Blog Post #200

Wa hoo for our blog! Happy 200th post! To celebrate, I added a couple videos for your viewing pleasure!

I just have a bunch of random thoughts today, so here goes.

Pregnancy Update: 37 weeks and I have my induction scheduled for October 5th (8 days early) because my doctor is going out of town and Rachel was 4 days late and a big baby (9lb 2oz), so I am thrilled with the induction date. However, I wouldn't be surprised if he comes a little earlier than that - just have a feeling, you know? We can hardly wait to meet him!

I feel pretty good and don't have any major complaints. I am especially grateful that my ankles aren't swollen - that was probably the worst part of my first pregnancy - the entire month before Rachel came, my ankles were embarrassingly HUGE! Perhaps it's because my body is used to the heat now, or maybe it's because I'm more active? Not sure - but I'll take what I can get!

A couple weeks ago, my friends put together a fun girl's night / baby shower for me. It was just some of my closest friends and we sat around and chatted and had dinner - just my kind of thing! And SADLY, I did not take one picture - I had too much fun, I guess. Living away from family, I have such an appreciation for my amazing friends! They are the best, and practically like family!

I think Rachel's as ready as she's going to be for the new baby. I think she understands what's going to happen for the most part and will be a big helper. I think that her behavior/attitude will flare up quite a bit, but my goal is just to stay on top of discipling her as best as I can so that it doesn't stay long term.

Rachel is getting to be quite the little girl - she sings all the time ... like really, all the time and I love it! (Even at the top of her lungs in the grocery store!) SEE VIDEOS BELOW. If she's not singing, then she's talking and starting to ask a million questions.

Some more random tidbits about Rachel this month:

I always wonder what Rachel dreams about. I ask her every morning and she usually says that she dreamt about mommy & daddy. One night, she cried out for some reason and was obviously still half asleep. Then she said to me very seriously, "Mom, don't smash my Cheetos!" I tried to console her, but she was so delirious and was very concerned that I was smashing her Cheetos.

She says her own prayers now - start to finish - and it's one of the cutest things ever! Here are some of the best quotes from her recent prayers:

- "Bless Jesus that he'll be a good boy"

- "Please bless Nana & Papa - they are my best friends, like friends should be" (sound familiar? it comes from the Barney song)

- "Please help mommy not cry" ??? :)

- "Please bless Shalauna and her wedding dress" (this came a few days after Shalauna's wedding)

- "Please bless daddy watch a really long baseball game" (she means football - for whatever reason, she called football, baseball for awhile - and luckily, Brandon does a great job including her or playing with her while watching his REALLY LONG "baseball games")

Video lyrics: Got this cute idea from my sister-in-law, Kacie, who makes up a little song to help her kids learn to spell their names. Rachel's song is to the tune, "Three Blind Mice" and here are the lyrics:

R-A-C

H-E-L

That's spells my name

Rachel Hale

I like to dance and I like to sing

I like my friends and I like to swing

Rachel Hale

Rachel Hale