The "BrownJELO" dilemma.

We have received very excited and supportive feedback on our Baby #5 news. It's funny, because after two or three, you find that you can get some varying reactions. I really was expecting more of the "haven't you figured out what causes that" response..and I even have the perfect 'come back' ready to go, and not one person has asked the question. It's a good thing.

After the initial excitement and "congrats" from people, the next question is something to the effect of "what will you name this baby so that you can stick with the JELO theme. Truth is, it really does come to mind for us! Silly, I know.

We have thought through this and we do have some options here! I will say, if we come up with a name that we both love and it doesn't fit with JELO it will be ok. We are definitely not making that a criteria for our name choice. But, with that said, we could go with a name that starts with "E"...and we happen to have a few boys and girls name that start with E that we like, or we could use a name that starts with "H". Josh says ending it with an "H" would make it the "Biblical JELO". I just so happen to LOVE a name that starts with "H" for a little girl:)

First things first, we will find out what this little teddy graham is. Then Josh and I will start the almost torturous process of name choice. While I do enjoy this process, in fact, I LOVE this process....we do have very particular things that we look for in a name. I suppose everyone does:)

We also, typically, don't decide for sure on a name until we meet the baby. We will go to the hospital with a few (or maybe just one or two) names narrowed down and we will wait until we get to snuggle for a few minutes. Usually, it only takes a few moments and we are both 100% sure of which name to go with.

Now that I am pretty much through the first trimester I am starting to really get excited about this new baby!!

(Also, this is totally a random note at the end of my blog...but Kathy H...please email me!! brownjelo@metrocast.net The Oct girls have been asking about you and then I saw your comment on my blog, and can't think of another way to contact you!!)

It's been pretty quiet here on my blog:)

You see...I have been keeping a secret:) And while I AM good at keeping secrets, I really really HATE secrets. If you tell me something, especially something exciting, and tell me not to tell, I won't. But it is very hard for me. My method of keeping secrets is to avoid talking altogether and even sometimes avoid people in general! I find myself so afraid to 'slip up' that I just don't talk.

This type of secret keeping is even harder when it's about myself...because really, if I want to share a secret about myself, then I should just share it. But for various reasons, I even felt as though I should keep this secret quiet for a bit. Even on facebook I have been relatively statusless...because if I were to have posted statuses over the last month and a half or so they would probably have looked something like this...

What's on your mind? Lucky Charms for breakfast, lunch and dinner....mmmmmmm:)

or

What's on your mind? napping. again.

or

What's on your mind? Watching The Notebook is hard enough...but watching The Notebook while pregnant is a BAD idea.

It is common for me to by a pregnancy test after some sort of hormonal/emotional break down. I am not an emotional person in general. But, when something like watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. win a Nascar race brings me to tears (I HATE NASCAR)...I immediately run out for a test. (This is what happened when I was preggo with Luke).

Which brings me to a moment right after Church in early December. My brother in law (or..my sister in laws husband...so my brother in law, in law??) said something to me that irritated me. For those of you who know him, you know that this is nothing out of the ordinary. He lives for saying things that get people riled up...and usually the people who know him well just ignore him and move on..because we know what he's trying to do. For some reason, this particular time, I reacted in a way that surprised everyone (including myself). Instead of ignoring him, I got really mad. My face got red, my eyes got teary and I sort of yelled at him and then finished by saying "I want to punch you in the face SO bad right now". Of course, all of this making him chuckle...and making others around me wonder 'what the heck was that all about?':) At that point I knew I acted very oddly..and started laughing at myself and then almost started crying. At that moment I knew.

So yeah, the next day I went out and got a test...and sure enough...TWO LINES. Oh my goodness. Now...we know how this works, we know what causes this. It was not a total surprise...but even if you have been actively trying for months on end when you see two lines on a pregnancy test it freaks you out. I was in a daze for the rest of the day.

We kept this secret for a while. After having an appt a couple of weeks ago and having an opportunity to see the baby (after I suggested that the doc get his little u/s machine and get a sneak peek...because apparently when you are on #5 you get to call the shots!)...and seeing a little baby with a beating heart, we figured we would tell the kids. This was SO fun.

I set up the video camera (they didn't know this) and we showed them the u/s pic. They all guessed that it was "Kirsten's baby" (Kirsten is my SIL who is also pregnant). I said "no"...and then it clicked with Jessalyn. She said "is it yours??!!" ..and I said "yep!" and she said "You're PREGNANT?!" and I said yep. Ethan quickly said "is it a boy?", and Jessalyn jumped up and down for joy shouting "I hope it's a girl, I hope it's a girl, I hope it's a girl"...and Luke, after a second of processing what the heck was going on, said "I KNEW IT" and started rubbing my belly. Luke has been telling me for weeks that there is a baby in there! Owen didn't really react much until later.

