A day at the zoo with Mr. E.

It's 6:00 and we all just woke up from a very much needed two hour nap---AND we still have two days of weekend left.  

Life. Is. Good.

 Here are some snaps from our day celebrating our favorite Everett at home and at the zoo with BOTH sets of grandparents .

  Now if only this day were to end with the rumblings of a mild thunderstorm and a baby to begin it's arrival (after midnight!).  

That would be perfect!....just sayin' :)

Such a sad and pathetic portrait, but hilarious at the same time.  We were all shocked at his negative reaction after enjoying this ride at the MOA and could only watch on and laugh as the ride continued....we're really good parents, I promise.

To my dearest.

My boy.

Tomorrow you mark a new milestone. Three years old.

I am so overwhelmed at how fast this time has flown by.  From my early surprise baby, to a toddling tot, to a boy with never ending energy and conversation.  My how you have grown!  

You have shown us so much of what true unconditional love is and have truly taught me how to be a better person.  

You are so kind and gentle, yet crazy and wild and I love that you are a perfect mix of such qualities.

  I have no doubt that you will one day change the world around us with your charisma and friendly manner.  You will be a friend to all---I am sure of it!

As we excitedly await the arrival of your little sister, I want you to know how special you are.  You are my sweet, you are my heart. 

 I know that my love and heart will grow even more with baby sister, but none of that will be taken from you my love. None.

You are going to be such a good big brother--the thought of it excites me and it will be such a blessing to watch you two grow up together.  I pray that you will find joy in being her protective older brother.

The day you made me a mama is always a fond memory and tonight I will again thank God through tears of joy of what a gift he has given our family.

I'll love you forever.

I'll like you for always.

As long as I'm living.

My baby you'll be.

Everett—3 years old.

What is your favorite color?  Red

What is your favorite toy?  Monster Trucks

What is your favorite game?  Monster Truck games (not sure what games these are!)

What is your favorite food?  Macaroni and Cheese

What is your favorite TV show?  Umizoomi

What is your favorite book?  Monster’s Inc. and Goodnight Moon

What is your favorite song?  “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”

What is your favorite sport?  Baseball

What is your favorite animal?  Tiger

What is your favorite snack/treat?  M & M’s and crackers

Who is your best friend? Pig. Ilsa. Anders. Soren. Reed. Mommy.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  A big red car.

Officially a working mom again.

Those who know me know what a huge and great thing it is that I have my own office!  Its so exciting to have a place of my own.  Not that I'm not good at sharing space or anything--frankly, I'm just happy they want me around period!  But to have something that is your own that you can make and change how you like is just kinda special---makes me feel all big and important! 

 It's pretty much all set up and ready to go......and then soon I'm gonna go and abandon it and have a baby. Sigh.  It'll be exciting to come back to in the winter though! :)  

Workshop week is always exciting to me.  

Hearing about people's summers...ordering a new planner to fill out...getting things prepped for the months ahead...the smell of  newness and clean hallways....the constant hum of papers coming out of the printer...walking by classrooms and seeing how intricate the teachers are with their stacked books and desk arrangements.  I kinda love it all and I'll be kinda sad if I don't make it to the first day of school to greet those little faces! 

Time will tell!

Good luck and happy school year to all the educators out there!

38 weeks and ticking....

So, after yesterday's doctor's appointment I surely feel like a ticking time bomb.  She "checked" me and said I was likely going to go any time now!  Hello anxiety!  Good anxiety of course.  It's just kind of like freezing in my tracks every time I sneeze, cough, pivot,turn, lift, laugh, etc.  Like a jack in the box---where you wait for it....wait for it...and then POP! Who knows, maybe i'll go into labor this time by way of contractions instead of a popped water sac. The anticipation!

I feel like I am getting everything in order though.  Our make shift nursery is set up, hospital bags packed, work preperations are underway for the sub (I get to move into my office today!), paperwork is sent in, house is swept, laundry done.  (judging by the pics below...I need to go and clean my mirror right now!)

So, we wait. Could be any day now---so this may be my last bump post!

How far along? Nearly 38 weeks
Total weight gain: about 30
Best moment this week:  Hearing that my office is finished, so I can go move my things in! :)BTW, I have my OWN office---this. is. awesome.  LOVE my school!
Miss Anything? At this point....EVERYTHING!
Movement: Like an alien monster ready to poke through my tummy.
Food cravings: I'll eat anything these days.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Still gotta watch what I eat due to the acid reflux
Gender:  Girl!
Fruit/Veggie Size:  A pumpkin.  A bleeping Pumpkin folks!  Holy. Cow. 

your baby at 38 weeks

• She may have about an inch or so of hair already.
• She's slowly shedding that white goo on her skin (called vernix caseosa) but you might see some of it at birth.

  
Labor Signs: Not yet.
Symptoms: heartburn, braxton hicks, swollen feet!
Wedding rings on or off? On!
Mood This Week:   Exhausted. Nervous. Anxious. Happy.
Looking forward to: Finishing setting up my office--makes me excited for the new year....even though I'll only get to be there for 2 seconds. :(

Everett's Birthday and imperfections in planning.

Today was Everett's early 3rd Birthday party.

Let's just say it did not go as planned---at first.

It started off with being late, exhaustion, tears, frustration and breakdowns.  And that was just me.

Silly us. 

 We decided to plan his party at the largest area park in Minneapolis and expected everyone to have no problem finding us. Ugh.

Time went on (late to our own party!) and we finally shlepped our load to a spot that catered to what we needed.  People arrived shortly after (sadly after having driven around for a good amount of time trying to find us) and then the party was on.  

Though I was still stressed and wanted to hide in the bathroom and cry at the disaster the afternoon started out as, I pulled my preggo hormones together and put on my proverbial big girl pants and accepted the imperfections of the day for Everett's sake. 

 I was the one afterall that told everyone to bring a positive attitude. 

He was none the wiser of our mistakes in planning and was having a blast.

That was the goal afterall.  And I'm glad he had a fun celebration!

Sigh.  Moving on.

Pictures!

Monster truck themed of course!

We've mastered the two---now working on three!

This just looks like a scene out of Titanic. 

Pinata time.  This kid was pumped all week to wack that truck.

Those manly men getting cozy together for the sake of a sparkler.

The loot from our lovely party guests!

Exhausted.

In other news, I'm huge.  See proof in picture below.

More preggo updates to come soon! :)

Signing out.

Accepting mistakes.

And going to bed!