Getting Ready for #2

The past few weeks I have been doing a bit more to get ready for our baby boy!  We finally agreed on a bedding set, which is a mix of animals, and abc's, and earth tones.  It shocked me that my husband didn't want to go all sports themed!  He just didn't like any of them.  I think it is a lot harder picking out boy stuff then girl stuff.  Maybe just because I am a girl, but I just don't like a lot of the boy stuff.  But, we are happy with our choice, and Ray even surprised me by painting the whole room with Kenley's help while I was at a baby shower!  We got the furniture in, and now we just need to buy some decorations to really personalize the room.  It made things feel "real" getting the furniture in and having a new crib up.

The past 3-4 weeks I feel like I am getting BIG!  I don't remember feeling this big this early in the pregnancy with Kenley, but I really do think it's because it's the 2nd time around.  I was starting to try on some of my Spring/Summer clothes (non-maternity) just to see what would still fit, and I was amazed that most things didn't fit!  I think I was kind of delusional about what I might still be able to wear once it warms up.  Even my flowy tank-tops and shirts were way too tight and too short with this belly poppin out! I did get some cute new maternity stuff to wear, so I'll mostly be sticking with that. Here I am at 24 & 25 weeks!

We are also trying our best to prepare Kenley and keep her involved and excited about her new role as Big Sister.  I also visited several of the 2-3 year old pre-schools in our area and signed Kenley up to attend 2 mornings a week staarting in August.  It was a strange experience to be the "mom"  touring a school for her child. First, it was wierd because I used to work in daycares/pre-schools during high school and college.  Also, it was hard not to look at the schools from a teacher's perspective.  I visited one school that had 2 cameras in every classroom so that parents could pay a monthly fee to log on and watch at any time!  As a parent that might sound great, but I couldn't help but think how much I would hate it if I had a camera on me all the time at my school. But, all in all I am really happy with the choice we made.  I think she is going to have so much fun and I know it will be great for her to spend time with other kids her age in a school environment.  Plus, it will give me a little time with just the baby, and maybe a chance to nap...(wishful thinking??)

It's been a wierd week with the sadness of the bombing of the Boston Marathon, and all of the crazy rain here in Chicago.  I know a ton of people who had flooding at their homes.  I know it makes me appreciate the little things even a little bit more, and be greatful for what I have. Hope you all were able to stay dry!

Grand Bear Lodge

We went back to the Grand Bear Lodge the weekend before Easter and had a fanastic time.  Kenley absolutely loved the waterpark, and she was able to go on two of the little waterslides all by herself this year.  She loves the water!  It took a little more convincing to get her to go on the rides in their amusement park area, but by the second day she was the best costumer of the 3 kid rides.  It was even nice enough that we were able to take her to the park for a little while too. 

We stayed in one of the Villas again, so Kenley had her own bedroom. Unfortunately, it didn't get much use. She was a little nervous about sleeping in her own room in an unfamiliar place. I still loved having the space in the Villa, and we all got a lot of use out of the whirlpool tub. I hope we continue going back there, and next year we will be able to bring our baby boy!

 I couldn't believe how big Kenley has gotten in the past year and was comparing some of the pictures from Easter weekend last year to this year.  Crazy how fast time goes and how big she is getting!

                 2012                                                                                  2013

 

     

We also had a great Easter weekend, complete with an egg hunt in our pj's and spending time with the family.  I enjoyed my week off for my Spring Break and got a lot of stuff done around the house and enjoyed an amazing Spa Day!  I enjoyed being home with Kenley every morning, and we did something fun every day.  She started asking me when she woke up, "What are we doing today?  Where are we going?"  We are hoping for more Spring-like weather coming up just like everyone in Chicago!

 

March Happenings

Still waiting to get my desktop computer hooked up, so again it's been a few weeks since I posted. I might be one of the only ones who still likes to sit at a desk and use my regular computer over our laptop or Ipad.  Plus, that is where I save all my pictures. But, anyway here is what has been happening in March.

Congratulations goes out to the newlyweds Ken & Alison! We knew for a few weeks before, but they mostly kept it a secret until they got home! They got married in Vegas a few weeks ago, and they are now on their honeymoon on a cruise. We are so happy for them, and wish them a lifetime of happiness!

