Can You Tell I'm Ready?

I have never been ready early to have my babies. With Emma Jane, although I went 2 days past my due date, I wasn't overly-anxious to have her early...probably because I was part terrified of what labor would be like. Then, with CJ, Emma Jane was 14 months old, and I had had a horrific labor/birthing experience the first go-around and was not quite sure how recovering from a c-section with a 14 month old and baby would work. So, needless to say, I wasn't anxious for CJ to come early either. BUT, with this baby, it is a whole other story for many reasons. First, c-section #2 was night & day better with a much faster recovery, so I no longer worry about that part so much. Second, I feel like everyone around me has had their babies--my sister, sister-in-law, 2 cousins, and several friends from MBA spouse group! Then, add the fact that my husband will be done with the semester on April 19th. My c-section date is April 26th (already 2 weeks early) because he leaves to India on April 29th at 11:20 am, the same day I will be getting home from the hospital. :) So, you can see why I would like to have her the minute Carl gets done with school, so we can have as much down time as possible before the crazy train boards to India! :) Just a side note, priority number one is that she is healthy, so I willing do let her cook for as long as she needs--even before her mother's mental needs.

In the meantime, my impatient, sick (yes, I have another cold & just finished day 10 of antibiotics and still have congestion; fun, fun.) self have been doing all sorts of projects and organizing before the wee babe comes. This is what happens when you make too many bows from your last project, and need somewhere to put them:

A picture frame I covered with fabric and added ribbon to, to hold all the bows. Then, you can hang it on the wall to keep away from the kids and keep your bow stash organized!

This is the finished product with the bows; the rest of the bows I am sending to my nieces ASAP.

I am on the countdown. Next project, I have already put the baby clothes in the drawers but I need to wash them and reorganize. Then, on to spring cleaning, washing the carpets (thanks dad for making this part of the cleaning process), organizing closets, etc.

Arts & Crafts

I took the kids to their first play this past week. It was a musical about the children's book "No Dogs Allowed." They had a blast...minus the fact the play was pretty painful to watch, for me atleast.

So, I have been collecting supplies to make bows ever since Emma Jane was born,but I never made them. The supplies have just been sitting on the baby's dresser in the baby's room, and since, I probably wouldn't do it for a while after the baby, I figured I would just tackle it. And since I didn't want to bust out the supplies again for a really long time, I went to town & made tons of bows--Total Count:157, in a 48 hour period. It is a good thing that I have 12 nieces to share these with!

Carl's sister, Amber just had a cute baby boy, and so I tried my hand at these babies. I had seen them before and had always wanted to try to make some--So, TA DAH!

I couldn't help post these cutie patooties in their spring time church clothes. We have been having some pretty warm weather and have thoroughly enjoyed going to the park, riding bikes, and busting out the spring clothes. And, of course, it snowed yesterday and today. Darn. It is not fun to be teased with such wonderful weather!

Fun With Special Visitors

My mom and dad came to visit this past weekend, and it was so nice to see them. Although we only got to see them for a few hours, it was still so special!

Grandpa read them probably over a dozen books in that time period! He even played their favorite game with them--hide-and-go-seek. They had a blast hanging out with him!

Mom caught this huge grin from Emma Jane! My kids love their Nana & Gpa so much. It is so cute to watch their relationship.

Mom gave CJ a well-needed haircut while she was here. CJ behaved the best he has ever done during a haircut.

This is CJ post haircut...with a little bit of chocolate in his teeth after eating his haircut bribe.

Mom made me take a pic of the good ole' belly, so there could be proof that I am actually having a baby in less than 5 weeks! And, yes, we set my C-section date for April 26th--2 weeks early b/c Carl heads to India for a 3 week internship on April 29th...but that's a whole other story. :)

A Weekend of Fun

Meet Kangaroo Zoo: A place full of huge inflatables to jump on and slide on...Also, known as heaven for my two kids. (Thanks to Rosanne who invited us there this morning!)

The 1st time up this giant slide, CJ stopped, and said, "Mom, this looks dangerous." After explaining that everything was super soft, he continued and ended up going down a dozen times. I was very impressed with my little, normally cautious, guy.

CJ loved this one too. He called it the "sharp tooth"...like the T-Rex from Land Before Time. We are still in the dinosaur phase.

Another of their favorites of course b/c it looked like a "long neck."

Then, Friday night, Carl and I went on a fun date going to play put-put & a round at the batting cages. It was so fun! Thank you warm weather. We had such a good time. We just had to bring the kids there tonight!

The whole place was glow in the dark and "under water." The kids loved it...even though they were only patient enough to go through half the holes.

Me and my little golfer. He of course loved hitting the ball...it was just the throwing of the ball and me having to chase after it that I didn't love so much. :)

Last, I just had to share this awesome pic of what my hair looked like after the batting cages. Carl was so nice to let me walk around like!

Ice Castles & Birthdays

Last week we went to visit these IceCastles that were like 30 minutes away!

CJ liked eating the ice-skittles, as he calls them.

Emma Jane loved running around, playing hide-and-go-seek, and climbing in and on the ice castles.

I was just trying not to fall the whole time!

Monday was my birthday! Woo Hoo! The big 26! I am always glad to turn a year older, especially when I am about to be a mom of 3. Each year sounds more legitimate, so I will take it! I got spoiled with tons of birthday wishes, and I even got to go out to eat with my sweet hubby! It was a great birthday!