A Cinco de Mayo Fiesta

We celebrated Ashlyn's 2nd birthday today with a fiesta!  And what a party it was!  When I started planning the party about a month ago I had no idea what our situation would be!  Would we have a new baby, would I be on bed rest or in the hospital?  I decided to just plan the party and hope for the best!  And I don't think it could have been any better!  I pretty much organized the entire event from the comfort of our couch.  Thank goodness for a fast Internet connection, a credit card and a reliable FedEx deliverer!  And wonderful family and friends!  We had the celebration at the clubhouse of our apartment complex.  It has a beautiful patio area and pool and was perfect for gang (minus the fact that a water line burst overnight and there was no running water or bathrooms available for use...oh well, that's what the pool is for, right:).  It was a wonderful afternoon celebrating our sweet girl.  Thanks to everyone who made it so special!  Now, for an overload of pictures!

Getting ready for the fiesta

Swimming!

Pinata fun

 

 

Singing Happy Birthday and Cake

 

Opening (and playing with) gifts

  

 

Happy 2nd Birthday Peanut!

Watching her dogs

Ashlyn loves to be outside and loves to go outside when Chance takes the dogs out!  The mornings are usually a bit hectic trying to get everyone ready and out the door so she usually doesn't go out in the mornings.  Instead, she runs from window to window watching them!

1st stop

"Where'd they go?"

Watching from another window

Watching the window and the door for their return!

Hooray

It's a close race between "Happy and you know it" and "Wheels on the bus" for Ashlyn's favorite song right now.  Here's a short clip!

Classroom 12

I realized as I was catching up on the blog today that I haven't even posted about Ashlyn transitioning to the toddler room!  She moved from the pre-toddler room to the toddler room about a month ago.  It seems like she is enjoying it.  They have a lot more structured learning and activities.  And they go outside twice a day!  I didn't get to do the traditional orientation so I spoke with her primary teacher over the phone.  From what I can gather it seems like the schedule is something like this:  snack around 9 then they rotate through various learning centers and stations.  They do circle time where they read books, sing songs, dance and do exercise (too funny!)  The head outside for some playtime before they eat lunch at 11.  Nap time starts around 11:45 and ends at 2:30!  It seems like she is consistently taking a longer nap in this classroom.  They have another snack after nap time and then the routine is similar to the morning, stations, circle time and outside time!  The toddler to teacher ratio is 12:2 and several of Ashlyn's "friends" are in her class.  She has been in the same class with Ian and Noah since the infant room!  It's nice to have some familiar faces.  Her teachers are Ms. Melanie, Ms. Megan and Ms. Thelma comes in when Ms. Melanie leaves in the afternoon.  Ms. Melanie has been there for over 10 years!  I think it was a pretty smooth transition for her and I am glad she is with older kids.  I think she will learn a lot!

35 weeks and a plan

I had a great check up yesterday and feel like we have a plan!  Dr. Waldrep is very pleased that we have made it to 35 weeks and all seems well.  I am dilated to 2 cm and 50% effaced.  I am measuring 39 cm, which is about 4 weeks ahead of schedule!  Paxton's heartbeat sounded great, even through a strong Braxton Hicks contraction.  The plan from here is to stay the course for another week (limited activity, Procardia 4x/day and one more Progesterone shot on Friday).  I go back to see her next Tuesday and will be 36 weeks.  At that point we will stop the oral meds and I can resume more activity!  We will let nature take its course.  37 weeks is considered full term and since he seems like a big baby and I had the steroid shots that help his lungs produce surfactant, she feels confident that he will be ready anytime after 36 weeks!  I managed to catch Chance and Ashlyn's cold over the weekend and have had a terrible cough!  I feel fine otherwise, but can't believe all of this coughing hasn't sent me into labor!  It has been rough...I am more than ready to be rid of it!  I also got approval to drive (I haven't driven in 2 months!) 2 miles down the road to get a much needed haircut!  I was scheduled to get one on Friday before Mimi's incident, but that obviously didn't happen.  I am getting very excited to meet our little guy.  It is kind of weird because I feel like it could be any time now?!?!  We will probably have a new member of our family before the milk in our fridge expires!

35 weeks