Rehearsal

Aurora's been taking dance at school since August, and this weekend her lessons are coming to an end. The big recital is Saturday evening and tonight was the dress rehearsal. It was so cute seeing her whole class dressed up in their leopard print outfits, excitedly watching the other classes practice their moves. It was even cuter once our girls took the stage! 

I'm sure we'll be posting video of the main event, so let's just call this your sneak peak. At the rehearsal we also got to see the official dance photos. The group picture didn't turn out very good, but Aurora's individual shots are kind of awesome. Look at that smile!

Yes, this is the same company that used to take her "mug shots." I won't be purchasing a set, but I'm sure glad to have this copy for the blog.

Holiday Colors

Aurora's been so excited about having a holiday weekend, but teaching her what Memorial Day is all about has proven to be a little tricky, mostly because the first question she asked was "What colors do we wear for Memorial Day?" We certainly do a good job of getting kids to associate holidays with colors and festivities! I tried explaining the true purpose of Memorial Day and she got it - asking questions like "Where do wars happen?" Of course, in practice this has just been a regular weekend filled with laundry, errands, and a fun 4th birthday party complete with a hammock and balloon animals made by Silly Sparkles the Clown:

We don't have any big plans for tomorrow. I missed yoga this weekend and Aurora's been asking why we haven't been going to the gym (she likes the kid's club), so I think I'll try getting a light workout in the morning. We'll clean the house and might get to watch the Bachelorette with our friend Amelia. Speaking of Amelia, the pictures from her wedding just came in and there were a couple of shots from her photo booth that I just love! I wasn't really supposed to take screen shots, but seriously:

So, are you wearing special colors or doing anything fun to celebrate Memorial Day? I hear we can start wearing white now...

School Pictures

Even though we just got Aurora's 4-year photos, I have really been looking forward to seeing her school pictures. The main reason I've been so excited is because I sent her to school that morning with an adorable new outfit and awesome hairstyle. Her hair was scrunched up curly with bangs off to the side in a clip, all hair-sprayed in place. She came home that evening with messy hair and a new comb, but I didn't think anything of it. Turns out, the photographer took out the clip and combed her hair! Of course she still looks great, but her hair didn't turn out quite as cute as I'd imagined...

At least it gives me an excuse not to purchase the photos. I mean, that and I did just buy and sent out all her 4-year photos. Right? They also put together a class composite photo, and I have to say - her little classmates are pretty adorable. Her teachers are Ms. Brittany and Ms. Jasmine.

Eating & Sleeping

Last month was so hectic and the coming months will be very eventful, but May... May has been quite relaxing. I wish we could've been with Zeland and his family to celebrate his 4th birthday this weekend! The most interesting things around here have included trying new restaurants and eating out with friends. Yesterday we had breakfast at a cute cafe with Mona and her dog Cash:

We've also been working to finish up both kiddo's bedrooms. I finally found a cute seating solution for Aurora's room, which actually folds out into a bed. This should be great for when we have company:

And Chuck just turned the old toddler bed back into a crib, which sure makes the nursery feel like a little baby is about to sleep here again! At the same time, Aurora and I sorted through all her old baby clothes and found a pretty good stack of outfits suitable for a little boy:

I couldn't have a theme of eating & sleeping without including this pic from last week. We asked Aurora's teacher to take her home from school so we could go out a movie (the Avengers in IMAX 3D), and she accidentally left the garage remote at daycare, which meant she was locked out. She took Aurora to her house, which worked out fine but meant Aurora stayed up way past her bedtime. The next day, our tired girl insisted she did not need a nap, and instead fell asleep while eating dinner:

I personally have been needing naps again. Chuck's really been pitching in extra around the house and I was able to take a nap yesterday AND today, which has been much appreciated by this 29 weeks pregnant mama. I told Aurora that once we have a baby, we will be taking naps again every day and she said okay. We'll see how that really goes...

Mother's Day

So far today has been a perfectly lovely Mother's Day. After breakfast I headed out to prenatal yoga and while I was gone Chuck & Aurora did all the food shopping, picked out some cute flowers for me AND grabbed dinner for tonight! Who could ask for anything more?

This may be my 4th Mother's Day, but it's my last as Mother to just one. As of today I'm 28 weeks pregnant which (I think) means I'm in my 3rd trimester. Less than 3-months to go, and already we're planning dates for both of our mom's to come visit in August and September.

Speaking of our moms, we sent gifts to Grandma Nancy & Grandma Slane and I wanted to post pictures of them here as well. Here's Nancy with her basket of bath stuff...

And for my mom, two dozen beautiful red roses. Happy Mother's Day to you both and to all the moms out there who read my blog. I hope your day has been just as lovely and relaxing!

Tadpoles

Aurora's school just implemented a new system where they can send schedules and photos each day via email. Less paper and more photos - awesome! The system is called Tadpoles and I just love it. Here's one of the first pictures I've received:

It's Aurora and her friend Mia reading in the school library. Her teachers have been telling me that she is well beyond her classmates on the reading skills, and I know she's been sounding out words. I never mean for this to be a bragging blog, but I'm pretty proud.

I've been working a little at a time to complete Aurora's room and the nursery. This week I ordered posters and found frames to match each room, and they turned out great! Aurora's is so, so cute:

As for baby brother's room, well, I figure our little tadpole might like reading too, just like his big sister! At least he should like monkeys...

Aurora's Weekend

This weekend, Aurora read to her baby at the library

Practiced her ballet poses on stage before a play

Made paper helicopters at a science workshop

Held her Daddy's hand so she could run and jump

And snuggled up with her "preg-a-net" Mama

Different

For the most part, I've found this pregnancy to be very similar to the last. I have the same doctor and sonographer, the same yoga teacher, and I'm even wearing some of the same maternity clothes! I've known for awhile that my cravings were different, but nothing else has seemed different... until now.

Today I had my hour-long glucola test, and the drink they gave me to test my blood sugar levels was definitely different than it was 4-years ago. Instead of syrupy orange soda, it was like overly sweet clear gatorade. The affect it had on baby brother was certainly different as well. Actually, everything I eat or drink seems to have this affect. Heck, even when I'm not eating or drinking!

When I was pregnant with Aurora, I remember her stretching out and making slow movements, as though she was doing yoga in my belly. This little guy, he's tap dancing. Maybe drumming. Perhaps gently practicing his soccer and karate moves. Awhile ago Chuck asked "What if he likes sports?" to which I replied "Well... then I guess we let him play sports! You don't have to be the coach, just show up and watch." Chuck said "I'd feel sorry for any team that has me for a coach." I figured there was a good chance he'd be more into video games, but as of today, I'm thinking he might like sports.

And now for something completely different. I asked Aurora if she'd let daddy take a picture of us with my (nearly 27 weeks pregnant) belly, and she said no. But she offered to take a picture of us! Here it is: