Adjustments

Wow, I feel like such a blogging slacker.  I think that's going to be the case until I get this working full time, being a wife and being a mom-oh yeah, and a sister, daughter and friend-thing down.  It's a busy life!  My house, well, we just won't really talk about that.  It's ok...not the cleanest or most picked up ever, but ok.

Thankfully the hubby is the best ever.  One night I told him how much I want to just relax after we put Rusty to bed, yet I find that hard to do when I think of the dishes/laundry/sweeping, etc that needs to be done.  Ever since that night he has started a new ritual.  As soon as Rusty is down for the night-usually around 8 p.m.-he asks me the same question, "What can I do to help you before we relax together?"  I tell you ladies, this is the best, most romantic question ever!  We make up a list of the things that I think REALLY need to be done that night-not every single little thing, just a few major ones-and we divide and conquer.  The other night, for example, he swept the dining room, kitchen, and living room, took out the garbage and loaded the dishwasher while I folded a load of laundry and started another.  It was sweet.  Those were the things that had been really bugging me that night.  They were done super fast and then we relaxed together on the couch.  I'm finding it is a balance of not always feeling like I have to do EVERYTHING every, single night.  It's about getting things done in chunks and not trying to be superwife and mom.

I have made a meal plan for next week already.  I braved the grocery store yesterday and got our groceries for the week.  Man, I forgot how much I hate grocery shopping on weekends.  It is so nice to go in the middle of the day in the middle of the week when hardly anyone is there.  I think I have been spoiled!  Tuesday is Kevin's birthday, so I'm planning to make his cake tomorrow.  I think I can make it through this first week of work!

Rusty is doing great with everything.  He loves his daycare and always comes home in a great mood and talking about his teacher.  He tells us all about his snacks, the toys he played with, whether or not they went to the park.  It is a relief to me that he is handling it so well, because it makes it easier for me to be at work.  I think it is a huge help that Kev is the one dropping him off and picking him up every day and not me.  Kev said most days when he drops Rusty off he is off and running, ready to play.  The biggest worry I had about it was naptime, as the kids all nap in a big room on mats on the floor.  I wasn't really sure how he would handle that, but just a few days in he was back to his normal 2+ hour nap.  Lately Rusty is really grown up.  He is talking like crazy, and there isn't really anything that he can't say.  He is our little parrot and repeats absolutely everything we say!  I was calling out to Kev the other day and said, "Honey?  Can you do (whatever)?"  and Rusty chirped up and said, "HONEY!!!"  It was so hilarious!  We sent a stuffed bunny to daycare with him for naptime.  He had never really played with it, so when he came home we asked him what he named his bunny.  He got a big smile and piped up with "HONEY!"  We laugh so much every single day!

Pickle is also doing great!  We had our ultrasound this last week, as I already posted, and we found that the baby is just growing as it should and we are so excited to meet this little one.  It kicks A LOT, so much more than I ever felt with Rusty.  Today Kev felt the baby kick for the first time, up until then we hadn't been able to catch it, and it was fun for him to get to feel the munchkin moving around too.

Speaking of the baby, I'm 22 weeks now!  I know that a lot of women say this, but the second pregnancy really does go by so much faster.  I feel like the weeks are just flying by and they will only get faster as I start working full time.  My belly is growing and overall, I'm feeling pretty good.  I still feel tired, but I have come to accept the fact that I probably won't get the same amount of energy back like I did in the second trimester with Rusty.  I just try to rest as I can and get to bed at a decent time.  Here is the newest picture!  I was trying to take them on the odd weeks, but the 21st week just went right by without me remembering to get a shot.  This was taken last night.  Kev and I had a night out to celebrate his birthday in advance.  We had a great time, good food, and great conversation.  It was so lovely to have uninterrupted one on one time with my hubby.  No super fun location this time...just normal, everyday city lake!

The belly continues to grow!

P.S.  Dear Nana and Papa,

I love my kitchen!  Daddy finally put it together for me and now I am making so many yummy things for Mommy and Daddy!  Today I even made some cake and tried to feed it to the baby!

Love,
Rusty