{Big News!}

We are excepting our 3rd little one!

All of us are beyond thrilled.

I haven't shared very much about wanting to have another baby. But it took us an entire year to get pregnant with this little one after I had a miscarriage in Dec. 2010.

2011 was an extremely difficult year for me because I was so upset about having a miscarriage and then not being able to get pregnant again. I honestly thought that it wouldn't happen for us. That we wouldn't get the blessing of having another child and I took it very personal.

 We tried multiple fertility treatments in Idaho and nothing worked.

So after we moved to Ohio, I gave it a few months. Come November still nothing had happened for us.

I made another fertilty appointment with a doctor out here. I was so upset at this meeting because my cycle was late, yet all the tests were negative and that wasn't normal for me.

We discussed fertility treatments and made a plan. The first thing she did was blood work.

I got a phone call the same evening as our appointment and the blood showed I was pregnant, to early to even pick up on a home test, but blood doesn't lie!

Can you believe that?!

Crazy how life works. I was so excited. 

I loved working with this doctor. I had ultrasounds from 5-9 weeks, and then one again at 12.

Everything looks perfect. 

I love great doctors who care and am so thankful for them. Especially this time around I have a ton of anxiety.

Summer could not come fast enough for us this year! 

Keaton and Kailey have a daily argument over the gender.

They are so excited and it is very fun to watch their excitement grow. I think they will be great helpers!

Can't wait!

{Saturday Walk in Pickerington Park}

I think like everywhere the winter has been unusual.
Its been so warm here. Last Saturday the kids played outside with friends and we went and took a family walk down in Pickerington park. There is a covered bridge that leads into a field and you can walk next to the river. 

We had a blast. Kailey was cracking us up because she had to check for animals under each tree and poke her stick around. I am so thankful that nothing ran out from under the tree and attacked her!

Keaton always likes to find large walking sticks whenever we go out on a walk. He usually ends up beating the ground or other trees with his stick. Such a boy!

 Next to the river was this huge hallow tree trunk. Keaton said it was smelly in there. 

I took his word and didn't walk through.

I thought it would be nice for our family far away to see more pictures of where we live. Its a really nice little town. We like it here a lot.

So this is a little river and park by our house! Maybe we will get to show you some day!

{CINCINNATI Get away}

 

During Christmas break we decided on a whim to take the kids down to Cincinnati and Kentucky and see a new part of the state. We stayed in the most amazing, my new favorite hotel ever! The picture of the river above is from our room. If you looked to the left you looked into Cincinnati and to the right you were looking into Kentucky parted by the river.

On the way to our hotel John got in his first ever fender bender. He was watching the navigation and not the cars around him. We blame Cincinnati for all the crazy one way roads. Poor John! He was so irritated. 

During the day we drove around. We went to the Newport Aquarium which was awesome.
The kids got to see Santa scuba dive with sharks. 

We walked around down town Cincinnati. Its weird because there are sky walks between all the buildings down town. I guess the winters are super nasty out here, although we still haven't seen that happen.

At night we went swimming, ate a ton of free food, and watched movies.

John and I finished reading The Hunger Games. Such an awesome book.

There is an amazing outlet mall on the way out of town and Ikea so we will be going back soon!

{Christmas Break}

{ Christmas Day 2011 }

 I really enjoyed having Church on Christmas morning. It really set the tone for our family on Christmas day.

Before church the kids were allowed to open one gift from Santa. Keaton asked for a football and Kailey asked for a princess castle. Those lucky kids got spoiled by Santa and got what they asked for.

After church we enjoyed yummy cinnamon rolls. I was so happy with myself because this is the first batch I made from scratch that tasted perfect.

The kids got one big present from us this year. Keaton got a DS with games and Kailey got a Leap pad. They were very happy campers.

One of my favorite gifts was from Keaton this year. He got to shop at a Santa store at school and he bought me a little ring. He was so proud of his gift. Just melted my heart. He kept telling me, "I hope you like it!"

I love it!

{Christmas Eve 2011}

Our first Christmas Eve in Ohio was a nice and quiet night.

Elmer the elf left the kids a bag of Reindeer Munch. They kids loved throwing it out on the lawn. We wrote letters to Santa. Opened Christmas jammies and one other gift. This year our tree was exploding with gifts because all of our family sent gifts our way.

One thing we do each Christmas eve is read Christmas stories. 

I love to pick up new books each year to add to the pile.

The kids slept great and woke up happy as could be in the morning!

Thank you Emily for the cute coats, we will stay cozy!