24 weeks

Today I am just over 24 weeks along in my pregnancy. Baby Marion will be here before we know it, especially with the flurry of holidays ahead. Grace was born at 37 weeks, so I'm really not expecting more than another 13 weeks ;)

Grace was active in the womb, but Marion has her beat! We can already watch my stomach move wildly as she stretches out! Her kicks can easily be felt, and I want so badly for Grace to feel her baby sister move... but she doesn't have the patience. Not that it takes much... there are times when she is very active and a mere 3 seconds would be plenty... but 3 seconds of total stillness to a 2 1/2 year old seems to be an eternity.

Marion's nursery is coming along, after a fabric catastrophe that upset me too much to blog about...

(2 weeks after ordering and paying for all my fabric, I got a call that the rose color had been discontinued. By this point, we had gotten paint samples matched to the discontinued fabric and I turned in a swatch to the artist who is doing a painting to match the room! I went into mild shock, but eventually found a replacement, a smooth minky in a pretty color called "vintage pink." It is less purple-y than the pevious choice and I may even like it better.)

I am now awaiting the painting, hoping it will blend in with the new shade of rose/pink. We choose new paint samples and made a new selection. Marion's wall must have had about 10 shades of sample colors on the wall at once, it was getting comical! Jeremy painted the walls over the weekend. I love the color... it's a muted earthy pink. Grace gave her approval of the pink as well, and I really don't think she would have been happy with anything less! There will be no stripes or wild patterns this time around, I decided that the black and white fabric would be loud enough. Nana is hard at work on the drapes and bedding and they should be done soon! We're having so much fun preparing for Baby Marion's arrival!

the perfect pumpkin

I really look forward to the pumpkin patch every year, it's one of my favorite traditions. This year we visited Mitchell Farms in Collins, Mississippi. We took a tractor pulled hay ride around the farm, picked out our perfect pumpkins, and did lots of playing! Grace had a wonderful time and she picked out a pumpkin for Mommy and Daddy, one for herself, and one for Baby Marion. Not only was choosing one for Marion her idea, but Grace insisted on picking Marion's pumpkin out first! She's going to be such a wonderful Big Sister!

Of course, one of the main reasons I love the pumpkin patch is because I love to take LOTS of pictures there!

So excited to be here!

Grace striking a pose

The most beautiful sunflower

The cutest scarecrow

Grace at the entrance to the corn maze

Daddy and Grace, "2 little peanuts"

She picked up lots trying to find the perfect pumpkin

Swinging high!

Little hands playing in the corn pool

Jumping into the corn pool!

Mommy and Grace

Grace with "Marion's pumpkin" that she picked out

Playing on the old school toys!

Grace climbing the hay bales

One pregnant mama... exhausted from the pumpkin patch!

under the big top!

We survived the circus! We all had a great time, despite a little disappointment on Grace's end. We made the BIG MISTAKE of giving Grace a "preview" of the circus by showing her the Cole Bros. website. The website had photos of lots of acts, including an antique pink car that carried a load of pink poodles in pink tutus... these are the things Grace's dreams are made of. She had her mind set on those pink poodles, there was even a 10 foot picture of one outside the circus tent when we arrived... but when the show ended without a glimpse of pink poodle, Grace was truly heartbroken. It put a big damper on her whole night. It was pretty discouraging to have put so much effort into our circus trip and have her leave unhappy because the damn poodles didn't show!

While Grace was upset about the poodles, I had my own tragedy: I forgot to attach the bows to the circus dress I made her. I won't forgot for next week's circus parade at school!

So moving on ;)... we did see lots of cool stuff...

arriving at the big top

Grace riding a pony

Grace and Daddy enjoying the show

3 guys on motorcycles in here... I was worried!

the circus elephants

the human cannonball

the circus camels

We've talked with Grace about the circus lots today. Whenever we bring up the elephants or the camels the firsts words out of her mouth are "and the man hit them with his stick." Ugh, I was hoping she hadn't noticed that part.It didn't seem to be too bad to me, although I'm unsure exactly what goes on. She really liked the trained dogs (albeit they were no pink poodles!), and laughs when talking about how they jumped through the hoops and rode on the ponies. She was completely mezmerized by the acrobats, they were truly incredible, very talented. I looked over many times to see her with an open jaw, staring in astonishment.

