Last belly kisses....

We are bidding farewell to Momma's belly this morning and getting ready to welcome Madeline into our family tomorrow morning. It is funny to see these pictures because I can feel how HIGH she really is being breech but cannot really see it that well. These pictures truly show the beginning and end of her lil body. She must be curled in a huge ball. What a miracle!

Alison loves kissing my belly and trying to get a big squeeze from Madeline in return. Sometimes this can be painful but she enjoys it so much so I go along with the fun! I wanted to be sure to get some pics before the belly disappears. It has been an adventure teaching Alison about babies growing in bellies, etc but I think it is safe to say that we are all ready and anxious to finally meet this Madeline we have been talking about for months.

Recipe for Alison's progressive kiss......It begins with a hug, then a smile, bury your nose deep in Momma's belly, then a MUAH!...oh and make sure everyone is watching and camera is rolling...so sweet.

Dance like no one's watching....or say Cheese?

Turn music on anytime, anywhere and you will find Alison dancing away, or headbanging if it is in the car. She certainly has inherited her Dad's appreciation for music (she especially likes Beatles and just about any of the classics). Unfortunately, she also likes listening to it at mind numbing decibels like her Daddy too! Lately when we rock out to the child version of "I love Rock n Roll" or "J-U-M-P, she tells me she cannot hear it until everyone in Beaufort can rock out with her! I then shift my eyes in the rear view mirror to find her headbanging and playing the air guitar all the while saying, Mommy, look at...look at me...I headbanging like Daddy...you do it Mommy. So anyone driving by on any given day probably gets a good laugh when they take one glimpse into my car...it must be hilarious to onlookers! It always puts me in a good mood when she asks me to sing the song because we all know that I cannot carry on a tune to save my life...but guess what...Alison loves to hear my voice squeak! :) She makes every day fun and adventurous.

We were dining at Moe's Mexican restaurant on Sunday and they were playing great music over the loud speaker. Immediately I was nervous that we would not get Alison to eat a single thing because her legs were just trotting to the music and she could not sit still. Thinking on my feet, I came up with a game plan. I told Alison that she could rock out to the music as long as she ate a bite of her quesadilla every time it was offered to her....so check out the food chomping, foot stomping, Cheese screaming Alison in the video....enjoy! She ate her quesadilla and we were offered 20 minutes of great entertainment!

WE ARE...PENN STATE

For all that know Matt, you are well aware of his undying love and devotion to Penn State. Watching college football on Saturday's and getting decked out in his attire is one of his favorite times of year. There is NO sleeping in this house when the game is on as he pretends he is outside in the stadium cheering on his team when in reality he is confined in a small house with very poor acoustics....He is desperately trying to share his love with hopes of it wearing off on Alison. Since she could talk, he has been working on the Penn State chant....within weeks of her birth, he had her sporting a Penn State onesie, bib and socks..taking pictures...so proud.....Well, it is no surprise that he was smiling from ear to ear when she repeated the words in the video.......Enjoy.....He gets all googly when she repeats it and they continued this for the entire game...and afterwards much to Mommy's dismay :)

Notice she says Penn STEAK....hee hee

Grandparents are GREAT!

Alison is so lucky to have 2 sets of wonderful grandparents! Her all time dream would be to have her Mimi, Peepaw, Nina and Pappy at the same time ALL of the time! They come with great energy and never seem to tire of playing the same games over and over.... and singing the same songs...nor are they quite as ready to put Alison to bed as Daddy and I are only a nightly basis. Here we are pushing bedtime at the Waterfront Park..one of my favorite scenes in Beaufort! Matt's facial expressions never get old. I had to post this one...36 weeks, Madeline is breech but Mommy is convinced that she will get adventurous and find her way down.

Do I have to go to bed Mom? Peepaw is so comfy...just a little longer, please please!

Making sandcastles and playing dress up with Mimi. If we could have one wish, it would be to live near both of our parents so that our children could enjoy their undying love and energy year round instead of just in weekend spurts. For now, we will take what we can get and cherish every moment. Thanks Mimi, Peepaw, Nina and Pappy for being Alison's biggest fans! We are so thankful for you! Nina and Pappy will visit in a few short weeks when Madeline is born...we have already started the countdown!

Mommy, I pee peed in my bed.....

