The SLOWWWW Down

It's happening. The daily back aches, the constant tossing and turning, the non stop brackton hicks,non stop peeing, un-comfy va jay jay kicks, swelling feet/hands, etc...yep she is going to be here before we know it! I am sleeping 10-12 hours at night and taking naps, it is so good to sleep. I feel like I am only up for a couple of hours and laying back down again. My hair is in dyer need of highlights, my feet need a pedi...but I am holding off until my birthday (2 weeks away) and then my hair I shall do after she arrives. Now I am just babbling...

My dear husband is finally back from the field. He has been in NM training since last Monday in non stop 100 degree weather, with minimal sleep, and no shower. Yep, NASTY-ness. And what does he have to look forward to the minute his phone turns back on? The lovely chain of command he has trying to do everything they can to allow for MINIMAL time back here in WI for the birth of our baby. Oh the things I wish I could say to the Sgt Major...but I am checking those thoughts and praying. I have made all the phone calls and pushed what buttons I could, and now it's a waiting game with who has the right information and can step in to mediate to make sure Jake comes home on time and is able to stay to take care of his little girl when she comes. Oh the Army, it's a hurry up and wait game all the time with a lot of run arounds.Prayer and patience is key, and a beer right now if I could. :)






It is hot and sticky today and tomorrow will be hotter. Isabelle all ready was in our friends BIG pool, kicking her little legs and is now at a Piggly Wiggly run pushing her 'teen tiny cart' she gets so excited about.
Baby Gehl is weighing in at 5 lb 10 oz all ready, she is still kicking her legs and moving her toes, A+ is what she gets from the Dr. I got to see her chubby little face, oh how I can not wait till she is in my arms. We have a few other names on the back burner; we'll just have to see who she looks like.

Oh I can not wait to slip my running shoes on and sweat my tushie off to Pit bull!



Peace Out Ya'll.

Miscellaneous Monday

Sunday the Pastor preached on 'extreme living.' Basically how as Christians we can get boring and stuck in the day to day. Jesus Christ was never this. People didn't fall asleep when he preached but were in awe and came from all over to hear him, to see him, to touch him...the point of this is Pastor said something that has stuck with me. "People will either love you or hate you!" All I can say to that is AMEN! I love it, I want people to have that reaction when they think of me. That is how it was with Jesus. I don't want black or white. I don't want boring. I want excitement, I want to live the extreme Christian lifestyle. So Amen to that Pastor Theo! Boring is sin, Jesus Christ and God don't want boring for his son's and daughter's. They want joy, happiness, living a full life and fully serving God; not just on Sundays...etc...get the drift?
I can't wait to share my notes with the hubs. I think it will pick him up. He's been in the field for 8 days straight now, and still has 2 more to go. Have I mentioned he's in 105 degree temps? Talk about extreme temps!

My darling Isabelle is just growing leaps and bounds it seems. 29 months today. What an age she is at. Her vocabulary, her actions, everything is non stop and so exciting. If I were in El Paso my how slow going I'd be with the 100 degree temps and growing belly. It is truly a blessing to be home and constantly being able to see Isabelle go, and I mean G-O! She has finally moved on from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves the Little Children. It makes my heart sore to see the small Christian values she's learning.
At church she joins the other little girls and ribbon dances on the sides of the aisles. It's so precious. She is learning to clap when everyone else does and get's excited when her Papa is clapping and singing loudly next to her. She cries and says "I want to pray" when I ask her if she'd like to go to nursery. However, she sees her two little friends and quickly gets excited for play-do and snacks...oh the joys of having a home church. (Hopefully we can find one soon when we return to El Paso.)

Tomorrow we are off to visit my grandmother who's birthday it is and then to Children's for an ultra sound. I am so excited to see our little girl! My sister is coming with me; she's excited. My driving is becoming limited as I become more clumsy and slow, not to mention the over sized beach ball I have hiding under my shirt.

Today my mom bought the girls first matching outfits. Yep I am that mom...here and there the girls will be dressed alike. Laugh if ya want, but I dig it. Also as I was grocery shopping today I realized Isabelle was putting on lotion, well not lotion but sunscreen that I have clipped on to my purse. She proceeded to tell me 'just a little sun screen mom.' Hahah Okay then Izzy.
Another new thing she digs is braids...so I had to capture her actually sitting still. Us mother's all know how rare these moments are for 2 years old's.







































Isabelle and aunty Heather...the trouble makers!

