Updates- March, 20 months

One snowy Sunday night, we were so stir crazy that we drove you up north to go to Chuck E Cheese.  It was actually a lot of fun.  You were obsessed with riding this little carousel.

Chillin' with your best bud Jude.

Derek and Alicia watched you on evening while Mommy and Daddy had a date night.  

You and Jude took a fun bubble bath together.

Daddy had his 29th birthday!

You are getting very mischievous.  One minute you were pulling all of the wipes out of the container, the next you had climbed to the top of the stairs with the bag of almonds and were cramming them into your mouth.  This was after you went into the bathroom, shut the door, and started playing in the toilet water.  And all I was trying to do was make dinner.

The other day you climbed on top of the dresser and was sitting up there eating Cheerios.

Here is a beautiful blood orange that we shared.  It reminded me of CA and warm weather.  

I can't wait for it to actually feel like Spring.

And here you are taking a bath with Caleb.  

Easter egg dying with Mommy!  

You loved looking at all the colors when the eggs were dry.  

You even got to peel and taste one.

Holy Week

Today we had a fun Easter egg hunt at JW for playgroup.  As you hunted you opened each egg and shoved the jelly beans in your mouth as fast as you could, before I could take them away.  :)  You were so excited that all these eggs had treats in them!  I tried to explain the concept of collecting eggs in your basket first and opening them later but you didn't quite understand.  :)  Still, you got quite a few eggs and I managed to keep you from making yourself sick with sugar.  (And when we got home I switched the candy for craisins and animal crackers- still a big treat that you rarely get and better then straight candy.)

Then tonight we had our Seder Dinner at JW, which is probably my favorite thing about Holy Week.  You got to play with Jude in the childcare, they said he stopped crying when you got there.  And when we got home you were so cuddly and sweet.  Before I sang to you we said a prayer and you listened quietly and said "Amen" with me at the end.  Then when I rocked you and sang, you reached up and moved my face down so it was resting against your head, you had your arms and legs wrapped around me and your sweet little head against my chest.  I breathed you in deep and thanked God for such a gift. 

10 weeks, Dear baby

Dear my sweet little baby,

Last week, Daddy and I got to see you for the first time.  You were about the size of a kidney bean but we could clearly see your head and developing arms and legs.  The sonographer said you were moving around and looking good.  She said we should be expecting to meet you around October 15th.  Your big sister Quinn has been practicing loving on her baby dolls and hugging and kissing every baby she sees.  She will be so excited to meet you.  We all love you very much!

Love,
Mommy

Conclusion of the Weaning Letter/ Trip to Springfield

Well, we are officially done nursing at a little over 19 months :(  We actually stopped about two weeks ago.  My supply was starting to dwindle and nursing was beginning to hurt, plus with the morning sickness I was having a hard time.  You had stopped asking for it in the morning and I was still offering, which then you were more then happy to nurse.  But most mornings you were up and ready to play so I just stopped bringing it up and you didn't seem to notice.  That is until last week when we went to Springfield to visit Mema and Ppa while Daddy was out of town for work.  The first couple of nights and mornings you kept asking to nurse.  It just about broke my heart to have to tell you "no, we are all done nursing, Mommy's milk is all gone."  I really wish I would keep producing milk and could just nurse you whenever you randomly asked for it or got sick.  But now you will have to settle for hugs and kisses and rocking and cuddles.

You are growing up so fast!  You are getting taller.  Your vocabulary is exploding and you are surprising us with words for things that we didn't even know that you knew.  I am so excited to see you interact with your little brother or sister next fall.  You are seriously the sweetest toddler I've ever met, you will run up to any kid or baby and say hi and wave and want to give them a hug and a kiss.  I pray that you stay this way even when the world is unkind.  I know kids will be mean or not want your hugs or people who just won't be friendly back... that can be so discouraging.  I know right now you don't seem to notice too much, but I've seen it start in your eyes when a kid pushes you away or when an adult ignores your "hi".  I know it's a part of life that I can't protect you from and that you will have to face and deal with.  But I hope you will continue to be loving to all the people around you despite how they may act toward you.  I certainly have a lot that I can learn from you, because this is surely something I struggle with. 

Back to last week in Springfield, you got to go Easter egg hunting for the first time!  Mostly you hunted empty eggs but every once in while I sneak in a jelly bean which would make you very excited. 

shoe shopping!

Bass Pro

You climbed all the way to the top and gave us a scare because we could hardly reach you.  

But you weren't scared at all!

  

Great Grandma and Grandpa's farm

Is it time for Spring?!?!

I've been wanting to blog but have been nauseous and sick with a cold on top of that.  With all the snow and being stuck inside with a ball of energy and having absolutely NO ENERGY myself, I've been a bit miserable.  BUT the weather is getting warmer and I can see the light of Spring at the end of the tunnel.  Also my nausea has decreased quiet a bit and most days I'm not taking any of the meds for it, so that is good.  Our first midwife appointment is Monday and I'm starting to get excited.  It still doesn't feel real.  We threw a baby shower for Bree and Kate this morning and had all the girls from our Corpus Group over.  It turned out really great and was yummy with good fellowship.  It felt good to host a fun little brunch and bless Bree and Kate.  Their babies will be here with in the month and it will be a blessing to watch our Corpus family grow.

Quinn,
Last weekend we were sitting on the heater vent and I was sharing the raisins for my Raisin Bran with you and, completely on your own, you said "I love you" and gave me a hug!  I nearly cried, it was so sweet.  You also noticed that Daddy had a "boo boo" on his hand and all weekend would say "boo boo" and then kiss it to make it feel better.  What a sweet girl you are.  You really seemed concerned for his boo boo.

Sunday, before church, you went poop on your potty for the first time!  I was super excited.  You've peed on the potty a handful of times too.  We are taking it slow and getting you used to the potty but not starting hardcore potty training yet.  I did order you some adorable training underwear.  I had to order some online because it was so hard to find any in your tiny size.

At the end of church last weekend parents got their kids early for family communion and when we came back to our seats up in the balcony you and Josie danced and spun around to the last worship song.  It was so sweet and I know it must have made God's heart so glad to see His little girls worshiping Him in pure delight.

Here's when we told Mema and Ppa that you were going to be a big sister! 

Here you are kissing your baby goodnight . . . in the potty... hmmmm, maybe you don't quite get it yet. :)