Almost Ready...

Well, according to my doctor, Ryen will be here anytime now.  Yep, any day now our little family of three will welcome our new daughter.  We are going through a mix of emotions in these last couple days complete with some stress, lots of excitement, and trying to enjoy every moment we have left with just Avery.  While we can't wait to have Ryen join our little family, we will miss it just being the three of us.  I mean, right now it is easy, we have a great routine that is pretty dependable and we have Avery figured out.  And now we get to start all over again.  We get to return to the late night feedings, all the snuggles newborns need, the sweet sounds of babies, the little diapers, the first smiles (actually the firsts of everything) and while I know we will be sleep deprived, I can't wait for any of it.  I am looking forward to her making our family complete.

We have finished Ryen's room and are really excited about how it turned out.  And, we were pretty excited that we made so many of the things in her room.

 Here are some shots of her room....

And some close ups of the little details...

Yarn wrapped wooden letters-

 Her very own bow board-

This was an old wood dresser that Dave had since his college days.  We figured we would try to re purpose it and the worst thing that would happen would be that we would have to buy a dresser.  Best case scenario, we would actually love it. And we do.

We also thought we should wash all of her bottles for future use.  Yeah, we forgot what a pain this is!

Avery has also been getting really excited about her sister coming.  She tells everyone that she can't wait to meet her sister Ryen.  I can't wait to see her as a big sister.  She was very excited when she got her first big sister gift from our friend Nicci, Justin and Brahm.  A five foot long space ship that she can color in.  Dave loved putting this together.

 And of course, she hasn't stopped being silly.  This was from our after dinner jam session.  Avery on harmonica and tambourine, Daddy on piano and Mommy on the microphone.  Stop laughing at me.  I know I can't sing.

I am sure that this will be my last update before Miss Ryen arrives.  I look forward to sharing the news with everyone and of course the pictures.  Until then, I will leave you with this picture.  The first snuggles of my two girls.

I have also visited the first posting we did of Avery after she was born so I could remember what she looked liked....wonder if Ryen will look like her or not?!  Check it out if you want!

http://glacinskifamily.blogspot.com/2010/08/shes-here.html

I have thought about updating this blog several times, but then I decide to choose sleep instead.  So, I am going to attempt to update our last month in one quick entry.  We have been keeping busy trying to enjoy the time we have left as a family of three.  Avery is at this great stage where she just wants to play all day with us and is in a great mood 99% of the time, the tantrums are almost non existent, she listens, uses her manners, and is usually in an all around great mood!  We are definitely taking it all in before her sister arrives, which might be very soon (see below).

How have we kept busy you ask?  Well....

We made a delicious chocolate dessert for Superbowl Sunday and then Avery had her first experience of licking the bowl.  Needless to say, she didn't wear this outfit (including the socks that ended up in the bowl??) much longer.

We have had indoor picnics with daddy and all of her toys.

Avery has taken a real liking to Doc McStuffins and insists on giving all of her toys checkups all the time.  Thank goodness for all the dr. equipment she got for Christmas.  One night we went into her room to find all of her animals covered in band-aids (or damn-bades as Avery calls them).

Since the weather has been cold and not really conducive to going outside, we have taken a liking to having our nails painted.  Avery's pink recliner even works as her own personal pedicure chair.

The nail painting doesn't just go for Avery.... (Best dad in the world!)

Now that she has her own big girl bed, she has been obsessed with having sleepovers.  She even convinces Grandma and Grandpa to play along!

On Valentine's Day, Avery was so excited that she got to start her day with a pink donut!

And finally, we got SNOW!  Avery couldn't wait to get home and put on her snow pants and get out in it to play.  When I tried to get pictures, all she wanted to do was throw snowballs at me!  

First, it was a small one....

Then, daddy thought she needed some help...

 And then she came after me with this one!  Silly girl!

As I said above, we are really enjoying whatever time we have left with just the three of us (and while we still are sleeping through the night and feeling rested).  At my 37 week doctor appointment, my doctor had said that I have started dilating and that while I will be pregnant at my next appointment (Wednesday), she isn't making any promises after that.  She does think there is no way I will make it to our due date.  So, while I thought I was going to work until March 8, the reality of that not actually happening is beginning to set in.  Thankfully, Ryen's room is about 99% ready to go (minus some art work for the walls) and Dave and Avery took out all of the baby toys and swing and carseat.  So, if she were to come say tonight (fingers crossed for NO), we would be ok.  Our bags are packed and we have people....great people in line to take care of Avery no matter what time of day we should go to the hospital.

I have loved this pregnancy just as much as the last one, but even still I am ready to meet our little girl and have our little family of 4 altogether.  Avery is getting excited about meeting her sister and talks and sings to her constantly.

For now we will finish working on the final touches in Ryen's room and try to relax.  Hopefully our next post is all about our new little girl.

