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

our little valentine

we're just about one week away y'all! that's right. valentine's day. you either love it or hate it. me....well, I just LOVE it!!! I love taking the extra time to let my loved one's know just how much we care about them. sending cards by mail. making cute crafts with Ava. leaving flowers. buying candy. wearing heart shaped sunnies. wearing pink & red. you know, the good stuff. the chocolates. and you can't forget those conversation hearts!

sometimes we go out to dinner. sometimes we go out for dessert. but mostly we just stay home. he usually cooks a lavish meal. typically seafood with king crab legs cuz that my friends is my fav! it doesn't matter to us where we are. we have our love. and that's enough.

annnnnd even though I feel loved by my husband 365 days out of the year....there's something about the way he treats me extra special on valentine's day. it makes. me. melt. I won't go any further. hah! 

what makes you love {or hate} valentine's day? 

enjoy these sweet pictures of our little valentine. 

photography: my "mom-tography" skills at work 

photography site: windsor castle park

fabric tutu: handmade using cotton fabrics 

moccs: Belle and the Bear

headband: BirdyBows

tis the season!

Christmas is by far my favorite time of year. everything about it gets me excited. the Christmas tree lit all day. decorating the whole house. no room is without decorations. the crackling fireplace. the hot chocolate...with a mound of marshmallows of course. the Christmas carols. the manger scene. the smell of cinnamon & the hours of shopping. the eggnog {Bryan's favorite}. the Christmas mug. no escaping wearing all the red & green clothing. cuddling on the couch to watch our favorite Christmas movies. baking cookies with my mom. driving around local neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights with the family. rocking that red lipstick. kissing under the mistletoe {Bryan's other favorite}. reading the real Christmas story right from the Bible. buying presents. wrapping presents. finding the perfect outfit for Ava. ok maybe the 3 perfect outfits for Ava. eating candy canes. wearing Christmas socks.

I get so entirely happy about this season. It just makes me think of how excited Mary was every year anticipating another birthday of her son Jesus.

with Ava being so young we haven't decided what new traditions we'll do with her. any ideas? I'd like to start by reading her the Christmas story on Christmas Eve every year.

my mom began a tradition of baking cookies with the grandkids so we'll continue that. I even bought Ava a cute apron in preparation of baking with GeeGee.

what is your favorite Christmas tradition?

xoxo
Amanda

baking with Ava

just one of the many things that I get extra excited about now that I have a daughter --- baking cookies with her!!! I know she is still so small & almost made a mess of it all, but it was the sweetest thing watching her munch on & poke the cookie dough. dipping her toes in the flour.

I went ahead & made the cookie dough by myself while Bryan kept Ava preoccupied. It just seemed easier that way. hah!

at first she didn't know what to think of the cookie dough. but once she ate it she said, "mmmm." 

I got this cute 4 pack of Wilton sprinkles. I'm glad I did because Ava used them as her teethers. hah! 

this was done very carefully! hey, I wanted those perfectly pointed shaped stars!

I can barely handle the cuteness!! our very own "official cookie taster" 

tis the season for making messes and baking cookies! 

kisses from the baker. 

her very own stocking shaped sugar cookie. loved it!

that face! simply adorable! this is my favorite. 

double fistin! I feel ya girl. gimme all the cookies...

adding the finishing touches. the sweeter the better. 

I hope you're getting into the Christmas spirit like we are!! and I hope you have a huge smile from looking at these sugar filled pictures of my sugar.

xoxo

Amanda 

squishing spiders & love at 1st sight.

for laughs. there are so many things that I never thought I would do or have to do when I became a mama. squishing spiders with my bare hands is one of them. no matter how small or large I still cringe. and shriek every. single. time.

here are some more "now-that-I'm-a-mama" moments ----

• I wipe snot from my daughters nose onto my pants. or shirt. especially when there isn't a tissue in sight. and sometimes even when there is a tissue in sight. 

• I wipe snot from someone else's kid onto my pants. or shirt. 

• sometimes I don't shower for 2 or 3 days. I just need 2 extra squirts of my beloved "escada taj sunset" perfume. you do what you gotta do! hah!

• I sit in the car for 15 or 20 extra minutes so my daughter gets a "decent" nap before grocery shopping. 

• I pee with the door open. with my daughter inches beside because she can't bare for me to be away. haha. privacy? what privacy?! overrated. 

• I worry so much about nutrition so my daughter doesn't starve.  

• I rarely shop for myself & spend most money on those oh so sweet baby {kids} clothes. but how can I resist those baby jeans...or the fur vest. or...

• I have gone out to dinner in my workout clothes because I just didn't care what people would think. 

• I sometimes eat food that my darling daughter has thrown on the floor, so it doesn't go to waste. 

but now-that-I'm-a-mama I also...

• know love at first sight. she was loved the moment we laid eyes on her. 

• love the way her face lights up when she sees daddy walk through that back door after work.

• adore holding her & cuddling her right before bedtime. 

• never thought I could smile or laugh as much as I do when I am around my daughter. 

• make some silly faces & dance like a corn ball just to see her smile. to hear her laugh.

• have fun teaching her new ideas & concepts. 

• get so excited when she wears certain outfits that make her extra cute. because let's face it. she's practically my childhood baby doll in living color. 

• cherish waking up each morning to the sound of her chatting away...and the look on her face when I greet her...melts my heart everytime. 

I must know ---- what are some things YOU do that you never thought you would do before you had a baby?

saying bye bye & farewell to our summer!

last weekend we spent a long weekend in Kitty Hawk, NC soaking up the sun & enjoying the beach one last time before summer ends. we had loads of fun. relaxing on the beach. sand in our toes. sand in the mouth. and let's be honest...sand all over! salt in the air. a southern breeze. wave jumping. walks along the beach. zero temper tantrums. one accidental bloody nose collision. squinty sun-filled eyes. body surfing. family. meeting & talking to beach lovers like ourselves. sand laced pb & j sammies. sunny skies. and cloudy ones too. shell searching. ava napping on the beach {hallelujah!} laughs upon laughs. selfies on the beach. dairy queen ice cream. double dinner dates without kids. and seafoooooood.

ava is still in the "eating sand phase" so we of course had to watch her like a hawk while on the beach. she didn't eat too much the whole weekend. bryan & I went out in the water for a little bit. the waves were fierce & rip current warnings were all over so we didn't stay out long.

ava wasn't a huge fan of the big carolina waves...she's used to the small bay waves in virginia. she of course didn't mind daddy holding her at all! 

we did manage to get her to sit in the sand & play everyday. this sand bucket kept ava entertained. {how presh is she with her sunnies?!?} 

uncle bryan keeping an eye on the littles. israel. asher. titus. 

titus picking up all the shells & rocks he can get his hands on...such a boy! 

GeeGee keeping ava warm from the cloudy day with hooded towel cuddles. {kudos & thanks to my momma for watching our kids so we could go to dinner}  

kisses for little aves! 

jessica with sweet lorelei watching for kite surfers. 

a perfect display of her bubbly & excited personality. I just love it! 

I love these 2 more than anything. 

twinsies. best friends. ocean air. salty hair. 

hey --- it's hard to get 5 kids to all look at the camera at the same time. haha. so much personality in one picture!

"onward, to the beach!"  

titus & asher building sandcastles with daddy...who am I kidding...they were destroying the sandcastles that daddy built. haha

mommy & titus.

daddy & asher.

last day at the beach! see you next year! {we...well... I miss it already!}