Tot Trays

Two weeks ago, Jackson worked on his Brown Bear, Brown Bear book. Last week, we worked on different activities from the movie Cars, which is his favorite thing these days. We were pretty busy last week, and didn't get to finish everything, so we are going to work on Cars again this week. I also made 4 little Tot Trays for he and his buddy Emma to play with today. They trays were not anything that I didn't already have, and kept them happy for about 45 minutes!

Tray 1: Play Dough/ Cookie Cutters: I found some cookie cutters that had trains on them, and they enjoyed making the trains with the cookie cutters.

Tray 2: Paper/Markers: Both of them liked the novelty of the WASHABLE markers.

Tray 3: Lightning McQueen Stickers and Crayons: They just took the stickers of, put them on paper, and colored a picture.

Tray 4: Magna-Doodle

http://lapbooksbycarisa.homestead.com/TotTrays.html

A Baby Shower for Claire

Pink!

The cake was so pretty. My mom bought some sugar free brownies, just for me (and Claire). They were actually pretty good, although not Federal Bake Shop good.

Tiffany made chicken salad that was delicious...my sister in law, Jill, made really cute Thumb Print cookies with PINK icing!!

Sawyer and Eli


Two of my favorite people!


My Brown Academy/McConnell Peeps!

Tiffany bought Claire and Lainey Bug matching outfits. I can't wait to take their pictures together.

On Saturday, my BFF Tiffany and my mom, threw a shower for Miss Madeline Claire. It was such a fun and special time celebrating our baby girl. The decorations were all themed around "A New Little Princess." Pink, pink, and more pink! Claire got many nice gifts, and it was so great seeing so many special friends and family. Our little family is so blessed to have such fantastic people in our lives.

32 Weeks

2 and a Half!!

Yesterday was Mr. Jackson's half birthday!! I can't believe he is now closer to 3 years old than 2....time does fly when you are having fun, I guess. Jackson keeps us in stitches all the time, and is just a neat little boy.

At 2 1/2:

Favorite things to do: play Cars, play with his Thomas Trains, paint, color, read, play outside, swim, play with the water hose, play Hide and Seek, puzzles

Favorite foods: scrambled eggs, biscuits, pancakes, ham, yogurt, Cheez Its, grapes, raisins, chicken, rice, broccoli

Sleeping: Asleep by ten, up by 8, LONG afternoon naps from about 1:00 until 4:00 (Mommy LOVES this napping schedule).

Favorite Books: Where the Wild Things Are, Goodnight Gorilla, Cha Cha Chimps, Ready, Set Skip, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, The Grouchy Ladybug

Stats: Jackson weighs about 30 pounds. He wears a 2T in clothes, and size 5 diapers.

Other Stuff: Jackson has started dressing himself, working on potty training, and is Mr. Independent...all the time!

31 Weeks, 4 Days Doctor Visit

Yesterday, I had a doctor's appointment...the first visit since I the sugar test results came in. My levels look fantastic and my food log looked perfect. Yay! I gained 2 pounds since my last visit, so far I am up 19 pounds, I think. My blood pressure was 116/78. We had a discussion about the protocol for babies born to mommies with diabetes/gestational diabetes, and how he would continue to monitor her size closely. We go back in one week, next Thursday, for an ultrasound and Fetal Non-Stress Test. Please continue to keep Baby Claire and her Mommy in your prayers!

Wordless Wednesday

31 Weeks

Ms. Claire is continuing to grow, kick, and hiccup like crazy! My blood sugars are doing really great. I have had only two high readings...I ate half a sandwich on wheat bread at one meal, and 4 wheat peanut butter crackers for a snack...and both readings were high. Very strange. Instead of trying to figure out what caused it, I think I will just say adios to both items for the next couple of months. On the bright side (perhaps the highlight of my week), is that I can eat 8 Chik Fil A nuggets, 1 pack of Chik Fil a Sauce, a fruit cup, and a Diet Coke, and my sugar is in the normal range! I am so thankful that, so far, my sugar has been so easy to control. I guess since I have done this before, other than it being a nuisance, it hasn't been too big of a deal.

Claire's Nursery: Week 2

Today, Blake put the second coat of light pink paint on the walls. He also put the first coat of the brighter pink on the bottom. While Blake was painting today, Mr. Jackson told Blake he put his ring in the paint can. Jackson got Blake's wedding band off of the nightstand, and put it into the gallon of "Pretty in Pink" paint. Blake used several smaller containers while trying to salvage his ring, and eventually had to stick his hand in the paint can. I would have LOVED to document this little shenanigan with photos, but Blake did not think this was too funny...until he got his ring back and pink paint free.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

Last week, I checked out a really cool website that had lots of ideas of things to do at home with toddlers and preschoolers (Totschool). I decided that this week, I would print off and get some activities together for Jackson and me to do. So, we made our very first Tot Book. All of the activities were based on the book, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?" by Eric Carle. We worked on colors, matching, counting, and ordering objects from smallest to largest and vice versa. His favorite activity was fingerpainting. Jackson had a fun time, and I enjoyed teaching my little guy.

