BABY #2 IS A....

I apologize for my absence. Things have been crazy with holidays, going out of town, buying and working on a house, and just life in general. I hate that I haven't had the time to stay on top of my blog as much as I would like, especially with the pregnancy and me wanting to journal it. But once we settle in our new home next week things will get back to normal!

Now on to some wonderful news!

Baby Roberts stretching it out! 

Today I went to the ultrasound tech and saw our little sweet pea, and after some moving and rolling it finally revealed that.....

Yep! We will be having another princess in our family and we couldn't be more thrilled!! Some of you know that I have been saying "BOY" since day 1. But that was mainly because this pregnancy has been so different than the last, from sickness to cravings, and even my energy level, nothing has been the same. Then Monday at my doctor's appointment the nurse told me the heart rate was 160, and I started second guessing haha. 

Elliana has also said boy since day 1...actually "boy like daddy" to be exact. So she didn't believe us when we told her she was having a sister...after a lot of repeating she finally got it and she's excited about having a little sister! (:

As far as any other changes in the pregnancy, there's not any except the belly ;)

I will to do an update soon, but I've had so many sweet friends and family members anxiously waiting to know about baby girl I wanted to go ahead and share the news!

9 Weeks

How far along: 9 weeks

Gender: Don't know yet, but we have our suspicions ;)

Weight gain: Still the same at -1.5lbs

Maternity clothes: No maternity clothes. Jeans are starting to feel a little snug..

Stretch marks: None!

Belly button in or out: In

Emotions: Very calm and cool over here, which is very strange for me haha.

Sleep: Is something I feel like I can't get enough. Sometimes Elliana and I even have the same nap time.

Best moment this week: Started to look at some nursery ideas!

Worst moment this week: Morning sickness has went into overdrive in the mornings. Still not as bad as it was with Elliana

Miss anything: Still missing my energy. I also miss texture of food not bothering. It's very strange that certain textures and also season foods can totally change my appetite.

Movement: Still nothing. still waiting!

Cravings: Starting to crave sour things, I saw the mini chewable sweet-tarts at the store a few nights ago and I was soo happy because I may or may not have went to 3 others stores looking for them... 

Queasy or sick: See the worst moment above.... 

Looking forward to: Still about movement, and finding out the gender! We should know by early January!!!

Christmas Spirit!

We are very much in the Christmas spirit around here! I would have to say it started before Thanksgiving, but we didn't start anything "Christmasy" (yes, it's a word to me) until after Thanksgiving. With us staying with family until we move into a new home, it's definitely different. But we are making the best of it and enjoying incorporating our traditions with other family members. 

So here's a little recap of what we have done so far! Get ready for some picture overload...

It all started the Saturday after Thanksgiving when a visitor showed up and set up a wonderful breakfast for the girls. My brother and his family were in town and stayed with us so my niece got to join in on the fun too! Anyways, the girls woke up to a yummy breakfast with powdered donuts, grapes, and marshmallows. Their little visitor sat there watching them eat as I told them who the special guest was. As soon as I told them it was a girl elf and we had to name her they both shouted "ELSA!". I had a feeling that would happen and just went with it. I was a little curious to how Elliana would react to the "Elf on the Shelf" tradition, but she is really enjoying it, and understanding the concept. Every morning when she wakes up she asks where Elsa is, then she finds her and gets so excited. I'll ask her if she knows where Elsa went while she was sleeping and she will say "to see HoHo" I think it's adorable. So far Elsa hung upside down from a lamp, had smores with Minnie Mouse, and few other mischievous things. But the most recently place we found her was on top of the chandelier...

As you can see she brought Elliana a little gift to make up for the mess...

Another fun thing Elsa has brought us from the North Pole is this adorable Christmas Countdown, another tradition that Elliana loves. 

The other day I was at our local deli and bakery and saw the cutest cookie decorating kit. I got it for Elliana to have from Elsa but she eyeballed it the day I brought it home, so we had to get into that night. Girlfriend was a pro!

I know it's hard to tell whose is whose, but I'm sure you can that Elliana couldn't wait to take a bite (or two..) out of her cookies before she even finished it. Her favorite part was licking the icing off. A girl after my own heart!

