End of Summer Fun

Summer seems to end quickly.  Especially if you're a kid.  Then you realize you have a whole bucket list of things you still wanted to do before everyone heads back to school, jobs, and real life.  So we decided to cram a few very fun activities into the last few weeks of August.

Roger, Brooklyn and I headed down to his good old stomping grounds of Spanish Fork and saw our very first demolition derby.  It was hilarious.  Brooklyn was in awe....and managed to climb up and down the bleachers I swear no less than 50 times.  She was everywhere!  Thanks fam for entertaining us and Brooklyn!

The zoo was up next.  This is a must if you have kids.  I swear it seemed bigger when I was a kid though.  Despite my swollen feet, we braved the August heat to wander around...Brooklyn was giddy.  Beau could have cared less.  We were just glad to have parked in the shade and for the food my mom's work had provided!  Thanks mom for getting us tickets!

Brooklyn and I have also included in our summer fun this little man.  Oh my heavens.  I. Love. Him.  How could you not grin seeing this kid's smile?

We babysit him once a week (Meg and I trade babysitting days - I for sure got the better end of the deal).  Brooklyn defenitely struggled for a couple weeks with sharing my time, but she LOVES this guy.  But he owes her some good paybacks for pushing him over everytime he comes over (Brooklyn thinks he should be 'sleeping' because he's a baby).  Love you Beau.  You have full permission to push Brooklyn back once you figure out you can do that. :)

Roger really is included in most of our fun, I just don't like majority of the pictures of us together right now because I'm in the swollen stage of pregnancy.  My pride can only handle so much.  But Roger decided to spend his birthday weekend running the Rivalry Relay again this year.  Congrats on cutting 6 minutes off your time from last year running up Suncrest!  What a brutal race.  But fun - I'll be joining in on the fun next year for sure!

Now we're officially ready for Fall, Football season, cooler weather and of course, for Baby Girl to arrive!



Rounding Out Summer

At Lagoon!!

Roger's work threw their annual summer party at Lagoon, so we took advantage of the free tickets and food to join in on the fun.  (Well, I watched and took pictures.....8 months pregnant means I don't get to go on many rides.)

Despite what these first two pictures show on Brooklyn's face, she actually loved it!!  This girl is fearless I'm telling ya!  She could have cared less for the kiddy rides, but LOVED the roller coasters!  Thanks to her tall genes, she could go on just about every ride.



Blowing kisses at Dad before he rides the Rocket - just in case he didn't come back down!



It's been soooo hot these last two weeks.  I'm wish I could say I'm whining because I'm pregnant and the heat makes me feel yucky, but in reality I'm just sick of the 100 degree weather.  Brooklyn and I are hanging out in the garage here because it's shaded vs our front lawn out in the sun.



P.S. Brooklyn loves gadgets.  I think we're in trouble. 


The end of July took us to Bear Lake!!!  That place is Heaven for two very pregnant cousins (Brooke is due about a month ahead of us), a bunch of little second cousins, and lots of adults that wanted to try out my Mom and Dad's new boat!  It's beautiful.  I'm not coveting.......okay, yes I am.  I love boating. 

And that sums up the last few weeks for us!  We're now 33 weeks pregnant and got a csection date out of my doctor - Sept 24th will be the happy day unless this little gal decides to make her debut a bit early!  I'm feeling great for the most part.  Sleep is a bit of an issue since I'm a total back and stomach sleeper.  The rather large belly makes that painful.  And all three of us have colds this week (so glad we have colds in the hottest part of the summer, go figure). 

When Brooklyn was 6 weeks out from coming home from the NICU I made a paper chain to make it feel more exciting........I just may do that again for the countdown to Gardner Girl #2's arrival!!

We Made It!

 28 Weeks!!!!

I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't holding my breath getting to this day.  But we have officially made it past the point of when we delivered Brooklyn.  Only by about a day, but we'll take it!

So how do we feel?  Roger is still convinced this little girl is coming in the next 3-4 weeks.  I'm saying somewhere between 35-37 weeks.  For our mental health, I hope this time I'm right.  But whenever she comes, I'm thrilled to finally be in uncharted territory....for us at least! :)

So what has been different this go around?  I can't believe I'm able to say this (because pregnancy #1 was very easy on my body), but I actually feel better this go around.  (Sorry to the mom's out there that are miserable, I'm not rubbing it in.  I can very humbly say I am grateful to be pregnant and would take any symptom that goes along with pregnancy to have these babies!)  So for my own fun I'm documenting a few things as we move into the third trimester so I have something to compare it to!

