The Latest on Lucy

We are officially one month out from Lucy's arrival!  I would like to say time has flown, but I think it's just that fact that we have been so busy around here.

Regardless, I feel like I have a lot to share since my last 7 month update.

In great news, Lucy flipped!  Yes, she is head down.  After a 3am wake up call from this sweet gal of what seemed like the unearthing of my belly, I got confirmation that she did indeed do a flip.  It was honestly unlike any fetal movement I have ever felt.  It was near tumultuous, I thought she might  bust out through my belly button.  And then when it was over, I felt complete relief.  I actually could push in my upper stomach.  It was no longer rock solid.

Conveniently, I had a Drs appointment the following day.  Dr Carroll did a little poking around on my belly, felt like she agreed with my assumption and sent me for an ultrasound.  And woo hoo!, baby girl was head down.  Now I can happily say, that I will {and can} make it another 4 weeks.

I like to assume I know my babies pretty well.  And I'm going to have to guess that little Lu has been going through some sort of major growth spurt.  Just recently I have found myself super hungry every hour on the hour.  Small meals and snacks do the trick, but it is constant.  This is definitely new since my appetite had almost disappeared there for a while.  And on top of the hunger sensation, I get super fatigued again.  It's like we are back to the first trimester.  You know when they suck the life out of you trying to get going.  Love the fact that she is growing, but not so thrilled about the effects.

So, we are pretty well prepared for Lucy's arrival.  All the pink has been washed and put away {and sweet baby even got a few new things of her own}.  Bottles are cleaned and I tryingly found storage in our kitchen for them.

Lucy's newborn pictures are scheduled.  We are using Andrea Wood, who did an amazing job with Maggie's 2nd birthday.  Thank you Erica for sending her our way!  And all four of out outfits are planned and purchased {I always find that to be a great accomplishment, imagine how proud I'l be when I do 5}

Baby equipment is making it's way out, but holding out until the last minute the best I can.  The essentials are near...the bouncy seats and car seat.  I am not looking forward to baby gear over taking my home again.  Just saying.

I have made arrangements {the best I can} for those 3 weeks of no driving {which I find ridiculous}.  But, I've got both kids covered on getting back and forth to school and pretty much winging it on extra curricular activities.

And the most exciting of all, Lucy's nursery is complete!  And actually, it could have been complete over two months ago, except for a major wall letter ordeal {which is semi-still an ordeal}.

So here you are...Lucy's Palace of Pink...

There are Lucy's letters complete with her crib and bedding.  This crib will have been through 3 babies.  Pretty amazing.  So, I would love to recommend a letter lady to you if you happened to be looking, but I  decline to do that.  These letters took near 2 months longer than I was promised and after all that, I excitingly opened the package only to find the colors were off.  {not quite as bad as this picture, but definitely not what I had envisioned}  It's okay baby girl, we will make you an amazing big girl room one day {and it will match}.

My favorite part of moving Lucy's nursery to a new room was changing the paint color and adding this bead board ledge.  Although it looks very simple right now, I know she will accumulate a few things to fill it up.  And that little shadow box up there will soon be filled with newborn pictures.

Directly on the other window ledge is another shadow box filled with some memorabilia from Lucy's whale shower.  Again, lots of room to add sweet memories.

But above all my most favorite spot in Lucy's room is her window seat.  I took a panel from Maggie's nursery and had it made into a roman shade.  Then I had this seat cushion made with pink fabric and green cording.  Now we have to get her shelf filled with books and such!

And here is the sweet girl herself at the 8 month mark exactly.  Making herself right at home while wearing her Momma out already.  I must note I have officially come to the point where non-maternity clothes {no matter their length} no longer cut it.  This was my last hurrah with that {and I was certainly pushing it here}.  So from here on out-- maternity clothes only...almost made it.

I'm assuming the next picture you see of me and Lucy will look a lot different.  Hopefully she will be in my arms, not lodged in my diaphragm.  

My Little Engineer

It's no secret that Jack likes to think.  From as far back as I can remember this child has been interested in the facts.  Non-fiction are often his books of choice, documentaries can have him mesmerized, and he is always curious about how things work.

So half way into the summer when Jack began pleading with me daily to go to a "science or social studies camp", I started a little research.  Of course, I had no clue where to find something of this nature for a 5 year old.  Not to mention, I already had his summer planned with a couple camps and a couple off weeks.  We had a nice balance.

