Quinn is 6 months!

Quinn is already 6 months, half a year, really?  Wow it has gone by so fast and yet she still seems so little (especially compared to Owen at this age - he was over 20 lbs at 6 months!).  She is doing pretty well overall and just went to see Santa yesterday with big brother.  She is such a sweetie and is getting to be more fun everyday.  Though, I must say I'm getting nervous about her moving soon! 

6 month stats:


Weight - 13 lbs 7oz (10th percentile)
Height - 25" (25th percentile)
Head circumference - 16.75" (50th percentile)
Clothing size: 3-6 months
Diaper size: new "size 2
Foods:  rice cereal, oatmeal cereal, peaches and squash - adding a new one about every 3-4 days now!
Teeth:  Possible one coming in on the bottom!

Some more pictures of my cutie!

100th post! (Kindergarten)

I may have been blogging for about 2 years but this is still my 100th post!  This one will be about Kindergarten, another big milestone that is coming!

I found out last year that our school has an October 1st cut-off for birthdays for Kindergarten. So since Owen will be turning 5 before then, he can start kindergarten next year.  Brandon and I were trying to figure out if it would be good to start him or if it would be a bad thing, especially for a boy (driving later, etc).  After talking with his teachers at "school," we all decided that he is easily ready academically speaking.  Now the sitting still part we need to work on!  The checklist academically that they gave us seems sort of sad - can count to 20, knows ABC's, can recognize some letters and numbers, knows name, speaks in sentences of at least 4 words.  On that note, he shocked Mommy around Thanksgiving my typing the word NOVEMBER on his computer.  Wow!

So, we started looking into kindergarten and I found out that sadly, we have half day kindergarten here.  I honestly think that this should be banned.  Most kids go to some time of pre-k and in a lot of families, both parents work making half day a greater challenge.  Anyways, so now I had to investigate a daycare that does half day in our area (where we currently go is 20 miles away from school, so no chance) and that buses to the school (believing it is going to be afternoons at kindergarten for him).  I also asked about prices for Quinn if we were to bring her there.  Wow!  To move both of them was going to cost me $20-$40 more per week with Owen doing half-days!  Thus, Quinn will stay put!

I can't believe that Owen is already that big of a boy that next year when I'm doing my school supply shopping, I will have to get him things too!  The cliche` is true - they grow up way too fast!

Christmas shopping

This year, I haven't been as excited about doing my Christmas shopping.  I think it is because with two kids now, money is much tighter and yet we have more people that we want to give gifts to.  My brother/sister-in-law and us decided to just get presents for the kiddos - which I enjoy buying for the kids a lot.  They are at the age where they are excited about almost anything that you get them.  Really, I just can't wait to actually get to SEE them open them :)

Owen will be getting a bike this year for Christmas.  Couldn't believe when I was looking sizes up that he would need a 16" bike already!  I now he will be ecstatic about it!

While we were Christmas shopping, we were able to get a lot of clothes for Brandon and the kiddos.  JcPenney had a great deal this weekend - we got Brandon 2 pairs of jeans, 2 pair of pajama bottoms, 1 polo shirt, 1 t-shirt, a wallet, Uncle Austin a hoodie, flannel sheets, Owen 2 pairs of cordorouys, Quinn a 3-piece outfit and a pair of jeans, and myself 2 t-shirts for about $150.

I have become a bit more of an online shopper this year.  It makes it a lot easier to find exactly what you are looking for!  Especially with a lot of the companies offering free shipping, this has been awesome!

Weight Loss Update

I know it has been a long time since I have posted about my weight loss.  The good news is that the reason had nothing to do with me not working on it!

So far, I haven't lost as much weight as I would have wanted to by now - I have lost about 7.5 lbs!  I have lost 1" off my waist and hips, a 0.5" off my thighs and I can button my size 16 NYandC jeans!  To me, this si great progress.

I have been able to play racquetball 2-3 times per week, which has definitely helped.

I won a weight-loss challenge at work so I won some really cool prizes, with the most exciting being 3 free personal training sessions!  I am very excited about those.  I also won a makeover and a gift card to a running shoe place.

Just got to keep it going and realize that this is a journey, not a destination!

Quinn is 5 months!

Quinn turned 5 months on Thursday - can't believe it!  She is still a pretty tiny thing, but she is getting more and more mobile!

Quinn had been sleeping pretty well at night (generally get up once a night to give her her pacifier and then she is back to sleep). Lately, she has been a bit more needy overall, and thus more needy at night too.  She doesn't need to eat, she just wants attention.  I am working on slowly letting her cry for a bit (increase the amount of time each time).


