Weekend Wrap-Up

Overwhelmed.

That is how I feel right now. 

July of 2013 is going to go in the books as a pretty epic month for our family, so I'm just trying to take things a day at a time and not freak out.

The great thing is all the changes we have coming in the next few weeks are beyond exciting.

It is just...well...overwhelming.  That is the only word to describe it.

On to the weekend.

Saturday

We stayed home for most of the day and took it easy.  Did lots of playing and resting and negotiating (which is what seems to happen QUITE often with a willful 3-year-old) and dancing.

We went over to the Held's for dinner and Callie had fun playing with Mabel's new princess castle.

Sunday
Cal went over to hang out with G-pa and the doggies so Chris and I could clean the house.

Then there was naptime at the condo, where we hung out with Bops and Gi-Gi.  Callie and Bops had fun reading books together.

Tonight we headed over to the Wicks' new house for a BBQ.  The girls had a blast playing both inside and outside.  We realized, though, that it will be REALLY nice when they are a little bit older and won't have to be supervised while playing.  Once again, our negotiating skills were put to use trying to keep them occupied and satisfied playing in the places we wanted them to be. 

As for Hamsie, her update from Friday is what I got.  The baby center app doesn't seem too accurate now, as it says she is 6.33 pounds.  We'll find out for sure on Friday, but it seems like that is not the case with this little big one. 


So the weekend is almost over and our month of major life changes starts tomorrow.  We'll keep you posted.

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

I'll start this post out with a Hamsie update.  I had a doctor's appointment today, and I'm measuring 40 weeks (I'm only 36 weeks, 5 days...).  My doc thinks this girl could already be 8 pounds, though she said there may be a lot of fluid around her so she wants to make sure with an ultrasound.  That is scheduled for next Friday.  If Hamsie is that big, it is a good possibility that we'll have to get her into the world earlier than her due date, so I don't end up having to birth a 10 pound baby.  We'll know more next week... I guess there is a good reason that I feel so huge and exhausted!  Because I am already potentially toting around an 8 pounder before she is even born.

On to the pictures from the week...

Favorite Thing #1: Intense playtime

Favorite Thing #2: Those flip flop indents I mentioned yesterday
(okay, not really one of my favorite things, but I picture I took none-the-less)

Favorite Thing #3: Hamsie cuddles

Favorite Thing #4: The name of the new Starbucks blend

Favorite Thing #5: Breakfast

Favorite Thing #6: Hanging out with Auntie Cat

 Have a great weekend!

Summer vs. Winter Pregnancy

So with Callie, the uncomfortable end of my pregnancy was in December.  Aaaahhhh, December.  I can just imagine the chill in the air.  How lovely it must have been.

This time around, the uncomfortable end is in June and July.  IT IS SO HOT IN JUNE and JULY.  Like SO SO SO SO HOT.

For example, I was at a 4-day training this week.  We were in a VERY air conditioned room (thankfully).  Other people were wearing sweatshirts.  Some brought blankets.  I was happy to be in my tank tops or summer dresses, and STILL had to fan myself at various times. 

In December, I was able to wear big bulky sweaters and slippers (the only shoes my feet could fit in to by the end).  So I was relatively covered up.

This time around, I try and wear as little as possible without being indecent.  Cotton dresses are my friend.  Shorts and tank tops.  But no bulky layers, so my bump is just out there under a single layer, for all the world to stare at.  (And they do.)  And my swollen feet can't be hidden by slippers.  It is flip flops all the way...no other sandals fit and any other shoe is too darn hot.  So by the end of the day I have lovely flip flop lines in my feet.  Not flip flop tan lines, just flip flop indents because of the swelling.  It is pretty awesome.  Also, because I'm not wearing pants, my cankles are on full display as well.  I have never felt more lovely.

But, despite pregnancy, there are obviously some great things about having a baby in the summer.

