Grace's First Swim Lesson

Even though mother nature hasn't gotten the memo that it is in fact summer (ok technically summer starts next week but you know what I mean) and "she" should not only warm up the weather- "she" should MAKE IT STOP RAINING! - Grace and I forged ahead with Grace's first swim lesson!

Lucky for you favorite readers, Grandma was in town helping John Andrew move into his new apartment so we had a photographer documenting the entire lesson. You are thrilled - I know!

It was a bit chilly that morning. The sun was out teasing us and all the Moms milled about nervously before the lesson started.

Grace sizing up the competition. She was very quiet before the lesson. She wasn't talking, she wasn't jumping, she wasn't smiling. Truth be told - I was nervous. Was she going to be the kid who was going to scream her head off and hate the water?

Again, she proved that all my worrying was for nothing...

She LOVED it!

She was splashing up a storm before our teacher even got the group started.

After singing Ring Around the Rosie and getting used to the water (it was heated - THANK GOD!) it was time to grab the balls and throw them in the hoop!

Next, it was time to learn how to paddle. We each grabbed a toy and threw it out in front of the child. While holding the child under our arm like a sack of potatoes, we encouraged our kiddo to paddle after the toy.

Grace loved this game.

She even put her face in several times in order to reach her little dolphin toys.

Being pregnant in a swim suit was interesting. While I had a legitimate excuse for all my "lady bumps and humps", there were quite a few pictures of me (particularly from the back side) where it looked like two people had squueezed into my one swim suit. NOT GOOD! Obviously, those pictures are NOT posted here and have been deleted from existence.

Then came time for going under the water.

She was a trooper! Once the weather warms up, she will definitely be our little fish.

Who's Counting?

We are now in double digits folks. Ninety-nine days til #2 arrives! Not a moment too soon apparently. I've had two people in the last week ask if I was due "soon". When I said "yes, in September" their jaws dropped. I guess by "soon" they meant tomorrow - next week at the ABSOLUTE latest.

I think I am the last person on earth who actually looks pregnant when they are pregnant.

Before and After

It's Friday night. So what? That doesn't mean anything...to those of us with small children.

Before having kids, I would be getting all dolled up - ready for a night out on the town.

Tonight, I am waiting for Grace to stop bouncing and crying in her crib so I can hit the hay.

Before having kids, I would likely go to a delicious restaurant, wear something cute and trendy and burn off a little steam with friends at a bar.

Tonight, I ate two slices of Safeway pizza, I barely brushed my hair and I'm definitely not burning off any steam over a few cocktails.

Before having kids, I would have stayed out real late knowing I could sleep until noon tomorrow.

Tonight, I'll be in bed before the sun sets and awake before it rises tomorrow.

Before having kids, I would drink a few too many tonight, feel tired, cranky and nauseous all day tomorrow, then eat some kind of greasy food to kick the hangover and pray that I wasn't pregnant.

Tonight, I'll definitely hit up the sauce - chocolate sauce for my sundae that is - and even though I will go to bed ridiculously early, I will toss and turn all night (because why would God ever let a pregnant woman sleep) so that tomorrow I'll feel tired, cranky and nauseous where I will be "required" to eat large quantities of greasy food and you know what the the ironic thing is, I will be so happy and thankful that I am pregnant!

God what has happened to me?!

There's Nothing Funny about Being Pregnant

I've come to realize that this blog has recently tipped the scales...the B-O-R-I-N-G scales that is!! No good stories. No good laughs. No rehash of my latest parenting/life catastrophe.

I apologize.

It's not because I'm not trying. It's not that I don't wrack my brain every day and ask myself if this particular tidbit or that particular tidbit of my day is "blogworthy." The fact is there is nothing funny (or fun for that matter) about being pregnant. And because I'm pregnant (read as tired, miserable, uncomfortable, not sleeping well and still dealing with morning sickness) I have nothing to write about.

When I feel better, you'll be the first to laugh. I promise.

She's a kid!!

Just a week shy of turning 18 months old, look who is all grown up? 

Her first nap in a big girl bed - TODAY!

I can't believe it.  

Heartbreaking and momentous all wrapped into one. 

Buckethead

Ahhh...what do we have here?

Looks like a bucket...Mom says it's a bucket...

...but I swear it's a hat.

It is SOOOO much more fun using it as a hat.

The Big 4.5!

This November, Court and I will celebrate our 5th year wedding anniversary. Number 2 will have arrived by then and we know that a weekend getaway - sans kids - will be hard to do. So we decided to celebrate our 4.5 year anniversary instead.

No kid (except for #2 in my tummy - which seriously hindered my wine drinking ability), no family, no friends. JUST US!

It was a great trip. We did absolutely nothing. We slept. We read. We ate. I got a prenatal massage. (I never got one when pregnant with Grace. Felt too guilty to spend the money on me when there were cribs and strollers to buy I guess...but it was HEAVENLY! Worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY! If I can scrape together the cash AND a babysitter, I will definitely get another one before #2 decides to show up.) And yes we missed Grace but not as much as I thought I would - especially once I heard she was having a great time with Grandma, Boppa and Kodi - the gigantic Malmute.

Did I mention we ate? Here is me below shoveling two desserts into my face. Yes, I said TWO!

I tried to get Court to take a picture of the bump but I think he was a bit more enamored with the view. Bump or view? Bump or view?

He chose the view.

After such a marvelous getaway, we've decided to make this an annual trip. As the kids get older, we hope to leave them with the Grandmas and Grandpas a little bit longer each year so that someday we can have a whole week to ourselves. A whole week! I get giddy at just the thought!!