Preparing for Baby #2

So to be honest, I haven't done much preparation this time around. Well, when you have already had one boy it eliminates a lot of things. But I do have my own sewing machine this time, so I was able to make a few things. First I wanted to make matching blankets for the boys, so that they would match when they are in the same room together. For Gavin the colors I focused on were Red, Yellow, and Blue. So I decided to do blue and white blankets and then I will continue adding red, yellow accents. We have already moved the crib into our room so I can't get a great picture of the final product with the crib. But I made the skirt, bumper pads, and blanket. Gavin has a matching rag quilt on his bed as well.

If you look closely you can see the long sides on the bumber pads have pockets along them in case you want to store things in there, like a rattle, books, or pacifier.

I also made a few tie onesies and matching ties for Gavin so that the boys can match at church. Not all the time, but every once in a while.

I bought tons of this fabric in different colors, inspiration from makeit-loveit.com, to make for various baby gifts. So, I figured I would make a quick blanket for the baby. 

 I also made a carseat cover, a pretty simple project, and I am happy with how it turned out.

 Gavin of course wanted his picture taken as well.

 I had Zac take these last friday at just over 38 weeks. I posted the one in the bathroom just because it is a good belly shot, he wasn't supposed to be taking my picture.

I had a shower a few weeks ago. Thanks to all my wonderful friends for coming. Because there isn't a ton that I need, I figured we should just have a girls lunch and we enjoyed Olive Garden Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks. And my friend Michelle made red velvet cake. Thanks to all you wonderful girls for the great gifts! We appreciate it so much! And we missed those that weren't able to make it.

And this was taken last night, just before my last Zumba class. I know, don't you wish you looked like me? :) 39 weeks!

I have cleaned out closets, cleaned bathrooms, organized drawers. I really just need to go through things like the refrigerator and pantry and we should be ready. I am definitely ready to meet this little boy, and I think Gavin and Zac are ready too. Everytime I get ready to leave the house Gavin asks if I am going to the hospital. About 7 more days and I should hopefully be getting induced on Monday. Hopefully this week will go by quickly!

February

I have been meaning to post for weeks, but I have also been meaning to take a pregnancy picture which is why I haven't posted. So I took one yesterday and now I can finally play catch up for the month of february.

Well the month started off with a HUGE snowstorm. And I mean HUGE! We had 18inches in about 36 hours or so and it just snowed nonstop from Thursday night to and all through Friday. Even Zac had work cancelled because of the weather, which has never happened before. It was nice to have him home for the day, but we definitely had cabin fever. And of course we had my friends baby shower planned for Saturday morning after the storm. What could we do? We hoped some people would venture out, and luckily we had a perfect turn out. Thanks to all who came, I know Alana appreciated it! We had a brunch shower with make your own yogurt parfaits, bagels and cream cheese, juice and for the dessert.....cinnamon roll cupcakes. Perfect for a brunch shower right?!? I will be posting the recipe soon on my food blog.

I did the decorations so I decided to make my gift a decoration as well. I know that people love diaper cakes, but when I had my shower for Gavin, my good friend made me a diaper motorcycle so I thought I would do something along those line. I made her a diaper tricycle. I think that it turned out really cute. Tutorial found here through pinterest of course. :)

Then on Sunday we had a Superbowl Party/Birthday Party for Zac. I know it is Sunday but it is mostly just so that I can make a cake for Zac's birthday and not have to eat the entire thing ourselves. I was really worried about parking for everyone because of all the leftover snow from the storm but it was ok. I made these Hawaiian Sweet Roll Ham Sammies that were SO good. The recipe is also found on my food blog.

Zac's birthday was on Wednesday the 8th and we went to Red Robin for dinner. I gave him some video games for the Wii and I hope that he enjoyed his birthday. I always love a day when I get to celebrate my husband.

Enjoying Zac's birthday Sundae

Of course the next week was Valentine's. I planned a family dinner for Tuesday with Salad, Chicken Cor Don Bleu and Chocolate Covered Strawberries. I gave Zac a card and some chocolates and Gavin got a box of chocolates as well. Zac gave me flowers and a big box of chocolates too. It was nice night. But, of course Zac came home with some exciting news, he was going to be working later nights and over the weekend for the next week or two. We were supposed to have our Date Night for Valentine's the next day so that got put on hold. I was a little disappointed, we rarely go out just the two of us, and I was really looking forward to it. But no worries we were able to go on the 28th and had a great night out. We went to Outback for Zac's first time. I commented that this would probably be our last date night as parents of one. He asked if the hospital counted. I said NO! While I am in labor does not count as a date. :)

We have had some exciting news this month! Zac has been promoted to Senior Accountant which comes with a raise! I am SO proud of him and I know that he deserves it. They have been trying to fill the position for a while and wanted someone with 3 years experience. Zac has half of that, but they gave it to him anyways. I know that his managers think very highly of him, and for good reason, he is a very hard worker. Great timing on the raise, just before you have baby. On another note, we finished paying off our student loans this month! Yay! Now we can start saving for a house!

