I Heart Fall

Normally I don't love fall because it is a sign that stupid winter is approaching, but this year, things are different.  I think it is mostly because fall means the end of 90 degree days, and being that this is my first time at this stage of pregnancy in the hot summer, I love that it's cooling off.  I also love that there are pumpkins, apples, and cider everywhere.  Today we went to a cider mill and a farm that was selling pumpkins.  Eben enjoyed the pumpkins, a tractor, cow, and other things at the farm.  It was a good time.

Baby #2!

So we have made it internet official!  Baby #2 is going to be arriving mid-March!  We are very excited, but also nervous to have two children under two years old.  I am sure we will figure out how to manage it though, with time.  Below are the answers to the typical questions people ask when they hear someone is preggo:

1. When is the due date?  March 14th as of now.  We will get an official due date at the big ultrasound mid October.  Eben will be 20 months old.

2. Are you going to find out the sex? Not this time (sorry to those of you who will be dying to find out).  Dane really wants to experience not knowing and the only reason I am okay with this is because if I don't know what it is, then it will be harder to spend money on the little one.  And considering the fact that it seems impossible for me to find a social work job right now, I need to avoid spending when possible. 

3. Will you share the names you have picked out? Of course not :)  We didn't last time and we won't this time.  Girl name is already picked out, but we are having troubles with the boy name.

4. How have you been feeling? Better than I did with Eben, but nauseous and very tired.  I am at week 15 now though, so things are getting better.

5. Do you want a boy or a girl?  What do you think it is?  Who knows what it is...but I will say that there are differences in this pregnancy already and this baby's heartbeat was 160 today, whereas Eben's was always in the 140's.  But honestly, we do not care what we have because if it's a boy, Eben will have a brother who he can be best buds with (and it will be MUCH less expensive). And if it is a girl, then we have our little girl that of course we would love to have. 



So, given the fact that we live way out in Michigan, we are really really hoping that it works out for our parents to come out and help us when the new baby is born, especially considering that Dane is on a super busy, horrible rotation in March and he has found that it is impossible to switch it (not good planning on our part, huh!).  So we will be lucky if Dane has the day off...if he doesn't, I will be waddling into that Neurology program and making sure he has the day off!  Dane worked a 30 hour shift the night/morning Eben was born, so not like we aren't used to this a little though.

The thing I am most looking forward to about all of this is having a little tiny baby to cuddle with again.  Eben NEVER cuddles or holds our hand...just sits in our lap when reading a book or lays when drinking a bottle.  He is our independent little man! 

Oh, by the way, being pregnant a second time is SO much more chill.  It's funny cause when I went to the appointments for Eben's pregnancy, I would have a list of questions, full of worry and wonder.  With this one, no questions, just chill.  So let's hope that it is easier bringing baby #2 home for that reason too!


And I will end with pictures because I can't have a post without them.  Here are a few of Eben eating a meal with chopped cooked spinach in it:

Ladies Man

Ah, Eben, such a sweet, adorable little boy.  Maybe a ladies man someday...but not the mean kind of course...not my boy :)

I bought him a new train with his birthday money this week.  I just really thought he needed to get to know a train, and he seems to really like it!

Eben is also SO amazed with any kind of large vehicle.  He makes tons of excited noises any time he sees a bus, semi truck, construction machine, RV, and his favorite - small moving vans.  He is definitely all boy...

We put on this storm door after we moved in to our home...a very good purchase.  My favorite time of the day lately is when Dane's car drives up.  I immediately say to Eben, "Who's here?!" and Eben goes running to the door instantly.  He squeals with excitement as Dane gets out of his car, makes funny faces at Eben, and walks/jumps/runs his way up to the door. Eben laughs a ton and when Dane comes in the door, Eben throws his arms up signaling he wants Daddy to pick him up.  This happens every day and it is so sweet.

I am also excited to say that Eben has pretty much mastered the sippy cup!  Took him quite a while to get this...like 7 months, but I just don't think he was ready until now.  Now to wean off that bottle...

Sweet Little Girls

We took a mini trip to Chicago last weekend to see some friends from college.  It was much needed social time considering we still don't have very many friends in Ann Arbor yet.  We stayed at different homes both nights, had lunch get together Saturday, and went to a Sioux Football Game Saturday night, which was fun cause we got a taste of ND again.  We also got our first babysitters ever...well our friend got the sitters for us and for these adorable little girls pictured below.

I have made some tutus for fun photo props (maybe sell on Etsy, but there are thousands on Etsy) so I took pictures of little Greta (almost 5 months) in a couple of them.  Boy does she look cute or what?!

And here is little Adelaide.  A spunky 2-year-old who was up way past her nap time.  When she is tired, she sucks her thumb and plays with her pony tail.  So cute.

And here is our little Eben, enjoying the car ride home.  Well, he only enjoyed it because of constant Baby Einstein's Baby Neptune and the excitement of trucks driving by on the road.

Thank you for a great time!

Zooledo and First Haircut

This past weekend we went to the Toledo Zoo, and since I posted all of the photos on Facebook, and I am pretty sure most of you are also friends of mine on there, I decided not to post all of them on here too, but I did make a video, which also has some of the photos in it :)  Most of you may think this video is a little boring, but it is mostly there for those who miss Eben most, which I think they would watch Eben doing anything and love it! Oh, and there was music on the video, but YouTube had copyright issues with it...boo! So it is mostly silent :( 




Eben and I went today to the Toledo Zoo again with two other moms and their kiddos.  It was a great day to go as there were hardly any people there and we could see the animals with no problems.  Also, we are really loving this cooler weather!

 Oh, and Eben officially got his first professional haircut yesterday.  I was incredibly bummed though because when I took out my camera to capture the "first" I realized my battery was completely dead AND I forgot my cellphone.  :(  He did a great job and it was quick...and he has less crazy hair, but it is still long with a little curl in the back.

So here are pics taken the morning after the new haircut: