Alex is 2!!!!

Alex and I both had great birthday celebrations! 

Mine was supposed to be a little more low key, but my wonderful office surprised me with a surprise birthday/baby shower party.  They had streamers decorated with baby items and cards, and balloons ALL OVER the office.  It was such a great surprise, and totally unexpected.  I thought they would do our usual small cake and card that we tend to surprise each other with, but certainly not this.  Agnes had even created a flowchart poster for taking care of baby #3, in honor of my procedure-happy habit of making flowcharts for everything in our office. :)

On my actual birthday, we decided to go out to dinner (me, Cliff, kids, Vovo, Grammy, & Grandpa - Voovoo was in Brazil).  It was nice and low key, perfect for an evening out with still plenty of time to get the kids home and in bed and have a little relaxing time afterward.

For Alex's actual birthday, I made him cupcakes to take to his class at school.  The teachers invited Ava to join his class to sing happy birthday to him, so she got to participate too.  Then we also had a little birthday party for him on the weekend - we had invited a few friends too, but most had plans.  It turned out great!  We had great weather, great company (Andy, Leslie & the boys, Vovo & Voovoo, Tia Chris, Grammy & Grandpa), great food, and great fun.  The kids all played super well together, and it was so nice to have Andy, Leslie, Greyson, Asher, and Quinn come over to spend the day.  Leslie was so great to even come over a little early to do some maternity photos for baby #3, just staying true to tradition as she did photos for my pregnancies with Ava and Alex.  I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day!

I still can't believe my little guy is already 2!  He is sweet, kind, happy, simpatico, smart, loves to laugh, loves his sister, and is such a wonderful blessing.  I just love this kid!

Alex LOVES his sister!!

When picking up Ava and Alex from school today, Alex's teacher told me such a sweet story about these two. 

When Alex's class went outside to play Ava was still in her ballet class, so Alex just sat outside at a little picnic table waiting patiently. As soon as he saw her come outside, he ran to Ava to give her a hug.  She then took him by the hand and they walked over to play on the playground together with their friends.  His teacher was so touched by their sibling love that she couldn't help but share this little story, she said she had never seen a bond like theirs. ;)

So sweet!

Pregnancy update - 35 weeks

We're getting closer!  We are now at the 35 week mark, and everything is still looking great. 

I've been able to slow down my weight gain by a little bit by eating a little healthier, more fruits and veggies, and indulging a little less on the sweets and breads.  I had been on track to gain about 40 pounds with this little one, but that would be just too much weight on me - I was starting to get concerned that it might make labor and delivery more difficult.  I gained about 25 pounds with Ava, then about 35 pounds with Alex (but I started out underweight with him, so in the end I was the same final weight as I was with Ava), so I didn't want to go overboard with this little one.  Fortunately my food choices along with a little insulin resistance techniques have helped to slow down my weight gain to a more normal (for me) progression.

God has truly blessed us with amazing little ones and with amazing pregnancies.  This time around I've also been able to keep doing pilates/yoga throughout the pregnancy.  I was going to keep going as long as I could, and so far I've still been able to keep it up.  With Ava's pregnancy, I was able to workout doing my samba classes until I got a kidney stone around 5 months in.  With Alex's pregnancy, I was just too tired and my main exercise was just chasing Ava.  So I've been pretty happy to be able to keep working out with this little one, since it also helps me get focused and ready for labor.

I noticed the other day that the picture log I have been keeping periodically shows quite an amazing belly progression.  Every week I wonder how I could possibly get any bigger and make more room for this little one, but somehow it becomes possible!  Pregnancy is such an incredible journey!

                 14 weeks                         22 weeks                         29 weeks                               35 weeks

There's still time for guesses though, so bring them on!!  Girl or boy? Birth date? Weight? Length?  Your guess is as good as mine! :)

Little friends' birthday party

This weekend we were invited to our neighborhood friends' kids' birthday party.  Ava and Alex love playing with Lila and Jett and were so excited to go to their party.  Little did we know that there was going to be entertainment at the party in the form of a snake show-and-tell!  The funny thing is that Ava was all into it, but Alex not so much.

Ava totally surprised me in being willing and wanting to hold the different snakes!  She was totally into learning what the snake teacher guy had to say, and had no fear.

 

Ava totally surprised me by how grown up she seemed in paying so much attention to the lesson.  I can't believe she is almost four! 

 

Ava also made me so proud when two other little girls were not being nice and were telling her that she couldn't play on the jungle gym with them.  They were saying she was too little and not old enough, even though really they were all about the same age.  Ava's response was simply "you girls are not being nice, I don't want to play with you".  They were so taken by surprise, that her response just shut them up!  She didn't whine, didn't cry, didn't shout or get upset, she just stated it in a very objective and calm tone.  Since I had been watching the whole thing, I told her what a good job she did.  She was right, the girls were not being nice, so we went find some friends who would play nicely with her.

 

Sometimes she is just such a mature little girl! I can't believe she is getting so big!