{rawr!}

RAWR!  is Lincoln's new favorite thing to do and say.  

He'll get in a crouched stance, bent over and "rawr" at anyone or anything.

He learned this from his father of course.

Does that surprise anyone?  Nope? K. 

We are dog sitting for our friends and Lincoln likes to "rawr" at the dog.

It's hilarious because Brady, the dog, gets annoyed with it and gets up and leaves the room 

every time Lincoln does it.  

That's why when I saw this print I knew I had to get it for his new room:

So, so, so stinkin' cute.  I am lovin' figuring out how to put together the boys' new rooms.  

Getting paint and hopefully (fingers crossed) painting baby brother's room this weekend.

It needs to get done asap and I feel like as long as that gets done then he can come anytime and we'll survive.  Everything else will get done as we go but the painting is high priority around here.

I'm going with a grey/orange/navy blue color scheme and am excited to see how it

turns out!

I'm ordering this print in either orange or the navy blue for baby brother's room:

So baby brother officially has a name now :)

Eeek!  I'm so excited to share it with you all because I LOVE it!

But it'll have to wait a little longer, I have a couple picture ideas I want to do in order to 

announce it and those will have to wait until this weekend.  Patience, people.  

Here's a clue to keep you on your toes.....

the meaning of the name is in the last monologue of the movie Braveheart.

You can thank Tyler for that awesome clue (insert sarcastic voice there).

So be sure to check back early next week sometime if you're at all interested to hear the name!

{33 weeks} and the painters, aka my family, come to visit!

Since we weren't able to drive back for Thanksgiving, my family decided to fly/drive out here and spend the weekend with us!  And since we just moved, I have plenty of help getting things organized and painted.  JUST the thing that they all wanted to do on their break :)  My brother flew in a day early just so he could help me paint the kitchen....right, Trey?  Aren't you glad you were able to do that?!

The next morning, bright and early, my parents, my sister and her hubby got here after driving 13 hours through the night.  Bless them, that drive through the night is a tough one.  We've made it a couple times and my poor hubby got the privilege of driving most of it so I feel for them.

I owe them all BIG time, they helped me paint our family room.  Everybody pitched in and we got it done pretty quickly.  I seriously appreciate it so much, it would've taken Tyler and I at least a week to get  it done.  I forgot to take pictures as we were doing it but I'll put up pics as soon as I get settled in.

Mom wanted a family picture for her Christmas card so we got all "matchy-matchy" and took off to look for a spot for the picture.  We have a creek and a bunch of trees behind our new house so we just walked around there until we found this great bridge.

It was perfect for the photo.  We just brought along our ladder and propped up my camera and the timer for the group shot and ended up with this as the best one.  Not too bad if you ask me!  This is the best smile we could get out of Lincoln.  He was confused by the blinking light on the camera.  

My brother took the rest of these and I just edited them in Lightroom.  Love how they turned out!

The creek was so fascinating!

I absolutely love Lincoln's face in this one!  So cute and so happy.

32 weeks 5 days

My parents and my "little" brother

I took about 20 pictures of Hope and Lincoln and ended up with 2 really cute ones!

My beautiful mom and her oldest grandson

Running across the bridge was the highlight of his day.....he probably back and forth 50 times and would stop to "rawr" at us periodically :)

My wonderful sis and I

stairstep sibling picture....we are seriously all on level ground

Siblings with spouses, Lincoln and baby brother (Derek didn't get the memo to look at my camera) :)

We had to reward Lincoln for doing so well and played at the playground behind our house for awhile....Papa Jay got a good workout in

Trey got stuck at the top :)

Daddy can't resist climbing on the playground equipment

Papa Jay - Young at heart

Not sure what my sister is doing in the background haha.....you're welcome for that one, Hope.

We did a "mini" Christmas while they were hear since I'll be 37 weeks on Christmas day and should probably stay around here :)  Lincoln got spoiled, that's for sure.

33 week update:

I can't believe I just typed, "33" weeks.  That's just crazy!  