Ode to Starbucks

Dear Starbucks,

It is going to be a long 10 weeks without you. I so enjoy rolling through the drive thru window and partaking in your sweet goodness after a day of grocery shopping and running errands. I look forward to seeing you every Friday, and sometimes on our occasional midweek visit. But, you remember the drill from about 2.5 years ago, so I will see you again with Baby Claire in the backseat. No more sweet treats for a while....gotta keep me and my girl healthy.

Love,

Alisha

In case you are wondering, I failed (bombed) my glucose test. I have gestational diabetes again....I start testing 4 times per day today. I am praying it will be as easy to keep under control as it was with Jackson. Please pray that it is, too! (And you might want to sneak Blake and Jackson a sweet treat every once in a while. I found Blake's ice cream bowl in the sink this morning...he was so sweet to sneak while I was sleeping!)

Week 30

Claire's Nursery: Week 1

Cool Website

A friend told me about this website a couple of weeks ago. There are lots of fun activities to do with toddlers and young preschoolers that work on basic skills. I printed off some of them today, and am pretty excited about working on them with Jackson next week. Check it out!

www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/totschool.html

29 Weeks, 4 Days Doctor Appointment

Today was a busy day! I had a doctor's appointment, ultrasound, and glucose test, scheduled for 8:30 this morning. My mom picked Jackson and I up from our house around 7:45, and we were on our merry way. Blake and Darla met us at the doctors office. (We decided not to do the 3D ultrasound this time, so Blake and I invited them both the the regular ultrasound so they could take a peek of Miss Claire). So....I drank the yucky ole' glucose drink, which was fruit punch flavored this time (I recommend this rather than orange), and went back to have the ultrasound. As I laid down on the table for the ultrasound, I got lightheaded, hot, and thought I was going to puke or pass out. Awesome. But, I didn't, and I got to see my girl. And got to feeling better. Praise the Lord, Claire looks wonderful! All of her measurements are right on track. She weighs approximately 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Her profile looks similar to Jackson.

After the ultrasound, I met with my doctor. I gained 3 pounds this time, for a total of 16 pounds. My blood pressure was perfect. He said we both look great, and our girl has hair! Going to have to get some hair bows for her!

I am supposed to hear the results from the glucose test tomorrow, or at the first part of next week.

After that, we had lunch at Jason's Deli, and ran about a million errands, and didn't get home until after 4:00.

I go back to the doctor in two weeks for another check up. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

29 Weeks

Our baby girl has a name! Yay!! We are naming her Madeline Claire Freeman, and are going to call her Claire. It is time to start monogramming those sweet initials on all things pink. We also picked out paint colors this weekend, and are going to start getting her room ready next weekend. We picked out the colors, "Fairest of them All," and "Pretty in Pink." Blake is going to paint the top half of the wall the lighter pink, and the bottom the brighter pink, and put a chair rail up in her room. I am excited about starting this project! Yay!!

We had an awesome church service this morning. I usually keep our blog pretty light hearted, and is usually just updates with what is going on with us, but I thought I would share just a little bit of what has been going on, and how BIG my God is, and how much He loves and cares for me.

Ever since I found out I was pregnant with baby girl, I have pretty much known I will have to have another cesarean with this baby's delivery. This was something I really struggled with after I had Jackson...I don't know why....it was not that bad, and my recovery was really easy, but it scared the heebie jeebies out of me! I get scared when I think about doing it again. These little fears have been creeping up in other areas of my life too....worrying about Blake, Jackson, and other things big and small...things that I have no control over.

This morning at church, I was praying and I was gently and sweetly reminded that God has not given me a Spirit of fear, but of love, and that he is a shield for me. He protects His children. His word tells me so. He protects Blake, Jackson, me, and is a shield for all of these things (great and small) that I am carrying around and worrying about. So I prayed, and surrendered these things to him...and my load has been a lot lighter this afternoon.

With all that being said, tonight, we were leaving my parents' house, and Jackson was walking down the front porch steps, which he has done tons of times, and somehow leans forward and does a front flip of the porch. It looked awful, and of course scared me...Blake picked him up...he was crying...guess what? He had a tiny scratch on his face. That is all. God protected my little guy. He is taking good care of him, and maybe I just shouldn't worry so much.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless.He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. 2 Samuel 22:31

Wordless Wednesday