Comparing

Just for fun, I decided to take a few pictures today and compare them with this stage of my pregnancy with Reese. Pretty close.

Here I am at 16 weeks and 2 days. (Reese has a new-found love with her jumperoo, so it's staying put in our bedroom for those random 5 minute bursts of jumping.)

And here I am with Reese right before 16 weeks. (so excited the bump was noticeable!)

17 weeks with Reese.

I'm still feeling great, and the headaches are fewer and farther between. My lower back pain that sent me to see the chiropractor routinely with Reese has come back, and after not working out at all last week, it was VERY painful. However, I did body pump yesterday, and the pain is MUCH more manageable today. I guess I'll be keeping that up!

Sleeping is different than with Reese. I slept completely through the night until the day I delivered Reese, but I'm already tossing and turning a lot more this time. 

I am very much looking forward to seeing Baby on the ultrasound in a couple of weeks! I want to see that heartbeat. And we hope to find out if Reese will have a baby brother or sister that day, too! I keep dreaming of what it would be like to have a sister for Reese and another daughter to raise up to become a woman after God's own heart. A woman who loves to learn and believes in the power of wisdom, a woman who loves others with passion and mercy, and a woman who strives all her days to glorify God. I also keep dreaming of what it would be like to have a brother for Reese and to have a son to raise up to become a man of conviction and leadership. A man who loves and fears God in a most respectable and honorable way, a man who loves well and fully, and a man who wants only to glorify God in all he does. Either way, we are blessed and are just praying for a completely healthy baby. I still have a feeling we will see another girl on the ultrasound, but I'm starting to wonder. 

As I am finishing my stuffed shells for dinner, Wes and Emmett are out for a jog, and Reese is asleep. It's a beautiful evening.

Lake Trip #5

You may or may not recall that we take a weekend trip to either Table Rock Lake or Lake of the Ozarks each Spring Break with some of our greatest friends. This year was no different. Well, it was a bit different because Wes and I didn't decide until last minute to make the trip, and thankfully, the low key profile of the group allowed us to take the 3rd bedroom in the villa. So glad we didn't skip out this year. 

We loaded up Friday morning with all four little girls and the three dads in the minivan. I drove Wes' car with the ladies. Because we couldn't check in until 3pm, we went to eat lunch at the Branson Landing and did a little grocery shopping before getting into our beautiful place on the lake. The girls did exceptionally well staying up until 3:30 for naps. (note for future reference: Reese did not sleep that well here. She wasn't bad at all, but she just took forever to fall asleep--we watched her stand and sit in her pack n play for what seemed like hours both nights--and she woke up a bit early in the mornings.) 

The place we stayed has a story of its own that's really only funny to Wes and me. We have passed this place for YEARS on Highway 86, and those of you familiar with the Lampe, Shell Knob, or Golden Kanakuk Kamps have seen this place as well. It was built on the edge of a cliff and on one side of one of the bridges of 86. It seemed to be abandoned and never finished, and we always talked about what it could be because it was a mansion. Well, we hadn't done any of the planning for this trip, so we had no idea where we were going. A few years ago, D'Monaco was established, and it's an incredibly beautiful set of villas overlooking the lake. Becca lucked into a Groupon deal, so we had a heck of a weekend in an awesome location. 

We stayed in the villa on Friday and had DELICIOUS lasagna by Kari for dinner. I made chocolate chip pound cake for dessert. Saturday morning, we had Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Baked French Toast, eggs, and bacon before the ladies spent the day outlet shopping. That night, Becca made INCREDIBLE chicken enchiladas, and the boys spent their second evening in the hot tub telling stories of who knows what for hours. 

Here is part of the weekend in pictures...

Saturday morning play time. Reese and Caroline.

Sarah enjoying the gorgeous weather and our awesome views.

View from our patio.

Coloring in the sun. Sarah and Blair on Becca's lap.

Reese checking out the tree.

Four girls in the ottoman. Favorite play place for sure.

Sweet friends.

Wes was Mr. Cool with the iPad.

