Week Four

It's hard to believe we've been here almost a month. It's been our longest trip here, and quite possibly the most fun one, too. (Our last two visits to Utah were in the wintertime, so it's been quite a while since we've enjoyed the summer fun.) I am so grateful that we are able to keep in good contact with Jason, and he is busy enough in Iowa that I'm pretty sure he doesn't have too much time to miss is, either. Still, being together would be best, but it's hard to resist the endless options for action while we're here. I think I have to start each of these posts this way, just to assuage my guilt for being gone for so long. 

Now on with the fun!

This week was less about field trips and more about simple summer pleasures.  We made a list of "100 Things To Do" this summer- some in Utah, some in Iowa- and we knocked out a good chunk of them just this week. Things like jumping on the trampoline with a sprinkler under it and pllaying with water beads- 

Making heart-shapes cookies (this one was all Grandma fun while I was out with a friend one night)

Visiting my aforementioned friend whom I affectionately call Shrimp- 

We've been friends for almost 20 years- yikes!- and spent the evening kid-free at the fancy new City Creek mall in downtown Salt Lake.

We've enjoyed bubble baths in Grandma's giant tub-

Some more than others-

And spent quality time with Auntie Al-

We wanted to go camping while we were here, but I had completely forgotten how cold it gets at night in the mountains, even in the summertime.  

We didn't pack appropriately for 40 degree weather, and opted for a campfire dinner instead. 

Grandpa took the kids on a snipe hunt

And we enjoyed s'mores, again, some more than others.

Whose kid is that?!

We had a late night movie night 

And checked out a local splash pad 

Finished off with snow cones.

(Leah's into making intentionally odd faces for the camera lately, so... that's what we get.)

And now that we've been plagued with some sort of stomach bug, we're all taking it easy. 

Hopefully it will pass quickly- we've only got two weeks left and still so much to do!

Week Three!

Now that week four of our lovely summer vacation is almost over, I'd better hurry and put this up before it's a distant memory!

Week three started out strong- we enjoyed the week with Grandma Great, who spent the week sewing spool dolls for all present great-grandchildren.

 I hope watching the way Emma ran around the house with her dolly tucked snuggly under her arm made Grandma's many hours of effort seem worth it.

Leah had Princess Dance Camp last week with her cousin Savanna, which ended with a surprise visit from a real princess. 

We continued to enjoy occasional lazy moments at home- 

And we were so excited for Thursday to get here- ultrasound day! The gender reveal part was so fun (although, sadly something I'll probably never do again. If we have any more babies, we won't find out the gender until delivery day). 

And we were excited to find out my brother Aaron and his family were coming to visit for the weekend. It didn't strike me as a sad point, but it meant my entire family would be together except for Jason. Sometime Friday evening the three weeks of being away from him really started taking it's toll and I was feeling grumpy, sad and tired. And missing my sweetie. When I tried calling him to let the kids say good night, his phone was turned off, which is very unusual. My first few thoughts weren't very nice ones (boy, would I like to have a few hours of uninterrupted adult time- and sleep!) but then my wishful mind started wandering and I hoped that maybe, just maybe his phone was turned off because he was on a plane to Utah. And imagine my surprise when just a few hours later he walked in my parents door!

My parents decided the whole family needed to be together (the last time that happened was four years and four less grand babies ago, and who knows when it will happen again) so they flew him out! It was the best surprise, and certainly the best Fathers Day ever!

Jason got in late at night, so the kids didn't know he was there until morning. I will never forget the look on Adam's face when he came running in and said "Mommy! I have to tell you some- uhh, who's in your bed?" I think he was quite okay with the answer. The kids were just as thrilled as I was with Daddy's arrival. 

We went to Provo on Saturday and had a great time showing the kids around our first hometown. They loved the donut factory most of all.  Jason and I went on a double date with my sister to a movie on Saturday night, Sunday was church and family pictures, and Monday we enjoyed a mini family reunion, complete with swimming, games and eating tons of good food! It was time take Jason back to the airport before we knew it, but those three days made all the difference. We miss him very much, but the chance to see him for a few days was just enough to gear us up for the second half of our summer vacation!!

Pregnancy Updates

My 5-year-old niece ran up to me today and asked me if I had a baby in my tummy.

"Yes!" I responded. "Did your mommy tell you that?"

