32 weeks

For the record books, my 32 week picture (14 lbs gained).. oh the ever growing belly! Love being prego!

So many changes coming our way . . .

I think if I just write about all the changes that would stress a normal person out past their limits will help so I don't have to stress about them.

1) 7 weeks: Courtland and I both graduate from BYU! And let me say just thinking about it makes me cry because it has been a long time coming for me- I have been in school WAY too long! Courtland is getting his master's and I'm getting my bachelor's- both in accounting.

2) 7-8 weeks: We have to put all our stuff into storage for the summer, clean our apartment, and move out up to my parents

3) 8 weeks: Our baby boy will make his debut! My doctor said if all is well he'll take me a week early- but my actual due date is May 5th. (I'm actually hoping just maybe he'll come two weeks early on his own and my professors will just give me a pass on my finals- ha! I do go to BYU but probably not likely..)

4) 9 weeks: Courtland will move to New Jersey to start our last summer of 'summer sales'

5) 12 weeks: Mckell, baby boy, and I will join Courtland in New Jersey for the rest of the summer (until about the end of August)

6) end of August: We will drive back from New Jersey, purchase a second car at some point, get all our stuff out of storage, and move to San Jose, CA.

7) September: Courtland will start working for PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) full time- (which if you know about the big four is way more than full time which applies to me as well)

8) October: I will start working for Ernst & Young (EY) full time.

So many huge changes are fast approaching and I have so many mixed feelings it's just easier not to think about it and let it happen as it comes. Life truly never does slow down, it just brings new adventures and challenges at every step of the way!

30 weeks

My 30 week update picture (12lbs gained)- pretty sure I'm bigger than I was with Mckell . . . But as Courtland now knows- I'M the only one allowed to say that! ha

This pregnancy has been completely night and day compared to when I was prego with Kell. I swear I've felt this baby moving since like 8 weeks- which I'm pretty sure is impossible, but he is SO DANG ACTIVE. He is constantly kicking and squirming around- even waking me up in the night from all the moving. I don't really remember not being able to sleep until about 37 weeks with Kell, and it's already super uncomfortable just in general all the time (maybe because of the bigger thing). I constantly have heartburn and eat tums like they're candy and before rarely had heartburn. I want to eat all the time, where with Kell I never felt like eating. I was much MUCH sicker with this boy (I started feeling better with Kell at about 14 weeks) not feeling better until about 22 weeks this time around. My skin is always burning like it's been stretched way past it's limits and looks like I got rug burn. . . and on and on- Oh the joys of pregnancy! But I am so excited to meet this little man so soon and can see the end coming- I am especially curious to see if he looks more like me and is chubby like I was. . . hopefully not though- I really don't want to birth a big baby- Kell was the perfect size at 6lbs 15oz.

One of the many faces of Mckell

Because we had no school President's Day- Courtland went ice fishing with some friends. One thing I have learned about Courtland since we've been married is that he LOVES to fish, who knew?

Courtland insisted on taking this picture and the only reason I'm posting it is because there is a story. . . he is OBSESSED with this hat. I never knew what a big deal a hat could be. It took three different mall visits to finally decide on it and is brought up in our conversations at least twice a day- pretty soon it's going to magically disappear! ha (and I'm sure all of you are scratching your heads wondering what I am talking about- you just don't want to know!)

Some people have started saying Kell's looking more like her mamma- but I still don't see it. I think she's all Courtland, with a bit of my sassy personality!

This girl LOVES bath time- she runs to the tub anytime it's mentioned and tries to get in on her own (once actually getting in and falling on her head- ouch).

Don't mind me in the pic, but this is what happens when you tell Kell no- big alligator tears, it's as if you just broke her little heart, which makes it so tempting to just give into what ever she wants- we're in trouble for sure!

Obsessed with ducks!

Mckell is obsessed with ducks and it finally felt warm outside so we went to the duck pond. She was in heaven the whole time throwing bread to the ducks and eating it herself, blowing them kisses, and making 'quack' noises.

Our valentine's was low key this year because we both had lots of homework, but Courtland did get me roses and my favorite candy. I got Courtland a new wedding ring (he lost his over a year ago). And we went to dinner at Pizza Pie Cafe- the place we thought would be the least crowded. (almost 28 weeks)

Poor little thang...

I swear Mckell has been sick since before Christmas and hasn't really gotten better. Over the Christmas break she had the flu twice followed by ear infections. Then the day after she finished her antibiotics she got a bad cold- runny nose and bad cough thing with diarrhea followed with throwing up for a few days. Then constipated. Which brings me to last week- She's had a fever on and off since last Monday and the diarrhea returned (which makes for TONS of blowouts and laundry). So I took her to the doctor last Friday and he didn't really say much. All the while she refuses to eat- literally, not even treats. And Sunday she some how woke up with pink eye even though I haven't taken her out. So we went to the doctor again and found out she also has ear infections- again! Poor girl! She just can't seem to get better but it doesn't seem to slow her down too much- she still runs and plays but has had much more snuggle time with mom and dad.

Mckell is getting smarter and learning new things everyday which is so fun to watch. Some of her most used words are 'hel peas' (help please), 'cracka' (cracker), 'coo-kie', book, eat, 'thans' (thanks), mine, baby, elmo, 'belly butt' (belly button), 'bah bah' (bottle- I know! I'm weaning her off still, she still has one at bedtime, ops), 'na night', dance, and many more. She will pretty much say anything you tell her to or at least try to. She loves looking at books and pointing to things saying what they are. My favorite is when I say, "Do you want to sing" and she says "a, b, c" to start singing the alphabet. She also loves doing the itsy bitsy spider and just singing and dancing in general. Another thing I love is when when she tells me she's ready for bed or her nap (the girl still takes two naps a day and sleeps 12 hours at night). She'll get her blanket and baby and say 'bah bah na night.' What parent wouldn't love this?! She is so much fun at this age and I can't believe how big she's getting. Sometimes I just look at her and wonder how she's gotten so big because I still think of her as my little baby. Now if only we could get her all healthy again....

Our baby loves to cheese it!

I finally cut Mckell's bangs because they were getting ridiculous. They look pretty choppy but I did the best I could with this little wiggle worm.

Mckell loves to say 'cheese' and show off her growing number of teeth- notice the huge gap between her front teeth, I've heard that's actually a good thing? Makes for straighter teeth or something? Anyway, she currently has her 4 front teeth with two molars coming in on top and 3 front teeth with the other one and two molars on bottom coming in and the girl likes to use them. She'll out of no where come up and just bite you as hard as she can- and it HURTS! Who knew such a little thing could draw blood and how do you teach a 17 month old not to bite?

Mckell wearing daddy's hat

love the after pony hair

And my 27 week picture update (8lbs gained)- for some reason it's not as fun to take 'belly' pictures the second time around- especially when people tell you you're bigger than with the first. Seriously people?! No girl wants to hear that- just always tell her she looks good and you'll be much better off.

Mckell's 15 month check up stats

Courtland is figuring out Mckell's new 'big girl' carseat in the background. We finally got her a convertible carseat to ride forward in even though she's still a little under 20lbs- we caved! And she's much happier in the car now, loving that she can see us and out the windows.

Mckell's 15 month check up stats:
weight: 19lbs 11oz, 8%
Height: 30.5", 53.3%
head circumference: 18", 46.5%

What happens when you're pregnant...

When you're pregnant, you make crazy decisions- it's what I call 'pregnancy brain'.

How long my hair.... was

BEFORE

AFTER... darker and all chopped off! Thanks Ali- love it!

My first belly picture (funny how you take tons of them with your first and avoid it with the next).

23 weeks and 3lbs gained

2nd instance of 'pregnancy brain'... I ran into my mom's parked car while parking- driving forward- PATHETIC!! There are no words but plain stupidity!

This one, not my fault. I got rear-ended on my way to school. When it rains, it pours.

Christmas at the Rabe's

We opened more presents at my parent's house- we were spoiled by both our families.

Mckell with her cell phone, necklaces, and purse- pretty cute.

Mckell and Graham playing on the stairs. Mckell loved following him, but mostly Sophie around. It was fun to watch her interact with her cousins.

Playing in the dirt, that's my child.

Running wild!

Courtland and Blake getting heated in settlers, we played lots of settlers and monopoly over the break.

Loves snuggling with her baby.

Christmas morning at the Astill's

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas morning at the Astill's. We had a great time playing games, eating yummy food, and just hanging out. Thanks Astill's!!