Meredith continues to be excited to be a big sister. She is a good helper for Mommy and Daddy, usually willing to pick things up and put on her shoes (since her very pregnant Mommy can�t do these things anymore!) She loved the Valentine�s Day festivities at preschool (she does have a sweet tooth), and continues to enjoy making �art projects� for her friends and family. She has branched out into stamps, cut paper that is glued or taped, and stencils to widen her repertoire. She likes to pretend that she�s a mommy with a baby, and Mommy is the big sister, or the �kid.� Then we all go in a rocket ship and see animals, or �go camping� under the dining room table.

It�s a little confusing for her to not know when, exactly, her baby sister will come � she at first thought Mom was refusing to tell her, rather than that we just really don�t know. She thought to ask, �well, does anyone ELSE know when my baby sister will be born?� I would love to find that person, too!

Mer has been mostly a trooper through some illnesses this spring, including a round of lice at preschool (yuck) and bronchitis. She had to have a chest X-ray for the latter, and found it an interesting experience. She has also been to the dentist for the first time (surprised by the reclining chair) and an eye checkup (dilation drops are the worst!) After all this, she remains curious about science and medicine, and often declares that she will be a doctor when she grows up.

Last week we had two major snowfalls, each more than a foot (catching up from a very mild winter, all in one week!). Derek managed not to throw out his back shoveling almost constantly for two days. He and Mer made a snow fort and a snow �princess� in our backyard and tooled around in the purple sled.

We�ve also been taking advantage of the great kids� pool at our YWCA. Mer loves to wiggle around in the fountains and is getting more confident about kicking, with help. She can also put her mouth in the water and blow bubbles. Mommy just likes to float around!

Jen and Derek have been working hard trying to get things done at law school and work, respectively, before the baby comes. It�s a little hard to prepare when she could come anytime in the next month or so, but we�re doing our best. We are really excited about our new arrival, though it doesn�t seem very real sometimes. It should � she is constantly kicking and wiggling around, not to mention Jen has a simply enormous 9-months pregnant belly. We�re almost there!