Baby Announcement

This week we excitedly announced publicly, to the world of social media, our baby news!

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR, WE'RE EXPECTING NUMBER FOUR!

We are all excited to announce we're adding another one to this crazy bunch, come February! And we are all bursting at the seams to find out what baby will be at the end of the week... Boy or Girl?

  Everyone was very loving and supportive, I'll be honest I was expecting a little worldly shock. 

Mainly because we get a lot of that when we are out and about as a family, which we do often. But hey we are more than thrilled for baby #4 and all the onlookers that give us the crazy googling can move along. 

Baby #4

Baby #4 is on the way, and we are so excited and happy to welcome our newest addition, in February.

When we first found out our news (June 10th) which we had been hoping for (and I had been all but sure of) but not expecting so soon, we told our families and Connor and Bella (and Sydney) as well.  

I worried a little that Connor would spill the beans at church sometime to his teacher, HE WAS SO EXCITED. And as I was getting sick A LOT and kept saying "Baby is growing and it is making Mommy sick" I knew it was only a matter of time. One Sunday Shea got a "CONGRATS" at church and we knew Connor was the culprit, fortunately, his teacher was sweet enough to keep it to herself until we announce. 

I went to the doctor in July, with only nausea and exhaustion to complain of, and we left with a picture of our perfectly healthy growing jellybean :)

My official due date is February 14th, Valentine's Day!

My growing belly bump is currently 17 weeks.

I am doing pretty good now. My morning sickness has subsided for the most part and I wish I could say I have been boosted with a bunch of energy as the second trimester started, but sadly I seem to only feel slightly less sluggish. My headaches haven't been as severe lately and life seems to be turning back to normalcy, as in I can regain control of everything since my stomach is getting stronger. My pants are fitting a little snug now and I'm happy to report that "I think" my bump is starting to get a little more defined, which is always nice because the in between bump stage is far from me favorite. I have had a few more aches and pains it seems with this pregnancy, but for the most part I am truly lucky and feel grateful that I am happy and healthy and doing well! 

And I am also happy to report that baby is perfectly healthy too.

Lately I have started feeling baby move, although I have felt a lot of fluttering in the past weeks, lately it seems so much more certain and I recently felt baby move with my hand for the first time as well. Which is always a milestone for me. I tried to get Shea to feel too but then baby started moving a little less and then changed directions. So we will have to wait a little time on that milestone. 

Both Connor and Bella have been so excited and have asked a lot about baby and when baby is coming. We have to explain a lot that baby will not come for a long time, after Christmas. And while we wait we have thrown around some names being:

Boy: Easton Shea, Dean

Girl: Piper, Avery

And Connor has been throwing around a few recommendations as well, he loves to give input...

"Mommy when we have this next child can we name him Burpee?",

his most popular suggestion being "armor death".

Bella hilarious is a bit confused and mostly thinks that new baby is going to replace Sydney and although we have tried to explain again and again. I still have her ask "So we're getting a new baby because Sydney's bad?"

Right now we are longingly awaiting the 20 week gender ultrasound.

RITA's ICE

An after school snack out ...

and some attitude, just for fun.

Our Idaho Visitors.

Our September began with a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Stanger.

Shea had to work most of the time considering he had just put in his two week notice for Booz Allen and was preparing to start his new job at Deloitte.

We spent a lot of time at home hanging around the house waiting for both Connor and Shea to come home.

We loved spending breakfast with everyone, especially Grandpa and Grandma.

Connor had school all week, which was hard to be excited about when he knew he was leaving Grandpa and Grandma.
Fortunately Grandpa was able to help take Connor and pick him up, and even surprise him at lunch with Shea one day.

Grandpa always spoiled the kids with the tablet which they fullheartedly loved.

Connor's newest passion is for LEGOS and playing LEGOS with grandpa was both hilarious and quite possibly Connor's favorite part of their visit.

We took a trip to CHUCK E CHEESE one night.

Connor was go go go as expected!
Bella was entertained and loved watching the Chuckee Mouse from afar as he led a parade. She followed too keeping his distance and in the end she got a whole bunch of tickets; which she was very proud about and told everyone repeatedly.
Sydney wanted nothing more than to be free to explore independently, which wasn't always easy.

Sydney was really curious about this fellow...

Bella enjoyed an afternoon TEA PARTY with Grandma!

When the weekend finally came we enjoyed a day at the park, feeding ducks and a picnic dinner.
Which of course was accompanied by exhaustion and tantrums.

That night Grandpa also treated us to Dunkin Donuts for dessert!
Yep we were spoiled.

Saturday was bittersweet. We had a big day. Playing in the pool at Grandma and Grandpa's hotel (with Marco Polo hilarity) and going to Dave and Buster's for Lunch and Games, AND going to Chick Fil A for dinner. 

Then it was time for goodbyes. The worst kind. 

Their visit was too quick and now we miss them already.