April blizzards bring May changes

I keep meaning to post something, but I have been slacking recently in taking photos.  Partly this is because we recently purchased new phones (our old ones were only 1.5 years old but dying awful deaths and very out of date, apparently).  Our new iphone 5s have cameras on them and we have been playing with these cameras.  I have no idea how to use half the things on my phone yet, including uploading these pictures to this blog.

Rachel has a new haircut!

So April has been busy with the following things:
1) Pops.  Sadly, Rachel was not feeling well during this visit and fighting off her 700th cold on the winter.  I took 2 days off in hopes to play with them both, but all that really meant was no work for me and lots of extra snuggles with a grumpy toddler.  Rachel wouldn't let her Dad or her Pops do much of anything with her for 3 days.  Pops did go birding in town, did shop for some fun gear, did keep our house clean, and we did go watch the Canucks lose to the Avalanche in an exciting hockey game.  We also took him up to Breckenridge but variable clouds and high winds meant that Jason skied a half day while the rest of us went to the pool.
As soon as Pops left, Rachel missed him and was asking for him and wanting to play with him all the time.

Steph, Paige, Rachel, Meggan and big belly

Paige and Rachel in bath

Paige and Steph have dinner

Paige and Steph at the top of Mt. Sanitas

2) Steph and Paige.  My very lovely friend Steph (aka Barney) came to visit with her 6 month old Paige.  Paige is adorable and makes having another baby inspiring and exciting again.  Rachel got to practice being a big helper, and Steph made quite an impact on Rachel.  In fact, Rachel had a really difficult time leaving Steph and Paige to go to school.  Paige experienced her first time in the pool, first zoo trip, some new first solid foods, and her first swing ride.  We went on a nice hike, played at the farmer's market, walked around town, and spent lots of time playing in the house.

Steph and Paige - first time for Paige riding on the back

Paige has started solid food!  mmm kale

Rachel with her new best friend, Steph

3) Ridiculous weather.  Every single Mon/Tues in April we have had a snowstorm.  At first, this was entertaining.  Monday, however, the humor and excitement ended when we got blasted in the face with high winds cutting snow through us as we walked home from the pool.  Visitors have had to be prepared for weather from 25 degrees to 75 degrees on any given day.  It's making work challenging for both of us, transportation annoying for us all, the ski hills amazing now that they are closed, running and hiking challenging.  We're ready for spring, warm weather, and capri pants.  I can't fit into my winter pants anymore!

Making cookies while the weather is glum - with big belly

View from our house toward Boulder and mountains after recent snowstorm

4) Birthdays and celebrations - I turned 34 on the 19th and we celebrated our 6th anniversary on the 21st.  Also, on the 22nd it was Pops' 69th birthday.  Friday night of the 19th we ordered in yummy thai dinner and had friends over.  Strangely, the guests at my birthday party were the same guests at Rachel's birthday party!  We had a really nice time catching up with local friends we have missed lately.  Jason surprised me with a yummy ice cream cake (obviously the best kind of cake there is).

Finn, Delilah, Grace, Rachel have dinner

Janny and Finn eat thai food

Yummy ice cream cake for the birthday girl!

5) Sad news.  Still shaken by the events of the Boston Marathon.  But on a more personal level, a great family friend of ours, Sven, who my parents have known since college, recently lost his battle with cancer.  In fact, he passed away on my Dad's birthday - poor Pops!  Sven was an active, adventurous, enthusiastic man who was welcoming and kind to all those around him.  We are sad for this loss and our thoughts are with his family and my parents.  I tried to explain this to Rachel tonight and she, later, came up with "Let's call Pops and tell him we are sorry he is sad" ...and then (in reference to Jason's Dad) ... "like Grandpa Ray died.  We will have to find another Grandpa Ray" ... to which I didn't know if I should laugh or cry.

6) Baby!  I'm 30 weeks and much more excited now than I was 3 weeks ago.  My belly seems to be really growing now and I'm definitely slowing down.  I'm in a better head space about all of this and quite excited.  The baby is growing well, kicking lots, and in a good head-down and ready-to-stay-there-until-it's-time position.  I am healthy, although hypoglycemic, and have gained 23 pounds so far.  My pelvis is a bit less painful than it was 3 weeks ago but still bothers me most days.  Baby appointments are every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, where we will have another ultrasound, and then go to appointments week by week.

7) Ketchup and syrup.  Rachel is becoming a pickier... well, everything.  Eater, for sure.  She wants to put ketchup and/or syrup on everything and wants to make pancakes or waffles every day.  She has a handful of foods she eats all the time and the little eat-anything veggie-lover we used to have is changing.

8) Tantrums.  Rachel is wonderful but is really testing our rules and boundaries many times per day.  It has been challenging to stick to consistent rules and be firm.  It's much easier when we have the time to be patient.  But, unfortunately, we are often rushing her... and 2.5 year olds do not like to be rushed.

9) Potty training.  Rachel is doing awesome and has had very few accidents in the last 2-3 weeks.

10) Why?  Rachel's favorite question is emerging more and more.

11) Landscaping and house projects.  When we bought the house in August, we put off many things for 'later'.  Well, 'later' has arrived and now we are pinching pennies to try and make things work.  We thought we would do solar paneling, but have decided we can't afford it.  We have put in a high efficiency air conditioner, since we know July will be a scorching time to have a newborn.  We have also hired a landscaping company, and continue to discuss plans and talk budgets to figure out how to functionally cover our dirt pile of a back yard without having to water too much.  We will end up spending more money than we thought possible for a basic retaining wall, patio, fence, and ground cover.  Visions of fruit trees, raised garden beds, artificial grass play surfaces and fun plants have dissolved as we have learned how much these things cost.  Yikes!

12) Running.  Jason is running again.  He is putting in 15-20 mile runs on the weekends and getting ready for a 30 mile race in May.  It's exciting to have him feel like a real runner as he gets more fit again.  Soon he'll sign up for the Ultra Roc 100k which will take place Sept 28 in Summit County.  Very exciting!