Easter 2013

Kurtis played drums for four different church services Easter weekend, so Landon and I headed to church on Saturday night so that Easter morning we could head straight to my parents' place in Lexington.  Before heading out of town Landon got up and looked for his basket.  It didn't take him long to go straight behind the chair.  

"Wow.....!"

My parents bought land along the Platte River in Lexington awhile ago.  Their plan is to start building their house next spring; in the meantime they have their garage and shed built which is pretty much like a house.  My mom was so excited to host Easter this year at their place.  Leave it to my amazing mother to have it decorated all festive for our Easter gathering.  

Little table favors, carrot silverware and Easter table trees.

Their amazing garage! 

Playing basketball with cousin Dylan.

Grandma and Papa love to spoil Landon.  His very own bug themed basket.

New binoculars!  

Bugs...bugs...and more bugs!

Loving Great Grandma's egg cookies!  He even told her they were outstanding.

Then it was time for argo rides to the river!

Everyone enjoying the outdoors and beautiful weather!

I love my Grandparents!  

Time to find some eggs!  

Landon really enjoyed looking for eggs this year and understood what to do.  His were hidden pretty easily!  

Of course Uncle Scotty and Aunt Carissa bought him a chicken that sings, dances and lays eggs.  He loved it!  

I am bummed this is the only picture I could get but my mom put together a glow in the dark egg hunt.  It worked out perfectly since their garage has no windows.  Inside the eggs were candy and glow sticks.  Landon wasn't too sure what to do at first until my cousin Michaela heaped him out.  Then he loved it!  

Baby Dudo #2

WARNING:  This is a long post...I have only been waiting 13 weeks to post this! 

It's official, we are having another baby and are extremely blessed/excited.  Kurtis and I were hoping God would bless us with either a fall baby or a spring baby and it seems a fall baby is what it'll be!  We had planned this pregnancy; however, when we found out we were pregnant the thought of two really freaked me out.  It took a little while to sink in.

This pregnancy has been extremely different so far.  I started off really really nauseous; however, never got sick.  With Landon the trash can and I were best friends the first 12 weeks.  Teaching and having a two year old during the first trimester has been my biggest challenge.  When I get home in the evenings I am BEAT.  I have been sooooo tired and falling asleep nightly between 7:30 and 8:00 on the couch.  Thank heavens for an amazing husband/daddy who has done so much while I rest.  Just like the first pregnancy food doesn't sound good at all. I have eaten my normal crackers, cereal, fruit and anything I don't have to cook.  

The second pregnancy was also harder to keep the exciting news in.  I wanted to tell everyone right away but decided it was best to wait for a while.  I did end up telling several of my close friends, my partner teachers, family, etc.  Now the whole world knows!

Big Brother...

As soon as we found out we had to tell Landon.  There is a baby at daycare and we are around them all the time with my friends so I knew he would somewhat understand.  He'll talk about my baby in my tummy, he loves to give it hugs and kisses and he is always saying it is sleeping in my belly. We have asked Landon multiple times if he is going to have a baby brother or sister and his response is always sister.  No matter who asks him or how it's always sister.  Boy or girl....girl mommy!  It will be fun to see if he is right.   

Sharing the News...

I wanted to share the news to my staff around my birthday as I came up with a cute clover saying.  A mom to one of my past students owns the local doughnut shop so I had her make me specialized doughnuts to share.  I love how they turned out and of course she went above and beyond.

Pink and Blue baby doughnuts and clover ones!

I then decided to wait a week to share the news with my students after my official doctor's appointment.  I had my appointment that morning and that afternoon (before Easter) we had our own class egg hunt. Each team had their designated egg color.  When they found them all they could open them up and unscramble the sentence. They were ecstatic! 

Doctor Appointment #1...

The 12 weeks waiting for your first appointment seemed to feel like eternity.  I had my first appointment schedule on the Thursday before Easter break. Luckily I was able to rearrange my schedule at school to have my class covered for the entire appointment.  My principal is amazing to work with!  I arrived and the receptionist looked at me funny because she knew who my doctor was.  She asked if I was really there to see Dr. Meyer.....ummmmmmm noooooooo!  I didn't know whether to cry or be mad.  My first initial reaction was is Dr. Steinke even here today (as her days in the office are random)  Luckily she was!  I filled out my paperwork and did all my blood work while they figured it out.  Luckily, Dr. Steinke had a cancellation that morning so they could fit me in.  As much work as I went to to schedule my morning at school I wasn't going to do it again.  Even with all the mix ups I still made it back to school right when I had planned too!  

Dr. Steinke said everything looked/sounded great.  It took a fill in nurse (from another Dr. who doesn't even do babies), the Med Student and Dr. Steinke (twice) to find the heartbeat.  As I laid there I just remember my school nurse saying sometimes it's too early to hear the heartbeat so just relax.  That kept running through my mind so I stayed as calm as I could.  I was finally able to hear the heartbeat on top of all the stupid static from the doppler.  