5 month stats:
Weight - 12 lbs 12oz (by me via scale)
Height - 24" (by me)
Head circumference - didn't do
Clothing size: primarily 3-6 months, still a few 0 - 3 months
Diaper size: new "1-2" size


Finally, some of her 5 month pictures! Enjoy!

Owen's 4th Birthday

Owen turned 4 in mid-September.  Since we live pretty far from most of our family, we ended up doing a couple web-cams with people so that they could see him open his presents.  Unfortunately, we then didn't get pictures of that stuff :(  Grandma and Grandpa Weyer had a good Toy Story theme going on - we got a woody and buzz, Toy Story T-shirt, pajamas, and playing cards!  Auntie April had a card game theme going on giving him many great games suchs as Old Maid and Skip Bo Junior.  Uncle Dan and Aunt Amber sent us a couple of Husker T-shirts so that we can wear our colors even in a different state!  Mommy, Daddy and Quinn got him some pajamas, Toy Story underwear (can't believe grandma didn't get him that too!) and a buzz lightyear computer. 

We still didn't do a big party for him, but we did go to Chuck E Cheese on a Sunday afternoon (much better than a Friday or Saturday evening.

Owen definitely likes his pizza but getting him to sit down and eat it with all that other stuff going on around him was a slight challenge! 

We decided to invite his "best friend" from school this time and him and his Mom were able to come.  Aidan got him some really cool toys include a ramp trick for a hot wheel

Owen was finally able to go up into the slide thing this year without getting scared.  You can barely see his head here but I was lucky enough for him to sit still long enough to take this!

Trying skeet ball, still not great but we can at least get the balls up there this time!

Finally, we got him and Aidan to stand stll long enough for one picture!



We made some of Owen's favorite cupcakes - chocolate with peanut butter cream cheese frosting.  Sorry, no pic of those here, but here is a picture of the ones we made for school (no peanuts allowed!)  Might not be able to tell in the pic, but we dyed the frosting a light blue!

Overall, it was a pretty good birthday for Owen.  Can't believe that he is 4 already and probably going to be in kindergarten next year!

Quinn is 4 months (a couple weeks ago :) )

Quinn turned 4 months almost two weeks ago and I'm just now getting to post about it!  Can you tell it has been a busy month? 

Quinn has been sleeping pretty well at night (generally get up once a night to give her her pacifier and then she is back to sleep).  She has been getting about 10-11 hours of sleep at night.  She has started laughing a lot and responding a lot when we sing her songs.  I put her on her tummy the other day and in less than a minute she had pushed herself onto her back (which I could tell surprised her as well!)

Just this last week we have been a little bit rougher but she isn't feeling good.  She had a fever and was spitting up more than normal so we went to the doctor.  Poor thing got her first blood draw and urine sample (via catheter).  She is on anitbiotics which luckily I can just add to her formula. 

4 month stats:

Weight - 12 lbs 3oz (25th percentile)
Height - 23.5" (25th percentile)
Head circumference - don't remember :(
Clothing size: primarily 3-6 months, still a few 0 - 3 months
Diaper size: 1 and just getting into the new "1-2" size


Finally, some of her 4 month pictures!  Enjoy!

Fitness Update

Haven't been updating like I should, but I honestly haven't been doing too bad!

Weight loss (last 2 weeks) 2.6 lbs, total of 3.8 lbs.
Working out - racquetball once the first week and twice the other (due to not feeling good).
Eating - didn't track but doing well due to my "Quinnie Diet"  (i.e. she keeps me too busy to have much time to snack!)

Need to do measurements on Monday to give you updates on inches lost!

Quinn is 3 months

Quinn turned 3 months old today! She is definitely getting more of a personalitly. She likes to talk a lot more now and is really trying to grab ahold of things (more than just my hair now!)

During the day she eats about 5-6oz every 3-4 hours. She generally gets up once in the middle of the night between 9:30pm and 7am. Generally at about 3:30 but sometimes earlier. Hope to get her sleeping better soon so Mommy can sleep more, but I just can't let her cry very long as she gets so worked up. Owen never got that worked up!

Current stats:
Weight - approximately 11 lbs based on my weighing her!
Height - 22.5" by my measurement
Head circumference - 15.5" by my measurement
Clothing size: 0 - 3 months but getting close to needing next size up
Diaper size: 1

Here are some more cute pics of her!

Looking a little shy

Smiling!

