Home Sweet Home

I (Courtney) went to Germany for a few days to visit our good friends. Remember the other Lauren that is my Lauren's best buddy? They moved to Germany so I went on a little solo trip to visit them last week. I had plans of taking my Lauren with me but I can't even tell you how happy I am that she was left at home. My trip home was a whopping 27 hours - including a 2 hour flight from Germany to Paris, 11 hours Paris to Dallas, 2 hours Dallas to Atlanta, 1 hour drive to my parent's house, plus sit time because my Dallas to Atlanta flight was cancelled. I don't think I could have survived that with my 2 year old.
I couldn't charge my camera battery over in Europe so I will post pictures when I get them from Jill. It was such a fun trip. I'm so so glad I went and hope to visit them again in the spring.

Lauren's first day of "school" - August 16, 2011

Our sweet little Lauren started back at her preschool on August 16. She is still in the 2 year old room but in the "older 2's." I had a big talk with her on Monday night about being a big helper and that if other kids were crying, that she should help them and play with them. I guess she really listened because her teachers said she was wonderful. She was a big helper and even asked to use the potty. Yay Lauren! We've come a long long way from her days of screaming when I would drop her off. 

I have been saving her cute little outfit for her first day. It was the steal of the century last year. I got it for only $10, free shipping! Her hair was in a cute pony with a hair bow that you can't see. If I leave her hair down for school, it's a hot mess :)

We went on Monday to a cute cookie shop on Signal Mountain to pick up cookies for the staff. The cookies are so yummy!

The week before school started, we took Lauren downtown to the carousel and to our favorite little hot dog place, Good Dog. We live fairly close to downtown so we frequent the carousel quite often. We take her on multiple rides and never get tired of it. 

My sweet first born and baby #2 taking his/her first ride. 

A Hodge Podge of Events

20 Weeks, July 23, 2011 with Baby #2

How Far Along: 20 weeks (this is late, I'm 22 weeks now)

Size of baby:  6 1/2 inches long and 20 ounces in weight. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 8 pounds. It really all comes in the last half. I gained 6 pounds in 4 weeks. 

Maternity Clothes: Usually just capris and shorts. The outfit above isn't maternity. My skirts and shirts have been fine so far. I always wore longer shirts before being pregnant so that helps to expand the wardrobe. 

Gender: Surprise Surprise baby.

Movement: All the time. For the first time a couple of days ago, I saw my belly moving.

Sleep: My back is definitely starting to hurt at night and I can't quite get comfortable but I still sleep pretty well.

Symptoms: After I eat, my stomach feels "tight" if that makes sense. I had really bad restless leg syndrome with Lauren. I can feel it sometimes at night when I've had a busy day but I'm hoping it stays far away from me this time.

What I miss: sleeping on my stomach

Cravings: grilled okra and baked potatoes. 

Best Moment this week: Watching my belly move for the first time.

What I am looking forward to: My next doctor's appointment on Aug. 23, Lauren feeling the baby move. She often watches for "baby brother." It's a boy this week to her but last time it was a girl. We shall see.

Lauren is finishing up her last semester at Little Gym. She has had fun once again and it's a fun activity for us to do together. Her gymnastics skills have really advanced. This Wednesday will be her last class there. We have moved to her to a big gymnastics center that has a gymnastics team for older kids. She had her first class there last week and really enjoyed it. It's more structured and really focuses on gymnastics skills. I think my little girl loves "Nastics" so that might be her little niche.

Walking the beam. She can do this without holding my hand but sometimes she is a little unsure. If we tell her to do "airplane arms", she'll hold her arms out to balance herself.

Getting ready to swing from the bars. This is her favorite and she did this at least 50 times.

Grabbing on to the high bar to swing...

Sticking the landing

Practicing straddle rolls with her teacher

There she goes....