The Wagners: January 2011

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Weeks 21 & 22

I'm finally starting to actually look pregnant, so I had Calvin take a few pictures to prove that I really am having a baby. :)

The girls have been doing so well picking up lately. I've decided that I shouldn't be the only one to clean up the mess that they make during the day. They should help me considering it's their mess. At school, Aubrey's teacher has a timer that she sets while the children pick up and try to beat before it runs out. At home, we set the timer that we have and then pick up toys while trying to beat the timer. It works really well. The girls love to rush around and try to beat the timer. Aubrey definitely is much better at picking up than Chloe, but I guess that's to be expected considering she is older. If they do beat the timer, they either get candy, extra books at bedtime, or maybe the chance to stay up a little later. I usually make sure that we have enough time to get everything picked up. We have yet to not beat the timer, but we've come close. For now though, this whole concept works really well for getting the messes picked up in our house without me having to do it all by myself.

Aunt Dani = Painted Fingernails

My sister Danielle came to visit us again this weekend. This is the second weekend in a row that she has been here. The girls love it when she comes. For some reason, they have associated painting their fingernails with Aunt Dani. When I told Chloe that Aunt Dani was coming, she immediately asked if she could get her fingernails painted. Like I can't paint them? But for some reason, they both think that Aunt Dani is the only one who can paint their nails. Maybe it's because Dani always paints them when she comes or maybe it's because I tend to not take the time to paint them. Either way, I think it's funny that they've made this connection.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Baby Wagner

Today I went for another ultrasound. During my ultrasound two weeks ago, the tech was unable to get all of the measurements she needed because the baby was wiggling around too much. This time the baby was much more cooperative, and she was able to get all the things that she needed. While the baby was cooperative for measurements, we had a hard time getting any good "pictures" since the baby was faced inward. The tech had to poke and prod to get the baby to finally flip around so we could get some better pictures. The baby looked great and that little heart was beating strong. My mother-in-law went with me and the girls of course. Aubrey loved watching again and is taking the pictures to school tomorrow to show her teacher and friends. It's so cute how excited she is! I still refused to find out what we're having, although Calvin is trying very hard to convince me how much easier it would be if we just knew. :)

Baby Wagner's face

Profile of Baby Wagner

Baby Wagner's feet

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Playing in the Snow

Yesterday the girls convinced Dani and me to take them outside to play. It was actually a good day to go outside - it wasn't too cold or windy. The snow was melting, so it made the snow pack really well. We were finally able to make a snowman. Aubrey, for the first time, was able to roll a ball for the head all by herself. She also was able to climb the snow pile by herself, get to the top, and then slide down. Chloe wasn't so sure about that - she doesn't like to go down normal slides, and this one was even higher. They also loved being pulled around on the sled. Dani pulled them much faster than I normally do. They got tipped off every once in a while, which they loved and thought was great. They had a blast!

God's Precious Gifts

My devotion a couple of days ago related our children to gifts. They come in different "wrappings" and what's inside this gift is always a surprise. But as different as they may be from what you had anticipated your children to be like, God hand picked your children for you. That really hit home for me. Sometimes (as I'm sure many of you have) I've wondered about where this child has come from. Do I really have a child who could act like/be/do that? But as I read through this devotion, I realized that God specifically chose these children of mine and their unique personalities for me. They are the perfect fit for me and truly are gifts that I've been given to care for and raise. I need to make sure and remember this when Chloe is throwing a fit because she doesn't get what she wants or when Aubrey talks back to me. They have been perfectly chosen for me, and I am so thankful for these gifts.

