August Wesport Camping Trip...

I felt pretty brave going on a camping trip with a 2.5/1.5 year old in addition to being 8 months pregnant. I was up for the challenge. We went with some friends from church and had a wonderful time despite the HORRIBLE weather. It rained the ENTIRE time, and not just sprinkles but sheets of rain. WE ended up leaving early because no one could fellowship since we were all just trying to keep our kids, ourselves and our things dry.

Belly Pic...29 weeks!

We were hoping to take more photos with the "growing" belly this time around but because of my large birthing hips my belly didn't show until later. So what do you think? Boy or Girl?

Potty Training!

So...I told myself I would do the "Toilet Training in less than a day" theory since my friend did and it worked for her...but...she is out of town and I don't have the proper materials and wanted to get started ASAP. Once I put this mind to something it's hard to turn it around.

Day #1 - I attempted to train Lani and Ezekiel at the same time. Seemed like a good idea. Both could pull there pants down and sit on their potty's quietly. Then Lani started playing the poking game with Ezekiel, moving her potty over just so she could poke him.

I decided she might not be ready for a couple of reasons and focused my attention on Ezekiel. As possible as that was with his sister checking the potty for pee and rubbing his head while he was on the potty. He did go pee pee a couple of times and then he was getting tired so we took a break for the day.

Day #2 - Started out with pancakes and a gallon of apple juice. 20 minutes later (after finishing his juice)I told Ezekiel to go to the potty and he could come back and finish breakfast. He sat on that potty for 30 minutes or so and nothing...during that time I had caught the oven on fire and was in the midst of cleanup. I then decided to take Lani to nana and pops for a little bit so I could focus on Ezekiel a little more. I took Ezekiel to the dollar store and bought
$9.00 worth of junk food and drinks which I ended up eating more than him. In the car Ezekiel started whining, so I said do you need to use the potty? HE did so I pulled over and sat him on his potty chair (in the car). He did go.
The accidents became more and more frequent after this so I stoppped for the afternoon until after naps.

TBD...
Day#3- Woke up dry with No ACCIDENTS...this continues to be the case and by God's grace my little boy is an expert potty goer. :)

This picture is after Ezekiel had his first #2 in the potty. HE was so excited and I as a proud mama was thrilled. Dave asked that I refrain from showing the obvious so we cut it out of the portrait. Are little boy is a so grown up. :)

Aunt Janet & Aunt Marilyn's Visit

My aunts from New York came for a visit before they left for their cruise to Alaska. It was great to see them and have them meet the kids. I don't have any pics of them yet, but here are some that were taken that weekend.

Exercise

Summertime!~

Suprisingly although the weather hasn't been the most warm for a Seattle Summer, it's still been packed with playgroups, softball games, dr. appts, BBQ's, Pool Time, Birthday parties, Weddings, Holidays, Baby Showers, Family visits, you get the picture! WE've had such a great June and July with all of these things and are looking forward to our camping trip in August. It's hard to capture everyday on camera especially since I'm just trying to keep my eye on the two rascals making sure they don't trip their pregnant mama. I haven't been good at all these last two months with taking pictures. A lot of our friends and family take pictures so I guess I rely on them for footage. Although I haven't seen any recently.
Our June was spent mainly looking forward to our Mexico vacation. When we got back we had routine as usual with some BBQ's, and birthday's and Dave's Softball games. Dave's sister came into town with Cousin Haley for a softball game she had in Seattle, so we spent part of a weekend with them. Dr.'s appts have been the same, so we are waiting on the 30-32 week ultrasound to tell us what the next couple of weeks will look like. July has been packed with fun...July 4th was spent with some friends from church, Ezekiel said he didn't like the "pop" "pop" noise, that "it was scary" so we ended up leaving the party by 9:30 to avoid the big bomb droppers.
The following weekend we went to Oregon for a wedding which as always goes way to fast. This week I had my glucose screening which I tested High for and will be going in for further testing on Monday. Today I took Ezekiel to his friends house for swimming. One of the pictures you will see is of Ezekiel attempting to climb our rock wall in the back yard. I looked out the window and he was climbing up, so I had to take a picture. Then once he got up he started crying hysterically. Either he was upset cause he knew I would be upset or he didn't believe he could really get up there. The other photo is just a summer day at the Wagners, mini pool, slide, big blanket for laying and popsicles. Life is Good. :)

