Family of 5

So it accured to me the other day... we're a family of 5! That seems so crazy to me. I have given birth 3 times in 26 months... yes that is right labor, pain, pushing (NO DRUGS b/c I'm crazy) 3 times in 26 months. It is yes all worth it as every mother will tell you. My sweet peanut is here (she received this nickname b/c she is so tiny) Our lives are upside down and inside out. I have to wear concealer every day to hide my dark circles from lack of sleep. I have to drink at least 2 cups of coffee to keep up with all 3 girls. Most days surprizingly flow very well. But there is always an incident of all three needing my attention at the same time. Here's an example. I'm nursing the very hungry baby... Taylor has to go potty, poops her pants and Addison is eating a bug! All in a days task for me!

Here are a few pics of our precious blessing and much wanted addition to our family!

Taylor's Big Girl Bed

Taylor transfered beautifully to her big girl bed. She "helped" Nathan put it together and once it was done she climbed in bed and said "night-night!" It wasn't even bedtime! In these pictures I caught her sleeping at the foot of the bed. But she is all over the place. I get woken up in the middle of the night by a loud thud and it's her hitting the wall in her sleep with either her arm, foot or head.

She loves to be in her big girl bed and loves sharing a room with Addison. I'm so glad that this went so good. We were nervous with her being so young but.... well we need the crib for baby #3!

Addy is soo BIG!

Addy getting ready to take a step. Not to much progression she is still taking one step gets so excited and gives her self a hand clap that she falls!! TOO Cute

Well...

I was so excited about Addison's first step that I of course called Nathan to share the news with him... and he said "OH - she did that last night, she took a step to me..." (he watched them the previous evening so I could meet some friends for coffee) so it looks like Addison's first step wasn't to me but to Daddy, once again. I was a little upset cause I didn't know about it but oh well.

Both of my girls are majorly Daddy's girls... that's ok though - I do love that!

Addy's BIG day

Addison took her first step today to ME!!! :) She fell, but she kept trying! I kept giving her praise and Taylor following my cues - was doing the same! So Addison sat down and gave herself a hand clap! Tooo cute! :)

Taylor's first step was to Nathan - so this was special to me...

my baby is growing up, it will be nice to have her walking before the baby arrives though! lol

Taylor is 2!

Taylor loved the balloons - still not to sure about this cake thing.

I can't believe our baby is 2! Taylor had a great birthday. We celebrated with our close friends and family. I wasn't sure how she would react to all the attention, since she is so shy. But she dove right into the party!

We are so blessed by our friends and family and want to say a big "THANK YOU!"

Taylor playing with her 4-wheeler!

Potty Training (CONT)

Taylor is doing much better! Praise Jesus! She is really catching on - she sometimes makes it on her own and other times a little on the floor and the rest in the potty. Tuesday she did really well with making it and only had one big accident on the floor. Wednesday we had church so pretty much 1/2 of the day was there and she didn't want to go on that potty at all.

I've been waiting for the POOP part and well it happened tonight. I've figured that she has been holding it cause she hasn't gone since Monday and well I was just waiting... and of course it happened tonight while I was out of the room (thankfully Nathan was home at this point) all I hear is him yelling "JESSICA!!!" and I knew... Taylor started to go and Nathan was directing her towards the potty and she tried to make it but most landed right in the middle of our living room floor but she did finish in the potty.

There has been a huge improvement after that horrible first day - we're sticking with it and realize that it takes some time, but we're about to have another baby and I don't even want to think about having 3 babies in diapers!

Needless to say after this milestone is over - our carpets are getting shampooed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HELP!!! I'm POTTY TRAINING!!!

Taylor is 23 months old.... so it's that time. I have been dreading this and haven't wanted any part of it. We've been introducing the potty for several months now. Sometimes she is ok with sitting on it and other times will hand me the potty and say, "NO!" That is why I was dreading this. So today it began. I am exhausted but yet encouraged. The first part of the day did not go so well. I am opting to have her completely bottomless so she can feel the pee and I figured it would save on some of the laundry. I think I scrubbed our entire living room today from pee - I mean the couch, the floor, toys, books oh and Addison (poor thing) I think that is the hardest part of this is that Addison is fussing cause she isn't getting that much attention - and I feel just awful, poor baby! After naps - things went a little better. Taylor actually made it to the potty 3 times (still had dribbles or puddles on the floor) I call her my pee pot b/c the girl pees ALOT! lol Taylor got TONS of praising, which of course helped and she loved. She gets a sticker for her chart, a sticker for her and a smartie (candy). Addison also has to get a sticker from her loving big sister, which she ended up eating and I had to dig that out of her mouth and then she screamed.

