Tomorrow

Jack snuggling with his baby brother

Tomorrow morning, we are expecting a call from Rex Hospital telling us when we need to come check in for our induction.  Last week at my doctors appointment, I had an ultrasound and baby is measuring on the big side and I was already 3 cm dilated--up from the 2.5 the previous week and the 2 the week before that.  When I heard that I was 3 cm dilated, I assumed I would go ahead and go into labor on my own this past week, but alas I did not.

As much as I am ready for this baby to be out of me and in my arms, I am very nervous.  As some of you know, I had a very difficult labor and delivery with Jack and still have a very long road ahead of me in terms of fully recovering from that (there to should be a whole new blog post about that--but I haven't been able to find the words to do that yet...still).  So as my pregnancy grew closer to the end my anxiety levels began to rise.  My doctors have all be amazing and supportive.  They all know my history before they ever step foot into an exam room with me and will do anything in their power to make this birth a positive experience for me.

Just this morning, it hit me that today is our last day as a family of three.  After we have this baby, things will change forever.  Yes, they will change for the good, but it is still change and change is hard.  We are in such a good place with Jack and he has such a good routine and this baby will no doubt change things.  We are thrilled to have him join our family, but we are also anticipating some rough times ahead.

I can't wait to meet this little fellow that has been living inside of me for the past nine months.  I want to snuggle him and love him and I really can't wait to introduce him to his big brother.  Jack will be an amazing big brother and I can't wait for them to be best buddies in a few years time.  I look forward to the time when Jack finds joy in making his baby brother laugh and when he shows his protective nature to care for him.  This bond that they will have will be invaluable.

So, I ask of you as you go to bed tonight and even as you rise tomorrow to please put my family in your thoughts.  Whether you pray, chant, dance, sing, bang bones together, hold a seance or light a candle--please do so with us on your mind.

We promise to update you as soon as we can! We aren't ones to keep big information to ourselves for long.

Date Night

As the end of Jack's reign as our only child closes in, I decided that a Jack and Mommy date night was in order.  He got dressed up for the occasion and we went out to dinner.  Nothing fancy-just fast food, but it was a special time for just he and I.  Yes, we do spend about 90% of our time together, but we usually have ulterior motives- grocery shopping, playdates, errands, etc.

It was nice to spend the evening with Jack and he really seemed to enjoy himself, too.

Jack and Mommy getting ready to head out

Jack admiring some Halloween decorations

Jack decided that he needed a prop to complete the picture

Pumpkin Patch

Last week, Jack and I went to the pumpkin patch with Ally and her mom Abby.  It was kind of a yucky day-cold with the threat of rain, but we made the best of it.  Abby and Ally came over to our house and Dave installed Jack's carseat in their car so we could ride together.  One the way there, this was the view of the backseat:

Jack and Ally holding hands on the way to the pumpkin patch

When we got there, we practically had the place to ourselves.  I guess people are afraid of a little cold weather.  There was so much to do.  We stopped to admire the animals:

"Hey Ally, do you see those goats?!"

a few chickens

Ohhh, bunnies!

Then we moved on to the giant slide!  Abby graciously said that she would take Jack down the slide (because I am a delicate flower who also happens to be very pregnant).  I told her to forget it and I would take Jack down-maybe it would bring on labor!  The walk to the top of the slide nearly did me in...

Our first trip down...Abby was not prepared to catch a baby as she was taking the picture

Abby and Ally made it down!

I even got some video of Jack and I going down.  It's not very eventful, but listening to Jack cheer is totally worth it.  Turn up your volume!


Then we played in the hay jump.  Jack can't jump yet, so he mostly just rolled around in the hay (but not like that!).

Next, the kids ran through the tunnel.  Jack was a little apprehensive at first, but after Ally showed him what to do, he was ready!

Jack going through the tunnel

Ally chasing Jack

Ally coming around the side ready to go again

Jack is the light at the end of the tunnel for Ally (too cheesy?)

The maze was the next thing on the agenda for us:

Jack trying to figure out what route to take to the finish

Confident in his choice

Cheaters!

Then, there was a giant fort that you could walk through.  It was basically a big square, but you had to go up and down stairs to get around.  Ally and Abby got ahead of us (maybe because they are cheaters...) and it was priceless when Jack and Ally saw each other again.  It was as if they hadn't seen each other in years...but it had only been about 60 seconds.

