Maci is Officially 2 1/2

This week was fairly run of the mill with not too much going on other than some daycare fun here and there, busy meetings and Hot/Humid weather!  

Weekday Fun!

Story Time with Miss Alana 

 Best Friends Matching on a Monday

 Costume Kim Visited as a Butterfly

 Baby Bump Pic Time Again - Week 17 

(Just a tad bigger this time around)

 Someone has a new favorite hairdo - piggy braids!

They make her look way too old!!!  Tears!

 Sliding at School

 Letting their Butterflies Go

Friday - Clint picked up Maci and they were already watching the Lil Mermaid (new favorite movie) by the time I got home.  We then spent the evening chasing each other with the hose and cuddling - Love Friday nights!

Saturday - Maci had her 2nd week of soccer this week and was much more involved while still timid at times.  She really loves to kick the ball "BIG"  At least she shows up dressed like an athlete this week and well she may participate because she is promised M&Ms afterward ;-)

After soccer, we ran to Babies' R Us to get my friend from work (Megan's) shower gift.  Maci was actually really good for being in a toy store and not having anything bought for her, besides some new sunglasses for the car.  By then it was time for nap and thankfully Maci took a decent one which allowed for me to do the same.  After naps, we headed to the natural pool/beach again.  Maci had a blast and was quite the fish this time.  It has been so hot that the water felt like a bathtub - so nice for a few hours of cooling off.

After a late dinner, Maci and I cuddled and headed to bed (pool will do that to you) but Clint went next door for a housewarming party.  I was far too tired from a long day to be able to join even though I really had wanted to go.  At least Clint was able to make an appearance for our family - welcome Eric & Amanda!

Sunday - Maci and I headed to get donuts for breakfast while Clint took a morning run.  I then got a few things done around the house before heading to Megan's baby shower at 11a.  The shower was great and thankfully Maci was a good girl for her dad.  After the shower, I ran the weekly grocery trip before coming home to relieve Clint.  Maci and I spent some time out back playing in her kiddie pool and water table.  We wrapped up a few hours ago for dinner, bath and Maci bedtime.  Now I am doing the usual Sunday activities and getting ready for another week ahead.  We hope you all have a wonderful week and try to stay cool in all this heat & humidity!

Going to Town on Popcorn - What a Hog!

No Power = No Fun!!

This week seemed to fly and Maci continues to have a ball at daycare with her summer activities.  Clint and I went to our week 16 Dr appointment on Monday and things continue to seem normal which normal is very good to me :)  The heartbeat was at 150 and we have discussed scheduling our C-Section for Dec 28th.  We also moved up our 20 week ultrasound to Aug 5th with our fingers crossed we get to learn gender just a little sooner as well as seeing a healthy baby!

Playing in Boy Snow Boots Since She Chose to Pee into her Gym Shoes

 Almost Butterflies!

 Musical Instruments 

 Selfies & Kisses with Miss Alana 

Friday - It was a gorgeous and HOT day!  We got out of work and came home for the regular pizza Friday dinner.  Afterward we headed over to our neighbor's the Verplank's who have twin girls a month younger than Maci.  They have an inground pool so we had a bit of a pool party even though all the girls were more into the sandbox and doll babies :)  We headed home around kid bedtime and Clint went back over for a bonfire with the guys.  That night around midnight we had a big storm roll in which ultimately knocked out the power around 1a.

Saturday - Well we woke up to no power but we were hopeful it would only be a few more hours.  We didn't have much time to think about this as we had to grab some breakfast and head to Maci's first soccer camp!  Well I must have been more excited than her because she kind of stood to the side, wouldn't let go of my leg and at one point wandered away by herself towards the high school.  Let's hope it was just first day jitters and next week goes a little smoother :)

After the 30 min session ended, we went to the nearby park with my friend from work (Lisa) and her family since Brody is in the same soccer class as Maci.  Fortunately she was a bit more social at this playground outing but it too ended in tears b/c she didn't want to leave - ahhh toddler drama!

We ran several errands throughout the day and alas the power never came back on :( I had a bit of a meltdown around dinner after sweating through a nap!  You don't realize how much you love your power until it is gone!  Plus, I couldn't get any of the regular weekend errands done like grocery, laundry etc until we had power - so annoying!

