It's a...

I got the call from the doctor's office today with the genetic screening (everything looked great) as well as the gender confirmation for Baby #2.  I had the nurse email me the gender, so that Corey and I could open the email and find out at the same time.  All great in theory, only for me to not remember that in Gmail, you see a preview of the body of each email, so long story short, I knew right away this morning, once the email arrived in my inbox.  So, I quickly devised a plan to reveal the gender to Corey and Jackson tonight. 

 

Will Baby #2 be a BOY or a GIRL?  Watch and see!

Five Years

I'm a few days late, but I couldn't let this important date pass without a quick update.

It's so hard to believe, but as of Friday, Corey and I have been married for five years! In some ways, it seems like just yesterday that we were in Maui saying "I do", but in other ways, with all the big and exciting changes that have occurred in the last five years (Roxy joining the family, trips to places like Hawaii, Vegas, and Boston, welcoming Jackson into the world, buying a house, and so on), it seems like much more than just five years. Regardless though, it's been the best five years of my life. So, happy anniversary to my amazing hubby and wonderful daddy to Jackson (and soon-to-be #2). I couldn't have asked for a better BFF or partner-in crime.

The best part of our anniversary this year was being able to celebrate, just the two of us, with a trip back to Maui, where we spent the week relaxing, eating (way too much), reading (I think I set some sort of record, finishing 10 or 11 books in six days), and sleeping. It was a great week, aside from missing our sweet boy.

One of the biggest highlights of our trip though, was having lunch at Gannon's (previously the Seawatch Restaurant, which is where we got married). After launch, we even snapped a photo in the same spot we stood during our wedding back in 2008. I am so glad we did that - it's not something we can do every day, so it was definitely memorable.

More to come on our trip soon. In the meantime, here is a wedding photo in the Seawatch lawn, and a photo we took last week, against the same tree (slightly different angle, but you get the gist).

Two

Dos. Double trouble. Double the fun, laughter and love.  And that's just what we're about to experience...in mid-to-late January, we'll no longer be the parents to just one little munchkin, but will be the parents to TWO little munchkins, and we couldn't be more thrilled.

Yes, you read that right - Jackson is about to be a big brother!

I'm about 13 weeks along, and aside from feeling extremely tired all the time, I am doing great.  Jackson has said all along that the "baby in mommy's tummy" is a "seester", though we all know that he has not the slightest clue what this means, or that his world is about to be turned upside down, but I think (hope) that he will be okay with all the changes that are coming, and that he'll be a great big bro.  So far, he's loved to look at my stomach and has even been known to give it gentle kisses, and has helped put cocoa butter lotion on it a time or two. 

This pregnancy has been similar to my last - no true morning sickness, just some nausea in the morning, but nothing a few crackers in bed didn't help, and as mentioned above, feeling very sleepy. In fact, I have been in bed at 8:30 or 9 p.m. on numerous occasions, which is very out of character.

We've had several ultrasounds and everything looks great.  I took a blood test at my appointment earlier this week that will serve as a genetic screening, as well as a gender test - they're now able to extract a baby's chromosomes from the mom's blood to determine the gender at 12-13 weeks (wow!).  So, within about two weeks, we should know whether J has a little bro or a little seester to look forward to.

We're very excited for the arrival of this babe, but of course, are a bit nervous, too.  I'm not going to lie - there are days that I don't know how we handle one, but all the good days and times we have with him make up for the few rough times, and I know we'll all love this little one so very much.

More to come soon!

First ultrasound - 7 weeks - our little nugget

Second ultrasound - 13 weeks (it is amazing the difference a few weeks can make!)

Kid Crack

This is what allowing your child to eat crack (also known as half of a small ice cream sundae) will do.  This is the first of about 10 minutes of straight jumping, dancing and shaking his bootie.  He slept very well that night.



Other notables:

• Jackson LOVES his Dora guitar (the musical instrument heard in this video).  We often dance as a family to song after song that he plays.  (Don't be jealous!). 
• I am fairly certain Jackson picked up all his dance moves from his Grandpa Kent (who made quite the impression at the Father/Daughter dances in high school - my friends still reminisce about his moves).

