31 week photos

31 weeks...

Here I was at 26 weeks, I believe, just to compare...

Back...with photos

Sooooo.....where did I leave off. on the 22nd of June I packed my bags once again to head off on an adventure, a very last minute adventure, to NATA Convention. Usually I LOVE convention, it is a time to see old friends, meet new ATC's, learn a lot of new things, walk around the exhibition hall and score free goodies. But this time I was sent to work, I went on a search for a new head AT, but came home empty handed. I managed to sneak in some fun here and there, to get a great tour of Philadelphia for the first time, eat some authentic Cheese Steaks "Wiz Wit", and get stuck in a freak rain storm and break my new shoes (which thankfully the store replaced when I got home!) Praise God Meter and Cooper were already planning on going to convention this year and I was able to stay with them they made the trip worth while for me.

We walked and walked to go see the liberty bell only to arrive at 4:58 and have them tell us it is closed at 5, and we could go look through the window at it, Seriously?!Here is the bus I wish we were on, but no we walked. I in my no so supportive flip flops with my long day of travel puffy feet. (photo wouldn't go the right way sorry).The welcome ceremony was at the museum, there was not as big of a turn out as usual as the bars this year were not open. Let's be honest get a bunch of ATCs in one town there is a lot of drinking going on. This year however, Cooper and I, being pregnant and all stuck to water.Here we are on our way to get some real cheese steaks trying to figure out the metro system. Where else would we go but to Pat and Geno's two of "the best" literally right across the street from one another. Naturally we had to get a sub at each to compare. I liked Pat's better. It was a process I got my credit card basically thrown at me at Geno's (cash only) and had to learn the "proper" way to order "wiz wit" (cheese wiz with onions), they don't mess around.Geno's action shotPat's King of Steaks.City of Brotherly Love (look at those Bingo wings)

Way way down there you can see the "rocky steps." After all the eating and walking that day I was happy to have made it that far, the photo was all I needed.

All in all not a horrible trip, glad to be home though.

Bump Factor

I have began to notice something upon my arrival back to Florida, and I think I will call it the bump factor. In MI Greg and I noticed that people in general move at a much slower pace than here in WPB. To be honest, we really enjoyed it. It was funny to look around and thing, wow there is a lot of "normal people" here, where are all the name brands general fanciness? But most of all we noticed that when people slow down they actually take notice of what is around them, and they smile and make conversation with you. That does not so much happen here, people are so busy they just go go go, no smile, no good morning, no thank you, no nothing you might as well be a blur mark in their busy hectic schedule.

But back to the bump factor. This week I have noticed that people have been taking notice of me, and they have been smiling, and they have been talking to me. I think what they really notice is the bump. People's kindness towards me has increased in direct relation to the growth of my belly. Not that I find this surprising, but actually encouraging that although people are crazy hectic and busy the thought of a little one on the way still makes them stop, take notice, help, and smile. The bump factor just shows that people do still value new life and I am sure in a way it makes them think of their own mother, wife, sister, friend who at one point or another has been in my shoes. Or maybe, I am reading way too much into this and I am just getting lucky this week by running into some nice people.

Inspiration...

I think I need something to eat up some scrap fabric and make a fun quilt for a gift...or not :) I was doing some blog stalking as I like to do to gather some inspiration from people far more talented than I am and I found this block on this blog.

(this one was for a breast cancer quilt but it just screams little girl to me, similar to the star quilt I made last year that I fell in love with, and I am not sure I took any pictures of it.)
I love blocks you can do a million different ways the possibilities are endless. This would be a great quilt for fat quarters, or just to eat up a stash if you wanted to make each block different, or maybe even a throw pillow? Oh, maybe a Christmas quilt with a different Christmas item in the center of each block. Inspiration comes in many forms...this block did it for me. Although I still need to finish Lilly's quilt.

Happy Birthday Greggy Poo

Greg is 27 today! He is a whole year older than me for one day. As we were driving home from Publix last night I asked Greg what he wanted to do for our birthdays this year, and he said I don't know are we doing cards. I paused and said well I don't have one for you (oops) and he said I don't have one for you either, problem solved, no cards. So, this morning as I was walking out the door I remembered, and yelled up the stairs HAPPY BIRTHDAY...I know I am so thoughtful. What can I say Gift giving is not our love language. All he wanted was some quality time with his explorer to fix the thingamijiggy that helps with stuff for the car that goes vroom vroom. When I asked how much he used the "it will make the car safer for Lilly" line and well happy Birthday to Greg. Love ya babe!

You know your in MI when...

We arrived at the air port and went searching for our zip ups, it was great. There are times when I appreciate being able to wear jeans and a hoodie and last week was one of those times. Monday we took a trip up to Holland. where Eric made the mistake of saying he has never had his photo taken with the anchor (what kind of Hope student was he!) so we had to get that in. The the guys decided they could not leave Holland without a round or two of Frisbee golf...while the pregnant one wandered around 8th street, ALONE! Honestly. But I did have to get a picture of this, they put 'pop' on the sign, you KNOW your in MI.

We ate at 8th street (soup bar, jack pot) and met up with some friends at the New Holland Brewery. I was bummed I could not partake the raspberry cider smelled so good!

Not the most flattering photo (do I look a little puffy to you?!) but Schlitzy looks good, must be that "I have a new boy friend" glow.With that long but very fun day out of the way the next task on the list was to play with guns....

No really, lots of guns...Pops getting ready to throw the clay, right into the bushes (HA!).Greg taking aim at the threatening perp. in the woods. Poor guy...

Gun time was over and we had a long list of places to go and people to see. Katie had a little league game, but the only photo I got there was of Logan and the worlds largest sucker.

Those freckles get me every time. It is a Patterson thing. We had a Hill family party to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Grandma and Grandpa, as well as some summer birthdays. Here is our best shot...takes a lot to get everyone looking and smiling at the same time...

There was a baby shower in there, and a trip to burch run for some outlet shopping, but of course I have no photos of those....all in all a good trip it is nice to be back at home and in our own bed, but I do miss the cooler weather. According to weather channel it is 88* feels like 100*....yuck.

gymnast

So, I think Lilly has truly began practicing her gymnastic skills. In the matter of a day or so she went from the occasional kick and punch to full out flips and twirls. My belly looks like there is someone in there trying to break free. It is so strange and I never want it to stop.

We had a great long weekend! Movie night on Friday to see Prince of Persia (GOOD). Cleaned out the guest room closet making space for all of the new things we are acquiring and did cleaning in general on Sunday. Monday we were being lazy by and in the pool, I was working on my tan before I head up to MI. I got some sewing done on the crib skirt. We took the pooch to the Lake Trail for a mile walk which seemed like a LONG WALK to me unfortunately, so I just came home and made way to many chocolate chip cookies. And today, I think I am going to just putz around town a bit, go to the pool again if this rain clears up, and try to finalize some plans for our trip to MI next week. All in all a great start to my summer break! Yay for being a 10 month employee.