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Third Trimester, and Nesting

Posted by on May 31, 2010  about Aubrey Ann, 1 comment

I have so many posts that I need to make, but we are so exhausted from Aubrey Ann’s big birthday party this Saturday, I can barely think. I am finally 28 weeks, which is the beginning of my 7th month, and the beginning of my third trimester. I can’t believe how fast time is going by. I cannot wait to have this little boy in my arms.

The funniest thing is, since the party, I have started a little wave of nesting. It isn’t as intense as I felt with AA yet, so I imagine I will nest again later, but I am glad to have the extra-burst of energy and motivation for now. So far, I have been decluttering, and organizing my stuff for Landon. It feels great, but I imagine I will be paying for it pretty soon, because I am so exhausted.

I can’t believe how soon this little man is going to be here. I am so looking forward to meeting the little person who is keeping me up all night with his kicks! Can’t wait to meet you little man!

Something so precious

Posted by on May 22, 2010  about Aubrey Ann, 1 comment

Whenever Aubrey Ann asks where we are going and I tell her, she always says, “I want to go too!” I always tell her that “I would never leave something so precious behind”.

Well the other day we were at Costco, and I had gotten AA a hot dog, and I ended up having to go back up to get something from the register. Since AA was eating, and she was sitting in the very closest booth to the food court registers, I decided it was ok to leave her 10 feet away or so and go up and grab it. Well, it ended up taking longer than I thought because they were being so slow at the registers, so I had to keep my eyes on her the whole time, waving every couple of seconds to let her know I would be right there.

When I got back to the table, AA looked up at me and said, “Mommy, why did you leave something so precious?” Everyone within ear shot started laughing. :)

Some more cute “Aubrey Annisms”

Posted by on May 21, 2010  about Aubrey Ann, Comments are off

A few days ago AA said the following:

AA: Mommy, I love you.
Me: I love you too sweetie.
AA: No Mommy, I love you REAL BAD.

Today we had this conversation:

Me: Wow Aubrey Ann, your brother is kicking up a storm.
AA: (Sits quietly for a minute looking out the window) But mommy, I don’t see any rain clouds!

Also today:

After sitting very quietly listening to her Daddy read the first chapter in The Wizard of OZ (not a picture book, the novel)

Daddy: Did you like that book?
AA: No actually, I like these books (pointing to her children books).

I just think it is funny that she made it through the entire first chapter without saying a word, only to admit she didn’t like it! :)

What’s new with us

Posted by on May 16, 2010  about Family, Comments are off

Not a whole lot is different in the Hopkins household. Daddy has been working very hard, as he has lots and lots of clients right now. I am so fortunate to have a husband who works so hard to provide for us the way he does. Truly, I am so grateful for him and all of his hard work, and how that affords me the possibility to stay home with AA and not miss all of her sweet little moments.

I am working on getting everything ready for AA’s party on the 29th, and getting really excited and nervous about it. I am expecting a good turn out, and I am just hoping that I can get everything together!

Also, Mom and Steven purchased us our double stroller! It has been sitting ever so nicely in the box, and every day I think “I should really put that together”, but it just hasn’t happened yet. I can’t wait until I have both babies at Disneyland in that puppy! Thanks so much Mamaw and Papaw!

As for AA, she is getting so big. The other day she sat down and did some writing with her Dad, and I was shocked at how good she did. I think he has a gift at teaching AA to do physical stuff. She drew a picture of my Mom and herself, and then wrote “To Mamaw From Aubrey Ann” and it was completely legible. Brandon said he simply had to tell her which letter to write next, and point on the paper where she should write it, and she did. I was so proud! I told Daddy that he is in charge of teaching handwriting from now on!

Also, this week she has been making some leaps and bounds in her reading. She has started to be able to pick out her sight words in regular books. So now she enjoys pointing out that she can read the work “the” or “is” or any of the others, in the title of her books.

She has also taken to swimming like a fish! I won’t give all the details now, because I plan to make a post dedicated to it as soon as I upload some more pictures, but AA has really taken to swimming. She can now swim underwater for 5-10 feet. It is so fun to watch how much she enjoys the water! Now every time we are in any water that is deep enough to swim in, she is swimming back and forth, back and forth the entire time!

As for me, I have been so busy with AA’s swim lessons, play dates, and her final days of school, that I feel like I need a vacation! I am so excited it is summer, and getting to enjoy the warm weather has been SO nice. We are outside every single day.

I am feeling really good, and have finally reached the point of pregnancy where I feel like I look decent. I have told many people that I have never felt pretty, like I do when I am pregnant, and it seems that is going to be true this pregnancy as well. I enjoy ‘dressing my belly’ every day, and generally feel really really good. Every once in awhile I have a day that I feel extra tired, or have a little pregnancy related aches and pains, but overall, I really shouldn’t complain. I notice that if I have a day that I carry AA more than I should, or do quite a bit of ‘heavy’ lifting, then the next day I feel a little crummy. Luckily, those days have been few and far between, so I don’t feel like I have to change my daily life too much yet.

