Hike in January

The McGregor family decided to enjoy the Texas January weather by taking a hike. We looked up hiking trails on the Internet and found a promising park 20 minutes away that boasted of over 13 miles of hiking trails. We arrived to find paved walking paths around the woods instead of through the woods. Oh well. We enjoyed our picnic lunch, fed the ducks, and "hiked" a few miles before we decided that the weather was a little cooler than we had planned. It snowed the next day.

Growing Up

As an adult, it seems like it would be frightening to lose one of your teeth. As a child, it is a sign that you are growing up.

Madison was ecstatic to lose her first tooth last week--a whole year earlier than Logan lost his first tooth. Logan was a little jealous when he first found out her tooth was wiggly; he told her to anticipate blood and lots of pain. Madison just shrugged it off and told him the Tooth Fairy would bring her 100 dollars. The Tooth Fairy DID come, but only left 100 pennies. :)

Note: tooth #2 is scheduled to fall out any day now.

28 Weeks, 1 Day

Top Ten Things I Hate About Being Pregnant:

10.Peeing a lot
9. Being nauseous
8. Getting poked by needles/drinking nasty sugar water/constantly going to the dr.
7. Being emotional
6. Being uncomfortable
5. Poor choice of clothing
4. Not sleeping/Being tired
3. Having a messy house
2. Gaining weight (and yucky pictures)
1. (not)Losing weight after baby is born

Top Ten Things I Love About Being Pregnant:

10.Boobs (sorry, but this is my list)
9. Extra chocolate. or watermelon. or sprite. or whatever
8. An excuse to take a nap, or just sit down and rest, or cry
7. 10 degrees warmer than everyone else during the winter
6. Dreaming about what baby will be/look like
5. Better skin
4. Thicker and better hair; I wash it every other day instead of every day
3. A husband who is willing to pick up my slack
2. Feeling life inside of me: AMAZING!
1. Baby at the end!!

2011: Here We Come!

But first: 2010

We had a great Christmas dinner at church, and of course the kids got to see Santa.

GRANT: surprisingly, not a bit worried about sitting on Santa's lap. I think it helps to have a big brother and sister. His Christmas wish: Popcorn. Yeah, I don't think he gets it yet; he just likes how we laugh when he says that is what he wants for Christmas. Mom's Christmas wish for Grant: tell me when he has to go poop.

LOGAN: took his visit with Santa very seriously this year. He wrote up his list, folded it up, tucked it in his pocket, and right before taking his turn on Santa's lap took it back out to make sure he had it memorized.

MADISON: Sat on Santa's lap. Not overly excited or nervous, just following protocol.


We also went to Santa Land in Richardson, TX (it's free!). The kids got to go in some little workshops, get a cookie from Mrs. Clause's bakery, get Rudolph noses, and go for a ride in the sleigh. It was a fun night, and we loved the chilly air outside (maybe 35ish degrees).





For Christmas we decided to just stay home and continue some family traditions--you know, Nativity on Christmas Eve, open a few presents early, Christmas in the morning kind of thing. We told the kids they couldn't wake us up until 6:00 a.m. They didn't wake up until 7:30!





Christmas was wonderful. The kids were happy. I got Joe some dress shoes and President Monson's biography. My favorite gift was a soft, warm robe. I also got some socks and earrings from the kids. We watched movies and played games and ate and listened to Christmas music. The kids couldn't believe that we would let them stay in their jammies all day; Logan was the only one who did. Grant ate all the candy he could get his hands on. I beat Joe in checkers (Grant's gift to Logan). Then Joe obliterated me twice in a row, and I decided we could never play checkers again. Joe's sister and husband came over for dinner, and we enjoyed playing a few games with them--which I also lost. Ah well.




I am a little reluctant to share this next story, but as this is kind of a journal for me, and because it is wonderful, here goes:

A few days before Christmas we were getting things going in the morning and I noticed a red bag by our front door. It was a huge bag full of toys for the kids--definitely more than we had planned on giving them for Christmas. I took it to our room and took everything out one-by-one and just cried. On the one hand, I felt like there were so many people who needed this gift more than we did; on the other hand, it was very touching to feel like someone--some family--was thinking of us and somehow knew that things have been a little tight. The presents were EXACTLY what the kids had been asking for--Star Wars action people and even a ship for Logan, play pets for Madison, and something I didn't even know existed for Grant. We really have no idea who it could have been, but they must have known our children fairly well to know what they had requested for Christmas (except for Grant, who as I mentioned, only requested popcorn). Anyway, it's been on my mind a lot, and I know it will be a Christmas story we will remember and share every year. We definitely want to be able to pay it forward in the future. So, if you read this and it's you: Thank you for your generous gift!



