20-22 weeks

20 weeks

22 weeks

Here is an update on baby number 3. We have passed the halfway point and the baby has gone through a recent growth spurt. Clothes that were too big in the middle of July fit now and things that fit in July are now too small. I've started my starvation phase where I'm famished right before bedtime. So I have to eat a bowl of cereal or ice cream to hold me over until morning. Pretty much all food sounds good to me right now but recently banana pudding has a been a craving, as well as Utz ripple chips. I have been feeling pretty good but starting to feel the heaviness of my belly. Bending over isn't that easy anymore, or getting up off the floor. So picking up toys all day is no easy task! I've had occasional hip pain but still have had an easy pregnancy so far. Three weeks ago we had an ultrasound and the baby looked great. We decided to keep the gender a surprise this time around so we had to turn our heads a couple times. I kinda feel like it's a girl but I would say my intuition is not very good. Even though we have a boy and a girl I have zero newborn warm clothes. So the plan is to pick up a few warm sleepers in tiny sizes in a neutral color. Then I'll have a headband handy in case it's a girl. Emerson thinks she is having a sister so I let her get the baby a girly sleeper on consignment. She was excited I didn't have the heart to tell her no. Movement has finally picked up I can feel the baby a few times a day. Nothing as active as Emerson. But, I'm not sure that it's possible for another baby to be as energetic as her. I'm looking forward to the coming weeks where I can feel strong kicks. I'll also have to be on the lookout for maternity clothes as it seems the growth is not slowing down anytime soon. 

Ezra 2 Years Old

I figured I should update on Ezra being two before he is three! Seriously, my goal before December is to finish his first year baby book. I'm just so behind! Anyways Ezra is a little dude now. He talks like crazy. Full sentences with a huge vocabulary. Yesterday, he told me he needed privacy in the bathroom. I was at a lost for words. Ha! He loves to tell us stories about what's going on and they are so elaborate. One of my favorite things right now is he answers, "Otay Mommy," to everything. It's so sweet. Yes, he mispronounces okay as otay. I don't mess with that cuteness. He also calls his bathing suit, a "bathing soup". Lately, he has been saying, "Be nice to me," and he gets a stern look. Usually directed at a certain sister. Ezra can express how he is feeling and will tell me he is sad and exactly why. I find that remarkable at such a young age. He's very caring and always asks everyone if they are okay, or what happened. I hear that about 20 times a day. "What happened Mommy?" He adores Emerson and is heartbroken when she does things without him. Of course they do fight but are still very close. He still calls her sister and not Emerson. Lately he has become Daddy obsessed. He loves, loves to play with Mark and have him read books to him. Finally, he is sleeping through the night. Praise the Lord! It only took two years but now he goes down fairly easy. He does sleep with about 3 cars, 5 stuffed animals, 2 blankets, 2 books, and a bottle of water. You can never forget the water. He chugs, and chugs all day long. Ezra eats like a grown man. I've never seen a child so hungry. Or as he likes to say, "I hungy." He is a big meat and carb eater. On the weekends he can really put down pancakes and eggs. He absolutely loves peanuts, or any other kind of nut. In that last couple months he has really gotten into super heros. He is obsessed with batman, superman, and spiderman. I got him a vintage spiderman shirt and he bawls when he has to take it off at night. It's fun to see his personality emerge more and more each month. Here are some peaks at his cuteness.

model pose

shaggy and sweet

His stern side. Ha!

What's new?

One of the biggest updates around here is the expansion of our little family! Ezra will be a big brother come Christmas time and Emerson is thrilled to reprise her role as big sister. She started out adamant about a little sister and has since changed her tune to a desire for her brother. Ezra just looks at me and says, "Baby?," and walks away. Thats about the extent of his interest. Ha!

I had every intention of keeping track of belly pictures. I started showing immediately so I waited until 10 weeks to take a picture so it wouldn't be so embarrassing. Then a whopping 8 weeks later I realized I had forgotten to take anymore. So of course there is a big jump in size. This pregnancy so far has been my easiest. I had very little first trimester symptoms to the point I would forget I was pregnant. Tolerable nausea and that's about it. Second trimester has brought hip pain galore.  Cravings have included; greek food, olives, baby corn, salads with tahini dressing, nutter butters,  and burgers. I'm still trying to squeeze into non maternity clothes occasionally. I don't have a lot of summer maternity from the prior pregnancies. I went to Wal-Mart and bought 3 large tank tops and they have held me over for the time being. We are really excited to welcome a new member of the family! Especially Miss E.! 