I am now in the 4th quarter of school, and I know that June will be here before I know it. It is kind of unreal because it just became official that I am taking the whole year off next year to be home with the kids. (Woah, typing kid(s) plural is crazy! As in, I will have 2 kids next year!) I am so happy that I have the opportunity to take this time off of work, and I can't wait!  If you have read my blog in the past, you know that I have really struggled with being away from Kenley so much. I know it will be a whole different ball game having two, but I am so grateful that I will have the chance to spend this precious time with both of them. 

Even though we are still waiting for Spring weather, we have gotten to do a few fun things getting ready for Easter including dyeing eggs and going to our town egg hunt. We also attempted to see the Easter bunny, but Kenley only wanted to see him from a safe distance away from about 3feet away. This weekend we are going back to Grizzly Jack's resort again. It was one of my favorite things we did last year, and I have been looking forward to going again.

Friday is the start of my Spring Break, and I am planning on catching up with 2 of my best friends who just had babies, Cheryl and Ashlee, trying to get our baby's room ready to be painted, organizing the house, getting a massage & manicure, and just spending some quality time with Kenley.  I had my 20 week ultrasound a few days ago, and everything is going really well.  I think I am showing a lot more this time then I was with Kenley, but I know that is typical with your second child.  The other day I was wearing a hoodie and Kenley came up and unzipped it, peeked in, and said, "where's my baby brother?" I think she believes if she looks far enough into my bellybutton she might see him!  Ha!

Happy Easter Weekend Everyone!

Updates

It has been a few weeks since I have blogged mostly because my home computer is disconnected. We moved along full speed with moving Kenley into her new room and moving our office. I will try to post some pictures as soon as everything is finished and up and running. But, since then I have some important updates!

My sister's surgery went great! The follow up tests came back great, and she is regaining some of her strength and working her way up to eating. She is still recovering, but hoping to be home by the end of the week. Katie has been really strong through all of this, and we all just hope for her to stay healthy after these hard several months. Thanks for everyone keeping her in your thoughts and prayers.

In another update, we found out a few weeks ago that we are having a boy! Ray and I both had a feeling that it was a boy, but in some way I think we were both surprised to hear it was true!  I really can't believe we will have one girl and one boy, and I am so excited for Kenley to have a little brother.  We already picked out the furniture, and we are going to start getting the room together once   our office is done.  Time to switch gears a bit and get some boy stuff around here!

So, it is March and we are supposed to be getting a snow storm tomorrow:( I hope Spring is around the corner. I'm ready to trade sweaters and boots for short sleeves and sandals.

Sick day

I am at home sick today with Kenley.  I knew it was only a matter of time until one of us got some type of bug this winter.  Luckily, it just seems to be a little virus, and I hope it goes away soon.  I took her to the doctor today, so those meds should kick in soon! 

I don't know if it is the idea of Spring Cleaning, or just really early "nesting,"but I have been in a mode to clean out/clear out the house!  I have probably done more work in my mind than actually being productive, but I have grand plans to get organized!  We just made the decision to redo our laundry room/storage so that we can kind of make it into a little home office.  So, Kenley is going to move into her big girl room as soon as the room gets done and we get the computer desk moved.  We bought her a bed this weekend, so it looks like we are finally (almost) ready to make the transition out of the crib.  I'm a bit nervous about this because I envision her sneaking into our room at night.  And, it makes me sad to think that it is really the last thing to go other than diapers to get out of the baby stage.  Potty training is going to be coming up really soon too!

I'm starting to think about all the things I want to get done before this baby comes, and I know I still have a while, but I also know it will go by fast!  I really need to clean out all of our closets.  When we moved into this house I remember being a bit sad about giving up my huge walk-in closet in the condo, but also thought we would still have soooo much space to store stuff with 6 closets and a garage.  I have no idea how every space got so filled up within less than 3 years.  I have also already been putting stuff away for a garage sale, and hoping I am still up for having one even when it's hot and I'm huge over the summer.

I am looking forward to this weekend and having a night away with Ray.  It is a needed date-night to do some shopping, go out to a nice dinner, and stay in a hotel to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Hope you all enjoy it with your loved ones!

+1

In August we will be +1 because we are expecting baby #2!  We are so excited!  I found out the week after Thanksgiving.  I had been thinking about it during the week, but finally decided that Friday that I would take a pregnancy test.  As soon as I got home from work I took 2 tests.  They both looked positive, but they were the cheaper ones that I had laying around, so I just HAD to be sure.  I got Kenley back in the car and made a quick trip to Target.  The whole time I was thinking about how to tell Ray in a fun way.  I decided that I would have to get her a "Big Sister" shirt, and since I didn't feel like stopping back home and then heading out again, I took the test at Target. Classy, right?  I didn't even look at the test until I had Kenley strapped in her carseat and took it out of my purse to see a big Plus sign.  I teared up a little bit knowing that this test was one I could trust, and we headed off to find Kenley a shirt. 

