Our Little Gymnast

Last week was Abigail's last week of gymnastics at Carol Stream Park District. I am very happy we did this class...Abigail got a lot out of the class. She really gained confidence and developed a brave side to herself. She is climbing and crawling up things now. And you will randomly catch her doing a log roll in our family room. Here are some pics from our last class.



Abigail on the top of the podium getting her certificate.



She loved the tunnel.

Hula Hoops have LOTS of fun uses!

Abigail's "hands behind back" walking technique

Climbing


Abigail's dismount after a roll down the mat


Climbing through the obstacle course


Climbing out of the pit

15 Weeks

We are so excited that we have made it to week 15!!! We feel that we are in a very safe place and are so happy to start sharing all our happy news! I am warning...I will be doing LOTS of documenting. Anyone who knows me knows my greatest regret with Abigail's pregnancy was I didn't document it well. We kept a journal with little things like weight and milestones, but I seriously can not even find one picture where I have a belly (if you have one, I'd love to see it!) So this time, I am going to document everything. This will more than likely be our last pregancy so I don't want to forget a moment....

We found out about this pregnancy the day after St. Patrick's Day (March 18th) on the way to a dr's appointment. So we have been monitored since day 1 (literally). I have the most amazing doctor in the world...I can not say enough great things about him. He is so great!!! He is new but knows our background and understood how nerve-wracking the first trimester was for us, so he let me come in for weekly ultrasounds. I saw him week 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14! Lots and lots of ultrasound pics (I'll have to get some downloaded). Making it through week 10 was very exciting. We started sharing the news with our family at week 11 and with our friends at week 12. At week 12 we had an NT Scan done which showed the chance of the baby having downs syndrome was 1 in 48,000! Amazing odds, especially considering my odds from my age is 1 in 500. At week 14 I had a special ultrasound done at Central Dupage Hospital with my new perintologist (high risk specialist dr...I actually met him when I went into labor with Abigail). The concern is still why I had Abigail so early and what we can do differently this time. They checked my cervix and it looks great, thus so far, no cerclage (stitching my cervix closed...sorry dad, I know you hate this topic). I continue to be monitored every 3 weeks at the hospital along with every 2 weeks at my dr...so lots of drs visits...I LOVE it! I also start progesterone shots next week which has a 40% success rate of no preterm labor after a preterm labor.

I found this "checklist" thing below on a couple other blogs and thought it was a great way to keep track of what is happening each week. I included pics so I can see the "progression" of the belly...I really can't believe I'm posting these, it's really not my thing, but I don't want to miss it like I did with Abigail and this blog is my chance of scrapbooking (I will print this blog off once a year and have it put into a hardcover book so I can show it to Abigail and Lil W one day).


12 weeks

14 weeks

15 weeks

How far along? 15 Weeks
Total weight gain: 3 lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes to pants...Shirts can still go either way

Stretch marks? Nope
Sleep: Not too bad-wake up 3-4 times a night
Best moment this week: Had ultrasound at CDH and so far, no cerclage (stitches) for premature labor.

Movement: I can feel the little stinker once every other day or so

Food cravings: Peanut butter and jelly, gummi snacks
Gender: Surprise!!!
Labor Signs: Oh goodness...none yet!
What I miss: Really nothing, just so grateful!
What I am looking forward to: Feeling kicks
Weekly Wisdom: Document, document, document!!!!
Milestones: Making it to week 15...feels safe!

For those who are wondering...no, we will not be finding out the gender. We LOVED the surprise with Abigail and look forward to it one more time. There really are few surprises left in life and this is one for us! Right now I'm just enjoying knowing Abigail will have a sibling..and we will have our complete family! I made a promise to Little Sunshine that we'd make him a healthy body for him...and am so happy and grateful that we have been able to follow through with my promise!!!

I have some GREAT pics of Abigail including her last gymnastics class and her bathing suit modeling show (so cute) that I will post soon!!!! Have a great week!

Memorial Day Weekend

On Saturday, we headed up to Bass Lake for a BEAUTIFUL Weekend at Nana and Papa's cabin!!! The weather in Indiana was unbelievable...I didn't even pack swimsuits because I had no idea how warm it would be up there...but we improvised! Rob was able to go golfing 2 days this weekend. Abigail got her 1st ride in Uncle Al's speedboat...and LOVED it. She doesn't love boat rides but she LOVES speed boat rides! She also got a new sand/water table from Nana and Papa which was a BIG hit. She loved the water side...but not the sand side so much (everyone knows she hates to get dirty) but by the end of the weekend she figured out she could wash the sand off after she was done..so she started to enjoy the sand too! We also went to Uncle Al and Aunt Georgeanne's for a campfire on Sunday night. Chelsea was up there and did a firework display for Abigail. Aunt Georgeanne had special things for Abigail around the campfire. She sure had a great weekend full of 1sts!!!! Here are some pictures of our weekend....


Family Picture



Mommy and Abigail hanging out on the boat



Abigail and Papa looking for fish

Abigail and Nana

Daddy teaching Abigail how to drive the boat

Abigail LOVED honking the horn on the boat!

Daddy and Nana took Abigail swimming...she may be wearing nothing on the bottom! :)

Nana and Papa bought Abigail a new Sand/Water box. She LOVED the water side...and started to warm up to the sand side by the end of the weekend.

"Hey Guys...It's MY sandbox!!!!"

