Sorry to say we have to turn off the comment system. We’ve been getting a lot of postings that are merely advertising for all sorts of icky stuff and I have neither the time nor energy to figure out how to selectively block commenting.

So, if you’d like to add your own thought or opinion, please email us directly. Maybe we’ll find time to sort all this out but until then, we’re going silent!

Haven’t done much blogging lately because I have been so incredibly exhausted. It’s a tiredness that reaches into my soul and melts my bones leaving me to lie listlessly on the sofa or on the ground. Poor Leina. She runs around me expelling horrendous amounts of toddler energy and it’s all I can do to keep my eyes open.

There is only one thing that I know of which causes this soul sucking lethargy. A baby. Yes, that’s right, the McLaughlin family is adding another McNugget to this happy meal. I just returned from the doctor and have visual confirmation. I’m pregnant!

Now ladies, I want to take a moment to give you a piece of warning. You know on soap operas and really cheesy romance novels it only takes one night of forbidden passion and – whamo – the heroine is knocked up? Yeah, that doesn’t just happen on t.v. Now don’t get me wrong. Kevin and I were trying to start another McNugget. I was, however, expecting it to take a few months for things to get rolling. However, according to my doctor, Mc2 is already three month along which means sometimes, all it takes is once. And so, if little Mc2 follows the plan, the arrival date is scheduled for June 2nd.

And now, the next big question. Boy or girl? We are definitely going to find out but this time around, I’m not so nervous. I got my girl. Anything extra is merely icing. But it will be nice to know if I can give away Leina’s out grown clothing or not.

I must admit, I had forgotten how miserable being pregnant is. Last time, I spend the first five months curled on the sofa, dozing, with a barf bowl nearby. This time, no such luxury. I’ve tried explaining to Leina that mommy needs to sit and rest but she’ll have none if it. She just runs off, shaking her little head, and chanting “no no no” and I have no choice but to run after.

The worst part in the food. Last time ’round, smells really got to me. No difference this time. Unfortunately, Leina’s absolute favorite food is DinoNuggets. Basically, chicken mcnuggets in the shape of dinosaurs. She has them religiously for lunch and dinner and the smell. Oh the smell! I find it’s all I can do to zap them in the microwave, dump them in front of her and then sprint to the bathroom and chant over the toilet bowl “don’t throw up….don’t throw up.”

Let me just take a moment to write a mental note to myself. (Self, you are a miserable pregnant person. You do not glow. You do not revel in the mystery of motherhood. You do not want to do this again! Two is enough!)

Ok, so. Tired, sick to my stomach, I’m pretty much walking around wringing my hands moaning “woe is me”. Then, at my first doctor visit, we do an ultrasound and I see my baby. More amazing, it was awake and I watched with awe as it kicked and punched the ultrasound thingy, totally upset to be so rudely disturbed. The doctor called Mc2 a soccer player. But I know better. This one’s going to be just like her/his sister. A real firecracker.

So there, my excuse is laid before you. I’m determined to write more as this will (hopefully) be my last time on this crazy rollercoaster of hormones called pregnancy. But honestly, I can’t wait for June to meet this newest McNugget of the McLaughlin household.

Let the good times roll!

Leina and I have returned from sunny San Diego after a rip-roaring wonderful visit with the cousins. I’m so glad Leina will have cousins her age to grow up with and enjoy. Hopefully, there will be many more visits in our future.

Leina was happy to see Kevin. She smiled and climbed right into her arms. I thought it was a pretty touching reception. Until we got home.

When Leina saw Artie, she literally pee’d her diaper. She began squealling, jumping, and running in circles around him. She plastered her little chubby arms around his next, rubbed her snotty little nose in his fur and wouldn’t let go for nothin’. It was an outrageous 20 minute love fest. Poor Artie didn’t know what hit him. Leina was in pure heaven to have her dog back. Forget dad. Dog is all you need.

My homecoming was more bittersweet when I went upstairs to unpack and realized that Kevin had not done a piece of laundry. Not only did I have our dirty travel clothes but also two weeks of Kevin’s dirty grubs to boot. It took me SEVEN loads to get our closets back up and running and at the end of it, I was so wiped I went to bed at 8pm. If I never do another load again, it will be too soon.

Right after my return, my dad and Auntie Bev pulled into town. She’s in the process of moving into the little 69th house and I’m so happy it will no longer be vacant and alone. I can’t wait to go over and see what it looks like with someone else’s stuff in it. Out to be surreal.

That’s the lastest and greatest news. We’re back, unpacked, and Kevin has clean underware at last. (That last part was probably too much information, huh?)

I know it’s truely fall because we have our first case of the sniffles. Not a full-blown flu or sickness, just a stuffy nose, slight fever and general crankiness.

By “we” I mean the royal “we”; Leina and myself. Leina insists on drinking from my glass and taking bites off my plate and giving me big, snotty, baby kisses. But when they are coming from someone as sweet and lovable as my girl, no amount of snot will deter me. And so, we are both semi-miserable together.

Kevin, so far, has proven immune and this is a good thing as he now wears the hat of last well man standing. This means he gets to baby my and Leina while cleaning and cooking and washing like a mad man. Poor guy. I figure by the time we’re on the mend, he’ll be so exhausted and run down he’ll be a sitting duck for any last germies that are lazing about.

But for now, he’s an excellent dad and husband dealing with the two grumpy women in his lives.

Poor guy.

And it’s only Monday!

I’m leaving Kevin.

I’m packing my bags, kissing the kid good-bye and heading out of town. And I’m scared to death. Since Leina was born I’ve spent one night away from her and that was after my operation so I was pretty loopy on valium and don’t really remember all that much. But tomorrow, Kat and I head for Washington for our annual craft show and I’m leaving Leina in her father’s capable (??) hands.

Kev is a very hands on dad. He changes diapers, takes some of the middle of the night soothing, plays with her, and preps meals but he’s never been alone with her for more than a few hours and we’re talking all day, all night here. I’m worried he’ll crack. Kev isn’t the best multi-tasker. He just mastered chewing gum and walking at the same time and Leina requires major multi-tasking. You have to be able to function while keeping one eye on the little munch at all times ’cause she’s quick and she’s inquisitive. I’ve tried to impress this onto Kev but he just shooes me off with a wave of his hand and a “pashaw, she can’t be that hard!”

I have a feeling he’s going to learn.

So, I’m leaving. Here’s hoping the house is still standing when I return…..

The new computer came today. It is sitting downstairs in the middle of the room. Kevin doesn’t know ’cause he’s at work but I’ve positioned it so that it will be the first thing he sees tonight. He’s gonna be so happy!

Of course, this might mean an ever so slight interruption in blog service. Or not. You never know….