Can I kick the baby?

I am 35 weeks pregnant so I am getting to the end of my pregnancy. Not only do I waddle when I walk, I also am eating everything in front of me. It doesn't matter what it is: a watermelon, a tomoato, or southern fried chicken with gravy, I will eat it. Even though the waddling and the eating habits are the same, this pregnancy feels different. I realized that because this is the third baby, I am not doing the same prep work to get ready for our little Harper Elizabeth. To get in the 'mood' to have the baby, this is what I have done to prep:
1. I've gone through all of Abby's clothes and thrown away the outfits that are too gross to be worn in public. Why did I pack those clothes away in the closet for two years?
2. I've packed a bag for the hospital.
3. I have taught Abby to say "Harper." She says it "ha-pur. in mommy's tummy." That is her full name.
4. I have talked to Will about the baby in my tummy. During my conversations, I told Will that the baby kicks me. Will's only question was that he wanted to know if he could kick the baby back.
5. I have forced Matt to vacuum. He found where we keep the vacuum.

What my kids taught me during vacation

We had an awesome week at the beach with my family. Not only did we get to celebrate my mom's birthday, my dad announced is upcoming retirement. I am happy for them!

Will and Abby loved hanging out with Nana, PawDad, Aunt Shandra, Uncle Thomas, Ack-Ack and David.

Here is what I learned from my week at the beach:

1. I learned how transformers shoot their guns. Here is Will shooting his gun.

Here is me shooting mine. 2. I learned that spaghetti is really fun to play with. It is even more fun when Uncle Thomas holds it up for you.

3. I learned that it is fun to play at the beach, even if you are not in your bathing suit. The kids ran straight into the ocean fully dressed. Will and Abby are soaking wet in this picture.

4. Hugs are good. Lots of hugs.

So many questions

Will is so cute but sometimes his questions can be overwhelming. So many questions from such a small person. Most of his sentences start out with "why mommy, why?" He wants to know why bugs drink our blood and why is Abby crying. The first 100 times he asked the question I patiently explain why the police man drives that type of car or why I like coffee. Many times I have to answer "just because."
We were at the beach two weeks ago and Will asked: "Mommy, if you die, does Daddy get to be in charge?" This one stumped me. I had no idea how to answer that. Where do you start? I just gave Will a huge hug, laughed, and told him to go ask his father. Matt didn't find it as funny as I did.
Will is really starting to understand the world around him.

At the playground

During the spring and the fall, we love to go to the park. We go a lot, probably every day. Not only do we get to burn off some energy, the kids love playing with all the neighbors. All the friends I have met in Glen Allen have been at the park. The park has saved my sanity. I feel sorry for people in our neighborhood without kids because they don't get to come to the park. I guess they could come to the park, but all the people there would think they were crazy.
If Will is good, he gets to ride his bike to the park. He was very sweaty from his ride this day. He is always ready for a photo opportunity.


Abby is looking at me from under the new playground equiepment. She has recently started screaming loudly when she wants attention. I try not to react but it is a really loud scream.

I am on the phone with Matt (I am sure), saying something very important. At this point in my pregnancy, I find myself feeling the need to scream like Abby so that I can get attention. I think I will blame it on the pregnancy.

William Likes Video Games

Two Fridays ago, I had an event at work. My coworkers and I got our children and spouses together for a family night at our new office. The whole place is set up to be very kid friendly with a Wii, a train table and a big screen tv for movies.

Will and Abby had a great time running around with the other kids. William spent almost two hours playing Wii with a little boy named Gabriel.

We got in the car to come home and I started asking Will about his night.

"Did you have a good time, Will?"

"Yes, Mommy. I like your work. I like bowling on the Wii."

"Will, did you have a good time playing with Gabriel?"

Pause.

"Mommy, who is Gabriel?"

Matt and I just looked at each other and laughed.

Easter Pictures

We had a great Easter at the house. Here are a few pictures I took before church. Will was on the phone with his grandmother and could not be bothered! They were very good.

Abby's Hair

I always wanted a little girl. I remember the day that we found out that Abby was going to be a girl and I felt like I was the luckest mommy ever. All I could think about were little frilly dresses and hair bows.
Shortly after I put Abby in the first frilly dress, I learned that they are not all they are cracked up to be. Babies throw up. Collars get in the way. Oh well, back to hand-me-down sweats and pink shirts. I still have hair bows right?
Wrong.
Abby is blessed with adorable curly hair that goes every where. I wake her up in the morning and it is adorable to see her bat her hair out of her face with a chubby fist. Just like frilly dresses, hair bows have turned out to be much more trouble than I ever knew.
Here are a few hair secrets that I have learned over the last year:
1. Cute clips are no match for baby hair. Don't get suckered into buying them. You need rubber bands. Real rubber bands.
2. You gotta be fast. Abby can sense the hairbrush coming.
3. Abby could care less how her hair looks. She doesn't even care if it is her eyes. She can pull out a hair bow and hand it to me seconds after it goes in.
4. Even with all the trouble that Abby's hair causes, I don't want to cut it.
Darn she is cute.