We've been busy

A lot has happened the past couple of weeks. We had a great Halloween celebration. Lily was the cutest puppy, actually Lady from Lady and the Tramp. She loved dressing up and being a puppy. Brian and I didn't dress up this year or carve pumpkins. I guess we've been really busy, but we made sure Lily had a good day. We took her to the library's Halloween party where Lily got to do some fun activites. Then we went home and had our annual root beer making fun. Lily loved watching the witch's brew being made. And boy did it ever taste good! Lily absolutely loved trick or treating. Everyone thought she was adorable in her costume and she loved getting all the candy. We had a little Halloween party afterward with my family. Yummy food and fun conversation. It was a great day!

I am 23 weeks pregnant now. Things are going great. I have back pain all the time but I am learning to manage. My weight gain has been right on target for how far along I am and the baby seems to be growing perfectly. He's a very active baby and loves to kick a lot which I love because I know that he's doing good. Still no luck on a name. We keep calling him Baboo but we'll think of something soon, especially when we meet him.
The fall semester is going really good. It'll be over in less than a month so everything's due around the same time. But I'm doing great, my grades have never been this good. I may finally get my first 4.0. Hopefully!


Brian, Lily and I all went to a train show at the Utah Fairgrounds last weekend. Brian and Lily are train fanatics and I enjoy it too. There were bunches of model railroads with lots of great miniature "towns." Lily got take a ride on the train outside all by herself and loved it. She seemed a little nervous to be going alone but she handled it great. Brian got a dream train set there at a great price, a very overdue birthday present with his birthday cash. It's this great Lionel starter set. Brian was like a little kid in a candy store, he was so excited. Lily loves it too. In fact I think she thinks it's hers.


After a lot of VERY hard work, I think we may FINALLY have a potty trained little girl. She's still having accidents here and there but she's out of diapers during the day (still in one at night). I'm so proud of my little girl. I truly believe that you can only teach your child so much, and when it comes right down to it, they have to decide to potty trained. That's what happened with Lily. It'll be worth it to be done with diapers til the next one gets here!

Growin'

I'm 21 weeks pregnant now. Everything is going great. It seems my tummy must be growin' quite fast because strangers are starting to recognize that I'm pregnant. We went in for our 21 week ultrasound and gladly found out that this little boy is completely normal and growing perfect. What an awesome relief to know that everything is working and growing perfectly. We also found out it is definitely a little boy, no doubt about it. I love going to ultrasounds and seeing my little boy moving around. I can't wait to meet him.

Little baby face

It's a boy!

One very awesome accomplishment Lily had was writing her name for the first time. We were going to story time and Lily decides to write on her name tag. I look down at it and see she wrote her name perfectly. She didn't require any coaching or help with what letter came next. What a smart cookie! I am so proud of her! Potty training is coming along, very, very slowly. She's been quite the stubborn little girl and I guess I have to learn to be even more stubborn than her, which isn't exactly my strength. We've had some very good days and a lot of bad days, but persistence is key! We'll keep working on it and I'm hoping in the next month to have a fully potty trained little girl.

Cheese, Please!

Baby Baboo and Mommy saying Cheese at 20 weeks.

I am now 20 weeks preggers! I am surprised at how fast this pregnancy has gone by. I can't believe I'm halfway done. Everything is going great. I have a sweet kicking little boy in my tummy who is already loved beyond measure. In a week we'll have another ultrasound with the actual technologist. Pretty exciting. Those are definitely one of my favorite appointments.

So cravings.... Say Cheese! It's cheese like 24/7. I am sure this kid's first word is gonna be "Gouda" or something. I'm constantly in love with cheese of all kinds, cheddar cheese, mozzarella string cheese, cream cheese bagels, cheesy ravioli, grilled cheese, and cheesecake. It's crazy.

We still have no luck on a name picked out, or even a few we agree on. My favorites are, Benjamin, Jesse, Matthew, Andrew, Peter, and Wesley. Brian doesn't have a list, just a lot of veto's. So hopefully when we meet our baby boy, he will name himself, otherwise he'll be baby "Baboo" as Lily calls him forever.

Everything at home is going pretty good. Lily's on her way to be potty trained. She had one really good day without accidents but it has been followed by a few very bad days. So as anyone can imagine, I'm frustrated beyond measure. But will stay focused on the goal. Lily's growing up to be quite a young lady though. She loves to run and play all day. She enjoys doing crafts and "home preschool" with mommy. I am doing excellent in school, I have A's in both of my classes. I get tired of reading my textbooks but am enjoying being in school. I am still watching kids at my house. Just one little girl for right now. Brian continues to work hard at his job, while coming home to work hard on always keeping everything in the house fixed. He keeps his hobbies alive, from model trains to fish tanks.
Lily saying "cheese"

Brian and I are trying to make a 1-2 year plan for moving out to Tennessee. My family is moving out there around Christmas time, and we are longing to join them. We are praying still for a miracle to make it happen, but it looks like we may still be here a bit longer.