Jack heading on like he knows what he's doing

Taking the stairs like a pro

"Jack, is that you?  I've missed you so!"

unprompted hug! (check out Abby's reaction in the background)

Finally we were off on a tractor ride to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins.

Jack checking out some of his options

he felt the need to thump this one

It's always a good idea to sit on the pumpkin

It's not a winner if you fall off of it

Two chilly children forced to pose for a picture on some pumpkins

All in all an excellent time was had at the pumpkin patch.  The only thing that would have made it better is if it had been a few degrees warmer and the sun had been out.  I'm so glad we have made such good friends in our neighborhood!

Psst...don't forget to enter our baby pool. Go to http://mulleymusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/baby-2-baby-pool.html for more details!

Baby Love-cont'd

When I last left off, I was telling you all about my first true love Andy.  It was a long-winded story about slow dancing in the streets, long distance romance, hot and fresh Krispy Kreme donuts, I searching and finding a long lost friend.  Some questions that I have received since I published that post... 

How does Dave feel about your searching for Andy?
     Dave knows that he is my one and only.  He also knows that I know a lot of people and don't forget much.  Unfortunately for Dave, his warranty with me is up and he is stuck with me FOREVER!  He is happy that I have found one of my earliest friends and he looks forward to meeting Andy and his family.
How freaked out was Andy when you stalked found him?
     Andy didn't seem freaked out at all.  I like to think that he was as excited to reconnect as I.
Ummm, What about Andy's wife?
     I assume she is fine with everything.  Andy was just my first true love...not my last and I think the last true love is the most important!  He said that she and I would be fast friends--based on our love of cupcakes!
When will there be a reunion?
     I guess we'll just have to wait for our schedules to align.  It will happen and it will be awesome and I'm sure I will blog about it.  My mom has already threatened to crash said reunion (and I'm sure Andy's mom will do the same)!


Now...back to the story at hand...

I think Jack has found his first true love.  Yes, I know, I have called many girls Jack's girlfriend/fiancee, but I think this one might be the real deal.  Most of the girls that Jack has been attached to have been because I am good friends with their mothers.  He happily plays with them and truly enjoys their company, but I have never seen Jack interact with anyone the way that he interacts with Ally.  I've actually never seen any child Jack's age interact with another child the same age the way these two do.

*Are you ready for a little child development lesson?*
Most kids are still in the solitary play stage at this age-meaning that they are dependent on adult guidance, they may play with dolls, are socially very immature, have little concept of others as “people”, and they may respond to simple direction.  Some kids are even in the parallel play stage- meaning they enjoy being by others, will take turns, enjoy brief group activities requiring no skill, and like to “help” in small ways–respond to verbal guidance.  I would say that Jack is in the parallel play stage most of the time, but when he is with Ally they are both very much demonstrating cooperative play- they enjoy each others company, are highly social, play loosely organized games and carry on conversations with each other (although we can't tell what they are saying).  Most kids don't get to the cooperative play stage until about four years old.  Now, I'm not saying that Jack is crazy advanced or anything.  He certainly doesn't not play like this all the time, but most of the time when he is with Ally, they are very much playing together. 

The excitement I see in their eyes when they see each other is priceless.  They hug, they talk (in their very own language), sometimes they kiss, they play silly games--all without prompting.  As an educator, I am fascinated by their interactions.  As a mother, I am in awe.  When I watch Jack and Ally play together, I am immediately brought back to my time as a child with Andy.  I can picture these two having sleepovers and walking to each others house in the snow.  I know that Ally will be as much a part of our family as I was Andy's and I'm sure Jack will be welcomed just the same.  And, while I thought the love between Andy and I could never be matched, I feel certain that Jack and Ally are on the same path.


I haven't taken a lot of pictures of the two of them together, but I'll share some of the ones I have.

Ally has a couch that can fold out into a bed.  One day, Jack and I were over for a playdate and Jack one of the kids unfolded the couch.  Next thing we know, Ally is laying on the bed-under the cover and Jack is right there next to her.  He then leans over and gives her a kiss.  This was completely unprompted.  After a while, Jack got out of the bed and Ally began to pat the bed like she was telling him to come back to bed.  This went on for a good 10 minutes.  At 21/22 months this is very cute.  I hope they get in out of their system before puberty sets in!

