Well we have started the second trimester! Here is my end of the first picture (13 weeks along):

My stomach is pooching and swollen, but other than that I think I look alright :-). I went to the doctor on Friday and heard the heartbeat (150-160bpm). I gained 3 lbs. Ugh. Not looking forward to the weight gain. Dr. Nolan also told me I could take Pepcid to help with my stomach since I always feel worse after I eat than before. It has helped, but I'm not a big fan of taking medicine while I'm pregnant. When I was pregnant with Kaitlyn, I fought going to the doctor for my sinus infection b/c I knew I would have to take antibiotics. I just don't like it and get protective of my body while pregnant.

We've been working on picking names. We want to use names from my side of the family. I want to use my Grandpa's middle name in a boy's name and use my middle name if it's a girl. I think we are getting close to having names but no announcement yet. Stay tuned.

Anyway, besides staying out of the awful heat, not much going on pregnancy wise. We will have our ultrasound September 3rd. We are excited to know who is in there, and to see if Kaitlyns prayers for a sister worked or not :-).

"Lead Me"

I love this new song. It's my prayer that Jarod would have this desire for God to lead him as my husband and as a Daddy. It's also the kind of man I pray for Kaitlyn (someone like her Daddy) and for my boys to be when they grow up(like Jarod). Hope you like it.

Howdy!

I am closing in on the end of the first trimester! Woohoo! Today I am 12 weeks and looking like I'm 4 months along :-)! I love my pooch, though. I am already so in love with this child and excited to see who it is God is creating inside me. I am eager for when I can feel it move- just so I can fall in love even more. It's going by quickly.

Speaking of going by quickly, the summer is flying. I start working at the preschool in just a matter of weeks. The boys start school August 12, and I feel like there is still so much to do before then. It's been a good summer. We haven't done much or gone on any fancy trips, but we've just spent a lot of time as a family. I love my family! Even on boring, rainy days like today, I cherish them.

We get to participate in VBS next week. It's going to be a lot of fun. They have put a giant ship on the stage- and it takes up half the stage (which if you've been in our auditorium you know how big it is!). The theme is "High Seas Adventures." We are all looking forward to it!

We had a good 4th. We spent the first part of the evening swimming and grilling out at Rob and Sandy's house (the preacher here). Our kids absolutely love spending time with their kids. They swam for almost 3 hours straight and were so well behaved and had a good time. It was nice to sit in the beautiful weather and just chat. Then we went over to our friends David and Michelle's for fireworks and more hanging out. It was a lot of fun and we were all there till almost midnight. The kids did amazing! They got tired at the end but were troopers. We got some waterproof black cats (they burn slower) and all 3 of our kids lite them! Big stuff! :-) Then we all came home and crashed and slept in the next morning! :-)

It's July!

* Hey world! It's been a while, I know. I've been busy and honestly, when I have a moment to write, I am either too sick or too tired to do so. But thankfully the nausea has eased up, and I can eat food again. The tiredness is in full effect, so I don't get as much done during the day as I usually do. But that's okay- it will pass soon enough.

* This week I've been watching 2 more little girls. They are 3 and 4 months old, so add that to my own kids and Ellie, who is 16 mo., and it's a busy household. I'm one tired chica from that alone! They are all good, it's just a lot of little hands to watch. It's a blessing though. We have to prepay my OB by October and watching them the next couple weeks will pay for over half of that. So I'm thankful for that.

* We got to go see Jarod's family a couple weeks ago. Jarod and I stayed at Mindy's house and our kids stayed with Grandma and Grandpa. It was great to get to see Mindy and Nathan's house. She is sooo cute pregnant! She is due at the end of this month, and she is stinking adorable! I can't wait to meet little Nate!

* Our kids took swim lessons last week. They did great! Ethan is swimming on his own now. We still have to watch him, but he can jump in the pool and swim to the side and swim all over. He is part fish I think! Sean took some giant steps this year. For a boy that was so scared of water just a year ago, he gained so much confidence. He was even swimming (not using his arms but floating and kicking) on his own. He even put his face in the water! Kaitlyn was working on kicking and pool safety. By the way, she is so tan- she definitely got Jarod's skin tone and not mine!

* We have VBS a week from Monday! The kids are excited! It was one of my favorite weeks last year, so I am pumped! Can you believe it's already July??