Sunday family time

With Doug working on his dissertation, Sundays have become a vital part of our week for some good family time.  Last Sunday, we took a walk around the block and Ethan and Sydney were in heaven--and so were we!  The weather is finally warming up.  Ethan and Sydney know that when it warms up 3 things happen:

1. Our baby comes

2. Summer is closer

3. We get to go to to the waterpark and splash pad.  

It can't get warm fast enough for them.

Ethan crashed into the flag pole somehow in the front yard.  He hit his head on the steering wheel and was getting cuddles from dad and I had to capture a photo of the scene of the accident.

Dad got to cuddle with Ethan and Sydney today and attempt a Sunday afternoon nap.  Didn't really work, but he was in heaven.

We went to my sister, Tiffany's, house to celebrate my mom's birthday this evening and Ethan and Sydney had a great time serenading everyone using Cameron's guitar.  They'll take any opportunity to perform.

Story time

Aunt Michelle moved closer!  She closed on her house and her town home the same day and we are happy to have her close.  She stopped by and read a story to Ethan and Sydney while their cousins were over.  They all separately hopped up on the back of the couch and loved her attention.

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35 Weeks

I woke up realizing that I hadn't really taken many belly photos this pregnancy, so after church today, I asked Doug to take my photo.  We're getting so excited to welcome this little girl into our home!

Dad--finish your homework so we can play!

Weekends are the best because Doug is home and we get to play.  The bummer right now--Doug is home on Saturdays, but we don't get to play much.  He has been feverishly working on his dissertation the last few months but has picked up the pace even more since March.  We discovered that he has to schedule his dissertation defense by June 12th and the heat it on!  

Doug took Syd for a jog this morning but Ethan wanted to stay and hang out with me.  I got out some crayons and had him color Doug pictures and I wrote, "finish your homework so we can play!" and other similar notes on them to hide in Doug's backpack he takes with him on the train so he can work on writing the beast (dissertation).  The real reason I did this was so I could work out.  I am now 35 weeks and still able to do P90X Cardio X.  It's amazing that it's now actually pretty hard, when it was once easy.

When Doug got back from his jog, Ethan immediately wanted to give all the notes to him--so there went my plan.  He was so cute about it though.  I had shown him how to 'lick' the envelope to seal it and he was convinced that it could never be opened again.  I love this boy.

Hide and Seek

A new favorite game at our house--Hide and Seek.  I hide with them most of the time.  I had to laugh at Syd with this hat on that covers her eyes.  She loves it!

Ethan and I were hiding in the closet in the toy room.  He absolutely loves the hiding, much more than the seeking.

That day, they were watching Pocahontas while I was working on my computer composing an email to send out to our client database.  I was trying to remember a word I needed to say and said out loud, "what's that called?" under my breath.  Sydney quickly chimed in "Leaf mom!  It's a leaf!" I glanced at the television to see leaves swirling in the air and started laughing.  She is so helpful.

Play time

Being a mom can be so busy and yet so mundane.  A few highlights from this week that kept us  smiling.

Hair styling

Sydney loves to do my hair.  I had just finished my workout and felt so glamorous to take photos, but knew I needed catch these sweet moments on camera.  She put SEVERAL bands in my hair that Doug gave me for running.  I think I had 6 in my hair.  She's so fun.

Games
I told them we could play a game for mommy time on Tuesday and they chose a dice game with a tin full of 50+ dice.  We played a version of Yahtzee that they loved.  They just loved rolling the dice into the tin--loudly.

Messes
Thursday I was preparing lunch when Sydney came over and grabbed a cup full of green smoothie that I had just grabbed out of the fridge.  It was not a happy moment.  I had to take off every piece of clothing she was wearing--she was covered.

Green Fuzz
They found a piece of green 'fuzz' that must have fallen off of their stuffed animal (green dragon) and were entertained for an hour.  While I was working out, they grabbed my hair dryer and plugged it in the family room and began blowing it around and squealing with excitement.

Dress up
We also had some dress-up time.  Ethan said, "mom, I look so fancy!" and I had to grab my camera.  They are both loving "matching" their clothes, socks, and accessories lately.

Treats
Friday morning, I let them have a cupcake from my work meeting Thursday night.  They loved it.  These are real treats in our house--they don't eat these sweets that often.

My life as a mom sure had it's fun moments this week.  I am so excited that it's getting warmer and we have been able to spend time outdoors!  Cannot wait for more of that.

Dinner with friends

It's amazing how old we're getting!  Look at these kids.  We got together with a few of Doug's close high school friends (Lauren and Meg) and their family's.  The kids got along really well and it's amazing how fast time flies!  Meg, Lauren, and I are all pregnant and due in the by the end of the summer.  It was really fun to catch up over some yummy dinner and chocolate raspberry ice cream (our contribution).

Conference family time

Doug's sister, Tonya, invited us over for lunch and to watch LDS General Conference Sunday.  We had a great time relaxing with family and Doug and I were able to actually listen with so many extra hands to play with Ethan and Sydney.