The kids are excited. As we continued getting ready for bed the questions starting coming. Luke wants to know all the logistical things about a baby in my belly. How does it eat? How big is it? How will it come out? (a question I avoided) Owen kept listing all the things we need...a crib, nukys (2 of them in case SHE loses one), bibs, baby food. He also said he needs to pick up all the toys so SHE won't eat them and put the gate on the stairs. He's really thinking:) Jessalyn wanted to be sure she could go tell all her friends at school. Jessalyn and Ethan ran downstairs to get a baby name book and spent time together in Jessalyn's bed listing their favorite names..and interesting list for sure! I will be sure to share it.

The excitement continued through the next day. Jessalyn took a picture of the u/s and printed it out to bring to school and share with her friends. Luke and Ethan proudly told their classmates and teachers and Owen said he can't wait to tell Riley. Owen has asked me daily since telling them "is the baby coming out today?". It's gonna be a long 7/8 months for Owen! Luke gives my belly hugs and kisses every chance he can. Imagine what they will be like when the baby is actually here!!!

So..this all brings me to the fact that I am still only 11 weeks along. Doc said everything looked great and baby looked like the right size and was in the 'right place' and all that...and the heart rate was good. I do pray that everything continues to go well...even though we are nearing the end of the first trimester it seems that the worry never really stops.

So...long story short...Baby Brown #5 (YIKES!) is due around Aug 7th...

We are all excited!

The Shark (product review)

My mom called me up a few days ago and told me that I needed to sweep my floors because she was on her way over with a new mop that she just bought called the Shark. I know this may not be new to many, but it is new to me and I have to say that, after using the Shark, I most definitely shared my moms enthusiasm for this product!

In looking at the Shark website, there are many products. My mom has the "steam pocket mop" (that is shown in the link above)...but my mom said she got it at Walmart for $99.

The things I loved about this mop...
1. The durable, reusable/washable mop pads...as compared to having to buy them for my swiffer.

2. The fact that it only uses water and no chemical cleaning products..not that I'm a super freak about the chemical thing, but again, it's just something that you don't need to continue to buy.

3. It steams as you push the mop. The handle has a pump type action. (ie: the kids can mop and not spray an excessive amount of cleaning product all over the floor)

4. Because it uses steam it dries almost instantly! (again..very helpful with a house full of kids!)

5. It really does do a great job. It cleaned the floors very nicely.

6. It isn't any bigger than my swiffer.

You do have to plug it in and deal with the power cord...but I suppose this is no different than vacuuming. It also does get very hot. I had to refill the water 3 times to wash the entire downstairs of my house, but that process is quick and easy.

Overall..I think it is GREAT! I plan to borrow this from mom on a regular basis!

Stinkin' Santa!

On Saturday One Voice was asked to sing some Christmas Carols at the tree lighting ceremony in town. The kids participated in this...or, they all started to participate:) (It was SO cold...so the boys dropped like flies and came over to hang out with Josh and I.) Anyway..."Santa" was there that night and handed out candy canes and pencils to the kids.

Later that night, while the kids were getting ready for bed and I was making their beds (after washing their sheets earlier in the day), Luke was holding his pencil and decided to jump. He slipped on the blankets on the floor and proceeded to poke his eye pretty hard with the end of the pencil..which was fortunately NOT sharpened yet.

He screamed pretty loud and was clearly in lots of pain and as I examined his eye realized that it was actually bleeding. I'd never dealt with a bloody eyeball before, but at that point was thinking the worst. I quickly picked him up and brought him downstairs..prepared to bring him to the ER or something. I grabbed some ice and tried to calm him down. It became clear very quickly that it wasn't as bad as I thought and the bleeding stopped right away. (There was never a time when it was 'gushing' or anything..but it was clearly bleeding).

At that point I was pretty sure that it wouldn't result in an emergency trip to the hospital..worst case maybe a trip to the doc at some point, so I put him on the couch with Josh and his ice and I headed back upstairs to finish making beds and putting the other kids to bed.

When I got upstairs, Ethan was very upset. They all tend to get upset when someone in the family is 'seriously' hurt. Ethan was crying a bit..trying hard not too, but definitely crying. He was standing on his bed very upset about Luke's eye as I was telling him that he was going to be fine. Ethan then burst out in this fit of anger saying "STINKIN' SANTA! IT'S ALL SANTA'S FAULT. IF HE HADN'T GIVEN LUKE A PENCIL THIS NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED!!!" Yelling this full of anger and tears and emotion. It was hard for me not to laugh..actually, I think I did laugh a little bit.

I assured the kids that Luke was fine and put them to bed. Jessalyn handed me this little bracelet made out of a few pieces of string and asked me to tie it on Luke's wrist when I got downstairs. I did. Then Jessalyn came down to tell me that her, Ethan and Owen were all wearing matching bracelets. I guess in memory (or honor of?) Luke's eyeball:) I thought it was sweet. A little dramatic maybe...but cute nonetheless!

My kids fight like crazy. They seem emotionless at times when each other gets hurt..probably because little booboo's happen frequently in our house. I am encouraged to see how the kids 'band' together when there is a serious issue. Seeing how they were when Owen was in the hospital last April was like this. There was true concern...true prayers...and an honest excitement when he was home and better. I really really hope that they continue this relationship throughout adulthood.

