Studerbaby 2.0

So, if you haven't surmised from our title picture, we're baking another Studer seed over here in the uterus de Tabitha.  Which is very exciting and exhausting all together.  We discovered our status of baby-brewing the week before Father's day and if I had any kind of patience, I would have waited to tell my husband his new daddy status on his special day.  But alas, I am no kind of girl that can wait for any surprises and like the time before, I woke my husband up with a p-test in his face saying, "honey, look."  I'm really awesome, clearly.

He was first nervous (as an only child not having any idea how to instruct his son to be a 'good' big brother) and then super excited imagining wild tackling parties with two kids and a dog.  I started out super excited while slowly slipping into disbelief as I started to remember pregnancy...or at least how I do pregnancy.  So far, my body translates pregnancy into:
heartburn
extreme fatigue
waves of nauseousness at strange times (like walking down the stairs)
and psychotic cravings for salt and sweets

I can't complain too much though because outside of my doctor telling me that my "uterus seems too big" and sending anyone who knew I was preg into a twin prediction frenzy (there is only ONE.  i just have a big uterus, people!) , I haven't had too many complaints.  By far, the exhaustion has outweighed any other symptom and I'll take laying down to sleep at 7:30p over running to the bathroom fourteen times a day (ahem, Greyson-fetus).

So hooray for more breeding from our big personality, curly headed, wild animal child genes.

FAQ
When are you due?  Feb. 15 Valentines baby? Which puts our baby into Pisces territory for a zodiac sign - which is totally cool by me:)

Does Greyson know he's going to be a big brother?  no.  we try to get him to understand by pointing to my enlarged uterus belly and say "there's a baby in there" and he points to it and says "be-wee" (belly).  yea, doesnt' get it.

How did you tell the grandparents?  We stopped by to visit them while Grey wore a homemade (iron-on letters) onesie that said "Big Bro."  Both grandmas had a cow and screamed happily.  Both grandpaps made a face at Brandon like, "really?  so soon?  more?" and then played with Greyson.  Grandpap's don't get it till the baby is here.

Holy cow, two babies under two...are you insane or was that an accident?  We were thinking of having another baby relatively soon, but our little bean decided to start growing a little earlier than we planned.  Was that an answer - not quite, but that's what you're getting.

What do you want, a girl or a boy?  I can see the benefits to either gender.  Another boy would be super convenient and fun for Grey.  Sharing clothes, friends, toys...playing on the same sports teams.  But a girl means accessories and someone to spend girl-time with Mom and that sounds awesome..especially when Greyson is throwing dirt in my hair or throwing bath toys into the toilet.

haha - do you know there is saying 'New House; New Baby'?  yes.  we apparently like being a cliche.

happy birthday, America

ALERT:  Posts are going to be insanely out of chronological order depending on which camera (Nikon, Back-up,Kayla's, or Tasha's) my pictures are currently hiding on.  Read on for more information on this debacle.
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For those of you dying to know, my favorite holiday is the fourth of July!  First, its in the middle of summer.  Second, there is ALWAYS watermelon available.  Third, I love fireworks like a 15 month old boy loves running around buck naked and driving his mother crazy.  So I was determined in all our crazy shaninigans this summer to have an a$$-kicking fourth this year.  And it was, somewhat not quite the a$$ I had in mind to kick (mainly mine), but alas, this is why they say be careful what you wish for, I suppose.

After begging and pleading with Brandon and my in-laws, I somehow coerced them into taking a trip out to Ohiopyle to ride bikes on their trail on the Sunday before the holiday.  We went a few years ago (just us and his parents) and had such a good time riding the 11 miles to the sweetest little restaurant and then biking back the 11 miles.  So I was so excited to get out of the house and take booboo on his first ever bike ride!

The trip out was uneventful (in parent talk that means GOOD) and we rented our bikes and booboo's bike trailer and hit the trail.  It was a super busy weekend and there were tons of people.  Grey felt unsure about his trailer, but soon took a snooze and all was peaceful and enjoyable.  At about the 6 mile mark, we pulled over and took a little walk down to the river to get some snacks and rest.

After a few minutes, it seemed like suddenly out of the bluest, clearest sky, it was trying to rain.  So quickly, hurried back up to the trail, strapped a screaming Grey into the trailer and started biking underneath the canopy of trees on the trail.  Then the heavens opened up and it was a monsoon...and the tree canopy could do nothing to shield us lowly bikers from the water.  So Brandon's bike kicked up mud into Grey's open trailer, so that he looked like this:

And then we couldn't put Grey back into the trailer because a)that is cruel b) he was screaming bloody murder (honestly, bloody freaking murder) so Brandon got his first taste of true "daddy strength*" and CARRIED Grey in one arm and peddled his bike and steered with the other free arm.  FOR 6 MILES BACK.  IN THE MONSOONING RAIN.  Even though he was seriously hurting and having possible shoulder dislocation, he was so proud to finally get his dad muscles.

