Old McDonald had a Farm...

Well, before I pop another baby out and lose all sense of reality and organization, I thought I better post a few recent photos and updates. Things are moving along and thanks to my empathetic Obstetrician, I will be having a baby on Sept. 2nd at the latest! While they say you should try to enjoy the "peace and freedom" prior to a newborn arriving to disrupt the house, I have come to the conclusion that "THEY", never endured pregnancy with a 15 month old. As many women say at this phase... I am "over it", to say the least. And while I realize that chaos, sleepless nights, and stress await... wait... that's pretty much how things are now! Whatever... while I understand it will all soon multiply... let me face them without having to run to the bathroom 10 times a night (also complicated by the fact I can barely roll out of the bed), and without trying to chase a little girl around without bending at the waist!

We are asked constantly, "does Ella understand?", "is she excited about her baby sister?", and the answer is simply - "NO!". The poor kid couldn't be more clueless - and I dare anyone to try and explain it to her! She will know soon enough - and I have no doubt that we have some difficult days ahead. In some ways - I am sad for her - because I can't imagine what it will be like from her perspective, to suddenly have an intruder in the house... but she will inevitably adjust, and in a short time will never ever remember life without her baby sister.

And speaking of our 1st baby... Ella is pretty much obsessed with dogs, cats, and farm animals these days. She's petrified of birds (that's my girl), and rodents - but put her face to face with a Great Dane and she has no fear. One of the perks to living in Indiana (no seriously, there are some)... is that there seems to be no shortage of farm animals around - go figure! We've had a couple fun outings to an organic dairy farm, and more recently the Indiana State Fair - and found that our otherwise timid daughter seems to be in her element when introduced to swine, llama, and goats... She knows her animals as well as many of their sounds... but for some reason the excitement of seeing them face to face causes her to forget - and everything says, "WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!!".

And a few random shots for your viewing pleasure... it's so hard to believe how much she has grown!!

"Look everyone! I have hair now!!"

Strollers - now more fun to push than ride in...

"What?"

A few days ago I brought out the car seat to get it ready for the new baby. Ella discovered it worked great as a rocking chair in the house, and combined with her fascination with buckles... it kept her busy for hours. I had to dig out this original shot of the day we brought her home from the hospital. She definitely is a little bigger now...

3 Years and Counting...

Emma and Ella

Last week our neice Emma came to stay with us for a few days. Ella and I were both feeling kind of lousy - but somehow I was the only one who couldn't muster the strength to "play through the illness". Emma was my saving grace and kept Ella entertained constantly! She's going to be the best babysitter EVER and I'm currently working on convincing her parents that they need to move closer! We ventured out a few times to the splash park and even the pet store (my new rainy day activity for Ella). Thanks again Emma!!! You're the best!!

The Pet Store from Meghan Johnson on Vimeo.

Did I Mention??

HE PASSED!! WOW! In all the excitement and craziness... I forgot to even post the great news!! Eric PASSED!!! And those Kroger Pharmacies don't mess around!! About 12 hours after finding out he was a LICENSED PHARMACIST... they turned him lose working BY HIMSELF in a super busy store. Nothing like a little trial by fire! It's been a little overwhelming and nerve wracking - but I'm handling it all pretty well... OH! And Eric is as well... we are all so proud of him and KNOW that the days will get easier and easier as he gains more experience. Way to go Eric... after so much perseverance and hard work... you have accomplished more than most of us ever could. Love you!!

Notes from a Slacker...

I have been more than lazy about blogging and I feel a little guilty considering I have this fabulous new blog layout (OK - totally my opinion), to post on! My excuse is a combination of changes that I find have led me away from the computer as often as I once was (something I never thought would be possible)! First... my laptop is pretty close to finding it's way into the toilet. It has been my primary tool for blogging from home - since the other computer sits in the office and my ADD mind prefers to have multiple things going on at the same time (Food Network/cooking/Baby Einstein... among many other things). The greatest obstacle seems to be a certain 14 month old who cannot bear to keep her hands to herself - particularly on the rare occasions when I might venture into the office to attempt a moment on the Internet. It is the one room that is far from... and will continue to be baby-proof free. Mostly because I really wouldn't even know where to start! That leaves nap time (of which we are down to one), and bedtime. Somehow these treasured moments of peace and freedom are almost always filled with lists of to-do's that constantly compete for the title of "priority", and once "THE NAP" wins out... few minutes are left before the voice of one stinkin' adorable little girl sounds out from the monitor singing "E-I-E-I-O......... COW!".

What I have come to realize is that ironically, my best blogging has always happened at WORK! Hours of night shift with breaks between caring for babies has always left me little else to do... and I have taken advantage of it! But my work schedule has changed as well... and I have to admit that aside of the loss of time on Blogger... I am pretty thrilled about it. 3, 12 hour night shifts a week dropped to 2 when Eric finished school last month, and as of this week... I am working in a supplemental position - which means I am required to sign up for ONE 12 hr shift ever 6 WEEKS!!! Rough, isn't it??!!! Of course Eric is seeing to it - I mean, I am planning on signing up for quite a bit more than that before this baby comes... but having the freedom to be home more and up all night less is really awesome. And I am SOOOO grateful that we're are in a situation that allows me to stay at home most of the time. It's also allowing me to work some partial shifts... rather than a full 12 hours, which my cankles definitely appreciate as does my brain which continues to fail me.

