Spring Break 2012

If I can say one thing about this spring break, I have to comment on the weather! It was SO nice this week!! LOTS of sun and clear blue skies - the perfect combination for tons of outdoor playtime.

There was a little bit of working, but a LOT of playing! I did get to school a couple times to work on more preparations for my maternity leave, and plenty of cleaning, organizing, and house projects were accomplished as well, but for the most part we had lazy mornings, play dates with friends, a trip to see the butterflies in GR, and just lots of time playing in the backyard or park in the sun!

Snacks were eaten in the sun (popcorn! :o) yum!)

Lots of driving in the car

Sidewalk Chalk

I would draw pictures all over the driveway, and then say, for example, "Taylor, can you find the bunny?", and she would run to find it and stand next to it. We did lots of practice with numbers and letters, animals and shapes with this little game. :o)

At the end of the week, we had plans to go to the Butterfly Exhibit in GR with friends. Two preggo mommies + two 2-year-olds = a FUN but tiring morning! :o) Taylor loves hanging out with Ty (and is always waiting for Ty and Ty's mommy to pull up to our house in their "white car" - even on days when we don't have play dates planned:). She was VERY excited on the car ride up to the exhibit, hanging out with Ty in the backseat. They were hilarious together.

Checking out the butterflies, running across bridges, watching the waterfalls...

Then we headed outside to the Children's Garden - the weather was perfect!

 A door just their size - both clutching their snack bags :o)

Kristen, Ty, Taylor and me

Impossible to get BOTH of them to look at the camera at once! :)

It was a fun outing!!

To wrap up this fabulous week, today is Easter Sunday, and we decided to have a little fun with Taylor this morning before church with an Easter egg hunt!  We hid a few fruit/veggie yogurt melts as treats inside the eggs, and were barely able to get them hidden before she was rattling her doorknob, ready to be up for the morning.

Her little basket

After finding all the eggs, she had to dump them all out, of course.

So excited about her new Dora book :)

Love this smile!!

Later, dressed for church (a little dress from when I was little :o)).

It was a great week. The perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with Taylor before baby sister arrives. I really tried to be present and appreciate the one-on-one time we had together. It was also a good week to wrap up some of those things on my nesting to-do list, which I have to thank Ry for. :)

Anticipating all that is ahead in our lives this month - April 2012 is sure to be a memorable one!!

38 weeks and Spring Break!

Couple of weeks to go - give or take!

Officially on spring break right now, and it is going to be a week of preparation for #2 and play dates with Taylor and friends!

I looked back at my 38 week post with Taylor, and I have to say that my feelings are generally the same as they were last time, not feeling as miserable as I thought I might feel this far along! I'm thankful that I can still move around pretty well and only get a few stares at the gym at this point. Ha! :o)  

My regular doc is on spring break, so I was able to meet another one in our office, and he was very nice! I hope that Dr. Z will be on call when we head in, but if not, the other two doctors in our office seem really great, too. After checking that all was well with baby (heart beat was in the 120's and strong both last week and this week), he reviewed the basics of knowing when it might be the real deal, said that it is a good idea to start packing the hospital bag, and sent me on my way. :)

38 week picture from when I was pregnant with Taylor

38 week picture today!

My hospital bag is 1/2 packed, car seat is adjusted and ready for a newborn, lesson plans and copies are ready to go for after spring break, we're getting closer to feeling ready!

But for now - I'm just going to hang out with this little girl and have some fun this week.

Happy Spring Break!

random iphone photos....that make me smile :)

#1 - curiosity of a 2 year old, simply watching the rain fall

#2 - reading together, enough said

#3 - RARE moment captured, Taylor tried to skip her nap earlier in the afternoon, and ended up cashing out amongst the group for a good hour nap - everyone was entertained by her little snores :o)

 

#4 - Having fun with an ipad - daddy and little lady being silly together - love it :o)

Nap time mischief :)

Time Taylor was put down for her nap: 12:35pm

Time I last heard chatter/movement/singing from Taylor's room: 1:45pm

Taylor had a hard time winding down today apparently (usually within 5 or 10 minutes she is out!), and I just had to peek in to see what she had been up to, so I snuck in quietly after she fell asleep, and found this...

Toys scattered, and bed completely stripped down except for her favorite blankie and a few favorite stuffed animals

Peacefully sleeping toddler = one of the sweetest things there is :)

36 Weeks - one month to go!

9 months down - 1 to go!

Our 36 week appointment was last week - a few days early - and from here on out Dr. Z and I get to visit every week. :)

Everything continues to look good - I NEVER take that for granted, and am always thankful when things are healthy and happy with baby (and me :)).

Baby girl is still head down and starting to drop just a bit. I only measured 34 cm (fundal height generally matches how many weeks you are along in pregnancy), but I was having a contraction while Dr. Z was measuring, so she's still growing just fine. :) (I can attest to this because all of a sudden my maternity shirts aren't even long enough to keep the bump completely covered - my wardrobe is becoming more and more limited each week.) They always ask how many contractions I'm having - but it happens so frequently throughout the day that I never know how many to say! Heart rate was high 120's. Haven't had the scale move much in six weeks, but I think baby is just taking and using all the energy for herself these days! :o) We also know there is some "progress" being made as the end is getting closer, which has made my nesting instinct kick in that much more!

Tired, before-bedtime 36 wk picture :) Gotta love the shirt gapping, too

Tasks completed this week:
* Hospital bag packing started with just a few things I know we will want to take for the little one
* Drawers filled with washed newborn to 3 month clothes
* Bought first part of Taylor's "big sister" gift for the hospital
* More progress made on baby #2's first baby book (same thing I did for Taylor using Shutterfly - from the moment we found out we were expecting and goes through the first few weeks together after her birth day)

Wishes, thoughts, and prayers right now:
* Hoping baby girl will choose to hang out and keep growing for at least a couple more weeks (hoping she stays put until after Spring break so Taylor and I can do some of the fun things we have planned together)
* Get outside and enjoy the warmth and sunshine while it lasts - looks like this summer-like weather might only stick around for another few days or so
* A few other work/life balance things
* Enjoy/appreciate sleep

Weekend

Blowing bubbles

Sprinklers

Snacks

Sorting, washing, organizing for #2

Baby chicks (wondering if this will have to be a regular part of our routine after church now that she knows that they are just next door!)

80 degrees, enough said!

We are halfway through March.

The temperatures soared to 80 degrees on Wednesday.

The sunshine and warmth was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. There is something about the changing of seasons that I love, and one of the reasons that I don't mind living in a state that has a true spring, summer, fall and winter.

Life got a little crazy this week, and being able to spend time outside with Taylor enjoying simple things like blowing bubbles, staring at tiny bugs, and racing each other up and down the driveway, was SO good for the soul. :o)

Besides, how can you feel anything but happiness when you are hanging with this little lady?

 (Just looking at this picture makes me smile - our little cool chica :))

Happiness is contagious!