This morning I stayed up after Jared left for work. He told me he was low on fuel and to come get him if he didn't call in an hour. I was glad when he called from work. Jacob was excited when I went in the room. I picked him up and he gave me a big hug and then reached over for his blankey. We snuggled on the couch until he was ready to get down. The dishwasher didn't seem to be working right so I washed the dishes in the sink. I worked on cleaning the closet in the pink room and cleaning out Jacob's drawers. Then we headed over to Nana's house. Jacob was happy to see Nana but wanted down right away to play with the toys. He ate a snack in the highchair and Mom put a video in of Kenzie when she was 4yrs old. Jacob was calling Nana saying, "Na Na, Na Na". Nana walked him upstairs for his nap and they counted the steps on the way up. I have and OB appointment today and Jacob got to go with us. He got really excited when he saw the toy truck in the waiting room. When the doctor came in she listen for the heartbeat - it was fast so she guessed it was a girl. Though she guessed Jacob was a girl too. This baby's heart rate has been around 170-180 bpm (Jacob's was around 150 bpm). She asked if I had been taking it easy this past week. She also said I can start back working 20 hours/week, but no lifting. Then after my ultrasound next week maybe we can gradually increase my hours. We went back to Mom's and then Jared had to go back to work. I took Jacob to play on the slide. He also played in the sandbox. Jacob loves to touch all the bugs. When Kenzie got there she gave me a blackbear (handmade out of coal), which she got on her trip last week. It is going to go great with my blackbears in my kitchen. Kenzie made us ice cream cones and Jacob had it all over his face. We suprised Uncle Jared and Kenzie spent the night. She hopped up on the tractor with him and he let her steer. She drove all over the yard and then pulled it into the barn and parked it. Played monopoly tonight and I had a lot of property but was broke. Its a long game so we didn't finish but had lots of fun. Jacob ran down the hallway and Kenzie ran after him. She had him laughing really hard. Daddy and Truman joined in and they were all racing down the hall. Kenzie and Jared put on a talent show and I was the judge. It was hillarious and we were all laughing really hard. They took turns starting and the other would have to do the same thing. Jared took many falls during his performances. Near the end he performed what he calls, "the grand pooba of all performances". He stood up and had to grab his toe with one had and jump over with the other foot without letting go of his toe and without falling over. As judge I let them have numerous tries to get this one done. Jared landed on his knees several times and Kenzie too. We sure had lots of fun!

Jacob went looking for Daddy first thing this morning. Only to get more shaving cream on his face. With a funny grin on his face he came to show me what Daddy had done, then ran to the mirror. Jacob was very tired at church due to no morning nap. They said he was great back in the nursery but he would not smile. He smile when he saw us and gave me a big hug. Pastor Shane gave him a little pumpkin to hold. He smiled as he held it and then wanted to set it down and hold the other pumpkins. I went into meijer to get a some groceries for making chili. By the time I got done Jacob was fast asleep. At home I put a pizza in the oven for Jared and Jacob. For myself, I made potatoes and carrots mashed together - it was really good. After relaxing and playing with Jacob,I got things ready to make chili. I'm making beef chili for Jared & Jacob and turkey chili for me. Jared went outside on the tractor and worked on getting our front yard to drain better. Jacob ran to the window to watch Daddy. As I made dinner, Jacob went through the drawer of bibs. He got all of them out and wanted to wear one. Then he shoved them all back in the drawer. Jared came back in and was done for now. I showed Jacob a sucker and he smiled so big and shook his head yes. He hurried to sit on the couch next to Daddy. He wanted to give Daddy a lick, then me, and then him. While Jacob was taking his nap, Jared and I played monopoly. We had lots of fun! For dinner, Jacob didn't really like the chili. He ate some of it but would have rather ate just the crackers.