Afterward, I subtly asked Tonya if she would play some songs for Ethan on her violin.  Ethan has been infatuated with the violin since December.  He takes any two objects and makes an imaginary violin to play.  He loved it.  Their cousin, Nate, spent time playing songs on the piano for both Ethan and Sydney to sing and dance.  Ethan loves that there is a dress-up bin in the basement with lots of fun "dancing dresses" to try on.

Tonya gave them each a turn playing a few notes on the violin.  They looked a bit star-struck.

Preparing for another girl

Sydney has been less than excited for a new baby sister.  I've been trying to tell her how much fun it will be and it's been a challenge.  Today I had the idea to go through the baby girl clothes, get it washed, and into drawers and have them help me.  I thought Sydney would love seeing all the tiny clothes she used to wear.  She immediately wanted to try them on and successfully got a pair of 0-3 month pants on as, well, bike shorts.  I couldn't help but laugh.  She wanted to put on every item of clothing.  My sweet girl.  We are going to be setting up the bassinet early to let her know where the baby will be sleeping...and that she is not allowed to take the baby out of the bassinet.  :-)

Hogle Zoo

My sister, Michelle, came into town today and we had arranged to meet at the zoo in Salt Lake.  I knew we were in for a rough one when I pulled up to the zoo early and there was NO place to park.  I had to park over 1/2 mile away.  Ethan and Sydney were tired of being in the car and so excited to go to the zoo and see cousins as well.  I pushed the stroller up the hill to the zoo and stood in a long line for tickets.  After paying, we went inside and it was already time for lunch because of the parking and line-waiting time. We ate lunch, went the potty and finally started walking through the zoo.  I felt claustrophobic with so many people, my pregnant belly, and my double-wide jogging stroller.  :-)

The kids had a great time!  Sydney was mesmerized by the water (let alone the seals and otters!) and just wanted to sit and watch.  She gave me quite the scare minutes later at the polar bear exhibit when I lost her for nearly 10 minutes.  She ended up being only 30 feet from me or so holding the hands of another mom and daughter crying.  My heart was sick when I couldn't find her for so long.  The crazy part was that I had my eyes on her and turned to see Ethan and by the time I was back to her, she was gone.  Seconds!  My sister Christine was with me and said, "I have never seen a child get lost so quickly."  Sydney can be a bit spacey.  She later told me that "I just wanted to see the polar bear."  It was traumatic for me.  

Cousins sitting on a polar bear statue, but I mostly photographed the children...not the statue.  Grace, Ethan, Sydney, and Carter.

After we recovered from losing Syd, we went to the bathroom and my sisters ended up taking turns taking their toddlers to do the same.  I started feeling my pregnant body and opted to sit in a small picnic area while they chatted.  I should've taken that as my first clue that I was doing too much--me SITTING ALONE INSTEAD of chatting with my sisters.

Sydney came over by me and started dancing on the stairs.

Ethan quickly joined in and they were in full song-and-dance mode.

After being at the zoo for about 5 hours, I told my sisters that I just had to go.  We were standing around talking and Ethan and Sydney were exhausted and their behavior was quickly showing signs of that exhaustion.  I walked back to the car and realized I just felt irritable and ornery.  After getting back to car, collapsing the stroller, I spotted a parking ticket under my windshield wiper and had to laugh.  This was one for the record books--what a day.  I had forgotten to put my registration stickers on our van when we bought it three months ago!  

I starting to drive home I realized that I was having contractions--fairly regular ones.  Ethan and Sydney fell fast asleep within minutes, and I had the drive to worry about pre-mature labor again.  I ended up lying down the rest of the afternoon and into the evening.  Every time I stood up contractions started again.  Gave me a good scare.  I am glad I woke up this morning feeling back to my 'normal' pregnant self.

Aunt Michelle

Aunt Michelle has been spending some more time with us lately.  We've been down to her house a few times in Provo as well.  I've been helping her sell her home and purchase a new home close to us.  We're looking forward to seeing her even more.  Ethan and Sydney have loved her company as well.

Last night she visited us the evening before she was to give a talk at a Brigham Young University devotional.  These devotionals are broadcast on television as well as online.  They are replayed on television and Michelle was understandably nervous.  She ate dinner with us and played with the kids.  I turned around and saw her in "marching band formation" with Ethan and had to grab my camera.  It was adorable.  Ethan was totally into it and loved that Michelle was into it as well.  

Sydney has been a little incapacitated lately so she had to sit while they marched around.  She collided with a cousin on the trampoline at grandma Beckstrand's house Sunday night.  We ended up at the doctor's office yesterday afternoon (Monday) getting an x-ray on her ankle which was inconclusive.  She won't walk and will crawl on her belly.  It's been sad and a hard day carrying her to the potty every hour.  I was grateful Michelle came to play with her and Ethan--I needed it.  :-)

Doug said the prayer at the devotional today and was pretty nervous.  Michelle did a great job. I showed Ethan and Sydney video of Doug praying and Sydney started yelling at the television, "Daddy! Daddy! Hi daddy!"  They kept saying, "Aunt Michelle!" and trying to get Doug's attention sitting behind Michelle as she began speaking.  It was adorable.  Love watching them discover the world.