Haircut

I gave Pete a haircut this morning. Not too bad eh?
Before....and after.

A Very Unfortunate Allergy

So, our boy is allergic to mosquitoes. This has been an almost devastating discovery for a family that lives in MI and a mom that has barely survived a long winter indoors. The doctor's recommendations were to keep him indoors and if we go outside use repellent and long sleeves and pants. Stay indoors????? It is finally warming up (a little) and we have to stay indoors???? I have been indoors for 7 months and I am more than ready to be out of doors. Long sleeves and pants in summer???

Pete is on Benadryl to treat his current bites and I have an Epipen shot to carry around in case his reaction makes it hard for him to breathe or the swelling gets worse. We spent the weekend in West Branch, MI where the bugs weren't as bad. He wore long sleeves and pants and mom was nervous wreck that he was going to get bitten more and his symptoms would get worse. So far each bite has turned into a bright red, large itchy welt and the one on his eyelid made his eye swell shut for 2 days. Your heart breaks to see your child sick or suffering and this was a hard week for me. First to see him bothered by the bites and then to try to figure out what kind of a life we are going to have if this problem persists all summer. Guess we will cross that bridge next time we go outside. Please pray for us. Here is our poor little feller and his red, swollen eye. We had a nice little getaway in West Branch this weekend. We drove up on Sat and had a wonderful dinner at a fancy restaurant in town. We played some cards and stayed up late watching the Lakers pull out a win in Denver. Phew. Sun we had lunch at G's Pizza, my favorite place to eat when we visit. The boys put the pontoon boat into the lake and we tooled around a little bit trying to catch some fish and get some sun. Omi made a big pork roast dinner and since Pete had missed his afternoon nap we put him down early and played cards and watch some more late night basketball. It was fun to get out of town for a couple days and of course good to be home. Pete did great except for waking up early both mornings. Not early like 6am early but like 5am early. And with those late night basketball games let's just say mom and dad are quite tired. Lakers in the playoffs doesn't come around every day though.....

Pete's eye is better today. We think he had a good time at his grandparents house and seeing his family. Here are a couple of pictures from our boat ride. 28 weeks now and I am feeling pretty good. A shirt that fit last week was impossible to get into yesterday. I'm thinking this baby girl is pretty big because I am quite uncomfortable already. I have a hard time breathing most of the time. Sleeping is a challenge. Heartburn and swelling are some other fun things going on right now. But nothing serious so I am happy and plugging along. Going to get back to the game, not looking so good right now. Have a great week and pray those little annoying bugs leave our baby alone.

A Week in the Life of Pete

At Meijer Gardens playing in the fountain yesterday. Entrance to this place came with our Children's Museum annual pass. We can visit the gardens through the end of May then June is the Gerald R. Ford Museum. We probably won't go there but once since it really isn't for kids. Cutie pie playing on the couch.
Pete in his fancy Gap shirt and curly hair. If we brush it after a bath it goes straight but if we let it dry it curls up. So cute.
At the park having lunch with dad. Mom and her belly. Pete and dad at the Children's Museum. Pete in his Laker's shirt. Come on boys, beat Denver!
Pete checking out his new big boy car seat.

Names

My vote is for Jamie Marie.

I Passed!

Don't ask me how but I passed my pregnancy glucose test today. I am still in shock. Relieved, thankful, but shocked! I didn't pass my first test with Pete and didn't expect to this time. I had my 27 week doctors appointment this morning. It had been 5 weeks since my last appointment so I was excited to get back in there and see how our little girl was doing. I drank my orange sugary stuff and then saw the doctor while I waited the required hour. My weight was 168. I think I had gained 6 pounds in the last 5 weeks. But after 27 weeks now I have only gained 9 pounds. My doctor said about this time women have usually gained about 16. I told her, don't worry, I will make up for it in the next 13 weeks. She said she wasn't worried. :) My blood pressure was good and all my measurements were right on schedule. Our little girl's heartbeat was loud and clear. My doctor said she was right at the front of my belly. No wonder I can see and feel her move so much. She even said if P. puts his ear to my tummy he should be able to hear her heartbeat. Too bad P. has terrible hearing but maybe we will try. So everything is going well. Next appointment I will be 31 weeks along! In the 30's! Can you believe it? Time is going so fast and it is getting so exciting. I caught the end of a Baby Story today on TLC and got so excited to go into labor and meet our baby girl. OK, maybe not the labor part but the part where they hand you your baby part. Oh and I told my doctor about how much she moves. I explained how I can always feel her kicking, flipping or just tapping and she said that she has noticed that usually results in active children. Not always but from what she has seen babies that move a lot in the womb, move a lot outside of it too. Ha. P. and I joked about how she was going to be a handful but I didn't know there might actually be some truth to it. Anyway, so after I saw the doctor it had been an hour and they drew my blood for my glucose, anemia and thyroid test. I asked the technician when I would know the results and she said Tues probably, or I could call on Monday to see if they had my results. I was so anxious to hear so I called before they closed today and they had my results. I passed! OMG I passed! But they said my iron was low and should start taking a supplement. I can do that!