I really can't believe I'm this far along and next week will be my last goal week, 34 weeks!  

After that, 39 weeks would be perfect!  

My due date, January 15th still sounds so far away, probably because we have Christmas and New Year's between then and now but really it's just around the corner.  It'll be here before I know it, and I still have SO much to do.  

Painting baby brother's room is next on the list. 

I can't wait to see how it turns out.  Thank you pinterest for all the ideas :)

I've been feeling SO good.  My last appointment was a week ago and Mr. Lincoln got to come with me.  

He usually does pretty good but this time he was just antsy and wanting to get into EVERYTHING. 

My doctor was SO good and patient with him during my appointment.  

He brought a chair up to the side of the table for Lincoln to stand on, let him squirt the blue jelly onto my tummy and then handed Lincoln the doppler to try and find the heartbeat.

And guess what?  Lincoln found it!  His face was so cute, he thought it was fun!  

I talked more with my doc about a VBAC and he told me I would actually be a very good candidate for one and probably have a 70-80% chance of having a successful one because I've never labored before AND because Lincoln was born earlier and my uterus hasn't been stretched to full term yet (kind of the 

opposite of what I was originally thinking).  

Where as other women who have labored and had to have a c-section for reasons like not progressing etc. would have a 50-50% chance at a successful vbac.  

Just more to think about. 

My awesome friend, Meredith, lent me her support band to wear around my hips/back and it has helped alleviate my back pain a lot!  Tyler thinks it looks super hott.  lol.

I'm quite the site before going to bed at night between the support band and my nasal strips that I wear so I can breathe out of my nose.  Incredibly sexy that's for sure!

I love, love, love being pregnant.  

Have I said that yet? 

I've been having a few braxton hicks here and there.

Nothing else to really report.

Just boring, that's the way we like it!  :)

I'm still here...

Well we survived the move.  The craziest and most drawn out closing I've ever been apart of, ok since it's only the second house we've bought that doesn't mean much but man, I was getting nervous if we were even going to have a place to live if the closing date kept getting pushed farther and farther back.  Thankfully it all worked out....like I knew it would but was getting a little impatient at the time.  We moved almost all our stuff on Saturday and then had to spend the next two nights still at our apartment because it wasn't "legally" ours yet.  We signed all the papers and wrote a huge-o-mun-gous check.  (yes I just made that word up, I know your jealous you didn't think of it first) :)  And then Monday night was our first official night here.  I've had great friends offer and come over to help unpack boxes since they are all stacked up and I can't really lift any of them (or I'm not supposed, trying to follow the rules here, folks!)  Megan, Meredith and Kim were SOOOO helpful....even though they don't think they were, it was a HUGE help to me!

Then today I put my brother to work and him and I spent the day painting the kitchen and actually just finished it up!  I LURVE it! :) Now onto the living and family rooms....good thing my family it getting here in the morning!  Who wants to spend Thanksgiving with a paintbrush in hand?!  Any takers?  That's what I thought....

Well just wanted to let you all know we survived the move and I'll be back to posting soon!

{31 weeks}

Before I get to my 31 weeks update here are the pictures I wasn't able to post in my 30 week update:

30 weeks

and here is my precious little boy with a squished nose (he was pressed up against my belly and so his nose is smooshed)

 and a profile of our littlest man

I love all the 3D pictures we've been able to get of baby brother!  So fun to imagine what he'll look like!

Well here we are at 31 weeks 5 days.

This seems so surreal.  

I can't believe that this is the day that Lincoln was born.  

My little guy (not sure how old he is in the picture...1 or 2 days, I didn't take the picture I think my sister did.  I was too busy trying to stay alive, myself....I can joke a little about that now but at the time it was serious.) 3lbs 6 oz.  

I'm so thankful that so far this pregnancy is completely different.

No signs of my blood pressure getting high, no problems with my kidneys or my liver.

