Baby's First Visit

So, we are rapidly approaching the end of Baby’s first trip to Iowa. Whew…we have been through quite the whirlwind! Baby has become much, much, much MORE active since arriving in Iowa (I think that may be a sign, Baby likes it!). This however has meant much, much, much LESS sleep for me! I will take it though, as it has been very fun to really feel Baby moving around. Chris even got to feel Baby the other night as I got one really strong swift kick in the side. His eyes lit up and were as big as saucers, only to be followed again by comments like, “It’s a real person in there!”


We have survived some brutally hot, humid day time temps (swelter, as my brother calls it), record cool nights (freezing, as I call it) and LOTS of rain (obnoxious, as my mom calls it, all the while yelling at the meteorologist on TV on a daily basis). While all our families have escaped the flooding, I am always sad to think of the families and communities who go through year after year of uncertainty and loss in the face of mother nature. The rain definitely put a damper on all the 4th of July activities, as mother nature put on her own fireworks show throughout much of the weekend. Fortunately, Urbandale was able to squeeze in the fireworks show between rain storms on Monday, and Baby was very interested to know what all the commotion was about!


Other than dodging raindrops, we have spent lots of time visiting parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, and cousins on both sides of the family and many different friends with no obvious signs of injury or too much wear and tear. Although, I am EXHAUSTED, and will need a vacation just to recover!



A trip to the Reece Cottage Garden in New Providence, Iowa. So pretty!



The annual visit with Amber and the boys! (Thank you for all the maternity attire!!!)



The Reece/Heilskov cousins BB (Before Baby)



Uncle Chris and Micah having a little too much fun at the Science Center!

Most importantly, we have collected a disturbing amount of Hawkeye baby gear and given Baby Reece its first taste of Iowa Sweet Corn! While the crop won’t really be ready for a few weeks, it was so good to have a small taste of what is to come! Ironically enough, according to our “What to Expect” app for the two weeks we have been here, Baby has been the size of….AN EAR OF CORN!!!! He/She must have known that we were visiting the homeland. We are growing a true Midwesterner at heart!



Baby's first ear (or 2 or 3) of sweet corn! YUMM-O!



So proud (as Chris says!)

We won’t be bringing the cooler-full back with us this trip, but have no fear Florida friends, my parents are headed down at the end of the month and will supply us well!