Halloween

Despite our last week, Elie and I did make it to the pumpkin patch with my mom. (pictures TBA) It was more like a small fair than a pumpkin patch, but Elie of course had a blast and went on the pony ride twice (one time she chose the full size horse). She picked out her pumpkin and then we brought it back to my parents. She was so thrilled with her pumpkin!

Of course, when Daddy does the carving it turns out fabulous!




Here are some pictures of Kari and Jenn's Halloween Party. Nick and I had been planning for months to make Elie be Einstein for Halloween, but when it came down to it I couldn't make it to Goodwill for the sweater vest. Instead, she chose to be an "eclectic ballerina" notice the striped tights, tutu and patchwork skirt. Needless to say, she dressed herself. Nick was a serious cowboy and after hours of trying to figure out what I should dress up as I decided to just to dress up. I actually felt good about myself in the first time in a while. Maybe I should wear make up and do my hair more often...

Elie, Grace and Betsy had a wonderful time at the party switching costumes and playing dress up. I don't think they actually ever joined the party. Although they were having an underwear dance party, so I don't think they suffered from a lack of fun.

If you do not want to hear whinning and complaining, Stop Reading NOW.

We got home on Wednesday after being gone for an emotional, long week away. When I came home all I could think about was how much stuff I needed to do before the baby came and even prayed that God would give us a few days to readjust to life at home. Well, 7 loads of laundry, two clean bathrooms and a few trips to the store later and I am ready. Two more weeks. I should be thrilled that I am so close. I have made it through the last 38 weeks. I should be more optimistic, but all I can think is ug two more weeks. My whole body hurts. Poor Elie is definitely getting the short end of the stick. Today I fell asleep in her closet while she was playing with her dolls (not a good idea for a pregnant woman to fall asleep on the floor) and then 15 minutes later I was snoring away in her bed. (That was one was mostly her fault since she is the one who put me in there.) I am just lucky I have an amazing kid who can entertain herself for 15 minutes at a time and stay out of trouble for those brief intervals that I am unconscious. I am just so anxious to meet this little one. I want to know how much our lives will change and is this baby a boy or a girl? And what were we thinking not finding out the gender?!!? We were totally selfish and didn't even consider Elie. She is the most rock brained, single minded two year old I have ever met. She refuses to even consider the fact that this child could possibly be a boy. "I want it to be a girl, Momma" that is all I hear all day. If she even hears someone using the pronoun "he" she is quick to correct them. I only pray that if this child is a boy, Elie will fall so madly in love with him that she won't even care.

Children's Museum

While we were mourning the loss of daddy/husband this weekend to the hunt for deer, Elie and I decided not to feel sorry for ourselves and sit at home. Beth and Jack met us at the Children's Museum and Elie had a blast! Here are some of the highlights.


Little corporate woman in the making...



Or possibly cook?


This is her "I'll say cheese to placate you, but I am really not feeling it" face



Does the "x" on the ticket mean anything particular about the show I wonder?



Practicing her real life concert on a real life stage



Face Painting. This and the water were the two things she wanted to do before we go there. The painting didn't add up to her expectations and she barely was there long enough to make up her face.



Once again proving to women everywhere that sometimes the outfit is more important than the task.



Classic Beth, never too young to dive right in and play.



By far Elie's favorite place at the museum. She LOVED the grocery store. She is ringing up Jack's Challah bread (for the 15th time)

Here you go Meagan...

35 weeks with Elie (notice the beautiful stretch mark free belly)


I have 5 stretch marks on the side of my tummy which my beautiful daughter lovingly refers to as my "hands"



So, I am pretty much a horrible mother. With Elie, we took regular pictures of my growing belly. With this one, well this is the only one I have so far and we took it last week. I have thought about it a few times, but never got around to actually taking any pictures. So sad.

35 weeks

Evening of Pampering

Last night after Elie went to bed I was looking for something in one of our boxes still unpacked. It was a box full of bathroom supplies that we really hardly ever use, and while I was looking for my hydrogen peroxide I found my Satin Hands and my face mask and thought to myself "why not." So I filled the tub up steaming hot, put mud on my face, grabbed a candle and a book and treated myself to an evening of relaxation. It was very nice and well deserved (if I do say so myself). I am getting so anxious and impatient to meet my new little one. It occurred to me while I was in the bath that more than likely the next time I will be sitting in a hot bath I will be mere breaths away from holding this baby in my arms. That was both comforting and frustrating. Hopefully that day is sooner rather than later.

CHRISTMAS!!!!!

I just suddenly became overwhelmingly excited for Christmas! I have a lot of my shopping done already (so proud of myself). If only this baby would come and then it will be Thanksgiving and then trees and carols and cookies and then CHRISTMAS!!!! And I'll have TWO kids this Christmas. Amazing. My parent's grandkids doubled this year!

Death by Target

Now that we live in Albany, Elie and I have been frequenting Target. It is a nice outing for us and it is good timing (or bad depending on how you look at it) since it is the changing of seasons and new clothes are needed. Target clothes are so cheap that is difficult not to buy more than she needs. Especially since she has become quite the shopper. She loves clothes. Yesterday, Elie grabbed a pink sparkly belt and gushed "oh momma it is SO beautiful and bright. Please may I have it?" (yes, she actually said may) It is so hard not to buy her everything she wants when she talks like that. When I actually break down and buy her something (i.e. the cute $10 dollar dress in the pic) she can't wait to wear it and is so excited about it. When she put this one on this morning she said to me "thank you momma, I love it so much. It is so cute." This next kid had better be a boy.


spinning in her new dress

Shhh... don't tell Nick

So, I was brushing my fingers through Elie's hair the other day and couldn't get through the end of it. I decided to cut her hair. I gave Nick fair warning, but he was pretty set on her not getting her hair cut until she was at least 11. I tried to tell him that in the end it would be better for her hair... Anyway here are some before and after pictures. I cut maybe 3 cm off of the ends. Here is to hoping he doesn't even notice.


before (above) all straightened out



after

Happy Tuesday

above is the creepy face Elie made when I told her to be frustrated




This is Angry (i wish she looked like that when she was angry, it would be a LOT easier to keep my cool)



This I think was mad. I don't know the difference between mad and angry besides the scary factor.

So Nick and I got a fabulous weekend minus Elie thanks to the Kikers last weekend. Larissa watched Elie and Nick and I spent the day downtown Portland and saw Ragtime. We had a great time and I desperately needed the weekend away. Lucky for me, Elie more than made up for my break and has been the quintessential two year old. Almost constant screaming and defiance. Hopefully it doesn't last. Here were a few bright points in our last two days though...

Ballerina Cowgirl. She has not been wanting to pose for pictures lately.


I caught Elie in the bathroom doing her and Tallullah's hair. In this picture, Elie has 9 barettes in her hair. So pretty.

weekend away!

Nick and I got back from two nights away from Elie! It has been over a year since we have been able to get away for a few days and I needed it. Especially with the baby coming and this whole month being "hunting widow" month. I don't know when we will have a relaxing, family weekend before the baby. We had our lodgings for free (thanks to the Kikers) so we spent all our money on food! It was wonderful. We had Melting Pot fondue for dinner and then had a "chocolate bag" (exactly what it sounds like- a bag made of chocolate filled with white chocolate mousse and berries) afterwards. We hit Ikea, drove all over downtown Portland and ended Saturday night with Ragtime at Portland Center Stage. All in all it was relaxing (although my feet were KILLING me by Saturday night) and Elie and Larissa both made it through the weekend. I just hope that the month of October can go by quickly, but that we can all appreciate every minute of it.