||Easter 2017||

I love Easter. It's one of my favorite holidays. I look forward to it as soon as Christmas is over. This year I was so excited because it was the first year that Liv could hunt eggs. I loved putting her Easter basket together. Last year she basically got a blanket and a few books because she was so young. I love to fill her basket with items she will use even after Easter is over. That is why I chose the adorable pom pom bins from Petit Pehr. I even got baby girl number 2 one in the color we are doing her nursery. I got the minis but I really should have gotten the pints because I could barely fit everything into Liv's. She had a book, toothbrush, jean jacket, ice cream play set, and of course some Kidscents lotion and oils from Young Living.

We had a great weekend with family. My brother and his wife were moving so everyone came down to help. I was so excited that everyone was going to get to watch her hunt eggs for the first time. One of the traditions I wanted to start with her was dying eggs naturally from fruits and veggies. It was SO much fun! It was a lot more work than getting the box kit but I love all things organic and all natural and was so excited to try it. They turned out great with some earthy pastel tones. The blueberries and red cabbage did the best. I hope everyone had a very happy Easter and remembered the importance of it.

||Garvan Gardens||

Woah! I am so behind on blogging. Life has been so crazy busy lately. A few weeks ago we found some time to spend together as a family. We went to Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, AR. I had never been and I was so excited to see all the tulips. To our dismay, the tulips had bloomed in early March and were already gone. It was still a really fun trip nonetheless.
They had the cutest little fairy village and it reminded me of Tinkerbell in Peter Pan. More like the movie Hook and the little house that she lived in. Liv loved everything about it. Her favorite parts were feeding the fish and seeing all the waterfalls. She kept saying "fif" and pointing at everything. This age is so fun but also really challenging. We have hit the terrible two's and I definitely get what everyone says about it. We're learning how to parent through it and what actually works and does not work with her. She's so stubborn and headstrong just like me so she can be difficult to console sometimes. We stayed about an hour and a half before she got tired and cranky. It was so fun though and we love getting to do new things. Things we probably wouldn't do it if we didn't have a child.

-Letters to Liv- {19 Months}

Liv,

Once again I can't believe another month has come and gone. You are the most wild spirited child. Nothing scares you. Literally, nothing. You are such the little dare devil. You will jump, climb, run, and fall off of everything. You have recently started loving to take showers with me. You prefer that over a bath any night. Unless of course your bath is overflowing with giant bubbles. Well, we have a little seat in our shower and you are definitely at the age where you do not like to listen if it's not safe. You want to try it no matter what. So you were climbing up on that seat after I had told you not to about 50 times and fell. Sure enough you chipped on of your front teeth and now only have half a tooth. You cried for two seconds and was over it. You didn't care at all. You have gotten your first boo-boos lately too. Two skinned knees and a skinned elbow because you run so fast outside. You have hit another growth spurt and don't fit in any of your clothes. We had to make another shopping run just for you. You seriously grow so fast.

Your appetite is still fluctuating and you have your days where all you want to do is snack. You have become very fond of orange juice and the Halo oranges lately. You eat us out of the house of pancakes, pickles, and cheese. Your love for meat is increasing each month as well. We had fiestas a few nights ago and you opened yours up and ate all of the meat out and left the rest. Your feet are still huge and I can't believe you have almost outgrown all of the shoes we got you for Christmas.

Your language just keeps growing each month too. You've added so many new words this month and are becoming more independent with talking. Your new words include; "sun, side "outside", boots, cookie, pizza, lights, off, on, ears, kick, excuse me, see ya, papa, again, sorry, egg, read, pop, shower, teeth, phone, sissy, feet, bread, orange, couch, flower, waffle, fish." You just started calling my mom "Tay Tay" this past week. You're still understanding way more than you can say and you've started grunting when you don't know how to say what you want. You love to help me do chores around the house. You love to unload the washer and put the clothes in the dryer, put the soap in the dishwasher, and sweep. You are still afraid of the vacuum cleaner. You are starting to like to brush your teeth now even though the majority of the time you just suck the toothpaste off.

Your favorite things include your daddy, papa, facetiming family, babies, your stuffed dog, and riding on the lawnmower with daddy. Your Daddy and papa are your favorite people right now. Like you get sooooo sad if either one of them leave you. You will constantly request to call "papa". You love being outside all the time no matter what it feels like. You like to go around the house and name all the flowers. You have your own personality like I've said from the beginning and you are already getting your own sense of style. You love to pick out your clothes and have your preferred activities and toys that you want to play with. You love kissing right now, too. You will go around kissing and hugging all of us and you definitely will not go to bed unless you have kissed us and said your bedtime prayer. You love to have your twinkle lights on every night before you lay down and you have recently learned how to give fist bumps, thanks to your daddy.

