the cure for cankles?

For any of you nearing your last days of pregnancy, I have a suggestion: I need you to eat more watermelon than you've ever eaten before. I'm being serious. Like, this isn't just a slice here, a slice there. This is a deep and committed relationship. Anytime you want a snack, eat watermelon. And then eat a little more.

Because I sincerely believe that the only reason I don't have cankles (at nearly 39 weeks) is because I eat watermelon. All. Day. Long. The other day I lugged a huge watermelon up the stairs, walked inside, cut it open, and stood over my kitchen sink until I had eaten an entire fourth of that honey, by myself.

It's not really normal the way I consume watermelon. Honestly. Ask anyone who has been around me for more than five minutes. And I know it bloats my belly and makes bathroom visits much more frequent, but when your belly is already sticking out to Nevada, you might as well just keep eating the dang stuff. Especially if it's the secret cure for cankles.

I'm just sayin'...

concentrated

Ever since she was super tiny, Annabelle has had an excellent "concentrating face."

It may be one of my favorite faces really.

The best part is it hasn't died. It isn't as pronounced or cross-eyed, but she still has it.

When she gets into something new or challenging, you can inevitably find her, crosslegged, feet together, precise fingers at work, and that face puckered into sheer concentration.

Of course now, it's interrupted with, "Look Mommy! I did it!" But the concentrating face lives on.

two weeks notice

source (I really want these)

Dear Baby Cheney:

I just wanted to mention that we're two weeks out from your official due date. And that your big sister made her entrance exactly two weeks prior to her due date. And that it would really be just fine with me if you wanted to come any day now. Well, for the most part. That whole awkward water breaking in the middle of the grocery store stresses me out. So let's just try and keep that to less embarassing locations.

But really. I hope you know how excited I am to meet you. I have a hospital bag packed with chocolate and tiny tiny baby clothes. And I'm ready to kiss on those sweet little cheeks of yours. So when you're ready, you let me know. Until then, I'll just cherish your attempts to move around (because really, there's no more room in the inn kid) and the way you stick your bum out of the left side of my stomach. How could you be so cute already?

All my love,

Mommy

a little hike

I know this is hard to believe, but I actually took this. Fo' real.

On Saturday morning, before it got too hot (and before we showered or put on our day faces), we took "a little hike" (as Belle calls it) back at the Temple Quarry Trail. (Guys, it's so flat and not at all a hike. But I still get completely winded and hope that it will induce labor every time we go. Yeah. Right.)

I can't tell you how much fun it is to watch Annabelle "hike like Daddy." She even asked to wear his fanny pack when she couldn't fit her water bottle into her pocket.

And don't mind me, just REALLY pregnant there. There's just no excuse for that. Wowsers. And that sweet wide angle lens does wonders for stretching out my face and our appendages. At least it stretches me tall? I may have mentioned this before, but that lens is Jess' favorite (it does take great landscape photos) and the total bane of my existence (it completely distorts human beings, as illustrated below).

Although that stomach is no distortion. That's total reality.

In any case, it was a beautiful "little hike," perhaps the last we'll take with just our Boo. But then I'm pretty sure we'll love hiking with a little one in a pack too. (Totally just rhymed. Awesome.)

chatty

Yesterday, Belle was trying to talk to me and I was busy making her lunch.

She said, "Are you gi-noring me?!" I busted up laughing.

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Then as she laid on the couch and looked down at the floor, she proclaimed,

"Look at that cwap on the floor!" Awesome. Listen - I'm not allowed to vacuum!

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After I left her for her nap, I heard her saying, "Open my eyes? Close my eyes. Open my eyes?

Close my eyes," and "Happy birfday to me!" and

"Mom? Mom? Come 'ere Mommy. Come to the door."

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When we got in the car to go to the store, she requested, "Go to Sam's Club?"

What the? We really don't go there very often.

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Later that evening, Belle came cruising into the room on her little scoot bike and said,

"Let me look at the budget!" For real? Pretty sure that's proof that our budget

is a topic of conversation way too often.

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And then that night while I gave her a bath, she wanted her Daddy to come in.

"Daddy?! Come in here! Daddy...Daddy? Daddy. Have a question!"

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So just because we're having a new baby, she has to start talking like an adult?

I can't believe how fast her words are turning into conversations.

But I have to admit that it's usually a total crack up.

all my bags are packed

source (check this article out!)

I have a bag of Hershey's Kisses, a box of Whoppers, and a bag of

Wal Mart brand peanut butter cups in my hospital bag.

There is not, however, anything else in my hospital bag thus far.

At least I have what matters.

the final countdown

Honestly, I feel like a ticking bomb. Like everyone who looks at me is expecting me to explode - quite literally - any second.

I'm both thrilled and incredibly nervous.

Eighteen days until D-Day. But I'm already dilated (just to a one), so who knows.

For some reason, I feel like the baby's kicks are trying to tell me something now. Or maybe I just want them to. As though if I could just understand the meaning behind each kick, I could have a better idea of when to expect this baby's arrival. Last night, the baby was going crazy, as though there was room to do a little disco in there. (There's not.) I was convinced that it was trying to get out.

But alas. Still snug inside.

For now, I'm still dealing with fruit cravings out the whazoo. Funny that I'm currently obsessed with watermelon. Because it really looks like there's one stuffed up my shirt.

Let the countdown continue.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

favorite

This morning, as Annabelle drank her morning juice, I laid beside her and "nuggled a minute." When she was done, she gathered her blanket under her head and said, "I love my blanket!" I asked if it was her favorite. She replied in the affirmative, and I told her she was my favorite Midgee. Then she said, "You're my favorite mommy," and kissed my cheek.

My goodness, they don't tell you about these completely heart melting toddler moments, now do they.

Pictures taken by my extremely talented youngest sister. Yes, I've already signed her up for baby pictures and family pictures, once I can tuck my flabby belly into some high waisted mom jeans. (For more pictures by dc, check out her blog. It's fledgling, but I figure if I send you all to her blog, she'll have some extra motivation to get in gear! :) )

birthdaypalooza!

a birthday

totally random

but totally perfect in the end

a grandma and two aunties

rainbow streamers

a visit from durham friends

an outfit change

lunch at firehouse subs

(one of annabelle's faves, for real)

naps

a visit to the indoor zoo (petco) (to avoid the heat)

snowcones - and the birthday girl got her very own (for the first time)

presents (and more presents - spoiled little munchkin she is)

cupcakes

a happy birthday

for our very happy girl

p.s. when you ask her what her favorite part of her birthday was, she says, "cupcakes!"

when you ask her how old she is, she says, "twenty!"

note: any photos that look really good were taken (and edited) by my pro little sister.

two

My girl.

My little best friend.

The one who made us a family.

The one who makes our every day better, just by being.

Thank you for making us parents.

And thank you for loving us without question.

You make us more happy than anything in this world.
Happy Birthday our sweet Annabelle.
We love you more than we can ever say.