A brief update for those of you who do not follow Ben or I's facebook page: barring his decision to come on his own terms, baby "Sammy" will make his arrival sometime on July 2. I will be going in to be induced at 7 AM that morning, and we'll see how it goes from there. The doctor has prepped me for the possibility of a C-section, as Violet had a hard time getting her shoulders out, but reassured me that really, it's anybody's guess as to how well this guy will come out. Of course, we're expecting that this baby is considerably larger (the doctor threw around the 10 lb. lingo yesterday) but you still never know. Many people have told me that their bigger babies were actually easier to deliver. We shall see!
Anyway, it's nice to finally have a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm a little disappointed that I'm not there today having the baby, but the birthing center was full! And really, after 42 weeks, what's a couple more days?????
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Anticipating the Arrival
For those of you that keep an eye on the baby counter on our blog, I thought I'd give you a little update. The date used on our countdown thing is our 'original' due date of June 15, which held up to around our 20 week ultrasound. That, however, dated baby closer to June 27, which is now the due date the doctor is using. So, depending on which one you pick, I either have 8 or 20 days to go.
To top this off, doctor doesn't believe that I will go early or on the due date--he anticipates me being late--possibly into July (that seems impossible, if you catch my drift). Not something you tell a 9-month pregnant woman who is already measuring 40cm at her official 36 week appointment, feels like she's carrying a toddler and not a baby, and who, being pregnant in September and through the entire school year, already feels like she's been pregnant for forever.
So, keep us in your thoughts the next couple of weeks--we're eagerly anticipating the arrival of this little guy, and I'm about done being pregnant. This pregnancy hasn't been the easiest to begin with, and the thought of going almost a month longer than originally anticipated, makes it even more challenging. We keep telling ourselves that it doesn't matter when he comes, as long as he is healthy, but it still is challenging--especially when you're school teachers and July signals half your summer is over already!
Alright...enough whining...but to put it in Violet's words: Baby "Sammy"--it's time to come out! I want to be a big sister!
To top this off, doctor doesn't believe that I will go early or on the due date--he anticipates me being late--possibly into July (that seems impossible, if you catch my drift). Not something you tell a 9-month pregnant woman who is already measuring 40cm at her official 36 week appointment, feels like she's carrying a toddler and not a baby, and who, being pregnant in September and through the entire school year, already feels like she's been pregnant for forever.
So, keep us in your thoughts the next couple of weeks--we're eagerly anticipating the arrival of this little guy, and I'm about done being pregnant. This pregnancy hasn't been the easiest to begin with, and the thought of going almost a month longer than originally anticipated, makes it even more challenging. We keep telling ourselves that it doesn't matter when he comes, as long as he is healthy, but it still is challenging--especially when you're school teachers and July signals half your summer is over already!
Alright...enough whining...but to put it in Violet's words: Baby "Sammy"--it's time to come out! I want to be a big sister!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Tulip Time in Pella
People have asked me why I have the desire to travel back to Iowa for Tulip Time, when there's a well-renowned festival right in Holland, MI. I say because they're completely different--even though they celebrate essentially the same thing--great, fatty Dutch food and tulips. The big difference is the one in Michigan is only 2 hours from the house, while the Iowa one is 8...on a good day.
And so begins our adventure to Tulip Time in Pella. I had been toying with the idea of going for a while; I had always wanted to take Violet back before we had more kids, and well, this was the last year that would be possible. And, I was having one of those stir-crazy moments where I had to just get away. Ben is super busy with track, and if I went, then grandma and grandpa could entertain Violet, and I could get some rest and relaxation. Tuesday, I decided to pull the trigger, and Thursday morning we left Big Rapids at 7:30 AM EDT.
I'd done the trip this way before; with a early awake time, Violet takes a relatively early nap, usually allowing me to get through Chicago before she wakes up and we need to take a break. The trip was going well; we'd had one potty break in Holland, and although Violet didn't fall asleep, she was riding very well and keeping herself entertained. We got to Chicago proper without much of a hitch...and then the fun began.
First, there was an accident at the Indiana/Illinois border. For those of you familiar with I-80/94/I-294 in the Chicago area, you know this is not the best place to have an accident. Fortunately, the construction of the last five years has helped congestion quite a bit; it slowed us down considerably, but we were never 'stopped' and waiting. And, Violet was having a ball at watching all the cars zoom by. No big deal; got through it and as soon as we were past, traffic pace picked up to normal. I breathed a sigh of relief...and then...
