1st Trip to the Lake

For Memorial Day (I'm only a weekend late) we had a fabulous trip to Lake Burton with some friends. It was so much fun, and it was Megan's first lake trip. Our friend Natalie invited some folks from church (choir friends) to her parent's lake house. It was a perfect start to "summer."

Each morning Megan and Mary Grace would wake up and sit in the bay window watching the boats go by. Mary Grace is about 7 weeks older than Megan so they had a fun time playing together. All the kids had other kids their age to hang with and that made it extra fun for the parents because everyone had a playmate. Megan LOVED going out on the boat!

She was even brave enough to try her hand at driving the boat!

The girls all had a great time -Natalie, Me, Megan, Mary Grace and her mom Amy, Amy's older daughter Lydia, Sonja (Sasha as Megan calls her) and her daughter Ashley, and Leslie and her daughter Katherine.And the boys followed suite - Mike and his son Grant, Tim (who you can't see) and his son Andrew, and Tom - you could generally find them in the speed boat.

All the kiddo's loved going tubing - and of course Megan and Mary Grace wanted in on the action!

But instead of being behind the boat - they had a more personal touch! Talk about love.... Natalie got in the water (ok, it was after she water skiied) to pull them around. Did I mention the water was freezing!Once Megan had enough of tubing (and she got her whole body in the water to realize how cold it was) , she moved on to sitting on the dock and splashing the water.

Tom got to experience his first Sea-doo ride. I was a bit jealous I have to admit.... something about not letting pregnant women ride sea-doos and speed boats. I'll just have to go back next spring/summer and take my turn on the water hog and skiing.

One of the best parts of Natalie's parents house is that they not only have a great dock - but they have a great little beach. So the little (and not so little) ones had a place to play without having to get totally in the water (did I mention it was freezing).

And we always had our watch dog - Bradford - nearby. He's an amazing dog and Megan really didn't understand why she couldn't take him home with her.

I can't say enough about how much fun we had! Thank you Natalie!!!! Not only was it a relaxing weekend, but it was a weekend away with friends we wouldn't normally have a chance to vacation with. Megan loved it and is ready to road trip back asap!

Gigglebox

Hopefully one day Megan will forgive us for all our bath shots. But we couldn't risist getting her on camera tonight. Someone's "Gigglebox" was turned on and she was hysterical - cracking herself and us up.

School's Out!

Congratulations to all the wonderful teachers in my life!!! If you are in my area - School's Out! Yipee!!!!!!!! On Wednesday Megan and I took a little field trip to my old school to see some of my friends. Let's just say that if when I'm in my old stompin' ground - I need a tour guide, it's changed sooo much in 2 years. But what hasn't changed are my great teacher friends. Megan had a great time hanging out with Amy (my old trailer roommate).

And she hit the jackpot with Carol - somehow Megan charmed her way into taking Carol's roses home with her. Thanks Carol - they are beautifing our kitchen table!

Now everytime we drive past a school Megan asks, "Mommy school?" and when I say no she becomes a little more quiet saying, "no, not mommy school." I think she'll be excited to come back and visit in the fall.

3 amigos

Field Trip

What to do when you need a little outing but really have anywhere you need to go?
Find a pet store!!!!!

Megan was captivated by the fish, birds, gerbils, cats, and a sweet rabbit named Splenda. She's still talking about Splenda. Which has really blown my mind since it's been a couple of weeks since we saw Splenda. What a memory. And of course while you are there - you must pick up a bone for Daisy..... Grandma and Granddad's doggie. Megan adores Daisy!

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's to the park we go!

Somehow we have raised a park lover. A day is not complete without a trip to the park. Thankfully we have multiple parks within a couple of miles from our house. The closest is almost across the street from our neighborhood - and that's good because we are there every day. Not almost every day, not multiple times a week.... daily. Sometimes multiple times a day. Megan will literally climb into the car, into her car seat, buckle herself in and look at you and start saying, "playground please" or "park, park, swing please." It's very hard to resist. So, we end up at the park, a LOT. Of course it's always better when you can take a friend with you!

