Decorating mom's tummy

Hi! I've completed day #2 of being back to work...it wasn't too hard to get back into the work routine although orientation isn't very fun. I'm ready to do some dietetics work! Taya has done awesome at her new daycare...the report is that she listen to directions, plays well with the other kids, eats ALL of her food, and sleeps for the entire nap time (2.5 hours). They go outside a few times a day and she is dirty when I pick her up. I miss her terribly during the day but am happy to know that both she and I are happy.

Right now I'm remember what is hard about being a working mom as I look at a kitchen full of dirty dishes, 2 loads of clean laundry that need folded, and I decided to bake some bread tonight because we ran out today (I didn't want to drive to the store). Ha ha, I guess I'm a glutton for punishment at times.

On Saturday, Taya was playing with some stickers and I told her to put one on my belly. It ended up getting well decorated and she decorated her own belly as well. I think the pictures are adorable. Enjoy!

"Everything looks perfect"

A little cuddle time the other day.

"What mom?". Taya enjoys working at her table.

Omi and Papa brought Taya some gifts from the Oregon coast. Taya really enjoyed the 2 bracelets and the necklace.

Pictures of me somewhere between 21 and 22 weeks. We had our ultrasound yesterday. "Everything looked perfect and normal" according to the doctor.

New stats:

Wt= 136 lbs

BP= 95/60

Baby's heartrate=144 on ultrasound; 155 on doppler

Baby's weight= ~1 lb

*In comparison, Taya's heartrate was 137 bpm and she was 14 oz on her ultrasound.

The baby had it's back toward us during the whole ultrasound so we didn't get a profile picture. I was looking forward to comparing this baby's profile with Taya's but that's ok. We did get great shots of the spine which was all intact. We also saw 2 arms, 2 legs, 2 hands, and 2 feet. I can't wait to meet this little one.

More cuddle time last night. Taya took a digger on our walk.

Little miss independent has been wanting to walk rather than ride in her stroller on our walks. The past few days she has wanted to run instead of walk and she fell and skinned her knees two nights ago and fell again last night resulting in re-skinned knees, a scrape on the forehead, and a big bruise and scrape on her nose. It was hard to watch but she seems back to normal today.

In other news, I was offered a position as a renal dietitian with Fresenius Medical Care North America. I will be working in two dialysis clinics for a total of 28 hours/week. I begin on Monday so Taya will also be starting a new daycare. It's going to be hard to go back after 2 months together but I think it will be good for both of us to get out of the house. Say prayers for us!

This week

Before we left for Nebraska, Ethan finished the privacy fence. That was his goal and he did it all by himself. We are enjoying the privacy and view. We are hoping to get Taya a swing set and slide in the future.

Taya's Auntie Emlyn went to Europe in June. She brought us back some goodies, including a coconut flavored wafer cookie for Taya. Taya enjoyed it and the one bite I took was delicious! Thanks Emlyn.

Taya has been wanting to sit at the big table and we haven't found a booster seat we like yet. So...we tried the phone book today :).

Now that the fence is done Ethan is working on painting. We have vaulted ceilings and our ladder is too short so he improvised. I love the color (it's SW Beach House) and it's looking good around here!

Nima has been protective of Taya since our trip to Nebraska. The closed door in the picture on the right is Taya's room and Nima lays outside of it after Taya goes to bed. I think once Taya gets a toddler bed Nima will want to sleep with her sometimes.

Nebraska trip part 2

Before I get to more pictures from our trip, the day we left Taya managed to get into my tall heels.

We left on Wednesday, July 7th. Here is Taya in the airport at Chicago Midway during our short layover. She is such a good traveler. Ethan has an app on his phone where Taya can draw so that's how she entertained herself.

We flew into Omaha so I could get retainers made at the dentist. We were happy to be able to stay with our good friends, Ryan, Emily and Eli Banks. The kids enjoyed Emily reading to them.