Here are some pictures of Pete from this week. He fully enjoys getting really dirty in the sandbox. The dogs are sunbathing in the background. I got the sand toys out of the garage and he has a ball using the shovels to cover his legs with sand (and his head).I thought Abby looked really pretty in this picture so I threw it on here. We got our annual pass to the Children's Museum yesterday. Here is one of Pete playing while we were there. We plan to go back again this weekend with dad. And here are a couple from our date night tonight. Our friend Kari babysat for us while we went to dinner and Lowe's. I had a giant burger with cheese, bacon and mushrooms on it, with waffle fries and a water. We shared "dessert sliders" for dessert which were 4 huge ice-cream cookie sandwiches with chocolate sauce on them. It's 10pm and I am still stuffed. We got some new clean sand for Pete's sandbox at Lowe's and came home to find a happy little boy. He was sweaty from playing so much, chasing the dogs with his walker and playing hide and seek with Kari. I guess he did perfectly well with only a short cry after Abby toppled him over while playing. It was so fun to come home and see our smiley boy. Next time we won't wait so long between dates.Pete had just woken up from a nap when we were leaving on our date so he is still trying to get his bearings in this picture. He wasn't so sure what was going on but he is still cute when he is sleepy. So, that is our week. Fun outside and fun at the museum and a fun night out for mom and dad. P. scheduled me my first ever pregnancy massage for tomorrow at 11am. I am really looking forward to it. Hope everyone has a nice weekend. AM

Our Weekend

I had a wonderful Mother's day today. I got to sleep in until 8am, wooowhooo! I woke up to cinnamon rolls and Starbucks. We had lunch at a deep dish pizza place that gave us free dessert for Mother's Day. Then I had a nice talk with my mom before we went to a friend's graduation party where of course we ate more food. And had Costco cake, my favorite. Here is a picture of me and my newly graduated friend Kari. Congrats Kari and best wishes for a bright and happy future! Thanks to my perfect husband for a great day. Here are a couple pictures we took at the pizza place.
Our silly boy being silly this afternoon. Pete standing on his own. I say, "stand up like a big boy," and he lets go of whatever he is holding onto. I finally was prepared with the camera and got a picture. Pete playing in the backyard Friday. Pete and I went to the Grand Rapids Children's Museum on Thursday night. P. had to teach but I can't wait until he can go with us. They have family night on Thursdays where kids are free and adults are $1.50. Pete had a blast. I think I might buy an annual pass so we can go anytime and then you can get into these other places like Meijer Gardens, the zoo and the art museum at other times during the summer too. Here are some pictures.
New fridge magnets mom bought at a garage sale for $.25.Pregnancy is plugging along. 26 weeks. Friday I have my doc appt with my glucose and anemia tests. Fun, fun. Baby girl is kicking, kicking, kicking. Love it. I am feeling pretty good. The morning sickness is gone completely. The only troubles are being tired and being a little achy here and there. Other than that I am good. Except that the Lakers lost big time today. Boy was that a big bummer. Have a wonderful week all and until next time! AM

Goofball

Here is our little goofball trying to rip and tear a milk jug top. He would grunt and try to pull it apart, then put it in his mouth and act like he was tearing it with his teeth. I kept taking it away from him and he would convince me to give it back. It was pretty hilarious. What a joy he is.

Tulip Time Festival

We went to the Tulip Festival in Holland, MI on Monday. It was pretty cool. Mostly I like the pictures we got there but the flowers were nice too. We ate fair food (corn dogs & turkey legs) that were really bad for us, walked around some shops and found a park that was free to get into to check out the tulips. The weather was nice, not too hot and not too cold. It's still a little chilly here but the past few days have been almost 70 and it has been a nice change from the rainy, windy, cold weather we have had all spring. Pete was wonderful and happy the whole time. He missed his afternoon nap but you would have never known. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

25 Weeks

Tomorrow I will be 25 weeks. 15 weeks to go! 3 1/2 months left. Crazy.

I feel big. And I feel achy. My groin, pelvis and hips are getting pretty painful. But the morning sickness has eased up and I am thankful for that. I probably should try to hold Pete less but I can't get myself to do it. He is my boy and he is so sweet. And he loves his mommy so much. Someday soon he is not going to want me to hold him anymore and I will miss it so much. P. says I should start weaning him now for the arrival of his sister but I don't feel it's necessary. By August Pete will be walking, even running, and I expect the holding to wean itself. Back to the pregnancy........

