19 & 20 Weeks!

Dear Mystery Baby,

Your dad and I are dying to know what you are! I wanted to make you a stocking, but I can't because I don't know what accessories to put with it! Like lace or rope or glitter or buttons!

3 days left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the meantime, you move a lot! Daddy got to feel your little kicks last week for the first time. And last night I put my phone on my belly cause you were moving so much and so my phone was bouncing around on my belly!

(19 weeks)

If you ever feel a little gypped of blog posts, blame it on your sister. She likes to pick the keys off of my keyboard so I can't get much typing done when she's around.

I am still tired all the time and I must take a nap when Kacie does to refresh. If I miss that relaxation time in the afternoon, the rest of the day is almost guaranteed to go badly.

When we found out we were having another baby, I spent a while just hoping for a girl since we have the stuff. Then I just felt like you were a boy.

Now, I have no idea. People ask me and my brain malfunctions.

Seriously. It just kind of stops working for a minute.

Dad thinks you are a girly! (yes, he said 'girly' when I asked)

Here you are at 20 weeks of age:

I constantly have butt cramps and pain that shoots down my legs. I can't really bend over well and you feel kind of heavy already. I have consistent heart burn with most everything I eat. You're not even that big yet and it feels like I am as big as I was at the end of my last pregnancy. But I'm sure that's just my brain being dramatic!

I sure am excited to get to know you better. It has been so nice to have a lot of the stress of first time parenting gone since we kind of know what we are doing as far as feeding you and changing diapers goes!

Well, it is technically 2 days and 18 hours until our gender reveal appointment. So I'm going to go watch the countdown timer for a few hours now. Oh and of course we are wanting to know if everything is ok with your developing body…. but it won't really matter because we will love you no matter what! So mostly just the gender thing...

We are so excited to have you in our lives!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Gratitude is the Best Attitude!

Dear Kiddos,

I have had a lot of people around me mention over the past few months that this has been one of the hardest years they have ever had. The past 5 months have been that for me too!

When your dad and I took this job managing apartments, we thought it would be great because I could work from home and help with our bills. Little did we know that between rude tenants, court visits, emergency maintenance, and constant interruptions, the next 3 years would be long and difficult.

In May, when my mom was in the accident, I realized how quickly things can change and was reminded how important it is to have gratitude for every blessing that I am given. But it is just as important to be thankful for my blessings as it is to recognize each blessing no matter how big or small.

I started to really focus on what I had instead of the things that I don't.

I want a house and a yard. But I have a home and it is a safe haven from the troubles of the world.

I want another car. But I have a really nice car that is reliable and doesn't cost us a lot of money to keep up. It gets your dad to work, and it takes us on our adventures. It has a heater and air conditioner and keeps us comfortable.

I want to be closer to our families. But I have families and I am able to talk to them on the phone and Skype with them whenever I need to. We have transportation that gets us to each other when we have the chance. And we are blessed with people in our lives that help us get to each other when it's really important.

I want your dad to be done with school so I can spend more time with him. But I have a husband that is able and willing to go to school to provide for us. And the time that we do spend together is even more precious because we have to make it count.

I want to never manage apartments again. But I have a job that helps provide our comfortable life. I have an incredible boss that is so patient and caring to your dad and I. He has given us countless opportunities to learn and been there in several tough times when there was no one else available.

I want to never be pregnant again. But I have been blessed with the amazing ability to create life. Pregnancy is not friendly to me and it really wears me down, but I am thankful that I am able to be a part of God's plan. That I am able to learn to love even more and that I am able to learn more about my Savior as I lean on Him when life seems too tough.

I'm thankful for my iPad, for my phone, for my kitchen aid mixer. For my water bottle, my crafts, my Costco membership, my blanket, my clothes, my memory foam and my TV.

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for my husband, your father. For you, my sweet children. For my opportunity to be a wife and a mother, as not every one has had the chance to be. I am grateful that I am a sister, a daughter, a friend.

I am blessed to be a Latter Day Saint. To know that this isn't the only life I get. That when people pass on, it isn't the end. That no matter how much evil there is in the world, I will always have the knowledge that good will win!

I am grateful that I have been commanded not to judge. I am not perfect at this. But I am learning that there are people with beautiful souls who don't believe the way I do. And that is ok! I am grateful that we were not sent here to be the same! I am blessed with the ability to choose what makes me happy and so is everyone else. And I am learning what a beautiful blessing that is!

Kids, I hope I can teach you gratitude. That you always remember what a blessed life you live. That simply being alive is incredible!

Your dad and I are incredibly grateful to have you in our lives and we love you soooo much!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

17 Months!

Dear Kacie,

Today is your dad and I's 17 month-iversary for becoming parents! Which also means that it is your 17th month of life!

You're always entertaining us! like when you wanted to walk around in your cousins walker even though you're too big for it!

And you entertain your uncle Colin too! He loves coming over to visit you before he goes to work!

You say quite a few words now:

Pwessse (please)

Nanana (banana)

Kyle

Soooft (in a creepy whisper

Meeka (Mickey)

Weeee

Sorry

Ho ho ho
Cracker
No

We are still trying to teach you how to say 'baby' but you understand a lot of what we say now.

