Photo Wall

This is one of the projects I've been working on over the last few months. It's finally (almost) done, meaning the frames are up, but the correct pictures aren't in the frames. Plotting out the sizes and the locations of the frames was a nightmare for someone like me. It's not my strength, to say the least. Thankfully, Blake helped hang them all. I had intentions of doing an art wall in our main living area, given that we have such a huge space to fill. After doing this one in our upstairs hallway, I'm not so sure...

After laying the pics out on the floor of our guest room, I created paper templates so I'd have a better idea of spacing and what it would actually look like on the wall. Time consuming!

Tennis

We had every intention of leaving our summer weekdays free of any commitments. All too soon, Anna will be in preschool, and forever after, she'll be scheduled enough. But, we found out that the club offers tennis lessons for preschoolers at 10:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. We barely mentioned it to Anna, and she couldn't wait to give it a try. So, we signed her up. We can drop in just one time per week, or more if we want, and we only pay as we go. AND, after tennis, we can walk 10 feet up to the swimming pool to cool off.

Today was Anna's first lesson. She jumped right in, following the teachers instructions for warming up, throwing the ball, swinging the racket, and playing Simon Says. She really enjoyed it, and the fact that we could spend two hours swimming at the pool to cool off made it even better. We're both looking forward to next time already!

Anna is in the blue shorts, white shirt, pink shoes. 

Speaking of Birds...

I sewed a shower curtain. I will likely never do it again, at least not with a fabric that has a difficult pattern to contend with. Not only did it cost way more to make than to buy, working with that much fabric spread out on the floor while 32 weeks pregnant wasn't easy. Regardless, I'm very, very happy with the end result, and to see the look on Anna's face when she discovered it made it all worth it.

Three Little Birds

Bob Marley has been joining us at bedtime for a while now. His Three Little Birds is just the perfect song for our family, for so many reasons. While I love our snuggle and song time every night, last night was particularly special. Blake, Anna, and I all cuddled in her bed, and she sang every word along with us - with such passion. Blake and I couldn't help but smile at each other and bask in the warmth of her sweet little voice.

If you don't know the words, here they are:

Three Little Birds - Bob Marley

Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:"

Singin': "Don't worry 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."
Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"
Rise up this mornin',
Smiled with the risin' sun,
Three little birds
Pitch by my doorstep
Singin' sweet songs
Of melodies pure and true,
Sayin', "This is my message to you-ou-ou:"

Singin': "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh!
Every little thing gonna be all right. Don't worry!"
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing" - I won't worry!
"'Cause every little thing gonna be all right."

The Cottage

June and July are packed with plans. Last weekend was one of the weekends we'd intended to leave open, to stay home and do a few things around the house. When we learned that Mo and Papa D sold their cottage up north, we decided it was more important to get us all up there for one final visit before they hand over the keys on July 9th.

Saturday was a gorgeous day for boating and jet skiing. Anna loved her long boat ride in the sun. She wasn't so crazy about her very short jet ski ride with Blake. After begging for her second jet ski trip, something spooked her as soon as they got out on the water, and she wanted nothing to do with it. Anna was thrilled to catch her very first fish, though, thanks to her soon-to-be Uncle Matt and Daddy. After Anna went to sleep (and I took a little nap), my mom, Don, Blake, and I sat around the fire, relaxed, and enjoyed the evening on the lake. The cottage will be missed!

Love this photo of Uncle Matt doing what he loves and Meg (in the background) doing what she loves as well

These pictures have nothing to do with the cottage, except that they were taken on Sunday on our way home. We stopped at a carnival that was being held in the parking lot of a high school in Ann Arbor. The ferris wheel was adventurous enough for me, but Blake went on a couple of rides with Anna. He even did the Tilt-a-Whirl by himself (see his head peeking out in the bottom picture)? Anna wasn't convinced. 

Blue Birthday

We celebrated Anna's 4th (!!!) birthday yesterday with a small gathering of her friends at the swimming pool. I have so many thoughts about the fact that our daughter is turning four in less than two weeks. The shift that I see happening, from toddler to little girl, is alarming and wonderful. As always, it's bittersweet.

Anna's favorite color is blue, so her party included all things blue - even the sky cooperated yesterday. We couldn't have asked for better pool weather. Anna very much helped plan this gathering, and it was truly a perfect-for-her occasion. We were all grateful to spend the fun time splashing and playing with our good friends.

Silly faces while licking the bowl of chocolate cupcake batter. 

Emily and Harper 

Anna, Alicia, and Aidan 

Blue sprinkles, of course! 

 Blue favor bags with blue and white beach balls, blue silly straws, blue water balloons, and blueberry fruit leather.

 Sophia

Harper

Aidan 

Rocco 

Girls in stripes...my favorite. 

Rotten Tomatoes

Does anybody have any idea what could be destroying our tomatoes? As of last Sunday, the peppers and tomatoes looked lovely. Just three days later, baby tomatoes and peppers were entirely gone and this big one began to look horrid. I thought I saw a little green worm on the peppers, but I've seen nothing on the tomatoes, yet they continue to look more and more destroyed. Help!

