Getting ready to be a big brother

Feeding the baby with a Cardinals' bottle.


Playing patty-cake.

We've been getting all the baby stuff back out and washed--clothes, car seat, swing--someone so little sure needs a lot of stuff! Anyway, we found the bottles, and I was showing Benjamin how you feed and hold a baby. So, he was practicing. This is the longest he's ever played with this baby doll! He was also putting him in the car seat and pushing him in the swing--very sweet! Of course, our baby is going to be a girl, according to Benjamin. He even has the name picked out and everything! He won't even discuss boy names with us. Makes you wonder if he knows something we don't...

Sunday night concerts

For several weeks during the summer, our town has concerts on the green (similar to a town square, for you Midwesterners).  A group from church gathers, picnics, and enjoys being outside.  Benjamin has loved dancing!  Here's a video of him a week ago.  This week, he wanted to go up in front and dance on the dance floor.  I went up with him, but it's a little difficult to get down with my growing belly!

Trip to St. Louis

Jonathan and Benjamin recently took a short trip to St. Louis.  Family friends had asked Jonathan and his dad to do a wedding.  My doctor said it wasn't a great idea for me to travel, so I stayed at home.  Boy, was that strange!  It was so quiet, and the freedom was so different.  If I wanted to leave the house at 1:00, I could, and not have to worry about nap time!  I, of course, bawled the entire way home from the airport--not that I have any reason to be emotional right now, anyway!  But, it was nice to relax and get a few things done around the house without Benjamin at my side.

Here's a few shots of Benjamin playing golf with Uncle David, and Grandma and Grandpa, while in St. Louis.  Jonathan said he was great with all of the wedding stuff while in St. Louis, but, boy was he crabby when he got home!  I think he is still trying to make up the sleep deficit.  

3-D Ultrasound Pics

Our baby girl

...or boy!

These pictures were taken about a month ago.  You can see the little nose and mouth, and the arm covering the eyes.  This was the first time I'd had a 3-D ultrasound--it was amazing how much clearer it made everything.  At the time of the ultrasound, they told us the baby weighed 3 lbs, 12 oz, which is larger than average for that point.  I always wonder how accurate they are, because they kept telling us Benjamin was going to be a big baby.  Then he weighed 7 lbs, 8 oz, which is just average.  Granted, he was a week and a half early.  We haven't had a feeling--girl or boy--at this point.  We were so sure Benjamin was going to be a boy.  Benjamin keeps saying he'll have a baby sister, but that's probably because all the books we have, the mom has a baby girl.  

I'm at 32 weeks right now, so I'm starting to get large and slightly uncomfortable.  Fortunately, we've had a very cool summer so far, so I'm loving that.  We've been getting Benjamin's "big boy" bedroom set up.  We'll be moving him to his new bed in a few days, so we'll see out that venture goes...  It makes me sad to think my baby is ready for that!  Of course, lifting him in and out of the crib is not easy these days, so the other bed will definitely save my back.  He seems very excited about his new bed, so we'll see...

Exciting News!

We recently found out some exciting news.  Benjamin is going to be a cousin!  (As of right now, he has no first cousins.)  Both my sister and sister-in-law are expecting!  They are both due toward the end of January.  We are looking forward to some chaotic get-togethers in the future--going from one grandchild to four in a matter of months!

Maine

While our company was here, we took a quick trip up to Maine. We took in the sights at Acadia National Park, and actually had a nice, sunny day! (It's been so rainy here the past month! We feel like we're living in Seattle!)
The view in Bar Harbor--we were all impressed by the size of the yacht in the distance.



My parents

Rachel, Mom, and me


That's Jonathan and Benjamin hiking on the rocks.


At the beach




Benjamin loved climbing on these rocks, but was a little too brave for my taste!

Dad, Rachel, me, Benjamin, and Grandma

Fourth of July

Sorry for the long delay in blogging.  We've had company (my family) for two weeks, so that kept us pretty busy.  Here are a few pictures from the Fourth.  More pictures to come later...

At the fireworks--Ryan and Rachel

Benjamin and Daddy snuggling, waiting for the fireworks to start

Benjamin loved the fireworks, although he did almost fall asleep!

Watching a parade--once we finally found it!  Benjamin waving at the fire trucks.  He was disappointed there wasn't a marching band.