At least he listens

Boston's favorite snack these days is peanut butter with apple slices. The only problem is that he uses his fingers... not the apple slices... to scoop the peanut butter into his mouth making a HUGE mess of the table, chairs, himself, and pretty much everything else he touches at the table.

So, today when Rob handed Boston his plate he told him not to use his fingers to eat the peanut butter figuring that he would use the apples instead.

Nope!

He found a new way to eat it..

Hey, at least he was obedient!

His face (and eye) got pretty messy, but his hands were clean :)

After lunch he walked over to Mac and I asked him what he was doing. He replied, "I'm tickling baby Macaroni Mom... and he's gonna laugh with joy!!" Rob and I had a good laugh wondering where the "with joy" bit came from

Par-taaaaayyy!!

As of 1pm today, Daddy's gonna be home for a whole month!!!!!!

Can you tell we're a little excited? :)

He's here!

We call him Macaroni.

He's already very different from his big brother although they look almost identical.

He came so fast that Mommy's epidural didn't work.

He's absolutely perfect and we couldn't love him more!

Call me Mary..

..cuz there's no room at the Inn!

I was scheduled to be induced today. The hospital called at 5:30am {yes 5 stinkin' 30!} to tell me that they had no beds so I couldn't come in at 7. Bummer!

Well, baby boy didn't like that. He must reeeeally want to come today because I'm in labor! Take that hospital ;) My contractions are still 15 mins apart so we're just hangin' out at home having some last minute fun with Boston.

And here's the final belly shot..

Wish us luck today!

Meet Baby Rob

Ever wonder what a 12 lb 1 oz newborn looks like?

Take a look!

Yup, it's true. Rob came into this world weighing in at 12lbs 1 oz. To say I was completely terrified the entire time I was pregnant with Boston is an understatement. No way could I push out a baby that size...goodness!! But Boston surprised us at a very normal 7 lbs 6 oz. Perfect :) So this pregnancy I rested easy thinking we were going to have another regular baby.

I was wrong..

When I went in for my ultrasound at 32 weeks they told me guy #2 already weighed 5 lbs 4 oz with an estimated birth weight of over 9lbs. I kinda freaked out. Rob was ever the proud father. I guess it's a sense of pride for a Dad to have big boys. I didn't find his excitement comforting at all haha

Then last week when I was in the hospital they did another ultrasound to make sure the baby was ok. We were told that he already weighed 7lbs 12 oz...and he still had another 4 weeks of cookin' time! The ultrasound tech could tell I was nervous about that news so to reassure me told me that it's not a complete science. The baby could be plus or minus 14 oz from that weight. The minus part reassured me but the plus!?! So he could have been weighing 8 lbs 10 oz right then? Yikes1

Well, there's no turning back now. This big guy is coming no matter what so wish me luck! I just really don't want to have to have a c-section if I can avoid it and I feel like bigger babies mean a higher chance of that. The dr. thinks I'll be ok though. The ultrasounds have shown that he's very long (remember the first ultrasound the lady said he had the longest femur she had ever seen?) so I'm hoping that's where the weight is.. fingers crossed!

One more thing.. at the 32 week ultrasound the tech commented on how much hair baby #2 has. I didn't know that you could see hair in ultrasounds! I remember when I was pregnant with Boston we just knew he was going to be a mini me.. dark skin, a head full of black hair, and big brown eyes.

Well, I got the big eyes part right haha

Boy were we surprised when he came out strawberry blonde, pigment challenged (as my mom lovingly calls him haha) and bright blue eyes! Oh how I hope all of our babies get those big blue eyes!! I love them!!! And who knows.. maybe this time they'll be paired with Mama's head full of black hair :)

Where's the baby?

There he is!!!

It's rare these days to see my stomach NOT look like this. Someone has found his favorite spot :)

A Rough Week

This week was pretty eventful for us. Let's just say I'm glad it's over. Here's a little re-cap..

