Ready for Baby!

We are so ready for baby! I feel like at this point, it will be easier to care for Molly with a newborn, than with this giant, uncomfortable belly! Molly seems excited too, but has no idea what she's in for...

I am 39 weeks tomorrow! The braxton hicks contractions are alive and well, and I'm hoping the baby comes on his due date this time.  That way my mom is here, and it's after Molly's birthday instead of on the same day... BUT I'm not going to be sad if the baby comes tomorrow.

Here's a belly picture from a couple days ago...

I'm feeling pretty good these days.  Sleeping is a challenge, and I have an itchy rash all over my legs and feet, but I feel pretty lucky that I have some energy and haven't been feeling too sick.

We have got the baby's room all set up (even though he won't use it for several months), and I think it's just the cutest! The picture quality isn't super great, but I'm in love with that bunting and the dresser!

And most importantly, we have settled on a name: CARSON JACOB ABEL

Carson has been a one of our favorite names for a while, and goes super well as a sibling name to Molly! It's cute, but not girly and we love all the Carsons we've met.  Jacob is Matt's middle name, and I hope that Carson turns out as great and his daddy!

We love you already Carson, and can't wait to meet you in just a few short days!

Molly is two!

It's actually not quite Molly's birthday yet, but we celebrated this weekend since baby boy is due next week.  She doesn't really understand the concept of birthdays, but loved opening presents, eating cake, and having some friends over to celebrate!


Here is a little bit about Molly at 2 years old:

• Her favorite toys are her stuffed animals, puzzles, doll house, slide, and books
• She loves to color, dance, jump, be pushed in her tricycle, and run
•  Is talking like crazy! It started at about 22 months, and she's been talking in pretty good sentences these days
• Loves to go to the park and the library
• Loves nursery, but mostly just watches the older kids play
• Likes to help us pray and ALWAYS prays for her tricycle and for the new baby
• Loves to sing the temple song, I am a Child of God, and the ball game song
• Is not a good napper, she'll go a week without napping sometimes, but obviously still needs one
• Still could care less about the TV, which is fine! BUT.. it would be nice while cooking dinner
• Likes to help "make muffins" which is apparently what we're doing each time she helps cook
• Says "no" to everything.. even things we know she wants
• Loves to count. She counts the stairs every time she walks down, and if we ask her to count her food she'll count the bites til it's all gone!
• Likes to take a bath, but hates it when the water drains.. she'll cry and say "bye bye water"
• Still sleeps like an angel at night.  She goes to bed around 7:30 usually, and wakes up around 7:30.  I could also count the number of times she's woken us up in the middle of the night this year on my hands
• Likes to share all her food with mommy and daddy, and sometimes with her animals
• Loves her daddy.. he can get her to crack up by saying just about anything. Apparent mom is not funny even when I try
• Still sleeps in her crib, and I'm hoping this will last 6 more months or so
• Likes to sit on the potty for long periods of time, but never actually goes to the bathroom (she's been successful twice)
• LOVES to dress up.  And do anything that mommy does... She acts out putting in contacts, puts on deodorant, sprays herself with perfume, puts on mommy's shoes, and gets into my jewelry drawer on a daily basis.  We got her dress up clothes and jewelry for her birthday, and I think that was her favorite
• Makes my heart melt.  She has recently started saying "I love you" and "yes mamma", and  I just get all fuzzy inside every time.  I love my Molly Jade, and I love watching her grow into a smart and beautiful little girl.

Sunday we celebrated as a family.  She opened her presents, and LOVES them all.  She keeps talking about each one of them when she remembers and will run to go play with the toys.

Then we had cake, and she ate a HUGE piece.  Matt helped me decorate it that morning and I think we did a pretty good job!

She's keeps talking about her "big cup cake", and loves looking at the pictures of it on my phone.


Today we had a few of her nursery friends over for milk and cookies.  She was very excited to have her friends over and kept talking about it, but when they came over she was shy and barely interacted with them... haha I guess that's just how this age is.