Eric is loving the fact that school is OVER and while he seems to be prematurely day-dreaming about retirement already, I think he is really enjoying his new job with Kroger. TOMORROW... is his 2nd and final licensing exam. If he passes both (which we know he will), by the end of this week he could possible be completely on his own in the store! And despite the fear of possibly killing someone someday with an error in calculations or drug interactions... it's pretty exciting to realize all that he has accomplished. No doubt time and experience will help his confidence... but he's also received a lot of affirmation from some of the Pharmacists he's been working with over the last few weeks - and knowing that others with far more experience than you, have confidence in your abilities, helps a lot. If you have a moment to pray for him between the hours of 1pm and 5pm tomorrow - I'm sure he would appreciate it.

We know he'll do just fine... but the pressure of knowing

that he'll have to wait 3 months to repeat it if he DOESN'T pass... continue to work on half his salary... force me to return full time before, right through, and immediately after popping this baby out... require us to pay for cobra insurance on top of hospital delivery bills AND be the first student in his class to fail this year...

is just a little bit much at times. :)

No biggie... just a little pressure. So a prayer or two couldn't hurt! :)

Miss Ella continues to make us smile. She is no longer a baby... and I'm a little sad about that... but nothing is as fun as watching your own kid discover the world one day at a time. She is quite the talker... and walking faster and faster by the minute (although it often resembles a drunk chicken). She loves cats and dogs - hates birds (that's my girl)... and wants to love cows but the fondness ends the moment they come to life. She's a natural at soccer - although I'm discouraging her from trying out as a goalie... and she could read books all day long if you let her. Being 14 months old... she is completely oblivious to the fact that a new baby sister is on the way, and she will soon be de-throned. The closer we get to D-Day, the more concerned I feel about how I will reassure her young soul of her place in my heart - but I know that in time she will get used to it all, and odd as it seems to me right now - never even remember these days when she was our one and only. Ironically just in the last 2 weeks she has become fond of her "BABE" dolls... I keep asking her as she places them upside down in her play stroller and pushes them down the hall, if she'd like to have a real one of those... but can't quite get an answer out of her on that. I guess we'll know soon enough...

Well - my 4 HOUR SHIFT is drawing to a close... and I think I've covered enough to at least make myself feel better. :) I've got to grab the last few minutes to do some online research of double strollers and baby monitors before heading out...

Back soon with some pictures and updates!!

Gospel at it's Finest...

A song by my favorite group of all time...
The best they have ever sounded by far...

Roommates and Ivanhoes

Michelle, Me, and Bethany

Last night I got to meet up with two of my college roommates. My senior year I lived in a house with 4 other girls, and the 5 of us had an absolute blast together. I really can't believe 8 years have passed since those days... and it's pretty crazy to see where life has taken each of us. We met up at a favorite hangout - Ivanhoes. Known for their 100 different shake/sundae options (always #42 - the Grasshopper, for me), they are a local favorite. It probably would have been easier to catch up on all the latest details without the kids around - but it was so much fun to see how fast they are all growing up! I don't think I ever could have imagined us all as mothers - back in the day when we were sitting around stuffing our faces with Totinos pizza and ordering eachother out of the bathroom...

"The Offspring" - Isaac, Grace, Taylor, Ella & Kaylin

Ella and her new best bud... "Uncle Andy"

Taylor and Ella

Antics

Well... since I can't sleep due to all the crazy fireworks going on in the neighborhood despite the rain... I figured I'd post a few videos/photos of our fun 4th of July. Ella seems to be a natural in the one talent that completely freaks me out - gymnastics. Hopefully it's just a fluke... but I don't know if it's normal for a 14-month-old to be able to do a perfect somersault... Mommy was a little slow with the camera work... so I only got this one short clip of her doing one - but there were many others prior, and following... (Don't forget to pause the music in the right sidebar before playing the videos!!)

And a funny one with Daddy's nose...

Grandma teaching Ella how to drive the Mule...

Is there something on my back??

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If you are in the Huxley, Iowa area you can email iyazkar@yahoo.com for information on how to purchase the bracelets.

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Random

Since I've been a lazy blogger... here's a few pics from the last few weeks - so I can rest easy knowing I've actually posted something lately!

Daddy trying to figure out how bubbles work...

Miss Kara and Ella - obviously bonding through an inside joke.

Faith and the girls... if only we all had her energy. (And I do mean Faith's.)

"PEEK!"

Boppo and Ella... she's still not sure about that beard.

Feeling a little more comfortable with Nana... perhaps it's the lack of facial hair...

Nana out and about - feeling so much better after weeks in bed.

Enough said.

Dr. Lisa - at her graduation party a couple weeks ago! Congratulations again!!

WOW! These things really work!

A rare photo op with Mommy...

We may not all look alike... but we all LOVE to shop!