Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Big Girl

Georgia loves shoes, but what girl doesn't! She loves to put our shoes on too, even Larry's stinky boat shoes that are as big as her. I couldn't resist this picture...
And she's such a big girl, in her heels and all, that why shouldn't she get a better seat to play her piano on? She commands attention, sitting on the coffee table in the center of everything! We'll indulge her, for now, since too soon there'll be a little brother to share that spotlight with!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Sarah's Tea Party

Birthday Queen Sarah Grace
Today we were invited to a Royal Tea Party in celebration of Sarah Grace Brown's 4th birthday- what fun we had! Everyone had dress-up clothes- tutu, crowns and jewels for the girls, and princely robes for the boy. The prince and princesses were served tea (apple juice) and lots of sugary treats by none other than Her Royal Highness Sarah. And as if being served by a Birthday Queen wasn't exciting enough, then we all went outside for a fun craft of making wands and little foam picture frames, and later were treated to a royal storybook reading. It was so fun and creative!
Being served tea & sweets in all our finery.

Cookies, cream puffs & petit fors - Oh My!!Thank you, Debby, Matt & Sarah Grace, for including us! We look forward to more Royal Fun to come!
Georgia shows me her princess wave!

Relaxing at the Lake

We enjoyed a fun & relaxing weekend at Smith Lake with Dave & Laura Broom. Thanks for sharing with us!

Friday, August 15, 2008

All Snoogled Up

I have a new bed mate. Yes, my husband knows, and he might be a little jealous. You see, he might want one too!

It's a pregnancy pillow, called a Snoogle, and I'm loving it! I've always been a side-sleeper, which is what's required when you're pregnant, and wasn't a problem for me in my first pregnancy. But, for whatever reason, my body refuses to listen to my mind this time. It's like I'm top-heavy (or belly-heavy) and I always end up rolling onto my back now. My OB told me this is bad. Apparently I'm suffocating my baby boy when I lay too long on my back. Not good! More specifically, my increasingly-heavy uterus presses on the major vein that supplies blood to the baby, effectively cutting off his life-line! Really not good!

So, I've been trying to make do with more pillows propped all around me when I sleep. But they keep falling off the bed, and were also crowding my husband out of the bed, so I decided to try a pregnancy pillow. It's like a long, curving body pillow and wraps under my head at one end, and between my knees and under my belly at the other end. I can wrap it behind me so I can't roll over to my back. Last night I slept the best I have in months! (Although I also stayed up WAY too late to watch the USA take gold & silver in women's gymnastics!!)

If you're pregnant and having trouble sleeping, I recommend you try it. I got mine at babies r us ($52 and worth it! You can probably find it cheaper online)...

Nightie-nite!!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Olympic Fever



We enjoyed a fun weekend with lots of Olympic-watching. Starting Friday night, Larry & Georgia watched the opening ceremonies while I spent some girl time celebrating good friend Jenn's coming baby boy. Larry was amazed how Georgia sat in rapt attention as the opening ceremonies played- her favorite was in the beginning when hundreds of drummers pounded out a rhythm with lit ancient drums. She liked it so much Larry replayed it thru our DVR and she sat & watched it again! She even sat & watched it once more as we played it Saturday morning so I could see it! This is the child that won't even sit for Sesame Street, but Olympic drummers definitely grabbed her attention!


We watched various other events throughout the weekend, including beach volleyball, water polo, soccer, swimming, gymnastics & badminton. The most exciting definitely was watching Michael Phelps and the 4x100m relay team "smash" the French late last night and win gold! We were bleary-eyed this morning from staying up so late to watch it, but it was really incredible!!


Saturday, Georgia showed us her Olympic training at the pool, and then Larry & I got to go on a date night, with big thanks to Matt & Sandy for watching Georgia for us. We saw The Dark Knight, which was very good & we'd recommend seeing in the theater, and enjoyed a leisurely meal at Firebirds, where I didn't have to feed anyone but myself or clean the table! It was great!


Georgia is taking up the competitive spirit of the Games and determined to master the fork & bowl this weekend. She wanted to eat everything with her fork, by herself, and some in a bowl. She's doing pretty well with it and, thankfully, is yet to poke her eye out, which I stay on the watch for!


I also presented her with a new challenge today- sleeping without paci! (For readers without little ones- a very big deal!!) She'd already weaned down to where paci doesn't come out of her bed & I even take it from her after she falls asleep so she doesn't have it when she wakes up, but I decided it was time for it to go completely because she's getting very attached to & demanding of it. I read online many mom's paci-weaning experiences & decided the best route for us was cutting the tip off the paci. (Don't worry, it's not a choking hazard.) That way she can still physically have it, but it doesn't "paci" very well. I did it for her morning nap, and so far- so good. She just looked at it funny like , "hey- this thing is broken!" but held on to it while she learned to settle herself down to sleep. It took her a bit longer to fall asleep, but no tears or screaming! Pray it goes well this week!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

16 Months

Dear Georgia Kate,

You just flew through these last few months! You are over 16 months old now, and I decided it was past time for me to do one of your updates. You continue to grow and change so much! And I've never know such energy- you are constantly on the go and keep me going right alongside you! Here's some highlights from the last couple of months:

~ The sounds of playtime fill our house more than ever- squeals, shrieks, giggles and jabber as you race from one thing to the next. Bernie barking alongside you, balls bouncing, poppers popping and seemingly hundreds of musical toys all singing different tunes- at once! Why must all children's toys make noise??

