Nursing Rambles...

I thought I'd post something of significance since I'm sitting here nursing and have a little time........just realize all I write is typed one handed (so excuse any errors!)

We are almost to 6 months old....1/2 a year already! I cannot believe it.

We are so in love with you Mr. Rudy. You have changed our lives in so many ways. There have been many nights that you have let your mamas get 6 hours of sleep at a time. Then there have been nights where you wake every 2 hours...only wanting milkies and back to sleep you go. We love waking up to you looking around probably wondering what's coming up in the day ahead! Your favorite toy right now is your new Sophie, but you are also really interested in the plastic rings. You have finally mastered from BACK TO BELLY but have yet to master from belly to back. Mama thought you would do things a little differently :) You have 1 tooth and we think you are working on your 2nd one next door. You've had bananas for 2 days in a row....don't know how keen you are on them. You are loving your exersaucer...and go crazy in it. Your bumbo has been really helpful for you to sit up unassisted. You are close to sitting up by yourself....but tend to still topple one way or the other. You have begun grabbing at your feet (and other dangling things ;) just recently....your Mamas aren't to sure you are going to end up hurting yourself grabbing and not letting go. The car seat hasn't been bothering you as much lately....I'd say we are to 97% great in the car seat! I think you turned a corner.

We love waking up with you, your snuggles at nap time, and your huge grins. You are like a seal on your tummy with your arms to the side - although you are moving them out front more...it is quite funny to see you "seal" around! I love how Mama K can look at you and make you giggle and laugh. Cracks this mama up!

This Mama continually looks back on the birth and how amazing it was having you at home....how long and peaceful it was. The best experience ever....and I'd do it a million times (I just need my sleep!)

Love you Mr. Rudy!

Friday Fill-In December Style

1. Wait! Wait, don't forget ????.
2. Wiggle wiggle followed at once by toot toot....
3. The trouble is temporary jobs don't provide health insurance.
4. The Sabo's are too many miles away and LIG isn't soon enough.
5. With a faint pop I knew I'd be having a baby soon.
6. ?? shadowy and ominous.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Chinese food with Grammie and Popi, tomorrow my plans include free pictures at the library, possibly Skagit Gardens with Grammie and the Relaxation Station thanks to the neighbor and Sunday, I want to hang with Kauleen and Rudy (maybe Grammie and Popi too?)!

I am not the best at thinking of things....... anyone want to add their thoughts in for my "question" marks? :)

Quote

Got this one from Ronnie's Blog and thought it was an awesome thought.....

"It doesn’t matter how long I’ve been hurting this way: I can change. Perhaps not enough people have noticed my pain and taken it seriously, but I have noticed, and that is enough. My pain doesn’t make me alive, it shuts out countless possibilities by blocking them from my life. I deserve to be healed. I don’t need rescuing; I need help. There is always someone willing to help. I may not understand what is happening to me now, but if I undertake the healing journey, understanding will come." - Deepak Chopra

Enchanted Mama's Group

Join me for a Mama & Child get together starting November 19th.

Details here: enchanted mamas weekly gathering

RANDI

Friday Fill In

1. Plans and schedules are what I would hope to not run on - but am very much a plan it type person.

2. I'm happy when things work out just the way they should.

3. The last thing I drank was water al la bottle.

4. One of the most valuable things in my life is my family.

5. I like no cheese on my pizza, please!

6. Dear November, may you bring us ONE sunshine day in a weekend!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to burgers at home with the family, tomorrow my plans include BEHS Craft Fair and Sunday, I want to chill & get K ready for the new job!!

Been Busy

I can't say that I'll keep up with the blog.... typing one handed most of the time - making blog posts (short or long) few and far between. I'm typing right now as Rudy is snoozing on his sweet Mama K :)

The last 3 months our life has changed so much, imagine that! It has been fantastic, the longest 3 months ever.... somedays we think as if Rudy has been around forever...... and yet it has only been 3 months!

The beginning of our lives together was a bit tough..... one Mama who NEEDS her sleep, whose milk was a bit late coming in (4 days), jaundiced baby, and just the whole adjusting to life with a newborn. We are ever so thankful for hearing the first 3 months called the "Fourth Trimester". TOTALLY made sense to us.

We are now past the 3 month mark.... Rudy is becoming more of a "character" with giggles, smiles, quirks, etc. It really is amazing. We waited so long for this miracle...... and we are so blessed to have him in our lives.

I'll post a few pictures here for you bloggers that are still reading.... AND yes, Facebook has taken over my life more than blogging...... short one sentence updates is way easier right now. Feel free to add me :)

Protect ALL Families in Washington State

We VOTE to APPROVE Referendum 71 to preserve the domestic partnership law and asks that you do the same. This directly affects us and several of my friends, as well as thousands of other same-sex and senior couples/families in Washington State. Please help us to keep our rights.