Sunday - Happy 7 Year Anniversary to Us!  It didn't feel like a very special anniversary this year because we were in the midst of house chores, no power and a dramatic toddler.  However, we wouldn't have had it any other way :)  We had a nice breakfast at Egg & I and then waited at the house hoping and praying along with the other neighbors that the power would be back soon.  Fortunately at 145p the power was back!!!!!  We all jumped into productive mode at that minute and started laundry, sanded the fence post tops so we could cap them, ran to the grocery etc.  Thankfully we were able to jam in all the regular weekend errands into basically a Sunday afternoon.  We did take a quick break for a random Burger King lunch.

1st Burger King Crown!

We ended our evening with bath time and Punch Pizza - quite the anniversary dinner :)  Maci fortunately went to bed at a good time after not napping all day.  Now Clint is enjoying Sons of Anarchy and I am finishing up a few things before the week ahead.  We hope to share the salad from our dinner on the porch, minus whiny toddler talk, before we are ready to crash in bed from an exhausting weekend!!!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & #2 to be

HOT July Weekend!

Maci had an awesome week at school!  The summer activities continue in full force and she also continues to be a whiz with the potty training - Wahoo!!

Monday Fun with the Sensory Table & Fishing with Magnets!

 Tuesday - Making Extra Stretchy Goo (Maci is the Pigtails & Super Engaged!)

 Thursday - TUMBLE BUS Came & Maci Loved It!

 Friday - Maci was picked to be the kid to get to nap in the Tent during Nap time!

 TGIF!!

Friday - We started the weekend with Clint picking up Maci and I headed to a maternity store to see what clothes I could get for this earlier showing bump.  We did our usual pizza dinner and then headed to Mall of America to see what maternity clothes I could pick up there and to let Maci ride some rides.  Thankfully Gap was having a HUGE sale and I got all the remaining staples I believe I need for my wardrobe and growing bump.  That meant I only had to go to one store too which Maci loved because that left more time for her to play in Nickelodeon Universe.

Girl Loves to Ride Rides with Daddy!

Saturday - We started the day with our usual bagel and grocery run.  Afterward, daddy cut the grass while Maci and I had a Popsicle and played on the swing set.  Once Maci started to "melt" we knew it was nap time and we compromised on allowing her to nap on the couch.  This ended up being a genius idea because she napped almost 3 full hours (something only done at daycare usually)!  This meant Clint and I were able to get so many of our weekend tasks completed and still able to read a magazine cover to cover before she awoke :)  Ahhh so productive and she awoke so happy!  Come 6p it was time for Clint and my monthly date night.  Stephen (next door neighbor) was the sitter this time and Maci was ecstatic - giving us high fives/kisses and telling us "have fun!"  Ha cutie!  Clint and I had a wonderful dinner and enjoyed the movie Jurassic World which I didn't have high expectations for as that isn't my favorite kind of movie but it kept my interesting the whole time and wasn't horribly gory - I will agree with Clint this time, it was well done!

Sunday - Today was projected to be in the 90s so that meant the Mondell family was planning a water day!  Since I was still a little shaky about the concrete slip at the pool last week, we decided to try a new location.  There is a natural made pool in which looks like a small lake/pond but is still chlorinated so you get the best of both beach and pool worlds :)  We LOVED it!  Maci played with some nice boys next door and we had a great conversation with their parents.  Shortly after eating some lunch we saw Maci's daycare pal Sally and her family.  Sally is a little fish and peer pressure can be helpful, she kept telling Maci to try and lift her feet, put her face in etc.  Before the end of our time, Maci was back to being our fishy!!  We were there from a little before 11a until 2p.  We then took a family nap as the sun wiped us all out.

 Sally & Maci - Swim Pals!

Now Maci/Clint are playing outside and I am tying up some items before the week begins.  We need to figure out dinner and pack all the bags to start another full week of work/school.  :)  Tomorrow is our week 16 check up so prayers for a continued healthy pregnancy are appreciated.

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & #2 to be

American Pride & A Fun Surprise!!

See, I said it was a Fun Surprise!!!  

Miss Maci will be a big sister as of end of December 2015.  I am currently heading into my 15th week of pregnancy and fortunately, so far so good!  Maci is quite excited about the baby inside my belly, which by the way is popping quite a bit quicker this 2nd time around :)  At my next appointment on July 13th we should hopefully schedule my C-Section for sometime after Christmas but before NYE.  Daycare enjoyed seeing Maci in this shirt on Monday and fortunately no one realized what the shirt said until I had already left - Yay what a fun surprise!  Daycare has been asking for a 2nd Mondell for some time now!!  Plus we are starting to feel ready for a 2nd now that our former baby went a whole week in underwear and with very few accidents WAHOO =)

Hope the Next One Has This Cutie's PERSONALITY!!

