West Virginia Wedding.

We've had a busy few days! We spent this past weekend in Charleston, West Virginia visiting family and celebrating with my cousin as he said "I do". The wedding was as sweet and beautiful as I knew it would be. Their vows brought happy tears to my eyes as I thought about my own, which were spoken almost 5 years ago now.

Their reception was so much fun! We enjoyed good food, great company, and the entertainment of two gorgeous blondes, who took it upon themselves to get the party started on the dance floor. Gracie and another cousin's daughter, Kensi, brought many smiles when they started dancing together long before the first dance was announced. Then, the girls literally danced the night away! We discovered that Gracie is more of a lone dancer. She likes to do her own thing, a partner would only smother her creativity. ;) She seems to really feel the music and lets her body movements follow. I tried to hold hands with her to dance, I tried to hold her and dance, but she preferred to be on her own. Her daddy did get in a couple of dances with her though, and by the time we headed back to our hotel, I think we were all exhausted!

I found it interesting how Gracie (who can be very reserved around people she doesn't know) wasn't intimidated or really affected at all by the many adults dancing around her. She brought a little something extra to a special evening for her momma.

This was my first visit since my Papaw's funeral. I had been nervous for weeks over how I would feel and respond to his obvious absence. While it was bittersweet, having something to celebrate was huge in how I was able to handle those emotions, and Gracie was just another reason to smile and focus on all that was in front of me.

Quick 30 Week Appt. Update

I don't have anything exciting to report, but I did have a great appointment this morning. I always enjoy having Gracie there with me. She loves to look on as the nurse takes my blood pressure and is so curious about everything in the exam room. I'm measuring right at 30 weeks and we heard that strong little heartbeat that is the highlight of each appointment. I've gained right at 23 pounds so far, and actually lost one pound from the last weight check a month ago. All of the advice from my doctor was helpful and I'm back on track where that is concerned.

My next appointment is in 3 weeks and I'll begin weekly visits once I hit the 36 week mark... I still can't believe this baby will be here so soon! I think I say this every single day!

We now have a place to change Ethan's bottom! :) 

I found these storage bins on clearance at Kohl's, which was exciting to me not only because they happen to match the room, but because Gracie has the very same bins, just in a different pattern. I originally bought them along with two hanging closet organizers, one of which is now living in Ethan's closet. I like organization and accessibility when it comes to my kids' things!

His nursery is painted, the furniture is in place. Once I hang a few pictures and find curtains, his room will be finished!

Our Big Girl...

...has grown just a little too quickly I think. I'm so proud of her and find my greatest moments of joy watching her smile, laugh, and just be. We had a couple of challenging weeks recently (which earned their own posts here and there). She was testing every boundary, and my patience, but things have since improved. I'm fairly certain that all of the changes happening around her, that she doesn't fully understand, have contributed to some of this. She sees this growing belly, the nursery with all of her old things, hears everyone talk about her baby brother, and I'm sure it's confusing, especially since we have yet to actually meet this "baby". I'm doing everything I can to make this as easy on her as possible, but even then, nothing can prepare her for the day she's no longer our only child.

I've heard stories of how some first born children act out when the second comes along... In fact, I've been the less than welcoming big sister, so I'm trying to prepare myself. In reality, I know nothing can really prepare us for the day she's no longer our only child. I plan to enjoy these last weeks with just my big girl, but I'll also be looking forward to adding our little guy to the mix!

Gracie, Olivia, and Cuddles! This is her "mommy's forcing me to smile" face! I love it!

Our Baby Boy...

…makes us laugh already. He loves to stretch, flip, and push his feet up against my belly so that we can almost measure their size. I love seeing my stomach go lopsided as he gets comfortable with what must be his little bottom stuck up on one side. Sometimes he feels really high, sometimes he feels so low. It feels like he's always changing positions. He’s been getting the hiccups more frequently and the only time he really seems to settle completely is at night. As soon as I'm up for the day, I start feeling him wiggle.