And one with big brother!

Kiddos

Thought I'd give a couple updates on the kiddos!

Quinn

Still a teenie gal. She is drinking about 5 oz of formula every 3.5 - 4 hours (except at night). We are generally going about 6 hours at night before needing to eat and sometimes she doesn't seem all that interested. I might be able to just give her her pacifier and she'd go back to sleep but with getting up at 6:30 every morning and waiting for her to be fed at daycare at 7:30, it makes me nervous that then I'd run late. May have to plan on a week where it is ok and plan to get up at 6 and feed her at 6:30 and then go to school to allow for her to sleep through the night. Might try this at 3 months (about 2 weeks!!).

Other highlights include that she is actually beginning to wake-up happy vs. crying and wanting to eat. She "blew" her first raspberry over the weekend. She loves to watch The Backyardigans with her brother. I presume she like the bright characters and all the singing :)



Owen

He has been amazing us lately. He is doing very good at school. They have notebooks for the kids to write in and the teacher will write on the board. At first, he wouldn't write what they were writing, he just kept writing his name (first and last) over and over again. Now he will write about anything that he sees, but of course he wants to know what it is! He's learned about mixing his primary colors and what colors they make and he knows that adding an S to a word makes more than one :)

He has been a pretty big helper. He likes to help Mommy with laundry, cleaning up dishes, wiping the table and baking. He will also run to get things for Mommy that she needs for Quinn.

The last couple of times I have taken him to the pool, I finally got him to jump from the edge to Mommy (and of course, he wants to do this at the 5ft part with Mommy on her tip toes!). He always has to do a count to a certain number before jumping and he changes it each time. I wonder if my child is the only one that feels the need to count to 30 before jumping? He even does a little dance back and forth while he is counting!


With as great as the kiddos are doing - we still miss having the family around to get to share in all these new things with us. Owen always wants to go see Grandma(s) and Grandpa(s), Uncle Austin and Keira! Right now he gets his cousin Aden confused with his "best friend," Aiden. Can't wait to get to seem my family again and get to meet my new niece in person! Only seen her face-to-face over the webcam once.

Fitness - Week 4

Weight loss this week: 0 lbs
To date weight lost: 1.2 lbs

Exercise for week: Played racquetball for 2 hours and went swimming with Owen for 45 minutes.

Feeling like I did good but results haven't been seen yet. Got to keep to it!

Fitness Week 3

Workout: I did play racquetball twice this past week (2 hours) and went swimming once with Owen (1 hour).

Calories: Honestly, didn't monitor well.

Weight: 0 lbs lost this week; 1.2 lbs lost to date.


Semester started Monday which is why I forgot to post before now. Unfortunately, none of the fitness classes are offered at times I can go :(

Old goals - did BAD!!!!!

New goals - here we go again: record my food for all days! Ensure I play rball 2 times per week.


Come on girl, we can do this!!!

Fitness Week Two

Just having gotten started with things there is not a lot to report, but here it goes anyway:

1. For the days I logged my food, I did good. For the weekend when I didn't, not so great but could have been much worse. I knew how bad Steak and Shake was for me but I ate it anyways. I am not giving up this food forever - just need to do it more in moderation and plan on it in advance more.

2. On that note, one of my aunts gave me a great website to help track food, exercise, goals and that you can have "friends" on: www.myfitnesspal.com Of course, as a statistician, I wish it had better reporting tools :)

3. I finally remembered to take my measurements last Thursday and will be giving you inches lost once a month.


Workout: I did play racquetball twice this past week (2 hours) and went swimming once with Owen (1 hour).

Calories: For the days I have logged I am around 1600 calories...

Weight: 1.2 lbs lost so far! Woo hoo!!


Changes to be held accountable for in the next week:
1. Need to log every day, even the bad ones.
2. Increase my water; decrease soda to one a day.

I have some events this week where is food is provided so wish me luck to be good without feeling deprived!

Quinn is 2 months

Quinn turned 2 months old on Wednesday. It seems like it has gone by so quick while each day can seem so long :)

Current stats:
Weight - 9 lbs 4 oz (10th percentile)
Height - 21.75" (25th percentile)
Head circumference - 15" (50th percentile)
Clothing size: 0 - 3 months (though we can still fit into NB onesies!)
Diaper size: 1

Took quite a few pics of her by herself...






... and with her big brother!



Finally, one from her first day at "school."


Classes start in 10 days and then I know that the next 4 months will fly by but each day will still feel long! Got to enjoy the outdoors while we still can!

