Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! We had a pretty low-key day...we had to save up our energy for trick-or-treating. :)Unfortunately, Dean had to fly out late this afternoon for a week-long training in Baltimore. We were both extremely bummed out that he would be missing Ayla's first time actually trick-or-treating. Why his company thought it would be a good idea to make 30 people leave their families not only on a Sunday, but Halloween too, I don't know. I armed myself with my camera, video camera, and my phone to take plenty of pictures and videos for Dean to see when he gets home.

I ordered some pizza and Yeh-Yeh and Nai-Nai came over not long after Dean left for the airport to keep us company. Aunt Marla also came over and Grandpa and Grandma stopped by just for a little bit on their way home from Kansas City so they could see her in her costume.

My parents were nice enough to hand out candy for me while Marla and I took Ayla trick-or-treating. We only went up and down two streets but I think it was perfect for her since she walked the whole way on her own (we were a few houses from home before she asked to be held). She was so funny--for the first couple of houses, she seemed to be in awe and would stare down into her pumpkin bucket at the candy that was just given to her. After every single house, she exclaimed, "I got candy!!" I think she was too excited about it to remember that she was supposed to say "trick or treat". With a little prompting, she did say it at a few of the houses. She was having a blast but thankfully was ready to head back home. I was afraid that I would have to drag her back, kicking and screaming. We had a handful of trick-or-treaters come after we got home, so she helped me hand out candy for a little while. She was pretty thrilled to dig in to her loot. I figured it was a special day, so I let her. Nothing like giving a 2-year old a bunch of sugar an hour before bedtime.

Walking up to someone's house and wanting to take their pumpkin.

We made it about halfway through before she insisted on opening a piece of candy...I was surprised she lasted that long. She really wanted this sucker...there was no negotiating. She sat down on their porch and wanted to eat it right there.
Back home and showing Yeh-Yeh and Nai-Nai what she got--a caramel apple that she may need to share with Mommy.
What else is in there?

CANDY!

It was a fun evening--I'm so thankful that we had family over since Dean wasn't here. We are so lucky to live near our parents and siblings...I don't know what I would do without them. I hope you all had a safe and Happy Halloween!

"The greatest of men..."

I'm back...when I posted earlier, I was crabby. And Ayla was crabby because she skipped her nap. Poor Dean. And to think he will have another female in the house. Just wait until they're both teenagers...plus me. He better stock up on his bourbon.

I was so anxious to get off the computer before that I forgot to post something. I always tell Dean that I think he will be like his late grandfather and have three daughters. He reminds me of him not just by looks but by personality as well. He was an amazing man. After I sent out messages announcing that we were having another girl, my friend Angie sent me this:

"According to my dad, God only trusts the greatest of men with girls because God knows they will take care of them the best."

I love that.

It's a...

GIRL!!!

Most of you have already heard from us and know the news. I had my ultrasound yesterday morning and we found out that we're going to have another little lady in the house. Dean and I both thought it was going to be a boy...we really didn't care either way, but we just had it in our minds that PIP would be a "he" this time. I had myself all geared up and ready for that fact that I would have a little boy. I was already eyeing the baby boy section at Target...totally not as fun as the girls' stuff, by the way.

I was really anxious and nervous for the ultrasound for some reason. I think I just wanted everything to be okay. As soon as the image of PIP popped up onto the screen, I was in love and immediately did not care if it was a boy or a girl. Whatever it was, I loved it and more than anything, wanted him or her to be healthy. I had to blink away the tears so I could see what was going on. For the next 45 minutes, we were able to watch this little baby kick and bounce around. What a miracle. It took a while for the ultrasound tech to be able to see clearly in between PIP's legs. Finally, after some moving around, she announced that it was another little girl. I am excited for us and especially for Ayla. Growing up, I always wished that I had a sister (in addition to my big brother, of course). I am now lucky enough to have one, soon-to-be two, amazing women I get to call my sisters-in-law. I am thrilled that I will have two beautiful daughters. I hope they will grow up to be close. We have had so much fun with Ayla and already can't wait to see what this new little girl is going to look like and what kind of personality she will have.

