4th of July Fun

This was the first year since having kiddos that we decided to go to the Fireworks.  We never went before because the kids bedtime has always been 7, one of them has been too young, we were too exhausted, the thought of being in downtown Fort Collins was too overwhelming, or some combination of the above :)

I am so glad that this year we decided to go!  My sister Sarah and her family were going with friends to their usual spot on a golf course in Loveland.  It truly is a perfect spot to watch the fireworks!  It wasn't nearly as crowded as I thought it would be, or as it is in Fort Collins, and the area wasn't covered with drunk people...another perk! 

We got there at 7 and the kids loved playing with their cousins and all the other kids before the show!  We got some super cute pictures!  I know our baby Emerson will be pretty small still next 4th of July, but I think we will probably try and go again.  It was too much fun to pass up!

 

We started our 4th of July Festivities early in the morning with a bike ride to Panera. Yum!

Love these cuties in their helmets

The Kangaroo Rider is pretty much the best thing ever.  Tavian rides in the same thing on Cole's bike

Headed onto the golf course for the Fireworks Show

Teagan seemed to love the 4th of July! :)

Probably one of my favorite pictures ever!

This picture cracks me up!

These Days

Let me tell you a little about my life since finding out I was pregnant:

 

1) Tired all the time.  Tired like I have never experienced before.  Tired like I wonder about if it is safe that I am driving sometimes!!!  It basically feels like I have jetlag all.the.time!

 

2)  Because of the crazy tiredness, it also feels like I take a large lazy pill every day.  Cleaning?..um no.  Cooking?..ha, right!  Basically the kids are loved and fed (even if we are eating out the majority of the time)  You know it is bad when I find myself sick of eating out!

 

3)  Headaches.  All the time and I don't know how to fix it.  I see a physical therapist and just recently started acupuncture.  I am really hoping the acupuncture helps.  Sometimes caffeine helps a little too...but then I can't take an afternoon nap, and if you refer to number one, you know that is absolutely necessary! 

 

4)  Remember what I said about being lazy?..it affects my overall care for myself!  I find myself asking Cole pretty regularly, "Do you remember the last time I showered?"  I know.  Gross.  Can't help it.  Cleanliness just isn't a top priority when I am this tired!  Please still be my friend :)  I saw a Pin that talked about having three hairstyles: straight, curly, and homeless.  Lets just say I have been living in the homeless category for a long time now!

 

5)  Pregnancy brain has reached a new level!  Examples: -I went to the pool with my friend Sydnie and our kiddos.  We were there for two hours.  We walked out to leave and she laughed pointing out that I had never shut the trunk to my van.  Yup, that happened!  - I took the kids to the movies.  We lasted in there about an hour, but when we came back to the car I realized I had left the sliding door open the entire time!  I am seriously blessed I haven't been stolen from!  Maybe the trashed van of children's belongings doesn't appeal to a lot of people...lol.  - And, lastly, (please don't' think I'm a bad mom!) there have been many occasions driving down the road that my panicked son yells, "Mom, you didn't buckle me!!!!"  That is when I shout at myself, "Freakin-A you have got to be kidding me!"  Don't worry, I pull over and fix things immediately :)

 

*Hope this brought some of you a good laugh.  If you don't have kids or have never been pregnant, you may just truly think I'm crazy.  I know some mothers out there have got to be able to relate!!  And, on a side note, this is a good opportunity to recognize my hubs for how truly amazing he has been.  He has picked up all the slack, doesn't complain, encourages me daily telling me I am doing everything just fine and that I don't need to be doing more, gets off early from work so I can make appointments, and loves me and tells me I'm beautiful despite my homeless appearance.  He's a keeper for sure!

Finding Out

Man, I have actually had a lot to write in regards to this pregnancy, but since we weren't making it public in the first trimester I have had to hold off.  I will try and make up for it now :)

Cole and I knew there was a chance we were pregnant.  As it usually goes with NFP, you know your cycle well and you know when having sex will most likely or most likely not lead to a baby.  We were actually thinking it would be nice to wait until after the summer to get pregnant (a thought we apparently have a lot) but like usual God has better timing :) 

We laugh because this is always the exact time I get pregnant.  Just when I am close to having a summer without being pregnant or breastfeeding...bam!  Preggers!  I can't say I would change a thing, we just have a good chuckle about it.  Maybe God has a chuckle too!

