Catching Up

Here's a little of what we've been up to the past few months...

Big Bear with the Vanderveens, Goads and Kulls!

Peek-a-Boo with Ryan!

This was moments before Avery dropped the pole into the frigid waters of Big Bear.

Indoor jumpy house?  I mean, come on!  Best thing ever!

Quinn loved sledding!

So did Jeff.

Something really intense is going on there.

Pretend City with Cousin Helen and Uncle Brennan!

Taking turns reading. 

Meeting Baby Tyler!

Cousin love at its finest.

Flowers from Jeff!

On top of not feeling well for the past few months, work has been really intense and most days I was running on stressed-out fumes.  My wonderful husband sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers with a card that read “Hope these brighten your day while you’re running around at work trying not to throw up.”  Ha!  He nailed it. 

I follow Avery's Friday daycare on Instagram and love seeing pictures of Avery and her friends having a blast.

She's the one at the bottom in the pink top.

Avery and Baby Caden!

Neighborhood fun!

You can count on us for taking advantage of a summer-like day in March!

One of our neighbors had parents in town.  Reese, Avery and the Grandma were in love!

 FPT

Avery rocking the dog park obstacles during a biking pit stop deserves more than just one picture for FPT.

We Are Going to Be a Family of Four?!?!

As most (all?) of you know, Miss Avery Elizabeth Simpson is going to become a big sister this year!  We are all beyond excited and cannot wait to meet the newest member of our family.  As I write this, I am just over 13 weeks along and am so, so thankful to finally be feeling better.  Let’s just say the first trimester was pretty tough.  I won’t go into details, but the classic, textbook complaints many moms have during the first few months were my complaints as well. 

Everyone has been asking me how this pregnancy compares to Avery’s and really, they are very similar so far; although, the first few months seemed a little harder to get through because, on top of an 8am – 5pm job, this time around I also have full time job called “taking care of my 3 year old.”  No one ever said being pregnant while chasing around an older child was easy and if one ever did, I would like to think they have a major case of pregnancy brain (or they’re just lying).  This is probably getting me prepared for the fact that once the baby is actually here I will not only be chasing around an older child, but also caring for an infant.  Talk about something not being easy…that sounds nearly impossible, but moms and dads have survived for thousands of years, so…. here’s hoping!

Anyways, I am feeling better and coming to terms with my already-there bump.  Second time (plus) moms have warned that you show sooner in subsequent pregnancies and boy, were they right.  I look like I’m 20 weeks while the doctors keep assuring me I’m only 13!  Speaking of how far along I am, I have been given three different due date estimates by health care professionals, but my official due date is October 21.  Having a variety of “dates” is very common, but unless there is more than a 7 day difference from the original estimate, no change is made to records and everyone sticks to that date.  During my ultrasound yesterday I was told that the calculations and measurements put my due date at October 18, but as I mentioned, these dates don’t really mean much.  It’s just the doctors saying “you’ll probably have your baby sometime around this day.” 

Let’s talk about Avery for a second.  That kid is great.  Sure, she’s three and has her share of “three moments,” but she is turning out to be such a cool kid and a pleasure to be around (not that she wasn’t before, but now she's like a companion or little buddy, if you will…).  Jeff and I tried not talking about the pregnancy early on (you know…the cautionary period), but Avery is very keen to her surroundings, conversations and others’ emotions, so it didn’t take long before she brought up the elephant in the room.  This happened around week 6 during her bath.  She looked at me straight in the eyes and very calmly and seriously said:

Avery:  Is there a baby in your belly?
Me (this is good; this is happening): Yes, there is.
Avery (thinking for a moment):  When is it coming out?
Me:  Around your birthday.
Avery:  How is it coming out?
Me:  With the help of doctors.
Avery:  Oh.
:: 10 second pause while she processes the conversation that just took place...I needed those 10 seconds, too! ::
Avery: I'm excited!  I am going to be a big sister!

For those of you that know her well, this is classic Avery.

Here is another conversation that took place one morning recently:

Avery:  I have three babies.
Me:  Really?!
Avery:  Yes.  My baby downstairs [her doll], you and the baby in your belly.

:: heart melting ::

I found out I was pregnant, and consequently starting feeling "pregnant," in mid-February, so we have some catching up to do on this blog!  There are a lot of moments I want to capture in this “family book” of ours, so over the next few weeks I will try to catch up, sorely out of date or not!

FPT

She's been really into winking lately...