No bedrest (so far at least), being treated as a normal OB patient, and actually getting to enjoy my pregnancy.  I LOVE it!  Now don't get me wrong, my back aches, my hips and joints are sore and I'm tired BUT none of that makes me wish the rest of this pregnancy will go fast.  I am loving just being normal.  I actually want it to slow down a bit so I can really enjoy the rest of this pregnancy and feeling our little boy kick and punching inside of me.  I love laying on the couch in the evenings and watching my belly bounce as he has a little dance party in there.  

So from here on out, I'm in uncharted territory.  It's all new for me.
I've been doing lots of research on VBAC's and still don't have a firm decision made but am feeling
more comfortable just knowing all the information that's out there.  Lots to think about that's for sure.
Speaking of big decisions, we are about *this* close to nailing down a name for baby brother!  yay!
Sorry but we're not gonna reveal it until we are 100% sure.  :)

Just gonna warn you all, this might be my last post for a little while.  We are moving on Saturday {finally!} and so once things slow down a bit, I'll have more time to get back to blogging.
Hang in there,"I'll be back" (said like Arnold Schwarzenegger) 

{30 weeks}

Disclaimer:
This post has no pictures....I've taken my bump picture for the week and have the ultrasound pictures all ready to show you but I've been an overachiever in the packing department (surprising, I know!) and I already packed my camera cord to upload the pictures onto my computer.....so you all are just gonna have to be patient and wait to see my bump and pictures of baby brother until sometime next week when I (hopefully!) find it amongst our mess of unpacking and settling into our new house!

So here is an update so you all aren't left hangin' for the week.....(parents and siblings) :)


I'm so excited to be at 30 weeks!  It almost seems unreal that I'm this far along already.  3/4 of the way done!!  Less than 10 weeks now until we will for sure meet our little guy!  

Here's a quick update from my doc appointment on Monday and our ultrasound Tuesday:

BP is LOW....wait did I just type that right, yep I sure did! My blood pressure was 106/62 at the office and I was even seeing some stars when I would move too fast.  I was super surprised to see it that low.  Super great though!  There is always still that risk that it could spike up really high and I could get pre-e again but  since it was creeping up way before 30 weeks with Lincoln, it usually presents itself earlier in your next pregnancy so I'm never in the clear but that makes me feel good that we're this far along and it's still normal.  Anything to keep me away from that horrible Mag.  Oh man I have NO desire to have that EVER again.  4 days was enough.  Anyways, moving right along....

I had to see my dr's colleague for my appointment because he was at the hospital at a delivery all day.  Which was good just in case she ends up being the one that delivers baby brother.  She was really nice.  Said I'm measuring perfectly for 30 weeks and baby brother's heart rate was 145 bpm.  

They think I have more group b so they sent it off to be tested and I'll hear by the end of the week if I need another antibiotic or not.  Either way it's already decided that I'll have an antibiotic during delivery so baby brother doesn't get it.  

I asked about traveling back for Thanksgiving (just to KC) and she said if we travel we must fly.  No driving because of the risk of blood clots.  Oh yeah, duh didn't think about that.  Well guess what our plans were?  To drive.  Guess that decides our plans for us.  :(  It's going to be so weird not being around family for both Thanksgiving AND Christmas this year.  Hopefully a lot of them are able to come out and meet baby brother in January though! 

At the ultrasound today we got to see the little guy in 3D again.  It was hard to get a good picture because of where he was and apparently he was squishing his face up against the top of my belly so his nose looks smooshed.  I think he actually looks kinda chubby!  

He is doing great.  Lots of fluid to swim around in!  Everything on him looks great and the blood flow between him and me through the umbilical cord looked normal as well.  He's measuring +/- 3lb 6 oz.  Which is exactly what Lincoln weighed when he was born at 31 weeks 5 days.  Baby brother must be a chunk because I'm only 30 weeks 2 days!  

The perinatologist wasn't in the office yet so we didn't talk to him about everything or if he wants me to come in again or not.  I go back to my doc in 2 weeks (every 2 weeks now!) and I'll find out then.

