18 days to go!

I was back at the doctor today, 35 weeks and 2 days along. I saw a new guy, as my regular doc was taking a vacation day before it expired tomorrow and he lost it.

Today I got "checked" for the first time this pregnancy, here's the verdict... almost 1 cm dilated. So I've started on the path to delivery. I would say I am all ready, except for Grace's 3rd birthday party that is 10 days away.

Dearest Marion,
Please be kind to your big sister and stay put at least 10 more days.
Much love,
Mommy

I explained my plan to the doc and he said he thought I would make it to the party, but no promises, because all bets are off at this point.

He estimates that Baby Marion is over 6 pounds now and very long. I can't wait to see her!!!

merry christmas!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

On Christmas day we visited Nana and Paw Paw's house. We decorated gingerbread men and kitties...




We had made special arrangements with Santa for him to visit us on the morning after Christmas so Daddy would be here for the party. He had just come home on Christmas Day. Grace was very pleased with her delivery from Santa!



He even left her a new house of her own! Here she is checking it out for the first time...


Grace dancing out some of the Christmas candy craziness!

a little girl named "mommy"

Some nights we're running late for bedtime. On these nights I often "tell a story" instead of "reading" one. In my mind it's shorter and easier for those nights we're racing to sleep. My stories usually start out, "Once upon a time there was a little girl named Grace..."

Grace often tells me a story next, and hers usually begin, "Once upon a time there was a little girl named Mommy..."

Here is my best recollection of tonight's story...

"Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Mommy, and she loves pink, and she pick some flowers, for her garden, and I say 'I love pink too!', and that's what I say, and Mommy says 'I love you Gracie,' and I say 'I love you Mommy,' and that's what I say! The End! That story was when you were a little girl, Mommy!"

I think she knows that with stories like that I'll lay there all night listening... putting off the dreaded bedtime even longer.

4 weeks to go!

In only 4 weeks from today we'll meet Baby Marion! I was back at the doctor last week and my pregnant brain can't remember if he said I measured right on or a week ahead... either way, fairly right where I should be. I realized this past week that I am now waddling! I'm definitely feeling huge and having lots of contractions... looking forward to the end!

Baby Marion is getting mostly hand me downs from Big Sister Grace, but don't feel too bad for her, Grace had nice stuff! She has gotten a few new things all her own...

After much debate over whether to have Grace's carseat recovered...


I went ahead and ordered a new cover from a lady who makes them from scratch to sell on ebay. I am so happy with it, she did a great job. I love how it came with a headrest and strap pads... you don't get all of that with the covers sold in the boutiques.


Marion, your cover is definitely cooler than big sis's!

Baby Marion also got a new nursery. The accessories and art from Grace's nursery all moved with her to her big girl room, so Marion got a new color scheme, pink and black! Nana made the drapes and the bedding, and she has some really cute stuffed animals made with coordinating fabric that are currently still under construction!

Check out the cute toybox! It was painted green from our old playroom when it came down from the attic. Jeremy nailed on the "M" and painted it all to match Marion's room! It's recycled! ;)

These came from Renee, an artist who has lots of cute stuff for sale on etsy. She was extremely nice to work with and let me change stuff up from her examples to make it perfect for Marion!



I bought this locally in Hattiesburg...

It was initially for Marion's nursery but I just didn't feel like it went once I got it. It does look perfect though in the bathroom that connects the girls' bedrooms! I just love everything it says; I hope my girls are best friends!


It's been pretty busy around here getting ready for the holidays, but I did manage to make a couple things for Marion this week. Hopefully with Grace out of school the next couple of weeks I can get lots more done!

school christmas party

Yesterday Grace had her school Christmas Party. Really, we've been partying everyday! Who knew having an almost 3 year old came with such a packed social schedule?! The theme was "Home for the Holidays," and everyone wore their jammies to school. The kids had snacks and hot cocoa, and did a small gift exchange.
Lately I've gotten to know many of the moms of Grace's classmates and they're all so much fun to be around that I now look forward to all of the parties. Of course, we often have unscheduled mommy pow wows on preschool mornings at the Hattiesburg Target too. Two out of the three preschool days last week literally half of the mommies of Mrs.Paula's class were hanging out there! I had to leave Tuesday morning before I even started my shopping because I had spent too long talking and it was time for me to be at the doctor! I never even made it past the "dollar spot!"

Starting with Grace and going clockwise... Grace, Natalie, Mary Allen, Luke, Emma or Ava (twins, not totally identical, but I can't tell from behind!), and Kadin

Grace brought the cookies for Christmas snack- here she is trying them out!

caroling and christmas lights

Last night was Grace's Christmas program at school. Nana and Paw Paw were there and Grace was very excited to show them her school and her classroom. The 2 year old pre-k kids were carolers. Grace had been singing Christmas tunes like crazy at home for the past couple of weeks... Rudolph, Frosty, Jingle Bells... so I figured she had it down! I was quite surprised when the songs they actually "sang" were more like Silent Night and Away in a Manger. She didn't really know those, and neither did any of the other kids. They did sing Jingle Bells at the end, which really perked them all up, and Grace got lucky as she was one of the two bell ringers!



After the program and Mexican buffet dinner at the school, we headed out to Purvis to see the Lewis Lights. We didn't follow the directions and we got a little lost in the country! When we finally found the Lewis home, it was well worth the trip! Mrs.Lewis has been decorating "all out" for almost 20 years, and seems to love the company it brings. She even had a visitor from Holland this week! She handpainted all of the wooden cut out scenes, and there are many! She has the story of the night before Christmas, Snow White, the Care Bears, Blue's Clues, Tigger and Pooh, the Rugrats, and many many more!!

Nana and Grace


Grace by the Snow White scene, one of her favorites!


I showed Grace this picture and asked her what she was doing.... "I'm making my dress like Snow White!" Ohhh! :)

This was so cool! This tree actually had hollow areas in it and Mrs.Lewis had arranged elves inside of the tree. It was lit from inside as well... awesome!

a new "first"

Grace's First Time Bowling
December 13, 2008

I guess I should explain her outfit. We had been at a ballet party Saturday morning and the tutu was her party favor. We were running late for the bowling party and I had to do a quick change of her clothes in the car and she was adamant that the tutu stay on. I was too rushed to argue, so I went with it! Honestly, I'm lucky she was awake and smiling by this time, it was a busy day!

The bowling was really fun for Grace! They had cool metal ramps that held the ball until she pushed it down, and there were guards to keep the ball out of the gutters. She got quite a few spares!