Blessed Feast of the Annunciation!

Today I was putting together my Google calendar. Chris and I are trying to find a better way to keep each other informed and remember family events and his work travel dates. I didn't have a whole lot to put in once I got past the month of May but I decided to enter birthdays and anniversaries that I could remember all the way until the baby's due date. When I got to October 2nd I noticed that it is the Feast of the Guardian Angels!! How awesome! So I think we are going to start asking our Guardian Angels to watch over this baby and pray for him/her. What a blessing! And before I forget to share, we only have one week left in the first trimester! On Saturday I will be 13 weeks along. I'm beginning to think that time flies faster with each additional child.

Since all the boys have other plans this weekend, except for Benjamin, Mom and I are going to have a lazy girl weekend. Maybe watch a few Sandra Bullock movies to show our love and support. At Costco I bought a giant tub of Red Vines (not as good as Twizzlers) and mom bought a big bag of Veggie Straws for our junky-enough-to-satisfy-but-healthy-enough-to-avoid-guilt-and-stomach-ache movie snacks.

I was also posting pictures and video on Facebook today. I came across this video and had forgotten that I had it. It's from a month or two ago. I was vacuuming our apartment and Benjamin was being such a good boy. He didn't cry when the vacuum started, but he sure wasn't about to take his eyes off of it. That's all the exciting news for this week. Have a blessed Palm Sunday weekend!

Waiting

The theme for this past week has been "going with the flow". Benjamin is growing so fast (he'll be 7 months on Sunday!) and he's on the brink of so many different things. Like teething (and biting), crawling, scooting. He has become quite the wiggle worm now that he can roll over both ways. He hardly ever wants to sit still and if there is any electronic item nearby (cell phone, remote control) he would rather play with that than his brightly colored toys. If there is anything within arms' length that he really shouldn't be playing with it is, of course, the first thing he goes for. How does he know?! He's getting too smart for his own good! haha!

Chris is still in Hawaii but should be home around Monday. He's been really lucky so far. The people he was supposed to be setting up ..... whatever he sets up.... didn't have the supplies for him until Wednesday afternoon. So last Thursday until Wednesday morning he's been able to explore the island and enjoy the beaches. He's been putting up some pictures on Facebook to show where all he's been. I can't wait until he's home! Benjamin has started saying "dadadadada" as part of his babbling so it will be fun to see him say it to Chris even though he has no idea that "dada" means "daddy". I'm not really counting it as his first word until he attaches meaning. Not like that episode of Friends where Rachel says Emma's first word is "googlia" or something like that and when they look it up to see if it's real it's some sort of science term and Ross gets all excited. ;) For all the Friends fans out there....

Baby "Dos" will be 12 weeks along tomorrow. Every once and awhile I think I feel a flutter. Sometimes it's gas but sometimes I'm pretty sure it's the baby! Nausea has been slowing way down (yay!) although some food aversions are still pretty strong. Like broccoli. Blah! And most meats. And peanut butter, which is very surprising. Ok, so pretty much everything except for a few breads, fruits, a few veggies, and some dairy. Can't wait for my appetite to come back! The second trimester is almost here. I'm ok with the first trimester flying by but hopefully the last two will take their time. I don't feel prepared! But are we ever?

I would like to ask all of you to keep my Great Grandmother Fleming in your prayers. She hasn't been doing well for the past week or two. The most recent update I know of is she's in Hospice, on oxygen, is not always aware of those around her, and isn't eating. She just had her 95th birthday and has always been a very strong and active woman. Benjamin is her first Great-great grandchild! Please pray that she doesn't suffer much and can rest peacefully. Thank you!

God bless you!

We Got to see Baby #2!

Our first doctor appointment was this past Wednesday. It went really well! Chris was able to go with me, which was really nice. Benjamin got to spend time with Dana and Katie. This appointment was really neat for us because we got to see the baby! We didn't get to see Benjamin until I was about 20 weeks. We are 10 weeks along now, almost 11. The baby was so cute and little! I will post pictures. You can see his/her little arms and legs and if you look closely hands, feet, fingers, and toes! I love ultrasounds! Seeing the baby made both Chris and I think, "Ok, it's really there. This is really happening!"

In other exciting news, Benjamin rolled over from his back to his tummy for the first time today! Well, I don't know if it was for the first time. I think he's been doing it in his crib for a little while, but never when I was watching. Today he was trying to get a toy out that was of his reach and he rolled over onto his tummy so he could get it. Before we know it he'll be rolling like a roly-poly all around the floor.

Chris left for Hawaii today. Lucky duck. He'll be back in 10 days. He tried to tease me saying he was going to come back with a tan and a pineapple. But that's only half true...he'll come back red with a pineapple, if anything. haha! He's going for work but he'll get to enjoy the beach and maybe do a little exploring in the evenings and on the weekends. I'm sure he'll post pictures on Facebook while he's there.
Hope y'all are doing well and are enjoying all this Springtime weather. We are enjoying the chance to get out of doors more often. :)

We Love Daddy!

I've been meaning to post a blog dedicated to Chris and Benjamin and all the fun they have together. So here it is!

Now that the weather is so nice outside Benjamin and I will go sit on the porch and wait for Daddy to get home. Bear loves to sit out there, especially when the breeze is blowing through his hair and making the bushes and trees move. When Chris pulls into our parking space Benjamin is at first focused on the car because objects that move are just fascinating. When Chris gets out and starts walking towards us Bear's face will light up and he'll start making all kinds of noise and flapping his arms to show his excitement. Chris will proceed to do all sorts of silly things to make him laugh, giggle, chuckle, and squeal. Silly boys. :)

And Then There Were Four...