We aren't in the middle of the H1N1 virus chaos, so we won't feel the need to be cooped up and quarantined the first months of Hamsie's life.  We'll get to go on walks right away and won't have to bundle a newborn in a ridiculous amount of layers just to leave the house.  Oh- and we won't get stuck in a snow storm on the way home from the hospital.  That'll be a big plus.

It has been interesting having opposite experiences with pregnancy towards the end, though the pregnancies themselves have felt fairly similar.  I go to the doctor tomorrow, which I'll be doing weekly now until she comes.  I'm anxious to find out my progress, baby position, and anything else I'll be able to find out.  It is time to get ready for this little one!

And for some exciting news for our family- Callie's great-grandma (Gi-Gi) has officially moved from Eau Claire to Minneapolis!  We went to visit her at her new place tonight, and it will be wonderful to have her in town.  Especially with all the fun changes that will be happening this month.  Welcome to Minnesota, Gi-Gi!   

Weekend Wrap-Up

As I mentioned in my Friday post, we had a HUGE storm on Friday night (after already getting a HUGE storm on Thursday night).

Chris had reserve duty, but thankfully my family was over so Cal and I weren't alone when the scary part of the storm hit (including the power going out).

Hanging out watching the crazy storm around 8pm after the power went out

With the power going out, obviously, our air conditioning was out as well.  Not fun for a super pregnant person, who is usually a total baby about being hot even when NOT pregnant.  I always put our air on at the first sign of any kind of heat over 70 degrees.

Anyway, so it was hot, and Chris ended up having to work until 3:30am, so there was not much sleep had by either of us.  Thankfully, Callie slept through both Thursday and Friday nights' storms like a champ.

Our power came back on around 8:30am Saturday, and I realize how very lucky we are.  Both of my sisters live in areas of Minneapolis that got hit really hard.  Laura's power went on last night and Mari still doesn't have it.  So I know we got really lucky just having it out for about 12 hours. 

On Saturday we went over to G-ma and G-pa's house to welcome G-ma back from a long trip to California.  Callie was happy to see her, and had fun playing with Auntie Cat in the closet. :)

Our friends Brent and Bethany came over and brought a delicious dinner on Saturday night...and we enjoyed hanging out in our very cool and air conditioned basement. :)

This morning Chris took Callie to the zoo, and then we met Dave and Cherilyn for brunch with the kiddos.

Checking out the lynx

Silly girls

 

 Speaking of Lynx, we headed downtown for a Lynx game tonight!

Go LYNX!!!

Hamsie Update: 36 weeks.  She is around 6 pounds and more than 18.5 inches long.  Hopefully she is head down- she has been for awhile, but she has been moving around like crazy the past few days, so who knows.  I go to the doctor on Friday, and then every Friday until she comes.  We have a month (or less) to go and I'm starting to freak out big time.  We really don't have anything ready, because we're going to be moving in a couple of weeks.  We have no diapers.  Haven't gone through any of Callie's baby clothes.  I went online to schedule a tour of the brand new Mother and Baby Center at the hospital, and the first time we could get in was July 16th, a whopping 4 days before Hamsie is due.  So...if she is early we may not even know where to go when I go into labor.  I know it will all be fine, but my pregnancy hormone-laden brain keeps me up early in the morning worrying about all the things we haven't done yet.  All the plans we haven't even made.  Just all the things.

As for Callie, I think she is getting just as anxious to meet her as we are.  Today when we were reading books and she was feeling Hamsie move, she said "Why do we have to wait til JULY for her to come out?"

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

42-Months-Old!!!

This little snuggler is now officially half-way to FOUR.

She is brilliant and frustrating and adorable and hilarious and stubborn and whiny and loveable and sensitive and awesome all rolled up into one little 3-and-a-half-year-old body.

I can't believe another half year is already done and we're creeping up on four.  I seriously seriously can't believe it. 

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

I wrote the rest of this post earlier this afternoon, thank goodness, because our power went out with the crazy storms at about 8pm, and 3 hours later it is still out. So I figured out how to post this from my phone. Word on the street is that the power may not be restored until late Sunday night, so it could be an interesting weekend!

