Early Bedtime?

I thought that I might get to bed early tonight but it is 9:30 and I am sitting at the computer! I was in bed, flipping channels and I flipped passed CNN covering the story of a Metro train accident. For those of you not from MD/DC/VA, the metro is the "subway" system of MD/DC/VA. I have many friends and family who ride the metro on a daily basis for work and play. So, do you think they would tell you what "line" of the metro it was?! NO! So I had to rush over to the computer to search the story. Thank goodness it was not any line that my friends or family have to ride. I am so sorry to hear about this accident though...I have been on the red line through Fort Totten and Takoma Park many a time going from College Park into DC. My thoughts and prayers are with families that have lost a loved one or have someone who is injured.

On to some other not so light news...My family, The Margolis', gathered this weekend at my grandparents Shenandoah Valley cabin to celebrate the life of my grandfather, Abraham Arnold Margolis. He passed away earlier this year and we had been waiting to celebrate his life. Unfortunately, I was unable to make the trip due to health concerns with the pregnancy. My dad, stepmom, aunt, uncle, cousin and grammi all gathered, along with a few animals, to cheers my grandfather with his favorite drink, a dirty martini....not Makers Mark (only they would understand!). Grand Marnier was a close second, which my grandfather and I toasted with after the birth of Samuel! It was a special memory! I hope that they had a peaceful afternoon and I'm sure many stories were shared that brought wonderful memories of him. I love you Grammi!

OK--onto some lighter news! We had a sonogram today to check new baby Kastendike's growth. Charlie seems to be doing just fine. He is in the 27th percentile, which sounds small but he is doing just great. IF I can make it full term, a 27th percentile baby weighs between six and seven pounds...which is just fine for me. Sam was tiny even for a 33 weeker...an average 33 weeker weighs a little over four pounds, so the docs have come to the conclusion that I just have small babies :) Whoo Hoo for my Hoo Hoo! Sorry that's gross! Below are the three pics that were taken. They are in 3D and if you are squemish don't look--also there is a gratuitous picture of his wee-wee. I couldn't believe that the tech found it and then photographed it! What a technological society--I have 3D images of my unborn childs genitalia! Who would have thought! PS--He looks JUST like SAM who looks JUST like GREG--again I am just a carrier of clones!

I digress....it's way past my bedtime! A few more things...Greg worked his buns off, literally sweating his butt off, power washing all three of the decks this weekend. Not only did we pick the hottest weekend of the year to do so but also the most humid! Poor guy but the decks look great! Mom was also here with Debi, Sarah and Kimmie to see Keith Urban. They were in and out--literally! Hotel Kastendike was in full effect! I loved seeing them but I was sad to see them go. I think it is also weighing on me again that my family lives so far away and they are not around as much as we would like them to be. Also, the fact that I will no longer be able to hop in the car and just head to MD. I am kinda a prisoner in WF until Charlie makes his appearance! But Cupcake Envy, Sam and my very dedicated husband will keep me very busy I'm sure!

OK--Don't let me forget to explain the MASSIVE tantrum Sam had today at dinner! I'm just too tired to rehash! XOXO

SLACKER!!

I am a slacker--I haven't posted since may! I suck! Lots has happened and we are a BUSY family but no excuse.Mom, Sarah and John

My little, baby sister graduated from high school on June 4th! I remember when she was little thinking God, I'll be 30 when she graduates! Well here it is--I'm 30 and she graduated! I am so proud of her! Even though she totally had senioritis and had a TOTAL slacker schedule. She went to school from 9-1ish and took English, Computers, Photography and Health/PE! What could be better? She is going to CSM to continue a nursing program started in her Sophomore year in HS. So hopefully she'll enjoy it! I miss college and not the drinking/sleeping late/playing hockey college--well maybe the hockey part, but really the challenge of learning and the classes part! Ahhh, to be young :)

Sarah and Kimmie (my psuedo sister)

Anywho--onto my reality of parenting and being preggo! Sam is the spawn of the devil but what almost 2 year old isn't?! And he is so damn cute--it really is hard to get upset at him! We have been attempting to get him familiar with the potty! HA! But we'll see. He has officially been de-bumperized. He learned to step on his bumper to try and propel himself out of the crib. It was a milestone. His crib looks a little more big boy like and a little less baby like :( But that's what happens--they grow up.
Sam also broke our gate--yes, broke our gate....the metal one at the top of the stairs--hello lawsuit! The plastic part that usually catches the gate cracked and Sam decided to through a tantrum (no not my child) and run full force into the gate, which proceeded to swing open over the stairs. Sam started to fall but held onto the gate and pulled it back with such force that he ended up with the biggest goose egg yet! Check it out below! Once again, proving my point that Sam will never play football and should be wearing a helmet at all times!
We have also had our first encounter with smoothies! I let him have a cup with no lid b/c of the fresh fruit and as you see he did a pretty good job! He LOVES blueberries but they just burn up his butt! So I am trying to cut them with other fruit and some yogurt! And we had some toast. Getting him to eat is a challenge. He is really a snacker. He is just TOO busy to sit and enjoy his food. He would rather play and then come back for a bite!
I am now going to the doctors every 2-3 weeks. They just want to keep an eye on me! I get to go for a sonogram on the 22nd to make sure that my amniotic fluid levels are good--apparently a poor working thyroid can lead to low fluid--whatever--I get to see this little man on screen again! Then I am back to the docs on the 29th. My bp was good but elevated from the previous visit. I am not a diabetic--I had to drink the goopy stuff and then have blood drawn to make sure that my insulin levels were ok and they seem to be fine :) No news is good news right?! I also may be going to see a cardiologist b/c of a murmur that seems to be getting worse :( Just when I thought all I had to worry about was pre-eclampsia! So we'll see at the next appointment and hopefully all I need is a quick work up!

