Nesting or Spring Cleaning?

So today I woke up and had an itch to clean. I'm not sure if it's because I wanted to or if it's because my floors and baseboards were so filthy that I had to do it! Either way, I was on my hands and knees with a Mr. Clean pad (fabulous) and scrubbed each tile in our kitchen until there were no visible spots. I told Wes nobody was allowed to walk on it for a few days - ha! 

In the midst of my cleaning spree, we were able to escape and have some fun at the park. Hannah loves the sand box. I think we may have to get her one for our back yard this summer.

She also loves the big fire truck that is at the park. I hate it! It's not really meant for her age, but she seems to think she's a little older than she actually is.  She climbs to the very top and stands up and it makes me so nervous!

Inside is the wildlife museum. Hannah was not so sure about all the animals.  She saw them and ran out the door. So, as long as daddy was holding her, she would eventually look at the animals and wave.  Funny because the zoo animals don't bother her at all. I guess the glass between her and the animals is a security for her. ha!

Well, my master bathroom is calling my name. I think it's time to get started cleaning in there! 

A little difference

Yesterday Wes got in the attic to get down our bouncy seat for a friend of mine to use. While he was up there he decided to go ahead and bring a few baby things down for Ethan. One thing was the swing and of course, our little monkey HAD to try it out.

I'd say she's a little bigger than when she was using it as an infant! - Silly girl! 

A true blessing

First, I must start this post by telling you how WONDERFUL Hannah is doing in her big girl bed. It's a true blessing and definitely an answered prayer. We were worried about our strong-willed little girl transitioning, but she has done more than amazing and I am just rejoicing in what a precious girl we have!

Secondly, I know a lot of you have heard about or seen the flashing button on the right side of my blog for Parental Care Ministries.  

This is a child sponsorship program that was started locally by a well-known pediatrician in town after being prompted by their 8 year old daughter at the time to travel to Uganda to help the poor.  You can read the whole story here.

I know many of you have heard of Compassion International or another similar organization.  Although those ministries are amazing and truly helping needy children, there is nothing like being able to see and meet the child or children you sponsor.  So many sponsorship programs are just sending in a monthly check and writing an occasional letter, but this is so much more. Here is a picture of my sister with some of the children, along with the gifts that we sent them.

This picture is bittersweet for me because I'm so extremely happy that my sister is getting to meet all these sweet kiddos, but I'm envious that I'm not on this trip.  This trip was originally planned for March and I was on board to go. Meeting our sweet girl we sponsor, Catherine, is definitely something I want to do....soon!

With me becoming pregnant, Wes, myself and my doctor didn't think it was the wisest decision, considering that the nearest hospital is 2 hours away and it doesn't quite meet the standards of American hospitals if anything were to happen. Dr. Barret joked and said he has delivered a couple of babies, but wasn't sure the streets of Uganda would be the best place to do it!

The Lord has blessed this amazing ministry and right when you think you are blessing these children with gifts, financial support, etc., you will receive a gift from them that makes you feel 100 times more blessed by the sweet kids. 

They have the biggest hearts for Jesus and I hope to experience that in person one day. Wes and I have truly developed a love and passion for these kids.  

For $35 a month you can take care of these kids daily meals, education, clothing and most importantly, a Christ-centered upbringing. 

I don't say this to boast or give glory to anyone other than the Lord, but Wes and I sent $100 with my sister on this trip to use for a special treat or whatever they would need along the way.  My sister just informed me that the small gift was able to buy countless children new mattresses to sleep on after sleeping on the hardest, roughest floor you have ever seen. A mere $100 dollars did that. Think about what you've spent $100 on this week. Dinner? Gas? Clothes? Movies? Books? Even if you can't sponsor at this time, any gift can help these kids and pastors. 

It's amazing what the Lord is doing in Uganda. I hope you consider becoming a part of it. 

Big Girl Bed!

Well, I spent last week at my mom's choosing fabric for Ethan's bedding and my mom is well on her way to being finished. I can't wait to see it! She's such an awesome seamstress and I just know it's going to look awesome.  While I was there, I got a wild hair and decided that I wanted to move Hannah into her big girl bed when I got home.  Her little escapee episode from her crib a few weeks ago triggered it. I decided that I'd rather get the battle of the big girl bed over with before Ethan got here. 

Here is Hannah's crib.

And here is Hannah's crib since we've taken the front part off to convert it to a toddler bed.

Hannah LOVES her bed and loves crawling in and out of it. She has done REALLY WELL and way better than expected with her new found freedom.  It's only been 2 nights and each night we hear a sweet little knock at the door after we put her to bed, but as soon as we go in and tell her it's time to sleep like a big girl, she goes right down. Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself!

Now our next project is for my mom to make toddler bedding for Hannah. That might be a while, but I'll be posting pictures of that when we do it!

Sneak Peek

I'm at my mom's this week to pick out fabric (and hopefully get started) on making Ethan's bedding.  You saw my idea from my last blog and unfortunately I couldn't find something exactly like that, but I did find what I'm going to use! It was a fun, LONG day. It's tough choosing things and trying to envision what it's going to look like when it's all put togehter. Anyway, here's the fabric.

I had to take the picture with my phone becuase I forgot my camera, but you get the idea. 

Stay tuned to see the finished project! 