The tech said everything looked great, but I wanted to hear it from Dr.Bishop after she had reviewed all the data and images. I was thankful to hear, once again, that all is well. She said everything is right on track and she is a healthy baby. However, my due date has been adjusted by a week. It was originally March 15th, but it's now March 22nd. Dr. Bishop said she normally doesn't go by what the ultrasound measures, but because I'm planning on attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after Cesarean), she'd rather go with the later date to be on the safe side. A week is not that big of deal, I suppose. Ayla was 13 days early, so maybe this one will be as well. The only thing that bugs me (which I have to admit is a little silly) is that my belly pic posts are now all off by a week. I don't feel like adjusting them, so let's just pretend that my due date is still the 15th, okay?

Not going to lie--this next one freaks me out a bit. I almost didn't post it, but what the heck.

Her feet looked HUGE! Just like Ayla's, her toes look to be all the same length.

A couple of these pictures decided to rotate themselves once they were uploaded and I can't seem to fix them. I'm about to fight my computer so I'm just going to leave them the way they are.

It's a girl!

20 weeks

PIP is half-cooked! We're at 20 weeks today! Just for fun, I found my 20-week photo while I was preggo with Ayla to compare my belly. I'm pretty sure I'm bigger this time around...and my belly does look a little pointier than the first time.

Nebraska City

After Ayla woke up this morning, we packed her up and headed down to Nebraska City. We took her last year around this time and had a really fun day so we wanted to be sure to go again this fall. It was overcast...the sun tried to peek through a few times...but luckily, the rain stayed away.

We started with breakfast at the Lied Lodge and we then went over to the Arbor Day Farm "Tree Adventure". There are paved trails that wind through the trees and a little area for kids to run around and play and explore. Ayla loved it this year. As soon as we took her out of her stroller and let her run free, she had a permanent smile on her face. It was so fun to see!

I know I post a ton of pictures all the time, but beware--this post is loaded. I couldn't help it. And I always have in my mind the fact that I want these photos in our books when I get this blog printed each year. So here we go--you pretty much get to witness our entire time there. :)

Pushing the buttons to hear different birds chirping.

Checking out the "smells of the forest". One was "deer musk." Umm, no thanks.

At the top of the treehouse.

She spotted a squirrel waaay down below. She has great eyes...I hope it stays that way and she doesn't get my horrible eyesight.

Walking across the bridge into the kiddie area.
Playing the xylophone...she was sooo happy!
"Design your own tree fort"...she was too little to "design" anything, but she was thrilled to be able to play in all the different colored fabric pieces.

LOVE her boots.
Drawing on the chalkboards while we waited to get on the "hayrack" ride. I don't really know what to call it--there wasn't any hay on it. It was a huge thing with bench seating and cushions and it was pulled by a tractor.
To help explain where we were, we told her we were at the "apple patch" (since we went to the pumpkin patch last week, she was able to get what we were talking about)...so all morning, she kept asking for an apple. Everytime the ride stopped for a second for the tour guide to point something out, Ayla thought we were finally in the orchard to pick apples. She kept standing up and saying, "YAY!!! We're all done!" She thought the ride was pretty cool though; she kept looking at us and smiling. :)

I'm gimping Dean by posting this next one, but I just had to--Ayla was so excited about picking this apple off the tree.

We attempted a couple self-portraits so all three of us could be in a picture together and well, this is as good as it gets. (Erika, this is why we need you to take pictures for us!)

Working on her apple during the ride back. She gnawed away at that for the rest of the time we were there.

After the ride was over, we went across the street to Arbor Lodge...we didn't go in the mansion, we just walked around the grassy area and took some pictures. The trees were beautiful.Playing in the leaves...

I decided to join in on the fun...

JUMP!

She has a thing for hugging trees...I don't know.

She spotted a statue and for some reason, all statues are called Buddhas to her.

Back in the stroller and back to work on that same apple...scowling just like her mama. :)A perfect fall day as a family. :)