Mister

Makayla thinks Mister is a "Good Cat" but I'm starting to think he's a little monster. He actually has been doing really well without having Lady around. We just need to make sure we wear him out every night before we go to bed or else he runs around getting into trouble while we are sleeping.

They usually say that animals can sense when their owner is pregnant and I think that's probably why he has been turning on me. He follows me around like a puppy dog ... while I go to the bathroom, when I take a shower and when I sit at the computer he is right there next to me. But over the last couple months he will do this weird meow and I know he is getting ready to attack me. He has never done this to Dwight or Makayla, only me!

When I was pregnant with Makayla, Lady cat would sit with her paws on my belly ... almost as a protector. Mister, is just the opposite ... very protective following me around but then bites me. I called his doctor and told me that male cats will normally act like this because of my hormones, it will pass ... I sure hope so!

Happy Thanksgiving

On Wednesday afternoon we took Makayla out of school a few hours early and headed down to Pomeroy for Thanksgiving. We made it just in time to head to mom and dad's church for Thanksgiving Eve service. After service we went down to the basement and had cookies, juice and coffee. One thing I miss about small town living is the smaller churches.

Thursday morning Dwight and my dad went to pick up my sister, Debbie, while mom, Makayla and I held down the fort to prepare a big feast for lunch. We didn't have the traditional Thanksgiving meal, which was kind of nice, instead we had ham, scallop potatoes, cranberries, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs (Makayla made those), cheesecake and pumpkin pie. The rest of the day was consumed with naps, football and card games. Later that evening dad, Makayla and I took Debbie back home.

Friday we spent the whole day with Dwight's mom. We were able to get some good Black Friday deals, at 10am, without having to fight people at midnight. Later we took her out to see a movie, The Rise of the Guardians. We headed back to the house to play a few card games and then headed to the Palmer House for dinner. It was getting late and we were all tired so we went back to Pomeroy, but first we had to say hi to papa out at the cemetery ... a tradition we started every time we go home for a visit.

Saturday morning my dad, Dwight and Makayla took a little road trip for some Christmas shopping. I had to finish up editing pictures of a photo shoot that I had a few weeks ago and did some laundry. My dad raided the house next door that is eventually going to be torn down by the neighboring church. He found a board that fit in their current table. A little cutting required. The rest of the day was spent playing cards until the wee hours of the night.

Sunday we traveled back home. It was a fun weekend and it was nice to see mom and dad before they travel to Texas and North Carolina in a few weeks. The next time we see them they will have a brand new granddaughter to love and spoil!

Elf On The Shelf

Sunday

Monday 

Tuesday

I forgot to take a picture of him on Wednesday, he jumped in Makayla's suitcase.

Thursday at Nana and Papa's house.

Friday

Saturday



Written and Illustrated By

I love her drawings, thought I would share!

Baby Allie Update

I had a doctor's appointment and officially hit 24 weeks on Friday. My doctor liked my glucose numbers but warned me that the farther along in my pregnancy it will be harder and harder to control those numbers ... oh great, now I need to be extra good!  Blood pressure is still perfect, the best it's ever been!  She gave me all my registration paperwork for the hospital and told me that we can now schedule the date, time and doctor for the c-section (which they will take her at 39-weeks). I have a follow up in 4-weeks and at that time we will have another ultrasound to make sure Allie's growth is right on schedule because of the gestational diabetes.

After that appointment we will start to schedule biophysical, something I had done when I was pregnant with Makayla. A biophysical is only done when a women has a high-risk pregnancy, in my case gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. The test usually starts with an ultrasound to observe the baby's movements, muscle tone, breathing  movements and the amount of amniotic fluid surround her. Afterwards they will strap a device to my belly which monitors the baby's heartbeat and movement and then another device to monitor any contractions. I can't remember if I had this done once or twice a week, it was nice because I was usually able to take a nice nap while this was going on, the whole process takes a little over an hour.  This will be done right up until Allie is born.

Otherwise I am still feeling great. Allie is moving a lot and Makayla has felt her kick quite often. Dwight on the other hand is a different story. Every time he goes to feel her, she stops. She tends to be kicking me more on the inside these days which requires frequent trips to the bathroom!

Elf On The Shelf

Last Sunday, Elf on the Shelf made an appearance in the Swanson household. Makayla named him Tiny Tim. The story goes something like this ...

