4 months with Lilly Grace and Back to Work for Momma

4 months-- it doesn't seem possible that this beauty is already 4 months old. A day doesn't go by where we don't smile because of you. At 4 months, Lilly Grace is rolling up on either side, so close to actually rolling over, she's sleeping long stretches at night, a few all through the night, and she's put herself on a regular schedule. She loves watching her big brother play, and is constantly chewing on things, especially her hands, teething already. She enjoys bath time and riding in the car. She is full of smiles, coos, and a few giggles. LG likes  tummy time and loves naptime. She also loves to sit and stand up to see everything.  And this momma is sad to be going back to work this week after 4 solid months with this cutie.

Lilly Grace's 4 month wellness visit went well today, all things considered. Silly shots are no fun. She's in the 62% and 64% for weight and height. We go back in 2 months for her 6 month check up. 6 months? Are we sure that's right?! How is this possible? Didn't I just have her? Wasn't it just April? Ugh..I strongly dislike the month of August, mainly because I don't like to leave my babies. Back to work after 4 months with this sweet smiley lil cuddle bug is going to be very hard. I have some great friends and family ready to help me get back to it, but oh man is it breaking my heart. I do miss my work friends, but can I please just bring LG to work with me? I mean they'll hardly notice her, she's so good. Now, Lucas on the other hand-well he'd just keep us entertained.

This has certainly been a tough summer in some ways, brother being 2.5 and adjusting to a new baby-some days I was so ready for nap, but all things considered, he's adjusted rather well. I am excited to watch these two grow-I don't want them to get bigger, but if they're going to do it, I better enjoy it along the way. Lucas and Lilly Grace share a bond and love that I didn't grow up with, and I am excited to see it grow and strengthen over time. I am sad to this summer go, and sad my endless baby snuggles will be confined to after school and weekends, but just know that's where you can find me.

Norah, Sushi, Zoo and More

Lucas spent some time with Grandma and Poppie and his cousin Norah!! Norah got to meet Lilly Grace and snuggled her lots-she didn't want to put her down, which LG loved!!! Here's a look at our weekend when Norah and Lucas came home! We took a trip to the zoo!! We went to eat at Miyabi's --Andrew and Norah enjoyed sushi, and we all enjoyed the show!! 

Cow Appreciation Day 2016

We had fun this year at Cow Appreciation Day 2016. Don't you love babies dressed up like cows? Especially when they wear tutus? 

A Look at the changes over the years at Cow Appreciation Day 

Howe Fun with the Howe Family

A year ago we said good bye to some of our dearest friends--the Howe Family. They moved cross country and it seems to have been the fastest year ever. However, we never expected to visit with them and see them so quickly after the move. I always assumed we would go west first before they came back east, but having Jordan's parents live in Florida really helps the possibility to visit with them. Here's a glimpse at our visit together--it was short but very sweet and lots of fun!! We found out that Parker LOVED Lilly Grace, and we also found out that Parker and Lucas together is TROUBLE. When the Howe's moved, Parker was a little too young to really interact with the boys, but not now... 

A Mother of Two: Happy Mother's Day

Today I was able to celebrate Mothers Day as a mother of two sweet loving babies. Lilly Grace is one month old and we had a great day with family. 

 My sweet family of 4

This sweet girl purses her lil lips a lot, so mommy joined

My two lil loves

Holding this sweet boy's hand--he said, "Mommy, I hold yours hand." Yes sir! 

Kicks While I Type

 Today is February 1st and it's hit me multiple times that our baby girl is due in just over 2 months!!! Eek how crazy. It's exciting and sad at the same time. Exciting of course because we want to meet our baby girl, and meeting Lucas was even more perfect than we could have imagined. Now I imagine meeting LG will be perfect, too :) However, it's sad because we've always wanted 2 kids and it's sad to think these sweet kicks I'm feeling while typing might be it for me and for us after LG is born. Pregnancy, although hard, is one of the most beautiful things you can experience and I feel blessed to feel and experience this yet again. I pray for our sweet girl and myself as we enter the last weeks of  this pregnancy. I pray for us both to be healthy and have an easy delivery. I pray for us all during this transition into a family of 4, and I pray for us to easily learn how to adapt to this new role. I pray for God's healing after she arrives and I pray for my baby boy as he transitions into his new role, too. I pray he doesn't feel overlooked or unloved, I pray he feels important and that he adores his baby sister. I pray they grow up with a sweet and loving relationship that I have never experienced. I pray for my sweet husband as I know he will feel more pressure with two little sweet ones. And I pray for us to raise them both to know God's grace and perfect love each day. I am so excited to meet our baby girl, but I definitely do not want to rush this experience. 

