Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Belly


It's really more like a giant beach ball I guess. I've felt bad that I haven't posted anything about this pregnancy. I really am pregnant, and doing well. Vanessa keeps me busy and active so hopefully we'll keep the clots at bay this time ;)
The baby is starting to throw punches and kicks, rather than just general wiggles. Actually, I think he is head down so it's probably more kicks because it's usually directed at my ribs. Apparently they get in his way. Guess he doesn't know they were there first.
Anyway, I am feeling super excited and nervous and anxious all bottled up into one. Throw some hormones on top and I'm sure I am Jon's favorite person ;) It'll be interesting to see how Vanessa does with a little one around and having to share attention. She's a pretty spoiled little girl, but she's just so darn cute, how can a person resist?
We're hoping for a natural birth this time around (or at least I am, I don't know that Jon is so particular, he just wants us both healthy). I guess we'll see how that pans out. Natural birth in Florida is, shall we say, unheard of? The hospital's C section rates are around 40% (yikes!). Needless to say, we'll let you know how it goes.
In the mean time, only about 8 1/2 weeks more. But really, who's counting right?

Monday, July 26, 2010

A weekend with Tommy, Nicole and Brooklyn

At the Marlins game
Brooklyn and Vanessa
Walking Las Olas Blvd
Brooklyn loves her cousin
Waiting for the Water Taxi




We had a great time with Tommy, Nicole and Brooklyn. We soaked up the rays at three different beaches, bbq'd at the pool, relaxed to a leisurely ride through the channels, saw the Marlins beat the Braves, and enjoyed each others company.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Friday, July 16, 2010

The Beach

Playing Around With Photoshop

Let me know what you think of the different effects.


These are both the same picture, but there is a very slight effect on one of them. Can you even tell which? Does it look better with or without?




And which do you like better of these two?

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Vanessa


Here's our little princess. Just about the cutest thing in the whole world.
She had her one year check up today, even though she's almost 14 months. It's taken us that long to get insurance and find a pediatrician.

She weighs 18.2 pounds. I didn't get her height though. She's small, but healthy!
Her development is great. She is running faster than I can keep up. She got away from me at the store the other day and for about 30 seconds I nearly had a heartattack.

She has lots of animal books and can point out any animal you ask her about...gorilla, kangaroo, dog, cat, monkey, frog, butterfly, etc.

She knows the animal sounds for cow, lamb, gorilla, rooster, cat, dog, horse, bee, duck, frog. She also makes a fish face and flaps her hands like butterfly wings.

She has three puzzles (the kind that is the shape of an animal or insect and has the same picture where they go as the puzzle piece). She can put all the pieces in the right spots and is starting to be able to wiggle them into place.

She knows nose, eyes, ears, teeth, hair, belly, toes, and fingers if you ask her where they are. (she'll also point out your nose, teeth, etc)

She can say mama, dada, tree (tee), hot (ho), no and nose (these two sound the same but she shakes her head no when she is telling you no and points to either your nose or her nose when she is saying nose), baby, dog (do), and duck (du).

She likes to shake her head no a lot and we've been trying to teach her to nod her head yes. She still doesn't do it on a regular basis. The other day I was asking her a bunch of yes/no questions and she just kept saying no. In succession with all the other question, I asked her if she "knew how to nod her head yes?" Without missing a beat she nodded her head yes (only the Vanessa version, which is way cuter anyway). To nod her head she opens her mouth and puts her chin on her chest and then nods without lifting her chin off her chest. It's pretty funny looking but really cute.

Her favorite movie, which we watch almost daily is Happy Feet. She only gets to watch it before bedtime and naptime if I'm having a hard time getting her to sleep.

She does a pretty good job of communicating what she wants. She just points like crazy and kinda whines until I get it. When she points at the fridge, she wants a drink; she points at the TV, she wants to watch Happy Feet. She definitely knows what she wants and you can't convince her otherwise. She almost understands what I'm saying to her, I'm the only one that doesn't always catch her drift :)

Needless to say, she is a whole lot of fun. She has a smile that melts everyone and the sweetest giggle and snort (yep, she snorts). She makes me laugh all day long and amazes me at what a baby can learn.

Being a mother has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Hard, not in the way that I thought it would be hard. It's hard because it humbles you like you didn't think was possible and turns your world upside down. But it is also the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I wouldn't change it for the world.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

If you should happen to visit...


...and our house looks like this. I probably just picked it up about ten minutes ago but just haven't started the twentieth round yet.

Another Water Park


So this park was pretty cool. It was shallow water but had a toy in it, that you can't really see. I had to be with Vanessa the entire time, so it was hard to get any pictures. There was one spot that she couldn't touch in and of course that was her favorite spot. I think she had a lot of fun. She definitely wore me out. There was a little girl there that loved Vanessa and Vanessa just about hated her. Vanessa loves attention. I would dare say she relishes in it. But, she's the type that wants your attention, but if she doesn't know you, she doesn't want you to touch her and most definitely don't follow her. So this particular little girl kept coming back and following Vanessa, she'd try to pick her up occassionally. She was even splashing her in the face (this girl was at least 8, probably older, so I'm thinking she had some kind of delay. I tried to be patient, but she was annoying me too). After a couple times of this, Vanessa cried and ran to me to be held ever time this girl came around. If she saw her coming, she would hurry and go the other way. It was actually kind of funny to me. We both lived through the tormentor, but I don't know how much we will frequent this place. As fun as it was, it was also crowded and the older kids make me nervous (they tend to overrun the bitty ones).

Snoozin

Grandma Brady got this dress for Vanessa for her birthday. We didn't get any pictures of her awake in it because we're lame, but aren't sleeping babies the cutest anyway?