Reece and his Christmas cape

Reece loved helping me decorate the house for Christmas. He found the tree skirt and immediately said "A cape Mommy, my cape". "May you please put it on Mommy?" which of course I did. Just look at how adorable he is. Then he found his red Santa hat and screamed with joy over that. You can't see it though because 2 seconds later he discovered the Tigger stocking and proceeded to put that on his head as well. Oh the joys of a nonstop 2 year old! He cracks me up all day long.

Life sure does get away from you...

...when you have two kids.
...when Christmas is coming and you can remember sitting in the hot sun on the Jersey Shore.
...when you have to go back to work and you can't stand the room you are teaching in.
...when files of school work a piling up all around you and you know you will never find a home for them.
...when you haven't talked to your dear friends for weeks.
...when you can't remember dates and times of things that you planned on attending.
...when you have so much to blogg about but don't even know where to begin.
...when you are too tired to email photos of your beautiful baby.
...when your baby girl turns 3 months old and you wonder where have the months gone. sigh

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Our was spent with the Hall & Castillo families. We relaxed in the morning and attended dinner later in the afternoon. It was so easy and laid back.

Here are a few things I am THANKFUL FOR IN 2006:
~My husband when he is standing in the kitchen preparing dinner after a long day of teaching.
~My two beautiful children who are the world to me.
~My ever so giving parents who came to visit when I had Raine.
~My mother and her delicious cooking, some of which we are still enjoying:)
~Mo's lovely parents and their generosity while they were visiting us.
~Family, who send their love from all over the country. Blessing and praying for our precious family.
~Friends, all of them in all of their locations. They also have been so generous to my family and especially to Baby Ireland Raine.
~Sleep, my daughter turns in for the night at 9:30 and sleeps until 4:30. It's a wonderful thing!
~We decided to stay in Las Vegas for the Christmas Holiday Season.
~My brother & his new winter home in Park City, Utah
~My brother and his new outlook on life.
~My sister the fact that her and Jim are finally wed!

Most of all I am Thankful that the Lord blesses us with all that we have and with all of the people in our lives!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


RAINE TURNS 3 months old

She is so much fun! I love the way she coo's and giggles at us. She adores her big brother. She is trying to pull herself up into a sitting position. She is still eating like a champ and sleeping like a tired little pup. She is napping better during the day also. I love my baby girl and sure do mish her while I am at work. Pictures soon to come, blogger is not cooperating :(

New Hairdo!

AHHHHH~ I wanted to scream when I came home from the one too many Saturday classes I took these past few months. It wasn't because the traffic was backed up on the 95 due to the rain. It wasn't because there were toys all over the floor and my house was in disarray. It was because my 2 year old baby boy came running out of the bathroom to see me with a buzzed head. All he had on was his diaper. The boys just finished showering since they had hair all over them. Yes, Mo buzzed his head also. I wanted to cry. My baby boy will have plenty of these type of haircuts all throughout his life but why did Mo have to start so young. He had been warning me he wanted to do it. All summer he begged me to cut it. NO WAY, NOT YET, I would yell at him. I guess being home with 2 kids drove him to it. Maybe he felt he needed to get me back. It's just hair right, it will grow back. That's what I have to keep reminding myself. It just better grow fast, Christmas pictures are coming up.

Raine is 2 months old

On Wednesday, October 25th my little sister turned 26 years old and Raine turned two months old. Not a huge birthday but one she smiled at. She is starting to smile and coo. It is getting really fun now. Just when it's time to go back to work. Sadly though, I have learned I'm not into this newborn stage. She can't tell me what's wrong. She fights falling asleep. She loves to be held. She can't rat out her brother when he makes her scream. As much as I try to get her on a schedule she doesn't always comply. God defiantly gave us the easy baby first, just to make sure we would give him a sibling. Raine really is wonderful baby, but I'm so glad I have some experience being a mom. I can't wait to see what each month brings. I need to remind myself to slow down and enjoy each moment. Laundry, dishes, cleaning bathrooms, cooking dinner can wait. When else is she going to be this little. Right?


Which reminds me of a great teaching Pastor G taught a few Sundays ago. Be still! Well I was today! I tried to take a nap while my kiddos napped. I didn't wash a dish or fold the laundry that has been sitting in the basket since yesterday morning. Mo asked if I did anything with the fish for dinner I said "nope" (Reece's new favorite word). It was nice relaxing, but part of the reason I did it was because I was so tired. I may have to do it again tomorrow.

