Thursday, April 30, 2009

Shelly Just...

....received a note from the sweetest, most loving grandparents-in-law, ever....
in which she was informed that they have plenty of girl-grandchildren so they're praying for a boy
for us.
I guess I had better start shopping for blue!
If anyone can bend the ear of God it's those wonderful people! Ha! =)
In other news I scheduled my in-depth ultrasound (towards the end of May)--and can't wait to find out for sure (hopefully!) what brand of Wonderful we're going to have! Woot!

When You Have A 4 Year Old Girl It Means...

...Birthday parties for baby dolls
(with real cake and home-made presents)....
Photo shoots--
featuring your favorite twirling dress
--blowing in the breeze--
between the spring-time trees... and lots and lots of flower picking,
smelling and arranging....
always asking,
always thinking,
always growing
and changing. When you find yourself with a 4 year old girl-
-you find yourself
very lucky
and very blessed
and very thankful
indeed!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Last Week: A Pictoral Review

Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down...
this cup of piping fresh (albeit de-caf to protect the fetus and all) mocha coffee helped tremendously...as did the coffee shop's child friendly play area.
SCORE!

Tuesday.
Waiting for preschool to start.
And yes, my children always ride in the front seat of the car, unbuckled, eating snacks.
They just behave so much better that way....
um....NOT!


Wednesday, after preschool, our friend Jessie came to dance class.
So cute, so fun and so full of chicken-dance-y goodness!
(amelie is the last on the right, jessie is right next to her)

Thursday.
Monthly OB check.
The doctor was wayyyy behind and so I spent my time counting vagina diagrams/3 d models in the room.
I found 4.
I bet there were more hidden....
oh! and as an extra special bonus for waiting 45 minutes for my literally, 3 minute check up, I got to hear the little one's perfect speedy heart rate.
Ah. Awesome.
Friday.
My girls slept a friend play date away so I rebelled by not taking pictures of it. =)

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Amelie Says...

Amelie says,
if we have a boy he shall be named:
Baby Brother
or
Cinnamon
if we have a girl she shall be named:
Girly Princess
That is all =)

Friday, April 24, 2009

Friday Five

In honor of one of my favorite, used-to-be-a-blogger-but-gave-it-up-friend, I have decided to resurrect her famous Friday Five for today. =)

1. I took the girls grocery shopping today. The good news is that our mission was accomplished in good time. The bad news is that we went to Walmart to get groceries instead of Wegmans to see if we'd save a little money. The great news is we saved about $45 and got more for our money. The awful news is that now I'm going to feel guilty for still going to Wegmans b/c Walmart isn't quite the same....experience.
Oh yeah, and this little cartoon from my favorite new preggo book "Pregnancy Haiku" is apropos:


2. It is lovely outside today. Hello Spring!--where, oh where have you been all my life?!
(And, of course you're here now that I've purchased some rainy day boots! You had better still have a storm or two left in you! ha!)
3. We're stuck home today b/c my sweet girls are on completely different schedules from
all. of. their. friends.
They wake early, nap early and go to bed early and our friends are no nap/late nap people. Amelie even made up a song about how her friends go to each other's homes in the afternoons and she can't because of the "rules." Oh man. Ha! Amelie doesn't need a nap, but she takes one so I've been enjoying the extra rest for myself but wondering how to balance special friend time for her.
Hmmm.....
4. I haven't written about Maeve-y milestones lately. Here's what she's been saying at 18 months (more or less anyways...):
thank you, please, more, all done, mama, dada, ahm (amelie), wow!, hi, bye, go, cracker, uv you (love you), 'night, ok, no, eat.
5. Happy Friday! Enjoy your weekend friends!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Sisters Featuring Amelie and the Great Pose-A-Thon of 2009

As taken the morning of our *farm* visit--group shots are impossible! Ack!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Shelly Just...

...heard baby wonderful's heart beat for the first time! yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what a beautiful sound!

Least Encouraging Pregnancy Email-Update Ever; Alternately Entitled: You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet!

I rec. this email and it made me laugh...and cry a little bit. Well, not really on the crying part--but sheesh!
Not very encouraging!
Oh, and by the way, apparently my baby is the size of a "nutter-butter" whatever that is!
(some type of cookie? right? but, why are we comparing my fetus to food!?)
Welcome to the first week of your second trimester. You may even be able to hold down a bite of food. Take advantage of your new robust status and catch a movie or take that last pre-baby vacay. Do it now, because in a few months you'll be too big to sausage yourself into the airplane seats.


what you're thinking

My skinny jeans don't fit, my fat clothes don't fit.

your body

Your belly may be popping out a bit now. If you're feeling "huge" already, just wait. You ain't seen nothing yet!