This morning as I woke the girls up, I was struck again by how blessed I am and what gifts my girls truly are - unique personalities and all.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

New Baby, New Van

With a new baby coming, Calvin decided that we needed to look for a different vehicle. I was willing to just make do with the Durango, but after some convincing on his part, decided that it would be much easier to have a vehicle with a little more space. The Durango had a bench seat in the middle, and all three car seats would not have fit, so one or both girls would have had to be in the back and then we would have had to deal with flipping a side seat up and down all the time. Add to that the fact that I babysit and need to take other children with me occasionally and I was sold on getting something different. Calvin really didn't want a minivan, but after measuring our garage, realized that any SUV larger than our Durango would not fit in the garage unless we took everything out of it and found somewhere else to store it all. So once he came to terms with that fact, we began looking at minivans. :) After several weeks of him casually looking online, he happened to drive by a Chrysler Town and Country in Hoopeston that caught his eye. We test drove it after Christmas and liked it, but weren't ready to buy the first thing we saw. After a few more days of research, we decided to try and find a Honda Odyssey to test drive as well and see which we liked better. After an entire day of driving around, we found one we liked in Kankakee. Then came the struggle with deciding which one to buy. Both had features we liked and we knew and talked to people who had each kind and loved theirs respectively. But in the end we decided that the Odyssey would be the best for our family. We bought it right before the new year. Overall, I really like having a minivan. There's so much more room for everything than in the Durango. The seats are much more comfortable, and there's a lot of cool features on it that the Durango didn't have. The girls absolutely love it too! They were ecstatic when we came home with it. Ever since riding with their Aunt Ang in her van, they've been in love with minivans and "sliding doors". As Chloe told me for several days after her ride with Ang, "Mommy, I really, really want a van". Their favorite parts are the "magic doors" that open by themselves, the shades that are built into their windows, and of course, the DVD player. The only thing I miss is my 4-wheel drive, especially with this last bit of snow that we just had, but I'm sure I'll learn to adjust. I'm just excited for how this vehicle will make my life so much easier when the baby is born.

New Year, New Baby

As most of you know, Calvin and I are expecting another baby around May 25th. We are so excited! The girls, especially, are so happy to be having a baby. They absolutely love babies and taking care of them. I'm not saying that they won't have some adjustment to do when the baby's born, but all in all, they generally love having babies around and are such good helpers. It's also nice that several of my friends have had babies the past few months, so my girls are used to being around babies. My pregnancy so far has been really great! The first few months were a little stressful - just wondering and praying that everything was going as it should be, but other than a little tiredness, I have been very blessed to feel good. I am now 21 weeks and can't believe that I am already halfway through my pregnancy. It's just crazy how the time has flown by! I'm about the same size as I was when I carried both girls. For a while it concerned me that I wasn't very big, but after having my ultrasound and being reassured that the baby really is fine, I realize that this is just the way I carry babies. I finally put away my normal jeans this week and have graduated into mostly maternity clothes (except for sweats and t-shirts). I've found that while I have tons of stuff to wear to church, my everyday wardrobe is lacking a little. (With both girls, I was teaching - hence the maternity wardrobe being mostly dress clothes.) Thank goodness for friends who have loaned me some things so I don't have to go out and buy a brand new wardrobe.

Last week we had our big ultrasound. We went in the evening, because it worked out best for Calvin. That meant though, that we had to go to the hospital to have it. Their printer was broken and they didn't have a screen on the wall, so it was harder for me to see, but I was still able to see that precious little baby moving around inside my belly. It was so great and reassuring to see the heart beating and to see everything present that was supposed to be there. We took the girls with us so that they could see the baby on "TV". Aubrey was completely enthralled, while Chloe got a little bored after a while. They got to see the baby sucking his/her thumb, which was pretty cool. Calvin really wanted to find out what we are having, but I love the element of surprise and don't want to know. I personally just feel blessed to be having another baby, regardless of the sex. But since I haven't let him find out ever with any of our kids, I told him that he could find out provided that he doesn't tell me. He's allowed to tell one person, but it can't be me (there's lots of people who are vying to be his one). :) He's afraid that he's not going to be able to keep it a secret so he didn't find out that night we went. I did have the tech write it on a piece of paper, which she proceeded to tape shut and give to him in case he changes his mind. The paper is now in his night stand and I have no idea if he's looked or not. I'd rather keep it that way. Then I don't have to judge his every reaction and try to determine what it means. Anyways, the baby ended up moving around so much that the tech wasn't able to get all of the measurements she needed. I go back next week for another one and hopefully will get pictures this time. This baby moves ALL the time, so I really wasn't surprised to see how much he/she did move. While some people tell me I better watch out for an active child, I just see it as God's way of reassuring me that everything is okay with the baby. I'd rather have that than be wondering all the time if something is wrong. The girls and Calvin have been able to feel the baby move, and the girls especially love it! What can I say - I feel so blessed in this new year!

