20 Week Ultrasound

We had our 20 week ultrasound today, an event we have been looking forward to for months! Not only because it marks the halfway point of the pregnancy, but also because we got to find out the sex of the baby! And guess what? We were right all along, its a little GIRL!!! It was so exciting to get to see her little body, arms legs and everything else moving all over the place! I couldn't believe how much she was moving, she literally never stopped during the entire ultrasound! She is right on target for her dates weighing in at 12oz, which hopefully means I don't have to carry around another XL baby. At this point in my pregnancy with Jack, the ultrasound tech was making borderline rude comments on how big he was. Speaking of Jack, he is very excited (or so he thinks) to be having a little sister. This evening we took him to the store and let him pick out a toy for the baby. He told Justin and I that baby's like dolls, so that's what he picked out for his little sister.

As thrilled as I am that we know what we're having now, I'm a little bummed that we still have another 20 weeks to go! It seems like forever away! I do plan on enjoying the time in between though, because it the last few months of our lives that we only have one child, after this one we'll officially have kids and it will be a whole new life. I am taking the summer off from everything but Jack and Justin and am going to try and relax. Riley switched over to a new daycare, and school will be out for me in a couple of weeks, so we'll have a lot of free time to bond over the next 20 weeks! (I'm hoping to include potty training in our summer activities so that Jack can go to preschool in the fall, but I'm not holding my breath!)

Other than that we're all doing really well! The economy has finally hit us a little bit with Justin's hours getting cut back, but God has blessed us with this house, and even with the cutbacks, we won't be struggling too much. My good friend Megan has also taught me some great tricks in coupon shopping so that should be a big help as well! We are just trying to enjoy life and make the best of what God has given us, and so far its all working out amazingly ;) Thank you all so much for your prayers and support over the last year, its been a great time of learning for us all and our whole family has been strengthened through the process!

Newest Member of the Nitro Circus... Jackson McQuade!!

The weekend we got back from California Justin and I took Jack to get his first quad! Although we've know for a while that he would enjoy something like this, I was utterly convinced while we were in California and Jack took over his cousin Lauren's tiny pink quad! He looked so funny, I wish I had a picture of it! It went about 1.5 miles and hour and was way too small for such a beefy kid, but he took it so seriously! So anyways when we got home Just and I took him to Wal-mart and let him pick out a "cool boy quad", then of course the one he picked was out of stock and we had to go with a second choice. It was hard to wait the 20 hours you have to charge the battery for but a day later he finally got to ride it for the first time. I hate to brag (yeah right) but he is practically a pro! (The pros usually scream for mom when they can back up right?) He is really good though at not running into parked cars and staying on the sidewalk! It's so much fan to watch him grow and learn and experience all these new things with him! Justin and I are so blessed to have such an amazing little boy!

More California Pictures

This was on our trip back home, we would roll all the windows down in the car and Jack would practically be blown away! He loved sticking his head out the window and letting the wind blow in his hair :)



And this is Jackson... always on the go and never willing to just sit and look at the camera for five seconds!

We're Back!

Its been a few months since I've posted anything here, but in my defense, its been a busy few months! I'm sure everyone knows by now, but we are expecting our second baby on September 13, and time is flying by! I am 18 weeks pregnant now and in about a week and a half, I will have an ultrasound to find out the sex of, what we have been lovingly refering to as New Baby. Most money is on a girl but we'll have to wait and see!

Last month Jack and I took a trip to California with my mom to see family and take Jack to Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. It was an awesome trip and I am so glad it all went so well! I think I was even more impressed because I was feeling so crappy the weeks before and I really didn't think everything would go as well as it did! So thank you Lord for second trimesters, and for a little boy who is such a perfect angel! (At least out of state). Here are a few pictures of the trip!

California Pictures

Jackson Playing Cars

Weekend at Grammy's

Jack spent the weekend with Grammy and Grandpa (and their dogs Harley and Sarai too). He isn't home quiet yet, but I talked to him on the phone this afternoon and it sounded like he was having a great time ;) He was watching Peter Pan on Grammy's bed. Anyways, my mom sent me these pictures this morning and they are too cute for words!