Would You Please Do Us A Favor?

Let me tell you what the favorite part of my day is. I love to go get the mail. Usually, it is filled with junk and bills (and I can just hear my dad saying, "Welcome to being an adult.") but there is always some hope that there will be something personal or exciting. Today, when I got the mail there was the usual barrage of bills and some excitement. There was one fun package of baby stuff from my dear friend, Kathy, but after opening that, I was left to bills.

One piece of mail caught my eye. Real Simple, my favorite magazine ever, sent me an envelope that had huge letters on the front asking, "Would You Please Do Us A Favor?" The "yes" and "no" stickers peeped through that little plastic window next to our address. I opened the envelope and the bill-like paper inside says, "Tell us what to do about Tracy Hagenbuck?" For those of you who don't know, that is my sister. The middle child. The funny one who says and does things for shock value and constantly keeps my family in stitches. I laughed out loud. I don't know what to tell anyone to do about Tracy Hagenbuck much less Real Simple.

The explanation behind such jolting questions: I purchased gift subscriptions for Tracy and Patricia last December for Christmas. Real Simple was just asking if I should renew those subscriptions. All that I kept reading however was "Tell us what to do about Tracy Hagenbuck?" And it continues to tickle me as I write this. No mention of Patricia besides a renew or do not renew box to check. But that Tracy!!

Doctors visit

We took our monthly trip to the doctor today. It's been rather uneventful since the first one in May when they told us we were indeed pregnant and we got to see the little one. Now it's just a listen to the heartbeat (like that's boring, right) and she answers any and all of our burning questions.

Adam was in an especially foul mood today after we waited almost an hour in the waiting room (we are usually in and out so quick there is hardly time to read an article in a magazine). Last time we listened to the heartbeat, he found that if he makes me laugh while the wand is on my belly, it makes this awful scratchy noise. Well I didn't think that we would have to deal with that today because he was not cracking jokes. Just being grumpy.

WRONG! It took our doctor a little longer than usual to find the heartbeat today (which freaked us both out a little). But she did find it and was making kind comments about what a strong heartbeat it was and how beautiful it sounded when Adam decided to pipe in. He remarks, "Is our kid flying a helicopter in there?" And then the rest is history. I laugh and laugh and she never gets to the BPM because I stop laughing long enough for her to put the wand back on my stomach and then I crack up again. Adam is convinced that Dr. Jaacks hates him. I wouldn't be surprised.

16 weeks

So the baby books say that our child has doubled its length and weight in the last two weeks. I believe it. People are beginning to recognize me as pregnant and not just chubby. That's nice! AND big news, I felt our munchkin move for the first time on Sunday. . .it feels like butterflies in your lower belly. . .WEIRD! And that's all for the baby update!

Tahoe

Some highlights from our trip to Tahoe:

Our 4th Anniversary!

Yesterday was our fourth anniversary. Adam is our trusted planner. He does such a fabulous job of planning fun date nights, birthday, anniversaries, and much more. I knew he was up to something but I thought it was just a really nice dinner since that is what we usually do for our anniversary. Well, I was wrong.

He had tricked me into packing a decent overnight bag by telling me to come over to his parents right after school so we could use their pool and go workout. If we did that, I of course needed all my stuff to get ready at their house for a nice dinner. . .this was the story at least. So I packed a swimsuit, clothes to workout in, all my make-up, shampoo, etc. and my nice outfit for the evening out. When I arrived at his parents, he had a couple more logistical things to do for his job and he soon presented me with this lovely basket of fruit since 4th anniversary is flowers/fruit. I laughed and expected only a dinner to go along with my fruit basket.

Not long after he finished his work, he asked me to put all my stuff in his car. I was a little confused. I thought we were going to go jump in the Cain's pool. So i did what I was told and we drove a couple miles down the road into the hidden parts of Paradise Valley and arrived here:

at the Sanctuary. A chic modern resort and spa tucked away on Camelback mountain. To my surprise, we checked in and had a lovely room for the evening!

MY HUSBAND IS RIDICULOUSLY GOOD TO ME!

Here's our cool room:

The fun entry way:

The room:

The crazy art and sleek TV:

The lounging area and minibar equipped with an on-call martini bartender that would come to your room and make your martinis. Unfortunately martinis and pregnancy are enemies.

Peek-a-boo into the . . . bathroom!:

Part of the gorgeous bathroom:

The fluffy robes:

The view:

We took a nice swim in their awesome negative edge pool (http://www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com/ has pictures) and ordered take-out, rented a movie, and bought some ice cream. We figured we had the room til noon on Friday. . .why leave? So we had a fun, relaxing night in and a great breakfast Friday morning!

