am busy shopping, wrapping, baking, cooking, and taking care of Laura Grace and two households! I love every second of it too!

Our newest family member . . .
Josh's youngest brother, JJ and sister in law, Amy had a baby boy on Sunday, October 29! His name is James Joseph. He was a full six weeks early, but weighed 5 lbs 6oz, and is still in the hospital but doing well! Isn't he precious? That leaves only Josh and me without children on either side of the family! Yikes! We now have six nephews and two nieces--every one as precious as can be! Can't wait to meet this little guy!

If only more people would take this to heart . . .
I have read this poem before, and I wanted to post it for all of the "Moms" out there!

If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again

“If I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d finger paint more and point the finger less.
I’d do less correcting, and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less, and know to care more.
I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging, and less tugging.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I’d teach less about the love of power
And more about the power of love”
-Diane Loomans

SO sweet!!
Isn't this the most precious thing you have ever seen?!?!?! My nephew, Cade apparently thinks quite a bit of Laura Grace!!

The joys of North Carolina . . .
We spent last weekend at the beach. Some friends of ours have a beach house about an hour away, and they invited us to come spend the weekend with them, so we did! Josh's brother and sister in law and our two nephews came as well, and we enjoyed spending a late October weekend at the beach. It wasn't swimming weather (of course my nephews thought 70 degrees was perfectly fine for swimming:), but I think that it is the prettiest time of year down there! Had a ball!

Brrrr . . .
I had forgotten how cold Michigan is this time of year,until I went home this past weekend. However, it was worth every chill! My nephews (Stephen and Preston), and niece (Chae) made it all worth it, for sure!
They seem to grow so much more quickly when I'm not there to see them on a regular basis. It is definitely hard not being there to see them change.
The occassion was Stephen's tenth birthday, and it was certainly fun. He has a special place in my heart as do Chae and now, Preston--something that just cannot be put into words.
I was also able to visit with my nearly ninety-year-old grandmother, who is certainly one of my greatest heros!
And thanks to my two "sisters," I was treated like royalty--such a blessing to have them in my family! Thanks everyone for making every bit of my trip a success!

My man . . .

Josh has been so amazing with Laura Grace! It makes me all the more certain that he is going to someday make a terrific father (not that I didn't already know that). Not only is he SO great with her, and the love is certainly reciprocated (all I have heard today is "Jo . . . shshshshsh!"), but he shares a lot of ME with her, and I appreciate that. We both have fairly demanding jobs at times, and he is always understanding and sacrificial of the demands of mine.

Yep, her again . . .
We had her again this weekend, and we just happened to visit Barnes and Noble at storytime with Maisy! I thought for certain she was too young for this experience, since it involved coloring with crayons, a joy to which she had not yet been introduced and a big giant mouse of whom I was sure she would be scared.
Well, my good sense was proven wrong. She actually LOVED coloring with crayons (and even kept them out of her mouth), and as for Maisy, she couldn't get enough . . .

Pumpkin Patch
Josh and I had Laura Grace this weekend, so we decided to take her to a pumpkin patch--we knew this would be a great world of orange "balls" for her, since "ball" was her first word and is by far her favorite one! Anything that resembles anything close to a ball is in fact just that, and she will tell you that until you acknowledge that she is correct.
Anyway, she had a great time, and we had just as much fun, I think.