I think what has helped the most - is I knew that I needed God's grace through this. I'm tired (7 months pregnant and constantly cramping and having pressure and all the pains that go along with having your 3rd baby!) trying to keep poor Addison out of the potty and away from all the pee and keeping Taylor on the potty to pee! lol It's an adventure for sure!

Hopefully tomorrow will have better results - from the wisdom of my mother.... "this isn't going to happen in just a day be patient and know that it takes time and give it about a week"

gotta love mamas!

It's been a while...

It's been a while since I've put out a post. It's almost 11 pm and I think this is the first time I've sat down all day... and the 3rd baby isn't even here yet! LOL

Taylor and Addison are just to stinking cute. They bless me each day. Addison is really starting to get her personality - she has been crawling for about a month now and is learning the word "NO" so far so good. I wasn't sure what to expect from her. Taylor just has always listened and accepting being told no, for some things. So you figure the next one will really push the limits. But so far so good - Thank you, Jesus! :)

Question to put out there... is there any way that I can just pay someone to potty train Taylor? It's just a task that I'm not looking forward to.... really. I know, I know.... I've gotta do it. She isn't quite 2 but it's approaching ever so fast. I'll let ya know how that one goes. Any tips I will gladly accept!

It's A Girl!!!

We're having a GIRL!!! We had a 3D ultrasound this past Sunday. Those are very cool and well worth the money. We think that she has Nathan's nose. Everyone else has told us that she looks like Addison - we'll find out for sure in due time! We are extremely blessed by each new addition to our family. We can't wait to meet our little one and discover her little personality. We are almost set on the name Peyton. We think it fits pretty well with our others and just feels right too.

My beautiful girls

Here are some of our recent pics... most of these were taken around Easter - I've gotta get caught up! LOL

Addison is 7 months in these. She is getting so frustrated that she can't figure out how to "go" yet. She'll be there soon enough.

Taylor is 20 months in these pics and cute as ever. She is still my big helper and loves to play with her sister. She is learning many new words... that probably only we can understand. Her newest one is "stuuuu" that is for stuck! and get me out of here NOW!

My birthday....I'm 24!

I had such a wonderful birthday! My mom and aunt were in town to visit. I always enjoy having my mom all to myself! :) With them in town this meant - FREE BABYSITTERS! wahoo - Nathan took me out for a very nice dinner at Ruth's Chris. It was nice to splurge - we had a very good time. Thank you mom and Ki-Ki for babysitting! We really appreciate it!

We went to Jacksonville February 28-March 2. We went for a friends Pampered Chef wedding shower - which I was the consultant for. The shower was a blast and my biggest show yet! It seemed like a good excuse to go and see our fam. We had a good/busy time as always. The girls got to see many family members and had a good time at Gramma's and Nana and Papa's.

Taylor playing in Gramma's backyard with Uncle Jacob (9) and Aunt Nora (6)

Visiting with Grams (Great Gramma)

Taylor and Addison playing with cousin Lily

Uncle Ben and cousin Nicholas

Family pictures

We had our family pictures taken at the end of February... 72 pictures were taken and to say the least.... these are the best!!!

Addison 6 months old

Addison 6 months old

Addie showing Daddy that she can sit up all by herself. She is really proud of it!

Addison is growing to fast! She is sitting up by herself, eating baby food, sleeping in her crib and sharing a room with her big sister. Addison stays mesmerized at Taylor. I'm waiting for her to just leap for her one of these days. They already play together. Taylor will lay on the floor with her and they both just laugh - it's too cute! I love this stage watching her discover everything new and so badly wanting to move around and get to what she wants. I get a little saddened because I miss the sweet little baby that would stay in my arms for hours. (guess that's why we're having another!)

Taylor's New Toy

So... this little worm bike thing, I wanted to get this for Taylor at Christmas - but just couldn't bring myself to spend $35 on it. I feel so much better when I get things on sale. I'm a bargain shopper! - well most of the time... anywho I was at Wal-Mart and it was more than 1/2 off! Sooo glad I waited :) of course I had to get it for her. She loves it! We like to go outside and ride it on our driveway. It's slightly inclined so she just rolls down - kinda scary for me... but no boo-boo's yet!

Entering the World of Blogs...

So my life just isn't full enough with 2 babies and one on the way... I'm making time to BLOG! I thought that it would be fun - an adventure for everyone else to see and hear about our lives. I can't promise to post often b/c well most of my computer time these days is just to pay the bills! Any time my girls are asleep, which is usually when I'm running around getting my million and ONE things done. I have been designating that time for me to catch some Zzzz's myself. Talk about being tired - with each pregnancy it just seems like I don't get enough sleep. Oh no that's normal with having babies!