puzzle master

We've had this shapes and colors puzzle since Adelaide turned one. She just chewed the pieces back then. Suddenly she's now separating the colors and putting the correct pieces together. Yesterday she finished the shape and said "heart"! It's amazing how fast she's catching on.

Packing-sort of

For weeks now I've been stashing stuff I plan on packing for Washington on the counter in my bedroom. This is the stack I have so far. I'm a little concerned I won't be able to get it all in the suit cases for our flight home! This stack is just Addie and Bella's stuff. I haven't even thought of myself. Then I have to throw in favorite toys, books, movies, camera, DVD players, and diapers; it's a bit of a mess. I still have 8 days to get packed so hopefully I can get it done without forgetting too much. Not sure why I'm worried since there is a Target down the street from my parent's house! I am getting anxious/excited for our trip. Addie came in and helped me pack this morning.

floaties

We had a lovely evening of swimming and dinner with our friends this past Saturday night. They had an extra pair of floaties that Addie tried in the pool. At first I didn't think she was in to them but when I tried to remove them she insisted that I keep them on. Sunday we spent time in the pool before lunch. The sun was shinning and we all wore ourselves out. Everyone except Bella who was doing flips in my belly while I was in the water.

Good day Friday

Today was a great Friday. Addie had playgroup with her friends this morning while I worked on checking things off my list of "things that need to be done before I leave". Later while Addie was napping I had a visit from an angel in the form of a prenatal masseuse who does house visits. Pure heaven! After the session I was back pain free! I felt so good that Addie and I went to the pool before dinner. Justin came home from work early so we all got to eat homemade pizza together and now the American Idol wild card show is on. I get to watch the latest episode of Lost we downloaded with my hubby tonight snuggled on the couch. I'm not sure how this Friday could get any better. Here some pics of my girl today.

art project

I find the hour between 4 and 5 PM the hardest to entertain Addie. We are both getting hungry for dinner and generally ready for the day to end and the evening with Justin to begin. Yesterday was an exception. We completed an impromptu craft project that consumed the hour and then some, we were having so much fun. I pulled out magazines, Addie pointed at the pictures she wanted "cut", I put glue on the backs of the pictures, and she placed them on the paper for a collage. I was really impressed that she took time with each picture to decide where she wanted it to go. I thought for sure the final product would be a big mess of gluey photos on top of one another but instead she created a really great picture. The best part was proudly displaying it for Daddy to admire when he got home. It also helped Addie with her words when she pointed out the pictures and described what they were "puppy, cat, bum, choo choo, Pooh, shoes, teddy bear, Mickey Mouse, etc." it was pretty impressive. Over the past few days she's also spewed out the words "heart, dance, come, car seat, fix, pillow, bubble, ouch, fall, jump, pool, mango, cup, balloon, cool, dude, so pretty, party, and plenty more I can't think of. I think the language explosion has hit. Every day it's new words. It's also been interesting finding out the words that I use often and she's picked up on it. I never realized home much I say "okay" to Addie. I tend to put it at the end of sentences to ask her if she understands what I'm saying. For example: "We are going to have lunch, read a book, then go take a nap; okay?" She now responds to most things I say with "k". For Justin it was "yeah" we never noticed how much he said it until Addie started favoring that word as a response and says it with the exact same inflections as her Dad.

freak show

I've hit the point in pregnancy where I start looking like a freak show. People stare at me and gawk at the size of my belly. I'm at 32 weeks now and every week I feel a difference in Arabella's growth. She's hanging out so low that the nerves in my legs are getting pinched and I'm suddenly hit with a strange numbness/pain in my legs as I walk or move (all similar from last time). I think it was at this point in the pregnancy with Adelaide that people started shying away from me on Metro and making comments like "I hope you don't give birth to that baby before your stop". People are generally shocked when I tell them that I still have roughly two months to go. Can you say "freak show"? This when phrases like "the vessel of life" and "the beauty of pregnancy" really get on my nerves!

I already know that this baby is a strong and healthy little girl. She is extremely active in the evening after dinner all the way until midnight or so. Justin and I just watch my belly come alive with waves of movement so intense that it feels like she might just bust through. Justin is always alarmed when he rests his hands on my belly and Bella gives a big kick or flips around. HA! Trying feeling that from the inside.

play group friends

The past few months Addie has made friends with a group of kids at the playground that she meets up with in the mornings. The yayas take turns getting the kids together at their employer's homes and this morning was our turn. Today Carmella and Amalie came to play with Addie. The three girls and their yayas played and I worked on our taxes (everyone had fun but me, puzzles and popcorn looked more appealing than turbotax). Addie and I will be leaving in a mere two and a half weeks, Carmella will be on home leave when we return in June, and Amalie will be leaving Manila while we are away. Sadly the girls only have a few weeks more to play together. Addie is the hugger of the group. At the end of the play date she hugged everyone. It was so sweet.