We're excited to announce...........

We are expecting a

BOY

May 5 (hopefully sooner) 2011!

This pregnancy thus far has been extremely challenging- probably getting me back for bragging about how much I liked being pregnant with Mckell and couldn't wait to be pregnant again! I can definitely say, I do NOT like being pregnant this time around but it will all be worth it in the end. I've probably been a lot more sick and had more problems just due to being busier and more stressed with Courtland and I both going to school full time and taking care of kell. I've had to go to hospital twice for dehydration and had a streak of an ongoing headache/migraine and throwing up at least 5 times a day, EVERYDAY for a month straight. And the same about every other day before and after that month- but I'm overly ecstatic to say I haven't puked in over a week now (about time since I'm now 20 weeks!), so I'm crossing my fingers! The only benefit to keeping food down is I haven't gained but lost 5 lbs- so not worth it though! I'm sure the lbs will be packing on soon with the way I've been eating and having lots of cravings.

The semester is almost over (thank goodness) and we both have one final to go and then we're home free and excited to relax and enjoy the holiday break!

Can you believe how big she's getting! She is so full of personality, I just love it!

I've been able to get a pony in her hair for a while now but I've finally figured out how to get her to let me put one in and I love it.

Family Pictures

My sweet friend from high school took some family photos and Mckell's one year old pics towards the end of October. She did a great job even though Mckell was not a happy girl when we did the family ones. So we decided to try another day for the ones of just her and she was in a much better mode.

I just can't get enough of her dark brown eyes! They are such a surprise to me considering I have blue and Courtland has hazel (mostly blue) eyes. We're not sure where she gets the dark brown from because never side has anyone with brown eyes.

Mckell is getting so big- it's especially weird to see her tiny little body up and walking around now. She was half walking for a long time but just after she turned 13 months, she began to full on walk. She insists on eating everything we are eating and wants to do it by herself (which makes for much messier meal times).

Her favorite words right now are duck and no. She loves that she can boss Lucy around and constantly tells her no! She is still a super star sleeper, sleeping about 12 hours a night and takes two naps a day that are two hours each- sometimes even longer!

Her cute personality is shinning through and I can tell she's got all her mom's sass- I'm in definite trouble! I guess that's what you call pay back right mom?! ha

This new little baby coming in May is sure going to give her a run for her money when she's no longer the center of attention and has to split between her and her sibling.

Introducing Madison Squire!

Baby girl Madison Squire was born Nov. 16th, 8lbs and 6oz, 21 1/2 inches. Congrats Cassi and Brock, she's gorgeous!

Like daddy like daughter!

It's very obvious who this little girl looks like- her daddy! And she absolutely adores him- I'm sad to say she usually picks him over me (but I swear it's only because he doesn't do the mean things to her like wipe her nose and change her bum when it's sore).

This is what happens when you give her an oreo to eat all by herself- too much fun!

Friend Halloween Party at Rachael's

Rachael hosted our friend Halloween party this year and it was a hit! She did a lot of work putting it together and preparing- we had a blast!

Courtland and I dressed up as Juno and Bleaker from the movie Juno.

And NO, I am not really that big already- that is stuffing! ha

Mckell was our little lady bug- she loved watching all the other little kids playing.

Rachael and Matt from avitar and their little witch Kambree

Jodi and Kyle from the movie Up! They won best cotumes

Everyone at the party except Nick and Shaylee who came late.

playing fun games

Thanks Rachael! You put on one heck of a party!

Ward trunk-or-treat

We went to our ward trunk-or-treat so Mckell could experience halloween- though she was too little to know what was going on.

We did a guess game for the kids, if they guessed the right cup they got two treats instead of one.

Mckell was a ladybug

It's been awhile!

Well it has been a long time since I've updated but I'm going to catch up by Christmas-ha!

Here are a few pictures of Mckell's crazy hair- she has stick straight hair that sticks straight up! And she refuses to let me put any sort of bows, elastics, or anything- so for now she insists on being a bit scraggly looking but we sure love her!

