This Week:)

Dan is at a theological conference the past couple of days and will come home tomorrow!  I don't think it's anything too exciting, but he is staying with a few fellow pastors at someones cabin.  I'm glad for him that he can finally get some "guy" time.  I know he misses his guy friends in Bismarck like Karl and Mike, but I think I miss them even more!  I don't think Dan realizes how much "guy" time is probably good for him and me too:)  In other news he has now lost 22.5 lbs!  He's seriously a losing machine!  I'm not going to recognize him soon.

Svea is really entering a fiercely independent stage.  Her personality already is very strong willed and then to be at the point where she's trying to figure out where she fits in the world is frustrating at times....mostly for her.  Some days she'll eat her food and other days she simply refuses her favorites.  Some days she'll get up in her booster chair no problem and other days it's a fight.  Some minutes she understands the word no and others she can't comprehend why in the world we would say no.  It's an adventure for sure, but a rewarding one at the end of the day.  I keep telling Dan....it's only going to get more challenging:)  One of her favorite things right now is watching videos of herself on the ipad.  She'll ask us, "Watch Bye-Ya Please".

Kieran is very smiley these days, especially in the morning.  He'll smile at us, Svea, or at the toys hanging from his play-mat.  He still struggles to sleep in the early mornings from about 6-8, but I'm loving the snuggle time we get when he comes and lays with me.  He's also started batting at his toys that hang above him and making the "ahhh" sound.  I still have 3 more weeks at home...making everyday count!

I have ventured out to do some shopping.  Since I can now fit into a majority of my pants (albeit tight) and have lost 23 lbs I've been motivated to dress less frumpy...you know yoga pants and t-shirts everyday for the past 11 months...I'm kind of over it:) I love being pregnant, but there is something exciting about getting your body back to just yourself.  I kind of went crazy at Old Navy the other day...woops! I then had fun going through my closet and figuring out what I can wear now!  You know, fun stuff for a girl:)

Dan had a great idea the other day, wondering if there were any Pumpkin Patches in the neighborhood.  Turns out there is a good one in Litchfield (30 minutes away)that we might take the kids to if the weather is nice and everyone is healthyy. It's supposed to be in the 70's and we're looking forward to it!