Willis Tucker Park

Last Friday Payton, Gracie and I met up with our friends Jesse, Natalie and their daughter Jordan at The Willis Tucker Park in Snohomish. We had never been able to go every time we were invited, so it was nice that we got to go on Friday, especially since it was so beautiful out and super warm!

At the park there is a water pad. Payton absolutely LOVED it. I thought she would've been a bit apprehensive at first, but she ran right through it and loved getting sprayed.
I attempted to take a picture of the entire water pad, but I couldn't fit it all in.

There was water shooting up from the ground as well as dumping from up above. Payton and Jordan liked playing with the water cannon.

Payton made a few friends as well. She would run back and forth from the playground to the water pad. The playground was really nice as well. There are swings, a merry go round, teeter totters etc.

Payton and Jordan love the teeter totter.

Here they are all done playing. Payton's lips turned purple, but she didn't want to stop running through the water. Finally I had to get her and wrap her up. Gracie slept the majority of the time in her car seat, but woke up close to when we were ready to leave.

http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/Activities_Programs/Spray_Pad.htm

It's finally here!

On Tuesday our stroller finally arrived!! We're so excited and have already taken it out a few times! Hopefully I can get back into shape sooner than later now that it's here.

Payton was so excited to jump in and go for a walk.

Gracie's new friend Kiley

On Monday, June 23rd our friends Jason and Nika Osbjornsen had their little girl, Kiley Marie. Nika and I found out that we were pregnant days apart and Nika's due date was June 30th and mine was June 23rd.

Kiley was 6lbs 14 oz and 19 1/2" long (same stats as Gracie!)

born at 7:33pm.

It was so crazy how Kiley was born on Gracie's due date and the same weight and length.

Gracie and Kiley

(11 days) and (1 day)

Daddy's and their new girls

Ryan with Gracie and Jason with Kiley

Congratulations to the Osbjornsens! We're excited for our girls to grow up together!

Special day for Payton

On Friday Payton had a pretty special day! We got up in the morning and took her to Gymagine in Mukilteo (see next post) and then before nap time her friend Jordan came over to play!

Everyday this week someone from Stroller Strides has been bringing us dinner (so thoughtful!!!) and sometimes whomever comes, their child might come with them, which Payton has been enjoying being able to play with her friends! Natalie and Jordan brought us dinner on Monday so when Payton got to see Jordan on Friday too, she was especially excited!

Natalie, Gracie, Jordan, and Payton

Jordan, like Payton, is very good with babies. She also likes to give hugs and kisses and thankfully is super gentle. It's hard sometimes to know you're own strength when you're two!

When Natalie and Jordan were getting ready to leave, Payton said that she was ready to go "night night". Natalie and I kept chatting away and then noticed the two girls had gone upstairs. Here's what we discovered, Payton and Jordan going "night night' together. Silly girls!!

Again, thank you to all of our Stroller Stride friends for bringing us dinner every night! Ryan and I really appreciate it! However, you all are making it very difficult for me to take some baby weight off!! :) haha.. But thank you very much! Hugs!

Gymagine

Last Friday Ryan, Payton, Gracie and I went to Gymagine to visit Ryan's little sister Brittany. Payton has been such a big help and a very good little girl, Ryan and I wanted to do something that was just for her. Gymagine is the gym that Brittany teaches gymnastics to all ages. Payton and I had gone before in late January, so it was time to head back again.

When we first got to the gym, Payton was a little worried that Ryan and I were going to leave her. It took her a few minutes to realize that we were all staying to watch her have fun and exert some energy. She finally removed her sunglasses after about 5 minutes.
Here's Brittany and Payton. Payton's becoming a little monkey with how she loves to climb and swing on things.

She loved running up and down the trampoline. At the end of the trampoline was a pit of cut up foam. She was hesitant at first in the foam, but grew to love it.

She did really well on the balance beam too!

