Drew's Apple Orchard Field Trip

Drew had his first class field trip this week, and I got to go along. They went to an apple orchard, and it was a lot of fun! We rode a little train out to the apple trees. Here are Drew and his little buddy, Joseph. They were both excited when the train started up.

We got dropped off by some rows of trees. If you have ever seen how Drew walks/runs, you'll know that this picture captures that a little bit.

We each got to pick five apples.

Many of the apples on the lower parts of the trees had already been picked, so we really had to search for apples that the children could reach.

There were lots of fun things for the children to do after we picked apples. They loved climbing this big hay pyramid.

There were some wooden trains that they all enjoyed climbing through.

There was also a little petting farm with goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, and ponies.

Drew's preschool class.

At the end of the morning, we each had a donut and some cider. We all enjoyed those!

We petted the animals a little more, and then it was time to go.

We took one last picture by this huge hay man on the way out.

We had a great time on Drew's first field trip! I made an apple pie this morning with the apples that Drew and I picked at the orchard. We'll be enjoying that later this evening.

200th Post!

I noticed a few months ago that I was getting close to 200 posts, but I had no idea that it would take me so long to get there! I just haven't had that much to post about lately - not many craft projects or new recipes happening at my house these days!
I am 16 weeks today, and pregnancy-wise, I've been feeling pretty good. I have been regaining energy, and my blood pressure has been great. This week, I've felt the baby move a few times. It is usually low on my left side, and most of the time, it has felt like a rolling pressure. One afternoon, I felt some flutters across the center of my belly. I've been battling a cough and congestion for the past month, and I think that if I could just completely get over these cold/allergy symptoms, I would feel great. Here is a picture of me from this morning (at 16 weeks).My next OB appointment is October 4, and our ultrasound is scheduled for October 12. We are hoping to find out the baby's gender that day, and we are also hoping to hear that baby is developing well.
My birthday was last Saturday, and I had a really nice day. Jim had a day off - which is pretty rare for a Saturday in September. He usually has outings to run every weekend, but there weren't any scheduled for that day! He took me out for dinner on Friday night, and then he and Drew made me a cheesecake on Saturday morning. It has a turtle cheesecake, and it was delicious!

I meant to take a picture of a slice of cheesecake, but I forgot to take one! I was too busy eating to stop and photograph, I guess!

Drew had a soccer practice that afternoon, and he had a great time! Here they were playing a dribbling game, which included dropping to the ground. I think that was his favorite part!

They had a little scrimmage, and Drew was upset this week that the other kids weren't sharing the ball with him. He didn't want to try to take the ball away from anyone. We tried to explain that taking the ball was pretty much the way to have a turn with it. I don't know that his feet touched the ball at all during the scrimmage. Hopefully, he will catch on before the end of the season.

At the end of each practice, the children walk through a tunnel of cheering parents, and I snapped this picture of Drew as he walked past.

Snacks at the end are the favorite part, and Drew ate his with his buddy, Joseph.

Jim's mom took us out for dinner for my birthday after soccer practice. Drew fell asleep in the van on the way to the restaurant. He has to miss his nap for soccer each week, and all the running wears him out!

Drew has his first field trip coming up soon. I will try to post pictures from that, and I will definitely post some ultrasound pictures and results after we get those!

Timbit Soccer

Drew started soccer this afternoon through our local AYSO chapter. He is in the Under 5 group, which is sponsored by Tim Horton's. His group is called the "Timbits," which is the name for the donut holes at Tim Horton's. Drew was so excited to get dressed up in his uniform and go to soccer today! He is number 81. Each week, the children are put into different groups where they will learn soccer skills by playing little games.

The Timbits headed out to do their first drill. They played a game called, "Coach Says," where they had to follow the coaches' instructions. AYSO is staffed entirely by volunteers, and Drew's volunteer coaches this week were a couple of young teenage boys. They were very kind and knowledgeable, but they weren't great at communicating with 4 year-olds. Many of the children were pretty confused.

The coaches said to sit on the soccer balls. Drew followed this direction ok, but he struggled with many of the skills. Jim and I are planning to practice some of the harder skills with Drew at home this week.

In the second game, the children had to listen and follow directions, but the directions all had a pirate theme.

There were frequent water breaks.

