Our first trip to Ohio!

It worked out really well that we could see most of our family in one awesome trip! Not only did we spend time with Adams brother and his wife but so many other family members joined us to celebrate Jamie's instillation ceremony.

We don't get to see Jamie and Katie very often but this was our second time this summer. And more exciting news Katie is also pregnant and due a month from my due date! I am secretly hoping for a boy (you know I love my boys) so little man, Zack and cousin can all grow up together. However that would make 4 boys out of 5 grandchildren for Adams parents. I'm sure Emma would love another little girl even if they will be 10 years apart (kinda like me and my cousin Kathryn). Meanwhile if it's a girl I will be buying her impractical super cute dresses that the baby will wear once!
Back to the installation...Jamie became the minister of a Presbyterian church in Mineral Ridge Ohio back in the spring. Remember the Chicago trip that wasn't for Zack and I...well he started shortly after that. I am so glad we made it to this celebration and I am very upset that I didn't take many pictures. Thankfully Facebook allows you to steal friends photos :).

I am not sure my small family will be able to visit Jamie and Katie anymore because the first time we visited both Adam and I got food poisoning (ironically from something we ate in China town...meanwhile we never got sick in the actual China), last time Zack cought a really bad stomach bug not 6 hours before our flight was scheduled to leave and this time I had a bad bout of morning all day sickness. Who knows it could have been pregnancy related. Either way it put me out of commission for most of the day on Sunday. Jamie and Katie I love you but I don't know if our stomachs can handle it! Just Kidding we can't wait for our next visit!

The Lake Round 2

Why do I love this place so much?
Maybe it's the perfect scenery...it's called Lake Pleasant...need I say more?
Maybe it's time with family...

 

Maybe it's the history...I spent entire summers up here with both sides of my family...
I worked on staff at the family camp...
I played with cousins...
I learned to water ski...
I always dreamed that I would bring my children here. Zack isn't quite old enough to water ski but he did enjoy the boat rides and the sand...

I love bringing Adam here because I can actually see him relax a little. This year Zack made sitting on the beach reading a book impossible, but father and son did have some bonding time...

Zack was extra clingy and I'm sure it was to make up for two weeks without daddy time.
We had a blast and even spent the day in Saratoga Springs which is so fun to visit around race season...

Zack and I love this restaurant because they give you crayons AND popcorn!

Can you tell he LOVED the carousel?

A toddler, a preggo and a man on vacation go into an Irish Pub...

In the end if there is any one thing that brings me back each summer it has to be the smores...

***At some point I will get the pictures off my phone to fill in the blanks!

Zack's Words 17 months

Mama (mamamama)
Dada (da)
Ball (ba)
Dog (daw)
Juice (doose)
Shoes (tsooes)
Bath (ba)
Bubbles (bu bu)
Boo (bu)
Duck (du)
Truck (duckkkk)
Car (carra - rolling his r)
Milk (ba...long a)
Blanket (datet)
Rock (raw)
Don't (dough...as he shakes his head and continues doing what he shouldn't be doing)
Down (dow)
Uh oh (ah ooo...in a raspy voice)
Tickle (titik)
door (doo)
key (de)


Sounds:
Woof (pffff)
Roar
Quack
Meow
Ahh (after saying boo)

He makes the fish face when he sees a fish.
He waddles like a penguin.
He puts his arm up and squeals for an elephant.
He holds his hands up and says a word (ie...hands up "da")...meaning where is ____?

18 weeks

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Maternity Clothes: I wore maternity jeans on vacation but my shorts fit and yoga pants are always awesome.

Best Moment This Week: Vacation to the lake...and I sill have several days left!

Weight Gain/Loss: -8 lb

Gender: BOY...so excited!

Movement: I have felt small kicks for a couple weeks...this has to be my favorite part of pregnancy.

Food Craving:  snow cones, coke

What I miss: energy

Sleep: uncomfortable

What I am looking Forward to: the rest of this vacation!

