4th of July...Wilder was not a fan of the fireworks.
July 26, 2011
Good times....
Check out www.warholweirdos.blogspot.com to see a blog I started but never finished~ it was *supposed* to be a chronicle of our life but then motherhood spun me in a different direction and thus...allurawarhol.blogspot.com was started and the rest is history:)
When 89 degrees feels "cool"~JULY 2011
Oy, what a summer. Our air conditioner is barely working and we have had a massive heat wave so being 8 months pregnant is simply a joy:)
I'm 32-ish weeks now and I can feel babygirl moving and grooving constantly. Sleep is elusive since I'm up to pee 40 times and getting out of bed makes me feel like an upside down beetle trying to get upright. Plus....its HOT. I mean, REALLY INSANELY HOT. Pathetically hot. Its been in the high 90's but still cooler outside than inside because at least out in the blazing sun there's often a much needed breeze. I'd like to offer a hearty "thank you" to the people of the industrial revolution for providing the technological advances that made air conditioning possible and accessible to the masses....and a big "screw you" to our own air conditioning unit that decided to crap out when we needed it most.
We got a 3D/4D ultrasound and a few pictures of babygirl's face- though she spent much of the session slightly hidden by the placenta and kept her arms up in front of her face like a boxer in a defensive position. If she's born knowing how to box then she will likely be able to hold her own with Lu & Wild:) The funniest thing is that there were a few times when the sonographer pointed out that she was licking the umbilical cord. I'm guessing she will love having a pacifier like the older kids did, since she seems to find comfort in moving her gorgeous pouty lips/mouth around:) She's got a lot of hair already and the sonographer says she is already long/tall-so perhaps I am growing a future super model? Or better yet...a physician-philanthropist-nuclear-physicist-super-model? :)
The good thing is that she's adorable! What a relief huh!?! :) Sometimes when I look at her moving on the DVD of the session I see Lulu and other times I see Wilder, so I'm guessing she will be a mix of both and that pretty much guarantees cuteness:) About 52 days left and I'm ready. I know that 9 hours after she is born I will miss being pregnant but for now I'm ready to hold her in my arms.
In the event that she isn't born by 41 weeks (a week post due date) my doctor is willing to look at inducing her. If we end up moving to Buffalo there would be about a 45 minute drive to the hospital and that is assuming we aren't trying to get there during rush hour (which would double the time). My doctor doesn't want me delivering on the side of the road so I'll have to think about if I want to induce or just wait it out and take the risk. I know each progressive child tends to come more quickly (shorter labor) so that could pose a challenge since we will have to establish REAL labor (which can take awhile) vs. false labor and then pack up the kids and get them somewhere or wait for someone to come to our place to care for them...and then head out on our trip to the hospital. I'm hoping I start labor in the evening so we can get the kids taken care of and to the hospital without the added stress of rush hour.
We are PRAYING that we get to close on the Buffalo house on August 18th. It will be a rad 5th Anniversary present if we do. It will be hell if it falls through for any reason since we will have about a month to 6 weeks at that point to find a new house, get an accepted offer and close. As of Nov. 12th we are not eligible for a mortgage because of my student loans coming due within a year so we have to be in a home by then or we don't move. The Buffalo house is perfect for us, the best we have seen in our price range BY FAR and we are really hoping it pans out. We have spent nearly the entire summer on negotiations and in dealing with this house (re-doing contractor bids 10+ times, dealing with deed issues, changing the structure of our mortgage, paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork...) and the ridiculously sucky selling bank (which happens to be Fannie Mae/government) so everything has been done in the slowest, most inefficient, stressful and unreliable way possible. All of this is totally aside from the MN government shut down which also caused a massive delay due to deed paperwork that was needed to be able to close on our last closing date which was July 22nd. We are really hoping that since the selling bank was willing to extend closing a third time, that it means they are serious and willing to figure out the deed issues in order to make this happen since there is still a huge chance they will decide to cancel the contract on us and start over looking for a cash buyer to avoid fixing the issues with the deed.
So we could use some prayers that the next few months work. They don't have to be easy or perfect, we just need them to *work*. Its going to be hard enough moving, unpacking, doing all the much needed projects to make the house tolerable and dealing with the hoards of contractors doing contstruction on the house so late in pregnancy, or even with a newborn...but having to start over fresh and FIND a new home and endure all the stress and waiting again at this point, with a newborn and a REALLY tight timeline might be more than I personally can take. I really hope this house becomes a reality!
