Sunny Days and Sunny Flowers

We had an exciting weekend in the Jones house! My high school friend Nicole came in from Erie for a visit. It was her first time meeting Carina and I think they liked each other very much :)

Saturday we all went to Intercourse, PA to buy some jams from Kitchen Kettle Village. Peter and I went there on our honeymoon and I've been hankering for some Four Berry Jam ever since. In addition we also brought home seedless red raspberry jam, apple butter, pumpkin butter and whoopie pies. After our rainy visit to the village we met up with Mom and Stevie at Olive garden for lunch - yum! Carina ate and promptly fell asleep. She had a few meltdowns in the car (a rarity for her) but we chalked it up to an inherited dislike for traffic.

Sunday Peter taught Sunday school while Nicole, Carina and I hung out at home. Nicole left and my Dad stopped in for a visit on his way to my Gram's. He and Peter played with the baby and watched the Eagles game while I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies (tis the season!). A very nice weekend all around.

Carina is growing, growing, growing. We are planning to do a little shopping at our favorite consignment shop today while they have a sale and I have the day off. We need some bigger winter clothes. Stuff you don't think about when you have a small, summer baby. It's amazing how much she changes day by day. Currently she's still sleeping 9 hours each night. She's awake and more playful during the day. She acts surprised, smiles and laughs when we play peek-a-boo. She smiles all the time, we love it! Sometimes when she stretches she can almost roll onto her stomach but she's still working on it. She sits up really well when we're helping her - her neck is really strong now. She drools and blows bubbles and sucks on her fingers a ton.

On an unrelated note we have sunflowers in our back yard - and we didn't plant them. I pitched my old potting soil from last season out there and out of nowhere this plant sprung up. We thought it was a weed but let it go anyway (because we are super lazy) and then it started to flower. What a nice surprise! It's almost as tall as I am!

Party, Party, Party

We've come to the end of yet another weekend but Peter is off tomorrow so it feels as though we can enjoy the weekend for one more day. Yay!

Saturday friends of ours came to visit from New York. We went to TGI Fridays for lunch. The food was awesome, the company was even better (we love you Ted and Becca!) and Carina was pretty well-behaved. We came home and hung out a bit more. Once our company headed to their hosts' home for the evening we took a walk around the mall. I didn't intend to buy anything but I ended up with a few things for work. I tried to use a coupon at Gymboree on something for Carina but even with the 20% off I couldn't justify spending more on baby clothes than I do on my own. Ridiculous. Carina gets mostly 2nd hand anyway - it just makes more sense for baby clothes she stains up and grows out of so quickly. Plus my fave consignment shop has the cutest and best clothes ever!

Enough about shopping. Today we went to Sunday school and then came home and had lunch with Ted and Becca before they headed home. After lunch we headed my parents' way for a graduation party for my cousin Shawn. We got to hang out with family, pass the baby around and eat some good food. Plus we took some 5 generation photos that I'm pretty proud of. Carina is so fortunate to have so many grandparents, great-grandparents and even a great-great-grandma. Not many people can say that.

So now we're home and Carina is hanging out with Daddy. Asleep? Yes - Daddy says for the moment she's asleep on the couch. It was so sticky out today she'll be getting a bath tonight. Can't wait to enjoy another day at home as a family tomorrow!

Another One Bites the Dust

Another weekend gone. Another week closer to returning to work. Boo.

We had a busy but fun weekend. Saturday we spent the morning at my parents' house. Carina got to meet David, the 4 month old who lives next door. It's neat to see what we have to look forward to - bigger smiles and neck control.

Saturday afternoon we went to a party for my cousin's graduation from nursing school. Got to show Carina off to some more family who had yet to meet her. She slept pretty much all day. My family doesn't believe that she's ever awake! She was such a good little traveler and party-goer.

Sunday we made it through Sunday school and Carina was fairly content. We came home and did some house work before heading to Cracker Barrel in York to lunch with my college roomies. It was so nice to see everybody but especially nice to finally meet Celia - my roomate's daughter who is only 4 days older than Carina! Celia is only a pound or two bigger but she looks so much older than Carina and really has amazing neck control (can you see I'm obsessed with baby necks these days?).

