These Little Moments...

I love a long weekend. An extra day with Sean at home means more time to enjoy my family, and enjoy we did! Friday evening, Sean and I had our own little birthday celebration with Gracie. A big party is always lots of fun, but it was nice to take time to recognize just how much her birthday means to us with her, and on the actual day she was born. A little rest and relaxation made its way into the weekend, along with yardwork and a few errands. There was a nice balance of things we needed to do vs. things we wanted to do, so we can say we had fun while also being productive.  My dad and stepmom picked Gracie up on Sunday evening and took her out for ice cream, then we joined friends for a Memorial Day cookout on Monday. I don't know that the weekend would have been complete without a cookout! I think I'm still stuffed from all the delicious food! Gracie and I also played with her "Baby Brother" doll. Sean's mom bought her this anatomically correct baby b...

I woke up Friday morning, on Gracie's 3rd birthday, with this idea in my head of how the day would go, how we'd fill the day with fun and make sure the birthday girl was spoiled appropriately. The funny thing about ideas is that they aren't always realized, not when there are other plans in place. The morning started off just as planned. Gracie was up at 6am. She climbed right up on my side of the bed, fairy wings already on, crown in hand. You don't have to tell this girl it's her special day twice. After some early morning snuggle time, there was breakfast, then books that needed to be read and games to be played. Soon enough, it was time for lunch. We picked Sean up from work and headed to one of our favorite lunch spots downtown. After a yummy birthday lunch, Gracie and I discussed whether she'd prefer to stop off at the store to pick up her special cake and balloon before heading home or wait until after her nap. I was surprised that she chose t...

On May 27, 2008, Sean and I were blessed with this insanely beautiful and perfect gift, our daughter. I won’t ever forget what took place at 2:31 that afternoon, her official time of birth. I won’t forget the sound of those first cries or the way she looked up at her daddy when he held her for the first time. I won’t forget the tears in his eyes or how that tiny bundle felt in my arms. And that was just the beginning… Three years ago, I couldn’t have known how much this baby would add to our lives. She’s turned into this amazing little girl who speaks her mind and continues to test her boundaries. She loves fairies and dancing, and on most days, you will find her dressed in a tutu and fairy wings, even while shopping at the grocery store. She enjoys wearing jewelry and princess crowns. She’s as girly as a girly girl could be and this has been so much fun for her daddy and me. We share our home with our own little princess and trust me, she takes full advantage of this title. Gracie , a...

How is it that as her birthday approaches, my little girl seems to grow right before my eyes? It's not just that she looks so much more like a "little girl" now, but the things she says and does seem so grown up lately. I just want to squeeze her all day, so I don't forget the way she is right now, still a two-year-old, until Friday. Yesterday, we celebrated. 14 children (along with their parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents) joined us in wishing Gracie a Happy Birthday. As her mother, nothing makes me happier than seeing her happy and surrounded by so many people who love her. I was wise to hold her party at the gym. It was a super-hot afternoon, and I can't even imagine what it would have been like to have this group, no matter how awesome these people are, partying in my living room! Our party helpers were wonderful and took all the pressure off of me, leaving me with the job of watching my sweet girl have a blast. There were games with a parachute and lots...

My 35-week appointment went well yesterday afternoon. The doctor seemed pleased with where I am as far as weight and blood pressure. He started checking for swelling in my feet and ankles a couple weeks ago and seemed surprised that I am still free of any swelling. He attributes this to "good genes", so thanks to my mom for that! Once again, I'm measuring right at 35 weeks and Ethan is still head down. I'll be back in the office in two weeks, at which point I'll be full term! I'm still trying hard to really cherish these last weeks pregnant. I know that a part of me will miss this when it's all over, even though I'm far more anxious to have Ethan join our family! I'm so excited about this weekend! We have a lot of family coming in town to celebrate Gracie's birthday with us! Some family members are driving almost 5 hours to be here and while it doesn't mean much to Gracie now, I hope one day she'll realize just how much she's lov...

The past 35 weeks have given me the chance to grow a honeydew melon sized baby boy, who's weighing in at a little over 5 pounds and measuring over 18 inches long. Only 35 days until his due date. Gracie has really shown a lot of interest in Ethan over the past few weeks. His movements are so obvious that she sees them even when she's not necessarily trying to, and if a part of her body is against my belly, he will kick her! I tell her that this is his way of telling her he loves her. She will also come and kiss my stomach at random moments, which just melts my heart each time. I'm feeling... large. Ethan seems to have nestled in and found a comfortable spot to finish growing. Within the last week or so, I've started feeling movements that are lower than they have been, like super low . My belly is so tight at times that it literally hurts to touch it, and God forbid I bump into something with it, like my toddler's head or a counter (ouch!). I'm basically feelin...

It was her idea. She was seeking out misplaced shoes and sending out invitations to furry family members before we even realized we were going anywhere.  It was a great idea. I wish sidewalks had the same effect on me. I would love to find her kind of freedom, the kind inspired by mismatched clothing, blue tutus, and a cool spring breeze left behind after a rainy day. We didn’t walk far, but we walked far enough. This is what I’m talking about. I hold a great appreciation for the simple, yet sweet. There's just nothing quite like these little moments.

With each passing week, I find myself wondering what it will be like this time... Part of me feels so prepared for what's to come, but there is a part of me that knows every birth is different. I still remember Gracie's birth like it was yesterday. I've never been so excited to be in so much pain. With Gracie, consistent contractions started around 5:00 am, my water broke at 7:12 am (I remember this to the minute because Sean was literally walking out of the door to head to work when it happened!), and after calling and chatting with a nurse, we were on our way to the doctor's office to confirm that my water had indeed broken by 8:00 am. By noon, I was 10cm dilated. I pushed for two hours before finally bringing Gracie into the world. As she began her entrance, we were surprised and delighted to find that she had a head of dark hair. I wonder... Will he look like his sister? Will this labor experience be similar? Will our little man also be born with that dark ha...

The mornings and evenings have been gorgeous lately. Gracie and I have been trying to fit in mid-morning walks and playtime outside before the heat of the day hits. We spent some time kicking her soccer ball back and forth yesterday morning. Once Sean got home, we went back out so we could show him her soccer skills. Sean and his siblings all played soccer growing up, so I know he would love to see at least one of his little ones play this sport. It was fun watching him get comfortable with the ball again. At times I think he forgot he was playing with his 3-year-old and pregnant wife. In other sports news, Gracie joined her daddy and granddaddy this past weekend for a round of golf. She's been with them before, but she's just now getting old enough to understand the whole concept. Sean said she really seemed to enjoy herself, so he's taking her again this coming weekend! I love that we finally have weather that allows for outdoor sports.