Slow and steady

As the temperature continues to rise this August I think again and again how grateful I am for the relatively cool summer we had here in the Midwest. This morning Sweetpea was set on waffles for breakfast, so we searched the Internet for an easy recipe that was well suited for cooking with a toddler. We had lots of fun, very little mess, and daddy woke up just in time to take some pictures of the last few steps. We had a great time, and I'm so glad I didn't insist on cereal instead. I was (mostly) joking on twitter the other day that I've been choosing my meals based on whether I can slather them with my new obsession - these waffles are perfectly suited for it! If I can keep from sneaking bites all day long we should have enough for breakfast most of the week... {{wipes drool off chin}}

After the waffle adventure, we all headed over to my mom's house to indulge in a little pool time. The water was perfect and if it weren't for EmDee having to head to work (and Sweetpea and I needing a nap) I could have stayed submerged all day long! Between the cool refreshing feel of the water and the weight taken off my low back, it was blissful. Sweetpea is a little water bug, and we have a little tube suit that allows her to keep herself afloat. She spent her time alternating between paddling through the water, taking running jumps into the pool with daddy holding her hand, and assigning us each roles to play from Dora the Explorer. Her nap started less than half a mile from grandma's house, and mine is about to start any minute now...I'm still feeling great, but my stamina has left me this past week.

I'm so thankful to be off this coming week and looking forward to spending time with Sweetpea, getting a few last minute things done and resting up...a close friend of mine had her baby 6 weeks early on Friday - a reminder that it's silly to think we can plan according to due dates and schedules. Luckily, her little boy is doing very well, and was transferred today out of the NICU and into the special care nursery. We spent many phone calls discussing various aspects of our pregnancies and the fact that we were going to have our babies exactly one month apart...turns out it will be closer to a week and a half apart, and in the opposite direction. I am so grateful that she was exactly where she needed to be on Friday, and that she and her sweet little boy are both doing remarkably well.

What are you grateful for this week?