No Baby Yet...

Rick and I were both POSITIVE our baby girl would be born by the end of March... but she hasn't come yet! The original due date has really messed with us! We thought things were close when we had to go to the hospital and I was dialated to a three, with strong cramps and contractions...Nope. False Labor. Not fun.

My sister, Debbie, gave me some good advice. Just think she's coming April 6, that way I won't be wondering if every cramp or contraction I feel is "it" and I won't feel disappointed when it's not the real thing. She's so smart.

Rick and I are really excited for the baby to come--she is "due" next week, on April 10, but we're still crossing our fingers that she will come before then. We'll keep you posted.

"Hi Baby"

Today Mcayden walked up to me, patted my belly and said, "Hi, Baby." It was so darling. He is going to be a great big brother.

I'm feeling pretty good now--my nausea has calmed down--I told Rick, "AH! This is what pregnancy is like! I see why people have more kids!"

We are very excited to meet this little one! I'm getting HUGE!

One Fish...Two Fish...

We have been talking about taking Mcayden to the Seattle Aquarium for a while, so on Saturday we decided to do it! Neither Rick or I had been there before, but wehave wanted to go since moving to WA.! Mcayden had a blast! He LOVED looking at the fish and pointing out all the starfish and other little creatures he recognized. He also LOVED the seals and would squeel and laugh as they swam by him. He was so excited. There was a fake shark hanging up in one area and he did NOT like it--he clung onto Rick and snuggled in. He has seen sharks on the "Ocean Deep" DVD and didn't like seeing one up close.

Hoppy Easter

This year for Easter, we took Mcayden to the Woodland Park Zoo, in Seattle, for their "Bunny Bounce Egg Hunts". Mcayden got to walk around and pick up tons of plastic eggs. It was so cute watching Mcayden and the other kids picking them up and putting them in their baskets--they were so excited.

To protect the animals, there wasn't any candy in the eggs, but when we left the zoo, they gave Mcayden some yummy Easter candy. After the egg hunt, we walked around and saw the different animals. Today, Mcayden's favorite animals were the elephants, apes and bears (oh-my!).

They had different activities for the kids. Mcayden got to paint on this big wall. He thought that was pretty cool.

As we left the zoo, Mcayden spotted some monkeys and he climbed on for a ride. The reason for his expression is that I just asked him what he's eating and he's saying, "Chockie" (chocolate).

Mcayden's Yellow Boots

Mcayden loves his yellow rain boots. He's in the back right now, riding his "tractor" around the yard. It's still cold, but we bundle up and play anyway!

She'll Be Here Soon!

The baby's due date is quickly approaching and we're finishing up pulling things together. Last night I was organizing and cleaning out a bunch of things, and Rick was like, "The baby must be coming soon, because you are nesting!" We think she will be born at the end of March and not wait until her April 10 due date. Her room is now done and the hospital bag is packed--including gum for Rick :) LOL. So, I think we're as "ready" as we're going to get. I keep asking Rick if he's nervous about labor or having another kid and he calmly says, "No. Not really." I, on the other hand, am a little nervous about having two kids--it's going to be a big change. I've been told some things are easier with the second and other things are harder. I asked Rick if he has been working out his hands--in preparation for labor (because I will be holding onto his hand during labor). He laughed. I was serious. It's a different feeling knowing I'm going to go through labor and having a previous labor to compare it to. Will it be the same? Will it be totally different? I guess we'll know the answer to that soon.

Baby Shower for "Baby Vegas"

Renee and Val threw us a wonderful baby shower! It really made it sink in that we are having a baby--and SOON! We had such a great time--it was so fun to get together with good friends and celebrate the baby and her not-so-distant arrival! I have been blessed with incredible, loving and supportive friends. I am so thankful to have them in my life.

Val prepared all the food and really outdid herself! Everything was delicious--I had to share a picture of the fruit salad she made--it was yummy and it was the first time I had tasted "star fruit", which by the way, is really good (kind of tastes like grapes)! I orginally thought she had cut oranges out with a star cookie cutter!

Mcayden was really excited about all the decorations, food and wrapped gifts at the baby shower. I asked him to smile for a picture and he struck this pose. He and Daddy and "the boys" headed out before the shower to look at motorcycles.

I was so excited--Renee gave us this pretty (and SUPER soft) blanket from Pottery Barn Kids, embroidered with "Baby Vegas" (the baby's "project" name). It is so cute! I love it!

This baby girl is going to be so well dressed! All the clothes she was given are darling and SMALL!

I am so excited for her to be here! It was kind of an eye-opener in a way, to think we are really going to have a little person to dress in these clothes!

We all decorated a onesie for the baby--and they are SOOO cute! Everybody was so creative-- it will be so fun to dress her in the onesies and think of the person who "designed" it for her.

There is nothing Renee or Val could have done anything to make the shower any more fun or special for me and our baby girl. It was just perfect--we really appreciate our friends helping us get a little more prepared for this little baby!