The Riley Family

This weekend we planted the early, early crops. We planted red and yellow potatoes, onions, garlic, and strawberries.

Kate turned 6 on Friday!! Happy Birthday, Kate. Friday also kicked off Spring Break, so we took a mini-vacation to Chicago, partly just to get away, and partly to celebrate K's birthday. Kate was thrilled to go to the American Girl Store on Friday evening, to pick out some clothes for her doll Katie. On Saturday we explored the Field Museum . The kids loved to see the dinosaurs, mammoths, and bug exhibits. We also walked around Michigan Ave, went to our hotel pool, and just relaxed. It was a fun weekend. Here are some pictures!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010. 24+ weeks. Oops, totally haven't been journaling at all the past 3 weeks. Not too much to report. Lots and lots and lots of kicks. Paul and kids can feel the kicks, and they can see my belly move if they are patient enough to watch for a few minutes. Had an appt in mid-march with Dr. M, and had gained I think 5 lbs that month, so that puts me around +13. My next appointment is in another week, and I will see Dr. P this time. I really like her, and haven't seen her for awhile. After that I have an appointment in 4 weeks at the first week in May, then they start going to every 2 weeks! Yikes!! Stop if you don't want to read medical details.... At last appointment Dr. M said that placenta is probably going to be totally fine by 3o weeks, and we will do another ultrasound then to veryify. No restrictions at all. He said it is currently 2 cm from cervix. I asked what it needs to be to keep me out of the OR for delivery, and he said it needs to...

We have been super lucky for the past two weeks and had fantastic weather. The weekends have been pretty yucky - rain and snow, but the weekdays have been wonderful and pretty warm. 50s is great for this time of year, and we have had a couple of days in the 60s too! The tulips, daffodils, crocus, and other early spring plants are all coming up and adding much needed color!

In Jack's preschool class they get to take home Traveling Teddy a couple of times a year. Basically he is supposed to hang out with the fam, and then you write up a short journal entry. We had a good time.

Here are some pictures from Kate's birthday party which we had at a hair salon down the street called Boozle B's. The girls all seemed to have a great time!

Wow, am I behind at posting pics! Here are some from when Mamie, Grandpa and Auntie Sarah were here earlier this month. We had a great time with everyone visiting!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010. 21+ weeks. The little one kicks all the time now. He doesn't quite yet weigh 1 lb (around 13 oz I think at last week's ultrasound) and the kicks and punches are really noticeable. I am a little nervous about how strong the kicks will be as he gets bigger! Dr. M finally called about the ultrasound - it usually takes them 1+ weeks to get back with test results. He said baby looked great, due date right on, looks perfect! Ok - stop here if you don't want to read any medical info.... The only thing he mentioned, and the tech had told me about, was that my placenta is low, technically called a low lying placenta. Here is one of hundreds of articles explaining. In the vast majority of cases, it will 'move' up as everything grows, and won't be a problem. It is like a balloon, if you draw something on the balloon, then blow it up, your picture doesn't actually move on the balloon, but ends up higher up. Same situation here. A plac...