I am working on making a summer schedule for AA and I, so we don’t miss all the fun things to do this summer! I can’t wait for her and I to spend our summer together, the last summer with just the two of us! I am planning on making it as full and fun as I feel like I can handle. So far we have movies, trips to the zoo, the waterpark, ongoing swim lessons, lots of play dates, and story time planned. We may also sign AA up for another dance class this summer, we will have to see how our schedule works out.

As for Landon, he is growing like a weed! I have to take new belly pictures tomorrow to post, and I am anxious to see how much he has grown in the last couple of weeks! He is very active in my tummy, and Daddy enjoys feeling his kicks. He feels like he kicks much harder than AA ever did at this stage in pregnancy, but I could be wrong.

Lastly, Brandon and I are trying to plan our family vacations this summer. We had thought about taking a cruise, but really our only option is to take one in July, and we aren’t sure if I am going to feel up to all that walking. So we are thinking of taking a couple trips to the beach instead. Probably with one of those sans AA. Hopefully, we can get it figured out soon before things start to book up.

Have I mentioned that we LOVE summers around here? :)

Overall, the Hopkins clan is doing well! Please keep praying for us!

A few random pictures

Posted by on May 16, 2010  about Aubrey Ann, 1 comment

We just cleaned off one of the cameras, so I wanted to post a couple random shots. These don’t go together at all, but they are still fun to look at!

Valentines Day 2010

Posted by on May 16, 2010  about Aubrey Ann, 1 comment

I know this is a bit out of order, but I wanted to post a couple of pictures from Valentines day this year. AA had her first class party this day, and had a ton of fun. She had WAY too much sugar, but thoroughly enjoyed herself!

I just love celebrating the holidays with this little girl. I can’t wait until Landon is added into the mix! What fun!

Is that a hiccup I feel?

Posted by on May 16, 2010  about Landon, 1 comment

For a couple of days I have been wondering if I am starting to feel hiccups. AA was notorious for getting terrible hiccups both in and out of my belly, and I guess this little man will be no different! Right now, tonight I am absolutely positive that my little guy has a terrible case of the hiccups. I wish I could, just for a second, hold him and tell those hiccups to go away! I never realized how much I missed being pregnant, until I started to experience all of these wonderful pregnancy symptoms that you just seem to forget over time. I have so missed the little rhythmic thumps that are a sure sign that your little one has been practicing his breathing. We can’t wait to meet you little man so we can tell those ole’ hiccups to go away!

Mommy, Mommy, Mommy

Posted by on May 11, 2010  about Aubrey Ann, Comments are off

Aubrey Ann is in a severe ‘Mommy phase’ right now. Everything is, “I want mommy to do it…” or “I am talking to mommy…” or “I am sitting by my mommy.”

I can’t lie, I find it absolutely adorable. I would love this stage to last forever, but sadly in just a few short days I am sure she will go back to liking everyone equally, with the exception of grandparents of course, they are always the favorites around here. :)

Tonight Brandon told Aubrey Ann that he loved her and she said, “MY mommy loves me!” Goofy girl!

Aubrey Ann’s Birthday Bash!

Posted by on May 3, 2010  about Aubrey Ann, 1 comment

Just yesterday, Aubrey Ann turned into a big 3 year old girl! Daddy and I can hardly believe how much she has grown!

We were all so overwhelmed that all of the family chose to spend Aubrey Ann’s birthday weekend with her. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family, who are all so willing to be here for special things like this. I never expected that everyone would take time to be here for not only her party, but all the rest of the festivities. Thank you everyone!

Aubrey Ann’s birthday weekend started on Friday, with everyone coming over to play video games. Not that Aubrey Ann did much video gaming, but she sure enjoyed everyone’s company. Then she spent Saturday and Sunday celebrating all weekend long!

Aubrey Ann was given the choice of any restaurant to have her birthday dinner at. I gave her options like, Red Robin, Chuck E. Cheese, John’s Incredible Pizza, and many others. I fully expected her to choose John’s Incredible Pizza, as that would be probably the funnest of all the restaurants. Nope. She chose, Red Lobster, of all places. It made for a memorable evening, and a funny story.

Here are some pictures from Aubrey Ann’s birthday bash!

Thank you Uncle Robert and Aunt Amanda for taking the pictures and videos during the party. We really appreciate just being able to enjoy the moment!

It is with much sadness that we say goodbye to two years old, but with much anticipation that we say hello to three! She is growing so fast!

We love you baby girl!

New belly pics!

Posted by on May 3, 2010  about Aubrey Ann, Comments are off

Here are a couple of new belly pictures, for all of you belly fiends out there!

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