Baby Maxwell Update :)

Our precious baby

We enjoyed the ultrasound for our little "Twenty-Ten" (as in 'coming in 2010') baby this past week! Of course, I get very anxious and nervous before every single OB appointment and I couldn't wait to get started on the ultrasound. Adalyn received her cup of teddy graham snacks and we got started. The baby looked great and kicked and moved all over against the ultrasound wand. We saw the head, spine and heart and saw the fluid in the stomach and bladder from Twenty-Ten swallowing the amniotic fluid. Ultrasound technology is so amazing! I love how cool it is to "see" babies before they are born. Adalyn sat with Jamey and they watched on a separate screen. When she saw the baby, she got really excited. She kept saying hi and then said, "I hug you, baby." She tells her stuffed animals, dolls, the cat and dog and Jamey and I that she wants to hug us all the time lately. She really loves seeing babies right now and it was so neat she could recognize we were looking at a baby. It was the sweetest thing! Jamey and I kept grinning at each other.

Pondering moment....should I give them a peek or not?


Anyway, this baby did not want to reveal anything else to us without a lot of attempts by the doctor and twisting and turning acrobatics on my part. We finally got a shot when Twenty-Ten's legs were not crossed or curled up and the angle was not the best, but it looks like we are expecting a GIRL!
Our doctor is about 80-90% sure at this point. We'll have another ultrasound around 32 weeks I believe and hopefully we'll be able to confirm then, as the baby will probably be head down.
(The poll results were 8 votes for boy (44%) and 10 votes for girl (55%)

Showing off that little bicep


I had to drag this post on, since it took awhile for us to find out too :) Now we get to start working on names and the fun of picking things out for this new little baby. Fortunately we will be able to reuse many things but it will be fun getting some new things too. We are very thankful for a healthy baby and we're excited for Adalyn to have a little sister!

Not Me! Monday

On one of the blogs I read, MckMama started a "Not Me Monday" post for all of us to admit those things that we couldn't possibly, no, no way would we perfect parents have done in the past week or two.....Haha! Yeah, right! I'm participating for the first time today to free my conscience and laugh at myself. Want to join me?



I did NOT just take my first "belly shot" at 20 weeks, halfway through my second pregnancy. No, of course not! I would have documented this growing belly long before this, you know, to prove I didn't "look" pregnant at, say, 8 weeks or anything.

I did NOT lie to my daughter about a dozen times, telling her that her new favorite beverage made with milk and chocolate powder, which she adoringly calls "yo-yolk," was "all gone" while I secretly enjoyed my own skim milk version when she wasn't looking.

I did NOT stash a bunch of old clothes, which I have been meaning to sort for Goodwill, in the garage to make way in the basement so the bug guy could come and spray. Nor did I stash any items that did not have a home under the nearest bed. NOT me!

I did NOT gorge myself on cookies this week because I was craving them, you know, the baby really wanted me to eat them!

I did NOT forget to write a thank-you to the lady who watched our dog a month ago until today. No, I'm always on top of those things.

I did NOT forget Grandparents Day this year! No way, since last year I made cute cards with pictures and everything. NOT me!

I did NOT leave my delicious chocolate bar my husband gave me on the end table in the living room when we left the house only to return to find the dog had eaten the rest of it and licked the wrapper clean. I did NOT feverishly google dog chocolate poisoning symptoms until I was convinced her lack of a reaction indicated she must be fine. That would NEVER happen!

I am NOT typing this post while I sit next to the tub while my daughter takes a super long bath and admires her wrinkled fingers.

And, I did NOT blame any flakiness or general forgetfulness on my "pregnancy brain" this week. I would NEVER use that excuse!

20 Weeks!

Wow! I am now over 20 weeks pregnant, over halfway to our due date! Time is going by so fast I just can't believe it. It has been interesting to compare this pregnancy with my pregnancy with Adalyn. I've always heard every pregnancy is different and so far I know that must be true :) I did have morning sickness both times, it started earlier with Adalyn but seemed worse this time around. The worst symptoms are the headaches/migraines, which are much worse this time. I have been getting several a week with a few really bad migraines. I can't seem to figure out if anything triggers them other than hormone changes. Tylenol doesn't help these headaches either. We are hoping they start to improve soon....it is becoming extremely frustrating. Of course, every symptom is worth it when the sweet little baby arrives!

Anyway, I am already bigger this time, I think? :) At least it looks that way. I started out at the exact same weight I was when I became pregnant with Adalyn and I have gained about the same or less so far but my belly is just popping out! I started feeling this baby move even before 15 weeks! I didn't feel Adalyn move until 19 weeks, which is closer to the typical time. So, it has been different and fun to think back and remember my pregnancy with Adalyn while I am experiencing this pregnancy. It is so neat when Adalyn is sitting with me on my lap/hip while we are reading or snuggling and I can feel this baby kicking and squirming away. It is so amazing to have both of my babies so close to me :)

We have our next appointment on Tuesday so maybe we will find out if Adalyn is going to have a new brother or a new sister. Make sure you vote your guess in our poll at the top of the blog if you haven't already :)

And, some photos of my 20-week belly:
Photo disclaimers: please note the shadow is not part of my belly!




Today, October 1st, marks eleven years that Jamey and I have been together! We first met at the mall while we each had friends meeting and I was on my lunch break from my first job at Sears. We sat at the fountain. So today, it was fitting that we had to go to the mall and Adalyn ran circles around the fountain. It's so neat to think what transpired over eleven years to result in our sweet daughter playing where we first met!

20 Months!

Adalyn turned 20 months old today! It is hard to believe that in four short months she will be a two-year-old! We went to our neighborhood park yesterday and took some cute photos of her playing in the sandbox, swings and slide.

