Hidden Treasures and Princesses

The kids had a blast when they tipped over the toy basket and discovered toys that they hadn't seen for weeks! That entertained them for awhile. Who needs new toys when you can hide the old ones for awhile?
I think maybe I call Corinne a princess entirely too much. Matthew has it in his head now that he is a princess and likes to watch the Disney princess movies and build castles out of blocks and this is how he dressed up as a princess today. I think Daddy needs to come home soon and provide a more masculine influence in the home.

Mystic Aquarium

When we first moved to Connecticut we heard great things about the Mystic Aquarium and so decided to take a visit. We decided to buy season tickets so that we could go year round; especially when it's too cold to play outside. I end up taking the kids about once every couple of weeks because they enjoy it so much and we're also trying to kill time until Jeremy gets back. It's so much easier to go now that Corinne can walk on her own--that's right, she's walking and standing all by herself now. Will miracles never cease? Here they are sitting in front of the kelp exhibit with a shark in the background.
Corinne was definitely taking advantage of having a tank right at her eye level of the puffer fish.

This aquarium is very hands-on and has a nice petting tank for sting rays. The kids loved trying to touch them. The sting rays actually came up to their hands once so they could touch them. The kids were ecstatic. I think usually Corinne would be afraid of this stuff, but because Matthew is doing it then it's okay. She always wants to do what he's doing.

Another petting tank inside where you can hold starfish (Matthew's favorite), hermit crabs, spider crabs, and even horseshoe crabs.

Once again, Corinne has to be where Matthew is.

They also have an exhibit where you can feed the birds. You pay $2 and they give you a stick with some birdseed on it and the birds come and land on you to eat. Corinne tried so hard to get the birds to eat from hers, but they never landed on her except once and then it was only for a second and I happened to miss the photo-op.

Corinne trying to entice the birds, but they kept flying away.

Matthew was so excited to finally have a bird on his stick that he wasn't quite sure what to do. Luckily, he stayed very still so that the bird stayed for awhile. By the time we left this exhibit we all had some little bird decorations on us. (I mean bird poop!)

Here's Matthew checking out a beluga whale. The kids loved watching this one for awhile.

New Calling

Those of you in my last ward and Lauree and Melinda will probably laugh at this. I finally received a calling in my new ward as 2nd counselor in the primary presidency. Yes, I am following in Lauree's footsteps it appears. Thankfully it isn't the president. I'm sure I'll have my hands full for the next few months!

Third ultrasound

I had to drive for an hour to go to another specialist for a third ultrasound where they confirmed once more that it is a girl. The end. Just kidding. They did an echocardiogram of the baby's heart and determined that there are no defects or malformations (which can be associated with fluid on the lungs) and checked the lungs and the doctor found no fluid and wonders what the doctor saw last week. So everyone's prayers must have worked! Thanks! He said everything looks great. I go back to the specialist that performed my second ultrasound next week for a follow up to see if she still sees something or not.

Second Ultrasound

On Thursday I went to see a prenatal specialist for another ultrasound and to determine if my due date needed to be changed. During the ultrasound they found a small accumulation of fluid on one of the lungs. They told me that I needed to get a fetal echo next week and come back for another ultrasound to monitor the fluid level. This fluid could cause a problem with the development of the baby's lungs so we are a little concerned. They did determine that it is still a girl and that my due date has been moved up 2 weeks to Nov. 17. Please keep us in your prayers that the fluid will decrease on its own so we don't have to surgically drain it.