I've been a bad blogger, I really should take the time to download my pictures and post all the things I want to say, BUT I'm really pregnant and really tired and for now you can atleast check out my friends' blogs that were at the shower :)

Jodi

Jennie

I follow my friend Jennie's cousin's blog...and she's been doing a series of helpful tips for new Moms. I've really appreciated the advice and it's helped me get back into baby-mode that is fast approaching. I've been too lazy to do my own post about other topics, but I really wanted to help with the schedule theme, mainly because I'm nosy and love to know other people's schedules.  I love to know things like: how much sleep to you get, what time do you get up in the morning, what does your family do for fun in the evenings., what do you feed your kids, how do you discipline and does it work....SO here is my contribution and a very loose interpretation of Blake's schedule.

28 Months Old

(Disclaimer:  until about 3 weeks ago I had the perfect angel sleeper.  Always a goood 11-12 hours at night, but it's really been a struggle the past few weeks.

So I'm going to start with our "middle of the night routine")

Early Morning (I'm talking anywhere from 2:00 am - 5:00 am):  wakes up jiggling her door handle yelling "Mommy's bed!!!"  She has a child safety lock on the inside of her door so she can't get out.  I go to her, usually rock her for about 5 minutes, then lay her back down.  She's awake, but content to go back to bed.  Sometimes she gets up again, and by then my will power is diminished and I let her climb in bed with us.

7:00 or 7:30 Up for the day.  Watch a Dora episode in my bed.

8:00 breakfast (our usuals are:  instant oatmeal (just the plain NO SUGAR kind), eggs and toast, Multigrain cheerios, microwavable pancakes, and some form of fruit...I try to keep bananas, strawberries, grapefruit and pears around all the time.)

8:30  I take a shower, if she wants/needs to she takes one with me.  I get clean first, then wash her up, then put the stopper in so she can play while I get ready.  

9:30  Time with friends, grocery shopping, go for a walk.

11:30  Read books on the couch

12:15 Lunch (our usuals are:  PB and J or Nutella sandwhich, turkey hot dogs, chicken nuggets grilled cheese, or leftover dinner stuff like spaghetti/chicken/etc.  I try to serve atleast one vegetable with lunch, like broccoli and cheese or sweet potatoes.)

1:00 Nap and cup of warmed milk.

3:00 Up from nap, change diaper, watch another Dora to wake up.

3:30 Chores around the house, do laundry, empty dishwasher, plan dinner

4:30  Go visit our neighbor, run errands and we "share" a yogurt every single day.  

5:00 Cook dinner

6:00 Nick's home and we eat/clean up dishes and kitchen.

7:00 Family play time.  We play upstairs on our bed, or play with toys or take B outside to swing/walk/anything active.

8:00 Prayers, bible story, warm milk and usually an easy walk up to bed. 

We don't do a lot of snacking, mainly because if Blake eats snacks she won't eat meals. I do almost always give her a treat if she eats a good lunch or dinner. Lately this has been one thin-mint girlscout cookie, but I also do pudidng cups or jello cups or yogurt.


So there ya have it, nothing too exciting, but it's our day!  

Blake has issues keeping her head down in the water while swimming, so tonight her teacher decided to try her in some goggles....and this is what we got....

I laughed until my belly hurt.  Then laughed some more. 

Baby Update

I went for my 37 week checkup yesterday.  Everything is looking great. The doctor estimates that Baby Kate weighs approximately 6 lbs right now.  Her heartbeat sounds strong and everything is going as planned!  She has mentioned the last two weeks that Kate is "low". Right now she is at a -1 station, I am still about 70% effaced and dilated between 1-2 cm. (Sorry if that's TMI for some) 

She mentioned that in her opinion she thinks I will not go to 39 or 40 weeks, but I am forever the skeptic and am thinking that since it has been said that now I will probably go all the way to 40 weeks!  Either way we are now prepared for Kate's arrival.  We have baby clothes washed, a bag packed (the baby bag atleast) and we are preregistered with the hospital.  I still feel like I haven't done all the "preparing" I'm supposed to, but I know everything will work out.  I love the fact that I work where she will be delivered. I like recognizing the dietary hostess or the phlebotomist when they come in my room, it's so comforting.  

OH!  Her full name is "Kathryn Bailey Barker".  Cute, I know :)  Nick chose Bailey, it was one of the runners up for Blake's name.  

Blake is getting excited too, she'll tell you that Kate is in "mommy's belly".  The other night she asked if Kate was ever going to cry and I gave her a definate "yes...." . She then said that when Kate cries she will sing her "Twinkle, Twinkle little star". It was so precious.  

My baby shower is this Friday, I'm excited that my Mom and Aunt are going to be able to come for the weekend.  I've missed seeing my Mom while I've been pregant and this will be a fun weekend to catch up.  I'm also excited about a night with my friends, just to hang out and enjoy their company.  

Work is getting more tedious, as is just keeping things up in the house.  We had a friend recommend a housekeeper so we had her come do a deep spring cleaning and my house is (well, was)  cleaner than it has ever been. Of course now three days later it's about back to normal, but atleast all my baseboards, ceiling fans, etc are CLEAN!!  I highly recommend it.  I think it would be an excellent shower gift if you have a friend or relative that is going to have a baby to provide them this service.  What more would a new Mom want than to not have to clean?!?

Daddy Lovin'

Blake is the luckiest girl in the world to have Nick as her Dad. He adores her. He can spend an ENTIRE weekend with her and I know she'll have fun and be taken such well care of. I feel like one of the ways he shows me how much he loves me is by loving her, it's a great feeling. I know he's going to be the same way with Kate. There's just something about a Daddy with lots of girls, it makes them so sweet.

He's not afraid to let her put lipstick on him or play barbies or watch Dora the Explorer. He knows every single one of her little "quirks" and habits.

He works so hard to provide for our family. He has passion for life, us and Christ.  He has energy to get through the work day and still keep us entertained :)   

I couldn't thank God more for giving me the best Daddy in the world for my kids.

Just another day at home...

A few pictures of our breakfast routine..

Blake being silly and having a plum while I make her eggs and toast.  All the while with a Dora bandaid on her head.








Yes, this is me letting her "cook". It's probably not the safest parenting move, but she really likes it and we haven't had an accidents yet. How do you like that bedhead?!?


Eggs and cinnamon toast, YUM!

Mommy Lovin'

 


Loving on me and Baby Kate all at the same time.

Birthday Celebration

Lexi's B Day celebration came complete with a princess bounce house, princess cake, and of course, Lexi decked out as Cinderella :)

Even with the bounce house, the girls still wanted to plain ole' trampoline!





Blake patiently watching Lexi open her gifts.  I was so proud of her for not being jealous!



Ready for cake!

Blake is always ready for cake.

Later that night we went to eat at Joes Crab shack, and BOY was is LOUD!  

Grammie, Lexi and Nick



Me and My Bug

I have videos, but they've been trying to upload for hours....maybe tomorrow they will work, so just pictures tonight..

Build a Bear Birthday

We went to build a bear on Lexi's birthday...

Blake did so good. She took her bunny along, she wanted to trade her "old" bunny for a new soft one, but we were able to get away without any purchases.



This is a picture of us eating at Chili's. They brought Lexi  a chocolate milkshake and sang happy birthday to her and this is the reaction she gave!!! It cracked us up! This girl will definatley be in some kind of entertainment when she grows up.


And here is the finished bear, complete with Cinderella outfit and all.