27 May 2013

And the Winners Are...

 First of all, thank you SO MUCH for all the encouraging comments!
Totally made my day. :)

Now, onto the important announcements...

The winner of the Le Pen and a set of cute notecards is SHANNON!

The winner of the insulated tumbler with Starbucks Via iced packets is ASHLEY!

And the winner of the $10 Target gift card is BRITTNIE!

Congratulations, ladies!
Please send me an email at jess.rich@sbcglobal.net
so that I can get your address and send those prizes your way.

My barely-clad assistant had so much fun drawing names
that he wanted to keep going. Silly boy. :)
 



Stay tuned for 300 more exciting posts!

31-32-33-34 Weeks

Here is the bump at 31, 32, 33, and 34 weeks:


You'll notice I had to move to two pictures per frame as the belly just wouldn't fit otherwise!

Over the past few weeks, I have had several people comment 
that they didn't realize I was pregnant. (With this bump?!!!) 
I'm not exactly sure how to take that...

How far along? 34 weeks and 3 days.


How big is the baby? The size of a pineapple, 
about 20 inches long and 5 pounds.

Are you in maternity clothes? I'm getting to that fun stage
where only a handful of even my maternity clothes fit comfortably. :/

How do you feel physically? It is getting really difficult to bend over,
which apparently I do a lot (something about picking up toys...).

Sleep? I vacillate between fighting off insomnia 
(you might get an email from me at 2am...) and feeling like a zombie.
 
Miss anything? Energy!

Feeling movement of the baby? Oh yes. Sometimes I think
this kiddo is going to bust out my belly button!
Baby Brother also likes to move around a lot at night,
which is another reason I haven't been sleeping well.

Food cravings? I am also getting to that fun stage
where Baby Brother is crowding out my stomach
so I feel like I'm not eating much - though I'm probably snacking more
throughout the day.

Gender of the baby? Boy :)
 
Mood/ thoughts? I have a friend who was due about 3 weeks before me
who had her baby one week ago. Talk about a reality check!
(Fingers crossed I do not deliver that early.)
The realization that this baby could be here any day
has definitely triggered some freak-out moments.
(Hence the crazy nesting frenzy, as my husband will attest.)

I am also savoring these moments as a family of three -
such a precious time with Max.
But I am definitely excited to see how he is as a big brother!

24 May 2013

300!

Ladies and gentlemen,
can you believe that I have made it to my 300th blog post?!!!!
(I cannot either, as evidenced by the liberal use
of exclamation points and question marks - together.)

It is hard to believe that seven years ago I started out
to chronicle the daily life of our family (albeit with fits and starts)
and here we are today!

I am so grateful for each and every one of you who think my ramblings are worth your time.
(Or maybe you just want to see cute pics of Max and hear about Baby Brother.)
Either way, I think a little thank you is in order. :)

I have picked three of my favorite things, which I hope you will enjoy as well!

Le Pen and a set of cute notecards
Insulated tumbler with Starbucks Via iced packets
$10 Target gift card

Please leave a comment to enter this giveaway!
I'll have my lovely assistant Max help me draw three lucky winners
over the weekend and will announce them on Monday. :)

Good luck!

21 May 2013

Seven Years

On this day in 2006, 
we sipped our first Jones soda as man and wife...
 

Seven years later and we're still toasting :)

Happy Anniversary to my handsome hubs!
xoxo

23 Months

I seriously cannot believe our little man is 23 months old
only one month shy of TWO YEARS. Crazy!

Crazy would also be the word I'd use to describe this month's photo shoot...



 





 Little man weighed in at about 34 pounds and measured 36 inches tall.

Eating is still pretty much the same - A LOT. :)
(Obviously, if he weighs almost 1 pound for every inch he is tall!)

The Battle of the Wills has begun when it comes to sleeping,
so naps are usually 1.5 hours (2 if I'm  really lucky)
and he's down (eyes closed and not moving) about 10 hours at night.
I have read this is within the range of normal sleep for his age -
granted the lower end of the range - but this preggo mama needs a little more shut-eye!

Side note: if anyone has any advice on how to get a toddler to sleep, we are probably willing to try it!


We have also begun the Terrific Twos, as I'm choosing to call them.
It's absolutely "terrific" when Max has a meltdown for no apparent reason
and absolutely nothing will console him.
There are also the tantrums, which are equally as terrific,
so...yeah, we've got our hands full.
I just keep reminding myself that this is a phase
and we will somehow get through it!

About a week and a half ago, Max fell while playing outside
and we noticed he was limping bit afterwards.
We had it checked out the next day and the pediatrician
said it could possibly be a virus that inflames the hip joint
so we should wait a few days to see if it got better on its own.
Well, come Tuesday Max was still hobbling around
(although also climbing and running and jumping - weird)
so the doctor ordered some blood work (oh joy) and x-rays.
Definitely not the first line of action on my list.
The good news is those results came back normal...
but we still don't know why Max has the perfect pirate shuffle.
We are being referred to a physical therapist/ orthopedist
and hopefully can figure out what's going on.
As far as we can tell, he is not in pain (still running all over the place!)
but there's got to be some reason he's still limping -
even if it has improved slightly.

Little man is still talking up a storm these days,
and he will literally repeat anything you say - which is equal parts cute and horrifying.
I think one of the funniest things he has started doing this month
is filling in the blanks when Clay reads him a story.
Here's a video of his cleverness :)

We are totally amazed that he remembers so much of what we read to him!
(Granted, we go through phases where he wants to read
the same book 50 times in a row...)


This month...
Max took a trip to Grapevine to ride a Thomas train
with his Mini, Zu and Aunt Julie, which he still talks about!

Max likes to play in the "piddows" on Mommy and Daddy's bed,


climb "tees" (aka the bushes outside his window),
and put on Daddy's short and sandals all by himself!


Max had his last day of Thursday school for the summer.
They took this adorbs picture of him in a cap and gown :)
I am not ready for him to be so big. :(

Max has started climbing INTO Baby Brother's crib.
(Yes, Clay was snapping pictures instead of reprimanding our little daredevil.)

We have found him several times just bouncing away and having a blast.
Unfortunately, I don't think Baby Brother will be quite
as amused with those antics...

Max's top second molars broke through the gums - finally!
We are hoping they finish making their entrance soon.

Me and my sweet little man on Mother's Day :)
We love you, Maxwell James!

01 May 2013

Right Now I'm...

watching the monitor to make sure my little stinker stays in bed for naptime.

drinking water! I do not drink enough of it, as my cankles will testify.

wearing
grey yoga pants and a black maternity shirt, 
which I would totally wear every day if I thought no one would notice. :)
 
eating cheese and crackers, my (early) afternoon snack.

listening to the hum of the air conditioner. 
It's crazy to think we won't need it tomorrow when it's 50 degrees!

avoiding
unloading the dishwasher.

wishing
the fan blades would dust themselves. If only...
 
missing the ability to easily reach my toes!
 

thankful for the amazing mommy friends God has placed in my life. 
I love that I can call them up for advice (or commiseration) anytime!

praying for some clarity on all the decisions that need to be made 
as we prepare to welcome Baby Brother into our family.
 

needing a nap. Since Max has finally gone to sleep, I think I'll lay down for a few. :)