GREEN THUMB

Derek and Nyah planted our garden the other day. It didn't yield much produce last year...

but here's to hoping...if nothing else Nyah sure had fun doing it! :)

Nyah got a book about a little girl who plants a garden with a jelly bean tree and has chocolate rabbits in it so that might me why she is EXTRA happy help.

We killed two birds with one stone this day since we were outside all day we started some SERIOUS potty training!

Ali kicked it in the shade of an umbrella all day... I think she was pretending to sleep so she wouldn't have to help plant the garden? Ha! :)

I BROKE MY FOOT!!!!!!! ONE WEEK AFTER HAVING A BABY!!!!!

I got a text message from my mom Sunday morning that said "Any trips to the ER? hee hee." I ended up in the ER a week after having Nyah so my mom thought she was being funny. I replied "not this time" pleased as punch and ready to break loose on this world after nine long months of pregnancy! However that night I sent this picture to my mom and said "spoke to soon. at the ER with a possible broken foot." Sure enough an x-ray confirmed my fear... it was BROKEN! I had missed a step in my in-laws dark garage and rolled my foot. I heard a pop and knew instantly that it was broken. For those of you getting a visual I did not hit the ground...I do want to point out that I caught myself but not in time obviously. Don't let the smile in the picture fool you I was terrified that they were going to have to set it back in place, or do surgery! I have NEVER broken a bone and am religious with my calcium supplements and so I felt very cheated! I am doing well though. Derek rented a killer scooter for me to speed around the house on in style! I should be back to business in no time! :)

AT HOME WITH BABY SISSER

Derek's favorite part about being a parent is nap time...nap time with Ali...

Nap time with Nyah... a Dad can't get too much quality time with his kids :)

Nyah has been waiting for this moment for a long time. She even practiced with her doll and the boppy before Ali was born. She looks like a pro!

Ali is obviously very interested in the story! Nyah started reading (memorized) books word for word to Ali right away. I didn't even know she knew her books that well!

We've had LOTS of sisser bonding time!

Proud as a peacock!! Does Ali look a little frightened? HA! :)

Ali had to be put on lights because of her jaundice! It was really sad! Here she is on her light bed. Every night looked like a disco party in our room with black lights. She didn't seem to mind...she slept really well on it. We are considering getting it back...not really! :)

Proud Mama! I love snuggle time!

My girls and I...what could be better than sugar and spice and everything nice?! :)

EASTER

Nyahs has been SOOOOO excited for Easter for weeks! In fact one night she even slept with her Easter basket! She set up her Easter basket and then asked where Ali's was? So I gave her this blue basket and she set it up by Ali's bouncer. Already looking out for her lil sis! :)

I had a lot of fun puting Easter out! Holidays are SO much more fun with excited kids!! It was our first night home with Ali and we had a WILD night. Derek and I felt like a couple of gringos instead of experienced parents. Of course Nyah was up bright and early and I asked Derek to bring her into bed with us for awhile so we could get some more sleep. But when he went in her room... I heard LOUD and CLEAR "I need my baby sisser! And I need my Easter basket!" In that order. That is probably THE only thing that could have gotten me out of bed so early after our long night.

She was so THRILLED Derek had put piles of candy and eggs all over the house for her to find she was in Nyah heaven! She has since asked when the Easter bunny is coming again! :)

Ali Poulsen is here!!!

Last few minutes of pregnancy...I'm in the elevator headed for a good time :)

In labor...Thank you epidural and anesthesiologist you are an angel of mercy! Ha! :)

Holding Ali for the very first time. I had a really hard labor with Nyah so this time I felt like a rock star I couldn't believe how much energy I had! I was VERY excited and very in love with this little bundle!

Nyah ran into the room and yelled "Where is MY baby sister!" She pulled a chair over to the cart and tried to pick her up! It was LOVE at first sight for sure. Dads is excited too especially since she looks just like him! She is BEAUTIFUL! :)

AND THEN THERE WAS 2

Since she is going to be here in 3 weeks I figured I would post her ultra sound pictures. Here she is sucking her thumb.
Profile of a most exquisite face.