Lu and Wild are awesome. Busy and awesome. We spend our days at the beach, the library, at various parks, the zoo, and in the back yard sprinkler...sometimes just making tents on the bunk bed and playing pirates or constructing cities of wooden blocks. I LOVE having two kids that are old enough to go places and (mostly) follow directions. I am trying to get us out as much as possible (when I have the energy) to get them out into the world since I'm guessing once babygirl is here we will need to hunker down a bit which might be fairly boring for them. Plus, when you live in a state that offers only 3 months of non-frigid, non-snowy, non-rainy weather a year you gotta make the best of it! I know we won't be quite as able to get out and explore next summer with the baby so we are making the most of this one. We have a lot of world to explore, lots of bugs to chase, lots of puddles to splash in, lots of slides to slide down..lots of learning to do:) Gotta keep moving until my energy level grounds us.
Both kids are looking forward to the baby and to starting school in the fall. Lulu is starting to sound out 3 and 4 letter words and I have no doubt she will be reading soon. I have both kids participating in a summer reading program sponsored by Mensa and so we have been reading amazing books that have stood the test of time, many from my childhood that I remember and loved and being able to learn about different topics and cultures. Wilder is potty training with the help of M&M's and super hero underwear, its going pretty well as long as I'm vigilant about reminding him. He hasn't quite learned to pick up on physiological signs that he has to go yet- so we are just trying to make a habit out of trying every 90 minutes or so. Each time he tries he gets an M&M and when he's successful he gets a sticker to put on his a chart that he can fill in and use as a ticket to Chuck E Cheese. Amazing that that place is such a huge draw to a kid that is terrified of the big mouse and who isn't old/big enough to play 99% of the games...but whatever works!
The best news of the summer so far: Wilder is eating salad! My previously anti-ANTI-vegetable guy is starting to come past his aversion of everything green. Its been such a pain in the tush to try to sneak veggies into him so I'm relieved that he is more willing to try things. He is at the point now where he pretty much eats his salads without need to be cooerced, though if I throw something new (like sliced radish) on it, we have to cheer for him and encourage him to take that first bite. Turns out no amount of cheering will convince him to try a brussel sprout (my fav) but we'll get there...baby steps:)
Both kids are happy, healthy and eager to meet their sister. Lulu is quick to remind me that she is going to share her toys with babygirl, and she makes fun plans for ways they can spend time together once babygirl "grows up" like her. Wilder kisses my belly often and likes to sing 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' to her a few times a day.
Adam is well. Working long days as usual. Once babygirl is a few months old he is going to start applying at other places to see about getting back to a more family friendly 8 hour work day as opposed to his 10 hour plus commute and working late work days now. He's just going to wait until life stabilizes with the baby before looking elsewhere...one thing at a time:) He is really looking forward to his Father's Day present which he'll get to enjoy about 48 hours from now when we go see Night Ranger, Journey and Foreigner in concert. Its going to be a rocktastic ear-gasm-y night and a LONG overdue break from the kids for us. A nice way to remind ourselves that we are Jalen and Adam/husband and wife and not just mommy and daddy:) Were both looking forward to it, I mean, come on...who doesn't like Foreigner?!?!
Feeling pretty blessed these days...hot, sweaty and blessed:)
June 20, 2011
Welcome Back!
Wilder's perfect summer day~ 
Lulu's sassy new summer cut~
From a few months back--the results of me deciding to take a 10 minute shower.
From a few months back--the results of me deciding to take a 10 minute shower.
Lulu showing off her hurt finger (I promise).
With so many changes about to take place within our lives I thought it might be time to dust off the old family blog and use it to keep family and friends updated with pictures of the kids and details of our lives-both common and extraordinary. I'll post updates on the pregnancy, as wells as general ramblings and musings, stories about the kids and our lives in general. I'll also probably post lots of recipes and foodie type stuff since I love whipping up new things (when my energy level allows) and making a mess in the kitchen with the kids.
The next few weeks will be updates on and pictures of recent events~summer outings, family vacation, a certain "super girl's 4th birthday, a certain thoughtful boy's new hobby, and any other misc. things that come up along the way.
