Sweet Baby Beanie Weenie!

Well, I hate to tell you this, but Beanie Weenie might stick around for a little while!  I've become so accustomed to calling you that, it just kind of fits...not in a bad way of course...just in a crazy Momma sort of way :)

Truth is, we found out yesterday that you are another sweet, precious, absolutely beautiful baby GIRL!  And...side note...you weren't shy about it!!!  Probably because I told you before the ultrasound that Santa was watching you ~ yea, I'm sure that's it :)

Seeing you was such an amazing early Christmas gift for us.  We are absolutely head over heels in love with you angel girl.  With your precious arms, legs, head...oh heck, even your hiney was adorable!  You were determined not to give us a glimpse of your face, but that's alright.  We are just so blessed and honored to have gotten to spend those few minutes watching you and the amazing gift the Lord has given us.  It is still a miracle to me how He forms your life inside Mommy, and it's a miracle I LOVE being a part of.

This past weekend was the first time I was absolutely positive that I felt you.  And sweet girl, it was at a Texans game!  Way to be a sold-out fan!  You loved the noise, the cheers, the music!  You loved it all ~ oh, except for the fact that we lost :(  However, truth be told, I'd take a loss to feel you move any day, hands down.  It is an incredible feeling that words just can't describe...sometimes I think your Daddy is just a teeny bit jealous.

I still wonder often about you, but am also focusing on the here and now as opposed to several months from now...on every little kick, punch and roll.  Christmas is two days away, but my Christmas came early this year.  My Christmas came when we find out about you back in October.  You and Soph will always be my precious gifts no matter what day of the year it is.

We love you precious girls so much and can't wait to see your beautiful face (when you are finished baking that is)!

Keep growing strong sweet baby!  You are loved more than you could ever possibly understand, always and forever.

All our love, hugs, and kisses,
Mommy, Daddy and So-So

Oh...and one last little thing from October...

Soph is going to be a BIG SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right ~ Beanie Weenie #2 is on his/her way...June 12th to be exact!  We are sooooooooo excited and I am absolutely, positively head over heels in love with this sweet baby already!

On a whim, and I do mean a complete whim, I took a test the morning of October 6th ~ fully expecting a negative I might add!  Um...let's just say I ended up taking THREE tests that day...apparently I was in such shock I assumed I could do this incorrectly (as if it's that hard)!  Not only did I take three tests, but after test number two, I literally had a momentary breakdown/panic attack...on the phone with Jaime of course.  All this before I even told my dear, sweet husband :)  Thank the Lord for best friends ~ I am crying, freaking out about how in the world you manage two kids (yes, I did realize I was talking to the person who was expecting twin girls within weeks of this phone call!) and bless her heart, she was so excited and thrilled for us that I think she actually laughed at my hysterics :)  However, in all seriousness, I cannot thank her enough for reassuring me that I could handle this!  For reassuring me that I am a good mom to Soph, and I will be a good mommy to this baby too.  And once the sheer shock and fear wore off, I realized...wait a minute, there is a baby in there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

So tears and fears aside, off to work I went!  At lunch, I stopped by Carter's to get a "Big Sister" t-shirt.  I know...not that creative, but it's the best I could do at the time!

Of course, I picked up Soph and got her all cutsied up after school ~ all ready for her big announcement!  And my child being the outdoor lover she is wanted to play on the swingset and so we did.  And when Daddy came home, down the slide she went and "Ta Da"!  I think the pictures below will let you know he himself was a little shocked too :/  Just for the record, yes, we were trying!  It just happened a lot faster than we thought it would :)

We talked for a few minutes and then guess who he called ~ yep James!  Apparently, we BOTH needed some moral support from the besties!!!

I have to say that this particular day will always be engrained in my memory box.  It was such an amazing, emotional day.  And yet, at the very end of it, all that mattered was that we were now a family of FOUR (five counting Georgie Porge) ~ oh, how dearly blessed we are! 

We love you sweet Beanie Weenie!  Keep growing big and strong!

Hugs, kisses and more love that you can possibly understand,
Mommy, Daddy, Soph and George

P.S.  If you followed the blog while I was pregnant with Soph, then you know that throughout the pregnancy I wrote letters to our sweet growing baby.  I have been and am going to continue to write these letters to my precious angels.  That being said, if you are interested, all of Beanie Weenie's letters have been posted to the blog...just search tags of "Bean #2".

And now, what you've all been waiting for...the pictures :)

Soph all dressed up to deliver the big announcement!  I'd like to think she was super excited about being a big sister, but who am I kidding?!  She was just happy to be playing on the swing set!!!

And perhaps the most priceless picture of all...

 Daddy's reaction!

To Our Little Beanie Weenie!

Oh sweet baby, words cannot in anyway begin to tell you how much I absolutely love you.  I often wondered how I could love anyone as much as I love your precious sister, but the Lord has His ways.  And when He made Mommas, He made our hearts capable of a love that just simply cannot be described with words.  Being a Mommy is the best thing in the entire world.  I love rubbing my belly and offering that to you as sweet hugs from this outside world.  I absolutely cherish every single day that you are in my belly and grow more excited to meet you by the minute.  You are my sweet, precious baby!  I have a feeling you are a sweet, precious baby girl but we shall see.  Either way, boy or girl, you are our Beanie Weenie and are absolutely perfect in our eyes.