Where we stayed.

When did she grow up? (Don't mind Wes' favorite Capital Hotel slippers.)

LOVE my girl. 

Exploring the rocks.

Kari and SJ checking out the docks.

I was a bit terrified of going out there with her, but I just squeezed her hand or held her the entire time. 

Back to safe land.

Dinner on the deck.

Sunset on Saturday night.

Sunday morning breakfast before heading home.

18 Months Old

Our little Sugar, Sweet Pea, Sweetheart, Reesey, Peesey is ONE AND A HALF today! 

A year ago she looked like this...

And today she looks like this...

I don't think it's possible to be more in love, but I have a feeling that my love for this girl will only increase with each day I have with her. She is loving, joyful, smart, beautiful, intuitive, adventurous, methodical, observant, and many other wonderful things. She is also impatient, she doesn't like it at all when she doesn't get what she wants, and she won't let me put sweet little hair bows in her growing hair. We have entered the tantrum world, and she is really talented. We read what seems like 100 books a day. She has begun to talk a lot. I've started a list of words she says on my phone, and my favorites are backpack, duck, and when she tries to say a friend's name. The list gets longer almost every day, but you probably wouldn't be able to understand 90% of the words I have listed. I know her language. She weighs 26 pounds and is in the 75th percentile. She is in the 50th for height. I think it's perfect. She has started protesting diaper changes and naps by not wanting to "go with Mama" when those times come. We are consistent though, and we win. She hasn't figured that out yet. She has 9 or 10 teeth (including 4 molars) and is working on a couple more I think. She sleeps from 7pm to 7:30am. She "rests" in her crib with books and toys for about 45 minutes to an hour most mornings. She naps for 2-3 hours in the afternoon. She eats waffles, fruit, veggie/fruit pouches, mac 'n cheese, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, Earth's Best snack bars, rotisserie chicken, cheese, bread, and the rest of the typical toddler snacks and meals. She is opinionated when it comes to food and other things as well. She tried to jump this week after seeing someone do a "burpee" on TV, and it made me laugh until I cried. She tries to repeat a lot of words. She pries your legs and hands open if she wants to get in your lap or you to hold something. She calls things by name and points to many of the things I ask her while reading. She still crosses her ankles all the time. Her laugh is still the best sound in the world. She "loves" people and toys and Emmett well. She dances, and it's really cute. She doesn't like it when I put her shoes on without socks, but she gets over it as soon as we get outside. She LOVES to go and play outside. She hasn't quite figured out "Stay right here" or "Stop" yet. She loves to swing and slide. 

It's March 18th, and Reese is 18 months old.

I'm 15 weeks pregnant, too. Thank you, Lord, for each day you give us all together as a family.

The Dixie

The gift card has been used. Instead of making it a date night outing, we decided last minute yesterday to invite some of our good friends to join us for a very family friendly early Friday night dinner. Eric, Leah, and one of Reese's Besties Campbell met us at Dixie Cafe, and we dined on hot rolls, raspberry lemonade, fried okra, mashed potatoes, variances on fried chicken, corn, and several other good down home foods. They came over to hang out after dinner, and it was one of the best Friday nights we have had in a long time. We love our friends...and good rich food, too.

Today is St. Patrick's Day, and in honor of the green holiday, I made broccoli and spinach quiche for lunch, and we will have quesadillas tonight made with spinach tortillas. Granny Smith apples, kiwi, green grapes, and green beans are our sides. Actually, Reese will eat this tonight, and we will have leftovers tomorrow after church because Wes and I are going on a DATE NIGHT at 5:30 tonight! Woohoo! 

This morning, another dear friend Brooke asked me to meet her at the square to walk and play, and it was a perfect morning. We strolled by Crepes Paulette and smelled so much good food on our way to the trails and when we made it back to the park near lunch time. All of the new restaurants were cooking up something really good. The museum trails are getting more and more beautiful, and it really made me totally fine that our house has not sold. I love being so close to downtown and all of these amazing trails and parks. We played at a park for a bit before coming home for lunch and a long nap that is actually ending as I type. Reese is rolling around and should be nice and lively for babysitter tonight! 