Here is Jack and Ally playing under an end table.  One of them climbed under it and then the other thought that was a great idea and joined in.  While under there, they talked to each other, giggled, and generally made a mess of things.

Before we left that afternoon, Jack and Ally made sure to give each other a hug goodbye.  My heart melts!

I'm sure we will have our ups and downs and there will come a time when Jack doesn't like girls and Ally doesn't like boys, but I hope that these two will continue to build on their friendship and won't take a 20 year break from each other before reconnecting and trying to make up for lost time.

Psst...don't forget to enter our baby pool. Go to http://mulleymusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/baby-2-baby-pool.html for more details!

Fun with Bathtub Bubbles

This evening while taking a bath, Jack was particularly fascinated with the bubbles we had put in there.  He would get some on his hand and then not know what to do with them.  So I put a big glob of them on my hand and clapped.  He laughed so hard he could hardly breathe.

After Dave came in to see what the ruckus was all about-he went in search of the camera so we could capture this moment on video.

Here ya go...



Psst...don't forget to enter our baby pool. Go to http://mulleymusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/baby-2-baby-pool.html for more details!

Baby Love

Did I ever tell you the story about my first true love?  The guy I was going to marry?  The guy that used to slow dance with me in the street?  The one that I never had an argument with...ever?  No?  Oh, well, sit back and relax while I take a stroll down memory lane.

I was three years old and about to embark on a new adventure...preschool!  Mom had signed me up at the local Presbyterian church preschool when she got a call saying that the new minister had a child about my age and they were looking to carpool with some other people.  My mom got in touch with the minister's wife, Ginger, and not long after that their son Andy and I were inseparable. 

Andy and I did everything together--sleepovers, playdates, dinner at each others house, family vacations-you name it!  I have very vivid memories of our time together growing up.  My mom likes to tell the stories of how Andy and I could not have been more different, but we got along perfectly.  She said we always picked up right where we left off-no matter how much time had passed.  We were in love!  One of Mom's favorite stories is of when she would come to pick me up from Andy's house, I would hang myself out the window up to my waist screaming, "Andy, don't kiss me! No, don't kiss me!" (in hopes that I would get a smooch).  Couple things about that--why the heck wasn't I in a seat belt (much less a carseat) and why was I so loosey goosey?!

In fourth grade, Andy's dad Tyler got a new job at a church down in Charlotte and the family had to move away.  You can imagine my sadness as my one true love was moving to the other side of the world (or 6 hours away).  Mom and Ginger planned on me visiting them over the summer so that we could pick up where we left off.  Mom drove me down to Raleigh and then I took the train to Charlotte all by myself.  Ginger and the boys picked me up from the train station and our great adventure began with some hot and fresh Krispy Kreme donuts.  We went on a great southeast adventure that included stops at Andy's grandmother's house and Panama City for some beach time.

Not long after that trip (maybe a year or two), Andy and I lost touch with each other.  I would now like to take the time to blame our mothers for that. How else are two 10 year olds supposed to keep in touch without the help of our mothers? 

Fast forward about twenty years...I go on a mad hunt for Andy.  Yes, I am married by this point and yes, I have a child, but I still needed to find Andy.  Not to rekindle our love, but to reconnect our friendship.  As you may have gathered, Andy and his whole family were a big part of my life and it would be a shame to give that up.  So I began my search for Andy in any logical place--Facebook.  I turned up a big goose egg...nothing...nada...zilch!  What 30-something guy doesn't have a Facebook account?!?  Andy-that's who!  I didn't let that slow me down.  I then started to use my good friend, Google, to help me hunt him down.  Well, let me tell you, Andy is not easily located using modern technology.  Thank goodness I knew some random key facts about him...where he went to college, what instrument he played, that he used to work for the NC Symphony, and a few other tidbits.  I entered what I knew into Google and found a random blog.  Some guy was writing about Andy...my Andy.  In the blog post, the guy mentioned that Andy was now living in Texas and where he was working.  I then plugged my new information into Google and found a possible email address for Andy--SCORE!  I immediately sent the following email:

Hi Andy,

I'm hoping this is the Andy that I grew up with Newport News, VA.  If not, please disregard this email unless you know that Andy D.

