random thoughts and questions...

some things that have been running through my mind in the last 24 hours...

1. mr. clean's magic eraser...
this thing rocks! i needed something to get the soap scum off my tub...and between my weak arms and large belly, i just couldn't spend enough time or elbow grease to clean it up. the magic eraser thing cleaned it so fast, i was looking for other stuff to clean just cause i thought it was fun!

2. do you tip gas station attendants when they wash your windows?
last night was the second time i've paid cash for gas in a while, and both times i noticed the attendant washed my windows (this never happens when i pay with my card). and both times, i felt as though they were wanting to be tipped? anyone else experience this? is there some new protocol about this that i don't know about?

3. need a new diaper bag!
with baby boy on the way, the one thing i want to replace is my diaper bag. for those that have been in my company for more than a minute or so, you are familiar with the "squeak, squeak" that inevitably comes from our bag. i'm open to any suggestions any of you may have!

march

though this pics are out of order, here's an update from march. elise had just finished yogurt in this picture, and i'm convinced this is how they make the milk mustaches in all those ads!

walking around with tupperware...kendell this one's for you especially, to see her walking!

hanging out with jack and brooke...synchronized sippy cup break!

tupperware is good for many things..

our first fort!

sitting like such a big girl, with her cousins. she thought she was hot stuff...can you tell?

out in the snow with daddy...this time in the snow wasn't any better than the first. she just doesn't dig it!

finger painting

well, it's a snowy day outside. i think we're going to wait until daddy gets home to venture out and play in it. so in the meantime, i decided to find a way to make edible finger paint. turns out you can just mix food coloring with sweetened condensed milk. elise loved it! she ate more than she painted...i had to prompt her to paint...see her lovely picture below :) next time, i want to try coloring instant vanilla pudding...i have a feeling i may eat more than she will! if you have any other fun ideas to do with a toddler, please let me know!

the new little guy

in case you were hoping for some pictures, here's our latest ultrasound on little boy baloche. unlike elise, he's had three ultrasounds already! the first was to determine his due date, the second was the normal 20 week one, and the latest was because they couldn't see his kidneys or where the umbilical cord connected with the placenta in the last ultrasound. (and so you know, they were able to see them both this time and everything looks great.) so, lucky us, we get to see him quite a bit! he's very active these days...much more active then i remember elise being. we are almost 26 weeks along already. i can't believe how fast the second one goes by! this next picture is his hand and foot. we have one similar from elise.

i was reminded once again that God is the giver and creator of life...praise Him for this amazing little boy growing in my belly!

sickies

three posts in one day?! yes, and the reason why is because us baloches have been hit with the stomach bug! i got it first yesterday, and oma and papa watched elise for me all day so i could rest. then justin came home from work feeling terrible. we prayed our little girl wouldn't get it, but she woke up this morning having been hit. after changing her, i layed her down next to her daddy so i could strip her bed...and lo and behold, she fell back asleep. she just woke up a few minutes ago, and has since fallen back asleep on her daddy's lap. hopefully, she can sleep it off, and justin and i can rest today too.

happy birthday, oma!

this past weekend, it was also oma's birthday. you're never in need for help blowing out candles with seven grandchildren! oma is an amazing woman. there aren't quite words to describe her, but i'll try my best. she has a heart that overflows with love for her family, and never runs out of room to add more in laws or grandchildren. she goes above and beyond to serve her family, whether it be watching kids, cleaning out her mother's house, opening up her house, sharing furniture... just to name a few. God has gifted her with so much and we are all the blessed recipients. happy birthday, oma! we love you!

baby shower for lauri

this past weekend, our care group threw a surprise baby shower for our friend, lauri. she and her husband, chris, are expecting their first little one, Madison Grace, this coming March. needless to say by this first picture, she was surprised! one thing i greatly love and appreciate about our church is their desire to bless expecting mothers. after being so encouraged at my own shower a year or so ago, it is a fun privilege to get to do that for others.