Why is it, that as Women we feel the need to make sure that our houses are superclean if anyone is coming to visit? Is it really a determination of who you are? I've been going a little crazy today trying to clean and keep Ella from dragging stuff all over the house. The playgroup that I belong is doing a cookie exchange tonight and it's here at my house. Everyone knows that I have two small children and that it really is next to impossible to keep my house clean. That's wrong...my house is "clean". Not that I would eat off my floor but it's respectable.

My house is cluttered. It's amazing to think that I have 2500 square feet of house and I can't seem to find a home for all our stuff! Papers, pens, sunglasses, tape, monopoly pieces, camera cords, paper, toys...stuff!! Where does all this stuff come from? I think a little man comes in at night and multiplies everything.

Stop stressing Paula and enjoy yourself tonight......

Who Needs Pockets???

Mike sent this to me....for those that know Ella, can't you just see her doing this?

Halloween Night

My brother Bill and baby Grayson!

Ella stealing candy
Little kitty Ella

Reaching for candy

Anna "talking" to Aunt Chris

It was a beautiful night for Halloween! 70 degrees, a Friday night. Expected a huge turnout for candy....I think we had maybe 30 kids! There were only a few houses on our street with their lights on. So needless to say, I have a TON of candy left. I'm pulling out all the suckers for Ella, the tootsie rolls I'm taking to my sister Jen!

Tonight Mike and I are headed out to some Adult Halloween parties. I'll post those pics tomorrow....Could be a late night!

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Thanks Sarah for the template idea......Cute stuff!!!

It's a strange day in the house. Ella is STILL napping...she's been asleep for almost 3 hours! I should be taking advantage of that and doing the laundry that is sitting all over the kitchen, or putting away the laundry that has made it to the washer and dryer. Or I should be cleaning my bedroom or any of the million and one things I need to do.

But I'm not! I took a little nap, read a magazine, played with my blog and now, I'm blogging. It's kinda nice to be a slacker once in awhile and do nothing!

I love this time of year. I love the crock pot...You know how it is. For whatever reason, most people don't use their crock pot enough during the summer. When Fall hits, I pull it out, dust if off and start cooking. I love throwing things in there in the morning and letting the smell drift through the house all day. By evening, there is no panic to get dinner on the table. Tonight is roast, carrots and potatoes. Thursday I'm making a chicken, Swiss cheese, tomato thing...I'll let you know how it turns out!

Guess who is rolling over? Miss Anna has rolled over from her stomach to back several times now....isn't it kinda early? I'll see if I can get video...

My daughter is driving me nuts! 2 year olds are a royal pain in the butt.....I had to sit and feed her lunch today because she refused to eat. I know she was hungry, just being stubborn. This is what happened when I turned her loose with peanut butter and jelly sandwich!!

Anna is getting so big! Went to the dr Monday and she is 13bls and 23.5 inches long. 95% all around. I can't beleive that she is getting so big, so fast.

This is a series of shots of Ella. She was pouting over something.....In the end she got Ice cream...I know we are suckers!!

Grayson giving Anna, "vampire kisses"
Ella pouting....
The Williams girls....
Dress up time Pirate hat

For those of you with 2 kids...how do you do it? And I mean little kids...a 2 year old and a 2 month old! What in the hell were we thinking? I don't know how anyone with 2 small kids can ever have a clean house. I don't even want a spotless house, just less cat hair everywhere and the beds made. I can't even do that because as soon as I make them, Ella thinks it fun to rip all the pillows off and make it her own personal trampoline.

Typical day....feed Ella, Feed Anna, clean up after Ella, clean up kitchen. Take shower, get both kids ready...feed Anna. Try and run some errands..although I've only figured out how to go to Target and the grocery store with the both of them. Feed Ella, Feed Anna, clean up after Ella. Pick up all of Ella's toys, put Ella to bed, try to put Anna to bed....

Try to get something done around the house but it's so overwhelming! My bedroom has become the dumping ground for EVERYTHING! So I'm trying to sort through maternity clothes, other clothes that don't fit, stuff that needs to find a new home, trash, diapers, bottles, books, magazines....it's crazy!!