Picky Eater's Choice Awards

For those of you that know me really well, you know that I am a very picky eater. So when it comes to needing to eat better, this is hard for me since I am not a veggie person. I have decided that I would give you some of my top picks for better pre-packaged foods that even I like:

1. Smart-ones 3 cheese ziti: This has got to be the best frozen "healthy" meal that I have ever had! Noodles are very soft and as long as you mix it up well, you don't have to worry about them being dry. Total time in microwave is about 4 minutes so it is definitely great in a pinch!


2. Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta: I have tried wheat pasta before to get my extra fiber, but it left a lot to be desired. This pasta looks and tastes just like white pasta but has the added benefits. My family didn't even notice (i.e. make comments) when I switched on them - that says it right there!


3. Kraft 2% milk cheeses: This gives you some reduced fat benefits without really noticing it. Let's be honest, when you want cheese, you don't want the taste to suffer. There are fat-free cheeses, but they just taste gross! This can be a nice compromise between taste and fat.


4. Fiber-one oats and chocolate granola bar: I'll be honest - I very much feared even trying this. I bought a box when I had a coupon and it took me almost a month to work up the courage. Anything with that much fiber had to be nasty, right? Shockingly, no!! Great tasting granola bar - Owen even eats it!


Those are at least some of my favorite things that aren't bad for me! Do you have any other items that you'd recommend to a picky eater?


Note: These are just my honest opinions/reviews. I'm not being paid to make these statements.

Fitness Week One

If you read my previous entry, I am going to start being accountable for my goals of getting healthier.

Starters:
Weight loss: 0 lbs
NYC Jean Size: 18 petite
Tummy inches lost: 0
Hip inches lost: 0

Share my goals:
1. Goal is to lose 13.4 lbs by November 15th (about 1 lb per week)
2. Drop one NYC Jean size by November 15th (16 petite)
3. Play racquetball for 2 hours per week
4. Attend fitness class for 1 hour per week (when classes start!)
5. Weights: twice per week (when classes start)
6. Average between 1500 and 1700 calories per day

Each Monday is my goal for posting updates. I'll try to post pics too but got to get the hubby to take my "starting" photo...

Swimming time

Yesterday was the first time this summer that I got to get into the pool! Owen and I went to the neighborhood pool which has a little (aka baby) pool and a big pool (that is what Owen calls them). Owen hasn't really gone swimming much before this summer since 2008 so I know I can't expect a lot of him yet. But Owen only wanted to go to the little pool. My dad had taken him before and Brandon took him before too, but Owen didn't want to get into the big pool for much more than one minute.

I played my mommy bit and began to whimper since mommy wanted to go to the big pool. Owen obliged as I promised I would carry him and not let go. The first time we were in the big pool, I wasn't allowed to bounce at all, get out of "carrying" mode, or dunk him. The second time he allowed me to bounce, spin, and pseudo-swim with him (where he has tummy floating, legs kicking but his head up!). He still didn't want to go under and didn't want to lose his trust so we didn't.

Next year, hopefully I can find swimming lessons for him either at NKU or at a community pool, maybe even see about gettin Quinn started early!

The only "bad" part of the swimming experience was putting on the bathing suit, but I'd do about anything for my little man. Now, I know I was never thin, but my tummy is even more "squishy" than usual due to not using it for so long. I want to get into better shape so I can be more confident next year when I'm with them (don't need a bikini body or anything, but if I get it, even better). So I need everyone to start holding me accountable - I'm going to do this by posting at least weekly blogs about my weight update (pounds lost as I'm not going to actually give you my weight), size update (new york and company sizing as favorite store), how i've worked out, and sample menus of what I'm eating. I'd love for people to send me lots of recipes since I am a picky eater and will definitely veto or edit some.

Help me!

Back to Work - sort of

This past Monday was the kids' first day (back) at daycare. I figured I would start them there before I really had to be at work (classes start on the 23rd, meetings on the 16th). Since I had been home a lot of the summer I wasn't able to get a lot of what I needed to get done this so going in to work is definitely more productive than staying at home!

Now, I am going to be perfectly honest here - I was actually looking forward to taking the kids to daycare. I know that there are a lot of people that believe women should stay home with their kids, but I am not one of those people. Here are my reasons:

1. I think my kids will be better off in the long run by going to daycare. Owen did still learn a lot while he was at home with me, but it isn't the same as being with other kids and with someone who is more qualified to teach his age bracket. At home, we weren't able to go outside much due to my wanting to get Quinn on a schedule and the difficulties that followed the c-section (not being able to hold much weight), let alone the heat!





