So much to catch up on...

Oh my... so much for keeping up with my blog. How in the world am I already 25 weeks pregnant? Before I know it, I will be chasing after TWO kiddos! Yikes! Seriously though, I am a little nervous about having two, I'm not going to lie.

Typical second child syndrome I guess... I can barely remember how far along I am (I actually had to look up that I was 25 weeks) much less remember when big things happen (such as the anatomy scan??!) SO I think I was around 18 or 19 weeks... I wanted to have a "laid back" event that included very little planning (like I said, second child... poor thing) so we held the event at a park behind our home (er, our old home but that is a whole other story). Here are the pics from that fun event. We had a great turn out!

We are beyond thrilled to be adding a little boy to growing family! I am getting very anxious to see what he looks like! :)

At 22 weeks, we said goodbye to our home and moved in with my in laws. Yep, you read that right. Good thing my in laws are awesome. And have a big house. ;) It was a bittersweet moment. Brian bought our house right about the time we met (7 years ago) and I even helped him paint and move in. (Awesome girlfriend points there... I didn't even KNOW him that well!) A few years later, we got married and I moved in. Then before we knew it, we were re-painting our study and turning it into a nursery. Now we were leaving this house to move to one that fits the needs of our family a bit better. Basically our dream home. I know we will make many more memories and be in our new home for MUCH longer, but this home will always be our first home. It was such a wonderful first home.

Our First Home...

Emma on moving day

22 weeks... moving day!

Demo started on the Little Creek house on March 10. Brian and I couldn't wait! We must have driven by it 1,000 times before that day, but now it is fun to drive by and see progress. Here are some BEFORE pics I was able to get the day before demo began...

Kitchen

Entry to laundry room from breakfast area

Living room

Living room (another angle)

Dining and formal living.

Entry

Bedroom... future study

Bath

Bedroom... future nursery

Master

Here are some demo pics...

Hello brick? (Under the wood...)

Living room

Living room

Stairs will be added behind fireplace

Laundry room

More living room

Entry

Popping ceiling in study

Future playroom

 Master

More master

Tomorrow they are tearing down the roof to begin adding on second floor! Praying for good weather...

Meanwhile... I got to get away for the weekend and SURPRISE my BFF with a bachelorette party in New Orleans!! I am pretty sure it was the surprise of the century! The planning began in January and it was ALL worth it! With Emily's fiance's help, we got her to New Orleans with no idea. The look on her face at the airport was classic. I haven't been to New Orleans since I was a child, and the city is SO COOL. The architecture is amazing, the St. Patty's Day parade was cray cray, and the food was delish. If you haven't been, I totally recommend it. I think I'll go back. Next week. (Except I really am for a conference, hee hee). Here are some pics...

The bride in her St. Patty's Day outfit!

Oscar selfie

The whole group waiting (and waiting and waiting) for the trolley.

And somehow between all this craziness, I managed to find myself 25 weeks pregnant. Feeling better (FINALLY!) and just a tad bit more energetic. Next week I have my gluecose test. Puh-lease let me pass so I can continue eating a bowl of Rocky Road every night before bed... and we get to see our little guy again!

I will leave you with an Emma pic... Here she is on another date with her boyfriend Jack. (Another one for the wedding video...) This girl is 19 months now. Can't believe it. When are you too old to bring your lovey on a date??

XOXO,
Lexi

17 weeks

The weekend before last, Brian ran in a half marathon with some of his cousins down in Austin. They were supposed to run the Dallas half back in December, but due to the "polar vortex" it was canceled, therefore they decided to run in Austin instead. After packing our family (and packing with a toddler is not easy) we headed down south... well we tried. We were not even out of Dallas when Emma got sick. All. Over. We were only about 15 minutes from home so we literally turned around and came home. Emma and I stayed behind and Brian went down to Austin. Emma ended up having a stomach virus that lasted 5 days. Stomach bugs are not fun, but the cuddles were definitely a bonus. Thank goodness I never got the bug! I only escaped that by the grace of God! Since our weekend getaway didn't work out so well, we decided to try again the next weekend.

So last weekend, we went down to Austin (and actually made it this time.) Well actually we went down to Marble Falls, where Brian's Uncle Tom and Aunt Carol have a ranch. We met some of Brian's cousins and other family members down there. The ranch is beautiful itself, but throw in some perfect weather and it was a great weekend. Emma had a blast. This was Emma's first time down at the Martine Ranch and she loved exploring, riding the "mule," seeing the cows, and playing near the water.

17 week baby  bump

Emma wearing her "ears" while dada shoots.

Emma riding the mule with cousin Wyatt

Emma watching the dogs jump in the water!

Our family of three four

Baby update... I am still sick. Not. kidding. Our sono is next Wednesday! SO excited to find out whether it will be more bishops or jon jons in this house! :)

XOXO,
Lexi

16 weeks!

