Busy Days

Hopefully I'll have some fun pictures for you all next week (more on that below), but for now a quick recap of the last couple of days...

Thursday - a surprise visit from Grandpa Chip!  He (and his friend, Brad) were only in town for one night, but it was great to see him even for only a few hours. 

Friday - cleaning for my "sprinkle" shower on Sunday (with help from my Mom and Jon).

Saturday - took Rylee to "Toy Story 3 on Ice" with Erin and Miller!  The show was terrific.  Rylee loved it, as did I.  I'm always amazed at how creatively they can depict aspects of the movie.

*After I posted this, I saw that Erin had published a pic of us at the show so I stole it (hope you don't mind, Erin) and published it here. :)

 

Between work on Friday, cleaning Friday night and the show though, my ankles were really swollen.  That meant my Mom and Venessa did the majority of the cleaning and decorating today.  Thanks ladies!  The place is both ready and festive looking!

Okay, you're all caught up.  I'll try to take pictures of everything and everyone tomorrow so I can have something interesting to post about next week.  :)

Big Boy

I had another ultrasound at the high risk doctor today. The baby seems to be doing fine and is predicted to be over 8 lbs, possibly close to or over 9 if I go full term. Yowza! He was 5 lbs 15 oz today and has six more weeks to grow (approximately another half pound a week). Not that I'm surprised. Rylee was born almost two weeks early and she still weighed in at 7 lbs 14 oz - not exactly a wee little lass.

He again didn't want to cooperate for the camera. First his hands were covering his face, then his foot. The Dr. did manage to get this closeup. Sorry it's only a cell phone pic of the image so it probably doesn't look the best.




He's using my uterus as a pillow in case you were wondering what that part of the image was. :)

After Easter I start my weekly appts with both doctors so my Monday and Tuesday nights are booked up until I deliver. It's not his weight that concerns me as much as his head size. Rylee had a "gargantuan cranium" so I'm guessing he will too.

Not that I'm in the home stretch it's starting to feel more real. We're gonna have a baby! Oh boy! :)

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Fish and Fun

I have a full social calendar this week. Last night was my book club (or grub and gab club as I joking refer to it). We don't spend a lot of time (or any at all really) analyzing our books, but we sure have fun!

Tomorrow the same group of girls plus a few other teachers are heading out for opening night of "The Hunger Games" - one of our prior book club reads. I am very excited to see it adapted for the big screen.

You might be wondering where the fish come in... my Mom made Rylee these adorable fabric fish attached to dowel rods (fishing poles). Rylee has been practicing her fishing technique for this summer. Just like real life, we spend most of our time untangling our lines!




TGIF early! Have a great weekend everyone!

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Wagons West!

Grandma Sandy sent an awesome wagon as a shower present for the new baby, but Jon made the mistake of putting it together early. And let's face it, it's just too cool not to use (see pic below).

Jon, Rylee, Rio and I took it out for a test walk yesterday. Rylee gave it two thumbs up! Today she was excited to see what Brendan thought so I loaded up the kids and their snacks for a quick trip around the block.





They loved it!

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100 Year Celebration

Today marked the Girl Scouts of America's 100th year.  My Grandma Elsie was an active leader/ founder/ council member/ President and overall Girl Scout rockstar for 55 years; my Mom and I are former girl scouts (or brownie in my case) and past leaders ourselves (not nearly as impressive as Grandma, I know); and I hope that Rylee will join in the future.  So, of course, we had to get to the mall early and wait in line to get one of the commemorative build-a-bears!

It was Rylee's first time actually making a bear: stuffing it, giving it a heart, grooming it, and making it's birth certificate.  Then she picked out her scout outfits.  The best part was that Gaga picked up the tab as part of Rylee's (early) Easter present.  :) 

Here is Elsie bear and all her loot:

 

Some closeups of the outfits.  Rylee wanted to be the photographer today so that's why she isn't in any of the pictures.  Too bad too - she looked adorable today in a plaid pastel skirt and shirt (very spring-y).

 

 

While we were there, Rylee and Gaga saw a Cars outfit and decided it would be a perfect gift  for the new baby.  My cousin, Lily, had given Rylee a build-a-monkey for her birthday so we already had something to dress up.  I was the assistant in this photo.  The monkey needed to stand up to show off his slippers!

