Summer 2010 in Review

In order to not completely stress myself out, I have decided to do the summer-in-review. It was way less overwhelming for me than doing separate posts, but I apologize for the length. Here is Summer 2010...

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Many nights were spent at the Winston-Salem Dash games. Anna LOVED going and especially liked getting to see her pal, Bolt, and giving him a hug!

Wrightsville Beach with Friends

Will and I got to sneak away to the beach with our friends Tyler and Jenn and Sarah and Paul. We had a blast!

New Arrival

Anna and I went to visit my friend, Susan, after the arrival of little Spencer (with big sister Caroline). Anna was so excited to get to hold him!

Driving with Uncle Jeffro

Princess-Ladybug-Dora Remains in Action

Sunday School Swim

We met some friends from Sunday School at Tanglewood Pool and let all the kids play and swim together.

Winter in June

After watching an episode of Dora in the Arctic, Anna just HAD to put her winter gear on!

Storytime Live

Nannie and Pops joined us on a trip to Charlotte to see all of Anna's favorite Nick Jr. friends: Kai-lan, The Backyardigans, The Wonder Pets, and most importantly, Dora. Anna was so excited and all ready to go with her backpack. Once the show started, though, her face was complete shock and awe...and major concentration. It was hilarious!

July 4th at Lake Gaston

Ever since I met my friend, Melissa, my sophomore year at Carolina, she has invited us to her parents' lake house on Lake Gaston for July 4th. We aren't the rowdy college students we were ten years ago...now we come with husbands, kids, and dogs in tow. It's always so much fun for everyone!

Daddy and his kids (Miller, too)

Lexi and Anna

Lawson and Anna

The Walker Fam

The Hege Fam

Grand's Camp 2010--see blog post

Anna spent her annual week with Mimi and Papa in Wilmington

Anna's Second Haircut

Somewhere around the middle of the summer, Anna decided that she was having no more of the bows and clips and pigtails that I love putting in her hair. As much as I tried to explain how cute they were, she just wasn't having it. So, off we went to get her hair cut. I was hoping to let it grow out, but without a way to keep it out of her face, we had to go for the bob. It's still cute, but would be even cuter with a bow or clip in it!!

Picking Peaches at the Koontz' Orchard

Learning to Cut with Scissors

Hege Family Beach Vacation

For the first time since I've been a part of the Hege family, we all decided to head down to Wrightsville for a long weekend vacation together. The weather was perfect (even with the requisite afternoon rain storms) and the beach provided the neatest puddle a little bit inland, which Anna deemed "the lazy river". Between the beach and the pool, we were all in heaven. Everyone had a blast!

Anna's pic of her milkshake

At the Pool

Many, many days of this summer were spent at a pool somewhere, since this was one of the fews ways I could tolerate being outside. We had our neighborhood pool down the street that we could walk to and meet some of our friends. Anna became a pro at swimming "all by myself" with her floatie on. She also became a fan of jumping off the diving board! We also had Tanglewood Pool a short drive down the road that has a zero-entry shallow end so the kids can play with no need for floaties--love it! I bought some Disney Princess dive sticks at Target that I never imagined would be the deal of the century. We rarely go anywhere that Ariel, Cinderella, and Belle don't go with us! Best $9.95 I ever spent! Then, the first of August, we joined Bermuda Run and had access to their pool. It has a kiddie pool, the regular pool that starts at 2 feet (so Anna can touch), and a real lazy river. We had lots of fun at the pool this summer!

Whew! There you have it--Summer 2010. We were busy, busy, busy, but had lots of fun with family and friends! Now we start gearing up for that wonderful fall pastime called football!

Anna's Baby!

We are pregnant!!! Finally, after a year and a half of trying and loss and uncertainty, we are almost 15 weeks pregnant! We are obviously ecstatic. I can't believe it has actually worked this time. Unfortunately, I have been incredibly nauseated with this pregnancy which is interesting since I wasn't for a second with Anna. At this point, I'll take it though. But this is the reason you haven't heard from us since June. This summer has been quite a blur for me ... if we weren't traveling or at the pool, I was on my back on the couch feeling like yuck! I think Anna has watched more TV in the last couple of months than I ever wanted her to watch, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. Since I'm into the second trimester, I'm waiting for the nausea to lessen, but so far, it hasn't much listened. Guess I'll keep clinging to my Zofran (and Colace and Miralax!).

Anyway, we went to the OB on June 30th to hear the heartbeat for the first time. Everything looked perfect! They printed out this sweet picture for Anna to have--her baby! Since there was a heartbeat, we were hugely relieved, but decided to wait until the second appointment before sharing our news with family and friends. We went back on July 29th and that little heart was still beating away! Yay, we had made it to the end of the first trimester!

We are due on February 4, 2011. I am so excited to have the end of this pregnancy in the winter time! The other exciting thing is that Sarah and Jason found out that they are 5 weeks behind us! They are due on March 11th! How fun is that going to be? Jeff and Johnna are due in October with little Penelope, so Mom and Dad will go from one grandchild to four in six months time! Talk about a zoo! Move over Anna, you've got lots of family moving in!!

We go back on August 31st to find out if we are having our Molly or our Jack...we'll keep you posted. I apologize again for the blogging hiatus, but hopefully I can catch you up on some of the events of this summer before school starts back.;0)

Apology

I owe an apology to all you out there who were once loyal followers of this blog. I have taken a 6+ week hiatus and that is completely unfair to you, I understand. Just so you know, we are all doing well and there is LOTS to catch you up on. I promise that in the coming days I will upload the tons of pics on my camera and start blogging again. Just know that it's coming soon, I promise!

Princess Ladybug Cowgirl Dora

And the costumes just keep getting better...

Michael and Dawne's Baby Shower

On Saturday, we left Will and Jason here to play golf and the girls drove to Charlotte for my cousin Michael's baby shower. He and Dawne are expecting a little girl in July that they are probably going to name Hannah Marie. It's so appropriate because they got married on Bald Head Island the same weekend that tropical storm Hannah hit NC a couple of years ago. The whole family weathered the storm on the island, since all the ferry access was canceled because of the weather. I'm pretty sure this was the weekend that confirmed for Will that my family was definitely crazy!

Anyway, back to the shower...my cousin Lisa and her hubby Josh were gracious hosts. Besides it being sweltering outside, we had a fantastic time! It's so neat to watch Anna play with my cousin's kids the same way we played when we were little--it's so nostalgic!

Anna and Katelyn having fun

Anna chillaxin on the hammock

Beautiful cake

Anna and Aunt Sewah

The happy, expectant couple

Can't wait to meet Miss Hannah Marie!

Who Knew?

We've had some torrential downpours lately and one of them produced a small leak in the basement. After some minor clean-up, we left the fan going down there for a few days to help dry everything out. Who knew this was the most fun thing ever?

A Surprise from A&E

Aunt Erin went up to Philadelphia with Aaron (hence A&E) for Memorial Day and went to the Crayola Factory while they were up there. Of course, they brought something back for Anna! So, last night they came over for dinner and to present their surprise. They got Anna the neatest sidewalk chalk and paint that is 3D when you wear the glasses! When Erin pulled out the package, Anna said, "I just love that!" What a drama queen!

Since a thunderstorm had hit and it was pouring down rain, we pulled out Anna's easel so she could try out with her new stuff. I'm not sure who had more fun...

The cool 3D glasses!

"Helping" Anna

Thanks Erin and Aaron!