Baby # 2 is......

We just had our "Big" ultrasound today. Everything looks great and this baby is very active. We actually had a hard time getting some shots because it wouldn't sit still. I am still on schedule for the end of Sept. We are just so glad to hear and see everything is okay. It's always nerve racking in the beginning until you can see them or hear their heartbeat at your Dr. visits or until you can feel them move. Which I have been able to feel this move..actually around 14 weeks I could feel it and Matt got to feel it the other week. So reassuring and crazy to feel your stomach move around like that :-) We are keeping the gender a secret for now.. We have talked about sharing the news with everyone next weekend (at Tulip Time when we will see ALL our parents)or we might try and keep it quiet till the baby makes it's appearance. :-)

Foot Profile Up at the top, you can see the foot by the head Almost in a "ball" We also got a couple short videos of the baby.
This one it was yawning

Here the baby is "talking"

Summer is almost here!

This is just a random post with some random pictures I have had on my camera for a couple weeks...
Besides being busy with the wedding stuff last weekend, we (Avree and I) have been laying low, and hanging out at the house. These past couple weeks the weather has been awesome (and not so awesome)!
But I was able to pull out Avree's little pool one of the afternoons. She loved it!

But we have also had some rainy/cold weather, which leave us stuck inside....Avree the tornado, leaves a HUGE mess in the house.. This is what the living room looked like 10 minutes after Avree got up from nap time. (mind you, I had spent most of her nap time cleaning and picking up too...)

I keep our stash of magezines in one of our one bathrooms, and it seems Avree loves using that bathroom now...Everyone loves reading material while using the bathroom :)


I am in my 17th week right now and feeling good. Getting some energy back, but I still have my lazy days. Don't really have too much to complain about this pregnancy, but once again my lower back is starting to hurt. I am always bending over to pick up Avree, or her toys and something on the ground it seems. I had back aches when I was pregnant with Avree, so this isn't someting new and I actually expected it again this time around. It's not an all day pain, just when I am busy picking up or running around (chasing/holding Avree). I do feel that I am carrying way lower than I was with Avree. This baby is always in my pelvic area and sometimes puts a lot of pressure on me down there! I haven't really needed maternity clothes yet, but a lot of the maternity tops I am starting to buy are the same style/cut that I would normally buy but are just longer. (I could probably wear them even when I am not pregnant, which is awesome.) They are definitely making maternity clothes more "in style". I am hoping I can get by again without really having to buy/wear maternity pants (shorts/capris). I figured we will be in our swim suits most of the summer and I can just wear my gym shorts with that and I have some dresses that are stretchy enough to cover my growing belly. I guess time will tell if I have to break down and buy some maternity pants :-)
We find out next week what baby #2 is!! I am so excited. Matt and I both have a feeling of what we think it is, but I keep going back and forth on my guess. I definitely don't have a "strong" feeling like I did with Avree. I was 99% sure she was a girl, and this one I strongly (60%) think a certain gender but a couple days later I sometimes second guess it. But we will be HAPPY with either gender!!
Week 17

Wedding Weekend

Last weekend Avree and Matt were lucky enough to both be apart of a friends wedding. Avree was the flower girl and Matt was an usher.
We were a little worried that Avree wouldn't want to walk down the isle, but luckly there were 2 older ring bears who kinda took her under their wing. :-) She loves kids and following them around, so we thought this would be a piece of cake to walk down with them. Rehearsel went great, she walked down in the middle of the boys and wanted to do it again, and again, and again.
Wedding day came and what a beautiful day! It wasn't that hot, but it was sunny so that made it feel nice out! Avree and I got to the church late afternoon so I could get her all dressed and ready. The bride and bridesmaids were just "oohing" and "awwhhing" at how cute she was all dressed up. They kept asking her if they could hold her and of course she just gave them the "I don't think so look" and said "no". :-)
Well it was go time!!... Matt stayed in the back with Avree and I sat in the front row, so she could walk down to me. Well I guess she didn't want to carry the basket with her (which was fine) and off she went in the middle of the ring bears.... About 6 pews down, she decided to turn back around and run back to dad. Everyone just got a little giggle. Not sure if she felt a little embarrased at everyone looking at her, or if she wanted dad to go down with her or if she decided she DID want her basket of petals. It took her a second and then she grabbed the basket out of Matt's hand and off she went again... Down the isle all by herself!! What a big girl!! She did great and everyone loved her "little stunt". She was a "hit".
I had SO many people come up to me after the ceremony to ask how old she was and how cute she was. They kept saying she needed to be a model. So everyone thought she was adorable and did a great job... phew...
The wedding party had to wait around the church for a bit after the ceremony so they could take some group pictures. We tried to get some pictures of our own, but of course in most of them Avree HAD TO HAVE the paci. Or she "wasn't in the mood" for pictures. We did get a couple good ones though.
Avree was lucky enough to ride with the whole wedding party on the trolley to the reception. Matt said she LOVED it.
Of course when we got to the reception she was FULL of energy and just wanted to run around. Matt and I were trying to hold her in our laps during dinner, which was very difficult. Finally the dancing started! We knew that Avree likes to "dance" but we had never seen her dance this much and what great moves she has!! She was on the dance floor the entire night! We had SO many people pointing and "awwhhing" and wanting to dance with her. But NO WAY, Avree wanted to dance by herself. I wish I had the video camera of her on the dance floor. She again was the hit of the night. Our little dancing queen. She finally started to slow down a bit around 10:30, but after a little rest she was ready to "go at it again". So off she went to the dance floor. Finally I was exhausted and ready to go, so around 11:15/30 we left the reception.
I am so glad we decided to get a hotel room (last minute) and we stayed just a block away from the reception hall. We were all out once we hit the pillows.
It was a GREAT day/night!! Congrats Mike and Falohn Swanson!!