I wanted another doc's opinion on a VBAC so I asked Dr. C and she was almost too over the top with recommending that I try a VBAC.  She compared the risks for both and said the risk of a VBAC is less than risks for a repeat c-section.  It's a major surgery, people.  So I have a lot of research to continue to do.  I've not made a solid decision yet....I kinda just want the decision made for me.  Like say if baby brother was breech like Lincoln was then there would be no question....c-section.  But so far he's head down and ready to go, boy do I feel it on my bladder! (I know that could still change).  But I just want to know of more moms out there who have had a VBAC after having a premature delivery with your first.  If there are any of you out there leave a comment and tell me how it went!  Please!

Weight gain is up to 22lbs now.....wowzers.
Thank the Lord my doc "okayed" me to start Jazzercise!  Trying it out with another preggo friend of mine this afternoon.  Just have to keep one foot on the ground at all times.   I'm hoping it goes well cause I'm really excited to start it up again!  If you have never tried Jazzercise you totally should, it's SO fun and a fabulous workout!

Well off to pack more boxes....our closing date is getting pushed back one day.....I'm a little ircked with our lender and the fact that they waited until the last minute to ask for some documents etc.  Oh well.  It'll happen.  Patience, Marie, patience :)  Hope you all have a great Wednesday! 

pack 2 boxes....sit down for 10 minutes - repeat

First of all I'm aware that my header is gone.  we're working on it.  not sure what happened.  if you are able to see it, would you let me know please?  I'm guessing everyone is seeing the same black rectangle with the exclamation mark in the middle.  bear with me....I'll have a pretty header back up there soon!
now onto my post....

yep, that's right we're busy (or slowly) packing boxes over here
because.....we bought a house!

we close this thursday and move in on saturday!

wowzers!

praying that this go around as home owners is a little less stressful than last time!

man that basement in our old house was a nightmare.

but we survived and fixed it just in time to move :)
don'tcha just love how most people "fix up" their house in order to move?
yeah we were one of them.

in a way it's been nice renting for the past year

we haven't had to do any of our own maintenance like

mowing, fixing leaky faucets, etc.

it'll be so fun to have a yard again for Linc man and baby brother to play in

AND a huge playground/soccer field just behind our backyard!
AND I'm so ready to NOT have white walls anymore!  yippee!

we've been busy packing boxes, signing papers, getting inspections, setting up utilities, living daily life with a 2 year old, packing more boxes, taking a break, eating a snack (or 2!) and packing some more!

for those of you who didn't know about our little "situation" we ran into some problems 

getting pre approved for a loan.  Apparently I had good credit (but no income) so we couldn't

use mine, and since we don't use credit cards and it had been over a year since we sold our last house,

Tyler's credit score had expired.  

So we had some extra waiting to do, putting Tyler on as an authorized user onto my accounts, 

well.....er...... the ONE account that I still had and then start spending some money to get a score for him.

Well wanna guess where that one credit card of mine was from?

Well like I said, we don't use credit cards......

so the only reason I've ever opened a store credit card was for the discount or awesome coupons.

and the only one that I still had was to Victoria's Secret.

(did you know that if you have their credit card, you get awesome coupons in the mail for free undies?!)

Yes my husband now has his own Victoria's Secret card. 

LOL!

Seriously, though I've given him such a hard time about it.

Well low and behold that card came through for us!  

Tyler got a credit score and that same day we found our house!

So I guess we now have 2 reasons to thank Victoria's Secret....
For baby brother :)
and
 for giving Tyler a credit score so we can buy a house!


Well I hope that gave you all a good laugh.....
my 10 minutes of resting is up and I'm off to pack 2 more boxes!

Check back soon for a 30 week update on baby brother!

They're going back!

Watch our friends' adoption announcement video!

{t-shirt design}

{explanation of why they chose this logo}

Our heart is. . .

. . . for a birthfamily to have the HOPE of being reunited with a child they want to take care of.

