Updated Pictures

PAINTING!

MAKING DADDY'S BIRTHDAY CAKE!

BIRTHDAY PICTURE WITH DADDY!

Busy Eli

Cleaning my house with Eli around is like trying to polish my nails sitting in the middle of a hurricane.

Talkin Bree

Breena has large vocabulary for being only two and a half.  She is quite the talker!  Here are a couple of the latest things that have come out of her mouth.

***Bree was whining that Dave had more salt on his potatoes than her***
Dave: But Breena you have butter!  You are one lucky girl to have butter on your potatoes.  I wish I could have some butter!
Bree: Then why don't you just go get some?!?

***Randomly at dinner table***
Bree: You are driving me crazy.
Dave: Breena, it isn't very nice to say that.
Breena: Daddy, mommy says that a lot!
(Mommy turns beat red & remembers to turn on her vocal filter in the future)

***Shortly after Eli bit Breena in the back***
Bree: Eli, we don't bite people. We bite food. Say you are sorry.

Ice Cream with my Girl

It rained most of the day yesterday.  We didn't get to go outside to play.  Eli decided to take a crummy nap which ment he was cranky all afternoon.  He was frustrating me & picking on his sister.  He was out to get her.  She would lay her baby down for a nap & he would rip the blanket off.  She tried to "bake cookies" on her toy kitchen and he ripped the frosting off.  I could tell she was getting tired of being picked on.  Instead of fighting with him to give the blanket back she cried.  I was even sick of hearing my own voice harping on him to leave her alone.  After supper, Breena & I definately needed to take a time out.  And so we went shopping & left Dave to put Eli to bed early.  Breena loves to shop without Eli.  We let her walk in the store, she gets to hold things & hand the cashier the money.  When we finished running our errands we headed over to Culvers for a treat.  Breena ordered her ice cream all by herself. She asked for chocolate ice cream with sprinkles. Her eyes lit up as they handed her the bowl of ice cream piled high with blue & white sprinkles.  We sat outside together & she ate her ice cream.  We talked about our favorite part of the day.  And we called daddy to rub it in that he wasn't getting any ice cream ;).  It was nice way to end an exhausting day.  I think she thought so too.

Growing up isn't easy.  It's tough to have feelings of frustration and being unable to effectively communicate.  One on one time with a parent is essential to help our children know that they are important & loved for being the unique little people they are.  Dave started the ice cream dates with Bree a while back.  It means so much to her.  She randomly talks about ice cream with daddy.  We both agree to find time to take a child alone & spoil them a little.  It is good for both their hearts and ours.

Princess Mommy

We have this photo hanging in our living room.  Yesterday when I got home from work Breena pointed to it & asked, "Mommy, why do you look like a princess there?"

I sure do love that kid.

Two Months!

Two more months until baby gets here! I am SO ready! I am just past 30 weeks along now & somedays I sincerely wonder how I am going to hang on for another nine weeks. Breena was definately my hardest pregnancy,I was sick with her & I had high blood pressure. This baby is being much nicer to me but I am getting tired!

*I am larger than I was with the other two
*I am older, I have much less time to rest
*I've said goodbye to my ankles & hello to my new cankles
*Polishing my toes is exhausting
*I am running out of clothes that fit
*My appetite is decreasing but I am still packing on pounds(how is that fair?!?)
*I just hit my first round of nesting- which means I can't relax. I clean closets, organize cupboards, rearrange furniture, and buy ridiculous amounts of storage bins. My to-do list grows daily.
*I am hot. All. Of. The. Time. It feels like I have a little heater in my belly. The muggy air we've had lately makes me nauseous. I warned Dave last night that if he turns off our A/C he will wake up missing an eyebrow!
*My biggest complaint right now is that Bree & Eli are suffering because of my inability to chase them like I use too. I haven't taken them to the pool alone at all this summer because I struggle to carry everything we need. Park trips are shorter. Outside time is limited on muggy days. They don't seem to notice a difference in their lives right now, but I do. And that mommy guilt is always in the back of my head.

What's crazy about pregnancy is that as much as it really stinks the last few months - all is forgotten the minute that baby arrives. This is the third (& final!) time I've gotten to this point. Is it worth it? Absoultely. Every sleepless night & discomfort to worth it to hold that baby boy. There is nothing better than to hold your baby for the first time, to smell that fresh baby scent, and to kiss those tiny lips that have never been smooched before.

We are excited & ready for the little one to get here (when he is ready of course & no sooner!). We have finally agreed on a name. Breena helped me paint the letters of his name that we will put up on the wall. And NO we haven't told her his name yet so don't try to get it out of her! Mother, that means you!!!

Edit: I couldn't get this photo to upload last night.  Here is Bree helping me paint.  Any guesses?

Kiddie Parade & Fourth of July

Eli & Breena participated in the kiddie parade last night with their cousins!  The theme was "Hooray for the Red, White & Blue"!  It was HOT out but all the kids (& mommies) did great!  They ran out of candy to hand out within the first block so next year we will need to remember to pack more candy!

Here are some pictures of our Fourth of July weekend as well.  We DID finally make it up to visit Dave's parent's house on Saturday morning (in the car, not the van!).  We enjoyed visiting & had perfect weather!  Thank you to Grandma & Papa Luiken for having us up!!!

Fourth Of July Casualty...window is as good as new now :)