Congrats to Kelsey & Mark!

After a fun-filled and eventful weekend last weekend, Kelsey and Mark are a married couple!  It was a wonderful weekend, and they couldn't have picked a better weekend weather-wise - after several cool, rainy days, the clouds cleared and we saw tons of sun and temps in the mid-to-high 80s.

The weekend kicked off with a rehearsal at the ceremony site - Hamilton Viewpoint Park - followed by an afternoon with just Kels and I, grabbing lunch and having our nails done in preparation for the big day at Varnish.  It was the perfect way to get some QT in with just the two of us, before the craziness of the weekend. 

On Friday, a bunch of us picked up flowers at Pike Place and then headed back to Kels' for a massive flower assembly line.  With many centerpieces, several bouquets and a number of boutonnieres to create, we had our work cut out for us, but we finished quickly with all the gals that were helping. 

At that point, many of the gals headed to Melrose Market Studios (the reception venue) to help set-up everything (Kelsey is an amazing DIY'er and had prepared all kinds of beautiful decorations to help make the space perfect for their big day).  Kelsey and I finished up the flowers and then got ready for the family/wedding party rehearsal dinner at Picolinos.  It was a wonderful dinner and the perfect time to catch up with Kels and Mark's families.

Later that evening, all wedding guests were able to attend a party at Two Beers, the brewery Mark co-owns.  It was the first time we'd seen some of our friends in awhile, and we all had a wonderful time.

The following morning was the big day, and I spent it with Kels.  She had her hair done and then we got ready together, along with some of the girls, and her and Mark's family.  Kels and I were picked up in a beautiful old car and headed to a cute park in Fremont for her and Mark's first look.  Mark's brother and best man, Steve, and I then headed on to the ceremony to await their arrival.

The ceremony and reception both went flawlessly - everything looked fabulous and everyone had a great time. The food, catered by Skillet, was delicious and the dancing was a blast.  Kels and Mark and told Steve and I that speeches weren't on the agenda (didn't want unnecessary pressure on us), but we felt that on such an important day, we both wanted a chance to say something, so we surprised them with speeches during the reception.  Even though public speaking is not my forte, I am so glad we decided to do it, after seeing their faces and how touched they were by what we said.

I was so honored to be included in their big day, and I am so happy for the newlyweds! 

Here are a few pictures from their big day:

ABCs

Jackson was reading his ABC book this a.m. and from the other room, we could hear him whip out the entire alphabet.  Such a smarty pants!

Let's Do This!

Every day, Jackson says something (or many somethings) that make us laugh.  I just love all this talking, and I get excited to get him up each day, because I just never know what is going to come out of that little mouth.

Every day this week, he's asked if we can go feed the ducks, and every day, we tell him that we'll go this weekend.  We've also told him his grandpa, grandma Linda, grandma Joan, great grandma, uncle Scott, and aunt Karen are all coming to visit this weekend and that maybe some of them will want to come.  His replies are typically similar, but a few days ago, he said, "I wanna feed the ducks.  With grandma, grandma Linda, great grandma.  That's a lot of people!"  The next time, he said several names, but finished with, "that's right!", like I doubted him.

Clearly he loves our weekend routine of feeding the ducks.  But this weekend, in addition to feeding the ducks, he would like to "Dance. Go to Starbucks.  Get a scone (at Starbucks).  Feed the ducks after his nap."  Sounds like our Saturday is all planned out for us.

Every time we ask about who is coming this weekend, he rattles everyone off and then says "Open the door!" meaning he wants to be the one to open the door when they arrive.  Love that he's already planning ahead.

On his way to daycare the other day, Corey drove through Klahanie, which is the same neighborhood the ducks are in, and Jackson's memory was triggered.  He started saying "Feed the ducks.  Daddy's car.  Big slide".  These are typically the things we do when we go to feed the ducks (we take daddy's car, and go down the slide before we come home).  Such a good memory.

