Good morning!

Little Audrey in her Christmas outfit from uncle Marty and auntie Ann




She must have inherited some of the kawaguchi genes because she looks a lot like her auntie DJ!

Bring home a baby, collect a present

The timing of Audrey and Nolan's arrival may be confusing Lucy. Taking the babies home two days before Christmas has been a two-for-one celebration. Many times Lucy will show off her new siblings and then open a Christmas present. It seems to make this whole big sister thing worth all of the work!!

Hopefully she doesn't expect this to continue past today!

Some quick photos!

Momma just waking up from her emergency c-section. Two perfect companions by my side!


Kyle and my first day photos circa January 1982


Kyle 2.0, AKA Nolan Stephen



My mini-me, Audrey Yoshiko

Moving day!

At the hospital. Hooked up to the machines. Waiting for Audrey and Nolan to show up!!

I took my moms advice and had Kyle snap this photo of me and my 38 week belly before we left this morning!

Fixed it! (I think)

Woohoo! Just in time for my crazy duo to arrive, I fixed my phone app so that I can blog from my phone or (Lucy's iPad) again... This means more itty bitty baby photos. And more Lucy pictures too.

Since switching phones I couldn't get my blog app to work. All of a sudden it dawned on me that when I switched phones, I also switched gmail passwords (gotta be safe). Well, I think that was my problem.

Well, here's a photo from last weekends "snow storm"...

Still pregnant....

My little overachieving duo was scheduled to arrive any day. That's ANY DAY now. So any day they could've come. I mean, any day, as in today, tomorrow, yesterday, three days before that. I think you get the point. I've realized that I'm "past due" for twins. Yes, better than not fully cooked, but I'm starting to think these two squatters might be a tad too cozy in there.

The plan is to evict them Friday (pending they don't arrive today or tomorrow). Oh well, better go enjoy my last days of being pregnant. But hopefully no one asks me when I'm due, or at least they get the hint when I reply "oh, any day".

Oh, and a picture of Audrey from our last (and final) ultrasound...

Happy First Birthday Jacob & Benjamin

Two of my favorite little boys are turning one year old today.

Jacob has become such a handsome little guy. His little tooth-filled grin usually is accompanied by a string of drool and a giggle, and it melts my heart every time.  He has become quite the adventurer. When he seems to be playing contently with the blocks, I turn around, and he’s on the other side of the room using the plant to prop himself up to standing. I’ve never seen him turn down food, and eats just about everything. And once he’s done eating, he takes his hands and wipes them in his hair. This is so cute, when it’s your nephew and not your child (sorry Kels!). Though Jacob comes off as rough and tough, he’s really a momma’s boy at heart. Me holding him won’t soothe him. When Jacob’s upset, I’ve learned it’s best to get him to his mom.

Benjamin just keeps growing. He really looks like a Ring baby. He and Lucy have built a very special bond. She tells him what to do, and he listens. It seems to be working out very well. She loves big family pictures and pointing out "Ben". I think it's another one of her favorite words. I just love holding Benjamin. He is definitely the cuddly type. Though also adventurous, he seems to get him caught in more stickier situations. The other day while at Nana and Papas, I hear a grunting noise, and look over, and Benjamin is caught underneath the stool! Poor guy, it took us 5 minutes to figure out how to get him out! Benjamin is such a little cutie pie. I love just watching him figure out a new toy… Well, that is if Lucy or Jacob don’t take it from him first!

Happy first birthday Jacob and Benjamin! We love you so much!

Looking back...

Remember the last time I was 37 weeks? It was here: http://mrandmrsring.blogspot.com/2012/04/37-weeks.html

I'm actually only 35 weeks, but wanted to reminisce of when I thought that this sweater looked huge. Now it fits Lucy perfectly. Knitted by Kevin's mom, Barbara, it is Lucy's number one choice for outdoors wear. Here are some photos of her while she and Yosh play soccer on a nice fall day!

34 weeks!!

Last week we were able to sneak a peek at Nolan and Audrey. They were both right around 4 1/2 pounds. That's nine pounds of baby (no wonder I feel so tired). They both looked great. I had a follow up appt with my OB and she told me to plan on going to 38 weeks! That means the babies will be here in a month or less!!!!