And...because I am sure you are wondering. It was clear that Luke was fine within and hour or so of the incident. It did hurt quite a bit and he was sensitive to opening it at all for a bit. But he kept the ice on and it wasn't long before he was acting totally normal. I thought sure that by morning he would have a pretty ugly eye..but you can't even see anything. His eye looks perfect! I am actually thinking now that the bleeding came from his eyelid..not his actual eye, because there is no visible mark on his eye at all.

I am thankful for God's protection in this situation. This could have been WAY worse!!!

Sunday Schmunday

Even though I feel completely alone on this subject, I feel like there HAS to be at least a few others who agree with me here.

Why do we continue to send our kid to school events/practices (mandatory or not) on Sundays??

I know, I know...the majority of families in the community do not attend Church on Sunday morning, but regardless of that, I feel like EVERY family needs a day with nothing scheduled. We all need a day to be a family. This 'family time' looks different for each family. For us, it looks something like this: Church and Sunday School in the AM, usually Subway for lunch (if my kids have any say in it) followed by something we do as a family in the afternoon (this time of year it's relaxing, watching football), sometimes popcorn for dinner, America's Funniest Home Video's in the evening..then bedtime. Nothing 'special', yet we are all together getting refreshed, relaxing and getting ready to start another crazy busy week of piecing together the scheduling puzzles.

Trust me, I am competitive. I have been a part of sports teams my whole life. I played on a basketball team in high school that got together every morning BEFORE school (not mandatory) to play basketball ALL SCHOOL YEAR LONG. WMRHS was serious about it's sports. We competed well, most often making it to the tournaments at the end and occasionally winning them. At first, it was a normal thing to see practices on Sunday....but then a few parents started to stand up to this, refusing to send the kids. It didn't take long for this concept to trickle through other parents and soon enough the school board banned any activities on Sunday. You know what? We still were often ranked at the top of the other schools in our class (which happens to be the same class as Inter-Lakes).

As a basketball coach for the 3rd and 4th grade girls I understand (trust me I do!) the feeling of needing more practice time. Like I said, I am competitive...but really really feeling strongly that we don't need that extra practice time to be on Sunday. Not just because of my own family but for the sake of every other family out there!

It seems that more and more activities are being planned for Sunday. These practices are never mandatory...but, I've been a part of sports teams long enough to know that whether you show up at a mandatory practice or not really does play a big role in your place on a team...whether the coach means to do this or not. I would like my kids to take being on a team seriously and very much encourage as much participation (mandatory or not) as possible. I also want to encourage them to take our family seriously as well. I would like them to see the priorities here.

I don't blame the coordinators of these events. I am VERY grateful for the people who step up do their best to keep these different leagues running and although I haven't experienced it myself can only imagine the work and the headache that this involvement provides. I know that by scheduling things like this that they are only trying to make everyone happy. Sometimes I wonder if it is one big misunderstanding and miscommunication...and I wonder if everyone is just jumping into the flow of the water and just 'going' with it. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if all of the parents were actually honest with one another...I wonder if everyone would agree that we all need a day. Just. One. Day to catch our breath, relax, recharge and gear up for the week ahead of us. I know for sure I need this day. I also know for sure that my kids NEED this day. I think every family needs THIS DAY. A day without running around in three different places. Those of us with multiple kids in multiple activities can understand this.

I wonder if scheduling stuff on Sunday is something that we are doing because everyone thinks that this is what everyone else wants?

Or maybe, like I said, I am completely alone with this? Maybe I'm the only one? I would really love some response here just so I can stop wondering:) Regardless of who agree's with me, we will continue as a family to keep Sunday our day of relaxation. At the same time, if I am met with others who agree with me, maybe we can work together to change this?! I know it can be done..I've watched it happen before.

Again, I can't stress enough that I don't 'blame' anyone for this type of scheduling. I am so glad to be a part of a community who has great programs for the kids and am happy to have my kids involved. I know that the coaches mean well and are just trying to do their best to teach our kids. I also understand that there are times when a Sunday event has to happen (tournaments, rain dates etc)...but it seems as though more and more is getting scheduled every day of the week and I know I need just one day to be home with my family all together, in one place! I want to bet that the Coaches wouldn't really complain THAT much if none of the teams were allowed to practice on a Sunday...it would probably mean an actual day off for them!

Anyone else??
*crickets*chirp*chirp* :)
You can be honest..calling me crazy won't hurt my feelings!

Jeremiah

Miah and I hit a bunch of my favorite locations for this senior session..but it wasn't long before he caught on to the 'type' of location that I look for. He was helpful in giving suggestions and ideas and spotting out cool places for pics!

























The full album is in the 'teen' gallery of my website.

A highly anticipated Christmas gift!

My sister in law is expecting her first baby due on Christmas Eve! The whole family as anxiously awaiting this little baby girl. This baby girl makes grandchild number TEN on our side of the family and grandchild number ONE on the other side.

Shara couldn't be more 'perfectly pregnant' at this point so we took the opportunity to capture this time as best we could.