M-O-N-T-A-N-A

Love our little smarty pants...

The Bump

Well things in the past few weeks have gotten a bit bumpy. One bump to be exact. That bump has caused the belly band to come out in full force and for a hair elastic to be a requirement for keeping my jeans on. It's crazy how things can fit exactly the same everywhere else, but all the sudden, the button and the hole have gotten too far apart to button. It's really the first time I'm experiencing that, because last pregnancy, nothing fit anywhere pretty early on. I'm still trying to dodge the maternity clothes for as long as I can hold out (except for these cute pants I found the other day that are just too comfortable not to wear), but I'm definitely starting to look like a pregnant woman. These are pictures I took today--I am almost 18 weeks---so for those of you who don't follow weeks, I'm 4 1/2 months.

And the following picture is just for my record and motivation...this was what I looked like at exactly 4 months pregnant with Montana, so I'm 2 weeks furthur along now than I was there. I just can't believe the difference it has made to work out and eat just a tad healthier. I feel amazing and am actually enjoying the pregnancy now that the sick part is over. Now, ask me in three or four months when I'm huge--it may be a different story, but for now I'm rejoicing a bit and saying a little prayer of thanks for my gym and trainer. :)

Some other pregnancy highlights at this point-

*This little boy is kickin' around a lot now. Only I can feel it, but it's such a fun experience and I feel blessed to have it. I give Marc little flicks on his arm to try to explain the feeling, but nothing can describe how cool it is to feel those little "quickenings" coming from the little one inside you. It's just amazing.

*My trainer lets me run to the bathroom for a quick relief after my jumping jacks--definitely starting to feel the effects of some pressure on my bladder.

Other than that, I really can't say there's much to tell. We're all happy, healthy and excited to prepare for our little boy!

Lazy Test

I have an iPod touch. Not an iPhone unfortunately but hopefully next year that will be rectified. I have come to have a huge dependency on my touch for my schedule, music, Internet when I'm connected to WiFi, and all the applications.
It's also a very easy way to be lazily addicted to Facebook.
Anyway, Montana has been sick the past few days- keeping us both up on and off through the night. Today, although she still is hacking away, she has mounds of energy and I have none. I'm currently laying down with her trying to coax her into a nap, but trying to keep myself out of one so I can accomplish some things once she's in her cocoon of rest. So, I thought I'd try my new blog application- where I can blog from my iPod. Is it working??
I am starting to hear the steady, yet snarled, congested and snotty breathing from my poor sick baby and know that she is floating peacefully into dream land.
So, I will now float( or drag my feet is more like it) peacefully (so as not to wake her) into laundry and pine sol land...

He's gonna be a football playa...

Well folks, we're about at that time in the pregnancy, and if you haven't already heard on Facebook---we are HAVING A BOY!

Not to mention, this little man is measuring a little sooner for a due date. Two days--it's not enough for the doctors to change it in the charts, but it's enough for ME to say I'm now due March 17th.

I am lucky to have family that has family that is an ultra sound tech and she did a gender check for me this week. We were a little worried we wouldn't be able to tell, because I'm only 16 weeks--but it was very obvious, that this little one is a little boy...

You can see his two little legs stickin' up in the air-and the arrow obviously points to the fact that he is a boy.

Look at that sweet little face:

All five fingers so he can play the piano:

This little Quarterbacks football throwin' arm:

And here he is kicking and flailin' around, just as he was doing the whole ultra sound.

I did feel a fluttering last week and I'm sure in the next few weeks, I'll start to feel him even more.

I feel really great, now that the 1st trimester is over. I've been able to stay active and workout and so I feel a BIG difference from my first pregnancy, to this one. I know I mentioned one time in a post that if you all the sudden stopped seeing pictures of me on the blog, it's because I'm probably huge and not wanting anyone to see me. While I am NOT ruling that possiblity out as of yet (not HOPING for that either), I just haven't had much of a belly to take pictures of until the last week. I'll post something soon when Marc is home to take a picture.

As far as names, we originally always wanted to name a boy Peyton. However, there are a lot of little girls named Peyton as of late, and while it's an adorable name that can be unisex, I think we'll just move on from it for now. Our two other options that we had were Carson and Eli.

He feels like a Carson at this point. And Montana cried when we tried to suggest anything else after we said Carson.

We are so excited to have this little addition join our family!

AND I'M FINALLY UP TO DATE ON BLOGGING! Now, I'm going to go check out all that I've missed on YOUR blogs!

Photo Shoot

A few weekends ago, I was in a friends wedding. Hopefully there will be some pictures to come of that. But, while the wedding party was taking pictures at this beautiful location in Granite Bay, Marc took advantage of the opportunity and took some snap shots of our little beauty!

I'm biased, but she's breathtakingly gorgeous...

A Mad Tea Party

There is this place up here in El Dorado Hills called, "A Mad Tea Party". They serve tea, herbal tea and lemonade with a variety of tea foods, breakfasts and brunches. My sister Courtney and I, along with our little girls were treated by Andalyn's Grandma Cashdollar to a wonderful tea and brunch.

We got to pick out hats!

Montana sipping her lemonade- that was already sweet but she added two lumps of sugar. :)

Andalyn and Courtney

Andalyn with her Grandma Cashdollar

Changing up the hats:

Montana and Andalyn in their fancy dresses and hats!

Our little princesses had a fabulous time. And so did we! Thanks Kathy for treating us all!

Field Trip to Apple Hill

Montana and I went on her first ever field trip to the wonderful Apple Hill. We got to go on a tour, which I've never gone on before.

We were excited!

Our guide was great and we loved touring everything to see how the apples were grown, picked, stored and made into all the different apple products.

The best shot I got of her whole class with Miss Shauna and her assistant Miss Alyson.

And last but certainly not least, we got to enjoy some delicious fresh Apple Hill apple juice.

We may or may not have stopped to get a bag of apple donuts AND fudge after the field trip. :)

First Day of Preschool

I wasn't gonna do it this year. I just love having my little girl home with me all day. BUT- she desperately needed preschool. She needed the socialization, she needed the discipline from someone else and the structure. On a particularly hormonal day, as we played in the backyard of a friend who happens to run an in home day care, I made a deal with my preschool teaching friend. If you can get her to listen to and obey me by the time we leave, I will put her in preschool!

Well, Montana, who normally would give a dramatic exit performance, came up to me at the end of the day after Miss Shauna went to tell her and the other kids playing that it was time to clean up and go, and said, "Mommy-Miss Shauna says its time to go." Then proceeded to help clean up and left without a fit.

I was impressed and held to my end of the deal, and Montana entered preschool that next day. She has LOVED it so far and it has really helped her with learning to share and play with other kids.

I do have to admit though, I miss my little girl for those three hours, two days a week.

Her first day getting ready for Little Learners Preschool:

The princess gear

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Kisses

We love our little girl!

That week was also picture day-so we went back to take pictures. After some tears, we did get one that worked.

Ashley's Bridal Shower

Don't get too excited people---we took like NO pictures during the shower. We were all too busy eating good food, enjoying company and having fun. But here is a picture of the darling bride opening gifts...

And here are a few pictures of the party. I had so much fun putting together all of the pink and green stuff. Thanks so much to my sisters and mom who helped out. Especially Courtney! :) By the way, all of these pictures are POST-party. Again, not so smart on the picture taking.

The FEAST

The FAVORS-these were super fun and easy to make!

The DECOR

The JUMBO CUPCAKES

BY THE WAY-The countdown is on, and this beautiful couple...

...will be married in 16 days!