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.

Back on the West Coast

I guess it's about time to post again. Life was very relaxing while visiting family and friends on the East Coast. Internet connections were not the best hence the lack of blogg entries for you all to read. I will however catch up slowly with stories and pictures. SLOWLY is the word I must stress as I will be preparing my second grade classroom for another funfilled school year and of course my home for another child. What such I talk about first? How about the awful experience flying home to Las Vegas. Sure why not vent a little ...

Mom rushes me & Reece to the Buffalo airport, while driving I decide maybe I should call and see if my flight is even on time; low and behold it is not! Great extra hours spent in an airport with a 22 month old is not my idea of a groovy time. Luckily the Buffalo airport has a fantastic Fisher Price play area that is better than any playground I have been to. Reece was so excited when he saw it. Before even getting to the play area I wasn't sure I was going to be able to fly with my 22 month, since absentminded pregnant lady forgot to bring her sons birth certificate. (Which made going over to Canada a little hairy as well; that story to come later...)
Curb side check in was swamped, so I decide inside looks shorter and faster. I go up to the E-Ticket lady and mention I am flying with an infant.

"Great can I see him and have his birth certificate?" she kindly asks.
Uh, no my mother just took him for a ride around the airport while I check the bags and did I mention I don't have his birth certificate? It's in Las Vegas.
Well, we need it and you can't fly with out proof of his age.
What I have flown with you guys (Southwest) nearly 10 times with my son and you have never, ever asked for his birth certificate before. (That's because I have always used curbside check in where the Joe Shomos out there don't care!)
"What can I do?" I asked the voice cracking starting to panic.
Well, you'll have to fax us a copy in the next 10 minutes your plane is leaving in 45 minutes.
That's impossible! There isn't anyone I can call in Vegas to go to my house and get it and then find a fax machine to use. What else?
Well, we can call a pharmacist and ask them to verify the child's age.
Great I say while digging through my luggage for my allergy medicine so I can get the number for the Target pharmacy in Vegas. THANK YOU TARGET!!

Nasty rule abiding lady called Target and verifies that Reece is 22 months and then asks to see him. Luckily mom just pulled up to the curb and was getting him ready to come in the airport. I go out and explain the whole dilemma to her and she just laughs at me and tells me to relax. Words I have heard countless times from my mother. I go back to nasty lady, show her my beautiful tan almost 2 year old and get my boarding passes. Somewhat relieved I start heading to our gate. Reece was such a big boy for me. He walked right beside me while I carried his car seat. We are still praying he gets his own seat and doesn't have to sit on mine. Member I have an 8 month old baby growing inside mine which leaves little room on my lap for a wiggly 22 month old. Maybe I just should have bough Reece a seat... NOPE God is great and gave me a seat on both flights to Vegas!
As we are walking by the FP play area I only let Reece hang out for a few minutes because I was too nervous we were now late for our flight since nasty lady held us up for so long. He was not happy to be leaving all those great toys, but he complied when I told him we were getting to go on the big blue plane. Low and behold, we were not late at all, everyone was still waiting. UHHHHHHHHH I sigh and take Reece to the window so he can look at the airplanes. Finally the plane arrived and we were able to fly. Did I mention I had a connection in Chicago too? Smart planning mama said the flights home to Vegas are always so long for Reece, lets try breaking it up this time by having a lay over so he can get off the plane and stretch his legs. HA HA, never again will I do that on purpose. He stretched his legs alright just for as it took him to race mommy to the other big blue plane. So we ran from C-18 to C-1 and boarded our second flight home.
We stepped on the plane and I asked the flight attendant if there were two seats by a window for my son and I. Now this plane was hardly full, but she did have to get on the loud speaker thingy and ask if anyone would mind moving seats. Thankfully someone in the 17 row moved and Reece and I were able to park ourselves right over the wing. A very noisy area for a babe to sleep near. No, I mean that good kind of white noise. I was ready to sleep as well. It was now 8 pm EST and I was pooped! Traveling while 8 months pregnant with a 22 month old is not my idea of fun. I will not be doing it ever again; nor will I fly with 2 children and without my husband to assist. So I guess our futures summer vacations back east will always include a road trip across the US. Oh, that sounds like fun; maybe we should just move back huh?

Oh my journey across the US is not over yet. My dear friend Mel, (yes girlie your getting your 2 minutes of fame on my blogg) called me just after my fiasco in Buffalo to tell me she couldn't pick me up, but that she would leave a car for me at the airport. JOY, 8 months prego, 2 suitcase, a backpack, a carseat and a sleeping toddler to deal with after 6 hours of hell! Not to mention finding the car loading it and driving it home when all I want to do is sleep. THANKS MEL!
Good thing God is great cuz once again my son was a champ and did wonderfully on the plane ride. He ate snacks, watched his new Finding Nemo movie and then finally fell asleep with 40 minutes left in the flight. Since I was in the middle of the and my child was sleeping peacefully I was the last one to leave. A very kind flight attendant carried my backpack and car seat off while I carried my sleeping angel. God had a wheelchair with my name on it and the flight attendant said here use this. She plopped his car seat in it and strapped my backpack on it as well. I placed Reece back in his seat and we went for a ride. How funny must I have looked. Prego mama pushing sleeping toddler in a wheelchair.
We headed for baggage claim with a quick stop in the restroom where the flushing toilets woke Reece. He was a bit startled and started to cry. I think I would be too if I woke up in a restroom. We continued on our quest for the luggage with a stop at Starbucks so I could get change for the smart cart I had to rent. Reece was not pleased again. Why are we stopping, more ride, more ride mommy. He would ask. After waiting for what seemed like forever for my Vanilla drink we head to the smart carts.
I notice all the luggage from our flight is gone, Great. I head over to the Southwest area and tell the lady that those two bags are mine. She says fine and I leave Reece there for a second while I go get a smart cart. Reece sees me bring it back and immediately says no mama, no cart, chair, more chair. He knows that when we use these carts he has to sit on the metal basket area that must just dig right into his little bum and legs. He wasn't havin it this evening. So I struggled to load the cart as two strapping men watched and snickered the whole time. Then got Reece down and ready to go. He wanted to walk, why not let him stretch his legs but boy was I nervous. I wasn't up for racing and walked rather slow. Once crossing traffic and making it to the parking garage, we started to board the elevator. Reece was alost closed in the doors because ignorant man inside was pushing the wrong button to hold the door open for us.
Lord, just let me make it home. We found the car, took a while loading it and finally left that God forsaken McCarren airport. Called my dad to tell him we had arrived and I was heading to my house. Stopped for a gallon of milk, got home, got Reece ready for bed and then we both drifted off to sleep.

NEVER WILL I FLY ALONE WITH CHILDREN AGAIN!!!

My Sister's Wedding

Life is grand here on the East Coast. The wedding was a big success. My sister was absolutely beautiful! It was the perfect princess affair. Here are a few of the pics I was able to take. Being the maid of honor I had more important duties, like making the worst speech ever.

Here are the proud parent's of the bride getting ready in the hotel.

Sisters who spend all morning at the hairdresser. Hey you can't even tell I'm 7 months pregnant!

Jaime, Jim & their son Casey having their first dance as a family! My sister's 4 yr old son was their ring barer. It was so sweet!

Beauty Queens taking a ride in the limo on the way to say the "I Do's".

Jaime & my dad having their moment on the dance floor with Reece peeking his head in on them. He wouldn't leave the dance floor for anything. He danced the whole night long.