25 Weeks and Christmas Trees

It came to my attention that I still hadn't put up my 25 week picture!  So here it is!  

I know I still have lots of growing to do but my ribs are starting to tell me that things are getting pretty tight in there.  Its almost impossible to find a comfortable position anymore.  On the positive side, any movement from baby is a good sign and trust me there is LOTS!  I recently got the news that I do not have gestational diabetes so I get to enjoy a few more treats at Christmas!  Also I am almost in my 3rd trimester which means that the day is coming, and fast! I am so excited!!

This Christmas is going to be different for us this year since Natalie can really help a lot more.  She is starting to be more independent and loves to help!  Her speech has come so far.  Today she told me she was holding "a blue ball"!!  I was so excited so for her!  She is always asking "where it go?" or replacing the 'it' with a real word for example "where owl go?"  It's adorable! 

So back to Christmas, I wanted to start the tradition of her adding the star to the top of the tree.  It took a few tries and Dylan had to help but we got it up there!!

 And this is just in case you are having a bad day, her pretty face can cheer you up!

20 Weeks With Baby #2

I don't have much to say besides that this is my 20 weeks picture!

Once I go through Natalie's birthday pictures I will post them on here!

Truly A Miracle

Monday was a busy day but it was incredible!  It started with an ultrasound just to check in on baby.  I just watched in awe at the miracle that is taking place.  To see the tiny hands, feet, and face was incredible.  I watched as it opened and closed its hand and moved its feet together.  To know that it already has fingers and fingerprints, and is preparing itself for feeding by practising its swallowing, there is no way that I could classify it as something less that a human being.  And to know that it started from a speck and grown to this beautiful baby that in a few short months we will be holding it in our arms (God willing).  I have no words to describe it!
Natalie came into the appointment as well but I don't think that she quite understood what was going on.  We tried to explain to her that it was the baby and that the Doctor was just making sure it was ok.  She was more concerned about the fact that I was laying down and that the room was dark!  She does know that there is a baby coming though!
After the ultrasound Natalie and I both had check-ups.  We are all doing fine and are all healthy!  Natalie is up to 30lbs and well.....I am not telling you my weight!

Learning For Us All

Natalie is just starting to talk! I honestly have no idea where she comes up with some of the things she says.  There are a few phrases and words that she has hung on to but a lot of words are a one time thing.  All of a sudden she will say something new but it is very clear as to what it is she is trying to say.  One of her favourite phrases is (with fingers to her mouth) "Hmmm, Let's see.....Aha!"  It is absolutely adorable and makes me laugh everytime.  She has to point out every little thing to us!  She loves the trees and makes sure we see every pivot we can!  Then there are the cows!  Her excitement for cows is unbelievable!  Whenever we drive by them she asks for more.  When she says 'cow' it comes out as 'how' followed by a little 'mooo'!  The other day I was trying to get her to actually say 'cow'.  I proceeded by saying, "Natalie it's cow. C-c-c-cow."  She looks at me, covers her mouth and replies with three little fake coughs.  I looked her and said "No, mommy isn't coughing".  It was hilarious!  Her latest animal noise is a frog.  She rocks forward with each noise and says 'ibbit, ibbit'!  

When she sees something interesting or she wants to get our attention it is always "Wook, wook."  It doesn't stop until we give her a name for what she is pointing to only to be followed by another curious "wook, wook."  Then we have our goodbyes!  These are very important and must be said often, including when leaving the room!  It's always "Bye, See Ya!"  Followed by a little wave.  

I love watching her grow and that includes  listening to her work on her speech!  I can not wait until we can have conversations.  She tries as it is but I know it will be much better when it is understandable!  

Changes, Practice, and Flips

I have been working on getting some pictures updated on here but I haven't been able to get it to work. Hopefully sometime soon I can get a few new pictures up.
We have been busy starting to prepare for the new baby!  We have been slowly making changes to Natalie's room so we can make room for another crib.  So far the changes have been minor but once we start moving stuff out I think we may have some issues with her.  We practice during the day with a doll so she gets used to the idea.  She has been so gentle and just wants to cuddle it!  It must be swaddled and has to be right beside her!  Now when we ask Natalie where the baby is, she lifts up my shirt, points to my bellybutton and then gives it a kiss!  I think she has an idea of what is happening but it will still be a big change for her I am sure!
As for me, I feel like I am growing fast!  Everything is going well with the baby and I always look forward to my appointments when I can listen for that little heartbeat!  I have been able to feel movement for quite some time now and just recently I have been able to notice it on the outside!  Finally tonight, Dylan got to feel the little kick or flip or whatever it is!  To me it makes me feel like he is more involved.  That he gets to experience more of the joy of this baby!  The way these weeks are flying by, we will be holding our little baby soon enough!  I can not wait!!!

