Let's Hear it for the Boy

Last week Daniel turned another year older. We didn't do much for his birthday. That's how he likes it.

 The girls and I bought some clothes for him and while we were at it, picked up baby girl #3's dress for Courtney's wedding in September. You can see their wedding outfits below. Sadie is so excited to go to Texas. She has been telling people for months that we are going to Texas. In fact on Monday when she was walking out of dance class I heard her tell her teacher she was going to Texas. Only 6 months away now.

Back to Daniel's birthday. He clipped my toenails for me and I took a picture to document his kind act of service.

He got an ice cream maker from his family and we put it to use immediately. Our first batch was vanilla. We have since made rocky road and chocolate peanut butter cup.

Happy birthday, Daniel! Our lives, and we, ourselves, have changed so much since we first celebrated his birthday together in 2003. Would he have run away if someone had told him in 11 years he would be married to me, still living in Utah, and completely surrounded by women both at home and work? 

The girls and I are lucky to have Daniel. He is pretty great at being a dad. And I don't want him to get too big of a head, but he is pretty great at being a husband too. We are looking forward to getting him back in our lives more after a long basketball season. Before we know it the next crazy little girl will be here, bringing even more estrogen into his life.

The other night before bed he was singing in the weirdest voice to Sadie. I was trying to record him, but took a picture by accident. It's almost as cute. 

I don't think you're ready for this belly

So here we are with 7 weeks left- single digits. Close, but it still feels SO far away. I am feeling some pregnancy aches and pains but overall okay. Having a real hard time bending over. I am at the point where strangers feel the need to talk to me about how I am almost done. Then they are always surprised when I tell them my due date. This belly will undoubtedly be getting much, much bigger. I am dreading entering that unreal huge stage that I always hit the last 4 weeks or so.

31.5 weeks

32.5 weeks- Lou "painting" with my makeup brushes is the best part

To Every Season Turn Turn Turn

On March 1 Daniel had his last regular season game. The Sullivans joined us again, which made the game (and all the games they came to) more enjoyable for everyone. I only caught the side of Claire in these pictures of the girls playing on the stairs. 

The last chicken dance of the season. Can you spot my girls? 

Yes, the ones inappropriately close to the team during the timeout. Oh well. As Sadie gets older she'll start to understand that we don't bother the team during the game. 

Can't wait to find out tonight where the team is going for post-season play.

Spring Fever

February, and so far March, have been mild this year. And for that, we are grateful. Several days in recent weeks have been so nice that we could actually play outside with no coats. We've played in the yard, ridden bikes, gone to several parks, etc. All in February and March. What a lifesaver for this pregnant mom.

*Elise walked over and took my sandwich straight out of my hand

*These 2 monkeys climbing the outside of the bannister

*Me and my then-30-week belly swinging. I was admiring how much of my legs are covered up by my belly when I sit down

Party Central

Sadie has not been to a birthday party since last September. Then in the month of February she went to 5 parties. 

First up was Hunter's party, where Sadie was very shy because it was all boys she didn't know. She perked up when she got to be partners with Hunter during one of the games. And yes, she did plan on wearing all purple that day.

Then we attended Claire's party at the Sullivan's house. This was a party where families were invited and we got to meet/hang out with the family who rented our old townhouse. It turns out Daniel knew the wife from summer semester at BYU before their freshman year in 2001. That made me laugh. I wish I could have gotten her alone to ask her about what Daniel was like. Although he probably wasn't too different than when I met him a year and a half later at the beginning of 2003.

Sadie also went to Anna Gaines' party. This was the first birthday party I just dropped Sadie off and picked her up for. She was nervous that it was going to be all boys like Hunter's party, but she came home excited about the all-female attendance. Sadie could not be swayed on what she picked out for Anna's present: a super cheap gumball machine, an Avenger's hand-held light-up fan, and some princess bubbles. 

I mentioned we attended our neighbor's 3rd birthday party on Valentine's Day.

