Playing in the Rain

Kaitlyn loves to say umbrella and held one in the rain yesterday for a little bit. It may rain again on Thursday and we will have to get out her rain boots and jacket.

Kaitlyn has been testing me a lot lately. We went to the mall today since the playgrounds were wet. She didn't want to be in her stroller and protested very loudly. She then ran away from me in the mall several times. She ran into the Disney store and ran out with a Winnie the Pooh plate. I almost didn't catch her. She then could not leave the Easter bunny alone. She said hi and bye to him three times. She also mastered all of the indoor playground equipment. It was a very lively hour and a half at the mall today!

Longest Day

After a pretty busy week for my contract work and Kaitlyn worn out from Mother's Day Out. We were ready for some fun. Friday, we were going to go see Thomas the Train; however, Brandon was out of town and it was here next weekend too. Kaitlyn took a really long nap instead.

Saturday, we went to a wedding in Weatherford with my family and ate in downtown Ft. Worth with Brandon's family. It was quite a day. Before the wedding, we dropped off a birthday present and picked up some maternity and boy clothes from one of Brandon' co-workers. She had tons of stuff and so much of it that we had a full car. I was so scatterbrained on Saturday trying to think of everything going on that I forgot wipes and diapers. Luckily, there is always a Walmart in plain site in the middle of nowhere.

Kaitlyn wowed the crowd everywhere she went on Saturday. She stayed quite for the wedding ceremony. Afterwards, she practiced being a flower girl. She danced a little bit on the dance floor too, swaying back and forth. She konked out on the way to Ft. Worth and then played again showing everyone how she rows a boat and talks a lot. She did really well for getting home late and not having a good nap.

Today, she took a long nap as well as all of us today. We then played in the foot spa.

16 Weeks

Okay, I am on a kick. I went for a 16-week check up and heard the heartbeat. It was really strong. They took blood to find out if the baby has any abnormalities. And can you believe this, I have only gained 5 pounds since January. I think I gained some weight before I even went to the first doctor's appointment, but technically doesn't count.

We all rode bikes on Sunday; but now I am under the doctor's orders to not ride anymore. My sense of balance will probably be off so it is not recommended in case I fall. That is the update there.

Kaitlyn is doing great and it is hat week at school. Brandon is trying to get to San Antonio for A&M in the Sweet Sixteen!

Weekend Fun

I can't get over this weather. It has been fun to have a two-year-old as an excuse to get out of the house. We went to the Dallas Arboretum on Friday and listened to a kids concert. The flowers were really pretty. Here is Kaitlyn sitting in some trying to become a butterfly.

We had family stay this weekend too. Aunt Linda and Uncle Butch and family stayed on Saturday night. We ended up watching college basketball all night and then fixed a big breakfast in the morning. I filled out a bracket this time against Brandon. We have a bet going on who predicted the games better and I am winning so far. I guess luck of the draw or something like that. We didn't really figure out what to bet yet except spending some cash on whatever you want.

Brandon figured out how to hook the bike trailer to his new bike so we rode bikes on Sunday with Kaitlyn. She loves riding in it and tells daddy to go and go faster. I am so sore today. Talk about out of shape!

15 weeks already!

Well, got three things today. (More photos coming as we are going to a kids concert tomorrow with some friends.)

First, I am 15 weeks this week, and I just suddenly popped out. Really, I noticed a lot of change last week, but I am starting to feel huge now. This time with Kaitlyn I was barely showing and many people had to stare at me to see. I feel like I am eating less with this pregnancy, yet I feel bigger. Hmm, go figure. Here is a photo of me today.

Second, A&M is playing basketball in the first round of NCAA March Madness play. Guess what we are doing? Going to a friend's to watch with husbands and kids. Brandon somehow magically got out of work just for the game. Ha!

Third, our sweet, ol' daddy taught Kaitlyn a trick without meaning to teach her a trick. He forgot to mention this to me after he took Kaitlyn to the playground this weekend. He went down the slide on his belly, feet first. She copied him several times!

I took her to the park on Tuesday and she started turning around to get on her belly to slide down and I am about to have a heart attack as she slides down like it is no big deal. Talk about our little dare devil! Personally, I think it is cute to watch, but probably not the safest thing for her as she is still falling a lot. I called Brandon after this to tell him and he is laughing because little did I know, he taught her the trick! Lesson: Kaitlyn mimics absolutely everything you do even down to marching down the sidewalk!

PARK, PARK, PARK

Goodness this weather has been great. We met some friends to play at the Plano Nature Reserver and Park today. It wore us out as we were there two hours. I was really worn out from following Kaitlyn everywhere. She climbed up a mountain (playground mountain) and played with Emma by the creek. We even saw a bunny.

She is self-assured and so confident in climbing anything on the play ground.

Emma and Kaitlyn enjoyed sitting on a rock by the creek watching the water. We all held hands as we walked the trail - mommies and girls.

Time to break old habits

This time of Lent is really a season to prepare for Easter. To truly turn from old ways and be repentent for our sins. Brandon and I have both decided to give something up for Lent, but I think I am going to give something else up besides Spider Solitaire. I have become addicted to playing this while I wait for Internet pages to come up when I do research, etc. I would find myself playing a couple of times while on the phone and not even think about it and then catch myself doing it. I have broken the habit after realizing how much it was becoming second nature.

My other bad habit is watching a little TV before going to bed. It drives Brandon crazy, but I have felt that I relied on this to help put me to sleep. But really, there are other ways of winding down and I really need to get as much sleep as possible nowadays. So after talking to my friend Stephanie this morning, I am going to make a huge effort to break this habit. I know Brandon will quite appreciate this as he values his sleep a lot because he has to get up early to go to work.

Here's to breaking old habits and replacing them with better, beneficial habits.

Too Excited to Sleep

This gorgeous weather has made Kaitlyn too excited to sleep, literally. On Monday it took her an hour just to go to sleep after discovering chalk. This is great. I just sit back and watch her run around and love the weather and playing. Today we played all morning outside in her playhouse and out front coloring with sidewalk chalk. It was great fun. Here are some photos and videos. I was able to take some good shots, which I rarely get time to frame up in the camera, but love to try.

This weekend was one of the bi-annual Divine Consignment sales where you can get a great bargain on gently used baby and toddler items - everything from toys to clothes to strollers to bouncers. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law are pregnant with their first baby and she and I had a field day. I then went back yesterday to volunteer and they still had tons of things to sell, but I worked the credit card line the whole time. This is definitely a great way to buy and sell children's clothes/toys. There are a ton more sales, but I think we have stocked up for the summer already. Kaitlyn now has a little life vest for the pool too - $4 at the sale!

Kaitlyn is off from school this week because of spring break and I have had a lot of work projects coming up. Luckily, she has been taking two hour naps so I can get some work done. We are planning a picnic this week at the park. Kaitlyn loves saying park. Her memory is great. She knows how to walk to the park now and which house is her house. She also knows where the movie Nemo is in the movie cabinet. We sang a whole round of Old MacDonald with her leading it this morning!

I am getting big with Baby Boy and don't know how to make it through the summer. Hopefully, there will be relief in the pool! I can already feel some movement occasionally. I am starting to feel a little pinch to get things done for Kaitlyn and his rooms so when I am really big, I don't have to do much.