And lastly Elliana's Christmas Tree! The past 2 years she has had her own little tree in her room. The first one was very small with candy ornaments, and last year was a little bigger with small ball ornaments. Well I decided this year I wanted to do something different for her. I wanted her to actually enjoy her tree instead of having one on display that I have to constantly tell her not to touch or throw the ornaments. So I took a trip to the craft store, loaded up on some felt, and went to cutting. As I have mentioned before I am not an artistic person, and drawing is unfortunately not talent that I have, so like I have done in the past I just kind of went with it and hoped for the best. I had some assistance from my mom with the tree, and used a template for the star. I feel like it turned out great and Elliana absolutely loves it!

Well there is a few of our little Christmas traditions! There's so much more on our to do list for this month that we are looking forward to. What are some holiday traditions that you and your family enjoy?!

RESOURCES:

Girl Elf//Skirt for Elf//

Christmas Advent//Merry and Bright Pajamas

Baby #2 Update

I'm so excited that I get to do this with our second little blessing! I did weekly pictures with Elliana during my pregnancy, but didn't keep a record of my feelings, things I liked/disliked, etc. This pregnancy has been completely opposite from the last one too. So here we go!

How far along: 7 weeks

Gender: Don't know yet, but can't wait to find out!!!

Weight gain: Actually have lost 1 1/2 lb

Maternity clothes: No maternity clothes yet, just living in my warm fleece leggings

Stretch marks: Hoping for none again this round!

Belly button in or out: In

Emotions: Overall pretty good! Just really tired, and drained

Sleep: Is pretty good at night. I wake up early in the day (before my alarm), and I am way more exhausted this time around

Best moment this week: Had my first ultrasound!!

Worst moment this week: Getting hit with sinus problems...

Miss anything: My energy, especially with a 2 year old running around

Movement: Nothing yet. I've heard you are more likely to feel movement sooner the second time around though!

Cravings: Oh my.. My first big craving was Chipotle...I had it twice last week, but now all I can think about is the Thanksgiving goodness that's coming later this week. 

Queasy or sick: I have had a little nausea feeling here and there. But it's nothing like it was last time. 

Looking forward to: Feeling some movement and of course finding out the gender!

God's Perfect Timing...

I truly believe that God has a sense of humor, but his humor seems to always be to our benefit, right? Well it was for us.

As most of you know our family moved in a new home in the middle of September. We moved in believing that we would be closing and become the homeowners at the end of October. Well, it turned out some things were not done correctly with the loan process and God closed the door to us buying the home. For a week Lucas and I were trying to work it out for us to buy this home. We didn't understand why this was happening. We've done everything right. We found out very quickly that there was no way we could buy this home and it make it "ours", and on top of that we found out that we had to move out ASAP, like in 2 days!! We were in shock, distraught, irritated, and very worried. Through all of this though, I told Lucas that God had a plan and we had to trust Him. Easier said than done though, right? Well the night we found out all of this we also found out that God did have a plan, and not only a different plan, but a BIGGER and BETTER plan.........

"The times we think God isn't doing anything, are often the times He is doing His greatest work"

That quote is from the sermon our Pastor preached this past Sunday. I can't get it out of my head (:

We instantly felt peace, happiness, and just overfilled with joy. All we could say is "God knows what He's doing and we just need to let Him do it!" We told our families, who were just as thrilled and felt better about our situation as well.  

Elliana is just as excited as we are! She keeps looking for a baby in my belly button, and keeps telling us she wants a baby boy haha. She will tell us that she will love the baby, kiss the baby, help with the baby, but will not share mommy and daddy with the baby! I have a feeling that may change since she will be a little older when the baby is here, and I think she will have a harder time sharing the baby more than sharing us! She's such a little mommy jr. already, and loves loves loves babies! I just can't wait to see her as a big sister. 

As far as a home? We are hoping to be in something after the new year but we are putting it in God's hands and following His plan. 

Here are the pregnancy announcements that our wonderful photographer, Jodi Hyde took for us.

I love the last picture with that little pouty face. She loves watching "hoho" on tv, just not in person.

Baby Roberts #2 estimated arrival is July 2014! (:

RESOURCES:

Jodi Hyde Photography

Our Weekend

We had a big and fun weekend planned, but the weather had it's owns plans too...

 We sadly had to reschedule some events but we still had fun like always...rain or shine!!