Shopping w G-ma

So our new thing to do, is go to Piggly Wiggly with our coupons and shop.
They have MINI carts!!! They are so cool. Isabelle loves it. The only down side is when we check out taking out the number of items she 'thinks' we need. The other day it was hairspray, Nivea body lotion, and cookies. It's too funny.

(I am soaking up these little moments before baby girl #2 arrives! I am ever tired and don't last long when out.)

Here is a little look of Sunday morning shopping before church.

Note their outfits, wasn't planned. Cuteness, don't ya think?

A Happy Father's Day to my Father

alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621071602182557730" />










I do not have the handiest dad or the craftiest, and growing up there were times that seemed to pass with not a lot of memories of my dad in them. But I do have a father who loves me and Josiah, Rachel, Heather, Jesse, and now Jake, unconditionally. Who still till this day is working non stop to provide for his children. At 50 years old he sometimes doesn't come home till after 6 o clock, working 12 or 13 hours shifts. Who through out the years has not complained that he can't have his steak and potatoes every night, but looks forward to my mother's home cooked soups and casseroles. He is a God fearing man who has raised my brothers and sisters and I to be thankful and appreciative for what we have. To love the Lord and in everything we do give thanks.
Growing up I didn't understand my father's tough love; but now I do. I cry when I think of the things he so badly was trying (and finally has) instilled in me. I am and will always be a Daddy's girl.
He is the one who when my husband leaves for tours is arms I want to run and cry to. He is the one who when I got the Spina Bifida news, wanted to cry to and say 'fix it.' His stern but gentle voice is what I miss hearing when we are gone...I love you dad.
Father's Day we went to my Uncle's house for a family get together...think Isabelle had fun?
Oh and she was telling the dad's 'Happy Birthday' she didn't understand or want to say Happy Father's Day! Ha

Happy Father's Day

Jake got his Father's Day package from Isabelle and I. Thanks to my neighbor who let me use her addy...we did take Jake to the Harley Museum before he left, but with all his hard days in the field he still deserves to know how much we love him and appreciate him.

Thank you Jacob for being the kind and caring father that you are to our little girl.
She loves you to the moon and back, it's plain to see. Your gentle and sometimes stern words are molding her into a beautiful young girl, and I am so blessed and honored to have you as her father.
I love you babe and Happy Daddy's day to you. Soon enough our second daughter will be in your arms for you to love and cherish.

We LOVE YOU!!!

34 weeks

Well I have failed this month in my picture taking...I am 2 weeks behind and here are my 8 month belly shots!

This little girl of ours is growing so strong and healthy, I am trying to enjoy the last weeks of feeling her kicks, stabs, twists, and turns. Sleep I can not seem to get enough of; so thank you mom and to my brother and sisters who help me with Isabelle 24/7. I LOVE being home and pregnant. (Boy do I miss mi casa...but whose complaining?) I am truly blessed to be at home and being pampered. Isabelle no longer wakes me up in the mornings, but goes straight down stairs to grandma. There she has breakfast with Papa and looks out the window at the birds and bunnies that come to eat. It's very sweet. Half the time I'm getting up and she's almost ready for a nap. I can not say enough how lucky I am. Sweet Rachel, thank you sister for your back rubs; you have almost out done Jake.
Well I am off to rinse off her stroller grandma found at a rummage; finally an umbrella stroller! How we missed you. :)

Happy Saturday.

swim suits and rainy days

What a week. It started off so Hot, which was refreshing. My little brother was at his last week of school so us girls, my two sisters, and mom (grandma) all enjoyed our mornings and afternoons together. Then Thursday came and out came our jackets and jeans. It was COLD.
We visited with my aunt Martha. Isabelle actually remembered the coloring easel on her front porch from LAST fall ya'll. My aunt took her last September for a wedding and when she got to my aunts she remembered where it was and was asking for it! Wow, she has a memory. On the way back home, she rolled her window down and was yelling for 'GRANDMAAAA' haha; I guess she didn't get the idea we took 2 different cars into town and that my mother was behind us.

I went rummaging and found some great little deals. All for Charly's room. I can not wait to show you what I have done with what I found. Stay tuned...I went Martha Stewart and June Cleaver on ya'll. Isabelle also enjoyed our 'shopping' as we pulled up to each house. My mother found some cute toys and play jewelry that was a hit.
Can I get 'what what' for rummaging please.