13 weeks

16 weeks

18 weeks

Puzzles

The girls loved making their own puzzles. Thanks Uncle Nic and Aunt Ingrid!

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Present from Daddy

For the past couple of years, Calvin has been wanting to get the girls a Gator. Last year I talked him out of it by saying that they were too little. This year I thought that it actually might be a good idea, considering Aubrey loved driving her friend Hannah's jeep. That and they are a year older. He got a good deal on it and gave it to them for Christmas. They were so excited! It of course had to be put together, which was very hard for them to patiently wait for. Chloe was by his side every few minutes asking if she could drive it yet. Once it was put together, they weren't quite sure why they had to wait even longer to drive it while the battery charged. Needless to say, it's been a good play toy for them in the basement, where it's been since Christmas. While it's fun to play on, I was ready for it to go outside where it belonged. On Sunday, it was actually pretty nice out. There wasn't any wind and it wasn't bitterly cold. The battery was fully charged, so Calvin decided to take it outside and let the girls drive it. They had a blast! Aubrey is very good at driving, while Chloe has not quite figured out which direction to turn the steering wheel. Good thing it doesn't go very fast - I can walk faster than they can drive. (Calvin has them locked out of the second gear.) Both are pretty excited for summer to come when they can be out on it more. I'm excited to have them help me pick up sticks in the spring. Hopefully having it will be more incentive for them to help me.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Chloe Danielle

What can I say about this little girl? She's got such a personality. I tell Calvin all the time how there cannot be a child more accurately named than her. She is named after my grandma Chloe and my sister Danielle, both of whom are headstrong, independent, stubborn, and love to talk. My little darling Chloe has all of these traits already. While at times she drives us absolutely crazy, all we have to do is look in those blue eyes and that irresistable smile and we can't help but melt and forgive her for whatever she is doing. She loves to talk - anyone whom she is familiar with can attest to that fact. She could probably talk to a wall. (I think she gets this quality from her Daddy.) About a month ago, she had a cold that affected her voice. Those few days were so quiet - it was very strange, but kind of nice too. She loves her sister and most days is found following Aubrey around. There was some readjustment last week when Aubrey went back to school and Chloe found herself at home with just me. I don't think I'm nearly as much fun as Aubrey. :) For the past four months or so, she's been getting up every night to go to the bathroom. She refuses to go by herself and instead comes down and gets me up. With a new baby coming, I decided that this habit needed to be broken, so for the past few weeks we've been bribing her with skittles if she stays in bed all night. I was a little worried that she would wet the bed, but she hasn't and the past three nights I've been able to stay in bed all night. It's been wonderful! Hopefully this continues. She is such a little stinker, but she's also such a joy and delight. Our family would be lost without her. She definitely keeps life interesting.

Christmas

I know I've been terrible the past few months of keeping up on this blog. Life just gets so busy and crazy that this is one of the first things to go when I just can't seem to find time to get everything done. But today, I'm actually caught up on business stuff, house stuff, and am taking the time to update this horribly outdated blog and let you all know how our Christmas went.

This year I was in charge of the Sunday School Christmas Eve service at church, which meant that we couldn't go to mom and dad's for Christmas. They were very understanding and came here instead. They (along with my sisters) were able to come a few days before Christmas, which gave us time to make sugar cookies and other food. The girls of course had a blast playing with their aunts and getting lots of attention. Christmas Eve was spent making food and playing games before church. Christmas Day we ate dinner after church and then spent the afternoon opening presents. The following day we had Christmas with Calvin's parents and again spent the afternoon opening presents. We had two more extended Christmases too that next week. Overall, we had a wonderful Christmas. We are so blessed to have so much family around to spend time with.

We opened our own presents before my family came. Calvin wanted it to just be us, which was really nice. The girls were so excited!