Yes, I am still here!

That is the answer to the question I have been asked the most lately.  I still have four days until my due date, but I feel like everyone is expecting me to perform and all I can do is WAIT!  I am not quite ready to try castor oil yet.  Maybe Sunday I will be desperate enough.  I am due Sept. 28 and my parents have to leave Oct. 2, so there is pressure to get things moving.  I have been having random contractions here and there, but nothing like with the girls.  Brooke, I had hard contractions for three weeks before I had her.  With Whitney, I had them for about a week and then my water broke.  So, since I haven't been feeling much yet, I keep thinking it is going to be another couple of weeks.  I HOPE NOT!  We are getting excited to meet this little guy.

Brooke is loving school.  She says she misses her family and her Nemo (her blanket) when she is at school, but she loves it.  She gets tired since she goes from 8:25 - 3:17 with no nap.  Her teacher says she is above where she should be, but is doing well.  She has made quite a few friends and is learning how to interact on a regular basis with her peers.  She is also learning about body parts and names for those body parts that she would soon learn with having a baby brother in the house anyway.

Whitney is loving the attention from my parents.  She always has someone to play with even though Brooke is gone all day.  And she loves being the center of attention all the time.  It is good for her since she may soon feel like she is put on the back burner ( I hope not, but it happens to the middle child).  I also love having my parents here.  There is always someone to talk to and my mom makes me rest while she cleans the whole house.  Now, I just need to get this baby to come out.  

Trip to Nauvoo

We had been wanting to go to Nauvoo for a while since moving to Madison, so we decided to do it quickly before I get too close to my due date.  Everyone warned us about how unbearably hot it would be, but the weather was PERFECT!!!  It could not have been nicer.  The girls loved all of it.  Brooke's favorite part was the show called "Just Plain Anna Amanda".  They called Whitney up and asked her to yell her name as loud as she could so everyone could hear and SHE DID!  I could not believe it.  I thought she would hide behind the girl's leg, but she did what they asked and at the end they were singing and pointing to the audience and she did that too.  I was so impressed.  Whitney's favorite parts were going on the wagon rides with the horses and oxen.  She even gave his snotty face a hug.  She loves animals.

We also got to go to Carthage jail and see where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were killed.  The girls didn't quite understand the significance of this as much as I hoped they would, but Brooke asked to have her picture taken in front of the statue.

One of the favorites was dressing up like pioneers and playing pioneer games like they did back then.

This trip must have made a huge impact on the girls.  We went almost 3 weeks ago and I don't think Whitney has missed one prayer without thanking Heavenly Father for the Temple and the hotel.  She even reminds us to say thank you for it.  She asks all the time when we are going to go back.

First Day of School! First Day of School!

Every time I say "first day of school", I think of Finding Nemo.  I never actually thought my little baby would be old enough to have her first day of school.  The other night I was looking in the mirror on my way to her school orientation and I thought, "Am I really old enough to have a daughter in school?"  Apparently I am.  Brooke has been beyond excited to start school for a couple of months now.  Every day for the past eighteen days she has announced how many days are left the second she got out of bed.  Surprisingly, I think she was a little nervous today.

Daddy was so sweet to make sure he was able to be there for this important event.  I think Whitney was a little sad though.  Brooke prayed this morning that Whitney would know she was coming back.  They REALLY care about each other.  Oh!  And we got a new car to be able to fit all of the kidlets nicely.  You can see our Odyssey behind them!!!

Each child has their own locker.  She feels so grown up.

Here we are saying good-bye.  Yes, I cried.  I was good until I saw other moms crying.  I told Adam I was okay and wouldn't cry again, but I lied.  I had every intention of being fine, but it was so lonely when I walked into the house.  I really thought the peace and quiet would be a welcome change (Brooke loves to talk and sing constantly throughout the day), but it IS NOT!
I miss her!  But, I also can't help but be excited for her.  This is going to be really good for her and her teacher seems like she will do great with her.  She gave the parents a gift with tissues and chocolate and a little poem about how she will take care of them as if they are her own.  I am so glad I get to pick her up early today!!!