28 Weeks

We had our 28 week appointment on Monday. Steve was able to work from home, which meant he was able to come to the doctor with me. I don't ever expect him to make it or request that he be there, so it was a nice treat. I knew we were going in for a sonogram, so I think that persuaded him to tag along.

And, it's a good thing he came with me because there were very few printed shots of this little one. We got lots of looks at arms and legs. This kid was bouncing all over. When it came time to try to see the sweet face, all we saw were 2 hands covering his face. Steve thinks this one is just a bit camera shy. He even flipped breach during the sono. So we got great shots of the back of his head.... nice and round. The whole point of this appointment was to take measurements and check growth. When our doctor went to measure the femur he had us look away so we wouldn't accidently get a look at the gender. So, that's still up in the air.... although I am 99% sure it's a boy.

The baby is exactly 3 pounds. 8 days ahead according to measurements and in the 65% for overall growth. So, we're very happy. Sounds like this little one is on track to be an 8 pounder like my other 2. Although my extended family would love for me to set an induction date, I'm thinking about holding off. Of course, size and presentation will be big factors in that decision once we get to the end. For now, I'm still hoping to make it to mid-July as planned. Since Steve is now in town I don't feel the urgency to schedule.

Overall, I have felt well with this pregnancy. I have been sick for other reasons this month and that's been driving me crazy. But, life will greatly slow down after my piano recital this weekend. I'll have a lot more time to rest and relax in the afternoons.

I go back every 2 weeks now. Can't believe we're at that point. I'm thinking it's time to start making a list of some things we need to get before the big day. Either way I have yet to feel stressed about it. I kind of enjoy the simplicity of this pregnancy. The few things given to us are just stacked away in the garage or guest room closet. By the looks of my home you'd never know we are expecting a child in the near future. I guess we're just not in a hurry for baby stuff to take over.

My Little Fish

Caleb has taken year round swimming since he was 3 years old. We've tried various activities (gymnastics, soccer, basketball) but think swimming fits him best. It's competitive, but non-contact.... right up his alley.

This past year he's really been developing his strokes- mainly freestyle, back stroke, and breast stroke. He's starting to learn parts of his Daddy's favorite- the butterfly. It's been so fun watching him develop as a swimmer. And, more importantly, he just loves it. I've never once heard him whine or complain about swimming.

I've gone back and forth on whether to start him on the city swim team this summer. It's a big commitment- practice every morning in June and meets on the weekends. However, with a baby due I decided I didn't want to drag my family to the pool early every morning and sit around for practice. It would also dictate our summer as far as travel and such.

But, I found out the Y does a swim-prep class for a month- 8 sessions. I thought this would be a great way to learn if he really would like it. The class started last night at the natatorium. This was his first experience in the big, long pool. The requirement was to be able to swim the length, so I felt pretty good about signing him up.

When we got there last night the middle school kids were in the pool for their practice. Man, were they fast. Caleb just sat big-eyed and watched. I was a bit nervous that this would overwhelm him. But on the other hand it was exciting to see what he could become if he worked hard. He just smiled the whole time and thought the whole thing was really cool.

His class gathered soon after. He didn't know a soul. I was so proud of him. I just gave him his swim bag and he walked away with his coach and 9 new swimmer friends. They did 15 minutes of stretching and practice outside the water before hopping in pool. "It was cold at first. But by the end it was warm water," was what he told me later. The coach just sent them back and forth down the length of the pool teaching them how to stay on their side of the lane while still working on their strokes. They did some kick board work, but mostly stuck to freestyle. I immediately sized up the other kids and saw that he was in the right place.... probably not the strongest of the group, but certainly not the weakest. What a relief! Most exciting of all, when he got out of the pool he said to me, "Mom, can we come back Thursday for the next practice?" So, yes, I think he likes it.

(And, these pictures are from his Aquakids swimming last month, not his swim class last night. I didn't want to embarrass him with the camera on his first practice!)

Look what's coming to Frisco...

First in Dallas!

Grand opening weekend for city’s first LEGO® store

begins Friday, May 15 at Stonebriar Centre

Three days of events includes building of an eight-foot LEGO Star Wars™ R2-D2™,

special commemorative sets, Master Builder tips and more

FRISCO, Texas. April 20, 2009 ~ During its Grand Opening weekend event Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17, the first LEGO store in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and second location in Texas will debut at Stonebriar Centre in Frisco. The new store will feature a consumer-friendly design with room for interactive play, and the retailer has planned a variety of events to entertain LEGO fans throughout the weekend.

Described as the ultimate in kid-chic, Stonebriar Centre’s new LEGO store features a consumer-friendly design with room for interactive play. The store will feature wall-to-wall products offerings and highlights of LEGO history. The store, located in Center Court near Sephora and Pottery Barn, will have a center interactive area for shoppers to get ‘hands-on, minds-on’ with LEGO play materials and new products. As well as sets of LEGO bricks, shoppers will be able to make bulk purchases of LEGO bricks in a variety of colors and shapes.

LEGO events are scheduled throughout the weekend, beginning Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17. The events include:

Friday, May 15: R2-D2 Build. Beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 15, LEGO Master Builder Dan Steininger will use LEGO bricks to construct an eight-foot tall R2-D2™ (Artoo-Detoo), Luke Skywalker’s resourceful, spunky astromech droid from Star Wars™. Held on the lower level near Dillard’s, the R2-D2 build is free and fun for LEGO enthusiasts of all ages. Everyone who participates will receive a LEGO Star Wars™ Certificate of Achievement, while supplies last, and a LEGO store coupon. Construction for the day will end at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 16: R2-D2™ Build continues. The R2-D2 build on Saturday begins at 10:00 a.m. and continues through 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, May 16: special Dallas LEGO set offer. The first 300 customers at the LEGO Store to spend $35 or more will receive a free, exclusive LEGO Set designed just for the Stonebriar Centre LEGO Store Grand Opening: a LEGO Bucking Bronco! The set is designed for ages 6+.

