Safety first!

We finally got a pool fence installed!  We specifically wanted a mesh fence that is removable because we won't always need a pool fence but with #2 on the way we don't want to take any chances.  We have an extra precaution latch on our sliding door leading to outside but we wanted the extra security of a fence.  We're actually surprised the previous home owners didn't have a fence given they had 2 children under 3 but it allowed us to pick the fence we wanted. 

It's a little bit of a nail-biter when the fence goes in because you don't know exactly what it will look like, but both of us, well and Trevor too, really liked how it turned out.  It somehow makes the backyard look even bigger which we didn't think would happen.

This particular fence advertises that the poles can be hit by a truck and still not break.  So we know kids can't push it down!  It has a self-closing gate with a lock which is great but the best part?  The whole thing can be taken down in 4-5 minutes if we want to have a party with adults or something.  Ah, technology...gotta love it!  Best money spent yet on the house for peace of mind with our kiddos and others.  Although we'll continue to keep an extra eye and ear up just knowing we have a pool in the backyard. 

Our haunted house fun

During one of Sara and Trevor's adventures to Target, Trevor spotted a Haunted House kit that he just had to have.  Doesn't take much convincing for Mommy to agree that cookies, frosting and candy are needed in the house, so Trevor eagerly put it in the cart and reminded Mommy for the rest of the day that we needed to make 'the house' that night when Daddy came home.

The boys really got into it.

Trevor wasn't afraid to do a little tasting, you know to make sure it was edible.

It passes!

Trevor was a great decorator.  He wanted it to look just like the box but we went a little astray and made our own version!

Astray meaning that most of the candy became ornaments on the front lawn :)  (Which is better anyway - much easier to grab and eat!)

We asked Trevor what he wanted on the back of the house and he said 'Mama' so guess what he got?   (He does know that Mommy's boss so it's no surprise that this is Mama's house!  He! He!)

Turned out pretty good if you ask us.  Can't wait to see what our holiday Gingerbread house will look like!

Happy 8th Anniversary!

Where have 8 years gone??  It doesn't seem that long ago that it was a beautiful Fall day in MN and surrounded by friends and family we committed to each other for eternity.  Yet life keeps moving us forward and we've got to share in a lot of great experiences together and we have many more to come!!  

We celebrated with two date nights (thanks Papa John and Grandma Pauline for watching T).  The first date night was at an Italian restaurant - Sassi - in Troon (North Scottsdale) where we could see the sunset behind Pinnacle Peak.  The weather was perfect - somewhat cool for a change - so we sat outside and had a nice conversation and meal.

 

Even though Sassi gave us complimentary cannoli's for a special anniversary dessert we headed down the street to Rare Earth Wine Bar where Brian discovered a new wine that he loves and Sara enjoyed a nice big piece of turtle cheesecake.  Yes, the baby needed two different desserts!

On Friday evening we headed to Modern Steak in Fashion Square.  As everyone knows, Brian and Sara are quite meat and potato people so this meal really hit the spot.  We enjoyed a shrimp appetizer, steak, lobster, fingerling potatoes, mascarpone cream corn and of course a fabulous chocolate dessert with a side of red velvet ice cream.  Or so they said it was....didn't taste exactly like red velvet to the red velvet aficionado but it was still yummy!

After that we headed to a nearby casino to check it out and listen to the dueling pianos.  And good thing we did because we learned that our favorite band 'Cowboy Mouth' is playing in a few weeks.  So we'll be headed out to see them with our friends Brian and Cassie soon!  Yay!  It's only fair since Trevor heard them in 'utero' that baby sister would too :)  

One funny comment from Trevor while with his Grandparents at dinner...a couple dining nearby asked Trevor where his parents were and he said 'they went to get married'!  Where does he get this stuff?  He's just too cute!  

Baby Elena is here!!! (No, not ours either!)

Baby Elena was not going to let her Mommy Annie get induced as planned on a Wednesday...instead she came on her own just 2 days late!  We got a text at 3:00am on Sunday introducing Elena Clare Roslansky.  6lbs 11 oz. and 20.5 inches long born at 3:07am on 10/7. 

When her big brother Sam was born we literally got to meet him 2 hours after he was born.  Boy was that neat.  However being 2000+ miles away, we have to get our niece baby fix through pics.

Mommy Annie and Elena left the hospital just 36 hours after being born and you can see that Grandma and Grandpa Roslansky are proud grandparents!

Annie's parents were in AZ helping with baby Kendall (as planned) when Elena was born so they too lived vicariously through pics.  From what we hear baby Elena has her days and nights mixed up but is still a great baby who is just too cute!

Sam is a doting big brother who loves his baby sister!  This picture makes us happy :)

Baby Elena is so sleepy that she doesn't appreciate being woken up to even eat.  Here she is pouting because they are trying to wake her up!  

While we wish were there to love and cuddle her, we will get to see her for quite a few days over Christmas when they venture to Phoenix.  Yipppeeeee!!!!  Until then, we hope the pictures continue coming.  They change so much every day when they are so little.  And who can believe we'll have our own little girl in just a few weeks?!?!  Double yipppppeeeeeeee!!!

Road Trip!

To escape the ongoing heat of Phoenix (well, and to pick up a new printer at the only place Best Buy offered it in store) we took a road trip to Prescott, AZ.  Trevor was super excited to take another road trip, although we're pretty sure he thought when we said road trip we'd magically appear at Mickey's house!

Prescott is about 90 minutes from our house and what a different vibe....it's nestled in the mountains so there was greenery everywhere and leaves and cool temps.  It was wonderful!

After getting the printer we walked around the cute town square where a band/beer tent was set-up to raise money for the wildfires.  We enjoyed a piece of pumpkin pie from a deli that Sara's parents had been to and recommended as well as sat and listened to the band.  Okay, and people watched....all day beer fest tends to make people a bit crazy :)

We also took a few pics of baby sister, although Brian says Sara doesn't even look pregnant.  If only one could feel not pregnant when it feels like you are going to tip over face first!

Definitely pregnant from the side :)

Before we got back in the car we stopped at a local park to watch the skateboarders and have T burn off some energy on playground equipment.  Mommy and Daddy got in on the fun too and Trevor captured the silly moment!

Mommy's little purple people eaters!

Blog Disclaimer

People sometimes ask why we do this blog and while we'd like to say it was for our friends' and family viewing pleasure, it really is for us.  Although it is an added bonus that our friends and family get to know us and Trevor much better :)  At least that's what we've been told!

We try to document our lives so that we can print out our memories so that we can reflect back at what we've done and how fortunate we've been.  Knock on wood.....

Sara has always been a scrapbooker.  It started when she was required to make one for her sorority her freshman year and just kept building.  She has over 20 scrapbooks documenting undergrad, her time in Memphis and St. Louis, grad school, her and Brian's engagement, wedding, first house...the list goes on and on.  There are ticket stubs, maps, pictures just about everything in those books documenting all aspects of her and then Brian's life.  We kid that if our house is ever on fire that Brian first grab all the scrapbooks.  That's how important they are to us.  

When we found out we were having a baby we decided to switch to a digital medium to save time and well, to keep up with the 21st century.  Not sure it saves time but it does work well to have all of our memories in an online space that can also be printed out into hardcover books.  

Should have taken a picture of the 20+ scrapbooks but instead here is a pic we already had showing the scrapbooks Trevor has to date:

 Bottom left to right:

1) First year of the blog

2) Second year of the blog

3) Trevor's baby book

4) Any and all cards Trevor has received

5) Professional pics of Trevor (just need a pic in the front cover)

6) Sara's pregnancy pics and ultrasound pics of T

Why do we share all this?  We just wanted to make sure you know that we don't have this blog to brag or boast or complain or anything of the sorts.  We just want to document our life as it is so that we can always reflect back on our memories, hard work, family, friends and time together :)  And we're glad that you are along for the ride of the 'Life and Times of the Hillins family'!

Flying High

With Brian's new position he'll have the opportunity (do you call it that?) to travel a bit more.  Lucky for him, his first trip in this new role involved taking one of PetSmart's corporate jets!  They went to Austin, TX on Monday morning then flew to San Francisco, CA later that afternoon.  Back home an hour early (!) Tuesday afternoon.

He was the 2nd most senior person on the flight and said it was neat to see how in awe and appreciative the team was to fly in such style.  Can you imagine?  No security line?  No waiting at the airport.  Nice!!