But, he was relentless.  So between Google and friends, I found Club Scientific.  Can I just say, AMAZING!  Our options were slightly limited based on the fact that we were doing this very last minute.  With at least 8 summer camps offered for his age group, only 3 fit our schedule and locational needs.  But, in the end that didn't matter.  I read each description to Jack and let him decide.  Hands down he picked Little Engineer camp.

Then I had to break the news that we didn't know ANYONE who was signed up and it was at a venue he had never visited.  I needed my little creature of habit to know all of the facts.  His response, "I don't care Mommy, I want to go, I want to go!"

So he did.  And he enjoyed every...single...minute of it.

Within a week, Jack came home with a monocular, a sponge ball, a marshmallow launcher, a kaleidoscope, a pocket rocket, a rubber band ball, a stunt plane, and a circuit board.

Now what kid wouldn't love that camp? {we will certainly be back next summer}

On the last day, the camp hosted a parent's day before pick up.  The kids got a chance to show off what they had learned.  How amazed was I to see my little engineer working a circuit board and creating light, sounds and electricity?

When I sat down with Jack I was pretty clueless as to how to work this contraption.  He was there to proudly show me the ropes.

His first circuit map created electricity to make this red wheel spin and then lift off into the air.  Later he created another that made music with the use of a small speaker.  

But, our most favorite was this one that created electricity for this little light bulb.  So cool!

After a great show in his engineering skills, we headed home.  And this is where Jack announced to me that when he grows up, he wants to "be a scientist, but not just one kind of scientist, a scientist who digs for dinosaur bones, does engineering, and mixes things in beakers.  oh, and a Daddy too".  

I told him he would be one cool Daddy if he does all that.  Here's hoping that my Little Engineer grows up to be all he wants to be!

Darling At The Dentist

I think I'm allowed to say this as much as I want {because this is my blog after all}...but, I truly have the most darling child.  She is even darling at the dentist.

I note these events for obvious prosperities sake, but also so I can go back and read it when she's a teenager.  I may need a few reminders.  Hoping not, but you never know.

So back to our dentist visit.

This was Maggie's first dentist appointment.  She wasn't so sure what to expect, but the playful waiting room was definitely an appealing start.

I can't say Maggie's smile started out this way {this was only because she saw me with the camera}, {just darling, I told you}.   However, she was definitely unsure and very cautious about this strange man wanting her to sit in his orange chair.  

Having big brother go first certainly alleviated some of her anxiety, but it was the "princess sparkles" that Dr. Garza offered to put on her teeth that made it all okay.  After that, all of Maggie's uncertainty was a thing of the past.  As I always say, it's the little things with Magpie.

Maggie, of course, picked the purple sunglasses and did everything she was instructed to do.  Cooperation should be that child's middle name, everything was answered politely with a, "yesh" or "okay".  She got a perfect score on her pearly whites, which was such a relief to me, seeing as how we have just finally broken the habit of clenching teeth during brushings.

And because of all that, darling girl got to pick out two prizes to take home...a princess wand and a giraffe {which is now her favorite animal...ever since our recent zoo visit when Mags saw the Daddy giraffe help feed the baby and then the Mommy "love" on the baby--it really made an impression on her}.

Okay, so back again in 6 months.  Hoping she is as darling the second time around.

The Purple Hippo

Jack spent, yet, another week in camp. Not by my choice, solely by his.  I'll tell you all about it soon.  

That being said,  Maggie and I have acquired us some lovely girl time here lately.  We've had a few free days to just be girls and most importantly allow Maggie to make all of the decisions.

She's picked the zoo, which was fabulous.  All of the animals were in full cooperation like I've never seen them before and it was overcast.  Total win-win.  Except...I forgot my camera. 

We went to see the Mermaid Pirate puppet show at The Puppetry Arts.  Again, a total hit.  She enjoyed the show and loved the puppet making session afterwards even more.  Again, no camera. And only because I thought, 'you can't really take pictures at a puppet show'.  But then I found myself totally regretting it when Maggie was so adorably engrossed in the puppet craft.

And we did our girly mani/pedi trip, which, again, did not disappoint.  Sweetest thing looking over and seeing Maggie wafting her pink nails in that big ol' chair...love it!  But again, no camera.

So, after those  missed opportunities, I vowed not to do it again.  When Maggie and I decided to spend a morning at The Purple Hippo Art Studio, I made certain I had a camera this time.  {and for many events following as you will see in future posts}.  I'm making up for a lost month.

Someone please tell me how I have lived so close to The Purple Hippo and it took me nearly 4 years to finally go there?  Yes, it's always looked cute from the outside {and obviously even cuter with that precious sack of sugar standing by the door}, but little did I know the fun that awaited inside.  We soon found out...