On Monday, we headed back early to go to a cookout at my parent's house. While the weather may not have cooperated, the afternoon was PERFECT! We had great food with great family! I forgot to take pictures....ugh...but you can imagine it was a great way to end the great Memorial Day weekend! Abigail always loves time with Grandma and Grandpa!!!

Thanks to everyone for making our Memorial Day weekend so special!!!!

"Hey Everybody...I have something to tell you!"

"Guess what everybody...I'm gonna be a big sister!"

Adventures of the Week

Abigail and I decided to try some new and some old favorite things this week...here are some pics of Monday through Wednesday!

The Waterpillar
Abigail got a new sprinkler...Reese and her had a blast playing...and the water was FREEZING! Lots of good times to come this summer!





(For real, isn't that the cutest little butt ever???)

Hiking at the Marsh
I've read about this marsh in Wheaton..so we ventured over to check it out this week. It was a GREAT morning. We hiked for over an hour (I had a stroller)...and it's attached to a very busy portion of the Prairie Path so we went for a walk there too. It's right by Cosley Zoo so of course we had to stop to visit a few of our favorite animals.


A mini-hiker

DuPage Children's Museum
Our old stand-by when the walls are closing down on us. We hit the museum on Monday knowing we'd be outside the rest of the week and we hit the jackpot...it was so empty so we had the run of the museum. It allowed Abigail to try some new things and test herself..she has gotten very brave lately so it was fun! Here are a few new pics.



Abigail's favorite area is where all the tubes blow air....she's so funny there!




Best Buddies!

Abigail got brave and ventured into the "tunnel in the sky" all by herself.

Grass

Abigail doesn't like grass...I know...we've talked about how she won't be able to play soccer if she doesn't get over it. So we spent everyday outside playing in the grass. She's getting better. Oh, and thanks Grandma for her new hat...she loves it and keeps it on, which means I love it even more!

Let's call this one...Trouble!

This week was a pretty low key week...but the last few pics will demonstrate why I titled this one "Trouble".


Abigail playing with her buddies!


Art project: Butterfly


The girls working hard.

Abigail and I have had our fill of being stuck inside. It's felt a little like Groundhog's Day the last few weeks...same toys, same meals, same ole same ole. We are both ready for nice weather to get her and stay for a change of pace. Abigail has been finding interesting ways to keep herself entertained....


I don't know why I laughed so hard at this...but Abigail got into the pantry and found her favorite Sesame Street Crackers and walked around the house for literally a half an hour eating out of the bag like they were potato chips....


Mommy should NEVER take a bathroom break...Abigail got into my purse. Man, I really can fit alot in my new purse..time for a cleaning! I guess she was helping me. I knew she was up to something cause I was washing my hands and I kept hearing my car in the garage lock and unlock....

We enjoyed a family night at Red Robin last night. Today (Saturday) Rob has to work in the morning so we are going to hit Woodfield for a change of scene....and tonight Abigail is going to Nana and Papa's so Mommy and Daddy can have a fun night. I think we are going to see Angels and Demons (the last movie we saw together was DiVinci Code) and then over to our local establishments Flip Flops with Ryan, Jenny, Kristine, Drew, and some other friends.....an adult night!!!! Sunday we are so excited because Rob's cousin from Arizona (who has lived her for over a year) is coming out for a BBQ! Can't wait to catch up!

Have a great weekend!!!

Mom's Day Weekend

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and soon-to-be moms!!! A special Mother's Day to our moms, grandma's, and godmothers in our lives!!!!! I had a wonderful mother's day...which included a manicure/pedicure, a new watch, gift certificate to pamper myself, flowers, clothes, and quality time with family and friends! Thank you to everyone for the great mother's day!!!!

Here are some pictures from last week and our special weekend!





Abigail and Luca toured Dinosaur Alive at Brookfield Zoo last week. They seemed to like the dinosaurs...while they sort of scared me and Racquel! Thanks Bryja's for the fun day at the zoo!



Abigail was feeling better so we decided to pay outside...she LOVES her no-spill bubbles from Aunt Julie.





In...Out...In...Out...That's how Abigail plays with her car. But she loves the car..and our local grocery store has a cart with a car in the front so know I can get all my grocery shopping done with a happy kid cause she drives the car through the store. It's very cute!


At Bass Lake this weekend

Let's compare....

Abigail in her life jacket 2009

Abigial in her life jacket 2008

Celebrating Great Nani's Birthday...Abigail loves to blow on her food (No matter what I put her on plate, she says "hot" and blows on it) so she was a big help with the cake! Happy Birthday, Great Nani!

4 Generations

Apparently Abigail is ready for Vegas! Papa taught her how to use the slot machines at Aunt Jam and Uncle Al's house...and she caught on too quick!!!!

Mama needs a new pair of flip flops!!!!

Lunch at La Tasca


4 generations

(I would like to point out that I always get frustrated with Rob because he has no patience with the camera and just snaps a picture and says "Good enough"....the proof is this picture. So I apologize for the poor picture...but it's how Rob takes pictures no matter now many times I say "Be patience, try it again"....)


Rob decided my grandma needed a horn for her walker so she could move around her home quicker...it was a big hit! My grandma thought it was hilarious and kept honking it...very cute! I'm sure she's gonna really annoy some people at her place...but she's 95, she can do what she wants!!!

This week is pretty low key with some fun visits with friends!!!! Fun posts to come!!!! I'd also like to point out that Abigail and I start Mommy and Me Dance Class in June (along with swim lessons)...I'm pretty sure I'm gonna make a fool out of myself in ballet...but I'm sure the pics will be GREAT!