Every time I turn my head, something new is happening in the Bates house. Not only is Avonlea getting bigger and bigger each day, but so am I!! Here are a few updated "belly pics" that I tried to take of myself. Right now, my digital camera is our video camera so the pictures aren't very clear, but Rob and I are saving up for a nice digital that will take really clear pictures. I love my Minolta with its awesome lens. It takes great photos, but it's a pain having to wait to get the film developed. Hopefully we'll get the new camera before Lincoln arrives. I'm wearing overalls so it's a bit hard to see the full extent of my belly, but it's there! The lady that came to install our sprinklers and measure for our sod asked if I was having TWINS! (I would never ask someone that, personally.) I politely said "no" and told her I was due the first week in June. I guess I'm just showing a lot more with this little guy than I was with Avonlea (they say that can happen).

Lately, some of the things we've been up to are:
1.) keeping the house spotless (which is so hard to do with a toddler) due to people coming to see the house (there's another showing today at 5:30-yeah!).
2.) going to doctor's appointments every 2 weeks now. I have another one tomorrow (just a simple heartbeat check). During my last visit, I got to drink that orange sugary drink and get blood drawn (not fun). I used to hate getting my blood drawn, but now I'm quite used to it. I do ask for the "butterfly needle" which is a small needle nurses can use and it hurts so much less.
3.) reviewing blueprints for the new house. They arrived yesterday (with a heafty bill!) and we're very excited because now we've been making calls to set up appointments for contractors to come in a bid prices on the construction. We're hoping bids are low (obviously).
4.) teaching Avonlea responsability. She's learning to take things to the trash can when they need to be thrown away, she brushes her teeth by herself (with a follow up from Rob or I of coarse-she doesn't brush them that well). She loves to help me cook (it takes longer, but it's fun) and set the table. She helps clean up and we have a special song (korny, but it works) we sing and she really does like helping to clean up. Rob plays the piano (for those that didn't know) and he's so creative in making up songs for the simplest things that Avy does (brushing teeth, cleaning up, going potty, etc.) We were joking around the other night saying how we should record them and sell them someday. WE'll see. Avonlea follows me around when I'm doing household chores (laundry, etc.) and wants to help. It takes so much longer when she does, but I'm in no hurry and it's more worth it in the long run to show her at an early age how to do things so that she'll be independant, something Rob and I want to instill in her at an early age.
5.) Bible study and MOPS at church. We go every Tuesday from 9:30-11:30am and it's so great. It gives me a little break from Avonlea (she's in the nursery with all her little friends and LOVES it) and allows me to interact with other moms as well as stay focused with my Bible study. For anyone who hasn't attended MOPS before, it stands for Mothers Of Preschoolers and no matter if you work or stay at home, there's always a meeting available (at least in our city) for ladies to attend. We talk about "Mom Stuff", how to stay organized, raising our kids, crafts, etc. It's a lot of fun. Check out my link on the blog (I just added it).
6.) the Ultimate Party and Play Zone. It's just up the street from us and after going for the first time today, you bet we'll be back. It's $8.00 ($3.00 per additional sibling) per child and you can go for the whole day! Check out the link and you'll see what I mean. It's totally worth the money and we never run out of things to do. It's much bigger in person when you see the facility. Hard to imagine because it already looks so big online.

Rob and I really enjoyed our vacation this past weekend in Orlando. We stayed at the Hilton in Walt Disney World and although it didn't compare to the Omni Resort (we're stayed there a few times), we had a blast. Rob and I were just talking last night about how we've never paid full price for any vacation we've taken. We always go on Priceline.com and book our vacations there, for cheap. Give it a try if you haven't already. I'm going to take in the film to be developed this afternoon so stay tuned for more updated pictures.