At the end Britt rounded up the kids and they played where the gymnasts would do their floor routine. It was a great way to wind the kids down and get them ready to go.

At the end, all the kids (there were four of them, including Payton) sat on the edge of the floor and received a stamp on their hands. They all loved it! Payton had two stamps on each hand and one on each foot too! By that time, she was okay with leaving.

Thank you Britt for inviting us out to visit! We all had a great time and I know Payton felt special!

If you're looking for a fun thing to do with your kids, gymagine offers the preschool class on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons through the summer. I believe it's $8 and then a little less for each additional child. www.gymagine.com

Time is flying.. or at least it feels that way so far

Today Gracie is 8 days old. It seems like time is flying and I need to soak up as much as I can of her being little. It feels like yesterday that Payton was this little, and now she's just shy of two and a half (more like she'll be 2 1/2 in August.. but that's so close!).

We've been trying to take pictures almost everyday like we did with Payton. Here's some from late last night..
I can't get enough of her feet! Poor girl has my feet.. long toes! Hopefully her feet aren't big like mine when she's all done growing.

Ryan took this yesterday while the four of us were at Gymagine. Family of four.. hard to believe!

This picture was too precious not to put up! Ryan has no idea how he's these girls' hero! And they have no idea how he would do anything for them.. Makes me cry just thinking about how lucky we are.

Everything is still going wonderful in the Zdenek house! Gracie still sleeps all the time and still hardly cries. She's starting to realize that if she whines a little, Ryan and I will be there. Smart girl! Payton has taken on the big sister roll perfectly! She's very protective and first thing in the morning she gives sissy kisses. Ryan and I are so proud of how well Payton's doing! We truly feel blessed with our family. :)

Gracie Alexa Zdenek

She's finally arrived, Gracie Alexa Zdenek!

Born Friday, June 13th, 2008

9:26 a.m.

6 pounds 14 ounces

19 1/2 inches long

Very beautiful little girl. Red hair, long fingers and toes, and very quiet cry (when she cries)

Here's me the night before I went into the hospital
Me and Ryan right before they had me walk to the O.R.

Gracie Alexa

Isn't she so beautiful!!

Gracie is so quiet and so far a very easy baby. She's a very efficient eater, sleeps a lot and rarely cries. When she does cry, it's very quiet. Ryan and I feel so blessed to have two beautiful little girls!

Daddy and Gracie

This was as good of an angle that I could get while still lying on the operating table

Ryan, Gracie and I

Me and my girls.. Gracie, Me and Payton

Payton kept giving Daddy's scrub hat to "Sissy"

Payton and Gracie

Gracie the day we were bringing her home

Big sister Payton and "Sissy" Gracie

Everyone is doing great and adjusting well! Ryan and I could not have wished for a better reception from Payton. Payton LOVES her little sister. Every morning she asks for Sissy and wants cuddle time about 4-5 times a day. She always walks over to Gracie and gives her soft kisses on the head and light hugs. She loves to hold Gracie, but once Payton says "all done", Ryan and I make sure to grab Gracie right away because Payton starts to move around.

Thank you to everyone who came to visit us in the hospital and since we've been home! Thank you also to ALL of our Stroller Stride friends for the wonderful yummy meals that you have all prepared for us! You are so thoughtful and Ryan and I can not thank you enough! Hugs to you!!!!

I'll try to post more later.. Until then, I'll be cuddling my little girls!

Last post for a bit..

This week has been a crazy one with doctor's appointments. I've had non-stress tests everyday so far.. After my ultrasound on Tuesday, my doctor told me I needed to come back in on Wednesday since I hadn't been feeling our babe move around as much. Then this morning I only felt her move twice in a period of four hours when I'm supposed to feel her at least ten times in two hours. So, I called the doctor and they told me to come in for ANOTHER NST. I did and I am now going to be having our little girl tomorrow morning! Dr. Skrypzak told me that it's time to get her out due to all the issues that we've been having and with her not being as active as she should be. Everything is fine with her, but it's just time to introduce her to the world..

