Healthy Baby Girl

Just a quick post to let everyone know that my 20-week ultrasound went very well today. Baby GIRL Buescher is healthy with all major organs and bones growing as they should be for a 20 week babe. Isabel seemed to enjoy the ultrasound and we have gotten her to say "sister." We are excited to welcome another girl into our family, and all the dressing up, tea parties and teenage hormones that will come with it...though Geoffrey is already talking about needing to move out of the house for a few days each month 15 or so years from now :).

Seems that things have progressed a bit since Isabel's 20 week ultrasound. The radiology office where we went no longer does print outs, and instead saves the key images to a disk. Baby Bean (we don't have a name just yet) kept moving around and seemed to have no interest in sitting still. The tech even turned on the 4D imaging quite a few times (which I still think is a bit freaky), but only was able to capture one good face picture, as the rest of the time baby Bean had either her hands or feet covering her face.

Here are a couple of our second daughter's first photo shoot.

Pre-Halloween Fun

Last Wednesday afternoon, Isabel and I headed to Cox Farms for their Fall Festival with friends from the St. Mark Moms' group. It really isn't a farm at all, though there are some farm animals. They have big kid and little kid play area and some really great slides, that would be fun for adults even without the kids.

Isabel had an absolute ball and we were both exhausted by the end of the evening.

Here she is enjoying some time on the wooden train with her friend Elise (in the orange).

Isabel was in almost constant motion the entire time, but I did manage to convince her sit for a picture on these hay bales.

Here she is playing in the corn box. Just like a sand box only with dried corn...and what a great idea, since the corn stays and doesn't come home in your shoes and clothes.

Here we are on our first slide...

And next on the BIG slide.
Isabel took a break in the stroller while we waited for our friends to go on the hayride. Apparently it is very bumpy and pregnant women are highly encouraged to avoid it.

On the way out, Isabel got to select a small pumpkin to take home. She loves her pumpkin and insisted on keeping it on her lap in the car for the trip home.

Sunday we were supposed to head to Frying Pan Farm Park with my other moms' group, but it was very cold and we opted to meet indoors at our home. Although only 2 of the 10 toddlers were able to make it, we still had a wonderful time.

Isabel the lady bug and Sarah the duck.

Isabel loved Sarah's costume, as I think it reminds her of her other duck emmy, whom she sleeps with at night. She felt the need to check out Sarah's beak...

...and then her webbed feet. Sarah was a great sport during Isabel's inspection.
Alec was dressed as a puppy and wouldn't let the fact that his hat kept covering his eyes stop him from playing.
With the help of a few crackers, we convinced the kids to take a group picture. You can also see a bit of my halloween decorating above (the picture frames will be filled with halloween pictures and come out during October each year).

I tried to squeeze in one more pre-halloween event last Friday by letting Isabel watch my favorite Halloween movie, "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown." Since Isabel doesn't get to watch TV, she really had no interest in the movie, even though I was sitting with her and talking about what we were seeing on screen. We only made it about half way through, and that was with lots of movement and pointing to things outside. The only part of the movie that caught her eye is when snoopy was "flying" around on his dog house. Isabel decided he was on a helicopter and kept saying "airshow, airshow!" Oh well, maybe next year we can start the tradition of the great pumpkin.

Happy Halloween everyone. Isabel can't wait for her second school parade followed by pumpkin carving on Saturday and actual trick-or-treating (though mom or dad will have to keep the treats).

Airplane & Air Show

I'm still waiting to get the pictures Geoffrey took, but until that happens, here are some pictures pre-air show of Isabel and her airplane, followed by some pictures taken by Grandma Buescher.

As I'd mentioned before, Geoffrey worked like a mad man to get Isabel's VT airplane completed for the airshow. He arrived home Friday afternoon and put the finishing touches on the airplane before giving it to Isabel. She was thrilled and is loving that she has her own "airpeen" to fly around. So far the only casualty has been in the form of 4 broken prop blades, which we knew would happen, as the kit wasn't designed for a rotating prop. Geoffrey will be working on his own design in the coming weeks to make something a bit more toddler proof.

The weather at the air show was just plain crummy. It was cold and and the cloud "ceiling" was really low...which meant most of the jets weren't able to fly. Isabel still enjoyed herself as you can see in the pictures below. I was also grateful to be able to borrow a super warm sherpa lined jacket for Isabel. She was toasty warm the entire time and I think I'll be purchasing one of these in a more girly color. Thank you "Aunt" Megan for the use of the coat :).

While things weren't flying Isabel entertained herself by securing the strap once used for her infant car seat...its nice that little things can provide such amusement.

Isabel and I stopped for some pictures at this airplane at Geoffrey's request. I couldn't tell you what kind of airplane it is, but will find out.

We spent the remainder of the weekend relaxing with Grandma and Grandpa Buescher. Isabel enjoyed playing with the toys from the "special bin" and reading some new books...even a board book version of Cinderella. Both Dad and Grandpa had to roll their eyes at this one.

And finally, some fun(ny) pictures of the family. I asked Grandma B to take a family picture of us, but didn't realize until after I saw these that sitting on an overstuffed sofa that reclines doesn't make for the best photo angle. But, we at least have a picture to send in with Isabel to her classroom.

More pictures to come later this week of our adventure to Cox Farms and our halloween play date. I'd hoped to get those pictures up tonight, but I'm loading pictures to order prints (I'm ashamed to say it has been a year since I last printed paper pictures), and it is slowing down bloggers ability to upload.