It's 6:45am and this is not a great way to start my day. Having just put the finishing touches on a clean bed less than 12 hours ago, I get the call from the room....Mommy...come here...I'm WET! WET?...wet? Babe, that is an understatement...SOAKED is more like it. I arrive to her bedside to find that she apparently threw the super absorbent pull ups overboard "dry" during the night and decided to spring a leak as she woke up. My thoughts at this point after observing the situation with crusty eyes and funky hair...(did she stand on her head to pee? How could this have happened?) Then it came to me....she did what any other kid would do after shedding at least 3 cups of water....lay in it and maybe the whole thing was just a dream and Mom won't really have to wash all of my bed linens for the 3rd time this week??? Wow....bless her heart, she was apparently terrified to disappoint me so she slept a little while in the soaking wet bed. Her shirt was drenched as if she walked a mile in a rainstorm....pillow...saturated....hair...reaked of pee pee! I'm happy to report that she was bathed and the clothes/sheets are in the wash AGAIN...all before 7am this morning... No pictures this time....words are enough here......

THE BIG 30!!

It was 20 minutes to midnight as our heads hit the pillow. I informed Matt...this is it honey, 20 minutes to enjoy being 20 something...then they are gone forever...he did not find the same humor in that as I did!

We woke up this morning to Alison singing bday songs for Daddy. (this continued until bedtime) We then met him for lunch at the O-Club followed by a yummy steak dinner and cupcakes. Don't forget PRESENTS...anyone who knows Matt knows how much he treasures gifts...he is such a kid and very fun to buy for. We had a great time opening presents and being together as a family for his 30th.....

As I write this, it donned on me.... Matt and I have been in love for more than half of our lives! Where did the time go? I have celebrated the last 16 birthdays with him....what a blessing. Here's to our next 30 years...it keeps getting better! Happy Birthday Matt!

After the video pose

New Penn State Cycling Jersey and Waterproof IPOD holder for the mind numbing 2 hr swims

Alison upset because she is not the center of attention...CHEEESSSEEEE..let me see, let me see!

Time is ticking...34 weeks

Looking through old pics, I realized that I have neglected to take pictures of Madeline growing in my belly. Before you know it, I will be posting pics of both kids! Alison reminds me daily of how big my belly is getting....like I could forget! She gently rubs her hands in big circles and sings lullabies to Madeline. Her favorite way of greeting people lately is to pull up my shirt and show everyone MADELINE! Needless to say, many unprepared strangers have gotten an eye full of my belly and luckily I have managed to catch my shirt before Alison tries to get it completely off! She is really proud of my belly and the thought of being a BIG SISTER!

What a miracle it is....Madeline is developing around the clock preparing to be nestled in our loving arms..... She loves to stretch and tumble about anytime that I am hoping to catch some rest. Even though it keeps me awake, her movements comfort me. I have been daydreaming about meeting her..I feel like I can smell her already!

Bring on the pink.....

Kristy and Lisa threw a baby shower on Saturday for Rachel and I. We both got a ton of goodies for our lil girls. Lil' Zoe came into this world early so she was present at her own shower :)
Cute outfits for Madeline
Jenn Pizzuli and I. She will be headed to Japan soon :( I thought this would be a good belly shot but it was cut off.....YES :) I will get my big belly in a picture soon. 6 1/2 more weeks.
VMFA 312 ladies...Lisa and Kristy are the first two ladies in pink, front row on the left. They threw the party for us. Thanks so much. The food, 4 layer cake and punch was delicious.
Our lil sailor....CHEEESSSEEE!

Alison had to pose a few times for the camera as I was preparing to leave for the baby shower. She wanted to secure her place among the pics today.

And in true Alison fashion, photo shoot polished off with a crown. After all, she is THE PRINCESS!

Just hanging out...

I found a few holes that Hazel dug and decided to go get my shovel and see if I could "help" matters . Minutes before Mom got the camera, I was throwing the dirt up in the air, making rain, and laughing when I got "wet". Mom runs to get the camera thinking this would be great for her latest blog....then I stopped. This is all she was able to capture.

Off to the swingset to play on the seesaw. This is my new favorite. Mom says to pay NO attention to the back yard and how "non-manicured" it looks. This is not her forte!

After all of that, it was bathtime (blue and yellow tablets make green). Like mom said, I live in a fairytale world most of the time. I am Dora, Diego, Ariel or Einsteins at any given time. Right now, I am pretending to be singing mermaid. I watch the Olymfics as I call them each night and beg to dive and swim like they do. I will have to settle for the bathtub for now. I decided to let you all in on my version of "hush lil baby"...it is a long song with lots of complicated words. Don't mind the legless babydoll in the background.

Nothing like polishing the day off with a homemade smoothie pop....my favorite. I love to pretend I am putting on lipstick just like Mommy.....It's time for bed after a hard day of playing. Notice, princess dress is my PJ of choice! Dad really likes playing with my hair and keeps wondering how I got so big!

You are my Sunshine......

Alison loves to sing and we all love to hear it. This is her latest debut...

Alison, you will always be our sunshine. You brighten all of my days!