School update

Friday night we did an outdoor lesson. We played with sidewalk chalk as a family and worked on letters, shapes, colors, and numbers. I think everyone enjoyed this one!!

We took yesterday off since our new supplies was arriving tonight. I got three tot trays ready for tonight.



This is the first try I did. I ordered foam letter stickers. When I received them, they were much smaller than I thought. I decided to put them on construction paper and make letter "patches" instead. (This could easily be done with puff paint and I think I will in the future.) On another sheet of construction paper I wrote out the letters in the same colors. The object was to match the letters, work on what the letters were, and the colors. Sydney liked this tray, matched a few up, and new all the colors!



The second tray I put together was lacing. This one did not go over well, but we will keep trying.



The last tray was counting, sorting, and colors.



Sydney enjoyed the sorting and colors on this one. (super blurry pictures)





When we tried to count she started crying and saying "my toys". I am not sure who taught her this phrase but it will not stand in our house. I explained that we share our toys and she had to take a break several times. (Taking a break here is pretty much time out) I am hopeful that the phrase will pass and she will be my sweet sharing girl again soon!!

4th of July

For the 4th of July we went over to some friends' house. We had a fun time hanging out and Sydney was able to play with her friend too.


She quickly ruined her 4th outfit Nana got her by playing in the sand and water, but she enjoyed every second of it. We ate some great food and had a lot of fun until Sydney was warn out and ready to head home.

We made it home thinking this was another year that Sydney would go without seeing fireworks, and then we heard our neighbors! They are really nice, and from Iowa, which makes me feel "at home" a little. We all ran outside and watched their fireworks.


Sydney really enjoyed them. They were great with her and she kept offering to "help" Mr. Kevin with the lighting. We had another neighbor who had some much larger and louder fireworks. Those were a bit scary so she wanted her silencing headphones.


This is Mr. Kevin and Keagan setting up the next round of "kid friendly" fireworks.

So on her 2 1/2 birthday Sydney finally got to see fireworks. She was even up past 9. It was a fun day for our family, heat and all!

Clarification

By guilted I mean inspired. Sydney loves her letters and deserves to learn. We cannot take her to a preschool program during the day since we both work. This leaves the teaching to mommy. At 8 1/2 months pregnant, I currently consider inspiration for extra projects as "guilt". School is great for both Sydney and I and we are grateful for the tot tray inspiration!!

Preschool Begins

Well I have been guilted into Homeschool preschool for Sydney by my bestie Brittany at Learning in Grace.

Sydney is super into her letters right now. So tonight when she saw me prepping we had to start school. I found some free printables online while we are waiting for the rest of our supplies.


We started with the letter "A". She did really good on this one and would color inside the lines when asked. I started with markers thinking that would be a fun "treat" but she was not impressed and switched to crayons. (Which by the way it is almost time to stock up on crayons and markers for free with coupons during back to school specials.)



Next we worked on the apple tree. Sydney got tired of coloring and wanted some help. She handed me crayons telling me the color and saying " you help". Girl is already great at managing others. :)



The managing continued during A is for alligator. She did great with this and new it was alligator, not crocodile. I was impressed!


The lower case "a" was a struggle. She kept calling this "D" and I couldn't really argue with her, it did look like a "D". That was my bad on selecting this one.

She had a great time tonight. I asked if she wanted to put school away and take a bath and she lost her mind. She loves to take baths and anything involving water, but school won out! I hope that continues. :)

Crazy Week

Last week went by in a blur. Things were going as normal until Wednesday. We had plans for
Steve's birthday party that quickly got changed when my doctor's appointment for Sophie didn't go as planned. Poor Steve ended up having to go buy his own cupcakes and making our dinner.

My blood pressure was high at the doctor and I had massive weight gain from swelling. The doctor and nurse were far from pleased. Once they got done with writing all of my tests up I had to go across the street to the lab and get the stuff I needed to do the 24 hour urine test. Fun times! I immediately proceeded to flip out and worry about everything. I did some research and my freak out got worse. Then I talked with Angie and started to feel MUCH better. I knew if she wasn't worried, and thought my doctor was doing the right stuff, then Sophie and I were okay. I worked late Thursday and Friday to make sure I can get everything done, just in case I go out of work earlier than planned.

Friday morning Sydney had her follow up ear check with the specialist. This pretty much was us just paying $55 to torture our child. There was no change from when we were at the pediatrician a month before. The office is not child friendly and the doctor has 5 patients at one time. Then after the wait and no news we had to go do a pressure test that hacked Sydney off even more. Then more waiting to confirm there was no change. Sydney was even climbing into her stroller and saying "buckle up" it was really sad.

Yesterday was a much needed change from the week. There was no working, no doctors, and no tests. Steve smoked some ribs, I made some sides, and we had a friend over for dinner. Sydney was super shy around him, but she enjoyed her BBQ dinner. :)

This morning I woke up to a blow out from Sydney, the start of my urine test, and then Sydney's ear tube came out the rest of the way. This was all before 10am. Things have obviously improved from there but I think we are all looking forward to bed tonight. Fingers crossed for a calmer week!

