It's been a long time.....

Wow...I haven't posted forever!!! Well things have settled down now that it's January. We have had A LOT of snow so far and FREEZING temps. Not a good combination to go and do things. The girls and I have spent most of the winter indoors so far. We are definitely going stir crazy and can't wait for Spring!!
Today has been a great day so far. This morning two of my closest friends drove from Waterloo to Belle Plaine to come play with us! It was such a blessing having them here and taking the time to drive here! Thanks girls!! The kids played great together and then we had pizza, which was delicious for all!!!
I did get a phone call from Kevin a little while ago telling me he was in a car accident with an older lady. He hurt his back and then given a ticket because he was in a no parking zone, which apparently you couldn't see because of all the snow!!! The little old lady wasn't given any tickets at all! Sometimes things just aren't fair! Anyways, that is the only bad news we have had in a while so I can't complain too much!
I am now 23 weeks pregnant and I feel HUGE!! I look like a 8 month pregnant woman. Not cool. Everything is going good so far with this pregnancy. He moves like crazy and already is kicking me hard! I'm a little stressed because we don't have the funds right now to buy the little guy anything, so I am entrusting God to provide (I know He will do it!! ). I cannot believe it's 4 months away!! The time flies when you already have 2 little ones!! :)
I hope you all are having a great January so far and hopefully I'll post more often!!!

Christmas is OVER!!!

Wow!! What a busy week. Where should I start?? Last Tuesday was the start of a very exciting week. I had my 20 week appt. (even though I was 18 weeks). It was the BIG gender ultrasound. I invited my cousin Chelsey to come along because Kev had to work and watch the girls. When we showed up I started drinking orange juice just to get the baby moving so we could see "the parts" :) We had to wait for 45 mins after my scheduled time because they were backed up. I guess everyone wanted a doctors appt. before the holidays.
I really believed in my heart that it was a boy but in my head I felt it was a girl. This pregnancy was SOOOOOO different from the girls' that I knew it had to be a boy........but Kev was always saying he could only produce girls :) So....the time came when the ultrasound tech checked out the privates. I told her I wanted to find a boy part (I was more descriptive) and she said that she would do her best. Sure enough she did a great job and the boy part was in full view. There is NO DOUBT that its a boy. He definitely wanted to show off "the goods"! Chels and I cheered and gave high fives because we were so excited! Then, for the next 1/2 hour, I was in shock calling all our family to let them know. The Lord knew the desire of my heart and blessed us with our boy!! Now we feel we can OFFICIALLY close this chapter of our lives and just enjoy our children. We have two girls and a boy now! I still can't believe it! The Lord is SOOOOO good!! Now to find boy stuff!! :)
That started the exciting week of Christmas presents and travel. Weds we spent in Waterloo at my parents and then that night at Grandma Tink's. I haven't been there for a while so it was nice to see my family I haven't seen for a while. Christmas morning was spent in the van driving up to Lake Mills. Once we got there the cousins got together and had a fun filled day of just running around and being kids! The girls got so many presents between the two families that we had to clear out a couple bins of toys just to make room for the new stuff!! They had such a great time with family.
Friday the girls went home with my parents and Kev and I were kid less for the weekend!!! It is our 4th anniversary on the 31st and I got tickets to the Vikings game for us! We went to a couple of movies and ate ALOT!!! It was so enjoyable just being together ALONE! The game was GREAT and Kev was super happy that we spent our anniversary in his "world". We drove home and I stayed the night at my parents (Peyton was already sleeping when we got there). The girls and I finally drove home Monday morning and spent most of the day unpacking and washing clothes.
It was a great week with family, but I'm so very happy to be back home! Thanks to all my family that helped us out this last week. We really appreciate everything you do!! Love you all!

Sleep

I am having the most frustrating time with Reagan. She hates to sleep!!! The worst part is that she is waking up 2 or 3 times during the night crying. She doesn't seem scared or anything, just mad because she is uncomfortable or her blanket fell off or just because. Peyton is the total opposite of Reagan in that department. She is absolutely the best sleeper ever!!! You never have to worry about her. She needs to be to bed by 6-7pm and will sleep till 7:30am. She can not handle being off her schedule at all!!! She is a mess if she doesn't get her required amount of sleep!
Anyways......will I ever sleep again? I really thought by the time Reagan was 2 she would have no problem sleeping........I was VERY wrong. I know I have at least 5 more months till the baby comes but I'm kinda in panic mode. Peyton is suppose to move into Reagan's room but that can't happen until Reagan can sleep through the night. I know God has a plan but that room is the only option we have when you have a 3 bedroom house!!! I'm just venting because I'm exhausted and I can't see an end in sight! Especially when there is a new baby coming into the mix. That is a guaranteed no sleep zone until he/she is 4 months or so. So my question is.....will I ever get a full, uninterrupted night of sleep again??? I know in my head I will, but my body is telling me no :)
On a happier note, I have been feeling the baby A LOT today. It has decided to kick me very hard multiple times today!! It is nice to know that everything is going good in there. I REALLY enjoy feeling the baby move! It is 6 days until the ultrasound! Then I can blog a him or her! I'm so excited!! Well I hope you have a Merry Christmas!!! I will be MIA for the next couple of weeks because of all the Christmas' we are going to!! Hopefully the weather holds up! Talk to you all later!

