How we do...

So apparently the word is out on some of our favorite activities. We've been doing this since the fall and recently every where is getting more and more crowded with moms and their tots! I'm happy for these moms because I understand how much we need these things to get us out of the house, but it's getting crazy! So I figured since the word is out anyway, I'd invite you all too!

So here's what our weekly plan roughly looks like.

On Mondays...

Monday is usually our free day where we participate in unscheduled activities. These include:

The Living Planet Aquarium, The Bean Museum at BYU, and the mall tree house playground.

The Aquarium is $18 for an adult yearly pass and $14 for kids over 2...a whole year!

The others are FREE (click links for hours)

On Tuesdays...

We love to go to Story/Lap Time at the Orem Library from 10-10:30AM.

We do lap games, songs, and stories and Etta just loves it.

FREE

On Wednesdays and Thursdays...

Etta and I love to go to Jump On It! They have a mommy and me time from 10-11AM on both these days for kids 5 and under. The first kid is $3, each additional kid is $2, and moms are free. She loves being around all the kids and it tires her out big time!

On Fridays...

We go to Provo Library Mother Goose Time from 11AM-12PM. We love Orem story time but this one at Provo is so fun so we never miss it. It's a whole production with songs, dancing, stories, puppet shows, and more. We love it!

FREE

When there's other free time we take lunch to dad and watch the volleyball players practice, have play dates with friends, dance to our favorite songs, watch YBCR, go on nature walks collecting different items, and do our "Slow and Steady Get Me Ready". All FREE!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share so whenever you all want to join us you can and know that there are things to get you of the house in the winter that don't cost and arm and a leg. I really feel so strongly that it's important for our children's development to get out and do stimulating activities and important for our sanity. Comment or call me if you have any questions, want to come, or have other fun things you all do!

Baby Time!

My sweet sweet friend Beth threw me a little girlfriends brunch baby shower. We went to Magleby's Fresh, downed french toast, chatted, opened presents, ate Beth's amazing cupcakes, and had a wonderful time. Thank you so so much to Beth and to everyone for coming to support and celebrate my growing family. Unfortunately it's mostly just pictures of me...but you get to see some of my cute gifts too!

We had an intense word search game...I really wanted to win. And look at my cute niece.

Ooo, Aubrey wants it you can tell...but Rachel won!

Apparently this had to be mine to coordinate with the many scarves I'm always wearing.

W for William!

Thanks again everyone, it was so fun to get out for an afternoon with my girlfriends with out my little sweetie and just relax. Can't wait for little Liam!

Budding Beckham

Ok, so this isn't my belly but I thought it was pretty much the best, weirdest, and most disturbing thing I've ever seen. Seriously what we go through in the child bearing process is so bizarre. Have you seen the movie alien? Not a far stretch my friends. I have spent many a night thinking this little guy was going to find some way to bust out before his time. No joke, had I had a camera on hand I'm sure there are a few times my belly has looked just like this. 

With Etta I had to do "kick counts" because she was so chill in there we were constantly worried if she was OK. Well this little Juninho wannabe leaves nothing to be concerned about. There's no question that he is one healthy boy. I actually asked the doctor if something could be wrong...if he's trying to tell me something with all the crazy movement. I'm telling you since like 5 months it's been 24/7 kicking, rolling, punching, stretching, spasming, flipping insanity. This boy just might be more than I can handle. 

So if you can see my stomach bubbling, mutating, and morphing into strange shapes from across the room, don't be alarmed...apparently every thing's fine. This baby just floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.

Babies and Volleyball

As many of you know Volleyball season has started. Which means my husband is at work until seven o'clock everyday and is gone or working every weekend. He also coaches a club team so on Tuesdays and Thursday he's not home until 10:30. Hmmm...yikes! Another bummer is that normally I would go on at least one trip with the team but seeing how pregnant I am I don't think they'll let me! So I can't complain too much though because really it's only for a few months and the rest of the year is so flexible and fun. However it is particularly complicated this year because, hello...we're having a baby in like 6 weeks! 

So last time I was at the doctor I asked his advice on my delivery. I'm due on March 5th and with Elizabeth I was five days late. Rob goes out of town on the 10th. Do you see the dilemma? So the doctor suggested that with my routine pregnancies and labor coupled with this being my second child that they'd have no problems inducing me up to a week early. Honestly I'm a lot more keen on letting the baby naturally run it's coarse and come on it's own but having Rob there trumps those feelings. So I think we will actually be having this baby on March 1st! Considering I was thinking I would have him almost a week late this seems so much sooner! 

Anyway so we're getting pretty excited and I really have to get moving to have everything ready for this baby! So anyone who wants to go to Volleyball games let me know, the time is here and I won't even be able to go to half of them! And get ready to come help me with my craziness because this baby is coming ready or not and my husband is going to be MIA! Lots of love to all of our family and friends and I promise I'll be back blogging soon.

