6 Months Old

Jack turned 6 months old on Sunday. He's getting huge and so much fun. He giggles when he gets tickled and is sitting up all by himself! He is constantly moving and wiggling and wanting to see everything. We're expecting his first teeth to come through any day now since he attacks our fingers to chew on them and is gumming on everything he can get his hands on (including faces).

I'm feeling really great lately. I've developed quite the baby bump and am feeling the baby move every now and then (possibly the best feeling in the world). I have an appointment on Thursday and then we'll have our ultrasound to find out in November. It seems like everyone thinks it is a girl (except Andy), but we'll see!

The Crud

Jack has the crud. You know, the running-a-fever, stinky-poo, fussy-pants, sometimes-smiley, most-times-whiny crud. Oh well, at least I got a day off from work and we went shopping after his doctor's appointment! I really felt mommyish taking a sick day when I wasn't sick. It was kind of nice, other than having a sick baby (which is not nice).

WHOA!

Sorry it's been soooo long since the last post! We're all doing very well, but have been incredibly busy. Jack continues to get bigger and more handsome everyday. He's now eating cereal and orange vegetables, which he loves. He giggles and plays peek-a-boo and is very close to sitting up by himself.

I'm feeling a little more like myself these days. The first trimester is officially over, so I'm eager to get some energy back and thankful that I'm not sick anymore. I'm pretty convinced that this baby is a girl, but Andy is still holding strong that he only makes boy babies.

The house is now officially a home. We've decorated and tomorrow we're having people over for the first time. Jack is getting baptised at church and then family is coming over for lunch. I'm looking forward to it!

Home Sweet Home

Sorry for the delay in bloggerville, but we've been busy! We've officially moved into the house last weekend and we're definitely thrilled and enjoying it! I love my garbage disposal and yard and big rooms and big windows and the list goes on. It was a daunting task to transfer three years of stuff and start work and take care of Jack, but it's over and I'm happy!

Jackson went in for his four month check up and he's doing fine! He's 15 lbs and 3 oz and 25 1/4 inches long (roughly the seventieth percentile for both). They said he has a "pleasant disposition" with which we totally agree. He's sleeping for 10-12 hours at night and two to three good naps during the day. He's such a good baby and if this next one is any easier, maybe we'll just keep having them!

I'm feeling okay (today) but morning sickness has once again kicked my butt. I just keep repeating "It means the baby is healthy..." as I throw up and then go right back to teaching. WE had our second ultrasound and the baby looks just fine! I am going back for another in about a week, because they thought the heart rate was a little low, but after reviewing the ultrasound again, it was just fine. I still get to go back though... just a perk of being a VIP at my OBGYN office.

School's going well... hothothot with no air conditioning, but we'll get through it.

***

Conversation with Walker:

Me: Walker, maybe your Mommy should have another baby...

Walker: (sarcastic scoff) Yeah, like you. That's just crazy!

Soooo tired

Like we predicted, life is crazy right now. We've been working at the house until very late for several nights now. The kitchen is painted, the living room is de wallpapered, joint compounded, sanded (oh, the dust everywhere!), primed, and half way painted, Jack's room is minus the border and cleaned and on the list to be painted next. We're so excited to make the house our home, but for now it's just a construction zone.

I had my first doctor's appointment and ultrasound yesterday. They think I'm due on April 14th, but I have to go back next week for another ultrasound so we can see the baby's heartbeat and get better measurements. There is only one yolk sack, so we're fairly certain it's just one baby again! I'm definitely feeling more pregnant now and feeling reassured that everything is okay. I had my first bout of bad morning sickness this morning, but I'm quickly remembering how to deal with it. Taking care of a almost-four-month-old and having morning sickness is much more difficult than my first pregnancy. Oh well, at least this little baby is healthy.

Jack had his first double ear infection hit on Friday. We went to the doctor since he was running a pretty high fever and got some antibiotics. He was pretty grumpy for a couple days, but now he's back to playing and talking. He still has a runny nose but it doesn't seem to bother him. He's been so good as we have had to shuttle him around from babysitter to babysitter so we can work on the house. Tonight, Mommy and Jack are going to stay home and get some much needed rest while Daddy comes home from work in time to go work at the house.

I hope to post some pictures soon of the house and Jack. He is getting so big and expressive. I go back to work on Friday, so I'm dreading leaving him, but Andy is off on Friday and Monday to take care of him.

In Survival Mode

We're eleven days into what may quickly prove to be the busiest and most insane month of our lives. We're packing to move, taking care of Jack, getting ready to go back to work, apparently being pregnant, and making plans to paint in our new house. Luckily, everyone is being incredibly helpful, so we're getting it done without too much stress.

Jack stayed with Carla and Bob and Patti yesterday so Andy and I could move a bunch of stuff (mainly Andy carrying stuff while I pointed where to put it). We're one whole minivan load of stuff closer to being out of our little apartment and into our new, bigbigbig house. We're amazed at God's perfect timing because we decided to buy the house and I got my job back before we found out I am pregnant again. God saved us a huge amount of worry, but still surprised us and blessed us.

I'm feeling pretty good still. I have a cold and a little tiredness and nausea, but nothing like the first time around. It is still a little early for true morning sickness, but I'm hoping to be spared the debilitating nausea so I can continue to get through this month. We've pretty much settled on the names Charlie or Molly for our little peanut, but we're open to suggestions for a full name for Charlie other than Charles. We want to give him the opportunity to have a professional name when he grows up. Andy's certain this baby is a boy, while I'll be thrilled with either a boy (playmate for Jack) or a girl (playmate for Mommy).

Jack is getting so big and growing up so quickly. He's rolling over both ways now and grasping toys and pulling his bottle towards his mouth. He coos and smiles all the time and is getting closer and closer to laughing. We tried to give him a little cereal last night, but he fussed and spit it out so I think we'll try again next week and see how he does then. He's sleeping through the night for about 9 hours and then eats and usually sleeps for a couple more hours after that. I'm thrilled that he's sleeping so well and it's just in time for me to need some extra sleep.

As we anticipate the new baby and enjoying watching our little boy grow up, Andy and I are so thankful for God's blessings. We have more than we deserve.

Surprise of a Lifetime

Andy and I found out on Monday that we are going to have another baby in April. Obviously, this was not a planned event, but we are thrilled and ecstatic that God is once again blessing us with a child. Andy is super excited and I'm slowly getting there, too. It's very overwhelming to think that we will have an eleven month old and a newborn baby. I'm worried that Jack won't get enough attention and that I have to take another maternity leave from work and that I won't be able to handle two infants and that I have to work through a second pregnancy in a year and a half, etc. etc. However, God is providing for us in amazing ways and we are so thankful that we will soon be holding another bundle of joy in our arms. We know we have an awesome family to love and support us as we take on this new endeavor and we are eternally grateful for them. We are overjoyed with Jackson and can only imagine the love and joy the new baby will bring!