LU Homecoming

We had the chance to go to Liberty's Homecoming again this year with Brent and Kim and the kids. It amazes me the difference from when we were all students there! There are tons of fans (all wearing LU gear instead of other college sweatshirts, too) and not just because there was nothing else to do for a few hours on a random Saturday.

We had a really good time and all the kids did great too!

Rachel was excited about something!

The boys

Rachel loving on Alli... Alli was concentrating on standing more than Rachel

We're number 1!

Friend Birthday Party

We had a little friend party for Rachel this year. (Unfortunately the evites that I sent out didn't make it to some people- sorry!) We had a great time with everyone who came though!

Our first kids table! Sam, Charley, Blake and Rachel seemed to have a good time eating together. Oh, don't worry, the birthday girl did get food!

So glad that Uncle Brent, Aunt Kim, Blake and Alli were able to come for this party!

I grabbed the rocket and characters off the cake that Grandma made and put them on the little cupcakes stand!

Maybe next year Layna can join in the hot dogs and chips!

Maybe Alli can, too!

Singing Happy Birthday!

Chris, Charley and Emily

She did better at blowing out the candle this time

Opening a book from Lincoln, Lindsey, and Layna

Alli and Emery

Feeding her new baby doll from her baby-sitter with the water-bottle from Aunt Kim and family

Hanging out with Blake and Emery

Thanks to Lindsey, Lincoln, and Layna, April, Brad and Emery, Emily, Chris, Sam and Charley, and Brent, Kim, Blake and Alli for sharing Rachel's day with her!

Family Birthday Party

We were so excited to have Rachel's Nana, Great-Grandpa, Mimi, Poppy, Grandma, and Papa here for her birthday this year. She got a little confused with all of the different names, but by the end of the weekend had everyone figured out!

Her favorite show is Little Einsteins, so that was the theme we went with. I was so excited because there was party stuff everywhere for months before her birthday, then about a month before, everything disappeared! Luckily Kim's niece also loves Little Einsteins and she had some party supplies that we borrowed (Thanks Jen!).

Here are just a "few" of the pictures from her party.

These are the toys BEFORE the party!

Dustin's dad made Rachel this tea table from Nannie and Papa McCollum's old table. His mom painted the table and also made Betsy, the tea doll. It is such a special set and Rachel absolutely loves it!

Papa having some tea with Rachel.

Grandma sharing some tea too!

Rachel needed a little help getting started with the presents, but she got the hang of it soon enough.

She had to put her new slippers on right away!

Rachel had Nana help her open a couple cards.

Off came the slippers, on went her new shoes!

A tea set to go with her table

On with the NEXT pair of new shoes!

After all the presents were finally opened!

Concentrating hard on her pouring!

Blowing out her candle.

Wearing her new costume earrings (How does she look so grown up?)

Rachel with Poppy and the sign that he made for her.

With Grandma and Papa by her tea table

With Mimi and Poppy

Yes, she had her new pajamas from Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Gary on in the middle of the day. What can I say, she loves to dress up!

2 year portraits

We went downtown and took some portraits of Rachel. She hammed it up of course and they turned out great! I'll just let you enjoy!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Rachel!

I cannot believe that Rachel is already 2 years old! She has grown up so fast and it's amazing to me that she can do so many things now. Here are some fun new things that Rachel has picked up on recently:

~Says Please ("meese") and Thank You ("kank you") without having to be reminded to-most of the time

~Says "Yes, Mommy" and "Yes, Daddy" instead of just "OK"- sometimes!

~Understands so much of what we say and is able to be reasoned with

~Gives hugs and kisses to everyone

~She could easily be the greeter at Church or Wal-Mart... She waves and talks to everyone

~ Hugs my belly and says "Anu, brudder" (Love you, Brother)

~Loves to color!

~Repeats everything

~Loves Goodnight Moon, and 8 Silly Monkeys (which she calls her Monko book)

~Loves to sing and dance

~Gets so excited to go see Daddy at marching practice

~Claps and jumps up and down when the band plays at football games

~Runs around the house with Zoe's toys so that she'll chase her

~Loves shoes!

~Loves dress up

~Helps set the table and do other housework

~Puts diapers on every stuffed animal/baby doll around

~Prays for meals- Ok, so a lot of it is fill in the blank, but I love that she reaches for our hands before she reaches for the food!

~Names all of her friends at church and daycare that she plays with, including Coco the dog.

~Tells us when she needs her diaper changed and sits on the potty, but has yet to do anything yet.

It's a...

BOY!!

We had our ultrasound while the family was getting in town for Rachel's birthday weekend. On the way home, we stopped and got a little gift for Rachel to open to "tell" everyone what we were having. She did not want to cooperate! She may have said "no" and thrown the gift instead of opening it... eventually she did tear enough of the wrapping paper for everyone to see the boy onesie.

It was a little ironic because Mom and Dad M. had been here for a few hours before the appointment, Mom N., Nana and Grandpa were on their way, and Dad N. was about 30-45 minutes behind them. Dustin was going to have to leave for the football game, and we didn't know if he'd have to leave before Dad N. got here, so I told him on the phone so he wouldn't walk into the house and be the only one not knowing. We pulled up to the house and Dustin's dad had left to run an errand. Mom N., Nana and Grandpa pulled in right behind us so we had to tell them they had to wait until Dad M. got home. It took him a little longer to get home and Dad N. ended up beating him here! So he ended up being the only parent in the house who knew instead of the only one who didn't!

All turned out well and we are all really excited. I'm pretty sure Brent and Kim are most excited for Blake. Poor guy has been surrounded by girl cousins, his only boy cousins are 6 and 8 years older than him! (I'm excited because this little one will be born within a few weeks of Blake's birthday so we will be able to borrow his clothes!)

No name yet, but I'll keep everyone updated when we decide!

19 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:


How far along?
19 Weeks (sorry, not very good at keeping up this pregnancy... not sure why!)

Size of the baby?
about 6 inches, the size of a large heirloom tomato

Maternity clothes?
Yep, shirts are still a little hard to find to fit right, but it's working out

Stretch marks?
Nope!

Weight gained:
hmm, don't know why I put this question in here... I think about 8 lbs

Sleep:
Yes! I do wake up every time I turn over though. It's ok, I fall right back to sleep!

Best moment this/last week:
Rachel is really talking with us a lot now. I love that she sat on the couch with me tonight and just kept bringing me books that she "read" to me!

Movement:
Some, but nothing like I felt with Rachel

Food cravings:
It all tastes good! (for the most part, anyway) Frogurt is always a go!

Gender/Names:
Still waiting till we find out what the gender is before really discussing names.

Labor Signs:
No

Belly Button in or out?
All out

Wedding rings on or off?
The weather is cooling off, so they fit now!

What I miss:
Having a lot of energy!

What I am looking forward to:
Finding out gender, and having both sets of parents and Nana and Grandpa here this weekend for Rachel's birthday!