New Frey Baby coming July 15, 2010!

Well, it's way past time that we announce our big news this year - our baby #3! Ben and I have discussed this being our last, but have not made anything final yet! So, keep me in your prayers as I am trying to make it through the days with two toddlers and a baby on the way. I think most days are just fine until late afternoon hits (4-6 pm). The boys get grumpy so I get grumpy :) Ben doesn't get home till 6 and I am usually feeling most of the morning sickness at this time! Although this is getting much better as I enter the second trimester this week. Hopefully soon I will feel more energy and get to enjoy the spring time!

The main reason I am posting is not to announce our news, as exciting as that is! I have just really been feeling sadness for the moms and dads of Haiti who will not be giving goodnight kisses and hugs to their babies this week because they were lost in the earthquake. I just really feel blessed to have my babies to hold and my family to give support and love. We are so thankful for all we have. I cannot imagine the tragedy of loosing a child. Please pray for the people of Haiti, that God's love will be a light to them in this difficult time.

What we've been up to.

Sitting up all alone.

From blog update June09

Sitting in time-out.

From blog update June09

Baby Dedication at church

From blog update June09

Making ties for Father's day at church

From blog update June09

Playing in a laundry basket

From blog update June09

Playing at the park

From blog update June09

Smiling at the park!

From blog update June09

Going through tunnels at the park

From blog update June09

Being sleepy in the car

From blog update June09

Sleeping in the car

From blog update June09

Painting everyday.

From blog update June09

And just being all around goofy little boys!

From blog update June09

Stacy's Birthday

Today is Stacy's birthday! We were hoping to have a nice, relaxing day and evening together, but a stomach bug that we've been passing around for a week or more now came to roost with Mommy last night and seems to have put a damper on our (ambiguous) plans.

We will celebrate when she's feeling better, I'm sure. I just wanted to take a moment and say how much I appreciate everything she's doing these days. It's no small task just keeping up with the needs of one of our boys...spending all day every day subject to their whims can really wear you down. The few times I've been alone with both boys for a couple hours and they weren't asleep, it's been all I could do to keep them from crying the whole time, and to keep myself from finding a corner somewhere to hide in and wait it out.

Doing that by yourself 5 days a week can't be easy, even with the "mommy bonus." (The mommy bonus is what causes Hudson to transform from a screaming ball of fury to a giggling cutey-pants in 5 seconds when mommy comes and rescues him from me.) Today will be a difficult day for Stacy because she's feeling terrible, but the boys aren't going to understand that. Cooper is pushing every boundary he can find. And that's what he should be doing. I would be worried if he weren't. But sometimes you just need a break.

All of this, and she still manages to be nice to me, the biggest baby in the house (except for the dog, I guess).

So here's to Stacy on her birthday. I hope it's a good one, even though it probably won't go like she planned.

I love you!

-Ben

spring rain, time-out, a list, some park photos

I have been sitting here for about 10 minutes listening to the sounds of soft thunder and rain outside the open window! Hudson started sleeping in his own bed for naps and at night up until he wakes for a feeding. So he is there now, instead of the swing, where he usually sleeps amid all the action and noise that Cooper and the dog make. This was good for a time, but now it seems to wake him up more than we like.

Cooper went down for an early nap, after finishing off about 6 cinnamon graham crackers and spending his first 2 minutes in time out for kicking me during a diaper change, after a warning I took him to time out (yes, it's official, he is going to be 2). He stayed put in the chair after repeating, "stay, stay, stay" as if he were willing himself to do it. Very cute and enough to melt me! The 2 minutes went by quickly and I felt very good about his attitude afterwards and mine, and we got through the diaper change with no problems! I felt much better with the results of time out than the time I spanked him for kicking. It just seemed so backwards to use my hands to hurt him because he was using his feet to hurt me. He seemed to "get it" why he was in time out, and the spanking seemed to make him even more angry and want to kick harder. I guess you just have to try different things and see what works for each child.

Since I like lists, and they are easy to read, I'll give you a quick run-down of how things are going around here in a list:
- planted our garden, peppers, tomatoes, squash, cucumber, and herbs are all in so far.
- enjoying as much time outside as possible
- enjoying the nostalgia (if you want to call it that) of box fans in the windows to save on our bills.
- baking bread
- playing with bugs and dead worms in the driveway
- picking "ouchy berries" these are holly berries Cooper pulls off and says "ouchy" because of the prickly leaves on the bush
- lots of time with Hudson on a blanket outside on the lawn or at the park
- playdates with friends
- Hudson finally rolling over, attempting to sit up
- Cooper eating more and more vegetables
- Cooper discovering candy - it all started with the Easter "bas-sick"
- both babes spending lots of time hanging out just wearing a cloth diaper around the house
- I am cooking more (stacy)
- Cooper playing independently - praise the Lord!
- Ben loving his job but finding ways to deal with his terrible commute

And now for some pics, we went to the park with some friends last week, Candace, Melita, Jodi, Jack and Reed. It was a fun time. Thanks, Candace for the pics!

Just some thoughts

This post won't have any pics. Here is why... I am using the laptop and we only upload our photos to the "main" computer and it's currently in another world (it's really upstairs, but it's complicated and technically hard to explain why I am not using it.)

Anyway, I just wanted to let anyone know who is checking our blog that we are still here and having an amazing time with our beautiful boys. I am just pulled in way too many directions at this time to blog regularly, although I do have the desire to do so.

Here is a quick rundown of how things have been lately. We have been spending as much time getting out and about as possible since we have had some great weather the past couple of weeks. We visited friends, had friends visit us, went to the zoo to visit friends (this happened to be the cold and rainy day of all days!) and have been spending time with my parents doing fun things like the Home and Garden Show and going fishing. Cooper caught his first fish and thought he was slimy but mainly wanted to hang out by the pond with the "balls" - I mean floaters. He is learning to enjoy the great outdoors since this is the first time he has been able to walk around, and run around exploring. He thinks every thing outside is dirty - he says that a lot, but doesn't seem to mind a scraped knee or splinter here or there. I hope to turn him into a nature boy soon, like his mommy and daddy.

Hudson is growing up fast, I was surprised today when I read that he will start making consonant sounds soon, like "ma ma" and "da da." He is almost there, but so far I have heard some sweet coo's, caaa's and giggles. He is a smiley baby, and that makes all of us pretty happy. He loves to watch Cooper laugh and play, this is the sweetest thing of all. It makes me look forward to the interactions to come in the years they have to grow together and learn from each other. I can't wait!

We are heading out of town for an adventure of sorts in the next week, our goal will be to get to the farm in Texas, by way of the MS/LA coast. We'll see how that plays out, maybe even a trip to New Orleans. And, I'd love to stop by my sister's house in Houston. If we can accomplish that with the 19 month old, newborn babe, and the crazy dog, then we should get some kind of reward! The time together should be reward enough!

Hopefully next update will have pics. If you are desperate check out mine or Ben's facebook pages. There's plenty of pics there.

Sunday Afternoon Timelapse

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An afternoon in the life of the Frey Family. We were cleaning, obviously.

New Photo here