First Solo Outing

Yesterday was my first solo outing with both of the girls. First of all, I'll tell you that it took me 2 hours+ to get out the door. I feed Elsie, changed Anna out of her pjs, got myself showered and ready, then I had to feed Elsie again (seriously, the child loves to eat), took Lilly outside, packed the diaper bag, loaded the kiddos into their car seats, and I was so exhausted we almost had to come right back into the house! Just kidding, I was ok - but it did take two hours. No joke there!
We headed to Yorktown mall. Even thought I had never been there before, I know that there is a train for Anna to ride in the middle of the mall. I thought I could check out the mall, and get Anna a little bit of much needed entertainment. It's a decent mall with some good stores. We stopped at Gymboree (matching shirts for the girls, let the fun begin!) and also AT Loft and The Gap for me. It was so nice to be able to walk in a clothing store and actually have the option to buy a new shirt or two. (which I did)
I have to give a great big thanks to the Oskay family, as they are letting us borrow their double stroller. The thing is a tank...I am super serious when I say that. I can barely lift it in and out of car, it must weigh 40 lbs. And I am not the best navigator behind the thing while pushing it through the stores and the racks of clothes. But it allows me to get both girls out of the house at the same time without trying to hold Elsie while Anna is in a stroller or drag Anna along while Elsie is in a stroller. I am very thankful!
We were only gone for about two hours, but it chopped up my long day at home - and practice makes perfect, right? I am so going to be a professional mall mom by the end of maternity leave.

Elsie's Homecoming

Anna was so sweet the day that we came home from the hospital. She was curious and so loving all at the same time. (which she continues to be on an everyday basis) She insisted on helping Matt to carry her new sister into the house.

Elsie

Haircut

Anna's hair was getting so long, so my dad took her to get a trim last week. It is super cute now, and although she cried throughout the entire haircut I think she really likes it!

My sister and me

New Stroller

Anna received a baby stroller from Jessica for her first birthday, and it has gotten some major use! In fact, I think it rolled 150, 000 miles over the weekend. The thing is literally falling apart, and so I decided she is in desperate need of a newer model. Mom and I headed out to Target yesterday afternoon with both girls (my big outing of the day) and we found this great stroller for just a few dollars. Anna insisted on holding the new stroller through the store and also on the way home. She was so tuckered out that she fell asleep on our way back to the house.

Big Sister Visitor

Matt and I anxiously waited for Anna to visit us in the hospital on Tuesday morning, the day after Elsie was born. It was so great to see her, and she did a wonderful job as a first time big sister! Since we have been home she continues to do a great job. She is interested and so helpful, but not smothering to Elsie. For that, I thankful and impressed with her.

Halloween

I didn't get a chance to post about Halloween yet, so here is some pictures of our little stinker. Anna had great fun walking from house to house saying trick or treat. (and please and thank you) We had a little bit of a hard time getting her into the costume, but once we were out the door she had so much fun. She was mesmerized with the candy in her bucket, asking for "help please" to unwrap so that she could eat it along the way. We also carved our pumpkins that afternoon.

Introducing!

Elizabeth "Elsie" Mae Gibson

8 pounds, 7 ounces, 20 1/2 inches

Born at 319 pm.

Final Countdown

We are on the final countdown until 'sister' arrives! I am getting more nervous as the days pass, but not about taking care of the baby because I know I can do that. I am nervous about having surgery and the recovery from it. I hope the recovery is easier this time than it was when Anna was born. (which the Dr promises me it will be) I am trying to concentrate on spending time with Anna as a distraction to this awful thumb twiddling time. We have been buds - playing kitchen, doing puzzles, reading books, and watching a little bit of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse too. It's been a lot of fun, and it is hard to imagine that our little family of 3 is about to be a family of 4.

Playing in the leaves

Matt and my dad made a huge pile of leaves for Anna to run and jump into to a few weeks ago. She had a blast getting a running start and then launching herself into the leaves. It was a perfect day outside too - so fall and so fun.

Timber

Anna is loving our bed these days. Sleeping, snuggling, jumping and falling. One of her favorite things to do right now is to exclaim "Oh No, Oh No!" and then she falls face forward or straight back.

Bump Watch!

I've had some requests for an updated bump picture, so here you go. Oh yea, that's the baby bump on the right - the left is just my bum bump! (also growing) I am doing pretty good these days, and very thankful that the end is in close sight. We have been finishing up projects around the house and I have been organizing baby clothes and storage bins and cupboards and anything else I can get my hands on. My mom was over the other day, and she exclaimed that I am in full nesting mode after she found me cleaning the coasters on the coffee table. (in my defense, they were dirty!) The house project list included new windows, which were installed this week. They are awesome, but it was a HUGE mess in the house after they were installed. We had construction dust everywhere, on every single surface. It was a nine months preggo's worst nesting nightmare ever. I'll just say that I cried a lot about the "what if I go into labor tonight and my house is a disaster?" aspect of it. We cleaned top to bottom for two nights in a row, which makes me feel better! Countdown is 11 days left, phew...all of this nesting has got me tired.

The Birth Order of Children

Your Clothes:
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing for the Birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby: You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

The Layette:
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, color-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress - a whimper, a frown - you pick up the baby.
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing..

Pacifier:
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering:
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities:
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd ba by: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaner.

Going Out:
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your
Older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children.

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays. 2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

Sweet Girl

My sweet 2 year old out enjoying the day and her new trike.