Babies-R-Us

So I decided to do a small registery at Babies-R-Us for the items we have yet to get. I thought this would be a fun and easy process but found it to be the opposite! I looked at all these products that I have no clue about or if they are needed. I am now extremely nervous because I have realized that I truly remember nothing of having a newborn and what it takes. I know from Brooklynn that everything falls into place and motherly instinct takes over but right now I'm just not feeling it! We still have no name and the days keep getting fewer and fewer until baby boy is supposed to be arriving! Keep me/us in your prayers!

It's Official!

It is official - my baby has done gone and left me! She will now spend her days with Amy - Amy Beverland Early Learning Center that is. I was utterly surprised that no tears were shed although I have been preparing myself for this for a few months now. She officially started her public schooling full time today on August 18th, 2009. It is the beginning of the end. For the next 13 years she will spend most of her days in school only to leave for college after that! I can't believe that she is 5 and out the door already. Okay, okay...I'm done venting...on with the story...

Miss B isn't used to being woke up so she was a bit cranky this morning, especially since we had a camera in her face. It was only after threatening her with missing the bus did she finally pop out of bed. Yet then she was afraid of missing the bus and wanted to skip breakfast. I hope we can find some middle ground here...she finally agreed to eat a bagel but all the while worrying that the bus would leave her. At least I know now what it will take to get her moving! I'm sure things will settle down and fall into place as the year goes on.

We took the .2 mile hike down to the bus stop. She was so excited to meet up with the kids and to see her good friend Katy. They are like peas in a pod. They have different teachers which will be good for meeting other kids, but have one another on the bus and to play with at home. After waiting for about 10 minutes the bus finally rolled around.

We were greeted by the friendly and agreeable bus driver who agreed to pick the kids up closer to the house (PRAISE GOD!). Now we will be able to see the bus from the house and not have to hike it down to the original stop. This truly is a blessing from the Lord because now I won't have to drive her down in the snow and rain and can leave a sleeping newborn at rest too!

She has a packed lunch for today: PB&J, grapes, goldfish crackers, an oreo and a capri sun. Tomorrow she will eat at school since they are having Chicken Nuggets,Mashed Potatoes and Applesauce. I have a feeling she will be packing it more than eating there but she seems to be okay with it. She only knows packing a lunch because of her time at preschool.

Riding the bus home is a different matter though. The kindergarten gets out 40 minutes earlier than the elementary school so it would take her over an hour after she is released to get home. For today I am going to pick her up, especially since we have to be at soccer by 6 (which is a whole new start for her as well - truly a day of beginnings)! I can't wait to see her and to see how her day went!

Zoo days are over!

As Brooklynn starts school in a few days we took a last trip to the zoo while our pass was still active and while we could beat the busy weekend crowds. It was a nice day, while cooler in the morning it got hot as the day went on, and the slower and sweatier I got! It was a great last family outing before school. I am becoming quite emotional as I deal with the release our daughter to full time Kindergarten and soon "losing" the family of 3 that we have been for so long!

Brooklynn and Heath rode the small roller coaster. They are the two in the second "car" back with their hands up! She got her daddy's adventerous side!

Brooklynn loves to take a ride on the ponies. I remember her first ride when she was only 11 months old! They told her she was a natural (because of her balance).

Brooklynn enjoys spending time with the goats and petting them.

Earlier in the summer we took some friends with us to the zoo. Here are Lydia and Brooklynn in front of the meerkats.

Brooklynn's 5th Birthday!

I now have a 5 year old daughter!!! Oh how the time flies! Her birthday fell (June 18th) on the last day of VBS so she sang upfront with the big kids! That Saturday we had family over for pizza and gifts. Following the family lunch she had several friends over for birthday cake and ice cream. They spent "party time" in the back yard running through the sprinkler, throwing water balloons, and playing on the swingset. Heath was the organizer in the games as we women (me and the moms) sat in the shade and watched! It was a nice day. Only Uncle Ben would get her something like this for her birthday! I just can't believe that she is 5! But she will always be my baby!

Carb Day

As a family we went to Carb Day at the Indianapolis 500 Speedway. We got there in time for the final practice of the Indy 500. Brooklynn enjoyed watching the pink car (which wasn't a woman!) and Heath and I rooted for our neighbor, Tomas Scheckter, even though we don't know him. He ended up placing 12th in the big race though. (Here is Scheckter's house with a sign that someone put up for him.) Benj, Aimee and their friends Scott and Ashley joined up with us for the "mini-race". My brother decided to fit right in with the crowd - yuck! We brought a picnic and just ate in the stands. It was hot and sunny! We stayed for the pit-crew challenge before we called it a day.

Billy Joel and Elton John Concert

On May 19th Heath, Benjamin, Aimee and I went to the "Face to Face" Concert. This was Heath's second concert for the two legends together. We met up at the Chathem Tap Restaurant and Pub (http://www.chathamtap.com/) to eat. I would recommend it - we all enjoyed our food. The concert was great when both men played - they both opened and closed the show. It was kind of slow with Elton John....piano, piano, piano but Billy Joel was good by himself. It was a nice evening and we had good seats. I can now say I've seen them once but I wouldn't pay the price to see them again!

Catching up...

It has been a long time! Lots of things to update! Now that we have a working computer again and downloaded pictures, I can begin!

Let's see...Baby update: I am now in my 3rd tri-mester! Everything is going well so far. My doctor of the last 8 years is moving so I have my first appointment next week with my new OB. At my last visit I was measuring a week earlier so it sounds like he is growing just fine! I have a big ol' belly now - I guess I'm glad the 18 lbs that I gained in 7 weeks is going straight to my belly instead of other places! We are still working on names. Heath and I are having a hard time coming up with anything agreeable. We welcome any suggestions! :)

Brooklynn: She LOVES to play outside. It doesn't matter how hot it is, she stays outside for hours. She loves to swing (thank God that she has learned to do the pumping this year and can do it all by herself) and to catch bugs. We have been busy going to daddy's softball and baseball games and once or twice a week we go to the free kids movie. It is hard to believe that she only has 5 more weeks until school starts! She will be going full day, everyday. I am struggling emotionally with it but I know it will be good for her and she will just love it.

Andrea: I watch a lot of CSI. I am officially an addict. Nothing much here - playing with Brooklynn when she is actually inside (mostly on rainy days) and trying to get everything organized and ready for baby. I worked the week of VBS doing registration. I have been reading for book club. I finished Middlesex last month - it was okay. Right now I am reading Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy - it is okay.

Heath: When he isn't playing softball, baseball, out on the water or fishing he has been working now and then. He has had wonderful season thus far in baseball - leading the home runs and RBI's for the league! The church has won most of their games so that has been a lot of fun to watch. Although this weekend he pulled his hamstring and is most likely out for the season...so I guess we will see him around more often! He enjoys having the water at his fingertips and has caught some big fish! He is so good at everything he does!!! What an incredible guy.

Well, that is about it for the updates. I will be working this week on posting our Alaska vacation pictures and Brooklynn's birthday too!