30? Really?!?

My 30th Birthday sort of snuck up on me.  I sort of thought I'd have a little harder time dealing with the idea, but really, when you're pregnant with your 3rd baby it just makes sense to be turning 30.

David did a great job this year and really wanted to plan a great time for me as I entered this new decade.  He came up with a few options for me to choose between, and we finally settled on getting away together for a weekend!  After many discussions & lots of research, we settled on San Francisco. We had never been to California together before, and had a hard time choosing between some of the cities, but this seemed to fit our plan on getting to site-see along with a good chance to relax as well!

We headed to Wednesday late (read: got there at 1am!), and immediately went to bed!  Thursday the girls and I went to go visit Nana's school!   

 Kate had been to visit & meet Nana's friends a few times, but this was a first for Hannah.  Before we made the rounds, I gave Kate the "it's ok to be shy, but please don't yell at people" speech we've had to give lately, but it was much unneeded.  She made herself right at home, joining one kindergarten class on their carpet as they read, and telling all of them her name, saying hello & good-bye, and even handed out hugs to the ladies in the office!  It's so funny how phases come and go with little kids!

Our flight left that afternoon, and my Aunt Jeanne came over to sit with the girls while they took naps so my mom wouldn't have to take off (thanks Jeanne!), and we started our trip off right with a stop at Chuy's!

We were so excited to head out & even though it was an over 3-hour flight,  I didn't mind at all.  3+ hours of sitting with no interruptions besides my good-lookin' husband to read, sleep, and just veg.

 David had arranged for us to be picked up by a driver once we got there.  It was really nice not to have to find our own way to our hotel.

 We stayed at a Marriott, called the Stanford Court & it was super nice!  (Excuse the poor quality photos!)  It was in a great location too - just down the street from Union Square & in Nob Hill - a great, very nice part of the city!  It is actually located at Powell & California - two very famous streets in San Fran.  Powell is the main street you probably see on movies - the cable car goes up and down it and it is  HUGE hill.  Yes, a HUGE hill we climbed MULTIPLE times to get back to our room!

When we visit new cities, we make it a point to find "original" places to eat, and were pointed to a place called "The Burger Bar"  that while is a chain, only has a few locations.  We were less than impressed with our rather high bill compared to what we got, but all was not lost since in the same building there was a Cheesecake Factory, where we quickly picked up dessert & headed back to our hotel!

Stay tuned for our adventures around the city!

Baby #3 Update

I went in for my monthly check-up yesterday.  I am just about 12 weeks, so it was time to get to hear the heartbeat.  We had seen it on the original sonogram at 7 weeks, but hadn't heard it.  Well, we still haven't. Baby wasn't interested in the doppler machine, which meant I got to have another sonogram!  Fine by me!

In case you're not fluent in sonogram reading - baby's head is on the right looking straight at the screen (which gives the alien look).  Arms are out to the sides right under the head with the torso to the left side

Everything looked great & it was really fun for us to get to see more than just a little "smudge", and to get to see the little baby moving all over the screen.

I had been telling Kate that we were going to get to see the baby on the TV, and when the doctor pulled it up, she said, "Oh, Mommy!  There's the baby!  Isn't it so cuuuuute??!?"  Ha!  I just loved it.  I definitely don't think she gets it yet.  I think until I start to show or she can feel the baby move in there she won't really get it.  When asked if she wants a brother or a sister, she usually answers sister originally, but changes it to brother before the conversation is over.  It'll be fun having her understand things more this time.


On a me update - I don't even feel pregnant.  This has definitely been the easiest so far!  A **little** nausea a couple times, and I'm somewhat tired, but I don't think anymore tired than I was just having 2 little kids.  No heartburn, no crazy dreams or even getting up in the night to go potty, which I had all at this point with Hannah.  Maybe that means it's a boy??  Maybe??

Our Thankful Tree

Since I didn't plan ahead & we were out of town for the first few days of November, then greeted by a million things to do in the first few days we were home, I'm just now putting together our "Thankful Tree".

With the idea stolen straight from Pinterest, I put this little gem together in about an hour and for literally nothing since I collected the sticks from my backyard & had all the other materials.


I'm really looking forward to sitting with my family each evening & deciding what it is we are thankful for.  Maybe we'll make up the last 9 days, maybe not, but at the end of the month I'll be sure to update you on what we came up with!

Soakin' It Up

There are some moments, that I just stop whatever it is we are doing, and really attempt to just soak it up.  I want it to sink in - to really take in treasures that I've been given.  Evenings like this one with my family at the park was one of those times...

I've heard it said that with kids the days are long & the years are fast, and I can definitely see it!  I don't want to take any of this time for granted.

Pumpkin Patch '11

Our MOPS group had a super fun event planned at a Pumpkin Patch, but ended up having to change locations since most places didn't have pumpkins this year!  We ended up at  Danville Farms & had a great time!  They had LOTS for the kids to do, so they didn't even notice there weren't any pumpkins!

Our first stop was at this huge inflatable "pillow".  Kate wouldn't have anything to do with it, but don't worry.  Hannah & I got on a jumped together!

Jackson LOVED it!

This was a spider web looking thing that Kate also had nothing to do with...

They had these great water pumps set up where the kids raced ducks down the water.  Kate definitely spent some time here!

Hannah was her usual pleasant self & even took over an hour long nap in her stroller for me!

We took a "tractor" ride all throughout their farm and learned some of the history.

our fun group!

Bethany & Jackson

Hannah enjoying the ride

Kate loved the "corn" box

They had goats to feed, which I at least managed to get Kate to stand by!  No, she loved looking at them, but was definitely not going to hold her hand out for them to eat food off of!

To wrap up their fun, they got to ride in a barrel train.  Kate LOVES these, and enjoyed getting to go "all by herself"!

And, even though it'd been a long morning of fun, the girls managed to let me snap a few quick pictures of them before we left!

Love these girls & the fun I get to have being their mom!

Making it Official

We have announced to friends & family, and made the "big" announcement on Facebook, but I guess to really make all official announcements, we have to put it on this blog!

We are having another baby!

To answer the most popular questions...

--yes, we realize we are having a baby in a month other than December.  Turns out it's possible!  I am due June 4th

--no, we were not planning on having a baby this soon.  We were shocked to say the least.  We truly believe this is a gift - not something we ever would have planned - but something we can see God's hand all over.  We are excited to see what He has planned for this child.

--Hannah & the new baby will 17.5 months apart.  Yes, life will be a little crazy for awhile.

--yes, we hope it's a boy.  Obviously we will love another little girl more than we can imagine, but still...

Any other questions??

Halloween Overload

Just rocked out 4 posts on Halloween.  I know.  You're impressed.  Here's a link to all of them so you don't miss one!

My Little Bugs

Who Doesn't Love a Little Comparison?

Fall Fair

Trick-or-Treat