Life lately

Life lately is crazy but in a good way. We have been busy making memories but dang we are tired. Since going back to work in September juggling hubby, kids, work , and the house has proven to be harder with two kids. I think we have finally made some progress of keeping everything together. We are now using the Wunderlist app for iPhone and can do a schedule of household chores, grocery lists and just to dos. It has proven to help us both stay on track and both know we can add and edit as needed. We have also used this app to help let us know a daily routine to help keep our home clean and a little less chaotic. So far this app has been great and is working for our family.

We were able to do a few things this October since the hubby was off the whole month!! So sad he had to go back to work.

-we went to the zoo

-bought a new car (new to us)
-went to Indiana

-sold a car
-sold said new to us car
-bought a new car

-visited with family
-went on lots of family walks
-had date nights
-had Williams 3rd birthday party

-decorated for Halloween
-celebrated Halloween

-planned a trip to Chicago
-visited the Cahokia Mounds

-went to the mall

- went to the pumpkin patch 

-enjoyed the freakishly warm fall weather

We have loved the time we were able to spend together and look forward to a vacation to Chicago for a weekend. It is finally feeling like fall and I just can't wait. We will be enjoying some walks bundled up and burning some fall candles.

Our day at the park

The weather here gets super hot during the summer but since we had a nice morning we decided to head to a close park that has live stock. We enjoyed walking around, seeing animals and spending time as a family of four. 

William loved seeing all the animals and making animal noises. We were a little early before the animal part was open so we walked around the lake and played. 

Then it began to rain and we had to cut our time short. We hopefully will be back again before summer vacation is over. 

Rotating turns for date night activities

This time it was my turn to come up with a date night. I decided I would like to do something outside and somewhere close to where my parents would be watching the babies. I decided Fast Eddies would be the best place for our date day. 

We enjoyed great conversation, great food and great company. I'm so grateful for time with my husband and time to just connect. Life gets busy and crazy and this time together is precious! 

Date nights after baby #2

We are fortunate enough to have family that lives close to help babysit. We can't go long as I am nursing but it's been fun figuring out date nights on a budget (since I'm not working) and on time restraints. We both know how important it is for uninterrupted time with your significant other and it's much needed for a strong healthy relationship. 

On our day out we hit up a local brewery called Kaskaskia Brewing Company. I took a few samples of local beer and had a few snacks. We played games, talked to each other and ate some snacks. 

Then we walked down the street to have lunch and just enjoy each other's company. We ate at a place called the Office and it was just a nice time. 

Evelyn 1 month old

On July 21st my sweet girl turned one month old. I can't believe it has already been one whole month we have had this sweet angel! 

Brand new and one month picture. 

When we went to the doctor her stats were 

Weight : 9lbs 3oz 50% 

Height : 20.5 in 15%

Head 75% 

She is nursing great and gaining weight! She looks great and is doing fantastic! We got a clean bill of health for her. 

She nurses during the day every two to three hours. 

Her head is getting stronger and tummy time makes her lift her head. 

She loves bath time and being in the water. 

She loves to watch her brother 

She is beginning to smile and make noises. 

She has started to be awake more during the day and is much more alert. 

She doesn't like to be put in her car seat but loves a car ride

She is sleeping for 4-6 hour stretches at night waking early morning to nurse and back to bed

Mommy is doing great. I am feeling much better and we have been able to get out a few times. It's a new routine and we are getting use to our new normal. 

William: he loves his sister so much! He loves to give kisses and hugs. He is learning to be soft and easy with her. 

Evelyn we are so glad you are part of our family. We don't remember what life was like without you. You are sweet, beautiful and so fun to dress. I am amazed by you everyday and can't wait to see you grow and learn! 

Baby girl nursery

When we found out we were having a girl I immediately went to Pinterest to find nursery ideas. I knew I wanted elegant and fancy. I was thinking crystal knobs, chandeliers and some kind of accent wall. I thought if I ever had a girl I would use purple but that wasn't the case. We decided to use cream, pink, white and pops of teal. 

I absolutely love her room and I'm so happy with how it turned out! 

Our first holiday as a family of four

Fourth of July was our first holiday spent as a family of four! Nick was schedule to work this holiday (he is scheduled for all holidays again this year) but took leave for the baby. It was so nice to have him home almost three weeks. 

We just had our pool liner fixed and a new one put in so it was family/ pool time for the day.  Nicks family was coming over later and were going to make hot dogs and hamburgers and hang out. I wasn't able to swim quit yet considering I had just given birth butapparebtkt it was cold so I wasn't to upset. 