...came the I-80/I-294 toll booth. Now, the great minds that compose the construction crews of Illinois must have decided that the Thursday before the Mother's Day weeked would be the best time to close down not one, but TWO (out of 3) anes of I-80 about a mile past the toll booth. Traffic was backed up to two miles PRIOR to even reaching the toll booth--I didn't time it but I'm pretty sure, based on our total travel time, which I will reveal later, that we spent 2+ hours going 4 miles to go through and past the toll booth. I must say, thank goodness for freight traffic, (even though I was tired of breathing all the fumes) because I was able to entertain Violet by looking for different colors of semi-trucks. It is important to note, that during this two hour trek of 4 miles, the air conditioning was not keep up, so I rolled down my window to try to avoid having the car overheat.
So, finally, we make it through the toll booth, squeeze through the one lane of traffic (seriously, it was for about 500ft to patch holes with that granular black stuff--it couldn't be done at a time other than in the middle of the day??), and as I went to roll up my window...it wouldn't go. Ever. For the rest of the trip (about 4 hours) I got to drive down the interstate with my window rolled down. All the way. And, did you know it was pop-up thunderstorm season in Illinois and Iowa? Yes. Through two of them. With the window down.
Finally, after 11 hours, we rolled into my parent's house in Iowa. I must say, Violet, though, was a trooper. When I noticed we were approaching a thunderstorm, I pulled off, threw her her coat and told her to hold it over her head and in front of her so she would get wet. She thought that was one of the funniest games ever. Her reward--a Fisher-Price doctor kit. A two year old that loves to tell the story of the 11 hour trip to Iowa with a giggle, no fits, and not an accident until we were only an hour away from our destination (and that was more my fault) deserves a little bribe.
So, was Tulip Time worth all that. Yes. It was nice to be home for spring planting and seeing the plains of Iowa in that time of the growing cycle was very rewarding. I don't think I've been home in May since I graduated from college, so it was time. It was also fun to eat some of the good food that I remember from my high school days, and see some old friends--even running into my high school track coach, who's daughter I baby sat is now a junior in high school.
And, these pictures really tell the story of Tulip Time. Violet is actually in my sister's Dutch costume; I would've had a bigger one that matched. There's nothing like bringing a blond haired, blue-eyed girl to Pella and sticking her in a Dutch costume...
Smelling the tulips..thank goodness she didn't pick one; that's a $500 fine!
She's not smiling, but this is just such a classic picture...
Our return trip was much more uneventful...thank goodness. I have more pictures, but these are the ones that are currently accessible on the computer. All she needs now is a pair of wooden shoes...
And so begins our adventure to Tulip Time in Pella. I had been toying with the idea of going for a while; I had always wanted to take Violet back before we had more kids, and well, this was the last year that would be possible. And, I was having one of those stir-crazy moments where I had to just get away. Ben is super busy with track, and if I went, then grandma and grandpa could entertain Violet, and I could get some rest and relaxation. Tuesday, I decided to pull the trigger, and Thursday morning we left Big Rapids at 7:30 AM EDT.
I'd done the trip this way before; with a early awake time, Violet takes a relatively early nap, usually allowing me to get through Chicago before she wakes up and we need to take a break. The trip was going well; we'd had one potty break in Holland, and although Violet didn't fall asleep, she was riding very well and keeping herself entertained. We got to Chicago proper without much of a hitch...and then the fun began.
First, there was an accident at the Indiana/Illinois border. For those of you familiar with I-80/94/I-294 in the Chicago area, you know this is not the best place to have an accident. Fortunately, the construction of the last five years has helped congestion quite a bit; it slowed us down considerably, but we were never 'stopped' and waiting. And, Violet was having a ball at watching all the cars zoom by. No big deal; got through it and as soon as we were past, traffic pace picked up to normal. I breathed a sigh of relief...and then...
...came the I-80/I-294 toll booth. Now, the great minds that compose the construction crews of Illinois must have decided that the Thursday before the Mother's Day weeked would be the best time to close down not one, but TWO (out of 3) anes of I-80 about a mile past the toll booth. Traffic was backed up to two miles PRIOR to even reaching the toll booth--I didn't time it but I'm pretty sure, based on our total travel time, which I will reveal later, that we spent 2+ hours going 4 miles to go through and past the toll booth. I must say, thank goodness for freight traffic, (even though I was tired of breathing all the fumes) because I was able to entertain Violet by looking for different colors of semi-trucks. It is important to note, that during this two hour trek of 4 miles, the air conditioning was not keep up, so I rolled down my window to try to avoid having the car overheat.