I am very excited and VERY scared...but ready or not here she comes!

FINALLY A DAY AT THE PARK

For at least the last month Nyah has asked to go to the park everyday...and at a whopping 50 degree today she got her wish!

Swinging with Dad!

This zip line was hilarious...she didn't really get the concept and was really out of control on it!
HA! :)

CHILLY DAY AT THE ZOO

We spent last week at my Mom's. First on the agenda was a trip to the zoo with Grandma and Auntie Andi. It was a little chilly so some of the animals tried to hide and it was really rude because we wanted to see them! We had a lot of fun anyway and had lunch with the giraffes behind us. We got to see all of the big cats...I guess they like it a little colder? Add a few more degrees to the thermometer and we'll be back and ready to party with the new baby elephant.

DANCER

Nyah insists on putting on dresses and dancing around the house at least once a day...usually after breakfast! She also insists on on us wearing aprons and cooking as well. Some especially crazy mornings you will find me in a tutu and an apron dancing around the house with her. SCARY! HA :) Anyway this day she looked especially adorable so after our jam around the house she sat on the couch and i took a couple pictures!
I think she is rubbing her feet...being a dancer really takes a toll on your body :) but it's worth the sacrifice! :)

Later Derek caught a picture of Nyah checking out my now outie belly-button that was once an innie! She asks me what happened to it all the time :). I tell her baby sister kicked it out...and then she informs me that when baby sister comes she is "not going to share her sippie cup with her!" :)

VALENTINE DELIGHT

My mom emailed me a new recipe for our traditional Valentine cookies so we made 67 of them and took them to everyone we know. By the look on Nyah's face I think she is wondering if they are ALL for her? :)

NYAH BROKE HER COLLAR BONE!! :(

One month ago today my darling angel broke her collar bone! We took her to insta-care and she had to get x-rays and was really brave even saying "cheese" for the x-ray machine through terrified tears. They put her in a giant harness that looked like she was in star wars first...and told me she needed to wear it for a month straight! After I regained consciousness they put this sling on her because the harness was too big and they didn't have one small enough for her. I of course fell apart and thought the world had ended...it hadn't... at least not yet...because later that week she got a TERRIBLE ear infection (her first) with a bad cough, fever, and runny nose. To put it bluntly we walked through the fires of hell for one week and came out the other end alive! She is doing AWESOME now and I am so HAPPY to have my baby back. I don't think she was totally upset about the situation because I held her in a rocking chair for days letting her drink juice, watch movies, accept visitors and gifts, and get pretty much whatever she wanted :)! In this picture she is very focused on one of those many movies!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEREK!!!!!!

YES you are reading those candles right! The big 3 -0! I suggested something VERY BIG Derek suggested doing nothing at all! So we compromised with something very average!

We had dinner with friends on Saturday night then went to an Aggie Game. Sunday we celebrated with family here Derek is with our nieces and nephews celebrating like a rock star! Happy Birthday sweetie you are officially OLD!

Tea Party

For Christmas Nyah got a lot of new items for her kitchen and she likes to set an end table up for a tea party. Usually everything is color coordinated...hopefully that doesn't mean I am rubbing off on her?! This particular one is a breakfast tea party...of course breakfast would include cupcakes, ice cream and cookies!

GYMNASTICS

In January I signed Nyah up for gymnastics...She LOVED it with all of her heart!! All the way home she kept begging to go back! I had to wait until just before class to tell her she was going because she would burst with excitement and drive me insane. HA! I think her favorite part is the leotard! :) My only concern was the Chinese scouts that I know were at the sports academy scouting out fresh talent for Rio De Janeiro's 2016 Olympics.

Here she is practicing the rings... she had to have a spotter...come on it's only the second day of class.

Cartwheeling over jump ropes is going to be the next Olympic event and Nyah is going to be a tough competitor!

Bars with a trampoline combination.

Every SERIOUS workout has to start with a warm up...here she is with her friend Jayci getting in a good stretch before they push their bodies to the limit!

Tramp time was always a favorite!

Here they are with there teacher Rosanne.