It basically was a free for all art studio for kids.  There were baskets of art materials, easels, supplies, and all this for a flat fee and 2 hours.  We will be back.

Maggie's first activity of choice was easel painting.  And her first two color choices...purple and pink.  Oh, and she insisted on that specific smock because it was "rainbow" {hmmm...as if all of the others weren't?} 

After painting Maggie ventured over to the art materials.  Each kid got a bucket to fill with art medium to make a creation with.  Everything from glitter to pom poms to sea shells and rocks.  And you can fill it up as many times as you want to.  So awesome.

This was one of the three creations Maggie made.  All of which are 3D.  And...she really enjoyed the glue.  But what two year old wouldn't?

We even had friends there.  Ansley and Landon {whom very reluctantly sat for a picture with Maggie} and Patterson and Jessie {whom wanted nothing to do with my camera if it didn't come with glue and paint} joined us.  Who could blame them?  Camera vs an artsy mess?   But, I'm pretty sure I got a shot of Donna's foot back there.  So proof they were there too.

At the completion of our visit, Maggie and I decided without a doubt that we will be back.  And that was confirmed when Maggie showed Jack her creations after his day at camp.  He pleaded to go with us next time.  Three weeks before school starts...I think we can definitely squeeze in another visit.

7 Months...And Counting

Are we sure it's not 9 months yet?

I sure do feel like it.

Maybe the heat.  Maybe the third pregnancy.  Maybe the fact that I no longer sleep.

Yep, I'm pretty much ready.  Well, ready to not be pregnant and ready to meet sweet Lucy.  Not so sure I'm ready for a newborn.  {I'm allowed to say that on the 3rd round...I'm not naive to what is ahead}

She looks pretty ready too, don't you think?

I'm not quite as big as I was with Jack, but bigger than I was with Maggie.  Not sure if any of that really matters though.  Jack and Maggie were only about 4oz off and that was only because we took Mags via C-section 4 days early.  I think it would be safe to assume Lucy will be a big baby.  If not, I've got a lot of explaining to do with my weight gain.

Other than growing so perfectly, little Lu is quite the mover.  She has little regard to the time of day either.  Evenings {meaning my bed time and throughout the night} are her favorite time to get her groove on, but she loves the morning shift too.  Usually mid-day, around nap time she settles in.  Too bad I usually have a house full of construction workers or I might try to take a snooze with her.

My appetite or Lucy's {one of us} has definitely decreased.  I find myself munching throughout the day rather than being ravenously hungry at each meal and in between them.  Which in turn has created a major decrease in my weight gain.  Shew, on that one.  That was nuts there for a while.  {And I don't know why the scale shocks me every pregnancy, you would think I would come to expect it by now.}  However, we are not going for number 4 to test that theory.

Lucy will be our cherry on top.  I have full faith in her.  Wouldn't you?  Look at that sweet and squishy face...

Yum!  LOVE my chubby cheeked babies!  And how thankful am I that I get another one?  Thank you God...one prayer answered.

If you are wondering what is pressed up against those sweet cheeks....it's the placenta.  Yes, lovely Lucy is breech.  My first breech baby!  Ugh...to say the least I was so bummed to hear that detail at the ultrasound.  Okay, so it really doesn't matter because I am a scheduled c-section, however it does explain a lot.  I have been experiencing major shortness of breath and feeling super winded.  It seems Lucy has been RAMMING her head into my diaphragm.  Time to flip little one.

And then I could go on and on and on {and probably on some more} about the sciatic nerve pain and back issues, but I look up at that sweet ultrasound picture and find it not necessary.  All I can feel is my heart melting.

So here we go...the final stretch.  6 weeks and counting...

The Fourth Forever

Happy Birthday America!...for an entire week.  Did the Wednesday the 4th thing throw anyone else off?  

The great part was, we literally celebrated for what seemed like an entire week.  The kids loved it and we kept ourselves very busy.  The only downfall was I think I washed our July 4th swimsuits at least, well 4 times.  Right there towards the end, Maggie was starting to request her pink bathing suit again. A girl can only do without pink and tutus for so long.  Jack, on the other hand, was perfectly content as long as his had dark blue on it.  And clearly it did.

We started our celebration with our lake visit {which you can see a few posts back}.  That's when our bathing suits made their celebratory debut.  We grilled out and watched a 4th boat parade.  It was a great way to kick off the party.  

The rest of the week was pretty wet.  It looked something like this...

We spent actual Independence Day at the pool.  

The kids could not get enough of the water.  It's usually about July when their water confidence builds back up and they turn into little fish.

