Fire Station Trip!

The local mom's group I'm a member of organized a tour of the local fire department today and I'm so glad it was at a time when we could go. Gage has been utterly obsessed with fire trucks lately and he loved the tour. We got to go all around the firehouse and see the big engines that were in it. My favorite part was when one of the firemen dressed in the rescue gear to show the kids what they would look like if he ever had to come in the house for a fire. The whole get up did look pretty scary and apparently they have a problem with kids hiding from firemen when a fire is going on. So I got Gage to give him a hi five and tried to communicate to him that these guys were our friends and that we shouldn't be scared of them. All in all it was a really touching field trip because I was able to meet the wonderful people that would be saving my family if the need ever arose. Like they said, when there is a lot to lose they'll risk their lives and I know they all considered our children to be the most important things they could save. I'm glad I held it together while I was there cause I was pretty near tears just thinking about it. So nice to know such wonderful and willing helpers are so near! And really near because they are just a 60 second drive from my house. 

My favorite picture of the day. Gage loved getting to wear his fireman's hat.

I tried a bunch of times but dumb blog wouldn't upload this correctly. Still a really cute picture! 

Check'n out all the gear on his jacket. 

Hi five to the scary guy in the mask. Gage is so brave! Kids twice his age wouldn't go near the guy! 

The whole group together for a picture

Patio perfect!

Lately it seems like every time I express a desire to have something that should be way out of the family budget, it magically falls into my lap somehow. Patio furniture has been one of those things and despite a solid month of craigslist hounding I wasn't having any luck. And then Cody was helping to get a ward members fencing to the dump and they mentioned that they were wanting to get rid of their patio furniture. For free! Sweet, I know. So I spent most of yesterday sanding the thing down and gave it a new rust proof/ water proof coating. I forgot to do before and after pictures but trust me- it looks way better! I bought some cushions with my in laws birthday money they sent but I decided to spend the gift card on lumber for a new bunny hutch. Sad news about the bunny. Tipsy killed him. I know it was simple natural instincts but I'm thoroughly disappointed in her. Somehow she got into the enclosure we were keeping the bunny in and mom and I came home to a very unrepentant dog gloating over her kill. It was like in the moment she saw me she suddenly realized she wasn't suppose to kill the bunny because the remorse hit her full on. And my foot helped drive the point home. Poor little bunny! The neighbor I got him from was really understanding and is even going to give us another. I promised I wouldn't let the dog kill this one. Hence the reason for a new and improved bunny hutch. Anyway, I'm really pleased with the furniture and could have been happier for how it turned out!

Having my mom visit was just the best thing in the world. I'm so glad she is someone I can totally hang out with and feel like I'm with an old friend (don't worry mom, as in a long time friend, not elderly)! The baby shower was wonderful and of course I didn't take any pictures. So lame of me! But the week went great and even though it was one of the busiest weeks in a while my mom was a trouper and got her grandma time in with Gage. She sure loves her grandson! Even though he would kick her out of the bathroom when she was praising him for a potty well done. I sure hope his attachment to me lessens before this new baby comes. Otherwise he's in for a big change. I've been having so many contractions lately which is new for me because they didn't happen that I remember when I was pregnant with Gage. They are so uncomfortable and already I'm counting the days till he's out! Especially because it's in the high 80's today and I'm roasting! 

Bunny time

Man that's a face I love so much! He is literally obsessed with the Baxter.

This one shows how the bunny has a skull pattern on his face. Much more fierce looking than he actually is.

This is a pretty obvious post of just the rabbit but he's been a part of everyday since we got him and my blog should show what I've been up to. So it's been a lot of bunny. He got out in the backyard yesterday and I found out that rabbits really do scream. Luckily he wasn't a very fast moving so I had to sneak up on him and lash out just to grab him before he ran away. And he let out the shrillest cry that sent my dog into a fit. She would have been willing to help I'm sure :) But I wanted the rabbit back alive. To her credit the bunny was loose for a few minutes till I noticed and she didn't go after it. And she stayed back while I caught it. However, that does not mean I trust her to be within an inch of him. This rabbit has a problem scratching when you pick him up so I'm hoping I can work him out of it. Gage of course doesn't even care. The thing could scratch off half his skin and he'd still hold on to it. It will be weird if this next kid comes out cautious and a crier. I've always taken in for granted what a life enthusiast Gage is and it makes me love and admire him so much. Nothin' like having a kid who can rough it out when the need arises. Although he continues to go through an anti-babysitting phase. He used to not care about me leaving and now it's like you're asking him to die when I leave the house. Gone are the days of just walking out the door. Now I just walk out the door but I feel sad for Gage and the babysitter. Poor little tyke. Fingers crossed that it's just a phase. And luckily he calms right down when I'm gone but it has made things hard on Cody cause I take off quite a bit for Relief Society stuff and I wish Gage could just be as happy to have his dad. Cody deserves the complete adoration of this next kid so he can find out it's not all that cool. Mostly it involves a lot of clinging and minute spaced demands. Anyway, the video's pretty cute and of course Gage doesn't have pants on. Since the video he's been doing a lot better wearing undies around the house but it means that I'm reminding him to go potty a lot. So it feels like a step back from his independent pottying ability but I just can't have him naked all his life.

