The Home List: Debuting this Season...

Against our better judgement, we are upping the ante in the garden this year, adding two more raised beds (smaller than the others) and planting a large cutting flower garden if the AACS maintenance department gives us the go-ahead.  I'm the most excited about the flowers, since planting a big flower garden is on my list of "30 Things to Do Before I Turn 30", right along with dying my hair and having another baby (about to check that one off).

You may recall that our neat little garden plot turned into a living monster by the end of the summer last year...

before:

after:

Those are the pole beans that swallowed the large bushes outside of the garden fence.

This year, we're going to weed and prune and pinch off and not plant so many beans or cherry tomatoes.  And we're swapping seedlings with Jim and Laura.  Both families are expecting new babies at any moment, so that will add to the early-season planting fun!

Debuting this season:
sugar snap peas, strawberries, lettuces, arugula, watermelon, and Grace and Leah's marigolds!
Joining:
tomatoes (too many different kinds, they're moving into large pots instead)
zucchini
summer squash
bell peppers
cucumbers
beans
herbs (in the window boxes)

They're not all going to fit, are they??

Eight Months

Yesterday I enjoyed contractions every 5-7 minutes, beginning at 3pm and finally slowing down and then stopping by 11pm. Someone may be anxious to make an appearance!  I hope...

Don't forget to leave your guess on the baby poll by scrolling down the page.

Going Weekly

It's time to go to the OB office weekly.  And that, I suppose, means I should be washing baby clothes and getting around to my "to-do" list.  I went in today and am "about one" centimeter dilated.  The third time around you really do believe in your heart that one centimeter doesn't mean much of anything, but progress is progress!  

Here's Leah, to give you something adorable to look at~

Good for a Chuckle

Grace:  Look, Mom, I found a penny!
Heather:  That's worth one cent.  How many pennies do you need to make one dollar?
Grace:  I don't remember.
Heather:  One hundred!
Grace:  That's how old Poppy is!!

Deterding Baby Poll!

*click on the image above to enlarge the calendar*

Once again, it's Baby Poll time.  Here's a refresher on the official rules and regulations:

1.  Post your guess for the baby's arrival in the "comment" section.  Be sure to specify both date and time of day -- either "am" or "pm".

2.  Limit one guess per person, and only one entry per time slot-- no sharing!

3.  Winner is determined based on time of birth.  For example, if the baby is born on March 29th at 7 AM, a guess of "March 29th,  AM" would be the winner.  In the event that there is no entry for the correct arrival time, the next closest guess based on actual time of birth would win.  

4.  We will post entries on the Calendar above.  Check prior entries before placing  your guess!  Dates not displayed on the calendar above are still up for grabs (be aware that my doctors usually plan to induce 1 week after the due date...)

5.   The winner will receive... bragging rights and a congratulatory post here at The Deterding Family Blog!  It doesn't get any better than that, right?!

We had 35 participants in Grace's Baby Poll...let's see if we can top that!  Play today!

7 Month Belly

Excuse the circles under the eyes and the general appearance of weariness...this is nearing the end of the third trimester, after all.  I'm just about 34 weeks and a little late getting this picture taken, as I'll be eight months pregnant on February 29...er, if there was a Feb. 29.

I've got a to-do list a mile long and we're still working on finding the perfect girl name in case we'll be adding another little sister into the family!  Braxton Hicks contractions every single day.  Lots of Tums.  Lots of belly-hugs from Grace and Leah.  Lots of help around the house from my sweet husband.

Rum pum pum

Our sweet little angel feels her little sister or brother for the first time...I think she will take good care of him/her

Or maybe not...