Time flies. I don't know where it goes. But I am grateful for a New Year. New opportunities, new chances, new goals, new baby, new experiences, a new chance to be better. I have no idea where we will be in a year from now, but here's to 2011!!

Grant finds success!

I have just been overwhelmed with gratitude and love for this little guy these past few days. As you know, we have been concerned about his (lack of) communication skills. When I finally took him to the dr. and requested some outside help, I also expressed my frustration with not being able to potty-train Grant. The pediatrician explained that communication and toilet skills have some sort of connections; children who are not able to communicate well tend to take longer to be potty-trained. I have had to explain this to myself, family, and friends when I feel like I need something to blame for Grant not being potty-trained before the age of 2 like my other kids were.

These past few weeks have just been amazing! I don't know if the speech pathologist is doing it, if I am finally figuring out how to help Grant, or if he just needed a little longer to get things going, but he is making daily progress on his ability to communicate! We have really been working on end sounds like "d," "t," "p," and "s." As he has started to master this a little more (with many reminders, and an emphasis on the wrong syllable), he has also begun to use consonants at the beginning of words. He is willing and wanting to say words over and over until he gets it out--and then there is cheering and celebrating from the whole family. Some of his newly mastered (and most exciting) words include "DadDY," "MaDI," and "potTY."

And speaking of potty: about 2-3 weeks ago, right before Thanksgiving, Grant started showing signs of wanting to be potty-trained. He would take off his diaper if it was wet, he would pull out his potty-chair and sit on it for a few minutes at a time, and he would tell us if he went poop. I decided we would try to train him (a third time) after Thanksgiving. Well, last week came and went. Then yesterday, Tuesday, as Joe was leaving for work and to drop the kids off at school, Grant said his diaper was falling off, and I asked him if he wanted to go potty on his chair. He said yes, so we dropped our plans for the day and decided to potty-train.

Today is day #2--and with no accidents! He has woken up with a dry diaper after all naps and even after a night of sleep! We went to story-time (we were gone for 1 1/2 hrs) and he came home and immediately went to the bathroom. He tells me when he goes, asks to dump the pee in the toilet, and reminds me that he gets 5 m&m's. I think he gets it! Tomorrow we will try wearing underwear at home (he's just been running around naked--and his speech teacher comes tomorrow, so that won't work!) and see how that goes. We still haven't had a chance for #2, so if he makes it through the night we should be able to see how that goes tomorrow. Logan and Madison have been a great support (although it is much easier for Grant to concentrate when they are away). They are so excited for him, and have made a "potty-dance" along with a cheer that they perform for him every time he goes. Watching them love and care for him help me to feel the wonderfulness and beauty of being a family.

(On a side note, the other day we had a great conversation about jealousy. Both Madison and Logan admitted that they sometimes feel jealous when we go places--store/library/etc-- because people are always saying how cute Grant is, asking how old he is, wanting to give him five, etc. We talked about the new baby and how Grant might be jealous because everyone always wants to see/touch/talk about little babies. While I'm not sure how to balance it (there's really no way to, is there?), I think the secret is to spend lots of quality time with each child individually so that they know they are loved and can trust us enough to tell us how they are feeling and what is going on. It was a really good and down-to-earth conversation. )

While I am excited for me, I am even more excited for Grant. He is trying so hard to talk and communicate and now go to the bathroom and he is doing it! I imagine that our Heavenly Father is up there cheering and feeling the same happiness when we begin to accomplish or conquer something that has been challenging us.

*Ahhh!* December!

Why catch up? Here's what's going on today:

*After 2 or 3 months, Madison kept her room perfectly clean for 1 week--the requirement to earn back one of the many bags of toys/books/etc. I have confiscated over the past few months. Question of the Day (feel free to vote): WIll I re-collect those items this week or will she earn back a second bag of her choice next week?

*At 22 1/2 weeks I finally had my first real doctors appointment for this baby. Do you know what? I hate going to the doctor. I especially hate going to the o.b. for the first time of a pregnancy. ANYWAY. After some good conversation, he finally came to the conclusion that I was Mormon. Here is how that went:

Dr: So you are Mormon?
Me: Yep.
Dr: So do you believe in life-saving measures like blood-transfusions?
Me: Yes.
Dr: OK, I just didn't know if you believed crazy things like that.
Me: Nope. We like to save lives.
Dr: So is your husband a polygamist?
Me: (blushing) No. No we don't practice polygamy. (I should have said MORMONS don't practice polygamy.)
Dr: Good. Because I really don't want more than one wife in the delivery room.
Me: Ummm. Me either.