This morning Jacob ran down the hallway saying, "Da Da, Da Da". Daddy called out to him and he ran to the bathroom in our bedroom. Jacob gave him a funny look when he saw the shaving cream on his face. Jared put some shaving cream on Jacob's face and he ran over to show me, then he ran to the other bathroom to look in the mirror. He ran back to Daddy where he got more cream on his face. Then it was straight to the bathroom for another look. Jared took care of the animals this morning while I got Jacob his breakfast. When he was finished with his breakfast he said, "Dall Done". Then we went out for our Sat am donuts/muffin. I asked Jacob if he wanted a donut and he shook his head yes. We walked through Salvation army and then headed home. When we got home Jacob and I took a nap. Vikki called and said she had locked herself out of her house and car. She called to talk to me while she waited for Mom to get there with the spair key. I'm alway happy to hear from my sister and was happy she called me. It was cold and rainy out and I was glad Mom wasn't to far from her. The youth group is supposed to come over for a hay ride and bomb fire but due to the weather I'm not sure its going to work out. They decided to come over and see how it goes. Right after we hung up the phone with them it started to rain/hail. It stopped when they got there and the sun actually came out for the first time all day. There were about 20 kids that came. Jared took them to the neighbors right away while the sky was clear. They decided not to come back for the bomb fire cause it started to rain again. We went to walk around the mall and got blizzards. Jacob went for a ride on the helicopter which went up and down. A little boy rode with him and they had fun. They boy didn't speak much English but I could tell he wanted our ice cream. We walked around the mall and then took Jacob to play. He loves to climb. He stood up on the big toothbrush and put his hands in the air.

October 27, 2006

After Jacob's evening nap he was one hyper little boy. He ate his dinner and then ran around the house. He went back to the table and grabbed his bib. He brought it over to me so I could snap it. He wore it most of the night. Daddy and Jacob were playing and Jacob took a face dive on the carpet. He got another bloody lip. I crushed up some ice for him and he liked that. The sore lip didn't slow him down any - he still ran around the house acting silly.

October 26, 2006

It was really cold this morning so Jared left the corn burner on. When Jacob got up I asked if he was ready for cheerios and he shook his head yes. He ran to the cuboard and grabbed the box and brought it to me. I poured him a bowl and he waited for me to put him in his seat. He loves his breakfast. We spent over an hour playing outside this morning. The sun really warmed things up quickly. Jacob walked all over the yard. First to the chickens and then over by the goats. He walked throught the paddock behind the goats and then he ducked under the fence. He smiled at me on the other side of the fence. Then we walked in Nutmegs winter paddock. Jacob walked up to the stall and kept going up the step into the stall and then out again. We then went over to the horses. Jacob noticed the tree down and wanted to sit on it, so we sat there together and watched the kitty - Calico Jo. Jacob wanted to pet her so he followed her around. She climbed through the firewood branches and Jacob tried to follow. She came to me and I held her so he could pet her and then I let her go. Jacob followed her over to the woods and she quickly climbed up a tree. He looked all over for her so I pointed up at her in the tree - Jacob just laughed when he saw her. When we got inside the temp inside was almost 72 degrees, so I turned the burner off. Jared got out of work a little early today. Jacob was really excited to see him and gave him a big hugg. We went outside and the wood for the bomb fire on Saturday. I showed Jacob a spider on the tree and he touched it and watched it move. We carved our pumpkin tonight. Daddy scooped out the insides and Jacob helped me pick out the seeds. He stuck his hand in the pumpkin and licked his fingers to taste it. Jacob wanted to hold the tray of seeds on his lap so he could play with them. After dark we went outside and put a candle in it. Jacob thought that was pretty cool. We took it inside and set it on the counter and turned out the lights. Jacob wanted to sit by it. We baked the seed and they were tasty.