You pat and kiss on your baby sissy all the time and love to say "sissy". I can't wait to watch you become a big sister. I know you will love her from the first time you see her. We're so thankful for you, Olivia Jade. Even on your toddler tantrum days. We love you so much and love that we get to watch you grow each month.

Love,
Mama

||It's A Girl||

Last week we went in for our 20 week anatomy scan. This time it was just Bradley, Liv, my parents and myself who went. You would think that it wouldn't be as nerve wrecking because we knew what to expect. My daily job really scares me. I've written about it before but just the different diagnoses and disorders is just really scary. Especially when you could have the most healthy pregnancy the entire time and something happen during the birthing process. Anyway, I won't talk about that other than the fears and thoughts that run through my mind every time I lay on that table. When I hear the ultrasound tech go through each little body part and structure and say that everything looks good, I'm always overwhelmed with emotion. I cried during Liv's and I cried this time just with overwhelming joy and thankfulness that everything looks good and is developing normally. I have been so worried this time because I have not been near as strict with my diet as I was with Liv.

She started with the little brain and face and her profile is just the sweetest. She had her mouth open and was rubbing her little eyes. Her features look smaller than Liv's did. They're very similar but different at the same time. She then moved to the heart, kidneys, spine, and ribs. All were perfect and the heart rate was 165 bpm. She had her legs stretched completely out and had her little ankles crossed. Bradley asked if she was a big baby too and the tech said that she was average. Her feet and legs looked long to us though especially after knowing what Liv's looked like. She had her little hand up and was pointing with her index finger and had her thumb out. She weighs 12 oz. and is measuring to be due on August 14th, my dad's birthday. She really didn't want to cooperate again but the tech worked until she finally got between her legs and sure enough it's another girl. It's so strange because this pregnancy has been so different from the beginning that I was sure it was a boy. Or maybe I was desperately wanting a boy in case this was our last pregnancy. Now that I know it's another baby girl I am so excited. I have been dreaming about them growing up together and having sweet sister conversations, wearing twirly little dresses and playing dolls, and standing by each others sides on their wedding days. I am just so thankful to God for blessing us with another healthy baby.

||Pregnancy Update||

Holy moly how am I already 20 weeks pregnant?? This pregnancy has seriously been flying by. Probably because I chase a toddler around every day ha! I have been terrible at documenting this pregnancy and I feel awful about it. I never missed a milestone with Liv and I need to start doing better with documenting. So I'm going to go back to 12 weeks and document every month from there. I also felt a lot worse this time around and taking pictures was definitely not on my radar at that time. I feel like I didn't start showing as early this time either. Which is weird because supposedly your second baby is supposed to pop earlier. After my 16 week appointment and blood work, we found out that I am anemic again (no shocker there) so my doctor put me back on my iron pills. It's crazy the way blood can make you feel haha. I feel a million times better since I've been taking them again. I have way more energy but my Ningxia red drink contributes to that as well. Bare with this super long post and the not so great or pretty pictures. My bad.

How far along: 14 weeks.
Weight Gain: None.
Maternity Clothes: Nope.
Best Moment This Week:Getting some "me" time by getting my hair done and fresh cut.
Gender: Don't know yet.
Movement: A few flutters.
Food Cravings: Cucumbers and anything sweet.
Food Aversions: Pretty much everything up to this point.
What I Miss: Not being so nauseous.
Sleep Sleeping great.
What I'm Looking Forward To Starting to show more, feeling better, and seeing our little babe again.
Belly Button In.

How far along: 16 weeks.
Weight Gain: 1 lb.
Maternity Clothes: Nope.
Best Moment This Week: Doctor's appointment and getting to see your sweet little profile.
Gender: Don't know yet. Dr. Cole moved you all around and he just couldn't tell. He said he was guessing about 70% girl. You were definitely uncooperative just like your sister and 16 weeks.
Movement: Lots of flutters.
Food Cravings: Graham crackers and milk.
Food Aversions: Pretty much everything still. Food is just not appealing.
What I Miss: My face not being SO broke out.
Sleep Sleeping great.
What I'm Looking Forward To Finding out your gender so I can start preparing.
Belly Button In.