Growing A Little At A Time

Well are so blessed to be able to do this again!  

Our 5 week pictures of progress of our growing babe!

 5 Weeks

 10 Weeks

15 Weeks

News.....

Pretty self explanatory but yes, we are expecting a new bundle of joy in March!  We are 

VERY excited and looking forward to this new change.  It will be a big adjustment for all of

us but it is worth it!  

Our BC Trip

Here are some pictures from our summer holiday to BC.  We stayed 20 minutes south of Terrace.  The main purpose for our trip was to go fishing.  However, when going through my pictures I realized I had no pictures of our fish!  When I get my hands on some I will post them but I think this will suffice for now.  We left around 9:00pm and our goal was to drive through the night so Natalie would sleep.  We did but Natalie hardly slept.  Fortunately as long as the DVD was going she would be happy and quiet.  We made it Prince George early and checked into a hotel so we could get some sleep before we did the tourist thing!  Then the next day we drove the rest of the way to Terrace.  We had such a good time and I am looking forward to the next time we can go.  There are a lot or pictures here so get cozy and enjoy!

Natalie and Dylan watching the river.  This was just a quick stop!

Our campsite.  We basically just slept here and ate with everyone else.  They were looking for 'the' perfect rock!

Heading to the playground.

Natalie LOVED being outside all the time and would always drag someone along for a walk!

 The lake at our campground.

Jen catching a fish, Dylan in the background....well not catching a fish!

James and what seemed to be the only time he didn't have a fish.

Kelly and Jordan on the bank.  You can see it wasn't really kid friendly.

Kelly actually catching a fish!

It was SO cold one day.  Natalie was sleeping in the car so I brought down the

DVD player for the kids.  We found a sheltered area and plopped them down!

From the looks of the tip of the rod you would have thought he

 had a fish on..... nope, just a snag!

Mom, not fishing and not really enjoying the weather but she still had a smile!

We were so thankful for Carathy!  Natalie really has a special bond with her 

and it was usually Carathy that ended up going on the walks!

This is Katelyn's bike.  Natalie could have spend hours on it if we had let her!

One afternoon we went for a drive and went fishing in a river that I can't pronounce let alone spell!

The drive was pretty, a little car sickening but pretty!  The river ran along a lava bed from an old volcano.  It was incredible!  There are more picture lower down from there.  I was terrified because

it was a high area for Black and Grizzly bears.  I felt a little safer considering I was carrying the bear spray but I am not sure that I would have been able to use it.  I probably would have been frozen in fear!  Thankfully we didn't see any wildlife!  Oh, and nobody caught a fish worth keeping.

Jen and Arinn 

Dylan and his 'Trout Wear'!! 

Nope, not a bear!

This was the path we had to walk along to get to the fishing spot.  The log Dylan is standing on was notched out as stairs, and the big pit before the log, that would be from a grizzly bear digging out the roots.  No the bear did not carve out the stairs!!  Duh!

Bear Digging

Stairs!

These next few are up from the river along the lava bed.  We actually walked right on the 'lava'.

Incredibly to think where it came from!

This was at the beginning of the path.

This is where we were.  Told you I couldn't pronounce it!

On the way back to Terrace

This was at our campground.  There was a walking trail that we hiked along.  

Dylan had gone ahead, we came around the corner and there he was sitting up top a fallen tree! 

Just before we left we toured a small fish hatchery.  Its amazing to see where the fish start out!

Just a picture of my beautiful daughter!

Sitting by the ocean!  I think it was already a long day!

The port in Kitimat

Arinn helping Natalie scoot down the hill.

The Giant Spruce Park in Kitimat

Natalie reading the information board on the way home!

My BEAUTIFUL Girl

Natalie has grown up to be quite the toddler!  She definitely has her attitude!  We are working with it though trying to not let the 'terrible twos' take control.  Here we were a the park and she was posing for me.  I LOVE these pictures.  As you can tell, she is still pretty bald but her hair is coming in.  Maybe, just maybe I can put it in a ponytail next year?!!  The back of her hair is about 5 inches but doesn't look it cause its curly and always goes into ringlets!  Enjoy these until I can get more up.  I recently made room on my computer for more pictures so once I get our holiday pictures on, you can look and drool over our 20lb fish!