Update

I still don't have the batteries for the camera to put up pictures. I'm hoping to work on that this weekend and to be able to get a video of Lauren and some of her "skills". I had a doctor's appointment today and the baby's heartbeat was 150, so that's really good. Lauren had fun exploring the exam room while I was getting checked out, although she didn't really like when they put the blood pressure cuff on me for some reason. Lauren has been busy talking and playing and reading her stories/books. She's looking forward to the warmer weather as every day she says, "Bubbles? Side?" Which is Laurenspeak for "Can we go outside and blow bubbles?" Nathaniel's birthday was Sunday and we were able to spend a bit of time together, so that was nice. He's going to take some time off next week to stay home and help me after my cerclage surgery, so it will be nice to have five days of family time since we don't get much right now. I'm still searching like mad for a job for next year (anyone want to help hook me up?) but I haven't heard anything yet from anyone. Last interviews I had were at the job fair I went to in February. That's about all the news for now. Thanks for all the good thoughts and well wishes and prayers in regards to the baby... Skywalker is doing great! I'm starting to get excited for June and to figure out if it's a Luke Skywalker or Leia Skywalker (no, Luke and Leia are NOT the names we have picked...). Haha. Hope everyone is doing well. Thanks for checking in. I hope to have video and pics this weekend.

Argh!

So I took some pictures yesterday (and would have loved to have gotten some video of this evening) but the batteries died in my camera and I have no batteries currently charged up so I can't upload my pictures yet or take more. I will add them as soon as I can, though.

I have been trying to make a more conscious effort to not have the television on around Lauren (actually haven't been watching it much myself either) and so we've been spending a lot of time outside. Last night, we went out and turned the cement in front of the stairs to the front door into art with our sidewalk chalk. Lauren enjoyed yelling "BYE!" to every car that passed by the house and saying "HI!" to all the people who walked by who were out enjoying the sun. She also had fun shouting out to all the "puppies" that walked by and blowing them kisses. We also talked about the sky, clouds and trees and she is able to say and point to all of those things. She also learned the word empty which was kind of funny to me. Tonight we had a dance party in the backyard. We took the cd player out and I took some of Lauren's cd's out and let her pick what she wanted to listen to (she picked Hannah Montana, go figure). We danced and laughed and had a great time. Lauren loves music so much and loves to clap and dance. Wish I could find a little dance class for kids her age! Lauren also has been working on her colors and can say blue, green, orange, purple, red, yellow, pink and white and can identify blue, yellow and green. We're working on it! She also got to play in the sand at the babysitter's today and had great fun. We have a great sitter and Lauren loves being over there and spending time with their family.

Like I said, I will try to get the pictures uploaded soon. I've been feeling pretty tired and still really sick to my stomach. I've been having trouble making it through the days at work, but keep trying to tell myself that school is almost over! Nathaniel is doing well and working hard as usual. He is hoping to have this weekend off (Lauren and I are hoping that too!). Hopefully we will get to have a couple of good "family" days together.

Introducing "Skywalker"

I had my consult for my cerclage today. The baby (which we have dubbed Skywalker as we feel the force is strong with this one) was kicking and jumping up a storm and looked very healthy! The baby is measuring 13 weeks which fits more with the dates I knew to be true (I don't really think my doctor's office has it all together) and so that was good to hear and my cerclage will be done on May 7th.

Lauren is doing well. Still talking up a storm and learning new words like crazy. Her favorite past-time right now is making Teddy dance and singing "Dance, dance, dance." She is still loving the warm weather and being able to go "side" (her word for outside). This morning she gave Nathaniel a kiss on the tummy and said, "Baby, aw!" and then hugged his tummy. She's a pretty silly girl!

