And The Correct Answer to the Poll

It was lunchtime for Ruth and me, snack time for Daddy. I had a sinus/tired headache. The skies were barely holding back the rain fore casted for today. Our appointment was set for 11 est, but we weren't called back until 11:30am.

Brian saw the gender first. I still can't tell what is what on an ultrasound. The tech had to show me the area about five times before I understood. And no wonder, I don't have those parts. That's right, those of you who voted for a boy have the satisfaction of knowing you were right.

I thought I was prepared for a boy but I was not. I was shocked. I had thought we would have two little girls climbing into bed with us on stormy nights and wearing look alike dresses. But now Ruth will have a boy to boss around and they won't have to share clothes. Brian's first words upon finding out we were having a boy were, "Yes! I don't have to paint the room!"

After the ultrasound we were supposed to see a doctor but they were so backed up that they said they would see us in 4 weeks. Ruth and I went with Brian down to a store in Atlanta to deliver a pizza for winning some contest. While there, we bought a few boy onesies and swaddling blankets that were on clearance. I needed to have something blue to look at to start to become attached to a boy. To Grayson. (Have you realized that if he shortens his name it will be Gray Berry? yes, we realize that but are naming him that anyway.)

Sorry we couldn't call everybody. Brian is home for the rest of the day and we are going to enjoy family downtime.

Bedtime for Ruth

Since returning home, we have let Ruth stay up a little later trying to ease her back to her normal bedtime. In Arkansas I let her stay up later, and since it was an hour earlier, that was really late when you thought of it in eastern standard time. Tonight she had a little bit of trouble going to sleep so I sat in the floor next to her crib for awhile. She relaxed and put her hand out to touch me. For ten nights we shared slept in the same bed. I would get so mad at her when she wanted to play instead of go to sleep. But in the morning I was awakened each day with a little voice saying "hi" and a small wave. In the night I was kicked in the back and head butted and everything else. I think Ruth misses sleeping with me and that is why she has trouble going to sleep. The truth be told, I kinda miss sleeping with her too.

Tomorrow is the big reveal of the gender of our baby - if the baby cooperates. Ruth almost didn't when it was her turn. For those of you that have met Ruth, you are probably not surprised by this fact. Ruth is very much a "I do what I want" girl. And today she has wanted to have fun. And we have.

I was so afraid that I would be spanking her left and right when we returned but Ruth has been very agreeable and playful and even, hold your breath, mindful. She was quite the charmer for our friends Kathy and Amanda Stone who dropped by to say hello and give us the most beautiful butterfly lawn ornament. Thank you, Stones.

We called my mom today to say hi since Ruth was asking for her. I could hear the sadness in her voice. After having Ruth with her for eleven days, I am sure the house is empty. Ruth really loved her time there playing with the kitty and Tippy (the dog - by the way, these animals are outside animals and very dirty) and mooing at the cows and twitting with the birds. She enjoyed swimming in the kiddie pool naked and basically getting her way. And I am glad she did.

I was so ready to come home and be in my house with my husband. We had a good visit but by Friday I was tired. I so wish our families lived close enough so they could visit for the afternoon and Ruth could go stay the night with them. But wishing for things that will never happen will only bring sadness.

This is a long post but I have to comment on finding out the gender. If we have a girl I will have two little girls. They can share clothes and wear hand-me-downs. I know what to do with a girl and you don't get "wet" when changing a diaper. But if I have a boy he will get blue toile pillows. Raising a boy scares me. So many people say that boys are mamma's boys. But that term to me means he is a pansy and weak. (No, I don't think all these mothers have weak, pansy sons.) But if I have a son who turns out to be a strong, sensitive, caring man like Brian, then I will be proud to say that I raised that man. If only I can do that.

Thanks for reading this sappy post. It must be the extra tiredness from traveling and the heat getting to me.

Last Day to Vote

Don't forget to vote if you haven't already. We find out tomorrow (!!!) what we are having.

There is No Place Like Home....Even if you live in a traffic overloaded and too many people place....

at least home is where your husband is.

Ruth and I just got back. We have eaten, put Ruth down for a nap and I have had a shower. Now time to watch some of "our shows" on hulu.

I will update tomorrow and check your blogs then.

