Hello Relief...GOODBYE HG!

The past 6 weeks have been brutal...I was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum and had the most intense morning sickness in the world. I was sick from the moment I woke up in the morning to the second I closed my eyes at night...all day, every single day. Nothing helped...I tried ginger, unisom, vitamin B6, zofran, diclegis and just about everything else you could think of. My first OBGYN even prescribed me medication for chemo patients, but I couldn't bring myself to take it since there were no studies on pregnant women...plus the side effects were pretty intense. I would eat just because I knew I had to, not because I wanted to...and overall I lost almost 8 lbs! 

Luckily, now the light at the end of the tunnel is here! I'm feeling a MILLION times better and I no longer feel like I'm going to throw up every second of the day. Yesterday was the first day I made it through the whole day without getting sick. Even though I was nauseous, I was able to keep down all my meals (huge success!).

Since the past few weeks I've been cooped up inside trying to get through the sickness, now I feel like I can go out and live life again! I'm even considering taking Jayden to Disneyland this week! She's been such a trooper the past 6 weeks. Every time I would get sick she would run after me and rub my back while I was getting sick. She wouldn't leave my side and if someone would try to take her away from the bathroom, she would get upset and point at me like she wanted to stay with me. I'm so in love with that little girl...between her and my amazing hubby, I don't know how I would have gotten through the rough weeks of sickness without them. 

I'm truly blessed and so excited for these two blessings to join our cute little family <3

Our Growing Family

It's been SO difficult keeping this a secret...but we are PREGNANT! I've wanted to blog about this since the second we found out, but I've been waiting patiently until we were close to the end of our first trimester to report the exciting news! I am 10 1/2 weeks and we are so incredibly excited for our growing family!!

This is how we told our family... 

I got Jayden the cutest little shirt :) I even got a bigger size hoping it would still fit her on delivery day :)

And this is how we spread the exciting news!

Yep! If it's not exciting enough that we're pregnant...there's 2 in there!

Jonathan just about fell off his seat when the doc told us! We looked at each other like "WHATTTT?!?"

We just keep remembering that God is in control and giving us what we can handle. 

While this won't be a walk in the park, it will be the greatest adventure of our lives!

Walking with Dinosaurs

I know I'm writing this really late, since it's been weeks since we went to see Walking with Dinosaurs, but I figured better late than never :)

One of the perks of working for GCC is using the Honda Center suite and when Walking with Dinosaurs was in town we got tickets to go! Of course Bre and I dressed the girls alike and they were ADORABLE in these cute outfits Auntie Lexi got for them! (I'm still in shock Jayden kept her headband on almost the entire show!)

Jayden was entertained the entire time and was so excited to see all the life-size dinos walking around. I couldn't believe how life-like they were! 

Our cute little family :)

Jayden couldn't take her eyes off the show!!

At one point during the show Jayden must have been tired of watching the dinosaurs...I looked back and she was playing peek-a-boo with herself! 

Seriously, she melts my heart! <3

At the end of the show, they finally featured the infamous T-Rex! 

And when Jayden got scared, she cuddled up with daddy!

After the show, Jayden wanted to continue playing peek-a-boo and at one point started walking with the blanket over her head. I'm thinking she might be a really good ghost for Halloween :)

Jayden's First Overnighter with Ella / Royce & Taline's Wedding

Jonathan and I went out of town over labor day weekend for Royce & Taline's wedding up in SLO...so naturally we took advantage of the getaway and left Jayden with Auntie B, Uncle Al and Ella. I was sure she wouldn't want to come home because she was having so much fun!

They love each other so much! I love how well they play together. Jayden can be in the worst crabby mood and the second she sees her cousin & auntie she immediately starts laughing and smiling! 

They kept wanting to go up the stairs...luckily Uncle Al put up gates to lock the girls in! :)

Hanging with Auntie B!

Playing peek-a-boo with Uncle Al!

Notice Jayden is wearing Ella's pink shoes! She loved them so much she didn't want to take them off the whole weekend! 

Heading out for a walk! 

(Notice Jayden's shoes are still on!)

BATH TIME!

TWINSIES!! <3

I love when they are dressed alike!

Meanwhile...mommy & daddy were celebrating Royce & Taline's wedding!

Doesn't Jonathan look HANDSOME!! :) :) :)

<3

It's always fun to get together with friends...even though almost all of Jonathan's friends from high school moved away, whenever they get together they picked up right where they left off :)

Us with the happy couple!

Congrats to Royce & Taline! 

We wish you nothing but the very best!! <3

Playtime

Playtime is so much fun...and everyday Jayden does something that cracks me up. The other day we were at my moms house and I was just hanging out, checking emails while Jayden was playing with her toys, when she comes over and just starts crawling all over me...literally like I'm a jungle gym.

First she wanted to sit on me...

and then get off...

 then back on...

then back off...

then I turned into a back rest so she could read her Iowa book...

 Then turned over on her tummy and continue reading... :)

And back on...

Just when I thought she was tired of hopping on and off me, she sat down right in front of me, backed up and sat right in front of me. I love how kids have no idea of personal space :)

But I don't mind ~ I love this little munchkin!

A few days ago we had one of Jayden's friends over for a play date. Paul is 2 weeks older than Jayden but about 10 lbs heavier and about 5 inches taller! Even though he towers over her, they play so well together! While he was over, Jayden would get on her Minnie Mouse helicopter toy and he would push her around...sometimes he would push a little too fast and he ended up pushing her right into the wall!

Luckily she wasn't hurt and she just hopped right back on her helicopter LOL

She's one tough babe :) 

One and a Half

I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact Jayden turns 18 months old tomorrow! I can't believe how fast time is flying by. Everyone warned us it would, I just had no idea how true it really was!

Since we started counting Jayden's calories and feeding her anything and everything that is "fatty", I'm happy to report she has gained a pound! I put her on the scale a few days ago and she was 17.2 lbs! Her 18 month check up is next week so I'm excited to see what that scale says!

Jayden's vocabulary is also growing! Some new words she's now saying:
bye, which sounds like "bah" (while she's saying "bah" she's also waving)
car, which sounds like "kah"
clap, which sounds like "cap"
doggie, which sounds like "dawyee"
maverick, which sounds like "maymeh" (she's only said this once or twice)
again, which sounds like "ghen"

In addition to pointing to her nose and ears, she now also points to her eyes, tongue and toes...although sometimes she points to her nose since they rhyme :)

Jayden's also doing so much better at listening and following directions. You can give her a snack and tell her to go sit on her bottom and she will walk over to the living room, sit on her bottom and enjoy her snacks. I can also give her a wrapper and say "put this in the trash please" and she will walk it over and put it in the trashcan!

Jayden's going to be one awesome helper! :)

Jayden's First Circus

Last weekend Jonathan and I took Jayden to the circus for the first time. Even though she's a little young, she loved the lights and the animals! 

We arrived early so we could see the pre-show. Jayden was so excited to see the dancers, but even more excited to see the Elephant up close!

Once the show started, she was loving every second of it!

At one point, she even sat with the popcorn bowl right next to her and was reaching for her next handful while her eyes were glued to the show! 

It was by far my favorite moment of the entire circus :)

<3 <3 <3 <3

Once Jayden was getting tired of watching the action down on the floor, she wanted to look at Ella!

Of course Jayden and Ella wore cute matching outfits :)

Can't wait for the next fun family outing!