Sunshine Sunday

Lauren has been picking up so many new words lately. Today on the way to church, I said, Lauren, "Look at the beautiful sunshine!" to which she replied, "SUNSHINE!" This picture is of her on in the parking lot of church. After church today we picked her up in Waumbaland (the children's program Lauren attends where she is in the 1's and 2's room) and I asked her what she learned about today and she said, "God." That was pretty cool and made her teacher (Auntie Jen) very happy when we told her later. Also today, we went to Lowe's for a while and while we were walking through the Garden Center, Lauren happily pointed over to the tulips and shouted, "FLOWERS!" And last night she started saying Grandma Patsy's name, so we called Grandma and Grandpa tonight to tell them that. She now can name Mommy, Daddy, (Uncle) Cory, Grandma Lori, Grandma Patsy, Papa (Grandpa Richard), (Auntie) Jen and Gracie. She also says Ryan's name (the babysitter's son and can sometimes say Tyler (her other son) and tonight for the first time she said Marsh for Marcia, the babysitter. We're working on other family member's names too, and she can say the names of some of her favorite tv characters Hannah (Hannah Montana), Jackson (Hannah's brother), Ferb (Phineus and Ferb), Elmo, Abby and Cookie (Monster). I haven't counted, but I'm pretty sure she has over 100 words at this point and I'm pretty sure speech will never be a concern for her. She also has started talking about the baby and if you ask her now where the baby is, she will pat my tummy, or her tummy or her teddy's tummy and say "baby". Also if you ask her if she wants a brother or a sister (or sister or a brother) she says "sister" which is kind of funny. She also likes to say things are funny now and then crack up laughing.

In other news, I have my consultation for my cerclage tomorrow so I will get another ultrasound and we will schedule my procedure then. I'm nervous and excited. Today was two years ago that I had my emergency cerclage with Lauren and it has brought back some scary memories. She's here, though, and beautiful and I have so much to be thankful for. According to most of my ultrasounds to date I'll be 12 weeks tomorrow, and according to the "biological" dates/timing, I should be around 14 weeks, so I feel positive about that, having reached this milestone. I'm still really nauseous and I have been really exhausted this week, but I'm counting that as good and telling myself that that means I'm growing a healthy little baby!

Nathaniel is doing well and working hard as usual. School is winding down for me, and as it does, I'm in the race to try to find a job for next year. I've done lots of applying and went to a job fair in February, but haven't heard from any schools yet. I also applied to work summer school in a few districts, so hopefully I'll hear something about that soon.

As the weather warms and the sunshine increases, we wish you all many hours of enjoying the beautiful outdoors and all the gorgeous and beautiful things that God has blessed us with. Lauren loves the outdoors and we are so thankful and blessed to see her running around outside so healthy and happy right now. Have a great week and we'll update soon!

These are the Days

My friend, Stephanie, just started a new blog kind of documenting day to day life for her and her family and I thought I would make the transition from just blogging about Lauren exclusively to blogging about some things that are going on in our life as a family. As many, if not all, of you know, we are expecting another baby around the end of October/beginning of November. Stephanie has encouraged me through her blog to keep track of how Lauren is growing and what she is learning as well as how our new addition is growing and preparing to come into the world. In thinking of what I wanted the title of my blog to be, I was reflecting upon how I feel lately with the tremendous blessing of this new baby that we honestly didn't know we would ever be able to experience, as well as the amazement and wonder I have every day in watching Lauren become the phenomenal person she is. One thing kept ringing through my mind and that was a song that I used to listen to a lot when I was in junior high/high school. So for this first post, I'm going to leave you all with these lyrics that pretty much capture how I feel at this moment.


These Are the Days
by 10,000 maniacs

These are the days you'll remember.
Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this.
And as you feel it, you'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.

These are the days you'll remember.
When May is rushing over you with desire to be part of the miracles you see in every hour.
You'll know it's true that you are blessed and lucky.
It's true that you are touched by something that will grow and bloom in you.

These are days.

These are the days you might fill with laughter until you break.
These days you might feel a shaft of light make its way across your face.
And when you do you'll know how it was meant to be.
See the signs and know their meaning.
It's true, you'll know how it was meant to be.
Hear the signs and know they're speaking to you, to you.