Zooey from May - June

I realized I never finished my update for May (sorry!), so I thought I'd just update for May and June. Zooey is adorable. I love how "big girl" she is! I feel like she's gotten taller in the last two months, as her legs look a lot longer, and she's already outgrowing some of the clothes I got her in April.

I love listening to Zooey's language develop and the funny things she says. Here are some silly stories from the past two months:

At a 2 hour doctor's appointment last month, I prayed with her that God would help us both to be patient. She started praying, "Help me God obey, go to Chick-Fil-A soon."

She ran out to say goodnight to me recently, and some ladies were over for Bible study. She saw we were eating chocolate and asked for some. When I told her no, she excitedly told everyone that there is chocolate in her boogers.

When I got her up to go to CO, I said, "Zooey, are you ready for the airport and to go on the plane?" She sleepily responded, "Yeah," then excitedly said, "OH MOMMY! Yeah!"

Handing me a picture "Me make beautiful picture for Mommy."

When Gideon was crying at our house, "Baby Gideon! It's ok it's ok it's ok! Me come out me come out me come out!!" She was very concerned and wanted to go help him.

She's started holding her dolls up to her chest and saying, "Me hold baby Tennyson on my boob."

She told us she is going to marry Peter Pan in two months. This was on our anniversary, when we were explaining marriage to her and that she may someday get married, too.

Zooey freaked.out about her swim lessons. So much so that I had to move her back to the parent-tot class with me for a few weeks. The second day in that class, I had her swim to the teacher, and when she was swimming back, she started singing "Trust and Obey," which is a hymn we learned at BSF that I sing to her when she's afraid.

One night after a difficult day, we prayed about obedience. As I was singing her bedtime songs to her, she rolled over on her tummy and began praying, "Help me obey. Amen!"

We went to a birthday party on Saturday. Zooey LOVES cake. Girl after my own heart. She was a good distance away from me and the little girl's mom, who asked the birthday girl if she was ready for cake. Despite the noise and distance, Zooey shouted, "YEAH!!" and ran over to the cake table.

I've had a nasty cut on my arm. Zooey has been looking at it and kissing my boo boo. The other day, she asked, "You boo boo better?" I told her that yes, it was healing. She said, "Jesus heal that."

We were listening to her Veggie Tales CD in the car. A song came on about how God makes us special. She said, "Me special too! Me special (to) Jesus!"

I got Zooey up from her nap one day this week, and she tried to pull my shirt down and put her doll on my boob to "eat mommy's milk." I told her no, so she put the doll up to her own chest.

As you can probably tell, Zooey's pretty excited about baby Tennyson! She loves babies. We're working with her now on being gentle with baby Gideon. She just, in the words of my pastor's wife, and like many little kids "loves big." She doesn't understand her own strength. And, man is that girl strong! Her swim instructor even commented on how strong her kicks are. She's like her daddy in that way.

One of the things that has been a blessing with Zooey's language growth is hearing her talk about God more. She's also really started to attempt to sing the last couple weeks, and it's neat to hear her try to sing along to the hymns at bedtime. Working with kids, and now especially her, it is such a privilege to see the way that small children have a BIG faith in Jesus. They take what He says at His Word. Oh, how I often wish I had that kind of faith.

Zooey's such a sweet girl. Last time I updated I mentioned that 3.5 is a tough age. Although we're not past all the rough spots, I have noticed the last couple weeks we seem to be in a calmer, more obedient phase. I love these times! I've been having fun with Zooey. She loves playing in water and swimming. She's crazy about puzzles right now and doing them "all by meself!" She also continues to like arts and crafts, especially learning to cut with scissors; she's getting better all the time. She is becoming interested in the words in books, and pretends to read and tell stories. It is so fun being her mommy, and I pray many nights before bed that God will help me to remember and cherish these sweet times when she's so little. It's truly a treasure.

Serious sleepy day

Loving on her baby in her "moby wrap"

flying a kite with Daddy

TV time snuggles

A serious daddy's girl

petting a hedgehog at Chick-Fil-A family night

being cute

so much love!

a rough night with extra snuggles at bedtime - this is how she self-soothes

28 weeks

How far along: 28 weeks

Size of Baby: About 2.5 lbs. and 14.8" (Chinese cabbage)

Total weight gain: +24.5 (pretty much no gain this week)

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: I think I'd describe my sleep as "OK." Lots of tossing and turning and starting to use the restroom more. It's been pretty hot here, and even though we keep our thermostat as low as it can go without freezing, all of you who have been pregnant know how hot you can get.

Best moment this week: Today marks the end of the second trimester! He'll be here in 11 more weeks! That's not a lot of time, and I'm getting more excited every day to meet him and hold him.