"Nope," she said. "You just have a really fat stomach.

*****

I got sick today. It passed quickly enough, but I didn't truly feel better until my little bump gave me a few high-fives to let me know s/he was okay. I had an impromptu ultrasound at my doctors appointment last week- the little one wasn't interested in giving Mommy a sneak peak, but it's fun to know where the legs and arms are. Now I know if it's a kick or a fist bump.

*****

At my first doctor's appointment (at 11 weeks), the ultrasound showed the baby measuring a week ahead- 12 weeks.  That moves my due date up to October 23rd. I've never had this happen before, and I'm not sure how to take it. I'd really like to know exactly when this little one plans on getting here, so I can be in the right place at the right time. On the other hand, I'm not at all interested in inducing just so things can fit my schedule. This is a major point of reflection for me in spare moments.  Having said all of that, I felt this baby move before I really started hoping for or expecting movement. I remember with Emma praying every night to please feel something, promising that I would never complain about the intensity of the kicks at the end (that was a really hard promise to keep). There was no need for such bargaining this time around- the movements just started happily one day.

*****

I sent Jason this text and picture today- 'Just a reminder that we could learn that we're going to be getting a baby girl and a dog tomorrow!'

*****

My ultrasound is this afternoon. I have been dreaming about the proclamation "It's a girl" or "It's a boy" for a month now.  Leah is rooting for a girl, Adam and Emma for a boy. I can see two divergent roads given the outcome of this adternoon's proclamation. Three girls and one boy? Or two boys and two girls? Every parent knows that all that really matters is a healthly baby. I've had scares of various levels with every pregnancy, but nothing so far with this one. I'm only halfway there, though, so I'm certainly not breathing easy just yet. "It's a healthy baby" is all I really want to hear.

*****

It's a boy!!! Wow- it feels so good to know! We have a healthy, proud baby boy joining our family this fall! He is measuring big, so I have now heard the due dates of October 21st, 23rd, and 30th. This does not bode well for my need to be in the hospital on time and my desire to avoid medical intervention to induce labor. But that is still not something I'm losing sleep over just yet. It's a boy! A little baby brother! I am so excited- we all are. Jason was able to attend the ultrasound via FaceTime, and my mom was there, too. When I saw the little boy parts, I couldn't help but cry. Despite all of the 'mother's intuition' or feelings I've had that he is a boy, I could never quite allow myself to believe it. I didn't want to be wrong, or be disappointed if we were having another girl, but boy am I excited that my feelings were right. A boy! 

We had a gender reveal party that night with my grandma and all of my family that lives here in Utah, and Jason joined in via FaceTime.  It was so fun having such a surprise for the announcement!

But it took quite a bit of work to get the cake to look good.

The kids are all happy, but Adam especially was completely thrilled at the announcement. A baby brother!

Leah has been saying silly things like 'I knew we would have a baby brother because you don't want us to have a dog' and praying 'please bless the baby to be healthy, even though it's a boy.' She'll warm up to the idea soon enough. Until then, Adam's excitement is enough for all of us!

Week Two

The fun in Utah continues! 

It seems like we've spent even more time this past week outside, although the temperatures are consistently in the 90s. 

It takes little effort to have an adventure every day, whether it's walking around the corner to fees the horses-

Or driving the switchbacks up AF canyon to go canoeing at Silver Lake.

There are waterfalls hidden just down the paths-

And just walking down the paths is an adventure itself.

We had a cousins sleepover this week (something that always seems to take days to recover from) 

And continue to enjoy all of the books and crannies of Grandma's house.

Adam is the most curious about going home. He asks nearly daily if today is the day that we are going back to Iowa and promises me that he knows a shortcut. Although the kids clearly miss Jason, they don't really have the attention span to visit with him via FaceTime for much longer than a reading of "King Bidgood's in the Bathtub" or "Muncha Muncha Muncha".

As for me, it's become easy to idealize his nights of uninterrupted sleep and a whole month off from bath nights and poopy diapers. But I wouldn't trade it if it meant missing out on all the fun that we are having here! Jason's at a conference this week, so we wouldn't be together (again) in Iowa anyway. As for us, we've got Princess Dance Camp and a visit from Grandma Great to keep us busy this week.  Although we've got another 3 weeks here, I'm worried the time is going to fly by with our wish list left only half done. There is still so much to do!