Bunnies, Birthday and a Bed

Cody had them make the cake out to mom so it was only fitting that Gage help me blow out the candles. Chocolate icecream cake from Dairy Queen...to die for!!! There were a lot of left overs and I might gain my remaining 10 pregnancy pounds from the cake alone!

Here's the bunny from the neighbors. We've tossed around the name Baxtor, Darth, Skelotor and Sauron. His face looks like a skull when you see him straight on so we thought a fearsome name would be appropriate.

And for the coolest sidewalk pick up... Gage has a toddler bed to transition into! I wasn't going to spend the money on a toddler bed and planned to just move him to a twin right away instead but on our walk this morning one of the neighbors had this out for trash pick up. When I knocked on the door to ask for it he said I was welcome to the mattress and buss lightyear sheets that go with it. The sheets are in the wash so they're not in the picture but this toddler bed is strangely the exact one I would have picked out for Gage if I had spent money on it. His whole room has dark wood for the cowboy theme and I love the sleigh build of it. It's super stable and I just threw a little wood glue in one section where the wood was splitting. I love Denver for this. It is so easy to find free/ cheap things around here. Anyway, I love a good deal and I love being able to fill my house with the things I want even though we're living as students. I'm gonna maybe see if Gage will start by doing his naps in there since I'm not sure I want to give him the freedom to call on me at anytime in the night.

As for the new bunny we found a bunny about a week ago and kept him while trying to find the owners. He was just hanging out in front of our house all day and I convinced Cody to help me catch it. We have foxes and coyotes around here that would have eaten him up in a second. The neighbor a few houses down  was the owner and when we gave the bunny back I said how sad I was to give him back cause he was so sweet. I was so glad to help out because she had just explained to her 4 year old the night before that Sammy the bunny was probably in heaven and they would have to get a new one. I was happy to be a part of a kid getting a happy reunion. She said he uncle might have another one that we could have and she would check for us. The bunnies were hand raised since the mom had died or something so that explained why it was so gentle. A couple of days later she came back with a bunny for us and I'm excited for the hutch that Cody and I are building for him. There's still some debate about what to name him so we're open to suggestions. He's a more wild than his brother we were taking care of so I'm hoping with some work and time we'll be able to get him to the point the other bunny was at. Tipsy, our dog, is so "devoted" to that rabbit that she won't let it out of her sight. She sleeps outside all night to be with it and I know she's just waiting for me to slip up and let it lose so she can tear it to bits. We let her chase wild rabbits and I think she is really convinced I'll let her have this one soon. Never trust a dog!

Potty training is still working out. He's now had pants on for a couple of days with only two wetting incidents and he's been doing really well on our excursions out of the house. I need to get some pull ups cause we head out with a diaper on and it is really hard to get it back on every time he uses the bathroom. We have also figured out some pretty clever ways to use the public bathrooms since Gage will pee standing up. Usually he has to stand on my knees but the occasional trash can comes in handy too. There are about 5 false poop alarms a day and I'm not sure he knows the signs of his body very well but at least he's calling out an alarm which is more than he used to do. I've been having a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions lately which is weird cause I don't remember any with Gage but I most likely couldn't recognize them for what they were back then. The belly is getting bigger and the energy and patience are starting to nose dive. I just hope Gage forgives me for the occasional outbursts. Cody is working hard at finals so I don't get to see as much of him as I'd like and I'm hoping his summer internship will at least be more low key than his legal clinic has been this semester. He's such a hard worker and I know all his hard work will pay off. Hopefully with a job offer out of school but we'll just have to cross that road when we get there.

Week 30 pics of belly and family!

I got a great deal off a groupon to take a photo shoot with my sweet little family before it grows to accommodate the new arrival. I thought these could be some great shots of the belly and the whole family together. And they turned out wonderfully!  

 

This is the one I got a bunch of prints of so expect them in the mail family members and if any friends want one just send me your address!

This is my second favorite after the one just above it. Gage looks like he's having a way better time than he actually was.

Also a fun one that totally reminds me of my college days. Heads in a circle :)

This one's the best preggie shot of my belly I think. I was going to have it be an all out pregnancy photo shoot but I decided family pictures are way more fun. I'll just have to get a friend to indulge all my pregnancy picture wants and needs.

I barely had time to pucker for this one. He sure lands a heavy kiss!

The darling men in my life soon to be joined by one!

This is probably going to be the only time this baby in me sits in just the right place for a picture. He, at least, was always ready for the shot!

Gage however was not. No amount of candy promises got him to hold still. These were the best we got!