getting messy

 I am really not a messy projects kind of person...especially with kids.  BUT...I do have a toddler and I want her to experience things even if they aren't so convenient for me.  Today it started to rain when we were at the park so we headed home to do some finger paint.  I am ashamed to say this is the first time I have ever done finger painting with Heidi.

 Heidi doesn't love being a mess so she was quite hesitant at first and I had to really encourage her to get going.  Yes, she's the type that doesn't like to have anything on her hands or face (although she did do quite well with the birthday cake).  The second she has something on her fingers she wants it off.  Once she got busy, she (almost) completely forgot about what a mess she was.  I was so glad I got the paint out today, because she had a lot of fun.

Of course she had just as much fun standing at the sink laughing that she was nakie while she washed her hands.  For twenty minutes after the paint she kept saying, "Heila all clean now!"  I have a feeling we'll be taking the paint out quite a bit as the weather turns!

Oh my belly

Okay, so part of me can't believe I am even posting how incredibly huge I am, but when Heidi wanted to share some stickers from her great-grandma with her sister I just had to take a picture.  Ever since she has been able to feel the baby constantly moving, she is obsessed with her...that is sure to end when the baby comes out and she has to share attention, but for now, it warms my heart.

This is going to sound bad, but I am not even completely sure how many weeks along I am.  Does that give you an idea of how crazy I feel lately?   With Heidi I knew exactly how many weeks and how many days.  I think I am 28 weeks but I might be 29?  Either way, at the last appointment I was measuring a week big and that was enough to just make me feel lousy about myself!  They just shouldn't tell a pregnant woman that.  So I am thinking this baby is going to be totally opposite of tiny little Heidi since with her I always measured 1-2 weeks small.  I was barely even wearing maternity clothes at this point.  I had this hope that I would be one of the rare few who get smaller babies each time, but it doesn't appear to be going that way...nuts. I just really, really hope I can get back into a regular running routine once she comes and we are feeling settled in our new place.

Other than being huge, the pregnancy is going fine.  I don't make the greatest pregnant lady, but I am trying not to complain because I feel so lucky to have another child.  It's funny how your perspective changes when you have to fight just to have one.  The migraines have gone down from 2-3 times a weeks to 2-3 times a month so that's a blessing.  I really think the hardest thing is just that Heidi still wants to be held a great deal and I have to bend over to pick things up more often than I did when pregnant with her.  But really, I do feel much better than I did a month ago and I love feeling this little one practice gymnastics all day.

I am hoping we are in the house at least a day before she is born, but more than that, I wish we were in right now!  I want to be getting the nursery ready and get Heidi settled in a big girl bed.  It feels like our lives are on hold.  Since I can't just make the house appear, I will just have to learn to be grateful for what I have now and the time I have to give Heidi all of my attention.  

Happy Birthday, Heidi!

For the last week or so we have heard Heidi singing, "Happy Birthday, Heidi!  Happy Birthday to you!"  She was very much anticipating her second birthday.

The day has finally arrived!!  We are so incredibly in love with our chatty little two-year old and could not feel more blessed to have her in our home.

We did the actual celebrating yesterday.  Grandpa and Grandma H came up.  We went to the mountains in the morning and got a load of wood.

Then we came home and Heidi made her requested birthday lunch--pizza.  She loves pizza, but she likes making it more.  She got to show grandma how she puts the pepperoni on.

 This year we ended up buying a cake.  Half of my baking things are in storage and it was just...well, easier.  She couldn't have been more pleased wtih her little farm cake.

Of course she loved the way it tasted it...especially the frosting.  She couldn't get enough and even started licking the frosting that spilled on her arm off.

 Then she got really excited because she realized that the frosting was turning everyone's tongue blue.  She of course had blue all over her entire mouth.

Licking the frosting off of her arm.

 Heidi was thrilled to have grandpa and grandma in town!  She has seen a lot of them this summer and is really enjoys their company!

 Why is it that grandparents always manage to find the best presents?  Heidi loves her new little piano and especially the microphone.  She keeps singing as loud as she can into it:  "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"  It is so hilarious.  I wish I knew how to upload video.

 Heidi has also been playing non-stop with her legos...and so has her dad.  They are having fun building all sorts of neat things.

More presents

Heidi was just so cute with everything and we all had so much fun watching her excitement throughout the day.  We might be sticking two candles in everything for a little while because she is pretty excited about being two and even more excited to tell people that she is two now.  I don't know where the time has gone, but we sure love this little girl and can't believe we have been lucky enough to have her for two whole years!

lately

Can you tell the sun is a little bright?

