Fireman Andy

Andy's new big-boy room has a theme of fire-trucks. We have the sheets, the pillows, and a picture on the wall. When he ran across a fireman hat, and couldn't take it off - I had to document. Here's our fireman (in his jammies)!

Rigolettos!

We grew up LOVING to be part of the rigolettos act with my dad. We would climb, balance, and always take a bow at the end. Bapa planned a performance with the Warme girls and the Rigolettos were back in action. So fun to see the girls as excited as they were - and Bapa in prime Rigoletto form. Andy even wanted in on the action, but he didn't get it...some day Andy, some day.

The Circle of Life

Life has its ups and downs and it's crazy how you can experience the ups and downs at the same time. We are scheduled to have our baby on June 16th, which is my grandpa's, Papa Campbell's, birthday. Papa passed away in March, so it's special to be able to welcome a little girl into the world on Papa's birthday. That in itself is a positive and interesting reflection on the circle of life.

Sadly, my other grandpa, GP, had a massive stroke on Friday night. As a result, he has lost his ability to move his right side and no longer can talk or swallow on his own. The neurologist and hospice care predict he'll only make it another week. I am so sad. Grandpa has been a really big part of my life and I feel so fortunate to have had the influences of both of my grandfathers for 30 years. GP is so much fun to be around - he still cracks me up. I grew up visiting him in the San Juans (Friday Island) and experiencing his love for boating and being active. More recently, we have enjoyed time with him down in Palm Desert, where he was golfing twice a week at the age of 90. GP has a hard time sitting still and is quite stubborn - which makes his stories and being around him so enjoyable. He has a signature move - when he is done with an evening and is ready to go home (often times in mid-conversation) - he slaps his hands on his legs and says, "well," gets up, and that's it, he's ready to go home. He and my Grandma Jane live in an assisted living place in Bellevue, but that hasn't stopped my grandpa from getting out and about. He bikes around town or goes for walks...and he even is the self-proclaimed parking police. Yep, he asked if he could get tickets and "police" people who were parking in their parking lot illegally. He even would shout with a mega-phone from his 8th floor window if people were obviously parking and then walking away from the building. In fact, he followed a family who parked in the lot and went shopping at a bridal store near-by. That's right...followed them into the store and confronted them about their "illegal" parking. Too funny!

Grandpa was an OB/GYN and was a great resource for the ups and downs that Kyle and I have experienced during our pregnancies. He and Grandma Jane have been so supportive and loving about our experiences. When I was told it was likely I would have a c-section with Andy, I asked him what I should expect. He told me I shouldn't be worried and that there are a lot of perks to having a c-section. First, I won't feel like my bladder is going to drop out of me at an older age; Second, I would have a better sex life; and Third, with my c-section incision, I always could have a tummy tuck...I mean "that's what all the celebrities are doing." At 90 years old, he sure made me feel better and humored me at the same time.

Grandpa also is very sensitive. He will tear up at most family gatherings and is a proud family man. I love him to pieces and hope he gets to meet our baby girl.

Memorial Day Weekend - The Rest

What else did we do over the weekend...we watched TV, ate food, and hung out!

Oh, and some of us learned to almost walk on our own...way to go MB!

And what would a weekend be without silly faces from the Warme girls?!?

Andy in his favorite sitting position : )

Memorial Day Weekend - Hot Tub and Nakedness

To stay warm - we (meaning everyone except preggo) went in the hot tub. Andy is a little too confident in the water...better than being afraid, but he thinks he can swim...which he definitely can't.

Post hot-tub, the kids decided that being naked was the way to go. Who needs clothes anyway?

Memorial Day Weekend - Dance Party

We enjoyed the wii dance game that my mom just purchased and had a friendly competition. I have to brag, that at 9 months pregnant, I won the competition. Just goes to show how accurate the score keeping is on the machine : ) Luckily no one grabbed my camera to document my moves. It was hilarious to watch - and fun to see the kids get into it as well.

Ka showing us how it's done - this picture doesn't do her dance moves justice though

Memorial Day Weekend - Beach Time

We braved the beach during the cold, wind, and rain - and enjoyed it while the sun was out briefly.

Memorial Day Weekend - 2010

What do you do on a rainy, cold, long weekend on Whidbey Island? Bundle up on the beach, play in the hot tub, dance and wii competitions, and lots of family time ; ) We had a great time at Whidbey - and I actually was glad that the weather wasn't too nice. Sunshine and being 9 months pregnant don't mix well. We were up on the Island from Thursday through Monday and it was great to get out of town. The Warmes, Ka and Bapa, and Mum were up as well. We wish the Lentz Family could have joined us too - we missed them! I took a ton of pictures, and will post my favorites - but what's a photographer to do on a rainy weekend...take out the camera!

36 Weeks

Here I am at 36 weeks - officially puffy, plump, and ready for baby girl to arrive!

Ah Yeah!

We are in the final two weeks before baby girl arrives - and let me tell you - I AM READY. I have said that God created memory lapse during the last month of pregnancy and the first three months of birth...otherwise we wouldn't have children again. Well, I have hit my limit. I am so thankful to have a healthy baby growing inside of me - but I really don't know how there is any more room for her to grow. I am dying to meet her - wondering what she is going to look like, what her personality is going to be like, curious how Andy is going to react. I also feel like the closer you get to something you are waiting for - the harder it is to wait. I just want this baby to be healthy and for everything to go smoothly - and I am anxious!

My saving grace these days is Andy (and my patient husband, of course). Andy is full of beans and I feel as though he has gone through quite a change over the past few weeks. His quiet temperament has become one that is full force, active, and non-stop. He repeats EVERYTHING, even words he hears from stranger's conversations. He thinks hitting people is humorous (especially his cousin Miller). He doesn't understand time-out and pretends he doesn't understand what "no" means...in fact, he laughs at the concept of both. You may ask, how is this a saving grace while being 9 months pregnant? Well, even though this phase is tiring and tests my patience at times - it keeps me busy and keeps me smiling.

Andy makes me laugh and smile all the time - even when he is being a bugger. He is my buddy, and I cherish the time I get with him - just Andy and mom - until the baby comes. I know I will look back on these days and remember them fondly.

My favorite "new" action of Andy's is his fist bump. He has been giving high-fives and fist bumps for awhile, but now when you say, "Andy bump," he holds out his fist and says "Ah yeah!" with a lot of enthusiasm.

So being 9 months pregnant and having a very active almost 2 year-old, how do I keep my sanity? A lot of fist bumps. Ah yeah!