Meet Gertrude

Isabella LOVES her babies, that's for sure! She was so excited when I told her that her baby "Gertrude" could now be her outside baby. Gertrude comes everywhere with her when we are outside. As you can see, Gertrude loves to be a passenger in the Jeep . . .

Gertrude loves going down the slide . . .

And she loves to swing . . .

But I think Gertrude's favorite thing is being pushed around in the stroller for her daily walk around the block!

22 Weeks

Isabella cracks me up in this picture, I didn't even know she was there. She's apparently showing off her belly too! I feel like I've blimped up . . . everywhere . . . lately, bleh . . .

Isabella wanted her picture taken with Daddy, too.

Workin' Hard

I'm not sure what it is - second trimester bliss, nesting, or just in the mood for spring cleaning, but I'm sure that I have never felt this energetic in my life!! Despite having intense pelvic pain again this pregnancy, and feeling like my tailbone is about ready to fall off, I am getting tons accomplished. So far this week I have cleaned out the car, cleaned the garage, including organizing the outside toys, cleaned out all my laundry room cabinets (which is one whole wall), cleaned out most of the kitchen drawers and cabinets, cleaned out my closet, dresser, and even the dreaded, dusty under the bed area, washed, ironed, and hung back up some of my curtains, and I will not stop until I've cleaned out every closet/ cupboard / drawer in this house! So far I have thrown away about 6 garbage bags of junk, and sacked up 3 big bags of stuff to donate to our church rummage sale in June. I feel like I need to make more room before the baby comes, and I'm hoping, in my haste, I didn't get rid of too many of my clothes just because they don't fit me right now! I got rid of a huge black garbage bag of clothes! In addition to that I'm finding myself doing things that I normally do once a week, like scrubbing the floors, about every other day. I just can't get my floors clean enough, people!! I can't even stand having dirty clothes in the hamper right now, and am finding myself washing one shirt at a time as soon as I take it off, what a waste, somebody stop me!! This is so not me, usually I seem to let the laundry pile up, or think the floors can go just one more day (or two, or three) before being scrubbed. Anyway, I better get back to work, the hallway closet is next, as well as washing windows outside. And I'll leave you with a few pictures. I'm not the only one tidying up around here, Isabella has been "helping" me clean inside, as well as helping Daddy get the yard in tip top shape.

They got a few things planted in the garden.

Resting on the porch afterward.

Halfway there!

I'm 20 weeks, which is the official halfway point. Though, as I said earlier, I will be SHOCKED if I go the full 40 weeks! I'm praying to make it to 36. They took detailed measurements of my cervix, and it is within the normal range for right now, *whew*! At my next two appointments they will be doing the fetal fibronectin test to determine my chances of going into pre-term labor. We got to see the baby in action on the ultrasound, he or she was very busy swallowing amniotic fluid, that was neat to see. The ultrasound tech said only about 1 in 10 get to see that. Also, when Isabella was a baby, and also during her ultrasounds, she ALWAYS had at least one of her hands touching her face (usually covering her eye), it appears this baby has the same tendancy. :)

Easter

We had a very nice Easter weekend at Monte's parents. Just one of Monte's sisters was there, but Isabella still had a blast with her two cousins that were there.

Isabella in her pretty Easter dress, with the purse great-grandma bought for her.

Family picture. Me at 19 weeks. I had a neighbor tell me recently that I looked big for how far along I am. Of course that sent me into a hormonal crying fit later. I probably shouldn't let it bother me, but it REALLY does. Maybe I am a little on the big side, but I don't think I'm HUGE, this is one of the first maternity shirts I've worn.

Easter egg hunt.








Blowing bubbles with cousins.

Last Week

We kept very busy last week, here's a few things that kept us occupied during the week, or should I say, kept Isabella occupied . . .

She worked out with Yourself Fitness for Playstation, which is Mommy and Daddy's, but she wanted in on the action. :)

The weather was GORGEOUS, we spent most of the week playing outside, and she got to get her Jeep out for the first time this year!

She went down her slide about 9,000 times.

She spent A LOT of time swinging! Although, at first she was not too thrilled that we didn't put her baby/toddler swing back up for her.

She helped make cut out Easter cookies. This is the first time I let her frost and decorate, and she loved it!! By the way, this is the best cut out sugar cookie recipe EVER!

Can you spot which ones she frosted?? :)

She mastered riding her trike recently. Last summer she couldn't reach the pedals, now look at her! I wish I had a before picture of the trike. I bought it at a garage sale for one dollar last year, it was in terrible condition. I repainted the whole thing in the original colors, and it turned out great.

She had a blast coloring Easter eggs, and it didn't even get messy, like I anticipated!