Getting Ready for Baby #2

You know how with your first child you take a picture almost every week of pregnancy and you are constantly talking about names and you obsess over decorating and getting ready? Then with the next children you let everything slip? Yeah that has been me.  I decided taking pictures every week was too excessive so I made the goal of taking one every 5 weeks. Sadly I failed at even that. Andrew and I hardly talked about names at all, I thought of a name that I like months ago, Andrew said he likes it too. I have spent some time looking at name lists and meanings on the internet since then, Andrew has done nothing and we have decided to go with the original name that I chose.

I have made blankets and worked on the room a lot in the last two months because nesting mode has kicked in and because I don't want this little girl to come home and wonder why with nine months to prepare we hadn't really done anything.

I do feel like I have gotten the bedroom ready for Alex and baby girl to share when she moves out of the bassinet and I have packed my bag and the diaper bag. We got a new carseat (the one we had expired in December, lame right?) and a second crib and the clothes and blankets and burp cloths are washed and folded. Now my only goal is to keep the house mostly clean and stay caught up with the laundry (I should admit that I am still working on one pink afghan).

We are excited for this little addition to our family, I am so excited to have a little one to hold and snuggle. I am looking forward to being reminded of all the new little fascinations that come with a newborn as they adjust to this world. I'm excited for Alex to have a sibling and I hope that I can watch them learn to love each other, I pray that they will get along and play together. I love my little girl already and I can't wait to see her face and hold her close.

I am terrified of the challenges and changes coming to our little family as well. I know we will get by and that the hard things will pass but I pray for strength and guidance that we can all be happy and calm (most of the time) as we adjust to the wonderful little blessing joining our family.

15 Weeks

20 Weeks

25ish Weeks

31 weeks

35 Weeks

 I am now 39 weeks, a woman who saw me at the Dr.'s office last week said "Whoa, you are due!" so just trust me and this random stranger, I look like I am about to burst.

 Some of the decorations I have made for baby girl's side of the room

 Bow and headband holders

 I am so proud of my crib skirt. A new bedding set is too expensive for us and even the fabric that I wanted would have cost way too much. In one last attempt at finding something that would work I found this on clearance (you can't tell but it is blue with white flowers on it). Since I bought the last yards I got it half off. I felt so lucky and so blessed! I made it last Saturday, that is amazing for me because I usually string my projects out for weeks and months. I kinda knew if I didn't get it made before baby girl comes, it may not happen until a year from now.

 Shelf that I painted

 Blankets that I have made

 Headbands and flowers that are so fun to make!

I also made bookends for Alex's dresser. I feel like this little girl is going to shake up his world quite a bit, but I wanted him to still feel like part of the room is still his.

Now we are just waiting and anticipating!!!!!

Birthday Boy!!!

My little buddy turned 3 this week! We had a wonderful day that included playgroup at the McDonald's Play Place and an Icee at Target. We also had pancakes for dinner and a small party with Zach and Courtney and Blakely. Alex keeps thanking me for singing to him on his birthday. We keep trying to teach him that he is 3 now but he doesn't seem to get it yet.

 This is what happens when mom gets a phone call while someone is "helping" with dinner. He didn't want me to take the picture, can you tell?

 Who knows what the goofball is doing.

I can't believe my little guy is growing up. He can be super fun and sweet but sometimes he really likes to get his way. He loves playing with his dad and mom is ok when dad isn't around. Favorite toys right now include his cars, his RC car, and his Hotwheels track, or anything that he can put into a bucket or box or bag that he can carry around the house. He enjoys coloring, especially with his markers, or whatever writing utensil mom and dad are using.  He loves books and likes to read his "Cars" books. He also carries around his "Franklin" books. Alex does not like to eat, he would survive off of milk and juice if he could. Even when I make food that he likes he still doesn't have much interest in eating it.

Alex says the cutest things, he randomly comes up and says "I Love You," he told me he is going to play cars with the new baby when she comes and that he is going to hold her. He is always talking about going to Grandpa's house or Stacy's house or Lindsay and Carson's house. It is sad that we live so far away from family now. He is always asking "will you play with me?" and "will you snuggle with me?"

The other day I had a moment of sadness thinking about how Alex won't be an only child anymore. I know it will be good for him but I don't want him to feel like he's been moved to second place or is less important because there is now a little girl who will need attention too. Having a little sister will be a big adjustment but I hope we can make it as easy as possible for all of us. I sure love my little guy and I feel so lucky to get to be his mom!

Christmas Fun!!!

We had a wonderful Christmas and New Years! I tried to keep things fun but simple. I made a 25 day calender to follow but I tried to do easy things like "make Christmas treats" and "call Grandpa to wish him happy birthday." We still ended up behind but I didn't let it stress me and I hope that we kept things fun for Alex.

 We went to a tree lot to try to support local business, after picking the smallest tree there and being told it would cost $79.99 we snuck out and went to Lowes. Andrew wanted to get a big tree since our apartment has high ceilings so he got to get a big fur for way less than they were asking for at the tree lot.

It took us days to get the tree  decorated, Alex liked to help and did a good job putting ornaments on the lower section of the tree. At one point Andrew did say we should decorate after Alex has gone to bed next year.

I just love that cute little bum "helping" under the tree

Our tree this Christmas was named Frankincense, Frank for short. 

Wrapping presents

Decorating Christmas cookies

 Andrew kept wrapping presents in plain paper so Alex could decorate them, he is such a fun dad.

 Our small nativity, Alex did not want to be Joseph and no one else could be persuaded either. It was still fun though. I tried really hard to teach Alex the meaning of Christmas this year, but I'm not sure he made the connection. He did see in a commercial Santa flying in a sleigh in front of the moon and he kept telling us that Santa lives in the moon, so he doesn't really understand that either. Hopefully we'll do better next year.

 On the 24th we had a birthday party for Andrew and Alex and Carson. Christmas eve is always a big crazy party for us.

 White elephant exchange, sadly this was snatched from him and he didn't get to keep it.

 Too lazy to go back and rotate the picture. This is Alex's "red scooter" from Santa. Thanks to Lindsay and Carson showing him a Walmart add he chose a motorized red scooter. We told Santa we weren't really okay with that, so if Alex asks this is a scooter not a bike.

 We got to have a fun afternoon sledding. Alex loved it until he ended up having a small crash in the snow. He was a trooper and we were able to talk him into giving it another go.

 The cute hats that Lindsay made for us! Thanks Lindsay!

 Marie got to be the baby holder, she was way surprised that my dad at 64 was actually the first one down the hill. I have always thought it was so fun that he plays just as hard as everyone else.

 My dad was so eager to push Andrew down the hill I almost didn't get this picture.

When we got home we had second Christmas. Alex got a RC car from his cousins and he loves it! Thanks guys!

We were so lucky because Andrew got over a week off of school. We played in Moab and had a quiet New Years at home. We spent time cleaning the house and relaxing and it was wonderful!