Happy Birthday Bella!

4 months old, wearing the SLU shirt her daddy bought for our future children when he was a freshman at SLU. I (still in high school) was feeling insecure about our relationship (he was out gallivanting around campus while I was stuck at home) and he bought this shirt to reassure me.

One year old.

2 years old.

3 years old.

Almost four.

Bella,
From the first day in the hospital we could tell you were a calm, sweet girl. You bleed pink and purple, and love anything girly, although your brother's love of superhero's is starting to rub off on you. You have a tender heart and are so easy to love and cuddle. You are starting to show some attitude here and there, and are sticking up for yourself to your brother more often. You bring us much joy, we are so thankful for you.
Love,
Daddy and Mommy

Snip Snip

Guess who cut her hair today?

With a child's scissors?

While I was in the same room, and didn't even notice?

Emergency trip to the hairy elephant!

It was too hot for all that hair anyway, right?

I'm in the annoying part of the pregnancy where all I can think about is the nursery and the birth. It's a lot like planning a wedding and not thinking about what life will be like after the day, all you can think about is the event. We ended up switching doctors this week, I went back to the doctor who delivered Bella. I left his practice because his office was about a half hour from our house, and I have trouble making it to an appointment 5 minutes away, let alone 30. He was very natural birth/low interventions friendly, which I loved. But, at the time we weren't even sure about having another so I wasn't too concerned.

The doctor I switched too was very nice, but very conservative. We gave him a list of birthing wishes (that was printed out from the hospital's web page-nothing too radical) and he wasn't exactly on board. I believe his first comment was "sure hope it's not a long labor" which did not give me the best vibe. I have also been told a couple stories from friends that delivered with him that he gave them an episiotomy even though they told him not to, which I think is a breach of trust. Anyway, my old doctor now has an office in O'fallon, and I figured it couldn't hurt to ask if I could come back. So, we are back and now I feel much better. Also, my due date has moved back down to the original date, Aug. 5th, yay! Not that the baby is not going to come till she wants to come, but it makes me feel better.

Her room is looking pretty, we kept the walls sage and are going with a chocolate/pink minky dot motif. I'll post some pictures when it's a little further along. Have I mentioned that it is hot here? Because it is. Very very hot.

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Sorry for all the gray hairs!

Love you lots,
Bernard, Bella, and Summer Girl

Hot.

I am almost 33 weeks preggo, and am feeling it, especially with this heat and humidity. I toured the hospital we are planning on delivery at, and got to see a couple newborns which made me long for the day we get to meet summer girl (and I get to lay on my stomach again). The kids went to Grammy's for a couple of days this week, and we went a little nuts on getting stuff done (my nesting is full force), but Bern is officially moved into the office, the office is moved into the guest room, and summer girl's furniture is now in Bern's room. Also, the closets and storage room are cleaned out and the carpets upstairs are cleaned. Now I will sleep for 3 days.

It is crazy to see the crib up again, but exciting. Brian put one of Bella's baby dolls in it, and Bella added a blanket. She will be a good big sister, she said she will teach summer girl "everything in the whole world". After we (and by we I mean Brian and his dad) got Bern's furniture moved Bern asked me if the baby is coming right now. Bern is excited to be in the basement, he keeps calling it his department. I think he means to say apartment. He acts like we have to have his permission to go downstairs, like suddenly the whole place is his. Bella asked when we will move her furniture to the basement, apparently it is the place to be.

Bella Dancerella

Bella's dance recital was Saturday, she was very cute (and so were the other little ones). The video at the bottom was from the rehearsal on Friday night. She has a wee bit of trouble going down the wedge backwards.
Bella's tumbling buddies.

1st half of routine


2nd half

Bern's B-day "Party"

I use the term party very loosely, as we just smacked a pinata, opened a present, and had some cake. The kids had a choice between a party or a family trip to six flags, and choose the latter. That made me happy as I would rather spend the day having fun at six flags than managing a bunch of little monkeys. Bella also had her dance recital this weekend, so it would have been hard to throw a party. The pics are a bit out of order, but you'll get the idea.

Candy time.

It took many, many smacks to get the dinosaur to break.

Bern choose a batman-themed cake this year. Last year was spiderman, he says next year is superman. Obviously the boy likes his superhero's.

6 years old!

6 years ago today Brian and I were getting settled in the hospital with contractions. Little man was born around 9:15pm, weighing a whopping 8lbs, 14 oz. We were smitten with him from the moment his cone-shaped head popped out.

Bern,

You are a fun-loving, out-going little boy. You are a social butterfly, introducing yourself to whoever will listen. You love to take things apart and figure out how they work, your brain is constantly in motion. You love helping daddy, grandpa's, and whoever comes to the house with a tool box.

You are a great big brother, teaching Bella things she normally wouldn't want to do and playing very well with her. You are headstrong, and we know that someday you will be determined for a very good cause. We love you and cannot believe you are already 6!

At the hospital.

About 2 1/2

3 years old.

4 1/2 years old.

Happy Birthday Bern!

Love, Daddy and Mommy

Charlie's Baptism

My cousin Stacy's son Charlie was baptised this weekend, so we threw the kids in the car and headed to IL to partake in the festivities. My aunt Phyllis enticed me to the celebration by letting me know fried chicken would be served.

Charlie didn't seem to mind having water poured on his head, he is very laid back. He takes after his cousin Heather.

Mommy and Bella were matching, so we got a picture. Bella thinks that this shirt is a dress so she tried to take her pants off on multiple occasions, once at church. Bella drank 2 cups of lemonade, one cup of ski (local soda with an obscenely high sugar/caffeine content), had 3 bags of fruit snacks, some raisins, and cake. Can you guess what she had the next day? Trouble in the bathroom, that's what. Next time maybe her parents will keep better track of what she gets her sticky little hands on.

My aunts, cousins, sister and grandma. Missing from the pic is cousin Paige.