"Helping Dad tie his shoe"

Loves the drinking fountain



Avree and the Beautiful bride Falohn


The whole wedding party

Avree, Matt and the Trolley

I love my family SO much!!

Birthdays and Easter

Sorry, it has taken me a while to get her 2nd Birthday pictures up. Now with Matt's nice professional camera, I don't take that many pictures on my little camera. His are a better quality and turn out much nicer, but I have been waiting and waiting for him to help me with his photos so I can upload some on here (you have to use a special prgram to view and save his photos. I am not allowed to mess with unless he is there to help me :)). Well that still hasn't happened, so I guess we will be using some of mine from my camera. (There aren't as many and I didn't get any pictures from the Easter Egg Hunt or the individual family pictures... When he finally gets them on the computer, I will put those pictures up.)

Avree's 2nd birthday fell on Easter this year, so we decided to have her party back in Iowa. We spent the weekend in West Des Moines at a hotel, went swimming and met up with some family on Saturday. Brian (Uncle Boo) and Chaeli came Saturday afternoon to WDSM and hung out with us (and stayed with us that night). Then that night we all met up with my dad, Barb, Shelly, Jack and Jay. We came to our hotel, went swimming and ordered pizza. A fun, relaxing night.
The next morning (Avree and my dad's birthday) we all went to church in WDSM (Hope Church- great service) then headed back to our hotel where Avree's birthday celebration was taking place. It was a great turn out and we are so thankful for our wonderful family who joined us to celebrate. I still can't believe she is 2 already!!
After we had lunch, opened gifts and ate cake, we all headed outside for an Easter Egg hunt. Kaiya was super fast and got the majority of the eggs. Avree by this time had had enough and was exhausted (way past her nap time) so she was cranky as could be. Didn't want to "find" the eggs and wouldn't listen to anyone. And of course we decided to try and get family pictures taken then. Ya, Avree wouldn't have it! Most of the pictures of the grandkids/grandparents are of her screaming crying. Poor thing! We did get a couple of her not crying (as long as I was in the photo, holding her).
After that we started packing up the car, and had put Avree in her car seat.. no more than 2 minutes later she was OUT! Slept the whole way home and even slept all night. She was VERY tired to say the least.

Swimming Saturday night- Cousin Kaiya and Avree

Grandma and Grandpa with the grandkids

Johnson Family

Daddy and Avree

Easter Morning

Party Time!
We had just showed up in the party room and Avree saw all her presents just sitting there and thought... I am going to try some of these out! It's my birthday and I can do what I want! So off she went on the tricycle... Little stinker (Thanks Gma and Gpa Hansch! She loves the tricycle)

Cake!

We can't forget about another special person's birthday. I think it is so neat that my dad and Avree share the same birthday. A special bond they will always have!

Still riding it.....

Easter Bunny Jack

What a GREAT weekend with Family!!



Thought I would also throw in a pregnancy photo- 16 weeks already!

Comparing Pregnancies

Now that the surprise it FINALLY out, I can talk more about how this pregnancy is going and compare it to the first one. Our Due Date is at the end of September. (I just hope this baby isn't going to be like it's sister and come a week late, which would put the date in October!!) I guess I can't really do anything about that, though :-)
I added a poll on the right hand side of our blog (Guess the gender of Baby Melhus 2), so I thought I would help you in making a guess and tell you all the crazy symptoms I have had (and even compare them with my 1st pregnancy).

Morning Sickness-
*pregnancy 1- I had morning sickness kick in at 6 weeks and wasn't over till 16 weeks or even later! I probably got sick atleast once a day. Not fun!

*Pregancy 2- I have had some nausea here and there and have gotten sick a couple time (I get sick so easily. Pregnant or not!) I started feeling "icky" around 9 weeks when we were leaving for MX. I really think it had more to do with my nerves than morning sickness. I gag So easy. If I gag once, it usually turns into me getting sick. (I can't stop it) I was brushing my teeth the other day and started brushing my tongue and sure enough I started gagging and got sick. So not sure how much this pregnancy is really "Morning Sickness" and is just "nerves" or my "gagging"problem.

Fatigue-
* Pregnancy 1- From the day I found out I was pregnant and well into my 2nd trimester, all I wanted to do was sleep. I would get home around 6 during the week, (try and eat something) and be in bed by 7! I would then sleep till 7/7:30 the next morning!

