Wordless Wednesday

Number 2: She's a girl!!!

That's right we are expecting another little girl! We had our 20 week ultrasound today and found out that the little thing rolling around in my tummy is GIRL!

Brinley and number 2 (for lack of a better name at this point) will be 21 months apart. Just what we wanted. I am due on August 13th. Don't worry, all of my siblings have already made me aware that this date doesn't work for them so we have decided that August 6th is a better date. So that's what we are shooting for :)

I am a little bit nervous about having a baby in Greenville, Mississippi. I had a great experience having Brin at Orem Community hospital with a great doctor. I have already heard about some bad experiences having babies here. But it's going to happen anyway. Luckily I feel fairly confident with my doctor. Just hoping that it all works out which I am sure it will.

This pregnancy so far has been...well not as much fun as the last (not that it was fun either). I have been a LOT sicker than I was with Brinley, and it is just barely starting to slow down. I am extremely grateful for some of the marvels of modern medicine, namely anti-nausea medication. When I was prego with Brin you couldn't really tell that I was even pregnant at 20 weeks. This time there is no question I look pregnant. I guess you just balloon up faster with your second.

We are trying to help Brinley understand that she going to be a big sister. She knows what babies are, so we always point to my belly and tell her there is a baby in there. Yesterday, she lifted up my shirt and gave my stomach kisses over and over again. She knows something is going on in there! It was a perfect moment. My little girl is growing up.

We are so excited that Brinley is going to have a little sister. And I guess it's pretty great that I get to be a mommy to TWO kidlets. We can't wait for our little family to grow, yet at the same time it is coming all too quickly.

Wordless Wednesday

One of my favorite things that my sister Kristen does on her awesome blog is something called Wordless Wednesday- so in honor of my sister...

The Wuv of my Wife

Well it's pretty awesome when I intend to post about how amazing my wife is for her birthday and instead she posts about me. Not saying I'm not amazing or anything, but the world needs to know how amazing she is. She is always thinking of others, even on her birthday.

Happy (late) Birthday Christa! You are an incredible wife. You treat me with kindness every moment (even when you punch my arm to see if I'm still strong and tough).

I think one way to measure all you do is not by how much you get done in a day but by how much you influence others every day. Your influence is everywhere. You inspire me to be nicer, harder working, tougher, stronger, more tender, more caring, more spontaneous, more loving, and more selfless. You influence me in every possible way by your example. You are always thinking of people other than yourself.

You influence Brinley, teaching her to be happy, smile, love books, help her eat right, explore, make friends, and in general be the amazing little girl she is.

You put Brinley and our family ahead of your personal desires. I can't explain how special and unique you are in a world that shouts "take care of YOURSELF first, do what YOU want to do, live YOUR life to the fullest, and if you have time and feel like it and are that type of person THEN think of others and family. But only when it's convenient."

You have committed every day to our family when it's convenient and especially when it's not. We have committed our whole lives to each other. It has been the best decision I could have ever made - to be forever linked to you.

You are the most amazing person and I will forever thank my Father in Heaven for you.

I love you,

Brent (and Brinley)

Best husband ever

I just have to say how seriously impressed I was with my husband last week. For my birthday he made me this beautiful cake (with no help from me). If you know Brent, cooking is not really his thing so this was awesome. It was my favorite: angel food cake with lemon whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

He even wore my apron while cooking. I love you Brent! Thanks for the great birthday!

My little climber

This girl is growing up too fast. Lately she thinks she can do anything, demonstrated by these photos:

She loves climbing on everything, but especially loves trying to climb from one piece of furniture to the next! She's definitely keeping us on our toes. She also will climb up onto the coffee table and then just sit on it like it's a chair (she didn't get this one from me, but I don't know, maybe from Brent). I found her like this the other day. She just makes me laugh.

She loves wearing her backpack and putting stuff into it. And chapstick. She loves chapstick. I am not quite sure why she loves it because she has never even put it on and hardly seen me put it on. She just likes the container or something. Luckily she hasn't yet figured out that the top comes off because I am sure she would love tasting it too.

What would we do without her?