44 Days

Every day one of my phone apps sends me an update about how many days are left till my due date. Today it was 44.

It's different with your second child because you don't have all the same milestones as with the first. No hospital tour, no baby shower, no birth classes or videos, and not nearly as much reading and research. It's just as exciting, but without some of those small things to make it seem real, time can sometimes get away from you. 

That's probably why it wasn't until this last week that I had a "this is real" moment. Over the weekend I attended two baby showers for baby girls who are due the same month as mine. Maybe it was all the cute clothes and baby items, or just the fact that everyone was talking about how April is almost here, but it feels very real now. 

As a result I have officially entered the frantic stage of feeling like I have nothing ready. Honestly all we really need to get is diapers, baby shampoo, and hopefully some girl clothes, but the list of things I would like to get done suddenly feels enormous. 

Whether we get any of it done or not, one thing is for certain, I can't wait to meet this little girl. Henson asks every day if she's big enough yet, and I'm excited for them to meet for the first time. So the countdown officially begins: 44 days. Don't be too late little girl!

Graduation!

Since I'm so behind on posts, let me just do a quick one to celebrate Henry's graduation last month. After two solid years of classes and capstone work (while working full time) Henry finished his MBA through the Naval Postgraduate school. 

Since the school is in Monterey CA we flew out there for the graduation the  weekend before Christmas. It was beautiful weather, a nice (and surprisingly quick) ceremony, and a few extra days of fun with family by the beach.

 This was us after the ceremony. 

It felt great to be outside and by the water. We went a couple times to fishermans a wharf.

My parents and one of my brothers and his family came out too, and our last night there we had a bonfire on the beach. A great way to finish up the trip.

PA Farm Show

A couple weekends ago we drove up north to keep our tradition of attending the PA farm show in Harrisburg.  I grew up going every year, and Henry started going when he moved to PA as a teenager, so it's something we have enjoyed for a long time. 

To be honest, the highlight of the trip for me is always the milkshake.  I don't know what it is about the shakes they make, but they are the best! Along side a thing of fries covered in vinegar it gives me my junk food fix for quite a while. 

Once Henson got used to the strong smell (we had a couple close calls with his gag reflex when we passed the cows and horses) he loved seeing the animals and getting to pet a couple of them. 

Here are a few pictures from the trip. I'll upload some better ones once I get them off my camera. 

One More Room

So what became of the old nursery once Henson moved into his new room?  I've been getting it ready for the newest Lopez family member, who is scheduled to arrive in April.

Even though we kept the same base color for the walls and we already have most of what we need, I have had fun dressing up the nursery for my little girl. It has brought back out my crafty side, so I wanted to share some of my creations. 

The bed skirt was fun. Simple and smooth, but a raised pattern to the fabric makes it look like a mix of modern and traditional. 

Hung up a few shelves. 

We are using the same glider of course, but recovered it with the same fabric as the bed skirt.  

This mobile was just for fun. Silver, white, yellow and grey. Henson had a good time helping me with the glue.

I covered her picture frames with strips from magazines on yellow an grey. 

There are still a few things I want to do, including a pillow for the chair, but it's coming together. Having the room set up certainly makes it more real that a little girl is joining us in less than 3 months!

More house projects

So what do we do with a rare 4 day weekend where none of us hbe to work? We spend it turnin our gust room into a room for our 2 year old. Henson had really outgrown his small room, and since I should be transitioning him to a toddler bed anyway it seemed like the right time to make the switch. 

You know me, I love picking new colors and obsessing over room design, so it was fun to get to figure out what to put into it. The wall colors were my choice, the orange for the reading tent was Henson's choice. Special thanks to Henry, who did all the painting this time around, eventhough he hates painting. 

I think out of everything Henson is most excited about seeig all of his books out. It's fun to see how much he loves his new room. Now we will have to see if he sleeps in the new bed without getting up 100 times a night ;) 

Henson's first trip to Kripsy Kream

Not surprisingly, he liked it (despite the seriouse face)

A Call for Tolerance

Maybe it's just me, or the situations I have been in lately, but I've been noticing an increased amount of misplaced animosity; a seeming need that some people have to put down the actions or choices of others in order to validate their own. I'm not talking about big, theological or moral issues. Instead, I'm talking about simple everyday choices like where we live, how we raise our children, how we spend our free time, how we eat, and on and on. It seems ridiculous to me that if we really feel secure in our choices that we still engage in such pointless negativity just to make ourselves either feel or appear superior.

I absolutely love where I live. That's no secret to anyone who knows me, and I will gladly tell anyone who asks me the many reasons why I do. However, I would never put down another persons chosen location in order to glorify my own.  Similarly, I take my parenting choices very seriously, and hopefully I'm making the choices that are best for my son.  That does not entitle me to disregard or insult other methods or choices, and I would not presume to know what is best for another family.  

So please, let's remember that we are capable of sharing our passions and opinions, and even our dislikes, without attacking those of another. 

(please forgive any typing errors. This was composed on my phone)