Even though we knew there was a good possibility, every time the pregnancy test says positive it is a bit of a thrill (to say the least).  I had taken the test one early morning a few days before Mother's Day.  Cole had already left and randomly had taken the kids to his moms that day so I could relax a bit.  Let me tell you, once I saw the positive result, I can't say a whole lot of relaxing happened!!!  I called Andrea (typical) just in shock saying "I can't believe it...I cant't believe it" over and over.  Although, as I already said, I COULD believe it!  I waited to tell Cole until that night because I wanted it to be in person.  I was actually really emotional all day and I think it was because I hadn't shared the news with him.  The second I told him a huge rush of peace came over me and the anxiety left...that was a big blessing! 

 

I also have to say that I have felt this baby was a boy from the very start.  Tavian thinks so too, and seeing as he was right with Felicity, I think he is trustworthy.  I truly don't have a preference either way but something just makes me feel like it is a boy.  We will be finding out in September when we have a gender reveal party.  Fun!

I also have to say that Cole has truly been a blessing this pregnancy.  Third time must be a charm!  He really has learned a lot since my pregnancy with Tavian and it has made things go really smoothly.  That isn't to say he wasn't great with Tavian...it just seems to get better and better.  Immediately after I told him he grabbed a pen and paper and made a list of all the things we were going to do to make this a great pregnancy.  One of the things included a babysitter once a week!  It was so thoughtful of him to make that list and really assured me that he was on my team and there to help in any way.  So blessed to have him :)

Vacation Bible School

Tavian attented Vacation Bible School this year for the very first time.  He just barely made the cut off at 3 1/2.  I was really nervous to send him, especially because it is three hours a day for the whole week, but I knew it would be good to at least give it a try.  It was only $25 so I knew it would be ok if he went the first day and then decided not to go back. 

 

He did pretty well the first day.  He got pretty teary eyed telling me "my eyes are getting sad".  Talk about breaking a Mommy's heart!  I knew he was in great hands as all of the leaders are from my Mother's Sharing Group at church and I knew they would keep a special eye on him.  After I left him I still waited around outside the church for awhile and had a friend check up on him half an hour later to make sure he was doing ok...and he was!  He was definitely excited to see me when I came and got him and he told me, "I only got sad sometimes because I missed my Mommy." 

Posing with one of his crafts after his first day!

 

The next day was the hardest.  I think he realized that he was in for a long morning without me and wasn't too thrilled about it.  That morning as we drove to the church he told me his tummy was feeling nervous.  Again, so hard to hear!  I assured him that he would have fun and everything would be ok.  This was the day he cried the hardest.  I literally left while he was balling in the lap of one of the volunteers.  So hard, but I had to keep reminding myself that this is part of the growing up process.

 

We took Wednesday off because I have a babysitter come once a week in the morning (a pregnancy must have!), and I knew he would enjoy just staying home and playing with her and his sister.  I think it was actually a really good decision to give him a little break.

Thursday went really well.  I told him I would only have him stay 2 hours and that seemed to help.  He was there from 9 to 11 and we went straight to the swimming pool as a reward.  When I picked him up this day he was having a great time and they told me he hadn't been the least bit sad all day.  It totally felt like the effort was paying off!  (did I forget to mention I rewarded him with ice ream the other days??...lol)

 

Friday went smooth as well!  We ended up coming to be with him an hour early because they were having mass with all of the kiddos and parents and families were welcome to participate if they would like.  Overall I am just so proud of my big boy.  I think it was a great introduction to being away from home since he will be starting preschool this Fall.  It is only going to be twice a week for a few hours, but I think this gave us both the confidence we needed for this next big step. 

As much as it was nice having a little less responsibility for the week and a little more availability to get things done, I have to say that I really missed my boy!!  I think Felicity missed her brother as well.  Even though it is such a short amount of time in the scheme of things, it was hard being away from him.  Makes me all the more thankful I get to stay home with him everyday.  Being a mom is so wonderful!

Mommy Daughter Date

While Tavian was at Vacation Bible School, Felicity and I got some extra special time together.  Many of the days I spent cleaning the house or running errands (both activities surprisingly easier without a rambunctious Tavian), but one of the last days I thought her and I deserved some special fun time.  It actually made me regret that I hadn't taken more advantage of the time the previous days.  Anyway, we headed to the library by our house (first stopping at the Panera next door so I could grab a yummy Frozen Carmel coffee).  It was so fun and so relaxing just getting to give her all of my attention.  We colored pictures, did puzzles, played with all the fun toys they have, and then my favorite part was when we picked a seat by the window and read book after book.  This little girl is already my bestie and I love getting to spend my days with her.  These truly are the days where I wish I could make time stand still.  I mean it when I say I just can't get enough!  Love you little lady bug :) 

Enjoy the pictures!



Silly Faces

Needed a picture of her cute outfit

 

Look at that face...

