THIRD TRIMESTER!

How far along: 28 weeks

Gender: Girl

Weight gain: 14lbs total - I am 1 lb shy of the total weight I gained with Elliana. Hope she starts to slow down now!

Maternity clothes: Living in them everyday!! Starting to look at maternity swim suits..yay!

Stretch marks: None and I have to say how much I love the Cocoa Butter Lotion that I have used since I first found out I was pregnant with Elliana. Not only does it smell amazing but it works wonders! I soak my belly with it twice a day. 

Belly button in or out: I would have to say about in between now!

Emotions: Anxious and freaking out! I can't believe we only have less than 3 months and there's still so much that needs to be done! We've gotta get the ball rollin...

Sleep: is so so? Reflux and trying to get comfortable wakes me up, but my doctor just gave me some medicine for the reflux and I've started sleeping with my Snoogle Pillow that helps.

Best moment: Thinking about having a new baby in the house. It's been a while since I've held a newborn (:

Worst moment: Acid reflux starting. I didn't have it with Elliana or really any time before this. But I hear that means baby will have lots of hair! 

Miss anything: Energy. It's starting... The whole feeling exhausted, needing to catch my breath after walking up or down the stairs, and making Elliana's nap time my nap time too. 

Movement: Still moving a lot. Elliana had her head on my belly, then Evie started kicking. Elliana looked up at me so serious and said "Hey stop that!" I told her it was sissy saying hi (:

Cravings: Oh the cravings... There's been a lot in the past month like chicken salad, strawberries, Lemonade (Oh how I love the new Ice Dream Lemonade at Chick Fil A mmm...), Sonic corn dogs, and what I have to make my "special treat"...steak and salad!

Queasy or sick: Queasy again.. Now it's only when the reflux is bad. 

Looking forward to: It doesn't have much to do with pregnancy but I'm looking forward to summertime! So many exciting things will be happening including having a baby!!! (:

Toddler Tales and Sayings.

Lucas and I love to talk about the new and funny things that Elliana says these days. I thought it would be fun to keep track of these silly sayings to look back on in the future. Especially for when she's in the teenage years haha ;)

One time she asked for a cookie, when I told her not right now, she reached her hand out and with that sweet smile said "C'mon I neeeeed it!" it was so cute and funny I had to give her one.

When she gets tired of us asking her about something over and over she puts her hand over her face and says "I don't know. I don't knooooow."

She is absolutely in love with Beauty and The Beast right now, so she loves to tell the story. She always starts with "Gaston is mean to the beast" then it's "Belle save the beast" then it's "Beast turn into a prince" short but sweet (:

Sleeping Beauty is "Asleep booty" which is funny because she can say "Beauty and The Beast" haha. 

Don't know where she has learned this but she likes to bend over and tell us "look at my butt". (This is Lucas' favorite...haha)

When she makes me something in her kitchen she tells me what she made, and it could be anything from cookies, to soup, to mac n cheese. But no matter what it is she let's me know "it not hot" and then she sings "Happy Birthday" to me. 

Speaking of singing, this girl loves to do it! She will sing anything she hears once from preschool songs to songs on the radio. If she knows the motions to them, the cuter it is her singing it. Here are her current favorites:

1. Jesus Loves Me

2. Trust & Obey

3. Baby Bumblebee

4. All About The Bass

5. Shake It Off

6. Happy

7. Beauty & The Beast

and of course...

8. Let It Go

We listen to a lot of Pandora at home and our favorite stations for her are Cedarmont Worship (Children's), Disney, and Kidz Bop. 

Hold me is "Hold you"

When we tell each other goodnight or bye we always "I love you best". This is something so precious to me, and I hope she never outgrows saying this. (:

When she gets frustrated about anything she says "C'mon now!" or "Ahh man!"

When she's not ready to leave "Just a minute" or if we ask her if she's ready she puts her finger up and says "Ahmost" 

If we call her silly, crazy, or just about anything she says "No I Elliana."

But if we tell her she's cute she will say "Thaaaaaanks." 

