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We are expecting! :)

Chris and I are so excited to announce that we are expecting a baby on April 4th!  It is a true blessing and we couldn't be more thankful!  We are looking forward to holding, cuddling and loving this sweet little baby.

We had decided to wait a little bit to tell Caden and Berkley but apparently Caden is way too observant these days.  One day after work I was in the bathroom changing out of my work clothes...Caden then looked at my belly then looked back up at me.  Her eyes were the size of sandollars...and she said "Mommy, you have a baby in your tummy...Did you know that?!"  I don't think I will ever forget that moment.  It was the cutest thing.  I remember just soaking in the moment and smiling at her.  After saying those two sentences she then placed her right hand on my belly and said..."I can feel the baby!"  After soaking all of this in I then replied to her "You know what Caden...you're right.  I do have a baby in my belly!"

We then told Berkley the good news!  She was SO excited!  She began to clap her hands and say "Yay, Yay, Yay!"  It was just precious.

I am now 15 weeks and had an appointment yesterday.  The doctor was pleased with everything!  I have been very nauseated but it finally eased up around 14 weeks.  My only complaint this pregnancy is that I am so tired!!  I am not sure though if that is because I am pregnant or because I am working and trying to care for 2 other children.  The doctor said I am measuring 17 weeks at this point but said that is typical.  Caden was able to go with me yesterday.  It was really neat for her to get to hear the baby's heartbeat.  The heartbeat was fluctuating around the high 150s...  We find out what we are having November 5th.  We can not wait to find out!

Here is a pic when I was 12 weeks along...September 25, 2012

Trip to Latta Plantation

We met Caity, Bennet and their parents at Latta Plantation today...they were having a Halloween festival.  After the festival we were able to walk around the hourse stalls and pet the horses.  Caden didn't like they way they smelled but enjoyed getting to look at them....Berkley loved it all but was a little hesitate in petting them.

Disney on Ice

We took Caden and Berkley to Disney on Ice for Cadens birthday.  They loved the show.  As soon as we got there we found our seats...we were there 40 min early...but Caden wouldn't leave her seat becaise she was so afraid she was going to miss something.  The girls were so good the whole time and they enjoyed every minute.  Caden loved the Little Mermaid performance! 

Under the weather...and a very big thank you!

Well I have been quite under the weather since Tuesday...fever, chills, body aches and sore throat.  I still cannot kick it...I would greatly appreciate any prayers you want to lift up in my name! ;)

Thank goodness my mom was here to help out.  She was in town to watch the girls while I was at work but it actually turned out that she cared for me, Chris and the girls.  We are so thankful for her.  She helped us out by doing all of our laundry, ironed our clothes, cooked us a hot meal each night, went grocery shopping for us, took the girls to school and many more things...thank you mom!  We greatly appreciate it.

First Day of Preschool ~ Fall 2012

Caden and Berkley started back at Providence Baptist Church Preschool today.  Caden is in the 4's class and Berkley is in the 2's class.  Caden was so excited to get back to school and be with her "real friends"...for those of you that don't know.  Caden was held back this summer due to her birthday...therefore all of her friends moved up to the 4's class before her.  Needless to say she has been asking us all summer "is it Fall yet?!?"  In all reality Caden should be in the 3's class this year but when she was 1 we decided to move her up a year because she fit in much better with the older girls.  As of know I think it was a good decision.  She loves her friends so much!  Berkley on the other hand is not a fan of Preschool!  She cries when we leave her and any time you ask her about school she says "NO!"  I hope this improves...her teachers say that once she is in the class she does very well though!

Oh my...I'm a little behind! ;)

Sorry I have been M.I.A. lately!  I have a lot to catch everyone up with.  Things have been quite busy around here lately!

What a great summer we have had though!  We were able to travel a bunch and see lots of family and friends.  We have also gained two precious little boys into our family this summer...Jackson and Charles.  Jackson was born in May and Charles was born in July!  We have been able to meet Jackson but are still anxiously waiting to meet sweet baby Charles.

Caden and Berkley have grown tremendously this summer.  They are both such great girls and we are so proud of them.  They are so polite and love each other so much.  They have really started playing well together over the past month.  The love to play dress-up, play with their dolls, play outside, color together and many more fun things.

We had to say good-bye to our sweet sitter Emily a couple of weeks ago because she had to go back to school.  She has been our sitter/nanny for the past 6 months.  We are going to miss her but are very thankful she took such good care of our girls while we were at work.  We are now on the hunt again for another sitter...let me tell you...it is not a fun thing to do.  It is so hard for me to allow someone into our home and have full control over my girls while I am working.  Wish us luck in our hunt.

I will post a few pics and updates of the girls in a little bit...

Caden at mimi and poppa's beach house

Berkley and one of her favorite babies

Berkley lately...

Berkley has grown up a lot over the last several months.  She is now 22 months old.  I now look at her and think...she's not a baby any more.  So far...I do not find myself "missing the baby stage"...I love embracing each new stage in her life.  It is so much fun to watch her grow and develop.  She is quite the independent little girl now.  She wants to do everything herself.  This is a great quality...to be independent but it takes us forever to do anything! :)  I love her so much and couldn't imagine life without her and Caden.  Chris and I feel so blessed to have two amazing little girls.

