An Eventful May

As always, May has brought with it many reasons to celebrate!  I love how the vast majority of them serve as reminders to me of how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family.

We started with Mother's Day, of course, which was very nice!  It probably goes without saying that I just LOVE being a mommy.  Today started out with paying bills (ick!) and being thrown up on by my poor toddler who has a nasty cough... but I LOVE being a mommy!  Even when my day starts out like that, I really just cannot get enough of it.  Anyway, that's a side note.  I'm thankful that we set aside a day for mother's.  Not only does it give me a chance to be thankful for the wonderful mother I have, as well as my grandmothers and mother-in-law, but it reminds me how blessed I am!  I had no idea what I was in for when Westin came in to our lives :) 

A few days later, we celebrated Westin's 2nd birthday!  We had so much fun!  We had lots of our family over and Kreg made sub sandwiches and we had a "two-two train" party!  It was SO much fun to watch Westin this year.  He was able to get really excited for his party in the days leading up to it and we wrapped presents for him a couple days early and it was ALL he could do to wait... in fact, one of the presents mysteriously lost its ribbons and bow and the tape on top.  He reminds me so much of his daddy!  The morning of his party we all went to Wal-Mart to have his balloons blown up and he proudly carried them all the way out of the store :).  He was completely overwhelmed with gifts!  He got about halfway through and had to take a break and play with some before he could open any more.  We are so blessed and so very thankful for all our wonderful family who pitched in and spoiled our boy on his birthday! 

 As I mentioned earlier, the anticipation of the party was just nearly as much as Wes could handle... that goes for the cake as well.  I finished it the afternoon before his party and spent that evening and the next morning piecing it back together after he disassembled it :) Needless to say... it was not EXACTLY in as good of shape by the time the party came around, but my little boy loved it and that's what made me happy :)

After Westin's birthday, we celebrated my sister, Kortney's birthday and my mom's birthday, and my parents' anniversary.  Like I said... we pack a lot into May.  I am relieved that it is now June and Tucker will not be another May baby :) Although, after paying bills this morning, I'm still wondering what we were thinking when we decided that ANY TIME after May would be fine for our next baby... we should have given ourselves at least a couple of months of recovery :) Oh, well!  Obviously, I'm thankful that he will be here soon and that I don't have a couple more months to wait for him!

Kreg & I celebrated our 3rd anniversary yesterday! Most days it doesn't seem like we've already been married that long... but when I start thinking about all the major life changes that have occurred in our lives since then, it seems like SURELY it's been longer! We both feel so blessed in our life together and have had SO much fun with all of the things we've done in the past three years.  We can't wait to see what all our God has in store for our future!  We know it will NOT be dull.  Kreg & I went out over the weekend for lunch & a movie and left Westin with my sister.  It was a very nice time, just for us :)  Then, yesterday morning, we went to Chick-fil-A for breakfast because on the morning of our wedding Kreg surprised me with breakfast from Chick-fil-A so we thought it would be a good little tradition.  It may seem like a simple thing but it was special to us!  I really do believe that enjoying life is all about enjoying the simple things.  

June is here, and we are 38 weeks along!  We are ALMOST ready for Tucker to join our family!  I know the next few weeks will be very exciting as we anticipate his birthday and I attempt to get all of my last-minute things done.  Keep us in your prayers as we wait and anticipate! 

Dear Westin

To my sweet Westin,

Happy second birthday!  As I sit down and reflect on the past year, it went even faster than your first :)  I’m afraid that I will be saying that every year!  I just cannot think of any bigger blessing than the blessing of being your mommy.

You have transformed this year from my sweet baby to my darling little boy!  It has been such a joy to be a part of your world as you have learned to walk and talk and run and play. You are 100% boy-- as if we had any doubt from the beginning!  You are enamored with anything that makes noise and moves and you cannot get enough of being outside and playing with all your balls and cars and trucks and power tools.  

You melt my heart when you smile at me and say, “I love you!” If you only knew how much I love you!  You are more precious to me than I ever could have imagined and I had pretty high expectations :).  You keep me in stitches daily with your sense of humor and mischievousness. I just love the way your precious little mind works and am constantly entertained by your expressions.  You’re a bright little boy and constantly learning-- I just love to “learn” with you!