While watching a movie with me she pulled my shirt up and said "Baby sister watch it too" 

The most precious and sweetest thing I have ever heard her say is the Easter story. Over the past couple of weeks we have been talking about it, and the Easter Egg Story is a great way to share it with your kids. She will tell us "Jesus ride the donkey and the peoples say Hosanna, Hosanna and then they drink the cup and Jesus died on the cross cause he love us, he go to the tomb and the girls run to see Him but He not there, (and really loud and excited she puts her arms up and says) "JESUS ALIVE!" I know she's too young to understand the concept of it all, but to know she knows the story and loves to tell it is planting that seed in her heart. 

I'm sure there are many other things she has said or done that has had us rolling. Lucas says we need to start writing them down she she says them so I will have to start that. But it's so bittersweet to see her grow up into a little girl and eventually a young lady. I love having conversations with her, and hearing her tell me that she's my "best fran" or that she's "mommy's baby". Of course there are times when she says things that I think "Boy, I liked it better before she could voice her opinion" but she makes up for it when she uses her manners like saying "ma'am?" when I or Lucas call for her (we are working on the sir haha), and knowing her please, thank yous, and excuse me. 

We just love seeing her personality come out and can't wait to hear what she has to say when Evie arrives!

6 Month Bump!

I'm a week behind, but I wanted to wait until my doctor's appointment. (:

How far along: 24 weeks

Gender: Girl

Weight gain: 10lbs total 

Maternity clothes: Yes. Love my maternity stretchy pants, which are the most comfortable pants ever. Finally found jeans and capris that are fit my short legs! (:

Stretch marks: None

Belly button in or out: In

Emotions: My emotions have been either really happy or overwhelming. I had a major breakdown moment just thinking about how close we are to Evie's arrival. Of course I'm excited about it, but the fact that we are going to have TWO kids just hit me pretty hard. 

Sleep: is pretty good. Except for the times Lucas has to wake me up because I'm having a bad dream...

Best moment: Starting the progress on the girls' room, got the car seat and an Ergo carrier! Can't wait to try it out!

Worst moment: Bad dreams! I have been having some awful nightmares and they all involve Evie! Anyone else have this problem while pregnant??

Miss anything: Being able to get up without it being a struggle.

Movement: All the time. This girl is always doing flips and kicks.

Cravings: Frosted flakes cereal, lemonade, strawberry shortcake snacks, and oranges. So happy I can eat sweets now without feeling queasy. 

Queasy or sick: None! YAY!  

Looking forward to: Finishing the girls room! (:

20 Week Ultrasound

Today I had my 20 week ultrasound for Evie, and it was amazing.

She was moving around all over the place! My tech was the sweetest, which I believe made the whole experience even better. She showed me every little detail on the ultrasound, gave me tissue as I cried while watching her heartbeat, and kept saying "beautiful" and "amazing" over and over.

I was lucky enough to stay for an hour because a student needed some OB practice. She had never done one before and she was so amazed, it was pretty cool to watch!

This one is my favorite. Elliana couldn't go with me, and I was telling the tech how excited I was about her having a sister. Then Evie was opening and closing her hand like she was waving, so the tech caught this and said she was waving at her sister. Yes, I did cry.. 

I know some people can't understand ultrasound pictures and see what is what, but all that matters is that you see life and a blessing. That's exactly what I see when I look at these. A life that is growing inside me, and a blessing that God has given us. I can't believe we are already at the halfway mark, and we will be holding this blessing in less than 5 months! 

Valentines

Today was Elliana's Valentine's Day Party at school, since she is sick with RSV she had to miss it unfortunately. She hated missing her party but I still took her little valentines for her classmates so that made her a little better. Afterwards I went to pick up Elliana's goodies for Valentine's day from mommy and daddy (: As I was there I saw a lot moms that look like me usually, frantic and worried. Worried about what to get for their little valentines, and even though it's 2 days away, what to get their kids' friends??? 

Even though Valentine's day is pretty much already here, I wanted to share a super easy and cute valentine that you can make with your kids for their classmates, friends, or Sunday school class. It may be too late to share this now but hey, there's always next year, right? (:

So, I'm sure the picture says enough, but here's instruction just in case ;)

Supplies:

Foam Heart

Krazy "Heart" Straw

Foam Heart Stickers

Sharpie Pen

Knife

I put the straw on the heart to see where to cut the slits. Slid the straw through. Wrote a fun witty valentine. Then Elliana placed the sticker in the middle. DONE!

Can't get much easier than that!

I hope you all have a great Valentine weekend! We will be making the most of it at home while our girl gets better, but that won't keep us from having some sort holiday festivity! 