Movement: I love his little movements right now. I see a little pokes and swishes and feel him getting stronger. He usually moves at regular intervals, and I definitely see a reaction to food (especially that birthday party cake this past weekend!).

Food cravings: broccoli, berries with homemade whipped cream, chai

What I miss: My back not killing me at the end of the day

What I am looking forward to: My shower, our garage sale, so I can finish Tennyson's nursery

Weekly Wisdom: Hmmm...slow down a bit when you know you need to. I've kind of been overdoing it some days lately.

Milestones: Third trimester begins this week. He can blink his eyes, which now have eyelashes. He's getting white fat to keep him energized, and he's developing millions of brain neurons.

Labor signs: I'm pretty sure I was having contractions late yesterday afternoon and into the evening. I think I was dehydrated; I've been fine all day today. I'm going to make a more conscious effort not to do much outside and to stay hydrated.

28 weeks

27 weeks

How far along: 27 weeks

Size of Baby: about 2 lbs. 14.5" (like the size of a head of cauliflower)

Total weight gain: +24.4

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: Pretty good, waking up more with the tossing and turning and peeing

Best moment this week: Swimming and feeling weightless

Movement: Lots of strong kicks!

Food cravings: kit kats, avocado, peaches

What I miss: eating without heartburn

What I am looking forward to: My shower!

Weekly Wisdom: Not much this week.

Milestones: Tennyson's developing increased fat stores, more mature lungs and has a better chance of survival if born early now (stay in there, baby!). His eyelashes are forming, and he has started to open his eyes to open from time to time. He's started to practice coughing and sucking more intensely.

Tennyson at 27 weeks and Zooey bug :)

26 Weeks

How far along: 26 weeks

Size of Baby: Cucumber (about 15" and 2.2 lbs.)

Total weight gain: +24 lbs.

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: On and off this week with vivid dreams and needing to go to the bathroom.

Best moment this week: I'm really enjoying seeing Zooey's excitement over "Baby Tennyson." She kisses my belly a lot, tells him to move and tells me her baby's moving, too. :)

Movement: Lots! And it's getting stronger.

Food cravings: fresh berries, sausage, salads

What I miss: Hm...not too much yet at this stage. I had to take my wedding rings off this week, and I'm missing wearing them on my hand.

What I am looking forward to: My husband is AWESOME, and Tennyson's room is almost done! So, I'm looking forward to that being completed. I'm looking forward to my shower and to scheduling the C-section at (hopefully) my next doctor's appointment.

Weekly Wisdom: My own: sleep at night while I can! The closer it gets, the more I'm remembering all that getting up in the middle of the night business. :)

Milestones: Tennyson can probably recognize my voice and Ryan's voice now. His immune system is rapidly developing, and he's practicing breathing. His taste buds are very developed, and it's pretty clear he likes it when I get dessert. :)

Labor signs: Some BH contractions

26 weeks

Brushing up on my baby skills with baby Gideon

25 weeks

How far along: 25 weeks

Size of Baby: About 13.5" and about 1.5 lbs; about the size of a squash.

Total weight gain: +20.9

Stretch marks? Nope.

Sleep: It's been pretty decent. Some great nights, some bad nights, so it evens out.

Best moment this week: I am SO super thankful for a couple friends with little boys who gave me their clothes to look through. It was so fun to go through all the clothes, and I think we're actually set on clothes for the first year, minus some things like socks, mittens and hats. Woohoo! This is an answer to prayer.

Movement: Lots of little jabs, and he seems to be on a routine. I can now anticipate when I'll feel him move the most.

Food cravings: chocolate, kale, fresh berries, hamburgers (like fresh off the grill!)

What I miss: I'm starting to get to that point where it's hard to adjust when I'm sleeping, so I miss not waking up every time I need to roll over.

What I am looking forward to: We're getting Tennyson's carpet cleaned tomorrow, and I'm going to go look at paint colors this weekend. I'm super excited to get his nursery done, wash those clothes and put them away and organize the rest of it.

Weekly Wisdom: It is SOOO much easier with the second one. :) I hope so!

Milestones: Tennyson's starting to fatten up, is able to grasp his hands & wiggle his little fingers and toes and his hair color would be able to be seen now. Another red head??

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks.

My next doctor's appointment is Monday, the 10th. She said that we'll discuss the date of my C-section sometime around 28 weeks. I'm guessing that means I'll wait until next month's appointment to get the date. Sarah & I were talking about how if we do it on September 11th, Gideon & Tennyson will be exactly five months apart, and it would be fun to do some of their monthly pictures together - we even bought them matching tie stickers! I'm getting more and more excited to meet little Tennyson! Going through those clothes made me even more excited. I can almost picture him wearing them. Can't wait to meet him!

25 weeks

Here's a cute shot from 24 weeks that I forgot to add last week.

Zooey at 25 weeks.