On Thursday morning I went to the dentist while Ethan went to UNMC to work for a while. I ended up down there after my appt. and saw some of my old co-workers and my former boss, Glenda. It seemed very strange to go back but it was great to see them all. Taya spent the morning with her auntie Emlyn. We got to Ogallala in time for dinner that evening.

The traveling really wore Taya out. Here she is the next morning after 'watching' a show with her cousin Jayden.

That day (Friday the 9th) we had doughnuts, went to Sandwich Shoppe for a TBA (turkey, bacon, avacado) sandwich and Taya got her hair cut. That afternoon the kids played in Grammy's kiddie pool. My Aunt Sara, cousin Cade, and Grandma Cena were also there to visit and get ready for the garage sale.

Ethan, Grammy, Grandma Cena, and me

Saturday morning was the annual "Grave's Girls" garage sale. My mom and aunts have done a garage/yard sale every year for at least the past 6 or 7 years. Ethan and I have had items for sale since we got married and it's usually a fun time (after all the set-up is done). So that's what we were doing most of Saturday but Jayden and Taya spent some time on the red chair watching shows.

Me (on left) with my cousins Ashton (middle) and Britni (right). Britni and I were the main money takers but we got relief for coffee and doughnut breaks :).

My aunt Sara (Taya's godmother) with Taya

I was hungry for Dairy Queen so Ethan took Taya and me for a ride after the sale. Taya didn't last the whole trip. I guess the garage sale wore her out?!

Saturday evening my brother Wade, Jillian, Beau, and Jayden came up for dinner. This is my niece-dog Taylor. She is a chocolate lab and is the most timid and shy lab I've ever known. She was a real sweetheart.

It was nice to have time to visit.

Uncle Wade and Taya

Aunt Jillian, Uncle Wade and Taya

Jillian, Wade, Taya, me, Ethan

Sunday morning the girls did some coloring while we sat and had coffee. They were anxiously awaiting our afternoon at the lake.

We had a safe trip back to Omaha on Monday and again stayed with the Banks's. We flew out very early (6:45 a.m.) on Tuesday. We were also able to see auntie Emlyn again on our way through Lincoln and my friend Katie (Fisher) Metz when we got back to Omaha. We felt so blessed to see all the family and friends that we were able to. We likely won't be back to the area until baby Mann 2 arrives. We love you all!

Nebraska part 1: The Lake!

We took a trip back to Nebraska to visit family before I get too pregnant to travel. My mom was already back there to spend some time since she hosts a 4th of July gathering at her house. We didn't get there for fireworks but we were there for some lake time at Lake Mac! I have so many great pictures to post but I tried to whittle them down :). They are random but I'll try to put captions with them.

The water is up at the lake so there are some really shallow spots close to the beach. Here my brother, Wade, Taya, my mom, and Ethan do some wading on a sand bank.
My nephew, Beau, on his little paddle board while Taya and I play closer to shore.

Taya's first experience with a life jacket. She was skeptical at first but she had a blast.

Family friend, Eric, Beau, Ethan, Taya, Aunt Jillian, and Eric's daughter, Morgan, hanging out in the water. Niece Jayden is the one sitting in the foreground.

Taya with her aunt Jillian (Wade's wife).

Taya, Jayden, Jillian

Taya and Jillian float while Morgan plays with the alligator float.

Wade, Beau, Taya, Jillian

Grammy and Taya wading.

Uncle Wade, Taya, and Grammy

Dad-o makes his way to the sand bank. Wade's dog, Taylor, (named by Jayden after Taylor Swift) joins the fun.

Dad-o and Taya floating

A fuzzy picture but it captures Taya playing in the mud. She was entertained by that for quite a while.

Jayden Mae (5 years)

Oh yes, I even joined in the fun. :)

A storm started to roll in so we had some snacks while we dried off. Taya especially enjoyed the watermelon.

We actually got a family photo!!

If you really wanted to see a pregnant picture of me, here it is. Uncle Wade was giving Taya a ride on the alligator.

Taya really loves uncle Wade.