Officially Late...

This little one and Daddy may have a beef to settle before it's even out of my belly!  Mark likes to be on time to events, which really translates to 15 minutes early.  Not only is this little one not Daddy time, it's not on Mommy time either (real on time).   We are currently at 3 days late and counting.  As of now, I am scheduled to be induced on Wednesday, August 3rd unless the munchkin decides to join us sooner.  We're still waiting as patiently as we can and Mom is still here keeping us good company.  With both my camera and Mom's camera we've had quite a few pictures to document our days...

Caroline loves talking on the phone!

We went to the "gym" and she loved playing in the foam pit and jumping on the trampolines. 

She is such a little girl, carrying around her backpack.  She is supposed to be starting preschool in a couple of weeks!  I'm not so sure I'm ready for it! 

We went to the zoo one day this past week. 

Check out that monstrous belly!

Her new favorite toy is Mom's i-pad.  She knows how to turn it on and find her games.  She is pretty good at a couple different matching games.

Mom also taught her a new favorite game...hide and seek.  Her favorite hiding spots are behind the curtain, underneath a blanket and behind the couch.

We are so thankful to have Mom (and Vern on the weekends) here helping out! 

I just hope to be adding to our family picture soon! 

Waiting Patiently

We are still waiting on baby Taylor to arrive.  My due date is July 28 and it's only the 24th so I shouldn't be surprised.  Of course, I had talked myself into believing that this little one would come at least 8 days early like Caroline.  :-)  I will also add that this part of the pregnancy has been much different than with Caroline!  This past Sunday night, the 17th, I started having contractions pretty close together.  They were not painful but they were pretty consistent contractions none the less.  This has happened no less than 3 other times this past week but there is still no muchkin!  In all my excitement last Sunday, I called Mom and asked her to come on up to Atlanta a bit early.  She had been planning to come this week since Mark was supposed to be out of town for a couple of days.  I've been so thankful to have her here!!  She has been such a big help with Caroline and it's a joy to have someone to share in the waiting.  In all of our waiting we've had a little fun...

Caroline and Gigi shared some secrets...

and some giggles. 

Mark finished up the very, very last of the to do list,

Mom did some sewing for us (she is a busy bee with her sewing powers),

and we had a little pool party for Gigi's birthday. 

Notice the pretty puddle underneath Mark.  Thanks to a sweet Daddy loving on his little girl, he looked like he had a little accident himself.  :-)

After a good 5 day of anxious frustration, I have finally settled down.  I'm no longer timing the contractions.  I'm sure I will know when I'm in labor when the pain sets in.  :-)  Here's to another few days of fun with the family before we add to the joy and chaos! 

Happy 2nd Birthday Sweet Caroline!

It's hard to believe that Caroline is 2!  It seems she was just a little baby but alas she is a little girl!  We really didn't have much planned for her birthday but it turned out to be a great day!

After Kelsey's birthday last month, any time we would say the word "birthday" she would immediately put her lips together and start blowing.  I decided she should blow out a candle at every meal!  I think she loved it!

Our "non-party" turned into quite the shindig!  I had decided several weeks ago that we were not going to have a big party - she wouldn't know the difference anyway.  However, we decorated an elmo cake and

and we welcomed a few friends.  Our neighbors Mike and Sharry, Sarah, Moose, Reagan, Lindsay, Brad, Kelsey, Chad, Noelle and William all joined us! 

Caroline loves Mike...

and Sharry!  Sharry's birthday is the 15th as well so we shared present opening time!

Just a little chaos with 3 wild 2 year olds!

I think she enjoyed her strawberry elmo cake!

We were so thankful to have Chad, William (and Noelle) drive down from Cumming to join us!

After the presents and cake, we headed outside to do some fireworks!  Mark had bought a few for the 4th of July but since it rained we did not get to use them.  The girls all loved the pop rocks and sparklers but once they heard the pop and bang of the "bigger" fireworks they were no longer happy campers!  Instead of doing any more fireworks we just played outside with everyone until it was WAY past their bed time.  The weather was amazing...mid 70's in July!?!?  

Mark sure enjoyed his time with the birthday girl!! 

Ring Around the Rosie

Love these sweet girls playing together!  I also love that Caroline can't wait to fall and that she has to lay all the way down...sitting is just not good enough!

Getting ready...

The past few weeks have gone much more quickly than I had imagined they would.  I can't believe that we have 3 weeks (or less) until we have a new little one joining our family.  In some ways, I feel as prepared as I can be.  I don't really feel stressed about having or not having anything in particular.  I don't feel nearly as "nervous" about all the baby stuff as I did with Caroline. 

There is one new thought has crossed my mind recently that I feel a little sad about.  When I first became pregnant, I remember my friend Sarah asking me if I felt sad that I would miss out on time with Caroline.  I immediately thought, no way.  I think having a brother or sister will be good for her.  She will learn to share and love and it will just add to the joy in our home.  I still firmly believe all of those things.  However, over the past nine months Caroline has changed.  She is no longer the little girl who could barely walk or talk.  I can easily understand her thoughts and feelings now.  I can have conversations with her.  I do feel a little sad knowing that our time together will be different.  She will no longer have my undivided attention.  Of course, there are millions of brothers and sisters in the world and we will adjust and manage just like everyone else.  I am just trying to make the most of these days with her!  Mark and I have already promised each other, swapping some one on one time with the new baby and with Caroline. 

Not perfect...

I've realized what I've read on many other blogs before...my blog posts always tell of the good times and show lots of smiling pictures. 

Of course, things are not always that way...Caroline has mastered the pouty face in recent weeks!  Sorry the picture isn't from the front and you can't fully appreciate the drama!  :-)

July 4th Weekend

We had another fun family weekend!  Saturday morning we woke up and made our way to Gainesville to visit some friends who just moved there.  We had a great time playing and swimming together.

I was very proud of Caroline (and thankful for Aunt Lindsay) for going down this huge water slide at the pool!

Sunday morning we were bad and skipped church!  We don't miss often and now that I think about it, it's kind of ironic. In small group the other night we were talking about going to church when you are out of town.  Honestly, our church cancelled Sunday School and all services, but one, and I thought to myself, "If they think everyone will be out for the holiday, then we might as well stay 'home.'"  Terrible logic but that's what I thought! 

So we went to Piedmont Park in downtown Atlanta.  Sometimes it's funny to me that I have lived in Atlanta for so many years - my time in college and my time in Marietta seem like different lives.  Driving around downtown reminds me of my time in college.  We had a great time at the park - walking around looking at all the dogs, ducks, geese, squirrels that were out.  We did a little swinging and played on the playground.  Caroline was tuckered out by the time we headed home!

Monday morning we went to the 4th of July parade in downtown Marietta.  Everything worked out perfectly.  We got a good parking spot, sat in the shade and enjoyed all the people watching.  Everytime there would be a short break in the parade, Caroline would say, "more, more."  I will be one sad mama when she stops saying, "more."  She says it at the most precious times.  Today, Reagan came over today to play and they were chasing each other around the house.  Reagan would stop for a moment to play with something else and Caroline would say, "more! MORE!"

We had a quiet afternoon at home and then went over to the neighbors house for dinner.  We planned on doing some fireworks but the rain got in the way of that plan.  It was a sweet weekend!  I'm not preparing for Caroline to spend some time with Gigi and Grandude so that I can get some last minute stuff done around the house!  3 more weeks until baby Taylor arrives!