I know it has been about 25 years or so since we've spoken, but I was in Virginia recently and drove past [your childhood street] and immediately thought of you and all of our adventures.  My mom and I got to laughing about how ridiculous we were.

If this is the Andy D.  from my youth, I'd love to hear from you and see what you've been up to.  It took me a while to track you down.  I couldn't find you on Facebook or through a basic Google search. I finally found a blog that someone wrote about you and tracked you down to Texas. 

I look forward to hearing from you!

Elizabeth "Roady" Mulley

Within 15 minutes, I heard back from him!  I found out that Andy and his wife were expecting their first son soon and that we had actually been within a mile of each other several times during our 20 year hiatus.  I got caught up on how his family was doing and all that junk that you are supposed to do after you haven't talked to someone in a very very long time.

We hope to reconnect in person sometime soon, but with his little guy who arrived in February and my little one who will arrive any day now-timing just hasn't been right.  I can't wait for our families to meet and maybe even our boys will be friends one day!

I'm trying to gather some pictures of Andy and I growing up, but since I'm the youngest in the family no pictures were taken of me.  Andy, being the oldest in his family, probably has a better chance of getting his hands on some pictures. 

So, why am I telling you this long-winded story about my first true love?  Because, I think Jack has found his....

to be continued...

psst:Psst...don't forget to enter our baby pool. Go to http://mulleymusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/baby-2-baby-pool.html for more details!

Birthday Parade 2012

Dave and Jack and I headed out to Spring Hope for my birthday parade again this year.  For those of you who haven't been with us long or may have forgotten, you can read the rundown on the annual birthday parade here.  This year was probably my favorite birthday parade yet...not because the parade itself was any better than previous years, but because Jack was there and he really enjoyed it this year.  He was there last year, but he didn't get it really, but this year he LOVED it!  He was waving at everyone that passed and pointing out things and clapping when cool thing happened.  It was the BEST!

I can only imagine that next year will be even better!

Here are some pictures from the parade...

Jack is stoked about the parade starting

Just a few of the many "princesses" that were in the parade

giant truck

This car wasn't even operable, but was still in the parade...being towed

Spiderman walked the parade route

Various old tractors kept Jack's attention

Old cars and old car looking go-carts were fun to see

There were clowns...

and hillbillies...

and flashy remodeled old cars

The Shriners were there with all of their cool vehicles

And let's not forget the hoopties

lots and

lots of hoopties playing inappropriate music

The grande finale was about 15 fire trucks all trying to outdo each other with how many times they could blare their siren or blow their horns...Jack loved it!

The Mulleys 2012

Jack's favorite parts of the parade this year were: marching bands, fire trucks, princesses, clowns, hillbillies, and tractors.  Many of the floats threw candy out and that was very concerning for Jack.  As soon as the candy hit the ground, he would say "Oh no!" until someone got it.

Our plan last year was to be in the parade this year.  Considering my condition, we held off on entering the parade.  Next year...it's on!  We are serious.  If you would like to participate and be in the best dang parade in the world, we would love to have you.  Saturday, October 5, 2013.  We need to come up with some ideas for a float and some themes.  Discuss....


Psst...don't forget to enter our baby pool. Go to http://mulleymusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/baby-2-baby-pool.html for more details!

Baby #2--The Baby Pool

As we near the end of this pregnancy, we have set up another baby pool like we did when we were pregnant with Jack.  This is your opportunity to make a prediction as to when (date and time) Baby #2 will arrive and how big (weight and length) he will be.  This is just a friendly competition with no money required.  You might even win a prize in the end (possibly a no expenses paid weekend with Jack!).

Here are a few stats that might help you with your predictions:

• Elizabeth weighed 10 pounds, 1 ounce and was 23 inches long when she was born.
• Dave was 7 pounds, 13 ounces and 21 inches long when he was born.
• Jack was 7 pounds, 15 ounces and 21.5 inches long when he was born.
• Baby #2's due date is November 4, 2012.
• Baby #2 is a boy.
• Jack came 21 minutes past his due date.

To make your predictions, go to www.bebepool.com/themulleys

Good luck and "may the odds be ever in your favor"!