Weeks 11 & 13

I had my 16 week appointment today and am trying my best to catch up on this little blog while I have an hour to spare! I took a half day from school and Em is napping at her sitter. Even though I'd love to get the little lady early.. we'd have Godzilla on our hands for the rest of the night if I woke her from her nap. Girl loves (and NEEDS) her naps! ;)

I haven't been doing my best taking belly bump pictures, but I promised myself I would do a better job than when I was pregnant with Em. I took a lot of bump pictures with Emersyn, but not in an organized way - so it's hard to tell dates/how I was feeling/etc! And this mama brain forgets things pretty easily these days. :) I'll have a 16 week bump update later this week, but for now here are weeks 11 & 13... and 14! Xoxo.

I'm not in maternity pants yet - but they are getting tighter by the day! I'm trying to hold off until Maxi Skirt Season.. but we will see. :) Xoxo.

Go Bobcats! {14 weeks}

Oh, Baby, Baby!

Well it's official! We are pregnant! Baby Lee is set to Arrive on August 16, 2015.. but if you ask my opinion - I think he/she is going to come in early August. I know the U.S. technicians are the experts but I am pretty positive I am a bit farther along than they think.. or maybe that's just my growing belly talking! ;)

We are so excited and blessed.

Before this pregnancy we got pregnant in September, and lost the baby in late October. Baby stopped growing at 5 weeks and I started bleeding around 8. It was a roller coaster of emotions and something that I don't wish upon anyone - although I know I am not alone at all. We didn't tell many people, but the people that we did tell had story after story (most of them personal stories) of similar experiences. It really was comforting... and the small group of people that knew were so comforting and sweet. 

Anyway - fast forward to December - and I was concerned that my period hadn't shown up yet.. and then I started feeling a little sick.. and I just had a feeling - so I took a test.. and Voila! Honestly - it was exactly what I had hoped for but I didn't want to get my hopes too high because I didn't want to be disappointed. 

We had an appointment the day after Christmas to confirm that I was indeed pregnant and to "date" the pregnancy. Babe had a strong heartbeat and was measuring 6 weeks 5 days at that time.

We had another appointment at 11 weeks and 5 days.. and we got another Ultrasound where we could see baby and his/her tiny legs kicking. The doctors have been so sweet. They know I've been through a miscarriage so when they couldn't find the heartbeat right away, they immediately went for the U.S. which was a relief.

I am hopeful. I am praying every day.. and I do think this little baby is the rainbow at the end of a storm. We are so thankful. Here is how we announced to our family and friends!

Sweet little life.

Ahh! I feel like this is a new theme where I say, "It's been way too long since I last posted".. but it really has. Sweet Em is growing so fast and I already know that I'm going to miss things she's done/said because I haven't been blogging. It's so hard to remember every tiny memory.. but I wish I could hold on to them all and look back on them one day, because already she is growing into new phases and out of the old. She's going to be 3 in April - I've stopped counting the months - which probably means she is officially a big girl!

Our Christmas 2014 Picture 

 She is so much fun. Right now her favorite color is pink and she loves anything Peppa Pig. She loves waffles in the morning, coloring with markers after school, wearing tutu's with every outfit, watching a "show" once it's dark outside, and watching the "stars" with her nightlight while we cuddle together in her bed. We have to read her at least 5 bed time stories or it is impossible to leave her room. She talks to herself and her animals for at least 30 minutes before she falls asleep at night and I love laying nearby and listening to her imagination. She also asks if we'll make up stories for her at night and in every story she wants Minnie Mouse, Papa Rick, Nana, Emersyn, and  a Grumpy Monster that turns happy. Ha! I don't know where she comes up with it all but I love it.

In the fall we went to Athens (Go Bobcats) to visit my college-town with great friends. 

Her favorite trick is asking us if we have something on our shirt and then touching our nose and saying, "Oh there it is". :)

It's so much fun having conversations with toddlers and seeing how their little minds work. Today she told my nieces that they were all invited to her birthday party. She said she is going to be 3 and have play-doh and a unicorn cake. (Her birthday isn't until April). Ha! :) I guess I better start planning!

Halloween 2014 - Next year... she is already requesting to be a unicorn. :) 

We moved into our house over Christmas time and she loves her big girl bed and big girl room. But - she definitely misses her Mimi and Papa. For a year and a half we lived with them while trying to find a house to buy in a tiny town. We finally found one, but it needed a TON of work - so that's what we've been doing since July. Finally on Christmas we moved in, and it has been amazing! We still have a lot of work to do.. but it's been so nice to have our own home again. Em keeps asking when Mimi and Papa are going to come stay with us in "their" room.

Acting like a turkey at Thanksgiving

Time is flying, but I'm so thankful. We are one blessed little family and I'm really excited for all that's in store for us in 2015!

Dan and I are still getting settled in this tiny town in Ohio. We miss the beach a lot and for the past 5 years in SC I never thought about going on vacation because we lived in a vacation town. Now in freezing Ohio, I think about warm vacations often! :) It's funny how things change. It's so nice being near family and friends though. I don't think we could trade that! Our new school is nice and we are both so lucky to work in the same school (him in the high school, me in first grade). We really couldn't ask for better careers! Like I said, we're really excited about 2015. :) Xoxo.

Christmas 2014