The Lord has truly blessed me with the best husband a woman could ask for. He is such a Godly man and he treats me so well! He is my best friend and I look forward to continuing our adventure together! Here's to four great years!

p.s.- My family is cool. Check out their blogs for more anniversary fun:

http://ajstigerlily08.blogspot.com/2008/06/4-glorious-years-of-love.html

http://cooliodad.blogspot.com/2008/06/26-june-2004-need-i-say-more.html

Pooch Pictures

The pooch

Not turned enough to see the pooch, sorry

Maybe the pattern will help?

Daddy's first gift for baby. . .hope he/she likes Monty Python

My Texas onsies thanks to Cari!

Open Letter to Uniformed Peoples at the YMCA

Dear Uniformed Peoples,

I am pregnant not disabled. Yes, I can still workout at the gym with you. Yes, my doctor knows about this and gave me the go ahead. The go ahead to do what? To workout like I normally do until Week 28 as long as I keep my heartrate below 140. Oh, and I cannot lay on my back anymore because I am in my second trimester now. But I was smart enough to read a book on modifications and speak with a trained professional. You do not have to ask the aerobics instructor for me if I should be in these classes or keep working out. Thank you for your concern.

You can however continue to make comments like, "The pregnant lady is schooling me!" or "The pregnant lady still has more energy than me." These comments are true and I will continue to school you and have more energy than you. In fact, this is probably even more true now that I am in my second trimester. I am suppoed to feel better and have more energy. Probably not more energy than you but what can I say.

I am sorry if this seems rude to you but you might pick up a book on pregnancy and exercise. Statistics show you will have healthier babies, a less painful labor, a SHORTER labor and you will deliver your child dangerously close to your due date. These are only some of the perks. Just thought you should be informed.

Thanks,
The crazy pregnant lady who will continue to workout.

p.s.- My husband thinks I look hot!

Excitement with germs

Today was an exciting day. I came to work expecting business as usual and what do I get? I get kicked out of my room. We sent one of my kids home yesterday (we'll call him Rash Child #3) because he was covered in this horrid rash. . .the same horrid rash the pair of brothers had last week (we'll call them Rash Children #1 and #2). So this morning, we take our morning run and we go to sit down for circle time when my door cracks open. Our director, Emily, sticks her head in my room at 8:40 and says, "I need to talk to you." So, she says, Rash Child #3's mom calls and said she thinks it's fifth's disease. She tells me to get my phone and call my doctor. AND I will not be allowed to be in my room or around the kids today til we get the diagnosis of the Rash Children and my current immunities in check. Apparently Fifth's Disease and pregnancy are enemies. As I walk out the door to get my phone out of my truck, Rash Children #1 and #2's mom signs to me how excited she is that I am pregnant. She proceeds to give me a congratulatory hug. She did not, however, explain that she is currently covered in the same RASH! I head straight to the bathroom to wash some more after I leave my husband a disturbing phone message.

So, I spend my morning in the lunchroom making supplies for my classroom and waiting for my doctor to return my call. When she does call back they check my two bouts of bloodwork and tell me, as a teacher, I have been exposed to all childhood diseases including Fifth's disease which makes me immune to all of them. I let our director and principal know this shortly after they put me back in my room at 11:00 because both moms of the 3 Rash Children have called and said their doctors said "If it itches, it's not Fifths!" That's good because I feel really itchy right now!

"Where'd that come from?"

My belly finally popped out this week. It was obvious to me but the comments this week helped me conclude that I am officially "showing." My favorite was from my dear husband. While we were sitting on the couch this week, he turned to say something to me and caught a glimpse of the belly. All he could say was, "Where'd that come from? It wasn't there last week!" It made me laugh. It's kind of cute.

I'd take a picture and post it but I am unsure of the whereabouts of my camera charger. I have a good guess so I will see if I can get that up and running today.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

I almost forgot

Ok, my blog has been void of posts lately which means funny preschool stories have been lacking. Now that we are telling people we are pregnant, I thought I would share the most hilarious preschool stories of the year from last week (at least for me):

In the hall for all to hear:
M: Is there a baby in there?
Miss Michelle: Yes, there is.
M: Are you pulling my leg?
Miss Michelle: (laughing) Nope, I am not pulling your leg!
M: "Pulling my leg" is an expression. It means, "Are you kidding me?"
Miss Michelle: It is an expression! It's an idiom! You're right!
M: So, you're not pulling my leg?
Miss Michelle: Nope, there's a baby in there!

A day prior when M wasn't around:
W: Is there a baby in there?
Miss Michelle: Yes there is
W: (in disbelief) JUST LIKE MY MOM!
Miss Michelle: Yup, just like your mom!
W: Well, I hope it's a girl just like my mom is having so the babies can be friends.
Miss Michelle: I think that would be nice, W.

