Our Blessing

Pierce has some news he wants to share...



You read it right!! We're expecting our second baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Words cannot express how excited we are! I am almost 13 weeks along and our due date is October 1st. We were able to see our precious one on ultrasound last week and it's one of the sweetest moments in life. At the u/s, the baby actually measured a whole week later than I had originally thought, which moved my due date up by a week. We got several pictures and here are a couple of my favorites:

And because I don't want to miss out on an opportunity to glorify my God, I'd like to share just a little of our story (hopefully without giving too many TMI details!). As many of you know, we have been praying and waiting for this for some time. To be honest, now that it's happened, it doesn't seem as long as it did while we were in the midst of our waiting, which was very difficult for me at times.

In the fall, after much prayer and seeking, we decided to explore our options as far as infertility treatments (mostly due to some irregularities in my cycle since Pierce was born) and decided to try the medication route for three months. It didn't work. Then in January, because of scheduling issues (timing is extremely important when dealing with this stuff!), we were forced to take a month off - I couldn't get in to see the doctor and get a refill on the medication.

Would you believe that was the month we got pregnant?! Of course! Because we serve an amazing God, Whose ways are bigger and better than our ways. I am not discrediting the benefit of medical intervention, but in our particular case, God had a different plan. His timing is perfect and He knows what is best for us. I'm so glad!

Getting pregnant has not been easy for us. It took us over a year to get pregnant with Pierce and at least that long this time around (yes, we'd like our babies close in age and want many - our plan!). This has been a real trial for me, even knowing how much longer it takes so many and there are some who are never able to have the blessing. Shaun and I have been led to let the Lord determine the size (and spacing) of our family. We prayed about pursuing medical intervention, but God did not use that. He has made it quite clear to us that He is totally in control and we are to trust Him. Boy, have I learned a lot!

To Him be all the glory!!!

Okay, now for some of the nitty-gritty as to what people have been asking and are curious about. I'm feeling okay, but it's been a trying 6 weeks or so. I've been exhausted and nauseated most days (in fact, I had lost weight at my appt. last week). I feel like it's been the most unproductive 6 weeks of my life! I've felt unmotivated, uninspired and like all I can do is the bare minimum. Needless to say, I know that every bit of it is worth it!

I do feel like my energy has come back a little recently and was even able to clean almost the whole house today (a major accomplishment these days!). I'm also able to cook more and deal with certain smells (although the poopy diapers get me every time...they're awful...Got to get this kid potty trained!).

Another really popular question is: will we find out the gender. We did not find out with Pierce and we will not find out with this baby either. We really like the surprise of waiting until the birth and it really doesn't seem that long in the grand scheme of things. If I'm being honest, I do have a tiny preference...and it's probably not what most of you are thinking! :)

Thank you for reading this far! We feel absolutely blessed beyond measure and look forward to sharing with you this newest road we are on!

I have prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.

1 Samuel 1:27

Dancing with Daddy

Here I am...a week later posting the videos I had hoped to share last week. Oh well!

The first one was taken a few Sunday evenings ago. Shaun was grilling, the windows were open and we had music playing. Pierce is such a good dancer, don't ya think?!

This second video has a little background story. It was a Saturday morning and Shaun and Pierce had put together the big United States puzzle that Pierce got for his birthday. I guess they were talking about Mexico so Shaun decided to put in James Taylor's Mexico for them to listen to. This might now be Pierce's favorite song! He loves to run around the house singing mexico, mexico, mexico. Then, lately at the end of the song, he does an air guitar move (that I'm pretty sure he learned from his daddy). I'll try to get some pictures of that here soon. Enjoy!

It's a bird, it's a plane....

...It's Superman!!!

This is what we do for fun on a Friday night (and I wouldn't have it any other way)! Shaun had put a blanket on his back as a cape and was pretending to be Superman (his favorite superhero) and Pierce had to be like Daddy. These pictures really don't completely express the cuteness and hilarity of this moment! Pierce ran around the house probably 20 times making "flying" noises and was having a complete blast.