While the Girls Are Away...

If only the end to that title was the boys will play, but there was no playing for Dave last weekend. On Wednesday night, we began moving some furniture out of the bedrooms and packing for Avery and I to head to Chicago.  This was a big night for us, all of us, as it was Avery's last night in her crib.  She has seemed so big for her crib now for a little while, but for some reason, that night, she looked so little.  Regardless of size, she sure was excited!

Avery and I left Thursday evening and by the end of that night, our dining room looked like this:

(See what I mean about no play....Dave was all about work and getting things ready for our new carpet!)  Thankfully, his parents stopped by to help move furniture and tear out the old carpet.  

 

Meanwhile, on Friday, Avery and I went and visited my friend Jamie and her new little girl.  Avery loved the baby and asked to hold her multiple times.  

Meanwhile, back at the house, the carpet was going in in all three bedrooms!  Once that was done, it just meant that all that furniture had to go back too!

Saturday morning was a fun one for Avery and I as we got to spend the day with Aunt Judy and my mom choosing fabric for Ryen's bedding.  Here's a sneak peek!

That night while we were hanging out watching the Hawks win, Dave was at home busily putting our bedrooms (all 3) back together, including Avery's new bed!

Sunday we got to celebrate Lucas' upcoming 4th birthday (which is tomorrow!).  Lucas wanted to go  Chuck E Cheese and Avery was pretty excited too!  She loved waving to all the characters!

This may have been the only ride she actually went on...

Later that night, we went back to my parent's house and ate some really big and delicious cupcakes...

Monday morning we headed out to Rosemont to see the Dinosaurs Alive exhibit!  Avery was so excited the entire time and was more excited by the next dinosaur than the previous one.  

This was her "favorite guy" and really wanted to hug him.  Unfortunately, this was as close as we could get.

Coloring dinosaur pictures with Grandma

Dancing with Auntie Ashley...

Finally, it was time for Avery and I to head back home!  We couldn't wait to see daddy and Avery's new big girl room!  That night we eagerly tucked Avery in, but not before a little story time first!  

Someone was really excited to be in her new big girl bed!

She did a great job (and has every night since) and we found her all snuggled in first thing in the morning!

Pregnancy Update:

We are only 7 weeks away!  I can't believe how fast this pregnancy went and how close we are to welcoming a new little princess into our family.  Now that Ryen's room has new paint, new carpet, and the crib and changing table are in, I am starting to feel a little more prepared.  It has been a lot of fun going back through all of Avery's clothes and getting those sorted and ready to go.  Ryen moves a lot now and if I get about 2 hours of straight sleep, I consider it a good stretch of time. 

Here's a little belly picture update:

Welcome 2013

2013 is finally here and we are so excited about what this year is going to bring us...especially little Miss Ryen's arrival!  She has been the focus of much of our...er, Dave's attention recently.  With only 9 weeks to go, we figured that we should probably start working on a room for her.  Dave has been amazing!  Because of the pregnancy and someone needing to entertain the 2 year old running around, he has done 99% of the work.  Of course, Avery has had to try and help as much as she can!

Before (well, kind of before)  

Hard at work....

Then, it was Avery's turn to help.  She got to pull off all of the tape and then wanted to be a clown (?) and just made a bigger mess.

Then, while Dave was busy at work, she pretended to be a dinosaur and just ran circles around the room scaring him.  :)

Finally, she decided she was tired and thought Daddy's feet were the perfect resting place!

Not only did the room need to be emptied and painted, but we have also decided to put new carpeting in all three bedrooms before Ryen arrives.  So...now Ryen's room looks like this:

The new carpet will be here on Friday, so before then, our bedroom and Avery's room will need to be emptied completely.  Again, something Dave (and thankfully his dad) will have to do on his own.  How do I help out?  Avery and I are heading to Chicago for the long weekend!  I am excited to return to new carpeting, Ryen's room with furniture, and a little surprise for Avery!

We were also lucky that at the beginning of the month (yep, going backwards) that we were able to get a good amount of snow.  We were so excited because we had no snow last year and Avery couldn't wait to get out there and play in it!  I think Dave was just as excited too!

And then it was time for hot chocolate and marshmallows!  

Pregnancy Update:
We are at 31 weeks along!  Ryen is moving constantly and at all hours of the day and night.  We had our last ultrasound about 2 weeks ago and everything still looks great.  They are sticking with the March 17 due date and are guessing that she is already about 3lbs 4oz.  (However, they told us that Avery was going to be about 8lbs the week before she was born and she came out 6lbs 9oz!)  We are at the point now where dr. appointments are every two weeks and I feel like that will just make the time fly by.  Other than being tired, I am still feeling great.  Avery loves reading and singing and talking to her baby sister and keeps asking when she will get out.  Ahh...if only it was that easy!