10 on Tuesday

1. I really am back to blogging; but I have slacked in disappointment because my watermark program is giving me issues.
I love to use photos on my blog, so trying to figure out that little bug.
2. The last couple of weeks have been super busy and it has been hard keeping up with everything.
3. Found out that we will be meeting Kolton on 12-12-15, unless he decides to make his appearance sooner. Though, I am not counting on that as my boys don't believe in being early.
4. Slowly getting my Thanksgiving dinner menu planned for my little family.
5. Klayton had his first earache last Friday and I discovered those come fast and suddenly. So grateful for an excellent hospital and walk-in clinic! Awesome doctors and nurses!
6. On Friday evening, Klayton came to me in my room and said, "Mom, thanks for taking care of me today to get me better-you did a good job!" I may or may not have teared up a little bit. Those moments make up for hard days.
7. Since learning that Kolton will be here in basically 5 weeks, I am in major nesting mode. I can't wait to tackle the boys room tomorrow. Yes, I realize it will only stay clean for about 5 minutes.
8. I am so grateful for my husband. He works hard and does his best to provide for our family. I know he would prefer not to work a secular job; but he does to provide for his family.
9. Last week I received a phone call that Klayton won a prize from the fall festival that the local police station hosted. I was SO excited and decided to walk there with the boys after the receptionist stated it was only a couple of blocks away. About 1/2 way on our walk, I realized it was more than 2 blocks and checked my phone GPS. The station was 1.2 miles from our apartment. We decided to keep walking-after all we were just SO excited! When we arrived I learned that BOTH boys had actually won a prize. And the prize Justus won was quite large...lets just say I am sure we looked like quite a sight walking home. Two boys, a pregnant woman pushing an umbrella stroller and me trying to balance a big box on top of the stroller as we walked home. The whole journey from start to finish lasted about 2 hours...we were exhausted.
10. Well, Tuesday is almost over. I hope your day was well and that you all have a great rest of the week.

Ten on Tuesday-Bring You Up to Speed

1. We are now living in Wisconsin and have been here for almost a month! We are loving it.
2. Justus is now 16 months!

3. Klayton is getting ready to celebrate his 5th birthday and is in pre-K!

4. I am 28 weeks pregnant! And I "get" to do my glucose test on Friday.

5. We are excited to meet this little guy in December.

6. Klayton has lost 2 teeth while Justus is getting 2 new teeth.
7. Thursday my hubs will celebrate his 36th birthday. Upward swing to 40-he's getting old.
8. A little laugh for this Tuesday, courtesy of Klayton! My mom had a deer in her garden that she told Klayton about. He told her that he needs to get his gun (don't worry he doesn't have a real one) and come shoot. She asked him, "why? are you going to eat it?" His reply, "I don't like deer meat-I like people meat!"
9. God gave those little children to you, Mama-to you. No one else can mother them like you can. You may have your work cut out for you, but you're the one cut out to accomplish it.
10. Have a Happy Tuesday and I am promising to be back this week!

Tears of Christmas Eve

We came home from a Christmas Eve Party at some friends where we had stuffed ourselves full of yummy Mexican food! Made our birthday cake, enjoyed a yummy snack of muffins and cappuccino! Followed with the Christmas story and opening of our Christmas stockings! I was so excited to enjoy this first Christmas with Justus and as you will soon learn...he didn't share the sentiment.
The boys haven't learned to yet enjoy the Christmas story...

I think we all know what Klayton has his mind on they have their minds on!

FINALLY, to the gifts and we are SO excited to watch Justus open his first present!

And, he didn't get the memo to be excited. I was bummed at first; but then I realized I will one day look back with a smile and laugh as I remind him of his first Christmas.

Klayton, on the other hand dove right into the spirit of opening gifts!

Best $5 ever spent and quite possibly one of the best gifts! A Ninja set for my little Ninja!

And Justus still has not found the excitement...

Even with tears that big brother didn't even notice, we all enjoyed our first Christmas Eve as a family of 4!

And, on a side note its good that we had a helper with opening of the presents!

What would I do without my tearful baby and little helper?
Merry Christmas!

Wedding Fun

Well, my Cousin-in-law Andrew married his girl today! Joseph was able to be in the wedding and we arrived into town yesterday for the rehearsal dinner and some fun!

Klayton was able to do a little swimming; but when he spotted these chairs he was done!