Put on your dancing shoes

In June Emerson was in her first recital ever! Her class worked hard and was a part of huge production.  She was puppy in The Wizard of Oz. Here she is at rehearsals with her friend from class. She was a little reluctant until she saw all her buddies there. Look at that grin!

Here are the girls post rehearsal in character

The actual recital was the following week. Here we are doing last minute make-up backstage. Emerson was mesmerized by the older girls getting ready. 

Here is a backstage shot captured by the photographers there. 

She was pretty wound up afterwards and thrilled about getting flowers. Ezra was delirious at this point. Congratulations Emerson on your first recital!

We moved!

So we have had a long blogging break. In the middle of packing up everything we own and moving into a new place there wasn't much spare time. Here is a picture of the kids at their last day in the house. They went on a little vaca for a couple days while we did the whole moving process so I wanted them to have closure. I told Emerson to say goodbye to her house and she responded, "But, the house can't talk. " 

They have adjusted pretty well after the first week and I think now feel at home. I tried to get a similar picture at our new front door.

But, Emerson thought I wanted a dance routine. 

And Ezra went with it. 

Take my picture

Lately Emerson has gotten into having her picture taken. I adore this sweet shot here.

Then of course back to her goof self. 

She was satisfied with one or two pictures. She kept posing and eventually all she was doing was making kissing faces at the camera. Over and over again. I'm not sure who taught her to pucker up.

Then I asked her to take a look down so I could do a eye lash shot. This is what happened. Haha. 

Ezra turns two

Ezra turned two! We are only two months late on that update. Big boy got a scooter for his birthday. He had been obsessing over her sisters since she got once for Christmas. So on the day of his birthday we went to the airport observation area to ride our scooters and check out the planes.

He had a great time riding the runways.

After a nice day we opened a couple more presents. He was loving his new baseball cap. We grilled chicken, one of Ezra's favorites and finished with some yummy ice cream cake. He got to pick out the cake himself and of course went for the soccer one.

It was a delicious treat but we didn't plan that it had to defrost for a bit. It was hard as a rock then hurt the kids mouths because it was so cold. But, they enjoyed it none the less.

After dinner the kids took a little celebratory stroll down our alley. Somewhere along the way Ezra lost his pants. It was nice relaxing birthday, perfect for Ezra!

Shaun the Sheep

What visitor did we have at our house?

Who could it be?!?

We had a baby bunny. I rented a bunny for spring mini sessions. We couldn't have gotten a cuter  bunny. White, and full of fluff. He was about 6 weeks old. The kids immediately named him Shaun the Sheep after their beloved favorite show.

I guess they both had the white color in common.

Emerson was in love. 

He really took to her and laid down beside her, was very tolerating with unique holding positions.

He became well read as Emerson shared bible stories with him.

We quickly learned that play time had to be contained to the bathroom. Let's just say bunnies use the bathroom A LOT. The kids spent a whole week loving on Shaun the Sheep. I even let him cuddle on my lap after the kids went to bed. Everytime I walked in the room he would put his nose to the top of his cage to open it.

Smitten with the Bunny

I was so excited for the opportunity to have adorable pictures of my both my kids with the bunny. But, alas Ezra wouldn't have any part of it. When I had a scheduled "shoot" he cried the whole time and refused to come near the bunny. Oh well! Emerson did not mind at all.  

After a week we had to return him to his mom and siblings. The kids were sad to see him go but I kept telling them how happy he would be to see his family. For a week solid Ezra kept asking where the sheep was. Still every once in awhile he will ask if the sheep is on the farm. I think we will have to visit soon!

Update

So blogging has officially dropped off the radar. Oops. Here is a semi up to date picture of the kids near Easter. It pretty sums up their personalities. Ezra- laid back, not much for the lime-light. Emerson- loves attention, and super sassy.  One of the most exciting news that has happened is we are officially moving to a house with an actual yard! We were very blessed to sell our townhome within two days. We only had two showings, at the same time. You really can't get any better than that! While we are sad to leave our great friends and neighbors, luckily we are close enough by to have them over. I hope to have some more posts up soon. Especially one of a special friend we had stay with us.

Best Friends

These girls are two of a kind. Lovers of princesses, pink, Rapunzel, and Dora. Fellow speedy scooter riders.

So, it's only logical that they would be best friends. It's so sweet to see friendships emerge and memories made.