15 Weeks, Baby #2

Pregnancy Highlights from this week:

How far along? 15 weeks 

Size of the baby? It is about the size of an apple or 4 inches crown to rump 

Maternity Clothes? I have only worn a pair of maternity white pants once...mostly because I bought them and was excited to wear them, otherwise wearing regular clothes

Gender? Don't know yet, I think we will find out sometime next week. We've had two ultrasounds...neither one did the tech feel sure about the results...so we are still waiting!

Movement? I might have felt something here and there, but not quite sure yet

Sleep? Having a toddler makes sleep very easy :)

Cravings?  Fruit, pizza, celery 

Symptoms?  Nausea is pretty much gone, but still getting sick a lot.  I had a break around 13 weeks where I stopped getting sick, now Im back to 1-2x a day :(   Oh and I have sciatica and its terrible.  I get it only at night when I go to lie down and it lasts about 15-20 minutes. 

What I miss?  Deli meat

Milestones? Making it out of 1st trimester 

What I am nervous about?  nothing at the moment

What I'm excited about? Getting out all my maternity clothes...mostly excited about an elastic waste band ;)

21/22 Months Old

Woops, 21 months slipped by us!   Banks, you are 22 months old! 

These toddler days are exhausting, but seeing you blossoming personality is SO much fun! You love an adventure so we have had a lot of them!

Our adventures consist of going to the pool with Blakely, the lake at GG and Pop Pops, Edventure, the zoo, the park, splash pad, etc!  This summer has been so much fun. 

The biggest change this past month has been your vocabulary.  These are a sample of some new things you are saying: 

"One more!" and you will hold up your little finger for number one

"Dwink" - Drink

"Im worry"  - Im sorry

"Mine"

"Wide ____ " - Ride something (could be "go-go" "bike" etc)

"Hi Mama!"  "Hi Dada!"

"Eeeeeeat" (always like that, too)

"Pweeeease" (that has replaced "A-Ba" for please about 50% of the time)

"Tank Ew" - Thank you

"T-T" - Tiger (or what you now call him)

"Banana"

"Wa wa" -Water

"Pooooool" -Pool

"Mama, heeeellllpppp!" -Mama, help

"Hot" or "Cowd"  -Hot or cold, you know the difference

"Biiiig" -Big

"Pee pee" and "poop" - two very important words in every man's vocabulary 

You throw the ball (and other toys unfortunately) overhanded

You can kick a ball

You go up and down stairs by just holding the rail

You can eat very well with a fork or spoon

You can drink from a cup without a lid or straw

You now go down the slide feet first (finally!)

You love to "read" to yourself books

You can do most sort shaper toys

You can put together all your wooden puzzles 

You love to stack towers of blocks and knock them down

You know red, yellow, blue, green, white, purple, and sometimes black and orange. 

You can count to two, but sometimes you surprise me and i'll stop counting at like 7 and you'll say "eight!"

You love "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" and its hand motions

You LOVE to be read to and would sit for an hour if I read book after book

My favorite thing you do right now is when you are telling us something and we have no idea what you're saying/asking and we finally guess right, your face lights up with excitement and you shake you head "yes!"  

You LOVE trucks, tractors, bikes, construction equipment, etc...basically anything with wheels.  You love animals and know a sound for pretty much ANY animal out there.  You really do love to learn and really are so patient and interested when learning something new. 

You wear size 2T and sometimes 3T if its a Jon Jon, your size 6 shoes are all tight, so I guess you're a 7

I weighed you at home and you weigh 26.5 lbs

You are interested in potty training and can tell me when you need to "pee pee" or "poop," but we haven't ever made it in time for you to do it on the potty. You like to sit on the potty though so maybe we're getting close!

You are 100% energy, but very sweet natured.  You love to give hugs "squeezers" and kisses.  If you think I am upset or sad you will always try to comfort me.  You also have a little tiny temper when you don't get your way.  You do respond to "time out" REALLY well and usually stop misbehaving immediately.  You have learned the concept of "wait" as long as its a short period of time.  This month we have really focused on you sitting an entire meal with us at home or at a restaurant in your high chair, which you have done SO WELL with and made so much progress.  You have made it to the end of almost every meal in the last couple of weeks.  

Right now you still REALLY love mommy...and I am totally OK with that.  You adore your daddy, too of course.  I know the day will come when there is no one better than daddy so I am soaking up these moments. You have such a good daddy and you adore him so much now.  You pant with excitement when we walks through the door each night.  

That. Face.  I could eat it up. 

When I ask you where the baby is you lift up my shirt and point to my belly (yea, thanks for doing that in public a few times haha).

Banks we adore you so much.  We cannot wait to find out if you will have a brother or sister!  You will be so wonderful with either.  We love you, B!

Grandma Koko

My sweet, sweet now 84 year old grandma came and visited a few weeks ago.  She lives in Indiana and this was her first time meeting Banks and Katy Ellis.  She was smitten with all her great grandchildren right away!

 

 

This woman is nothing short of amazing.  She is 84 and not only lives on her own but gardens, does yard work, sews, is an active member in her church, and cooks like nobodies business!  She is full of spunk, laughter, knowledge, and most importantly Jesus.  Her mind is still sharp as a tack and she always remembers to ask about my friends (most of whom she only met at my wedding 6 years ago) and all that is going on in my life.  She is a wonderful example of living for Jesus on a daily basis, she is an inspiration!  We love you Grandma Koko, come back soon!

Ryan is Engaged!

It has been a few weeks, so I'm a little late, but....

 

there will soon be a new member to our family!

 

My little brother, Ryan, is engaged!

 

 

Ryan popped the big question to Olivia and she said "yes!"

 

Ryan and Olivia met at the vet when their doggies were puppies and going for a check up.  They started a convo in the waiting room and after Ryan was called back and was going to check out Olivia popped her head out with a business card.  She had written something on the business card to the effect of "lets get our dogs together for a play date!" and her number of course.  The rest is history!

 

 

 

So naturally Ryan used the vets office as a place to propose to Olivia! 

 

He was waiting in the exam room when she came back to "pick up" Noah (Ryan's dog) and he was down on one knee.  Then she said "yes!"

We had a fun celebration back at Olivia's mothers house. 

Retelling the story to all of us from the whole day. 

 

Congrats Ryan and Olivia, can't wait to add another sister to our family :)