How far along: 20 weeks.
Weight Gain: 5 lbs.
Maternity Clothes: Nope. Getting closer though. They're definitely more comfortable but I'm still able to button my pants.
Best Moment This Week: Only having to work two days.
Gender: Don't know yet.
Movement: Definitely. You are so much stronger and bigger just by feeling your kicks. You kick the most in the mornings right before I climb out of bed and at night when I stretch out in bed.
Food Cravings: Coffee!!!!
Food Aversions: Nothing really sounds good still.
What I Miss: Not being able to see my stretch marks as bad.
Sleep Sleeping great. Except when big sister wakes up at 4am.
What I'm Looking Forward To Our anatomy scan and finding out your gender on Wednesday.
Belly Button In.

||This Was The Moment||

You know that feeling that you get when you become a mom for the first time and how you think that the newborn phase is the most precious time? It's the hardest but most special with nursing moments and the sweet stillness of a baby who wants nothing but their mother to cuddle into. You think that you want time to stand still in that moment because you know it will pass too quickly. Then that baby grows into a rambunctious, always moving toddler and you miss those still moments so badly. Then they learn how to show you love in totally different ways than cuddling and wanting to be held. They learn how to wrap their little arms around your neck and squeeze so tight. They learn how to kiss you themselves and say "luh oo" back. It's officially tornado season here in Arkansas which means many sleepless nights watching the weather and security systems going off to warnings. How can anyone sleep through that? The other night was one of those nights. Liv woke up because of the alarms and it took her a while to go back to sleep. We try really hard to make her stay in her bed unless it's something like that or if she's sick. Then she can sleep with us. I brought her in our bed around 2 in the morning and she was no where near tired at that point. So we laid in bed and watched the lightning flicker through the window and listened to the rain as daddy snored. Because you know men can literally sleep through anything. She laid there so still in my arms just watching and commenting every time it happened. Then as it died down and it was time to go back to sleep she would flop over to Bradley and lay on him patting his chest then flip over to me and do the same. I was so exhausted and had to get up for work in a few hours but all she wanted to do was lay on my chest and pat my face. Looking into her big brown eyes just made me weap. Granted I am 4 months pregnant and very emotional but that moment meant so much to me as a mother. The way she laid her head on my chest and just stared at me like she knew she was so safe and loved. Then she reached up and kissed me and said "nigh nigh" as she laid back down and fell asleep. Oh my. Cue the crocodile tears and heart melting. She's seriously the sweetest little baby and already knows how to love. These are the moments I was created for.

||Baby Spencer #2||

We have some exciting news!! Baby Spencer #2 is on the way! I am currently two days away from being 17 weeks. We were trying to wait to find out the gender before we announced but this baby didn't cooperate at our last ultrasound. Just like Liv. We found out in early December and managed to keep it from our families until Christmas. Liv was still at preschool at the time and Santa Clause came and it only seemed appropriate that she take a picture with him announcing it on a chalkboard. When we told our families everyone was excited, but in total shock. It seems a little soon but this gal isn't getting any younger and we wanted our babies close in age. I'm due August 13th. Two weeks before Liv turns 2. She's so mature for her age that I'm not real worried. She is obsessed with her babies and I can tell she senses something is going on. She will raise my shirt up and pat my belly and say "baby." It's just the sweetest thing.

So far this pregnancy has been a million times different in a million different ways. I was nauseous for a good 14 weeks. Literally didn't have an appetite at all for weeks and probably actually lost weight instead of gaining. I've been tired but not exhausted. Extremely emotional. Like I would and still could cry over anything. My face has been broke out but nowhere else this time. I broke out in the worst rash last week. I think it was contact dermatitis but still. It was REALLY bad! Also, I have not been near as strict with what I eat/drink this time. I would have never touched caffeine or sugar the last time and this time I'm just not as disciplined. I've honestly felt really guilty about it too. Like if something bad happens it's going to be because of the junk I ate/drank. I'm trying to do better as my appetite increases though. I've not really had many cravings this time other than cucumbers. I totally had aversions to EVERYTHING in the beginning and the smell of eggs or anything cheesy still makes my stomach turn. I'm not really showing yet. I have a small pooch but I really thought that I would've started showing a lot sooner since it's my second baby. Oh well, I'm not complaining as long as the baby is healthy. In our ultrasounds we've had, the baby looks a little smaller than Liv did. I've already been feeling him/her moving around. I forgot how much I missed that. Dr. Cole said that he is about 70% sure it's another girl but I've had zero feelings of it being a girl. From day 1 I've thought it was a boy just because I've felt so differently this time. We will find out on the 29th. We are so excited for this baby and the new journey we're about to embark on. Don't get me wrong though, we could definitely use your prayers.