Here He (or She) Is at 20 Weeks!

We had our mid-point sonogram yesterday. My doc said it was a "textbook" sonogram ... just perfect. Gotta love that! We chose once again to not find out if we are having a boy or a girl. Carey tried really hard to look and he seems to think that he saw evidences of a girl. I am thinking girl too. We'll see.

We still haven't picked out names yet. It is so hard, but I kinda make it hard with all my rules.
(1) We want gender specific names ... ya know a boy name that could never be a girl name and vice versa. Carey has been introduced as a girl one time too many and we kinda messed up with Riley. We don't want to do that again. (But we did find Riley on the boy name list and I had NEVER heard of a girl named Riley, just for the record)
(2) We also want the name to be easy to spell, so that they don't have to spell their name for the rest of their life.
(3) We also don't want it to be a name that can be shortened. Ya know, like Kimberly can be shortened to Kim. Just too confusing at times.
(4) We also don't want it to be a common or popular name. That can be a bit confusing too when there are like 7 Emmas or Daniels in your kindergarten class and you are known as Emma T. or Daniel T. for all of grade school.

So as you can see, we have a bit of a challenging task ahead of us. We could use the boy name that we didn't use with Victoria, but I just don't love it now as much as I did then. I have to LOVE the name. I mean, I am going to be saying it for the rest of my life about like a million times.

Gotta love this picture with the skeleton face. When Riley saw this, he yelped a bit and ran away.

And the best part ... I only gained 2 pounds last month! Go me! For some reason I haven't had quite the appetite with this pregnancy as I have with my others. Most of the time I have to force myself to eat and then I get full so fast. I am so extremely thirsty like ALL THE TIME.

I am really starting to get excited about this little one. I just can't wait to hold him or her.

Easter Decision

Easter was so special for our family this year. Riley asked Jesus into his heart ... in the Kohls parking lot. It was so special. I was so very proud of him. He told the pastor Sunday morning before church started. He went up to him and said that he had two things he wanted to tell him. First, that he was going on an Easter Egg hunt at Pops and Gigis after church and second, that he asked Jesus into his heart. The pastor was super excited for him. So, he decided that he wanted to go down during the benediction to let his church family know. I think that this was the best thing for him to do, because then he got REALLY excited and wanted to tell everyone.

After our morning of celebrating our Risen Lord and Riley's decision, we headed over to Pops and Gigis for the hunt.

Prego Pic

We were so good with Riley and Victoria's pregnancy at taking pictures every month. Not so much this time around. In any case, here we are at four (and a half) months.

I am FINALLY starting to feel the little flutters and bumps from the baby. My cravings consist of chocolate milk, burgers, Subway sandwiches, sweet tea, and cereal. I almost always end my day with a bowl of cereal. It seems Carey has been doing that as well here lately.

The kids are getting excited and have started talking to my belly. So cute. Victoria keeps taking toys into the baby's room, "these are babies."

We have the sonogram week after next. Very exciting. And no, we will not be finding out if it is a boy or girl. We will just wait. HA!

Victoria is Three!!

I can't believe it. I just can't believe that my little lady is already three. "They" say it goes by fast, but it has gone by ridiculously fast.

Here is a run down of the birthday celebration:

We started off the day with a trip to the donut shop. I do believe that I have passed down my outrageously crazy love for the donut to my kids. I am just amazed at how many donuts those two can gobble down. For that matter, I am always amazed at how many I can gobble down as well ... actually it is more like inhale. It seems that we have made getting donuts on your birthday a bit of a tradition around here. I say let's celebrate all holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and the like this way!

Later in the morning we made our way to the mall. Destination: Build A Bear. Never been there before. Victoria mentioned it the other day and I thought it might be kinda fun. So, she orginally picked out the Alvin Chipmunk to build and momma said "NO." Then, she picked out the camo bear and momma said "NO." I then gave her the option to choose the pink bear, the Hello Kitty, or the regular light brown bear ... I know, I am so mean. She chose the pink bear ... thank you very much. They stuffed the bear, we brushed the bear, we dressed the bear and then we named the bear ... "Pooh Bear." Yep, we have a Pooh Bear that looks nothing like Winnie the Pooh. But, that is what she named the bear. Honestly, I was just glad that she didn't name the bear "Bear." All of her dolls are named "Baby," all of her bunnies are named "Bunny," and so-on and so-on.



