More Ava

Had another ultrasound. Ava weighs 2 lbs. 3 ozs. I got tons of pictures, but just chose a few to put on here. The feet ones were fun. She is a mover, so it's sometimes hard to get good pictures. But I got to see her rubbing her face with her hands and playing with her toes. Also we got to see her eyes opening and closing and could tell she has hair! Very fun! I think it should be required once a week just to help the mom remember the bigger picture. 12 weeks to go! For the first time, I feel like I can do this. Jack got to come this time and hung in there for about 5 minutes before finding something else to do in the room. Luckily they had crayons and pictures to color. Once we were done, he said, "Mommy, are you all better?"

Make 'em laugh!

I don't know if Jack is trying to get me to laugh, but this is the new thing. If I get off the phone, he will ask who I was talking to and say, "I like her. She's a nice lady." Or "Really? I love her!" Or when I ask what he thinks about something, "I love it (or them)." When I tell him what we're doing that day (and if he likes it), he says, "That's wonderful! or perfect or gorgeous...etc." So he could really mean all of it or he could have picked up on the fact that whenever he says something like that, I laugh. And his goal is to get us to laugh right now.

Just loving the weather! This week we will be wrapping up some ministries at church before the summer. Awana will be ending Wednesday with the awards night, and the Ladies Fellowship is having our last Bible study for this year on Friday. But then softball will be starting, and I'm sure we will find ways to keep busy! Hoping to have more class activities with all of this nice weather we are experiencing! And then the baby will come. Eventually. I think.

I am at 25 weeks along and am starting to count down. 14 weeks to go. It's still a lot, but it sounds a lot more doable than 40! I will be delivering on July 19th if everything goes as planned. I have been having more pain when I walk, so that is frustrating; but other than that, I feel good. And this weather really helps!

We had a great day at church today! A new family coming and others coming more regularly. Very exciting to see some growth. We had a picnic today after the morning service, and many came to that.

This week Rebekah has a birthday - Happy Birthday, Aunt Bek! Hope you have a great week! She's a great sister and a great aunt. And as she would say the "best daughter". HA

Happy Easter and other Happenings...

At the zoo - Isn't this the life?

Target Field - the new home of the MN Twins

Feels like summer

Today really did feel beautiful, and I think tomorrow will be warm, too! 70s is nice. I have noticed in looking back at the blog that I have been in a writing mood I guess lately. Long narratives about our life! Hope that's not too boring!

Everything's good. I'm at 23 weeks (almost 6 months), and the baby is very active. I am finally feeling "normal" if that is possible when you're pregnant. But my nausea is gone, and also my back has loosened up so I can walk easier. I'm hoping the end is better than the beginning. This weather certainly helps my mood.

So Saturday we went to Target Field, the new home of the Twins. Beautiful and so fun. Can't wait to go to a game there! Monday we went to the zoo, and the farm babies are here! So we may head back again soon. Just trying to do as much fun stuff as possible weather and pregnancy permitting. Easter is coming! So this week we will color some eggs and possibly have an Easter egg hunt along with eating too much candy, I'm sure! Nice that school is out, so we can play with friends and family!

Happy Birthday and 7th Anniversary!

Seven years ago today, I married Matt. Best decision ever! Nearly every day, the thought pops into my head, "Good thing I married him. He is clearly the man for me." And it is usually in reference to different things I'm dealing with each day.

He is a quiet person, so is a good listener. But he will also give his opinion readily when I ask, and it isn't always the same as mine. So I appreciate that. (But also nice that it usually is!) He's a good gage for me and my emotions since he is so stable.

He's good with money but still likes to take me out. He is a great date!

He loves God, the ministry, and people (especially me and Jack!) He is content to just be with us (and to golf occasionally). He is a great preacher and spiritual leader for us. He has integrity and is loyal and kind.

The greatest gift he has given me in regard to our children is in his support of my staying home with them. When we got married, I never really thought about it since I'm such a goer. But after talking about it together (and 2 layoffs), we decided it was the right thing for us to do. And what a gift it has been. Time with your children in these critical years is so priceless and irreplacable.

So yesterday we celebrated Matt's birthday and had a great time. We were able to spend time with family over the weekend. What a blessing that has been! We love being near them. Sometimes you just need your family. So tonight we will celebrate our anniversary, and Jack gets to stay with Grandpa and Grandma, so he will have a great time, too! Thanks to them for doing that.

Notes about Jack at Age 3

Lately I have frequently thought, "I should write that down, or I will forget it." So here we go.

He calls knives "sharps." He got frustrated today. He says, "UGH!" a lot (like me). Then he said, "The sharp fell on me, and I'm sick of it." He had dropped the butter knife and got butter on him. He doesn't like to be messy.

His bottom is his "body".

He speaks backwards sometimes. Carseat is seatcar. I don't know what that means, but I'm not worried about it at this point.

Everything costs forty dollars. Every piece of paper is forty dollars. Every coin is a penny. Everytime it is time to do something, it's forty o'clock. Eleventeen is his favorite number.

He says things that make no sense like, "I'm gonna go to sleep, but I'm not gonna go to sleep."

Today he said, "Oh no, the baby's on the floor. I gotta pick her up and put her back in my tummy so she doesn't get away."

Every day when he wakes up and I say, "Guess what we're going to do today?" He says, "UM, go to church?" Church is his favorite. He loves to wear ties and bring his Bible. Then McDonalds is usually in the guesses after that along with seeing one of our family members or Lexi and Levi.

He likes to help clean and get wet and fill up his little cups with water and pour it from one to the other.

He loves fruit, almost every variety, and is more of a carb person. I don't get too worried about him since he has variety and is very healthy.

He's pretty organized and knows how to clean up his room and where things go when he puts them away (with a little prodding).

He is almost completely potty trained. Still working on some nights. He did pick up on it quickly, and I'm grateful!

When he says something we don't understand, he just says it louder.

Whenever we go somewhere, it's not long before he wants to go home to his toys and movies. It must be his comfort zone and probably feels more independent at home.

He is very aware of schedules and likes to be in charge of them. He says, "I think it's time to...." Or "Should we go?" Or "So you're fixing supper, so maybe we should eat soon." "So you had a good day today?"

Every time we leave somewhere, he says, "That was fun at.... or seeing....."

Or "Mommy" a thousand times, then finally, "What, Jack?" A long pause, and then "What you doin'?"

If you sneeze in the other room, "You okay, Mommy?" So then if he falls, he just yells out, "I'm okay!" Very helpful and informative!

Anytime he recognizes a place we go, he says, "Hey! We been there long time!" I think it means we've been here before.

We're very thankful for the opportunity God gives us to impact a little life. I pray all of the time, "Don't let me mess it up!"