MORE FUN AFTER THE RAIN

We had another big storm today... crazy 'rattle the house' kind of thunder, and lots of rain.
It's hot and muggy, and the gnats are out full force, but despite that Luke got a bit of play time outside.

What would you do with your Sunday afternoon, on a hot, muggy, rainy day in North Carolina?
LOL... this is what Luke did with his...

There are definitely perks to being 2 years old...

32 WEEK APPT

Today was my 32 week prenatal appointment.
My weight gain is right on track, my blood pressure is good, and Kate's heart beat was strong and steady. I am however measuring a bit on the small side.
I'm 32 weeks and measuring only 30cm. I should be measuring close to 32cm, as your measurements generally correlate with how many weeks you are.
There is leeway to be up to 2cm over or under the weeks that you are, but anything above 2cm, they generally start checking that baby is growing on track etc.
They'll be checking my uterus size closely in 2 weeks at my next appointment.
If I am over 2cm out, then they'll have to make sure that little Kate is growing well, and that my amniotic fluid isn't low.
So hopefully Kate will have a nice little growth spurt over the next 2 weeks and I'll be appropriately whale sized so that there is no need for concern :)

On a funnier note... trust my husband to make me feel like a whale despite the 'small' circumstances. LOL.
I called him when I left the OB office, and told him how the appointment went.
Our conversation went something like this...

Me: So I'm measuring about 2cm out
Jake: Oh, so you're BIG!
Me: Um, no, I'm measuring SMALL
Jake: Ooohhh!
Me: LOL.. way to make me feel like a whale, automatically presuming that I must be measuring BIG, and not small.
Jake. LOL. (Oops)

I guess all Jake sees is a big belly, regardless of whether it's size appropriate or not. LOL

BATH TIME PICASSO

Tonight, we gave Luke some 'finger paint soap' to play with in the tub.
Here is my little naked artist creating his master piece.

31 WEEKS AND SOME CHANGE

So I'm 31 and a bit weeks... down to the single digit count down.
Little Kate will be here before we know it.

I've had a much better pregnancy with her.
I'm carrying smaller and more comfortably, I've gained a lot less weight with her, than with Luke and once I got through the first 16 weeks, the rest has been pretty easy going for me.

A sweet friend took some belly shots for me yesterday.

It was also my baby shower yesterday. My great friend Rachel, hosted the shower, and a few other friends were kind enough to give her a hand in the food preparation and set up etc. I felt quite loved by the willingness of everyone to do something to help make it a special day :)
It turned out great. We had such yummy food (we had a brunch), and I got some great gifts for little Kate.
What a spoiled little girl she will be :)

Unfortunately, one damper on the day was that I was feeling a little self conscious because an infection I got, resulted in some facial swelling, and so I felt a bit puffy and somewhat like a character from Star Trek. LOL.
Thank goodness for make-up and a sweeping hair style that partly covered my face. LOL
Good thing my friends love me no matter how 'strange' I look.... hehe

So now I get to enjoy sorting through, and washing all of Kate new blankets and clothes etc, and getting the nursery ready for her big debut.
Not long now.. we're very excited :)

FUN WITH DADDY

This week, I spent 2 and a half days away at the church youth convention. I was one of the chaperones.
Jake was off work for the week, so he stayed with Luke and they had some fun together.

On Thursday, Jake took Luke to the park. Luke LOVES the swings.

After the park, they went to the mall, to ride the little train they have there, and then Jake took Luke to throw pennies in the fountain. We've started saving all of our pennies and 5c coins for Luke, because he LOVES to throw them in the mall fountain, as I discovered a few weeks ago when I was there with him.

Fortunately 2 years old can be extremely inexpensive to entertain. :)
Going to throw pennies in the fountain is hardly a bank breaking 'excursion' and Luke loves it.

I missed my boys so much while I was gone. I went to New York for 6 days last August, so nearly a year ago, and it wasn't nearly as hard being away from Luke as it was this week for the 2 and a half days I was gone. Luke is so much more aware of his mommy and daddy now, because he is older, and he notices when we're gone. He had a great time with Jake, but he would point to a picture of me and whimper when Jake told him it was 'mommy', and he cried every time he heard me on the phone when I called.
It broke my heart that he was missing me so much, and I was itching to get home and cuddle my little sweetheart.

He was napping when I arrived home today, but when he woke up and saw that I was back, he was so silly and giddy with excitement. I got hugs, and kisses, and cuddles and he just laughed and giggled for a few minutes while I held him on my lap. He may be a little stinker on some days, but he is MY little stinker, and I love him to bits... it's hard being away from him, even if it's only for 2 days.

Jake did a great job being the 'single' parent while I was gone. He spent extra time with his little boy, made sure that they had fun together, and kept the house in great shape so I didn't come home to a big mess.
He's such a keeper :)

I LOVE MY BOYS :)