Then we did a bit of shopping at the mall for mommy and Riley and then picked up her birthday cookie. Victoria doesn't like cake, so we opted for the gigantic cookie. We then headed to Party City for the pinata, balloons and anything else that just so happened to jump into our buggy. Walked out of that store $50 poorer. Oh well.

Then lunch at Taco Bueno and home.

No nap for her today. I mean it is her birthday. So, during her naptime, she told me at least a dozen times that today is her birthday. I loved it! I love that she gets it. That this day is for her to celebrate and be extra special.

After a very long 2 hours of waiting once we got Riley from school, we headed over to Pops and Gigis for her birthday party. It was a cluster party of sorts (my sis-in-laws birthday, my bro and other sis-in-laws anniversary and my parents anniversary), but still all about Victoria. Of course, in our family, siblings are never left out. Riley did receive his unbirthday presents. And since it was Katie's (my sis-in-law) birthday as well, the big kids received unbirthday presents as well ... love it!

I love that she just couldn't wait to blow out her candles. She had already blown them out before we started singing.

After weeks and weeks of convincing her, she has finally decided that yes, she is three. She just didn't want to let go of being two.

The jump rope. She wanted a jump rope and a pink ball for her birthday.

Close your eyes Victoria.

The big reveal ... a scooter. She has been wanting one of her own for like forever.

Victoria got her package from Grandma and Grandpa and couldn't wait to get this on.

At age 3, here is Victoria:

Loves: Riley, going anywhere (church, store, school, Walmart, to the mailbox), Minnie Mouse, meat, puzzles, playing outside, donuts, balls, being bossy, Oreos, camping, bathtime, the sandbox, picking out her clothes for the day "I do myself," singing (she knows the lyrics to the theme song for Phineas and Ferb and of course Veggie Tales).

Not so crazy about: Pasta, not getting her own way, Sid the Science kid on PBS (don't blame her, he freaks me out a bit too), french fries (thank goodness), her car seat (she misses the one with flowers on it), chocolate milk, wearing bows (of this I am very sad, but still holding out hope), veggies (except raw carrots swimming in ranch).

I am sure she is off the charts on height and weight. She is the size of a five year old. I was thinking that Riley was the same size as her when he was three, but he wasn't. He was four by the time he reached her numbers. We are officially shopping in the "girls" section. Pretty sure we skipped over size 4T. What absolutely amazes me is that this time last year, she was wearing 2T. WOW, what a growth spurt kinda year!

I cherish these days I have with Victoria, especially now that we have baby arriving in August and she will be going to preschool in the fall. She is a delight to have around, even when she raises her hand and says "don't talk me." She is at her best when she has a job to do. She loves to help out. She hates to be ignored and lets you know it. She is Riley's shadow when he is home. Poor guy hardly gets a moment to himself these days. Thankfully, it doesn't bother him ... most of the time. She has the sweetest prayers at night, thanking God for everyone in the family and for her friends at church and every so often throwing in the occasional toy. We are so very thankful for our surprise baby girl. She can make us laugh, pull our hair out and be so very proud all in one moment.

We are ...

... having a baby!

We will be completing our family in August with the arrival of baby number 3! Very exciting!!

This last addition to our family has been a long time coming. We started talking/planning about this one about a year and a half ago. I actually started preparing myself for the fact that it just might not happen. But let's just say that we are very "thankful" for this wonderful gift from God (if you don't know what I mean, click here).

So far, this pregnancy has been alot like my other two ... just plain awful. I was stricken with morning sickness for every waking moment of the day from week 5 until about week 14. It still hasn't totally disappeared, but at least it isn't ALL THE TIME. But, if I do recall my prayers at the beginning of my pregnancy, I did ask that the Lord "bring it on" as far as pregnancy symptoms. I wanted to know at anytime that this baby was developing and growing like it should. He definitely answered that prayer with a resounding YES. And even though I was absolutely miserable, my house was a mess for three months, and my daughter watched a ridiculous amount of TV, I counted it all joy just to know that this little one was ok.

Now that the sickness is just about gone, I do feel much better. I still have some "joys" that are uncomfortable, but I think that might just be my age ... seriously. Being 33 and pregnant is ALOT different than being 26 or even 30.

So far I have gained 11 pounds. Not too bad, I guess. Gained 3lbs in month 2, 3lbs in month 3 and 5lbs month 4. I am trying not to obsess about it too much. I just don't want a repeat of my pregnancy with Victoria. I think I gained a whopping 40 pounds. One of the first things Carey said to me was "You aren't going to go crazy on donuts and Dr Pepper again, are you?" No hon, I am not.

