No more "Manny being Manny"

See you later, you arrogant, yet awesome hitter, you.

My son, the copycat!

Nik is working out in the basement and I went down to see if Dougie was down there with him, and this is what I found...Dougie was trying to copy everything Nik did...unfortunately, he's not big enough to do some of it! The push ups are my favorite part, he barely moves off the ground, but still makes the grunting noises! Silly Boy!

Happy Day!

Today marks weeks 28 in my pregnancy. I'm in the third trimester and I can *see* the light at the end of the tunnel. This past weekend was stressful and Sunday was just awful. I went to my 10 year high school reunion and spent the day talking about myself. I'd much rather be talking about my kids or my job than just about me (and having to say the same things over and over wasn't very fun either.) Overall, it was a pretty good reunion, the weather was nice, we had a good turnout and at least I wasn't the only pregnant one there (5 ups for Julie!).

Sunday was just a down day. I don't really know how to explain it any other way. I was just down. It was raining, Dougie was moody and Nik was going to the movies with Jamie. There wasn't really anything I could do except wait for the day to be over. When Dougie got up from his nap around 4:15 he just sat upstairs and cried. I had NO IDEA what was wrong with him and he couldn't tell me. He just kept saying "No, Mommy!" He stayed upstair for a good 20 minutes before I coaxed him to come down...still crying. Since my pregnancy hormones were in full swing yesterday, I sat on the couch and cried with him. He finally snapped out of it (and so did I) and we went to the grocery store (Through some of the worst thunderstorms I've driven through in a long time!) and got some sherbet.

Of course, there was no electricity when we got home, but we had a nice, family, candlelight dinner at the table!

It's amazing what a little retail therapy will do! This morning I set out to Motherhood to look for some sales and I found two really cute shirts on sale for $9.99! I am so happy! After that, Dougie and I went to Barnes and Noble. Dougie played with the trains and I looked at books for my class...I have $300 bucks to spend, but I want to spend it VERY wisely. I'm in desperate need of literature circle books....so I'm going to make a list and ask for help when I go back. I decided to head over to school to see if Jerry was there to talk about my long term sub...he was and he just about made my day! Not only are we getting the ball rolling to get me a sub, he also told me that he ordered a computer for my classroom! This was the best news I heard all week! For those of you who might not know how my school budget works, every October/November I have to submit my "budget". I was told when I was first hired to put everything you could imagine on your budget and that the administration will cut where they think is necessary. I have a laptop that the district provides to each teacher, but other than that I have NO classroom computer. We have access to computers on wheels (COWs), they have about 25 laptops that are mobile and can go into any classroom, but I wanted a computer that could stay in my classroom all the time that the kids would have access to. Jerry told me today that he had to fight for it, but that it was ordered last week! HOORAY! I'm so excited. It doesn't sound like much, but I am THRILLED!

We've hit a milestone, of sorts.

This morning Dougie let me sleep in until 8:15. I am really starting to LOVE Fridays. Nik is now working a 4-day work week, so he had every Friday off. It gives us a lot of family time on the weekends! Since I went out with my mom last night (we got pedicures and we out to dinner, yum!) we didn't get to do groceries. So at about 9:30, Dougie and woke up Daddy and decided to head out to run some errands. That's when we made the decision...it was time, Dougie needed his first haircut!

After we got groceries we headed over to Hair Excitement. Dougie liked watching the "water".



Even though he kept telling us he was going to be a "big boy" and sit in the chair, when the time came, he decided he would rather not...



But Rebecca, the hair stylist, knew exactly what to do! She got a really cool animal themed apron AND a lollipop. Now, we're a GO!





With his lollipop in hand, Rebecca wet down his hair and began to cut it, she gave me his first curl that she cut and she understood that I still wanted him to look like a little boy, and NOT a little man. She told me she'd give him a trim and still leave some of his curls...Momma was happy!



Dougie was being so good, I didn't want to say anything to jinx it! He just sat there, eating his lollipop and watching her cut his hair in the mirror.











By the time we were ready to go, Dougie was a pro! He looks about a year older to me and Nik, but I think he also looks super cute! Here's the final product!

No words...

I had to catch a bat that was flying around my room last night. It was not fun.

If you work in a Children's store...

Shouldn't you be able to read the body language of a frustrated mother?

When Hayley and I were checking out, I decided I needed a little bit of chocolate for the ride home. To set the scene, there were two people at cash registers and the line was taking FOR EVER to move. We had TWO tired toddlers with us who were ready to go and very small purchases to make. I only had M&Ms and Dougie was holding them, being VERY patient (as patient as a two year old can be!)

Well, I get to the cashier and hand her the M&Ms, Dougie started crying because he thought I was taking them away from him. I tried telling him I just had to pay for them, but he was SO overtired at this point he just went into hysterics. You would think that this lady would continue to cash me out quickly but instead she asked me some of the DUMBEST questions...here is how it all went down..Remember, Dougie is crying hysterically throughout this ENTIRE thing.

"Is this all for you today? -Lady
"Yes" -Me
"Did you find everything alright? -Lady
"Yes" -Me
"Is there anything else I could have helped you with today?" -Lady
"No, thank you." -Me
"Do you need any batteries with your purchase?" -Lady
"No, THANK YOU!" -Me
"Okay, that's $1.19, please swipe your card" -Lady
So, I swipe my card and start to put it away.
"I need to see your card to verify your signature." -Lady
"Okay," -Me (So I hand her my card)
"I can't see the signature, do you have an ID?" -Lady
"Yes, here you go" -Me
"Thank you, you should really think about signing your card again, Ma'am, I couldn't see your last name." -Lady
"Okay, Thank you." -Me
THEN, she turns to my son and says, "What's wrong honey?"

I understand what her job is, I get that my signature was worn off, but seriously? For $1.19??? If I were using a stolen credit card, I'd buy more than M&Ms.

Good Times were had by all!

I'm exhausted. Dougie and I just got back from spending the day with Hayley and Penelope. We went out to lunch and then did a little baby shopping. Hayley got Pens the cutest dress for only 5 bucks! I thought about buying a take home outfit for the baby, but decided to wait until I went shopping with Daddy to pick one out.

It was nice to spend the day with Hayley. She is pregnant too and due in November, so we spent almost the whole afternoon taking baby! We went to the Olive Garden for lunch and Dougie and I shared spaghetti and meatballs. (I think Dougie mostly ate the breadsticks!) Hayley and I sat in Babies R Us and spent a while just sitting in the gliders while the kids played in the shopping carts. I'm addicted to those gliders and REALLY want one for my room (or the nursery) but I doubt we'll be able to afford it (They were $500.00)

Nik went off paintballing today (I really can't wait to see him when he gets home, all covered in welts and bruises, but hey! He wanted to go!)

We went to the IMAX theatre yesterday and saw "The Dark Knight". It was really good. (Maybe not Oscar-worthy good in my opinion, but good!) Then we went out to dinner. Overall, it's been a good, busy weekend!

I'm 27 weeks tomorrow...bring on the third trimester!