If we ask Where's the baby? You point at my belly and try to lift up my shirt!

If we ask if you're thirsty or if you want water, you know to get your water bottle.

Same with asking where your pacifier is, you will go find it.

I think our favorite is when we say "BATH TIME!!" and you get real excited and run to the tub yelling 'bat ti! bat ti!' (bath time!). And when you are in the bath, you lay on your tummy and slide back saying 'weeee! weeee!'

Daddy was gone one night and you went crazy in the bath! I got lots of pictures cause you were having so much fun!

This is you saying 'weeeee!!' as you slide backwards

You kept looking at your reflection in the handle

And then you were putting your cheek against the handle and sticking your big belly under the water! you would laugh and giggle as the water ran down. It was hilarious!

We went to The Disney Store one night and as always, you went straight for giant Minnie and picked up a few. That always makes you so happy!

And they have this dress their!

It is seriously the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. The pink and the gold and the bow and the ruffles and oh my goodness!

Someday I will have something like this. For me.

You are also really good at doing your fair share around the house! You help us switch laundry and you put your own away. You help us swiffer the kitchen (let's be honest, that's mostly your mess anyway!). Tonight you even helped daddy vacuum!

Well dear, you are an absolute joy to have around! You make our lives complete!

We love you!

We love you!

Dear Mystery Baby,

I have been meaning to write something for a while now.

In my defense, you are trying to kill me. Or at least make me the most unproductive person in Utah County.

And I'm pretty sure you are working with your sister to wear me down. I know you talk to each other when I'm not looking.

You're 18 weeks old this week.

Your dad and I have known about you for a while now. A lot longer than we knew about Kacie at this point. It has seemed like FOREVER too! We still have 2 whole weeks before we even know if you're a boy or a girl. And it's driving us crazy!!

The doctor was like:

"We can get a better view/read of the babies heart at 20 weeks so we will schedule the ultrasound for then."

And we were like:

"Ummm, I guess that's ok."

When I was pregnant with Kacie, I was soooo nervous. I was afraid of all the things that could go wrong, most importantly that I would go to the doctor and they would tell me I wasn't even pregnant.

This time, I am not nervous. Just tired!

And sick.

I've been really, really sick.

I don't know what you are. I mean, obviously I don't know cause I can't see you. But I thought for a few days that you were a girl, right now I kind of think you are a boy. Tomorrow though, you might be a girl again.

Here are some lists;

Why we want a GIRL:

1) You and Kacie would have a lot of fun together

2) We already have all the stuff we need for a girl, even if a few of them have a few poop stains. (Hand me downs, right?)

3) Matching outfits!

4) Kacie has been perfect so maybe our girls are just perfect

Why we want a BOY:

1) Daddy's little buddy

2) Different/new adventure

3) Boys and girls can still have a lot of fun together

4) Baseball season will be epic for your father! 

Reasons we change our mind constantly:

1) Personality is obviously a factor, but so far, you have been much more active than Kacie, therefore making me think boy.

2) I think I was as sick with Kacie as I have been with you but I wasn't taking care of another baby and I think Heavenly Father was looking out for me as I didn't have insurance and going to the doctors would have been more than we could afford!

3) Maybe I just am more sick this time around because you're a boy.

4) We have had the name Kalvin picked out since before we were married, and it just sometimes feels like 'Kalvin' is waiting for us.

I sometimes look at your sister and wonder how I am going to have 2 favorite children! But I am constantly surprised at how much I love Kacie and then I know that my heart must have plenty of room to keep growing, because it just keeps doing it!

The other thing I just realized, I was the second baby too! So we will always have that little bond. And hopefully you will just come like 3 weeks early and we could share a birthday! But if not, we will share a birth month and it will still be just as cool!

Dad is really excited too! he always wanted a boy but now he even admitted to being ok with two girls. He even said it would be "so cute!"

Good news is, he still wants a boy, so either way, he will be ecstatic!

I probably need to stop writing now because it's making me soooo anxious to know if you are a boy or a girl.

It is DRIVING. ME. CRAZY!!!!!

No matter what you are, or who you become, we love you!!!

Love,

Dad and Mom

Sick Day, Jesus and Juice Boxes!

Dear Kacie,

We went out to dinner one night and there was a family behind us with a little boy. You two really hit it off and you were talking and hanging out the whole time. It was great cause both you kids were entertained and not too loud!

Dad wants this sign. Someday, we will have a room that it will fit in!

Morning Hair!

I know I keep putting pictures of you brushing your teeth but you are cute doing it and it never gets old!

I sometimes can't let you sit on my lap in the recliner because you climb all over my belly and some days I just feel too sick to handle it. One day you just sat on the floor right in front of the chair. It was adorable and also made me feel bad so I picked you up any way.

You have a way of doing that to me.

Making me do anything just by being cute.

One day you woke up with a fever. I pulled out the hide-a-bed and we camped out on it all day.

That's what I would do if I were sick!

It was a rough day because I've been sick! And I didn't know what was wrong. you never threw up but I could tell you were uncomfortable. 