Sunday:

I woke up having contractions. Since I hadn't hit the 36 week mark yet (they will stop labor before 36 weeks) I decided to stay home from church and rest to see if I could get them to stop. If I had been passed the 36 week mark I would have gone to church and done jumping jacks to get things moving. I am SOO done being pregnant right now.

While Rob and B were at church the contractions got more painful and closer together. When I was 30 weeks along with Boston, Rob and I went to California for a wedding and I went into pre-term labor there. We had to go to the hospital and they were able to stop it with meds and then I had to take meds until I hit the 36 week mark. So compared to that lovely experience I wasn't too scared this time seeing as how I had 5 more weeks under my belt. The baby would be much better off coming now vs. 30 weeks.

Anyways, around 3pm I realized the contractions were probably not going to stop and so I got a blessing and they stopped. Gotta love priesthood blessings! :)

Wednesday:

Wednesday night when we went to bed my stomach killed. These were NOT contractions. I've had some pretty bad stomach pain before, but this was ten times worse than anything I had ever felt! It seriously felt like someone was gutting my insides and the pain wouldn't go away. I was tempted to call my Dr. in the middle of the night it got so painful but I felt ok about things so decided to wait.

Thursday:

When I woke up Thursday the pain had lessened but now the baby wasn't moving. At first I told myself he was sleeping and didn't freak out. I started to move around myself and push against him and do all of the things that always get a response. Nothing worked.

After 45 minutes of him not moving I called my Dr. just to make sure everything was ok. He told me to go straight to the hospital. I freaked out a little at this point. Ok, I freaked out a lot. Rob left school at met me at the hospital where we spent the next 5 hours being monitored, getting an ultrasound, etc.

Turns out the little guy is ok, he just wanted to give Mommy and Daddy a little scare. Thanks bud.

Friday:

Friday night was not so fun. The last few weeks I've thrown up a bunch. This pregnancy is throwing off my equilibrium or something. I'll be fine and then all of a sudden if I tilt my head or turn it to the side I instantly feel like I just got off the world's worst roller coaster and start vomiting. I'm talking instantly vomiting. No warning.. no feeling sick.. I tilt or turn my head and my mouth opens and stuff is coming and I better not be on the carpet!

So until it passes I have to sit completely still and hold my head perfectly straight and upright. This doesn't work so well with a certain toddler hanging around who sees Mommy sitting down as an opportunity to pounce on her like Simba or 'smash her like a pan-ca-cake'

Anyways, I was up last night until 2am throwing up. The bad thing is that I have to lean forward and tilt my head forward as I..ya know..so that I don't get it all over myself but by doing that I bring on more nausea cuz I moved my head. It's a vicious cycle.

Saturday:

I feel better today. I'm worn out from this week so since Rob is at school all day I plan on cuddling up with Boston when he wakes up from naps and watching Christmas movies and eating snacks the rest of the day :) It's gonna be fun!

And yes, my Christmas decorations are already up and we are already watching Christmas shows here. I love it!

Best Friends, Missions, and Temples

Boston loves friends. He has always been such a social bug. It doesn't matter where we go, he instantly has a group of kids following him around and wanting to play with him. I have always said that he should have been a 3rd or 4th child because he loves being in the mix of a bunch of kids. Everyone these days, including grocery store clerks, are "my friend".

He has a few best friends. He tells me on a daily basis.. "Mommy, I love you. You're my best friend." It melts my heart every time! Daddy of course makes the list too :) As cute as those are, my favorites on his list of best friends are Heavenly Father and Jesus. He asks me all the time if "Heavenly Father and Jesus can come to my house and watch a movie and eat popcorn?" He talks about them constantly and gets very sad when he realizes that he can't have them over to play.

Sometimes I hear him wake up from his nap and get very sad and say, "I miss Jesus. He went back to Heaven and now I can't see him." We've taught him that he can say prayers to Heavenly Father when he is missing them and that has seemed to help a bit. Now sometimes he'll tell me, "Mommy, I was so sad but I said prayers and talked to Heavenly Father and now I'm happy." How tender is that? What an honor it is to be a mom to such a sweet, innocent spirit.

