And this is why I still want Baby #3 to be another girl...

(though we will love the baby no matter what he or she is)

Honey

This dog is not ours but she visits us a bunch. Originally Randy wouldn't let us feed her but we soon learned that regardless of whether we gave her food or not, she still came back and hung out with us. I named her Honey. No reason, just liked it and thought it fit. She is pitiful really but we like having her around when we are outside. She is a little older from what I gather, but the girls cannot understand that and cannot figure out why she won't chase the balls they throw at her...

Bella's First Field Trip

Bella had her first field trip recently at preschool and Randy and I were close to having panic attacks! LOL. It came out of nowhere and I was suddenly signing permission for her to take a bus to another local church for "the Science lady." She didn't think it was as big of a deal but came home with lots of stories and slime. All we wanted to know was how the bus ride was! Anyway, here is a picture of her that morning.

new bathroom decor

We are ready to welcome #3 in May.

14 weeks

The scariest thing I have every experienced in my life. It was Friday evening and I had been napping. I got up to go to the bathroom and felt something trickle down my leg (sorry about the details). I looked to see bright red blood and I made it to the toilet where there was a lot more that continued to come. I was in shock. Randy was outside doing yard work so I called for Bella. She came running and I told her to go get Daddy, that it was an emergency and tell him that Mommy is bleeding. She did it like a champ. I could hear her telling him just what I said from our backyard. He came in and we decided we needed to get someone over to watch the girls so we could go to the Emergency Room. Again, this was the scariest thing I have experienced. I knew what bleeding during pregnancy meant and I had never had this happen before but it was like my worst fear happening before me.

Luckily my mom was available and close so she and my grandmother headed over. We checked in and waited for what seemed like forever. We had just finished telling our families in the last few days and I had already ordered our Christmas cards, complete with the news. I was praying and cursing, all at the same time... shaking my head and thinking, "No way."

Everything they did took for.ever... They tried taking my blood and the CNA wasn't able and then she got paged out (thank goodness!). They transported me to get an ultrasound about an hour and a half into the trip. They wouldn't let Randy come in and I also knew enough from other people but I asked anyway, "Are you going to tell me if something is wrong or do I have to wait for the doctor?" and she confirmed I would have to wait. I knew this too, but asked her if I was going to be able to see the baby on the screen and she said no. I cried so hard and just said, "I will see you in May or I will see you in heaven little baby. I trust you Lord." Something about this woman, though, gave me hope. Her tone was telling me not to worry, though she never said that. It was the longest ultrasound I have ever had and not the kind you want to be having. They transported me back to my room in the ER and eventually did take my blood and did a catheter. After about four hours of being there we finally heard some news. The Dr let us know that the baby was alive and kicking (praise God!) but... this could mean I was going to miscarry soon. I was in shock. How you wait on something like that? What do you even do while you wait to see if you will? He said he was going to check with my Ob before discharging me to make sure there was nothing else he wanted them to do there that night so we waited again. A few minutes later the Dr on call at my OB spoke with the ER doctor and he came back saying, "You are going to like what she had to say..." He went on tell us that she said it was highly unlikely that I would miscarry and that I needed to take it easy. The bleeding was likely due to the location of the placenta and it will most likely move on its own in the next 10 weeks. This was much better news! I have a few instructions to follow for the next few weeks, I didn't sleep the first night and I am still worried and anxious BUT I do trust the Lord and believe that this baby will make it into my arms come May.

Soccer Shots

A few "shots" of Bella at the end of one of her lessons with Charlotte Soccer Shots. She has learned so much with them and we have been very pleased with the program and her coach, "Coach J." She comes home saying things like, "5...4...10...9... now get back to your goals!" just like her coach, though he does a better job counting down. She also likes to get us all in a circle and pile our hands and then throw them in the air to say, "Soccer Shots!" just like they do each session. One of the highlights of soccer is seeing her BFF, Sophie, from her old preschool. They are crazy about each other and love being able to see each other every Sat morning.

falling for leaves...

Its funny how kids know about things... Bella had been asking about jumping in a pile of leaves, also something I had envisioned for this fall at our new house. She got her wish! Randy is blowing leaves every. single. day. It is never ending but there is fun being had.

little hockey

One of my very favorite things about my husband is his individual relationship with each of his girls. He is not too proud to get on the floor and have a tea party, play prince and princess or paint toenails. He is so good at spending quality time with Bella especially when he sees she needs it and she loves her dates with Daddy. Recently he took her to a hockey clinic and while it was not a typical princess ball in her eyes, she loved ice skating and learning about hockey. He has special Daddy skills in my eyes.

Isn't it ironic?