We had a Fourth of July picnic that was at the park so we packed the kids in the stroller and headed across the street. It ended up being perfect timing because from 2-5 it was free rides and face painting. William was able to enjoy a few rides before it got to crowded and hot! By the time we got back from the carnival family was over and we began to swim. 

The men got in but it was to cold for the woman. Water had just been filled in the new pool= super cold. 

We ate on the patio and watched fireworks from our backyard. All in all a great holiday weekend! 

Evelyn's birth story

Although sweet girl is almost a month old I finally have blogger back on my phone so now I can recap some of my favorite memories from the last month. 

My due date came and went and I still was st 2cm and thinning. We went back and forth about what we would do at our next appointment. We really wanted to wait it out and labor at home. We decided we would talk to doctor and we decided we would get induced in hopes of it going a lot smoother than the first time. We got to the hospital a little before 8am which was so different in itself. We came at 8pm last time. 

We parked the car and leisurely walked in. When we got there all the nurses were ready for us and we got settled in. 

Last baby girl bump picture!!! 

Now the fun starts. We began Pitocin at 8 am we decided to watch some news and chat about what we wanted out of this birth. I was checked around 10 and was at 2.5 cm so we decided we would pop in Indiana Jones and wait for the contractions to get stronger. Around noon I was at a 3 and the doctor decided  to break my water around 1230 in the afternoon. This is when we really started to labor. I watched movies and tried to rest, I bounced on the ball and even tried playing uno till I have in and asked for the epidural. My husband was great during all of this knowing I didn't want to get an epidural to early. He was so supportive and helpful. Around 330 I got the epidural  now I could relax and try to nap. At this point around 5 I was at a 5 so we decided we would call family let them know that no rush but start thinking about heading this way. Rush hour and no one lives close. Little did we know around 520 I was checked again because of my blood pressure. During this little bit of time babies heart rate was going up then down and my blood pressure was doing the same. Everything ended up being fine for both of us and we progressed to an 8! It was now go time. So we made some phone calls to family. We decided this time we would have my mom in the delivery room and at this point she was about 35 minutes out and stuck in traffic. Nick called her and she was crying because she didn't know if she would make it. At around 545 they began getting the room ready and around 6 my doctor came in and was prepping. Around 615 my mom got there as we were actually waiting on her I WAS MORE THAN READY! At 620 I began pushing and st 628 pm we had a baby! 

It was a totally different experience and it truly was a great one. I could do it again! I'm so grateful for my husband the nurses and my doctor. Labor was dare I say easy and I was able to video tape her being born. 

Life as a family of four has just 

begun

A note to my first born

Dear William, 

As I sit here and write this I am filled with emotions about having your sister tomorrow. I can't help but 

feel guilty, sad, happy and just plain excited. I think about all that you have done, seen, learned and 

have taught me throughout the last 2 years 8 months and I am grateful for that. I am sad to think you 

will not be my baby anymore and that you will struggle with that. I worry I won't get to be there for you 

like I am now and that will make you sad. I worry you will hate your sister for taking up your time. In 

reality I know this is all in my head and you are going to adjust just fine but these are the things I am 

worrying about. 

 William you are filled with joy, love and laughter. You are smart, funny and have a temper. You are the 

sweetest boy to your momma and I love every minute of it. You light up any room you walk into with 

your red hair and bright blue eyes. I can't wait to see you become a big brother and give her lots of 

hugs and kisses just like you do your cousins. 

I promise to love you no less and still have our cuddle time! I love you buddy with all my heart. I know 

this will be a big change but it's going to be great! 

I love you forever!!!

Weekend wrap up

I can't believe it's already Monday but we sure had a great weekend.

Friday after work I picked up William and we headed out to run a few errands. We went to Home Depot and got a chandelier for baby girls room. We went to target and got NOTHING this never happens! We then had to pick up a baby shower gift for Saturday at Babies R Us. 

The rest of our night was pretty chill and filled with cuddles.

Saturday we actually were able to sleep in which was wonderful. We ended up getting dressed right away and meeting my sister and her family for some St. Patrick's Day fun. We had a blast and William loved it. 

After the parade we went home and had lunch and headed to the baby shower. It was wonderful shower but poor William was the only boy. Satirday night we had dinner with my inlaws and that is always a good time! 

Sunday Daddy came home and we all headed to church. Poor William had his first round of sickness today. He threw up in church! Poor guy was miserable but then was back to himself before we left. We took some time before we headed back out and he seemed ok. We headed to Grafton for a little road trip. 

We had a great lunch, did some ice skating and took a ferry ride. It was a great day! William seemed fine until right when we were putting him to bed. Poor guy was sick again. Hoping my baby feels better this morning.

Happy Monday