Big Sis

I'm back tracking with this post-
To break the news to my family that Jeff and I were expecting another little one, I decided to make a 'Big Sis' shirt for Maylee. The original plan was to buy one, but I couldn't seem to find a simple, cute 'Big Sis' shirt that was in the 18 mo. size. So I got a crazy idea to make one.

I bought the striped shirt and then ironed on the letters. I should've stopped there but I thought it would be cute to stitch around the edge of each letter- yikes! That turned into quite the job since I am by no means a seamstress. After a ton of time, thread all over the floor, and rethreading my machine about 100 times, I finally finished it!

Here's the little lady showing her modeling skills.


It was fun to break the news with the shirt. We had Maylee wear a jacket when we went over to my parents' house and then casually asked my mom if she would take off Maylee's jacket. My mom's reaction was the best! She took off her jacket and said, "You're not a big sister!" and asked if I got it on sale or something and then it clicked... we were pregnant! April's family was also there as well as Adam. It was a great way to break the big news!

I looked out the window and what did I see...

LEMONS from our little lemon tree!


We got 3 lemons off our dwarf lemon tree. So fun. I feel so domestic, although we have no idea how to truly take care of a fruit tree. We just guess how much to water it and how to prune it- I need to start doing a little reading on lemon trees. For now I'm just so excited it is producing fruit! YAY!

heart day

Jeff and I were able to celebrate Valentine's Day a night early. I took charge of the date... Jeff should have been worried! :) We went to a thai restaurant for dinner, which was nice since we don't have thai food too often and I sure love a little pad thai! Then we went to the Hyatt in Gainey Ranch for a gondola boat ride. It was Valentine's weekend so we had to cheese it up. The ride was okay. I would have liked to have taken the boats out on our own, but hey- it was fun to do once. Next time it will have to be in Italy!

On Sunday, the big day, Jeff and I made quite a delicious dinner. We had salad, 7-up chicken, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and rolls. Lately, I have been bad about cooking a good Sunday dinner, so it was nice for a change. To top it off we had chocolate souffle! I have never made them before, but I found a great and easy recipe here. They turned out great. I've been waiting to use my ramekins for something good and this was that something.

(the picture doesn't do it justice)

another play date-

Last Tuesday, we had our weekly play date. I was able to score a culture pass to the Arizona Museum for Youth in Mesa. Maylee was all about holding anyone and everyone's hands (well, except mine- but who can really compete with the cousins and grandma?)

The girls had fun playing in the kitchen making delicious snacks, listening to the book at story time, painting (which happened to be Maylee's first time! She made a beautiful masterpiece without even getting messy), and reading books.



After the museum, we headed with our packed lunches to eat on the lawn of the Mesa Arts Center. Then to we did a little boutique shopping. Downtown Mesa has some really cute little shops and a yummy sandwich shop that has delicious (and nutritious, I'm sure ;) cookies. It was so nice to leisurely walk around enjoying the nice weather.

Happy Valentine's Day!

the lastest...

Everything has seemed to calm down a bit after the holidays- just like it always does. We are enjoying it being a little more low key.

The weather has been perfect and Maylee and I make it part of our daily schedule to hit the park. She is getting so coordinated- she runs around the playground structure all by herself- going up and down the stairs, across the wobbly bridge, down the slides, rocking on the cars. She is so independent these days!


(Her new favorite trick is going down the slide on her belly- so tricky!)

The weather is just too perfect- we have to take advantage of it!!

We also have spent a lot of time reading books and playing with all the new Christmas toys (and getting "all dolled up" while doing so!) She loves the play food, tent, bike, and oh yes- the golf clubs. Daddy is showing her the correct way to hold the club already, two hands and all.


(She goes and gets the tutu and tiara all by herself; I have no part in it!)

(I could watch them play together all day!)

We had a crazy storm that came through a couple of weeks ago. It left our front tree leaning so badly that we needed to cut it down, but it also gave Maylee the chance to splash in some puddles and really experience RAIN! She wasn't so sure about it hitting her face at first, but then didn't seem to mind it once she was running and jumping in the puddles.


The pregnancy is going great. The little babe is moving like crazy and I even felt a little leg/ foot that happened to be poking out the other day! That is the best!

and then there were two...

Two little GIRLS in our family that is! We are expecting a little baby girl to arrive the end of May!

We are very excited for Maylee to have a little sister to bug- I mean play with. Play dolls, read, play kitchen, dress up... all that girlie stuff!

We had our ultrasound on Dec. 21st. One of my friends, Brandi, mentioned the idea of not finding out the gender and then wrapping up the picture and putting it under the Christmas tree to open on Christmas morning. We did that, and it was so much fun to have Jeff's family around to hear the news as we saw it for the first time!

Although it was so exciting to find out the gender, the best news came when we had a level 2 ultrasound the Thursday after Christmas. Our first ultrasound showed something called CP cysts in our little baby's brain. The words cyst and brain sound so scary together. The doctor warned us that these cysts are sometimes associated with Trisomy 18, a severe and deadly form of Down Syndrome. She recommended we go see a high risk OB and have the level 2 ultrasound. I tried not to think about the worst, but what woman wouldn't worry about the little baby growing inside her?

It was so reassuring to go to the level 2 ultrasound. Our little one didn't show any other signs of Trisomy 18. She looked completely healthy!! We also got to see her in 3-D and got to take a CD home with pics and a little video of her moving around enjoying life.

I am so grateful to have this little one inside of me and am so grateful for a Heavenly Father that knows each one of us and listens to our prayers.

The part that looks like her hand by her face is actually her foot!! :)