Out of Julia's Mouth

This morning when I went to get Julia up, she looked at my belly and said, "Mommy, you need to buy a new belly button. That one is falling out!"

We Survived the 3rd Birthday!

The long awaited date had arrived - Julia's 3rd birthday. She had been waiting for this day since February. She had many family members coming to celebrate with her - Grandpa and Grandma Rysavy, Great-Grandma at McVille & at the Farm, Uncle Matt, Aunt Shawna, Cousins Dalton & Saige, Grandpa Lee, and Aunt Emily. Everyone of them stayed with us. It was a very fun weekend. Julia had a great day!

Grandma at McVille, Shawna, and I got a quick lesson in making kolaches. We should've made more because they didn't last long! We also made potato dumplings - umm yummy!! Thank goodness for Grandmas as they cooked most of our meals!

I learned a lot about hosting birthday parties: put an end time, don't be pregnant, and have it somewhere else! :) It was a great day, however, towards the end it became a little stressful. Julia fell down the garage stairs and smacked her arms, legs, and head on the way down. That was the turning point for me - it was so hard to see her screaming and crying. After I got her settled down it was chasing kids out of my house again and then one of the kids asked me "when are we going to eat, I'm hungry". I never planned on feeding anyone, but it was getting close to 6:30 so I can understand where people were getting hungry. Thank goodness for Grandmas because they had made a meat and cheese tray that I put out for everyone. It was gone in no time! Around 7pm people started leaving and by 7:30 it was just family left. Julia had one more tumble, running across the driveway, she was picking up the croquet wires and tripped on the cement. Scuffed up her knee pretty badly. Once again we were in the house trying to settle her down. After 30 mins or so, I was able to get her settled down and then Grandma Lauri cuddled and rocked her. In no time she was sound asleep.

On Sunday when everyone left - Julia got to play by herself with all her new toys, we blew lots of bubbles on the deck, and then she helped Ben plant the garden. Around 1pm she came in and we cuddled on my bed and then slept until 4pm.

I am still trying to catch up on my sleep and my house is an absolute disaster! Overall it was a great weekend. So fun to have everyone stay, then only downer is I hardly got to talk to Mom, Dad, and my Grandmas. Thanks for coming down everyone!!

Potty Trained!

Yahoo for Julia. She is fully potty trained! She has been trained since Christmas, but at night we always put a diaper on her. This past Monday I asked her if she wanted to try not wearing a diaper to bed. She said, "Diapers for baby brother". We decided to wear big girl underwear that night. Since then she has woke up dry! Kudoos to you sweet Julia! You are so big and are definitely not a baby anymore!

Swimming Lessons are upon us!

On April 14th, Julia started her swimming lessons. We get to the YMCA a good 45 mins before her lessongs start so she can splash around in the pool and go down the tube-water slide. She loves the water. What a little fish.

She dunks her head all by herself. She loves to float on her back, but needs practice for her front float. I can let go of her for a little while when she is on her back, but not long. The teacher told us that we should expect that they will be swimming on their own up to 2 yds in the 4 and 5 weeks. I will be amazed if that is true. Considering most of the kids don't like to get their face in the water.

Julia just had her 2nd lessons yesterday and she learned the back stroke and front stroke. The lessons are only 1/2 hr, so there isn't much time to practice. She does much better when she can't touch, becuase then she can't cheat and just walk!

Danielle Turns 30!!!!

Wow! I am 30. When did that sneak up on me?! I was feeling Ok about turning 30 until the day before. I was driving into downtown because I had a Mary Kay conference that night. I just keep thinking "this isn't good". I went about my day and that night attended my first Mary Kay Career Conference. It ended around 10pm, so I headed home. I called Ben to chat and told him that I was so exhausted and just need to crawl into bed when I got home. When I walk into the house I noticed this poster board with pictures of me from high school to present and said "What the hell..." and then noticed there were kids shoes in our entryway. As I walk farther into the kitchen there is Mary in my dining room - I thought - but I stood there for what seemed like forever before it truly clicked that "yes" Mary was in fact in my dining room! What a surprise. She hadn't been down to visit since 2004 - something I always give her crap about. And here she is. And Brian and Breanne came too! I was so excited. We stayed up and visited until midnight, but I had to get to bed becuase I had to be downtown for my conference at 8:30. I went to the Beauty Consultant class and then went back home.

We got lots of visiting in, found Mary's wedding look, the girls played so good together, the guys drank beer and hung out in the garage, and later we grilled out and had a bonjfire. Our neighbors came over. So much fun!

Julia sang me "happy birthday to mommy"and "mommy's birthday party" all day. She is so sweet and can carry a great tune! What a memorable 30th!

A Girl's Weekend

What a great weekend. We all got together in Fargo on March 15th for a day of dress shopping for Mary's wedding. We almost went with the one Kristen is wearing!jk :) We found a dress - chocolate brown with a peach ribbon. Then we ate out at Olive Garden - yummy!

Julia came with us for the first part of the day. She had a great time with all the girls and especially trying on the dress!

Gymanastics Celebration

Last night was the last night for gymnastics. You had a great 10 weeks of Mousercising, jumping into the foam pit, hanging from bars, jumping on the trampoline, doing somersaults, monkey flips, balancing on beams, and making new friends. Next adventure....swimming lessons. We start on the 14th in the Seahorse class. It will be the last thing we can do together (as a class goes) before Baby Boy arrives. I'm just wondering why I chose swimming lessons, as that will require me to get into a swimsuit!

Pigtails

So adorable! I love putting your hair back in ponytails and pigtails, but you always seem to take them out before you get to daycare. Not this time - you actually wore them all day. That is, until I picked you up at daycare and was amazed that you didn't take them out. I shouldn't have said anything.

"Heads First" Experience

Last week at gymnastics Julia decided to show up the class by jumping into the foam pit head first! I was standing right at the pit and she was waist high in foam squares as her legs were kicking in the air. Scared the crap out of me. The coach jumped in to get her and when she pulled her out she was covered in foam. But do you think that phased her!? Nope. She wasn't scared to jump in again. This week I told her to jump feet first and she did. Next week is our last week already.

I have also had my 25 week doctor appointment. Can you believe that I am 25 weeks? This pregnancy has gone so fast. The doctor found the baby's heartbeat right away - thank goodness. The past couple of times it has taken her a couple times. I am measuring 27 weeks - a big boy already. Maybe I will deliver a week early - wouldn't that be nice?!

Here is a few of Julia's new phrases: "That is awesome!" "I am so excited!"

Danielle's Growing Belly

At 23 weeks I am starting to show quite a little baby belly!

Mickey Mouse Ear Pancakes

Julia has been on a pancake kick the past few weeks. Tonight on the way home she had to call her Dad and ask him to make her pancakes, with Mickey Mouse ears! She is going to be the next pancake eater of the family. Tonight she polished off 4 pancakes with "ears" and 1 without. We couldn't believe it! She does everything "meself", butter and syrup. When bedtime came around she didn't show that she was the slightest bit tired. I would imagine that 5 pancakes with syrup had something to do with that!