Dear Friends and family,

We wanted to announce it all at one time, but since we can't, because you are all so spread out - here is the news.

We are pregnant! 

Here I am at about 9 weeks. It'll be fun to see the transformation! 

I had just found out, and I thought I was about 8 weeks along. 

That's right, baby Number 2 will arrive sometime in early June 2014. Our Kindergartner will be 6 by then, and finished with Kindergarten! Onto new and better things in 1st grade! The good thing about having a baby in the summer is that we can get into some sort of routine before school starts in September.

Here I am at about 12 1/2 weeks. 

In a maternity dress - that makes me look pregnant. 

For those of you that don't know, I had a miscarriage in May of 2013, so I was supposed to have that one in December 2013. But that would mean bundling up the little one every morning plus the older one and taking him to school. This was not to be, as the baby was only 5 weeks along when I lost it.

At the time of this writing, November 22, 2013 I have seen my first ultra-sound images of this new little one moving, kicking and waving at mom and dad. Baby is measuring at 12 weeks, a week further than we thought, so I'm already 1/3 of the way through my pregnancy.  Exciting!

First baby photos! November 21st, 2013. 

The last photo looks like baby is giving us the 'thumbs up' sign. 

Our biggest challenge was to wait to tell people - especially me, because I have a 'big' mouth, and tend not to keep secrets very easily. I've told one person, besides hubby, but only because her due date is really close to mine - we are like a week apart, plus it helps that this is her 4th go-around, and only my 2nd. Plus having CJ over 5 years ago, it's hard to remember. But us gals are going through the same thing at the same time. Morning sickness (sometimes in the evening), doctor visits, this should be fun. She just wants me to tell everyone because she is so excited for us. But we told people early last time, and unfortunately lost that little one. Jesus holds that little one in his arms know, I know this.

With my first pregnancy it was so easy, during the 9 months I was pregnant with CJ, I glowed the entire time, or so I was told by the sweet older ladies at church, I threw up a total of one time. Delivery was pretty easy as well, I was induced at about 8am in the morning, took a hot tub bath and my water broke at 12:30pm, and little man was in my arms by 3pm. I make it sound easy, but that is the most pain I have ever felt throughout my entire body, it was also the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but so worth it. CJ was born on January 10th, 2008 at 2:56pm weighing 5lbs 10oz. He was small, and 9 days early because of my blood pressure being elevated, but none of the doctors or nurses ever used the word premature with him, although he did fit into premie clothing! He's a fine 5 year old boy now, he loves to be active, play with his friends, loves his LEGOs, and weighs around 50 lbs. and is the same height as his classmates. He's in the orange.

Kindergarten field trip to a local pumpkin patch. 

For Thanksgiving we will be going up to Minnesota to see my family, although I'm grateful we live close to my mother-in-law - plus she loves babies! Who doesn't? So for the Minnesota crew, we have decided to get a white t-shirt for CJ and paint on there or use markers or iron on letters. I better get on this, we leave in less than a week! But the shirt will essentially say: Only Child Expiring in June 2014.
Not sure if the 'Only Child Expiring' will be on the front and the 'June 2014' will be on the back or just keep it simple and all on the front.

We are excited and nervous about this new little blessing added to our family. Nervous because we know babies cost money, and that's not something we have a lot of right now. But we do have lots of love to share!

Thank you all for supporting us in the future, with your love or donations of used baby equipment, clothing, etc. I have gotten rid of almost all of my baby clothing, and some of the equipment- I've kept the good- stuff, though! Except the crib, there was a need in our church, so we gave it away to another couple who was expecting.