 Well, I am 34 weeks now and this is what I am carrying around.

In comparison, this was 32 weeks with Gavin.



Someone gave me a really nice compliment today. I was in Kohls and I turned around and she said, "Wow, I wouldn't even know you were pregnant if I didn't see your belly, you look so good. And you are pretty far along too aren't you." That made me feel good, maybe I don't look as huge as I feel. I am still going to a Zumba class once a week and then I workout at home the rest of the time. But man, I can't even look in the mirror when I work out anymore. I look ridculous! I don't know how anyone can look at me and keep a stright face. It is pretty hilarious. On the positive side I feel a lot healthier this pregnancy and most days I have energy. I still have morning sickness most days but I haven't thrown up from it in the past two weeks, so that has been nice. I had about a 7 week break between 22 and 29 weeks and then at 29 weeks the morning sickness came back, but what can you do.

Gavin has been really affectionate towards my belly. He always asks to see it and then he will hug and kiss my belly and then just sit there with his hand on it. He likes to bring toys and set them on top of me so that his brother can play with him and he keeps asking if brother is ready to come. I am so excited for him to have a little brother, but I am sure it is going to be rough for the first bit. With only 5-6 weeks left I feel like I can actually start preparations now, which feels good, and a little overwhelming. We have finally picked a name, hopefully, but don't bother asking because we are not telling until he comes! :)

Well, I guess that was our February, kind of busy. I am worried that March won't go by as quickly but I will try and keep as busy as possible.

Christmas 2011

Well I am only a month late in posting. Better late than never.
Well we started off the holidays with a wedding. Gavin and I flew to Salt Lake on Dec. 21st for my brother Alex's wedding. He was married to Katie McMullin on December 22 in the Bountiful, Utah Temple. They were married by Katie's Uncle Bishop McMullin of the Presiding Bishopric and it was a sealing unlike any other that I have been too. I learned SO much! It was so spiritual and we are so excited to have Katie in our family! We then had a Cafe Rio catered luncheon and the reception that night in Bountiful. I didn't take very many pictures because I spent the majority of the time chasing Gavin around. I really wish Zac could have been there, sadly he was the only one missing, and everyone missed him.

Grandma Jones and Gavin at the reception. What a cute boy!

Katie and Alex cutting their cake.

On the 23rd Zac's family drove down to Salt Lake to pick up Gavin and I so that we could spend Christmas in Idaho. Zac was also able to get off work a few hours early and drove the entire way making it to Idaho just before midnight. I was grateful he was able to spend all of Christmas Eve with us instead of driving 10 hours in the car. Grandma and Grandpa Barrus came up from American Falls to stay for Christmas as well and it was really fun. I think that Gavin definitely loved his first Christmas (where he actually kind of understood), and he came home with tons of presents!
On Christmas Eve we had a wonderful dinner and then we did the Nativity and a few games. Then everyone opened up the Christmas Pajamas. Gavin was SO happy to finally open a present.

All of us sporting our new PJs. This was taken in the now complete theater room in the basement. Gavin sure spent a lot of time in there.

 Everything on Christmas Morning.

This is the pile of our families presents. Gavin had so many that we just let him continue to open the entire time or we would have been there forever. Zac and I mostly got clothes and shoes because that is what we needed. Zac surprised me with a new Hair Straightener, because I broke mine the month before, and a new cutting board.

Gavin got Legos, Toy Story stuff, books, puzzles, clothes, and so much more. He really had a great Christmas.

Here we are on Christmas Afternoon ready to go to church.

I think everyone enjoyed playing legos with Gavin. He really loved building towers with Grandpa. And then of course knocking them down.

 Zac's parents gave us a Wii for Christmas with Just Dance 3. Here is Gavin trying it out. I do it for my workout somedays and Gavin LOVES it! He asks to do it all the time.

 This is the INSANE puzzle that we worked on. The goal was to start in on New Year's Eve morning and finish it that night.

 Here we are getting ready for the countdown, as you can see, we were no where near completion.

 Gavin got to help Grandpa set out the rolls for dinner. He really loves to help in the kitchen, I can't wait until we have a house where he can help a little more.

We FINALLY finished it just before midnight on New Year's day. This was THE hardest puzzle I have ever done. There weren't enough distinct colors because of all the blue that the pieces were impossible to sort. But it sure was rewarding when we finally finished.