Symptoms: vomiting, fatigue, nausea, food aversions, sore back, headaches, nose bleeds, bad circulation

Same/Different: I am able to eat do much more this pregnancy but I don't think I was this uncomfortable so early.

Tummy Shot:

All organized and ready to move!

Well...I'm ready to pack.
I feel like an old pro at this. We have only packed and moved 4 times in the 3.5 years we have been married. That doesn't count the 3 hotels we lived in between moves. I have moved pregnant and with an infant. Now I get to move pregnant with a toddler. This time we won't have to box everything up or be super diligent about what goes in which box and which box will travel which way. We are moving 40 min down the road. Half our stuff is already packed (and reorganized...my winter project) and in storage. Clothes can stay in the dressers, hanging clothes will go from closet to back seat to closet. Toys will pile in a laundry basket and will be dumped in the bonus room. The only thing I have to think about is what we will store in the garage and what we will use or what will be acceptable home staging items. I am so looking forward to spreading stuff out so we don't feel cramped or cluttered. Mostly I am looking forward to putting a nursery together...this is my second kid and the first nursery that has our furniture, our paint colors, and doesn't have extra furniture and our golf cubs for storage. Even though I hate moving I hope the house sells quickly and we will be moving again before the end of the year.

My Bottle Review

I HATE the old Avent bottles...we have used them for 17 months and I have never liked them.  I decided #2 will get a new bottle (which he hopefully won't need to use for every feeding like his brother...but that is another post).  Well Avent...you leaked for the last time!

Why do I hate the Classic Avent model?
Because it leaks...and not like you would expect.  It leaks out of the bottom of the connecting piece...and you never know if it will leak or not until you are using it and suddenly covered in milk.  It was heartbreaking when the bottles were full of breast milk, annoying when they were full of expensive formula, and now I am just MAD!  I looked up every suggestion online (apparently a lot of people are annoyed with this issue), but honestly the suggestions were stupid.

Why did I put up with it for so long?
Because I have a LOT and they were expensive.  I also have researched and it's hard to find a bottle that doesn't have reviews that they leak.
I remember being confused by all the reviews when I decided on Avent but there were plenty of reviews that said leaking is only an issue if you don't put the bottle together properly (with the washer) or if you don't close it all the way...I figured the people complaining about the leaks were just complainers not to be taken seriously; after all, most bottles had reviews claiming the bottles leak.

I bought one of 3 different highly reviewed bottles and let Zack be my guinea pig.

I know what you're thinking...she bought AVENT???  They redesigned the bottle and surprisingly Avent is still the highest rated bottle.

Zack enjoyed all bottles.

Each held up after being washed in the dishwasher.

None leaked.

Basically it came down to my personal favorite.  SURPRISE...I liked the Avent (the new design)!
Tommee Tippie - the only thing that bothered me about this bottle is the nipple would come right through the attachment while you were putting it together...if you didn't pull to hard it wasn't an issue but it happened a couple times and it didn't with the others so this one was out.
Doc. Browns - I have no issue with this one but there were lots of parts and I remember when people other than Adam or I would make a bottle with the Avent (classic) they would forget the washer...or need help figuring it out.  Basically I figure the new Avent has only a nipple, connector and bottle so why not go with simple.

Silly Zachary...

I sometimes wonder what people thing when I call him "silly" in public.  Really this kid makes me laugh all day long.  Here is a peek:

What a good helper

He was naked because he got applesauce all over his clothes and his shoes are on because  he asked me to put them on

I picked up the baby tub at a consignment sale...for some reason I don't think he understands it's not for him

rubbing bubbles on mommy's legs

"What?  The saltines on your bedside table weren't for me?"

His favorite thing to do climb up and turn up the AC

"How do you use your music table?"

"I did not see that coming"

"maybe if I stand on it..."

wearing daddy's "toose"

...and mommy's purse.  He came up to me with the purse, waved "ya ya" (bye bye) and tried to walk out the door (thankfully I locked it...you don't open the door and run out more than once in this house)

I don't know where he got this but he wants me to wrap his blanket around him  like a skirt.