Ready for UF?

Caleb loves frisbees. Is anyone surprised?

About a month or so ago, when we first showed him how to throw it, we were amazed at how quickly he caught on to the correct "form" for frisbee throwing....and with his LEFT hand! Daddy is ecstatic about that!

He loves to play the game where he throws the frisbee and we race him to go get it.....of course, our little runner usually wins....=)

We figure that, by next summer (or maybe even the Fall!), he'll be ready to get out on the Ultimate Frisbee field with mom and dad!

**Quick translation:
"Ceb's get bizbee." means "Caleb gets frisbee."...=)
and
"Mommy, pay again" means "Mommy, play again!"

Cosley Zoo

We spent a couple of hours today at the Cosley Zoo in Wheaton. We went with our great friends - Shauna and Maddie, Natalie and Jack, and Katie and Lydia. The kids had a great time running around, checking out the animals, and eating ice cream.

Enjoy the photos:



The last time we visited this zoo was on Caleb's 1st birthday....click here to look back!

Please Pray...

...for Stellan and his family. (click to view blog)

Evening Downtown

Last night, we went down to Millenium Park with my parents, Warren and Heidi. We packed a picnic dinner and set up "camp" in the outdoor pavilion. While we waited for the concert to begin, Caleb had a great time running around in the fountains, and gave Auntie Heidi quite a workout!

View from our spot...


Enjoying dinner.....or, at least, the plate dinner came on...


His thoughts on the Italian Opera?


Loving the water....as always!

Happy Birthday, Mom/Grandma!

Today is my mom's birthday!

We are so thankful for her....her generosity, selflessness and love never cease to impact our family! Growing up, she always set a wonderful example of a committed Mother, who put the needs of her family above her own. I am personally very blessed to have had that example.

Today, she still continues to care so much for us....in so many ways. She has been such a great blessing to me especially since becoming a mommy myself!

She is a great "Gamma" as well. Caleb loves loves loves her and I love that he loves her so much, and that she feels the same for him.

Happy Birthday, Mom/Gamma - We Love You!


*This was taken on my mom's birthday last year!*

36 Weeks

4 more weeks to go!

Today's doctor's appointment went well....they did a non-stress test just to make sure everything was alright, and everything seems to be going well! It was fun to see Baby Girl's heartrate respond to her movement. I now go in for checkups every week - yay!

At home, we are pretty much ready for her to arrive....room is ready, diapers are stacked, clothes are washed, etc. Oh, and we have pretty much decided on a name...almost, sort of, maybe? It has been quite a process for us to decide on a name that we both like, let alone LOVE! Finally, I think we are there....hopefully. But, don't ask us what it is....we are keeping it a secret.

Kris is really good at keeping secrets.

I am not.

So, please don't ask me. =)

On the eczema front.....after a REALLY BAD flare up, I did end up getting a prescription for a cream that both my dermatologist and O.B. decided was safe for me to take....it seems to have been helping, and I have been sleeping better at night. Praise God!

36 weeks...


FYI: For those of you interested, Baby Girl is about the size of a crenshaw melon....whatever that is!

Friends

Caleb and I drove up to Wisconsin today to visit friends. Brandy, Shawna and I have been great friends since high school.

Unfortunately, we have spent most of our married & parenting lives hours away from one another. So, I really cherish the times that we all get to be together. Shawna has twin 2-year olds...Jensen and Owen, and a 5 month old, Lawsen. Brandy has 2 daughters...4 year old Haley and 21 month old Sydney. And, they just welcomed their first boy, Oswald (Ozzy) into the world 10 days ago!

Here is a picture from today of the "big kids". Missing from this photo are Lawsen and Ozzy....they were napping. Hopefully, we'll be able to get together again after our little one is born, and we can get a photo of all 8 of them!


And, just for fun...

March 2008


And, the first time they were all together...
November, 2007

No Average Cantaloupe

While we know that our baby girl is much more special than your "average cantaloupe", this is indeed how babycenter.com helps us understand how big she is (give or take a few ounces I suppose!). While it's a bit silly to think about our baby being compared to all sorts of things, from a poppy seed to a pumpkin, it is fun to have a visual reference of her current size!

Yesterday (Monday), we hit the 34 week mark....all the "vitals" (my blood pressure, baby's heartbeat, etc.) are still looking good. I go back again at 36 weeks, and then will go weekly until she is born!

Here's my 34 week belly shot.....if I look tired, it is because I am. I have not been sleeping well, due to this darn eczema. It is out of control! I talked more with the doctor yesterday, and there isn't really anything I can take other than what I have already tried. At least I am already getting prepared to wake up multiple times a night once the baby arrives!



**My 30 week shot was taken in this same shirt, so if you want to see the belly difference, click here. Yes, I look a bit smaller, and much less tired. It's true.

4th of July

swimming...


watching nick juggle...


croquet...


running...


tasting sticks...


family...