4, 3, 2, 1....but who's counting?

Yes! Baby week is here! We are looking forward to meeting our little one this week...I'm counting down (but I've been counting down for a while now!). About 5 weeks ago (34 weeks prego), people starting saying, "Any day now, huh?". I would just have to grin and say "Hopefully!". Then 3 weeks ago, I was in Stillwater, walking across Main Street on a bustling Sunday afternoon with my mom, sister and Logan when someone yelled from their car, "Sure hope that baby is coming soon - like today!". Oh my gosh. Seriously?! My neighbor told me this weekend she has never seen anyone carry a baby as far out as I do. Well, what can I say...its my not-so-hidden talent, I guess! Anyway, I think its definately time to have this baby!

We have been really busy around here, wrapping up loose ends before the baby arrives. Our next door neighbor said "Oh cute, John is nesting!". John has really been working hard to make sure everything I want is complete and we're all set. We're getting so excited and just can't wait to meet this baby!

Everyone is asking us about names, but we've been back to a blank slate for a while now. We still have a couple girl names we like (Nora, Lucy), but boy names have been debated. My favorites (Bennett, Lucas) aren't John's favorites (Eli, Max), so its going to be a big surprise and hopefully it won't take us too long to name the baby when he/she arrives!

As for the next couple days, we are basking in our time with Logan, enjoying his supersilly nature. He is so vocal and we're really thinking that will be to our benefit when the new baby comes home. Logan is just a riot and keeps us laughing all day long. We've been enjoying the beautiful weather, spending lots of time all together outside.

Logan likes to find the baby - by lifting up my shirt. Its ok at home, but in public its a little weird!

I was actually thinking this week that I'm not as big as when I was pregnant with Logan, but after seeing this photo of myself, I am not so sure!

Please pray for a safe delivery and a very healthy, happy baby! Thanks to everyone!

Look at me!

Logan is quite the little showstopper lately. He loves attention and puts on a good show! Here are a few photos from this week.

Logan has this little stroller and he loves to push all his animals around. This purple hippo is from the YL office and we don't really know where is came from, but Logan wanted to bring it home one day and its been a passenger in the stroller ever since!

My mom was here for a couple nights this week while John was away at Work Week at Castaway in Detroit Lakes, MN. She found these cute Sesame Street tees at Nordstrom and couldn't resist. Logan LOVED them, but it was a crisis because he didn't know which to wear first: Elmo or Grover. He is familiar with both from books he's had since he was a baby ("Baby Elmo", and "There's a Monster at the End of this Book"). Now he gets to watch Sesame Street sometimes, so that has certainly increased the interest. In this photo, Logan wanted a picture of just Elmo...

Logan's personality: crazy! He is especially funny with my mom around - she brings out the silly in him!

Logan loves glasses - he usually wants us to wear them, but he was pretty into these crazy blue glasses this day!

Elmo!

For the amount of time my mom spends with Logan, I don't have the photos to show it. I tried to get Logan to get a picture with Nana and this is what I got! He's just too busy to stop for a photo op.

The next day, Logan wore the Grover shirt - phew...crisis averted! Once again, he was super silly! We had a great day and John got home, so that was even better!

John brought this YL headband home for Logan from a previous work trip...Logan actually loves running around in it and is especially show-offy!!

And, of course, playing hockey....!!

Playing Golf with Dad

Ups and Downs

Our weekend has been full of ups and downs...hopefully we're all on the up-swing now. The weekend started out with our friend, Dave coming over late at night from White Bear Lake to help John with the final phase of our lower level project: crown molding. The guys were able to spend some time catching up on Thursday evening and then were up bright and early with Logan and I on Friday to begin the project. Thanks Dave! While the guys worked, Logan and I traveled to Menomonie to meet my good friend Carrie for coffee. Logan was super and loved playing with Carrie. She just graduated med school and is off to Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband, Josh (also a doctor) for residency.

Saturday this house woke up to a very sick Mommy...just a reminder that moms don't get built-in sick days. Luckily John was home and more than willing to spend lots of time with Logan. The boys played outside, worked outside, had a picnic outside - all of Logan's favorite things! I got some extra sleep that was much-needed! Since the resident photographer (me) was in bed most of the weekend, I don't have many photos to show...

Logan helping John pick weeds. Its amazing what toddlers find fun that we hate as adults! Last fall John removed all the landscape rock and material from the back of the house to dig the trench for the gas line for the fireplace...now I guess we'll have to put everything back!

"Water?" Logan kept running over to the faucet, pretending like he was going to turn it on, and then run back over to John for a hug. We can't get enough of moments like these!

Playing with Dad = big smiles!

Around 2am on Sunday morning, I went into the ER because of shortened breath and chest pains. I woke up and starting reading about it and decided I better get it checked out. So, after several tests, everything serious (blood clots, lung infection, pneumonia) was ruled out and it was concluded a side effect of my upper respiratory infection. So, they were able to give me some medication safe for the baby to help this infection pass as quickly as possible. The baby is coming so soon...I would hate to be sick! Once again, this morning John let me sleep in as long as I needed while the boys went to the park, ran errands, picked up my medication, and had lunch. It was great to get so much rest - hopefully I can stay far enough away from John and Logan to keep them healthy. A big thanks to John, he really is Superdad. He did all of this with Logan while still finishing the crown molding (with help from Bob), keeping the house in order, washing the cars, and so much more! Thanks honey!

John and Logan picked up this card for me and some yummy chocolate while they were out. So special - it made me feel better right away!

My tired boy...

This is Logan at 10:30 this morning. Already asleep on the couch. What a tired boy. Amidst a busy schedule, a new lingering cold, and the summer-like weather, Logan has been especially tired. (Me too...in fact, I'm on my way to join in on this lovely nap...)

Young Life 08-09

This is our outstanding group of volunteer Young Life leaders, committee, and advocates in the Chippewa Valley! This is an exciting time for us with lots of growth in the near future and we're blessed to have this group of people to walk with us, loving kids and Christ. THANK YOU to all who make Young Life possible!

Sure Sign of Spring

Its a sure sign of spring when Parks & Rec summer leagues start up! John is playing on a co-ed softball team with lots of friends again this summer, so it will be fun! Logan's fever broke on Monday, so we were on the mend. We got to get out and go to John's softball game on Monday night and it felt good to get out and run around! We even went to the ballpark early so Logan could play a little catch with John before warm-ups.

Feeling better...all smiles!


Logan is pretty good at throwing, but catching is a work-in-progress!

Pre-game hugs. The best kind of good luck! And, John's team is 2-0, so they're off to a great start!