Baby P #2 Progress

Joe and I were MUCH better at taking belly photos with this pregnancy than we were before.  It has been fun to see the changes and it is so crazy how fast (yet slow at the same time) it has gone!  We are officially less than two weeks away from our due date and I am ready!  I have lists and instructions made and hanging on the fridge, I have bags packed, nursery is ready, diapers are ready, and as for clothes, I think we will be set either way with Beau's or Banx's clothes----benefits of having Beau and Banx born the same time of the year :).  I am SO EXCITED for this baby and I just know Beau is going to be an amazing big brother.  Joe and I have a girl's name set in stone that we love, however, I truly think this baby is another boy.  And that is where we are struggling, we both have a favorite boy's name, and we can't seem to agree on which one to use.  I think we are just going to have to wait and see what he (if baby is a boy) looks like and which name fits him best.  Either way, this baby is already loved so much and I am anxiously awaiting his/her arrival and to just cuddle all day and night long :)

Tailgating for Penn's Homecoming

Last year, it quickly became tradition to go tailgate at William Penn with Clint and Caleb.  Beau of course loves it because his friend, Bryce, is there and everyone gives Beau attention.  This year, Joe and Beau went out right away in the morning to help "Bebub" with the meat, while I went with Tara wedding dress shopping.  Since I am just days away from our due date, I am not as fun to tailgate with, so I didn't last very long.  But Beau had a blast and even got people to play lego trains with him.  He is just like his father----he loves entertainment!!! :)

After the game, everyone came back to our house, with the bus!  We had a great rest of the night just sitting by the fire and talking.  Of course a hot tub session was necessary, however we have a little less water than we started with! :)  I truly love spending time with Clint, Tara, Caleb and our friends.  We never have a bad night when we are together.  I want Beau, and next baby(s), to grow up seeing how important family really is.

Homecoming Parade

Beau really wanted to go to the Homecoming Parade on Thursday, so of course I could not say no to that!  He loved playing in the park with Emmy, and then seeing Banx on a float!  But overall, his favorite part by far, was getting candy from the people in the parade.  It's hard to think that it won't be too long until he is in the parade for Osky Homecoming! :)  I can't wait to see my "Future Indians"!

Congrats, Alex and Gina!

This past weekend our good friends, Alex and Gina, got married.  Joe was a groomsman and Beau was the ring-bearer.  After making several promises, giving incentives, and even giving him gifts, I was a nervous wreck that Beau would not do well walking down the isle--given that it went terribly at rehearsal.  But, Beau did a great job and ended up walking down the isle with Daddy and Ari.  I was so proud of him!

Joe and I are so excited for Alex and Gina.  They truly are a perfect match for each other and we wish them a lifetime of happiness and bliss!  Cheers to the married couple!

Autumn Acres 2014

Every year our church has a family night out at Autumn Acres.  Beau has grown to love it here!  They have so many activities for the kids, but Beau's favorite is to ride the tractor rides---imagine that :).  I wasn't feeling so well that night, so Joe stayed with Beau and made a night out of it.  Beau told me how much fun he had when he got home and he slept HARD that night.  Maybe we should take him there every night haha!

26th Birthday

Birthdays have always been a huge deal to me.  There is just something about getting one day out of the year where it truly gets to be "all about you".  Even though I am almost a mother of two, I still feel like a kid at heart with birthdays.  As I was thinking of all of the birthdays I have had, being spoiled with parties, friends, etc., it made me realize I want my children to have all of these fabulous memories as well! 

My mom always teases me saying she gets nervous for my birthday because she thinks I am hard to please.  Not true because she knows me better than anyone!!  All I truly want Beau and this next baby to realize, is that it's not about how many gifts you get, how much money was spent on you, but WHO helped you celebrate your special day and was there for you.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing family who still spoils me to this day.  It must be a Converse thing, because my mom, Aunt Joi and sister are the BEST at making birthdays fabulous--not because they are GREAT gift-givers, but because they truly go out of their way to make your day special.  I don't know what I would do without these women. 

 

When I took Beau to Mary's the morning of my birthday we had this coversation....

Me: Beau will you tell mommy happy birthday?

Beau: No, mommy.  I'm too tired.

Banx: Beau!  You need to tell your mommy happy birthday!

Beau: I don't sink so Banx.

 

Movie Time at Church

Now that church has started back up on Wednesdays, Nana picks up the kids for Brook and I and takes them to church for us so we can work a little later.  To help pass the time by until church starts, Nana brought in her laptop this week so Beau and Banx could watch a movie.  She sent us this adorable picture but then added..."it didn't last long".  Haha!  I guess they weren't interested in laying down for more than a couple of minutes, but it was cute while it lasted :)

Confused???

This week we made a quick trip to Des Moines to do a little last minute baby shopping and Joe needed some birthday ideas for me.  While at my absolute favorite store, Von Maur, Beau had a little incident with a manikin.  He tried shaking hands with it, and the hand fell off!  All Joe and I hear is "uh-oh mommy, daddy...the hand came off!".  It was priceless!  Beau had this complete look of confusion on his face and didn't know what to do.  Once we started laughing, Beau realized he didn't actually hurt the manikin and giggled with us too.  Oh the things kids do to make us laugh in life :)

Our Dapper Young Boy

It is no secret that I love to dress Beau up or all out in sport attire.  However, his suit for Alex and Gina's wedding just arrived this week so I tried it on Beau to make sure it fit proper.  Needless to say, Beau loved it and refused to take it off.  I hope he is this excited to wear it next Saturday for the actual wedding :)

Miss Anora Rae Stout

On Sunday, my cousin Grant and his wife Alexa welcomed their new baby girl, Anora Rae.  She was a few weeks early (Alexa was due only a couple of days before me!) but is perfectly healthy and so precious!  And she has more hair than I have EVER seen on a newborn baby before!  We are so happy for Grant and Alexa and hope they cherish every moment with their newborn---they grow up way too fast!

1st Day of 2 Year Old Preschool!

On Tuesday, Sept. 2, Beau had his first day of school---2 year old preschool!  I have to be honest, I was so nervous that he was going to hate it.  I am definitely a softy at heart whenever Beau gets upset and cries when I leave him, and the only thing I could think of was my "baby" crying for his mommy.  Joe made the decision for him to take Beau so that way IF Beau was to be upset, then it wouldn't be Beau and mommy crying at the same time :)...probably a wise choice on Joe's part.  Fortunately, Beau LOVED school!  He only got sad for a couple of minutes Miss Rachelle said, but then was fine once they started playing and doing crafts.  He looks forward to going to school and asks us everyday if he can go to school!  I hope he always has this attitude :)

Leaving Mary's to head to school for the first day!

Flashback!

The other night Joe and I were going through our old phones trying to save the pictures off of them that we wanted.  Joe found this picture of Beau and Banx from our old house.  It makes me so sad to see how fast the kids are growing up.  It honestly just seems like yesterday I was sleeping training Beau at 4 weeks old to get him to sleep through the night.  And now he is almost 3!  Where has time gone?!

Labor Day Weekend

This labor day weekend has been relaxing for the most part.  Friday, Beau stayed with Papa and She-She and ended up going to the farm to play with Aiden.  It is so precious how well those two get along!  And he definitely wasn't spoiled at all at Papa's house!

We then met my dad and Shari at the lake for the day on Saturday and celebrated Josh's birthday.  Beau just loves the water and going to the lake was definitely a highlight for him!

We topped off the weekend by going baby shopping to help prepare for Baby #2!  We are getting closer and closer to being ready for this baby.  I am beyond excited to meet Baby and just hold him/her in my arms.