7 year itch

megan and ryan, april 2011, Flaming Gorge Utah

We've reached the 7 year mark in our marriage (July 9th).  Just kidding about the itch part.  We are still very very happy.  Happy Anniversary to us!

overlooked goodies

these photos are all from our time spent in utah Feb-May.  please excuse the white-ish glow in the center of each picture.  i was lucky to even get the lens to acutally open all the way.  anyway, these pictures capture good moments during our stay.  

ALL of the Anderson cousins.  L to R, Stella, Lola, Elsie, Cora, Juliana, Ava

Cora doesn't really nap.  This rare occasion had to be documented.  I love looking at her when she is sleeping.  

When the pie eating contest was announced, I just knew that my Ryan had it in the bag.  I was right.  My dad, brothers, and brothers-in-law had no chance against my Ryan.  

Cora on the horse, Rocky Road.  This picture is significant because Cora STILL talks about Rocky Road on a regular basis, even here in Philly.  

Man, I miss those welcomes.  Lola and Ava sure knew how to make Cora feel loved.............or smothered.  

How could I have forgotten?  This was just before Cora's first haircut.  Really, she was 2 years and 9 months before I cut her hair.  Once again, Cora regularly talks about going to Liesl's salon to get her hair cut.  I didn't get an after shot, but pretty much Liesl just trimmed the really scraggly ends off.

I'm so glad we made it out to Flaming Gorge/Dutch John to visit Jared and Kellie and family.   Just wish I wasn't nauseous the entire time.  

Cora really wanted to go to the temple, so one afternoon she and I walked to Ryan's internship, picked up Ryan, and headed to the Provo Temple.  I made a picnic for us, but Cora was way too mesmerized with the fountains to do anything but play.

All of us.  

More fountain action at the temple.  

Cora with her Daddy.

This may be my favorite of the bunch.  My WHOLE family went bowling.  It was pretty awesome.  Check out our rad family reunion shirt. 

Cora liked blowing.  She thought it was her turn every time.  

more found photos from Utah

oh, how cora misses the tricycle.  she got pretty good on that thing.  

just taking a rest in the doll cradle.

sprinklers in the backyard

sprinklers under the tramp

me, nearly barfing on the sidelines.

no flips yet, just somersaults.

lots of trampoline time.  love the static head.

juliana

grandpa playing a game with the girls.

big family pancake breakfast

21 weeks or something like that

to my mom,

yes, I am growing.

love, megan

the best photo of the bunch b/c coco was totally hamming it up

she really does steal the show.  

21 weeks

I've been feeling pretty good.  Morning sickness finally subsided, but I sure get queezy real fast over the weirdest things.   I am still running, but much slower than before....seriously, pushing a 30 lb kid and being 5 months preggo is hard work.  Things are good with the pregnancy, although I did vow to never be pregnant in the summer ever again.

it's a.........

first, we moved- it was a hard decision, but we're happy in a little apartment about a mile and a half from where we used to live.  if you got to live in Philly, why not live in a 1890 converted Victorian?

Cora playing in our new dining/laundry/playroom.

then, i had my mid pregnancy ultrasound- we had been contemplating not finding out the gender.  we're doing everything the natural way, why not this too, right?  well, on the drive to the ultrasound I had a weak moment and we (Ryan AND I) decided to find out.  The ultrasound tech that we got was obviously not wanting to be working that day and didn't do us any favors.  It was vastly a different experience than when we had our ultrasound with Cora.  Anyway, it boils down to the baby's legs were crossed and the tech wasn't willing to to much of anything to help us out.  So, I guess we are a little lucky that we were a little mentally prepared for a surprise and wait for the birth, but we are a little disappointed not knowing.  Just got to chalk it up to just another awesome Philadelphia experience.  Ultimately we just want a healthy baby, boy or girl.

although there is some confusion, this is me at approx19 weeks

cora and i showing off our bellies before heading to the ultrasound.  

and, Cora is still hilarious-

If I were to guess, summer is Coco's favorite time of year.   

I can't believe that she is old enough to have hair long enough to french braid.

she says big words, and uses them correctly.  Example-I hand her a snack and she says, "Excellent" or "Wonderful" or "Fantastic."

When we moved in to our new apt, she saw the kitchen and said, "Mama, the oven is just my size."  She was stoked that our new apartment came with a play kitchen, but in reality it is real, just a half sized stove/oven.

Plumbs are Thumbs.  From across the playground she yelled, "Mama, you're eating a thumb?  I want a bite."

She is adding "goodidea" to the end of suggestions that she really wants to happen.  Example, "Let's go swimming, goodidea?"  (Good idea is one word to her).

She likes to help with laundry.  When she is ready to fold or hang up the next item, she will say, "I need another clo."  She is trying to figure out what is singular for clothes.  Pretty creative if I do say so myself.

Most of her books are from the thrift store.  She LOVES her books.  A friend was holding on of her books and Cora says, "I got them at the thrip store."  humm, thrip store?

Cora's getting ready to be a big sister.  She pretends that she has a baby in her belly.  She is always correcting us, "I'm not a  girl, I'm a sister."

Lastly, I found this hidden gem of a photo.  Aunt Liesl helped Cora make a papermache egg on Easter.  When it dried, Cora put it on her head and said it was a helmet like Grandpa's.  The funny thing is that she wore this on her head for a good portion of the 2000+ mile drive across the country.  I finally threw it away this week.