34 weeks, 3 days

Annalise took another belly shot for me. I should try to post this right next to the last one she took, because I think I've gotten significantly larger in the past week or so. We are approaching 35 weeks on Sunday, and that's an important milestone for me, since my water broke with Bennett during my 35th week. We are about as ready for this baby to come early as we were for Bennett to arrive a month early (not at all, that is).

We had an awesome weekend (THANK YOU, Grandpa and Grandma J!!!), starting with Chad and Karen's wedding on Friday night, in which Mike was a groomsman. The capital letter thanks are due to the fact that my parents took care of the kids at their house all weekend long!!! After the wedding and reception (at Brackett's Crossing- which brought back great memories of our own nuptials), we did something I haven't done for a very long time (and never whilst pregnant)- hung out with EE and KK at Al's Bar after 1 a.m.! We slept until a deliciously late hour on Saturday, and then attended the Gopher football game. We had dinner at M&S Grill downtown, and headed back to our house for a nice evening on the couch, watching a Tivo'd movie from HBO free preview weekend several weeks ago. We brought Starbuck's chai lattes and an assortment of pastries from Edelweiss (in P.L.- try it!) and had a late breakfast/brunch/snack with my parents and the kids.

Funny Annalisism-

Mike and I got a sitter for Saturday night, and went to Sweeney's bar in St. Paul to meet up with friends from UMM, as Gregg and Jena were visiting from SD. I was telling the girls this story, and they said I should be sure to blog this. I don't remember exactly when this happened, but it's worth retelling:

Annalise and Bennett have been bonding with their sibling in utero by putting their mouth up against my belly button and saying, "hi baby!" One morning we lifted the kids up into our bed so we wouldn't have to get up yet, and Annalise turned to my belly and said, "hi baby!" She then turned over, put her face near Mike's belly and said, "hi beer!" Out of the mouth of babes....

Nine Wonderful Years

Mike and I celebrated our nine year wedding anniversary last night by going out for an excellent dinner at Broder's with Annalise and Bennett. Times have certainly changed since B.C.! We're looking forward to next weekend to really celebrate in style. G and G are taking the kids for the weekend, because Mike is a groomsman in Chad and Karen's wedding on Friday the 19th. I'm so excited to spend some time with Mike, and the kids are REALLY excited to hang out at Grandpa and Grandma's.

Annalise started gymnastics again at The Little Gym, but now since she's in school all day, her class is after dinner. I think it will take a bit of adjusting, but it was fun to see her back on the bars and beam. Bennett has had two days of Play Pals now, and I think it is going to be another fun year with Teacher Lisa. He gets really tired on school days, and I'm glad that at least one of my children is still a napper.

I had an appointment with the midwife on Tuesday, and I'm measuring right on with my due date. Baby's heartbeat was in the 150's this time, where usually it's in the 160's. Those of you who think that indicates boy vs. girl- tell me which one is indicated by lower heart rates, I can't remember. I'll have to get Annalise to take a 32 week picture of my belly to post.

School Days

Annalise had a great first day of school. I think she's really going to have a great year. She came home from school very hungry- I think she'll figure out soon that she'll need to eat what's in her lunch box. I adjusted Bennett's naptime today, so we could leave the house shortly after 3 in order to pick Annalise up in time. Bennett is very happy to see his sister today, although we had a nice time playing together this morning.

Danielle and I went to see Hancock at the Hopkins Theatre on Monday night. It was nice to get out and see a movie! Bennett and I are going to Blooma tomorrow morning for prenatal yoga. All in all a very nice, fun, not too busy week.

September??!!! Really?

The longer I stay away, the harder this becomes to update...

Fastball is FINISHED for the season. Our family trekked to Mankato two weekends in a row, and got some good use of our pop up camper, which we parked at Bob's house for both weekends. Thanks, Bob and Kim! Mike was the pitcher for a team his old teammates put together for the second tournament weekend, and he had a lot of fun pitching. We had a nice time at the Children's Museum with Adryen, Darci, and Dustin. Bennett took a mini-session of gymnastics at The Little Gym, and had a great time. It was so fun to see him volunteer to be the first to do a stunt, and to hear him proclaim, "I did it!!!" after every forward roll, hang from the bars, etc.

We attended an ice cream social at Little Flowers, and met Annalise's new guide, Nadine. We had a few more playdates with classmates from Bennett's ECFE class this past school year. Annalise finished up a session of swimming lessons at Foss on Friday, and really made some great strides with putting her whole face in the water just over the past week or two.