So, finally, we make it through the toll booth, squeeze through the one lane of traffic (seriously, it was for about 500ft to patch holes with that granular black stuff--it couldn't be done at a time other than in the middle of the day??), and as I went to roll up my window...it wouldn't go. Ever. For the rest of the trip (about 4 hours) I got to drive down the interstate with my window rolled down. All the way. And, did you know it was pop-up thunderstorm season in Illinois and Iowa? Yes. Through two of them. With the window down.
Finally, after 11 hours, we rolled into my parent's house in Iowa. I must say, Violet, though, was a trooper. When I noticed we were approaching a thunderstorm, I pulled off, threw her her coat and told her to hold it over her head and in front of her so she would get wet. She thought that was one of the funniest games ever. Her reward--a Fisher-Price doctor kit. A two year old that loves to tell the story of the 11 hour trip to Iowa with a giggle, no fits, and not an accident until we were only an hour away from our destination (and that was more my fault) deserves a little bribe.
So, was Tulip Time worth all that. Yes. It was nice to be home for spring planting and seeing the plains of Iowa in that time of the growing cycle was very rewarding. I don't think I've been home in May since I graduated from college, so it was time. It was also fun to eat some of the good food that I remember from my high school days, and see some old friends--even running into my high school track coach, who's daughter I baby sat is now a junior in high school.
And, these pictures really tell the story of Tulip Time. Violet is actually in my sister's Dutch costume; I would've had a bigger one that matched. There's nothing like bringing a blond haired, blue-eyed girl to Pella and sticking her in a Dutch costume...
Smelling the tulips..thank goodness she didn't pick one; that's a $500 fine!
She's not smiling, but this is just such a classic picture...
Monday, April 27, 2009
Finally...an update
So, I think we have earned the title of terrible bloggers. It's not that we haven't had things to blog about--it's a matter of finding time to do it. So, here are a few highlights of the last few months:
February:
- School continued, and the plethora of snow days ended.
- Ben began planning for the beginning of track and field season, and kept plugging away with the 2nd grade curriculum
- Charissa began planning for 'track widow' season, and her curriculum job became a lot busier with the beginning of state education grant/funding application season. Trying to make sense of the education 'stimulus' package also takes up a lot of her time, as well as dealing with being increasingly more pregnant and tired
- Violet continued to be Violet--amazing us more and more everyday--and visibly becoming a little girl, and not a 'big baby'.
- A few glimpses of spring appeared, but generally we were reminded that 'spring' does not really come to northern Michigan until AT LEAST April
- Track season started on March 9, and Ben is very excited about the potential of his athletes--especially on the boys' side.
- Charissa continues to plug away in solving what exactly the state wants schools to spend grant money on
- Work begins on Violet's big girl room in preparation for the arrival of 'Baby Sammy' (Violet's name for the baby, not necessarily the chosen name). This results in the downstairs of our house looking like a storage facility, as everything in that room must find a new place. Also results in us probably using more than our fair share of landfill space (but we did try to repurpose and recycle as much as we could). No one wants old plaster, though. It is currently a shell of a room, patiently waiting for either the planting in Iowa to be finished, or for a week of rainy weather which prevents Charissa's dad from being in the field (ideally, the former, rather than the latter).
- Violet began swimming lessons at Ferris State University. These lessons are a little more intense than the summer program at the community pool, but after the first couple of lessons, our little fish reappears. This makes our weeks tremendously busy as lessons are on Tuesday and Thursday evenings--many weeks we are not home in the evening until Friday.
- Spring break is a welcome week of respite from the day-to-day efforts of teaching; however, it is replaced by MAJOR cleaning of the house. By the end of the week, the downstairs no longer resembled a warehouse of odds and ends, and Charissa's scrap-booking stuff was organized into a closet. The weather even cooperated towards the end of the week, showing us that winter is NOT eternal in Michigan. Easter found us not going to any organized egg-hunts, but having our own in our backyard.
- Track season is going strong, and Ben's athlete's post some great early season performances. For the most part, weather is cooperating, and the team and Track Force One (the track booster club) pull off a successful pancake breakfast. Unfortunately, the accompanying club meet is cut short by a monsoon...
- Grant proposals and state funding applications are coming together, and planning for next year has begun. Charissa would prefer knowing a little more concretely what her job is going to be next year, but has chosen not to devote too much worry to that quite yet. She is perpetually exhausted, and has a hard time believing it's still 6-8 weeks before Baby Boy Talsma makes his appearance.