Thank you for continually teaching me new things!  This year has been full of new lessons again, as I’m sure each year will be as we experience new things together. You and I don’t have many things in common (so far) but I could not love you more.  I know God had a plan in making me your mommy and you my son.  I’m thankful for the ways I have seen him stretch and mold me as he’s stretching and molding you.  I have a feeling that there will be lots more of this in our future! Some days I feel like I’ve been pushed to my limit... and then I realize I can push myself further!  I’ve learned that sometimes what is best for you is NOT something that is easy for ME... but because I love you, I will find a way to do or be what you need-- and that has been a huge blessing for me.

I’m so thankful for the way you love me and the relationship that we have built over the past two years.  I pray that it continues to grow and deepen and that I will be able to cultivate the wonderful qualities I see growing in you-- you are so determined and passionate and I am excited to see where those qualities will take you in life.  You are also very compassionate and loving and I am excited to watch as your love for people drives you to be who our God has designed you to be.

I’m thankful to take this day to celebrate you!  You have been nothing but a blessing and enrichment to all of our lives and we love you more than you can possibly know right now.  

I’m so glad you’re mine, sweet boy!  Happy birthday!

Love,

Mommy 

Easter 2011

Easter was so much fun with Westin this year!  I just loved watching his excitement and enthusiasm.  

We dyed eggs with my siblings and parents at my mom's house this year.  I wasn't sure how Wes would do, but as soon as my sister showed him how to dip the eggs in the dye, he didn't stop "decorating" his 6 eggs until I finally decided we'd made a big enough mess!  We all just watched him for a good 30 minutes before anyone else decided to join him-- it was very entertaining! I would say at least half of his eggs got "squished" in the process, but that didn't bother him at all.

Easter morning I got us all up early and was ready for Westin to "open" his Easter basket when I realized that my camera bag with all three of my cameras was at my mom's house :(  I was so disappointed!  Kreg got a few shots and a video on his blackberry, which really takes pretty decent pictures and I was very thankful we at least had that.  Westin LOVED hunting for his Easter eggs (Easter in Colorado is generally cold so we do our hunt indoors... this year, even being in late April, we had snow on the ground!).  He lined them all up in a nice row on the couch to observe his loot when he had finished.  

After we all got ready, we went to my mom & dad's for breakfast!  My mom outdid herself like usual, we had a wonderful sausage souffle and sweet potato biscuits and then did another egg hunt at their house. By this point, Westin was a pro at hunting for eggs!  And, as usual, the Easter bunny brought lots of fun goodies for us all.  Westin got lots of new activity books for church which was perfect!  It helped tame him despite the sugar rush I know he was experiencing by the time we got there!  Kreg & I got some great spring planting goodies and two one-hour massages... I.CAN.NOT.WAIT. to use mine! 

After church we went back to my mom & dad's for ham.  Mmmmmmmm.  One of my favorites that we just don't do very often! I made a strawberry pie for dessert.  I'm pretty sure this one day contributed to half my weight gain for the past couple of weeks :)  

I can't believe it's nearly May.  I know once May hits I'm going to turn around and Tucker will be here.  May is the busiest month of the year for our family... just to name a few "events," we have Mother's Day, Westin's 2nd birthday, my mom's birthday, my sister's birthday, my parents' anniversary, and our anniversary.  Many of our extended family members also have birthdays in May.  Thankfully, this year we do not have a graduation in our immediate family to add to the  May festivities :) for the past several years, we have! I'm excited for everything in store for us and very much looking forward to welcoming this sweet little boy into our family!  Have I mentioned lately the fact that I am blessed beyond measure? 

alive & well

Yep, we're all alive & well! As always, staying very, very busy!  I should have posted about ten different times between the last post and this one about all the fun, exciting things we've been up to, as well as all the day-to-day Westinisms that keep us in stitches.  But, alas, here I am and there is no way I will remember it all or have enough time to record all the details!  

March & April are teasers in Colorado!  We have a little of everything-- sunshine & 75, snow & 25 and everything in between... sometimes all in the same day! Kreg & Westin have been out fishing a couple of times already and are really excited about being able to do more of that in the coming months in warmer temperatures. 