Yes, it's true! We are unexpectedly expecting our next child. Excitement and "augh!" all wrapped up together. We found out for sure a few weeks ago but I had been suspicious even before that. When that day-long nausea doesn't go away after awhile you begin to wonder. I haven't had my first prenatal appointment yet but by my calculations it will be due some time near the beginning of October. The first trimester has been going pretty well. I'm not interested in eating a whole lot of food. Only a month or so left before my appetite returns. I haven't lost all the weight from Benjamin yet so I'm trying to make sure I do some sort of exercise each day.

My exercise on Tuesday was playing in the snow!! It snowed where I live! Can you believe it?! I think we got somewhere around 4 or 5 inches. We took a family walk around the complex, built 3 snowmen, made a snow angel, and had a snowball fight. It was the best day ever! Chris had the day off from work (due to the snow) and it was just the perfect day! Benjamin loved looking at the snow fall but he wasn't quite sure what to think when the flakes fell on his face. He had the same expression as when water splashes on his face during bath time.

Benjamin is doing well. I think he gets a little acid reflux so that has him upset part of the time, but most if the time he is happy as can be! He has discovered he can put his toes in his mouth which is cute and gross at the same time. He can sit up all by himself and play with his toys, only falling over every once and awhile. I am so excited about that! It makes it much easier to do a few chores when he can entertain himself and be happy for a little while. No crawling yet and I am totally ok with that! I am not ready for him to be mobile.

He is eating solid food like a champ now! He loves to eat. Stroller rides are also a favorite. Sometimes when he is really fussy and we can't go outside I'll just stick him in the umbrella stroller and push him around the apartment. He'll kick his feet and look around like nothing was ever wrong. Of course, if you stop the stroller all the sadness rushes back.

He has gotten too big for his infant car seat and now rides in style in his "big boy" car seat. He is growing so fast! He turned 6 months Feb. 21st. He had his 6 month check up this week and had to have shots. :( Never a fun day! He is 27 1/2 inches tall and 20 lbs. 3 oz. The doctor said he continues to be at the "top of the food chain" on the growth chart and asked if my husband was tall. I said no, but we both carry the genes for tallness. Before the doctor appt. I asked Chris if he had any questions for the doctor and the only thing he could come up with was "Ask what we can do to start muscle growth now". Haha!

Well, I think that's all the exciting news for now. I will try to blog more often and keep everyone updated, especially with baby Moses #2 on the way. Hope everyone is doing well. Please keep us in your prayers!

Pictures, Video, and Stats

Finally!! Here are some pictures from the past month or so. Hope you enjoy!

Bath time is one of his favorite times of the day!! Before bath toys he would kick and splash and giggle. But now that toys have been added to this mix it's serious business. He zeros in one those turtles trying to figure out how in the world he can grab it and eat it.

Enjoying the Christmas tree! Sometimes when the tree lights were on he would sit there and "talk" to the tree for 30 minutes at a time!

Tummy time! He doesn't push up on his arms yet but he is almost rolling over! He will roll up on his side but the arm he is laying on is back behind him keeping him from going all the way over. A good thing perhaps? I have a feeling that once he starts moving it's all over.

Watching Philomena decorate the tree at his Godparent's house. Soon Philomena will have a little sister! And Chris' cousin, Dana, is about to have another little girl, as well. We are so excited for both families! Ben is going to be surrounded by girls. haha!

Sporting the cowboy hat I couldn't resist buying for him. :) It says "Texas" across the front of the hat. It's still a little big for him but will fit perfectly once he is old enough to walk around and play. Look at those rolls!

Hiking at Guadalupe State Park. And Carl is SMILING! This is a rare photo sure to be worth millions one day.

Chris, Amy and Benjamin Bear. Can you see the little ears on his outfit? So cute!!

And this is video of Benjamin eating cereal for the first time!!! He loved it. Had a hard time keeping it in this mouth but I don't blame him because it was mostly liquid. We're going to try a little thicker consistency today. Our little boy is growing up so fast!

Benjamin had a doctor appointment this past week. His stats are 19 lbs. 1 oz., 26 in. tall, and 17 1/2 inch head circumference. Such a big boy!! He's wearing 6-9 month clothing and isn't 5 months yet! I don't know what we're going to do when he's a teenager! I think he has some teeth coming in. He is usually pretty drooly but has been extra slobbery lately, a little fussy, not sleeping quite as well at night, and I'm pretty sure I see faint white lines underneath his gums. Only time will tell!

Well, that's all for now. I will post again soon, especially with how fast he's developing. It seems like there's always something new to share. We love you all. God bless you!

Happy New Year!

Hello! I haven't posted anything in awhile so I figured now is a good time. We had a nice Christmas and thoroughly wore Bear out. The poor baby slept 12 hours one night after we got home. But we were able to see all of our families! Benjamin is now totally spoiled in that he does not want to be put down unless you are going to entertain him. I am a horrible mother in that I took maybe one or two pictures (literally) the whole Christmas break. So I will have to post photos once we receive pictures from family members. :)

Chris' 27th birthday is on Monday! He keeps trying to convince us that he's only turning 25. To ease the pain of "being an old man" I'm going to attempt to make him a cookie cake for his birthday. The original plan was to order one from the Great American Cookie Co., but after checking their website I decided that I could make one for a quarter of the price and decorate it to his liking.

2009 was a crazy and wonderful year for us and I'm sure that 2010 will have its own set of trials, tribulations, and blessings. We have many cousins and friends that are expecting so Spring will be quite an exciting time! Chris will be headed up to Green Bay, Wisconsin the end of January. Hopefully he makes it there and back without too much craziness from the weather. Benjamin and I are finally on a regular schedule that has lasted more than a week. He's changing more every day and looking more like a boy, which is to be expected, I know, but he's my baby!!

Well, we hope you are all enjoying the holidays. I will try to post more often and get on the ball about photos. :) God bless you!