For breakfast this morning I told Jacob to put on his bib - he held it right up to his neck so I just had to snap it. After playing inside for a bit, we got bundled up and went outside. I pulled him around in the wagon and we went over by the horses. Then we walked over to the chickens. He wanted to go inside the coop. The rooster pecked Kate so she tackeled him. Jacob played on his slide and went down several times. It was nice and cool outside so we sat on the steps. Vikki called and I asked Jacob if he wanted to talk to her. He got so excited, he stood up and ran over to me reaching for the phone. We reorganized the books in his closet. I got out his halloween outfit again and put it on him. This time he liked it and said, "Roar". I asked him if he wanted to look in the mirror and he ran down to the bathroom. He smiled when he saw himself. When Daddy got home, he and Jacob played on the bed. Then Daddy called a friend from college while I made dinner. Daddy came out and set Jacob in his chair at the table. Before he could reach for the bib Jacob had it around his neck. Jacob had so much fun in the bath tub he did not want to get out. When I'd ask him if he was ready to get out, he'd turn his body and put his nose against the tub wall. The last couple days his favorite book is Peter Rabbit.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

This morning Jacob and I slept in til 8am. I asked him, "Are you ready for breakfast" and he shook his head yes. We watched Curious George and Clifford. Then I got out all his little people, the barn and the animals. He grabbed the cow and said, "moo" and put it in a stall. Then he took the hay and put it in back of the tractor and set the cow on top. Jacob and I had a really nice day together. It was so nice to be home with him. When Daddy got home Jacob was taking a nap. He woke up and Daddy went in and got him up. Got Jacob dressed up warm with his hat and mittons on and went outside. Daddy took him over to the chickens and then we went over to feed the goats/sheep. He sat on the tractor and asked what all the buttons were called. Jacob walked over by the firepit and then walked along the woods to the end of the property. He had a rough time getting over the fallen branches but he made it. After dinner we went into town to get dog food. Tonight Daddy had Jacob laughing so hard as he bounced onto the bed. Jacob thought this was hillarious. He kept walking around the house saying his name. I tried on Jacob's halloween outfit tonight - which he did not like one bit. He through a fit and wouldn't look at himself in the mirror. I waited for a bit and then took it off when he was ok with it. He looks adorable in it.

This morning Jared took Jacob and I to my Mom's house. She is going to help me with Jacob since I am suppose to be on bed rest. Jacob was still in his pjs when we got to Mom's. I fed him cheerios for breakfast and then we watched curious george and clifford. Mom got out a new toy and Jacob clapped his hands excitedly. You put the balls in it and they spin to the bottom. He would put the ball in and then put his face right on the toy to look down the hole. Papa had a piece of cake and gave Jacob some bites. Mom left to take Grandma to her Dr appointment. Jacob was riding around the room on his car and then would turn around and sit on it backwards. Then he went over and got a baby doll and carried it around. He patted it on the back and gave it a kiss then he was done with that. I got him a snack and we sat on the bean bag together. When he took his nap I took one too. Mom, Jacob and I had Jared's bbq chicken for lunch - Yum. Jared got there shortly after 12. I showed him how Jacob played with the doll and Jared said he was just practicing wresseling moves. He'd say he was doing an arm lock or a chock - Mom and I were laughing. Jacob walked over to Daddy and talked like he was asking him a question - then he walked over by his toys. Daddy followed and helped him get out his car. We had an appointment with the OB doctor today. She didn't talk to us long, but told me that I have a subchorionic hemorrhage - she said there was bleeding between the sac and uterus. It is usually treated with bed rest. They did an ultrasound and will do another in 2 weeks. We thought we would see the Dr after the ultrasound, but we did not get to talk to her. The ultrasound tech said she wants to see me back in a week. I called work to tell them I'd be back to work tomorrow, but I was waiting for a call from my Dr as to what my restriction are. Later the nurse called me and said the Dr did not want me going back to work until I saw her next week. So I called my boss to let her know. We had dinner at Moms and then stopped to pick up Jared's car at the ER on the way home.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!