Anna's First Dance Recital

How can it be that Anna is old enough to have a dance recital? And wear a fancy dress with stage make-up? And LOVE every minute of getting ready, including the make-up application?

Despite Anna's uncertainty in the weeks leading up to the recital, she didn't seem to have any questions about getting on stage Saturday. She was thrilled to be up there and to have her family present to see her performance. I, of course, teared up at the rehearsal and the recital as I watched her, looking so grown up, tapping her way onto the stage. She amazed me in so many ways...her determination and focus, despite her nerves and excitement, were unparalleled. In the end, it seems she enjoyed the experience and felt a sense of pride in her accomplishment - she was already asking today when she could do another recital!

Here are a few pics...

Rehearsal night, black and white. 

Rehearsal night...and looking too grown up in stage make-up. 

On our way through the high school to the auditorium for rehearsal. Mo D couldn't come to the recital, so she came to watch Thursday night. 

Rehearsal...very serious! 

Anna is doing her pose in the back/middle. 

Getting ready on recital day. 

She might not look thrilled, but she (surprisingly) loved the entire getting ready process and couldn't wait to get her make-up on again. 

Posing... 

And again. 

Not sure what she's looking at? 

Mo and Papa arrived!

Father's Day, 2012

Happy Father's Day to the many important dad's in our lives!

Blake enjoyed his fourth Father's Day on the golf course with his dad, and as I type, he's wrapping up the day with the U.S. Open on TV (how lucky for golf lovers that a major golf tournament falls on this weekend)! Anna relished her quality time with Daddy Saturday and Sunday morning, and since Anna's first dance recital was yesterday, we were able to celebrate Father's Day with Papa Mox and Papa J as well. We're all very blessed to have such caring, attentive, loving dads in our lives.

Saturday morning Candyland with Daddy. I don't know why, but I love this messy ponytail. 

Daddy opening our gifts on Saturday morning...they're discussing the Wordle she made for him (see below). 

This is a Wordle...put a bunch of words into a program (at wordle.net) and it generates word art for you. I got the idea from my friend, Emily, who gave me one. Anna came up with these words and phrases in response to a number of questions I posed for her. 

Pure Joy

Today I challenged Anna to show me just how high she could get herself on the swing (after she'd asked for a push out of habit). While we both knew she'd figured out how to pump, and I knew if she did it for more than a couple of minutes she'd be flying high, I'm pretty sure she surprised herself with just how high she could go all on her own.

She must have pumped herself on the swing for an hour with a look of pure joy and pride on her face - once she discovered just how high she could get herself...all by herself.

If I weren't pregnant, I'm sure the pics would be better, because I'd have run into the house to get the camera. Instead, I snapped a bunch of photos with my phone, so they're a bit blurry, but they capture the moment nonetheless!

She looks so grown up here to me. 

I love that I can look out while I'm cooking dinner and see her swinging (and having so much fun).

Fishy

We replaced Gill at the end of last week with "Fishy" or "Jewel," and I'm thrilled to say that our new white cloud fish is still swimming happily with "Shrimpy," also otherwise known as "Blue."

Something happened after we introduced two algae-eating shrimp into the tank a few weeks ago, although the guys at the fish store insist it's a water quality issue (but, why would it come on so suddenly after five months with Gill?) Anyway, the littlest shrimp didn't last overnight. Then, when we came back from our Memorial Day weekend travels, Gill had been eaten (after his demise) quite thoroughly by the big shrimp.

It's sparked some discussions about death around here, which we first encountered when our neighborhood dogs died quite some time ago. Only this time, Anna's questions are so much more difficult to answer, especially in a way that is appropriate for a three-year-old. I'm really hoping Jewel sticks around for a while!

Excuse the dirty looking tank...with all the sunlight in our kitchen, it's hard to keep algae at bay. Our shrimp has plenty to eat.

Our Favorite Lemonade

We've been making homemade lemonade for a while now, and we finally have a recipe down that we like. After a few hours at the pool today, on our first full week without dance and playschool commitments, our first REAL week of summer, we just had to make lemonade. I'm not a fan of sweet lemonade, so ours may seem light on the sugar, but it's perfectly tart, which is how I like it. You may want to alter the amount of sugar here to suit your tastes...

Lemonade Recipe

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup hot water
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 gallon cold water
ice and lemon wedges for serving

Stir the sugar into the hot water until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add lemon juice and cold water, and stir together until well combined. Pour over ice and serve immediately with a slice of lemon.

The official lemonade stirrer.

Regressing and Progressing

Anna is a picture of internal conflict at the moment. I've read about the regressing that can happen when a new baby comes into the family. Up until a few weeks ago, most of her processing of this big change seemed to happen through her baby dolls. Then she started pretending to be a baby. It started off small and occasional, with her showing me how she was learning to walk, for example, and it's since grown to near obsessive proportions with varying degrees of baby talk, needing pretend diaper changes, or wanting pretend milk. It's all normal, or so I've read. AND, although I know I need to be sensitive to the feelings underlying the behaviors, it gets rather annoying rather quickly. The trouble is, the more one demands independence from a soon-to-be-preschooler who has a new baby brother and new preschool on the brain, the more they tend towards dependence. I finally realized, after a bit more reading this morning, that indulging her in some "let's pretend Anna is a baby play" for even 10 minutes seems to squelch the regressing, at least for a little while. Nonetheless, it seems that something has clicked in her brain - there's been some kind of realization about what's going to be happening very soon, and it's turned the volume up on her emotions.

