Two Down...and I Don't Want to Think About the Rest

When you are pregnant and expecting a little bundle of joy, everyone loves to give you advice.  "They grow up so fast" or "just wait until they are teenagers" or "there is nothing like a child" are frequent sentiments that you hear.  However, no one warns you of one of the most difficult battles between a parent and a child....teeth pulling!!!  It is horrible!!  Friday night, after several other attempts in the past week, Josh and I buckled down and told Abby that the two bottom teeth HAD to come out or we were visiting the dentist.  Her permanent teeth were already making a strong showing even before the baby teeth were out.  After a two hour struggle and lots of crying, the two bottom teeth are finally out and you have never seen a prouder child.  Of course the next time she faces a loose tooth, she will forget the excitement of the pulled tooth and the money she received and once again all reasoning will leave her and another battle will begin!!!  Needless to say, I now understand the phrase "like pulling teeth."  However, since this is the first tooth of the first child, we should brace ourselves for several years of pulling teeth.

Future Cheerleader?

The North Hardin Cheerleaders have an annual Cheer Clinic in order to raise money for uniforms.  Last year Abby attended and she did this year as well.  The girls learn cheers for four hours, receive a t-shirt, and eat lunch with the cheerleaders.  During the season opening football game, the girls cheer with the cheerleaders during the third quarter.  Abby looks forward to this day like it is Christmas and she talks about it for months.  Although this is the only cheer leading activity she participates in the entire year, she insists she is a cheerleader!

 The Future Cheerleaders--Abby and Anna Jaggers

Abby and Dakota Grigsby (a cheerleader and one of my students!)

Kindergarten

A major milestone in Abby's life was reached this month when she started kindergarten.  Although she was in preschool for two years, kindergarten is a whole different ballgame.  She calls it "real" school.  The hardest adjustment was no nap.  During preschool she had a nap and for our sanity, we continued naps throughout the summer.  So the first couple of weeks was really rough on Abby because of the change.  As a result, she had a few days of behavior notes, but over the last two weeks, her behavior has leveled out as she adjusted to this new schedule.

On a positive note, Abby loves the library.  Each day, she has the opportunity to check out a new book and now they have started Accelerated Reader tests.  On the first three tests, she did not earn any points.  However, she is on a role now and earns points every day. 

She has also mastered several sight words and loves math.  In fact, she has determined that she wants to do math everyday!!!  I will remind her of this comment once the high school years hit!!!  It is hard to believe that our little girl is in school.  Her life is generally scheduled around her social agenda, so school is the perfect place for her.  However, she will have to do her socializing at appropriate times!

What are little boys made of?....

....Frogs, snails, and puppy dog tails.  No words have ever been as true as these.  I really don't think these pictures need any explanation.  Micah is clearly all boy!!!  I am not a huge fan of frogs, but I feel sorry for this one!!!

Our New Pets

Saturday, Josh decided that three dogs and two kids just wasn't enough excitement for our house.  So to liven things up a bit, we have four new pets....two lop-eared rabbits and two Nigerian Dwarf goats.  The excitement began right off the bat when one of the goats jumped from the back of the truck and preceded to lead Josh on a chase through the woods, back yard, and eventually the front yard.  While Josh was working up a sweat, the dogs were barking and Micah was laughing.  I am sure it was comical to witness.  We named the rabbits Thumper and Flower and goats are named Smokey and Bandit.

 Abby and Micah with Thumper (Flower was too feisty for the picture!)

 Smoky and the Bandit

Josh and Rachel Plus....Three

That's right!!!  We are expecting baby #3 in early March 2012!!  We are very excited to become a family of five and I am feeling great right now.  I just started my second trimester and fortunately, the sickness has subsided.  July is a little blurry for me between the heat and the nausea.  Thankfully, I started feeling really well right before school started.  Josh is probably glad as well, since he has been flying solo in the parenting department for a few weeks.

Abby is very excited about the baby.  In fact, it will probably be a very long six months for her.  She has already named the baby if it is a girl....Queen Angel Princess Pretty Pink Flower Flip Flops....I'm not sure how that is going to work out!!  Creativity is definitely a strength for Abby.  I asked her what the baby's name would be if it was a boy.  She said Micah would have to name it!  Micah on the other hand doesn't really know what is going on.  He was with us during a preliminary ultrasound, but he was more impressed with the "exam glove balloon animal" than he was with the baby.  I am sure that will change once the little bundle arrives.

I am looking forward to enjoying pregnancy #3 and will post baby and kindergarten updates soon!!