24 Weeks

Growing....although I don't notice a big change since my last picture. Maybe it is sticking out a little farther now:)

Easter Fun

Riley has been asking for days to color some eggs for the Easter bunny, so tonight was finally her night. Even though she was exhausted after a long 2 days with her cousins and Auntie Shannon, she found enough energy to do a great job on the eggs. She pretty much did it all by herself with the exception of placing them in the holder. She was very gentle and even practiced writing on almost all of the eggs. She topped off the fun evening with a super long bath and is now hopefully drifting off to a long night of sleep. I predict a late wake up tomorrow after this week's adventures. She finally stopped making her new Hello Kitty that she made today purr. (Shannon....Tucky, her bed, and all of her things are sleeping in bed with Riley tonight. It is safe to say that she had a FABULOUS time last night and today!!! :) Thanks again!)

Enjoying the Weather!

Yesterday Riley and I headed to the zoo to meet Shannon and the kids. Who knew when we planned it earlier in the week that it would turn out so beautiful of a day. Or that EVERYONE would be going to the zoo and it would take FOREVER to manage to get there?! After lots of patience, we finally made it and had a great time. The kids all enjoyed being together and seeing the animals. We had a great picnic and soaked up the beautiful weather. Riley actually went home with them too and it sounds like she had a great time. She has been adamant that she does not want to sleep over anywhere, so maybe yesterday will change all that. (Here are just a few pictures of the kids enjoying the day.)

Today Riley is still hanging out with Auntie Shannon and her cousins. They went to Jump Central and will head to Build-A-Bear later. We really miss her, but Mike and I are being productive today in the baby's room:) I got the closet all organized and have 3 bins of clothes in there and 5 bins to go to the basement...phew...glad that is organized! Mike is putting the dresser together and is going to prep the room for painting. It is really coming together and feeling more exciting to be moving ahead. Still working on the names too:)

It's a Girl!!!

(Top one you can obviously tell is her face (4D) and the other is her foot sticking out. I will try to add more, but the pictures do not scan so well.)

Today we had our ultrasound and found out that Baby#2 is a girl!!! She was very cooperative during her first photo shoot and made sure to really show herself to the camera....no mistaking whether or not she is a girl:) They also took a few 4D pictures, so we could really see her face and she was eating her hand. Maybe we will have another finger sucker on our hands. Riley was excited to see her..even though she was a little grumpy....and I am excited to finally feel like I can get ready. Mike was a little disappointed because he would've loved to have a boy, but I know he will be a great daddy to another girl and we will have another "daddy's girl".

As for my appointment everything looks good. My blood pressure was still good and I gained a whopping 7 pounds...wow!! Up to 16 for the whole pregnancy so far, so not too bad. I just hate looking at what the addition really means to the finally number, but keep reminding myself what a great cause it is for. I will try and post some belly pictures (24 weeks) in the next few days and now on to the baby name discussion. We both have our likes and dislikes:)

Can't wait....

Well the big day is finally here...tomorrow! We are so excited to find out boy or girl, well Mike and I are. Riley is a little confused and thinks that the baby is coming tomorrow and is wondering how it will come out....oh geez! This morning I explained that the baby is not coming tomorrow and then she said that we have to wait til they come out to know boy or girl. I hope that she does not know that this baby will be stubborn. She also has been asking a lot of questions about how exactly the baby comes out and asking to be there. Guess we will have some more explaining to do before July...I really do not think that she needs to experience that part of her brother or sister at only 4! The poll was dead even....7 and 7, so guess we will just have to see which 7 of you were right.

I am on spring break this week and enjoying the warm up. Yesterday and today Riley went to school and I got to run errands and shop with friends. For the rest of the week she will be home, but we will be very busy. We are hoping to spend lots of time outside, so hopefully I will have some good pictures to share.

More March Birthdays!

Happy Birthday to Erika and Grandpa Warren!!!! They both celebrated their special days on Friday, the 19th.

Yesterday, we headed to Indiana to Rod and Carolie's to celebrate grandpa's 85th birthday. It was a wonderful evening surrounded by lots of family. Almost all the family was able to make it in from all over....California, Virginia, and Minnesota...and of course Illinois and Indiana. It was great to all be together and have lots of time to talk. Unfortunately, the camera never came out, so I have no pictures to share:( Happy Birthday to Grandpa and many, many more!!

We were not able to see Erika this weekend, but will do so on Saturday. We are looking forward to spending time with her of course and Riley is looking forward to cuddling with her Bika and watching Planet 51.

Farrah Michelle

Congrats to Mallory and Mike!!! This morning they welcomed a beautiful baby girl to the family, Farrah Michelle Beavers. She was 7lbs. 4oz. and 19 inches long. From the pictures she looks like a beautiful baby and that the family is adjusting well. Sadly they live in Texas though, so it will probably be summertime when they are up for a wedding, before we can meet her:( We wish them the best of luck during the adjustment phase.