Last Day

Thursday was Emma's last day of 3's Preschool. Crazy how fast the year goes by. Crazy how much older she looks.




Emma loved school. Loved. It. Of course, we had our share of days where she cried and didn't want to go in the room. Days where I had to hand her off to Mrs. Sivillo while I picked up Mackenzie and ran out the door. But the tears never lasted long and she was always happy when I picked her up. She loves her teachers. Loves her friends. I'm so glad that next year she'll be in the same room with the same teachers with the same friends. I like the consistency.

She was always quick to tell me what the snack was, about the book they read and sometimes even what others brought for show and tell. As for her answer when I asked, "What did you learn today?" Well that was usually, "I don't know" and "I can't remember." Although I always got "I played" when I asked what she did that day.

When I told Emma school was about over for her, she cried. Same thing the night before her last day. She told me again how much she loved school, her teachers and her friends, how fun it was and how she didn't want it to end. That morning before school, I mentioned that now she'd be home with us this summer over break, and her reply was "And now Mackenzie won't have to miss me. And then in the fall I go back and I can't wait I'm so excited I love school!" And then she cried when I went to leave her room. Sometimes 4-year-olds make no sense.

And just because I love it.

Head on over to Write.Click.Scrapbook.

I'm hosting the
Write.Click.Scrapbook blog this week. Yesterday was inspiration and how do you use it/keep it. Today is mini-albums. Come on over and check it out.

Scrapbook Sunday

First up, the page I started at the NSD crop May 1st. One down, one to go. Yep. I was there for over seven hours and did two pages. Er, started two pages.


And one I did this past week. Michael and Emma at Dad's Night. This was inspired by a page in a recent SBE, but I cut it out without the designer's name. She used 3 pieces of wide pleated ribbon, which turned into pleated patterned paper for me.

Next on my list, adding some pages to Emma's "Emma at three" album, which has turned into the "Emma at three and at four" album since there's only five pages in it so far!

Ten on Tuesday

1. Last Thursday was the Mother's Day Tea at Emma's school. Which was actually donuts, milk and juice. Which is a good thing for me, since I don't like tea. I think the kids made it all of 10 minutes sitting with their mom's. As soon as the donuts were gone, so were the kids - running in circles, yelling and laughing and in Emma's case, red-faced.


2. Last night I downloaded PW's actions and I think my favorite is the 70's. I used on this picture (from Friday) of Mackenzie.


3. And this self-portrait Emma took that same day. She LOVES the camera.


4. And last night, we went on an hour-long walk with Lisa, Bree and Ava. Which turned in to a nature walk. The wagons were full of leaves, dandelions, little baby pine cones and twigs. I used it here, too. Emma and Bree are all about posing these days.


5. Saturday was Claire's birthday party and yesterday she turned 3. Happy birthday sweet niece!


6. So I'm in love with Glee's Total Eclipse of the Heart. I've always loved the song, and Lea Michele does an amazing job with it. But my very favorite thing? The video. I secretly (or not so much now) want to be Rachel dancing that ballet with Jesse. Loving Jonathan Groff. Loving his voice. Loving the ballet. Really loving the ballet. Also really hoping he's not on less after last week's episode. More, please.



7. Last week the new Sookie Stackhouse book came out. (What True Blood is based on in case you don't know.) SPOILERS IF YOU'RE WAITING TO READ IT: It was good. I finished it the day I got it at the library. But it was over too soon. Plus, there should be more Sookie and Eric. I like them together. I don't like how it ended, I wanted things more clear between them, I didn't like how he just left. I don't really care about Alcide and his pack. I could've done without that. Now, the wait until next year's book begins.

8. I actually finished my scrapbook page from the crop on the 1st. And am almost done with another. I might even get them posted this Sunday. I think that'll be the first Scrapbook Sunday in a while.

9. This morning I ran out to the mailbox in the pouring ran, and on my way back, Mackenzie was standing in the garage cheering for me, "go Mommy! Good job Mommy!" Thanks, munchkin.

10. I'm tired. Everyone napped yesterday - it wasn't such a good day, what with Mackenzie headbutting me in the forehead giving me a headache from 8:30am to 7:30 last night with a bump still there plus Emma's complete freak-out at the dentist - until 5:30. Know what that means? Emma was up until 12:45! So I was up until then. Again, tired.

Happy Mother's Day

So we started off the day with church, then brunch at Doogen's. Yum. Prime Rib, veggies, potatoes, ribs, chicken marsala, turkey, salmon, pancakes and other breakfast items (which is what the girls ate), fruit, omelet station, desert. Yum. Yum. Yum. We were full. Really really full.

Attempted a picture when we got home. This is the best of the bunch.


But we also got these.




All the moms got a rose at brunch. One flower. Which meant two little girls had to share. It didn't always go well.


This afternoon while Mac slept and Emma snuggled with Daddy for a bit, I ran out to the mall to exchange a shirt. It's always nice to be able to get in and out of some place, without buckling small children. When I got home I napped. And apparently I was sound asleep, because Michael said Mackenzie got right in my face to tell me she pooped and I don't remember it. I'm glad I was asleep. We had pizza for dinner. Yum again. Love Papa Johns. And now I'm installing Photoshop Elements 8. I will now be able to use Pioneer Woman's actions and I'm happy.