One More Week

I am sad to report that I only have one more week of maternity leave left. It has been a wonderful yet eventful nine weeks. Both sets of parents have been here and visited. I have taken way too many classes for a masters plus 32 credits pay raise. Daddy gave Reece a haircut (more to come ...). I'm supposed to be in RENO, NV celebrating my dear friend's 30th birthday, but life wouldn't let me (more to come ...). Lastly, my baby girl is finally starting to smile and coo. Just when Baby Raine is starting to develop a fun personality; I have to go back to work!

I guess I don't have to go back to work. I could stay home with my adorable kids. Then they might get taken away since they wouldn't have a home to live in. BILLS, BILLS, BILLS. Who created all the debt we have? Oh, that would be Mo and I! No really just Mo, he's the one with the expensive taste. Not true at all, I like a glass of fine wine every once in a awhile also. Just what will I do during my last week of leave...

Bad MOM moment

well sort of...

I am starting to get the hang of this whole 2 kid thing, sort of. It had been a few days since my last shower. Raine was still sleeping so I plopped Reece in front of the Disney Channel, locked my bedroom door so he wouldn't come in a beat up his sister, then I took the longest hottest shower in a long time! When I got out, Reece was pounding on the bedroom door screaming! I didn't hear anything since I was taking time for me in that fantastic shower. Am I a bad mom or what?

PS: Look at what a chunky monkey my daughter is becoming...

Reece is getting ready to give his sister a kiss, not bite her head!

Raine at 5 weeks old is sitting in her brother's fun chair, just look at those chubby cheeks!

HAPPY 2ND BIRTHDAY REECE

I'm finally getting a chance to post about Reece's 2nd birthday. We celebrated here at home with Raine, Mommy, Daddy, Grammy and Pops. Reece loved licking the frosting off the candle, but more importantly he loved when we sang to him. He kept asking for us to sing again, "more, more"! We must have sung "Happy Birthday To You" a dozen times. He would smile, clap and cheer every time we sang. It was the cutest thing ever. Reece opened all of his presents and wanted to play with each one right then and there. He would also shout out "Oh My Goodness!" when he opened something really neat like his Craftsman tools or the Veggie Tales music CD. He thought the music CD was a DVD movie. He kept asking for someone to play the movie. We distracted him with some of the yummy chocolate cake I made. It had to have lots of sprinkles because as of lately Reece wants "spinkles" (remember my son cannot pronounce his R sound yet) on everything, especially waffles. He dove right into his cake; eating every single bite! It was such a wonderful evening. I can't believe my baby is 2. I think every birthday from here on will get better and better. Reece's excitement was so enjoyable that I can't wait to see him on Christmas morning!

Life with two kiddos

Wow, it has been quite sometime since I posted. Life around the Hauguel household has been a little bit hectic. We celebrated Reece's second birthday, spent some final quality days with my parents before they flew back to New York and now are trying to adjust to the fact that we are a family of four. It is taking some time to figure out how to handle both kids so each one is happy and cheerful. People ask a boy and a girl, are you guys done having kids?
HELL YEAH, I say! This is not a good time to be asking. My sweet little angel who never really cried has shown us that she has a very loud and strong set of pipes. She is so very gaseous that it makes her very uncomfortable a lot of the time. I am nursing but swear to you I don't eat anything that obnoxious. I have three more weeks at home with my two beautiful but very needy children and then it is back to work. In the middle of that my in laws come in from Philadelphia for a visit. I look forward to that, it will break up the hum drum of watching Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I really want to stay home with my two kids for ever and never return to the classroom but being sleep deprived and patient is very hard to do. The moments I do get to myself are from 8 pm on and I'm ready for bed. What a whiner huh?

Raine is 2 weeks old

Happy 2 week birthday to Raine. Have I mentioned what a great little baby she is? Mo wanted a little girl so bad, in hopes that she would be more mellow and cuddly than Reece. Reece is nonstop, like the energizer bunny, always on the go! Raine is the complete opposite, so far. She is perfectly content to hang out and stare at things around her crib, while in her bouncy seat or in the swing. She loves to be held but by no means cries forever until you pick her up. So far I can distinguish one cry and that is when she has pooped or her belly hurts so bad and she needs to poop. She grunts for her meals, again no blood curdling screams insisting to be fed. She is an Angel sent from heaven. We are all in awe of her.

