Happy New Year!

Oh my goodness, I got on here to see how long it had been since I posted and let me just say it has been quite some time! My last post was on 6/23/17, exactly 1 month before our little Aubrey made her arrival! A lot has happened in the last 6.5 months! Maybe pictures will do?! (Pics not completely in order!)

The last time I was pregnant: 7/23/17

A few hours later on 7/23/17, Aubrey joined our family!

J in his Flash Mask 12/19/17

12/22/17

Cousins & big brother loving on A 8/19/17

Family picture!

Christmas Lights Tradition

J showing off his work at school!

Minnie Mouse

9/25/17--J turned the BIG FIVE!!

My 1st Pregnancy vs my 2nd Pregnancy

I realized I haven't blogged in awhile. I guess it comes with being a mom of a 4 year old and being pregnant again.... more power to those that blog on an {almost} daily basis!

Pregnant with Jayden (2012)

Pregnant with Aubrey (2017)

I keep thinking of all the reasons that this current pregnancy is different from the first and I really felt like sharing...because I keep going back to it!

1st Pregnancy:
-I was only sick with "Morning Sickness" for about 6 weeks.
-I carried high.
-I gained about 30-40 pounds.
-I craved salty things.
-I swelled up like a balloon--every where!
-I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes {thankfully only had to change my diet}.
-I retained fluid, but my BP was normal until 37 weeks.
-I went through 26 hours of labor and ended up with a c-section.
-I had a little boy.

2nd Pregnancy:
-I have been pretty consistent with the "Morning Sickness" since about 6 weeks.
-I'm carrying low {only started really showing last month}.
-I have only gained about 10-15 pounds so far.
-I have been craving sweets and anything spicy.
-I only have swelling in my face {which I'm totally ok with}!
-I failed the 1 hour Glucose test, which resulted in me taking the 3 hour--I PASSED {which is highly rare}!
-I have no fluid retention & my BP is still very good & I will be 33 weeks on Sunday!
-I'm scheduled for my c-section on August 7th.
-I'm having a girl.

But the common thing between both of these sweet babies--GOD BLESSED US WITH THEM!!!

It's A Girl!

I realized I haven't written on here in a long while & I figured since I couldn't sleep, I would write.

This pregnancy has gone completely different when I compare it to Jayden. With Jayden I was sick for 6 weeks, possibly 7 and that was it. With this pregnancy, I have been consistently sick since I was 6 weeks pregnant and I'm now in 21st week. I believe that's calculated as my 5th month. With J, I carried very high with him. With this one, I have carried really low! I craved sweet and salty with J, and with her, I am craving Gatorade & spicy chips!

At 18 weeks we found out what we were having, my huge support system was there with me--my husband, Jayden, my mom and my mom-in-love. The tech decided to tell Jayden first, so he could be the first to know!!! Funny story follows: Technician tells Jayden in his ear...a few moments later he yells "I'M GOING TO HAVE A BABY BROTHER!" I look over at the Tech to get a confirmation nod & she is laughing and shaking her head no and said "That's not what I said." And then Jayden said "I'm going to have a baby sister."  {I'm positive I have left some things out, but pregnancy brain is really bad this time around!}

Later that day, my mom, J & I went to Hobby Lobby and picked out fabric. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted Grandma to make the bedding for this little sweetie. We picked a floral print, and added chevron pattern and flamingos to the mix for sheets. I think one can have too much of the same theme, and I decided I didn't want to overdo it this time around. So, we're mixing it up and I can't wait to see it come together!!

We are registered at: Kim's Babylist Registry! This was by far the easiest registry EVER!!!

Now that the registry is complete, or almost complete and the shower date has been chosen, I now start to decide on who to invite!

It's fast approaching and we are all so excited!!!

Believing Isn't Seeing

I was watching the classic movie,  The Santa Clause yesterday while stuck in bed with a nasty virus, that hit like a ton of bricks. I was thinking about how kids are so wrapped up in the spirit of Christmas and all things Santa. They may not see him on Christmas Eve, but they believe because there are presents out when they wake up on Christmas morning. Why can't people have the same belief with Jesus Christ? I mean, that is the whole reason we celebrate Christmas to begin with! If we could have the same mentality as a child, that "believing isn't seeing", then I think our world would be a much better place...the place that God had envisioned for us to begin with!

On another note, did you know that Christmas in Spanish means "More Christ"? Isn't that a powerful statement?!?!