I am so glad that we were able to spend a whole week with Zac's family for the Holidays. It is hard being so far away and when we do see family the time goes by so quickly. We were able to have time to just relax and enjoy being together and that was the best part. I hope everyone else had a wonderful Christmas just like we did.

Here I am at 27 weeks. I actually don't feel like I have gotten much bigger lately, but people seem to notice a lot more often. I feel like I have been HUGE for a while and I am a little scared of what the next 11 weeks will hold. I am now at my biweekly appointments which means this baby will be here faster than I think. And honestly I haven't done a single thing to get ready yet.

In the latest news, this is what I have been doing for the past week. See the big boy underwear? Yep, that's right, we've been potty training. The first day was AWFUL, I was beginning to think he wasn't ready. I was sitting him on the toilet every 15-20 minutes and he would pee as soon as I took him off. The second day he finally made it twice on the toilet but still there were LOTS of accidents. Potty treats really help, and to be honest, so does punishment. After he got the concept we would put him in timeout for about 30seconds and every time he didn't go when I put him on the toilet I would remind him that if he went in his underwear he would go in timeout.
The 4th day was Sunday and I had major anxiety about him peeing in the middle of Sacrament Meeting. But he did great, not a single accident that day. And he has only had a few over the last five days. He really is doing awesome and I haven't changed a poopy diaper in like 9 days! That is amazing! I am so proud of this little boy, maybe he is a lot bigger than I think.

Here is the video Christmas Morning. We all gathered in the front room for family prayer before going in to see the presents. Gavin didn't really enjoy his time waiting for Great Grandma and Grandpa. I have a video of when we actually walk in to see the tree but it is really dark and Gavin doesn't say anything because he is so interested in his toys. So I hope you enjoy this little bit of Gavin Christmas morning.

Pictures

I promise to get a Christmas post up soon. I just don't have tons of free time lately. Well, mostly I need to clean and such and Gavin and I both had colds all through the holidays which we are still dealing with. So for now, here are the wonderful pictures Amanda took while we were in Idaho. It is so great to have her, and we appreciate the time she takes to do our pictures. Especially when I have a husband who HATES taking pictures, and does not see there purpose. Amanda....what would I do without you!
What a cute kid we have. (Yeah, we may be biased.)

He has such personality.

Can you say GQ?

Zac really hates this picture, he thinks it's stupid. Oh well, I like it!

Before Christmas

Gavin and I are leaving for the airport in about 30 min. He is still napping so I thought I would hurry and post. My brother gets married tomorrow morning! I can't believe it, but I am so excited for him. I am especially excited to get to see all of my family today and then Zac's family on Friday! It definitely feels like the last few weeks have flown by! I was on the committee for our Ward Christmas Party and then I sang in the Choir Program and I have had book club, enrichment, laundry, shopping and a million other things, but I am ready to go!
We have been trying to help Gavin get the concept of Santa so he would at least see him at our Christmas Party. He didn't last long, but he actually sat on his lap.


On Monday we were able to go to an Avalanche game. It was so fun and they won 3 to 2 in the shootout. Zac's gave him tickets for box seats! Seriously, box seats! Zac was so excited he could barely contain himself of the way there. Gavin had a blast and has been talking about it since. He loved yelling with everyone and I appreciated that the box kept him a little more confined than regular seats. And considering it was an hour and half past his bedtime he was a trooper.




We hope everyone has a Wonderful Christmas!

22 Weeks

Well, I guess I better do a small pregnancy update. I haven't thrown up in a week! Hooray! I am really happy about that. Although, the nausea is still around for now, but hopefully that will go away soon. This little boy likes to kick a lot, just like Gavin did. So we will see if he comes out just as active. We are really hoping for a calmer child this time around, but we will just be happy if he is healthy. I am struggling with how much earlier my belly has shown this time around. I don't mind looking pregnant, it just makes me worried about how big I will be by the end.

I have a lot more back pain this time around, but I think that is mostly due to my active two year old, who wants me to walk around holding him every time we are at the store. Gavin really hates his car seat now. About half the time he will get in and the other half he screams his head off and fights me. Which means that I end up with one leg on top of him to hold him down while I buckle him in. (I am sure this is quite a site to see in the parking lot). Hopefully no one thinks I am an abusive parent.

This is actually at 21 weeks.

Last Saturday Zac took Gavin out to play in the snow for a few minutes. Gavin thought it was SO cool. Zac was just cold. It looks like we are going to have to buy him some snow pants. Everytime we walk outside he says, "SNOW!" Like he is so surprised it is there. It makes me laugh everytime.

I am almost done with Christmas Shopping, just a few more things to get. And only a week and half until Gavin and I leave town. I seriously can't believe that Christmas is only 2 weeks away. What happened to the time?