we're filling our pumpkin patch!

we're finally ready to let the world know that we're expecting BABY #2 in April!!!! we are beyond thrilled to be adding another sweet baby to our family! it truly happened at the perfect timing, but that's just how God's timing is, right?! Ava & the new baby will be about two & a half years apart. such a good age difference. 

in the beginning of the year we began talking about the idea of another baby. we've always desired to have more than one child. it can be difficult to really know when you're ready. but we felt ready! so in the summer we started trying & conceived in July!

I am SO so grateful that I did not get a lot of morning sickness, which was the same with my pregnancy with Ava. I noticed some minimal nausea after breakfast every few days & it would always subside by lunch time. that lasted for about 4 weeks. the tiredness was what I noticed the most! some days I would just lay in Ava's room covered in my blanket while she played. 

I scheduled my prenatal appointment with my new doctor (who I really have come to love by the way!) my doctor hooked up the ultrasound equipment & everything just stopped when I saw that little bean on the screen! I could see the baby's heart beating. such a precious moment. she searched for another baby, but only one is in the womb! I thought I'd add that here because I know so many people will eagerly ask! when I went in for that ultrasound I found out that I was 3 weeks further along than I thought!!! I was surprised & a little confused because I thought we tracked it all out pretty well. HAH! my doctor told me I was 12 & a half weeks along. I loved hearing that because it meant we get to meet our baby that much sooner! 

my due date is April 7th. a spring baby. 

Bryan is always so helpful with Ava & definitely took up the slack when I was tired in my first trimester. I was tired around dinner time, so often times I would take a power nap while he cleaned up. and for that I am so grateful! he checks to make sure I have water at my bedside every night. he's truly the best man for me!

Ava is already such a sweet big sister! she doesn't fully understand but she does get a huge smile on her face when we mention our baby. she also loves to say "I'm a big sister!" we bought her the I'm a Big Sister book by Joanna Cole & Ava practically has the whole book memorized. it is beyond adorable! she wants to read it just about everyday. when asked where mommy's baby is, Ava will point to my belly & say "mommy's belly!" I cannot wait for the way she interacts with the baby. she truly is going to be such an amazing big sister. the way she cares for her baby dolls lets me know that!

we thank you for all of your support & loving words. we hope you can be in prayer with us for a healthy baby & a healthy delivery.

photo credits go to Auntie Sarah!

xoxo
Amanda

oh baby!

We're having a BABY!!!!

It was a normal week for me. Wednesday of last week I drove to the obgyn to ask a few questions about my menstrual cycle. When I left tears were in my eyes. The nurse looked at me with knowing eyes...."You're Pregnant!" I had NO idea I was pregnant! I took a pregnancy test in February and it came back negative. I went on thinking I wasn't carrying a baby, but I was! Life was normal. For 3 months I had no idea. No morning sickness. Oh SO thankful for that! 

Looking back onto these past 3 months I realize where all of my tiredness came from. I took a nap everyday when I got home from work and every weekend I was taking 3 hour naps. I also noticed being hungry ALL the time. 

While in the doctor's office I had to sit for 10 minutes by myself, which felt like an hour. I wanted to call everyone! I was shocked, surprised, and stoked all at the same time. So many thoughts were going through my head. "How will I finish school? I'm going to be pregnant on our vacation? What will I wear to work? Will I stay home? How do I tell Bryan?" The doctor did an ultrasound to determine how far along I was. Seeing that baby made the "You're pregnant!" statement more realistic. I was 13 weeks, which puts me at 14 weeks today. I am due October 22nd. I'm in the 2nd trimester and am feeling great. 

I didn't know how to tell Bryan the good news. I had an idea to tell him with a piece of fruit. When he got home I handed him a lemon. I told him that the lemon he was holding is the size of our baby. He laughed and told me "Yah right!" and I said, "No seriously! Look at the ultrasound picture!" We hugged and laughed and cried. He was just as excited as I was when I first heard the news. 

We are going to find out the sex of the baby. The first week of June will be when I am 20 weeks. Maybe I can find out a week before for an early birthday present!!

Our family is SO excited for us!! I am eager to learn about "baby stuff" and being a mom. I am very happy to have my sister pregnant at the same time! We can share in the heartburn, the hunger pains, the big bellies, and the cravings! Lots of pregnant girls in our family...It's in the water --- my sister in law, Jessica (my brother's wife) gave birth to our niece last week. AND my sister in law, Briana (Bryan's sister) is due in June. Happy to know that our babies will be close and best buds!!! The grandparents are obviously excited!! 

We are thrilled beyond measure to be having a baby. It was a little earlier than planned, but God knows best! His plans are always better than ours!! 

Please keep me and the health of our baby in your prayers. We're praying for a healthy baby, full term delivery, and time to reflect on me & Bryan's relationship before the baby arrives. 

***(Photo credit- to my wonderful sister! Thanks Sarah!)

xoxo

Bryan & Amanda 

we love that baby already! such a joy! 

so sweet! gotta love the belly (or lack there of) 

we have lots of reading to do!!! 

pretty soon we'll have a whole drawer full of these little onesies! Eeeeek!