Baby #3 - 14 weeks

So had our 14 wk check up today. Baby is doing great. Mommy is starting to feel a bit more energetic, in fact, even worked out this morning. D is blaming the workout on the fact I had to be weighed this morning but nevertheless Shaddy and I cranked out a little TaeBo this am prior to Ells waking.

The heart rate was 156 today. Shaddy actually was a bit interested in it too. Gained a few pounds so up a total of 7. Blood pressure was a little higher than normal but the doctor didn't seem to concerned. She figured it was that I have been running around after those two all morning. True, true. '

On a side note - both kids thought the fact that I had to pee in a cup was pretty fascinating. In fact, Shadd said, "I would like to try that some day." My response was, "I'm sure you will someday, buddy." Oh, I guess that is the difference b/w taking a 1 yr old the last time around and now a 3 yr old and a 1 yr old.  He is getting so much more observant.

Shadd's prediction on the gender of the baby was boy. We will just see.

If your lucky I'll post a belly shot. I noticed the other day that I have 1 picture of my belly when I was prego with Ells. Thankfully my mom has quite a few. So I'll try to be a little better this time around.

All in all - we are doing great. Just getting excited to feel this little one move. It won't be long!

The Apple Orchard

So one of our favorite places in the fall to frequent is the apple orchard. Last year we made quite a few trips north to this little place. Lets just say we love it! This year even Ells got to enjoy the fun! 

Ells was a little scared of the hay bales I think

The Corn Pit was Ells least favorite - she didn't let go of mommy at all.

Shadd enjoyed it though - running along the hay bales and jumping into the corn.

Shadd went down the big slide all by himself  (just once) and Ells went with Mommy. Lets just say I should have had someone take a picture of my bottom as I pretty much cleared off all the dew on our slide. 

Always trailing behind - loved the rocks. 

The big jumping pillow with our neighbor

Its amazing what a difference a year makes. Last year, Shadd was timid jumping. This year he was running and diving around. In fact, he and his buddies were tackling each other. 

She loved it. So much more daring than Shadd ever was.

After a crash from Shadd - good thing Ells is tough.

Racing the ducks.

Sissy asked Shadd "walk" and held out her hand. What a sweet heart! I just love them!

Shadd & William

Ells and Mommy

Can't leave without cider donuts. In fact we ate  them all that afternoon (we left 1 for dad)

We love, love the billy goats

All in all - a blast at the apple orchard. We will be back again next week I assume. It is such a great break from the day to day and a wonderful way to enjoy God's creation in the fall! We hope you get to enjoy an apple orchard or pumpkin patch this fall too!

School

So we started school a couple of weeks ago and Shadd (and I) are really enjoying it. I am just amazed at how much is little brain is soaking up. We have concentrated on the letters L and T and now whenever we are out and about he is telling me the letters that he sees around us. He is awesome at his memory verses (it usually only takes a day or so to memorize). Now if only that worked for me. Well at least I am memorizing his as well as mine. 

Mommy is getting a lot more patient as we are practicing cutting with scissors and writing letters. I am kind of a perfectionist (for those of you who don't know that) and it is a little difficult for me to let go of the control of the pencil and the scissors. But I am learning too. 

So far Shadd really enjoys it and Ells loves when we read stories and dance and sing our song of the week. She loves the crafts and she always wants to be up at the table coloring or something while we are working.

I'll do my best to continue to post updates as we progress into other letters, shapes, colors and sight words. So far I am just amazed at how smart he already is!

Practice Cutting

Color Wonder Markers and Paper - best invention ever for Ells

Our bulletin board - it needs so help! 

J - E - T -S...Jets, Jets, Jets

So we are pretty big Jets fans around here which is kind of a bummer as we rarely get to see them play on TV but not the other night. No they had Sunday night football. We had a blast - now if only Ells had a shirt!

By the way - scored Shadd's jersey for 50 cents at a garage sale this summer!

Junk Bonanza

So this past couple of days I got to have a weekend away with a couple of my good friends. Each year (this is our 3rd) we go to Junk Bonanza up in Minneapolis. It is always a blast and we typically get some great ideas and come home with some great necessary and unnecessary items. As I still have a red serving table at my mom's house waiting for me to get a larger house in order to utilize it. I still love it though.

