Thursday, March 29, 2012

Oh Baby!

Is it really already March?! Well, as most of you know we have had a busy and eventful start to our year and best of all a giant blessing that we are so excited about!

Matt and I had decided around Christmas 2011 that we would love to have another little bundle of joy running around the house. We just felt we were getting a little too much sleep and weren't busy enough :) hahaha No, in all honesty, we always saw our family as complete with three kids to fill our lives with joy. We decided that the timing would be right just after New Year's and we hoped to get pregnant in the next year or so. Funny thing is...around the end of the 3rd week of January, Matt and I were enjoying lunch together...that is until Matt sat down with a bowl of Gumbo that made my stomach do about three flip flops, followed by a big huge wave of nausea. I KNEW this feeling. I had the same feeling sitting in a movie theatre just under 4 years ago when Matt sat down with a hot dog and my stomach did not agree. At that point in the movie theatre, I said to Matt "Wow...what if I'm pregnant?" We both laughed (nervously) because our new daughter Isabella was only 4 months old. That just couldn't be! Well...it was...and 9 1/2 months later we met our little man Brody. This time, it played out just about the same ;) After moving to the far end of the table to get away from Matt's Gumbo, I said "Could I already be pregnant?!?" Well, anything is possible with our genes we have decided and that evening I secretly took a pregnancy test, and what showed up? A verrry faint line, yep the line that says..."Oh baby!! You're having a baby!!" I wanted to make very sure before I told Matt so I waited until the right time and took 4 more tests, each time the line becoming stronger and stronger! We were both elated and feel very blessed!

We, of course, had to wait a few weeks to see our doctor because we realized we were pregnant very early on. I always heard from tired Moms that the more children you have, the harder it is to keep up on the baby books, the logging, the blogging and so on. But, although you may get busier with each child, the feeling that you get when you see your baby for the first time is just as phenomenal as it was the first time. It honestly brings tears to my eyes just writing about it, because it is one of the most amazing moments I have ever experienced, and to be able to share that with my soul mate is even more special. The baby was small, just a tiny circle really, but giant in our hearts already.

After the morning sickness kicking in full force and my weight and nutrition suffering the next few weeks, we were looking forward to another doctor visit. March 20th, we were excited for another appointment, not really sure what to expect. It is ironic that we have had two kids but you so easily forget the timeline of the pregnancy and all the little tidbits in between. I'm reading "What to Expect" again...seriously I am. Anywho, we talked through my morning sickness and all and then we got ready for a quick doppler check. After a bit of Where's Waldo, the nurse finally found our tiny little bean, not much bigger than an inch, and we heard that awesome sound, the heartbeat! Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh. Love Love Love it! I was so worried going into my appointment because I had been so sick, so the sound brought tears to my eyes.

We are now at our 13 week mark, the morning sickness has subsided and yes, the tummy bump has grown. We took a video of the announcement to Bella and Brody and it is quite hyetrical, something that all three kids will get a kick out of one day when they are sitting around as teenagers hassling each other. The kids give my belly a raspberry every morning and night and they already talk to my belly...no matter where we may be...grocery store...dance class...restaurants...it really is so sweet how excited they have become. The baby is now about 3 inches long and weighs approx. 1 ounce. We have a feeling we know what it is from our recent ultrasound last week, but we are going to keep it under wraps to the kids until we are for sure!! Thank you for all the love and support, well wishes, and excitement you have shared with us...I promise to post some growing belly bump pictures soon!!! XOXO


12 weeks 2 days

Great profile shots!
The bottom of the footsie

6 weeks 2 days


Just a spec!








Monday, February 20, 2012

Happy 4th Birthday Isabella!

The holidays always catapult us into a very busy Spring, with Birthdays, Anniversaries and all types of oh so good things. We were so excited to celebrate Isabella's 4th Birthday this year. She chose an Ariel theme and helped me put together her invitations and decor...shells shells and more shells!! Ariel herself surprised Isabella and entertained the girls with songs, stories and true princess dancing. I loved it, every one of Bella's friends showed up to her party decked out as Ariel or another princess ;) We had beautiful weather so the kids ran around outside, jumped in the bounce house, and each of the kids painted a 6"x6" canvas that we will arrange to give Bella a keepsake from her party on her wall. Happy Birthday sweet pea, we love you so much!





























Thursday, February 9, 2012

Part 2: Happy ThanksBdayChristmaNewYear-A!!

And I finally have uploaded the millions of random images from my phone gallery...including many that have been taken by my sweet children who love working our cell phones! Enjoy!



Well, we began December with a move to a new home!

Our new neighborhood sits on a greenbelt so we have more wildlife than we could imagine!




Our great neighborhood park....full of...




...ducks!!!



One of my favorite things about the holidays in Austin...random strangers decorate the trees along 360 in their own flavors and trends! So creative :)



Martha and her assitant decorating the tree!




So proud of her tree!










Bella was fully involved in decorating the house this year!






Our Elf on a Shelf "Chippey" getting naughty in our sugar



Bella had her first Christmas recital at Bethany Lutheran Preschool


I took much better video than pictures ;)



Just another night...


Bella and her girst "big girl" salon visit with Mia @ Milk and Honey







A little Christmas cookie baking...







...with no shortage of icing


Our last night with "Chippey"...he hopped on Santa's sleigh Christmas Eve and the kids can't wait until he comes back next year!


Getting ready for Santa!


Santa?!?


Santa was very good to the kids this year...a beautiful dollhouse and oodles of princess gear for Bella...



...and trucks, blocks, a bike and Buzz for Brody!




Christmas morning!





Dad carving the turkey for our quiet dinner at home...just our little family and my Mama this year!


Getting out in the beautiful December weather to enjoy the new bike...Brody picked up pedaling right away!







And an early New Year's Eve pint with friends and back to the casa to celebrate New Year's with the kids...


...well sorta...Brody and Dad didn't quite make it but Bella and I snuggled and almost made it to see the NY ball drop! Nighty Night and Happy New Year!