Lucky

I was informed after one of Mike's Saturday yard sale pursuits

that we were getting a bird.

The girls have been begging for a pet since...forever.

And after his steal-of-a-find on a cage, we settled on a parakeet.

Meet Lucky.

This was the lucky bird,
from all the other parakeets at the pet store,
that got picked.

He was so named by the girls because, as Elena put it,
He is lucky to have us!

Since his arrival he has been sprayed by water, poked, shook,
tipped over, and had his little plume wardrobe compromised.

They say that parakeets are social birds that require daily attention and interaction.
But by the way he hastily retreats from the little chubby hands that reach out for him
(one little chubby hand in particular), I'm sure he would be all about some solitude.

And though he be Lucky, all I have to say is poor bird.

April Celebrating

It's not every year that my birthday and Easter fall on the same week.

The girls put a little party together (with the help of grandma),

complete with cards, decorations, and cake.

They were very excited.
Gracie sang happy birthday in her full megaphone-voice,
which reminds me I need to record more of her signing.
Elena kept telling me ahead of time what surprises were planned,
while Raquel tried to keep her quiet, frustrated by the fact
she was "ruining" the surprises.
It was very nice and I loved it.


On Saturday the primary had their Easter activity,

with one of the best Easter egg hunts--

evident by the girls' baskets...

They had a great time.

It was an extra exciting and eventful week.

Not the usual norm for us right now.

Small Sacrifice

Mike says he can always tell when I'm pregnant because I no longer laugh at his jokes. 

In its place is a what? that was supposed to be funny? look.

Which is really not how I feel in a non-pregnant state. 

Mike is one of the funniest persons I know.

I can always tell when I'm pregnant (besides the obvious signs) because I'm more snappish.

I don't like it. I told Mike it's pregnancy induced temperament.

Under non-pregnant circumstances, I consider myself pretty even-chill and constant.

But both aforementioned defects boil down to the wave of nausea that drowns my days

starting at about 7 weeks.  Its pervasive and unyielding until 17-20 weeks.

So I've begun the countdown to relief.  Only 9-11 weeks to go!

So I'm not-amused, barky, and barfy. 

Count your blessings for not living close to us.

I wake up wondering how I ever willingly put myself up for this.  Again.
Yet I know that somehow, in just a few months,
when this has passed I'll think the small sacrifice was worth it. 

Because really, it's pretty hard not to when you have this
to look forward to...

P.S.  Thank you for all the nice comments and well wishes in the previous post, they help remind me during this nauseating stage how great this really is.