Lucy is always freezing now that it has turned cold and our apartment has no insulation.

Courtland's Birthday and the Competition Ends!

So we ended our weight loss competition a few days before Courtland's birthday and the results were extremely close! Courtland lost two more pounds than me but my percentage was 2/10ths better than his so I WON!!! And if I hadn't won, I'm sure I'd plea my case that I was actually pregnant the whole competition as well so it was not fair to begin with- ha. Anyway, thankfully I did not have to get Courtland halo for his birthday, but that left me with no ideas of what to get him because that is literally all he wanted. Instead he ended up with a new battery for his computer that was completely dead, a wireless mouse, and some clothes- nothing exciting, sorry babe! He did get the traditional breakfast in bed, no Mckell duties for the day, and his favorite dinner. We're not the biggest on birthday celebrations, but I wish we were. Anyone have fun traditions they do every year or things that make birthdays more exciting- we can apply them to my birthday coming up this Friday- ha!

Mckell's actual Birthday

On Mckell's actual birthday we gave her a cupcake to eat instead of the messy cake and she loved it! This time she didn't cry or anything but dug right in and ate up the whole thing laughing and giggling the entire time- the joys of being one!

We took her for her one year check up a few days later and these were her stats:

Weight: 18.19lbs, 8.96%

Height: 29.25", 56.98%

Head: 17.59", 38.9%

Basically I have a skinny little thing that still can fit into 3-6 month bottoms but I'm now putting 6-12 month on her anyway. She is just the cutest little thing and my new favorite thing she's doing is every time Lucy barks or growls, Mckell shakes her finger at her and says no no! And of course we can't get enough of her hugs and kisses- so precious!

Mckell's surprise present at her party....

That's right, baby Astill #2 is on it's way!!!! I don't think we were quite expecting to be pregnant yet but we're excited none the less. At Mckell's birthday party, for her last present to open, it was a shirt that says "Big Sisters Rock." I don't know if everyone really understood at first, but then my mom said, "Uh is that some kind of announcement?" And yes it was- so the cat's out of the bag!! Interesting thing about 'pee sticks' as I call them... I kinda thought I might be pregnant so I sneakily bought a three pack test and the first one was negative. But after a week of still no you know what, I took a second test. This one was just faintly positive and because I wasn't going to need the third test anytime soon- a few days later I took the third. Anyway, I haven't been to the doctor yet, but it's not my style to hold in the news- but we think the baby will arrive sometime the end of April, beginning of May!

As far as school goes- no worries, I'm still going! I'm determined to FINALLY graduate! Courtland and I both will graduate in April and I can not begin to express what a relief it will be. I have seriously been in college FOREVER!

Mckell's very first birthday party!!!

We celebrated Mckell's first birthday last weekend! She had a lot of fun even though she wasn't feeling very well with ear infections.

Mckell and her daddy

Mckell sitting in her new rocking chair she got from G&G Rabe

Playing with Aunt Allison and grandma Astill

Gr. G&G Critchlow were so sweet to come out to the party

My friends Rachael, Cassi, and Ali also came to help celebrate

Mckell loved opening all her presents, her favorites have been her baby from us and lap top from G&G Astill

Tessa, Kambree, and Mckell checking out the new toys

And of course the traditional 'eat your very own cake'

She was just curious at first

and confused because we were letting her get it all over her hands and didn't know quite what to think

But ended up not too happy because she couldn't get the frosting off her hands, didn't help she wasn't feeling well too. None of us wanted to hold her and she was just screaming reaching for us. We were all just laughing at her, poor girl!

Getting cleaned up in the tub

Sporting her new jammies from the Astill's

Eating some veggies, we had forgotten to feed her real food in all the commotion. And a shout out to Rachael for putting Mckell's hair in her very first pony! I'm going to have to practice to get one in- she always screams every time I try.

Mckell sure had a fun birthday party. Thanks everyone for coming and helping make her first birthday a hit!