This is why Shaun goes to work...

... So we can paint INSIDE on the carpet because it's too hot OUTSIDE!

I needed to do two things today. Get new wall art AND entertain Isaac. I consider myself a multi-tasker so I decided to kill two birds with one stone (such a sad saying). We jumped in the car, headed to Joanns, and came home with some canvas and paints. Of course on the way home we stopped at the mall playland AND the water park! After nap time I put Isaac to work. Here is what he created...

(I finally got smart and took his shirt off)

Big Bear

Shaun and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on Friday. Man, time sure does fly! He called me from work Thursday night and told me that I needed to pack for an over-night-get-away and that we would leave when he got home in the morning. I was shocked we were going somewhere... I was satisfied just going to dinner and a movie! Every other year we celebrate big by going to Hawaii but this was our "non-Hawaii" year so we stayed semi local. After about 10 minutes of driving I figured out that we were going to the mountains. There's nothing like cool, smog free air, breath taking views, and the fresh smell of pine trees! We had a very relaxing time and were ready to go back as soon as we got home to our 100 degree weather!

Our hotel

Laying on mommy's lap and melting her heart with those smiles

Wrestling with daddy

Big Bear Lake

We spent most of our time at the water throwing rocks

Isaac has quite the arm!

A "fly" landed on some flowers.

Some things never change...

4 days old

(He may look small but to me he looks huge! How in the world did he fit in my belly?)

19 months old

Isaac's latest accomplishments:

~He has an ever growing vocabulary. His favorite words are basketball, yellow, kick the ball, hat, buggy, and NO! Everything is no. He also calls everyone Isaac because that's what everyone calls him. :) Isaac is quite the little copy cat too. Saying, "oh shoot," never sounded bad until it came out of the mouth of a one year old!

~Isaac has NEVER been a napper... NEVER! He is finally napping two to three hours a day. Of course not for me though. Only for daddy and grandmas. My mom discovered that he has to sleep on a king size bed for his afternoon naps. As we prepare for the new baby, I'll do whatever it takes to get some rest during the day.

~He goes to bed at 7:30-8 and wakes at 6:45. Night time is in his own bed of course!

~He can no longer watch the Ultimate Fighter with Shaun because he was taking down all the girls in his Sunday School class.

~He can hold a tennis racket and hit a ball off a bounce. His hand/eye coordination is amazing!

~He walks up and down the stairs without holding on to the rail.

~He is learning his colors and has black, red, blue, and yellow down. His letter sounds are the same. He knows what a, t, o, b, and i say.

~He will only ride his tricycle if he's wearing his helmet.

~He knows all the animal sounds. Our favorite right now is his donkey. It's so cute!

~He knows what "time out" means. We experience those on a regular basis!

~Wow, I know that there is tons more but I guess those are the major things for now! If I can think of anything else, then I'll just add it to the list! We've been testing baby brother names with him... Trying to see what he can say! We would love for him to make the announcement! Maybe we'll have a name soon! ;)

Can I please order up some June gloom!?

Today was really hot... Summer must finally be here! Ugh! Isaac is loving the water again this year. He started out a little shaky but can't seem to get enough of it now. Here is a picture from last August. I've taken a few water photos this past week but he could care less about the camera. I only have profile and back of his head shots... Not blog worthy! Happy swimming!

Confirmed: It's still a boy!

Today was my actual ultrasound appointment to find out boy or girl. My sister works for a baby doctor so when I was in Phoenix last week she got me in so I could find out early. Waiting one extra week was way too long... I don't know how some people wait 'til they give birth to find out.

It was just as clear today, as it was last Monday, that we are having another boy! I must say that I was a little shocked. I really thought this one was a girl. All of my wives tales said girl, I dreamed girl, and I feel like I'm carrying higher this time. One baby gender predictor test did say boy so maybe I should have taken that into more consideration. Part of me was hoping it was a girl (just so I could make sure to have one of each and then there wouldn't be any pressure on the third) and because having a girl would be something new... I've already "been there, done that" with a boy and didn't think it would be as exciting the second time around. As each day goes by I am proven wrong. I am honestly THRILLED to be having another boy! I'm just as anxious and excited this time to meet a whole new little person! It will be so nice for Isaac to have a little brother too. We're already busting out at the seams so we're also glad that we don't have to buy anything but diapers! I always thought that it would be perfect to have boy, boy, girl! So far I'm 66% there! Pressures on!!!