This was Jack and Maggie's July 4th {and the days following} pose.  I'm not sure where it came from, but I'm pretty sure I can guess who's idea it was.  I would guestimate that I have at least 30 pictures from a mere 7 days in this exact standing.  Cute huh?, but definitely not framable.

We enjoyed a very patriotic lunch.  

Speaking of lunch, Grandma provided the chicken salad.  Love having her and her chicken salad close by.  It was delish.  And then she got to endure a plethora of "Grandma watch this"'s from the pool.

Sometimes I just need tangible proof that even though I'm pregnant, I am still around.  So soak this in...me, a camera, and a pregnant body don't come together very often.

We have yet to visit the fireworks as a family on the 4th.  Someone's always too young or, well, basically that's the only reason.  So Maggie turned in early {she was wiped after a late afternoon BBQ and pool party at my Aunt and Uncle's} and I drove Jack back up to the club to watch the fireworks show.  It was sooooooooo long, but beautifully festive.  Next year is for sure Daddy's turn.  And then maybe in about 5 years we will all make it together.

The following Saturday we woke up and attempted to make these July 4th Wands as a family.  Hey, if you can't do fireworks as a family, then why not food?  Jack and Maggie each speared one skewer with blueberries and then were off on the back deck {yes, we have a deck now} eating watermelon scraps.  That left Daddy and I to cookie cut 30 star watermelons and spear 224 blueberries.  And why were we doing this, you may be wondering.  It was our contribution to the annual July 4th Cookout and Pool party at the Zimmerman's!

The kids got decked out in yet another, red,white, and blue ensemble and then we hit our new front porch for some patriotic pictures.  This photo session is always so easy...something about my kids and the American flag.  They love it.  Well, easy in the sense that they are happy about it, not easy in the sense that they are going to be tame.

But who wants tame pictures all the time?

We arrived at the Zimmerman's for some 4th pool fun.  My kids lasted about 3.5 minutes in their cute outfits before changing into their famous July 4th swimsuits.  They had the greatest time!  Jack swam his tail off.  And Maggie jumped, floated and played the entire party away.  Luckily Daddy did pool duty {didn't want to ruin the festivity with my big ol' belly in a bathing suit}.  I manned the yummy food.

I truly can't believe my eyes when I see how much this group of 4th babies have grown in size and in numbers.  Next year, we'll have to move up another step...more babies on the way.  

Happy Birthday America!

Me Do It

"Me do it" is the phrase of the times around here from our little baby princess {as she likes to call herself...and in turn would prefer that we call her}.  I don't remember Jack going through this, or at least to this extreme.  But, it's not fair to compare, now is it?...just wondering if this is a girl thing or a second child thing.

"Me do it" includes everything from putting on AND buckling her own shoes, combing her own hair, going potty, buckling herself in the car seat, and clearly...dressing herself...

This has been a serious test in patience on my end and we are pretty much late everywhere we go these days, but it so incredible to watch this little one grow up.  And every little step of the way puts a giant smile on my face.  Geez...could I love this girl anymore?  She is amazing...backwards pjs, outside panties and all!

Lounging at the Lake

Rarely do I get to say that I am "lounging" anywhere.  {and that's okay, this is what I signed up for}  But, what a treat it was to actually lounge this past weekend at my Aunt and Uncle's new lake house.

For starters, Grandma brought Jack up after he spent the previous night with her.  So that left a short drive north for just Clay, Maggie, and I.  And no matter what anyone says, one less child than what you are used to is pretty easy.  

Then we spent a lazy day on the dock and in the lake floating around in the best designed adult rafts ever.  And if you can believe this, my kids actually let me float around and did the very same themselves.  Those $3 rings they picked out on our beach trip have been worth every penny.

And as if all that wasn't pleasurable enough, my sweet kiddos headed home after naps for a sleep over with Grandma.  Clay and I {with Lucy in tow} spent a nice evening at the lake with a grilled dinner and a little sleep in the next morning.  Ahhh...the little things.  Sadly this may have to count as our babymoon.

We went ahead and broke out the July 4th bathing suits.  This holiday falling on a Wednesday thing has me really thrown me off.

My Mom is floating around in one of those amazing floats I spent my entire day in.  Feeling weightless at this stage in my pregnancy was so fabulous.

$3 entertainment at it's finest.

Captain Jack at the helm.

First mate Maggie took over the wheel for a bit.

And I love how these geese had absolutely no sense of personal space.  Jack got a big kick out of it.  So bummed that Maggie missed out...she had already headed in for a nice snooze.

Looking forward to a lot more lake visits...wink, wink, Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob.