Pool fun

This afternoon Chris watched Corban while I went for my baby appointment (everything is going super!), and when I came home this is how I found the boys!















Yesterday, Corban and I went swimming at the pool. It had been awhile since we'd been because of all our afternoon rain showers, so it was lots of fun to play in the water. Corban has some dive sticks that he had fun dropping on the steps and "diving" for.















"Got it, Mama!"

Corban update

Well, I wouldn't say "terrible" but I would say that since Corban has turned two we have certainly had some "trying" days! We have instituted a time-out corner at home and it seems to be used at least a few times every day.
Today I took Corban to see "Charlotte's Web" on the big screen. Regal Cinema has a summer program with free G/PG movies for children and parents one day a week, so we tried it out. He did really well and with a theater full of children it didn't matter if he identified the animals out loud when they appeared on the screen. We made it through a little more than half and then it was time to get up and walk around.
Corban has also begun more developed role playing or imagination games, especially with his favorite toy "Bear." This afternoon Corban was being like Daddy by walking around with Bear on his shoulders, talking to him ("Good see you." "How you?"), putting Bear "night-night," and even putting Bear in time-out!
His molar teeth are also coming in, 2 on top are completely in and 1 on the bottom is coming in now. So just one more "baby tooth" to come!

July weddings

We were not able to go to Leu Gardens yesterday, so we went this morning for a family picture in the Rose Garden and to take advantage of being able to go back and visit where we were married. Corban has had a bit of a cold today so we walked around some but didn't stay to long.
Chris said that he felt the need to apologize to all our family and friends that were there for how incredibly hot it is in July for an outside wedding! They were actually set up for a wedding this morning, so we saw all the guests huddled under the shade of the couple of gazebos waiting until the last possible minute to take a seat in the lovely, but completely unshaded rose garden.

This evening Chris and I went out (dates two days in a row without Corban!) to a wedding which was beautiful. It was Sage and Betsy Hirschy's wedding (Sage was one of the guys in Chris's small group through K-Life years ago) and we had a great time getting to visit with several friends that we hadn't seen for some time. We had a fun evening out and Aunt Jenn surprised Corban with "Finding Nemo" so they had a super time at home!

Family Birthday

Today is our 3rd anniversary! Or what we call our "Family Birthday" because it was on July 25th, 2005 that our Pendrak family began.



We started the day with blueberry pancakes with more berries and syrup on top.






Then Chris and I went out for a special lunch at Capital Grille! Everything was delicious...their "Kona Crusted Dry Aged Sirloin with Caramelized Shallot Butter" is the best! And because it was our anniversary they had decorated our table with roses and gave us a chocolate dessert with a champagne toast (for us it was ginger ale!) and took a picture of us (they printed out in a paper frame), which just all made the afternoon even more special.








Then later in the day we all went to Chuck' E' Cheese's to play on the games and rides.














Its been a day filled with lots of yummy food and great fun. I am so thankful for my amazing husband, wonderful marriage and happy family!

little Noah

Wednesday is usually my laundry day and Corban always has fun with the empty baskets. He usually pretends the basket is a boat and either sits in it or puts his toys in. There was a basket still out in the living room this afternoon and Corban was playing in it so I asked him if it was a boat. He said "No, ark" waited a couple seconds and told me "Noah ark!"



Of course, its still a good place for "hiding" too!

Drive-in Movie

Chris and I have been to the Silver Moon Drive-in a few times and always have fun getting to eat dinner, watch a couple movies outside and be able to see a new release movie with Corban along (he usually just sleeps in his carseat).
We'd been talking about going again, and then last night Chris surprised me with a drive-in experience at home! As I put Corban to bed, Chris got everything set up for a "double feature" (we watched "21" and "Stop-Loss") with dinner and dessert. It was so much fun and we didn't have to worry about the rainy weather outside.

Baking Bread

Today I made "Amish Friendship Bread."
Well, actually today I mixed and baked it but what I think is neat about the bread is its a 10 day process. Instead of a quick bread or the immediate gratification of something like a box cake mix (don't get me wrong, I am still a fan of all the things you can do with a box mix!), with this you have to care for the dough over time. Before you make your 2 loaves you take more than half of the batter out as a starter to give to a few friends so that they can make their own (I don't know if its actually Amish but that's at least where the Friendship part of the name comes from). My friend Katilin gave me my starter last week and I added fresh blueberries today which made it extra yummy!
We are enjoying one loaf and I'm planning on bringing the other to bible study on Thursday (with 2 of the starters to pass on). I am keeping one starter for myself so that in another 10 days I can try a different variation. Online I found all sorts of suggestions on add-ins and even a starter recipe, so if you don't live close enough for me to share with you and want to start your own you can try: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Amish-Friendship-Bread-Starter/Detail.aspx.

32 weeks

I am now 32 weeks (out of 40, or beginning 8 months) in my pregnancy!
I have had some pain on my left side (sciatica), which is something that I didn't experience when I was pregnant with Corban, but my midwife said is fairly common and at this point will probably continue off and on until the baby is born and then disappear. Sometimes its pretty uncomfortable and I'll make a face or say "ow" and Corban will ask if I'm "hurt" and then offer me a "kiss" to make it "better," a heating pad seems to be more effective but it is so sweet when he does it! Otherwise, this has been a super pregnancy and I'm feeling great. I love being able to really enjoy being pregnant!



Corban reading on a car ride
peek-a-boo!

Day at home

We are continuing to work on potty-training with Corban. Actually we've started being more structured about it, before it was mostly by his initiation with lots of praise from us. It would be really nice to have him out of diapers before baby arrives!
Today we stayed home all day so that Corban could wear his "big boy pants" and have potty reminders every 15 minutes. He did great, no accidents and lots of stickers!
He also played pretend with a couple toys this afternoon that he was making ice cream and eating it! Good imagination!

mix
taste
yumm!

"Big Boy" room

We've made the transition of Corban's room being the nursery to now being a "big boy" room! The crib, changing table and chair have been moved into the baby's room (that room is still in process!) and Corban now has a twin size bed, small dresser, and very fun tent for playing in his room. For now, Corban's bed is just the mattress on the floor because with the bed frame it was to high off the ground for him. Its a transportation theme (cars, planes, trains, etc.), Corban loves his new set-up and I'm glad to have things settled for him a couple months before baby arrives.

Sleeping Prince

Don't be completely fooled by this angelic sleeping face...Corban is just exhausted tonight after refusing to take a nap this afternoon. Instead of napping, this little monkey (actually the monkey costume is what he was in when he and Chris picked me up from the airport last week when I flew back from Kathy's wedding, it was such a cute pic I had to include it!) decided to pour the water from his sippy cup and strew baby wipes across his room. Oh, what a day! I think its time for Mama to head to bed now too!

Corban is 2!!

Yesterday was Corban's second birthday! He is definitely no longer a baby but a sweet, rough and tumble, little boy!
We had a great day together as a family-- we went to the park so he could try out his new car from Grandma and Grandpa and to play on the playground, and then in the afternoon we went to Chuck E. Cheese's (he had a blast in the toddler area running between the "Clifford" and "Bob the Builder" rides) and the pet store (he loves just looking at all the different animals!). There was no hesitation on the cake eating this year (he knows what it is now!) but he really didn't make a mess either, even with the blue icing!

The Blog...

Well, I'm setting things up for the transition from website world to blog world. We've had a website for Corban for the last 2 years on babyjellybeans, but with another baby on the way I don't want to keep up with 2 websites and there is no charge for this site which is great. So, we are going to one site for the whole family. I'm sure I (Abigail) will be doing most (ok, probably all!) the posting so it will be from my point of view, but hopefully will be a super way to stay in touch with family and friends and share pictures of our little cuties!
"The Pendrak's" are Chris, Abigail, Corban, and baby girl on the way. Oh, and can't forget our dog Caleb!