Enjoy the pictures, and enjoy the Madness that is basketball right now. My bracket is totally shot. I had Missouri winning the whole thing. Oops.

My Dixie plate.

Reese dancing and making music earlier this week.

YUMMY lunch.

Seriously, this was so good.

Sweet friends. Reese and Stella at the park.

She found my box of Thin Mints earlier this week, so I let her try them out in her chair.

Hey, guys. My first Dixie Cafe experience.

Have a great weekend!

Lovely Weekend

This weekend was lovely. We spent it with family and friends, and it was perfect. Without going into my typical detailed post, I'll just give you a few pictures with captions.

Before church yesterday, Reese wanted to play with Cousin Ben's iPod. She loves herself some technology. (Side Note: Ben stayed with us Saturday and Sunday!)

Saturday picnic on the back deck.

Ben and Uncle Wes having some "Screen Time."

After my Matilda Jane party, I had a few more things in mind I wanted to get Reese for this spring/summer, so I headed to Gap with my 40% off coupon. I had several hours of shopping alone on Saturday, and it was wonderful. Reese got these new colored skinny jeans (I wanted them for myself, but seeing that I'm prego, I got them for her instead), the cute "Puppa" shirt, and a few other cute summery tops, I got some new make-up at Sephora, a shirt at Gap, and I finally spent my gift card from Altar'd State. Needless to say, our "All other" category in our budget is near empty for March. My haircut and maternity swimsuit purchase will have to wait until April! I feel like I don't ever shop for clothes, so it was definitely a nice treat.

This is Reese's version of giving a kiss. She was INFATUATED with her biggest cousin.

Heading to meet some friends at Flying Fish on Saturday night. 

Watching Cousin Whit's soccer game on Friday.

The cute little soccer player herself!

Okay, one more thing. If you remember my last post when I described my cravings...I said I crave down home comfort food and pies. So, today in the mail, I opened up a gift card to Dixie Cafe from my mom complete with a promise of a chocolate pie at Easter! What an incredible Mom! Date night at Dixie is on the calendar!

Hope you all have a great Tuesday! I just finished making some ham and cheese sliders for my Bible Study in the morning. YUMMY.

These Days

I'm writing only because I like for other people to update their blogs more often than every two weeks, and I don't need to put that pressure on others when I haven't been so great at it lately. So, here we go. 

Our days lately have consisted of a bit earlier wake-ups in the mornings for Sweet Pea, more teeth coming in along with a cold, a few headaches for pregnant me (doc told me today to drink caffeine when I get them...sweet!), and lots of good family time. We have been really enjoying each other and loving our evenings with Reese. She giggles non-stop when Wes gets home, and she forces him to read a certain bath book about 10 times each night when he's got her in the tub. She lets me rock her before putting her down for naps and at night, and she wants nothing more than for me to read about 100 books to her each day. I'll give more of an update on her when she turns 18 months old on the 18th!!! I can't skip that milestone on the blog.

I enjoy reading pregnant mom blogs and their weekly updates, so I may try to copy one soon. At 13 1/2 weeks, my bump is growing a little, and I really don't have any symptoms except the occasional headache and tiredness. I weigh the same as I did at my last appointment, but I had gained a few before that one. I crave down home good southern food, breakfast casseroles of any type, quiche, fruit smoothies (Tropical Smoothie has just opened in town, and I've already gone WAY too many times.), and of course sweets--a good chocolate pie sounds delish right now, as does anything sweet. Pinterest just makes me so hungry these days.

We are still on the adventure of trying to sell our house, and we are praying it happens soon. It would be SO nice to have moved before I'm of no use at all in this pregnancy, but we have peace and trust that God will move us at the perfect time. We love our home.

Now onto some random pictures for you.

12 Weeks. I remembered to take a picture! 

Reese and Daddy after he got home from work Monday.

Dance party.

I LOVE these two.

Sweet play time yesterday.