The doctors have limited my travel though. I am not allowed to really travel anywhere that would be more than and hours drive from the hospital-just in case. I am officially in my third trimester and that means the end is near. I have to sign up for birthing classes again b/c Greg and I missed our classes b/c Sam had already been born! So I thought I should take a "refresher" course b/c technically, I've already done it! But maybe, just maybe, this one will go a little smoother! HA!!!

Cupcake Envy is BUSY! Enough said!

Month of May

ok--so could I beeeee more behind in posting?! This is Sam and I after we finished the March for Babies walk on May 2nd. He has a little shirt on that says "March for Dimes Miracle Baby". I am so proud to take part in this event every year. Before we had Sam I would have never thought twice about what this organization does, but now that I have had a preemie, I am grateful that they are raising money for research and providing services to those in need. The march was an emotional day for me. The first year we did it I got pretty choked up. Lots of teams, including us, made t-shirts celebrating their preemies. We were fortunate, Sam has very little if any health issues from being a preemie. Some parents and children have a tougher road to travel. Some babies made it a few days and some even lived for 2 years and then passed away due to their complications. It really does make you see that everyday is a gift that we should NEVER take for granted. This year was especially hard at the walk. I think it was just because I am pregnant and already a little hormonal, not to mention that I'm not sure what is going to happen with this pregnancy. I could go full term, I could have to deliver next week! But I was overcome with emotion and lots of tears. I had two people with me that helped me through, not to mention two adorable babies (Sam of course, and Baby Finton) that helped me smile through all the crazy thoughts! Thanks Jayme and Eli!

Onto cuter and more uplifting pics and stories! Here is Sam hard at work at Greg's new desk in his newly finished office. He has been up there roughly 3-4 weeks now and is LOVING it. I am still waiting on the beer fridge to be moved up there!

Sam has a second mommy. Eli is such a wonderful neighbor and friend. All my teacher friends out there know what I am about to say is SOOO true...when you meet another teacher, you know it right away! Eli is such a mom and a teacher it isn't even funny. She has more patience then I have ever seen in a person :) So we are lucky! She was showing Sam the flowers and he was helping her pick weeds when he grabed a flower and smelled it and then showed it to Eli! What a precious pic!

"Brusha, Brusha, Brusha" This is Sam "brushing" his teeth. I try to get at least a little scrub in before I turn the "brushing" over to him. Really, he just sucks the kiddy toothpaste off of the brush and then proceeds to DROOL all over. The true purpose of this picture and the set of pictures that I took but decided to spare you, was to show you his hair! The child has very little hair, but the hair that he does have is out of control. I still cannot bring myself to cut it. He is too cute with the curls!
Onto Sam's first official competition. Suzzanne signed Sam up for the Sneaker Creeper over Memorial Day Weekend. It was actually for 2 years and up but Suzzanne wanted to cheat so she got him in :) She ran with him in the race for obvious reasons--I'm sure people would have had a heart attack to see a pregnant woman running with a "2 year old"...not to mention that I might scare some child with the size of my boobs :)

Here are the results...which by some miracle (maybe also cheating on the judges part because Sam is so DAMN cute) he placed 3rd....when actually he placed 3rd to last :) But not last....
75 Yd-Boys Time
2 Year Old
E.Gillespie 0:32
K.Peet 0:37
S.Kastendike 0:43
W.Arnold 0:52
M.Walters 0:56
G.Larrimore 0:58
K.Councell 1:07
B.Deringer 1:15
E.Zottarelli 1:17
E.Eienhart 1:18

As you also see...Sam was not happy with his "participant" ribbon and we have coached him how to do better next time :) He did enjoy a whole popsicle after this picture was taken. Then he proceeded to fall asleep on my shoulders with his head resting on mine :)


AHHHH--Chestertown Tea Party! What an event!! We go every year to watch the same parade, point at the same people wearing colonial time piece clothing and we buy the same clam strips and crab cake sandwiches?! I swear it was groundhog's day!

A little Kastendike Family Photo Op!

Sam did have his very first boat ride! He hated the life jacket at first. He looked as if he were in a straight jacket but then learned quickly that he could move around in it :) He then became VERY comfortable on the boat and walked everywhere!

If anyone knows us, knows that we have a million pictures of us just like this...self taken. So just another to add to the collection....
And here is the Scarlett hat + huge boobs + huge belly + brown Chester River = 25 weeks pregnant pic.
Sam has been taking swim lessons with Greg at the YMCA on Saturday mornings...boy has it paid off. The child LOVES the water and is NOT afraid to get wet! Which all can be a little scary. He loves to splash and play, so I am thinking of getting a small pool--one that can fit a pregnant lady and a 21 month old in it :) I took him out today to run in the sprinkler and ended up with my chair approx. 6 inches away from the sprinkler head because I was so hot! I think I spent more time in the water then Sam...but I digress. He played while Maddy cried about her foot (she had a small scrape and it kept getting wet and bothersome). But then they played together pushing a stroller with a baby in it :) How fun! Our "Mommy's little helpers"....yeah right--Andrea and I will have to watch our kids every second to make sure they aren't tipping the new babies out of their strollers :)Hugs and kisses to all :)