Just remember this one thing: We can't see God or Jesus, but we believe in him. God sent his son to be born, to endure the pains of our world and to die for our sins. How incredible is that? Christmas isn't about the worldly possessions we have, but about our belief that one day, Christ is coming back for us.

I hope y'all have a very blessed & Merry Christmas! May you always remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Surprise! We're Expecting!!

God's timing is impeccable. I mean, when we really want something and we wonder if He hears our prayers....it might take longer than you'd hoped, but He hears you!!! I won't go into details, but for at least the last 2 years, I myself have wanted another little one around. So that J could be a big brother--which he is super excited about!!

I found out a week ago Saturday, that we are expecting our second child in August 2017.

I made some cute blue & pink glitter ornaments to announce to our families that we are expecting!

I really could not be more thrilled with the timing of this news. This little one is already loved so much! The feelings going through my head and my heart were hard to describe. I am so happy and so blessed, but at the same time, my daddy isn't here to experience the joy of his 10th grandchild. The feelings--they're all there.

Side note: I am also praising the nausea... to some, that is a weird statement, but to me, it's part of a healthy pregnancy.

I'm 5 weeks & 1 day and little by little, this little pudge of my stomach is getting hard. I am currently craving spicy, but because of the fact that I had gestational diabetes with J, I am cautious of the portions I'm eating; I don't really want to go down that road again. With my job now, I'm more active, so I am hoping the swelling stays down too!

 This is the face of a little excited boy!! (I made him this shirt!)

I'll update in a few weeks! Time to enjoy the Holidays with my family and friends!!

God Bless You!

4 years old!!

To the boy who made me a mommy always remember these things: 

1. Love mommy and daddy.
2. Love God & Jesus.
3. Love your family.
4. Love your friends.
5. Respect everyone.
6. Stand up for what you believe in.
7. Love every color of person that God puts in your path.
8. The only fighting you do, is the fight against the devil--DO NOT LET HIM WIN!
9. Dance, sing & just have a blast.
10. We get onto you, to teach you, so that you will learn.
11. We love you with all of our hearts and nothing will change that!
12. Do not judge. 

Happy 4th Birthday to the boy who made me a mommy!

Happy BIRTHday!

My cute sock monkey BIRTHday BOY!

Happy BIRTHday to my 2 year old!

Happy BIRTHday to my 3 year old!

I'll soon be able to add a picture of my 4 year old--when you wake up!!!

Learning How to Say No

"Learning how to say No".....

Well it is easier said than done when you grew up with a mom who was the person you went to for everything.. even if you needed a spoon, she probably had one in her purse. I think I got some of her "skills" for lack of a better word. I don't do much, but in the grand scheme of things in my world, I do more than my fair share. I am a control freak-- but only when I am having to do something for crafts. Everything else, you just can have that, I am only interested in the crafts....

Last year, I really started to notice that I was getting run down and that everyone (in my world that is a lot of people) was relying on me to do all of their duties with my MOPS group. I felt as though I was the only reliable one, so therefore I had to be at the meetings 45 minutes early to prepare....  I did that every meeting for the entire year, except for 1 time when I was late. On top of that, which only happened twice a month, I was starting to work at the local "Parents Day Out" (which is the same as Mother's Day Out, but we like to be different at our school!) I wasn't doing that full time- just when I was needed--which was a lot. Now in their defense, I did say YES a lot.

My point? I said YES to a lot, therefore, making me even more dependable. It wore me down. I was low on energy, low on caring and I was low on faith in my spiritual walk. It hasn't been sunny skies with unicorns bouncing around since I started letting go, but it has lifted a weight off of my shoulders. The Lord wants us to do things that we are passionate about, but he also knows our limits & wants us to acknowledge them as well.

The scripture that I read this morning comes from Colossians 3:17

Whatever you do in 

word or deed, do 

all in the name of

the Lord. 

This year we are about to start back up at MOPS and I will say that I have let go of a lot of responsibility and I am feeling really good about it. I feel like if I hadn't backed down some, I would have been stretched thin. This group is not just for me, but for my little Jay Jay (thanks to his cousins, aunt & uncle for that nickname--it kind of stuck with me too) as well. He enjoys it. I needed to slow down for him. 

So, whatever you do, remember that God put you there, he just wants you to set the boundaries in your passions. And if you must, say NO. 

Have a blessed day!