Happy Birthday, Jacob!

Here you were 4 years ago today

And here you are today! 

Happy Birthday, Jacob Daniel!  Cannot believe you are already 4.  We know now how truly a miracle you really are.  There are not enough words to describe how lucky we are to have you in our lives.  Cannot wait for you to see your present :)

Jake Dancing

We bought Jake a new Wii game, called Smurf Dance Party.  It is similar to Just Dance in that he has to follow the moves on the screen.  Here is a video.  Sorry that it is jumpy...and sideways.  I was not able to turn it the right direction.

February/March Picture Post

I have been really bad at posting lately.  No good excuse.  I wish I could say it was because we were on vacation, or something exciting like that.  Nope, just been too lazy.  Here are some highlights from February and the beginning of March.  Jake's birthday is on Thursday, so I promise there will be more pictures later this week!  I am not liking how Blogger is working lately...stay tuned for a possible blog address change...

Joe and Jake at the end of a long day

Jamie in her attractive bowling attire

Jake's picture from the Gopher game

Probably the only time I will beat Jamie

The boys playing baseball on a warm night in March

Lots of excitement that this milk is back!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Winter (can we call it that?) Update

It has been a while since my last post.  I don't really have a good excuse for it.  I have been too lazy to import pictures from our camera and my phone onto our laptop to use for posts.  I wish I could post pictures from my phone directly to Blogger, but that concept has not been invented yet.  I can post, but not with any pictures.  That is my lame excuse, I guess!

Jake is the smallest one there!

Looking into the crowd!

Jake has started swimming lessons again.  This time around, he is in the pool without me.  Yeah!  I am so glad to not have to get into the freezing, cold water :)  When Jake passed his previous class, I told him he would be moving into a "big kid" class where moms and dads just watched and the teachers were in the pool to help them swim.  He seemed okay with it and excited that he would be a "big kid".  Then came the morning of our class and his tune changed.  He said he was scared and did not want to get into the pool.  I continued to talk up the lessons and take the "big kid" angle with it.  I was going to be taking Jake myself, since Joe was working.  I was really hoping he would go into the pool without any drama.  When they called "Crayfish!" (his class), he was off introducing himself to his two teachers.  No fears at all.  Whew, that was a close one.  He has had three weeks of lessons.  He is doing great.  He did need a reminder to hold on the side of the pool when the teacher asked him to.  He told me that he does not like putting his face into the water, but loves "Chop, Chop, Timber!".  That is when he pretends he is a tree and the teachers "chop" him down and he jumps into the water.  Last week, they took them to the diving board to jump off.  Some of the kids went under when they lowered them into the water.  I was wondering what he would think of going under.  He must have told the teacher not to let him go under, because he was the only kid who did not.  We will see how things go this week.  We go in about 2 hours.  He always has a huge smile on his face and loves to smile, wave, and give a thumbs up to me :)

Swimming with one of his teachers

Listening (kind of?) to his teachers

We were able to see Jake's cousin, Jordan, a lot this week.  My parents were watching him while my brother and sister-in-law were in Costa Rica.  I love being able to pick Jordan up and cuddle with him.  Jake is getting too heavy for my back to lift him and hold him.  Jake had a fun time playing with Jordan and sharing his toys.  On Tuesday, we met Jamie and Jordan at Adventure Peak, an indoor park. Jake has been there before, but it was Jordan's first time.  They both had fun climbing, sliding, and playing with the balls and scooters.  Thursday night, we met my parents for dinner and had a blast watching the two boys dance to 50s music.  I wish I would have taken a picture of their dancing.  Jake definitely has the dancing bug like his momma!  Jordan's signature move is spinning.  He tends to fall afterwards which is hilarious!

Jordan is on the move

Jake and Auntie Jamie

So much fun with the scooters

Cannot believe it is the 10th of February and there is no snow on the ground.  I am afraid that we are eventually going to be dumped on come March or April.  I guess we should just enjoy what we have right now! 

Back From The Frozen Tundra

I tried posting on my way out of town earlier this week, but I do not know what happened to my draft.

This week was our annual 6th grade trip to Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. Of course, it had to be one of the coldest weeks that we have had this winter (if you can call it winter). It also actually snowed while we were down there. Overall, it was a good week. I would say it gets better each year I go. This was my 4th year going. I'm lucky to have a good group of colleagues that go along with! My stomach muscles are sore from laughing :) I also have some sore back and arm muscles from doing the high ropes courses four times. I also led a night hike and ran into a tree branch and have a lovely scratch on my face. Joe was not surprised when I told him I got hurt. I am glad to be back to my boys :)

Another Disappointment

I had my beta yesterday, and it was a BFN, like I thought it was going to be. I think the timing of this cycle was off, since I should have had my IUI on Christmas, but had to have it a day earlier.


We are going to take some time off TTC. My job has been so stressful lately, which is not helping any of this. I almost had a mental breakdown yesterday at the end of the day. I was on medication for post-partum depression after my DS was born, but went off it when we were TTC. I think after all this disappointment, I may need to go back on it. We may wait to start again in the summer, when the stress from teaching is not present. In the meantime, I am going to be looking for a second opinion. I would like to see if a new RE would have any other answers to why things are not working. If IVF is the only option, then we know our journey will be done. A new house and a 4 year old in preschool and daycare does not work with spending that much money on something that is not a guarantee. I would feel guilty going into further debt, and having my son not be able to enjoy the opportunities we could be providing him. Who knows if that is what I will feel months from now, but it is what I am feeling now.

Still Waiting...A Little Sad, Too.

I have been doing well this week not thinking about my beta on Friday. The first two days back at work make me want to be on break again! They have gone pretty well, but I am missing my sleeping in, my pajamas, Jake, and my naps. Clearly, I caught up on some sleep last week! I have been feeling fine all week. I am trying not to read into any symptoms I am having because they could also mean that AF is coming. I don't know if it is better that I think about it, or just keep it out of my mind. I don't want to get my hopes up and be crushed, so I am just trying to not make a big deal about it.

I am sad today. A dear friend of mine is moving away. She is just moving south of the Cities, but it feels like she is going to be a state away. I know this new adventure is what she and her family need, but I am going to miss just hopping into the car with Jake to go and have a quick lunch date or play date. I know we will still see each other, but it may not be as much. Over the past few years, life has caused some of my friends and I to grow apart. This particular friend has been there though everything. I think back to college and laugh at the fact that we didn't like each other because our mutual friends were at odds. Then, we had a whole year of classes together and realized we were crazy to not be friends. Now, 13 years later, we were bridesmaids in each others weddings and we have kids who are going to be lifelong friends. My star buddy! Cannot wait to take this journey with you!