. . . for a birthmom to have HOPE of caring for a baby she loves, when poverty dictates that this cannot be so.

. . . for a child truly in need of adoption to have HOPE of a family.

. . . for a parent to have HOPE of an education for their child, for shoes, for a doctor's appointment, for medication for their sick child.

. . . for HOPE of no more DEATH BY WATER or MOSQUITO BITE.  

. . . for the HIV+ mother living in poverty that has no other choice than to breastfeed her baby in the starving village and risk transmission, to have HOPE for another option.

. . . for people living with HIV/AIDS to have HOPE for medication, good health, a long life expectancy, to see their children grow.

. . . for the oppressed of the earth to have HOPE for justice.

If you to help out by buying a t-shirt, click HERE.

Or if you want to help out and "kill two birds with one stone"....shop her Etsy store HERE for those little girls on your Christmas list! :)

it's friday...

...and I am thankful. 

thankful for the little things.

like legs cramps, achey hips and a sore back.

just little prices to pay for this little guy to grow big and strong in my belly.

thankful for 2 year old tag-a-long while I made breakfast.

he had a hold of my leg and wouldn't let go. 

I moved as little as possible to get things ready so that he would stay like that for as long as I could keep him there.

thankful for all the boxes I have to pack up in the next week

because that means we're moving into our new (to us) house!

thankful for the toys all over the floor

that make my house a mess

because it means I have an active, imaginative and energetic little boy.

thankful for where God has placed us for right now.

watching as he has provided in so many ways this past year

with so many great friends.

thankful for the crumbly mess on the floor

because it means that Lincoln has EATEN something!

this is huge people.

thankful for the huge pile of laundry calling my name

because it means we have plenty of clothes to wear and keep us warm.

I am truly blessed

with so much and by so many.

 

Wichita, Nebraska and Uganda!

Today we're embracing the camera with friends and family from all over the world!  Well mostly just Kansas and Nebraska but one special guy from Uganda is in here too!

We spent the second part of our stay in KC seeing lots of friends and family.  I was so blessed to have three great friends from Wichita come with their kiddos to stay overnight with us.  The kids had fun playing together we us girls had a great time catching up!  I took lots of pictures so get ready!

Unfortunately 3 more of my friends were planning on coming but had last minute emergencies/sickness happen and couldn't make it.  We sure missed seeing Lydia, Kaely and Charlie though!

Lincoln and Noah

Jordan, Riley, Lincoln and Noah getting ready to eat lunch

Riley and Linc

looking at the neighbors dog

playground fun!

I finally got to meet sweet Zeke!  He is such a great baby.

holding hands while walking back from the park

Lesley found this leaf-like insect and the kiddos were so interested in it!  Lincoln held it for quite awhile without killing it, I was impressed! :)

While Lincoln and Riley looked at the bug, Jordan and Noah were doing their own thing!

handing the bug to Riley for her turn to hold it

Lesley, Riley, Jordan and baby boy :)

Sasha, Zeke and Noah

Me and Lincoln and baby brother (Lesley and I are due 1 week from each other!)

saying goodbyes....so sweet

the next night Cameron and Ashley came to play!  These two had a blast in the tub!

Lincoln, me, Ashley and Cameron

super sweetness going on right here!

At the end of the week, Tyler's parents were able to make it down to see Lincoln.  He is so blessed to have such great Grandparents that love him so much! 

Papa and Linc doing puzzles

And oh my, I finally got the chance to meet Rick and Kendra's 4 year old miracle boy!  They brought him home from Uganda in May.  I was fighting tears the whole time because meeting this little boy who we've prayed for, for 4 years is here with them and doing so well!  He's a charmer that's for sure.
Oh AND they just announced that they are adopted not 1 but 2 more little girls from Uganda.  Duncan's best friends from his orphanage!  

Have I ever said how amazing adoption is?  Oh I have?  Well I'll say it again....it's AMAZING.  

It's no secret, we plan on adopting a little boy/girl eventually....currently praying about what that looks like.