When we sang happy birthday to Molly, she danced around with a big grin on her face and I'm SOOOO mad that I didn't think to take a video of it! I didn't even take any pictures after her friends got there, so I feel like a horrible mom! I did take a picture of the table and balloons, so there is proof that it happened!

We listened to music and played, and opened a couple presents, and I think Molly has as good a time as expected! She was sad when everyone left. Next year, I'm going to remember to take more photos!!

Pregnancy Update

I am now 33 weeks preggers! I am starting to feel like a huge uncomfortable whale, but getting so excited to meet little man!

I have always loved to clean and organize, and the nesting instinct is in full swing, but I've got a toddler and the extreme fatigue is back in full swing.  That means I have a HUGE list of things I want to do before baby comes, but I only cross something off about few days.  Here are some of the things on my list:

Make burp cloths
Decorate the nursery (at least we have it painted!)
Deep clean the kitchen and bathroom
Clean the carpets
Freezer meals!
Read up on newborn care (I feel like I don't remember ANYTHING)
Wash baby clothes
Pack the hospital bag and a bag for Molly
Plan a birthday party for Molly
Organize all the closets/cupboards
Stock up on baby, household, and postpartum supplies
And many more....

During nap time I think about doing something productive, but naps just take priority.  I had a hard time with lack of sleep when Molly was born, so I figure it's worth my time to just get the rest! I guess I should put take naps on my list so I don't feel as bad ;)

Any other ideas on what I should add to my list to make things easier for when the baby comes?

Summer Travels

We went on an eventful trip this June visiting lots of friends and family!

We headed out to Utah on Thursday the 16th, and Molly did great in the car! We stopped at our favorite rest area at Little America and had lunch and ice cream!

Our first stop was Great-Grandma Kleinlein's.  Molly loved Grandma's clocks and rocking chair, and exploring her house, and she took us to see her friend's miniature horses! Unfortunately I didn't get any good pictures of her and grandma...

The next morning we headed out to Golden Spike National Park with Matt's family! It was in the middle of nowhere, but we had a good time.  Molly was super scared of the train whistle, but loved seeing her cousins and looking around.

On the way back from Golden Spike, we stopped to look at some rockets!

The next couple days we spent with Matt's family at their family reunion. We got to see lots of extended family, and eat lots of good food!

They also surprised me with a baby shower which was so nice! It was a blast, and I feel so loved that they thought of doing that for me!

After the reunion we headed down to southern Utah.  We stopped in Orem to visit Carissa, and my old roommate Tracy who I haven't seen in years! It was great to catch up with both of them, and it was a nice break from our drive down to St. George.

We got to St. George in time to celebrate father's day and Grandma Bennion's birthday! The next couple days we spent with my parents and sister. It was HOTTTT! So we spent some time at the rec center activity pool, the park, and the wildlife museum!

Tired baby!

Then we drove to Las Vegas to take a plane to Seattle for Rocky's wedding! Washington was BEAUTIFUL, and the weather was amazing! (especially compared to Vegas) We went to the groom's dinner on Wednesday evening, the temple for the wedding on Thursday morning, and then to a reception Thursday evening.  It was so fun to see Rocky and his new bride as well as old friends Hayden and Ephraim! I just love how weddings bring people together!

Molly LOVED Cathy!

Silly boys...

Traveling with a toddler is not fun, but boy was the flight back awful! We had HORRIBLE service at the Seattle airport, I was feeling very pregnant and achy, Molly was over-tired and being a pain on the plane, and to top it all off the guy behind up barfed during the flight.  I vowed never to travel pregnant again!

We spent another day in St. George before heading back home.  Mom, Cassidy, and I got to go see Tarzan the musical at Tuachan and that was super fun!

Not too shabby seats!

We were sure tired when we got home, and Molly took 3 hour naps for a few days. (I wish that would have lasted longer!) But I'm so glad we were able to take sure a fun trip before baby #2 gets here.  Let's just say no more travels for a while because this momma is traveled out!