 

Trevor and Mommy went to the hangar to see them land (about 15 minutes from our house) but they missed it because no one was answering the speaker at the gate but that's okay.  The pilots stuck around so that Mommy and Trevor could see the plane.  Looked pretty comfy and cozy!  It may be hard for Brian to fly commercial again after this :)

Baby Belly

 Gosh we were so good at taking belly shots with Trevor, this kid not so much so Sara whipped out her iphone to capture a 33.5 week picture :)  So for all you baby belly fans, here you go!

 

And a side shot - love how Trevor is looking up at his baby sister :)  He loves her!!

 How does this compare to when Sara was pregnant with Trevor?  Pretty close!  Here's 33 weeks last go around....

 

Weight gain to date is 24.5 pounds...exactly where she was with Trevor.  She's on track to gain a little over 30, again, just like Trevor but it really doesn't matter to Sara how much she gains.  Every pound is worth it for the baby growing inside!

How is baby girl doing?  Fabulous!  We are so blessed to have an OB that likes ultrasounds as much as Mommy and Daddy (and as much as her MN OB did!).  Baby girl has had ultrasounds at:

-  4 weeks (in ER after fainting episode)
- 6 weeks

- 8 weeks

- 12 weeks

- 13 weeks

- 16 weeks

- 20 weeks

- 21 weeks

- 23 weeks

- 24 weeks

- 26 weeks

- 28 weeks

- 31 weeks

- 33 weeks

and she'll have one again at 35, 36, and 37 weeks for sure to see if the little stinker is still breech.  Not that it really matters since she'll be c-section!  Why so many ultrasounds?  Well, it helps switching OBs due to the move, having a Daddy with a bi-cuspid aortic valve, a Mommy that's adopted and in AZ the 12, 20 and 24 week ultrasounds are done at a Fetal Women's Center so then when we go back to our normal OB he wants to do one himself too! 

It's fun being able to track her progress each time and hear her heartbeat.  Oh and of course confirm she's still a girl :)  Stats so far: 4.1 pounds, 18.5 inches, and a head that is still measuring over a week ahead of the rest of her body.  Sometimes a c-section is just fine :)

Baby Kendall is here! (No, not ours!)

Nicci (Annie's sister) and Mike welcomed their baby girl Kendall Ruth.  She is a little cutie who is stronger than stronger.  She proved everyone wrong by being able to come home after just a week without any feeding tube, breathing apparatuses, or anything!  She sure is a cutie! 

We love having them so close by (they moved just 6 minutes from our house) because it means we can help each other out!  For example, when Kendall was still in the hospital the boys came over to play so that Nicci's parents could both see Kendall at the same time.  It works great because the boys get along wonderfully!  

We're still waiting on Sara's brother Jim and his wife Annie to give birth to their baby girl (aka 'fruit snack' as big brother Sam calls her).  She's due Friday, October 5 but we'll see if she's late like Sam!

A Day of Firsts

Trevor has had some exciting adventures besides just Mickey's house as of lately!  First, he started private swimming lessons at our community clubhouse.  The lap pool is heated year round so one of the local swim schools offers swimming lessons here, which is nice!  We can walk over rather than drive anywhere.  

We really like the teacher and after one lesson Trevor is already picking up so much.  We thought of changing lesson type but we think we'll stick with this since it's working.  He'll be swimming in no time but after one lesson he knows to roll over on his back, float and yell for help if he's in trouble, can scale the pool side to get to a ladder and even just climb out on any side.  He shows the teacher his big scoops and kicks and has no problem putting his head under water to get rings.  What an improvement over the last time we tried swimming lessons in MN!

 

Saturday night we took Trevor to his first movie in the theater!  One of his favorites these days is Nemo, so when it came out in 3D we knew it was time!  Plus there was a Toy Story short movie on beforehand so we knew Trevor would love it.  Last minute we decided to go to a Studio Grill where they serve food and beverages during the movie.  We figured it would be a bit more casual than just a regular theater which would work good if Trevor needed to get up to use the potty or just wasn't feeling it.  

Trevor anxiously awaited his first movie!  

 

Sported his 3D glasses:

 And ate his chicken nuggets while watching the show.  Notice where his hands are....over his ears.  It was a tad loud!!  And he didn't wear the glasses the whole time but still enjoyed the movie!  He did a great job telling us when he needed to use the potty and sat through the whole movie except was ready to go the last 10 minutes.  We stayed though and he told us how much fun he had :)