Keeping my head above water

Lately, that has been my main goal:  Keep my head above water.  And some days I feel like I am bobbing below.  Good news is, the days are getting better and the more I cross off my lists (and John crosses off things on the list I made for him -- its a good thing he loves me), the less bobbing I've been doing.  I'm not ready to take updated house pictures...the anal person I am wants to have more put together before I share :)  Buuut I can give some updates on the other going-ons around here. 

I had an appointment for Baby Girl on November 2.  All good with our lady bug -- strong heart beat of 156 and my measurements, blood pressure, etc were all good and normal.  Unfortunately, I had come down with a pretty bad cold with a cough that would not stop.  Bad enough that my doctor gave me a prescription for some cough medicine with codeine for nighttime and ordered lots rest.  He was concerned that if I got any sicker, I'd have pneumonia.  Yikes!  Glad to say that after about a week I was feeling much better and almost back to 100%.  I'd say I'm about 85% recovered.   

This is from an app I have on my phone -- taken Saturday, November 10 -- 

the same day as the picture below

Yep, I'd say that's the size of a large cantaloupe.  

Wonder if Rudy's measurements came out the same??

I cut my hair off again.  It seems a lot shorter in person than in this picture!  It was taking way too long to blow dry and style so it had to go.  Those extra 15 minutes are too precious to be spent on my hair.  

In motion "wack!"

We are trying very diligently (and trying even harder to stay patient) with teaching Rudy to "be nice" and "gentle" -- he isn't trying to be mean, because he acts out mostly when he's excited or trying to play.  I keep meaning to get out my What to Expect Toddler Years book or some other research to come up with some tactics to try, but again, that whole head bobbing under water thing includes this.  

While Mom and Dad were in Vegas and John was working, Rudy and I hung out with Grandpa and Grandma Cicci for dinner and made homemade pizzas.  Rudy was a big help, of course!  He actually ate from the plate of toppings of sausage and red peppers and LOVED the finished product.  We made his with only a small amount of cheese...poor kid still has his limits with dairy!

This was one of our last days at Gran's.  His toys were slowing taking over!

We moved the rest of our stuff over the week of November 5 and finished up the last of the "had to be done" list.  I was able to be there with Rudy more often with the majority of the tools put up and cleaning under way.  Gran and Grandma Cicci were SOOO much help that week.  They spent every night over at the house cleaning floors, windows, walls -- any surface really -- so that we could get in over the weekend.  We are so grateful because that was a tough job!

And of course Rudy was there to help, too!  

I was unpacking boxes in the kitchen while Rudy played with his lego table in the hall.  He was doing so great at playing and entertaining himself.  Then he got quiet.  I turned around and the stinker had climbed into it and was stuck.  It's now his favorite thing to do, except he's gotten good at it and can stand up in it...disaster waiting to happen!

As onry and mischievous as he can be, he is still the sweetest, most peaceful baby...when he's sleeping, that is.

Rudy's first nap at the new house

Gran and Grandma finished the cleaning, John finished the last of his list, and I had Gran's all packed up by Saturday morning so we were able to take some time out and do something besides housework...and what better to do than enjoy the 70+ degree fall day at the SHG vs. Glenwood playoff game at SHG?!  We met the Allotey's there and Josh and Jannette outfitted Rudy and Jorja in their "Future Cyclone" t-shirts and Jannette even put their names on the back!  Adorable!

Trying to get a picture of the two together, but Rudy spotted Jorja's nachos...

Jorja, as sweet as can be, reached over, grabbed a chip (even gave it a little dunk in the cheese for him), and gave it to Rudy

"Thanks, Jorja!  You're alright."

Unfortunately, Rudy later repaid her for her kind gesture by hitting her in the face with a lego block and then smacking her in the face.  John and I felt so awful.  We had them over to our house for pizza after the game and hopefully Jorja will want to come back!  

It was a great day.  

The only downside was that John got called in to work for the 7pm-7am shift so Rudy and I had a slumber party at Gran and Grandpa's -- we didn't want our first night in the house to be without John!  Worked out nice though because Uncle Tony came in town late that night so I was able to visit with him and he was able to be there when Rudy woke up at 5:30!

I feel like I am leaving out all kinds of stuff...the days have been a blur of unpacking, sorting, rearranging furniture, and trying to get situated (not to mention I am swamped at work and have had to ignore the house and work some nights instead).  Gran has come over almost every day (if not every day) since we left to help me out with something or to bring something else of ours over that she found.  We tease her that she probably has a pile of things but just brings one at a time.  But we are glad she's been by often to visit -- we miss her and Pa-Pa!  Dad taught Rudy to saw "Pa-Pa" and even this morning when I got Rudy out of his crib he said, "Pa-Pa?" and put his arms up like "Where is he??"  For all that has been going on, Rudy has been adjusting very well.  We had a couple bad nights and a couple off days, but he's warming up to the place and he's back to a schedule!  

Today was Grandma Cicci's first day back at watching Rudy at our house.  Not only is it great having her to watch Rudy, but she cleaned, did laundry and a whole bunch of other things...doesn't get much better than that!  

And I'll leave off with a couple action shots of Rudy and Rufus.

Rufus was trying to hide from Rudy under the island...no match for him...

Rudy fits under there, too!

Poor Rufus rarely gets a break from Rudy pestering him!

I have another appointment for Baby Girl tomorrow and then I am on a weekly schedule.  Seriously surreal and pretty much unbelievable that we are going to have another baby soon.  I hate to be "that pregnant lady" but I have a feeling she's going to come early.  I don't know why, its just my gut feeling.  But, then again, I also said that with Rudy and he was 6 days late...I really have no credibility in this department!