• I'm carrying her way lower than I did Brooklyn.  Yet have gained less weight (not by much though, ha!).
• Already swollen.  Pretty sure me and the pregnancy 'mask' are gonna be friends.
• Can't sleep - my back hurts.  Probably because I'm too lazy to get off my left side during the night and I end up with a sore back and asleep feet.
• Lots of contractions with too much activity - probably should cut back on how much I'm working, but no one tell my doctor okay?  The selfish side of me wants to take all 12 weeks of leave after she comes, not before.
• Speaking of work, I won that battle for now.  I'm still showing up each week until I deliver or show signs of complications.  Grow baby grow!
• I'm so hot.  Could someone tell Rocky Mountain Power to lower their rates please?  I like my air conditioner lots.
• The belly button is distorted.  I guess a big belly out front will do that.  Roger pretty much called me unattractive and ornery.  (In his defense, pregnant women aren't exactly the idea of 'cute'.  Am i right?)  Sadly, he's probably right.  Though I thought about making him sleep on the couch for that comment.
• Yes I am a bit touchy.  Maybe emotional at times.  Maybe a little less patient.  I'm convinced its the shots.  Sorry Rog.  And Brooklyn.  Love you both.
• No name decided yet.  Still procrastinating a heart to heart decision on that one.  We did the same thing with Brooklyn.  Any ideas for us?

I'm so thrilled to be at this point.  Still not out of the woods by any means, but every day without labor signs is bonus for us.  Now we better get serious about getting Brooklyn out of her crib and into a big girl bed and a name nailed down before this little one makes her debut!

Footprints in the Sand

The Lake Powell Sand!!

  

We broke down on the way....had to be towed and left our car in Beaver for the week to fix the fuel pump.  I hate cars, they are a necessary evil.

But our wonderful in laws brought their other car and let us drive it down the rest of the way.  Thanks Doug and Camille!  We owe you!

We played hard, ate tons, got sunburned, and crashed at the end of each day.  Brooklyn loves the water, but HATES the sand.  Go figure.

Pictures document our fun, no need for much explanation beyond the fun you see!! :)



Yes, our adorable toddler fell asleep on this.  She started rocking herself back and forth and simply couldn't keep her eyes open.  So camera worthy!!



And because its never too late, Happy Late Fathers Day to this man!!  We love you!! 

Thank you to Darren and Kristi for all of the fun!!  37 people on one houseboat could have been total chaos, but it ended up a total blast!!

Letters...

Dear Belly Button,

You have disappeared, for the most part.  See you in the Fall....



18 weeks



21.5 weeks


Dear Scale,

I'm sorry I've been avoiding you.  My hormones can't handle stepping on you more than once a month.  I'll revisit our relationship in...ummmm, let's say December??

Dear Summer Sun,

Thank you for being there lately.  Brooklyn and I HATE being cooped up inside.  Though go easy on my fingers and toes okay?  I'd like to be able to wear shoes all the way until October!

Dear Prenatal Vitamins,

Thanks for making my hair grow so fast.  I may consider keeping you around indefinitely.  Though, I think I need a hightlight sooner than scheduled now.  Andrea??  Should we play sooner than June??


Dear Lake Powell,

I've missed you.  We're supposed to visit you next month.  Dr. England was NOT happy about this when we talked about you.  He may make me stay home.  Send good karma my way for my appt this Friday and again in three weeks so we can play for a week with the Gardner fam!!

Dear Progesterone Shots,

Good heavens you sting like crazy!  It took me three weeks to gear up to giving you myself.  Your needle is so long, and the juice so thick!  Please do your job and make this worth it okay?  My thighs sting for 4 days after I give you, just in time to do it again!!  (I know it would sting less if I gave you in my bum, but the image of me trying to reach behind myself with my gut sticking out front is hilarious.)

Dear Mom,

I love you.  You're a saint.  Thanks for loving your first granddaughter enough to watch her while this tired and cranky pregnant girl sleeps after graveyard shifts.  She's a handful.  Sorry if she's destroying your house.  She loves 'grama', though......especially your 'jump' (tramp).  She still wakes up asking to jump.  Christmas gift Roger??

