How I feel today.

What I want to remember about this pregnancy:

My head is in the clouds...

I leave the refrigerator door wide open on a daily basis. I walk down the driveway and forget to check the mail.

I get honked at for going 25 mph in a 45 zone. (I am jamming out to Andrea True Connection and drinking a Pumpkin Spice Latte!...who cares about speed?)

A low low blood pressure...

This morning I clocked in at 110/68. Maybe this explains the cloudiness. A low blood pressure must have something to do with the "ease" of potty training at the moment... (in addition to having to pee every 5 seconds along with Van which has helped as well).

Sharing pickles with Van...

I consume pickles frequently. What started as curiosity for Van has turned into a love/hate relationship with pickles. I love watching his face when he eats them...a tough battle between satisfaction and disgust. 

"Moonlight walks" with the family...

Every evening after Van's bath-he requests a "moonlight walk." We wrap up in sweaters, motivate Sophie, and walk around the block listening to Van serenade us with creative songs about the stars and moonlight.

Getting "gentle" kisses on my belly...

Potty Time!

Here's what we've been up to this weekend!

The best part of potty training has been this view. :)

Van is doing a much better job than I expected. What a big boy!!

We are overjoyed and excited about the arrival of some of our best friends' little baby girl...Katherine Claybrook!! I cannot wait to meet her and watch our little girls grow up together!!! Such wonderful news.

Two Years Old!

How did this happen? Everyone says: "They grow up so fast!" but you never understand until you go through it. Not that two years is 'grown up' but it feels much different than having a baby! Each month is better and better.  I miss helping him do little things here and there, but its simultaneously extraordinary watching him become self-sufficient. I miss the baby coos, but listening to his creative stories is so endearing. I am fascinated watching him change and grow. I want to soak in as much of him in each stage as I can because its all so temporary. I love browsing through the past two years of this blog re-discovering the things we learned along the way with Van.  He has had such a sweet heart from day one. I cannot wait to see him become a big brother. We are so proud of you Van and love you bunches!

Baby Rooms, Birthdays, and Bossypants

 I am loving baby girl nursery decorating. I have so many ideas and hope they all come together!

Printer's Alley provided me with a good starting point of inspirational fabrics: 

I think robin's egg blue + celery might be the winning combo.

Here are some of my wish list items so far...



Serena and Lily



Carousel Designs







Cafe Baudelaire on Etsy

Cork board via Etsy



Owl Bookends, Pottery Barn Kids

This Saturday was jam-packed with birthday celebrations. It was the perfect day to celebrate cousin Oliver's 4th birthday at the city park in Burlington. We had so much fun!!



(Can you spot a mischievously handsome child waiting to pick up some ladies?)







The train ride was cool...



but Van kept a tight grip on daddy!



Happy Birthday Oliver!

After such a fun morning, Van crashed in the car ride to Chapel Hill where we celebrated Aunt Routhie's birthday! Despite the Tarheel's unsuccessful, nail biting comeback we still managed to enjoy an outdoor BBQ party on a beautiful fall Chapel Hill afternoon.  I may have updated pictures soon!

Lastly-- if you haven't already, I encourage you to read Tina Fey's Bossypants.  It is weird and funny. Just that.

 I don't know why this makes me laugh so hard, but I'll leave you with my favorite page so far:

Happy Fall!!

Turning 2 Blue Party!

The highlight of Van's 2 year old birthday party was his new play house!!

Isn't it cute? Thanks to some late-night, long assembly hours from Diddy, Pop-pop and Daddy, this house (which began as a ton of individual pieces) 

was built and ready to surprise him Saturday morning.

A doorbell too!





Cousin Oliver!



Open house...



We also attempted a hand-print activity for the kids to take home.

Thanks to Evans's artistic mom & aunt, this too was a success!



And footprints!





Happy Birthday Bud!





We still need to teach Van how to steer his jeep. Evans pulled his back out trying to lift an off-roaded Van out of the ivy patch! An urgent care trip and some pain killers later, he is set to heal after a few days of rest.



We could not have pulled off such a fun party without all Van's grandparents who helped with everything from babysitting, cooking, painting, cleaning, urgent care wheel chair support, and backyard construction work! We love and appreciate everyone who could come to the party and miss those there in spirit. I am so glad we have these precious handprints to remind us of such a fun day!!