She's Here!

After 40 very long weeks, I am happy to announce that Emily Grace is here! She arrived on July 28 at 3:29am. She weighed in at 7lbs and 21in long.

Butterflies

Yesterday we had a girl's trip to the Butterfly Conservatory.

Haley loves butterflies and we have them on her bedroom walls. The last time we went, she was only 13 months old, wasn't walking, and fast asleep in my arms. This time, I think she enjoyed it a lot more.

The butterflies were very active and flying all over the place. Haley was so excited by them flying all around her. She even had one land on her head for a split second.

Baby Garden

Mom has been here for a week now and we have been keeping very busy. She's helping me nest some more and get a bit more organized. Mom's know best, right? Our biggest task has been our outdoor atrium at the house. It hasn't been very organized or user friendly, but there were a few plants and Haley's play house out there.

It has now been transformed!! Mom calls it a little fairy garden. I think it is baby girl's garden because I have been working very hard on it (planting a tree and a few other things, with mom's help of course), hoping that maybe she'll decide to grace us with her presence.

Here is what we have been working so hard on.

I planted the tree on the right in the blue pot

My favorite new additions

Zach's replanted "man plant" (aka cactus)

Haley's rose plant (we got the day she was born)

Things for Tuesday

So this post doesn't have a particular theme or anything, but I feel like I've been a bit neglectful in updating, so here is a mess of things that have been going on.

~Haley is now 21 months old. Can't believe it. Everytime I look at her I see more and more of a little girl than a baby. It's just amazing how fast time flies. She loves to brush her teeth and is more than happy to point out your teeth for you. Sometimes she will even help me brush my teeth and she gets so excited to do it! It's the little things. She is still very helpful around the house. Haley helps put clothes in the wash, dryer, laundry basket; hands me dishes from the dishwasher (clean or dirty); puts trash in the trash can; sweeps; and the list could really go on and on.

~I am now 39 weeks pregnant and am pretty ready for baby girl to be here. As of my last doctor's appointment, I am 1cm dilated and he estimates that she is about 6lbs. I am starting to get a bit more uncomfortable, but I think that has a lot to do with the heat. I have also been having what I am pretty sure are braxton hicks contractions. It's not painful, mostly uncomfortable. Never had these with Haley, so this is a whole new experience. Sleeping has been a challenge for a while now and I can't wait to go back to sleeping on my stomach. Everything is ready to go and we are just waiting on little girl to let us know she's ready to be here!

~We have talked to Haley quite a bit to let her know that there is a baby coming. She knows all about babies- carries hers around with her and feeds it and points out other babies when she sees them. We have been slowly getting out all the baby stuff, like the swing, bouncer, and car seat. Haley has even practiced putting her baby in the car seat and then decided to get in herself. She is quite a bit bigger now than the last time she used it.

~Zach is out of town for the next few days. He is at a seminar for the week learning all about being a senior nco (non-commissioned officer). It is certainly not the best timing, but the class is only offered once a year, so it was best for him to go now. And should anything happen while he's gone, I will be lucky enough to have my mom here! She gets here this afternoon and I am so excited!! Sometimes a girl just needs her mom :)

I think that's just about it. We haven't really been up to anything super exciting, but have managed to stay pretty busy. On a final note, I'll leave you with a picture that makes me smile.