Gotta love those friends that will stick with you where ever you go and whatever you do!

Top 3 Ring Pop List

Why are ring pops so spectacularly wonderful?

1. They help children learn their colors...


2. They are um-um good.... 3. They don't stop a girl from doing all the things that girls need to do (they travel well).

This summer we are driving to Grandma and Papa's house... I think we'll stock up on ring pops prior to that trip!

AAARRRRGGGHHHHHH

Update... I still have no idea what happened... and that is frustrating. My 2 columns became 1 column and nothing I did could get it back to it's original 2 columns. so I ended up wasting all afternoon (thanks to Megan's GREAT nap and her playing so sweetly in her crib once she woke up, so I could finish up) cut and pasting to get it back to it's somewhat original state. That will teach me to change the background and pictures. UGH!

Today - at this moment, I hate Blogspot! I have no idea what I have done to my blog. It's soooo frustrating!


Anybody know how to get the stuff that was on the side - back on the side and not at the bottom???? HELP please! An hour at this and I still don't know what I did or how to fix it. Anyone? Anyone?

Resident Artist

This week was our final week of art classes - but that sure didn't slow Megan down. Virtually every day we were outside painting and creating. Megan loves her "do a dot" marker painters. They usually end up being pretty messy so I have to admit that I don't break them out a lot. But, Megan was really wanting to get her birthday Thank you notes done (just a few months late due to mommy being so sick) and wanted to add her own little artsy touch to them.

And, we broke out the finger paints! Woohoo! Although it was a little funny because Megan really didn't want to get her hands dirty. That's funny because she has no problem getting regular paint, markers, and such all over herself... but oh no, not the really easy to wash off finger paints.

Daddy even took his lunch break to watch the in-house artist at work!

Once I conceded and gave her some "fun" painting utensils (like a paint brush, cotton ball, and bottle cap) she was a happy little artist again.

I have to say, it's great having a little table outside for Megan to work on - helps me keep the kitchen a little less paint covered.

Fun in the Tub

I must say bathtimes can be quite entertaining these days. Megan has a few little "essentials" that make bathtime super fun. These Sesame Street finger paint bubble paints are always a hit. We pull them out for a special treat and she loves them. We've just started letting her squeeze her own paint so I've been on the hunt for refills.I finally found them on-line - which is great because at the rate she's going, we will run out before you know it.

And of course, while bathing - it's always good to review those oh so important educational skills..

So our counting skills leave a little to be desired.... I'm not sure why Megan has suddenly started to leave out 3 & 4. We had couting to 5 down... but when we jumped to 10, suddenly a few numbers were discarded. I guess in Megan's "new math" 3, 4, and 6 are just unnecessary.

Oh Mommy!

Megan loves the camera, and last week I got a funny shot of us together. She loves for me to take a picture and then will run and look to see how it turned out.

And Grandma's..... Here's your little granddaughter working on her Mother's Day cards for you. I just thought you'd like to see the focus and deliberation that went into them. And yes - she is laying on the coffee table.... I was picking my battles that day.

VAL UPDATE...

Several folks have asked how I'm feeling... so I'll throw it out there so you can keep on praying. I've had some good days and I think, "woohoo, I'm on the upswing and this sickness is finally going away" - then I have 2 or 3 days of feeling really bad (like this week) and I realize, ok, I'll take the good days when I can. But to be honest, today has been hard. Mostly because it's been hard on Megan. She's cried more today than she has in weeks, all because mommy was feeling really really "icky". That's hard on my heart. It's bad enough to be so sick you can't get out of the bathroom to even turn on the tv to try to occupy her... but to have her clinging to my leg crying at the same time (she's hugging me to make me feel better), talk about heart wrenching. I'd really been feeling better - even to the point of telling my Dr. that I didn't think I would need a refill on my anti-nausea medicine. But lets just say, I've been rethinking that the past few days. Thankfully I have a wonderfully sweet husband that thoughtfully overlooks the fact that our house is a disaster, I haven't cooked in I don't know how long, I can't do dishes when I feel ill, and thousand of other little things have just been "put on hold." Thanks Tom - I cherish you all the more for reminding me that this is just a season. :^/