Family outing to the playground

The other day it was such a nice night here in Vegas that we decided to take a walk to the playground. Reece loves to play on the slides and climb on anything and everything he can. He has played on this certain playground once before with Daddy and another time with Mommy. We have never all gone together. It's amazing to see what Daddy lets Reece do compared to what cautious Mommy lets him play on. Raine joined us on our walk but look at where she had to ride in the stroller. Our dear friend Wendie and her wonderful mother bought us a double stroller, but it wasn't put together yet. The single kid stroller worked out just fine since Raine only weighs 7 lbs. She slept in there the whole time we were playing. Check out the beautiful sunset that followed us home. It was such a relaxing evening for our family of four.

Raine's First Bath

As a family of four we gave Raine her first bath at home. It was quite a production. Reece loved pouring the water on his sister's head. Mo was the photographer and snapped all of these great shots. Raine was not impressed and didn't really enjoy the second bath of her life. She sure did smell better though. A freshly bathed baby is one of my favorite smells. I loved putting Reece to bed after his baths because he smells so yummy. I sure love staying home with my two little ones.

My Beautiful Daughter

Yes, I had a baby girl! A girl? Holy cow, a girl. Those were my thoughts when my husband tried to get the words out before the doctor butted in. That husband of mine was speechless once again and could barely announce the gender of my baby. All in all the c-section experience was pretty amazing. I was laid out on the table like Jesus on the cross, that was a bit uncomfortable. The spinal anesthesia hurt and the fact that I couldn't feel my body from the chest down sucked. There was this light right above my head and if I wanted to watch the surgery I would just look up. At one point I did and it was pretty gruesome. When the doctor told Mo to get ready cuz the baby is coming I looked up at that light and watched them pull out my slimy baby girl. Check out some of Mo's lovely photos of Ireland Raine Hauguel born August 25, 2006 at 7:51 am. She weighted an even 7 pounds and was 20 inches long. Mo and I are so happy. Our family feels so complete with a little boy and baby girl. We are so blessed.

Baby to arrive by C-section tomorrow 8/25/06

Tonight is the last night of our family of three to be just that, THREE. Baby H will arrive tomorrow morning between 7:30-8:00 in the morning! I can't wait! It's my Christmas present 4 months early! We are so excited we waited to find out the gender and can't wait to meet this baby boy or girl. I have no idea what I'm having. With Reece I felt like I was going to have a boy. Or maybe I just convinced myself I was having a boy because I really wanted a boy to be my first born. I have no clue with this one. My pregnancy has been totally different but that doesn't mean a thing! So I am off to finish a few more things around my house, check my bag one last time and have some yummy dessert from my neighbor friend Jessica. Then it's off to bed to try and get some sleep. I don't for see that happening tonight, but I'll try! If you believe in the power of prayer like I do, please PRAY for my family and our adventure!

Swimming with the girls

On Sunday we went to our friends house for a end of the summer BBQ. Wow can you believe it's the end of the summer already? After we feasted on the most delicious mexican meal we all went to the pool. The kids couldn't wait for all of the adults to get ready. My little man had to try on someone's googles and just look at him...

Is he not the cutest little swimmer you've ever seen?

Evelyn was such a brave girl in the pool. She loved swimming and jumping off the steps.

Rebekah poses for a picture for the crazy lady with the camera. Thanks girlie!

Here are those three little ducklings ready and waiting for everyone else to get ready.

Ashlyn also loved jumping off the steps into the water and couldn't wait for her daddy to swim with her.

It was so much fun swimming. After the pool festivities we went back to the house to eat cake and make our own ice cream sundaes. So so yummy! It didn't take Reece but 5 minutes of pulling out of the Russo's neighborhood and he was fast asleep. Mo and I were ready for a good nights sleep also. Thanks you so very much Russo friends, we love you guys!

FINALLY, some pics from our Mesquite Getaway

I hate that blogger uploaded these in the reverse order, but what can you do. I'm just glad you all can see them. Here is how hard Reece crashed after spending 3 hours in the pool. We were trying to find some cartoons on the TV to turn around and see it took him a total of 3 minutes to fall asleep. He didn't move from that spot!


My son is a fish! He tried out some arm floaties at my girlfriends pool and did really well with them so I bough him a cheap $2.00 pair at the hotel. He jumps right in the water and has no fear of going under either! He even went down the water slide all by himself.

Daddy and Reece loved this waterfall!

Mommy and Reece rest after hours of swimming! Check out that tongue!

