One More Month

That's right, one month from today our baby girl is due. SO crazy. It will hit me at random times that I'm really going to be a mom and it's very bizarre. There's going to be this little person who I'm expected to keep alive and make into a functioning member of society. Let's just say it's a good thing my mom is only 10 minutes away.

We are getting really excited though. Ryan especially, he can't wait. We still have not picked a name. Who knew it would be so hard? We have some ideas, so I guess we'll wait and see which one fits. I've decided that she is going to be just as crazy as her dad (not surprising really). I swear this child never sleeps. I feel her kicking all day long and I get woken up all night long from more kicks. She must be busy with some karate training program or something. My poor ribs have taken quite the beating. In all honesty though, it is pretty amazing to feel her kick. I'm hoping sometime in the next four weeks she gets the hiccups. She hasn't had them yet and I hear it is the craziest feeling. Anyone have any thoughts on how to give an unborn child hiccups?

Bentley's Birthday!!!

June 11 was a big day! Miss Bentley turned FOUR! She's so old. We got to have her for a whole week for her birthday and it could not have been more fun. We basically spent the entire week celebrating. We wanted to make it extra special because it's the last time we'll have her where it will be just the three of us. Unfortunately, because I'm super smart, I somehow managed to lose two-thirds of the pictures we took. I'm really upset about this. Almost all of the birthday party pictures were lost. At the end of the post I'll put up the few pictures that survived on the camera and the few that I got on my phone. I wish I had more!

On Thursday I had to work part of the day so Bentley and Ryan got some daddy - daughter time. Then in the afternoon we picked up my nephews, Parker and Hunter, and headed to Boondocks. I forgot the camera there and only got one picture on my phone, I wish I had gotten more. We went bowling, did the race carts, bumper boats, played all the video games, and spent forever in the jungle gym thing. We had to drag the kids away when it was time for dinner. Then Thursday night Ryan did a camp out with Bentley and the boys in my parents back yard. There is a fire pit that's surrounded by trees so it was just like real camping, except with plumbing 50 yards away. This big, ol' pregnant lady wasn't about to sleep on the ground outside, so Ryan was left to fend for himself with the kids. They all had such a fun time.

Friday Grandma Julie and Bapa took Bentley and the boys to see Kung Fu Panda 2 and then we spent the rest of the night playing at Grandma Dixie's with Pete!

Saturday was the big day! We opened our presents at home and Ryan made me and the birthday girl a big breakfast. Then we headed to her Princess Pool Party! My aunt Cheryl kindly let us use her pool. We had a BBQ, swam, had a princess castle pinata, a Tangled cake, and opened lots of presents! After the party we headed to Grandma Dixie's house where Bentley played with Pete and a bunch of her new presents and then got to have a sleepover!

Sunday was a pretty relaxing day. We had church in the afternoon and I happened to be substituting in the sunbeam class that Bentley would go to, so we had a ton of fun. Then we went up and spent time with both the Grandparents. It's a good thing they live 4 houses apart, it made us seeing everyone a lot easier.

Monday we rented a bounce house which was a HUGE success. Again, hardly any pictures of this survived which I'm way bummed about. Bentley had SOOO much fun playing with her three cousins and a few other kids. After ten hours of play I'd say we got our money's worth. After a big dinner with both sets of grandparents, we headed out to spend her last night at Lagoon. Pete wasn't a huge fan, but Bentley loved it. She had been asking to go every time we drove past to get from our house to the grandparents, so she was thrilled to finally get there. We only got to spend a few hours there so when she's here in August I think I will send her and Ryan there for a whole day.

As you can see it was a busy week! It couldn't have been better (well, minus all the pictures being lost). I can't wait till she comes again in August and gets to meet her little sister! This was the first time I think she really understood it and she would talk to my belly all the time and tell anyone new we met that I had her sister in my tummy. Love that girl so freaking much!

Here are the pictures that made it:

Parker and Bentley at Boondocks.

Bentley showing off one of her new outfits.

The birthday girl! In her new birthday

outfit and her pin that said 'Birthday Princess"

Opening some one of her presents from me and Ryan.