Elliana and I did a lot of playing inside Saturday while Lucas was at work. Poor thing kept looking out the window saying "outside...play...slide" over and over. So we whipped up some homemade paint, got out the kraft paper, and went to town. Of course what's painting if you don't use yourself as a canvas?? Luckily she didn't go too crazy with it. We also did some coloring and drawing. She's learning her shapes so during this time it's "mommy daw a pink circle" or a "blue scare" or a "purple star". If you haven't discovered kraft paper you are totally missing out, especially if you have little ones. I bought a roll to use for her birthday party and it's been so useful ever since. I tape it down on the floor or table for her to draw or paint on. She absolutely loves. Plus with a roll you can attempt to trace your child's body on it and that is a great way to help them recognize body parts and then color it! 

 After all the playing it was time for Elliana's nap and time for mama to start preparing for dinner, then daddy came home! We ate dinner fast and got ready for a fall festival before the rain started again. Of course Elliana's favorite part of the festival was holding out her treat bag and people putting candy in it. Sadly the rain caught up with us and it was time to go home, but not time for the fun to end! (:

(I just love that smile...)

 I had a little craft planned for her once we got home and it was a hit! But she did have a little too much fun with the paint on her hand. It may not look a like hand print or a spider, but it is hers and that makes it a masterpiece to me. (:

Sunday we had plans to go to the pumpkin patch after church, but the weather wouldn't allow it... But we still had a great day spending it with family and watching TWD premiere (shout out to my TWD fans out there!). We also had plans for a Halloween craft night yesterday with some friends, but once the wind blew Lucas' grill away we felt like it wasn't a good night for anyone to get out. 

So here's to hoping for better weather and more fall fun this week! 

What kind of fall activities do you and your family have planned??

Tea for Two Birthday Party!!

I apologize for being M.I.A... We have been trying to get settled in the new house, had Elliana's 2nd birthday and birthday party, and now preparing for the holidays that are coming up. Whew.. so many things but I love it!

A couple of weekends ago we had our sweet girl's 2nd birthday party. It's still crazy to me that we have a 2 year old, but oh my, this age has been so fun! I love hearing her say and do new things every day, she is such a joy to our family. Here is a little party recap!

I wanted to do a simple party this year. Since we just moved in, and built her "big" present, it was just easier that way haha. All I wanted for her party was for her and her friends to have fun and I believe we succeeded.

I made most of the decorations myself. I found an easy DIY tissue garland on Pinterest, and the birthday banner..well, I just "winged it" (haha..that was scary). The chalkboard labels were actually something to put in plant pots. I just replaced the stick with cotton twine string for the drink dispensers.  I do not see myself as an artistic person so when I attempt a DIY I procrastinate as long as I can, and in this case I procrastinated until the night before the party (yeaaa..I'm that girl). So of course I freaked out more because all I could think about was "what if this doesn't work?" "it's too late to get something else!!" but luckily it worked out well enough for me to use the decorations! (:

One of my best friends who did mine and Lucas' wedding cake, did Elliana's birthday cake for me this year, and I did the cupcakes. A craft stick and a tied colored cotton twine string was the perfect simple cupcake topper. Thanks to my sweet husband for tying them and for painting the 2 ;)

My favorite part of the party was the actual tea party set-up for the kids. I covered the table with white kraft paper and put crayons out for the kids to color on, inside the paper bags were the kids' lunch which was pb&j sandwich, gogo pouch, chips, grapes, and caprisun. I made them ahead of time so the parents didn't have to make the kids plate and their plate. The kids loved sitting at their own table with friends, and did great eating together! Plus it was super adorable!!

For party favors the kids got a goody bag, and had dress-up accessories at the tea party table. The girls got a boa and jewelry, and the boys got a bow tie and glasses. It was definitely a hit with the kids, and again super adorable!

Overall the party went great. The kids loved playing outside on Elliana's play set and upstairs in the playroom and it was so special for her birthday to be our first event in the new house! Elliana really enjoyed having her friends over and loved all her presents. Thank you to all who came to celebrate our girl we are slowly looking forward to next year! 

RESOURCES:

Tissue Garland / Bow Ties / Elliana's Cupcake Outfit / Wooden Crate / Party Favor Glasses