Thanksgiving 2009

For the first time I was the Commander of the kitchen and actually had a willing and able crew to boss around. I cannot tell you what a joy it was to have someone to go over the menu with and to have someone volunteer to purchase and prepare dishes. Of course, I have always been the primary cook and upon request (albeit loud, repeated requests) I would receive the usual half hearted, whinny assistance one would expect from lazy teen agers. As remarkable as it may sound I didn't even have to raise my voice or cry or make threats of physical violence to obtain help in the kitchen.
This year Kenny did not fry a turkey and he left the cooking of the bird to me and Katie. I know that sounds like a big mistake on his part but it all turned out. Katie did refuse to touch the turkey and I was a little confused about where exactly you put the stuffing- who knew the bird had two cavities to stuff!! We wraped the bird in a foil cocoon and forgot about it until its appointed time and the turkey turned out perfect!
Between me, Grandma Bada, Paula and Katie we had the rest of Thanksgiving dinner in the oven in no time. I didn't even peel a potato; I did however endure some criticism of the condition of my potato peeler!
At first, I thought Paula's smarty pants remark "whoever uses this peeler better have their tetanus shot up to date" was going to lead to a mutiny but desertion was adverted when I produced a brand new shinny peeler. The small scuffle over who got to use the new peeler just added to the festivities and turned out to be all for not because the shinny peeler was about as sharp as a butter knife!
Have I mentioned how good it was to have little ones under foot again! It's been a long whiel sense we've had extended family with us for a holiday- and we loved every minute of it!!  I wasn't surprised when the girls and Grandma Bada refereed a game of indoor hide and go seek from the couch. I was surprised however, when Cousin Jake turned out to be 2 yr old Ava's favorite. Ava would sit in Cousin Jakes lap and play with her baby doll and rub her nose with her blanket. Uncle Rachel and Cousin Jake were definitely the favorites!
Soon enough we will have a brand new baby to pass around and to play with. He will bring excitement back to the old boring holidays! The timing is perfect. So move over Kendra and Rachel!! We will have a new little buckaroo in charge of the holiday/ family gathering entertainment. So go on with yourselves and dump us for your friends, your cell phones and the mall! See if we notice you are missing after the baby gets here!! That is as long as the potatoes have been peeled!

Man Humor

 

I was quite surprised when I opened my email and found this sent to me by my husband, Kenny with the subject line "for your blog" on it. Kenny and Jake have not been strong, avid supporters of "The Baker Baby Project." They haven't told us we couldn't do it… like that would work. I know Kenny is reading it; curiosity killed the cat you know. But when I have asked what he thought of the latest blog entry I have just gotten the "one grunt answer."

Ladies, you know what I'm talking about. It is "the grunt!" You know, the one that says: "Does it matter what I really think? You are gonna do what you want to do anyway?"

It's the sound of a husband who has finally realized that it is better to pick and choose your battles carefully and some battles you will never win!

Kenny and Jake have teamed up against me and Katie on more than one occasion. Oh, but they have paid for it!

To fully appreciate the bond that Kenny has with Jake you have to first understand that Kenny was the only man in our house for 17 years -or there about. I know it's been lonely being the only one to leave the toilet seat up.

When your house is full of cabbage patch dolls, little plastic pretend food, barrettes and "hair thingies" you have to do what you have to do to keep your man card.

It's been a battle of the sexes! He never played tea party, nail polish was banned from our house and he never wore pink. He has always been rough and enjoyed torturing us girls with pellet guns, water hoses and stinky armpit hugs. However, we have learned that the word "tampon" will make him clear the room in 2.5 seconds.

    When Katie married Jake finally Kenny has someone that thinks like him in the house. The reward for surviving raising four daughters is the promise of having son-in-laws and the ultimate reward is the possibility of having Grandsons!!

 

So this entry is from the Grandpa to be…its right about his speed….it's man humor:

 

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?

A: No, 35 children is enough.

 

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?

A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

 

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?

A: Childbirth.

 

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.

A: So what's your question?

 

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?

A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

 

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?

A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

 

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?

A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

 

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?

A: Yes, pregnancy.

 

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?

A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

 

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?

A: When the kids are in college.

Dr visits and God

Monday: Dentist Appointment- root canal
Tuesday: ENT- hearing tests.
Wednesday: OBGYN- baby’s heart beat

Needless to say it has been a crazy and busy week.
The root canal was painful because my gums are enflamed and tender. But the worst of it is over.
The ENT visit gave me some peace and answers about the pulsing I can hear in my ears. They said it is a common occurrence due to the increased arterial flow that occurs during pregnancy BUT over the next week I must perform several tests and make sure the pulse is in perfect rhythm with my heart beat. If it is not I have to have a MRI.
The OBGYN visit was great! The baby has shifted to the left side and his heart beat is strong and steady.
I love hearing the heart beat because it makes me feel like “okay, he’s still in there. This is not a horrible joke. I am pregnant!”
I was reading my baby book to Jake a couple of days ago and I found myself overcome with emotion and awe of Gods glory. I can’t believe that I, Katie Baker, am growing a human life within me. I know that most women talk about feeling connected to the baby but really I feel very connected to God. I can’t stop thinking about how God has made my body to be such an amazing, safe place for new life to be able to form and grow. What a gift!
I look at the ocean, the mountains and nature all around me and think this it is amazing but I feel God gave the greatest gift He could give to us humans…the ability to bring a soul into this world. There is something breathtaking about the growth cycle of a new human life.
I don’t want to become corny but those are the emotions I have inside me and I wanted to share them with you.

I used to think that God gave all His beautiful gifts to nature but I now know He gave the most wonderful gift of all gifts to mothers……