Happy Father's Day!

Steve is getting a big week in the blog. Today is Father's Day and I was even able to get Sydney to tell him "Happy Father's Day" when he came downstairs.

For his Father's day weekend Steve smoked us some amazing ribs, fixed Sophie's crib, helped me wash up Sophie's clothes, took Sydney shopping, worked with Sydney on her letters and is going to do the weekly grocery shopping. We are super lucky to have such a great husband and father in our family!

Hopefully, next year since I won't be 7+ months pregnant we will get to do something nice for him to show our appreciation!! Love you Steve :)

Happy Birthday Steve!

Today is Steve's birthday.  If you would have asked him 5 years ago, what he would be doing today, I can tell you his answer would have been VERY different than if you asked him today.  Both of our lives have changed so much since we got together, and even more so, since we had Sydney.  So for today, he woke up and went to the gym before work, he ordered a gift for Sydney and requested nothing for himself.  His birthday dinner selection was to grill us hot dogs and hamburgers because Sydney loves them, and that takes the cooking burden off of me.  We are also doing cupcakes because Sydney keeps requesting birthday cake and Happy Birthday parties.  :) Nothing brings us joy like making our little munchkins happy.  We love doing that with Sydney, and can't wait for Sophie to be here.

I am a very lucky woman to have such a wonderful husband who loves our kids as much as I do.  He is an amazing man and nothing melts my heart like seeing him talking to our girls, and especially praying with them.  I love you Steve and hope you have a wonderful day! :)

Nesty McNestalot

Steve is now calling me Nesty McNestalot. Sydney and I were able to get the swing together on Sunday after a serious struggle!


Then last night I made a list of everything that had to be done. We moved onto adjusting the crib and sterilizing all of the bottles, pacifiers, and breast pump parts.





I had no idea how much space this would take up! Everything is now put away and ready for baby Sophie. The crib did not go so well, but Steve is working on it. He has to get another screw since the one we had was stripped.

I am really dizzy and having some cramping. Luckily my work has told me to start working from home one day a week until I deliver. I am working at home from the couch today and go to see the doctor tomorrow. I am hoping to have everything ready for Sophie this week!!

No plan Saturday

Today is the first day in a very long time no one in our family had a planned activity for the day. It has been wonderful!

Steve was able to go to the gym. Sydney was able to play outside. I was able to get a pedicure. I am finally at the point in my pregnancy that I do not have to feel guilt about getting pedicures. Since I can no longer reach my toes, it is totally worth the money. :)

We all even got a nap today. Dinner didn't get started until after 5 but it has been totally worth the relaxing day. I am hopeful that tomorrow we will be able to assemble Sophie's swing and get ready for another week.

One Proud Momma

Last night after prayers at dinner, Sydney folded her hands and said "Dear God, the food is yummy.  Amen." This was her first prayer totally solo around us.  I say around us, because she is very picky about when and where she does things.  For example she wouldn't sing in front of us until she knew all of the words and one day just started belting out entire songs on her own. Either way, I think this was my proudest mommy moment so far.  Nothing like prayers from a toddler to turn your day around!

Back to Reality

Today is Monday and we were thrown back into reality. I am not sure who was kicking and screaming more, me or Sydney, but let's just say it was not welcomed with open arms. We were spoiled with getting Nana's help for the last week.

Sydney ended up having a great day at Miss Patty's today. As she was leaving she gave her friend Madison hugs and told her she "lobed" her. I think the way she says love is my favorite thing she says.

I am having more issues walking, but luckily Steve grilled extra dinner last night so I only had to make up some sides. Yay for easy dinners!!

We are all together safely and made it through today, so I am one happy momma!

New Home, New Baby, New Post?

Well in the last 7 months we have moved into a new home, gotten pregnant with baby Sophie, and I have yet to blog about anything.  Being inspired by Brittany finally joining the blogging world, I decided it was about time I got back into the swing of things. 

My mom is out here now and unpacking the new house and getting Sydney settled.  So far, so good! Sydney has her own room and her own big girl bed now.  Which she is totally awesome at sleeping in.

We are getting Sophie's stuff setup and ready to go for her arrival in no more than 78 days. I can't believe how much I have already forgotten about baby gear.  It took me forever to get things put together last night.

I thought Sydney was starting to understand that Sophie is her new sister and is in mommy's belly when she started saying "Hi Sophie" and rubbing or kissing my belly.  Well now, she is rubbing her own belly and saying "Hi Sophie" so I think she now believes Sophie is another name for belly. Awesome.

We finally have a table and chairs and will even be having guests over for dinner on Saturday.  That makes me feel more grown up than the two kiddos.  Yes, I understand that makes me sound crazy. :)

It is a bit sad that I can sum up seven months into this short of a post, but we don't really do too much! Happy Wednesday :)