It's a BOY!

After many weeks of wondering and waiting we went to the doctor yesterday and it's a BOY! Well this little boy inside didn't want to cooperate after 15 minutes we finally got a glimpse and it's a boy. Lily and I were right. Brian thought it was a boy too but he wasn't as convinced. Lily's so excited that Baby Baboo is a boy. She likes the name Ben, but we still have to decide on it. I am happy to have one of each.
This is me at 18 weeks. Growing fast. I've only gained 5 pounds and everything seems to be going really well. It's been a pretty easy pregnancy so far luckily enough.

Balloons and baby kicks

So a little while ago, Brian, Lily, and I went to the Ogden balloon festival in Eden. It was such a great experience to see hot air balloons that close up. I never really realized how big those balloons really are. It's surreal. Lily couldn't get enough of it. She was ecstatic to see balloons that big. She kept telling us she wanted to go up in one. She thinks she's braver than she is. One of the best things we got to see was called the "balloon glow." When nightfall finally arrives, the balloons illuminate the dark sky. It's like a gigantic firefly display. We loved it!



I had my 14 week OB appointment (I'm 15 weeks now) and everything is going great. I'm loving the 2nd trimester already so much more than the first. I feel so much better, not nearly so tired. My baby bump has really not grown too much. I still can't wear my maternity clothes. The most amazing thing about being pregnant the 2nd time is that I can actually feel my baby move already! Every night I can feel little baby kicks. They feel like little pinkies pressing on my tummy. I love knowing I have a precious little baby growing inside me. Lily's so excited to be a big sister. I think she's going to be great! Another great thing is that 2 weeks from today we get to find out if we're having a boy or a girl. My money's on a boy. I'll be surprised if I'm wrong. I guess we'll wait and see.

"Thump, thump, thump"

I had my first OB doctor's appointment. I met my nurse midwife who is letting me give the whole VBAC a try. I really want to avoid surgery again so now I have the opportunity. When we were at the doctor we got to see the baby in the first ultrasound and hear the heartbeat. Never has this baby felt more real than see it move around in the ultrasound and hearing the little "thump, thump, thump" of the his or her heart beating.

Baby Baboo (haha, yes that is the name for now) at 10 weeks

Me at 11 weeks. Showing so fast.

I have the inkling that I am having a boy. So does Brian. So we can't wait to find out the sex of the baby so we can start figuring out some names we like.
Weight gain as of 11 weeks, 2-3 pounds (yay!)
Cravings: Cheese, salt and vinegar chips, and the normal chocolate and ice cream
I'm really looking forward to the 1st trimester being over. I'm so sick of wanting to gag on some random smell in the kitchen. And I would really love to have some normal energy levels again. I'd also love to have some clothing fit. My regular clothes are now too small and my maternity clothes are still too big. I guess I'll run around naked until something changes.
Only 3 more weeks and we're in the next trimester.
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Happy Birthday Lily and Becky

Lily and I celebrated our birthday's on the 6th and the 7th of August. It ended up turning into an awesome birthday weekend thanks to my amazing husband and family. On Lily's birthday I took her to her favorite park. She calls it the "Quack Quack Eeeee." It's this great duck park in Layton. Then we got the last of her birthday shopping done (yes right in front of her).

My big 3 year old girl!

Then on my birthday Brian took the day off (YAY!!). He took me and Lily out to breakfast at Village Inn which was such a sweet surprise because I love breakfast. Later that day we did some more last minute shopping for me and Lily and to pick up the ice cream cake for the party. We invited everyone to dinner that night. We went to Chilis and then back to my house for cake and presents. Lily is one spoiled and loved little girl. She got a present from all her uncles, her aunt, and of course the grandparents too. Of course they didn't forget to spoil me either.The Amazing Ice Cream Cake

Cute Lily in her Birthday outfitBlowing bubblesLook at all the giftsAnd I'm excited tooAnd I love cardsExcited girlThe Birthday girls

Then on Sunday we went to the zoo and had a blast. Just about wore out the poor pregnant birthday girl though. I think I fell asleep on the way home too. Lily got to ride the carousel and the train. She was such an excited happy girl. We got to see the real "Jerrie's." Including the new baby one. Brian just carried her around everywhere, showing her everything. What a great Daddy!

Brian and Lily looking at the giraffes

The new baby giraffe!

My little sweet heart

Riding the carousel with Mama

Daddy and Lily on the Carousel and Rachel too

Big elephant This is Lily's excited face for going to ride the train

Family fun
Gotta love this trademark ball at the zoo