BIG NEWS, big news, and just news

Let me begin by sharing some of our most recent conversations with Ben:

Mommy: "Ben, what's going to happen in October?"
Ben: "A new baby!"
Mommy: "Where is the baby now?"
Ben: "In Mommy's belly!"
Mommy: "Do you think it will be a baby brother or a baby sister?"
Ben: "A baby sister" (sometimes) or "A baby brother" (other times)
Mommy: "What kinds of things do you think you will teach the new baby?"
Ben: "Run, soccer, jump,throw balls, ... "

That's right! By now you've probably inferred the BIG NEWS part of the post title. It is baby time in the Ausenhus household again! The baby is due October 29th. We've heard the heartbeat both at the 8 and 12 week appointments. Everything has gone smoothly so far with the pregnancy. I've been feeling pretty good, but it is definitely different being pregnant while chasing around a two year old. I had a few pretty tired weeks in March, but other than that, I can't complain. Brant would tell you my sense of smell is insanely heightened, after a few funny incidences with "mystery" odors in our kitchen that involved him scouring and cleaning the refrigerator and freezer and buying several boxes of baking soda. Yes, we are planning to find out if it is a boy or a girl. That will happen in mid-June. We didn't find out with Ben, but I really think I'd like to know this time in order to decorate the room and either get Ben's old clothes ready, or purchase some girly clothes. All in all, we are thrilled at this BIG NEWS!

As for the lower case version of the big news (because really, what compares to baby news?) I recently interviewed for and accepted a new job. I will be taking on the role of instructional coach. My position is in the same building I teach in now, but I won't have a classroom of students. My role will revolve around delivering professional development and training to teachers, supporting the implementation of new curriculum, and being a support for teachers to try new teaching strategies and find ways to best meet kids' needs. I've felt the need for a change and new challenge, so I'm really excited about taking this on. However, of course it is a little bittersweet leaving my classroom and the comfort zone of teaching fourth grade, as well as the near perfect partnership with my teaching partner.

Finally, for the just news. I'm really only sharing this because I'm super excited about it, mainly because I love new, fresh things. As many of you know, we've been working to update our living room. Brant has been making new trim, which is turning out beautifully. He got the floor trim installed in our living room last week and we finally got our new carpet put in, and I LOVE it! Who knew you could get so excited over trim and carpet? Well, I do and can't wait to post some before and after pictures in the near future when the project is finally all complete. New blinds will be coming in a few weeks and Brant will then just need to finish the trim and crown molding (he'd roll his eyes at the "just" part of that statement), and then hopefully, the project will be complete.

Truly, there seems to never be a dull moment around here lately. I wouldn't have it any other way!

Sleepless Night to a Wonderful Spring Evening

Sunday nights are the nights I'm most likely to be an insomniac. Last night was no exception. Sometimes I think it is how I try to cram so much into Sunday evening to prepare for the upcoming work week, or maybe just my brain moving a mile a minute thinking about the "to do" list for the week. As I watched 2:00, and then 4:00, pass by on my clock early this a.m., I knew I'd be working on very little sleep and will admit to feeling pretty pessimistic about my Monday.

However, this evening turned out to be about the most perfect spring evening I could have asked for. Ben, Brant, and I were all home together, which often doesn't happen on Mondays. I made a new recipe for mini pita pizzas that turned out to be a hit with all three of us. Simple, I know. However, I've felt that my cooking has been in rut for some time now and finding something that all of us seemed to love is always a big success my eyes. My biggest highlight this evening, however, was going on our first canoe ride of the spring and Ben's first canoe ride ever. Brant got the canoe for his birthday in January and tonight all three of us went on a pleasant, quiet, relaxing ride around the pond. Ben showed no fear. We listened to the birds singing, heard a few fish splash, and watched a baby duck swim underwater and pop back up. I would say it was the perfect end to the evening, but Ben topped it off at bedtime by singing "Jesus Loves Me" from beginning to end all by himself. Precious, beautiful, innocent. Now that is a much better start to the week!

Love This!

I have a whole list of Ben-isms I'm loving right now. I managed to catch one of them on video today. As a mom, I say, "Ahhh, cute!" and as a teacher I think, "Those are such great early literacy skills." Check it out!

Also, topping the list at the moment are:

• Ben's use of the word delicious. Everything lately is delicious, according to Ben.
• His random use of the line, "I love Mommy!" and "I love Daddy!" Whether it is in the parking lot, while he is playing, or just at the supper table, he melts our hearts with these comments that seem to come out of the blue. However, for the first time tonight he started to apply it to lots of other things, saying, "I love basketball!" and "I love chocolate!" (he is a mama's boy) and "I love spiders!" (WHAT?!?).
• His absolute love of ice cream. After devouring ice cream after supper tonight, I caught him trying to stick his head in the tiny little bowl to lick up every last drop.
• The beginning of pretend play. Sometimes, Ben will get out his puppets and put them on his hand and attempt to have pretend conversations with them. Tonight, he told his frog puppet to "Have fun at the game!"

Putting the "Spring" in Spring Break

Although snow now covers the ground again, Ben and I enjoyed a pretty nice week of Spring Break. My brother and his wife were here for the first part of break. Patti hung out with Ben and I during the day and we enjoyed the company of Jeff, Patti, and often times, Nick, in the evenings.

Ben and I had several "spring-like" adventures during the week. We visited the butterfly gardens at Reiman Gardens on Monday. Ben loved watching all the butterflies flutter around the dome and looking at them land on all the flowers. He talked about the colors he saw and the butterflies landing on my finger all week. That put us in the mood for butterflies, so we picked up some roller paints, some butterfly cut-outs, and pom balls at Michael's to do a little art project decorating butterflies. Ben was very excited to see them hung in his playroom and has exclaimed on more than one occasion recently, "Look at my paintings!"

We also spent lots of time playing outside. The weather was nice enough to go to the park one day and on Thursday, the weather was so great we spent a good part of the morning and afternoon outside. Ben rode his trike, which is still way too big for him, and we searched for interesting nuts, sticks, rocks, and leaves in the yard. We did bubbles, broke out the sidewalk chalk, and went on walks down to the pond and around the water. At the end of the day on Thursday, we were walking back up the hill to our house and Ben said, "It is a busy day!" It definitely was!

I'm lamenting the end of a nice break. Of course, how could we conclude a break without taking on a new home updating project?! As I write, Brant is taking down the old crown molding in our dining and living room, only to reveal nasty 1970's wall paper. We ordered new carpet yesterday, so the fire has definitely been lit to get going on the paint! I'm sure pictures of this project will be forthcoming.

Happy Birthday, Ben!

Ben turns 2 tomorrow! We celebrated tonight with Grandma, Papa, and Uncle Alex and will look forward to seeing more family this weekend to celebrate. Ben had so much fun at his birthday party!