I was counting down the seconds until Ray got home, and it just so happened to be a day that he had to stay at work a little later, so it seemed to take forever!  He walked in the door, and said hi to us.  I waited for him to kiss and hug Kenley...and nothing!  He didn't notice!  So, I said, "did you see Kenley's shirt?" and he looked at it and then just gave me a wierd look, and I started laughing.  It took him a few seconds to figure it out, but he was really surprised.  I'm happy I had a little bit of time to tell him in a fun way, instead of last time just blurting it out when he was in the middle of painting our house we had just moved into the day before.

We are too impatient, and not good secret keepers, so our immediate families knew within 24 hours.  We told the rest of our families on Christmas Eve/Day. I think Kenley kind of gets it.  She will point to my stomache when we ask her where the baby is, and she will go back and forth when we ask her if it's a boy or a girl.  I am very excited for her to have a sibling, and I think she will be really good with the baby because she loves her cousin, Kayla.

I am so happy that I just started feeling better this past week.  I was not nearly as tired and sick when I was pregnant the first time. Maybe it's a boy?  I have not been myself lately, and I have been such a homebody.  I am so happy this weekend that I had energy to have a fun time shopping, going out to lunch, and being at my sister-in-law's birthday party yesterday!  We had a really fun day.  Today, Ray and I took Kenley sledding for the first time ever.  I had so much fun going down the hill with her.  She was fearless and loved it.  We couldn't stay out too long because it is still so cold out, but I'm glad we got the chance to go.

Thanks again to everyone who talked to me about my sister.  She is doing well, and is having her surgery at the end of the month. 

Happy February Everyone!  Spring is around the corner!

Our family was shocked last week by a crazy series of events.

My sister, Katie, started getting some back and leg pain and went to see her family doctor.  She was given some pain meds and muscle relaxers and sent home.  By Saturday morning, her pain was so bad that she went to the emergency room.  They were giving her pain medication and started doing some tests.  While she was in the hospital, her infection (that she got before Kayla was born) started acting up again. She spent a few days in the hospital, and the doctors saw that she had appendicidis, and needed her appendix removed.  It seemed like one thing after another, and then they found a tumor when they removed her appendix.

It turns out to be colon cancer.  We were all completely shocked and scared when we heard those words. Greg, my parents, and I were at the hospital that night with my sister.  We were all very confused and had a lot of questions.  The next day, they all met with the surgeon and the cancer specialist.  A lot of their questions were answered, and many of our fears relieved.  Luckily, it seems like they caught it early, and with surgery, it will be taken care of.  Right now, Katie is back home and needs to completely clear up her infection before she can have surgery. 

It's been a hard few weeks for Katie and Greg, but we are all very hopeful that everything is going to be okay.  It's going to be several weeks until the surgery, but we are all hoping for a quick, full recovery.  Thanks to all our family and friends who have been very supportive and helpful to our whole family during this time. 

We love you Katie! XOXO

The Holidays

We celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas day, we and got to see everyone in the family.  It was a really fun, busy day filled with food and LOTS of presents!  Ray's truck was so full that we could not have fit one more thing in it!  Kenley had such a fun day.  I think she was actually expecting Santa to be at our house the morning of Christmas because when she woke up she was a little afraid to actually come downstairs.  The rest of the day everyone was asking her if Santa came to her house and she would say, "No, he didn't."  On Christmas Eve, Santa made a brief apperance at my parents house to visit Kenley and Kayla, but Kenley wanted NO part of it!  Maybe next year.....  She had the best time playing with Kyle and Jordan at Ray's mom's house, and my cousin's son, Kyle at my mom's house.  Next year, Kayla and Rachel will be old enough to get in on the fun!

THEN.....on the 27th, Ray and I flew out to Cancun with Katie and Greg!

It was 80 degrees and sunny most of our trip, and we stayed at a gorgeous resort right on the beach. The best parts of our trip were jumping the waves, swimming with the dolphins, and the boat and snorkel tour. I had always wanted to swim with the dolphins, and we got so lucky that our group was just the 4 of us.  We had 2 female dolphins, and there 2 babies swimming by us, which was really cool.  We also had a lot of fun taking out these small boats for a ride through the "jungle" and then snorkeling at a reef.  We also had a lot of nice dinners and did some shopping. 