Can you tell I'm having ONE OF THOSE DAYS???? And later I get to drive an hour each way to pick up a catalog show that someone is doing for me, that couldn't even get $200 in sales so know I have to figure out how to get $100 more on her order to enter it.....WTH!!!

Anna's crying....

Pictures...

I was taking pictures of Ella and Anna yesterday. Anna kept falling over and Ella was "trying" to help her up...

We went and made pine cone bird feeders in our playgroup Tuesday....well everyone did except Ella. As some of you know, Ella has the weird fear of pine cones. I don't know if it's the texture, if it looks like a bug to her...I don't know. Anyway, she would have none of the pine cone bird feeders, so Ronda went and found her a stick to put the peanut butter and bird seed on. So I know have a peanut butter, bird seed stick feeder hanging from my front tree!!

I'm trying to get a picture of Anna smiling. She is laughing and smiling a little more each day. I just can't seem to get the picture.

We are heading off to our International Pirate day playgroup....pics to follow.

Funny things Ella does....

She is painting her toenails with ketchup.....

Crazy Hair

Does anyone else see why this picture of Ella is so funny to me?

Hint: check out her hair....

Anna and her "do" today....a bit crazy...and a wink!

Is it possible that a 2 week old and a 2 year old can already be conspiring against me? I swear they have this secret language and everyday they are talking to each other. Every single day Ella goes down for a nap at 12pm..usually naps until 2pm....Every single day I've tried to get Anna to sleep at the same time, so I can get in a little nap. Every single day Anna refuses to sleep and the minute Ella wakes up at 130-2pm...Anna is out like a light!!!

Is this what Mike and I have to look forward to? The Williams sisters strike again???

It's been 5 days since Anna arrived and we are surviving. Anna has been a great baby so far, sleeping and eating like a champ. We've only had one rough night so far, knock on wood that it continues. Last night she was only up once and we got about 7 hours of sleep. It was split up of course with a 3am feeding but otherwise it was kinda nice.

Ella is doing okay with Anna. She is starting to show a little jealousy and she likes to "help". Anna is about the size of one of her baby dolls and Ella hasn't figured out that she can't grab her by the head!! I think in time she will be a great big sister but for now, we really have to watch her.

"Hi, Sister!!"

"Hi, Anna! I'm Ella and I'm your big sister!"

Paula here.....

Thank you to everyone for all the well wishes. We are all doing wonderful! Anna is snoozing and Mike is chilling playing games on his Iphone. I can't wait for everyone to meet her.

We should be home on Wednesday if all goes well. See you all soon!!

Post Spa Photo

Anna, after she got back from the SJW Spa and Bath.

Until later...

Hey Uncle Dave!

"You Know What I'm Thinking..."

Our Newest Addition!

Welcome here, Anna!

Born: August 4, 2008

Time: 1:20 p.m.

Weight: 8 lbs, 10 oz.

Length: 22 inches

Mom and baby are both 100% healthy!

"Okay, this isn't fun anymore!"

Call to the doc... Epidural's only working on ONE GODDAM LEG!!

(Backup is on the way... )

Donations Are Accepted (What the hell..)

In case you are wondering...

We accept Visa, M/C, and Paypal

Progress

85% effacement

4 cm


Click here: WAHOO!!

Best Money Spent

$1800 lovely Anesthesiologist dollars in 12 minutes.

$120 per minute and according to the expert (Paula) "the epidural is definately worth every penny of it!"

Translated: $9,000 per hour.

Rate Your Pain

I must hand it to Paula-- she's a trooper. Those "peaks" on the monitor were getting to '90' and she said it just felt like "pressure." Now that the water has broke... those same peaks are a "holy crap."

I can't wait for the "THIS IS YOUR F*CKING FAULT, YOU F*C*ING B*S*A*D!! G** ME TH* **C* O** *F H***!!

The epidural god is on his way...

Taking a Break

... and by that I mean "OF THE SACK!!"

Things should pick up real quick...