Ok Kimmy's let me have a turn at typing tonight and there's been a little news happening on the Rockin R Ranch lately, and I thought I'd capture here on the blog. Winter's coming, temperatures are dropping, corn stove is burning, animals are getting their winter coats, and the leaves have seem to left there homes in the trees and are beginning to fertilize the grass. Chickens are laying less as the seasons change, but still laying. So everything is going rather well. Today's the 3rd day of gray weather, I'm going to keep a running tab on this from time to time as the local news was talking about Nov. being the grayest month of the year...meaning the least amount of sunshine.

Oh yeah, back to my breaking news, well I'm not sure how to start breaking this news... I guess I should state that for some this won't be so late breaking but for others this will be rather new. If you scroll to the bottom of the post you'll be clued in big time...we've got some new pictures to share. Waaaaaiiiiit for it..... waaaiiiit for it..... GO!

















































YUP KIMMY'S PREGNANT!!!!!

The perverbial cat is out of the perverbial bag. Although the best place for a cat is in a bag if you ask me... but that's another subject. Sorry Dust Bunny.

And we found out this past weekend that we're having a BOY!!!! yup another boy in the Russell family... I alway's tell Kimmy not to get her hopes up for a girl as "Boys run strong in my family"... The due date is sometime the end of April... Jacob will be a month shy of 2yr's old so that should keep us quite busy.

We've known about the pregnancy for a while but have had fun just keeping it close to home and not spilling the beans. Today was the day for announcements ect. The reason for the unknown exact due date is that we had a scare with Kimmy having some heavy bleeding and a trip to the ER this past week (Thursday night). All is well with the baby and an indepth ultrasound at the ER facility told us we were closer to 13 weeks than what we thought was 11. So that changed the due date from May 11th to the end of April sometime... And once it was determined the baby was fine and dandy the lady doing the scans asked if we wanted to know the sex of the baby... OH YEAH!!! and BOY oh BOY it's a BOY! So that was cool. But due to the bleeding ect. Kimmy's been on bed rest all weekend and is going to be until tuesday at least....oh boy am I whooped. Monday brings a doctor's appointment where will learn more about what's going on...they gave it some large medical descriptions at the hospital but I had other things on my mind and didn't submit it to memory. But the Doc's at the ER said it's common to happen and even the ultrasound technician said it had happened to her as well with her pregnancy. So all is ok but a little unnerving non the less.

So that's the latest and greatest news from the Rockin R Ranch... more to come in the weeks ahead. Thanks

Jared

Grandma and Grandpa arrived late Friday evening. Jacob was up and acted a little shy at first. He shook Daddy's hand and then shook theirs. Then he wanted to help them up off the couch. He climbed in the rocker and read every one of the books next to him.

Saturday morning Jacob slept in til 8am as well as the rest of us. He got up and ate his cheerios and Grandpa shared his pop tart with him. Jacob went to the counter and asked for a banana. Grandpa opened one up for him and he sat down with it. I think he just wanted to hold it. We ended up feeding it to Truman and Kate. Grandma did her exercises and Jacob watched. Later this evening Jacob was feeling Grandpa's beard and then scared him as he made a loud noise every time he touched it. Jacob thought this was so funny, he clapped his hands and bent over laughing. Then he went over to Daddy to touch his face and see if he'd get the same reaction - of course he did. Jacob gave everyone huggs goodnight before bed.

Sunday am: After breakfast Daddy made Jacob a tent under the counter chairs. Grandpa tried to give him a bite of his pop tart in his tent but he wouldn't take it in there. He climbed out and walked over to his chair at the table. He wanted up and wanted to be buckeled before he would take a bite. Jacob then got down and went back into his tent. He sat up on the crossbars with his feet just touching the floor. I went into the bathroom and heard a loud noise. Came out and saw our ceramic plant holder in pieces. Grandma was using it to do her exercise step ups and it broke. She fell and scraped her ankle. Jacob wanted Grandma to hold him and she read him a book. He was getting very sleepy so she lay him in his crib for a morning nap. When he woke up we got ready and headed over to my moms house. Today we are celebrating Vikki and my birthdays with pizza and cake/ice cream.