She is such a little sweetie. We tell her "I love you" all the time and she tells us "love you" back or she just says it and gives us a hug out of the blue. It melts our hearts, of course! We have been working on please and thank you for quite a while and now she says thank you herself without any prompting when you give her something. She has had please down for quite a while, especially when cake or other "num-nums" are involved :)

She is a little sponge, and picks up on things we say all the time, so we have been spelling words out already. We are extra careful not to say something about bananas or another favorite food when we have just run out, as she will immediately want one! Lately, our dog Bailey has been kind of stinky after she spends time outside. She normally doesn't smell at all. We haven't had the energy or patience to give her a bath yet and I have said, "that dog stinks!" on more than one occasion. Tonight, Bailey walked by and Adalyn pointed to her and said, "dog stinks!" It was hilarious!

Independence is such a big issue at this age and recently I was sitting with Adalyn as she colored a card. When she was getting kind of crazy with the markers, (easily washable, of course!) I capped a few and set them aside. She wanted those ones opened again and when I wouldn't help her, she pulled and pulled until the cap popped off. She exclaimed, "I did it!" and was so proud of herself. That was the first time I heard her say that. Since then, she has also said it after a few more accomplishments, like when she yanked the latched entertainment center door open by herself and when she carried a large full toy box across the room. We love watching her as she gains more independence and confidence. Our little girl is sure growing up!

Sand, dirt, rocks, sticks and leaves are the coolest things around right now! She carries them around as little treasures and loves playing in the sandbox.


Swinging with dad or mom is as fun as swinging by herself


Such a cutie in her hat




Weeee!


She loved going down the slide by herself, which we usually don't allow since she flies down so fast, so we had to be sure to catch her at the bottom half so she wouldn't land on the ground!

Western Montana Fair week

We visited our local fair during the week of August 11th. Our fairgrounds is in the middle of town, just blocks from our house and it always brings back that nostalgic feeling when they set up at the end of summer. It is really enjoyable to bring Adalyn to the fair and experience the magic and excitement through a child's eyes again, it is more fun than I remember from my childhood! Adalyn really enjoyed the animals and the bug carnival ride. We took her on it several times and she didn't want to get off when it was time to leave.

Jamey and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary on August 12th and we attended the Sawyer Brown concert at the fair that evening. It was a great concert. They are known for their energetic performances and we enjoyed a wonderful time. Sometimes it is hard to believe three years have passed so quickly!

Also, I attended the Chicks N Chaps rodeo clinic with my mom and sister on Friday. This event is a newer yearly fundraiser for breast cancer research with the Tough Enough to Wear Pink organization. Although the weather was not typical for the time of year, it rained and was quite cold, we had a fun time! We watched rodeo demonstrations, enjoyed refreshments, got cool swag bags, entered raffles, had photos taken with cowboys and then watched the fair rodeo performance. I'm looking forward to attending again next year!

Tasting some fair food


Look at the animals, Daddy!


Being cool in the cow barn


The cow barn dance!


They say "Baaaa baaaa!"


Ready for a buggy take-off


This ride is going to be so fun!
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Jamey waiting for the concert to start. For some reason, we forgot to get a picture of the two of us together :( I also didn't get photos of the stage, only some short videos.


My mom watching the bull riding demonstration at Chicks 'N Chaps


Dana enjoying the festivities while wearing her special name tag ;)


Mom standing in front of her favorite bull

Spokane and Silverwood

Since it is officially the first day of Fall, it is about time I finish updating on the rest of our summer! We headed to Spokane and Silverwood Theme Park for the weekend from July 31st--August 2nd. Dana and Justin went with us and we had fun staying in Spokane, visiting Toys R Us, dinner at Olive Garden and a day spent at Silverwood playing on the rides and slashing in the water park. Although the day was a little long for Adalyn, she LOVED the rides and playing in the water. I wasn't able to go on many rides of course, but Adalyn and I waved to Jamey, Dana and Justin as they tried out the new roller coaster and other rides.

A fun horse in Toys R Us


And a penguin among many other toys we played with there.....let's just say Adalyn had so much fun she did NOT want to leave!

Jamey, Dana and Justin getting ready for their first ride!


Going up, up, up.....then down!


Adalyn and I had a great spot to watch the ride. Jamey rode in the very back of the ride, so you can see him in the top of the photo. Dana and Justin were right in front of him.


Dana, Justin and Jamey after their ride


Adalyn cheering the coaster on as it loops the loop


First of many times on the Elephant ride with Daddy



First time on the train ride


Off to conquer another ride


Riding with Aunt Dana


Hold on Dana and Justin, Adalyn is a pro at this ride ;)


Wow, I actually rode on the carousel with my little Punkie!


We didn't get many photos from the water park but we had fun splashing around. We all formed a chain and rode around the long lazy river on inner tubes. The water park is pretty big and has a lot of slides, tube rides, two large wave pools, play areas for toddlers and kids and the long lazy river. There are life jackets available for kids and we felt much more comfortable taking Adalyn on the lazy river and in the wave pools with a jacket on. You can stay really busy in the water park. The theme park now has two wooden and two metal coasters as well as a lot of other rides and shows. Next time we make it over to Silverwood, we'll try to spend two days there to get it all in:) We all had a great weekend and hope to visit again next year if we can!

A little secret Adalyn wanted to share....

Of course, it is not much of a secret anymore but I had to post the cute way she told the news to our families! It was fun to surprise them with our big news :) We had to come up with something since we really got them good with the news when we were expecting Adalyn! I found this cute shirt on Etsy and had it personalized for her :) Adalyn's new baby sibling will be arriving around mid-February 2010!

Also, I realize I am way behind on updating this blog again...and it is not really summer anymore so I need to change the background too. I'll post some cute pictures of Adalyn riding fair rides and dancing at more weddings soon :)