Connecticut Bridal Shower and.... Snow???

Brock and I took the nonstop to JFK from Seattle and oh my goodness what a difference flying is now! He can entertain himself with the tablet - watch a show or play a game, read books or color pictures! I was actually able to flip through an entire magazine while he watched part of his show! How nice!

My lovely cousin Katherin picked us up and brought us back to her home in White Plains so we could visit with her family a bit before making the big trip to Fairfield the following day. So nice to visit with her girls and watch Brock play with his big cousins!

Back in Fairfield we made plans to visit Stew Leonard's Friday morning because another storm was expected to arrive around noon with another 3 to 5 inches of snow! Going to Stew Leonard's was a favorite activity for me growing up (Brent - perhaps this was the start of my love for grocery stores??).

This place is an experience. Shoppers must follow a particular path (similar to Ikea where you have to visit all parts of the store), but it is fun - random kiosks to taste food, singing animatronic fruits and veggies or milk cartons, and a person dressed up as a cow walking around to say hello to the kiddies. You can also stop at certain places and see how things are made - the bakery, filling of milk cartons, handmade mozzarella, etc. In the summer, children can visit the petting zoo right outside the grocery store.

After lunch at Duchess and a nice nap (for Brock), we got ready to head outside to play in the fresh snow!!

Brock was a little skeptical at first, but quickly loved it!! Yes, those are plastic bags on his feet - we did not pack for this kind of weather!!

Brock had fun watching Mia play in the snow, then throwing a baseball or just watching it roll.

He had so much fun, even on Sunday after most of it melted, we went back out and played in it again! He loved stomping his feet to get the snow off after stepping in the white stuff!

Finally, it was the day we had all waited for!! The day of Nancy's first Bridal Shower!

It was so nice to get together with so many family members - and some of Nancy's family too that live in nearby CT towns!

And so much food!! We like to eat - we especially love cake. :)

So nice for us all to get together - wonderful to have Katherin so close again - we had to take a picture with the three girl cousins! And the Michon ladies!!

Finally a picture with Brock and a little cousin - Charlie Hanna (19 months).

Last note, I want to say a special thank you to a few people. First, my fabulous aunt and godmother, Aunt Marsha, who opened her home to us all not only on the day of the shower, but for the entire weekend and worked so hard making sure everything was organized and ready for the big day - even waking up extra early to get the turkey in the oven and on time! Aunt Marsha, we know you're not feeling your best, but you outdid yourself once again. Aunt Beverly made some wonderfully delicious dishes as well and helped make sure everyone felt welcome in the home. Uncle Mike and Christine worked behind the scenes picking up all the ingredients needed for such an event!! We truly appreciate all the hard work everyone did to make my future sister-in-law's bridal shower a success. Thank you!

Museum of Flight Free Night!

The first Thursday of every month the Museum of Flight has a free evening from 5pm - 9pm. (Otherwise the admission is $20 per adult!!) I figured since the lady I babysit for just recently had her third baby and doesn't need me to babysit this week, what better time to check out this very popular and highly recommended museum! We met Brent for an early dinner after work and then headed down to the museum.

The museum was amazing. So many airplanes! I realized very quickly that bringing a toddler to a museum is not the same experience I'm familiar with - no time to read the information about each display!

McDonnell F-4C Phantom II

I think Brent enjoyed the museum. The first section we entered had the history of aviation - all different planes ranging from the early Wright Brothers, mail carrier planes, bomber planes from the World Wars, up to modern day passenger planes. The museum also housed the fastest airplane in the world, technically the prototype for the fastest (fastest = SR-71); as only two were built and this is the sole surviving plane, the M-21 Blackbird.

Brock loved it too - he got to sit in a few airplane cockpits and run all around pointing at the big airplanes. He named all the colors and pointed out the two helicopters.

After exploring the Great Gallery, we crossed to the other side to explore the WWI and WWII planes. This was a pretty cool section because of all the history behind each of these planes. Brent spotted a P-38L Lightning that impressed him - he said he's never seen one before.

Brock liked this area because they had an entire wall section devoted to small airplane models.

