It's A....

healthy baby!

We had our 20 week ultrasound this past Tuesday and we're happy to report that all went well and we succeeded in not finding out the gender, which is actually turning out to be a little harder on me than I expected.

Since we weren't finding out the gender this time around, all we really wanted to hear is that the baby looks healthy and all looks as it should. Thankfully, that is exactly what we got to hear. Praise God!

I'll have a follow up appointment next week with my Dr. and she'll read the official report, but sounds like from what the technician told us it should be a very normal report.

Even though we didn't have the fun of finding out if we're adding a boy or girl to the family, it was still a fun ultrasound and we still got to know a little bit about this child.

The technician kept commenting on how active this baby is and she begged it to hold still multiple times so she could get the measurements and photos that she needed to. She laughed and commented that at the beginning of the ultrasound the baby's head was down and feet were up and half way through, the baby had completely flipped and was feet down and head up. I was hoping that at least one of my children would be calm and not crazy active, but I guess God had other plans. Looks like I'll be spending the next few years chasing little ones and keeping them out of danger. ;)

The other comment that I remember was when the tech said "this child either loves to talk or eat because he/she is continually opening and shutting it's mouth". She even got a short video of the baby's mouth constantly opening and shutting. That was fun!

Other than  being very squirmy, baby was cooperative enough to let us get some great photos!

I left the ultrasound really excited and anxious to meet this little one and I really don't want to wait another 18-20 weeks. :( Oh well, a little patience is good for all of us I guess. 

I've been asked many times if I want a boy or a girl, and if I had to answer honestly I was saying that I wanted a girl, until recently.

I've been spending a lot of quality time with my kiddos and I've really, REALLY been enjoying them. :)

If we had a girl, I'm sure I would get more of dressing up, baking, cooking, painting toenails, talking and twirling. I would get even more girl time (which I love) and Elliana would be over the moon to get to "mother" a baby girl. I love my Ellie, and I know what I'm doing when it comes to hanging out with little girls. 

But I've been getting to have a lot more fun with Ethan lately too. Sure, boys are a whole new level of crazy and high energy, but they can also be sweet, affectionate, and a different kind of fun. One evening last week Ethan placed his hands on each side of my face and planted a big ol' kiss on me, and then he ran off to play. It melted my heart. Recently Ethan and I have been having fun making funny faces at each other and making each other laugh. Ethan's vocabulary is taking off and he can communicate really well now. 

I still feel sometimes that I'm in unfamiliar territory when it comes to raising a boy, but I'm enjoying learning.

So, all that's to say I really don't think I care if we bring home a boy or a girl this summer. Either way, it sounds like this baby is going to be just as active and just as much "trouble" as these two: ;-)

Life's A Zoo

For whatever reason the last few weeks have been very busy and these "slow winter months" are suddenly picking up speed.

Our local zoo has about half a dozen free days throughout the year. They usually choose days that should be freezing cold so nobody will come, or a date that most people would choose not to come. A couple of weeks ago Caleb and I were on their website looking at their free days list and noticed they had chosen a free day to fall on Feb. 3rd, or otherwise known as Super Bowl Sunday. We then looked at the weather report. It was surprisingly going to be warm and sunny!

That was all it took for us to decide that we were going to visit the zoo on Super Bowl Sunday. We were going to show up early and leave with plenty of time to watch the big game.

We were SO glad we went, and even more glad that we showed up early. As the day went on, the zoo became more and more crowded and we left right when we were all about to lose it from exhaustion and from feeling completely claustrophobic with the over crowded zoo.

We had a wonderful time seeing all of the animals, but I think Ellie and Ethan's favorite part was riding the carousel. :)

We were all so tired that Ethan and I instantly fell asleep the moment we were on the road and Ellie fell asleep quite easily and early that night.

I've decided that Ellie and Ethan are both like little monkeys. They're always moving, always climbing, and and always jumping. I'm amazed by how much energy my 2 little ones have. Even on slow days at home they spend their time running around chasing each other, wrestling, or jumping on furniture. I know most people don't approve of their kids jumping on furniture, but we figure they're only small once and by the time they're old enough to not  enjoy jumping on beds anymore, we'll need new furniture anyways-and a trampoline of course. ;-)

I know this is way off subject, but my mind seems to be jumping around as I remember all that we've done this past week or so. I had some orders for Valentine's Day cookies and I had a lot of fun making them. I was happy with how they turned out, and the kids enjoyed eating the cookie dough.

I mentioned in my last post that I'm in desperate need to change up my hair. While waiting for a much needed hair appointment (it's this week, I can't wait) I decided to play with my hair a bit and use the curling wand that my sisters have raved about. 

After seeing my hair all curly, Elliana begged me to curl her hair too. She did a wonderful job holding still so I could curl her hair and we were both loving the result! :) 

Have I ever mentioned how much fun it is to have a little girl?! I love my son more than words can say too, but I just love having "girl time" with my own little girl. 

Exactly 1 week from today we will have our 20 week ultrasound! I can't wait to see baby #3 again and all we're hoping and praying for is a healthy report!