RESOURCES:

Foam Heart//Krazy "Heart" Straws//Foam Heart Stickers

5 Months

How far along: 18 weeks (almost halfway!!)

Gender: Girl

Weight gain: Went to the Dr yesterday and I have gained a total of 8lbs since pre-pregnancy.

Maternity clothes: Pretty much, yes. I haven't been able to find jeans that fit just right so I'm rockin the belly band with my jeans. Unless the shirt is loose or a "flowy" type shirt I feel more comfortable in maternity clothes.

Stretch marks: None

Belly button in or out: In

Emotions: Are typical for a pregnant woman. I have my up and down moments, but lately it's mostly been up!

Sleep: Is great! I'm sleeping well at night and not feeling as tired during the day!

Best moment: Hearing sweet girl's heart beat. (:

Worst moment: I have a fresh batch of cupcakes on my counter that look and smell delicious but my stomach can't handle sweets right now ):

Miss anything: My love for sweets.

Movement: Yes. I feel her mostly at night when I start settling down. I can't wait for Lucas and Elliana to feel her move!

Cravings: Mexican has been a big craving of mine lately. I always keep chips and salsa stocked in the house. Unfortunately Lucas does not share the same love for mexican food like I do, but he's been a champ!  

Queasy or sick: Still taking nausea medicine at night to help me in the mornings. I tried a couple of days of sucking it up without it but I was miserable. 

Looking forward to: 20 week ultrasound next week!! YAY!! (:

Pre-K Prep

First I want to thank everyone for your kind words about our baby girl! We are very excited about this crazy and pink adventure that is ahead of us. We also appreciate your kind words regarding my updates. They have been fun and I'm so glad I started doing this (:

Elliana has been going to a preschool part-time since she was a year old. It was something Lucas and I wanted for her to get some socialization and learn new things as well. We have been so happy where she goes, and we can tell she loves it too! They do so much with the kids with dress up days, themed days, and just getting on their level and teaching. It's been wonderful and Elliana has learned so much there. But as most of our family and friends know we are planning on homeschooling our children in the future. It was a decision that Lucas wanted more than me at first (which seems crazy because I was home schooled), but after many discussions and praying we feel that this is something God wants for our family. I have been doing research about it for the last 2 years and it has definitely changed since my home school days. There are so many options now! So with all that said we are considering this being Elliana's last year at preschool and start prepping for the future. This is something that has been surprisingly hard for me because I do absolutely love her school and teachers, but I think about Elliana being so young, and even though we are planning on her doing school at home this an age that we will never get back, and I want to soak it up as much as possible. 

We are still praying for guidance with this. Next fall will be a big change in our family with the new baby, so we want to make sure this is God's doing and not ours.  

Since this is an option for our family, I decided to start looking into things that I can do with Elliana at home if she will be here more. First thing I found was a Pre-K co-op that starts at age 3. I'm in the process of getting more information about it since I've never been to co-op, but I know the sweet ladies who are directors of one near by and that says enough for me. A few other things I have been looking into are my resources. I was a preschool teacher full-time before I had Elliana so I am going back looking at the activities I did with the kids that could work with Elliana. 

While I was at heaven Target the other day going by the dollar bins, I found these neat and fun workbooks for $1! It's mostly very simple tracing, and something Elliana can start in the fall, maybe even now but we need to practice holding a pencil first. ;) I also love it because it comes with stickers that you can put on the pages once the worksheet is complete, and Elliana loves stickers!

To start prepping for handwriting these activity sheets are wonderful! I've seen kids progress with these and it's amazing how something so simple and fun can truly help them with handwriting, and also hand eye coordination. These color sheets are also something that will be fun and simple for her since she loves, loves, loves to color. 

As much as I love worksheets, I believe kids learn more from playing. Just this morning while playing with her alphabet blocks we were working on color sorting. It's simple things like that that really engages Elliana and keeps her busy and focused. My best friend to help with activities like this to keep her from getting bored? PINTEREST. You can follow my Preschool Board for lots of different ideas and activities for your little one to do at home. A couple of my favorite is this Alphabet Squish and this really easy and fun color sorting game.

Well there you have it! A little bit of something that's been on my heart and to help any parents out there who may have had the same thoughts. Also, if any of you have more resources and ideas feel free to comment and share them below, I love new things!