Friday my mom and sister came over and we took our mom out to lunch for Mother's Day. Emma took this for us. It was bright out. Hence the squinty eyes.


But before we got that winner, we also got these. Emma just snaps away without really waiting for us to say cheese, or anything.

(since my sister doesn't read this, she'll never know I posted that. hahaha.)

She's also learning about centering, as in not cutting off grandma. More lessons are needed.

We celebrated Mother's Day with Michael's mom yesterday at Claire's birthday party. I really should've taken a picture of Michael and Marty with their Mom but I'm just now thinking about that now. Oops.


It was a fabulous day. Happy Mother's Day to all my friends. Thank you to my awesome husband and amazing children. Today was wonderful, I loved it and I appreciate it. I am mom to two absolutely wonderful children, with baby boy (who is kicking me) on his way. I cannot believe how blessed I am and thank Him every day for my girls, this (still can't believe it!) baby boy and Michael.

Boy or Girl?

So I started drinking my water about 8:15 this morning. I just want to say that no one should have to drink 64oz of water at one time. By the time I was having the ultrasound, I was in pain. I now understand why small children pee their pants.




Waiting...




Hello little baby.




What does that say?

It's a...

Which meant I had to pick these up this afternoon.

A few things:

1. I think my husband might be in shock.
2. Emma, who has been saying she wants a boy for weeks, changed her mind, started to cry and said she wanted a girl. This was after she got excited it was a boy.
3. Then she got excited all over again and said she wants to name him Ryan. That's my choice, too, but we'll see what Daddy picks.
4. When we told Emma it was a boy, she said, "Now Daddy doesn't have to move out of the house!" Just once he said if it was a girl he was moving out, and she has not forgotten!
5. We're going to need to do some serious shopping, since our house is currently filled with all things pink, purple, tutu, princess and baby related. My sister is going to be all over that.
6. Based on measurement, due date is 9/25. We'll see what my doctor says at my appointment next week, whether he keeps it 9/30 or moves it to 9/25.
7. We're excited. :)

@ 18 weeks, 5 days

In 2 days, we'll find out if this little baby is a boy or a girl. I'm thinking boy. And I've got a name for a boy. Should it be a girl...eek. I've got nothing.

(picture from Saturday, 18 weeks, 3 days)

This pregnancy has been so different from my other two. While I had morning sickness (and it was not good, not good at all) it ended early compared to Emma and Mackenzie. I stopped taking the Zofran at 14 weeks and hadn't thrown up for a couple weeks before that. Of course, that could've been thanks to the Zofran, though there were days that were really, really, really bad even with it. More than once I asked, "whose idea was this???" But still. When I went off it, I felt nauseous for a week or so but that was it. I've felt so good the last 4 weeks. So good that unless I see/feel my belly or I'm working out I forget I'm pregnant. Such a new thing for me.

Speaking of working out. This has been hard for me. I didn't work out really with the girls. But I have been working out the most I ever had over the last year, I was finally down to my pre-baby weight and I was feeling good. Now, while I can still work out (running/walking, weights, low-impact things) I can't do the things I was doing. Nothing requiring jumping (which is half of boot camp), no more ab work, no heavy weights/lifting, I can't even do regular push-ups any more because of the strain on my core. It's just an adjustment. One I haven't gotten used to yet. Although I did enjoy myself today - we did the deck of cards workout for abs. Since I can't do them, I got to tell everyone else what to do. It satisfied my need to be bossy. ;)

The need to nap every day is gone. No longer do I fall asleep every day even when I'm not trying to. I no longer feel as though I'm neglecting my children every afternoon while I'm on the couch. And it would seem I'm not anemic this time around either, as my energy is back to normal. Not that I still don't enjoy a good nap, it's just not a requirement anymore!

And let's talk about my ring. If you look in the picture above, you can see it on my necklace. I wore my wedding ring through both girls' pregnancies. I never had to take it off. This time around, I'd noticed it getting tight. I took it off last week to try on a wedding band a friend is letting me borrow (she got one in a bigger size to wear during her pregnancy when her wedding ring no longer fit, which is what I was planning to do) and once I got it off, which wasn't easy, I couldn't get it back on. Wasn't expecting that.

One of my favorite parts of being pregnant is feeling the baby move around. Sometimes it's a little kick, which feels like someone's flicking me with their finger. Other times just a wave of movement. I first felt it before 13 weeks, but I wasn't sure. Since it was so early I thought it could just be gas but as the weeks went on I became certain. He's active. And just now gave me a little kick.

I hate maternity clothes. I want my old clothes back. Especially my jeans. I miss them. Particularly my "skinny" jeans I'd just bought before getting pregnant.

This picture (the one in my banner) is my favorite so far. From 4/9/10, it's strange that my belly looks bigger there than it does in the picture from 3 weeks later. I'll blame it on the shirt.


I'll post on Wednesday after we get back from the ultrasound!