"Do you like my new green glasses?"

In June, our pediatrician said he noticed a little something with James' eye, and told us to watch for it.  I didn't really see anything, until about August when we all started to notice James' right eye turning inward at different times.  It got progressively worse, and we knew we would need to see an eye doctor.  All the kids can see it, and the camera especially caught it.  This photo is from this week, and if you look at James, you can really see it. It's a little unnerving, huh?  It looks painful.

 So this week, James picked out his favorite color for his new glasses to help the muscles in his eyes, and they arrived this week!

 A definite first for our family, since he is only 3, but oh my goodness, how cute is he?

 The first thing he asked for this morning was his new glasses, and it just melted my heart! 

 I am so grateful this boy is so sweet and happy!  He impressed every.single.person we encountered on this journey.  The eye doctor was floored at how well he did with the eye chart and answering all the questions.  They had to dilate his eyes, and he never squirmed or yelled when they put those drops in.  The places we visited to find his glasses were so amazed at how excited he was, and how cooperative he is.  He gave the lady a big hug after he got his new eyes, and she just kept saying how amazed she was.  In the last weeks of pregnancy where things are a little more complicated, I am so grateful for this sweet boy!!!

How many priests does it take to make paella? Just (Fr.) Juan!

We are so blessed to still have Fr. Juan at our parish, and he wanted to come over and make paella for us again, and to visit with us before the baby comes.  Father brings his own paella pan, ingredients and seasoning.  The house smelled fantastic, and it was such a lovely evening.  I love that my kids are able to spend time with the priests in our home!

 

 My kids watched him cook the whole meal!  James kept interrupting and yelling "Hey, Fadder!" (If you have ever seen Going My Way all I could think of was the big choir boys, "Say hello to da fadder.")

 (Post title is Tommy's joke, my dad's words were, "Juan can Cook!")

 I love the concentration. 

 We were joined by my parents, since Tommy's parents came when he made paella for us the first time.  Tommy was a little late because he had some trouble getting home on the train.

 I think Emma had about 5 helpings, Patrick and Emma both ate SALAD with their dinner!

 Emma's words, "This is AMAZING!"  And it's pretty too!

We set the timer for the camera, and unfortunately it is a little crooked, but here we are!  37 weeks and 5 days, final - we hope! - nephrostomy tube change that morning, and baby coming Friday!!  Yep, and I look it.  LOL  

Baby Girl Sprinkle

Feeling so blessed and loved!  My amazing sister-in-law offered to host a "sprinkle" for me, to include my family and some close friends.  I was overwhelmed with love and it was wonderful to just spend time with those important people.

Emma insisted on wearing pink, and her cousin Laura came to join in the girl fun.

Christine is AMAZING at everything she does, and the details for this celebration were impeccable.   Everywhere I looked was something extra special with her personal touches.

My friends Katie, Sarah and Katherine.  My wonderful friends for forever!  Love them, and their sweet families.

Jess, Katie and Melanie (my sister-in-law, married to my brother).

More Reynolds!  Hayley, Lynsey, Chrissy and our superb host, Christine!

We tried for some family shots. Thank you to Amber (next to me) and Katie for taking so many wonderful photos!

My very sweet and very excited Emma: big sister-to-be!

The favor was a sachet with lavender (love love!) and each time I catch the aroma, it brings me back to that lovely afternoon.

We played some games including make a baby with play doh.

My favorite is the pink one in the middle with the binky.  

Identify the chocolate in the diaper.

Sweet Gus and his beautiful mom, Nichole!

I love this picture!   

Grandmas and me.

It was such an amazing day, and my family and friends are still talking about the joys and details of the day.  The food was delicious, desserts were just sweet enough to tempt my sweet tooth, and the decorations were sweet and pink!  Everyone was so impressed!

We were showered in love!  Everyone was so generous!

Can you believe this outfit???  SOO adorable!



The shirt says, "Grandma loves me more than Bingo."  :)  Aunt Chrissy finds the best shirts!

 (On a side note, it has been very tough to shower and wash my hair with this tube, since it can't really get wet.  My hair has been so sad, and it has been frustrating not being able to feel pretty.  My sister Jess shared a gift card for a haircut and blow dry with me at a salon, and I was able to enjoy a little more pampering before the shower.  It was so nice to feel (a little) pretty and ready for my close up.)

I don't know if I can gush enough about this sweet day, and how special it was to spend the time with everyone.  All these people are so special and dear to us, and I could not have gotten through all this without all the love and prayers from each of them!

Monday Mumblings

• James was talking about his friend named Jack.  "He always says hi to me.  He has polka dots on his face."  Best name for freckles ever!
• Emma was unloading the dryer with all the baby clothes in it, and it took her about 10 minutes, because each piece had to be examined with, "Aww, look!  It's so little!  It's so cute!"  "Look!  The lint trap is PINK!"  She is so sweet!

• James has moved to a big boy bed ALL ON HIS OWN!  My nephew babysat one night, and when I came up to check on him, I was stunned to see the crib empty!  There is a toddler bed already in his room which looks like a fire truck, and he was sound asleep!  I never thought he would do it without me, and each time we have tried to let him, he won't stay in the bed.  He has done it every night since.  He has been telling me that the baby will sleep in his crib, but I didn't think he would do it on his own!  What a sweetheart!

• James came to me with those Velcro catching toys, but no ball.  He says, "let's play catch!"  And I waited to see what he meant.  He threw a "ball" to me and I caught it.  We played catch in the house with a pretend ball.  He even would miss and say "it rolled over there."  So funny.
• William is very busy in his 1st grade class, and when I ask about things, sometimes it's really tough to get information from him.  He always says "the teacher says" this or that, but never uses her name.  He did that last year too.  It's always interesting to try to tell him how to do something, because he gets all frustrated because I don't do it the way "the teacher told me to!"

• Patrick is definitely an 11 year old boy, with all the silliness and goofiness and a bit of absent-mindedness that goes with it.  This article makes me wonder when my son read this as his manual.  SPOT on!  We had an episode where we had to send him back to the shower because when we asked him, he forgot to use soap.  Palm, meet face. 

• And, because I have some, here is a 36 week belly shot with my beautiful Mom.