This is very important to our family especially with the addition of Rudy. As a family we need to be able to get insurance benefits just like other families and even more important with the approval of Referendum 71 is our ability for K to adopt Rudy. Please VOTE TO APPROVE Referendum 71 and help us support our family. We'd appreciate you forwarding this on to all your friends and family in Washington State to help us APPROVE Referendum 71.

Comparisons of Rudy

Rudy Punteney

Rudy arrived this morning at home at 7:20something (don't have exact time yet!), 7lbs, 4 oz, 21" long

LABOR/WEIRD....which started with water breaking at 12:40am 6-6-09 and baby was born on 7-7-09 at 7:20 something.

I'll share the birth story soon........

we are all feeling very well and are resting......

Randi

Long Over Due - Short

I asked K last night if she'd be willing to blog for me...... as it seems most times when I have the energy (A.M.) I just don't have the time. By night time, forget it.

I'm battling a snot filled nose......and pretty much feel like 100% crap right now. I made me an "anti-oxident" yummmy smoothie this morning to see if that'll help kick the cold. OJ, blueberries, strawberries and watermelon with lots of ice! K went to work, I'm staying in my PJ's all day curled up on the couch. I may even try to watch a MOVIE! (We've had Mama Mia now for probably close to 2 months!)

A quick summary of things.........

I've got pictures of the garden to put on here. We've planted yellow zuchhini, rhubarb, peas, cucumbers, onions, raspberries, and tomatoes. We killed a few over our trip Memorial Day Weekend so we'll need a few more starts....... it'll be fun having lots of fresh veggies with the baby on the way!

I am 34 weeks today, pregnancy wise. This pregnancy hasn't been bad at all - I haven't gotten "big" and can't imagine that ladies that are big - and how they feel. I mentioned to K on the way into the store last night "Why do people even get pregnant!?" I'm beginning to feel a bit of the aches and pains of it all.........just wanting to slow down. It's crazy that in 3 weeks I could safely give birth at home. (chances are I'll be late...being my first and all) but when we were doing the math yesterday I was like "HOLY SHIT!" :) I cannot wait to meet this little one......... a snuggle up for a good while getting to know each other earth-side........ sure has been fun getting to know them inside! :)

the Life is Good Conference was as wonderful as ever! The speakers were great, the funshops were great, the weather was awesome, the farmers market rocked our world, and we just had a very enjoyable time. I love meeting new people..... I LOVE watching families in action. One particularly amazed me this year was Pig and Tails (waving!) just enjoyed their interaction. I'm trying to think of a Circle Chat I may be able to host next year...... I love the smaller more intimate settings of them..........and think there should be millions ;)

We have our last birth class this week.......a blessingway of sorts. It will be lots of fun (if I'm not sick.........and will be majorly bummed if I can't go because of it!)

I finally get a massage on Thursday after waiting since before April.........my massage person is undoubtedly amazing and everyone wants to go to her! I have 3 booked from here until July 9th! I decided heck, get them on the books now!

We have our home visit with the midwife on Thursday.....THAT makes it seem even MORE real. After the last appointment and she stated that I was like "whoa!" :) we'll get our birth tub around June 20th....... suppose we should get some stuff packed in a bag - in case?....gotta get me a few nursing tanks/bras.....otherwise I think we have enough stuff right now that if the baby were to come we'd be fine! :) boobs, clothes and diapers :)

Gonna snuggle up for a bit now......drink my smoothie and rest.

love you all.

LIG Henna Belly

henna belly
Originally uploaded by kauleen_randi

33 weeks Henna Belly by my sweet friend Ginger :)

28 Weeks

randi 28 weeks
Originally uploaded by kauleen_randi

Here's a picture of me at 28 almost 29 weeks :)

Posting

I'm going to post soon......... just not tonight :)

stay tuned.

Happy Birthday Poppi

happy birthday! Hope you have a great one!

Love Randi, Kauleen and Chuck :)

Girls Night Out Donation

The bottom left bingo square is the one I should've won $200 dollars on - if I hadn't missed B13 that had already been called.

I donated $200 to the lady who called bingo shortly after finding out I hadn't marked it.......

Sure had a great time though!! :)

Family Time, etc.

We got off early on Friday and picked Dad up in Marysville and headed over for our first trip after winter to Grand Coulee for Easter! :) We got there about 8:15pm, unloaded, hooked up the water, turned on the water........ and water gushed out of our tankless water heater used for one year (last summer). We don't think it froze (had a heater outside the closet door which held the house to approx. 60 degrees all winter) but we did have power to it all winter with no water running into it....... which could've burned the coils. Nonetheless, we have a soggy tub anyways.... so we're just going to go with having some cold running water, a toilet that flushes....... and we're not going to worry about the hot water for now. Nonetheless, it was a bit of a bummer. There is a meeting the end of this month regarding getting the water lines replaced in Coulee (and water added to our area) along with possibly sewer...... if that's the case - we have many more options for what we could do with our "special place".