On the way home from daycare the other day, he said to me, "I did the chicken dance, conga and hokey pokey!!!!" out of nowhere.  That one totally cracked me up.  Not only because he remembered the dances and their names, but that he randomly remembered it and felt the need to shout it out on our ride home.

When he tells us about something he wants to do, he'll often follow it up with "Let's do this!".  For instance, "I want to take a bath.  Let's DO this!"

He's taken a liking to a lullaby CD that he has and every time we get in the car, he has to get it out of the case, and I have to put in.  And every time we get where we are going, he wants the CD out so he can put it back in the case.  But after the first song, he always says "that's a good song!" and after the second song, "that's a good one!".  The songs are nice and quiet and slow, and he is very quiet while he listens - I think they definitely calm him down.  He does still occasionally say "mommy dance!" but these songs are quite a bit harder to dance to than his other CDs or "mommy's songs' (my radio station), let me tell you, so it's a quiet a sight to behold.

Oh the things this kid says, and the things we do for him.  It's a good thing he's cute!

Happy Haircut

I am thrilled to say that J had an (almost) tear free haircut this weekend!

Late last week he actually started asking about a haircut (what the?!), so we quickly acted upon his request and made an appointment at Dooz4Kids in Bellevue Square. 

It was our first time there, so we planned ahead and arrived early in the hopes that he'd get acclimated before it was his turn.  He was able to play and read for a bit before his stylist called us over.

As soon as he heard his name, he started to say "no haircut" and started to cry for about two seconds, but we quickly averted the tears by reminding him of the cookie that was waiting for him after the haircut (not above bribes these days).  After a few deep breaths and a sad looking pout, we were back in business.  Elmo videos kept him occupied throughout the appointment and it was over before we knew it.  The only thing that reminded him that he was in the midst of a haircut was the pieces of hair that occasionally dropped on his hands and arms, to which he'd respond with an "uh oh!".

The best part was the prize he received after the appointment --- kids are able to flip a lever on a machine up front and a prize appears.  He got a new rubber duck for the bath, and the stylist was so proud of him for being so brave, she also gave him a little container of bubbles - an absolute favorite.  He didn't let these prizes out of sight that night, and we've played with them in the bath every night since.

So proud of our big boy, and here's to hoping all future haircuts turn out just as successfully.

Catching his prizes.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to the best daddy Jackson could ever ask for.  It has been so amazing to watch you with him over the last two years.  You truly have so much love, patience, and compassion for this kiddo, I couldn't imagine a better daddy for our son.

I love when he runs to you, asking for "flips" and "jumps" - two of his favorite things.  I love hearing him run to greet you at the door at the end of each day, listening to him ask "where's daddy go" multiple times on our way home from school because he can't wait to see you, and of course, all the funny things he remembers that I tell him about you.  For instance, that you do a better job of holding him up to wash his hands at the kitchen sink because you're stronger, which he then uses against me later when I am home alone with him and tell him he needs to wash his hands ("No Mommy...Daddy do it.  He's stronger.") 

You give the best shoulder rides, the best baths, and always seem to know just want to say or do to keep a fast-approaching tantrum at bay.

Thank you for all that you do, and for being such a wonderful role model to our boy.

And to my dad and your dad - thanks for being such great grandpas!  Jackson asks about both of you frequently and it's clear that he loves and admires you both.

Happy Father's Day!

Sick Day

Jackson woke up with a bit of a fever today, so I worked from home and kept him here with me.  He didn't act sick at all, but lucky for me, he was extra cuddly.

Throughout the morning, he would tell me "my head hurts" or "my tummy hurts", but cuddles and snacks seemed to help. He asked about school a few times and at one point he even told me, "Feel better...I wanna go to school now!"  Poor kid - he really missed his friends and teachers today.  I guess there are worse things than him loving school.

Still has a fever but seems to be feeling a-okay. 

Busy boy!  He spent lots of time watching his DVDs and playing so I could get some work done.

And we got lots of good cuddles in.