It is hard to believe I am 3 1/2 months pregnant as I write this...in some ways it seems like yesterday when we found out about you.  And yet, in others, it seems like a lifetime ago.  I keep thinking about what you will look like...will you look like Mommy...Daddy...Sissy???  I wonder about your personality, the relationship you will have with Soph, the sports you will play, the dreams you will have, the life you will live.

Pretty soon, say, oh, one week and approximately 30 minutes from now, we will be sitting in a doctor's office anxiously awaiting the chance to hear your heartbeat, and maybe, JUST MAYBE, find out if you are a girl or a boy.  Of course, the original plan was to wait until Christmas, but you will realize soon enough that Mommy is a planner and I NEED to know!   However, if Daddy has restraint, than I too will wait patiently, ok more like very impatiently to find out the results Christmas morning.  

Even now sweet baby, I hope that you can tell how much I absolutely adore you!  My heart truely overfloweth with love for you.  It is the absolute honor of my life to be your Mommy.  Keep growing Beanie Weenie!  See you soon :) 

Oh, and please cooperate with the doctor next week!  Oh, and thanks for easing up on all that nausea and vomiting!  It is greatly appreciated and just might earn you a trip to Disney World :)

All my love and hugs, always and forever,
Mommy

To Bean #2

Sweet baby, I know it's been a couple weeks since I wrote to you, but please don't think that is because we haven't been thinking about you!  I think about you every single second of the day ~ especially when I'm sick or having awful indigestion :)  But truth be told, I wouldn't trade one symptom for anything in the world.  I love every one of them with all my heart ~ here is why...

On October 24th, I truly thought we were losing you.  I spotted only once with your sister and that was at 26ish weeks or so...but NEVER this early.  My heart was broken into a million pieces and yet, I knew the Lord was in control of whatever we were being dealt.  Your Daddy, called the doctor who called back and said to come in and let's see what was going on.  While Daddy took your sister to school, your Aunt Jaja was my rock (as always).  She drove me to the doctor and sat with your Daddy and I the entire time.  And can I just tell you, when we saw your sweet perfect heartbeat on the monitor, I'm not sure there was one dry eye in the room.  You were perfectly fine and healthy!  Praise the Lord...our sweet baby was just perfect.

I can't remember too many moments in my life where my I truly felt that sense of intense relief, joy, happiness and unconditional love.  It didn't matter what the doctor told me at that point - if I had to sit still for the next 33 weeks, I would do just that.  You were my baby and you were ok...nothing else mattered.

It was also on this day that your grandparents and aunts/uncles found out about you.  We needed prayers and we knew they would stop everything and anything to pray for you because they too love you with all their hearts.

A week later, we had a follow-up appointment to make sure you were growing just as you should be and the Lord continued to bless us beyond words.  You were measuring exactly 8 weeks 1 day which is exactly what you should have been at that point!  I go back in two weeks, on November 17th, for another follow-up and while there is always a bit of nervousness, based on the growth and symptoms and of course my mother's instinct, I truly believe you are absolutely ok.

Speaking of growth - WOWZERS!  I know Dr. Tran said that I would show faster...but still...I had NO idea.  I feel like I look now, at nine weeks, the same as I did at 15/16 weeks the first time.  Still worth it though, ABSOLUTELY worth it!

On another note, we welcomed two of your future friends into the world this past Saturday (November 5th).  I can't wait for you all to grow up together.  I am sure the four of you (plus any additional babies to come in the future) will all be the best of friends.  Oh sure, you will fight, rough house, get on each other's nerves...but at the end of the day, I know you will remember that you all love each other and would do anything you can for one another.  That's what families and friends do.  And you sweet Bean, are unbelievably blessed with so many people who will support you, believe in you, and most importantly love you.  

But know this, no one other than the Lord, will ever love you the way your Mommy and Daddy do.  You are our sweet baby, and we will always, always, always, ALWAYS love you!  

Hugs, kisses and all the love in the world,

Mommy and Daddy

To Our Little Growing Bean!

Now I can really call you that!  Why?  Because Baby Center said so this week :)  Basically, you are actually the size of a bean right now...see Mommy and Daddy are smarter than you give us credit for! 

I am officially six weeks pregnant ~ well, give or take a day or two.  To be exact, six weeks was Tuesday but since we haven't been to the doctor yet, that is still an educated guess.  Speaking of doctors, we get to go next week!!!!!!!!!!!  I am soooooooooo excited :)  I feel like this appointment has taken forever to get here...but I think it's just because I found out about you so early.  I cannot wait to see you and your little heartbeat.  To know that you are okay.  And perhaps take away a little of the concern I've been feeling!