I missed Kenley while we were gone, and I was glad to come home to her.  A few times I called home to talk to her she said, "Are you on vacation with my daddy?"  She had a great few days with my parents and Ray's mom.  The last few days have been pretty low-key. I even took a few naps while Kenley napped!  Just call me old, but I needed a vacation from my vacation! I haven't even been able to motivate myself to get any of my Christmas decorations down yet.




2012 has been a great year, and I am excited for 2013!  I hope everyone else is off the a great start in the New Year!


*I'm having issues adding pictures, but I will try again soon!

2 Years old!

Kenley turned 2 a few weeks ago!  We had the family over at the house for an "Elmo" themed party.  In her usual style, she was a little nervous at first with having everyone over, but within the hour she warmed up and had a great time.  When we first woke up with her that morning, Ray and I gave her her pink cadillac battery operated car!  She was excited about it, and she got to try it out later in the day with Caden.  I know she will be cruising around the block once spring comes!

She was very excited to open her presents and got so many fun toys, and nice clothes.  When it was time to sing, "Happy Birthday" she got a little shy, but I know she loved that everyone was singing to her.  We got her a really cute Elmo cake from Orland Bakery.  The rest of the night she played with all of her new toys.  Kenley and Caden played, "pin the nose on Elmo,"  Aunt Katie made Elmo and Oscar the Grouch vegetable trays, and I made buckets with little stuff for the kids.  We were disappointed that the Elmo costume didn't get here in time, and we are still in a fight with the seller through e-bay about that.  But, Kenley had fun, and that's all that mattered to me.

2 years old has been so much fun, and we have had a great few weeks with lots of excitement over her birthday, and Christmas.  Ray and I took her to see Santa for the 2nd time the day after her birthday.  She was a little bit braver this time, but didn't get up the courage to sit on his lap.  The Santa at Orland mall was amazing!  No fake beard, this guy is the real deal!  He was so patient with us, and really took time talking to us.  He gave Kenley stickers, and she gave him a high five and even a quick hug before we left.  That's progress!  Of course, the second we left she couldn't stop talking about him!

 

She had her 2 year check up, and is doing great!  She is still really tall for her age, and the nurse commented on how verbal she was.  She kept asking the nurse and our doctor to "check my eyes, my ears, and my nose."  and said, "I want to get the flu shot!" even though she already had it and didn't need it.  Ha, ha!  I guess the new doctor's kit she got for her birthday made her very brave.

She says so many funny things, and this morning she said, "That was pretty funny, don't you think?"  She also knows a lot of Christmas songs including Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, We wish you a Merry Christmas, and Santa Claus is coming to town.  I love when she spontaneously breaks into song.  It's going to be a really fun Christmas.  Only 2 days away!  I just finished wrapping a few gifts, and tomorrow will be a few last-minute things. 

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Parties & traditions

I have been to the park twice this week.  I don't think I have ever said that in the month of December!  It's pretty crazy to have days in the 60's for this time of year. While I will take that anytime over the negative temps that I know we are bound to have, I would also love to take Kenley sledding sometime this year. She has been asking to build a snowman, which I know that she got from watching one too many Caillou episodes.
I have my first official Christmas party this weekend with my girlfriends from high school tomorrow, and then, Saturday is Kenley's 2nd birthday! So, the weekend will be filled with lots of fun stuff! Tonight we celebrated Saint Nicholas day.  And, really I didn't know it was today until I got to work, so I scrounged up some stocking stuffers that were supposed to be for Christmas and put them in the stockings.  But, it was something I always celebrated as a kid, and I would like to continue that tradition. Kenley was so excited to pull her little surprises out of her stocking,  It made me look forward to Christmas even more.  I wonder how she will react opening her birthday presents this weekend.
I know pretty much everyone with kids is doing elf on a shelf. We have one, but Kenley doesn't quite understand it yet. But, she did name our elf, "Chewy." We have no idea where that came from. We took her to breakfast with Santa past weekend, and she had a great time getting her face painted, eating breakfast, and doing the crafts, but wanted no part of sitting on The Big Guy's lap. She clung to me like a spider monkey. Since then, she keeps asking me if she can go see Santa, and says she wants to sit on his lap. Maybe we will try another day. Or, there is always next year!