Sunday, May 17: commemorative t-shirt giveaway. The first 300 customers at the new LEGO store on Sunday will receive a free, commemorative children’s LEGO minifigure t-shirt with a $35 purchase.

Sunday, May 17: R2-D2 build continues plus building tips from the Master. The build begins at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday and continues until 6:00 p.m. Also, Master Builder Dan Steininger will be offering building tips and tricks and holding trivia contests throughout the day!

I'm guessing we might be making a trip to Stonebriar that weekend. Thanks, Stew, for giving us the head's up on what's coming to your side of town. I know of 3 very excited boys in my home that can't wait for it to open.

Easter Events

I have combined all of Easter into one post. A few weeks before Easter we had our Sunday school egg hunt and sack races. Then Easter weekend we went to Waco to be with my family and watch some Baylor baseball games.

Here's Carter lined up with all the kiddos that have not started school. These are our babies!

And here's the big kids. It wasn't long ago that the baby group way outnumbered the big kid group. Hard to believe how quickly they're growing up!

Here's Caleb and Carter in the sack races. Always a fun tradition!

Then the dads get in on the fun. Steve's in the middle. I think he came in 2nd. (he lost to our class marathon runner)

And here come the mommas! I did not participate this year... rather hard to hop around with a pregnant belly!

Here we are in Waco. Thankfully my mom took charge and did the egg dying. I just got to sit back and watch. Shirts off so we wouldn't have to deal with stained clothes!

Here's my boys with Mamaw and Papaw Winkelmann. (my mom's parents) Carter's middle name comes from my Papaw- Reinhardt... he's full blooded German. Mamaw and Papaw just live a stone's throw away in China Spring. They will celebrate their 60th anniversary in July.

And here's the eggs... probably much like the eggs you all dyed.

And Easter morning we opted for an inside egg hunt. It stormed hard in Waco the night before. The boys awoke early and scoped out the scene. Once we all were out of bed they were allowed to fun wildly and fill up multiple baskets. Every egg contained coins. No candy. Not because we're prudes, but they won't eat it. They'll count it, organize it, carry it around... for days and days until I just get sick of it and toss it all. So, we now just do coins. They did get regular Easter baskets filled with some fun toys and a bag of M&Ms.

We had a great Easter. Steve and I were able to have all Saturday together without children and a double-header baseball game. Free childcare and free baseball tickets... doesn't get better than that!

This family is falling apart...

So what I thought was just a random virus turned out to be strep in the family. It all started the Sunday before Easter. I won't go into the details of my illness, but it involved fever and vomit and other gross stuff. Then a few days later Carter started up. And then Steve began complaining of intense ear pain. By Thursday I took Carter to the the pedi to get it all checked out. His strep swab came back negative, but they said they would culture it over the weekend to be sure. So we went down to Waco thinking we were on the mend.

Today I get a call that the culture came back positive- yes, he has/had strep... and I'm guessing I did too. And Steve popped into the doctor to have his ear checked out. Turns out he has a severe ear infection. So, both Carter and Steve are on antibiotics.

Then I find out my dad is sick in his NYC hotel room with the same symptoms of strep. We passed it on to him over the Easter weekend!

And then, we got a call tonight that my 2 year old nephew, Mason, broke his arm in 2 spots this evening doing dive rolls off a chair in his house. Poor boy is on a morphine drip getting his arm set as I type.

So, anyone else out there related to me.... wash your hands and be safe. This family can't take anymore!

Caleb's Bowling Party

We celebrated Caleb's 7th birthday at Main Event with bowling. We had 2 lanes filled with first graders (except for Carter.)

This party was a gift from Nanny and Papa and lived up to Caleb's very high expectations. We had 11 kids in total, which was a perfect amount!

Here's the big 7 year old. Thankfully there are bumpers in the lanes that allow for a successful bowling experience by all the participants.

Here's a great action shot of little Tart. As usual, he had a blast. He takes on Caleb's friends as his own and actually socializes with them more. This guy has never met a stranger.

Here's some of the kids hanging around waiting for their turn.

Oh, and the best part of paying for a place to host your party. All the moms just sit around and gab. The teenage girl, aka "party host", deals with the children. I gave Steve and Stew camera duties and played the pregnancy card to the fullest. We all enjoyed just hanging and chatting... and watching our children bowl, of course.

The boys are always thrilled to see Uncle Stew. I think I remember them jumping in his arms when he walked into the building. He is our only local family and gets to represent for the rest of the far-off crew.

And with that being said... Caleb did have a party at Grammy and Grandpa's house over spring break and with Nanny and Papa and my brother's family before Disney On Ice. And the Shans mailed him an all-time favorite gift all the way from Georgia. So, this child is not neglected by his family.

Here's the group.

And the cookie cake... this is always choice number one by my children. We also had pizza and ice cream and gifts.

Then, instead of goody bags we gave each child $15 in game cards to go play in the arcade. I'm thinking Main Event has a great party package!

Can't believe my baby is now 7! He had an amazing time at his party. Thank you so much, Nanny & Papa, for giving him such a great party.