I am not sure how these things happen. Well, I do know but let's not go there. Ironic and yes, I really do think.

We knew we wanted more children and that we were not done but this was another surprise as we have talked many times about waiting until I was done with school. We just moved. We are living on one income. I am in school. There are a million reasons not to have a baby, but thank goodness the Lord is in control of that. Once I took a test and had confirmation that I was pregnant, I thought back and so many things foreshadowed this little bean.

First, several of my friends are pregnant with their third children or just had their third and I found myself wishing we were in a place to have another one. I got major baby fever around my birthday, especially when I held my friend's new baby, Stone. Then the other day Ava started her little jealous act when we were at a friend's and I thought how tough Ava would make it on a little one and me... she may have a hard time being a big sister. A few short days later I felt super nauseous and could not sleep. Soon a migraine set in and I thought, "I am probably pregnant." I didn't really think I was but it crossed my mind. After leaving family camp Monday we talked about how we wanted to come back the next year and we talked about how it would be easier as Ava got older. In the back of my mind, though, I thought I should be careful what I say. We may end up going to camp with a newborn like the people in the next cabin over! After another night of not being able to sleep which happens every time I am preggo and after I dropped the girls off for their first day of school I had this overwhelming feeling and I just knew. I messed up though when I went to my internship meeting and asked the director how they deal with pregnant staff. After her response I said, "I'm not and don't plan on it. I was just curious how clients react to that." Ha! God has a good sense of humor, remember? I have been taking birth control consistently since Ava was born but this, too, is not too strange as I became pregnant with Bella while on birth control. Anyway, while Ava and I were out for an errand I picked up a couple of super cheap pregnancy tests. I took one later that afternoon and knew what it would say. To my surprise, nothing showed up at first so I just left it on the counter and went on about the day. I couldn't put it out of my mind though and went back to check ten minutes later and just as I expected there was that second line. Shocked at the timing- God knows best. It will be right after Spring semester so I won't miss any classes or get behind in anyway. After I told Randy (he giggled like he has in the past- in disbelief and partial excitement I think), I decided to take another one in the morning just to be sure and it was positive too. So as we dive into the fall, busy with schools, and other things, a new little bean I will grow. Happily & humbled that the Lord entrusted us with another baby to raise.

Craving onion rings, hushpuppies, Wendy's fries, vinegar and pickles. Gross.

We decided to wait to let people in on this pregnancy for many reasons. In the past we told everyone as soon as possible. This time around there were some different factors- for one, my sister is hopefully having a baby soon and I wanted to wait as long as possible for her to be able to announce hers in hopes to not steal any thunder. Second, we were a little unsure of what people may think about us having another baby at this time (not that we could have prevented it it seems) and it certainly doesn't matter what others think- we are embracing this blessing- but it is hard to know how to announce something like that. Lastly, I had been on my birth control for several weeks into the pregnancy and had some concerns about whether or not the baby would be effected by that. It seems that it will not but there was definitely some fear involved. It would be easier sometimes to have just gotten it out there so that I could just explain that I am exhausted and emotional and not feeling well! Another thing I always wondered was if waiting like many people do until 13 weeks (the safety zone) if it would help time go by a little faster... having one trimester behind you, would it make the second and third trimesters a little more exciting and feel quicker?

I wrote all of the above a while ago! and since, we have many updates. We finally shared the news this past weekend with my sister shortly after she announced her pregnancy to the family. That's right! My sister found out three short weeks later that she was expecting and so we have kept our little secret the full 13 weeks. Anyway, we let everyone else in on the news the past two days. It feels so good to get it out as I have had a HARD time hiding the extra weight. Our due date is May 16th and my sister's is June 7th! I am no longer craving any of the above! It was cheesy cheddar burgers and fries from Wendy's until about a week ago and now it is salad, cereal, ,popcorn, all very weird and unrelated. Cheers to the next two trimesters!

My precious angels...

The girls on Halloween night.



Of course we did our annual trunk-or-treat in Sun City at Randy's parents and they got their buckets full, but we went out a bit the night of as well.

Bella Boo Learns Something New!

The other night I was making dinner and Bella followed me to pick something up from the shelf. She asked if she could have an apple sauce when she saw it there and I told her she would to have to wait for dinner to which she responded, "It's protein!" I could not help but to bust into laughter. I do not ever want to forget these precious moments with her. She is using new words daily and it blows my mind.

My dad was over the other day and was playing house or school with Bella (against his wishes I am sure!) and to be annoying he kept pretending to blow his nose and make this annoying noise. Ava was laughing but Bella looked at us and said, "That is not approfriate."

I love her!!