On to the original post...

Since this was my first week home with Cal for the summer, I have a lot more pictures than usual. :)

I decided to create collages categories of things I'm thankful for, based on the pictures I have...

Here goes!

Favorite Thing #1: Work time on "laptops"

Favorite Thing #2: Bubbles!

Favorite Thing #3: Catching up with childhood friend Emily and her daughter Vera!

Favorite Thing #4: These two stinkers and their ice cream

Favorite Thing #5: Toddler in a banana (if you follow the mommyshorts blog, you may know what I'm talking about.  If not, you'll just be confused and that is okay).

Favorite Thing #6: MOA date with Jenna, Charlie and Mabel

The biggest thing this week has taught me is...patience.  As I expected.  Callie and I actually did very well together (for the most part), but after being used to working full time and having a crazy-busy- structured schedule for so long, it was hard to adjust to "toddler time."

As in, toddlers don't care about time at all.  And the more you try to push them along to hurry up with something, the slower they seem to go.  At least that is the case with my toddler.  Maybe not all of them.  But definitely mine.  So far, the only strategy that sort of works now is counting down from 5 and setting the timer on my phone, which we call "Piano Man" because it is a piano riff that goes off when the time is up.  She'll usually get her butt in gear and do what I ask in both of those circumstances, but I'm just waiting for her to realize that I got nothin' in terms of consequences if she doesn't. 

What has been totally awesome this week is the amount of sleep our toddler is getting.  Summer wears her out, and it is fantastic.  She is quick to fall asleep, late to wake up, and still takes good naps.  Which means that I get a much needed nap every day too.  Whew!

Deep Thoughts QOTD

While eating lunch today.

Callie: (staring off into space and chewing)
Me: What are you thinking about?
Callie: (a few seconds of silence) Fish.
Me: What about fish?
Callie: (staring off into space and chewing)

***A couple of minutes of silence later***

Me: What are you thinking about now?
Callie: (a few seconds of silence) Snowmans.
Me: Okay.

Normally I like to talk or play games with her while we eat, but today she just needed to think. 

About deep things, like fish.  And snowmans. 

Stranger QOTD

Strangers continue to make conversation with me.  It is like people have never seen a pregnant person before.  Today we were at the pool with my parents.  I was playing a game with Callie in the kiddie pool (the game required me to stand up and sit down a couple of times, which as you can imagine, is more difficult than normal).  All of a sudden, a guy came up to me and we had the following conversation:

Man: I have a question.  Are you pregnant?
Me: (internal eyeroll) Yep...just a little bit! (fake laughter)
Man: My wife and I were looking at you and we just feel so bad for you!
Me: (punching him in the face in my mind) Yep.  It's a lot of fun.
Man: But it's AWESOME!

Uh huh. Thanks.

Weekend Wrap-Up: The Father's Day Edition

Happy Father's Day to Daddy, Bops, Pa, and Papa! We got to see them all today, so it was a happy Father's day, indeed.

Except for the little 3-years-going-on-13 attitude we've got going on these days.  HOLY MOLY.  Let's just say that our little toddler is teaching us patience beyond our wildest imaginations.  I don't think that even makes sense, but I hope you get my drift.  PATIENCE.

And Pastor Mary's sermon tonight was all about forgiveness...it was pretty appropriate.  At one point she had us picture someone who we needed to forgive, and the only face that popped into my head was my lovely daughter's.  She has been testing the boundaries and disobeying the rules on purpose this weekend and we have been at our wits' end.  So, her face was in my mind when Pastor Mary told us forgiveness is about these three things:

1) PRAY and BREATHE (deep breath in...deep breath out...REPEAT)
2) Don't be the first to try and get even or get justice- give GRACE
3) Have PATIENCE

So...that was a pretty perfect message for me as we head into my first week staying home with her.

Wish us luck. :)

Anyway, on to the weekend...

Saturday

We had a mommy/daughter (decaf) coffee and muffin date.