I find myself constantly shocked at how much Boston understands of what we teach him. He's only 3 and yet I feel like he knows so much about the gospel. It makes me realize what a big job I have of making sure to take every chance I can to teach him.

We read him the scripture stories with the pictures each night and one night as I opened the scriptures he saw the picture of Joseph Smith and started telling me about how "he went into trees and the bad guy came and made him so sad but then Heavenly Father and Jesus came and sent the bad guy away. Then he went to a big mountain and found scriptures." At that point the story turned into the tree of life.. "And then he found a pole and he needed to hold it sooo tight. But it was so dark and scary. And there was a tree with white fruit that was so yummy and a biiiig building with mean people who were laughing." He finished up with Nephi and the boat.."and then his brothers tied him up and the boat went like this (he motioned big waves) and they were so scared."

That was by far the best scripture story I had ever heard! I was completely blown away that he could recall all of that. And then being me (and pregnant) I immediately got very emotional about it all.

Boston loves to sing primary songs these days. His favorites are I Love to See The Temple, Families are Forever, and I Hope They Call Me on a Mission. That last one makes me tear up every time he sings it. He's gonna be such a great missionary!! I hope that we do our job right so that he will always 'hope' to be a missionary someday. We might have to straighten out a few of his scripture stories by then though ;)

Rob and I went to the temple on Saturday night and as we wrapped up our work a member of the temple Presidency asked if we wanted to sit in the celestial room for a bit. I can honestly say that is my most favorite place in the whole world to be! I think everyone would agree :) As we walked towards the celestial room the President asked me how far along I was and I told him 8 months and he asked what I was having and I told him a boy and he said, "Well then you really need to go in there because this might be the last time he gets to go in there for 19 years."

I don't why but that really hit me and once again I got very emotional (that happens lots these days haha). At first I was overjoyed thinking about one day my little boy coming with us and sharing this with us and then I got really sad realizing how long 19 years is. It also made me realize that when he comes it will be a few months before I get back to the temple. I don't like missing a month of the temple. I notice a big difference in how I feel that month. I feel off balance and like something is missing when I don't get that recharge.

I started thinking about how we have 2 little missionaries in training and what a wonderful day that is going to be when they can go to the temple themselves. I am constantly watching Boston's reactions to everything and I would say that is my favorite part of motherhood.. seeing the world and experiencing things through my child's eyes. I can't wait to see my boys' faces when they go into the temple for the first time! I love that Rob and I can tell Boston that we are going to the temple. He always wants to come with us and gets very sad when we tell him only Mommys and Daddys can go inside.

I look back to when I went through the temple for the first time 6 1/2 years ago. (Holy cow I can't believe I've been married that long!) I always knew that I wanted to be married in the temple. It was never a question in my mind. But looking back I realize how almost ignorant I was to how important and sacred the temple is. I always had a testimony of temples and their importance but I realized on Saturday that compared to now it was nothing. I now have such a deep testimony of temples because of the many experiences that I have had within those sacred walls. I can't imagine how I will feel in another 6 1/2 years when I have learned and experienced more.

As I sat there thinking about why I had a testimony of temples when I knew so little 6 1/2 years ago I realized that it was thanks to my parents. I want Rob and I to be the example for our kids that my parents were to me. I remember them always going to the temple as I was growing up. And even though I had no idea what they did there I knew that it was very important because they went there so often. Total side note.. When I was little I imagined everyone in the temple wearing white and pushing wheelbarrows of gold around. Apparently gold is very important in heaven haha

I'm grateful for such amazing parents who taught me the things that I needed to know. I'm grateful for Rob's amazing parents as well. They raised a good guy :) I know that I say this a lot but he is such a good Dad! I couldn't have picked a better guy for me and my kiddos. He is working so hard for us at school and I know that he is exhausted and stressed and has nothing left in him most days but he still comes home and tries to give us all the love and attention that we need.