Monday, April 20, 2009

Pediatrician Schmediatrician: Including A Mini Rant

Maeve's 18 month appt was today!
Happy 18 Maevey Baby!
The stats:
Height 31 inches (5th %)
Weight 19.9 pounds (5th %)
The pediatrician has been muy annoying to me in regards to Maeve and her growth. I took a peak at her chart and saw "failure to thrive" written in bold letters and I almost choked! She's perfect, beautiful, climby, smart, chatty, sleeps well, interacts with others, eats well...
She. Is. Just. SMALL.
I've been telling the ped. over and over--she's happy, eats well, sleeps well--she's just shaped just like her father!
She's small! She's fine!
So this visit, she's finally gained some weight (b/c we haven't had the stomach bug or ear infections in a few weeks and she's had an appetite!) and the doctor says:
"Whoa! Time to stop gaining weight now! I guess she's healthy but just smaller than other kids..."
UM, HELLO!?!?!??!?!?!?
I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR 9 MONTHS NOW!!!!
LISTEN TO MEEEEE PEOPLE!
Whew. Sorry about that. I just couldn't believe that once the kid finally gains weight I get a "don't let her gain too much" lecture.
Those people are never happy.
Mer.
Praise the Lord for a healthy, happy, active baby girl.
So glad my next appt isn't for another 6 months!

Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Top 5 Things NOT To Say When Someone Tells You They're Pregnant

I've heard a lot of um....interesting (to put it nicely) responses from people upon finding out I'm pregnant--so I thought I'd share them with you all just so you know what not to say next time you hear the good news from someone =) HA! (p.s. I have had many kind and totally appropriate responses too, but the awful ones are more interesting to blog about! ha!)
5. You must really like kids...huh?
(Um...yes...I do)
4. Um...wow... 3...
3. Well, you must want a boy then! There's no way you would want three girls!!
(with the emphasis on girls sounding the same as--well, you wouldn't want EBOLA would you!?!?)
2. This is your third? Well! It's definitely your last then, right!!?
1. Was that planned?!
Followed up immediately by:
Well, stay away from me because I do NOT want to catch THAT from YOU!
(I hate to break it to you honey, but um, that's not quite how the whole pregnancy thing works...which you ought to know...since you have kids and all...sheesh!)
These people need to learn that the only truly acceptable responses are along the lines of:
Congratulations! How exciting! I'm so happy for you!
Etc and so on...=)

Saturday, April 18, 2009

What We've Been Up To

What a busy and Wonderful week!
It was totally rad to have my husband home on spring break and we had tons of fun!
We took Amelie on her first bowling trip--she did eventually have fun, but was disappointed at first to find out that real bowling is actually much more difficult that Wii bowling....and you know, that not everyone bowls a 260 every time...you know, like she does on the Wii...
(she did get a spare though--yay Amels!!)

Thursday was a beautiful day and we headed out to the Philly Zoo!
We love going there and do so often. We just upgraded our membership pass to include all of the fun attractions there--we tried out the cool carousel, the train ride, pony rides and paddle boats! Next time: horse rides, camel rides and zoo balloon (um...well, maybe not the zoo balloon--yikes!).
With all of this fun, who has time to see the animals? ha!

After the zoo, we headed out to Lancaster to visit our favorite PA peeps and go camping! Woot!
(I should clarify that we did go to a camp ground but stayed in a lovely heated/air conditioned cabin with cable tv...you know...really roughing it--what a treat!!)
We had a lovely time, ate delicious food, got a lot of sun and played in the sand!
The weather was delightful and although I intended to take many pictures of my lovely little ones I ended up with about 500 pictures of baby Asher in all his 3 week old glory.
Ahh...
Sigh...
He's gorgeous! Perfect! Amazing!
(Holding your best friend's long awaited/prayed for baby is almost as good as holding your own--what a joy!)
On Friday night my parents came down from NY for a visit (and a break from the snow!) to spend the day with me and their grandgirls.
We headed out for a day of free fun at our favorite South Jersey farm--and of course, I didn't take any pictures of the lovely fields of peach blossoms or cherry blossoms....or of the animals or playground or of the verdant fields but I did get pictures of the half-price ice cream.
Priorities people! Ha!
We had an awesome time playing on the playground, taking a hayride tour of the farm, eating free food, looking at the animals, soaking in the WARM/hottish sunshine, wearing shorts for goodness sake!, and picking out a lovely new hanging basket for my porch!
What a lovely week! The only sad part is that Mr. Wonderful wasn't (and still isn't) home today as he is in NYC with his music team competing in the International A cappella Music Finals!! His team is up against the three other winners in the USA and are performing at Lincoln Center in the Alice Tulley hall!
I can't wait to see how it all turns out!
Happy Weekend Friends!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

