Abby can talk now

Abby has lots to say. She just learned that all of us have the last name of "Perryman" at our house. She points around the room, starting with herself. "Abby Perryman, Will Perryman, Mommy Perryman, and Daddy Perryman!"
She just realized it is funny to mix up the names too. You can see her little brain processing her 'joke' as she points to me and says "Daddy!" Then she laughs and says "no, you not Daddy."


Most of the time, she is just demanding 'noodles' or telling me that 'Kiki hit me.' I was pretty upset when Abby told me that Kiki hit her five days in a row. I went to school and talked to the teacher about it. It turns out that Kiki only comes to school on Tuesday and Thursday and had only hit Abby once. Maybe that is just one of her jokes that I don't get.

The morning sprint to the door

Once again, I am standing at the door with three bags, two juice boxes and one slow toddler. Every morning I am surprised by the rush for us to get out the door. Hands down, the most labor-intensive part of my is between 6:45am and 7:30.
I know I only have myself to blame. Sure I could lay out clothes and breakfast foods the night before, but I never seem to keep that up. I guess I could be like Matt lets the kids pick out their own clothes to wear to daycare. On the days that Matt lets them do that, the teachers say things like "did daddy dress the baby today?" because nothing matches.
This morning, like most mornings, William got up around 6am. He came into my room and asked to get into my bed. He is fully awake and ready to chat. "hey mom. I didn't have no time outs at school. I played in my room last night with speed racer. Do we have nappers here? The one's that take kids?" I rolled my huge pregnant self out of the bed and into the shower so I was ready to get Abby up by 6:45. She asked me through her pacifer if she could take her bunny to school. (She said specifically: Mommy, bunny go school? With Abby?) Abby can barely see me because her hair is in her eyes.
I found clean socks for everyone, packed Will's swimming suit for water day and took the very stinky trash out the curb because it is trash day. Abby has her hair up and Will has his shoes on the correct feet. Now the yelling must start. "Get in the car. Please get in the car. EVERYONE IN THE CAR! MOMMY IS GOING TO BE LATE!" The kids just think I am nuts.
In just a few weeks, I get to do this with three.

Pregnant-Smegnant

Yes, I am eight months pregnant but who can resist a good game of dodge ball? Here are some awesome action shots of a big pregnant lady in a cut-throat game at my office. I can move pretty fast for someone who usually waddles when she walks!

The next day, I was paying for my action moves but it was worth every minute.

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.