Beppa and GP visit

Karl's parents recently came to visit. We had a ball and did lots of great things (most I didn't capture on film), but I did get a few highlights of our trip.

While, Beppa and GP didn't get to play the Reese's favorite puppy game, ice cream game, a second runner up was enjoyed.

 We brought Kim and Walt to a local legendary restaurant, McGuire's Irish pub. 

 This is what the ceiling looks like all over this multi-room restaurant. It is estimated that there are over one million dollar bills stapled to the ceiling! It is definitely a sight! Go ahead, scroll back up and look at the ceilings and walls...

 We just had to add our own mark to this amazing landmark. This is not the first time Karl and I have been to McGuire's but it is the first time we stapled up a bill!

Karl choose a spot down low to staple so that the girls could partake in the festivities. (I also think this safety officer didn't want to stand on his chair to reach the ceiling)

 They kept going back to check on their dollar...

 Another defining characteristic of this local eatery is the bathrooms.

 Yep, us ladies go in the second door pictured. There are a second set of doors for hasteful or urgent bathroom users.

 Kim also joined the girls at school. The girls really enjoyed showing off all their hardwork and friends. Below Brady is reading a book for Beppa.

Thanks for coming to visit Kim and Walt! We enjoyed having you!

Quick photo shoot

AHHHH, I am so so so behind on blogging!

I recently took pictures of Karl and the girls (including Elli Dew) so I thought I would share my favorite ones...

 This is my totem pole of love...no particular order!

 Reese is really becoming a 'ham' lately!

 As we were finishing up our pictures outside our new neighbors across the street opened their door and out walked a bride. The girls LOVED watching all the chaos as the family prepped to leave and the bride snapped a couple pictures!!

I love looking at all the above pictures; it really makes me appreciate how lucky I am to be surrounding by such awesome people! I really do love this life!

Ships Ahoy!

The military had a security operation last Friday which closed the base, thus giving Karl the day off. We all took off to Mobile, Alabama to tour the USS Alabama. It was interesting to go down into a WWII era battleship. There was a sub to tour too (yes imagine a 7 month pregnant momma trying to squeeze through all these tiny spaces).

The stairs on the ship were SO steep Karl had to carry the girls down them, yah for strong daddy!

 The girls loved all the beds in one room!

 This label made me chuckle.

 Looks like our family might have two bad apples.

 About to enter the USS Drum. I still can't imagine spending 3+ months undersea on one of these bad boys!

 Found more beds!

 Steering the sub...the girls got a big kick out of this.

I enjoyed watching the girls have fun touring Navy vessels. Karl enjoyed sharing part of his life with them.

Belly Bump: Week 29

We have officially entered the third trimester! Less then three months to D Day. Crazy I know, but I am really ready for all this to unfold!

There are starting to be too many weekly pictures to put in line, so if you want to see them all visit the week 25 post. But enough about photos of me, let's peek at Elli!

This ultrasound picture shows the bottom of both of her feet, with her left foot slightly on top of her right foot. I love this sweet picture.

 
 The ultrasound tech loved this picture because of her chubby cheek. Don't you just want to pinch them?

 Another profile picture, which looks a lot different then the first one.

 I got some more 3D pictures for volunteering at the school. Again, she was squeezed into the placenta, so only partial views.

 I have to show off this beautiful blanket my mom made Elli Dew. I love it and it will be perfect in her nursery! My mom is so talented (and she is making me tons of cloth diapers...such a life saver, and money saver).

Twinkle Toes

My girls love to dance and it really shows with the twinkle in their eyes when I get to watch them in ballet class. They have started their recital dances for ballet and the teacher allows us to occasionally peak in on them. I haven't gotten a chance to video Brady but here is Reese.

This is only the second week they have worked on the dance.

Yes, I laugh at Reese at the end, but it is because I love that cutie pie entirely too much.

The girls also love dancing all around the house. One of their favorite songs to dance to is Party Rock Anthem. I was video some of their moves and Brady randomly does an AWESOME arabesque. I don't think I ever looked this good in all my years of ballet.

I captured a snapshot of the video, because I was so impressed.

Here is what their moves normally look like for this song...

Give and Take

On Friday, I volunteered as a patient at the ultrasound school here in town. I was actually used as an exam for one of the students. Since I allowed them to use me as a exam patient they in turn gave me 3D ultrasounds! So much fun... only thing is that Elli spent most of the time face into my back during the 3D scan. They did capture quite a few sweet moments though! ENJOY!

Look at our sweet Elli Dew! I know these don't always tell all, but I (from the picture below) think she will look more like Reese. What do you think? Just to explain what all you see on the left, the placenta is covering her right cheek and on the right she is resting on the side of me. She is already in 'go' position and lodged head down.

This is her leg and arm (at the very top).

 This is what she spent most of the time doing....covering her face with her fist. So this would be a profile shot but her arm is over her face.

 Another peek at her sweet face!

 This one is harder to see. But her legs are coming in from the left and her little ankles are crossed.

 Arm and shoulder, we got a lot of arm and leg shots since her face was tucked away.

 I like this one, she is grabbing her toes with her hand. See it?

 Just confirmation of what we already know.

 Again, covering her face with her arm.

 Is that a smile? I think so.

 A profile, but she is smashed in there.

I hope you enjoyed all these. I am going back next week as a volunteer patient, but I don't think they are going to do an exam on me, so it will just be 2D next week.

A Brady First

We bought Brady her first pair of 'tie' shoes on Sunday. We told her she is going to have to start practicing to be able to tie on her own. Then, I turned to Karl and said for the next few months, I am assigning you this job of teaching her since it is tough for me to bend down or get on the floor with her.

The laces that came with her shoes are puffy and difficult to tie so she hadn't really quite got it but we aren't even a week into it and Karl is being the awesome teacher he is and working very patiently with her.

Thursday she was wearing capris that have little bows at the knees. They had come untied and she asked me to tie them for her. I told her I would at home since I was driving. She decided to give it a try...first attempt, not so much.

Second attempt...

I couldn't believe it!!!! Five days after we set this goal for her to learn to tie she did it! I thought this would be months and months of teaching. Props go to my awesome hubby and my smart little daughter. I still get giddy thinking about this accomplishment.

Orthnerisms: Pregnancy misunderstandings...

Both of the girls cracked me up (and slightly embarrassed me) today individually so I wanted to record these moments of innocence.

Walking around Target with just Reese today, we pass by a much older gentleman who had a rather pronounced 'beer belly'.

Reese: Mommy, that man has a baby in his belly.

Me: EMBARRASSED, quickly pick up our step hopping he didn't understand this innocent 3 year olds' comment. "No sweetheart, he doesn't"

Reese: Looking back over her shoulder at him "What is in his belly then?"

Me: Laughing from awkwardness "Nothing, that is just his belly."

Reese: "Why is it so big then..."

Me: "Please lets STOP talking about this!!!!"

I hope for the gentleman's sake he was hard of hearing or something...
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Now for Brady...

Today while Brady was at school, I volunteered at an ultrasound school. She was asking me what I did today while I was at school. I referred to the experience in some point of reference to getting 'scans' done of Elliot.

Brady:  "We are going to have to return Elliot now that she has been scanned?"

Me: "Huh?"

Brady: "you know when we scan something to bring it back to the store?"

Me: Oh the English language's double meanings in the way yet again.... "Brady, that is a different kind of scan"