Toward the end, half of the group put on orange pinnies, and they had a little scrimmage. They mostly clumped around the ball, but there was one little boy that kept taking the ball to the goal and scoring. He probably scored three or four times!

Drew loved running around with the other children.

The final skill they practiced was shooting at the goal.

The coaches pretended to try to stop the balls from going into the net, and the children were thrilled to get the ball past their coaches.

Everyone's favorite part of the day was snack time. Each child got a juice and a snack.

On the bottom inside of Drew's jersey, it says, "I just played. I'm thirsty!" After each of Drew's soccer practices, he can go to Tim Horton's and show his little shirt hem to get a free drink. We stopped at Tim Horton's on our way home, and Drew got a chocolate milk and some Timbits.

The worker loved Drew's shirt!

Drew had a great first day of soccer, and we are looking forward to five more Saturdays of soccer this fall!

I shot a little video of the pirate skills game. I'm hoping that Drew will get a little better at his soccer (and listening) skills as the season goes along.

Drew's First Day of K4

Drew had his first day of K4 this morning, and he loved it! We took him to his classroom, and he found the hook with his name on it and hung up his backpack. We took a few pictures. Here is one of Drew and his buddy, Joseph.

Here is our little family.

Drew couldn't wait to be done with pictures so he could go play with some of Mrs. Johnson's toys! After a few announcements, the parents all left (many of the moms were crying - I was not). Drew was so happy to be there, and I knew he was going to have a wonderful morning.

I came back before lunch to pick him up. The K4 and K5 students were all waiting in a line for their parents.

Drew's teacher said that he did a great job today, and Jim and I are so proud!

For now, Drew will just be going to K4 one morning a week, and he and I will be working on some things at home during the rest of the week. We are looking forward to a great year!

Drew's Golf Lessons

Drew has been taking golf lessons this month through the First Tee program. The local group has its offices at Jim's course, so it has been fun for Drew to go to Daddy's work each week for his lessons. Drew's group is called the "Tiny Tots," and it is for children 4-6 years old. So far, they've had three lessons, and they have worked on pitching, driving, chipping, and putting.
Here is Drew waiting for his turn. Using his pitching wedge.

Getting some help from one of the teachers.

Here they are on the putting green.

The teachers have been great! They are very positive and kind.

Here is a little video from this week's lesson.

My Medical Existance

The past several weeks have been filled with doctor appointments, ultrasounds, and medicine! The day I took my home pregnancy test, I called the doctor's office to see if the blood pressure medicine I was taking was safe for pregnancy. I went in to see a doctor later that week, and he changed my blood pressure medicine and had me get some lab work done.
I went back twice the following week - once to see the OB nurse and talk about my pregnancy and health history and then again the next day to have a dating ultrasound and see the doctor for the first time. My first ultrasound showed me to be about 5 weeks along, and all that we could really see was the yolk sack. Since my blood pressure was a little high that day and we hadn't been able to see much at the ultrasound, my doctor wanted me to come back a week later to see her again and to have a second ultrasound. I was in South Carolina with my parents the next week, but the day after we got home, I had my second ultrasound and doctor appointment. According to the first ultrasound, I was supposed to be 6 and a half weeks along at my second ultrasound, and the second ultrasound confirmed that. At the second ultrasound, I saw the baby and the heartbeat. The ultrasound tech and my doctor both said that everything looked good. My blood pressure was high again, so my doctor wanted me to come back again a week later for a possible blood pressure medicine change.

I went back last week, and my blood pressure was still high, so my doctor switched my medicine. I am now taking blood pressure medicine twice a day, a prenatal vitamin, a baby aspirin, a vitamin D supplement, and a DHA supplement every day. I went ahead and bought a pill organizer to keep things a little simpler!

I am also taking my blood pressure at home several times a day and keeping a record for the doctor. My blood pressure has been great this week at home, so I am wondering if I am just getting nervous at the doctor's office. I'm praying that that is the case and that my blood pressure really is under control.

I go back to the doctor again on Wednesday, so I am hoping for a good visit! I was very thankful to learn this week that I do not have a copay for prenatal visits, so at least all of these appointments are not costing us anything out of pocket. I would appreciate your prayers that my blood pressure would be controlled and that it won't cause trouble this pregnancy.