ShowTime!

Sylvia has been singing to us since she was a few months old, laying on her changing table, and babbling along with her ABC cd's.   Stella has been dancing since before she could sit up by herself, bopping along to any music she heard, including commercials on TV and songs played by her toys.

They have now joined forces and are in early rehearsals for the "Sylvie and Stella Show" - here are some early previews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylpim0Vcb8A


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D1DR3S9XmI


Lots of love,
 Keri

c-section is scheduled

Quick baby update:  c-section is "officially" scheduled for 2-2-11 at 10:30 am (we have to be at the hospital by 8:30 am).  So, unless baby decides to come early, we will meet him on groundhog's day :)

Here are some links to the recent videos if you had trouble viewing them within the blogs:

exercise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSpDhKLIaYQ

Christmas morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlWvHghLzbk

Pillow pets:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbwGtKlpnUg

Opening Frosty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcjTECQnIy0

Sweet Stella:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcuhuyX6Nt4

Lots of love, 
Keri

Bring on 2011

New Year's was a bit of a sleepy blur to me, although the little one-year-old made it past 11:00, and I think the 3 year old was up until 2 am or something close.  Sometimes I think they take my energy. 

That was the first day we broke out our new Wii, and I have a few cute videos of Sylvia practicing her skills.

Sylvie Skills: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QISqUy_xYag

Sylvie and her crew:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FmvLaERlhs

I am so excited to see what 2011 brings for everyone around us.  Good things are coming - the first of which is baby J!!

Lots of love,


 Keri

 

a magical, Merry Christmas

I don't think I have ever been as excited for Christmas as I was this year.  Sylvia is the perfect age for all of the magic, and Stella got swept up in the fun too, even if she didn't totally get it and remained slightly fearful of Santa.  The first video shows John bringing the girls down Christmas morning:

This next video below shows when Sylvie saw the only thing she REALLY wanted this year, a ladybug pillow pet.  Sylvia talked about that pillow pet every day for months, and now both girls sleep on the pillow pets every night.  So sweet:


I got many wonderful, thoughtful gifts this year, but my favorites are the ones we give away.  At the top of that list this year were the Hallmark recording books that Sylvie made for John, and her grandparents.  I think everyone should do this with their kids, although 3 may be a bit young.  Sylvia has an amazing memory, an incredible amount of patience, and did an awesome, awesome job on those books.  Here is John opening his:

Finally, here is a little clip of my Stella being Stella.  I hope everyone had a Christmas filled with sweet little moments like these:

Lots of love, 

Keri

Full term, baby!!

 I have soooo many videos and pictures of the girls to post - hopefully I'll be able to sneak in a few updates before little man arrives.  We had a wonderful Christmas, and have been spending as much quality time with the girls as possible.  John helped Sylvie build her bird house, he made brownies with both girls last weekend, and this past week, they had some fun times in the snow.  Lots and lots of photos to come! 

I have 2 different doctor's appointments on Monday, plus an extra visit to officially schedule the c-section (almost definitely on 2-2-11), plus a check-up for Stella, which includes the 2nd round of flu shots for both girls.  I cannot even tell you how much I am dreading that.  For the first flu shots, they almost had to come restrain Sylvia...it can only get better.

I had my last check-up for the baby last Monday, which went great.  He is in position, I am effaced and 1/2 cm dilated, he is measuring average, my blood pressure is low, and everything is really going well.  He moves all the time (I was just watching my belly dance a minute ago!), which is wonderful peace of mind. 

Stella has now moved in with her big sis, and they share the "girls' room."  I have most of baby brother's clothes washed and just need to get it all organized.  I cannot believe I am 37 weeks (that is considered full term!) and have at most, 2 1/2 weeks left.  Ahh!  I'm definitely in nesting mode.  Unfortunately, I'm also worn out and surrounded by Christmas decorations that need to be packed up, so it is slow going. 

I've officially given up gluten, and all traces of the skin irritations I was having are gone.  I'm not sure if gluten has ever impacted any of my other joint issues or Crohn's symptoms, but it is definitely worth a shot - although I will miss pizza and cookies :)

So anyway, here is a video of Sylvia leading an exercise class, that I just love.  Having a personal trainer should come in handy when I am looking to drop those baby pounds in a few weeks, and I'm up for any session that is this much fun:



Lots of love,
  Keri