So tomorrow Ryan and I will be going in first thing in the morning to welcome a new little Zdenek! I'm still in shock, but so very excited.

As soon as I can I'll try and post some pictures of her so all can see!

Tot Spot

This morning Payton and I met up with Natalie and her daughter Jordan, Amy and her son Cooper and daughter Kelsey, Jaime and her daughter Scarlett, and Maria and her daughter Ashley at the Tot Spot cafe in Woodinville. This was Payton and my first time going there, but for sure it will not be our last. We both had a lot of fun! I unfortunately didn't take very many pictures, but here's one of Payton playing with some of the toys.

At the Tot Spot they have a large enclosure filled with toys for the kids to play with as well as a couple of people who are in there to keep an eye on the kiddos while they play. Surrounding the enclosure are a bunch of bistro tables for the parents to sit and eat lunch or drink coffee or just sit and chat. Your kids can come over to you and can see you the entire time. I have to say that it is such a great idea and Payton and I both enjoyed ourselves.
Here's Payton and Jordan walking from the car to the Tot Spot. They held hands the entire way in. They even stumbled a bit off the curb, but never let go of eachother's hands. So cute!

Relief for Payton

Since I've been home Payton has been going stir crazy! Not only beating me up, but just acting out all together!! Monday, we got together with Natalie and her daughter Jordan, Janet and her daughter Kendal, and Kelsie and her son Austin. It was so nice for Payton to be able to see her friends! I know she misses them so much and was so excited to get together with them! They all play so well together and literally have grown up together! They were used to seeing each other every morning at Stroller Strides, but since I've been put on bed rest, we haven't been to class in over 3 weeks. Monday was a nice relief for Payton to be able to exert some energy and be with a couple of her friends!

Kendal, Jordan, and Payton. Look at those big smiles!! Unfortunately Austin had already left. :(
I threw this picture in because I thought it was so cute. It's Payton talking on the phone with Ryan. She was so excited to talk to Daddy! She kept giggling.

About as ready as it's going to be

Ryan and I finally completed our baby's room.. more like got it as ready as we can have it.

The only thing that we are still needing to get are some more pictures for the walls, but other than that, her room is done.
We were trying to do the room in pink and brown, but brown decor is a little harder to find than I thought. So we added in accents here and there..

Payton loves to help me in the room. She helped Daddy move her "old" dresser into her sister's room and helped me organize onsies, socks, and sleepers into the drawers. She's such a big help!

Update on baby girl

I don't have much to report on our baby girl, except that she's still in there! Growing, kicking me on occasion, and pretty much staying put in the same position that she's been in for the last couple of months. Our little girl seems to be comfortable, and that's what matters..

I've been going to the doctor A LOT lately and am really feeling like I that has become my new residence! My Non-stress tests have been going fairly well, except for a couple where I had to meet with a doctor afterwards to see if they were going to let me go home or admit me. Thankfully I've been able to go home. Everytime they check my fluid (that's around the baby) at my NST's or at an ultrasound, my fluid has been steadily decreasing. I think in the past month I've lost close to four and a half centimeters (it's normal for it to decrease, but I guess I'm in the low range). I never really quite understood what that meant or why it was happening, but Dr. Klein said that due to my blood pressure I'm at risk of having a weak placenta and currently the placenta is not doing it's job which is why my fluid is decreasing so fast and it's not as high as it should be at this point in my pregnancy.

Thankfully they're keeping a close eye on me and our baby and they've been letting me go home each time, but have me come back a couple of days later. We'll see what they say on Tuesday! I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow and that's considered full term! I just hope that our little one keeps hanging on and continues to grow until the 19th, but if she makes an early appearance we're ready for her!! :)

Thank you to everyone who has been so sweet with offering help with Payton, taking her while I'm at my appointments, calling to check on me, and just being so supportive and excited all at the same time! I feel very lucky to have you in our lives!! Hugs to you!!