Oregon Visit

We went to Oregon for a friends wedding and had the opportunity to make it a date since Grandpa Donnie and Grandma Nita watched the kids for us.

Vacationing in Mexico is tough...NOT!

Dinner @ Don Quioxte (5 Course Dinner) YUMMMMMMMMY!

Our bellies after eating @ Don Quioxte:)

Snorkeling with our new friends, Kim and Logan

The sunset and our toes

The sunset and our faces

A relaxing night of champagne and scrabble

In the pool...under the refreshing waterfall

Another boat shot...

Out where they filmed "The Night of the Iguana" 23 weeks Preggers!

Our last day in Mexico :(

Placenta Previa

Today we had our 20 week ultrasound, right when I saw the ultrasound technician I blurted "don't tell me what we're having"! We wanted to make sure it was known that we wanted this to be a suprise. The technician said she only gets about 2 of these requests per year, everyone wants to plan these days. The appt went well, saw many pictures of baby Wagner sucking thumb, lifting hands behind the head, all kinds of poses. The heartbeat was normal and all parts were there and developed! The baby is about a week behind on birthweight but likely will catch up. We decided not to find out what we're having, deciding to be able to celebrate this birth just the two of us that special day isn't that what God intends? It took us awhile to figure it out considering we found out with both Ezekiel and Emmalani. :)

I got a phonecall shortly after the ultrasound from the doctor saying that my placenta was completely covering my cervix. It's called a "Total Placenta Previa". Most of the time this usually seperated allowing the birth canal to be visible. In this case because it's completely over the cervix. IT's not looking like there will be any changes. I've been asked to be on pelvic rest and partial bed rest. Pretty much no hikes, long walks, exercise etc, (just get where I need to go) and rest in between. This isn't my personality and has made me think of ways to enjoy my rest time in more creative ways or ways that I wouldn't have explored had I been able to get out and enjoy my legs.

So for all of you that have legs and arms and can use them, do it for my sake. I miss being active.
Here is a picture of our little peach sucking their thumb.
Oh! And the only they said that was above average is the head! Another big head coming thru.

Precious Moments.

I love bedtime hearing my baby boy give his sister a tight hug and tell her" See ew tmorro Emma !" (See you tomorrow Emma) Being a mommy is the best even when it's been a tough day.

Starbucks Day!

One of the gifts I rec'd for Mother's Day was a starbucks card and being a mom coffee for me has become NECCESSARY even while pregnant. So...I took the kids to Starbuck for lunch, we had a panini some Tazo juice for the kids an iced coffee for myself. Afterwards we came home and enjoyed some vitamin D! It was a nice morning for all of us.

Sick Day...kind of.

Last night I had severe food poisoning, at first I thought we were losing the baby then realized it was just that. I will spare you the details. Today Dave stayed home because his ear had been bothering him, he went to the doctors yesterday thinking it was an ear infection but it ended up being just irritated. It was nice to have him home this morning because I was still really weak, my mom and dad ended up taking the kids for us for a few hours so I could sleep and Dave worked. It was really, really nice to have the extra rest.

Unfortunatley when your sick kids don't have empathy or understanding of how you're feeling. So once we got back to the house business as usual, Dave and Ezekiel mowed the lawn and Lani and I did housework.

