Glitter Glue and Little Boy Shoes

Caleb's First Gift 

Samantha's Summer Craft and Art

Working Hard at Her Table

I want to be more deliberate about documenting just our everyday life so that the kids and I can look back one day and laugh and remember. I thought this summer would drag a long since Samantha doesn't have Parent's Day Out but it has seriously flown by. Every week seems like it is full of all kinds of appointments and activities. Here is a recap of some of things we do and a couple pictures.

* Lots of fun with play dates with our new Midland friends Natalie, Aspen, Elijah, Audree, Britton, and Ava (this are Samantha's friends). It is a house full when we all get together and poor Elijah is way out numbered right now.

* Sam tells me to go away when I pick her up from a friends house while I'm a doctors apt.

* She is talking, talking, talking, and more clearly every day.

* Follows direction really well, and is a lot better in the discipline area.

* Talks in third person  A LOT.

* Loves and I mean loves to paint, draw, color, and glue. Her Sunday school teacher told us that she is always the last to finish with the crafts and is very detailed and thorough.

* Had her first dentist apt. and did really well and her teeth look good.

* Working on independent play. That is hard for this social bee who wants someone with her playing 24/7.

* Went and got her nails done with Mommy at a nail place and this child actually held still while they painted both fingers and toes and sat there until they were dried. I know, you don't believe it, but it happened. She loves getting them done and shows everyone we meet. Everyone.

* She is in the 95% in height and weight which is a huge contrast to the 25% we were in for so long. People always ask me if she is 3. She went from having several pin sized holes in her heart to now just 2.

* She has started gymnastics and gets to do the 3-5 year old class because she actually stands in line and listens to direction pretty well. We signed her up for next year too.

That has pretty much been our summer. It has been lots of fun and my baby is no longer a baby any more.

Pregnancy update:

I am 23 weeks and miserable! This little one is so low and its really effecting my hips and back. I have been trying to go to the gym and do water aerobics and the upright stationary bike but I'm not sure how long that is going to last. I'm going to revisit my diet this week mostly because I have been eating horribly. I can't seem to get full, and I crave and I mean crave the most awful stuff.

I went to the doctor today and baby boy's heart beat was strong at 150 and I mean strong. He is going to be a strong little boy because he kicks like no other. Samantha was busy in the tummy just like him, but she didn't beat me up so bad. He is a kicker and roller. My iron was low again and that would explain my energy level dipping again, so I'm going to take 2 iron vitamins a day now. I also was told that I have a low lying placenta, which is not a big deal, but we will get another sonogram at 30 weeks. This is not a bad thing because I get to see my boy again. We also went to our pediatric cardiologist that Samantha sees and he did a sonogram on baby boy and his heart looks good, no holes. We will have one more apt with him at 28 weeks. We are also going to do a 3D ultrasound at 28 weeks. I'm kinda excited about that, and then that way we get another look to make sure he is a he before painting the nursery. Don't get me wrong we are 99% sure, but there is always that possibility. Overall, he is doing great and growing well and being active.

We are blessed.