Sammy

My sweet baby.

James

For some reason, he wanted Danielle to take a picture of his hands. I thought it was cute.

Eli

Isaac

Love that face...

Family Pictures

Our friend, Danielle, came to our home to take some pictures. They turned out really well. I'll post some of the individual kid shots later...

"Oh-well"

The closing hymn in our sacrament meeting on Sunday was "The First Noel." I have encouraged Eli to start singing with me now that he is able to read the words of the hymns. As we were singing the chorus of the song, Eli looks up at me and says, "I thought it said oh-well" (instead of noel). I was laughing so hard it was difficult to sing the rest of the song.

The Fall

This is what I returned home to last night after a brief trip to a local craft store. James had been jumping on the top bunk in Isaac and Eli's room. He fell from the bunk directly on to the hardwood floor, and apparently used his head to break his fall. When I walked in the door Eli was crying because he thought he would be sent to jail (I'm not quite sure why). Isaac was just fresh from a melt down because he didn't want to look at the bump, and Danny had made him. James was in the better spirits than either of them. He kept saying "Owie head", and "I fall". Um, yeah. This gave him a lot to relate to when I started reciting "One little monkey jumping on the bed, he fell off and broke his head..."

Pumpkin Farm

Eli's class went on a field trip last Thursday. I wasn't able to chaperone, and Eli didn't want to go without me. I suggested that he stay home and we would go on a field trip of our own. He liked that idea, so we planned to go to a pumpkin farm with a trip with my friend Julie and her kids.

The day before the trip I asked Isaac if he would like to skip school the next day and go to the farm with us. He looked at me with confusion on his face and reminded me of a note that was sent home from school earlier in the week. The note listed acceptable reasons for a student to be absent. Isaac reminded me that the only acceptable reasons to miss school were a death in the family, a broken bone or other serious injury, or and illness. He said, "no even vacations with your family." I then tried to explain to him that I am his mother, and I think it is fine for him to take a day off to go somewhere with his family. I explained that I would write a note for him to give to his teacher and everything would be okay. He was still nervous, so I told him it was up to him and I would respect his decision. He decided to go to school. Later, Danny was able to make him feel comfortable about missing school by explaining to him that the teacher was only in charge of him while he was in school - otherwise, his parents are the boss. I'm glad he came with us. We had a great time!

My Hero

My lack of sleep has been catching up to me the past few days. Yesterday I was teetering on the edge of insanity, and Danny could tell I needed some serious rest. He sent me to bed at 7:30 p.m. to get a headstart on my nights sleep. After I was in bed he took Sam with him to Home Depot and Target. At Target he got some formula with which to feed Sam while I slept. I got some great sleep, and awoke in the morning with enough energy to tackle another day. Is my husband the best? I think so...

He's Here!

Samuel Gerald Nydegger was born September 2nd at 8:08 a.m. I am so grateful that he is here and healthy. Of course I think he is adorable, and so do the boys. As for Danny, he likes him pretty well - but isn't a big fan of Sam's long fingers and toes. James is a big fan, but is not to be trusted. Isaac and Eli are very sweet and gentle with him - and really enjoy hearing him poop. I couldn't be more happy and relieved to be on this side of the pregnancy!

The Newest Nydegger Boy

Yes, I'm still pregnant. However, we have managed to add yet another boy to our family. This is Jack. He is our Russian Blue kitty. We all like him quite a bit - but Danny quite clearly likes him the very most. It's pretty cute/funny/annoying (depending on my hormones) to see how attentive he is with him.

I'll try to make this brief, but there is a pretty funny story surrounding the pick-up of Jack. Danny took Isaac and Eli all the way to St. Louis (5 hour drive... each way!) to pick up Jack. Before meeting the breeder, Danny coached the boys on what and what not to say to her. Alright, mainly just what not to say. The only thing he explicitly instructed them not to say was that we are getting a cat to catch our mice (which is actually not true). Mice extermination isn't the only reason we got Jack, but it was the impetus for our considering getting a cat. So Danny introduces the boys to the breeder, and Isaac says, "the only reason we're getting a cat is to catch our mice". I wish I could have been there! Danny said he tried to chuckle it off - but he couldn't figure out how Isaac could say the exact thing he had been instructed NOT to say. Of course Isaac's answer was, "I forgot".

No Pork

Eli: Mom, we can't eat pork.
Me: Why?
Eli: Because Leilani (a girl in his class) said that they eat their own boo-boo.
Me: What's boo-boo?
Eli: Diahrreah and poop. Leilani said that it's bad when you eat pig because it makes you sweat.
Me: Interesting. Do you want some ham?
Eli: Yeah.
Me: Did you know that ham is pork?
Eli: No. I'm not listening to Leilani. I'll just eat it anyway.

Yay Summer

I know, I know. I'm posting way more than usual, maybe too much. While I am welcoming warmer temperatures and the return of sunshine to Chicago, the warmth also has it's drawbacks. Humidity. Besides the constant sheen of perspiration that will be my constant companion, there is an equally nasty side effect to humidity. Flatulence. Because of the humidity every time one passes gas it's as if you did so in the bath tub. You get my drift?