This morning Jared let me open my presents right after we woke up Jacob. I got a nice pair of winter boots and a book (Daily inspiration of God's Word, for women). Jared also got one for men that he could read. Jacob had fun watching Mommy open her gifts. Lela called me to wish me a happy b-day and said hello to Jacob. Mom and Dad gave me a card and some spending money and Kenzie gave me a nice letter she had typed. I took her to school and then headed for work. They had a card and an ice cream cake. Dad called me from their breakfast group and the whole group sang to me on speaker phone. Got out at 12 o'clock and headed over to Mom's. Jared was there when I got there. Vikki came shortly after. I was worried I wasn't going to see her on our b-day. We had a fun time together. Talked to Grandma on the phone. Jared played Dad in pingpong but only won the first game. Jared took me out to Pi's for dinner. Then we walked around Salvation army. Saw Mel and Bruce there with the kids. I had to remind Melissa that it was my birthday but she did remember it the day before. Max kept leaning over to give me kisses and I had him giggling. We went over to the mall so the kids could play. Jacob and Hailey ran all over. Max loved to go back and forth in the car. At home we fed the animals and then went inside. Jacob wanted to play with his tractors. He has three tractors and hands one to me and one to Daddy. He was pushing his on the floor and then pushed it behind my back. Then he walked around to get it on the other side of me.

Jared called me at lunch today and told me he was out getting my b-day gift and he got something for Jacob too. He wouldn't tell me what it was. When we got home Jacob opened it and was excited to find a kids cd. I've been wanting to get him some kids music. It was veggie tales - kids worship. I was excited and put it in the player right away. Jacob started dancing to the music. Its so funny to watch him dance - he stands up straight in one spot and bounches up and down real fast. Of course we laugh and he gets a shy smile and stops. Then Daddy pushed him around on his car really fast. He stop playing to come dance. He went in the kitchen and climbed up on the chair and wanted a snack. I asked him if he wanted his blankey and he started to run to his room. I told him it wasn't in his room and then I gave it to him. He was so happy he went to show Daddy. Then he ran around the living room with it on his head.

At Mels this morning, Hailey walked out of her bedroom and Jacob ran over to her. He was so excited to see her. We didn't have any appointments after 5:00 today so we closed early and all went home. At home we took care of the animals. Jacob rode on the tractor with Daddy over to the horses. Then Jacob and I rode in the trailer behind the tractor back to the barn. After dinner Jacob ran into his bedroom and was begging for something. We thought it was his tractor, but when I went in to get them down for him he was pointing at his blankey in his crib. He was so excited to get it and ran over to Daddy on the dog bed. Then he was running around covering his head with it. I sat on the couch with him and he turned the pages in his book as I asked him to point to things. Then Daddy brought in a bucket of corn and he ran over to look at it. Daddy read him a book before bed.

Jacob woke up crying this morning instead of his usual chating. I thought maybe his mouth was sore. He was very happy to see me and smile really big when he saw Daddy. After our usual donuts and muffin we walked through Salvation army. Then we went over to the mall to walk around. We took Jacob to play and he climb all over. He climbed by himself up the pile of grapes. Then he layed his head down at the top and waved to Daddy. We'd pick him up and put him on the bed and he'd slide down right away. Then he wanted to do it again. He was running around and ran into a little boy. He rubbed his head and wanted Mommy to kiss it. When we got home it was time for lunch and then a nap for Jacob. I started choping veggies for a chicken pot pie dinner. Vikki, Kenzie, and a friend came over. Jacob woke up shortly before they got there. We went outside and Kenzie and the little girl played in the chicken coop. Then the girls climbed in the hayloft. Jacob just wanted to sit on the tractor. We got a scoop of corn which Kenzie and Savanah feed to the goats. Kenzie gave Clarence a big hugg. Jared gave then a ride on the hay in the trailer. Jacob rode with Daddy. Then we took them in the paddock with Sammy. Kenzie gave Sammy a big hugg. I showed then his teeth and even let Kenzie touch his tongue - she thought it was cool. Savanah didn't want to do that. Then picked up his foot. Then it was up for a bareback ride. It was pretty cold out so Vikki and I took Jacob inside and Jared took the girls for one last ride in the trailer. Then they came inside and played some foose ball. Jacob didn't like my chicken pot pie so I made him something else. After dinner we took a drive to Grandma's pumpkin patch. They had a fire going. There were all sorts of gords. It was fun looking around. They have lots of activities for kids that go on during the day. We had ice cream tonight and Jacob sat right next to me on the couch and shared mine. Jacob wanted a drink and Daddy opened the fridge so he could grab his drink. He took a drink and started to cry. Then Daddy opened the fridge and switched the milk for his juice - that was what he wanted. I asked him if I could feel his tooth - he shook his head no. He likes to carry on a conversation in his own language. He'll walk right up to our face and start talking. Daddy asked him, "what" and he repeated exactly what he just had said. Usually I just talk back and pretend I know exactly what he's saying.