Sick :(

So Etta and I got colds last week. I thought we were getting better on Friday so we emerged out a bit Friday and Saturday but were we getting better? No, the tiny, ugly germs were yet to descend and they did Saturday night. We took Etta in on Sunday and they told us she had croup so she had to get a steroid shot to open up her throat. Then I took a dive that day and we've been pretty sick since then. The worst part being that we're bored out of our minds! We can't go anywhere, we can't hang out with anyone, and I don't even feel like doing the normal fun activities we do daily around the house. I don't even feel like blogging! So my triumphant return to blogging has yet to happen...again. But really...I haven't had a cold like this in years!! Blah. Anyway so Etta and I take 2 or 3 showers/baths a day to do something, watch lots of YBCR and Yo Gabba Gabba, and look at lots of books. Note I say look at them...I can't even read to Etta, one of her favorite activities, because I have no voice! Anyway, I was really really grateful to find out there are actually a couple cold medicines you can take when your pregnant. I thought it was all taboo, so that's been helpful. Also I just had my 32 week appointment and as my doctor pointed out that although I feel totally awful it's something that doesn't affect my sweet healthy baby boy which I am eternally grateful for. We feel very very blessed that he's growing well and everything seems to be on track. So hopefully we'll feel better soon and we can get back to having a life that includes leaving our home!!

Little Boy Neilson

So for all of you that don't already know...IT'S A BOY! We're so excited. everyone had been saying, "I think you're having another girl...definitely a girl..." So even though I didn't have any strong feeling either way, that kind of got in my head and I sort of expected to have a girl. So it was such a fun surprise when we saw...and she told us! I don't think we realized how much we wanted a boy until that moment. So I'm getting excited for a new adventure and new clothes! My mother in law is helping me sew some cute new crib bedding to save money and meet my extremely specific taste. Anyway, thanks for all your love...now we wait with baited breath for little William (Liam) Keith (for Rob's grandpa) Neilson to arrive!

Surprise!

So Rob's been wanting to tell everyone from the get go but I like to wait till I've seen the doctor. So now that I've seen the doc and all seems well I thought I'd tell you all...

We're pretty excited. We decided in June to start trying and no sooner than the words had escaped my lips I was pregnant! (we are apparently a very fertile family.) Anyway we thought we'd share the news with you all, our family and friends, and we can all wait together for the little one to join us March 5, 2010.

Brace Yourselves People

Here come a slew of posts the likes of which you've never seen before. Be careful because they may be everyday and contain levels of adorability that you're not prepared for. Here we go...

We'll start with a small dose. Etta's only marginally cute in these pics compared to her full capacity to wow you. This is her first sippie cup experience. She's can totally do it, but chooses not to. Typically she plays with it and pinches the spout therefor taking away any anitspill technology and rendering it useless. As a result we don't do as much sippie time as we should.

By the way these are from March...March people, I know.

To Grandmother's House We Go...

So a couple weeks ago we got the chance to go see my family in Colorado while Rob was away. It was soooo fun and we were so excited. I had never taken Etta on a plane before so I wasn't sure what to expect.

At first it appeared to be a total plus, I was escorted to the front of every line! Everyone was so eager to help. If you know SLC airport well you'll understand what went wrong. They told me my gate was E64. Let's call E "Alaska". So I double checked on the TV screens after security and I was indeed suppose to go to "Alaska." This seemed odd for Delta but I trucked all my stuff up there. Being the frugal woman I am I'd decided to carry on. So I had my small duffel, large diaper bag, and Elizabeth in her car seat in tow (they charge $15 bucks each way for one bag now!).

I stopped to get a snack because I was famished after a full morning of skiing then straight to the airport sans lunch. I get to my crowded gate and plant so I can eat my delicious parfait. After 10 minutes or so I realize I haven't heard anything about my flight which should be boarding soon. So I figure it's going to be late and lug all my stuff up to the counter to inquire what's going on. He proceeds to tell me my flight moved to B12. Let's call B "Brazil." "How am I suppose to get from "Alaska" to "Brazil" in time with all this stuff I ask him! It's impossible, will you call and tell them I'm coming?" He proceeds to tell me that they won't wait for anyone. Comforting, thank you. "Will you just tell them?"

I grab everything and start on my way down towards "Brazil" in a frenzy. Every corner I turned that revealed yet another walking (running at this point) escalator and not my concourse was painful. I felt like my arms were going to break. Where were all those golf carts you ask? I have no idea! Suddenly not one was any where to be seen.

Needless to say after much ado I finally arrived in "Brazil" to find a very sweet man waiting for me. He informed me that I wouldn't have to check my car seat because they got me my own row and he apologized for the confusion. Thank you! We got to Colorado all in one happy piece to an airport with trains to get you where you need to go, thank goodness.

We waited for my parents in this fun all glass waiting area where baby had a blast talking to her friend who looked mysteriously like her twin.

We had so much fun with grandma in her big bath and were so excited to where new PJ's!

Elizabeth loved Bear. I can't say the same for him but he put on a brave face and let her climb all over him.

She actually really loved riding on the plane!
And loved exploring every nook and cranny of the airport.

