Going Private

After much thought, I have decided to make our blog private, for now. If you would like to keep reading, I would just love that! Just send me an email, facebook message, or comment with your email address, and I will, hopefully, get it all set up this weekend.

Wordless Wednesday

14 Weeks

At the Zoo

We went to the our local zoo today for the first time. Jackson really enjoyed it. I do believe his favorite part was the play area at the entrance, and the large grassy area where he and his buddy could just run without restraint! He also liked the chimps, and the train that passed by at the petting zoo exhibit. I know I have commented on this before, but I LOVE the city we live in. It is so pretty, and so family friendly. It is a great place to raise our family!

Easter 2010

I realized I didn't post our Easter pictures. We enjoyed celebrated our Savior with our families, and we hope you did, too!

13 Weeks

Good bye, first trimester. See ya next time!

Simply Spring

Prenatal Visit

Today, we went to the doctor to check on Baby A. It was just a routine check up. I weighed the same as last time. My blood pressure was 118/80. We got to hear baby's heartbeat on the Doppler for the first time, which was 140 BPM. He said I looked great, and just to watch my intake of carbs and sugar, because I was at a much higher risk for developing gestational diabetes, since I had it last time. I would prefer not to go down that road again, and having to test my sugar 4 times per day. Our next appointment is scheduled for May 20, and we also have an ultrasound. And we could find out the gender of Baby A. If we wanted to. I told Dr. Childs were were thinking about not finding out...and he laughed at me. He said whatever. I know you. You will so find out. Any guesses on the gender of our baby? I think that Baby A is a boy. In all seriousness, Blake and I certainly have no preference for one gender or another, but are believing God for a full term pregnancy, easy delivery, and healthy baby. Please keep us in your prayers!

Spring Break Trip 2010

My BFF Tiffany and her family, invited our family to join them on their vacation, since Blake was off work for Spring Break. We stayed at a house her family owns (her great grandmother's home before she passed away) in a town called Dunedin, which is near Tampa and Clearwater Beach. We had the best time and enjoyed every moment we had together. Jackson, Ellis, and Lainey all did great! Thank you, Striepling family, we had a blast!!

Monday: Travel Day-Jackson watching Hero of the Rails and eating Yogurt Melts. We spent all day on the road, and stopped at a Cracker Barrel for lunch. Tiffany had stuffed shells and salad ready when we got to the la casa.

Tuesday: After smothering 3 children in SPF 50, we headed to Honeymoon Island, a nearby beach. The beach was gorgeous, and the weather was perfect. Jackson loved the sand, and did not like the ocean. We stayed at the beach most of the day, and after naps for everyone, Blake cooked dinner. He grilled hamburgers, fried potatoes, and baked beans. We then headed out to a local ice cream shop, and let the babies play in the park.

Wednesday: After a pretty relaxing morning, we all went to Tarpon Springs. It is a Greek community, with lots of Greek restaurants, and a museum. We ate lunch ate a restaurant, Hellas. It was delicious! I felt like I was in Europe again.

Thursday: We went to Lowry Park Zoo. Jackson's great-grandmother gave him a membership to the zoo here in town for his birthday, and you can use it at lots of other zoos around the country. We got to go to this great zoo for FREE. The exhibits were great. Sad to say, but I am not an animal lover, and I thought it was fun. It was clean and family friendly! We had taco soup for dinner, and took the kiddos to a park with a playground on the beach after we ate.

Friday: Blake and I were going to take Jackson back to the beach, but we woke up to cloudy skies. We ended up finding a mall, let Jackson play on the indoor playground, and grabbed Chik Fil A for lunch. After naptime, we got Jackson ready for his first major league baseball game. His favorite part was riding the shuttle bus from the parking garage to the stadium. But, Jackson and Ellis both made an appearance in the St. Peterburg Times on Sunday morning. A photographer snapped their picture while they were coloring pictures at a station sat up in the stadium. Tiffany, Lainey, and I had girl time. We went to Starbucks, and drove to the beach and watched the sun set. Fun times. I miss her.

Saturday: We woke up at 4:45 to start home. Traffic was terrible, and we didn't make it home until after 7:00. We ate all our meals in the car, and only stopped for restroom breaks. Jackson handled all of that better than I did!

We simply had an amazing time! Blake is all nice and refreshed, and only has 28 more school days left!

12 Weeks

Today, I am 12 weeks pregnant! Yay, for Baby A. We have chosen to half jokingly nickname the baby, Baby A, because both of the names we like (for right now) begin with the letter "A." However, Blake and I are both sophisticated decision makers (or indecisive), and are subject to change our minds at any given time! One of my favorite pregnancy keepsakes from my pregnancy with Jackson is a Shutterfly book I made of my pregnancy. I took a belly picture (with clothing covering the ole' belly) every Sunday when my weeks "rolled over," and kept a babysite updated for him, and used all of that information and pictures to make the book, and I love looking back at the book. I want to make one for this little baby, too.

So far, I am feeling much, much better. I haven't gained any weight, and am still in my regular clothes, with the exception of a few things that are a little tight. I have also been sneaking some peeks at some bedding that I like, and occasionaly strolling through some clothing stores and looking at little bitty clothes. That's okay, right?

Jesus Loves Me

Out of the mouths of babes...

2 Year Pics

Last Saturday, Blake and I took Jackson to Portrait Innovations to have his 2 year pictures made. I really like going there, because you would never know by looking at the pictures that Jackson was completely traumatized from the entire experience, and was on the verge of tears in nearly every pose. The photographer was so patient with him, and kept trying to get Jackson to smile! He actually looks pretty happy in most of the pictures!