That's a lot of belly

Belly pics over the years:

Baby #3

Isaac C.

Audrey K.

Getting Ready

In the last few weeks we've been...

playing a lot of babies ~ I found her strolling her baby and pretending to drink a diet coke.  It totally cracked me up!  I think she's seen me do that many a time!

 raising the crib, putting the blue sheets away and getting the pink out!

 changing babies diapers.  Even Cousin Izzy got in on this job. 

 changing Audrey's room to Audrey & Isaac's room.  Out goes the double bed (sorry Audrey) and in goes two singles with some blue accents.  (I'll post the room update after the headboards on their beds come in)

booting Ike from his room and out of his crib.  He's done awesome with his bed transition!  He has done SO MUCH better than Audrey did when we switched her. 

creating a big mess in the kitchen but for good reason- stocking the freezer with frozen meals!  I bet I have 15 meals in the freezer ready to thaw and eat!  I'm pretty pumped about this!

Gymnast

We might just have gymnast on our hands. Baby girl did an amazing somersault inside my belly this morning. Yes, she was pretty much forced, proded, pushed and manipulated into doing that somersault but she made it and Mommy did too! Pretty sure I looked like I was having some sort of seizure on the table during this short (thankfully) procedure but it worked and it worked on the first time! Good job baby girl! Now, obey your Mommy and stay that way until you are ready ready to emerge.

Dear Baby Girl

Dear Sweet Baby Girl,

Your time in the womb is coming to an end in the next 23 days.  Whether you want to or not, you will be entering this world and into this family of 4.  Your sister is very excited to meet you and your brother is too- we think?  He just doesn't understand everything quite yet but he does give you many kisses many many times a day.  Your Mommy is getting tired and your Daddy is getting tired of Mommy being tired although he compliments her on not complaining quite often.  I think he's just glad he doesn't have that huge midsection. 

Well, the purpose of this letter is to tell you how much I love you and how much I long for you to obey- even at your very young age.  Now, without further ado- listen to your Mother and get head down- NOW. (oh yes, please) Because you are young and may not understand quite what I'm saying and need a visual- here's how you are sitting- all pretty, sitting straight up inside your Mother. 

THIS is how you are SUPPOSED to be.  Now do it. 

If you don't do it by yourself in the next 24 hours a doctor is going to have to push (HARD) on your Mothers belly with all his force (yes, it's going to hurt) and push your head down where it belongs.  If this doesn't work a knife is going to be inserted into your Mothers belly to extract you (in a week or two).  Please be a good little girl and obey your Mother.  I love you!

Back to Preschool

Audrey's last first day of preschool!  It was a much different, much better send off this year.  No tears, no worries, no grabbing at my leg, no running towards the door as I'm leaving- it was easy.  I barely got a "bye mom" out of her. 

The last link on her preschool chain!  We started with about 20 some links!  

 Daddy went and got Audrey biscuits & gravy for her back to school breakfast and then drove her in the Jeep to preschool!  (of course Ike had to go along too)

 She picked out her outfit (thanks Nana) for the first day.

 Posing with her Daddy.

 and then posing with her Mommy.  I'm sure she'll be very willing to pose with us in all her years of school.  ha HA

Wordless

Kid Museum

Last week we tried out the Kansas Discovery Museum in Topeka.  The kids had a ball for 3 hours straight.

We met cousins Garrett & Ashton & Aunt Casey.  

 Audrey working in the vehicle shop.  I liked that she didn't just play in the kitchen area- she's a well balanced girl. 

 Working in the restaurant with her flower face paint. 

 Building "something".

 Isaac playing in the grain area.  It was so fun to see him explore and learn. 

This museum comes recommended by three adults- Nana, Aunt Casey and I.  And by 5 energetic, fun loving kids. 

Little Buns on a Big Shelf

Where's Waldo?

There she is.  Just picking tomatoes.  Everytime she picks I tell her she's the best picker in the land.  And she is.  {maybe it's just that she's better than her Mother because she can actually bend down to get those little cherry tomatoes}

Rodeo Parade

The annual Rodeo Parade is held every July.  It's a time of FUN, candy & a definite sign of summer! 
Here's how our two children celebrated the parade:

Audrey was afraid of the clowns and anyone in a costume.  She also didn't like the emergency vehicles sirens.  So, she spent the majority of the parade with her ears covered and worried about those silly clowns. 

 Then there's Ike - we had to keep him out of the street.  He would run to retrieve candy and loved every sweaty, sticky minute of the parade. 

It's fun to see the differences in two kiddos from the same mold.  God sure has a sense of humor! 

15 minutes

When we lived in Kansas City and Chris was so busy with residency I took a organization class hosted by our church.  It was AWESOME!  I loved every minute of it.  We met every Monday evening for 4 months(we had homework each week and had to come back and share how our tasks went for that week)
One of the MANY things I learned in that class was the 15 minute rule.  You literally set your timer for 15 minutes and go around your home and pick up and put away.  That was it.  I used to do it quite frequently and then have gotten out of the habit.  Today looking at my home that was very NOT picked up and NOT put away I remembered the 15 minute rule.  So, while Ike's sleeping and Audrey's having quiet time I set the timer and went to work.  WOW, it's amazing how much better everything looks.  Now, if I can just remember to do this on a regular basis....

Ahhh

Ike was sulking, pouting, sticking his lip out because he wasn't getting his way.  Mommy is mean.  Audrey is a sucker and took pity on the poor two year old and this is how I found them. 

Oh, at least someone loves the little boy!