Wondering...

How many pieces of cake is "too much" for one day?

I'm Asking for It!

Okay...so I have less than three weeks left...and I'm going to go ahead and ask for it. I've heard it's really, really, really hard to convert from one to two. I AM EXCITED ABOUT HAVING TWO so please don't be completely negative in your comments! BUT, I would like to hear from my faithful friends and readers:

• What's it like having two?
• What do I need to be thinking about/pre-planning?
• What's something you wish you'd known three weeks before the second one came?

Some details you may not already know:

• My six weeks of maternity leave takes me right up until the last day of school. So I don't really have to go back to real work / the daily grind until I report for the new school year.
• Margaret will be in school until the second week of June...so I will have about eight weeks at home with just me and the baby during the day.
• Margaret is almost three...so she's at the "big helper" stage. She follows directions really well (except when she gets distracted...but come on, people, Clifford books are really enticing when you're supposed to be getting your hairbrush for mommy).
• Jeremy will be at home with me and Ross for about the first three weeks. And, he has a flexible enough schedule that if I'm having a freak-out day, he can come home and help.

Okay...that's all the info that I can think of passing on at this time. Now it's your turn to comment with some reality statements of which I need to be aware!

Julie Riggins is a GREAT Photographer

Please visit: http://www.jbellephotography.com/

Then look for "Clients" in the lower right corner. Then submit our password: upchurch3.09

Jer and I had maternity pictures taken when we were pregnant with Margaret. That was the first time we'd used Julie to take our pictures. I cannot believe it's been three years!!

My personal disclaimer: try to remember that I waited until my eighth month to take these pictures. There is some evidence of pregnancy "fat face." Oh well. :c)
Second disclaimer: Margaret is two and has a mind of her own. The photographer titled this shoot "The Many Faces of Margs" because she's not making the same face in any of the pictures. I love that girl.

All jokes aside...the photographer, Julie, is able to spin gold out of straw, people. I hope you enjoy them as well.

Julie, thank you for capturing so much of our family "growth" through the years! We appreciate you!

Today is March 25, 2009. These pictures will only be available for viewing through April 15, 2009. If you're reading this post after that...just come by and see the real thing. Baby Ross will be here on April 17, 2009.

My Cute Husband

When we were at the zoo last week Margaret announced, "Daddy, I want to ride on you head" ("you" is intentional there...). It ended up being a really good idea because the zebras were our next stop and they were really hard to see unless you were riding on someone's head.

Honestly, though, I am just posting this picture for Angie's benefit.

Where The Wild Things Are

Okay...so Where The Wild Things Are is not my favorite book...but I have always enjoyed it. The premise is that a little boy is being ornery and mean to his mom and is sent to his room without dinner. Once in his room his imagination takes over (he falls asleep and dreams) and he visits a far away land Where The Wild Things Are. He is made king of the Wild Things and they make "rumpus" all over the island. Eventually Max (the little boy) misses his home and wants to be where people love him. He leaves the island and returns home (wakes up) where dinner is waiting for him in his room. I have always loved this book as I love the feisty-ness of little kids who have opinions and are full of gumption. BUT, I also love that obviously his mom has expectations...and Max must appreciate that deep down...as he wants to return to where people love him most.
So, with that, when I found out I was having a boy I thought a room of Wild Things would be perfect. Just as I prayed for Margaret to have opinions, gumption, and sass, I have prayed for this little boy to be feisty and have an imagination. God blesses in abundance. Come meet Margaret and you'll see what I'm talking about.
I've digressed. Sorry.
Anyway...here is the finished mural wall to Ross's room. The rest of the room is still being worked on...but really, this is "The Wall." I wanted to post pictures of it since a few of you have been asking to see it. At this moment I am inspired to do two follow up posts--1) My two favorite children's books and 2) The rest of Ross's room once it's finished.

I'll leave you with The Wall of Wild Things for now:The little palm tree in the left hand corner is what was in Margaret's nursery. It was from a book entitled, "A Friend for Little Bear"...another wonderful story. I didn't have the heart to get rid of it, so I incorporated it into the Wild Things wall.

Ross will be coming via schedule C-section on April 17th. We'll be at Harris HEB. Come visit! :c)