 I haven't posted in a little while, but to be honest I haven't been home a whole lot.  Here's what we have been up to:

1. We have been to Utah a few times for doctor appointments.  Everything appears to be fine, but I am measuring big...ugh.  Total opposite of pregnancy with Heidi.
2. I turned 31.
3. I went on a quick trip to California to visit family and friends.  Just Heidi and I went since Jeff had to work and I decided I just couldn't handle another week of being alone in our apartment.
4. Jeff got a promotion in his company.  He will be going back to straight days.  He is so excited for the new opportunity and I am excited to see him a little more often, although it will make middle of the week errands a little harder to run.

 Heidi and I flew to California on my birthday.  She LOVED the airplane and was an absolute angel.  Of course California was having record level heat, but at least my parents and the hotel had a pool.  My best friend from high school made a special trip to come visit.  We had so much fun catching up and of course she thought my little Heidi was a doll.

 Heidi had fun playing with a real phone.  I unplugged it of course...she called her daddy repeatedly.  It was too cute.

 My parents have lots of fun pool toys but this little floatie was a favorite. Who knew Heidi would spend so much time in the water this summer?  I should have invested in a few swimming suits.

 Heidi was absolutely in love with my little sister, Melissa.  She cried anytime she left her sight.  It was so precious.

 Heidi even convinced Melissa to crawl around the entire pool like a baby...Heidi's new favorite game.

When I got home I was excited to see the roof on our house.  Let me tell you, it could not be finished soon enough.  It probably isn't going to be done before the baby comes in November, but I am still crossing my toes, fingers, arms, and legs.

So there is the quickest version I could give of our lives the last few weeks.  The next thing is hopefully scheduling a trip to Idaho to visit my grandparents before summer ends.  I am hopeful that the busier we stay, the quicker it will seem before we get in the house!

sweet tooth

 Heidi has a really bad sweet tooth and I am just praying she was blessed with Jeff's metabolism.

 The other day we made cookies to put in Jeff's lunch and I let Heidi lick the beater for the first time.  She was in heaven and would have held onto that thing forever if I would have let her.

Then today while I was talking to the neighbor she found Jeff's lunchbox.  (Please excuse her post nap hair). He is on graves and likes to take treats to keep himself awake. This is what happens when she eats an entire Riesen all by herself.  She was so proud of her messy face and couldn't wait to wake her dad up to show him what she had done.  If only I could her as excited about her vegetables as she is about sugar.

scouting for wood

 So if you know us you know we wouldn't dream of building a house without a wood burning stove.  People think we're crazy, but we beg to differ.  Yes, it's a lot of work to get the wood a couple of times a year, but let me tell you--there is no other kind of heat than the kind you get from a good wood burning stove!  Not only that, but you never have to worry about depending on the gas company to provide your heat...let's be honest, anything could happen these days, plus it saves a ton of money during the cold winter months.  We are extra excited now that going to get wood will be sooo close and easy.  We decided to go see where a good place to cut this year might be and of course used it as just another opportunity to be in the beautiful Uintas.

We of course took the four wheeler and took the little munchkin for a few rides.  We brought a picnic lunch and rode the wheeler down to the river and ate lunch there.  This little thing could sit by the river for hours upon hours and that is not an exaggeration.  I think she threw every rock within reach into the river so she could watch them splash.  Then she moved onto sticks and watched them float.  Of course I forgot to bring the camera while we were on our little picnic, but I tried to snap a picture before we got loaded in the truck. I have a feeling our little Heidi is going to be a camping girl.

splash park

 We were very sad to leave our old town because we didn't want to leave all the parks...especially the splash park.  Once we get in our house and have a yard and sprinklers we will be just fine, but this summer we have been craving splash park days.  I have taken Heidi up and she loves it it...plus it is a great excuse for me to get together with friends I miss.

 This time Jeff had the day off so we were so excited he could come along.  We met up with Heidi's friend Kaiden.  They had fun throwing rocks while they waited for the splash park to turn on.

 Kaiden taught Heidi how to stand on the little circles and now that is all she wants to do!  Love seeing these two play together.

 I can't believe what a big girl Heidi is turning into.  Last summer she wouldn't go near the water and this summer she loves it.  Granted she tries to keep herself on the outskirts and likes to just be sprinkled, but seriously that is a HUGE step for this cautious little bug.

And of course there were a few tears.  Mostly because ever since we moved the separation anxiety from mom has gotten unbearable.  Someone didn't want their mom sitting visiting with friends even though dad is way more fun in the water than mom.  Sigh.  I really don't know how to break her of this.  When Jeff is home he takes her to the park alone and plays with her while I am busy and she is just fine.  Then the next day it's like starting all over again.  Having a new baby is going to be a tough adjustment for our little one, but it might be the one thing that will cure her!  :)