This pregnancy seems to be going by a bit slower than the others did. Not sure if it is because I worked during my other pregnancies or if it is because pregnancy itself has lost its appeal to me and I just want the baby here. I think I am more excited about this one than I was for the other two to arrive. So, the countdown for me has already begun. I have already converted the spare bedroom into the baby's room. I even made up the bed.

The kids are super excited about the baby. I think Riley is more excited than Victoria. He keeps throwing names out there that he wants us to use ... Sam, Nathan, Issac ... all boy names. He wants a little brother SO BAD! I almost want it to be a boy just to see his reaction. But that would be the only swaying factor. I honestly don't care. And the way I look at it, it is just another person to love and care for and most importantly, to teach about being a follower of Christ. Boy or girl just doesn't matter much.

But the hair does. I want a curly-headed child. I have a wavy haired child and a straight (very straight) haired child. I would LOVE to have one with curly hair.

A Peek Inside the Everyday

Here are just a few pics taken over the past month or so. Just a peek inside of the everyday in our home.

This was probably a Saturday morning. More often than not,
they end up right next to each on the couch.

I do believe that Daddy ran this bath. So fun!

Enjoying her High School Musical boom box.

Climbing on Daddy ... this happens alot.

Our enormous snowman built on the snowiest day ever
in these parts (at least in the past century).

Riley is Seven!

It just makes my heart hurt to write that. Seven. Wow.

We had a few celebrations for his birthday. First there was a family party. Because my side of the family has grown recently and our schedules are so very busy, we now celebrate birthdays and anniversaries in clusters. It just so happens that there are two other birthdays within a week of Riley's, so we had a big birthday bash, complete with birthday and unbirthday presents for everyone. Gigi (my mom) is really good about making everyone feel loved ... all twelve of us!

Ready to party!

I LOVE this picture. Riley was sick on Christmas day, so we missed out
on the grandeur enthusiasm he typically shows when opening presents.

On Riley's actual birthday, he wore a birthday button to school and a birthday hat and got to have cupcakes (store bought of course) for snack during school. However, I was informed that morning as we were walking out the door, that "so-and-so's mom brought juice boxes too." Ok ... fortunately I had just been to Walmart the day before and just so happened to have stocked up on juice boxes and had EXACTLY 19 of them. Phew.

I think he is making a number seven with his fingers.

Then, we had birthday cookies that night at Children's Choir complete with balloons, which were somehow used for music purposes. At this moment, I cannot recall how we managed that.

The last celebration of "birthday week," was spent at Medieval Times. It was pretty cool. I had never been. Riley really liked it, but Victoria LOVED it!! Who would have thought?! Riley and I were a bit tired. The show didn't start until 8:15 or so and we are not evening people. We are morning people. But the Pepsi helped. Yep, your only drinking options are tea or Pepsi. We ALL had Pepsi, even Victoria. I do believe she drank all hers. Oh well.




So Riley at age seven is alot like Riley at age four or five or six. He is exactly the same only taller and he eats more. He is still so tender hearted, full of joy, considerate of others and couldn't hurt a fly (this part makes it a bit hard to stand up to his younger sister).

He is also a really good student. He is naturally smart and doesn't even realize it ... alot like his Daddy. He doesn't put much effort into his school work and still brings home 100's on his papers. He does say that school is boring, so I am sure that he isn't being challenged enough. But he has a really great time (the social butterfly he is) and there is plenty of time to be challenged in school later. I mean this is only 1st grade.

He is a super goof ball and loves to try to make people laugh. He is into Phineas and Ferb, being a spy, inventing things, Legos (still), and making many things out of paper and the trash I have in the recycle bin (which I usually throw in the trash when he is at school the next day ... fortunately he hasn't missed any of it ... yet).

He is also into choosing what he wears to school everyday. I really wasn't prepared for this one. However, he must have a clean room the night before to be able to do this, which only happens about half the time. So at least he is wearing everything in his closet and not just his Phineas and Ferb shirts and Star Wars shirts.

At his check-up, he is in the 75% on height and 80% on weight. Still on the the growth road to being tall like Carey ... love that!

He enjoys our evening reading of his Bible and our daily devotional. He gets a bit bent out of shape if we don't do it every evening. Love that. I am noticing too that his prayers at night are more about what is going on in our lives than just the run-of-the-mill kid prayers. It is exiting to see him grow spiritually. We are just praying and waiting for him to start showing interest in accepting Christ. Oh happy day that will be!

Me and my guy.