Rockin her new birthday shades.

Her Tangled birthday cake.

We had gone the day before and picked

it out together, she was so excited.

Grandma Dixie and aunt Kara drew

her birthday pictures on the driveway.

Bentley and Pete playing.

Pete in the bounce house.

You can't tell but this is

Bentley in the bounce house.

Pete's first ride at Lagoon. Soon after

he started screaming.

Bentley on the swings.

Some whale ride, I don't know the name,

but she loved it.

Bentley and Daddy on some dragon ride.

This one went really fast and she looked horrified

but she kept telling Ryan it was so fun.

Bentley with Grandma Dixie.

Bentley and Daddy on a ride with water,

they got soaked.

I'd like you all to know that I am even more sure now that Ryan is a keeper. He made our anniversary so good! I woke up to breakfast in bed and the sweetest card ever. Then we headed out and went shooting with my family which was so much fun. Here are a few pictures:

Lindsay lookin like a pro.

Parker Man and Ryan

Parker with his Bapa. He was so freaking

cute learning how to shoot. I just love that kid.

Haley

This is the only picture of me, despite the fact that I look miserable

I really was having fun. And I did shoot a lot. I also got worn out

really easily and was not smart enough to bring a chair for

my poor pregnant back.

For the first time Ryan out-shot me. I'm inclined to believe it's because my balance is off what with the big ol' child inside of me, but that could just be me making excuses for losing. Either way we will be going again after the baby is born to see if I can't reclaim my position as the better shot.

After shooting we went to my aunts pool to cool off. It was nice and relaxing. Then Ryan took me to California Pizza Kitchen for dinner, my favorite! It was so yummy. All in all it was an amazing day, thanks baby! Happy anniversary!

And the good news keeps coming, Bentley will be here in 8 hours and I can't freaking wait! We get her for a week for her birthday and it is going to be so much fun. Bentley will be FOUR and she has a table full of presents wrapped in Disney princess paper waiting for her. Tons of pictures to come.....

One Year Later....

Saturday is our first anniversary. This is so crazy to me. I'll be honest, the first few months seemed long, but since then it has flown by. When we got married I certainly didn't think by our first anniversary I'd be this close to poppin out a baby. Shows what I know. I have learned a few things over this past year. For your reading pleasure, a list of 9 things I've learned our first year of marriage:

1. When Ryan mows the lawn, or builds a fence, or does any other form of labor for my parents, we both get thanked. And we both get rewarded with a free meal. It's not a bad gig for me.


2. Work boots should be given their own closet, so the horrific smell of them doesn't start to get on all of your cute heels.

3. Even though Ryan claims to be a better driver, he actually racked up more car repair bills than I did.


4. Ryan has the mistaken idea that when I tell him I'm going to the bathroom it is so he will ask me what number.

5. Having your step daughter tell you out of nowhere in the middle of the Pirates of Caribbean ride that she loves you, is one really good feeling.

6. Learning to do your step daughters freakishly thick head of hair after 24 years of doing your own freakishly thin year, is not easy.


7. It doesn't matter how often you bug them, the case workers will take their sweet time deciding if your husband should become a citizen or not. Maybe by our 2nd anniversary we'll have an answer.

8. Christmas is WAY more fun when you have your own kid to do it for.


9. Lastly, I've learned that my husband is a keeper. I'm a lucky girl. He surprises me all the time with new ways he finds to treat me like a princess. I wouldn't trade him for the world.

As you can see a year of marriage has brought so much wisdom.......or something. But honestly it's been great! Gets better all the time, and I can't wait to see what the next year will be like with another baby.

The other exciting news in our life right now is that we get Bentley next week for her birthday!!! We haven't seen that crazy little girl since March so we can't WAIT! Here are some pictures from when we last saw her.

Bentley all ready for the beach, doing her diva pose.

This was at Sea World seeing the 4D movie.

Bentley is being crazy as usual, she gets that from her dad.

The three of us at Sea World.

I may be bias, but she just has the cutest little smile ever.