One Week Down, three Days to go

Ruth and I have been in Arkansas for a week now. The camp is over and I am officially half way done with my pregnancy. I look forward to the day I can say I have delivered. Not that I am ready to care for two people who don't listen to me, but I am ready to be done with the constantly feeling bad and/or hungry.

Tomorrow we are going with Memommy (my mother) to her workshop in Mountain View to stay at a "resort". Now, for those of you familiar with Mountain View, Arkansas, you will find this very funny. Mountain View is a small town (larger than Sidney) and not the resort type of town. But there will be a pool and the weather has turned hot again so the pool will be waiting for us.

We fly home onTuesday and, while the visit has been nice, I am so ready to be home. I am ready to sleep without a 16 1/2 month old pushing me in the back. I am ready to enforce rules like "you eat meals in the high chair or you don't eat" and "the paci is for naptime only".

This child is so spoiled it will take a month to get any sort of rule following back in her.

Rain, rain and no swimming for Ruth

We had rain all day yesterday. In fact, the weather has been very cool the entire time we have been here in Arkansas. Mom said they have had cool weather for over a week. Over the weekend, the weather was sunny and felt just like football weather. Mom had purchased a plastic kiddie pool for Ruth to use this week. Poor kid has only gotten to use it once and not for very long at that.

I am really enjoying the camp. The community college is fairly new so the buildings are fresh and clean. All the people are so friendly and the camp is very low stress. I also enjoy driving to work and seeing lots of trees and grass, cows in fields and open land and rolling hills. I know that if I were to move my family here that we would be bored soon and miss Target and having a grocery store around the corner, many restaurants to choose from, and the energy that comes from a city. But the country life has much to offer as well and having lived in both sometimes makes me very sad because I always miss the other when I am in one. I think it was Thomas Wolfe who said you can never go home again. But one can dream.

Coming to you from Kids College

Hey everyone! It is my lunch break at Kids College, the camp where I am teaching this week in Batesville, AR at University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville.


In my first class today (crafts) I had a kid throw up some red liquid item. Great. There I was trying to divert attention of the other 14 kids and clean up after the vomit kid while calming her all the while not throwing up myself. I don't know how my mother did it for five kids. I really, really, really dread when Ruth starts getting sick.

This afternoon I have a theatre and a dance class.

I am sure Ruth is getting spoiled by my parents rigth as I write this. Oh well. Since we don't have any family anywhere close to us, she might as well enjoy it while she gets it.

Until next time....

Are you There?

This is a test to see if we are able to post. You never know with dial-up.

Ruth and I are now in Arkansas. So far she has played with the toys Memommy bought for her (and will enjoy the kiddie pool tomorrow), enjoyed the dog and cat, and rode a 4 wheeler - against my will.

Oh, life on the farm.

Ruth and Mommy Take a Trip

Although it sounds like we are having separate vacations this year, I assure you we are not.

Ruth and I are flying to Arkansas tomorrow for 10 days. I know Brian and Ruth were in Virginia last weekend. Their trip was to give me a weekend alone to be me before the next baby arrives and sucks more life out of me - I mean, brings me more joy. The trip to Arkansas is longer because I don't work and because I am working in Arkansas. I found a kids college camp to teach (one craft class, one theatre class and one dance class) M - F. Memommy and Granddaddy will have Ruth to themselves while I am at work. We extended our trip to go with Memommy to a conference in the metropolis of Mountain View to stay at a "resort" and swim.

Ruth and I have left Brian a list of things to do while we are gone, including get good sleep. I may not be able to post while we are gone so I wanted to give everyone a head's up as to where we are.

This is the only video Brian shot that shows any of his family. What can I say, he is a proud daddy.

This is Ruth with her MawMaw in Virginia.

Ruth and her Favorite Toy

Laughing

Bubbles

Home at Last

Thank you to all who lifted Ruth and Brian up in prayer. They arrived home around 4pm EST on Sunday. I ran out to met them and Ruth rubbed noses with me immediately. She then proceed to look at me and laugh while she had one hand on each of my arms.

However, when we got inside Ruth was more interested in her toys and books. After touching each one of her "big" toys several times and starting and then stopping several books, she was ready for Daddy again. I was no longer a prize to her.

I think Daddy and daughter really enjoyed the road trip together. There is talk of making this an annual event. Maybe in a couple of years he can take both of them......

