A Special Date

Gracie and Troy had one last little date before football season officially takes Troy away for the month of August.  Lunch at Chick-fil-a and time out at there favorite spot to visit the local PetSmart.  Gracie loves getting to see all the animals.  This is always such a special time for them, I love it.

From the Garden

Ok so you have seen my help me posts, my what do I do next posts and now here is an over joyed post.  I have been told over and over there is nothing like growing your own veggies.  I now understand.  I have success!  My beefmaster tomato's are comming in strong.  I have atleast 15 of them on the vine and I want to pick them so bad because they really are huge but they have not yet turned red.  Lots of cucumbers, peppers, and cilantro.  All tastes fabulous.

Cabby & Abby

Just to document:
Cabby & Abby are Gracie's  besties.  She loves them both but her favorite for a very long time was Abby.  If heading down stairs with them she will only allow is to carry Cabby down, she is always the one to handle Abby.  She plasys with Abby more then anything.  Then one day she went to get 1 choice of a baby to ride in the care and to our surprise she came down with Cabby.  Cabby was finally in the spotlight.  I just thing Toy Story when this kind of thing is going with Woody & Buzz Lightyear fighting for the spotlight. 

Cabby, Gracie & Abby

Then the new toys arrived.....

24 Weeks - Updated

My little man is very busy kicking me and punching all day.  He is defiantly more active then Gracie ever was and he is also sitting much lower then Gracie ever did at least until the very end.  I am often wearing my belly band just to help with the pressure.  I am using lots of lotion because I am a little afraid this one may give stretch marks and I really don't want those. 

Cravings: nothing at this point and no aversions either
Sleep Cycle: always on my side with a pillow under my belly and my bathroom trips remain in the 2's and 3 area.
Movement: as I mentioned above, all day but my little man has never woken me up, yet.
Names: Troy came up with one the other night that we both actually liked so right now we have one but still searching for others.
Excited For: my 3D ultra sound with my mom and MIL
What to Expect: Per BabyCenter my baby is the size of an ear of corn.
New Moment: Gracie asked to hug & kiss my belly before bed
What I miss: sleeping threw the night & not having pain in my back all the time
A surprise: I think this time the belly button might go....only time will tell

I went to the doctor's office yesterday.  My weight gain and blood pressure were very good.  My little man's heart rate was 150 and he was kicking like crazy.  I usually love my visits because my nurse practitioner sits in there forever letting listen to the heart beat and comment on where his head is and how he is laying.  I always love hearing all the little details but sadly today was a quick visit with my doctor, in and out.  I thought today was glucose drink day but I won't have to do that until August.

not the best picture but there you have it

Best Moment of the Week:  Last night I asked Gracie if she wanted to feel the baby kick and she said yes.  I put her hand on my stomach and made her push down a little.  I prayed for another kick, and there it was 2 kicks right into Gracie's little hand.  She looked at me and said "why baby kicking me"?  Then this morning while she was laying in bed with me she asked if she could feel the baby kick.  I absolutley love this!

Dancing

So my girl loves to dance and she loves to do it in her tutu.  Right now she loves the movie Happy Feet and wants to watch it all the time.  She just wants to dance with mr. happy feet.

Helping Gracie twirl

Thoughts on My Little Man

Troy is very excited....I am a little nervous.  I have all brother's so I shouldn't be but I have gotten use to my girl.  I hope he is as laid back as Troy is, our prediction, this kid may not talk for a long time and then one day it will just be a full sentence.  We just think it would be comical.  But in all seriousness I am ready for a boy and so very excited for Troy.  There will be a 3 year gap between Gracie and our new little man.  Interesting enough that is the age difference between my brother Stephen and myself.  I can't say we never fought but we are close.  We talk all the time and I love him to death.  I loved having him and I have some of the best memories of him.  So why am I nervous, I am not sure but I just am.  I have a thousand girls names I can use and ones at the top of the list waiting to be chosen but for a boy I have nothing.  Our roles in this area have reversed.  Troy sits up on the computer at night going over names and going through the books, reading off ones that he likes and all I can say is no, no, no, no way.  I don't know why but when I try to think of a name, there is nothing.  OK well I did finally come up with one and there are about 100 reasons why we can't use it so the search continues. I have no thought on a letter, no nothing.  That has made it a little harder plus I have to decide where this baby is going to go and how to decorate.  During pregnancy #1 I knew how I wanted to decorate the room and what name would be if it was a boy but now 2 1/2 years later those things are no longer appealing to me and I am starting from scratch.  I am on a search for thoughts and ideas.  I love the people throwing names out there because it keeps me thinking otherwise I don't give it a thought during my day.  Even now as I sit here, nothing.  We had thought that we would give Gracie the name so she could practice saying it and to help for an attachment early but she too might be surprised.

8 Years of Bliss

Today marks a big day.  Troy and I have now been married 8 years.  Eight years, a daughter and one on the way, who knew this is where we would be on this day.  Actually this is exactly where we wanted to be and God's timing is always much more perfect then ours. 

To celebrate our anniversary Troy and I went to Gervasi Vinyard.  This has been on our list of the many places to visit but just never think of it on our date nights.  This is by far one of the neatest places I have been.  And we already started planing the people we want to double date with that would love it.  While waiting to be seated at there outdoor Piazza you can get in a game of corn hole, some boche ball or just take in the view at the lake.  If you don't want to wait they have blankets you can sit on to have your meal on the lawn.  We loved it.  I am sure we will be visiting again.  I only took a few pictures of your night but first a walk down memory lane.

Day 1

check out more of my favorites here

our first official couples picture

at my brothers rehearsal

on vaca in Punta Cana

day 2 as parents

gracie turns 1

our 1st schenk family vaca

2011

picture of the lake at Gervasi Vinyard

a picture of the 2 of us enjoy our night