A Clean House

I woke up the other morning and somehow the same house that I cleaned what felt like ten times that week, was once again dirty. It boggles my mind how my small house gets out of order so quickly with myself (the tornado),a husband (cleanfreak), and a two toddlers (that act like they are in WWF). I think about all the work it takes for my house to appear to be in order, then out of no where...dirty house.

I guess it starts small. Crumbs on the counter top that stands out like crazy. And I guess since you have already compromised your standards, it's not that big of a deal that there is a pile of opened mail strewn across the kitchen table, living room couch, and anywhere else there may have been empty counterspace. Before you know it, your trash can is over flowing onto the floor, you have about 5 loads of laundry that you need to fold, and you've been sitting on the couch for 4 hours watching tv, facebook, or online shopping without a shower for the day.

I was reading my bible the other day and after reading this I really had to ask myself...

When was the last time I took inventory of my relationship with God? When was the last time, after looking through everything in my life, did I clean house?

As I looked into this, I realized that I have so many things in my life that I could just throw away. Things that I thought held importance but in the grand scheme of the Kingdom of God, are just silly. Things that took up my time that didn't benefit me or glorify Him at all. Relationships that lost their luster a long time ago that I held onto out of fear. The list goes on...

How did I end up with such a long list? Compromise. It starts with one seemingly small compromise, which leads to a little less small compromise, which in the end leads to a messy house. I sometimes wonder if this is simply how we get into the biggest messes of our lives?

But then there is Grace. The thing that says, I've already paid for your mistakes...just turn towards Me. Words fail to describe how thankful I am for this. I would still be trying to undo my list from years and years ago of things I used to occupy my time and life with rather than build a meaningful relationship with my Daddy in Heaven.

So...I've decided, it's time to clean house.
:)

CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S MAY ALREADY!

Wow! Time is passing me by...I've been feeling that I need more time lately. Not in a selfish sense of wanting mani/pedi's either (although I wouldn't pass it up), but more time with God, my family, and cherishing my kids. I am feeling like these months sometimes go by without my calling out to our lord and savior praising him for all he's blessed me with, telling my kids that they mean more to me than I could ever explain in words, thanking my husband for being our rock, loving me well and making me want to be a better woman and wife, enjoying my niece and nephew who live a country apart but are so close to my heart... my brother too. Taking the time to pray individually for those who are in pain daily, or who's hearts are hurting or are just lonely. I could go on...I think about all of these things often but is that enough??

As I walked out the front door and watched the kids play outside and admired the view of the city, water and mountains. I began to thank God for what he's done for me and given our family. I really can't explain how happy I am in this life right now. IT's an unfathonable feeling of comfort, peace and unknowing at the same time. I'm trying to soak in every bit of sunshine in my life before the rain comes and praying that when it does decided to rain I continue to praise God that much more for my blessings. I really feel like my heart is being prepared for that time to come.

I don't want this message to come across as every day being "perfect" either. In fact this week we found out we have termites eating at our home and as I sit here with Lani crying and Ezekiel fighting over his baby Jesus toy with a friend. There's moments where I want to crawl in bed and put the covers over my head and just tell the kids to let mommy have some time. Many moments actually...but snot, poop, drool and all I would never trade them for anything! (at least at this moment - ask me tomorrow) :) My kids also serve as a constant reminder that I need to try to be better. I love them with all my heart.

If you know me well, you know I always have ideas in my head of things I want to do! Most of the time I don't get to it, especially now! But...someday, I may become the guitar player I've always dreamt to be, or the owner of family cafe, or the creator of my LaniCoco perfume line. Or just maybe I'll continue to be the best mom I can be to three beautiful kids and the loving wife I try to be to my amazing husband. For now that's what consumes these days which turn into weeks and then months and all of a sudden the years pass.

This last weekend was Dave's 30th and Mother's Day also a celebration to recognize Uncle Joe (Dave's brother) who is heading to National Guard boot camp next week. I will try to post pictures when I get some more time. In the meantime, here are a few happenings from the month of May...