Rest and Last Minute Worry

Today I really enjoyed myself. I cleaned and worked out and watched a movie and took a long bubble bath.

Then when I called to say night night to Ruth, Brian told me the news. Ruth was already asleep and when I asked why he hadn't called me so I could say good night to her, he said he had been under the truck for the past hour. To make a long story shorter, suspecting trouble with the truck Brian went ahead and took it to Virginia and looked at it today. The trouble: a hole somewhere underneath that is leaking oil. Now I am so worried about them on the long trip back. My fear is that they will be stranded somewhere in the heat or worse, the truck will have an accident due to gears locking up or an axle dislocating. (That shows how little I know about auto repair and only being able to put pieces of what Brian said together.)

So if you read this before Sunday late, please pray that they get home safe. I am very worried.

Picture of the Day

This was the picture Brian sent to me today. Ruth was on the way to the pool with her Grandma. Brian was nice enough to tell me that she had sunscreen on all over her body.

By the look of interest on Ruth's face, she might follow in her daddy's footsteps as a drug dealer.

I just got back from a movie and solo shopping at Target. Baby Berry two is still making me sick in the morning and feeling bad during the day if I don't feed the monster - I mean growing baby. I called Ruth a monster while pregnant to my students and we all know her temperament can be just that if she doesn't get her way. Maybe if I don't call this next one a monster....

My belly is starting to feel tight and at the moment there is a knot like feeling around my belly button. We told Ruth that there was a baby in my belly and now she will pull up my shirt and say, "hi, baby."

The pros to having the house to yourself: you can leave whatever you want wherever you want and eat when and what you want.
The cons to having the house to yourself: you don't eat as healthy as you do when you are making sure your family is eating right and you miss your family like crazy.

Two more days of freedom....

Picture from the Road

This picture was sent to me from Brian's phone. He took it while they were stopped for lunch somewhere on I-40 or I-81.

I miss my Ruth. The house is so quiet. And strangely, everything is where I left it.

Alone, alone, alone

Brian and Ruth just left for a four day weekend in Virginia with Brian's family. I had told Brian back in May that I wanted a weekend before the next baby comes by myself to be me. To clean, to sew, to do whatever or nothing. But now that the weekend is here, I must admit I am looking at the next four days as a sentence rather than as a reprieve. As Brian was loading Ruth into the truck everything inside me said, "Tell him to wait. To give you 30 minutes to shower and throw clothes in a bag." At that very moment Brian asked if I had changed my mind and wanted to go. But the voice that escaped my mouth said, "No, I have things I need to get done."

This is the first time I have been away from Ruth for more than a few hours. I have been looking forward to this weekend for some time. But how can someone want to be away from the sweet, precious, funny Ruth? I am also scared that something will happen to her without me watching her. It isn't that I don't trust her father, although he isn't as cautious as I am with her. It is just that I can't control what happens. Of course, thinking I control anything while she is in my sight is also silly. But still.....

Please remember them in your prayers. It is long six hour drive without a baby. And anyone who knows Ruth knows the fits she can throw. Also, if you haven't voted yet, but sure to vote. July 30 will be here before we know it. Now if only Sunday would be here quickly.

Happy 4th of July (also known as Independence Day)

Last Saturday we went down to visit our friends Connie and David in Pine Mountain, Georgia. Unfortunately, we did not get any pictures of them while we were there, but we did get to eat Connie's great cooking and see the FSU trapeze circus. Yes, FSU has their own student circus. It was pretty good.

Today we celebrated the 4th, or as Brian keeps reminding me, Independence Day, less elaborately than last year. To see pictures of last year's adventure, go back in the posts to this time last year. Since I am pregnant and still getting sick, hot weather is not my friend. Ruth is cutting her last two eye teeth and has been moody and not an eater this week, and Brian has a sore throat and the voice of Barry White. We decided to be very low key and just made the day up as we went.

We started the day at a Farmer's Market in downtown Canton. It was pretty small, but Ruth did get to blow bubbles on the square. After a siesta and a traditional lunch, we decided to go see the parade at 6pm back in downtown Canton. We were able to park on the street and pull out Brian's sleeping bag of the truck and watch the parade from the back of the truck. Since we didn't know we would be able to park on the street, practically part of the parade, we did not plan well. Picnic food would have been great. Instead, we celebrated the 4th (excuse me, Independence Day) by eating take out from a Mexican restaurant that we had been planning to eat until we found out we could park on the street. Some people eat apple pie and homemade ice cream; we ate Mexican fare. We just celebrated another one of our country's tradition, the tradition of immigration.