He doesn't get to see Boston much these days (just Saturday nights after 5 and all day Sundays) and I see him for about 30 mins each night. It's been rough on all of us...really rough... and we're living in survival mode at the moment but we know it will pay off in the end. Only 6 more weeks until the end of this semester and then we have him home for a whole month!!!! It's gonna be heaven!

And only 5 more weeks til little no name Hartshorn gets here!!

My sister-in-law asked me the other day if Boston was a "true Hartshorn". I don't think I even responded.. I just laughed.

He is no doubt 100% Hartshorn. Completely fearless.

Sorry guys,

the title of "World's Cutest Kid EVER!" definitely belongs to Boston.

Need I say more? ;)

Per mi familia's request..

27 weeks and feelin' good :)

TX fires

Remember this?

Ya, me too.

Apparently there are some pretty big wild fires going on right now in TX. I got a few phone calls today asking if we were ok and I had no idea there were fires! I guess it's time I start watching the news..

After the phone calls, I started to get nervous thinking " Oh no not again!" but turns out we're ok. The really big fire is in Austin, which is several hours away from us, but there is a smaller fire that has destroyed 75 houses already that is about 35-45 minutes away. It's been pretty windy here thanks to the storms in the gulf (another reason that I should start watching the news.. hurricanes!) so were praying that it dies down soon.

My heart goes out to all of the families that have lost their homes. I remember how devastating the first few days were after the fire and we had it good! All of our precious things like pictures, videos, baby blessing outfits, the things you can't get back were ok. I can't imagine losing it all!!

So for now we're safe. If for some reason it comes our way, we've had plenty of practice right? ;)

One of those days..

Around here it's easy to tell what kind of day it's been based on what's for dinner. The better the day, the more time consuming and fancy the dinner is. When it's been one of those days, dinner plans are abandoned and we eat breakfast.. fruit, eggs, bacon, and pancakes.

When it's really been one of those days.. chocolate chips and whipped cream are added to the pancakes.

Tonight I realized we have a third level of 'those days'. As I sat watching Boston eat his chocolate chip pancakes I noticed he was still in his jammies from this morning. I laughed as I realized it must have really REALLY been one of those days. I don't think Boston minds at all tho.. what little kid doesn't love comfy jammies and pancakes for dinner?

Boston bits

Tonight we were running behind and ate dinner kinda late. While we were eating I told Boston that right after dinner it was straight to baths then teeth, scriptures, prayers, songs, and bed. He looked me straight in the eye with a dead serious look on his face and said, "That's a no-good plan Mom."

&

There's a kid in nursery who really likes to hit Boston. Let's call him Phil. For a month and a half straight poor Boston would come home with a bump or mark on his head and when we asked him what happened he would tell us, "Phil hit me". We talked to the nursery leaders about keeping a closer eye on Phil and thankfully the hitting stopped. Anyways, the other day I was feeling quite overwhelmed with things to the point of tears. Boston noticed me crying and said, "It's ok Mommy... Did Mommy Phil hit you?" ...I got a much needed laugh out of that one! haha

Almost all packed and ready to go!!

6 more days until this little dude's a Texan ;)

Not a cat person

Just got a text from Rob that said..

"You can probably imagine my delight when I walked into a yard and found a cat dead asleep in the grass. Only 8 lives left for that one! Ha!"

It gave me a good laugh. Not because of the cat {i love cats} but because:

-I can totally see Rob quietly setting down his bucket so as not to slow him down during his scare then charging full speed while screaming and waving his arms at the cat.

-I can picture his face as he laughs quietly to himself while texting me about what just happened.

- I really hope that his customer was peeking out the window to witness it haha

- And the fact that it's just another reason I love that guy. He finds the joy in the silliest things

It's a...

... big day for the Hartshorns!

Today we closed on our home in Houston, Texas so we are officially home owners! This is the first place that we know we are going to be staying a while so we could actually buy a house... No more renting yay!! I LOVE our house! It's 2710 sq. foot 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, with an awesome game room upstairs (SO excited not to be stepping on toys all day anymore!), a downstairs study where Rob will be locked away for the next 3 years, and an amazing kitchen! My must haves for this house were tall ceilings and lots of storage. Check and check!

