The Orza Family: May 2012

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

My smart 3 year old

So update on Emery.... She's now 3 years and 3 months old. Her favorite things to do are: Play games--her favorites are Busy Town board game, Candy Land, Go Fish card game. She also like to play memory games on my cell phone. When she gets coloring books, she always wants to find the mazes. She loves to do those. She's also learned how to use scissors at school so we practice cutting stuff. Outside stuff she likes to do right now include playing in her sandbox, doing chalk art on the driveway and playing in the sprinkler. Our pool just opened too so she's is enjoying going to the pool. Her swimming is pretty good...she can go back and forth between Kevin and I but isn't putting her head under like she did last year. She can tread water really well. She also likes riding the bike with Daddy. She has a seat that sits up front. Her last day of preschool was May 17th. The school had a luncheon/party. Very cute! She was in a bit of a mood though since she was kind of getting over a cold. Poor girl! She was tired by the time it was over and not even in a good enough mood to give her teachers hugs goodbye. Ms. Martha and Ms. Mandy have been such great teachers! She has learned so much this year...we are so proud of her! In fact, based on our "teacher meeting" earlier this Spring and her progress report, they have stated that she is very mature (based on her self-portrait) and said she is probably at a 4-5 year old level. She also knows most of her alphabet and numbers (can identify). She didn't have any "needs work on" at this assessment. She did have to work on picking up/cleaning up and Ms. Martha said that that was no longer a problem! She also plays well with the other kids and loves to pick up bugs from the playground! She's my little tomboy! I think she might have been a little bit of a teachers favorite :) but then again I could be biased. She's a very empathetic towards other kids and loves to play with older kids. She has really thrived with school and am so glad we choose this year to start her. As of now, she really likes dress-up. She wakes up in the morning sometimes and wants to put on her princess dress. Then she'll get into her drawer of jewelry and put on her bracelets, gloves, necklaces and crowns. She'll say she's going to the Ball and she's going to marry her prince. When I ask to dance with her, she'll say "mommy two girls can't dance together" so then she'll have to find Daddy to dance with. Though she did tell daddy this morning that he wasn't handsome like a prince lol! Poor daddy! She really likes to watch princess movies with her favorites being Princess and the Frog, Sleeping Beauty (she goes around singing the song "I know you, I walked with you once upon a time.."), Snow White, and Aladdin.

Almost time to welcome Elise!

Well we're getting closer to Baby Elise making her appearance! Dr. says just 1cm dilated though and 50% effaced. Not sure she will be early like Emery was though. She's very active though and I am thinking she will be a big baby like her sister was. Emery is excited to meet her "baby sister" too. She gives her kisses on my belly and will say "I'm siting next to baby sister" when we cuddle on the chair together. She keeps wanting to call her Abby though! lol! I think she's decided that she likes that name better...too bad we have Elise on everything! I keep telling her we can call the baby Ellie. Baby Ellie's room is almost done I'm proud to say (at 39 weeks lol!). We went with a beach/mermaid theme...my favorite place to be! I ordered an adorable mermaid mobile and her name in letters painted with a beach theme. Can't wait to see those are hung up and in her room. Otherwise everything else is good to go! I have gained almost 40 lbs though (and am now at 150lbs) so hoping its not too much longer!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

My Baby "Sprinkle"

My mom and mother-in-law hosted a baby "sprinkle" for me at Anna's house. A "sprinkle" as opposed to a shower :) It was really nice and had some of my good friends come as well as family. Got to see some friends that I don't get to see as often too. It was really nice and more of a luncheon. Loved the gifts I received for baby Elise. Also, got some matching outfits for the two of them :)

Welcome Baby Elise! The cake was super tasty! :)

My lovely neighbors :)

Such a cute matching outfit my next door neighbor Amy got for Emery and Elise :) Love it and can't wait to see them both in them!

Some of my gorgeous friends (3 out of the 4 are preggo!) It was so fun and I even got to take some friends and family next door to peek at the nursery as well :)

Spring Update

In April, we had a special treat of going to Disney on Ice. Emery loved seeing all the princesses skating. It was a really fun event!

The Grand Finale!