Unfortunately we only made it to 7:30 until Brock decided he had enough - yet another day where "no nap Brock". (Due to transition of big boy bed) So..... we ended our visit a little short. That's okay, perhaps we'll be back next month - starting in April through October the free museum night will also include the Airpark - the outdoor section of the museum that showcases a Concorde, "Air Force One" from 1959, and a brand new Boeing 787!!

21 Week Ultrasound

The family went to see baby #2 yesterday! I think Brock was just as excited to see the baby on the tv as we were! :)

Everything looks great! Baby is tracking about 5 days ahead, but they didn't seem overly concerned about me having another big baby. Baby was very rambunctious! He wouldn't stay still at all and really made the ultrasound tech work hard to get all the measurements. Oh boy - another very active boy!!

At the end of the scan, baby had his leg right up over his head! You can see it in the 4D image as well.

Brock did a super job for his age. He watched the tech put the jelly on my belly and then was mesmerized as he saw the baby's "head and hair" up on the tv! Brock asked repeatedly "Toes? Toes? Toes?" I find it amazing that he really has been listening to me and knew that we were going to see the baby and see the baby's fingers and toes! (which is what I've been telling him all last week!) He watched for a good 15 minutes before he was done and wanted to read some of his books.

Here's a few more pictures from before the appointment started. He's pointing to the tv and then back to the baby.  I think it's going to take some getting used to (for all of us), but I think Brock will be a very good big brother. :)

Sometimes Brock gets confused and thinks he has a baby in his belly too!

Kelsey Creek Farm

A little hike from the parking lot to see the horses

On President's Day, Brock and I headed out to Kelsey Creek Farm in Bellevue. Another beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest - high of 62 degrees today while all my family on the east coast is freezing and getting buried in snow or freezing rain. We'll take it!

Horses!!

Kelsey Creek Farm is owned by the City of Bellevue and open every day free for children to walk around and explore - also on the property is a beautiful park and playground. The farm dates back to the 1930's.

How now brown cow?

Brock loved all the animals and the farm was the perfect size for him to walk around and see everything. He especially loved seeing where all the animals slept at night (aka the various barns).

Brock LOVED the chickens and roosters. Too bad we're having breaded chicken tonight.... hope it's not ruined for him. ;) Another mom was asking her child "what does the rooster say?" and Brock twirled around and said "Cock-a-doo!" He was so proud he knew the answer!

He liked looking at the rabbits too.

There was a really cool log cabin on the property too - built in 1888.

We reached the end of the farm's property when we came to the sheep. I tried to get a good shot of all the cool buildings.

Then we headed down the hill, across the bridge, to the playground. Crazy, but we saw quite a few kids in shorts and t-shirts!!

We had a really good morning and it is always nice to explore some place a little different. I love that the farm is really close (less than 15 minutes from our home), so we may be back!

Sorry Brock, no elephants though. (When we pulled up in the parking lot and I named a few animals we were going to see, he said "elephants too!")

Mid-February Sickies

Brock and I have been trading illnesses for the past several months, but now that I'm pregnant, my immune system doesn't seem to want to keep up... so I keep it far longer than this cutie. Thanks Brock and all your little germs!

Brock at the doctor's office with me - with his grape flavored "popsicle stick"

But at least we've been making the best of it. ;) The weather has been amazing for us. Little rain and relatively warm for this time of year - low 60's, high 50's - while the rest of the country is freezing and snowing!

Does he keep his eyes on the ball or what?

Is it possible we are getting too much sun? The locals here are getting worried for summer since there's no snow on the mountains to sustain our rivers and lakes through the summer when it melts. Different than I'm used to, but an interesting concern. Perhaps another really hot summer? Brock... you better get used to that sun!

No sun! No sun!

But we have had fun inside too of course - trying to rest off my sinus infection...

Brock enjoyed a lot of his new toys and some old favorites too!

Can't forget the book of the week.

This upcoming week will be so much fun. Firstly, I'm finally feeling better - yay!! Secondly, on Wednesday we go to our 21 week ultrasound with Brock. Brent and I are both really excited for Brock to see the baby. It will be great to see how much he's grown!