Toddlers Talking...a mixed blessing :)

We are back from a nice and relaxing weekend in VA Beach. It was supposed to be filled with airplanes, airplanes and more airplanes, but Mother Nature had other plans. We did make it to the air show for a couple hours on Saturday and Isabel loved what she saw and had a great time. There will be pictures from the weekend coming shortly, but I had to post this little funny story from the weekend.

Sunday morning we were at the 7am mass, sitting in the cry room, since Isabel is not quite ready for the sit still and be quiet routine of going to church. Because we were there so early, a lot of the older folks decided it would be better to sit in the cry room instead of the regular church (scared of germs maybe?). We were the only people there with a child, but there were at least 10-15 other adults listening to mass there as well. About halfway through, my pregnancy bladder told me I needed to take a quick trip to the ladies room. Isabel started getting upset that I was leaving and crying "mommy!", so Geoffrey whispered in her ear that I was going to the bathroom to "pee pee", which settled her down. About 5 minutes later I return and Isabel starts saying with delight "Mommy pee pee! pee pee! pee pee!" I'm surprised that nobody started laughing, as I could barely contain myself. Thank you my sweet Isabel for sharing such wonderful information with the others in the cry room. It will definitely be a while before we start going to mass in the main area. :)

Just a little update...

...though not an overly exciting one. I can't remember if I've taken any pictures this week (bad mommy), but anyways, they are on the camera, which is downstairs, and it is currently 2:45 in the morning, I'm not tired, but don't really feel like moving from the office :).

Anyways, last week was just another normal week, with the addition of 2 doctors appointments. Isabel had her 18 month check-up and passed with flying colors. She continues to grow following the 90-95th percentile for height and 50th percentile for weight. She only screamed for about 5 seconds following her shots and gave the nurse a very nice, though tear filled "bye" as the nurse left the room with the empty syringes. Our pediatrician noted all of Isabel's words and made me promise that I wouldn't get all worried if this next child doesn't talk as early or often as miss Isabel. Provided we have another illness free winter (could we be so lucky as to have 2), we won't head back to the pediatrician's office until baby bean's 2 week check-up. Eeek!

I also had an appt last week and all is well with baby bean. Though really all they do at this stage is check the heart beat, but its always such a wonderful sound to hear. I received orders for my 20 week sonogram, which will be October 28th. Hopefully this baby will cooperate and in addition to counting fingers, toes, measuring bones and looking at organs we should also be able to find out the sex of this little one. Geoffrey played a cruel joke on me a few months ago saying "I think this one should be a surprise" (not that there is anything wrong with surprises), and I told him "you can have a surprise and I'll find out myself!" We haven't done too much in the way of discussing names, but I'm guessing that is also a trait of a non-first born, since free time isn't quite the same with a toddler running around. I'm also finally off of my anti-nausea meds, and keeping food down, which makes me happy to know by body can function on its own. The meds were a life-saver though for the 2 months I was on them.

Stay tuned for some good airplane pictures! Geoffrey has been working like a mad man after Isabel and I have been going to sleep on a model for Isabel. She is constantly wanting to play with her paper models, but we want to keep them intact, and at 19 months (today!), she doesn't quite grasp the term "gentle", though she will repeat it and nod as though she understands it perfectly. It will be a simple model, reinforced internally to hopefully prevent breakage, and won't have any external landing gear, antenna etc. The color scheme will be maroon, orange and white with a few special VT additions. I'm sure Isabel is just going to love it.

Alrighty, I'm going to head back to bed and hope to catch a few more ZZzzs before heading into work.

New Babies

No, the real baby isn't here yet (still 24 weeks to go) but we do have some new babies in the house. At playgroup on Tuesday Isabel fell in love with her friend Anna's baby doll. I had given Isabel the doll I had as a child, but she has shown little interest in it. This other doll, which was slightly bigger and more life like (?), caught her eye. It was about time for Isabel to have her own baby anyways, so after work on Thursday we stopped at Target. It seems a lot of other parents had the same idea, as this was the only "normal" baby left in the store. All the others talked, cried, went potty or some other crazy stuff I wasn't interested in. This doll happen to come in a set with a stroller, and so into the cart it went. I took the doll out once we reached the car and she happily held and talked to the baby the whole way home. Once we got in the door, I opened up the stroller which made Isabel's eyes light up. She knew exactly where the baby should go and off she went. She didn't stop but for a few seconds, so it was hard to get good pictures, as the SLR was upstairs. But I think you'll get the idea that she loves this baby and certainly enjoys the stroller.

Taking a quick break.

And now back to the business of strolling.

Now let me turn and go the other way.

When I ask Isabel to smile, she puts on a big goofy grin and shakes her head from side to side. Which works well if you catch her facing, and not so well at any other time (those pictures went to the trash can).

Giving the baby a kiss.

And now a hug...

It seems the baby needs her pacifier.

Yep, that should do the trick.

Its only been a day, but I have really enjoyed seeing Isabel take to this new baby. I think (hope) it will help her to have a baby of her own to take care of come March, when she has to adjust to the real baby being in the house.

As for the other "baby", this one is mine, but isn't the type of baby you think of. Earlier this year I decided that I wanted to start a business, a CPR and First Aid training business to be exact, following the model of my mother's previous business in Richmond. I came home one day from work, announced this to Geoffrey and he responded "well then do it!" So I did. My initial focus will be teaching moms and dads what I consider to be invaluable life saving skills. I completed my instructor course in May, filed the appropriate paperwork with the state, enlisted my very talented brother-in-law Peter to design a website and now am officially open for business. The company is called Heart Pro and you can view the website at www.heartprocpr.com . I'm just a wee bit excited about this, and have very high hopes of what I can do and who I can help in the future. So wish me luck, as I'll certainly need a bit of that too!