Since we are planning to move - I went pretty low key just purchasing a frame, some letters for a project idea I stole last year (pic below) and an awesome spoon a friend of my mom's will use to make into a necklace for me.  My two buddies scored some great finds like some lights, baskets, etc. We just didn't make any big furniture purchases like we have in the past.

Of course, since we were in Minneapolis we hit the outlet mall (which Ellsyn will thank me as she had only a few fall clothes), Ikea, and a great fabric store.

We had a blast while my kids enjoyed the couple of days at Grandma's house. In fact, as they were leaving Shadd made sure to tell me, "Mom, you can't come with us. We are going by ourselves." I guess Grandma's house is better and more fun when I'm not there.

Green Hands?

So this morning while D and I got ready for church, our children were being awfully quiet, which at our house is never a good thing. So when D went to check on them, he noticed that Ellsyn and Shadd had found the food coloring which we keep upstairs in the bathroom as my kids are addicted to colored bath water (thank you Aunt Kelsey for buying Shadd these amazing color beads - however we have run out) so thats why the food coloring is upstairs.

Well lets just say if you see Ellsyn or Shadd in the next couple of days and they still have green hands/legs - well all the home remedies that I found on the internet didn't work and it will just have to work its way out. So far everyone at church got to witness the mess.

Lets just say - I am thankful it wasn't all over her face. After I read a few questions on the internet trying to solve the problem I decided it just looks like a bad battle with a green marker and it could have been much much worse. By the way - D was the scolder this morning as I just stood there laughing.

Summertime Treat

Cheapest and best treat of the summer - well at least at our house.

Fun in Winterset

Whenever we spend time in my hometown - my kids have a blast. Not only do they get spoiled rotten by their grandparents but they just love the town. We usually do walks, bike rides, wagon rides, swing, throw balls over the house, run around the kitchen, dance, watch movies - just good ole pure vacation. 

Once this summer we biked to the city park and enjoyed the maze (Shadd loved it and tried catching butterflies) and of course walked through one of the covered bridges. Thankfully I had my phone with me for the some quick pictures. 

Shadd's mini me - Ells is always following behind

Practicing our jumping over cracks

Garage Sales with Grandma

This is what happens on Fridays when we are hitting garage sales with Grandma and trying to squeeze in a run to Sam's Club all before nap time. Yes. We decide to let Shadd eat a fudge bar in the car. Only with Grandma do crazy things like this happen.

Oh the stories I could tell of the things we do to get a few bargains. Let's just say its been quite the summer and Shadd is a little burnt out on garage sales. In fact, last week he said "no more garage sales - let's do something fun!" We can usually entice him with something like maybe there will be a new train or new toy but it didn't seem to work last week. Good thing the season is just about over.

Our new photographer

So if I am not careful, Shadd likes to steal my camera and take pictures. As I was uploading a few last week these were a couple that made D and I laugh. Hopefully, they will make you do the same!

Simple Math

Here some quick simple math...let's see if you can figure this one out.
1+1=2
2+1=3
2+2=4
2+3=5

Any thoughts? Well when D and I got married we made 2. Then we added Shadd, 3. Then Ells, 4. And now we are going to add another so that makes 5. We are now a family of 5!

We are expecting baby #3 March 25th, but if this one follows in their siblings footsteps we are projecting an arrival in the middle of the month as Ells is the 17th and Shadd the 18th.

So far everything is going great. We have had an early ultrasound to determine the due date and check on the little peanut. I had an appointment yesterday and I am a little over 10 weeks. So far I have been feeling pretty good. Nothing too out of the ordinary. A little late afternoon sickness and super super tired. But I believe Ells has a little something to do with that as we are battling some sleep issues with that little stinker. I finally have had an opportunity to blog as I don't seem to need the nap time for nap as often.

We feel super blessed. I know this isn't always the best way to share news so if you are hearing this for the first time I apologize but I just don't seem to have the time with two little ones to get everyone important called.

I will do my best to continue to keep you up to date with the progress of this pregnancy. So far we are taking bets on the sex. Since my sister is having a girl it would really help Shaddy out if this little one was a boy but most of my family believes this little bean is another girl, other than my brother and he has been 100% with our family so far. So I'm guessing boy as of now.