Even though I have yet to meet this baby boy or see his little face, I love him so much. He will be such a wonderful addition to our family of three! I’m 30 weeks pregnant today, only 10 weeks remaining! Ethan has grown to be about 15 inches long and weighs around 3 pounds. His size can be compared to a head of cabbage at this point!

As for me, the exhaustion that I experienced during the 1st trimester has returned, along with a few moments of nausea here and there. The heartburn that I remember from my pregnancy with Gracie has begun to show itself, but on nights without it, I seem to sleep really well. We've almost finished the nursery and I love walking in it randomly to daydream about the little boy who will occupy it soon. Gracie also enjoys checking out all of the baby stuff. We are still trying our best to keep her included every step of the way. She recently helped me tape along the baseboards so Sean could paint. She was so helpful and we were able to turn just another task into something fun!

I love this picture of me with my two babies!

Today, we fed geese...

Ashley and I took the babes to the park this morning, then to the nearby pond for some exploring. Both kids love being outdoors and surrounded by nature, so this has become a great way to entertain them. We're also able to squeeze in some sister/momma talk, which is also nice.

 As the pond came into view, we were excited to see geese on the water, as well as at least a dozen turtles sunning on the banks and swimming along with their little heads above water. We also caught a glimpse of a few large fish who came close enough for Gracie and Austin to see. While there was lots of activity happening around the pond, it was quiet and we were the only ones there with our wide eyed babies, who were anxious to toss bread toward any interested creature... So, we fed the geese. Sort of.

The geese actually did get a few crumbs here and there, but Ashley and I thought it was a funny sight, our little ones feeding themselves in between throws. :)

Sorry, guys. We'll feed them before our pond visit next time. ;)

Tired.

My 2nd trimester energy boost seems to be dwindling now that I've crossed over into the 3rd (29 weeks today!)... I'm tired. It seems to hit mid-afternoon, which is convienient I suppose, since that's when Gracie takes her nap. I've given up on trying to be productive during this time (well, not completely true, since this is pretty much the only chance I have to edit pictures, and editing pictures is being productive...), but I'm afraid it shows around the house. I also had a lovely bout with heartburn last night, probably the worst of this pregnancy. The tossing and turning and endless thoughts running a mile a minute through my head also contribute to a lack of sleep, but we're doing well and I'm enjoying these last months with my little one in my tummy. Part of me is just so ready for him to be here, but the other part is trying to slow things down and cherish this time.

Sean and I did have a very nice weekend away! We needed it more than I think we realized. We're rarely able to step away and just be "us" as a couple, so I treasured our time together. When we returned home, Gracie was unfortunately less than welcoming... I don't know if it was the combination of allergies and a busy weekend that left her overly tired, or if she was just bitter and waiting for the opportunity to let us know how she felt about our absence. She basically threw a fit, got it all out, and then seemed perfectly fine after a much needed nap. My vision of her running into my open arms smiling and laughing just didn't quite come to fruition, but Sean had warned me that she may react that way. Once she was willing to talk about it, we learned that she had a wonderful time with her Memaw. It was probably a nice mini-vacation for her! She was spoiled rotten!

I feel like I haven't been taking many pictures of Gracie throughout the week lately. I'm hoping to have a "session" with her soon, but since she is my toughest client, I can't make any promises. ;)

Weekend Away.

Sean and I are headed out of town this afternoon, just the two of us. This will officially be my first night away from Gracie, but as much as I adore her, I am so excited about this extended one on one time with her daddy. :) I don't think it could have come at a better time. Not only will we not have time for anything like this when Ethan is born, but I'm actually in need of a break (and always in need of quality time with Sean). We're not going too far, but we'll enjoy dinner (and maybe a movie?) without feeling the need to hurry home. We chose a location with plenty to offer, but we aren't making any plans. I know that we'll call to check in on Gracie, and I know that I'll wonder what she's up to and how she's doing, but in just a couple of hours, Sean's mom will arrive to spend the weekend with her and she's going to have a blast. It's going to be good for all of us!