It was built in 2009 and only lived in for 9 months by an old lady who never went upstairs. The place is immaculate! Most of the cupboards smell like they have never been opened before. As clean as it is, I will of course be flying out a few days before our stuff gets there to disinfect the house :)

Unfortunately my camera died so I only have a few pics that I stole off of the MLS.

It's a 2 story but looks like a really grand one story from the outside. I really like it :)

The front door. The room at the bottom of the stairs is the study. It has a floor to ceiling window I love!!

This is what you see when you walk in the front door a.k.a. our death drop. Those arches upstairs will have to baby-proofed someway. Rob and I have a few ideas to do it so that it can remain open without closing them up or barring them. Oh and one day we WILL put in a spiral slide from the upstairs to the downstairs through the arch on the right. We had put in a order for one but when you buy a house you find yourself quickly running out of moola so we put that on hold :)

Here's the living room downstairs. Through the hallway to the left is a half bath, a huge closet that goes under the stairs, and the master. I wasn't a fan of having all the bedrooms upstairs except the master but that's how they do it in Texas. I like being close to my babies at night. It's growing on me though :)

Living room again. The sink will have to go..

And at last my favorite part of the house.. the kitchen!! I can barely touch the top shelf of the cabinets (they are the extra tall ones) There is a whole other wall of the cabinets that you can't see to the right and a HUGE walk in pantry!! So much storage.. I love it!! The countertops are granite. Our fridge I adore. The lady bought it when she moved out so it has NEVER been used! It's a $3000 fridge! Our negotiations lasted forever because we wanted it and she didn't want to get rid of it. We won in the end without having to go up in price at all for it :)

So, that's all the pics I have of the house until we move in.

Here we are with the initial submitted offer. Our house was the 6th one that we saw and we fell in love instantly. We were so nervous were weren't going to get it. Flying out there I was dying because we only had 5 days to find and buy a house. We bought a house within the first 48 hours of being there! It would have been quicker had we not had to go back and forth on price and the fridge so much :)

And here we are right after our real estate agent called to let us know the lady accepted our offer after going back and forth a million times. We were in line at Carl's BBQ.. best dang BBQ in the world!!

So as great and fun and wonderful as that is, today is even more awesome because we found out what we're having!!!

We took Boss with us which was fun :) I love how excited and aware he is about this baby! Had we got pregnant a year ago like our plan, he wouldn't have been old enough to really get it.. i LOVE that we get to experience all this fun stuff with him instead of him being there and not understanding it.

Here come the pics..

18 week belly

Boston had so much fun watching the ultrasound.

After the ultrasound

Since Boston told ya I'm pregnant it's only fitting he tell ya what he's gonna be a big brother to.. Take it away buddy!

Rob and I are super excited! Both of us were secretly hoping for a boy.. we admitted it to each other after we found out :) But poor Boston is now in denial. He only admitted it was a boy that one time. Now he keeps saying it's a girl. When the lady told us it was a boy he said.. "But i said gwirl!!!" He'll come around :)

And the tech told us the femur was one of the longest ones she's ever seen.. looks like it's gonna be another tall Hartshorn boy!!

What's your guess?

Tonight when Boston went to sleep Rob and I had some fun with sparklers...

Any guesses? :) We'll know tomorrow at 3:15!!!

Happy 4th everyone!

Messy business

I'm not a rib fan. Eating meat off a bone isn't really my thing but man, oh man, can my guy smoke a mean rack of ribs!!! It takes a precisely calculated 24 hour process that Rob has perfected over the last few years to turn out these little racks of joy but it's all worth it! Rob's ribs are the only ribs I will ever eat.. period.

As for our very picky little eater... he (along with his entire face, arms, part of his thighs, and tonight his foot) loves 'em too!

Paper towels and rags don"t stand a chance against this kid.. it's straight to baths!