I've always heard every pregnancy is different...and so far, I have to agree.  The only similarity so far is the intense exhaustion ~ I actually think I am more tired this go round.  Of course, I am also trying to keep up with your adorable, ACTIVE sister :)  Your Daddy has been great though ~ letting me rest as much as possible.  Basically when So-So goes night-night, Mommy is not far behind!  Call me old, but I'm soooooooooo tired.  Actually, don't call me old ~ I still have the rights to ground you later on in life :)

As of right now, you are making me INCREDIBLY HUNGRY!  You would think I was feeding a grown adult in there, but as long as you are getting what you need and growing big, I will just keep eating...and sleeping...and going to the restroom twenty times a day :)  Really I have no complaints ~ well maybe here and there about the nausea, but I'm hoping that evens out in the next few weeks.

Your sister was so sweet, hugging my back and patting me while I spent some time dealing with the nausea that greeted me so nicely this morning.  I sure do love that kid!  And I love knowing that you two will have a sweet, kind, sometimes not so gentle relationship.  Hey, I am not crazy over here!  I know it won't all be smooth sailing.  But at the end of the day, I know you two will always be there for each other, and I hope each of you know, that we cherish you both more than words could ever being to explain!

She is our Peanut and you are our Bean!  The two greatest blessings we could have ever dreamed of.  Keep growing sweet baby!  See you next week :)

All my love, always and forever,
Mommy

To Our Precious Baby Bean

I always prayed, hoped, wondered when I would be able to start this process again...writing letters to the precious blessing growing inside of me.  You see, some people don't see you as life yet, but your Daddy and I do.  You are our baby.  We love you unconditionally, care for you more than you could ever know and have prayed for you from the moment we found out you had been given to us.

To be honest, the morning I found out (October 7, 2011), it had been a crazy week at work.  It was a Friday morning and Mommy was TIRED!  I was one day late.  No reason to be concerned given the stress of the week and the fact that I had started working out again recently.  But for some reason, I felt the urging to take the test anyway.  And so...I did.  And then I did it again.  And then, sweet baby, please take no offense to this, Mommy had a bit of a panic attack!

I couldn't even bring myself to tell your Daddy after the first test, and he had left for work before I took the second one.  But you see, this is why the Lord surrounds you with best friends who love the Lord, who encourage you, and who know you better than you know yourself.  And that is where your Aunt Jaja comes in.  So technically, yes, she knew about you before your Daddy did!  No worries...Daddy doesn't mind :)  You will soon grow up to know what a special bond you will share with Aunt Jaja and Uncle James...and of course, Emeri and Avari too.

So once I had calmed down a bit and Aunt Jaja had assured me I could handle TWO kids, I went on about my morning getting Sissy to school.  Side Note:  Sophie is a big sissy!!!  AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!    Some time shortly after dropping her off, I was listening to KSBJ and one of my favorite songs was playing, Strong Enough by Matthew West.  The end of the song says this and it happens to be all I caught that morning...

"I can do all things 

Through Christ who gives me strength.

And I don't have to be

Strong enough

Strong enough

I can do all things

Through Christ who gives me strength

And I don't have to be 

Strong enough

Strong enough

I know I'm not strong enough to be 

Everything that I'm supposed to be

I give up

I'm not strong enough

Hands of mercy won't you cover me

Lord right now I'm asking you to be 

Strong enough

Strong enough

Strong enough

For the both of us."

It was then that I realized I was fearful of all the wrong things.  I am not super woman.  I can't do everything perfectly.  There will be times when I don't have the energy to have a spotless house, to have folded laundry, to have the appearance of having everything together.  But I stand on a Solid Rock and He has it all together for us.  He knows you ~ He MADE you!  He loves you THAT much!  One day when you realize your Mommy and Daddy aren't perfect, remember you have a perfect Father in Heaven that loves you so much He died for you.  Our prayer for you, even now sweet baby, is to know that love at an early age because it is ultimately all that matters in this world.

So yes, Mommy and Daddy are a bit unsure how the next nineish months is going to go down.  There will be a lot of changes I'm sure.  But all changes that are getting us one step closer to you and to our new family of FOUR!  Five, counting George of course.  And ultimately, the fears that are present in our lives are not about you, but life in general.  Knowing that, I am focused now where my heart needs to be...on glorifying the One who gave you to us.  To honoring him and caring for the sweet life He has entrusted us with.  Believe me, I have no idea why the Lord has seen fit to bless us with two wonderful children, but we will praise Him for it everyday!  We are all unworthy and yet, He loves us so much He blesses us and brings us the joys and desires of our hearts.  His plan for us is good, and yes, sometimes surprising even :)  So despite our initial state of shock, we know the timing is indeed, perfect!  Perfect to welcome you into our hearts, our lives, our world.  

It is an honor sweet Bean to be your Mommy!  I will care for you the best I can while you are growing inside of me, when you take your first breath in this crazy world, and every moment after that.  I can't promise perfection...but I can promise unconditional love, precious prayers, sweet hugs, multitudes of kisses, and a lap and arms that you will never be able to outgrow!

Praying for you always and loving you forever!

Keep growing sweet Bean, keep growing!

All my love,

Mommy