So for now, I have nothing of particular substance to say. Actually I have MUCH to write about but as it turns out I need to get two wall climbing monkeys out of the house to burn off some energy before they bring the walls down...so I posted a few oddball pictures to take the place of an actual thoughtfully written post:)
So for now, I have nothing of particular substance to say. Actually I have MUCH to write about but as it turns out I need to get two wall climbing monkeys out of the house to burn off some energy before they bring the walls down...so I posted a few oddball pictures to take the place of an actual thoughtfully written post:)
December 31, 2008
September 8, 2008
Daddy's Self Portraits
Here is another collection of some of the best of daddy's self portrait attempts. He has a natural flair for capturing special moments on camera by turning it on himself and me or himself and mommy. His ability to get exactly what he intends in the frame of the picture is astounding..such talent! His talent is the only way they have any proof that they were on their honeymoon together:)
French Park Playground
Silly daddy! Walking me over to the toddler playground to play....I'll show you! I turned right around and headed for the big kid playground. Daddy got worried and came after me to bring me back to the baby area. He told me that there is no way I can climb the nets to get on the big playground. Mommy told him not to discount my amazing talents and determination and to let me try- and guess what?!?! His jaw FELL and he was totally shocked when I climbed the older kid nets just like a big girl!
(Mommy forgot to mention the fact that she brings me there once in awhile while daddy is working so she knew I could do it, we just played the "I am woman, hear me roar" card instead. HA!)
Mommy and Daddy are both shocked on a daily basis on how quickly I am leaving "babyhood" behind and moving toward childhood. I am signing lots of words, speaking even more words, running and climbing on EVERYTHING..using toys to climb on to get to higher places like desks and countertops, climbing onto/over baby gates, climbing into the bathtub myself...I'm like a little velociraptor, always testing my boundaries! Mom still isn't sure how to contain me without using ropes and a cage.
The Lipinski Family Visit
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's us acting like goofs!
Aye, Aye Captain!
Ryan and I walked around to explore a bit, he understands my need for independence.
Hey Shaun, can I borrow your board and go cruise for studs in Pampers?
With my rapid reflexes I hope to catch a fish with my bare hands...just a little more practice.
This is one way to get the sand off me...
Heading to the water to splash with daddy.
They kept me on a leash to prevent me from demonstrating my amazing grilling talents....
SPending time with Lori, she gives great cuddles!
Hanging with uncle Shaun.
Mom is not a fan of hugs while skateboarding....one at a time is preferred:) I can't wait until I get my first board!
Whoa uncle Shaun, not so high! I might toss my cookies that everyone has been sharing when I give that sly and manipulative smile:)
I might be shy but if you dangle keys and offer me a new car I am all yours!
I was telling AJ about our dogs, apparently they have dogs in TN so he was pretty smart about dogs already.
Despite my shyness, I finally caved in and enjoyed some great hugs from Lori.
I had to teach AJ and Ryan how to play with my toys, and they were astute learners. I had so much fun playing with them!
It was so fantastic to see my family again! Mom's aunt, uncle, and cousins came to visit and I really enjoyed getting so much attention and having playmates! I hope to see them again soon:)
September 4, 2008
Dancing the night away...
By the end of the night I was so tired from dancing that I needed to relax in the stroller and watch the fireworks.
Mommy, can you hold me cheek to cheek while I rest?
Dancing with Grandma while Don watched me while he sang.
Dancing with daddy.
I won a free jello shot at the local Applebees!!!!!!! WHOOHOO! I hope it doesn't expire for about twenty years...
I needed to take sip of lemonade to replenish the fluids I danced away!
Dancing with mommy's friend's kids...you could say were with the band! :)
We got to go see mom's friend Don play in the band Honeywagon. I got to dance the night away with Don's daughter and my family. What a cool night, I love live music!
My Makeover
Giving my best "pouty contemplative" look...I am clearly ready to be a cover girl!
Such a pretty girl, with and without makeup!
Admire the makeup artistry...
Such big eyes! Sometimes mommy and I run out of ideas to entertain ourselves so we get silly. Today mommy gave me a makeover and I feel SO glamourous!
Daddy is now SNL's "The Falconer"
For the last few summers we have had this visiting falcon. The DNR and animal control have warned the people in my neighborhood that it likes to steal small dogs and cats for dinner! So naturally whenever he rears his mean little head we have to be careful that he doesn't get Roxy or Sasha. Mommy even brought a broom to the backyard in case he tries to swoop down and take me when I play outside! I wish he would look for dinner on someone else's block! He is a protected species so nobody can catch him to move him, but the man at the DNR said he wouldn't be too upset if Mr. Falcon were to "disappear" accidentally, since he is such a nuisance. Needless to say it won't be my animal loving parents that play mafiosos and make him 'sleep with the fishes'... but we sure wish he would just go away!
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