~ You also add to the symphony with your many new words. I guess you decided since we don't understand your language, you'd try ours! A lot of your words sound the same but I can usually pick out which word you're trying to say... some are: this, that, fish, cheese, ball, bite, milk, bath, baby, hey, hello, bye... and some sounds: woof, moo, quack.

~ Another new word/sound is so cute it gets it's own space- "choo-choo"! You say it over & over while pumping your fist up, like you're pulling a train whistle. Every morning we can hear the Helena train from our house and you run to the window & "choo-choo"! I don't even think you know what a train looks like, but you love the sound it makes!

~ Your imagination is really starting to blossom & it's so fun to watch you play. You're beginning to "pretend" & also figure out new uses for familiar objects, like mixing & eating with a cup & shovel, playing with your babydoll & pushing her in the stroller, lining up your Noah's ark animals along the table, and rolling around with the dog.

~ Bernie is still your favorite playmate, though I think he'll be ready to let your new brother take over soon! You crawl on all fours like a dog, lay next to him, try to sit on him or ride him like pony, and give him kisses & pats. Sometimes you're a little rough, like trying to run him over with the stroller, or throwing toys at him- you're trying to learn what "gentle" means!

~ Eating- nothing new here... you live off of milk & dairy products, fruits & carbs. You continue to grow, so I gave up worrying about your pickyness! (Currently about 23 lbs & tall.) You are learning how to use a fork & spoon, and love using them! Ice cream is your favorite food, I think! Your molars are just starting to break thru, to add to your 7 front teeth (one still coming in), so hopefully those will help you eat better!

~ I don't think you understand that you're going to be a big sister, or that a baby is growing in mommy's tummy, but you do love to point out, pat & kiss my tummy, your tummy and even daddy's tummy, though he says his doesn't need kisses b/c there's no baby in there!

~ That strong, stubborn spirit continues and daddy & I are constantly on our toes! All three of us are learning consistency, firmness & boundries. We've started some serious disciplining & you are quick to respond, so I think we can learn to live in harmony!

~ You are still such a monkey & crawl all over everything. I caught you climbing up your changing table like it was a ladder one day- you were almost to the top! Thankfully you haven't tried to crawl out of your crib (don't read this & get any ideas!). Mommy & daddy are your indoor junglegyms, & you truly never are still!


~ We still have managed to get some snuggles & kissses from you as you learn how to be affectionate. It melts our hearts when you come lay your head against us in a snuggle, or how you give daddy good-morning kisses every day! I love how you will lay your head against my shoulder at bedtime- it's only for 5 seconds, but it is the best 5 seconds of my day!

Water baby~ 3 months & 15 months

Sweet dreams ~ 3 months & 16 months

Being with you almost every hour of every day, I think I sometimes don't notice how you've grown until it catches me at odd moments- how you fill up half of your crib, how tall you are against my leg, how strong you are to climb, push or carry something, how you understand what we say & can follow instructions, how well you can communicate your needs & emotions. We hope & pray that as you continue to grow, your understanding will include love & knowledge of God who continues to bless our family. He is growing you into such a beautiful, fun child- we are thankful every day to get to be a part of that!

We love you very much!
love, mommy

Friday, August 1, 2008

Birthday BOY!!!


Larry's birthday finally got here- a week wasn't too bad to wait, was it?? Georgia and I just tried to keep busy to make the time pass quickly!

When Larry got home from work last night, we got dinner going then sat down together with his b-day presents and The Envelope. He slowly opened the envelope.... took out the card.... opened the card.... and, leaning over so close my nose was almost touching it, I saw those words on the ultrasound picture...

It's A Boy!


We are so excited!!! Georgia will have a little brother to boss around like she already does to the dog! She'll be a great big sis, and one day too soon he'll be big enough to "protect" his sweet sis. And Larry gets to have another boy in the house again! He admitted he was a little relieved, though he would have welcomed a sweet girl with just as much love & excitement.

The ultrasound lady had included two pictures of Hippo's "manhood" in the envelope- to prove it to us, I guess. I promised Hippo I wouldn't post those pictures, but let's just say it was very evident that he is all boy!

Thanks for waiting the extra week with us, and in just about 4 more months you'll get to meet our sweet baby boy!

PS- Want to know the worst part about Larry making me wait a week to find out? He told me he took the envelope to his work so I wouldn't be tempted to peek at it, but last night he revealed that the envelope was really sitting on the desk in our home office the whole time! Uggg!!!
We had Larry's family & the Phelps over for chocolate cake & homemade Vanilla ice cream- & singing Happy Birthday!
Georgia went around the room like a little bird saying "Bi, Bi, BI" (Bite!) until uncle Ernie picked her up & fed her half his ice cream!