By the time we all got back to the rental place (6 miles later), we were soaked to the core and emotionally drained.  Maybe you're familiar with the emotional rollercoaster that goes with bad weather on a day you've anticipated to be full of fun.  First there's the annoyance, then confusion, then the hilarity, then desperation.  Plus, my depression hit new lows when I got into the truck and realized the bag that was containing my Nikon camera was s.o.a.k.e.d. and my camera dead.dead.dead.  (yes, i tried to put it in rice and took it all apart and let it dry separately.  still dead.)

*daddy strength is a superhuman strength men get when they become dads.  its what allows dads the strength to always beat their kids in sports no matter how old they get, it allows dads to carry a baby on his shoulders, one on their hip, while dragging another behind him, and allows them to carry a 24lb toddler in one arm and ride a bike with the other for 6 miles.

Luckily, that wasn't our on fourth of July event planned, so we still had time to make up for the bike trip from the land on soggy bottoms.  On holiday night, we headed to the Point Stadium to enjoy the Johnstown Orchestra (which was awesome) followed by fireworks.  Since we had practiced the night before with Booboo and fireworks - he loved the Point fireworks which were gorgeous and well worth the wait.

happy birthday America.  I love you even if you decide to rain down on me for a whole 6 miles of bike trail.

oh, and the reason I could never sing the National Anthem in front of anyone (besides Grey in the backseat) is NOT because I don't know the words (which I do, ahem Christina A.), and is NOT because I am not a professional singer (even though Grey definitely thinks I am).  It's because I cannot get through the following lyrics without bursting into tears:

And the rockets red glare

and the bombs bursting in air

gave proof through night

that our flag was still there

because all i can imagine is Francis Scott Key peering out his window so thankful that he could still see his flag and knowing that as long as she stood, there was still hope.

hello world, i'm back

hi readers,

i'm back.  we have the internet again and a new house, and a new laptop(!!), and some semblance of normalcy and now i'm back.  i hope you're still here.  cause i kind of need ya.  i kind of need to get all of this pent up annoyance out of my heart and my head and out into cyber space so it will leave me alone.  something about writing just makes me feel like i've unpacked and that feels refreshing.

the thing is that our life is so beautiful and lucky and fortunate and yet i can't shake this feeling of being totally freaking annoyed and tired.  it could be because we just bought a new house (three weeks ago) and still have three-quarters of our stuff in the old house in erie (and another eighth of stuff in the chalet at blue knob).  it could be that my toddler, walking, loud, needy, whiny son is so insanely in the behavior of conquer and destroy that i literally googled today, "why are boys so destructive?" just to make sure i wasn't the only one trying to raise the next conan the barbarian (update:  i'm not the only one apparently).  it could be because i'm harvesting and growing another little seedling inside my ever expanding uterus.  it could be because bullet chases our cats around the house until they literally crap on the floor (don't get me started).  it could be because it has rained everyday for the last four days...I'm actually sitting on a covered stoop outside typing this and just letting grey and bullet get wet because i'm tired of cleaning up ripped up pieces of cardboard in the house.  (go ahead and guess who is ripping it up...you'll be wrong). It could be because we don't have one single room finished in the house but about 15 projects all going on at once and its driving this very organized, very project-goal type lady over here totally bonkers.  

but being a crabby, grouchy downer is not my style.  seriously, how much of a crybaby do i sound like right now?  so, instead of writing in my gratitude journal tonight (yea, i'm a nerd and i do that), here would be my entry.

today i'm thankful for

1. hot tea

2. our big yard that doesn't need a fence for bullet

3. wireless internet

4. talking to my mum and uch on the phone

5. fact or faked paranormal files marathon on syfy (not kidding)

6. getting access to my new work laptop and email (fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnally)

7. super productive work day

8. b said he'd bring home dinner

9. greyson laughing at "stinky feet"

10. clean floors

i like to be very specific.  heh.

thanks for listening.  i'll be back to post new stuff, old stuff, pictures (!!), and updates.  unfortunately due to camera/computer/any technological problem possible, i will probably not be posting in chronological order.  please bear with.

anyway, i've missed you,

tab