On that same kind of note - I also found out that my iron is really low. Low enough that they are going to be monitoring it closely. That explains why there are some days that I'm soooooo tired that I can barely function. Of course if you can't keep food down, you aren't absorbing iron. But I'm also thinking that the iron supplements are what have really made me sick today. But it's not like I have a choice at this point. I'm just praying that at my next appt, it's made an improvement and then I can at least say - it's worth it. But.... even with all that - things are going well. Megan is very excited to be a big sister! Of course, she really has no idea what that means. But she's practicing with her dolls and occasionally asks when "her baby" is coming.

PRAYER UPDATE FOR KAYLEIGH

Last but certainly not least.... Say a prayer for Kayleigh's family. Kayleigh fought a huge battle against all odds and out survived anything the Dr's imagined for her..... and is now with the Lord. I can barely write about it without starting to cry again. You can read her story by clicking on the link on the right.

Coming out of her shell!

Ok, now I know that Megan really doesn't need to "come out of her shell"... she's a flirty, way social child. However, I made a post last week or so about our little art class and how it was fun but very overwhelming for me. Megan loves it... but I'm exhausted by the end of it.

Well I have to say, as the class draws to a close - she's totally become a pro-twoosy doodler! Today she even got up and "shared" about her painting with Ms. Kim. Normally she just runs up and grabs her painting to bring it to me. But oh no today she ran up there and started talking about it ("I paint" "leaf" "dot dot dot" roll brush" - stuff like that).
We only have 1 class left, and I have to admit - I'm going to miss it. And I NEVER thought I'd say that. But today she sat and listened like never before, and was even the teachers helper (no shock there). I would actually consider signing her up again now that I see my little artist actually coming into her own. At the end of class we had to leave her artwork because it's entered into their student art show (which opens this Friday evening and runs through June 19th). It took a lot to comfort a very distraught artist who didn't understand why she couldn't take her cool tree home to show Daddy. No worries.... we'll just take Daddy to the art show to see her painting hanging on the wall with the other interesting twoosy doodler art.

Smile!

Oh - the first of many pictures of Baby B to be posted on the blog, I'm sure.
Can't wait to meet this little on in the fall! What a little miracle!

Check up!

Just a short post to say - all went well with the Ultrasound today! Baby is doing well and growing like a weed. Baby B. was moving all over the place - which was very similar to Megan at this stage. They had a hard time getting baby to sit still so they could get some good photos. So fun! It's hard to believe we are really about 1/3 of the way to meeting the new baby. I'll try to get my scanner working later and get a picture of the newest little Blaisdell on here.

Practice

Megan's been practicing and practicing to be a big sister. It's so sweet to watch her take care of her baby dolls. If they aren't in the baby care center, they are in the baby stroller, the shopping cart, or the baby seat (which is for a real baby and Megan sometimes climbs in too). A friend just gave us a great book about being a big sister - which I think Megan will be really good at!

We are very excited because tomorrow we get to go take a look at the littlest Blaisdell!

Art Class

I've been trying for weeks to get a picture of Megan in her little Abrakadoodle art class (thank you to our local parks and rec for offering it at a really affordable rate). Let's just say,"taking a picture" sounds much easier than it is. Generally I'm trying desperately to keep Megan from getting paint all over everything. She's definitely INTO her artwork. She loves the painting, and loves using all the tools they give her to paint with. In the end, however, she loves using her fingers and anything that will let her "dot dot dot" with the paint. This was her world that she was working on. I think she had the most fun with it of anything we've done so far.

