Late Christmas Post

So... I'm a bit late with this. We had a really fun Christmas this year, lots of time with family and overall everything went really well. The drive there and back was long of course but we were safe and the weather cooperated. I didn't take very many pictures, I always forget to because I'm usually too busy to think about it and everyone else takes pictures. But here is one at my parents house on Christmas morning.

I broke down and got Ben a puppy... I was tired of being the "mean wife" and always crushing his spirit. So now we have little Lily, I felt like a traveling circus on the way home from Utah with our cat and dog. Lily is cute... but that's were the positive comments end. Kharisma really loves her though. I'm a little worried, having already used the puppy card and don't have anything to bribe Ben with when I want another baby... after this one of course. Maybe a new gun. Oops, used that one already too. (My parents got him a new gun)
The three weeks flew by quickly and before we knew it we were back on the road to Pullman. I miss Utah and all the good that comes with it, such as, how quickly the roads are cleared after it snows, the many varieties of restaurants, the fact that the roads use the grid system so finding an address just based on numbers is super easy to find and the blocks are square and normal, all of our friends back home, and of course, our families. Maybe someday we'll be back to stay.

While there I got to do some painting at Ben's parents' house. I painted some murals in the play room, which was really fun. But, I didn't take any pictures. Can't wait to have a house that I can paint. I also went snowboarding with Ben and my mom... probably not a super idea at 6 months pregnant but I was glad to get some runs in at least once this season. I was a bit sore after but it was well worth it, even if I was awkward and slow.

It was so good to see family, but it's also good to be home and back to our routine, I'm much more productive that way.

Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to post our adorable Christmas pictures!

I love Kharisma's eyes in this one!

Merry Christmas! We can't wait to share the holidays

with our families in Utah!

Thanks, Laurel, for taking pictures for us at the last minute!

I love the way they turned out!

Big Girl Haircut

Today, we said goodbye to the baby mullet.

Thanks to the skills of Rachael Olsen, we now have a big girl haircut!

We love the haircut but it just reminds me that

my baby is growing up on me!

Slice of heart-attack anyone?

It sometimes amazes me the things Ben can get done when he should be studying... especially for finals.

So, Ben recently heard about the "manliest" breakfast meal ever. Of course, he had to try it. Just look at the picture, and then I'll explain.

Yes, that is bacon. You begin by weaving one pound of bacon into a "bacon mat". Then, flatten one pound of sausage into the same size. He then cooked about 5 eggs, scrambled and put them into the meat mat. He sprinkled some cheese and added some Bisquick (which he later regreted) and then rolled the meat mat into a meat log. He then put into a loaf pan and baked for about a half hour at 400 degrees. We actually aren't too sure on the time of cooking because we put it back in the oven after removing it the first time.

This is the results:`

One bite is enough. Yes, it is a bit delicious but every bite also brings you closer to death. So eat with caution. We have a lot left if anyone wants some :)

And no, my child did not get any.

Also, I have a really cool meat loaf pan that drains the grease while cooking... that has to count for the something. Right?

Baby Boy

The results are in and looks like we're adding a little boy to our clan! The ultrasound was amazingly clear so I'm pretty sure there won't be any surprises come birth day. It took me awhile to decide if I really wanted to find out but my decorating/creating side won. I decided I should take advantage of the time I have now with only one child before my life becomes even busier. So I've already started designing his room, starting with the curtains. I won't give away any details on that, I'll just get them done and post some pictures.

Kharisma will be such a good sister, she's already a natural nurturer. She loves babies and loves helping with them. She chases her little friend, Charlie, around with his bottle trying to feed the "baby" even though he's really only a few months younger than her. Basically any little kid is a baby to her. She's a little aggressive with her hugging... we're working on that. She always tries to share her snacks and drink with the cat and her many stuffed animals.

So, we're excited and glad everything is going so well. I thought the first pregnancy was easy but this one is even easier, if that's possible. Probably because I'm not juggling school and work with it this time.

As far as names go, we're 95% sure his name will be Willum Charles Dixon. Once again, this is Ben's idea... he never likes anything I come up with. But I like Willum, so it's fine.

I'm half way through with this pregnancy, now the "hard" part is left. Getting huge, shutting my stomach in the doors... that fun stuff. Needing to be rolled out of bed. I actually feel like I was a lot bigger at this point with Kharisma so maybe I won't get as giant. We shall see.

Potty Humor Saves the Day

You know how after awhile in motherhood you start being less cautious of the risks surrounding your children? For example, sometimes when Kharisma is on the changing table I have to go get a diaper (cloth) out of the dryer because I'm too lazy to get them all at once and put them away (I'm working on that) and so I just run and grab it with her still on the table... I know, I'm bad. Well, to justify myself she's really good about knowing what she can and can't do and has never had a problem or even a close call.

So, that brings us to tonight's incident. She was freshly bathed and still naked on the changing table waiting to be lotioned-up. I was right there by her, just putting the bag in the garbage can, totally within an arm's length of her. I saw her wiggling out of the corner of my eye, no big deal, she always tries to turn around and stand on her head, butt in the air. I guess this time she was a little too tired for it or something because just as I looked over, her little butt is tipping off the edge. She spins in mid-air and lands on the ground with her body hitting the floor in the following order: head, hand, knees... and then falls to her back. I screamed her name in fright, which probably made the situation worse for her. Her little face was full of shock and her eyes were wide. It took her a few seconds until she actually started crying. I grabbed her little naked body and sat on the floor and held her while she cried. It was so sad. She really only cried for a minute and then just kind of wimpered as I rocked her back and forth. I couldn't feel or see a bump and she didn't seem that upset. I checked her pupils for proper dilation and all seemed well. Her heater suddenly turned on in her room and she sat up and pointed and said "Oooh!" and then pointed to other things in her room and named them, like her books.

Thinking she was over it and was fine I put her back on the changing table to get her dressed. I guess she hadn't forgot because she started crying again... I don't blame her. Well, now the story gets better. All of a sudden she lets out the biggest fart... three in a row actually. She stops crying and just starts laughing like it was the most hilarious thing ever (she usually does laugh when she farts or burps) and of course I was laughing too. Thank goodness for that because then she really did forget about the prior drama. We got dressed and brushed teeth and finished our nightly routine as usual. I was a little worried about putting her right to bed, I sort of wanted her stay awake for a while longer just to make sure she was acting normal but she was already so tired from lack of a proper nap and it was already a little past her bed-time. I just checked on her (an hour later) and she was still sleeping peacefully. I'll probably check on her a few more times before I go to bed. I feel like she is fine... that's what my inner mother-mind is saying. I pretty much knew she fine when she laughed at her flatulence. And that is why potty humor... (pause for dramatic effect)... saved the day.

Yabba-Dabba-Do!

Another Halloween has come and gone and it was another year of successful costume making! This year's costumes were less stressful than last year's (Ninja Turtles) and much easier. I have to give a giant Thank You to the Clayton's for playing along with my Halloween shenanigans. They're good sports... and don't we just look adorable?

My adorable little Pebbles.

Well, I better start thinking about next year!