Our silly Payton

Lately Payton has been really into babies, (I know, good thing right?). She takes her baby with her everywhere she goes, she sleeps with at least one of them, brings one into our room in the morning when she comes to wake me up, and she likes to share everything with her baby. It's so cute watching a little maternal Payton when she is playing with her baby. She likes to bounce her, rock her, share her food with her, kiss her (only when no one is watching) and loves to try to help baby walk. It's so cute when you ask Payton what her baby's name is and she says "sisssss sissss" like the sound a snake makes. Not sure why that's baby's name, but Payton loves it and that's what matters! :)

Payton also likes to lay in one of baby's play pins. Her other one is a bassinet that is up off the floor so she can't quite climb into it thankfully, especially since that one is wood and probably would brake.

Here is Payton laying in the baby's play pin and trying to get the mobile to turn and play music for her.
Payton really compacts well in there! Occasionally she gets stuck and needs some help getting out.

I threw this picture in just because I thought our little girl is just too cute! She's getting so big and loves to say "cheese" for the camera. She's our little ham!

Playdate with Jordan

Today my friend Natalie was so sweet and brought over her daughter Jordan, who is Payton's friend. It was so great to have some company and have the girls play. I know Payton was so excited to see Jordan and could hardly wait for her to arrive! When Payton got up, I told her that Jordan was coming over and she was kept saying "Jordie?" and looking for her. So when Natalie and Jordan pulled in the driveway, Payton started jumping up and down and kept giggling. It was so cute to see her get excited to see her friend! The two of them play so well together and it's nice that Natalie and I can sit and chat (considering Natalie needed to stay off her foot due to her injury and I needed to sit and relax to keep my blood pressure down) so the girls kept eachother busy and wore eachother out!

Jordan and Payton eatting lunch and saying "cheese". Goofy girls!

The four of us had a great time hanging out and it was great to spend time with Natalie. I'm used to seeing her most everyday, whether it be at Stroller Strides or at work, but since I've been pretty much confined to our lovely house, I unfortunately don't get to see her as often as I would like, which causes Payton to not get to see her friends as well! Thank you Natalie and Jordan for coming over and hanging out with us! We had a lot of fun!!

Our anniversary

Yesterday was Ryan's and my 5th anniversary, and it felt like another day, but it was so wonderful all at the same time! Payton came in to our room and woke us up around 6:30 and she was so very excited to see that Daddy was in "her spot" in bed. She gave him lots of hugs and snuggles and then hugged and snuggled next to me with my pillow. The three of us cuddled for a bit and then came downstairs to eat breakfast together. Lately on Saturdays or Sundays, Ryan has liked going to the Swap Meet at the Puget Park Drive in. What's nice is he takes Payton with him so they can walk around together and I get an hour or two to myself. Yesterday was the same kind of thing, but Ryan insisted I go get a pedicure while the two of them went for their weekly swap meet visit! How nice!

After I was done with my pedi, I picked Ryan and Payton up from the Swap Meet and then we all ran a few errands and then headed home. The three of us took a nap for a couple of hours (Payton in her bed of course and us in ours). When we got up we relaxed together until just before 8, Ryan's mom and her boyfriend Chuck came over to hang out with Payton while Ryan and I went to dinner and a movie.

Ryan and I went to Alligator Soul, a Cajun restaurant a few miles from our house and enjoyed the live music and the yummy food. Our intent was to go see a movie afterwards since who knows when the next movie we will get to see and we don't go see movies very often. But when dinner was over (around 9:45ish) we were both pretty tired. So we picked up dessert and headed home. It was so nice to have dinner just the two of us and be able to chat without interruptions. What a great anniversary!!

Thank you Joanne and Chuck for coming over and staying with Payton while we were out! That was so thoughtful of you!! :)

If you're ever in the Everett area, definitly check out Alligator Soul! It's sooo yummy!! http://www.alligatorsoulrestaurant.com/