The class is fun, but I must say it's been exhausting for me. I'm not sure if it was because I've been sick during most of it, or if it's because some of the things they've done have really stretched her beyond what I would think a young 2 year old could do. But I have to say, it's very sweet to put her artwork out in the kitchen and have her walk past and start talking about each painting (mostly reminding me that she dot dot dotted) and saying "art class". It's sweet. I'll try to get a couple more pictures before the class ends in 2 weeks and at least get some shots of her artistry.

(PS - if you look closely, you can see the remainder of Megan's goose egg on her forehead from her chair collison)

Nature Girl

Last week our weather was so good we made trips to local parks almost daily. One of the parks we go to a lot has a great little lake. It's a little removed from our normal stops at the playground, but we headed over there for a bit so that Megan could check out the wildlife. She loved seeing the ducks and geese. It was so much fun to watch her try to waddle around with them. I think I was the nervous one because they were not scared of her. I honestly think she could've grabbed them if I hadn't intervened. And you know, my first aid for goose bites is a little rusty. Later we went on a little walk and found some cool bridges. Who knew playing on a bridge, throwing rocks in the water, and watching the fish, could keep Megan's attention for so long.

What makes my heart smile?

My dear sweet husband makes my heart smile!
There is just not much on earth that is sweeter than....


Watching Megan follow you on stage to practice singing with you during choir practice on Sunday morning. And when she's not on stage, we are in the back of the church singing and dancing while she points at you saying, "My Daddy singing". All the while she is clapping and waving, just to make sure you know that she's still there rooting you on.

Or watching you get on the floor and play trains with you. And by the way - you do a great Sir Top 'em Hat impersonation! I can hear you guys before I see you and I just have to pause and listen at Megan's giggles and the amazing memories you are making together. I just fall in love with you both over and over again!

But I have say, one of the sweetest things is to watch you play dolls with Megan. She loves it when her Daddy helps her feed and burp the babies. And it's good practice for you both! :^) It just makes my heart smile!!!!!

Your sandbox or mine?

You'd think it was the heart of summer by the way Megan is all about sand boxes! Let's just say she throws herself into her playtime!
I can't wait to see her at the beach this year. I think she's going to be in hog heaven surrounded by all that sand.

Heart Wrenching Story

Have you ever watched something on tv, or read a book and you were so captivated by it. You were inspired, mesmerized, just caught up in it..... then suddenly in the blink of an eye what was so inspiring suddenly left you in a heap of tears and emotions that almost can't be defined because they are so raw?

Well, sometimes blogs are like that. You know it's a strange world where you can feel so attached and apart of someone's life - yet you've never met them. But you walk through thier stories and pray for them and in some way you "know" them, without actually knowing them.

I've been following a blog and praying for a little family that I've never met. It's an amazing story and this sweet family is so inspiring as you watch them live their faith out in the midst of a challenging circumstance. However, in the past couple of weeks it's just caused me to fall on my face in a heap of tears and pray like never before. I don't know if it's just the heart-wrenching nature of what's happening to them, or pregnancy hormones on overdrive, or what... but oh my! I log on to find out the latest news and what I can pray for - but I have to be very careful because I know that it's doubtful that I'll walk away from my computer without sobbing.



So.... if you have a moment (when you are alone or with someone you can cry with) log on and read Kayleigh's story. She's 10 months old..... she was born 3 months premature. From conception the Dr's said she'd never live, and wouldn't even be born. She was - 1 lb, 1 oz. She's never left the hospital, and suddenly last week tragedy hit and Kayleigh took a serious turn for the worst. Every day this little family keeps getting bombarded with bad news and told there's no hope. And today, the prognosis got more grim (if that were possible). But the amazing thing is to watch this amazing couple endure this with a faith that is steadfast and outright unexplained. They are always honest about their struggles, but at the end of the day give all glory to God.

I warn you, if you are anything like me - entering into Kayleigh's world will rip your heart open. But hopefully it'll also inspire you to want a faith as enduring and unyeilding as theirs. I hope you'll read her story and pray for her parents... it's the situation that no parent should ever have to endure!