Justus was able to enjoy some cuddle time with his Great Grandma Barnhardt! And I should mention that she was holding him when he laughed for the FIRST time! Loved it! I have been waiting for his first laugh so it was special that she was able to share that memory with us!

Great Grandpa Barnhardt and Klayton are acting a little suspicious here and I think they could get into a lot of trouble together.

I LOVE weddings and to see how good everyone looks dressed up! Haha! Check out the hottie on the left! Andrew is in the center-he's the groom!

Some pre-wedding pictures!

Oh, look who has my littlest guy again! I think they enjoyed each other this weekend. Joseph and I were once again in awe of the special touch she has with Justus-he has NEVER cried with her and that is no exaggeration! And if he is fussing when he goes to her he instantly calms!

And just a few more pictures before we get to the wedding!

I love watching couples interact at their marriage ceremony...the expression on the grooms face when he sees his bride for the first time and how the bride just radiates!

The first kiss seals the deal...

until death do they part.

Bestie Fest 2014

I am sure you are wondering, "Bestie Fest? Is there really such a thing?!" And I can assure you there most definitely is! It is a place and a time where you don't forget your role as a mommy, wife, adult; but yet you can just sit back and have some fun! At least that is what I think of during my first-of many-Bestie Fest's with my bestie BobbiJo! Our little guys had a blast as well and I think our husbands were just there out of obligation! Ha!

I got a late night perm and enjoyed a chat with my bestie until 4 a.m!

Our boys did a little wrestling.

We ate Snickers Cheesecake for breakfast.

Did our nails and enjoyed a shorter night of chatting...I think it was 3 a.m.-rather than 4!

We spent just a couple of days together that went by way to fast. I am so thankful that God gives friendships and the HE KNOWS the people we need. BobbiJo and I met in college and simply had 'being from Wisconsin' in common. But it gave us a basis! She spent Thanksgiving break with my family and I-it was a blast that launched many memories! After college we lost touch for a while; but God allowed us to get back in touch. We have shared many seasons of life and I am thankful for a friend that God knew I needed to walk text right along side of me. As she says, it's like we are co-workers-except for we actually like each other-as we text on a daily basis and share uh-oh moments about our kids, hard moments, silly moments, times of venting...and simply being a friend.

And, how does Bestie Fest becomes a reality-just look at our shirts!

Yep, we have our own t-shirt! Keep your eyes out for next years Bestie Fest 2015!

Sledding Anyone?

It snowed again! Yay! However, it is now even colder than it was yesterday. So, literally with enough snow to go sledding in we rushed Klayton outside to slide down the hill in my parents backyard once!

Literally, he went down the hill that one time with Grandma and watched his daddy go down once and that was it. It simply was too cold to be outside any longer. Just look at his cheeks for proof on how cold it was.

Have I mentioned yet how much we despise the winter cold?

Mama Bear Reality

My husband frequently teases people not to mess with me-especially while pregnant-because I can be such a "Mama Bear"! I finally decided to Google the definition and found this definition from the urban dictionary: a mom who can be cuddly and lovable but also has a ferocious side when it's necessary to protect her cubs. Can also be a biological mom, or the head of the group. I also found this definition: a wonderful mother who is protective, but in a good way. She acts like a mother bear in all senses of the word; caring, protective, helpful, loving, powerful, strong, a refuge of sorts.

I must admit that I don't mind at all being called a Mama Bear! You see I firmly believe that Klayton is worthy of being protected, cared for, loved! He deserves to be cuddled and to have a refuge. These are not bad things. When my husband teases about this I know he is not referring to me in a bad way; but I am learning that people tend to furrow their eyebrow when the possibility of Mama Bear showing herself is present. You see its not always popular to be Mama Bear-sometimes you have to go against the grain. Sometimes Mama Bear is not going to be favored by the child or the people around her, it can be a hard pill to swallow. I have been quick to learn that it's okay that Klayton doesn't always like my choices for him; but I have been very slow to learn that it is okay for others not to always like my choices for my child. One of the things I struggle with-you may laugh; but I hate it and I don't like it at all when people share their drinks or food from their plate with their silverware with Klayton. It is a personal preference; but something that Joseph and I also recently learned is that there are so many sicknesses/diseases that can be passed through that simple act. As Mama Bear, I cringe when I see people still doing this with my child and I admittedly "steam" about it. At the same time, I realize that it is a result of my "fear" to speak up as in some cases I have tried to casually address the topic. See this is where my slow learning comes in-it shouldn't matter what people think because I know I am looking out for the best interest of my child.

