Let the fun begin!

I plan on trying to come up with new ideas for clothes for this little boy. I like a certain style and sometimes it is hard to find in the store, especially in my price range. I made these two shirts for my nephews 1st birthday. The red tee is just a tie that I zig zagged on to the shirt. Jim made the tie template for me so I can reuse it. It was very simple!

The white shirt has 3 different bowties that are interchangable. Each one has a snap on the back so they can be changed depending on what pants he was wearing. The bowties took a little more work but I LOVED how both shirts turned out.

I just bought two plain white onesies and I plan on doing the same on them for the little one. He is going to look so cute!!!! Can't wait to come up with more ideas for this little guy of mine =)

BOY!

We are beyond excited to announce that we are having a BOY! We got to the appointment and they make you drink all this water, so needless to say I had to pee pretty bad. She began looking at all the organs of the baby and I got so caught up in looking at everything that I actually forgot we were going to be finding out the sex of the baby. We looked at the brain, feet, fingers, arms, toes, etc and everything came out great.

Then all of the sudden I saw something that didn't look like what my daughter has! She said, "Do you guys have a boy or girl at home?" We said, "Girl." Then she said, "You'll be happy to get a boy then!" I was shocked to say the least! Last time she warned us that she was looking for the baby's privates and then this time she caught me WAY off guard!

Let me just say, all 7inches 8oz of him is perfect! He is going to be my Mr. Handsome as I have already started calling him that! Let me just say, I cannot wait to hold my little boy.

Who are you? And what have you done with my mommy?

If today was the voting for the "Mother of the Year" award, I definitely wouldn't win based on my performance today. I must say, I felt the pregnancy hormones really kick in this morning. Or maybe it was the fact that I haven't slept a full night in weeks, I have had a migraine for two days and I can't take anything for it, or maybe Riley and I are feeling cabin fever! Actually, it's all of the above.

I have grown pretty uncomfortable at night. This worries me seeing how I am only 17 weeks! What am I going to do when I get to 35 week?!?! Ugh....but on a more exciting note, we had an appointment yesterday with the midwife. She went to get the dopler to find the baby's heart beat and she was going for the right side. I stopped her and showed her exactly where the baby was sitting on the left side and she said, "Wow, you really know where your baby is." This pregnancy is SOOO different. I know what to feel for, I know the difference between the baby's movements and just a bubbly tummy. We have an ultrasound scheduled for next week to find out the sex of the baby. I can HARDLY wait! I have had two dreams now about the baby being a girl. But this definitely doesn't mean that I think it's a girl, I really have no idea! We have a couple of names picked out but are not set on any of them. I think we are both waiting until we find out the sex so we can pick out just one name.

Other exciting news, Riley is going peepee on the big girl potty! Well, not all the time but a couple of times a day! I am so proud of her. When I was younger, I never imagined I would cry the first time my child peed on the potty, but here I am, one proud Mommy!

Enjoy the picture, its not the most glamorous but it best described how I felt today!

My little Munchkin

Yesterday was such a special day for my husband and I. We finally got to have a sneek peak of what our little one looks like. He/she is about 1 1/2 inches right now and growing perfectly. I am always amazed at what you can see from an ultrasound. We could see the hands, feet and even make out that babies little toes.

This ultrasound was also to check if we had one...or two! I have to admit, I am relieved that there is just one. But twins would have been exciting too! Unless God has other plans for us, I think this will be our last pregnancy. The pregnancies are just so hard on my body that I am not sure I could do it again. But then again, we have made plans before and God has other ones for us! =)

I can't wait to meet this little one. I am beyond excited! One more week and I will be out of my first trimester and hopefully start feeling better. I just really don't want any more trips to the hospital until I am actually in LABOR!

A Great Thanksgiving!

I just realized it has been forever since I last blogged. We went down to Brea, CA for Thanksgiving because my sister in law was due that week with her first baby. To make a long story short, she was a rockstar during the labor and Grace Elizabeth was born. My sweet little niece that I can't wait to see grow up. When I found out it was a girl I had visions of Riley and her running around together with their other cousins. I am so excited for the many memories they will have together.

So I am alittle over 10 weeks preggers with baby #2 and my hyperemesis really came into full force this week. So much that yesterday I ended up in the hospital with dehydration. After a couple IV's of fluid and my liquid (gold) Zofran, I was feeling somewhat normal. But as soon as they took the fluids out I started throwing up again. I was pretty discouraged and even more discouraged when the nurse couldn't find the heart beat. But rest assured, we went to the midwife today and heart that sweet sound of our babies heart beating away. We both cried and then we cried even more when our midwife said the "T" word. She wants to check for twins! Ummm...you said what? There are a couple of reasons why she wants to check for twins, this time my nausea is more violent, I am more tired, hungry, dehydrated, etc. And also the fact that my tummy got bigger faster this time. I really think we just have one little pumpkin but it would be nice to know sooner than later! When I told my stepson DJ we MIGHT have twins he said, "What are we going to do about this?" I laughed so hard, he is such a little man.

Anyway, more news to come later. I am praying to feel better by Christmas, that's not to much to ask right?

Family of 4 will soon become 5!!!

We are so excited to announce our new little bundle will be arriving in June 2010!! It was the Saturday before Halloween about 6:30am and Riley and I were cuddling on the couch. She leaned over, rubbed my tummy and said, "Mommy, baby tummy." I have to admit, I was a little offended! But Sunday something prompted me to take the test and positive it was!

It has been hard keeping it a secret (sort of) for this long. My pregnancies are a little hard to hide. With Riley I had hyperemisis which is when you have uncontrollable nausea and vomitting in pregnancy. The best way I can describe it is having stomach flu for months! We did a lot of praying about this pregnancy that things would be different. At 6 weeks, I wasn't feeling sick at all and I thought I was in the clear but boy was I wrong!!!! Lets just say, I have gotten to know our toilet pretty well! The nausea is so intense that I take a medication that is typically given to cancer patients after chemo!

On a lighter note, I actually left the house for a Costco trip with the family today and didn't get sick! I really hate throwing up in public places so I actually will try to make it to the car and throw up in a bag! TMI I know, but I have to do what I am comfortable with you know?

Anyway, we are beyond joyed to be blessed with another little munchkin this coming summer. I can't believe that I will have three kids at 26 years old! I bought two and got one free and I wouldn't have it any other way. I cannot believe that Riley is going to be a big sister! We are going to have to work on the whole sharing thing for the next 7 months.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for in the Merrill household!

*In the picture I was 29 weeks pregnant with Riley

Baby Fever

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending my SIL's baby shower. Now, this wasn't your ordinary shower. It was done the Merrill way, with skits, surprises and a lot of fun! My other SIL Becky was the master party planner and let me tell you, SHE'S GOOD!

I was happy to be her side kick!

It definately gave me baby fever but also reminded me of how blessed I am to have DJ and Riley. I think sometimes I take for granted what I already have at home. So, my plan is to live in the moment, appreciate what I have and really live my life to the fullest! When I am gonna start? "I'm gonna start right now!" (inside joke for family members!)