A teenager!!!!

I was telling Brooks that I think I have an identity crisis as a mom sometimes. I still feel like a "young mom".....the mom with toddlers and infants....and basically at the same mom-hood stage I was in medical school (YEARS ago). But apparently while I THINK I'm in the same stage, I'm not.

I'm now in the Teenager Mom stage.

What the HECK?!?!? 

I HAVE A TEENAGER?!?!?!?!

I really can't wrap my mind around this concept.

Bronson turned thir-TEEN this month!!!!!

This picture popped up on my Time Hop feed from 4 years ago with Bronson when he turned 9 of the two of us.

This is us today. 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE those 4 years made. 

He's turning into quite the young man.

(and I ALSO can't get as close to the chair as I did in the other picture with big belly in the way!)

I rarely send notes in my kids' lunch boxes (if ever!) so I thought, "I'm gonna be the good mom and write a birthday note to put in his special lunch" (Chick-fil-A nuggets, mango, cookie, beef jerky and his favorite fruit snack). That might get me some MAJOR Mom-of-teenager points, right?

I smiled at home thinking of him opening his lunch box.

When he came home I heard him downstairs with his brothers and they were all laughing. I asked what was so funny and he just smiled and said, "Big thanks for the note in my lunch box Mom." And then his brothers busted out laughing.

Apparently there is this thing Bronson and his friends do on someone's birthday that when they find out, they punch the person 13 times (spanking-machine-turned-punching-bag method). Bronson hadn't told any of his friends it was his birthday for obvious reasons. Then he gets to the lunch room and out of his lunchbox falls a note that says,

"Happy Birthday Buddy. Sure love you."

I guess that's when the loving-punch-fest began for my poor son.

hahaha. 

So much for being thoughtful.

That night we gave him his cake......which he wanted a cookie-cake.....from the store.

(Should I be taking any of this personally?)

He got his junk box that apparently was the "best one I've ever given any of the kids".

Also a pair of shoes and a mini-camping chair thing he has wanted ever since he saw Brooks get one.

Happy Birthday to my firstling, my trial-and-error child, my ever-the-tease-and-prankster, by babysitter, my responsible and my SUPER-proud-to-be-him-mom child.

Pregnancy Update

I'm 22 weeks now. I know, I know......it FEELS like I should be 46 weeks by now! Baby being a one-pounder (looks closer to 6) and the size of a spaghetti squash (as if we all know what size that is!).

I'll back up a little.......

19 weeks I reached my pre-pregnancy weight again (after losing so much) but it's funny because it has PORKED on since then. I'm sure it has NOTHING to do with the chocolate covered almonds that keep disappearing. On the healthy side, berries have NEVER tasted so good. As in I keep downing containers. If Strawberry Shortcake pops out of me in May I wouldn't be surprised at all.

20 weeks I still hadn't felt the baby move yet....which was weird because I usually feel my babies move closer to 16 weeks. Since I haven't been in to a doctor yet (I know, no surprise there!.....in my defense I have one on call every day!) I told Brooks he needed to take me to his clinic to listen for a heart beat on their office doppler. His work is about 25 minutes away, but we still jumped in the car one night anyway to head on over. I was SO relieved when I heard a pretty darn strong 152 heart beat. I told Brooks, "I was beginning to get all worried I was having a fake molar pregnancy and growing some weird mass you used to dissect in Pathology. I mean what if this mass I have killed myself over was a big ol' ball of hair and nails!!!!!" (Have I mentioned my pregnancy dreams are kinda crazy?) He thought my concern was ridiculous but with new peace that I INDEED had a baby in me, we drove home. Two days later, of course I started feeling the baby move. Molar masses don't kick like this.

21 weeeks. I couldn't help but think and notice that my belly is a lot bigger then other pregnancies. Other people are kind enough to mention I look bigger as well. #mentalpunchintheirface.  I think I just stick out farther for being in the supposed "honeymoon" stage of the pregnancy..... then again it IS #9, but still.... But when I lay down and doctor-husband measures the fundal height I'm measuring right on track. It's just when I stand up and all my other organs and innerds that are angry with me decide to poke themselves out. I'm kinda in a battle with a few of my organs. I'm determined to show them who is boss..... they just might be tougher then me. #Ihateadmittingdefeat.  I did have an amazing surprise last week though when my husband just picked me up from the house and then dropped me off at a hotel for the night.....by myself.....with a king size bed. Do you REALIZE what kind of a pregnancy nest I can make with 8 pillows?!?!? It was the most heavenly surprise. It was nice to relax my sore muscles from the family soccer game the day before.....that I LOST in. Losing is becoming more common for me. :)

We find out the gender in 10 days. It's KIND OF a super big deal around here. Like more then ever before.....because this baby is the 

TIE BREAKER!!!!!!!