We woke up on Saturday to SUN! It wasn't expected to be sunny but we were really hoping for some, especially after hearing it was supposed to be kind of rainy at home. It was a windy chilly day but the sun was out all day. We took a walk to Gma and Gpas and had some lunch and then went to the rummage sale and got a few baby clothes at the church and then came home and went out and got some goods for Easter and then celebrated Dad's birthday with yummy chicken, broccoli salad and chocolate cake and ice cream (thanks uncle joe!) IT WAS FANTASTIC!!

Sunday we woke up...... Mom and Dad hid easter bags Ryan, Dewayne, K and I :) it was very fun! K then went and piddled at our place after breakfast, Mom and Dad left for Wenatchee to look at Dad's new digs, and then we met them in Wenatchee for our travels home. It was snowing pretty good on the pass........with some sticking to the road but not too bad! I was a bit stressed before leaving but really it wasn't all that bad. K drives wonderfully :)

I AM IN MY THIRD TRIMESTER and 7TH MONTH! Time is flying by now.... its crazy to think that by the end of June I could have a baby :) I didn't have a very restful weekend..... don't know if that was fear or rodents, lots of peeing, Chuck deciding to be awake at all hours of the night/morning, or just couldn't get comfy. My hips were kind of achy.... so that could've been it too. Nothing too bad honestly.....just didn't seem like a restful nights sleep either night.

We start birth classes on April 22nd :) Birthing from Within.........its crazy to think by the time we're done with them I could just about have the baby! We have lots of plans between now and then and lots of things to get done around the house........painting, etc. We decided to move the cosleeper into the "babies room" and have the baby sleep with us in our new king bed. We'll see how it all works out and what works best for us.........

LIFE IS GOOD CONFERENCE is coming up........ and I'm getting more and more excited for it every day. I wonder how Chuck will like the drumming circle? Amy Steinberg? :) Being henna'd? I just can't wait to hang out with friendly folk.....whom I care for dearly!! :)

I better go help my wife fold the laundry now......

oh and I didn't mention on here only on facebook........ I passed my gestational diabetes test. Yes, thank you, I've been eating whatever the hell I want to. I am going to moderate obviously the bad things (and it really made us aware of carbs!) so that we can make better choices for a healthy, normal size baby.

I'll leave with something I read last night in my Ina May Gaskin Book that I really liked..... and am thinking of starting a "birthing banner" to hang with quotes that will encourage and inspire :)

Rather than thinking in terms of "uterine contractions" think instead of "interesting sensations that require all of your attention"

With that off to fold laundry..........

Work, Work and More Work

We have been working quite a bit of overtime lately! We're super busy, short handed, and to an almost 7 month pregnant person that = EXHAUSTING. I can't do mornings....we've come to realize it throws me off for all day and tends to make more emotional days. K left a bit ago (6:30) after we came home last night and went back to work and stayed until 8:30!

I'm going to have to moderate the overtime a bit I think..... maybe 2 days a week or 4 hours on the weekend. I love my weekends but can do a few hours and seem more rested up then the work week. Today I am tired. To bed after 10:00pm for 2 nights in a row is kicking my butt.

We did get our 10% back so that is very cool.

I'm ready for a vacation...... LIG (which is not necessarily relaxing....... but more of a FUN/EXCITING/ENJOYABLE/MEMORABLE time) which I'm glad I'm doing....because I like to do things for vacation..... and this will be my last hooray before the baby is here... and then before you know it will have the little one with us and I'll be tired but I'll be home for .... and we can all marvel in each other :)

Most that read this, probably read my facebook.........but just in case....... I haven't gotten my gestational diabetes test results back yet. I'm going to call at 9am this morning to get them. We'll see what she says.

May this day go by super fast..........Tomorrow is jeans day and we're having an "Easter Breakfast" with yummy waffles at work......sure wish I could find me a tall pair of tall old navy XL (16) pair of jeans........ for whatever reason they are sold out on their website. oh well.

what a post.........

One Awesome Chick

A big thanks to Cousin Cori for the super fun and unexpected present in the mail! Our child will wear this with pride and his/her mothers will beam with joy. Cori you Rock! I think I like this idea of suprise packages in the mail. Thanks again :)

Good Night Sleep Here We Come

We found a fabulous deal for a King Bed on Craig's List this weekend. It is a memory foam mattress with a washable cover (freshly washed) and a bed frame from Ikea. All of this for the low, low price of $475! With the help of our wonderful cousins we were able to bring it home and get it set up for our first night of dream sleep. It was soo roomy even the cats didn't bother us. Now all we need is a little one to put in between us!

100 DAYS!

We are on the 100 day count down as of today!

We are very excited to meet this little one!!

Randi and Kauleen