*Pregnancy 2- I have been tired but nothing like the 1st time around. I go to bed pretty easy (around 8/9 PM) but I usually end up waking up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and then can't fall back to sleep. I hate it!

Heartburn-
*Pregnancy 1- Never knew what it felt like. I thought I had it but it was very, very mild!

*Pregnancy 2- OUCH! I think a lot of it is caused by my "bubbly stomach". I get these sharp side aches, which then turn into terrible heartburn. I know they say, Heartburn means your kids going to have hair when it's born... Well I could care less if I have another bald baby because I don't want heartburn anymore!

Lazy- (I am making up my own pregnancy symptom)
*Pregnancy 1- Besides sleeping the 1st trimester and some of my 2nd trimester away, I was always busy. I couldn't sit still. I cleaning this and that and picking up this and that... never had a break (Also while I was working 45+ hr work week.)

*Pregnancy 2- I can't believe I let my house get this messy, for days at a time!! That is not like me. I would rather sit around..be lazy (watch Avree play) than pick up our dishes from breakfast or lunch. And it stays that way till the next day, if not the day after!! It has even gotten bad in the laundry room! I will actually wash a couple loads of laundry and then by the time they get done drying, they just sit there and sit there and sit there. Again for days (which this is NOT like me)
I guess it's God's way of preparing me to relax, and not worry about cleaning, "cause you are not going to have anytime with 2 kids". LOL

Breaking out-
*Pregnancy 1- I couldn't ever keep my face clear. I swear I would get a new break out every week, if not every couple days. It didn't matter what I used for my face, it WAS going to break out.

*Pregnancy 2- I am so thankful I don't have this problem. I have gotten a break out every now and then, but for the most part my face has been clear since the beginning of this pregnancy.

I have had some ups and downs with this pregnancy, like I did with the 1st but I am so excited to experience this journey again! Right now all the bad out weighs the good, but at the end of all this the good definitely out weighs the bad (you just have to get to the end to feel that way.. haha)
We feel so blessed and we can't wait to bring another child into our home. Whether that be a boy or girl, we will be happy!! :-)



Week 15 (Pregnancy 2)

15 weeks (Pregnancy 1)

Avree's 2 year check-up

Avree had her 2 year check up today and everything looks good. No shots today (all up to date till kindergarten!!). She is still a little peanut but growing..slowly :) Her height is average (50%) and her weight is in the 5-10%. So you can imagine it is super hard to find pants that fit her. She needs atleast 18 month- 2T for length but she needs like a 3-6 month waist!! I am glad summer is almost here cause we don't have a problem with shorts being long enough. I started pulling out all her new and old summer stuff and most of the shorts from the past summers will fit!! (she has a 0-3 month that fit her perfectly!)
We figured she is going to be pretty skinny (& average height) cause Matt and I were pretty little for most of our childhood. But the Dr. wasn't concerned about it, so we aren't either. :-)
They did tell us that developmentally she is around a 3 year old! That's always nice to hear to she "ahead" of schedule. Her vocabulary has been really expanding and there is starting to be new "words" that we have know idea what she is saying.
This weekend I plan on getting her 2nd birthday party pictures up! So don't forget to check out the blog after this weekend.

What has the Melhus clan been up too...???

I am so sorry that I haven't been keeping up with the blog. I could probably write about something every week, but I figured people are mostly wanting to see pictures (which I never feel like taking the time to upload all of them)
Anyways, this is just going to be a post about this past month (sorry no pictures)
Matt and I took off for Mexico at the end of February and left Avree in the hands of grandparents! That was the first time I have left her that long and of course I missed her but it was so nice to have a week to myself :-) I knew she would have a blast back in Pella and I knew the grandparents would be kept on their toes :p

March- I can't believe how fast the month of March has gone! March is a busy month for us, as we seem to have birthdays almost every week. Matt celebrated his 26th birthday alone! Avree and I were gone over his birthday, spending some time in Greenville, SC. I know Matt wished we were home with him but he had a nice relaxing weekend catching up on "Matt" stuff. But don't feel too bad for Matt that his family wasn't home for his birthday.. I celebrated my 25th birthday last weekend and Matt was in VEGAS for a bachelor party! (See why I didn't feel too bad leaving him on his birthday, HA) I kept busy though. My dad, Barb, sister and Jack come Friday night to spend some time with me. Dad and Barb left Saturday night (after taking me out to supper for my birthday). Shelly and I had a nice relaxing Saturday night watching tv and movies. Then Sunday afternoon my mom came! They both left on Tuesday. So I have had quite the company this weekend/week. I am glad I get to rest (probably will be cleaning) these next couple days, before more company this weekend :-) Saturday we have Matt's parents coming to celebrate Easter with Avree. We are having an Easter egg hunt and egg coloring! I know Easter is still another weekend away, but with Avree's birthday falling on Easter (and the day we are having her party) they wanted some time with just Avree.
I still can't believe Avree will be 2 next weeekend!!! She already acts older than 2 though. She wants to do everything herself. "No help Momma"! It is nice to not have to do everything for her but I do miss my "baby".

Hope everyone is doing well! Take Care