Dear Meg,

I think Brooklyn is confused by you.  She occasionally calls you mom.  Thanks for trading babysitting days with me.  I'm sorry Brooklyn loves on your son so much......he'll have to give some good paybacks someday!

Dear Beau,

I'm sorry Brooklyn gets in your face.  And shoves your binki and bottle in your mouth.  And rocks you in your carseat and swing enough to give you motion sicknesses.  She's a fast one, I can't keep her away from you all day!  Though she just may end up calling her baby sister "Beau" for awhile - every baby she sees now she calls your name.

Dear Stomach,

Thanks for growing a little slower this go around.  As much as I like the 'gus-gus' effect, I better break down and buy a few more undershirts before you get too big huh?  And I'll try to lay off the treats -- will you forgive the doughnut and fun size candybars I ate by 9:30 this morning?  Couldn't help myself, they were leftovers from the baby shower last night and they were calling my name.

Dear Brooklyn,

My not so little baby girl anymore - do you have any idea what a gem you are?  Forgive my orneryness lately.  You make our lives complete.  Thank you for being so dang cute.  And for being a mama's girl still.  My belly is getting in the way, but I sure do love your snuggles lately.

Making sugar cookies for the cousins' baby shower last night!

 Dear Roger,

Do you have any idea how much I love you?  I have been so up and down with this pregnancy.  Thank you for being so patient with me.  Thank you for being excited about having another baby - another girl, too!  I owe you some golfing days for sure.  Date night soon?  Yes please.

Dear Baby Girl #2,

Wow are we excited to meet you!  But cook for a few more months please.  Please oh please.  I don't want to be meeting you in the next 6 weeks like last time.  My heart can't handle it.  Have a little chit chat with the angles up there in heaven and tell them to hang onto you for a bit longer okay?  Thank you for finally kicking mom - you had me kinda worried for a few weeks.  You're not as crazy in there as your sister was.  And your heartrate is consistently lower than Brooklyn's ever was.  Does this mean you'll be a little less hyper than her?  We are thrilled to have you join our family!

Love, Ashlee

Happy Mother's Day!

(Our picture this morning before church, camera propped on a bucket, and Roger trying to bend down so his head won't be cut off.  Brookln looks thrilled, Baby #2 looks lopsided.  The joys of timed pictures!)

To the women in our lives - Happy Mother's Day!  We hope the day is as great as you hoped it would be!

I love to celebrate any holiday, especially the ones when Roger takes full responsibility for Brooklyn during church so I could sit and enjoy the meeting.  He also cooked us breakfast.....maybe that's why I look slightly lumpy in the gut area!   I'm a little bummed I have to work tonight, but this is what I signed up for when I became a nurse.  So I'm just going to pretend this day doesn't include the working part!

I love the little girls (crazy that I can say that now!) that have made me a mom.  This was a title I wanted forever!  Being a mom is the hardest but most rewarding job.  It is a blast.  Good thing kids are forgiving, I'm still working on getting it down right!

To my own mom - you set the bar too high!  I'll spend my lifetime trying to match what you've done for us girls.....what you still do!  How lucky I am to have a friend, a lunch partner, someone to run errands with, someone to call everyday, an example, a shoulder to cry on.  Good luck with your talk today - its already over, but I'm still a little annoyed they made you speak in church on your holiday!

To my sweet mother in law, Susan -my heart is full today when I think of you.  You cannot know the impact you have had on your son, and consequently me and Brooklyn.  I don't think I can get through this post without some tears...the news of your cancer has me reeling from the heartbreak we've felt these last two months.  A mom (and dad) is supposed to be invincible, almost superhuman, not vulnerable to what life can hand you.  I can't describe the heaviness I feel each time I've watched my big, tough husband cry because he's losing his mom sooner than he ever thought he would.  Yet, you have faced this latest challenge with amazing faith and grace, being the backbone for this family.  The time you have left is not up to Roger and I, but we want you to know how much we love you and admire you.  You have impacted us in ways you can't imagine.  Your influence will be felt for many years to come.  So on this Mother's Day, we hope you know how much your family loves you, especially our little family!

Days to celebrate our parents are so special, an opportunity to thank each mother (however you define a mom) for their dedication and committment to their families.  To my 'moms', thank you for all you do!

Happy Mother's Day!!!