Big Sister is Busy

This weekend, big sister Ellie has been very busy getting ready for her baby to arrive. We are still somewhere between 4 and 6 weeks away but Ellie is helping Mommy and Daddy prepare for our special arrival with the utmost focus and love. First, she helped Mommy find a "Big Sister" t-shirt for Ellie at the hospital. Next, she painted a special picture for her sister's new room that I will be framing in the near future. Then on Saturday, we spent a considerable amount of time choosing the ever-important, Lovey, for baby sister. Of course, she picked one exactly like hers but a different color so they won't get mixed up. Saturday night, she helped Dan start painting the nursery.

She is such a hard worker! She even stopped to join Mommy for a pedicure. Here we are trying to let the polish dry.

Sunday morning, she was back at the painting with Daddy.

Nana and Papa came over for the afternoon/evening today and Ellie proved to be a wonderful hostess. She made sure that everyone saw the nursery, she took us to the park and for a walk, and even put on a Barbie talent show. When all that was finished, she showed us all how to really play the Wii. Here she is getting a strike. NO KIDDING! She bowled strikes and spares over and over again with no help from anyone. She was really excited. :) This last picture is actually from "quiet time" today (in lieu of nap time). She was supposed to be in her room playing quietly for an hour. I noticed it was a little quieter than usual and when I went to check on her, this is what I found: It was an exhausting weekend for a big sister for sure! She has been such a helper to Dan and me and we are certain she is going to be the best big sissy in the whole world. :) Good job, Ellie!

8 Months Along...

WOW! What happened to February? I can't believe we are in the last week of the month although admittedly, I am glad to say time is moving quickly. Usually, I wish for the ability to slow time down but with all the aches and discomfort of pregnancy, NO WAY! My body feels like it does two days after a really good gym workout: tight and achy all over like I pulled muscles I didn't even know I had! I am SO stretched in the belly now...I just don't know where I will put any more weight! I have one pair of pants that fit and REFUSE to buy more at this point. Dan is kind enough to lend me his sweatpants for most stay-at-home days so my one pair of jeans don't become too threadbare! It's kind of funny to me now, but I carry so low and out that people actually move out of my way like I am going into labor at any moment! I'm kind of hard to miss or ignore at this point. Seriously, people STARE. Funny. If I deliver early like I did with Ellie, then we have only 6 weeks until baby is here! :) I can't believe how soon that will be. We have some last minute prep to do but we are ready for the most part. It's true what they say, that parents relax so much more with each child. I was a freak of nature at this time with Ellie...poor Dan was scrubbing the walls and shampooing carpet in closets for Heaven's sake! As for our weekend, here are some pictures to catch you up: It's Community month at Ellie's preschool so Dan came in to her classroom to talk about police officers. This is the picture I got of Ellie when her Daddy showed up. Her face shows just how proud she was.

A couple times throughout Dan's visit, Ellie would just stand up and hug him, just to let him know she was there for him if he needed her. :)

Of course Ellie got to be the special helper (a VERY big deal in preschool) and here she is helping Dan hand out WSP goody bags for all her classmates.

Dan took all the kids to see his car. This was DEFINITELY the highlight of the visit. The ENTIRE class fit in the backseat! Here is Ellie in the driver's seat (no big surprise there) making a silly face.

Trooper Dan with Ellie's first preschool class

Of course there was one preschooler Dan liked the best :)

We had a few playdates this weekend but I had to share these from Rosanna's house: Ellie, Dante and Gabby dressed up for a "Fashion Show."

Strike a Pose!

Ellie and Mommy getting ready to go play outside

On the Foothills Trail in Orting

I forgot to take pictures of my belly today so I will try to post some tomorrow!

Good Love

Lots of good love this weekend! We celebrated cousin Olivia's 5th birthday at Seattle Children's Museum (and I am sorry to say I have NO pictures! :( ) and had a great time. Then Mema, Papa, Lisa and kids spent the night at our house and the kids woke up Valentine's Day morning to an array of goodies from the aunties, grandparents, etc. Of course, we had heart shaped waffles to start the morning off right. :)

The kids with their loot Special valentine from Daddy

Waffles from Mommy

Monday Ellie had no school and we spent the day first at the mall doing some errands and the rest of the time on the Orting Trail and at the river. Ellie had a blast. The weather was ridiculously warm and wonderful!

Throwing rocks into the river

On the trail with Ivy and Owen

At the beaver dam where the kids found sticks to play with

I love this picture of Ellie playing "cooking show" in the dirt...you should have seen how messy they got! We washed the kids in the river at the end and of course Ellie went straight into the bath when we got home. She did not complain. She had a wonderful time making cupcakes, pies, etc in the sandy dirt. :)

On the way back to our bikes

This is right after Ellie exclaimed, "I'm not tired Mommy!" :)

Preschool Party

Today Ellie had her Valentine party at school. I took some pictures for Dan because he has been gone all week and I didn't want him to miss out. She was very happy and looked adorable in red. :) I love her joy! It's contagious!

Mommy's little love bug at Jamba Juice this morning

Ellie at school with friends Haylei and Cora

Ellie is first one in today! So excited for school!

Snack and party time!

Treat bags from Ms. Lora and Ms. Sara

Most creative valentine! The ipod is a box of candy hearts and the headphones are Reeses cups!

Handmade With Love

This year, Ellie is making all of her valentine cards by herself. This is difficult for me because I have to fight the urge to tell/show her "the best way to do it." I'm such a control freak. I swear she likes to place the sticker right on top of her name and cover up the letters just to annoy me! Anyway, I have to say that she is doing very well...I write the name of the friend and she prints her name at the bottom ever so neatly. :) Of course, she LOVES using glitter. UGH. By the time we were done with the preschool and neighbor valentines, Ellie was COVERED in glitter...as was everything else. I had to strip her down in her chair and carry her to the deep sink in the laundry room! This was even cooler than the glitter because bath time in the laundry room is just SILLY and there is nothing better than out-of-the-ordinary silliness for a three year old. :) Today we start valentines for her closest friends and cousins. This will be an all week ordeal I am sure because her attention span is about 20 minutes or so. :)

Just getting started...

So focused!

Uh oh...glitter!

What a masterpiece!

I think around this time she started nibbling on the candy hearts and chocolate!

Goodbye Glitter! (Hello Mommy's belly!)

Dan and Ellie

Last night, Dan took Ellie on a date! First, they got all dressed up. Ellie got a new dress, shoes and even little white gloves for the occasion. She even let me curl her hair! Of course Dan looked handsome as ever. :) Dan surprised Ellie with a red rose and then off they went to dinner. After dinner, they went to the Sumner Father/Daughter Dance and had a great time. They danced, got a professional photo, ate treats and Ellie even got more flowers. They met up with our "daddy and daughter" friends...Tyler and Ivy, Tony and Kayla and Kylee, and Brad and Cate and Grace. Ellie was the youngest by a little bit but apparently she worked the dance floor all night! That's my girl! :) What a special memory for Ellie and Dan both. And I got to stay home and eat Thai food! I have an awful cold so it was BLISS for me! Enjoy the pictures and video!

Dan waiting to give Ellie her flower

What a surprise!

So cute!

These two love each other so much it just warms my heart!

Daddy's little girl for sure!

Ellie and Ivy in the truck on the way to dinner Cuttin up a rug even while waiting in line!

Dancing Queen...tee hee!