Coloring pretty pictures

 

This is what loves looks like

 



Warning

Just letting you know I will be publishing a lot of posts...in no particular order...and most likely not of recent events. 

 

 You have been warned :)

Baby Girl Turns One

Holy moly, how is sweet Felicity already one??
Of course this post is delayed, as much in my life is these days, ha, but I still wanted to take just a quick minute to reflect.  Wow, the time truly flew.  Faster then any year I have previously experienced.  When I reflect on the last year the thing that hits me the most is just how totally grateful I am to have had this sweet girl in my life.  I feel like everyone would be so lucky to know her, and I am lucky enough to spend every day with her and to be her mommy.  What a blessing.  I remember the initial fears of being pregnant, the worries about being a mother to two and being able to share my love and attention between two, and I love that God allowed me to feel those things because He has shown how silly it is to worry, and even sillier to not trust that He is guiding every step of this life.  I still thank God all the time for knowing what was best for our family.  And truly Felicity is the Best! :)
I also think a lot about those first two months of nursing.  I dont think I ever said too much about it on here, but truly two months of hell.  Complete emotional turmoil as I was in the worst physical pain ever, but also falling apart on the inside as I was sure (as were the medical professionals around me) that I wouldn't be able to keep nursing.  I mean it with everything in me that we were able to keep going by an absolute miracle.  And to this day, when I snuggle up with my baby girl and lay in bed nursing her I thank God every single time.  It just doesn't get old!  And yes, I suffered abundantly in the beginning, but it was worth it.  I have now had 11 months of joy with feeding my sweet baby.  All the cuddles, all the naps, her stopping in the middle of eating to look up at me and smile or to say "hi", or getting to kiss on her little toes and rub her back, having her tug on my earring or play with my hair or poke at my face.  I don't know how much longer we will nurse, and I'm not all that concerned with it.  I wish she would drink more out of a sippy cup so I would have a bit more freedom, but I'm not ready to be done.  It is too special to stop quite yet...plus, I might as well continue to enjoy it considering all the pain I went through to get it!
Things I am currently loving about Felicity:
She is so cute with all the new words she is saying.  She can say mama, dada, belly, eye, ball, baby, uh oh, all done, bye bye, more and night night.  She says most of these things with a lot of attitude!
She is such a fast crawler but is really great at walking.  She walks on her tippy toes like her brother did and she does well when she is patient enough to do it.  Most of the time she takes off with her super fast crawl after a few steps.
I love her little "cheese" face and the best is when you get to see her top teeth.  She has such a big gap between them and Cole and I think it is the cutest thing in the world.  Cole always tells her, "I don't know whether to smile or kick a field goal!"  Lol, too funny.
She loves to play with her brother and she is actually really tough.
I love her relaxed, lazy spirit.  If there is a pillow, cushion, bean bag, blanket, etc that is accessible to her she climbs onto it, rolls onto her back, and just lays there.  I have so many picture of her like that!
She is so cute when she throws little temper tantrums.  When she gets hurt or something doesn't go her way she doesn't have a sad cry, it is an angry cry!  and usually she just lays flat on her belly, face in the carpet, and cries.  I can't help but laugh!!
She is such a big eater.  She eats whatever we are having for dinner and I never make anything special for her.  She doesn't like baby food (never really has) but I think it is mostly because she doesn't like eating off the spoon because she wants to do everything herself.  Everyone who eats with us is pretty impressed with the amount of food she eats, and the fact that she isn't picky at all.  Fingers crossed that she will stay like that!
Cole's favorite time with her is after he gets her out of the bath because he wraps her up in her towel and they just cuddle for a long time.  It is so cute to watch.
She is pretty much obsessed with her Daddy.  She gets so excited when he comes home and I usually can't take her out of his arms for awhile.  (side note...it must say something about what an awesome dad cole is since both of my kids are OBSESSED with him!  what am i?..chopped liver?? ha!)
I tried painting her toes the other day and she wouldn't have any part of it.  She actually seemed terrified of the nail polish.  I'm sure she'll change her tune soon enough :)
She gives the BEST kisses ever and even makes a kiss sound when she does it.  The cutest part is that she is super stingy with giving me or Cole kisses, but she would give Tavian 100 kisses in a row if I let her.  She actually is willing to kiss any other baby or kid, but somehow knows when it is an adult and then she gets picky!
She has a little walker toy that she loves to play with.  She literally runs all over the house with it.  I can't believe how fast she can go and she is also great at steering it.  Super funny to watch!
 Overall she is such a happy, easy baby.  Thank you, Lord, for giving us such an amazing year with Felicity.  I look forward to all those to come :)