One of my favorite parts of the definition of Mama Bear is, a refuge of sorts! I have recently learned that in some areas I am Klayton's refuge and I do not want to infringe on that in any way. A few weeks ago we were in an unpleasant situation and Klayton was not liking it. I found comfort knowing that my child wanted me to hold his hand, wanted me near him! I find comfort in the knowledge that he KNOWS that I am there for him. I will often ask Klayton, "do you know that I love you?" And he always answers yes! I don't ever hope for a day where his answer is no. Klayton is such a daddy's boy; but if he gets hurt he wants me-yay! I believe it is necessary to be a Mama Bear just to protect the refuge my child seeks in me! I want to be the Mom that my child knows he can go to and that he doesn't have to go elsewhere. I would never on purpose put Klayton in a questionable situation or in harms way and when another person does this to my child, my trust is broken. I realize that may seem harsh; but I don't care! I say that with a smile on my face so maybe that lessened the harsh reality of what I said!

I love being someones Mama Bear and I can't wait to be Mama Bear to both my boys!

HIs Name Shalt Be...

We are pretty good about having names picked pretty quick. While pregnant with Klayton we had his name and a girl name chosen pretty early on in the pregnancy. So, when I got pregnant with this one I assumed it would be just as easy. We kept the girl name and decided it would be best to toss around boy names as well and this proved to be a difficult task! At the beginning we talked about Jaydon Dempsey...soon after I nixed that one. Then after a long discussion tossing names around we decided, Jagger Dempsey.
On Friday I went in to the ultrasound thinking is it going to be a Jacinda or a Jagger? And sure enough we discover its a boy and thus Jagger Dempsey? Um, no! We walk out and Joseph quickly shares that he is not as fond of Jagger as I had thought. So, let the naming start over! As we drove to Des Moines for our anniversary Joseph started searching the internet for J boy names...Javin, Jadon, Jabon, Justus, Joshua. We started talking about the names and I inquired about Justus as I thought it was a Bible name. Sure enough Acts 1:23 reads, "And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus and Matthias." And it was settled, his name shalt be Justus! Why? The answer was found in that verse, Joseph (my husbands name), Matthias-a pronunciation of Matthew (Klayton's middle name) and Justus. A link of sorts between my three boys. Joseph's surnamed Justus and Matthias who were the two that the eleven apostles had chosen to replace Judas with, however out of the two Matthias was chosen. But, even still I think that was quite an honor for Joseph/Justus to be considered. I am settled and excited that we have a name and excited to meet Klayton's little brother, Justus Dempsey!

Forward

Well, duh it's 2014! A new year...a new chapter and life continues to move forward. I am choosing to step out of the past and look forward to what lies ahead.

This year:
*We will find out who Baby B is!
*Joseph and I will celebrate 6 years of marriage.
*I will turn 32.
*Baby B will be born.
*Joseph will turn 35.
*Klayton will turn 4!

I have a lot to look forward to and many "unplanned" things to be added to that list. Thankfully, I have a God who knows my future and will be with me each step of the way.

Please remember to vote in my poll to the right. The poll closes this evening as my ultrasound is scheduled tomorrow. If you are viewing from a mobile device please choose to view the web version so you may vote,

Go Blue!

Today we were able to visit a little piece of heaven in Joseph's world! We went to Ann Arbor, Michigan to see Michigan play Coppin State at Crissler Arena!

We arrived a couple hours early to wonder around the Big House-hoping for a tour; but since they were busy prepping for the big game on Saturday it wasn't able to happen. So, we just stuck to some pictures...


Once we decided to get out of the cold we headed over to Crissler to wait for the doors to open and more opportunities to explore!

And here we are at our seats ready to watch whatever activity could be happening on the court before the actual game begins!

The team warming up...

Klayton AWAKE and enjoying the team warming up!

And...here we go!

Apparently, Klayton was confident in Michigan's ability to win because soon after tip off he fell asleep and slept through the entire first half and half time!

Klayton woke up just in time to put his foam clapping hands to use and watch Michigan take the win 87-45!


With that, Hail to the Victors-Go Blue!