Jacob was sleeping when we got to Mom's this morning. He woke up and then begged Kenzie for a bite of her bagel. She broke him off a piece. I took Kenzie to school on my way to work. It snowed/hailed off and on today and was very windy. Several high school parades going on today. I got out of work at 3:15 and headed over to Mel's. Melissa was trying to put gloves on Jacob and he was throwing a fit cause he didn't want to wear them. We took them off and just unvelcrowed his sleeves so they'd go past his little hands. He was ok with that. We are taking the kids to the parade. The parade starts right out Mels back yard. We walked down to the corner of the road. It was Mom, Mel and I with the four kids. It started to hail pretty hard but Mom had a really big umbrella. I looked down at Jacob in his stroller and he had his tongue sticking out trying to catch the snow/hail. The bands started to play and Jacob was bouncing up and down in his seat. I got him out of the stroller and Kenzie, Hailey, and him had their little buckets and we got lots of candy. Last to go by was the firetrucks. Jacob really liked them. Hailey and Max cried when the blew their loud horns. Kenzie said her hands were ice cold. We walked back and picked up more candy on the way. My feet were soaking wet and cold but we had lots of fun! The kids ate some candy when we got back. Jacob had some smarty's and licked a sucker. Jacob fell asleep almost as soon as we got on the road. I got stuck in a traffic jam on the way home. This time it was only for about 15 min. Daddy had the fire going in our corn burner and it was nice and warm in the house. He said, "Lets go to Fazolies for dinner". That sounded great to me. Jacob loved his spagetti but when I tried to give him a bite of my sub he shook his head no. We walked around meijer afterwards. Tonight Jacob was spinning in circles to make himself dizzy and then stumbling across the room laughing. Later he had a bad accident and fell over on the stool that he uses to get up on the couch. He fell and landed his mouth on the edge of the stool. The stool is made of flat rocks that are cut and have sharp edges. His mouth was bleeding and got really puffy. I asked him to open his mouth and he let me have a quick look. He cut right above his front teeth. I had to hold back the tears myself - I felt so bad for him. Daddy chopped him up some ice to suck on. I held and rocked him. He was a brave little boy and was soon running around the house again.

It was very cold out this morning. We bundled up and took care of the animals. Jacob wore his winter coat today. When we got to Mel's he wanted to stand outside and watch the garbage truck that was coming down the street. After work when I got there he and Hailey were eating snacks in the kitchen. Then they went into Hailey's new room. Jacob likes to climb on the bed. He lay his head on Hailey's pillow. When we got home Daddy was getting Sammy's stall ready. We fed the girls before moving him over so they cared more about their food than him leaving. Daddy brought Jacob over to pet Sammy. He rubbed his nose. After dinner Jacob went into his bedroom and was trying to get his tractors. I got them down for him and he was excited. When it was time to put them away he ran out of the room with one to give it to Daddy. He sat in the rocker and pointed out the different animals in his Bible. Then he ran up and down the hallway holding his football.