At one point you got up some energy and decided to crawl to the couch. You got half way off the bed and apparently ran out of energy because you just stopped moving.

I of course had a doctors appointment that day so dad got to come home and hang out for a bit. He loved every second of it. You just cuddled right up to him and took a little nap. He doesn't get to do that ever so even though he was sad you were sick, he was glad to take care of you and get some snuggles in!

But seriously, all day you curled up like this. It makes me sad just looking at it because there was not much I could do for you. =(

The good news is, you woke up energized and totally fine the next day! I'm guessing it was a symptom of teething.

We bought you a picture of Jesus to look at while we read scriptures. I want to get a few more pictures to help you sit still, but for now this will do! You loved the picture and I found you looking at it in your car seat.

Sometimes we take pictures to send to daddy to help make his day better. He always answers back "I love you 3 too!"

It's so fun that he can say that!

We got you juice boxes and you like them. I had to take the picture to show dad how mischievous you looked drinking your first one!

These days, we can't keep you on the ground. It's a constant battle to get you to ignore the chairs and play with your toys. It's exhausting and not always adorable. I turn my back and turn back around. You are always on top of something I don't know how you got up. Most of the time I take you down, but sometimes, when it is adorable, I let you enjoy it for a few seconds before I resume my parental responsibilities and make you get down.

Dad is learning what battles to fight with you too. At first we always made you get down and always stayed right on top of your and climbing. Now we know what things you stay on well and what things you tend to fall off easier.

You really keep us busy and moving. I'm glad you are an active little girl. It keeps us active too!

We love you!

Dad and Mom

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Dear Kacie and mystery baby,

This halloween was fun!

I decided to keep it simple by painting a minion on my belly!

Someone asked me "Sooo, you're supposed to have eaten a minion?"

Not exactly, I am making a minion!

Gus was Dopey from Snow White and you were Agnes from Despicable me

"IT'S SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE!"

We made caramel apples and had bunches of delicious toppings!

I just went crazy with the toppings cause there were so many yummy ones!

The whole crew!

I was on the committee for our ward halloween party and I was really proud of my center pieces. They were super easy and came out so adorable!

Daddy gave you a cookie and you devoted it and got chocolate every where.

And then when we were out trunk or treating, you biffed it and scratched your face bad!

It's a little hard to see but it's on your forehead, under your eye and all on your nose!

You were running around playing with all the older kids and this little girl grabbed you by the overalls and started pulling you. Then she pushed you on the ground and started shaking you! I know she wasn't trying to hurt you but my motherly instincts were like "WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY BABY!?!?!?!?!?"

I was just like, no one is ever going to hurt my kid. And then a few days later in the mall, you were just trying to say hi to this little boy and he slapped your head and ran away and I was just like "NO ONE TOUCHES MY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Dad was a little worried for like a second. And then he's all, "fight back Kacie. Take a swing!"

Just kidding.

Man, it's a brutal world out there in kid land.

But I guess it's good for you to learn not to let others take advantage of you. It's just toughening you up!

You and Gus were cute trick or treating but you didn't really get the idea of it. Gus would knock on the door and stand there but you were just running around like "I'm free! I'm outside!"

I'm excited to see what you want to be next year for halloween. Next year you will have a sibling!

We love you little minion!

Love,

Mom and Dad

Better Than Water Polo!

Dear Kacie,

You keep surprising us with how toddler-like you are!

One day I turned my head for a few minutes and looked back and you had climbed on the couch and pulled the blanket up on your lap. I didn't realize you were so cold!

I don't remember why you were crying in this picture… but you're still cute!

You pull your books out and one day you got yourself stuck in the corner.

You just sat there reading to yourself in your mess. And it was great for me cause I didn't feel great that day!

At daddy's work they had a pumpkin painting contest. If you know your father, you would have guessed that it would be either Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, water polo or Cardinals themed.

Harry Potter was a perfect halloween theme though!

I was sooo impressed with his skills! He drew and painted every detail on each part!

And then won a $50 gift card to California Pizza Kitchen!

(ps, they have amazing macaroni and cheese there)

You've started enjoying your crib and the other day after your nap, you didn't want to get out! So I sat in a rocking chair while you smiled at me!

One day, you brought me one of your blankets. You were frustrated because I didn't know what you wanted me to do with it. I thought you wanted to play peek-a-boo so I put it over your head. Not happy. You pulled on it by your waist, so I thought you wanted a skirt. Nope.

Then for some reason I had the thought to try it around your knock and the second that I did, you ran off giggling and smiling. Then you walked around for a while with it like a cape. Now, you bring us your blankets often to wear as a cape and it's adorable.

This is why I don't give you food pouches to feed yourself. But you were crying in your car seat and I was desperate.

Never. Again.

And yet, I was only annoyed for a second and then it made me laugh and I had to capture it!

You have this magic power over me that makes me have the most extreme emotions. Most of the time though, they are really good emotions and I am amazed at how much I can love you!

Your dad is sooooo good at taking care of us and he enjoys every second he gets to spend with you. You bring him so much joy that he thought he could only get from playing water polo! But you're better than water polo. Because you make him laugh AND someday you can play it with him!

Love,

Mom and Dad