Here's a little video that I caught:

I've taken some other fun videos recently that I hope to upload and share in the next day or two.

The good, the bad and the ugly

Guess what Pierce did for the first time on Sunday afternoon?? Nope...it doesn't have to do with the potty. We wish!

This sweet boy climbed out of his crib and walked right out of his room!! It was before he had fallen asleep for his nap and I don't think he even meant to do it. He came out of his room crying and asking to get back in his crib. I think it really scared him and he hasn't done it since. We are, however, making plans to transition him out of the crib soon. It seems like it's time.

We had a VERY rough morning on Monday. And I thought I'd take pictures (even though they don't really do the sheer misery of the tantrum justice) to help me keep my cool and to allow me to share the reality of moments with a 2-year old. The quick story is that we like for Pierce to take his dirty diaper to the diaper pail (which is in our bathroom) and he didn't want to yesterday. I was urging him to and told him that it's his job to take care of his diaper. I was instructing him to obey me, etc., etc. He was insisting that Mommy do it through his whining/fussing. Finally, I picked him up and carried him to the pail. He dropped the diaper in and I flipped the top. And then, Pierce F-L-I-P-P-E-D out. I guess he wanted to do it himself after all. Here are the lovely pictures of him hanging over the diaper champ sobbing...I know, awesome.

He was not happy with me taking his pictures.

Just keepin' it real, guys. Moments like these are very, very difficult and can really push my buttons. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this probably lasted 30 minutes total and was probably the worst yet (it's almost as if it wasn't my child!). It ate up so much of our morning that we were rushed to get out the door and it's just not how you want to start out your week!

Thankfully, this is not a daily occurrence, but Pierce is definitely going through a stage of exerting his will, wanting to be in control, wanting independence, all mixed with an increased clingyness to me.

Despite the ugly moments, I do absolutely adore this kiddo and Shaun got some pictures of my favorite daily moment with him. After his nap every day, we cuddle in the rocking chair while he drinks his milk (this is about all the cuddle time I get with my non-cuddly boy) and I love it!

I'll end with this funny story: tonight, during Pierce's bath, I had suddzed (word?) his hair all up and he wanted to pour the water on it to rinse. At one point, I asked him if I could do it just once (to get some of the suds that he was missing) and he, in absolute seriousness, looked at me and said "This is my job, Mommy."

Well, there you have it, folks. Some of it is getting through, I suppose and he is so good at making me laugh! :)

Snow Baby

As promised, here are pictures from our adventures in the snow. Pierce was not really lovin' it yesterday! It was quite cold and windy and he was complaining of a runny nose and wet hands. We only lasted about 30 minutes outside. I was able to convince Shaun to hang around a little bit and play with us before he headed to work. :)

The forced smile...

What's playing in the snow without hot cocoa?! This was by far Pierce's favorite part of the whole deal!

Today was a different story. We stayed outside for over an hour and he would've stayed longer, but Mommy was cold!! I think it helped that I didn't put on the big snowpants again...just layered his pants. And a lot more had been cleared so there were some non-snow covered surfaces to walk on. I'd say that he actually liked playing in the snow today.

And isn't this a cool blessing? A neighbor of ours (who also happens to be the builder of our house) stopped by yesterday afternoon on his big tractor and offered to plow our driveway...for FREE! I really love the community-feel of where we live!

He insisted on walking a large part of the yard, but then, Mommy had to carry him most of the way back b/c he was too tired!

Winter Wonderland

We took some pictures of the snow falling yesterday not knowing if it would really amount to anything...

This is what we woke up to this morning....

Our local news is saying that we've gotten about 9 inches so far in our little town and it is still falling. This is quite a big deal in these here parts! I can't believe it's March!! They are also saying the roads out our way our impassable, so Shaun is still home...but planning to head to work soon. :(

Although I really do not like to be cold and wet, I'm sure Pierce and I will get out in it this morning to play. I'll be sure to share pictures. Happy Snow Day!!