The nurse was able to snap a picture of Audrey's little face, but by the time we were moving on to Nolan I started to feel queezy laying on my back, so we were only able to check the important stuff (like heart chambers and kidneys).

Here's the picture of Audrey:

She really doesn't look like Lucy's ultrasound pictures at all. Oh well. Everything else is going fine. Still growing out and further out!

In other news, Lucy had her 18 month checkup. Still a short, fat kid with a big head :) Her stats were:

31.25" - 26%
25lbs - 77%
Head circumference: 19.25" - 97%

In other other news, Kyle and I went on a date! We went to see the new Hunger Games movie and to a nice dinner. It was nice to spend some time together having adult conversations without trying to keep a toddler occupied while we scarfed down a meal!

Dear Lucy - 18 months

Dear Lucy,

Today you are 1 ½ years old.  You are quite simply the most perfect little girl that we could have ever hoped for.  You make us smile every day.

You are a very sweet, helpful child who always wants to be where the action is.  If your Mama or I are going anywhere, like downstairs, to the laundry room, or even to the bathroom, you are always determined to tag along.  You like to help us, whether it is helping put your toys away, or giving commands to Reggie like “[s]tay” and “[s]it.”

You also love to play.  You love going outside, which we haven’t done as much lately since it is getting cold.  You are going to be in for a rough winter!  Your favorite game is playing hide and seek/chase.  Reggie likes to help play that game too, but he usually just gives away my hiding places.  Your Mama cut out a few holes in a large box that we refer to as “Lucy’s house.”  You think it is so much fun to run into your house and look out the window.  You also love to build with blocks and read books.

Your vocabulary is really growing too.  You know all the animal sounds and all the parts of a face.  You’ve even started to recognize letters, which you call “A B s” (like ABCs without the C).  You are just getting so good at being able to communicate and tell us what you want.  You are getting so smart!  (Maybe too smart… you like to throw away your finished popsicle stick in the trash can, but you make sure I’m getting you a second popsicle before you’ll throw away the first popsicle stick.)  You are very lucky that you get to spend 2 days a week with Nana and Papa and 2 days a week at a very good daycare.  You get to do so much fun stuff and learn so many new things every week.

I’ve been so lucky that I have been able to have Fridays off of work for the last several months.  We get to have a special Lucy and Daddy day every week (sometimes Mama gets the day off or leaves work early and we let her join us!)  We like to go out to breakfast, go on lots of walks in your car, go to the library, and go to the zoo.  I am so happy that I’ve been able to spend this extra time with you.  On days when I work, the highlight of my day is when I walk up the stairs at home in the evening and you are waiting for me on the other side of the gate.  You are always so excited to see me!  Thank you for making me feel very loved.

Even though I’ve tried, I really can’t put into words just how much your Mama and I love you.  Thank you for being my amazing daughter.

Love always,

Your Dad

Busy Weekend...

Kyle went to a fraternity brothers wedding in Chicago this last Friday. Then he visited his brother on Saturday. And on his way back, he stopped by his friend Bryan's house and played Frisbee golf and watched football.

Lucy and I did what any mother left with a child all by herself would do... we went to Grandmas.

Reggie had a good time hanging out with his friend Kiki. We had a lot of fun as well. Lucy is doing much better now that her rash seems to be clearing up. It was nice getting to spend so much time with her. She has started signing for "please" and is now saying "thank you". Though that "thank you" sounds more like "na-nu". Oh well, close enough :)
















Here are a few picks from the last few weeks...

Lucy playing with Daddy's lion from when he was her age

Hugs!

First time trick-or-treating (at the zoo)

Looking outside next to her best friend

 

I think daddy called this her "Rod Stewart hairstyle"

 

Update

We have the best friends and family. I never knew that saying goodbye to a pet would be so hard. I also had no idea that a card, email, or message could make you feel so much better when you're feeling down. I really appreciate all of the kind thoughts and words about Savannah.

One of those nice messages mentioned that I need to blog more frequently. So I'm going to try to update this more often.

Let's see. What have the Rings been up to?

Lucy was sticking her fingers in her ears constantly yesterday, so Kyle took her to the immediacare. Double ear infection. It's only her second one, so no major cause for concern. Unfortunately we think she's having a reaction to the medication and her diaper rash has turned into a full body rash. Poor thing. When she tries to walk she looks like a little old woman who just got done riding a horse!

