You know it's been too long between updates when your husband tells you that you need to post. Whoops. Sorry about that. Hey - at least he reads this blog, right? And there's so much to tell you all about too!

Friday I took the day off work and we had a Family Fun Day. After a lazy morning (I LOVE not being rushed!) we headed to lunch (yummy Famous Dave's!) and then to the Minnesota Zoo for the afternoon. I was a little nervous how it would go since we didn't get there until noon and 1-1:30 is usually Annika's nap time. However, she was great and we were able to see the whole zoo in 3 hours! I asked Annika that night what animals she saw that day and she first said monkeys. When I asked her again, she said the licking giraffe. The giraffe had "encounter time" when we were by the exhibit so people could buy some food and feed him. Annika thought it was great seeing the big animal licking food out of the people's hand. So now he is known as the "licking giraffe." I asked her repeatedly what animals she saw that day and she remembered the horses, goats, rabbit, cows and fish. I guess those are the ones she liked the best. Goofy girl also insisted on walking most of the zoo too. She didn't want to sit in her stroller too often, choosing instead to run everywhere. Kris usually walked ahead of us and then Annika would run from me to him. She did spend some time on his shoulders but more often than not, she was walking/running everywhere. It was a great afternoon. The weather was perfect and the zoo was busy but not crowded. We even ran into Natashya (Kris's cousin) and Josh with Jack, Emma and Peter (Kris' cousin Christina's kids)! What a small world! Annika was so worn out by the end of the afternoon that she slept the whole way home and then another 3 hours at home! She didn't wake up until after 6pm! She also then didn't go to bed until after 10pm that night.

With such a late night, Annika slept in about an hour later than usual Saturday morning. We spent most of Saturday shopping. Kris needed shorts. I found some play clothes for Annika for this fall. (For those of you wondering what size she is right now, she's 27 pounds and 34.5 inches. This puts her in the upper range of the 2T clothing. I've been buying her some 2Ts and some 3Ts for this fall/winter. She is a shoe size 6 for this fall.) And we had a bunch of gifts to buy too. It was an expensive weekend! And Saturday afternoon we dropped Annika off at Gramme's house for her first sleepover (Kris and I have a party to go to and Gramme suggested Annika just stay the night - after I panicked, I agreed to it). Though it was weird for me to pack an overnight bag for her and drop her off knowing I wouldn't be back until the next morning, it went okay. I missed her like crazy, didn't sleep well (partly from worrying about her and partly from habit, I think) and didn't much like waking up to an empty, quiet house. I think we were both ready though. (Kris was defnitely ready - he of course missed her too - but liked the quality time with the wife too.) Annika only asked for us once (Saturday night - probably when she was getting sleepy). She didn't sleep very well either, ending up in bed with Gramme and going to bed late and waking up early. And when she saw us drive up to the house Sunday morning, she had the biggest grin on her face I've ever seen and ran as fast as her little legs would carry her into my waiting arms where she received a huge, gigantic hug. And then I felt much, much better. I had my baby back. And now I don't have to do that again until, oh let's say, FEBRUARY! :) Annika did have fun though. Gramme has a little dog, Reba, that Annika just adores. And Reba is such a good little dog and plays so nicely with Annika. I'm sure it helps that Annika enjoys bringing Reba pieces of dog food and feeding them to her. And that she likes puppy kisses too. Gramme called last night to say that Reba missed Annika. Reba barked at the spare bedroom that Annika stayed in and when Gramme let Reba in the room, Reba looked all over for Annika. Gramme and Papa Merv had to keep telling Reba that the little girl was gone. Too cute. Gramme said she's ready for another overnight stay any time. Yikes.

Yesterday was another party, this time for Acer's 5th birthday. It was at a gymastics gym and there was lots of fun things for the kids to do, including Annika! They played on the floor exercise mat (and boy is that bouncy!), the trampolines and lots of other apparatus. Annika just ran around most of the time like a girl possessed. And she loved jumping on the trampolines. The rule is one person on a trampoline at a time and with 5 other little kids there and 2 trampolines, we all had to take turns. Annika was so good about that. She would sit on my lap or stand next to it and say "Nika turn" or "My turn" and we would tell her that she had to wait until whoever was on it was done. Not once did she throw a fit or get whiny, she just waited her turn and then jumped on herself to bounce, bounce, bounce. The gymnastics coach in charge remarked how well Annika jumped and ran and what good balance she had. He asked how old she is and I said she was almost two. Then he was even more impressed with her. I was planning on enrolling her in a gymnastics class this fall (a toddler/parent class) and now I think I'll do it for sure. Annika had a great time and apparently, she has the talent too. It is always so nice to hear others comment on your child's abilities. It makes me so proud even though I have no influence on it.

Last week found me officially in the second trimester (14 weeks). Wednesday is my 2nd prenatal appointment at exactly 15 weeks. I've been feeling remarkably better lately. I don't even have to eat every couple hours to keep the nausea at bay anymore. I think I've officially crossed that hurdle. I'm still craving sugar like mad and am still a little more tired than usual but otherwise I'm feeling great. My doctor appointment this Wednesday is at 8:30am. I'm hoping Kris and Annika will come with. I'd really like Kris to be able to hear the heartbeat too. And I'll be sure to come home and post as quickly as possible how it all went. Oh, and I think I felt the baby move last night. It was around 3:30am and I was laying awake in bed when all of a sudden I felt a "bump" in my lower abdomen. It was right where my uterus should be. I love that feeling of a baby moving inside me and can't wait until it's an every day (every hour) occurrence again.

OK, I think we're caught up now. I'm going to go find a gym and you all have a great day.