Today was Annalise's first day of school, and she is attending all day!!!! I'm anticipating a very tired girl when Mike brings her home at 3:30 today. We had fun packing a lunch yesterday afternoon, and included a whole carrot- uncut. None of those baby carrots for this big girl!!

Bennett and I did a little Target shopping today, after our first conference with Teacher Lisa (who you may remember was Annalise's teacher too, when she was in Play Pals). We were looking for items for Bennett's big boy room, which is slowly coming together. We ordered bunk beds for the shared bedroom (Annalise's) this weekend, and they will arrive mid-October (BEFORE THE BABY- I'm telling you!!!).

The only other activity of note is our annual trip to the State Fair. Our kids enjoy it as much as we do- Annalise wanted to have cotton candy and rootbeer this year, and Bennett remembered Sweet Martha's cookies from last year. The kids went on the Giant Slide with Mike (since it had a sign cautioning against pregnant riding), and Bennett was the brave boy to try the bungee trampoline jumping in the Adventure Zone, right outside the grandstand. Annalise saw it first, and convinced us she HAD to try it, but then decided against doing so when she saw the tween-aged girls flipping forward and backward on the bungees, and thought she'd have to do that. Mike had already purchased the ticket, and Bennett said, "I'll do that!" And sure enough, he did. He waited in line, stood on the scale, handed his ticket to the ticket-taker, and waited behind two others for his turn. Then he climbed the ladder to the trampoline, and let some teenaged boy hook him into the harness. We were all amazed that this actually happened, remembering his freak out on the carousel at MOA over spring break in April, just a mere four + months ago.

Stopover

We had a nice time staying in a Holiday Inn, swimming in the pool, and watching the Beijing Olympics on Saturday, and camping along the shores of Lake Winnebago Sunday through yesterday, while Mike played in the fastpitch world tournament in Appleton, WI. We got home yesterday afternoon, did some laundry, and Mike and B are already off to the next fastball tournament in Mankato. Annalise and I will join them for more pop up camping in Bob's yard, and softball excitement, after swimming lessons tomorrow morning. Then hopefully the games work out the right way on Saturday, so we can make it to Mike's cousin's wedding in Inver Grove Heights, then yup, you guessed it, back to Mankato for the rest of the tournament. To know, know, know Mike is to love, love, love Mike....

"I have pri-acy." BAF 8/5/08

I will preface this surprise daddy post with the following background information: Insisting on "Privacy" while using the bathroom has been a big thing for A recently. Sometimes little B does not comprehend this basic request and barges in on A while she is in the middle of going.

So last night, while mommy is "working" at the yoga studio and daddy and the kids are getting ready for bed, we brush our teeth and A goes to her room to get her pajamas on. Meanwhile, B stays behind in the bathroom saying, "I have pri-acy". I'm thinking o.k. B, sit on the toilet for a minute while I help A get her pajamas on. So he does and I close the bathroom door. About every 15 seconds thereafter A and I hear from the bathroom the yell of " I have pri-acy. I have pri-acy." Great. He's busy talking to himself, right?

Not exactly. After a few minutes I go in there and B is standing on the stool at the sink to wash his hands still saying, "I have pri-acy. I have pri-acy." Then I look at the toilet, and there on the toilet seat is some little boy feces. After the initial shock, I say, "good job B", we clean up, get pajamas on, and go to bed. Then I go back to clean up the toilet seat with a smile on my face. I only hope next time his aim is a little better and he makes it in the bowl.

Welcome to the world of controllable bowel function B. My diaper budget thanks you. Enjoy your pri-acy. Now lets work on pronouncing v's.

27 weeks, 4 days

Annalise took another belly picture for me today; unfortunately this one isn't in focus like the 22 week, 2 day photo was. I've been feeling pretty good overall, and glad to not be having any trouble sleeping. This babe love to kick me- not very hard, but constantly! It gives me a feeling like I'm on some type of mid-level amusement ride at all times. I don't remember if I've mentioned yet, but it's worth another if I haven't. I passed my glucose tolerance test!!!! On the first try! That is a first for me; I have had to take the 3 hour challenge in the past.

We're gearing up for another long camping trip, this time for the Intl Softball Congress world tournament in Kimberly, WI. Home for a day to grab a clean pile of unders, and then off to Mankato for the North American Fastpitch Assoc. tournament. Then we're done for the season. Next season with three babies in tow will be much easier, I'm sure.