With 4 boys and 4 girls already, this baby will determine "who wins".......and SINCE my family is kind of competitive, you can imagine the hype. Boys have always "won" around here ever since we had our first baby. And as MUCH as I HATE odd numbers, #9 is proving to be pretty exciting.

When I found out I was pregnant Brooks and I just looked at each other and said, "This BETTER be a boy". 

It just sometimes feels like this house is a dam teetering on being flooded and broken down by an ocean of estrogen.

Estrogen that manifests itself in eye rolls, defiant stares and sassy comebacks followed by tears and emotional declarations for the whole world to hear. Then again this SAME estrogen cares for the babies, snuggles them, changes their diapers and creates little imaginary games to entertain the little kids.

On the FLIP SIDE testostrone making its presence known with sticks, dunking contests (then primal screams of victory), wrestle competitions (with brackets and all) downstairs, de-pantsing, teasing and killing all the bugs I don't like having in my house. When I took Royce to get his kindergarten shots last week, I had a hard time wrapping my mind around HIM being my "baby boy" if this one wasn't a boy.

HOW IS MY BABY BOY SO BIG?!?!?

I just REALLY miss holding a little bundle of blue.

Then recently I've seen Kellyn and Everly who play SO well together for hours. I think of them growing older and having a little sister just like them to share a room with and be the three 

musket-ettes together. Now THAT would be cute.

So now I sound like one of those moms that says, "I don't care which gender it is".....but first and foremost, I'm just THRILLED it's actually a baby, that moves and kicks. 

Unlike EVERYONE else in my household who has a DEFINITE preference on "who should win", I can actually see the fun and pros in having either gender. 

It's gonna be a LONG countdown until the ultrasound..........

Last Week of the Year

The weather was nice enough that the kids could keep enjoying their scooters outside, golf a little and the family could go to the park.

But we ALSO pulled out the Pie Face game we got for Christmas.

We pulled it out for our Sunday night Game-Night game and Brooks didn't want to play. Of course he DID but the funny thing is ALL FOUR TIMES it went around the table he was pie-faced!!!!! More then anyone else!!!!! The kids couldn't stop laughing.

One night a bunch of us couples met up at a bowling alley for my friend, Holly's birthday. It was a boys against girls kind of thing. Girls won.

But the BEST part was.....I won got the highest score out of EVERYONE!!!!! Sure I was bowling out of my mind and maybe my big prego belly helped with balance (?....um....probably NOT!) but I bowled a 157! Every time I feel defeated since then I just look at Brooks and say, "157 baby", then I feel like a winner again.

The next night I went to a touring Broadway production of the NEWSIES with two of my friends!!!!!

Why didn't I take Brooks?

1) he doesn't appreciate it vs. the cost of the ticket

2) watching a bunch of boys dance and sing isn't really his thing

3) and he doesn't like it when I embarrass him in public and he had NO guarantee I wouldn't break it down in song and dance during ANY part of the production.

But let me just say, it was BEYOND amazing and my favorite live-Broadway I've seen so far.

New Year's Eve we spent at our best friend's house. It was filled with Clemson-game-score-checking, a LOT of games (some in which my belly hurt SO hard from laughing!), mucho eating and watching the kids run through from trampoline to wrestle-mania upstairs.

The kids' first time watching the ball drop on TV and then started cheering so loud.... obviously, Bronson is covering his ears.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Here they are.... 7:30 a.m.... ready to break through the wrapping-papered door.

Too bad there is no audio with this picture because Aleeya squeals better then anyone.....and it was ever present.

Everly's wildest dreams of having a baby stroller came true!!! Turns out it ALSO comes with an ethnic babydoll.....that ONLINE Santa thought it just looked Caucasian with brown hair. It's okay, we appreciate diversity.

Kellyn knew all the Minnie wrapped ones were her's.

Just wandering around, grabbing people's stocking candy and putting them in her stroller to go hide and eat them. #scavengergirl

Camden REALLY wanted a big stuffed animal. And he got it....he said it was his favorite present. It's taller then Emerson.

Rash-face girl had to try on her "Let it Go" outfit and boots immediately.

Royce is happiest when his presents include ANYTHING with Legos. (of which he got a PLENTY)

So he kept this box-shaped present to open last because he thought it looked Lego-shaped. He was so excited to open it. Then his hand hit something on it and music started singing, "A says AH, A says AH, every letter makes a sound, A says AH".

His face just dropped.

Then he was shocked.

We couldn't stop laughing at his face.

Then he said, "This is Kellyn's present!"

I assured him it was for HIM!