Lately they have taught me to stop and enjoy the little things.  I often get carried away with work, cleaning, running errands, cooking, etc...and forget to stop and enjoy the little moments. When I do stop and take a moment I realize how much they love life and learning all about the world.  If we all could stop and see the world through a child's eyes we would appreciate all of Gods gifts so much more.  They see good in all things! :)  I learn so much from them and can't wait to see what the good Lord has in store for them.

Here are a few things Berkley is up to these days:

• putting two to three words together
• still not talking very clearly but Chris, Caden and myself have gotten real good at figuring out what she is saying! ;)
• still loves her paci!  we try to only give it to her at nap/bedtime 
• carries her duckie every where...she takes one particular corner and rubs it along the bottom part of her nose
• sleeping pretty good now! :)  betide is around 8pm and she wakes around 7ish...
• naps from 1:30-3:30
• appetite is slowly picking up...she likes to eat cinnamon raisin english muffins, go-gurt, deli ham, mac and cheese, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pancakes
• she started on daily claritin...we think she has some type of allergies...her runny nose has finally cleared up! :)
• LOVES baby dolls!
• Loves to play outside in the sand box, water table, with bubbles, go on wagon rides
• Loves to read books

pics to come...

Caden lately...

Caden is having such a good time these days! :)  She has grown up so much in the past few months.  It is such an amazing feeling to watch her grow and develop into this little girl!  She is so much fun to be around because she is always saying or doing the cutest little things!  Here are a few things she is up to lately:

• her imagination is blossoming everyday...it is so cool to listen to her play out scenes with her little dolls..
• she has an imaginary friend...HIS name is Paw-jay... ;)  he has been around now for about 4 months or so...
• she loves Polly Pockets...the originals and the princess ones
• she loves to watch movies.  she can watch movies for hours on end!
• she still loves to read, color and play with stickers
• she loves to be out of the house running errands.  but once we are out she gets pretty restless pretty fast!
• she knows ALL of her alphabet...she won the alphabet game at school...keep in mind she is almost 1 year younger than her classmates.
• she still enjoys school.  her teacher told me Friday that Caden is the Alpha of the class.  i'm not quite sure what i think of this...she said that her classmates follow suit with whatever Caden does, says, etc...
• she is a good eater usually.  Loves yogurt, chick-fila, black olives, banana peppers and pancakes with syrup!
• she sleeps well through the night.  bedtime is usually 8-8:30pm.  she often wakes up around 11pm and cries out as if she is having a bad dream.  she usually doesn't say anything when we go in there but just lies back down and goes right back to sleep.
• we are trying to get rid of the naps now but still like for her to have quite time...if she has a nap it makes the bedtime routine dreadful!!  
• she likes to take a bath and brush her teeth but HATES having her hair combed and dried!
• she can ride her tricycle and scooter like a pro now all by herself.  is still very hesitant to ride her power wheel jeep.

Character day at School...Caden aka Fancy Nancy
Feb 21 2012

First Dentist Appt
March 12 2012

Happy Easter!

What a wonderful Easter Weekend!  We are so blessed to have seen so many of our Family members this past week and weekend.  It has been a week full of happiness, joyfulness, sadness, sorrow and thankfulness!  Chris and I are so very blessed in so many ways.  I know I say this so often but I truly feel like our Family and Friends don't fully understand how much they mean to us.  There is no way I can fully express my gratitude to all of you.  Thank you for your prayers and support along the way.

We had a nice relaxing weekend at Topsail Island this weekend with our Family and Mimi and Poppa.  Mimi and Poppa took the girls down early Friday morning and Chris and I drove down Friday evening.  We spent most of Saturday just taking it easy...we did make it to the annual Topsail Easter Egg Hunt...we also made it out the the beach for a couple of hours that afternoon.  Sunday we were able to go to Church and celebrate the good news!  He has risen! :)

enjoying treats from gammy, pawpaw and grandmother

yummy! chocolate!

caden and her bunny from grandmother

on our way to the Easter Egg Hunt

Outdoor fun!

Today was beautiful!  You would of thought it was the beginning of Spring!  We spent most of the day outside. Caden and Berkley rode all of their vehicles, played with sticks, played in the sand box, played with the golf set and ended the day with a walk around the neighborhood with Callie.  We are so thankful to have weekends together again! :)
As we were sitting down to dinner Caden broke out in a full body rash...she was itching all over and had hives everywhere.  We have no clue what she encountered that caused that to happen.  We talked to Pappaw and our Drs triage RN...and gave Caden some Benadryl.  It seemed to help the itching.  At bedtime you could hardly even see the rash.

February?!?  Really?!?

B pointing to the airplane in the sky.

Caden's rash...picture doesn't do it justice...

Caden's V-day Party at Preschool

Caden had a wonderful time at her Valentine's Day Party at Preschool.  She was so proud to have me and her Gammy there.  I read a book to the class then all the kids had snacks...oreos with sprinkles and bags of popcorn and M&Ms! :)  

Caden and her best friend Lydia

Caden and her Gammy!  Love it

Anna Carmen and Caden - two cute little girls!

Caden, Zain, Maddie and Caity

Caden and Zain

Preschool 3's - Happy Faces

Silly Faces