I am going to attempt to blog a little more often in order to keep our family and friends updated on the major changes taking place in our growing family right now. I am officially 16 weeks, which is CRAZY. This pregnancy is flying by. I guess that is what happens when you are busy chasing a toddler around (among other things.) This pregnancy has not been treating me quite as well as my last. With Emma Grace, I was sick from 10-14 weeks and by sick I mean slightly nauseated until about noon every day. I never took any meds, but I would suck on "preggie pops" and drink sprite every morning. Literally at 14 weeks (the official end to the first trimester), I woke up feeling fabulous and full of energy. The rest was easy breezy (well until the end but that is another story.) THIS time, I have been sick since 6 weeks and STILL AM. Not only am I sick in the morning, but I am sick in the afternoon and evening too. I am also taking prescription meds (in order to ahem, keep my food down). Morning sickness takes on a whole new meaning with a toddler, let me tell ya.

16 weeks

House update: We put our house on the market last Friday and we have accepted an offer. I don't want to say too much because I don't want to jinx it, I know these things can always fall through. The plan once we close is to move in with my in laws (The Furlongs) until our house is ready. Our builder typically needs 120 days to do a remodel such as the one we want, however he understands that I am a hormonal pregnant lady who would REALLY REALLY REALLY like to be in her home before this babe comes. He is being really kind to work with us and I feel like he is truly trying his best to make that happen. I know it is a long shot and "houses never get done on time" but he has already started attempting to get things done even though we don't close until March 9 on our new home. He also is planning on beginning work March 10. By getting things done, I mean he has already created the floor plan and we are planning to meet with him this week to start choosing the pieces that need to be ordered. His plan is to order everything so it is here and ready to be put in when the house gets to that point. Fingers crossed folks!! I can't wait to get in and take some before pics!

Emma update: She is growing SO MUCH and starting to talk SO MUCH. She is so so so much fun right now and I just love seeing her personality. She loves to sing and she literally does not stop dancing. I cannot wait to put her in dance. I mean, can you imagine her in a leotard and tights?! I'm dying already!! I looked it up, she can't start until age 3. I'm sure it will be here before I know it. She loves her babies, accessories, and any animals that sing and dance. She has a love hate relationship with her Cozy Coupe (little red car). She prefers to climb in the window instead of the door which sometimes does not end too well. She also can only make herself go backwards and gets really frustrated trying to flintstone it on the carpet. She also just learned how to open lever doors. Awesome. She couldn't wait until we moved? I feel so blessed to have her in my life (probably more so right now since I am a hormonal pregnant lady), but seriously, I cannot imagine my life without her. I could just kiss those cheeks all day... and I do.

XOXO,
Lexi

Big News!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year! We had an amazing Christmas with Emma Grace. Even though this was her second Christmas, I felt like it was her first because this was the first year she got excited about things... and oh boy was she excited! She LOVED the "tee!" (tree) and would make me turn on the lights every morning. She had fun playing with her "eff" (elf) and looking at "ights!" (lights) at night. She was very good at only looking at the tree and only touching ornaments that she was allowed to touch. She also never tried to open any presents before the big day. (However, when the time came, she had more fun ripping open that paper than playing with the actual presents themselves I think!) Christmas took on a whole new meaning with a little one! Brian and I felt so blessed and thankful this year.

Big News #1:

Right before Christmas, Emma announced her big news! We find out the gender on February 5th and will have a small gender reveal party on the 8th.

I celebrated my 31st (seriously? I'm 31??) on Dec. 26th at Terillis in Dallas with a few friends and family. It was fun to have a night out and it was our first time to actually have a paid sitter stay with Emma. (I put Emma to bed before we left so she actually just got paid to watch TV... not a bad gig.)

Big News #2 (unless you count my birthday, which I don't...):

On December 29th, (after another deal fell through), Brian and I were driving through our dream neighborhood (Canyon Creek in Richardson) when we ran across a home that was marked "coming soon." We called the realtor, a few hours later saw the house, and an hour later made an offer. The next day they accepted our offer and we immediately called a builder that does wonderful work in the area and asked him if he would take on a huge remodel job. He accepted, and as soon as we close will start a 4 month reno job. Serious gut job folks. Think Property Brothers. (I wish!) We put our house on the market this evening and are planning on moving in with Brian's parents until our house is ready. (July 1... which coincidentally, is my due date.) For those that don't know, my sister was born on moving day. Hoping the baby holds off and doesn't pull an "Abby" but I have a feeling he/she will be here before then. 

Big News #3:

Brian got a promotion at work! We were very surprised and not expecting it at all. It just goes to show what a hard worker Brian is! I am so thankful to have a husband who works so hard to provide for our family.

Meanwhile, my business has taken off and I have a trip to New Orleans planned for a conference in March that I am very excited about! 

2014 has already treated us so well, I cannot imagine what else we have in store! 

Shameless plug: please scroll down my facebook page and vote for Emma's picture in the contest posted (you also have to like the photographer's facebook page)!! If we get the most likes, we will win a gallery canvas worth $300 from our family photographer! THANKS!

XOXO,

Lexi