 Westin & Daddy reeling one in

 my outside boy

 Wes & his buddy Van

 the crew at Palmer Lake

We were able to make a trip to East Texas the last weekend in March to visit Kreg's sister Kim & her family, including the newest addition, 4-week-old baby Kate! It was a very nice, much-needed weekend with family.  We were also able to see a little bit of Kreg's mom, Carol and her husband Craig, and Kreg's Dad, Steve & his wife Maria.  I was a little swollen and achey after the 14 hour trip, but it was worth it :) I especially enjoyed watching Westin play with his cousins!  They were all so good with him and he obviously thought they were AWESOME. :) I was thankful to get to spend some good Aunt Keleigh & Kate time!  She is sweet as can be and I loved every minute of getting to know her.  

 Pops, Nana & 5 grandkids!

 Wes & Cousin Johnathan

 Darling baby Kate & I

Westin & baby Kate

 Jonas & Westin's duet

 All the cousins in the bluebonnets!

Westin is at such an entertaining stage!  I could literally just sit and watch him all day and be so entertained.  I love that he is talking so much and our conversations are way too much fun.  I've spent the past 22 months wondering what he's thinking and now that I'm getting a glimpse into his little mind, I feel like I know him that much better!  He is very detail-oriented-- He easily notices something out-of-place and likes to correct it.  He can spot a ball or a plane way before I can.  I'm constantly impressed at his memory, especially with people's names (and the Sesame Street characters' names, and the Thomas & Friends' names).  He can recite pieces of his favorite books which also amazes me.  He's becoming very, very social.  I have to watch him very carefully wherever we go because he enjoys finding new people to talk to!  He's always very concerned about little people, especially if they are crying. I'm hopeful that he will be really good with his little brother.  The first baby he's ever really been around is Kate Hodges and he immediately took to her.  He asked right away to "hold this" and LOVED holding her.  He was very gentle and wanted to kiss the top of her head :) 

Tucker is doing great!  At our 26-week appointment, I asked our midwife to do one more ultrasound and print me out some boy parts :) just so I could be SURE.  She was very obliging, of course, and thankfully so was Tucker.  He's definitely a boy and I am getting so excited to meet him and see my boys together!  At our last appointment (29 weeks), my midwife said he's really a very good size... I'm still carrying him practically on my back and thanks to my nice, long torso, I still don't look that big.  I enjoy all of his sweet little kicks and hiccups and thank God daily that it's been such an easy, healthy pregnancy.  I'm hoping to have him in my arms safe and sound in about 2 1/2 months!  It's gone SO fast...

My mom and Westin & I went out to the mining museum down the road and took a few maternity shots!  It was a fun little shoot and we got some great shots :)  I will do another one with Kreg & Westin in a month or so but I'm really glad to have these... while I'm still "comfortable!"

We're planning on getting up to the cabin this weekend and have several home-improvement projects on our list to get done in the next couple of weeks.  I've been making good progress... stay tuned for pictures of Westin's big-boy room, the nursery, the new paint upstairs, and the updated master bathroom! 

Westin Today- 20.5 months

I am staying inside today!  Currently it is -6 degrees at my house! I'm using today as a great opportunity to catch up on all of the things that I have neglected over the past week of sickness at our house! 

As I've been working, I've been thinking of how much I'm enjoying Westin at this stage and how I need to write down all the things he's into and my favorite things he says :) He is so 150% boy and we wouldn't want him any other way!  He keeps me hopping all the time!  He is very into matchbox cars (he loves playing with Kreg's old collection and has a few new ones of his own).  My striped rug in my bathroom has become a perfect little road for his cars and he very much enjoys playing with them at the very bottom of the stairs and driving them up and down the first couple of steps.  (Yes, this is hazardous... he is careful but Kreg & I are always stepping on a stray matchbox car as we come down the stairs) He's also very into mega-blocks and can entertain himself for very long periods of time building towers and such... many times, his towers turn into cars that are driven around the living room with the appropriate sound effects.  He also loves trains, especially Thomas, and "Melmo" (Elmo) from Sesame Street.  When he's not playing with his cars or his blocks or watching Melmo, he loves to fix things with his little tool set.  There's nothing he can't hammer or screw or drill or saw!  And believe it or not, nothing gets him more excited than a great big, loud vacuum!  He is always right there when he hears my vacuum start and is ready to "help."  He also has his own little dirt devil that actually picks up dust here and there.  His very favorite vacuum is my mom (Mimi)'s big Kirby.  