Big Boy Bed

He sleeps so soundly for his afternoon nap in his reformed crib. It switches into a toddler bed then into a full bed. Yes, it is a gem. Reece has been asking his daddy to make his crib into a big boy bed for days and we finally got around to ut yesterday. My little baby boy has been escaping his crib since the first night we returned from our travels. It was due time for the big boy bed. How he sleeps with all of that stuff around his head I don't know but he has slept like that since he was a baby. I can't believe my baby boy is about to be 2 years old and is sleeping in a big boy bed. Good thing I have another baby on the way. Three more weeks to go until we meet baby H.

Junk Food Junkie

Only when you’re pregnant can you eat like I did today. Woke up to walk downstairs and get a grande white chocolate mocha coffee and a chocolate scone from Starbucks. Later in the day I bought Reece and Mo hotdogs, baked Lays potato chips and a raspberry ice tea. They ate the hotdogs and I ate the chips and drank most of the tea. While watching Dr. Phil I enjoyed a chocolate peppermint Luna bar and glass of water. For dinner we ordered pizza from Domino’s and I grabbed a coke from the soda machine. To finish off a day of horrible eating I get a double scoop of Starbucks Java Chip and DeLuche ice cream in a waffle cone. Three doses of caffeine for this little baby of mine, I should sleep real well tonight.

Mini-Vaca for mommy

My dear girlfriend Julie reserved 8 or so rooms at the CasaBlanca hotel in Mesquite, NV. Teachers get to stay free for two nights during the summer so she and her 11 bunco playing friends took advantage of it. I was just a tag a long, who wanted to get away from the boys in my life.

The fist night here I had dinner with all 12 of the ladies and then retired to my room for the night. I was able to create 12 cards and watch TV while doing so. I feel asleep at 10:00 and had two beds all to myself. I was up a lot going to the bathroom. No heartburn though since I was smart and stopping eating and drinking at 6:00pm. I was still up at 6:30 am my brain racing. I vowed not to get up to sleep until 9 am.

Finally pulled myself out of bed at 9:42 am and slowly made my way down to the Starbucks for breakfast. What a sweet treat. After enjoying my tasty breakfast while watching The View, I paint a few crafts that have been needing completion since June.

I patiently await the arrival of my boys who I invited up to enjoy this gorgeous pool I was admiring out of my hotel room window. Why did you go away with out your husband and son and then call them and tell them to come up here and go swimming you ask? Well, because I’m a sucker. I felt so guilty. I knew that Reece and Mo would love hanging out in this pool. And they did.

Too bad Mo had such a horrible morning before making his way an hour north of Las Vegas; so much for trying to plan a nice family day. Once the two of them hit the water all the badness of the morning seemed to melt away in the sunshine. Around 3pm we brought Reece upstairs for a nap. He was asleep within the first 5 minutes of us finding some cartoons on the TV and getting him some milk to drink. He woke up and hour and half later and we ordered pizza for dinner. Mo & Reece headed back home around 7pm and I was back to relaxing all by myself for the night.

Pictures of our family day by the CasaBlanca pool will have to come later, blogger isn't cooperating, surprise :(

Baby H update

Boy oh boy, can back to back doctors visits really exhaust you. I came home from my summer vacation on the East coast to visit my normal OBGYN and then a specialist.
Doc Martin thought all looked good in the 8 month ultrasound except for this tiny little glitch. The urtera, a tube from the kidney to the bladder was a tad bit wider than normal. Doc wanted me to go see a specialist ASAP, just to be safe. I went the very next day and she said all looked good with the kidneys, urtera and the bladder. The placenta however has not moved like Doc Martin had said. GREAT, now what I ask? A C-section is in the near future. No bed rest, just take it easy, no strenuous activity. WONDERFUL, I have to get a classroom ready for second graders. I have two more appointments Aug 10th with Doc Martin and Aug 17th with Doc Price. It will be then that we schedule the C-Section. I probably won’t start the school year since Doc Martin does his surgeries on Wednesday and Fridays. Maybe I can get him to do mine on Friday, Aug 25th so I can sit through a few meetings and have a few days of work before taking my 8 week maternity leave. We’ll see.

Please pray that I can accomplish all of the things on my To Do List before this beautiful baby arrives. Also pray that this baby doesn’t get too anxious to meet his or her big brother and stays put until the end of August. Lastly, pray for my husband that he will have patience with me and my need 22 month old son. Mo has to step up and take care of a lot of things at home since I have to relax and put my feet up. I will keep you all updated with the prognosis of Baby H and his or her arrival.