Family Round-Up

What's up with D

* He is enjoying work and staying busy. He's been working on projects around the house too-- trying to get stuff done before May Baby!  His mini-me likes to mimic anything daddy says or movements daddy makes. It is precious!

 

* He totally rocked my 30th birthday with little surprises leading up to the day and a great lunch the day of. I'm a big fan of celebrations spread out like that : ) Lots of days of fun!

* He turns 30 very soon!!!!

What's up with me

*  We are in countdown mode to baby boy #2 --- 23 days :)  I am anxious about delivery, but super excited to meet him and hold him.  D and I are very excited to introduce him to G.  G talks many times each day about "baby brudder coming soon, growing good, sleeping a lot..."
I feel so much more prepared this time around, which is an answered prayer.  With G, we were moving into our home a month before he arrived, and although it was fine and everything worked out doing things on the fly -- I had hoped to feel more settled and prepared this time around.  Everything important is ready, so now we are just enjoying the wait.

 

* A few weeks ago I finished the roman shade for our kitchen. 

I am relieved it is done and happy with the result!  Each day that I raise it I'm super excited that it is completed!  I really like how it dramatically impacts the lighting and mood in the kitchen... I find myself liking it raised high in the mornings but lower in the afternoon's during G's nap time.  I'm surprised by how much more I like the mood of kitchen (lighting wise) with roman shades compared to the blinds we had before.

* I turned 30!  It was a GREAT week of fun. 

Friends surprised me with a really fun dinner and I received 2 gifts in the mail from family, which was super fun to open the door to an unexpected delivery!  Also my sister and her family came to Austin to visit so I got to see them on my birthday and G had fun playing with cousins!  And finally, David brought home delicious chocolate covered apple slices from Edible Arrangements (If you have not tried them, you should!).   And gave me a sweet list of  "30 Awesome Things about Andrea" -- except there were only 27 things on the list -- truly I had to laugh ; ) The not funny part is that he didn't have a chance to finish the list since it was stolen with his laptop the evening before -- so props to him for re-putting together the card!

What's up with G

*He has stopped smiling at the camera lately... evidenced here ; )

* Gavin is saying lots of fun new words and phrases.  My favorites:
- "I vike it" = I like it.  Mr. Sweetheart compliments food as well as things that he notices.  He noticed the kitchen roman shade immediately after getting up from a nap and was very sweet to tell me "Mommy good work.  I vike it!"  He seems to notice details, considering I didn't point out the new addition to him.  (This goes both ways though -- considering there are some foods I've heard "Ga-in no like it".)
- "alligator" = elevator (anytime he sees a tall building, prompted by the elevator at my Dr's office.)
- "jam-e-ums" = pajamas (I think this is my most favorite pronunciation of all things he says.)
- "co co cat cat" = kitty cat, or squirrel (he confuses them)
- "I DID IT!"  He says this often... I love when he holds up a picture with both hands that he has finished coloring to show me what he has made.  He beams with such pride.  It is the best!
- "bogo" = yogurt (his current fav for breakfast) along with a "breakfast cookie" = granola bar
- He loves pointing out cranes.  His bed sheets have construction vehicles on them and there are cranes all over North Austin that he loves to notice from a distance.
- He loves to look at pictures of 'his' baby brother.  ...shhh... they are the drawings that come in Baby Center's weekly update e-mails.  I showed it to him once to explain what was in my belly and he has asked for it ever since ; )

* He is potty training wonderfully - a couple months into it and I feel like I can say he is trained. He started off great, but it has become routine now and seems as though the hardest part is over.  He has also transitioned to a twin bed.  I really love lying down with him to read books and sing.  It is so super sweet and is as nice as rocking him was during his crib days.  Before G I'd imaganined myself as a mom who loved bath time... and it's fun-ish.  But what I really love is the bed time routine.  I'm hoping it is awesome for years to come.  He usually requests songs for me to sing - most often, "the fruit song, the monkey song and the tickle song" (fruit of the spirit, monkeys jumping on the bed and twinkle twinkle little star).

* Gavin is in quite a state of transition... between potty training and moving into a new big boy room and bed, there seems to be no shortage of opportunities to stay on top of little guy's routine.  It is exhausting.  But it is also sweet to see him work through these milestones.  Being in my 3d trimester and doing all of these new things was either an awesome idea or a ridiculous one -- at least that is how it felt for a couple months.  In any case - we are each growing in patience and speaking/hearing lots of encouraging words.  It is amazing to me how praising him has developed into him praising us for different things.  I think a compliment from a 2 year old has to be one of the most precious things ever.

* I've started teaching him to say, "Please sweet mommy", rather than "please" -- because, why not?  It is just too cute!  And we've also started teaching him to say "daddy, buddy or sir" to Daddy --because G got a little too casual with calling Daddy a "punk".  In G's defense, daddy called G that first ; )

* G and I visited a new bakery in town this month.  It's called Rise and Shine Bakery (also called Hayley Cakes/Cookies).  Not sure why there are 2 names for one store... but, the cookies are FANTASTIC.  I mean, truly - the best bakery cookie I can think of having tried.  They have regular cookies, as well as iced sugar cookies.  Her designs are beautiful - I highly recommend her shop!

* And in a twist of good fortune G and I realized Shipley's has cherry glazed donuts.  I LOVE cherry donuts.  I had only ever had them as a kiddo in Amarillo at the best donut shop in the world (Donut Stop).  These are the only other ones I've ever come across and they are nice substitute to driving to the Texas Panhandle for a donut fix.

* I'm going to miss 2 year old G forever...

Luckily we get 365 days of it!  He is a handful, but it is just plain fun watching him grow in personality and vocabulary.  I would bottle up little dude, if I could.  I am praying that each age along the way has it's endearing qualities that make me think that all over again - I am hopeful!

What's up with May Baby
* He has a very excited big brother.  Per Gavin, "Baby brudder is growing good.  Baby brudder is coming soon."  G enjoys going to doctor's appointments with me and listening to my "noisy tummy" (baby's heart beat).

* G is also excited that baby has lots of clothes with trucks on them, firetrucks in particular!.  It is precious when G sees small pajamas and knows they must be for baby brother. 

* He is growing well, moving around a lot, and hopefully staying put!  I had a doctor's appointment at 34 weeks that ended with hearing that the baby may need to be delivered earlier since my blood pressure was running high (I had pre-e with G).  Luckily, all other symptoms have not shown up in the weeks since and my blood work is showing everything is normal.  Our goal is to make it to 37 weeks, per my doctor.  But, my personal hope is that my bp does not spike again before dude is born, as well as after delivery.  Even though I knew pre-e was a possibility, it seemed like a distant one.  It is not the easiest thing to wrap my mind around repeating G's birth story.  In any case, we are ready for baby and even have our hospital bag packed.  So, come on little love bug- we are excited to meet you!