Some of my favorite phrases of his right now are:
okay-- pronounced very drawn out-- "Ohhh-ka-aayyy"
"hand hold" rather than hold hands :)
"Bob On" TV on... reminiscent of when he only wanted to watch Veggie Tales
"Ball Bong" soccer ball
"Uh LU LOO" I love you

He got a haircut this weekend that made him look so much older to me!  I can't believe how much he has changed in the short 20.5 months I have known him :) It's been more of a joy than I could have ever anticipated! He looks so much like his Daddy right now and has so many of his personality traits-- which I love, of course :)  

CORRECTION!

Well, we are shifting gears!! Apparently, the ultrasound picture of girl parts I have on my fridge is lying :) Our most recent ultrasound, according to our midwife, shows definite boy parts! (I should have had her print out a picture for me because I keep looking at the picture on my fridge and thinking of how sure I've been all along that its a girl and I'm still trying to convince myself we're having a boy!) 

Our precious boy's name is Tucker Kreg Kell!  Tucker has been Kreg's favorite boy name for a while now and I wanted him to have his daddy's name as his middle name-- I think he will be proud when he's old enough to understand :) 

I can't even begin to explain the emotions I have felt over the past few days!  I've heard of this happening quite a bit, but never really thought through how it would feel!  I can just imagine God up there "flipping on the boy switch" and laughing at me as I put my faith in modern technology :) I've been bonding with my daughter over the past month, praying for her and dreaming about her and I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that this little boy I love SO much already is actually the same person as the little girl I've been loving the past month... it seems like it should be a much easier transition!

Things I have learned/been reminded of these past few days:
* Plans RARELY work out exactly like we think (God reminds me of this a lot!)
* I bond with my babies in womb more than I ever knew!
* I do want more than 2 kids :) now that I have all this girl stuff, might as well try again :)
* I am SO excited that my boys will be the right age to be playmates and life-long buddies
* I believe God has His hand in planning my family and that this BOY has big things in store!


All that being said, we are all excited all over again!  Two boys is something my family has never done! We are gearing up for all the energy, competition, and EATING that will characterize our family in years to come!  Kreg is super excited and already dreaming of his two hunting/fishing/football buddies! I am praying for the energy to take on raising two boys and that Kreg & I will be able to raise both of our sons to be strong, godly, leaders who respect and treasure women and desire to be pillars in their families, churches, and communities.  OH, AND I'm dreaming about matching church clothes until they're old enough to dislike it... I always liked doing that with my dolls when I was little, haha!

A few pictures for you... 

 the beautiful flowers Kreg brought me when we found out this baby is actually a boy!

the fabric I bought to do his bedding-- it'll be a safari theme!

Thinking Pink

In case any of you have not already heard, we are having a little girl!!!! We are so very excited to add a daughter to our family and so thankful that our awesome God is keeping her safe and healthy! 

Her name will be Emerson Anne Kell.  We chose Anne to honor my mom, Tami LeAnne, my grandmother, Priscilla JoAnne, and my great-grandmother, Doris Ann.  These are three of the strongest, godliest, most beautiful women I know, all of whom have influenced my life in such amazing ways.  I am so excited for my daughter to have such wonderful women from both of our families to learn from and love! 

I knew it had to be a girl because this pregnancy has been SO DIFFERENT from Westin's.  Different symptoms, different feelings, different eating & weight gaining patterns... it HAD to be!  I have not been nearly as sick as I was with Westin, as of today, I am still 2 lbs lighter than my pre-pregnancy weight, & I have NO baby bump at 17 weeks with baby #2! I'm not worried, though-- we saw her on Wednesday and she is growing right on schedule and seems to be doing just great :)  Here are some pictures of she & I so far on this little journey!