This afternoon my sweet next door neighbor gave me a baby shower. It was lots of fun! Mark went to the park with Grandpa and Daddy. He came to the baby shower a little later to enjoy some cake and to help Mommy open some gifts. We received lots of wonderful presents from family, friends, and neighbors.

Not much longer and baby brother will be here. My last OB appointment we talked about inducing on Sept. 4th. This would make baby 36 1/2 weeks old. I had steroid injections last week to help with baby's lung development. We are still trying to come up with baby's name.

Mark is full of energy, laughter, and smiles. He is also quite talkative and inventive. At Bounce U last week, Mark pulled a car over to the water fountain so he could step up on it and get a drink. Today Mark went into the house to get a tissue and when he came back out he locked the door. When I told him to go back inside, Mark told me the door was locked. I then realized we were locked out. I asked Mark how we were going to get back inside the house and he said "use a key". I told him I didn't have a key and he went to the front door and started ringing the doorbell. I had the cordless phone outside with us, since I was expecting a call. I called Mike at work and he came home to let us in and get an early lunch.

Planting flowers with Grandma

Playing at the park (taken a few days after surgery)

Baby is growing (taken the week before surgery)

Mark and Grandma enjoy some swimming time, Mommy has to wait a little longer before she can get in the pool

A lot has happened in our family over the last couple of months. In July, Joanna was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. A left mastectomy with some lymph nodes removed was done on July 28th. Joanna's mom came and stayed with us during this time. Mark is doing really well with being careful while Mommy heals. He is such a good boy. Baby is kicking especially in the evening, while in the hospital he kept moving off of the monitor. Baby is 32 weeks now.