Pregnancy Highlights

How far along: 22 weeks

Due Date: May 23, 2011

Size of baby: spaghetti squash 

Day we first saw our little one: October 12, 2010 at 8 weeks, heard heartbeat again on November 11, heartbeat again on December 9,  sonogram again on December 20, heard heartbeat on January 6.

My current thoughts about having 2 kids: I can't wait!! The older Hannah gets the more I think of what a great big sister she's going to be.  She needs a little playmate and I'm so ready to take on the challenge to having 2 little ones. I also CAN'T WAIT to meet this little boy!!

Things I've done to prepare:  We got the crib in and set up. I know it's early - but I'm a super planner.  Going this week to my mom's to pick out fabric for bedding. She's making it and I can't wait.  I found this online on a blog and I LOVE it. I want to try and do something similar. 

Names we are considering: 98% sure he's going to be Ethan Wesley.

Sickness: I can't complain. 

What Hannah thinks:  She loves kissing my stomach again.  When I ask her where the baby is she comes over and lifts up my shirt and gives me a kiss.....so I don't ask her in public - ha!  She also loves playing in  Ethan's new crib. 

Things I miss: Cokes/caffeine and being able to take any medicine I want. I've started missing sleeping on my stomach again. Some nights I just can't get comfortable and wish so badly I could roll on my stomach.

Cravings: None, really.

Biggest moments so far: 

 Seeing and hearing a sweet little heartbeat. (October & November)

Feeling little, faint and sporadic flutters. (December)

Finding out gender - IT'S A BOY! (December)

Starting to feel him more and more (December)

Feeling the baby move SO MUCH recently! (January) 

Date Night!

Thanks to Aunt Jenn and Uncle James, Wes and I enjoyed a date night on Friday.  We had dinner, ran a couple of errands and watched a movie at home. It was so nice!! You can check out the fun that Hannah had while we were gone by clicking here.

Despite the sugar overload she had with the aunt and uncle, she slept really well! 

Thanks again, Jenn and James! 

PJ day

So yesterday was bitterly cold outside. I told Wes on Sunday evening that I was declaring a pajama day on Monday for Hannah and I. I so wish Wesley could have joined us, but I guess someone around here has to work - ha!  Although I love days at home, I have to be extra creative to keep a certain little girl entertained. We started the day by cooking some cherrios. 

And tasting what we cooked.

Then we read several books.

And took apart and put together a few puzzles.

And you can't really tell from this picture, but all of a sudden Hannah has been obsessed with Dora and Boots. My mom gave her a Dora castle for the bathtub and now at least 5 times a day she asks where Dora and Boots are. Anytime I mention the bath she runs straight there without a fight! So here she is sitting in her chair holding Boots.

And of course I wouldn't want to deprive her of playing in the snow since it just visits once or twice a year,  so we brought some snow inside! (Notice Boots is right by her side!)

And we colored, which is a typical day.

And finally, we ended our day with a bath and hopped into more pajamas!

What a fun day! We had the best time and I so enjoyed a warm day inside with my little princess!

snow, snow - go away!

So it's no secret that I hate cold weather. Snow is even worse. If it's cold enough to snow, I'm pretty much miserable.  But, when Hannah woke up from her nap this afternoon she just kept pointing to the door saying "see," "snow."  So, I bundled up the family and we headed outside.

Hannah wasn't sure about it and really wanted to be held most of the time.

Our sweet puppy, Jersey, and our guest puppy, Mia, didn't seem to mind at all!

Hannah liked touching the snow and saying "ice, ice." So here we are showing off the ice on our gloves.

Here's a picture of Hannah at about this time last year when it snowed. What a little chubby thing. 

So I guess the snow makes for a few cute pictures, but I could live without it. And I really hate the days after the snow when it's all melting. Things look so yucky and wet everywhere. I guess that's why I live in East Texas...it only visits us about once a year! 

Cowgirl!

Wesley's parents gave Hannah a pink cowboy hat and pink cowboy boots for Christmas. Can I just say they are the CUTEST things I've ever seen?? I think I love them so much because they are pink.  When Hannah puts them on she points to Wesley's feet and says "boots?" So precious.

So this weekend we headed to the park to take some pictures. She's the cutest little cowgirl I've ever seen. 

She needs to be a little model for cavender's!

giddy up.

On the horse that Wesley's parents gave her for her birthday, which was his when he was a kid.

Kisses to the horsey.

And a picture of daddy and Hannah in their cowboy shirts!

And mommy doesn't own any clothing remotely close to cowgirl wear....so...

Love my little cowgirl (and cowboy!) 

A new table!

The older Hannah gets the more activities like reading, playdoh and coloring she does.  Well, we always just set up on the floor somewhere and Wes and I decided it would be great to have a little toddler table for her. 

I did some research and found some great ones, but I really wanted 4 chairs, which is apparently not the norm. All of the sets seemed to come with only 2 chairs and after we added two additional chairs the cost was way too much to pay for a kid's table. I also wanted it to match our kitchen table, so that was a little more of a challenge. 

Well, while we were at my mom's for Christmas I randomly searched again. I found this GREAT table with 4 chairs for a wonderful price.  I ordered it and it came in today! (I love her little jammies. They have sheep all over them and the shirt says "I'm not sheepy." - Thanks Granna!)

Hannah is already loving it and as you can see, she had to try out each chair as daddy put it together.

Here is a better overall picture of the table.

I think it's going to be great!