The rest of the week went as planned and before we knew it we were at Thursday and getting ready for the LONG holiday weekend!!!

Thursday - Per usual, we all left work early on the day before the holiday so that meant Clint and I headed out around 330p and grabbed our crazy girl to start weekend fun.  After picking up Maci (who bit a friend out of no where on Thursday) we headed to Nordstrom Rack to get her some new gym shoes - her feet are growing like weeds.  Miss M loves shoes so much though that she made me let her try on about 20 pairs and begged us for some random teal sandals which we fortunately put back when she wasn't looking :)  After our quick shopping trip, we headed to Champs for dinner where Maci wouldn't sit still and the server moved at snail speed.

Friday - We ran all of our errands like grocery on Friday morning so we didn't have to worry about it the rest of the fun weekend.  After naps, we headed to the Taste of Minnesota where Maci had a 3 way tie between her favorite things : pony ride/petting zoo, cotton candy and dance party with a kid's DJ.  I mainly enjoyed the food, even more so because I am eating for 2 and hungry quite often!  Clint loved his juicy lucy cheeseburger but we have a feeling that may have upset his stomach since he had to deal with it on and off almost the entire 4th of July =(

Saturday - Happy 4th of July!!!  We had a fairly low key day around the house since Clint was sick most of the day.  Maci and I ran out a few times but I mainly caught up on Orange is the New Black and I got Maci to take a late nap so she would be ready for fireworks.  Thankfully Clint was feeling better around 7p, just in time to prep for fireworks.  We met up with the Cassem's at their house and then crossed the street to the other development where they were having a firework party, vs walking a few more blocks to the park where the fireworks are shot off.  Maci was so excited to see her pal Natalie and they talked to each other through the entire firework show just saying "Maci BOOM" so cute!

So Proud of her Beads from the Dance Contest at Taste of MN!

The Best of Friends Ready to Party!

 "MOM No More Flash!"

Sunday - Yay, Clint feels better!!  Since we were low key yesterday, we had to make up for it a bit with an action packed day today!  We met the Zehr's & Cassem's at the Zoo around 930a and it was so nice to see new baby Rowan Zehr!  Harper is quite proud of his baby brother and Maci is starting to wonder why she doesn't have a little baby to watch after, not yet anyway :)  

After the zoo, Maci took a nap and I headed to get a pedicure.  I must be having mommy brain because I had to call Clint to bring my wallet or else I had no way to pay.  Thankfully Caroline next door sat in our house for 5 mins while he ran it to me since Maci was napping.  Once Maci woke up, we headed to the pool to enjoy the rest of the beautiful day.  However, the scariest moment of my life happened about an hour after getting there.  Maci was running in and out of the pool and at one point she slipped on the sidewalk and fell hit the back of her head.  It didnt look too hard and I heard her crying.  As I walked over about to tell her how you need to walk, I realized something was odd.  I picked her up and she wasn't crying, she was holding her breath and her eyes were floating around - I am feeling sick just writing this again.  I screamed the most blood curdling scream for Clint as I thought she was seizing but as he picked her up he got her crying again and then she quickly started asking for a binky.  We took her to get a snack, she talked the whole time, ate it all and then splashed with us for about another 30 mins in the pool.  Thankfully everything appears a ok and she was probably just really scared from the fall but that was a total nightmare for what was 30 seconds but felt like time stood still.  

After making sure everything was ok and finishing our afternoon at the pool, we went home in time for the US women's world cup game!!  Maci cheered the entire game with me and Clint picked us up some Olive Garden for dinner.  Maci was playing like her normal self which helped my nerves to slowly ease by the minute.  After the US win :), we wrapped up the evening with bath time, books and getting things ready for the week/next day.  We are so proud of Maci, she didn't have 1 accident all weekend long with us and she ended the evening with a #2 on the potty!!!  I love that lil girl so much and I have given her about 3x the hug after my brief scare this afternoon.  Clint keeps reminding me that she is going to fall and things are going to happen but UGH I never want anything to happen to my baby!!  

Enjoy your week everyone!

Lots of Love,

C, K & M (4th initial coming soon)