Our little girl kicks all the time. It seems like she is always moving. I wonder if Pete and I keep her awake with our talking and playing. Whatever the case, it's fun and I am glad she is a mover, that means she is ok. I try not to talk about stretch marks so as not to jinx myself but so far so good. And last but not least, I am pretty tired. I go to bed late, Pete wakes up early and today he decided he didn't need a second nap. That was tough.

Even with the pains and exhaustion I am having fun with the pregnancy. I went garage sale shopping today and got 3 cute summer maternity shirts for $3. $1 each. I enjoy feeling her kick and find myself sometimes watching my tummy to catch a glimpse of her in action. Even though I am heavier and gaining weight faster than I did with Pete I still feel like a cute pregnant mommy. I enjoy talking about the pregnancy and still read the books and magazines about "what to expect". It's been fun looking for girl stuff at garage sales though I haven't really bought anything yet more due to the rain that puts a damper on my shopping plans. But I have all summer to get what we need and we don't need much. Clothes mainly. I hope to get clothes for her through 1 year so we are set until next garage sale season. It would be fun to find a cute crib set for her too. I haven't really thought about names. I feel like I have heard them all and none of them excite me. I am sure it will be a last minute decision again!

Well, I can't think of anything else to update you on. Things are coming along and overall we are healthy and doing well. Oh and here is a picture of our first baby girl gift from my brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew. So cute.

Ouchie

Pete got his first boo boo, worth documenting that is. We were at the library yesterday and he was having a ball climbing on their really low baby benches. He sat back on his knees, clapped his hands and went to put them back down on the bench but the bench wasn't there. The hard ground and carpet was though and he went nose first into the floor. Nothing softened his fall, not his head, hands, nothing. Scared me to death. I was sure he had broken his nose by the way he hit and the sound it made. Good thing the bench wasn't more than a foot off the ground or things would have been much worse. He cried for a short 20 seconds or so and was done but his nose looked horrible. I am guessing this is a rug burn. It looks worse than it was for him I think. It hasn't phased him since those first few seconds so that is good. Anywhere we go people ask us what happened though. Here is our boy's nose. The first of many, many bumps and bruises I am sure.Oh and this is his new high chair. It was a hand me down. Not that the one we had didn't work but it didn't have a pad under his butt and had a big space by his legs where he could squirm out if I wasn't watching him at all times. This one is more comfortable and safe. The toys besides Ducky are hand me downs too and have provided great entertainment last night and today. Lord knows we need the entertainment!

Had to throw in a cheese smile.

Daddy, Doggy and Ducky

The "cheesy" cheese smile is back. Check it out. It would be nice if he just smiled nicely for me but then that wouldn't be him. I think these smiles are pretty hilarious.It was actually nice here on Friday, well, if you can deal with all the wind lately. Pete played outside and was dry until I filled up the dogs' water bowl for them. He fully enjoyed getting all wet.

Pete's new game: hide behind the tupperware lid. He does this with most plastic tops or plates that he can get his hands on while eating which by the way is not going well. Pete eats like 4 foods, all carbs like toast or cereal. And don't even think about trying to hide a pea in his yogurt or toast. I hope this is just a phase. This phase has lasted 32 years for me....
Pete playing in the closet today.And here is a cute video of Pete and his walker he got for his birthday. He loves it and chases me all over the house with it all day long. Running into me or the dogs is his favorite part and if he doesn't get a good enough reaction out of you he will hit you again. This week he stood up on his own. He wasn't holding onto anything or even close to anything to grab onto. He was only up for a few seconds but it was pretty exciting. And from this video you can see he is pretty darn close to walking. He is just not ready to let go yet. Either is mom.



Pete officially says three words. Well, I think he can say more but I can't quite decifer them yet. The first word was daddy. He changes from da-da, to daddy, to DAD!!!! He can also say doggy which sounds a lot like daddy but when daddy isn't around and he is pointing at the dogs I know he is talking about them. And I am sad to say ducky came before mommy too. We bought this ducky for our friend who is graduating in May that collects them and he immediately became attached to the thing. He puts it in his walkers and carries it around with him. He lifts the lid/seat/cover to check on him every once in a while and always knows where ducky might be. We had to go back and buy our friend another ducky. You can see the other walker he has in the background. He puts ducky in that seat you see up and walks around honking at the dogs and I.We are pretty sure we heard ma-ma a few times today. We will see if it continues. Mom is ready to hear her name from her sweet baby boy.

Well, I think that is all the Pete updates I have. I am going to take a belly picture tomorrow. 24 weeks now, wooowhooo! And I will give an update on all my new aches and pains. No j/k, not all of them, just some of them.