More of Our Favorite Books

Braden is loving his books more, and more, and more. This makes my heart happy because I love it when he happily brings me a book, turns around, and plops himself in my lap to have it read too him. He's actually getting quite the preference to his books too. Asides from my earlier post on some of his favorite books, here are some more favorites that he always brings to us:

I was actually quite surprised that he started bringing Green Eggs & Ham to me...it's quite a long book and the pictures aren't really that exciting, until he saw this picture:

"Choo choo!" He loves this book, JUST for that I'm pretty sure! So I was super happy when I found this book at Costco:

It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but I just couldn't help myself! Yesterday when I gave it to him, we read it 3 times before his nap! He just loved it and it's really simple reading and rhyming...which the "more advanced" Thomas books certainly are not!

I'm Ready...

To be pregnant again! 

Remember this post that got everyone in a tizzy about me throwing ideas around about Baby Schultz #2? And all it was, was me wondering when I'd ever be ready again? But before I get you (especially my Mom) all excited, I have to clarify that I am mentally ready, but we are not actively trying yet. Awww, boo, I know! But as you can see above I've started taking my prenatals and folic acid again, as I did it about 6 months before we got pregnant with Braden. So yes, the plan is to start trying sometime in the new year, like we always figured it would!

It just makes more sense for our lives right now to wait to have the late fall/winter baby. It gives me an extra 4+ months of income and that is absolutely huge for us. Our lives, as we also said before we had Braden, will never be the same...all for the better of course! But it will be harder for out-of-our-immediate-family childcare as hopefully Laura (who babysits Braden when Jay or Mom aren't around) will have another child which would mean her taking care of 4 kids under 5 by the time I go back to work and I'm quite sure my lovely sis-in-law wouldn't want that daunting task too often if at all for a year or two...or three! So work will be more limited for me when Jay is busy with seeding/harvest. I know one day when all our kids are in school then I can work to my little heart's desire...so I want to enjoy the "not working as much" years while they're young but I still like to and need to contribute to the family income.

I've been asking my friends that have more than 1 kid lately, "how did you know you were ready to have another baby?" and most just reply "you'll just know". Something just clicked in my head at work last week, I triaged a few pregnant patients and saw the same girl twice who was due last week, ready to deliver her baby at the same hospital I did, and I looked at Carley and said, "I've got the baby bug again - it's official! I don't want one now but I know I want one, definitely ready again!"

I'll be honest, some of my worries and doubts have been/are:

• will I love this baby as much as I love Braden? (I know I will, its such a different love with a newborn, if that makes any sense. Perhaps the 100% dependence on mommy)
• will I be able to handle a newborn, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, and taking care of Braden? (I know I can, but it seems quite daunting at times!)
• how am I going to grocery shop with two kids? (obviously it's been done by millions of women before me! I know I can, but again...daunting!)
• I have to/want to dedicate by body for almost 2 years, again, to a little baby with pregnancy and breastfeeding (loved it with Braden, but it's still a HUGE commitment but I truly feel like I'm ready again - especially if it takes 6+ months until I'm pregnant again, I needed a "long" break)
• life is pretty darn easy right now with just Braden...and then I'll have to start all over again! (but I know I want more kids and that it will be so worth it!)

How about another sweet newborn Braden pic?