The fifth and final party was for a girl in Sadie's preschool class. I felt like this was a big step. Sadie's first party for a kid that I didn't know at all. I tried to talk Sadie out of going because she lives 20 minutes away from us, but Sadie had her heart set on it. The invitation said to come dressed in your finest princess attire. For Sadie, this is, of course, her Princess Jasmine costume. That costume is beautiful. Sadie had me do her hair like Jasmine, in 3 ponytails centered down the back. When we walked into the party Sadie immediately ran off with a few girls from her class. I introduced myself to the parents and left wondering when Sadie got so old (cue Madonna's "This used to be my playground"). 

Needless to say, Sadie is really looking forward to her birthday in 5 months. Lots of plans- a Jake and the Neverland Pirates/Princess party at the pool or at our house where there are no parents, just me and Daniel.  

Sickie

Poor Elise. She seems to have a weaker immune system than Sadie because she is the one who always gets sick. Around Valentine's Day she had a stomach bug and a fever for a few days. A few days after that a strange rash showed up around her mouth, but it didn't seem to bug her so I ignored it. Another couple days passed and she started having huge, bloody, dried boogers that kept getting stuck in her nose and kept her from breathing through it. Maybe I am a terrible mother, but again, I just ignored it. Every day she got a few more random rash bumps on her body. Mostly on her face and diaper area, but a couple on her upper legs, one on her hand, and a few on her back. At any given time there were like 4 or 5 total bumps on her. 

Well on Monday I felt real sick and decided to stay home from work so I kept Elise home with me. I noticed her left eye looked a little bloodshot. I called her pediatrician to get their opinion on what might be going on. By the time our appointment rolled around late that afternoon Elise's eyes were both looking pink-eye-infected. The doctor said she had no name for Elise's virus, just a "strange one that is manifesting itself in every possible symptom." It turns out the dried blood in her nose was coming from the rash that had spread up into it and turned to scabs. 

By the way, Elise was the most adorable patient ever at the doctor's office. Sadie cries whenever she has to go to the doctor but Elise climbed onto the table by herself and laid down until the nurse came in. She was very cooperative, although she struggled with sticking her tongue out and opening her mouth so the doctor could look at her throat. 

So here we are a few days later with eye drops, humidifiers, and vaseline-covered q-tips that get rubbed in Lou's nose every few hours. She has gotten pretty good at laying still when I put the drops in her eyes.

Nana

My mom left last Sunday after her annual pilgrimage to Utah for February school break in Boston. Again, I did terribly at taking pictures! I am the worst! My mom got to experience how lame and cranky I am this pregnancy. So that makes the Maxfields, the entire Nielson family, my mom, and of course, the Salazars that have gotten to see how un-fun I am during this pregnancy.

She flew in late on Valentine's Day and drove down to our house the next day for Daniel's biggest home game of the season against #15 Gonzaga. We arrived at half time to find BYU down by 5 points or so. BYU came out strong in the second half and kept it close. With a few minutes left the Cougars pulled ahead and I took this picture during a time out. My mom and the Salazars were treated to the best home game I have seen this season. 

I was so excited for the team and happy for Daniel that they pulled out the win. This means that they will hopefully get into the NCAA tournament. As long as they don't completely screw up in the conference tournament. 

On Sunday we celebrated my mom's birthday- the big 6-0. Here she was trying to talk on the phone and Elise just wouldn't leave her alone. Lou decided she loved Nana best during this trip and constantly begged her to play. 

 I made an easy crockpot dinner and Hillary made this cheesecake. Yes, it tastes as good as it looks. Better, actually. The whole thing was gone by the next day.

Below I wanted to document a regular occurrence at our house. Elise goes back an hour or so after dinner and wants to finish the last few bites. On this night she took the bowl off the table and stood there eating. Weird girl.

And so ends the pictures I took during my mom's visit. She spent a few days after Sunday up in Salt Lake visiting with her dad and sisters. Then she came down and helped tremendously with my kids while Daniel was out of town. She and Hillary cooked and cleaned while I ate, took naps, and probably complained about being pregnant. 

Thanks for visiting Mom! We'll see you in a few months after baby girl #3's arrival!