My Baby is Three!

We celebrated Owen's 3rd birthday yesterday. I am exhausted! It was fun but this past week is really catching up with me and I need some rest! So,  I'll post a few pics and blog about the details later.

Memories of a Great Lady

It's been a sad time for me these last few days. My grandmother or "Grandma Gertie" as we called her passed away early Tuesday morning. It was rather sudden, so it's been hard to believe. Her funeral will be on Friday. When I got the news Tuesday morning, I was trying not to cry and wondering what to say to Owen. How do you explain death to an almost 3-year-old? I told him Mommy was sad because Grandma Gertie had died and we wouldn't be able to see her anymore.

Owen: "Why she die Mommy?"

Me: "Well, God decided it was her time to go. People don't live forever you know. When they get older, then eventually we all die at sometime."

Owen: "I die when I old, Mommy?"

Me: "Yes, when you get very, very old....someday."

Owen: "Guess we won't go to her house anymore"

Me: "No, probably not much, she won't be there. She's in heaven now."

Owen: "I sad too Mommy....that she's in heaven."

Whew, that was a really hard conversation. I don't know how he'll react at the funeral home. I'm planning on taking him to the visitation but not the funeral. Grandma Gertie was my last living grandparent left. I think that makes it extra emotional for me. She was one of the kindest, most unselfish people you will ever meet. She never thought of herself first but always of others. She always tried to sneak money and candy to us grandkids with a smile on her face. In fact, I took Owen out to visit her last Thursday afternoon and she made sure to give him some birthday money before we left. You could never refuse her attempts either. She always found some way to hide the money in your pocket or somewhere without you knowing. I'm sure we'll be telling lots of stories about her over the next few days. I'm so glad she was my grandmother and will miss her greatly.

Easter Pictures

We had some Easter pictures made of Owen on Saturday, and as always, Christina at Eternal Treasures Photography did a great job! Owen is not the most cooperative model, but she always gets some great shots. Owen had fun playing with the baby ducks. Afterwards, we took him to Chuck E. Cheese for lunch and playtime and then swung by Julia's Bakery and enjoyed a birthday cupcake together. It was a great day! Happy Spring everyone!

The Results are In

Well, according to today's ultrasound, we are having another...............BOY!!!! I was not surprised at all. I had a feeling it would be a boy, which is what Owen requested after all:) We've decided his name will be Luke Thomas Baskin. He looked totally healthy and weighed about a pound.

Next month I will get to have ultrasound #3. Because of Luke's position, the ultrasound lady couldn't get all the measurements she needed of his face and his heart. So, that's why I get another ultrasound. I'll also get to do the glucose test.

Anyway, just wanted to share our great news! Once I get around to scanning in the pictures, I'll try to post some. Right now I've got a cranky 2-year-old to attend to and supper to get on the table. 

Happy Birthday Buck!

Today is Buck's 31st birthday! So, in honor of that, I will blog about 31 reasons why I love this man. 

1. He is a Godly man who does his best every day to live a Christ-like life.

2. He's a great daddy. He plays with Owen every day immediately when he gets home from work.

3. He's the bath giver. I've only had to give Owen a bath a handful of times, usually when Buck was out of town.

4. He'll always eat what I cook without complaint and will offer to cook or go get something when I'm too tired to cook.

5. He's smart. He can explain just about anything mechanical, scientific, or technical to Owen when I have no clue.

6. He lets me pick/choose just about everything. Baby names, movies to see, where we eat, etc.

7. He puts up with my backseat driving. I hate when I'm not in control, especially in a car, and I'm very vocal. 

8. He sends me flowers on special days like Valentines and sometimes "just because".

9. He loves to read. Now we may not like to read the same kinds of books, but I'm glad I married somebody whose a reader like me and can appreciate a good book.

10. He tells me he loves me pretty much every day. That's always good to hear.

11. He gives great hugs. The kind that just wrap you up and you get lost inside.

12. He lets me get out of the house by myself fairly often. I never have to ask. I just tell him, and he says okay.

13. He does all the house chores that I hate like handwashing dishes and cleaning the bathtub. 

14. Whenever we get a few minutes to relax on the couch, he'll rub my feet for as long as I want.

15. He trusts my judgment with money/shopping. He never complains about things I buy and what they cost.

16. He encourages me to do/be whatever I want in life. He'd be fine with me going back to work or continuing to be a stay-at-home mom. He just wants me to be happy.

17. He's a great singer. I love hearing him lead songs at church. It makes me proud.

18. He prays with us as a family. 

19. He cares passionately about God, his Word, and spreading the good news of Jesus Christ.

20. He's a hard worker and provider for our family.

21. He's good with kids. I can't wait to see him interact and play with our next child like he does with Owen.

22. He looks out for me. For example, he forces me to take medicine when I need it.

23. He loves me enough to clean out the kitty litter. I haven't done that in years.

24. He's tender-hearted. He cries at sad movies.

25.  He never acts annoyed when I pester him with phone calls at work. 

26. He helps me with whatever I need. Even if it's cutting out a gazillion pieces of construction paper for Sunday School crafts.

27. He puts Owen to bed every night. This gives me precious time to myself to shower, read, and rest!  (We use to take turns but this became a point of contention with Owen always crying for the other parent. So about a year ago we made the rule where Mommy always puts him down for naps & Daddy always puts him down at night.)

28. He makes me laugh.

29. He's kind to everyone.

30. He's a pro at cleaning cat vomit out of the carpet.

31. He's the most loving, fantastic man I know!

Love you Honey! Happy Birthday!

20 Week Update

Tomorrow I"ll be at 20 weeks! Yay! Half way! Buck says it seems like I've been pregnant forever though. Ha ha. Guess I've been moody. Anyway, we're counting down to my ultrasound on March 18.  Can't wait to find out whether we're having a boy or girl. I have a feeling it's a boy, but what do I know? Owen says he "picks a boy". I think it's starting to sink in to him now. He'll talk and sing to the baby and ask questions about what its name is and where he/she will ride at in the van.  He even asked me how the baby would come out the other day! I said, well, the doctor would cut open Mommy's belly and pull the baby out. He just looked at me blankly and didn't ask anything else. I'm sure he'll have more questions later!

Plain Truth

Last night my book group discussed Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult. This was the first time I'd read anything by this author, and I think I'd like to read some of her other books now. We all liked this book. It's a very entertaining read. One where you can't put it down because you have to know what's going to happen next. I think I read it in 2 days.

Its set in Pennsylvania in an Amish community and is about a teenage girl who is accused of murdering her newborn baby. I had a few "issues" with this book. I thought it was a little too formulaic, and I did NOT like the ending at all. I didn't think it rang true and that the author wrote it that way for shock value only. Plus, the main character Katie was infuriatingly naive. I loved reading about the Amish way of life though and learning more about their religious beliefs. Also, I've heard they made this into a Lifetime movie and would love to see it.

Next month we're reading The Book Thief.