(No picture on this one-- use your imagination!)

Okay, by request (my own) here's a picture:

You Guys Are GREAT!

Paula loves that people are following and commenting on the blog. It's helping get her mind off the harsh reality that an 8 pound baby is going to be coming out soon!

Getting personal in here

No more interrogations, please.

It's going to be a long day.

Doc says we're 2 centimeters. Geesh.

(ee-shay ought-thay e-shey uz-way at east-lay ive-fay.)

Disclaimer

The picture in the last entry *WAS NOT* actual footage of Paula. It was a Google search for shot. (We've gotten two calls about her arm already!)

"Aunt Jen" called and let us know that Ella was looking for us this morning. It's amazing how we already miss her, the little runt.

Ptosin going in THREE... TWO... ONE... now. (Apparently, more signatures are necessary.)

Another thought: This baby had better NOT come out with a weiner. We're expecting an Anna, not an Edward!!

Paula says these beds aren't made for pregnant people-- they're just plain uncomfortable. "Oh wait.. the manual explains a lumbar inflatable support." Okay, I'm just joking-- we don't read manuals. Ever.

STICK

The first stick. Sample 1, Sample 2, Cord Blood donation...

Ouch!

From my standpoint

General observations:
1. Dusty overhead lights.
2. There's the sound of a very large washing machine next door.
3. There's a bazillion useless questions by the nurse. ("Do you have any aches or pains?" Duhh)
("Would you like a visit from our priest?") Uhh, no thanks. God knows I hope we don't need one. ("Pierced nipple, navel, tongue or other parts?") Heh... maybe she should've removed that benwah thing...
4. There's a unique but familiar smell of "hospital cleanser."
5. Haha. I just realized the washing machine sound is the ultrasound monitor. Now it's not quite so annoying. :)


BTW, Dave-- There's a hide-a-bed in here that they've put in since you were here.

Today's the Day-- Anna Is On Her Way!

Monday, August 4, 2008.
5:57 a.m.
We just settled in at the hospital.

"Hi, we're the Williams and we're here to check in-- reservations for two... err, three."

Room 2264 a familiar and comfortable room. Dave & Em had Sparkey (Grayson) in this very room.

Paula hasn't had any meds yet (the doctors aren't at work) and she started having contractions. (Maybe I'll get a discount if we don't need the meds.)

Paula wants to know, "Why do these lovely hospital gowns have a pocket on the front?"

(And 'Posted by Paula' below actually means, 'Posted by Mike')

Mommy Time Outs.....

Shouldn't we all have them?

It is 430am and why am I not sleeping? I've been awake for an hour having BH off and on, nothing regular just the norm. It seems every night this happens. My mind then starts thinking, Oh yeah something is going to happen and then nothing. I'm tired of waiting. I know soon enough I'll be complaing about not sleeping because the baby is keeping me up but I seriously have no patience. I don't like to wait and I hate surprise.


I think God is testing me...


I'm also craving an Iced Vanilla Latte from Panera

Yep, still pregnant. My due date is tomorrow and nothing yet. Mike keeps saying it's going to happen tonight or tomorrow...I just don't think she's ever coming out.

My sister is in town and we spent the day walking the mall and spending money. Ate some spicy Mexican food for dinner so I'm hoping something might happen besides having tired feet!!

We will let you know when something happens....

To my dear husband:

If you ever spill juice into my oven and all over my stove after baking your BBQ and don't clean it up, I'm banning you from ever coming into the kitchen again!! I just spent an hour scrubbing burners and the stove to remove the baked on gunk. I love you and your BBQ is the best but seriously, I will have to hurt you next time you do that!!

Love,
Paula

Ella and grayson
Mommy looking really tired..
39 weeks
Sigma and Ella...he really just tolerates her.

This baby has dropped so low that my clothes don't fit. Pants won't stay up so I'm consistenly pulling them up and my shirts no longer cover my belly. I'm wearing the XL ones in hopes of covering my dropping belly, but that's not even working anymore. It's really getting annoying. I really need to have this baby soon before I hurt someone. I'm really getting crabby!