September 23....

The day before we were going to meet baby brother the three of us decided to stay home...it was daddy's birthday and we knew it was our last day before we became a family of four. 

We started our morning with a little Eliana photo shoot! :) you're such a goober! You were prancing all over saying cheese! 

Here you are bowing...you will "perform" for us and then tell us to clap (which tends to sound a lot like crap) and then you will bow and say, thank you very much! 

You're such a cutie pie! After our photo shoot all three of us went to get our haircuts! We had to look good when little brother met us ;)

Oh yes, and you enjoyed helping daddy open hIs birthday week gifts! Daddy was surprised that he got a gift everyday...including in the hospital :)

Daddy was fixing the floor....so you grabbed your tools to help! I love this photo!

There were a few stories that happened in the month leading up to baby brother's arrival...

The first is, about a week or so ago I went to pick up food from Taco Bell...I went in, because drive thru was long...I ordered and the lady goes, is this for here or to go? I said, oh to go, thank you! And she said, oh good...I wasn't going to judge but I thought that was a lot of food for one. You know when you're pregnant you're not really eating for two... I just laughed and said, nope husband is eating it too. Little did she know....out of all that food only one thing was for daddy, the rest was mine.....and, it was my normal Taco Bell order ;)

Eliana, you were so excited to meet baby brother...for weeks you would act like he was here. The sweetest moment was a few days before his arrival I was putting you to bed,  I was sitting on the edge of your bed...you were almost asleep and you sat up, leaned over, kissed my belly and said...night night baby brother, I love you. It was so, so sweet, I just knew you were going to be an amazing big sister! 

This last one isn't really a story...more just a fact. A month ago I ran out of tums...so your daddy picked some up from the store...he called and I told him to get two bottles...he said TWO? I said, well...I still have my old bottles...I'll just split one between them...because I didn't think I'd be pregnant an entire month yet so two bottles would be too much (two bottles because I kept one by my bed and one in my purse). Well, he got home and he had bought me two very large bottles! 175 tablets each!!! I said I'd never finish all those! I ran out of tums the day before baby brother was born....needless to say I had a lot of heartburn! 

Our last day together as a family of three was a good one! That evening we met grandma in Garnett and Eliana went to spend the night with them because we were supposed to be at the hospital at 6 the next morning!!

Love you sweet girl and baby brother,

Mommy

39 weeks!

Dear Baby Brother,

 

Well, sir, you still don't have a name and we are a week from your due date! Every time we think we have a name and I'm just sure that is the name, I change my mind! SO, I've decided I'm not deciding until you're born, because I'm tired of changing my mind. Your daddy and I think we have a good couple of choices so hopefully they will work! :)

 

 

Baby Brother, I hope you come soon! I'd really like to meet you this week. But, if for some reason you choose to wait, we will for sure see you the 24th. We were given the option to induce on the 23rd or the 24th. Your daddy loves you very much - but he thought we shouldn't force you out on his birthday, so we picked the 24th. Though, if you come on your own on the 23rd your daddy said that would be okay! :)

 

This last week I felt really great. Hardly any contractions. Today I'm feeling lots! But, amazingly I do feel better  as far as soreness goes. Not sure why these past 2 weeks have been better with my back and hips - but I'll take it! :)

 

You are a very active baby - I don't remember your sister trying so hard to push her way through my belly button! But you are just ALL over the place! You can also be really quiet. I'm a little worried about your schedule - because right now you're really quiet/still in the mornings and then at about 9 p.m. you get really active for a few hours!! Just fyi, when you're out of my belly 9 p.m. is bed time!! :) So, we'll have to work on that. :)

 

Your big sister is ready to meet you! She picked out a present for you. At least once a day she lifts up my shirt and talks to you while rubbing my belly. She gives you lots of hugs and kisses. You are going to be one very loved baby brother! She did say the other day that she was ready for you to come out and play! So, baby brother, anytime now should be fine with all of us!! :)

 

Baby brother, I cannot wait to meet you, and name you, and hold you, and watch you and your sister grow together!!

Love you,

Mommy

Family Fun Day!

Well, Little Girl, School has been back in session for a month now - which means we've gotten back in to our normal routine. Even though our normal routine is about to change again! :)

Daddy started his new job at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center as the assistant Tech Director. He seems to be enjoying it. We are getting along fine....the first week Daddy drove back and forth every day, he wasn't quite ready to not see us every day, and he was just working days so he was able to. We just finished the last 3 weeks where he's had to stay in Iola ALL week! He came home on the weekends, or we went to Iola to see him. But it was a LONG 3 weeks with no daddy at home! But we survived, and it wasn't totally terrible.... but daddy is working days again this week, so hopefully we'll get to see him. I know we miss him lots when he's gone.

 

My class this year is a bit of a handful - but, again, we're all surviving. I tell them many times a day, that they are acting just like you. Isn't that sad that my 10 and 11 year olds are acting like you, my dear 2 1/2 year old!! :) But I guess it happens!

 

Potty Training is going really well! I'm not sure I ever updated on that. After my potty training post and writing how I wasn't sure how to train you to go poo in the toilet, the next day you did it! Mimi suggested that when you go in your panties, to dump it in your potty seat and show you that's where it goes. So, I did it, and the next thing I knew you went poo in the potty! You are so good! In fact, after that we had ZERO accidents for over a week!! But, when you started at Sherry's you had FIVE accidents in day one, 3 at her house, and 2 at our house!! I was really worried - but you caught on again. You had a few accidents here and there at Sherry's - but overall you have WAY more successes that accidents! Mommy and Daddy have been so proud!! :)

 

So, let's talk about this family fun day. Since your daddy has been working so much lately, we made a plan to go to Iola to visit him and have breakfast and go to the park together. It just so happened to be BEAUTIFUL weather the day we chose! So, this past Saturday we met daddy at about 9:30 for breakfast in Iola. Daddy and I had biscuits and gravy -- which you tried a bite of!! We were so proud!! You chewed it for a little bit, then spit it out - but you tried it!! :) And you ate a Mickey mouse pancake!! :) After that we headed to the park - where we played for a little over an hour! You had so much fun, running from one item to the next with us!!

 

I love all these photos of us at the park! I'm so glad you like going down the slide again! Also, the cute little bicycle/merry-go-round was lots of fun!

 

You were so cute, when we left the park I asked if you had fun with mommy and daddy and you just gave me the BIGGEST smile and said YE-AH! :)

I'm so glad we were able to spend this time together as a family of 3. I know soon you're going to really have to adjust to how much attention you receive from all of us! And, as much as you're excited for baby brother - and you love baby brother - and I know you're going to be such a big helper - I still worry about you! :)

 

Can't wait for some family of four dates!

Love you Sweet girl!

Mommy