I thought I would take a few minutes and update - well I am 33 1/2 weeks along now. I am guessing a month still to go. I was two weeks early with Ayden, so at least it's my prayer that he follows suit! I have been having weekly appointments now for about a month (I guess due to the g. diabetes) and my next one is tomorrow morning. I always hope for uneventful visits. A week from today is my next ultrasound and first non-stress test. I think for the non-stress test they just hook me up to a monitor for a period of time and make sure that he is not under any stress...I don't know for sure, but I'll let you know how that goes.

Saturday, Shawn and I dropped Ayden off with the Olley family (Chuck, Andrea, Zachary, Wesley, Clay, and Luke) and we went on a church bus trip to NYC to see Tarzan on Broadway. We had a really nice time - a whole lot of walking for an 8 month prego in flip flops - but still lots and lots of fun. Jenn and Nate, Mom and Dad, Mama and Papa, and Rich and Judy Beckley (friends of the family) were also able to come, so it was nice to spend the day with them. I can't believe it, but I don't have any pictures to show - I had my camera with me, but I never thought to take it out until we were on the way home and then there was nothing to take pictures of! We got home pretty late, but Ayden played hard at the Olley's house, had a wonderful time, and slept really well! Thanks Andrea!

We hope that maybe in the fall we can take a long weekend and go up to New York for a couple of days and actually get to see some more stuff. I have only ever done day trips, but by the time you figure travel time and then time for a play, there really isn't much time for sight seeing! There are also sooo many cool restaurants - it's hard to decide when you're there what to choose!

I can't remember if I told everyone or not yet, but Jenn and Nate are having a girl...Miriam Clara - and we will all call her Mia for short! So we have already started to buy her stuff. One of the outfits that we bought her that Shawn actually picked out is going to be the outfit they bring her home from the hospital in! Good taste, Uncle Shawn!

Hmmm....what else?!?! Let's see - Gramma and PawPaw Bates might either be coming this weekend or next. They are giving us Dad's old truck - which is really cool for a lot of reasons, but the best one to me is that Shawn proposed to me in that truck! So definitely sentimental value to me anyway!

Along those same lines, Friday is our 5th anniversary. Next week we are going to Cape May for a night - Wednesday afternoon after Shawn gets home from work we are going to drive down and then we will be back Thursday about dinner time. It will be nice to get away - we haven't been on a real vacation since our honeymoon - not that this is a vacation either, but I can pretend for 24 hours! :)

Well I guess that's all I have for now. Below are a couple of pictures I wanted to share with you - they are of Bubba and Daddy. It is amazing to me how different Ayden is when Shawn is around. He is calmer, plays nicer, and just really loves being with his Daddy. That brings me so much joy - I could just sit for hours and watch them play together!

Playing with Daddy after he got home from work!

Watching Cartoons with Daddy