This Week Shelly...

*has spent a lot of time with her spring break husband--woot!

*entered the second trimester (it's a lot more comfortable here, although there's still a whole lotta nausea goin' on)

*has been craving salty

* weaned an ornery 18 month old, for the second time, and for real this time

(much to her chagrin)

* has a tooth that seems to be magically healing...it doesn't hurt all day, all the time, anymore and merely hurts at night! it's no longer as cold sensitive, but it merely hot sensitive. all-in-all a much more livable condition--thank you for praying friends and family!!

* went for her first pregnancy related blood draw, of this pregnancy that is....least favorite milestone! ick!

* is soooo sleepy....sleepy.....*yawn
*was told twice this week that i "look like that girl from the notebook"

* is getting sick to death of our ultra liberal president and the decisions he is making.

* has an awesome 4 year old who we took bowling and watched as she got a spare!

* built a bear (ahem...pink monkey), bought lots of chick fil a happy meals and will be heading to the zoo AND on our first camping trip of the year with our besties

* heard some really excellent news for friends/family which is a giant sized answer to prayer!

* is expecting a visit from her parents this weekend!
* wishes she had some more gymbucks to spend....ah...gymbucks....
*off to pack as we leave for camp to-day!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Even Though It's Bordering On Obnoxious--A Smattering of Our Easter Photo Shoot Starring Maeve! Girl On The RUN!!

The first three are the ones we actually picked (they were cropped closer in studio and aren't as weirdly off-centered IRL) and the rest were either cute enough or funny enough that I like, had to show all of them. Ha!
Now: The best of the rest...












Wordless Wednesday


Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter Girls


Mission Impossible: Easter Pictures.

I think a re-take is in order! Ack!
(Excuse Amelie, she had some issues with her brand new too-tight-tights! ha!)

Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Polka Dot Brigade Alternately Titled: Three Of The Cutest Girls In The World

We had a lovely little breakfast this morning at church.
Amelie had fun with Hannah--comparing polka dots and swapping stories!
Hannah Girl and Amelie Cheesing for the camera during the Easter breakfast!
Ring a round the rosie!
Yay for friends and fun and food! Woot!

The Resurrection. (What Shelly Celebrates On Easter Has Nothing To Do With A Super Cute Bunny)

He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!
Mark 16: 1-7

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. 2Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

The Trial and Death Of Christ

Mark 15
Jesus Before Pilate
1Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2"Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate.
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

3The chief priests accused him of many things. 4So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of."

5But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

6Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

9"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, 10knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

12"What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.

13"Crucify him!" they shouted.

14"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

15Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
16The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18And they began to call out to him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" 19Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion
21A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. 22They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). 23Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
25It was the third hour when they crucified him. 26The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS. 27They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.[a] 29Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30come down from the cross and save yourself!"

31In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! 32Let this Christ,[b] this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus
33At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"[c]
35When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."

36One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.

37With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and[d] saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

40Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

The Burial of Jesus
42It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. 44Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 45When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 46So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Our Newest Friend

Thursday night our favorite Amish friends came to visit us and we finally got to meet their new baby!
Asher!
(Note his perfect little self. Love. Him.)
I know of 5 people who have all had babies in the last 3 weeks and all of those people had baby boys!
Have you noticed the same phenomenon?
They're everywhere!!
Maybe even the Wonderfuls will get a boy this time!
(Although, seriously, either would be more than perfect--I can't wait to see what the Lord has planned for us! Woot!)
My best friend, her baby and Amelie...of course....she's a bit of a photog-hog.
Ha!

And the brothers! (Seconds later Judah just about catapulted little Asher off his lap and my life flashed before my eyes. But everything was ok. =)
Yay for babies!