Mind you, she's very sensitive and perceptive, and the volume has recently turned way up on my emotional receiver as well. Less than ten weeks to go with this pregnancy, and I'm a bundle of nerves and excitement. I'm filled with thoughts about the health of the baby, about labor and delivery, about how the new addition is going to impact Anna, especially as it coincides with her starting preschool, questions like will he be colicky, how will we cope again with little sleep and two to manage, will it all come back to me, because I don't feel like I remember much about those first few months of caring for a newborn. I still feel like there's so much to do to feel prepared for His arrival, and while I'm trying so hard to stay present and enjoy the quiet moments with Anna or Blake, the days are still passing by at an unbelievable speed and are often spotted with emotional outbursts from my own lips that mirror that of a 3-year-old.

While Anna and I may be regressing, she, for one, is definitely progressing in so many areas at the same time. She suddenly, seemingly overnight, learned to pump and propel herself on the swings with no assistance from me. And, after I said in a blog post last week that Anna may be riding a two wheeler by the end of the summer, she started coasting along on her balance bike totally unassisted, and she rode her honest-to-goodness two-wheeler for multiple seconds at a time with me letting go of the seat. Anna also found her skipping legs last week, something she's wanted to do for a while but didn't quite have the coordination down yet. We've been to the outdoor swimming pool multiple times in the last couple of weeks, and she continues to hone her underwater swimming skills as well. She's determined to go off the diving board there, and she practices jumping from the edge constantly. Today she tested out the feel of the board, and while she wasn't yet ready to take the plunge, she is moving ahead with her self-proclaimed goals in her typical way, on her own time.

The next ten weeks, give or take a week, will likely be filled with more of the same. I will try with all my might to soak it all in, the challenges and the joys that go along with this time in our lives. If I can stay present and relax for even half of it, I think I'll consider that progress.

Favorite Saturday Moment

When I peeked out the basement window and saw this...

30 Weeks

I'll keep it short and sweet tonight...we had the long-awaited growth ultrasound with the high risk doctors today, and we are so thrilled, relieved, and grateful that our little boy is growing just fine, despite our crazy umbilical cord. We may have one more ultrasound to ensure that he continues to grow this way, but the doctor seemed very optimistic at this point. They also verified that he does NOT have any degree of heart block and that, despite my irritable uterus, nothing is changing in there to suggest an early labor.

All good news...and some interesting news as well.

Apparently, babies are more comfortable in my body if they are positioned with their head up, digging into the right side of my ribcage and with their feet by their heads. This little guy is in exactly the same position as his big sister, which I suspected. He feels sideways just like she did. Most likely, given it's the second time, it has something to do with my body (tight ligaments, twisted pelvis, etc.) The irritable uterus may actually be related to it all. Fortunately, since we know this early, there are many things I can do to try to flip him around, if he's so willing. If he's not, well, it's not in my control.

Thank you, once again, for the kind words, thoughts, prayers that you all have sent our way. We are so very grateful!

Bounce and Sway

Anna has the "mommy bounce" mastered and she has for a while now. Honestly, I'm not sure where she ever picked it up. She's seen it recently at playschool (we have a friend with a baby sister who comes each week), but she's been carrying Ella in a sling for as long as I can remember, and she's always swayed and rocked her. Maybe it's instinct. She definitely loves taking care of her babies.

Daddy's Girl

More and more, Anna is a Daddy's girl. While she still prefers, and will kick up quite a stink, to have Mommy do the every day (not fun) stuff like teeth brushing or bathing or washing hands or pushing in her chair, it's Daddy who brings the fun. More and more I'm on the sidelines when the rough-housing, chasing, skipping, and running are happening. Not only am I physically exhausted, I'm not all that agile, so I sit back, watch, and listen with wonder to the unbelievably happy sound of a daddy and his daughter giggling together. It makes me very happy.

Blake and Anna always rough-house before bedtime, which is where much of the giggling occurs. Most nights the evening ritual also includes a little "game" that's evolved from I-don't-know-where. I wish I could describe it like Anna does: "Daddy, I want to play the game where we run into the room and you say 'Oh! That's not my room!' and then to the other and say 'Oh! That's not my room!'" Lately, they've been racing, too, both at night and EVERYWHERE else, including today on the golf course. Blake took the day off, so we all went to the course for a golf cart ride and a little golf. When I arrived (I drove separately so I could head to spinning afterwards) Blake had Anna steering the cart completely on her own. She took me for the ride of my life, and you can be sure she was smiling and laughing and glowing the entire time. I think he knew what he was doing, because she can't wait to go back again!

Sunday morning (without pants?!) on the deck with Daddy. I love their playfulness. 

A girls' relationship with her daddy is so important. I love, love, love what they have and am so grateful  that we are blessed with his energy in our lives.