- Violet continues to flourish at swimming lessons--paddling to the deep end and back with the assistance of the floaty barbell on her own (25 meters), and willingly and under her own power, going under the water. Her bravery and comfort with the water makes mom and dad proud, yet a little concerned, as we've had multiple occurrences where Violet decides it's time to 'swim' and Mom and Dad weren't quite ready. We'll have to keep a very close eye on her at the beach this summer. She has also started 'reading' to her stuffed animals (pointing to the words and everything) and her favorite 'activity' right now is telling us she has to go to a meeting, and that she'll be back in a "few minutes". Hmm...wonder where she got that....
Violet 2007
Violet 2008
Saturday, January 31, 2009
He's a Boy!
We had our ultrasound on Wednesday, and were able to determine quite clearly that the newest Talsma will be a boy! Finally, some balance around here. While I have suggested the name Estevanico, Charissa has given it a veto.
At Long Last
Life at Possibility Manor has not been nearly as dormant as "Life at Possibility Manor". We embarked on and returned from our annual Christmas Odyssey, a description of which will constitute the bulk of this particular post. In addition, we've gotten started with the 2009 portion of the 2008-2009 school year, and Violet has continued to grow up at breakneck speed. Therefore, we owe you an update (full disclosure: I am not the regular blog author. Charissa is drawing with Violet, and so I--Ben Talsma--am filling in).
We rearranged our Christmas voyage slightly this year, beginning in Muskegon so that Alex could make it back to California in time for the wild and crazy New Year's parties. We continued our tradition of pitching twenty bucks into a pool from which we could shop for each other's presents--this year, we opted to shop at Target. I got a very nice wicking shirt. Charissa got wild and crazy socks. We played a host of board games, most of which I won, and then struck off for Miracle Camp and the Extended Talsma Christmas.
If you're not a Miracle Camp regular, it would be instructive to know that there is a gym and a volleyball net, and many tables conducive to the play of card games of all varieties. There is also an adequate kitchen, and so the various family chefs all nicely contribute contributions that contribute nicely to our waistlines. As usual, a good time was had by most, although the brothers and I were soundly bested at Snerts, and Violet had a tendency to roll off the bed.
We went from Miracle Camp Christmas to Beach House Christmas. When we left Miracle Camp, the powdery snow had blown over some of the two-tracky backroads, so we had an adventurous time billowing through the drifts as we plowed our way back to the highway. Violet received several books aimed at postgraduate students, but returned the favor by drawing all over the wall. She certainly has a nose for trouble.
Yes, her nose is like a magnet for trouble.
In fact, you could call her old, Magnet Nose*.
Violet, Grandpa T, Grandma Jeannee, and Uncle Alex also made a trek to see the frozen lake and beach, and while there, built quite the snowman. Charissa, Uncle Nick and I decided to forgo the chilly walk, and instead entertained ourselves with some Wii golf, bowling, and tennis. Upon the return of the beach-goers, we again packed up the fan and made the trek to Iowa. Considering the plethora of snow and ice storms that pounded the Midwest, our trip was remarkably uneventful, however; on the night before Christmas, cars and mice stir alike.
We had an excellent time in Iowa, enjoying both the traditional Immediate Fynnaardt Christmas celebration and the Extended Fynaardt Christmas celebration at the local Comfort Inn, where we tested the capacity of the indoor pool. Charissa received a bike to replace the one that is still on the lamb, and I got a visual encyclopedia for students that is still the hottest item in class. Sully CRC does a nice job with their Christmas service and concludes with "The Hallelujah Chorus", as every Christmas service ought.
We took off on our return trip to Michigan looking forward to the Sikkenga Christmas, but on our way back we received word that Grandma Marilyn had passed away. She had been very ill for quite some time, but it was still something of a shock, and we were very disappointed that we had not been able to see her recently. After attending the visitation, we were struck by some terrible sort of bug, and were not able to attend the funeral, or the Sikkenga Christmas. All in all, it was a rather unfortunate end to the vacation.
However, we recovered in time to go back to school. Violet is, in general, enjoying her baby sitter's, although she has recently gone through a spell of very two-ish behavior both there and at home. Charissa continues to enjoy her new job, and I continue to have a very remarkable class. In response to student curiosity, we recently conducted an experiment on whether your stomach would explode if you drank Diet Coke and ate Mentos. Only one of the student's stomachs exploded**.
Violet's newest gig is going around and offering her hand and saying, "I'm Violet Dawn Talsmo. Pleased to meet you. Shake hands please." She is also really enjoying her new whiteboard, a gift from Grandma and Grandpa Fynaardt, and can write her name quite well, as long as you don't worry about whether the letters go from left to right.
We are nicely settled back in, just finished a fairly thorough cleaning of the house today, and should be able to post more frequently now.