I think we've showed off most of LG's nursery, but here's a look at the nursery and a few pics of her growing.

26 weeks

Curtains hung

"L" for Lilly Grace

28 weeks

29 Weeks and VERY tired

some more decorations

Lilly Grace Updates

How fast time flies when you're a parent, the TimeHop app is so cool and so bittersweet because it reminds me of where we've come and where we will soon be again when Lilly Grace is born. I can't believe my baby is TWO and that he's about to become a big brother. Lilly Grace is rolling around and moving as I type this. She's growing well and we had another appt right before New Years. The doctor wanted another ultrasound since he couldn't see the bottom part of her spine at the gender ultrasound. The ultrasound tech was having the same problem again, she seems to be stubborn like her brother, but we got some extra pics of our lil girl and the doctor was able to see what he couldn't at the last appt. That appt also included my glucose test, and thankfully, I passed that one on the first time!! (unlike with Lucas where I had to take the 3 hour, in my defense his appt was at 3:30 in the afternoon after school and I had eaten and sadly I ate carbs LOL which turned into glucose...duh Alex). Anyway, all is well and we go back at the end of January for another monthly appt. She definitely moves a lot and is a lot like Lucas in that she likes to push up into my rib cage making it hard to breathe or sit up straight at times, but I wouldn't change it, it's sweet and familiar.


Here is a look at the 26 week bump. She is about the size of an eggplant.


We also spent a lot of time over my Christmas break getting the nursery set up and ready for Lilly Grace. We got it painted, got the crib, dresser, rocker, and bookshelf put together and set up. We also got some pictures and decorations and the crib bedding to go along with it. It's been more challenging than making decisions for Lucas' room, but I am really loving how it's all coming together. We still have to settle on some curtains, trying to regulate the temperature in the room is the main concern with the curtains. It's a work in progress, but I am loving it.

Here's a look at her nursery

Bow holder made by me and bows made by me, too. 

I've discovered my crafty side. Who knew?

Here are some deals we've gotten on clothes!!! 

Here was Lilly Grace's first monogram outfit from Grandma for Christmas

And here was my favorite gift ...the blanket that my Grannie gave to my mama to bring me home in the hospital is now what I will use to bring home Lilly Grace from the hospital. 

Christmas Lights at the Zoo

Fun at the Lights Before Christmas at the Zoo with our pals, The Powell's 

Lucas was a little upset at first, but he did a lot better than I anticipated

But Audrey Blake was not happy at all

We love the Powell's 

20 Weeks

We've reached the halfway point with Lilly Grace. It's hard to believe we're already that far in. We spend so much time counting down and looking forward to all the milestones, but it's a little sad how truly fast it passes in the grand scheme of things. I pray I enjoy and soak up every week and moment left in this pregnancy. At 20 weeks, the LG is the size of a mango! At our ultrasound, she was measuring only 1 day ahead, good news. All things look good and I'll return on Dec. 30 for my glucose test and another check up. The doctor even said we'd take another look at her because they couldn't see all of her spine. No worries, he just wants to be able to see it, and her position wasn't very cooperative. I am of course excited because that's another ultrasound to see our little princess!

Lucas is starting to remember a baby is in mama's belly, but I don't think he truly understands yet. But I know he'll be very excited once she arrives, although, he may not be happy she stays :) But he'll get there. We are very excited for the next 20 weeks, and we are so blessed.


And for a few weeks, we will have a pretty background for our baby fruit and bump pics!

Baby Girl or Baby Boy?

We've been anxiously anticipating this day for weeks now, even months. We got up, got ready, had breakfast, and headed off to our doctor's office, Lucas included. So not only was today the first day of our Thanksgiving break, but it was also our 20 week ultrasound to reveal the gender of Baby Oliver #2!

After our appointment, we went to Wal-Mart, Build-a-Bear, and lunch as a family ;) Here's a look at what we got on our stops.

So it's confirmed...it's a GIRL 

We both thought it was a girl and we both wanted a GIRL!! We are so excited to meet and welcome Lilly Grace Oliver into our family come April 2016. Her due date is April 15, 2016. Above all else we wanted a healthy baby, and how lucky and blessed are we, that she's healthy and it's a SHE like we wanted and like we thought!!!