Thanks Mom, Dad, and Julia for a very fun, relaxing weekend of shopping during the day and Mexican train into the wee hours of the morning! We love you guys!

Baby is 9 months and everywhere!

She's definitely gone up the stairs before but this time she started and never stopped. She was up both flights of stairs in a flash of light! She turned around just before finishing, crawling into her room and giving herself a good celebration clap!

9 month stats are:

Head: 17.75 inches (81.17th percentile)
Weight: 17.68 lbs (29.88th percentile)
Height: 27.75 inches (58.66th percentile)

She really is totally crazy. She's into absolutely everything and is on the brink of walking. She's such a blast to play with. She's so giggly and active. We couldn't love our little girl more!

Such a big girl.

So Etta's been doing this for a while now but I just finally got a picture of it. It's super cute and she loves feeling like such a big girl. She climbs up on everything and then kind of jumps and rocks in excitement. The only downside to this new skill is that the only way she's figured out how to get down is to fall backwards...so usually she just holds strong and "calls" for one of us. :)

Rough life.

Last Saturday one of Rob's players parents were in town from Chicago. We've had the pleasure of spending time with them before and were delighted when they invited us to have lunch with them. It was a special treat seeing as it was at Foundry Grill, one of my favorite places.

To my surprise baby LOVED tomatoes. She finished all the extra tomato that wouldn't fit on my burger. She was so cute just smiling at everyone as usual and pounding on the table excitedly.
We had to park soooo far away, lucky it was such a gorgeous day outside.

This picture melts my heart.

A long sleep after a long day. Thanks Lavajes!

I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home...

Baby gets so excited when Robbie comes home from being gone all weekend. Last time he came home we went up and played with her in her room and this is some of the footage we got.

Little Monkey...babies got skills.

Baby clapping congratulations to her newly acquired skill. Yay baby!

It was seriously cute. I've been trying to get her to clap for a while now, then suddenly while we were at the volleyball game something clicked and she figured it out! No there is no stopping her, she does it all day long. Monkey see, monkey do I suppose. Now if we can only work on her focus...her feet seem to be a distraction in almost all situations. :)

Baby Beluga

Baby was being so cute the other day. She kept looking up at us then just laying down like this. Arch her back up, then plop down looking at us like...I'm so tired, do something. She is getting to be so beautiful and I just thought I'd share. :)

Nieces, Nephews, Friends, and Cousins

A couple weeks ago my sister in law christy had the fun opportunity to go to disneyworld with her mom and sisters. She took her two oldest kids with her leaving their two youngest and my brother here in Utah. As a result my brother needed a little help watching his kids while he was at work. So Elizabeth and I had a fun time with family all week. Etta loved being with her cousins. Lexi always playing the mother and michael as wanting to jump in and help. If she cried Lexi would say, "shhh it's ok" and michael would say BABY, then run and get her pacifier or bottle. (they're 4 and 2) It was pretty entertaining, Etta just laughed at them running around all week. We also got over to visit Kamber, Ryan, and Callan. Callan is so cute. Etta and I definitely had a busy week of friends and family. Thanks for having us!

Crawling Chicky

So she's been doing this for a while and is even better at it now but I thought I'd post these from January 3rd. Crazy how far she's come since then.

TaggerPants

Name and Meaning: Elizabeth meaning "my God is an oath," "my God is abundance," "God's promise," or "oath of God." Avery meaning "elf" or "magical counsel."

Age: 7 months

Nicknames: Etta, Lark, Baby, Anything-Pants (ie poopy-pants, sweetie-pants, etc), Bitsie, Booger, Lil Stinker, E

Favorite Activities: Singing and dancing with me around the house, watching "your baby can read," crinkling paper, eating, skyping family and friends, putting everything in her mouth.

Favorite Foods: Sweet potatoes, Apples, Peas, Pears, and still loving the bottle.

Least Favorite Foods: Avocado, Carrots

Favorite Music: No matter what's wrong if you put on Baby Beluga she'll silence immediately and start crying again when it's over, Bare Necessities, she pretty much just LOVES music, anything I sing, and anything on her kids songs cd's we made.

Favorite Toys: Hugo, my phone (which is NOT a toy), and anything that lights up.

Favorite Books: Very Hungry Caterpillar, Dancing with Degas, A Magical Day with Matisse, Goodnight Moon, Winnie the Pooh, A Picnic with Monet, In the Garden with Van Gogh, her flashcards, and pretty much anything I'm reading I read out loud and she loves it.

Favorite Item of Clothing: Her silver sparkly shoes.

What makes her happy: Baby Beluga, BATH TIME, Hugo, kids and other babies, when you look at her and pretty much do anything at all:).

What makes her sad: When she's hungry and you're not feeding her or when she's tired and you're not putting her to sleep.

Funny words or phrases: blowing raspberries, da da da da, really high pitched squeals, a low grunting yelling noise that is impossible to describe...ahhhh!

So this is a hat that a sweet women from our branch named Dorothy made for her. She also made hats for every other baby and child in our branch. That's amazing!