We then skipped fireworks (apparently the thing to do in Georgia is to set them off in parking lots - how unAmerica and unfun is that. Asphalt does not sound comfortable or romantic) and came home and let Ruth watch us light sparklers. Ruth would not have been able to stay awake for fireworks anyway. Maybe another year.

I hope everyone celebrated freedom in her own special way. As Brian reminded me many times today, in a few years this holiday could be the 4th of July, a holiday celebrating America the Socialist country. (you knew I would have to say it sometime).

Baby Names

I think I have finally decided that I could be a mother to a boy - although it will be difficult. But since once we find out what we are having the other baby name we have picked will be forgotten, I thought I would share the names with you. This baby will probably be our last since we are both 34 years old.

We named Ruth after two grandmothers and wanted to name this next baby after family as well. Ruth was named after Ruthel (who we called Jenny). Jenny was not a blood relative but was my sisters and my babysitter and became a member of the family. We spent holidays with them and shared lives with each other. I think I speak for all my sisters when I say that Jenny was the best cook ever and we miss her dearly. Ruth's middle name is Helen and that was Brian's grandmother. Neither Brian nor I got to meet each other's grandmother, but he has described her as the most caring and kind woman.

For a girl: Priscilla Grace. Since Ruth is a family name and a biblical name and I have a biblical name in the family, if the next child is a girl, she will be named Priscilla. (We will NOT call her Prissy for short so don't even go there.) Priscilla was my maternal grandmother. We used to drive to Kansas to visit her when I was little. When she moved close by she was much older and had a stroke. I remember her skin being very soft. But the quality like best about her is that she said what she thought and was a very independent person. She was a single mother during the 50's and travelled all over the country. Grace is after Brian and his grandfather. Brian's middle name is Grayson but his paternal grandfather was named Gracen. By naming this girl Grace we honor both Brian's grandfather and Brian. Everyone who knows Brian knows that he is pretty much awesome. Again, Brian and I did not met each other's grandparent. I will have Brian write about his grandfather to give him credit.

For a boy: Grayson Jeffery. Grayson, of course, after Brian. Since there aren't many male names in my family we turned once again to a member of my extended "wish they had been" family. Jeffery, of Jeff, was my best friend from Kindergarten through high school. Although we went to different colleges and thus made new friends who did not know the other, we remained close until his untimely death in February 2006, only a few months before Brian and I were married. Brian did not get to meet Jeff. Jeff was a true friend who supported me and was probably the first person my age to be honest about marriage and tell me it was hard. I remember so stupidly telling him it didn't have to be. How many times I wish I could tell him he was right and let him laugh at me!!!

So there are the names. When you have taught children it can be hard to find names. I have never taught a Ruth (or Ruthie) or Grayson and only one Priscilla so these names are safe.

Ruth is teething her last two eye teeth so I need to encourage her to drink her milk since she is not eating well this week.

Pictures from our trip to Arkansas in May

Before Ruth and I go back in July, I thought I needed to post our pictures from our May trip.
We have a picture of me when I was four or five in the field with these flowers (weeds).

Ruth wanted to sit in his lap - I did not stage this picture.

Good Morning, This is your 4am wake up call

Ruth woke up around 4am crying. Brian went to check on her and she calmed down just long enough for us to get comfortable and then cried again. This time I got up and again, she calmed down just to the point where we started to drift off to sleep. At 5:08am I told Brian I had had enough and just to get her out of bed. Besides, I was feeling sick and his alarm was about to go off so he could go to the gym.

After much crying, I was finally able to calm Ruth down enough to eat some breakfast in bed. When Brian left I entertained Ruth with books and then the most magical toy ever: the computer. If Ruth is fussy there is usually one thing that I can do to get her to calm down when all else has failed and that is looking at pictures, or better yet, videos of herself.

Once we stopped watching videos from this blog I took her to Alec and Emma's page to watch them dance and play with balls. And then we went to hulu.com and watched babies laughing and dancing and then turnd to Elmo for comfort. Now that she has her fix, she is playing with another one of her favorite toys on the floor: my bra.