*This is an inside joke, obviously. And you really should buy "The New Yorker" board game.
**Actually, we used a dummy stomach. And no matter the combination of saliva, stomach acid, and the chewing of the Mento means that your stomach is quite safe.
We rearranged our Christmas voyage slightly this year, beginning in Muskegon so that Alex could make it back to California in time for the wild and crazy New Year's parties. We continued our tradition of pitching twenty bucks into a pool from which we could shop for each other's presents--this year, we opted to shop at Target. I got a very nice wicking shirt. Charissa got wild and crazy socks. We played a host of board games, most of which I won, and then struck off for Miracle Camp and the Extended Talsma Christmas.
If you're not a Miracle Camp regular, it would be instructive to know that there is a gym and a volleyball net, and many tables conducive to the play of card games of all varieties. There is also an adequate kitchen, and so the various family chefs all nicely contribute contributions that contribute nicely to our waistlines. As usual, a good time was had by most, although the brothers and I were soundly bested at Snerts, and Violet had a tendency to roll off the bed.
We went from Miracle Camp Christmas to Beach House Christmas. When we left Miracle Camp, the powdery snow had blown over some of the two-tracky backroads, so we had an adventurous time billowing through the drifts as we plowed our way back to the highway. Violet received several books aimed at postgraduate students, but returned the favor by drawing all over the wall. She certainly has a nose for trouble.
Yes, her nose is like a magnet for trouble.
In fact, you could call her old, Magnet Nose*.
Violet, Grandpa T, Grandma Jeannee, and Uncle Alex also made a trek to see the frozen lake and beach, and while there, built quite the snowman. Charissa, Uncle Nick and I decided to forgo the chilly walk, and instead entertained ourselves with some Wii golf, bowling, and tennis. Upon the return of the beach-goers, we again packed up the fan and made the trek to Iowa. Considering the plethora of snow and ice storms that pounded the Midwest, our trip was remarkably uneventful, however; on the night before Christmas, cars and mice stir alike.
We had an excellent time in Iowa, enjoying both the traditional Immediate Fynnaardt Christmas celebration and the Extended Fynaardt Christmas celebration at the local Comfort Inn, where we tested the capacity of the indoor pool. Charissa received a bike to replace the one that is still on the lamb, and I got a visual encyclopedia for students that is still the hottest item in class. Sully CRC does a nice job with their Christmas service and concludes with "The Hallelujah Chorus", as every Christmas service ought.
We took off on our return trip to Michigan looking forward to the Sikkenga Christmas, but on our way back we received word that Grandma Marilyn had passed away. She had been very ill for quite some time, but it was still something of a shock, and we were very disappointed that we had not been able to see her recently. After attending the visitation, we were struck by some terrible sort of bug, and were not able to attend the funeral, or the Sikkenga Christmas. All in all, it was a rather unfortunate end to the vacation.
However, we recovered in time to go back to school. Violet is, in general, enjoying her baby sitter's, although she has recently gone through a spell of very two-ish behavior both there and at home. Charissa continues to enjoy her new job, and I continue to have a very remarkable class. In response to student curiosity, we recently conducted an experiment on whether your stomach would explode if you drank Diet Coke and ate Mentos. Only one of the student's stomachs exploded**.
Violet's newest gig is going around and offering her hand and saying, "I'm Violet Dawn Talsmo. Pleased to meet you. Shake hands please." She is also really enjoying her new whiteboard, a gift from Grandma and Grandpa Fynaardt, and can write her name quite well, as long as you don't worry about whether the letters go from left to right.
We are nicely settled back in, just finished a fairly thorough cleaning of the house today, and should be able to post more frequently now.
*This is an inside joke, obviously. And you really should buy "The New Yorker" board game.
**Actually, we used a dummy stomach. And no matter the combination of saliva, stomach acid, and the chewing of the Mento means that your stomach is quite safe.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Delay in Posting
My apologies for the delay in posting about our Christmas travels. The end of our Christmas vacation was marred by a terrible illness to Ben & Violet, and the death of Ben's grandma Sikkenga. Throw in the start of school, and hopefully you can understand our delay in posting.
That being said, other than a day of intensive stomach illness by me (which I'm still not sure wasn't connected more to pregnancy and cleaning up from the other two) I seem to have avoided whatever bug it was. (Everyone knock on wood now please!)
That being said, other than a day of intensive stomach illness by me (which I'm still not sure wasn't connected more to pregnancy and cleaning up from the other two) I seem to have avoided whatever bug it was. (Everyone knock on wood now please!)
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