2. I appreciate my time with kids more when I'm not around them ALL the time and I also think that Owen is better behaved if he isn't home with me all day. (I also think my hubby appreciates my sanity level better too :) )

3. I love my job - I went through A LOT of school to get where I am now and enjoy it so much.

4. Can't afford it - while we may have to pay for two children in full-time daycare right now, that may only be for 1 year (if Owen starts kindergarten next year).

While being at home may not be for me, I applaud the women out there that want (and can) do it. It is definitely not an easy job, and yes it is a job!

Finally, let me end with a pic of Quinn's first smile caught on camera!

Temporary SAHM

Right now, I am basically being a stay-at home mom. I still am teaching a night class two nights a week, but for the most part, I am getting to experience what SAHMs do.

Owen still gets a lot of "schooling", just not in the same way he did before. We eat breakfast and then I feed Quinn while he watches Curious George. Then Quinn generally plays on her playmat while Owen and I play memory or play with flashcards. When Quinn lays down for her nap, Owen and I do a few household chores, like laundry and cleaning the kitchen. Then he usually plays with blocks. When Quinn wakes up next, I feed her and Owen watches Sesame Street. Sometimes we go for a walk after this, but it has been pretty hot for that so more often Owen will play with playdough or draw while Quinn sits in her bouncy seat or has tummy time. I try to get lunch done during this time and then I can lay Quinn down and Owen and I can eat together (though this timing isn't always perfect and sometimes I eat a bit later). After lunch we Owen generally does puzzles while I get a bit of computer work done (and of course, some play time for mommy too). Quinn then eats again while Owen watches Clifford or Word World. Then Owen lays down for his nap and Quinn and I enjoy a bit of mommy and me time and I play with her on her mat, sing and/or read stories. Then I put her in her bouncy seat for a bit of time by herself while I get some more cleaning done. When she lays down for her nap, I either shower or nap myself most the time. I sometimes even watch a Criminal Minds.
At this point, Daddy generally gets home and things aren't as consistent then, but then I have help and let him do what he wants to (as with Owen or Quinn).

Night time has been a roller coaster. Up through Sunday night, Quinn was getting up about every 3 or 3.5 hours to eat and went right back to sleep. Monday night we went 4 hours in a stretch. Tuesday night, we went 6.5 hours without eating (about 5.75 hours of sleep)! Wednesday night, we went 6 hours without eating (about 4.5 of sleep) and Thursday night was about the worst night since she has been born. Laid down at 11:30; 3 or 4 re-insert pacy; up at 1:15 to eat; laid down at 1:40; 3 or 4 re-insert pacy; up at 4:15 to eat; laid down at 4:40 - couldn't get her settled at all - finally got her to sleep at 6.

We'll see how things keep going - I'm home totally for 3 more weeks. When I go back to work, I think I'll try only taking them to daycare for 3 days a week the first 2 weeks before I have to be back full time!

Quinn's Birth Story

My darling, Quinn Renee, was born on June 11th at 8:30 am. She weighed in at 6lbs 9 oz and was 18" long.


C-section went according to plan and I was back in recovery at about 9:15 am, and Quinn got to go with me. I was very excited that she got to stay with me and didn't have to go to a nursery. After about 30 minutes into recovery, she was finding her hands with her mouth, so we asked for a pacifier (she doesn't use it a lot, at least yet, we'll see).

Quinn didn't really eat much at first - less than half an ounce. She didn't eat great the first day, but we were up to about an ounce at a time (every 3 to 4 hours) by the time we left.

O. got to see Quinn on Friday night, and things have been going pretty well with them so far.



I was up into a chair on Friday night and O. was there so Mommy did her best to be strong even though she was in a lot of pain. Had to get up to go to the restroom on Saturday morning, and was walking the halls with Quinn by Sunday morning. I was very lucky to have such great, supportive and pushy :) nurses.

The pediatrician looked Quinn over on both Saturday and Sunday, and all looked good so we were given the seal of approval to be discharged. I was looked over by my doc as well, and we were able to head home on Sunday around 1pm.

Count down - 2 days

Can't believe that there are only two days left before our lives get turned upside down again! Really looking forward to welcoming my daughter into this world and just pray that things go well for both of us!

Been getting a little frustrated with some people feeling the need to put their two cents in about breast-feeding. No matter what a mother chooses, she will be making the right decision for her and her baby! I just wish all mothers could be supportive of each other instead of critical of each other.