And One to Grow On...

Eli celebrated his sixth birthday with our family and some of his neighborhood friends. A good time was had by all!

Cheese!

This is the face James makes when he's commanded to "smile".

Pregnant and Mean (or so Eli says)

I walk my boys home from school each afternoon. Eli usually holds on to the stroller and tells me little tidbits about his day. Last week I found out that he'd spent his entire Japanese class (30 minutes) on the toilet because he'd pooped before realizing that there wasn't any toilet paper. Luckily his teacher finally heard his petition for help! So yesterday we're walking along and he tells me that he has something to tell me, but he thinks it'll make me mad. I said, "Then don't tell me." But I could tell that he still wanted to. So it finally comes out and he says, "you're kinda mean when you're pregnant." I told him that I think I'm kind of mean all the time! Luckily he disagreed and said that when I'm not pregnant I'm "sorta" nicer. As I relayed the story to Danny he didn't disagree!

Isaac is really into saying "jinx" when we say something at the same time. I guess the rule is that if you've been "jinx'ed" you're not supposed to talk again until someone says your full name. After me being silent for less than a minute, Isaac said "Mom Carter Nydegger". Pretty cute.

I'm Back!

I am feeling SO much better lately. I still need plenty of rest (and food), but I'm not sick every night like I used to be. And - I have been feeling the first baby movement over the last couple of days!

Last week Eli came home from school to tell me that his teacher, Ms. Snyder, said that she is older than Dad (she's about 60). I asked him if he thought she was. He said, "no". I then asked him if he had asked Ms. Snyder how old she is. He said "yes, she said that grown-ups don't like to tell how old they are." I laughed a little and relayed his version of the conversation to Ms. Snyder the next day. She said his retell was pretty accurate, but he left out that he had told her that her hands looked old.

The Reason...

I know I've been absent on my blog lately, and I actually do have a good reason (or two). The first is that I am pregnant, and I feel pregnant. Not only have I not been blogging, but I haven't done any housework other than the absolutely necessary (and that list continues to shrink).

The second is that my computer got stolen. As I left to pick up Isaac and Eli from school a couple of weeks ago, I had to leave the house unlocked because James had hidden my keys somewhere. About an hour after I got home, I tried to use the computer and couldn't find it anywere. I also discovered my wedding rings to be gone, along with our video camera. Lovely. I'm angry, but glad that the burglar wasn't still in the house when we got home.

So I'm writing this from Danny's work laptop. He brings it home most nights now, but that happens to be the time that I usually feel the worst - so we'll see when I can get my blog up and running again...

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before? Spend more than a week away from Danny, share my birthday with James (other than his actual birthday), spend over $400 to come home from vacation 3 days early.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make New Year's resolutions.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes! Julie, Sara, and many other friends.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What states/countries did you visit? Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Utah, Nevada, California, New Jersey, New York, and Mexico.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007? Better self-discipline in general. In regards to spirituality, health habits, child-rearing, homemaking... the list goes on!
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Can't think of any in particular.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting in good shape, continuing to put my home together, feeling general happiness amid imperfection.
9. What was your biggest failure? Falling back out of shape!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing major.
11. What was the best thing you bought? Probably my armoire - it was hard to find one that fit our TV depth.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Surely Danny's behavior always merits celebration. He continuously diffuses each confrontation, and shows love to an occasionally unloveable wife :).
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Not gonna say...
14. Where did most of your money go? Home.
15. What are you most excited about? Visiting family.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007? Grace Kelly by Mika.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder? Happier. b) thinner or fatter? abour the same. c) richer or poorer? ask Danny...
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Payed more undistracted attention to Isaac.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Yelling, gossiping, and eating!
20. How did you spend Christmas? Mostly at home, and with some friends for breakfast.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007? Yep. When Danny paid a surprise visit to me in San Diego I have never loved him more!
22. What was your favorite TV program? The Office.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Nope.
24. What was the best book you read? Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Hard to say, my musical discoveries have dramatically declined since my Mac broke :(.
26. What did you want and get? New pots and pans, a new living room rug, general peace.
27. What did you want and not get? A finished basement.
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Nothing comes to mind.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 29. I took my boys to the beach in the day and went out for delicious sushi with Danny at night. So nice...
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If I had mastered home organization and had a useable back patio area.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007? Sometimes classy, others shlumpy.
32. What kept you sane? Music, reading, Danny, my mom, Alison, and friends.
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I know that this wasn't the intended meaning of the word "figure", but I want to have Evangeline Lilly's figure.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? Global warming, the war, the healthcare crisis.
35. Who did you miss? My family, Jamie, and the Haraguchi's.
36. Who was the best new person you met? Brandy Keller.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007. Happiness is a choice - but it always helps to have a kitchen to increace the liklihood of you achieving it!
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free, 'tis a gift to come down where you want to be. And when you find yourself in the place just right 'twill be in the valley of love and delight."