Class discussion about baby since my tummy is no longer flat:
C: Baby in you tummy?
Miss Michelle: Yes, there's a baby in my tummy
S: But you don't look like Miss Michally (who gave birth early this morning 5/28)
Miss Michelle: My baby is still very small. It has to grow in my tummy for a long time. Miss Michally's baby is already big. I will look like Miss Michally at Christmas.
C: You have big belly at Christmas
Miss Michelle: Yup, just like Santa
Class: ooooooooh.

Expecting!?!

SOOOO, here's our baby's first picture! We are due December 28, 2008!! We are having a Christmas baby! This fits right into the Hagenbuck clan birthday schedule considering Dad is the 20th, Jesus is the 25th, Mom is the 26th, and Grandma is the 27th! It's already been an adventure with the "morning" sickness, loosing weight yet gaining a small belly, and the endless need for food/naps! So, if you have any useful advice, send it this way!

7 more days

if you don't count today. I am excited for the school year to be over. I am very tired right now. They are testing my patience. So I am threatening most of them with whether or not they will be able to move up to the Kindergarten room. It's worked pretty well so far!

Hope all is well out there in blogger land. Pictures to be posted on mine soon! :)

Love ya!

Romans 12:16

Gotta love John Piper. I dream of going to Minnesota and hearing him preach! This was his blog the other day. That it was a happy reminder to me, a 26 year old, who often thinks she's pretty wise in her own sight. :)

Never Be Wise In Your Own Sight
(Author: John Piper)

If a twelve-year-old makes A's in school and generally makes wise choices, how would you help her apply this verse to herself?

Never be wise in your own sight. (Romans 12:16)

You might say:
1. It means that you gladly admit that all true wisdom is from God. It is his, and not finally ours.

2. It means that you recognize that any sense of superiority comes from comparing yourself only with your inferiors. But the most important person to compare yourself with is God, and he is infinitely wiser than you. Not only that, there are a lot of people in the world wiser than you.

3. It means that you feel humbled by the fact that you are a sinner deserving of God's wrath, and that you are amazed at the grace that gives you eternal life. This humility and amazement swallows up a sense of pride.

4. It means that you do not count yourself worthy of being served, but rather "empty yourself" and become obedient and serve others, both the wise and the foolish.

5. It means that you are mainly not thinking about yourself at all but taken up with how admirable Jesus is and how wonderful his works are and how interesting and needy others are.

Birthdays through the years!

Happy 5th! Billy's blowin out your candles!

Happy 12th! Ferbies are scary!

Happy 14th! You're a dork!
Happy 16th! Driving!! oooh!

Happy 17th! A luau with your friends!

Happy 18th! Now take a hike (I mean, they got you camping gear!)!

Tracy, I laughed as I looked through a lot of these! Wish I could have found every year because you are just so darn cute and funny! I praise God for how you've grown up and who you've become! I love you!

Brrrrrrrrr

SO, we had a cold front come through and now it is only 81 degrees outside. I might have to dig my sweaters back out. Just when I thought itwas safe to put them away fror the summer! Dern Phoenix.

Honestly, I am not complaining, considering it was 98 degrees on Monday and I was not mentally prepared for it. I need to ease into the 100s not jump into them early April.

Anyone wanna come visit in July when it peaks at 120 degrees. Didn't think so.

Props to the Parentals

Happy Tax Day? Nope! Happy 30th Anniversary to my parents. Heck yes!

Psalm 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
your saints will extol you.
11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made. [c]
14 The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
20 The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Ellie Hears A What?

A proud Mom and Dad sent this to me today. It's on You Tube so I figured it was ok to share publically. One of my babies recently went from bilateral hearing aids to a cochlear implant. It can be pretty traumatic. Thought those of you that know what I do might like a taste of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrPA2qv13j0

p.s.- I cried like a baby when I watched it. The part where she says, "I can leave this on" and "We will take it home" just about killed me.

Oh the drama

I am ready for lots of drama to be done with. In no specific order:

1. Co-worker snotty drama
2. Family sickness drama
3. Baby drama
4. School drama (only 6 more weeks)
5. Husband working two stressful jobs drama
6. Everybody elses drama

I feel like I am in high school again. . .never wanting to be in the middle of the drama but always finding myself to be in the middle of the drama!

AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRG!

March babies brought to you by the letters H & I

Isaac

March 3

6ponds 7 ounces, 20 inches
Congrats David and Ishani!!

.

Hugh
March 18
7 pounds 8 ounces, 20 inches
Congrats Boots and Kirsten!


Isaac
March 31
8 pounds 3 ounces, 22 inches
Congrats Jason and Cari!!