Later we went to George and Isaac's annual summer party- it was raining at first, but it obviously didn't matter!  A fire truck came to the party too!

Dancing in the rain

Playing with George

Sitting in the fire truck

Callie had a sleepover at Boom and Bops' house on Saturday night so Chris and I could have a date night out.  We definitely needed the break, and Callie was a complete angel for Boom and Bops, so it was a win-win situation for all.  They sent us lots of pictures to show all the fun they were having.

A new "computer" from Bops

Playing at the Guthrie

Popsicles!

Sunday

Cuddles for Bops on Father's Day

Of course, Callie had to be woken up at 7:30 this morning (let's not talk about the fact that at home we are lucky if she sleeps until 7)...stinker! :)

Later, we went to G-ma and G-pa's house and hung out with Pa, Auntie Cat, Uncle Dan, Nana and Papa.  I am large and pregnant, so I did a terrible job of taking pictures, but I managed to snap one of Cal and Pa playing at the sand table.

And that's all I got for today.  We went to church tonight, and then Chris and Cal went home while I went out to eat with Boom, Bops, Auntie Yoda, Auntie Mari, Bob and Barbara. 

Hamsie Update:  35 weeks.  Approximately 5.25 pounds and 18 inches long.  I'm trying not to freak out thinking about how little time is left.  Though, as I've already said a bunch of times, I can't imagine getting bigger for another 5 weeks.  My sausage feet are currently best friends with our basement recliner.  I'm SO HOT all the time.  I'm so glad that it hasn't gotten hot until just recently.  Seriously.  SO HOT AND sweaty GLISTENY.  But enough of my complaining...I really am great overall. 

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

Schoooooooool's OUT...for the SUMMER!!!!

For the kids, anyway.  I'll have to go in off and on for the next couple of weeks, but I still consider today the first real day of summer break.

It was lovely.

So was the rest of the week...

Favorite Thing #1: SUNSHINE and RUNNING (not for me at this point, but for them)

Favorite Thing #2: Summer BBQs with friends!  (Cal with Baby Avery)

Favorite Thing #3: Waving to the kids the last day of school

Favorite Thing #4: Hiking with Pa

And my MOST favorite thing this week, Favorite Thing #5, is the first day of summer with my girl:

 

A smoothie date

Bubbles

A Bubble Catcher

Family time

 

I'll be honest, I am a little nervous about this summer.  Maybe a lot nervous.  I was thinking earlier that summer has started, and by the end of summer we will be in a new house, have a new baby, and our lives will be amazingly different. 



Belly Pics

I have not posted the monthly belly pic this time around like I did the first time. 

Partly because I haven't taken a monthly pic.  Because, well, I haven't really thought about doing it.  The 2nd time pregnancy stuff just gets totally overlooked when there is a toddler around.

But I was going through pictures on my phone at 5am this morning when I couldn't sleep, and came across this belly pic from April (on the left) so I decided to wear the same outfit today and take another picture to compare it to (on the right).

Remember when I thought I was HUGE back in April?  Remember when my hair wasn't in a ponytail?  Yeah, me neither.

So I know I definitely look bigger in the second pic, but not out of control huge.  The out of control huge look comes when I turn to the side.  My side view is the reason that everyone who sees me thinks I'm going to "pop" any day now.

Seriously.

QOTD Catch-Ups

I haven't done a QOTD post for awhile, so I thought I'd catch up with a few recent gems.

Today in the car, after some (what appeared to be) deep-in-thought reflection time.

Callie: Mommy, do you know what?
Me: What?
Callie: We really, really, really, really really, really, really, really, REALLY* need to paint my toe nails and finger nails again.

*It is possible there were a lot more reallys than I wrote out.  It was an extensive list of reallys.
_______________________________________________________

Over the weekend, she was not being a good listener so I was using my stern voice.  She threw a behavior management technique in my face.

Callie: OKAY MOMMY, HERE IS YOUR CHOICE.**  YOU CAN BE MEAN.  OR YOU CAN NOT BE MEAN.