It will be sort of strange to teach until 9pm tomorrow night and then go home to get up and be at the hospital at 6:30. Students will need to be understanding that I may not get to their emails right away this weekend :)

Have really enjoyed how much O. has grown up lately - wanting to do a lot more himself, cleaning up his dishes, and he wants to help Mommy with housework and I try to let him do what I think he can.

Hope my parents have a safe trip out!

Count down - 3 days!

I am admittedly nervous about the upcoming c-section. Very glad that my parents are going to be here for the arrival of our baby girl. They are taking off tomorrow (Wednesday) and staying the night about 2/3 the way through and then arriving on Thursday afternoon so they'll get to spend a little time with us before baby girl arrives.

My last OBGYN appointment was Thursday last week and all was looking find - not very dialated yet, which is a good thing for a scheduled c-section! My last weigh in there says I gained 15 lbs while pregnant - the more realistic number in my mind was the 17 lbs difference I have at home with my own scale (especially as that is what I'll be using later!) Still not too bad (especially as I gained almost 30 with O!)

Tomorrow will be O's last day at "school" (daycare) until August when him and baby sister will be going. Since I'll have my parents here to help for the first week and all, I think we'll be ok - I don't want him to think he is not part of it. It may be tougher to keep him home with me since I won't have a lot of family around to help out, but I think he would feel as though he was being replaced if I took him to daycare and stayed home with baby girl.

Guest room is (finally) ready for my parents' arrival. Only a last few things to do...mainly on Daddy's end since my lifting and general work ability has been greatly compromised.

Can't believe it is June!

Where has all the time off gone? Today I start teaching my night class (6:15 - 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays) that goes for 8 weeks - don't worry, I have this whole baby thing figured out - for week 3 of the course, I am giving an exam, which another professor is giving for me, and having a large assignment for them to work on outside of class. Then I'll be back (I think I will need those two nights out a week!!, and this way, I'm making some extra money too!)

It is only 10 days until the scheduled c-section. Had an appointment on Friday last week which told me I was up to 13 lbs gained - hopefully not too much more in the next week or so! Things are getting pretty difficult for me to do right now - can't seem to be on my feet for much more than an hour without needing to take a load off, so we'll see how teaching goes tonight!

Baby girl's room is pretty much ready for her arrival; now the guest room, on the other hand, is not so ready for gma and gpa's arrival. That is the goal of the week for me!

O's eating is getting horrible - he'll eat something one day and then not eat it the next day. I don't know if he is just testing his limits or what. At school, if he doesn't try everything, he is offered his lunch for snack (instead of whatever "goody" they are offering). At home, we take him to the slide or outside or he gets a special treat for snack when he has eaten well. I am refusing to force feed him, though I will admit I am tempted sometimes. If he would just be willing to try something new, we would be ok. Got him to try fresh pineapple and raspberries this weekend - like the pineapple, and at first liked the raspberries. I think he is more like me with the raspberries - love the flavor but can't stand all the seeds. He does eat quite a bit of fruit (apples, oranges, bananas, raisins, applesauce, pineapple) but can't get this boy to try veggies (he eats carrots at daycare sometimes...). The only "potato" he has eaten has been french fries. Are you sure this is my child?

Part of me hopes that he is just asserting indepedence and that he will eventually eat when he sees that mommy and daddy like it and that he will not be getting something else.

My concluding thought of the day - I am ready for June 11th to be here!

Mind over body

As I am now at right at 3 weeks until baby girl arrives, I have so much that I still want to get done, but my body just isn't wanting to cooperate with me! I am getting tired of standing after about an hour and my feet are just beginning to swell :(

All the big things are put together in her room (crib, dresser)- need to get it organized so that we are ready when we bring her home. In addiont, we need to get the guest room organized so my parents have a place to sleep and not get hurt (Mom!!) getting around what we have kept in there while trying to get everything else organized!

Had some of B's friends over for a cookout tonight - not quite as many showed up as I thought would so we have a lot of leftover food. At least having people over was great movivation to get some things done around here.

Still need to get some sleepers, diapers, and formula right now. I don't know what size to expect yet as I believe O. was definitely an exception to the rule when it came to his growth rate!

Now, just hoping now that baby girl is willing to wait until June 11th for her appearance!

Baby Blanket

I have finally finished the baby blanket! O. actually loves to sit on it already. He knows it is for baby sister, but he just loves to look at it and use it - might have to break his old one back out so he is willing to share this one when baby sister gets here!