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

my birth story

this is our story. the story of how our little Ava greeted the world:

when we found out I was pregnant we signed up for a birthing class right away. we wanted to be as knowledgable as we could about the birthing process. we used the Bradley Method of husband-coached natural childbirth. this method is based on relaxing through the contractions with normal breathing & the husband being the coach. I knew this was the route to take after watching 3 natural births {my twin sister & my sister in law} all of which used the Bradley Method. I felt so prepared. we felt prepared. {ladies encourage your husbands to read The Husband-Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth. Bryan read this & was totally encouraged about the birthing process.}

I was 40 weeks & 1 day when my water broke in the wee hours of the morning. 3:00am to be exact. I had just gone back to bed after having to go pee {oh you know, for the 4th or 5th time}. I woke Bryan up to tell him. he was dead asleep when I rattled him. he literally jumped out of bed. we went back to sleep so we wouldn't be tired in the morning. {I knew that I wasn't in active labor & who wants to go to the hospital at 3:00am anyway!?}

with so much excitement I barely slept. my contractions were consistently 10 minutes apart. we spent all day laboring at home. that was our plan. the hours were a blure. my mom joined the party in the afternoon. we walked. we watched a movie. {tip: if you're not ready to go to the hospital, do something to take your mind off of the contractions...like watching your favorite movie. your favorite tv show. playing a game.} we walked some more. it was a chilly & windy day so I really didn't have the desire to walk, but I knew I needed to. I sore I would walk that girl out! some of our neighbors came outside knowing that I was a girl on a mission to get the baby OUT.

we went to the hospital around 8pm. when we arrived there was no room available. {I felt like Mary with baby Jesus! haha} I was contracting & didn't have a room to stay in! I was in pain. I was furious. tired. thankfully, shortly after we arrived we got settled into a room. the nurse asked questions & took my vitals. I was only dilated 2cm! what?! after the long day I just knew it had to be more than 2 measly cm! I wanted to cry.

because I was approaching 24 hours with my water broken my midwife insisted that I be induced with pitocin. I got mad. I yelled. I cried. I cried some more. I was devastated. our plan was to use no medication whatsoever. I felt defeated. there was nothing I could do. I was so ready to meet Ava. the nursing staff allowed me to walk the halls until it was time to induce.

I didn't get the pitocin til close to midnight. I was scared that it would cause excruciating contractions that would be unbearable. but it wasn't. yes, they came fast. they came strong. then they came faster & stronger. but I was determined. I was so focused on relaxing through my contractions. taking it one contraction at a time. there was no going back. Bryan was there for {almost} every contraction. a guy's gotta go to the bathroom right?! we had a great support system. a great team. I held onto Bryan for each contraction while my mom put pressure on my lower back {I had more back labor}. I don't know if I could have done it without them.

we were so tired. Bryan's legs were literally going weak. I was falling asleep amidst each contraction. I would wake with fear that a contraction was coming. I started feeling the urge to push. my midwife was no where to be found. {ahem...do find a good midwife} they wanted me to stop pushing but I didn't want to. I couldn't. the nurse checked & I was dilated 8cm. unknowingly I was actually 10cm, but they wanted to wait for the midwife.

when it was finally time to push I took it nice & slow. I had my husband. my mom. my sister. my sister in law. each holding an arm. {or a leg.} cheering me on. I was in the zone. I was so ready. I pushed a total of 4 times. then there she was! our sweet girl. she was a dream. it was so very surreal for me. I didn't cry like I thought I would. it was just so surreal. so much adrenaline was going through me. we had our girl. the one we waited for.

throughout the whole birthing process one thing remained. prayer. I was praying. my husband was beside me praying. my family was in the waiting room on their knees praying for me.  one of my best friends Jenn Lee was at home praying. I know there were others & for that I am extremely grateful. those prayers were what got me through that birth. it was hard. it was painful. yet it was SO worth it.

I would love to say that my birth story went how I envisioned. but this is my story. in the end we have a beautiful gift. a beautiful daughter. our Ava. in the end it doesn't matter if you get an epidural. if you have a c-section. or if you birthed at home. what truly matters is that you have a cuddly baby that is healthy & alive.

to all my prego friends out there ---->>> get knowledgable about the birthing process. read books. watch videos. talk to other moms. join a community group of moms. do your research. you have a say. of course your story will be different from mine. from any other mom. it will be your story. so get to know your story before it even begins.

my sister in law, Jessica has begun her journey as a doula. if you're prego & would like to know more about her services call her! 757.718.2031.

these are just a few great resources for your journey of pregnancy:

- Book: Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way
- Book: The Husband-Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth
- Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
- Book: On Becoming Babywise
- Video: The Business of Being Born

xoxo
Amanda

happy half birthday Ava!

these last six months have FLOWN by. where has the time gone? we continue to be amazed at each new thing that Ava discovers, learns, and eats. she brightens our day with her sweet smile & infectious laughter. our hearts are so full.

at 1 month people said Ava looked like: Titus, her cousin. Papa Guptill. her cousins Israel & Lorelei. sometimes a Boyes. sometimes a Guptill. mostly a Boyes. she has daddy's chin. lips. & brown eyes.

at 2 months Ava discovered: her hands. anything & everything went to her mouth. when mama or daddy left the room. consistently sleeping through the night. laughed out loud. tummy time not her fav!

at 3 months Ava saw lots of people: GeeGee & Papa babysat. Uncle Chad & Aunt Sarah babysat. Gramma & Grandpa Boyes came down for a visit. & places: she went to church. "played" in the snow. went on walks.

at 4 months lots made Ava giggle: tickling her. daddy singing to her. putting her up in the air. nuzzling her neck.

at 5 month Ava had a few favorite things: Sophie the giraffe. bathtime. seeing her self in the mirror. going for walks. playing in the exersaucer. sitting up. fruit too. & a few not so favorite things: laying down. putting clothes on. dropping a toy.

at 6 months Ava brings new adventures: she spins 360 degrees. reaching far for toys. eating some table food. puffs. turkey. banana. strawberry.

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!

Sprinkled with LOVE!

my brother and his wife are expecting their second baby girl very soon. SO very excited! to make them feel oh so special both of our families "sprinkled" them with a little love. dinner was eaten and gifts were opened.

we have such a loving and close-knit family. jessica is a sister to me. we have known each other for 10 years. wow...the time has flown by! she has been my sweet sister in law since october of 2006. i have had the opportunity to know her on many levels. from quoting every movie we have seen. to talking about babies. husbands. and most importantly our Heavenly Father. i am so lucky to have her in our family. i never have to worry about how silly i might look when i cry because she is the type who will be crying right with me.  she is happy for me when i am happy and she is sad when i am sad. she has a compassionate heart. she truly brings joy to our family.

i love my big brother. i was happy when he married the love of his life and have become even more happy for him with the birth of his baby. you never cease to make me laugh when i'm around you. you're smile is contagious. you are passionate about what you do. i love knowing i have a brother who is a jack of all trades. from raising chickens to growing a garden. i promise to come over for free food. you just wait! i'm very proud of all that you have accomplished, josh! one proud sister.

love you josh & jessica!!!

Sweet treats---my mom's homemade chocolate cake. 

Sprinkled with LOVE!

Preggers-- a sweet niece & a handsome nephew due 2 months apart.