Me and my sweet girl! Then we made a visit to Tanglewood Farms in Canton. So much fun...I think I was more excited to visit than anyone. This farm has all miniature animals and a few had had babies :) So cute! Grandma Connie and Uncle Brandon joined us.

Emery holding a baby goat!

I was super excited!

Just like a little baby!

Easter

Spring is flying by! Emery and I helped celebrate all her friends' birthdays in February and then also got a week visit with Cousin Ruthie from California. She came on her spring break (what a sweet girl!) to spend some *relaxing* time here with us (Grandma Anna's). hahaha or so she thought! Emery kept her busy. They had a great time and Emery was sad to see her leave. Here's a pic of us at the Amicalola Deer Park:

Easter was a lot of fun this year too! The neighborhood here had a fun Easter Egg Hunt complete with petting farm. And then we went to an Easter Egg Hunt at the Cabbage Patch Hospital. So fun even if she wasn't as into the dolls as I thought she would be. She liked to look at them but was more interested in the stuffed animals they had displayed. She's tomboy I tell ya! Grandma Anna was more than willing to buy her a doll if she picked one out but nope! Guess we saved $40! The egg hunt was fun and all in all it was a nice day!

Here's a pic of me with my baby bump at the Cabbage Patch Hospital:

We celebrated Easter Sunday over at Grandma Connie's house. Lots of fun since the whole family turned out...Pauline and Barry along Brianna, Stacy and Christian and Bryan and Jessica with Leanna. Jessica is due around the same time as me with a boy this time around (**update: she had baby Liam 3 weeks early so she beat me to it! He's doing wonderfully as is momma!). I had planned for the kiddos to decorate a Bunny cake with lots of fun toppings and we also made an Easter craft. I love watching them work on stuff together!

She enjoyed her Easter basket that morning as well....the Easter Bunny was kind enough to include both a harmonica and a recorder lol!

Baby Elise!

Baby Elise is due to arrive May 31st, 2012. So far, even through our scary testing incident, she is healthy and thriving with no complications. As of 36 weeks, they are measuring her at 6lbs. 7oz. She's expected to gain a half a pound a week at this point so who knows?! Doesn't seem as if she will be as large a newborn as Emery was (at 9.2lbs). So I guess we'll see! Feeling pretty good up to this point...have gained about 35 lbs. so far and am at about the weight I was when I had Emery (145lbs). I seem to be stabilizing out though so though I was worried before I am feeling a little bit better with the amount gained. Just noticed my first stretch mark though at the bottom of my belly (at 37 weeks) so that's got me bummed out. Hoping it's only the one I end up getting! Also, been speaking with a "doula" to have her assist me at our birth. Might be a little crazy this time around since I won't be as likely to have my mom and mother-in-law there (They'll be taking care of Emery). I am hoping the doula is a good benefit since she can help out when Kevin needs a break. Really hoping this time goes a lot quicker than my birth with Emery (48hrs yikes!). Nothing has been set yet though and I am meeting with one this week to talk with her further. She is doing a birthing ball class with me too as she is a yoga instructor and masseuse (score for her as a doula!lol!). Here's a pic of Elise Caroline at 36 weeks:

She's got some chubby cheeks already and I think she's pretty squished in there! I really think she favors Emery. Here's a pic of Emery at 26weeks.

I think this ultrasound pic is of Elise at around that same time.

Birthday Girl!

Well looks like my "baby" is growing up! She celebrated her 3rd birthday this year with both a party at school and a party at the local jumpy place. Her party at school was super cute with all her classmates there singing happy birthday. She loved it!

She decided to add some cheetos to her cupcake...lol! We had a small birthday party for her at home on her actual birthday--Valentine's day--then had a birthday party with her friends at Catch Air. The theme was Toy Story and we had some amazingly cute cupcakes made and Buzz made an appearance as well. Though she wasn't as into him this time around (what is it with kids acting kooky on their birthdays!). She was a little shy when it came to singing Happy Birthday to her but she finally smiled and took it all in. She also got a surprise visit for her Grandpa Ed who she hasn't seen in awhile. She wanted him to climb up in the tubes with her lol! I don't think he was prepared for her activity level...she is a three year old after all and a busy one at that! Both her Grandma Anna and Grandma Connie were there as well as Daddy. She had a great time this I know!