Awkward.

*It's getting cold here. And by cold I mean today the high was 50 degrees. Then I looked at Cleveland's high: 25 degrees. OK, it's wonderful to be in TX during December.

*I'm making meatloaf and some sort of (sweet or regular) potato fries for dinner.

*Well, I tried twice to give you some pictures, but Blogger won't let me. I know you are dying to see my cute family, so maybe I will try again next time.

To Our Dental Friends

If any of you dentists are interested in working in McAllen, Texas, please let me know at jmcgregor@josephmcgregor.com.

McAllen is the fastest-growing city in Texas, and is especially growing with medical services.

Bless-ed Life

So.... Joe just took all 3--yes THREE--of the kids to the library, grocery store, and Men's Warehouse to pick up suits. He's had all 3 before, but not for that many errands at a time. I have complete confidence that he can pull it off... and do it again in the near future. ; ) I stayed home to make pizza, clean house, and (apparently) blog about my bless-ed life. Tomorrow he told me he is going to clean the garage (huge YEE-HAH! from me!). He loves me. I think I am going to throw away my worried-ness about inviting people into our home and invite people over tomorrow night to celebrate Halloween with some wassail and doughnuts. (In case you didn't know, I am intimidated by these people in Dallas with Huge and Gorgeous homes... which we don't have, although I acknowledge and am incredibly grateful for all that we do have.)

On another note... this week we got an ultrasound (and yes we know what it is, what do you think it is?) and I started freaking out as reality set in. Until this point, I have been totally and incredibly excited about baby #4--almost feeling like having a first child again excited. I still am... but all of a sudden I am TERRIFIED!!! How are we going to pull this off? Where are they all going to fit in this tiny (but wonderfully blessed) house we are renting?! Can I keep up with everyone? Will we be able to afford these people? I know right now it won't be that hard--but in 10 years??? How will I get everyone to where they need to be? How will I be able to give them all the attention they need? Will we be able to meet every need? I know we will figure it out; I think I have felt this not-so-crazy fear with the impending birth of each child. But for the moment/week... I am trying to sort out the feelings of being elated and overwhelmed all at the same time.

And finally... Logan turned 7 this week! Wow! He deserves a post all to himself--so next time Joe blesses me with quiet and time I will brag about my oldest kiddo--he's the reason I know we really can parent 4 children!

"I ad"

Conversation with Grant over lunch.

Grant: I ad.

Mom: You are sad?

Grant: Yeah.

Mom: Why are you sad, Grant?

Grant: I wa Daee.

Mom: You want Daddy?

Grant: Yeah.

I love this little boy! For some reason he prefers Dad over Mom. That's ok with me, though.

Mom to Grant: Who do you want to change your diaper?

Grant: Daee.

Mom: Who do you want to brush your teeth?

Grant: Daee.

Needless to say, I find his Daddy-preference highly beneficial! :)

Afraid to Look at the Scale

Maybe I need a new mirror.

Maybe I'm having twins.

Maybe it's because this is number 4.

Or maybe it's because I haven't been outside to exercise since it started getting hot in May.

No, I'm not trying to gather nice comments. I just need to complain.

Joe: will you be my hero and set up my treadmill?

-----

This is Joe.

First, yes Jenny, I will set up the treadmill.

Second. You are pregnant.

Grantee-Pants

Today Early Childhood Intervention came to assess Grant. As I expected--knew--he is quite a bit behind, especially in language development and communication. I kept comparing him to the other two children, and making excuses... maybe it was because he was a third child and a boy; every child is different. Even though I knew he needed some help, it was really hard to hear, after their assessment, that he is behind in a few areas of development, but almost a year (8-9 mos) behind in language development. He is such a great and fun boy, and hopefully he will be able to catch up quickly now that we will be able to get him some help. At the same time, I keep wondering if it is my fault some how. He is actually about 2 months ahead in his listening comprehension--which is a great sign. While the specialists think he can probably hear ok, they did suggest we get a professional hearing test done to make sure that he can hear 100% out of both ears. They also believe that the other areas he is behind on (cognitive and something else) are things that will quickly correct themselves once he is able to speak better. They will be coming to our house to work with him once a week until he turns 3, and at that time we will reassess and decide what steps to take next. Oh Grantee, we love you!

Coming Spring 2011