Yesterday after church we headed over to the Flores house to celebrate Mother's Day. We had an awesome lunch outside...the weather was perfect. Mom opened some gifts (we all chipped in for a new camera) and I also opened some things for my birthday (an iPod! Yes, I know I'm years behind everyone else). Sierra and I worked on our tans while Joey, Stephen, Aaron, and Mom got in the pool...even though it was still pretty chilly. Joey begged to get Vivian up from her nap so she could come out and play with us...she wasn't too happy about that at first but after she got something to eat she was more content. However, she did let me know how much she loved me on Mother's Day by being very clingy...she whined whenever I was in sight but not holding her. I'm hoping that was just a special sign of love for that day and that it's not an ongoing "phase" she's starting. None of us thought Joey could dive through this tube, but he did!Vivian came out from her nap sporting this tattoo shirt in honor of me. I think it's awesome :) Joey and Sierra got this for her.Aaron and Dad fed her to liven her up a little. She got in the pool for a few minutes with me but didn't like it too much...too cold for her.Stephen came down from DC. We missed Michael, though.

To finish off an awesome day, Aaron took us to the Salem Ice Cream Parlor for dessert! Yum! Vivian went straight to bed when we got home, and Aaron showed me how to download sermons and songs onto my iPod.

Also to note about yesterday, the roses in the post below were from Aaron :)

Sorry for the lack of posting this week. Vivian has had a fever since Wednesday morning and it's still not gone (writing this on Saturday morning)! She hasn't been too cranky, but we've been taking it easy. On Thursday her fever broke for several hours and Gramme took us to the Olive Garden. What a treat! All-you-can-eat soup, salad, and breadsticks is perfect for a mom-to-be in the third trimester :) And this child loves her Gramme.

I ended up taking Vivian to the doctor yesterday. She has a viral infection...we just have to wait it out. Tylenol and lots of napping are helping. We'll try to get some pictures up soon!

Yesterday Aaron kept Vivian for half a day for me. He took her to the mall and bought her a new dress! It was really the first time he's ever personally purchased something for her (besides going to walgreens for suppositories haha). So sweet. And I think he has good taste in little girl clothes :)

Yesterday we took a trip to Sherwin Williams for Vivian to pick out the color for her new room. She chose PINK! Ahhhhh! I started painting this week and should be finished this afternoon. It's fun to do a new room, but I'm hoping this is the last one we have to redo in this house!

This afternoon we went with Jody and Ansley to the mall to walk around and eat lunch. The girls didn't interact that much because they were in strollers, but Jody and I had fun hanging out! Vivian got some shorts for the warmer weather.

On Saturday we headed from Raleigh to Four Oaks for the family reunion we've been looking forward to for months. Danny and Nan hosted us and it was awesome to hang out with family that we haven't seen in a while. It was a pretty relaxing afternoon and the food was unreal...there was so much of it! Vivian was a trooper, meeting lots of new people and being passed around a lot. She saw (Great) Granddaddy and Grandma Carolyn for the first time since December. I think in this picture she was concentrating hard on what Granddaddy was saying. This was the perfect spot for her to hang out. We can't wait until we have our very own in our backyard (ahem). :)

Ha! I have no idea what was so repulsive to Stephen...it's just water in that cup!

Aaron took her on the big kids toy and we quickly realized it wasn't for us. We transferred her to the little kids play area (below).

Emily came to play with her for a few minutes. Vivian caught sight of Emily's snack very quickly and...

made a move to help herself to it.

Joey and Sierra drove down and back in the same day!

Left to right: Frank, Aunt Elsie, Judy, MarieMarie and Grandma

Dad and Roy Lee

Thanks to Nan and Danny! We had a great time. Looking forward to next year already :)

Yesterday morning Vivian and I bought a blow-up pool for her and after her second nap she played in the water! I think she enjoyed it but the water might have been a little cold for her. She wasn't too crazy about the sprinkler on the front of the pool. I didn't get many good pictures, but the video is cute.I hope she enjoys it for the whole summer because it was really a challenge to blow the thing up! Yes, that's a Netty Pot that she's playing with :) haha

We are so thankful for the warmer weather this week and we know summertime will be so fun!

We've had a busy busy weekend. We took a trip to NC and got back late last night. I will post pictures of the party soon!I was a little late to church this morning because I just couldn't bear to wake this sleeping baby from her nap. I went in to get her and she was sleeping with her butt straight up in the air...how can this be comfortable?!
P.S. She was so tired, she didn't even wake up when the flash went off :)

Also while we were there visiting, Aaron took a belly shot for me. Here is the baby belly at 24.5 weeks. I am much bigger this time than I was with Vivian and my weight gain has been significantly higher :(. Since the doctor's appt. on Monday when I found out how much I've gained, I have not been eating so many desserts/sweets.
The other thing that is different about this pregnancy is that this time I have pregnancy rhinitis. The hormones are causing the membranes in my nose to swell, making it difficult to breathe through my nose. It is especially hard at night. Afrin provides some relief, but I still feel fatigued during the day because of restless sleep at night. Not only will I be ready to meet Baby in August, but I will be excited about being able to breathe again!
Thanks to Kristin for letting me borrow her maternity clothes!

Today we went to Aaron's work to eat lunch at the picnic table (too many bugs, though!) and while we were there Vivian got to do wild and crazy things with her Uncle Joey. He let her ride on his motorcycle. Notice how much she loves him...she didn't care anything about the shiny red bike, just wanted to give him hugs and play with the pens in his pocket.

He even let her drive his battery truck!

Vivian likes to play around the dishwasher while I'm unloading it from the day before and cleaning up from breakfast. This morning she got a little too brave :)

On Saturday Vivian turned 10 months old! Aaron talks about how big she's getting almost every night when he comes home. We are having a lot of fun with her at this age...she is absolutely delightful. Couldn't get her to smile during our photo shoot, and I couldn't figure out how to use the flash to get the best pictures... :(

At 10 months, Vivian:

-eats breakfast at 8, lunch at 12, and dinner at 5:30. She drinks a bottle at 7 am and 7 pm, and one either at 11 or 4, but not both times.

-has the same sleep schedule basically (although her waketimes are longer which sometimes means her afternoon nap starts later, around 2 pm.

-has longer hair, it continues to grow!

-points at things now

-crawls around well and pulls up on anything in sight

-cruises around furniture, up and down the couch for example. She can also transfer from one object to another that's close by

-is learning and practicing how to let go and sit down from a standing position

-loves to play on the dishwasher while I'm cleaning the kitchen :)

-loves babies! Live ones and ones in pictures.

-"kisses" when I ask her to...she will put her mouth on my belly when I raise up my shirt and ask her to give the baby a kiss :)

-is looking forward to consistent warm weather because she loves to be outside

-crosses her legs like a little lady when in her car seat, high chair, in my lap drinking a bottle, etc. It is so cute...I'll try to get some pictures soon.

-mostly makes the "dadada" sounds, but I've also heard the "m", "g", and "b" sounds occasionally
-has a favorite food: string cheese sticks

-is anxiously awaiting her coming role of Big Sister!