**We clearly give HER too many choices.
________________________________________________________

This morning, while I was getting ready, she called to me from the kitchen.

Callie: Mommy, can you help me count to 100?***

***She rocks at counting...she only needs help with getting the tens in the right order, otherwise she does it on her own.

________________________________________________________

And finally, some Hamsie-related QOTDs.

Callie: (looking at my stomach) WOW.  Hamsie is REALLY getting big!

_________________________________________________________

Callie: (laying on the couch with me and rubbing my belly) Mom, how is Hamsie going to come out?
Me: (totally caught off guard with NO idea what to say) UMMM...she is going to come out of my tummy!
Callie: But how?
Me: UMMMMMM...(meanwhile Chris is listening and being absolutely unhelpful)...she is going to go down my body and come out.
Callie: (moves on to a new topic)****

****Thank GOODNESS toddlers have short attention spans, because that was probably the worst explanation of child birth EVER.

Weekend Wrap-Up: The Exhaustion Edition

Yep, round-the-clock exhaustion is settling in.  Except at about 4:30 or 5am, when my body seems to think I need to be on full alert and wide awake.  For awhile I just figured it was because I went to sleep pretty early, but the past few nights I have stayed up late on purpose, and it didn't seem to make a difference.  I was wide awake by 5am the next morning, but exhausted at the same time.  Between that, and being awake periodically throughout the night tossing and turning trying to get comfortable, my body is doing a great job trying to get me at least somewhat prepared for when Hamsie arrives.  (Though I know, the reality of the 24/7 outside baby will be MUCH MORE exhausting than the 24/7 inside baby.)

Anyway...our weekend. 

Saturday

We headed to the condo to see my parents and go to the Mill City Farmer's Market for the first time this season.  We, of course, HAD to get the Chef Shack mini-donuts.  So delicious.

YUM!!

iPad time with Bops

Then later we went to G-ma and G-pa's to play.

Practicing those big sister skills

Hanging out with George through the fence

Sunday

I took ZERO pictures today, though we were actually pretty busy.  Callie hung out at Dave and Cherilyn's house for a little bit this morning so Chris and I could clean.  Then I went to Chris' cousin Caitlin's bridal shower for a bit before Chris, Cal and I headed to the Koch's for Anthony's graduation open house.   Callie had fun playing with Christine and one of her friends...especially when they dressed her up in a gigantic poofy blue princess dress.  And I have NO photographic evidence!  Bah!!!  But trust me, it was pretty epic.

Hamsie Update:
*34 weeks and growing by the hour (or so it seems!)
*Roughly the heft of a cantaloupe
*Thrashing and shifting and moving pretty regularly throughout the day
*My lung capacity is seriously diminished
*No name progress at all...she's still just Hamsie at this point

Four more days until I have a week off.  My summer won't really start until July, as I have a week-long training the last week of June.  And obviously, it won't be summer as usual.  In July we will be moving and having a baby. 

Callie's world is going to be ROCKED.  And I suppose ours will be too.

Favorite-Things-Phone-Dump Friday

Happy Weekend!  It is June, right?  So it should feel like summer.  But it doesn't.  I guess that is okay because:
1) I am super pregnant and have enjoyed not being super hot and uncomfortable on the daily (yet...I'm just regular uncomfortable but not HOT uncomfortable), and
2) There are still 4 more days of work so the fact that it isn't beautiful and sunny out makes it much easier to still be in school when EVERYONE ELSE is done.

But it would be nice to see the sun every once in awhile. 

Anyway, here are the pics from the week. 

Favorite Thing #1: Getting pictures from Boom like this on a Monday

Favorite Thing #2: When Daddy is in charge of picking out clothes, we get a star hoodie, Minnie Mouse t-shirt, and polka-dot leggings

Favorite Thing #3: Our newly painted office looks AWESOME.

Favorite Thing #4: These girls

Favorite Thing #5: Competing animal prints: leopard legs and zebra feet