Oh Christmas

This month has already been a busy one. Every weekend we have something going on which forces us to travel. That's what happens when you live in a small town :) This weekend we have Kev's business party in Des Moines on Friday night. We then will drive to Waterloo that night so we can be back for a breakfast party at a friends house by 10am on Sat. Saturday night I have nursery at church (don't I get enough kid time during the day :) Then Sunday will just be a day at Grandpa and Grandma's house. Then starts another week. Followed by 2 family Christmas'. Then "real" Christmas comes and then our anniversary weekend in Minn. All the sudden it will be January!!! But before the "real" Christmas I will be having an ultrasound to find out what this little bean is. 13 days and counting!! I'm so EXCITED!! Everyone needs to think blue!!
I love Christmas music!! I have it playing almost constantly in my house. 1st, because I like it. 2nd, because the girls LOVE to dance to it!! Peyton is becoming one of the best dancers. She can dance sitting or standing! A very talented child! Reagan is a hip shaker....I have NO IDEA where she got that!
We are definitely enjoying the holiday season! We hope all of you are too and I'm sure we will see many of you soon!!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Well, it is now Sunday, already, of the Thanksgiving weekend. It has gone so fast and ALWAYS goes so fast. On Thursday we headed to the Amana Colonies, Ox Yoke Inn. The food was GREAT and it was so nice to see my family. Unfortunately with such a huge group (23 people) I didn't get to talk to many of my relatives :( The other bad thing about a restaurant is trying to keep the girls under control. The Lord was so good to us.........the girls were PERFECT. No crying or outbursts the 2 hours we were there. And it was during their nap time!!! Thank God!
On Friday Kevin's dad came to visit us (his mom was sick ). The girls love spending time with their grandparents no matter how long they stay. Reagan had a lot of fun with him and I've never seen Peyton sit on someones lap that long!!! He stayed until Saturday afternoon and we all had a good time.
On Saturday I was able to go into Waterloo and go to a movie with some of my girlfriends. It was so great to be childless for a afternoon! I even got to go grocery shopping by myself! When I got home we had Peyton open her presents for her 1st birthday. She had so much fun with the bags and tissue paper!! I liked the gifts!!!! She didn't seem to care but that would be her age. I can't believe 1 year ago I was having her!! The time flew by!! We are going to finish her birthday with a cake today!! I'll get lots of pictures of the birthday cake face. Don't worry!!
I loved waking up to snow on the ground!! Especially since we didn't have to go anywhere today!! We have our beautiful Christmas lights up on our porch and we will finish this wonderful day with putting up our Christmas tree tonight. What a GREAT day!!
This week is kinda an exciting one for me. Monday Peyton will get her 1 year shots....not exciting. Wednesday, though, I have my second OB appointment which I'm very excited about. I haven't had one since I was 9 weeks so this 16 week appointment will be fun. I'll actually get to hear the heartbeat with the doppler!!! This will also be the appointment where we will schedule the gender ultrasound!! There finally will be a date set to see what this little pumpkin is!!! I can't wait!! I hope all your Thanksgiving were great too!!!

Showers

This might sound a little ridiculous but I love showers!! It is so hard to find time to shower now-a-days. There usually is a child up about 6:30 am......I'm NOT getting up before that!!:) And all day long they need supervision, especially Miss Peyton. That child does not listen and is so stubborn. (Please, I already know where she got it) By the time 8:30-9pm comes around I need to pick up the toys, do the dishes, and try to get caught up on the laundry. Finally my "chores" are done and all I want to do is lay in bed.
I was just thinking back to those times where I would get up every morning and think I "needed" to shower. Will those days EVER come back?? I hope so. I really don't want to be known as the "stinky" mom. :)
Wow, that was a rant. Anyways, I actually got a shower this morning! Peyton went down for a early nap and I put Reag's in here high chair with a movie and playdoh. It's so nice to feel clean (and shaven). Kev will really like that my leg hair isn't as long as his anymore. (I know, too much info.)
Just wanted to share my random comments and remember to enjoy your showers!!!

Another week....

Both of the girls are taking naps....YES!!! They are so sweet but I enjoy my alone time too. I am so excited for the holidays!! There is something about this time of year that makes my heart happy. I can't wait for the girls to get a little older so we can start our own traditions. Right now all we can focus on is not letting them destroy the tree :)
We are going to the Amana Colonies this Thursday for Thanksgiving with my side of the family. I think we have 23 people so it was decided to go to the Ox Yolks Restaurant to handle that many people. It will be so much fun. Both the girls eat regular food so no baby food needs to be brought!!! YEAH!!! This weekend we plan on putting up our Christmas decorations (just our tree) and also celebrating Peyton's 1st birthday. We are not planning a party or anything... she won't know what's going on anyways :) I cannot believe she is already going to be 1. The first year is definitely hard but it has flown by. I love watching both the girls grow and become their own person. God has truly blessed Kev and I.
It is very easy for me to get caught up in the chaos and work that it takes to raise these girls. It really is hard for me to just relax and enjoy the time I have with them. I need to remember that they are not mine but God's. He is loaning them to me for a while. The Lord is so good to give them to us.
This 3rd one is also a HUGE blessing that I haven't enjoyed yet. I'm in my 15th week of pregnancy now and am feeling good. Many times I forget that I am pregnant because the baby isn't moving that much yet. Soon he/she will keep reminding me they are in there. I have my next appt. on December 3rd and can't wait. I didn't get to hear the heartbeat at my 9 week appt. so it will be so nice to hear it with the doppler. At that appt. I should schedule my ultrasound for the end of December, beginning of January. That will be an exciting appt. This is my last pregnancy and at times I'm sad it will be ending for good. These exciting moments will forever be gone but I know will be replaced with other exciting moments. There is so many more memories that will be coming our way. It may not be baby memories but it will be peeing on the potty, tying our shoes for the first time, first day of school, first crush and so many more. I'm so excited to go through all these moments with Kev and my kids.
Remember during these holidays to really enjoy your family and remember the true meaning of Christmas. Jesus was born which is better then any present or cookie there is!!!!