Little Higgins is growing big and strong just as designed! He is constantly moving and so far seems to have the energy that his daddy and big brother have! Wonderful! The doctor had a really hard time taking all the measurments today because he wouldn't hold still. Today I am 18 weeks but he measures between 18 weeks and 4 days to 19 weeks, which takes me back to my original November 13th due date. They come when they are ready though (Isaac also measured big and came a week late and was still only 7 lbs. 15 oz.).

We were given a lot of pictures today but this one was my favorite! Do you think he's trying to tell us something?

Nothing compares...

... to having a sweet little boy that you can call your own!

We have officially entered the "Big Cheesy Smiles/I Have No eyes" stage!

Brothers

Dear Little Brother,

I can't wait for you to get here. We are going to be best friends. We're going to play basketball and motorcycles together. I'm older though so I'll get to choose what rules we play by. I'll protect you with my big muscles, crush all the snails that are in your path, and teach you everything you need to know. Like, if mommy tries to feed you asparagus you open wide to accept it, then quickly spit it out and let it fall on the floor when she's not looking! Or, if daddy wants you to "ride the horse" upstairs, you should run away because that means your day is over and you are going to bed! There are a lot of cute ladies in this world, but just leave them all to me for now. I'll let you know when you're ready! Mommy says that you won't be ready to wrestle for a while so I'll try and be gentle... But seeing as how I'm still learning what that means I can't make any promises. If there is something you really want but mommy and daddy said no, then I have four other people to introduce you to - Grandpa, Gramzie, Mummu, and Iso! They are better known as our grandparents... Great resources to getting what we want! I'll teach you the little tricks that melt their hearts every time!

I know that's a lot to think about but it's not like you have anything else to do for the next five months! I'll also tell mommy and daddy that you would like to have a name too! I'll see you in November... A big hug and kiss will be waiting for you!

I love you, Big Brother Isaac

In case the little letter isn't clear... We're having another boy!

Family Outing

Shaun got me this really great camera for my birthday, but because I haven't watched the two DVDs and read the huge manual that came with it, I don't know how to download the pictures to my computer yet! Actually, I did it once, but it must have been luck! We have taken some super cute that I can't wait to show you too! I love that Shaun has become quite the photographer!!!

In the meantime, here are some photos of our paddle boat adventure from last week. I must say that our California weather has been absolutely perfecto!

We have a lake across the street and we can rent boats... FOR FREE!!!!

Isaac loves being with mommy and daddy!

I just want to eat him up! I should have known that my child would be the cutest one in the world!

The reason we went in a lot of circles...

This is a picture of the community center and pool area. We're in the lake that the helicopters were getting the water from, for the fire of course (a few posts back).

NOT so Happy Birthday to me!

This year I changed my birthday to June 2nd instead of June 1st. Yesterday is a day that I am trying very hard to forget! While I did have many wonderful birthday wishes and received some fantastic presents, Isaac gave me a gift that I wanted to return... The stomach flu! The poor guy was sick Saturday and Sunday so when Monday morning rolled around, I had been well exposed (I'll spare you the details). The first thing I did on my special day was vomit! This definitely wasn't morning sickness either! It kinda makes me laugh now. A day that only comes once a year and is centered completely around me... and I'm sick in bed! Isaac was still feeling down, which made it harder for me. I wanted to continue to love on him, but I couldn't even take care of myself. Of course Shaun was working the two days Isaac was sick (why does it always happen that way?) but was home just in time to take care of me! Last year on my birthday, when Shaun and I had to take turns eating at the restaurant and walking a cranky Isaac around and then rush home to put him down for a nap, I realized that my day was no longer about me. This year, once again, proved that birthdays are just another day in the life of a mom! But that's ok, I don't really want to have any more birthdays. Two years ago I decided that I was going to stay 25 years old for life!

This was how we spent most of our day...

Finally, at three o'clock Isaac felt good enough to give us his usual cheesy smile!

My parents-in-law made me a strawberry cake and brought it over. I couldn't resist a small piece. I was able to keep it down but went to bed thinking, "why did I do that?"

This is for all of you that have been asking... My sixteen week belly (even though it looks more like 20)! I admit I may be sucking in that piece of cake I had! ;)