 

In Loving Memory

 

Grandma Sandy

July 2nd, 1947 - March 11th, 2012

 "All Is Well"

Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped into the next room

I am I and you are you

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by my old familiar name,

Speak to me in the easy way which you always used

Put no difference in your tone,

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,

Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,

Just around the corner.

All is well.

-Henry Scott Holland

Stressful Week

It's been a stressful week here... culminating in a disappointing doctor appointment yesterday. I've started having trouble with swelling in my legs (like I had with Rylee) and there was a day when the baby just wasn't moving. Luckily, he seems to be fine now so no need to panic!

Although I'm not on official bedrest, I do need to spend several hours a day with my feet elevated and watch my sodium intake. If I don't feel the baby moving at least once an hour, then I have to go in for a heart beat check (or more). The sad news is that the doctor has advised against any travel which means I won't be flying home to MN.

Today we tried to take our mind off things so we spent some time by the pool with my Mom and Jeanne. My Mom bought Rylee a new sprinkler so I'll leave you with some cute pics of her enjoying the spray.







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More Presents

My Mom's cousin, Jeanne, is in town visiting for a week.  Tonight Rylee and I stopped over for some of my Mom's delicious homemade pizza and were surprised with gifts - for me, for Rylee and for baby!

My Mom got me a gorgeous watch and necklace over at The Best of Everything in Bonita Springs yesterday.  It's always nice to keep those birthday gifts coming days later!  :) 

Jeanne bought the baby three adorable outfits: a sleeper that came with a matching blanket buddy, a onesie and pant outfit in a western/ horse theme with a little matching jacket, and a baseball onesie with a baseball on the butt in MN Twins colors.  They were all so cute!  And since she didn't want Rylee to feel left out, she had a bunch of treasures for her too - hidden all around the house that Rylee had to follow clues to find.  It was a present scavenger hunt! 

Here's an example of one of Rylee's clues:

"Big sisters rule!  Baby brothers drool! 
Sisters sometimes help in the kitchen cause Mom needs extra helping hands. 
Because you're so sweet, look by the fridge for a treat."

Rylee found a bag of jelly beans by the fridge and a note that lead her to the top of the stairs where she found a purple stuffed bear.  Then it was off to Gaga's room where she found a pretty pink pinwheel and finally into the guest room where she discovered a Squinkie's board game.  Rylee loved everything and had a blast looking for her presents.  Jeanne is so creative and fun (you won't be surprised to find out that she was an amazing teacher who ran the gifted program at our school)!  :)

Thanks to my Mom and Jeanne for a wonderful night.  Both Rylee and I needed some cheering up so we really appreciated it!

Happy Birthday to Me!

 

Gaga and Rylee helped make my birthday special today.  First, Rylee and I played in the pool for an hour.  Then we got cleaned up and went to "The Lorax" with Gaga.  Rylee thought it was very cute.  We finished off the day at Gaga's.  She made me a delicious crab cake dinner.  Then we opened up presents and had dessert. 

I got a ton of nice gifts from my Mom.  Some I already had early (a couple of new maternity clothes and some jewelry).  Tonight I got a new Coach purse (pink and brown - adorable!), a pink sparkly bracelet, some pink earrings that Rylee helped make to match, and some awesome QVC cookware and storage-ware that I've been coveting.  I guess all the drooling and borrowing I did of my Mom's set was a pretty good hint that I wanted some of my own.  Thanks Mom (and Dad - the financier!).

I also got a nice check from Sandy so now I have to decide what I'd like to spend my money on.  Rylee suggested I buy her some toys, but that's not going to happen.  :)

We also tried to get a preggo shot for those who are far away.  The above one is cute, but I look bigger when I'm standing up.  This was the best of the bunch for those.  By then Rylee was getting impatient for cupcakes!

Tomorrow Rylee and I are going to breakfast with Venessa and then Rylee has a bday party to attend at Chuck E Cheese.  We also have to squeeze in grocery shopping, house cleaning and laundry.  {Sigh}  I guess all days can't be your birthday.  :)

Splish Splash

Last weekend Rylee decided it was warm enough to try swimming in the pool again. The water is still very cold, but that's not enough to stop my kid! She swam Saturday and three days this week in the afternoons when the kids left for the day.








So far I've only managed to get down to the bottom step (which puts the water about thigh level) - brrrr! I told Rylee I couldn't go any deeper or I'd shock the baby! :)

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