He opened it up only to find a Leapfrog bus to help him with his letters.....since we ALL know he needs it! His face......we seriously couldn't stop laughing!!!! #favoriteChristmasmoment

(he has since warmed up to it and the girls LOVE it)

Brooks hit a HUGE homerun with my stocking this year!!!! Out of the top I saw a rolled up scroll....that is ALWAYS a good sign for me. I was SO excited to open it up to find out Brooks surprised me with a weekend getaway in February for the two of us. I LOVE surprises. I LOVE not having to plan anything and I LOVE that man.

Emerson riding his new scooter in his new hoodie. haha 

The boys all got scooters. Brooks didn't think they would play with them but the hours on them since have proved him VERY wrong. Bronson all decked out in his new Celtic attire, socks and shoes. Royce with no shirt...... but hey, it was 70 degrees!

Aleeya wanted from Santa her own special notebook and a pink dolphin stuffed animal. Here she is reading me her first entry in her special notebook.

The boys checking out their off-road capabilities in their new remote control cars.

Royce in his hoodie.

The kids were off playing with their things, I was curled up in my new bathrobe reading my Christmas book from my mother-in-law and there was really only one thing left to do.....

The silly string war.

Everly started off VERY unsure about it.

Until at the end she was REALLY letting us know she hated the silly string war.

Showing off the newly built Lego creation

All the boys' Lego creations and guys. Royce and Emerson's heaven.

Minnie Mouse decked out in her dress, Minnie necklace and slippers. 

She couldn't be happier.

We didn't see MUCH of the girls since they were hiding away in their room bedazzling their purses, building girl Lego sets and crafting until they came out in matching outfits to start (and NEVER END) singing along with Aleeya's karaoke machine. 

Before I turned in to bed that night I smiled seeing ol' Camden reading his new Calvin and Hobbs book on his new favorite thing. 

It was a preeeeeetty good day!!!

Christmas Eve

YAY for Christmas Eve finally here! Then again, I always get anxious knowing that everything will be over the next day and I sitll feel the childhood let-down after. 

As for the Christmas Eve You-Pick feast.......

I wasn't too surprised what everyone picked.

Obviously, I picked artichokes. But BESIDES those beauties I want you to notice that POT!!!!! It's what I asked for for Christmas from Brooks. And to cook 10 artichokes it would've taken all three of the little pots I've had since we've been married. So Brooks said, "Do you want your present early?" (Which I NEEEEEEVER do) and I said YES!!!!!! It's the most magical thing cooking something and having enough room in the pot to do it! I couldn't stop staring at it!

Emerson picked Cinnamon-Applesauce 

(open a jar, dump in bowl. Thanks for the easy-peasy dish Emerson)

Brooks grilled the chickens as usual with the Pepsi can in the chicken-honey.

Camden picked shrimp. NO idea how I allowed that to happen, but hey, it's Christmas Eve!

Aleeya-beeya picked biscuits.

Bronson wanted a mango/blackberry salad.

Iris picked mashed potatoes.

Roycey picked Mac-n-Cheese...."the kind from a box" (Kraft). YES!

We had the Elders over to eat again with us and I secretly called their moms (after tracking down their contact info) to ask something their family always had on Christmas back home or their favorite dish.

Elder Russel's mom told us he LOVED peanut butter bars and she sent me the SUPER easy recipe.

Elder Droge's mom said she didn't cook much on the holidays and that he didn't have something he liked better then the other. Finally she told me he LOVES the long green FRENCH beans and especially in salad. So that's what I did.

The FUNNIEST part is when we had it on the table he didn't really dish up much of it, let alone eat it. At the end when we told them we had contacted their moms he just sat there and said, "She told you I liked WHAT?!?!?" Apparently he DOESN'T much care for them. HAHAHA. It became the joke of the whole night.

CLEARLY, there was plenty of good to eat though! And we served the Cinnamon ice cubes in the Pepsi like Elder Cook's (from last year) family does. It's not become our Christmas Eve tradition as well. And that's saying a LOT since I'm a Coke-loyal.

We ended up having a ton of food. SO much leftover and everyone was stuffed. Almost we barely even finished one of the strawberry Christmas-tree pies!

After the kids swapped their sibling presents to each other and we READ Luke 2 together...... as opposed to ACTING IT OUT. We've had our fill of that already. 

The most surprising favorite sibling gift was the one Everly gave Emerson. It was this build-your-own-straw thing from the Dollar Store (they each got spend two dollars at the dollar store for their special sibling). It entertained everyone for a WHILE!

Then the kids all slept downstairs after we read our Christmas Eve book from Grandma. While they slept I guess Santa actually DID show up!

(Everly and Kellyn's spot)

It's gonna be a BIG day for the kids in the morning!!!! Can't wait.

(We actually went to bed at 11:30, not bad at all!)