We had a great time at the circus! Hopefully we can go again before she grows out of her dress! :)

...from the sewing room

There are days that I like to pretend that I am Super Mom. On Tuesday, a perfect storm came together to facilitate such an undertaking.
I had read that the circus was coming to town, and had been thinking about taking Grace, but was hesitant. Jeremy really wanted to go, but I've never even been to the circus (and the idea of it honestly makes me a little nervous!) I mean, if the San Francisco zoo can't contain their tigers, how on earth will the carnies?? Maybe the circus wasn't such a good idea for this paranoid mama.
Then, I picked Grace up from school on Tuesday. I learned that their lesson this week and next was "The Circus." They had even slipped an ad for the Cole Bros. Circus into her folder, encouraging me to take her. There was a note about next Tuesday... the kids will put on a "circus parade" and are encouraged to wear and bring circus themed things. Well, I can only take so much pressure... WE'RE GOING TO THE CIRCUS!

So now the question was, what will she wear?? Between her circus trip and the school parade, she needed something really perfect. It was too late to order something, and I didn't really want to spend the money anyway.... and that's when my Super Mom moment happened... I resolved to dust off my neglected sewing machine and get to work! I hadn't sewn in months, so I was a little rusty and it's not perfect, but here it is, completed in 24 hours (and for under $10!!), just in time for our trip to the circus tonight!

the chest has an elephant in a circus car

clowns spell out her initials along the hem


And why stop there? The dress is REVERSIBLE to a school themed dress! Too bad I didn't get my Super Mom inspiration before they took school pictures last week :(

I'm a proud mama today! :)

gymnastics video!

Daddy, whose photography/videography style is even more paparazzi-esque than my own, accompanied us to gymnastics this week. He has put together a highlight reel...

you're a little quirky my dear

For Grace, some of your most recent quirks...

"Every Light in the House is On"
For 2 years and 8 months, you never touched the light switches. I now wake up to a house that is probably lighting up our neighbors' yards as well as our own. You wake up and walk around the house to make sure every light is on. I, your cheap mother, am trying to get this new found obsession under control. I know you don't understand the consequences (think POWER BILL!), so you're just going to have to trust me. Although without the help of EVERY light you claim, "I can't see ANYTHING!!", I'm quite sure your vision is fine.

"Girl Shows vs. Boy Shows"
Common thinking might use regular stereotypes to distinguish "girl shows" from "boy shows." You have definitions of your own. You see, shows YOU like, you call "girl shows," while everything else is a "boy show." Princess movies, anything Disney, or even a music channel playing your favorite pop song can be considered a "girl show." While the news, Desperate Housewives, and daytime talk shows are all definitely for boys! Anytime something you don't like is playing, I hear, "This is a boy show, I need to watch a show for girls!"

"Those Umbrellas on Your Cute Face"
A.K.A. eyebrows. You speak very well, and have become very clear. You are such wonderful company for me and I love to talk to you all day. We do have one verbal hangup right now though. Somehow you got the idea that the strips of hair above your eyes were your "umbrellas." You are pretty adaptable, so I'm sure with a little coaching, your umbrellas will be just a memory soon.

more from the pantry door...

"P is for Pumpkin Seeds!"

"Sponge Flower"

"Apple Prints"

"Fall Leaf Rub"

"Grace is 2!"

"Number 3"

"Huh??"

Okay, you may be wondering what this one is. Let me tell you, in person.. even stranger. It has orange and brown dust stuck all over it. Grace told me she painted with pumpkin, although I'm not totally sure what that means. Did they apply the paint with pieces of pumpkin?? Is the mystery dust pumpkin pie spice?? This one should have come home with an explanation!