My mom and two youngest nieces came to spend the night Sunday. It was nice to have them around Monday. Our phone and internet went out Sunday and we couldn't get them back without getting a new cable modem Monday. Then of course I couldn't get it all to work right so we had no phone or internet for 2 days and I was especially grateful to have the company. Gave me a chance to get out to pick up the cable modem, run to Target and get to the grocery store. Plus mom got plenty of time with Carina. She was so awake and sociable all day (I mean Carina but Mom was too, haha).

We're back to sleeping pretty well. She slept from 10 till 7 for a few days over the weekend but this morning she woke at 4:30. At least she goes back to sleep after a change and a snack.

A Baby Shower!

Another busy week. I had a Dr. appointment Tuesday. All is well. Sadly Peter couldn't be there because of work but he'll be at the next one.

We had our first Baby Boot Camp class Wednesday. It was really interesting. We learned lots of little tips and tools. We even practiced swaddling. We're looking forward to this week's class. Then we're finally done with all of our classes (all 9 weeks of them!)

Friday Peter and I had dentist appointments and we both received clean bills of health. I got to skip x-rays too! Another benefit of being pregnant.

My friend Nicole came from Erie to visit for the weekend. Saturday we went to visit another high school friend, Rachel, near Philly. A long trip but we had beautiful weather and it was totally worth it. I don't think I had seen Rachel since my wedding! We, plus Rachel's 3 month old Ian, went out to lunch. Rachel sent me home with some gender neutral clothing. It was a really nice day and we topped it off with gelati and custard from Rita's.

After Sunday school Peter, Nicole and I made our way to my parents' for the baby shower! It was an awesome, chaotic day. It was so great to be surrounded by family and family friends (probably 40+!). We received so many nice things and I think everybody that came gave us at least one piece of clothing. This girl will certainly be well-dressed! I joked she has a bigger wardrobe than I do and Peter said "Yeah, but yours will last longer." True. I just ran up to the nursery (currently a disaster zone, haha) and counted 48 articles of clothing from yesterday's shower. Wow.

We got quite a few of our big must-haves too like a pack-n-play, swing, high chair and crib mattress. Unfortunately, it wouldn't all fit to bring it home but we got most of it. I'm planning to sort through and organize it tonight while Peter is at the cat shelter. I can't wait!

Peter and I feel so incredibly blessed and are constantly amazed at God's goodness and provision. Now all we need is the baby!

What we've been up to...

We need to stop waiting for something big and interesting to happen before we write another blog entry. Life has settled into a nice predictability and we're not complaining.

What happened last week? Peter managed the cat shelter by himself Monday because Amy wasn't feeling well.

Tuesday Amy had devotions at work and was scheduled to bring in snack for break too. After all the baking for the housewarming - she phoned in snack with some help from Weis *hangs head in shame*. Peter went out with the boys for the evening to play manly games at Messiah.

Wednesday we were going to take Panera to Messiah for a picnic but it rained so we picniced on the living room floor, then went shopping for new swim trunks for Peter. Nobody has swimwear any more! Stores are preparing for back to school already. We found a sweet suit (that was not an XXL) for only $9 at Aero. Amy was thrilled.

Thursday we bought a flower box, soil and miracle grow to plant some flowers we received at the housewarming. They look awesome on the front porch. We bought some beach supplies at Target too (and a new clutch purse for Amy - it was necessary).

Saturday we hung out with our small group (after sleeping till noon!). The boys hit the driving range and the ladies picked up "21" and "No Reservations". We ate pizza and watched "21". Peter and I watched NR later. Both ok movies - not particularly excellent but worth seeing.

Sunday we taught Sunday school, went to church, then headed to Chris and Michelle's to help paint the nursery. It took a little longer than expected but it turned out really nice. I believe the color is called "Nectarine Fizz".

This week Amy had a workshop at Roxbury camp Monday and Tuesday. She felt fine each day but was sick each night so yesterday we went to the Dr. It seems to be a bug and not food poisoning and last night was pleasantly uneventful so we're assuming she's on the mend. We don't need to bring a bug on vacation! Peter got a haircut and Amy got a pedicure last night. We're almost ready for vacation. More packing tonight and we're ready to go!