Thanksgiving

This year for the month of November, we decided to do a thanksgiving tree. Each day (we missed a few) we each added a leaf with something new we are thankful for. It was such a great way to remember to be thankful! My favorite part each day was when Boston ran into the kitchen for breakfast and would immediately point to the tree because he got to color a new leaf. Each time I asked him what he was thankful for, and he would reply 'cow!' Cows made it first on the tree, followed by cookie, train, juice, boots, blankie and binky. I did make the list eventually, but we won't say how far down that list I was, or if there was any hinting on my part ;) 

We have so much to be grateful for!

Boston 18-23 months

You've grown up so much in the last 5 months! I don't even know where to start. You are talking so much now, and adding several words to your vocabulary a day. We were at Sam's club the other day and they were offering pie samples, and you squealed: PIE! I had no idea you even knew what pie was. Now, all you want is pie all the time. I guess its a good thing Thanksgiving is coming up. You love animals, and can say all their names and what sound they make. Even animals I haven't taught you. You said turtle the other day, and when I asked you what a turtle said, and you started taking deep breaths like you were out of breath. Like a slow turtle in a race trying to keep up with a rabbit? I have no idea. Haha. We'll go with that!

You LOVE trains. I don't know when this started, but you saw a DVD of Thomas the Train at the library, and got so excited I had to check it out for you. You loved it, and I have no idea why, because its probably THE most boring show i've ever seen. 

Another favorite of yours is playing football with Daddy. The second he comes home, you are ready to play football. He is much more fun to play football with, you've tried to play with me, and I just don't do it right...you don't ask me to play anymore haha! I'm ok with that. I love watching you two play and tackle each other. 

I know I'm biased, but you are a REALLY good little boy. Especially over the summer when I didn't feel good. You would climb up in bed with me and cuddle me. You were so good to entertain yourself when Daddy went back to work. You didn't quite understand all the throwing up, I think you thought I was playing a game or something, because you would laugh and then imitate me haha. Even I couldn't help but smile. 

I feel like you can sense a change coming. You've been really clingy, and have been having some trouble sleeping at night. I know you're going to be a great big brother! You are very sweet with other kids, even when they aren't so nice to you. I'm hoping the transition of baby sister will be easy for you to deal with! You make us happy!

You made friends with some fat birds :)

What a goofball!

Imitating mom...haha

Halloween Pictures

Pumpkin carving at Grandma and Papa Roberts house

Getting ready to go trick or treating

      Checking out your candy stash with a colander on your head

House Updates

We have continued updating our house, mostly working on the bathrooms, window seat, and Boston's new bedroom. Here are some before and after pictures! Bathrooms aren't quite finished, they were interrupted by my pregnancy bomb. I'll post those pictures later!

Boston's New Bedroom:

I didn't take great before pictures, but those of you who saw this room pre-makeover know that there were awful stains all over the carpet, holes in the walls - some of which had been repaired incorrectly and with the wrong color paint. There was dog hair everywhere, yuck! We repaired all the holes, painted everything, doors, walls, baseboards, ceiling, everything! Kicked that awful carpet to the curb, and replaced it with new. So proud of Jeff, he layer the carpet himself! It looks so much better!

Before

After

Window Seat: 

Again, not a great before picture, but the top was covered with a laminate flooring. There was also no access for storage underneath it. We stripped the wood, and made a little storage compartment underneath. We added foam and fabric to the top, and I sewed some pillow covers. Its been a popular place to sit, especially during a rainstorm with a good book. I'm most excited to sit there with some cocoa and watch the snow fall!!

Before

After

After

Fall Fun!

We've had such a fun fall! We visited several pumpkin patches, one with your cousin Jaden where they had a fun petting zoo. You love animals! They also had a train ride, hay ride, tractors, and a great big slide. We went to some fun Halloween parties, wheeler farm, and did some fun crafts. Mom loves Halloween and goes a little nuts sometimes ;) Here are some pictures!

Chickens!

Train Ride

Dad didn't fit very well :)

Looking for spiders at the Library Halloween Party

Halloween Party at the Library

So proud of my front porch :-D

M.I.A.

Wow, after months of being M.I.A. I'm finally ready to get back into the swing of things! We found out in June that we are expecting our second baby! We are so excited. I hate to say my excitement somewhat dwindled over those next few weeks after finding out when I was hit with an atomic bomb of sorts. Am I kidding? Well.....not really. Where to start? The second I hit 6 weeks, I began a love affair with the toilet. I mean, come on, who doesn't want to spend all their time next to the porcelain throne? No matter how hard I tried, I just could not stop myself from barfing.  I wish I could say my barf was contained to that one place, but alas, it wasn't. I have always had a strong stomach. Always. I can handle blood, I can handle throw up, poop, rotten food without so much as gagging. But being pregnant? Holy freaking cow, I couldn't even walk past the kitchen without ralphing. So, this put me in very awkward situations. What happens when you can't make it to the toilet? What happens when the bathroom is occupied and there is no where to go? What happens when there is not a toilet available?? You end up barfing in the kitchen sink. In the garbage can, in a plastic grocery bag (WHILE DRIVING!), in a water bottle (very tricky) or in the middle of a conversation in the church bathroom. C'mon people, no one goes into the church bathroom for a social call, leave me alone!

I ended up getting on meds after losing about 8 pounds (the one plus!) and was told to start drinking as much fluid as I could to avoid at home IV's. The meds seemed to help keep a little food down, and after being on them for about 2 weeks, I stopped losing weight and started to get rehydrated. Thats when atom bomb #2 was dropped. Not literally....let me explain. You know those constipation commercials you see on TV that you can't help but laugh at? That was me. I was the person in those commercials that I had all too often made fun of. Oh boy was that me. It is no laughing matter, the struggle is real. And it hit me hard. I will spare the awful details, but lets just say it got so bad I debated whether or not to stop taking the nausea meds, which I found had a nasty side effect of....constipation! Ugh. Couldn't catch a break. Weeks and weeks later (about 18 weeks along) after dropping the meds, my body decided to figure things out on its own. I am finally feeling good! I can eat, and believe me, am making up for lost time, and I am regular. Never thought I would ever have to use those words in my life.

On a more positive note - at 16 weeks, we went in for a gender check, and.....drum roll please, we are expecting a baby GIRL!

22 weeks - first pregnant picture i've taken of myself...i hate them

Summer Pictures

Haha, I love your face in this picture!