My current weight:  124 pounds

Heartbeat: 150 bpm

Ultra Sound #1...

The Saturday before Easter we were able to get in for our first ultrasound.  It made it seem so much more real being able to see our little one on the screen.  There is nothing like the experience of seeing your new little blessing.  

Holding or clapping it's hands.

Heartbeat 158 bpm!  

Look at those long legs; definitely Daddy's legs.  

Baby Dudo

Measured right at 12 weeks!

Due Date:  October 12, 2013

We are extremely blessed and can't wait to be a family of four!

"It's Broken!"

Kurtis and I have been talking about when we were going to get rid of the binky and we always debated wether to wait prior to big boy room, after big boy room, etc. Then with me falling asleep every night between 8-8:30 lack of sleep was the last thing I needed/wanted. Landon has always been attached to his binky, so we were a little worried. We had it down to just nap time and bedtime which wasn't bothering us at all.  

However,  we were sitting downstairs talking about how big he has gotten and he's such a little boy now.  Friday just felt like the day to give it a try.  I went upstairs and cut it off.  I brought it back down and told him it was broken.  He looked at it awhile and kept telling us it was broken.  We asked Landon what we should do with it and he willingly said, "throw it away".  He walked it over to the trash can and threw it out.  

Landon didn't say a peep about it the rest of the night.  Then...it was bedtime.  We took Landon up and tucked him in, it took him about 5 minutes to realize he was missing something.  He kept saying binky broken and binky for babies over and over.  Then he started to cry a little asking for it and I told him it was broken.  I ran downstairs and got it out of the trash to show him.  (Don't worry just took the trash out so it was the only thing in there)  I handed it to him and he automatically stopped crying and he laid down holding it.  About 10 minutes later I hear, "Mommy!"  I went in his room and he said "binky broken" and he handed it to me,  laid back down and went to sleep.  What an easy transition!  All night I laid there wondering when it was going to hit and it never did.  This morning we celebrated what a big boy he was, so hopefully the rest of the week's naps and bedtimes go as smoothly.  

Patience and one step at a time is my new motto; he'll be ready when he's ready!  

Go Storm!

On Friday night the Tri-City Storm had a special Grand Island teacher event.  Five of our playmate families (kids and husbands included) headed to Kearney for a fun filled night of hockey. Prior to the game starting they provided us with appetizers and drinks.  During the game they also gave us a free pop and popcorn!  Woo hoo! Needless to say, Landon LOVED the game.  The entire night he kept yelling "Go, go, go" and "No crash."  Every time they'd hit each other or fun into the glass he thought they were crashing.  He definitely loves his sports!

Just Landon and I.   

Daddy was working the Danger game which happened to fall on the same night.

Pre-Game upstairs.  We got to watch them get everything ready.

My favorite picture from the entire night.  

Landon and Hayden were so into everything.  Hayden kept asking the man next to them all about what was happening.  Cutest thing ever!  

We ended up staying until the beginning of the third period (9:40 p.m.-way past Landon's bedtime) when Landon decided to have a huge breakdown.  Not sure who even won!  

It was a great night overall with great friends!  

Happy 29th Birthday to Me!

While in Hays over spring break my mom and Landon made me birthday cupcakes.  Landon helped grandma frost and sprinkle them.  

Gotta love sprinkles!

 On my actual birthday morning I actually got to sleep in for awhile which was so nice. Kurtis didn't have to play at church so we made pancakes together as a family and spent the day relaxing which was much needed.  Later that evening my brother and sister-in-law came to GI to watch Landon so that we could go out to supper as a couple prior to going to our Financial Peace class at church.  Kurtis and I decided to go to Wasabi (one of our favorites).  

Happy Birthday mommy!  

My birthday/pre-5 year anniversary present from Kurtis; another band for my ring!  LOVE IT!!

Last year of the 20's here we go!  

FHSU Sternberg Museum

On Friday of spring break my dad took off the day to spend time with us.  He went in first thing in the morning to line the guys up but then we met him at iHop for breakfast. Landon was extremely excited for pancakes.  He ordered the kids pancakes (2) with strawberries and eggs.  He ate every single last piece of his breakfast.  Definitely loves his breakfast!  After breakfast we headed to the Fort Hays State Sternberg Museum.  My parents had taken him there when he was a lot littler but this time he actually knew what he was looking at.  

Checking out the lion!

They had a snake exhibit there so we got to see all different types of live snakes.  

There were also lots of fossils to look at.

Then off to see the dinosaur.  The dinosaur was HUGE and when you walked by him he turned on and moved.  Landon wasn't too sure; they had a love/hate relationship.   

Landon with Grandma and Papa (and the dinosaur)

My dad trying to convince him that it was ok.

Still keeping his eyes on him.  

The kids exploration room had dinosaurs more his size!  

Digging for fossils!