I know I am late with my 32 week baby bump pics....just haven't gotten around to taking a lot of pics. I am totally feeling fatigued and this little girl is reminding me 24/7 that she is in my tummy! I love the kicks and fingers and toes poking but does she keep me up at night. The last few days I have been taking almost 3 hour naps....it feels so good to snuggle up with Isabelle and sleeeeep.
6 weeks or less...WOW!

They're here!

We had some family pictures taken on Memorial Day by Vanessa Joy Berguis; a girl I used to go to high school with. Our last bout of pictures before the fam expands, so exciting!
We can not wait to use her again for an end of summer/fall photo shoot!

Here's some of her work...

http://www.vjoyphotography.com/



There are too many to pick from but here are a few of our favorite's.

What we've been up to

Well let me start with 5 am wake ups with Isabelle have DECEASED as of Saturday morning! Yeppers, this little munchkin will wake up sometime early in the am and will crawl into bed with me where we sleep and snuggle until at least 7:30! It is delightful.
She is down to one long nap again, and is learning a lot of new words. In the mornings I will hear things like 'mom I want a bagel' or 'are you doin' laundry?' How I love my little girl.
We went to a birthday party last Friday which we all had a blast at. My best friends daughter turned 8, and boy does Isabelle follow her around like a puppy. The bf also has a little guy just 5 months younger than Isabelle and they play so well together. Another friend showed up (a prego friend!)There are 3 of us bridesmaids from my bf's wedding last fall who are all prego.
I attended a healing service at church on Saturday night, and boy was it awesome. My dad being one of the elders of our church invited me to come. Along with the pastors, prayer worriers,Elders of the church and other members I probably had over 15 sets on hands laid on me and baby Charly to heal her of her SB. God is so good and his presence was there at church that night. PRAISE GOD!! As of last week she is up to 3lb's and 10 oz. We got to see her grabbing her feet and toes and pulling them on top of her head. Lots of movement. I feel her little feet and hands poking and kicking me daily...and I love it.
Along with a few trips to the park and splash pad we are all ready off to a fun filled week.
Happy Tuesday Ya'll

Baby Update

Well I am 32 weeks this weekend. where has the time gone? The countdown has now begun. I have 7 weeks or less.
This time around I won't be going past my due date which is great. I was a week late with Isabelle and it was one L-O-N-G week. Charly Marie (we think we've decided on her name) should arrive sometime on July25th Lord willing. I will be induced late the night before. I thought of her name as soon as I knew we were having our 2nd girl. I wanted a way to honor my dad, Charles. Instantly I loved Charly. Marie is my middle name, and well, I am her momma! I wanted to share something with my second daughter and our names it will be. Jake didn't like Charly at first, but now we can't think of anything else to call her. It's fun to say her name, with Isabelle we were so undecided. We just stared at her thinking your not all the names we picked, who are you? Finally we said "Isabelle" and Isabelle she was. Izzy and Charly our two little ladies. I am just so in love with my little girl and we can not wait to hold her and smell her and all that good stuff. So, our little girl is a healthy little thing. 2 weeks ago she was weighing in at 2 lbs 13 oz. We have another ultra sound tomorrow so we'll see how much she has grown since. Every day she reminds me she is in my tummy with kicks, jabs, rolls, and I can even feel her fingers tickling me. Last night Jake and I were just staring at my stomach and watching it jump around. Literally my stomach looked like a jumping bean.
So far our diagnosis is still Meningocele, however nothing will be certain till she actually is born. There is so much we have learned about SB and yet we won't know the details till Charly gets here. Even then we can't be certain until she starts to crawl, walk, and do all that babies do. So until then, we are just soaking up the ideas and dreams we have for her and our growing family. Our team of doctors at Children's and Froedtert are amazing. They are so knowledgeable and experienced its disgusting. We've had tours of the birthing rooms and NICU and it's as cozy and clean as a hospital can be. I will even have access to a birthing room with a whirlpool and breast feeding rooms once she is on the NICU floor and I have been discharged. We can not wait to meet our 2nd little girl. How God has truly blessed us!
We are still trusting in the Lord to heal our baby girl and that she will be a miracle to share.

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial weekend was a fun weekend. Lots of family was seen and Isabelle ran around like a chicken with her head cut off. She is out side whenever she gets a chance and its oh so nice. She's learning what caterpillars, worms, and June bugs are, all that good stuff.