 

Have you ever wondered how Santa could know if you're naughty or nice each year as you grow?  For hundreds of years it's been a big secret. It now can be shared if you promise to keep it. At holiday time Santa sends me to you. I watch and report on all that you do. My job's an assignment from Santa himself. I am his helper, a friendly scout elf. The first time I come to the place you call home you quickly must give me a name of my own. Once you are finished my mission can start. hat will you call me - Markle or Zart? Will it be Foddle, Criddle or Clyde? Fisbee's cute, too, but you must decide. Each night while you're sleeping to Santa I'll fly to the North Pole right through the dark sky. Of course Christmas magic helps me to be quick. I laugh with my friends and report to Saint Nick. I tell him if you have been good or been bad. The news of the day makes him happy or sad. A push or a shove I'll report to "the Boss," but small acts of kindness will not be a loss. In the car, at the park, or even at school the word will get out if you broke a rule. I'll be back at your home before you awake, and then you must find the new spot I will take. You'll jump out of bed and come running to see: who'll be the first to spy little old me? Maybe the kitchen, the bathroom, or den is where you will find me, your special elf friend. I can hide on a plant, a shelf, or a frame. Where will I be? Let's make it a game.There's only one rule that you have to follow so I will come back and be here tomorrow: Please do not touch me. My magic might go, and Santa won't hear all I've seen or I know. I won't get to tell him that you've said your prayers, or helped to bake cookies, or cleaned off the stairs. How will he know how good you have been? He might start to think you forgot about him. I can't speak to you, so says Santa Claus. All of us elves have to follow his laws. I'll listen to you. Tell me your wishes. Would you like a game or some tiny toy dishes? The gleam in my eye and my bright little smile shows you I'm listening and noting your file. The final decision with Santa now rests. What do you think? Will you get your request? The night before Christmas my job's at an end. The rest of the year with Santa I'll spend. So blow me a kiss and bid me farewell. I'll fly away when I hear Santa's bell. Of course I will miss you, but wait 'til next year. When the holidays come I'll again reappear. Until then I wish every girl and each boy a Christmas of peace and a year full of joy!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

 

Music Program "The Sounds of Autumn"

Presented by the Second Grade Rosemount Elementary School on Thursday, November 15, 2012. The songs that were sung were:

• I Can Rake a Pile of Dried Up Leaves
• Autumn Poems
• Leatherwing Bat
• Things I'm Thankful For
• Thankful For the USA
• A Turkey Tom and a Turkey Mom
• Albuquerque Turkey (this one was my favorite!)
• Turkey in the Straw
• Jingle Bells
• Over the River and Through the Woods

MK had a part that she had to say before the last song "We hope you enjoy our last song Over the River and Through the Woods".

Tom The Turkey

One of Makayla's assignments last week was to disguise the turkey but the eyes and beak must be visible. The classroom brainstormed ideas of what they wanted to do. MK came home with a list and guess what was at the top of her list ...

BIGFOOT! I think he makes for a very cute Bigfoot!



Beautiful Day In Mason City

On Saturday we met Dwight's brother and his family in Mason City, Iowa for the day. It was actually pretty nice for being in the 50s! We went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch and then we headed to the park for the kids to play. Makayla had a lot of fun with her three cousins.  Afterwards we went to the nature center, ate some cake outside and then the kids had fun exploring both inside and outside the nature center.

 

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences

We attended Makayla's parent/teacher conferences on Wednesday, her teachers had nothing but good things to say about her.

 

Makayla rated her own progress in 2nd grade

• Math: Basic Facts - I'm not sure
• Math: Word Station - I'm good at this
• Math: Word Problems - I'm not so good
• Reading: I'm good at this
• Writing: Handwriting - I'm good at this
• Writing: Writers Workshop - I'm good at this
• I try my best every day - I'm good at this
• I follow directions - I'm good at this
• I am respectful to friends, teachers and clerks - I'm good at this
• I am responsible with my homework, planner, desk and seatwork - I'm good at this
• I am positive when I work hard, know when I make mistakes and encouraging others - I'm good at this
• I am safe on the playground, in the hall, cafeteria and gym - I'm good at this

She participated in testing back in September that is designed to show academic progress made during a period of a year in the areas of mathematics and reading. In the MAP system, the difficulty of the test is adjusted to each child's individual performance. As the student answers correctly, the questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier.

 

In mathematics, Makayla scored 176: district average is 181 and her group average is 178

In reading, Makayla scored 177: district average is 177 and her group average is 176

 

We also got to finally see some of Makayla's stories, her teachers both told us that she loves to write fiction ... we already knew that!

Happy Halloween