Bree Turns Three

It's hard to believe our baby girl is three! We thought we'd be smart and scheduled her party a week in advance, since baby brother was due on April 30th. However, he decided to show up early and we had to push the party back a week - to her actual birthday! Just goes to show you can't plan everything. Bree's party was held at My Gym, and I must say it was the best party ever. I had a total blast celebrating with my daughter that day! It's easy to see she enjoyed herself as well.

Baby brother Ben got to join in on the fun. He slept through it!

At home after the party, enjoying the presents. Thanks everyone! That night when I put Bree to bed, she hugged her stuffed bunny and whispered, "I got a party!"

Settling In

Today our Baby Ben is one week old. We have been home from the hospital for a few days now and are settling in to life as a family of four. It still seems unreal at times, to think we have "children" rather than just one. Ben is a good baby so far. He is a sleepy little guy and we have to wake him to feed him. Big sister Bree doesn't pay him a lot of attention because he is rather boring. She has been adjusting well! She did spend some time reading to him and finally took a try at holding him. It's hard to believe she will be three years old tomorrow!

Teaching baby Ben about snow.

Reading to Baby Ben.

Finally having enough courage to hold him for the first time!

Baby Benjamin

Baby Benjamin Joseph Bedell surprised us with an early arrival. Mommy's water broke at about 5:30 on Saturday, April 17th and he joined the world that night at 10:32pm! He weighed in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces and was 19.5 inches long. He is a healthy, happy little guy and we are so in love with him already! Big sister Bree is enjoying getting to know "baby brother."

National Poetry Month

Hate That Cat: A Novel by Sharon Creech


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A novel in verse, I read this entire book while sitting in the waiting room of the doctor's office this week. It is a follow up to the endearing Love That Dog, another novel in verse also written by Sharon Creech. This book makes me wish I taught in an intermediate grade. It continues the story of Jack, a student in Miss Stretchberry's class who is inspired by the poetry she shares with them and works to find his own voice through writing poems. In this novel, he describes his relationship with a neighborhood cat:

I hate that cat
like a dog hates a rat
I said I hate that cat
like a dog hates a rat

Hate to see it in the morning
hate to see that
F A T black cat.

Jack uses poetry to explore more complicated feelings about important things in his life as well, including feelings he has about his mother and the sadness he feels about losing his beloved dog.

These books are sweet, endearing and succinct and would be great to read now for National Poetry Month. The things I could do with these books in an intermediate classroom!

View all my reviews >>

Pregnancy Update - week 36

Finally - some pictures of this boy belly! Our friend Stacey met Bree and I in the studio this past weekend and took some shots. We are at week 36 and apparently this little man can make an appearance at any time! I had a doctor's visit yesterday. We learned that I am 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced, which means basically nothing I think. I am hoping he waits a couple of weeks as there is a lot going on for us right now. We are doing some remodeling to the house. I am hoping to work for at least 2 more weeks. Bree has a birthday party on the horizon, not to mention the nursery is not even close to being ready. And I guess I should start packing that hospital bag! Oh well... it will all work out. It's amazing how much more laid back I've been with this pregnancy versus the first. I think it's just a matter of being too busy to worry too much!

"I'll get my crayons."

While making Bree's favorite dinner tonight, spaghetti and meatballs, we told her we would be doing something very exciting afterwards - coloring eggs! I showed her the bowl of hard boiled eggs and she was visibly excited. She then got busy doing other things. Eventually she turned up back in the kitchen and got her crayons out, but forgot her coloring books. We reminded her to grab one and she began to get upset. It took both Dan and I a few minutes before the realization hit - she wanted to "color" the eggs! Poor baby, she had a very hard time understanding why mommy and daddy wouldn't let her color the eggs when we had told her we would be doing just that. Next year we'll remember to say we are going to dye the eggs!

Sharing these traditions with our daughter is such fun. Her excitement is contagious and leaves both Dan and I reminiscing about our own childhood experiences coloring eggs and the excitement we felt.

turtles and a buddy

Bree and I spent some time over the break with my cousin Josh's family. We arrived early this morning, in time for breakfast, and Bree was greeted with these adorable mini-waffle turtles! I thought they were too cute and just had to take a picture. They are complete with maple-flavored yogurt. Thanks Katt and Josh for a yummy breakfast!

Baby Riley spent a lot of time in my arms today. He seemed to cry whenever I put him down, so I got to hold and cuddle him lots. I was wondering how Bree would react to this, and it didn't phase her at all. In fact, she was actually helpful, bringing me a diaper and speaking softly to him when he cried! There is hope.

The best part, though, is the connection these two seem to have. Connor and Bree spent the day laughing together! It was an exciting day, a great way to end spring break.