I had a 29 week check up on Audrey and Nolan. They're both still looking good. Audrey is still on my right side, while Nolan hasn't grasped the concept of "personal space". He was all over the place - kicking, hitting, etc. The nurse estimated Nolan at 2 pounds 14oz and Audrey at 3 pounds 2 oz. That's 6 pounds of baby and there's still a lot of growing to be done.

I'm down to just 4 days a week working and it seems to have helped me not feel so exhausted.

My belly is growing at an outrageous pace. I'll post a photo, since I'm sure Hannah will ask for one, if I don't!

It's hard to believe that we will be a family of 5 (6 counting Reggie dog) in less than two months!!

Savannah Norris Ring

I remember the day I first met Savannah. It was the first day I met Kyle. It was five years and 363 days ago.

Kyle and I moved in together about a year later. Savannah got moved from the end of Kyle's bed to the bedroom floor. And then eventually relocated to the living room. And there's been days I've considered making her an outside dog! Either way, whenever I would come home from work, she would greet me at the door wagging her tail.

I remember when we would take her to the park. It was a wide-open area behind the Indianapolis Art Museum. We would have acres just to ourselves. We would throw a tennis ball as far as we could and she would just take off!

She loved car rides. She would stick her whole head out the window and let her big ears flop in the air. I remember it being below freezing and she would still want to stick her head out the window. Eventually it would get too cold and she would have to bring her head in. And she would have a big grin stuck to her face.

If it was raining she would stick her head out in the rain. And when she brought it in she would shake all the rain off inside my car.

I would give her a bone and she would chew it up in minutes. If I offered her a treat she would come running to me and stand on her back legs and hop up and down.

Though I never liked dogs, especially big ones. Somehow Savannah found a place in my heart.

I remember Kyle getting home from school one day, I was so excited to show him that Savannah had learned how to sit, stay and come all in one day.

I've never realized how much I've overlooked my relationship with my dog. You forget that you see your dog more than you see your friends and most of your family. I admit that I referred to her as my red headed step dog, when in actuality she's the first animal I've ever actually loved.

She has been an amazing dog. She showed guilt when she did something wrong, but those times were so few and far between. It would be hard to get mad at her, because she was such a sensitive dog.

They say the hardest day of owning a pet is the day you have to say goodbye.

Bones now make Savannah's  stomach sick. She can't see the tennis ball to run after it. Her back legs can no longer hold her weight. And I don't think she can hear many of my commands. Her tail no longer wags. And she falls over when she tries to shake off water. She doesn't even lift her head from her bed when we get home.

Last night Savannah got to sleep in our bed. Today we dropped Lucy off at day care, and left Reggie at home. We took Savannah to the park and let her sniff out the perimeter. She got to strut around Pet smart (and not have to get groomed - she hates that part). We got her her own cheeseburger and french fries from McDonald's and a side of whip cream from Starbucks. The three of us laid in bed. Savannah laid on Kyle's arm, while Kyle and I shared stories reminiscing about what a great dog she's been.

We took her to the vet and they confirmed what we already knew; dog's grow old.

Kyle and I said goodbye. Kyle and I kept petting her big floppy ears and told her how much we loved her and what a good dog she is; while the veterinarian injected the medicine to take away her pain. And Savannah went to sleep.

I will miss Savannah deeply. And I know Kyle will too. Lucy is too young to understand. And It breaks my heart to think about Reggie. Though Savannah wanted nothing to do with Reggie, she was always his best friend.

Today's a sad day in the Ring house as we lost a very special family member! We will miss you my little pup pup!

“Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.”
~Marley and Me

See next post for lots of great doggie pics

Savannah Through the Years...

Savannah and Kyle at the lake (one of her favorite places)

Savannah and her favorite toy.. before Reggie eventually tore it up :(

Head of security at our White River house!

The day my mom got her Honda Fit

 

Even Kyle looks a lot younger in this one!

Savannah and her "brother"

Savannah with her ears flopping in the wind

Chewing on a tennis ball... She used to hoard all the tennis balls from Reggie!

Just chilling on our bed

Oct 2011

 

 

Spooning with Reggie

She always had a thing for ducks!

 

Testing out the new Xterra

The day Lucy was born

Thanksgiving 2012

Taking a nap with me

 

Lucy's cuddle buddy

 

Finishing up her cheeseburger!

 

Today at the park