IT'S A GIRL!

I had an ultrasound today and Baby GIRL Ausenhus is right on target for her due date and everything looks normal and healthy!

As you can see, I might have had a little bit of fun with the sudden news I was going to have a daughter. I also can't beat a great bargain and Babies R Us had some great sales on their bedding and accessories today! Not only does she already have two adorable outfits (one of which Brant surprised me with this afternoon) but her nursery scheme has already been selected and I'm now contemplating paint colors. Should I have let the news settle for a day? Nah!!

Ahh... Summer!

I'm reminded today of the things I love about summer, particularly since the last of my meeting/training days ended today.

I love early summer mornings. Even though I will probably always struggle to get out of bed before 6:00, I savor the cool, damp, peaceful mornings of summer. There is nothing more refreshing! It would be even more refreshing if I was on a brisk run, but unfortunately, lately my growing belly seems to be responding better to a brisk, long walk.

I also love summer reading. I can honestly say that I haven't watched a single full length episode of anything on TV since school got out. I cannot get enough of reading the books I never, ever get to during the school year, due to lack to time and/or not being able to stay awake long enough! Thanks to recommendations from friends, I've compiled a list that should keep me occupied for quite awhile.

I love all things about being a mom in the summer. It is so fun spoiling Ben with popsicles and trips to DQ, and enjoying the wading pool almost as much as he does. I love taking him places, like the zoo or the library. I'm sure going to the same park that has his favorite digger and slides will get old, but I can't get enough of reveling in how much he can do on his own compared to everything I remember from last summer. And this summer, I'm especially loving his new found independence at being able to play by himself for longer periods of time. Sometimes I can get other things done, and other times, I just like to listen to him talk to himself!

On another note, on Tuesday we have the big appointment where we will find out whether the baby is a boy or a girl. I'm really excited to know this time around! Last night, I had two dreams and in one, I found out I was having a girl, and in the other, it was a boy. 5 days until we actually find out!

One of my summer goals is to get all my flip videos and pictures organized, but I suppose another should be to actually start taking pictures again. This photo of Ben digging in the dirt (a favorite lately) is truly the only picture I've taken for quite some time. It will have to suffice, but hopefully more will follow documenting some of our summer fun!

Swagger Wagon

Check out my new ride.

http://www.youtube.com/sienna#p/c/30DA2DAB5702C7D1/8/hiLNG153aRI

The college girl, Ford Focus just wasn't going to cut it with two kids, so we've taken the plunge into mini-van land. We ordered the van in late February and it finally arrived this week. It is all wheel drive, so hopefully I won't have to worry about getting stuck in our driveway next winter, with Ben chanting, "Go Mommy go!" in the back seat. Practicality and ease have officially become the most stylish words in our house and I'm totally over the stereotypical soccer mom image! With three days of being a mini-van mama under my belt, I have to say, it is a pretty nice ride.

Ben is ALL BOY!

When we say we have a two year old boy, we really have a two year old BOY. Not only has Ben become a huge Daddy's boy lately, but everything he wants to do involves balls, dirt, cars and trucks, or fishing. After helping me plant flowers a few weeks ago, Ben discovered his love for dirt. Since then, he seems perfectly content to use his plastic shovel and mini skid loader to dig and push around dirt for long periods of time. Luckily, we actually have a spare dirt pile outside, so it works out pretty well. For Ben's birthday in March, he received a John Deere lawn mower from my brother. He was a little hesitant about driving at first, but now loves it. I didn't think I'd seen anything so cute as Ben and Brant both driving their John Deere lawn mowers around the yard, until I saw them fishing together. Ben loves to go fishing and lucky for him, a little blue fish is already attached to his Diego fishing pole, so he thinks he catches a fish every time! He has also really gotten in to basketball and baseball lately. It has been neat to see his catching, throwing, and kicking skills develop. The most common thing Ben seems to say lately,whether it's morning, noon, or night is, "Want to go outside?" We are so blessed to have this happy, vibrant, healthy little boy!

BIG NEWS, big news, and just news

Let me begin by sharing some of our most recent conversations with Ben:

Mommy: "Ben, what's going to happen in October?"
Ben: "A new baby!"
Mommy: "Where is the baby now?"
Ben: "In Mommy's belly!"
Mommy: "Do you think it will be a baby brother or a baby sister?"
Ben: "A baby sister" (sometimes) or "A baby brother" (other times)
Mommy: "What kinds of things do you think you will teach the new baby?"
Ben: "Run, soccer, jump,throw balls, ... "

That's right! By now you've probably inferred the BIG NEWS part of the post title. It is baby time in the Ausenhus household again! The baby is due October 29th. We've heard the heartbeat both at the 8 and 12 week appointments. Everything has gone smoothly so far with the pregnancy. I've been feeling pretty good, but it is definitely different being pregnant while chasing around a two year old. I had a few pretty tired weeks in March, but other than that, I can't complain. Brant would tell you my sense of smell is insanely heightened, after a few funny incidences with "mystery" odors in our kitchen that involved him scouring and cleaning the refrigerator and freezer and buying several boxes of baking soda. Yes, we are planning to find out if it is a boy or a girl. That will happen in mid-June. We didn't find out with Ben, but I really think I'd like to know this time in order to decorate the room and either get Ben's old clothes ready, or purchase some girly clothes. All in all, we are thrilled at this BIG NEWS!

As for the lower case version of the big news (because really, what compares to baby news?) I recently interviewed for and accepted a new job. I will be taking on the role of instructional coach. My position is in the same building I teach in now, but I won't have a classroom of students. My role will revolve around delivering professional development and training to teachers, supporting the implementation of new curriculum, and being a support for teachers to try new teaching strategies and find ways to best meet kids' needs. I've felt the need for a change and new challenge, so I'm really excited about taking this on. However, of course it is a little bittersweet leaving my classroom and the comfort zone of teaching fourth grade, as well as the near perfect partnership with my teaching partner.

Finally, for the just news. I'm really only sharing this because I'm super excited about it, mainly because I love new, fresh things. As many of you know, we've been working to update our living room. Brant has been making new trim, which is turning out beautifully. He got the floor trim installed in our living room last week and we finally got our new carpet put in, and I LOVE it! Who knew you could get so excited over trim and carpet? Well, I do and can't wait to post some before and after pictures in the near future when the project is finally all complete. New blinds will be coming in a few weeks and Brant will then just need to finish the trim and crown molding (he'd roll his eyes at the "just" part of that statement), and then hopefully, the project will be complete.

Truly, there seems to never be a dull moment around here lately. I wouldn't have it any other way!