.:Name Poll:.

Let me preface this by saying that Josh and I have not really talked about names yet for this little girl. Most of these names we considered using for Reece, and one of them I already know he hates. But I still want to see what other people think - not that it will be a deciding factor! :)

I know which one of these names I want, and some of you all do, too, but still vote for your fave. I'm just curious!

If you don't like any of them or have other suggestions, leave us a comment!

.:Nothing New:.

Not much going on in our neck of the woods. We've just been busy playing, crafting, and enjoying our little family. I've been working on a bunch of new clips for my shop, and also just some other crafts for baby sister and around the house. I don't know how much time I'll have to craft once this little girl gets here, or how long it will take me to find the balance between having two kids and having hobbies, so I've been trying to get as much done as possible now! I've got scrapbooks for both girls about ready to go, and am working on some blankets.

I'm also trying to soak up this time with Reece. We're so excited for baby sister to come, but it's definitely going to change things, and I don't want to waste any time that I can have now with my little Reece. She just turned 16 months yesterday; I can hardly believe it! She got two new teeth in on the bottom - finally! She hasn't had any new teeth since October, and I was starting to wonder if she'd ever fill the rest of her mouth! She's been a little crabby, and is now a little sick, so it's been a rough couple of days. But she has let me snuggle a little bit, so that's a positive in all of it!

Josh is keeping busy with school and clinicals. He continues to study hard and do great! His teachers and instructors all love him, which I can't blame them of course. He's so smart and I'm so proud of how well he is doing!

Here are a few pictures of what we've been up to lately!

Reece got this bear for her first Christmas, and she just loves it!

Reece got a tent for Christmas this year. It is so cute, and she spends so much time in it! She also loves wearing this silly little key chain as a necklace.

I can't keep socks on this girl! She loves to take them off, and then wear one as a glove.

Looking cute, sitting in the upside down step stool.

We went to Discovery Gateway with our friends yesterday. Reece wasn't feeling well, so it took her awhile to warm up. But once she did, she had a great time playing in the water tables, pushing around a grocery cart, sitting on the little couches, playing with the balls, and playing house. We can't wait to go back!

.:Lately:.

Just a little peek into our lives lately....

Reece has been loving coloring lately! She looks like such a big girl!

She also loves the new dvd's she got for Christmas.

Being silly

Check out that curl!

She enjoyed her raspberries.

I think this is a good sign....yeah?

This, not so much....

.:28 Weeks - Third Trimester:.

This past Sunday was 28 weeks for me, which means I'm in the third trimester now. Where has this pregnancy gone?

I recently took my glucose test, and I'm assuming I passed because I never heard anything back! That was a relief, as I didn't pass it with Reece and I really didn't enjoy the three hour test. I also had to be on iron supplements with Reece, but I never heard anything about that blood work, so I guess I'm in the clear for that, too!

Baby girl is just growing like crazy! I feel gigantic already (although I don't think I look overly huge at this point) but small things are starting to become more difficult. I've started to involuntarily grunt when I have to bend over or get up with my belly in the way. This girl has started to have the hiccups quite frequently, which is new to me because I only felt them once or twice with Reece. Baby sister also reacts a lot more to outside noise than Reece did. Going to the movies, or even just being in the room while Josh plays Guitar Hero has gotten her going crazy! It is fun to feel and watch her.

I've been feeling great about things, but now that the holidays are over, all of the sudden I'm starting to have anxiety thinking about everything that needs to be done before this baby comes! It probably seems like much more in my head - good thing I have a to do list that keeps me on track!

Here are a few of my recent projects for my girls' room:

Feather wreath

Curtains

Mobile

I am loving glamming it up and not having to worry about being neutral!

And here is my belly picture from 28 weeks. Yikes!

.:Reece's 15 Month Appt:.

Reece had her 15 month doctor's appointment today. Here are the stats:

Weight: 20 pounds - 11th percentile (she's up from the 4th - yeah!)

Height: 31 inches - 70th percentile

Head Circumference: 18 inches - 66th percentile

Her pediatrician was so happy and impressed with her growth and development.

We brought in some videos of her tensing to see if that would help him have any ideas about what is going on with her. Her tensing has grown so frequent and just seems to be getting progressively worse, so we feel like we've got to do something about it. He was just stumped since she is so right on track in every area; whatever's bothering her doesn't seem to be affecting her development at all. He also really doesn't think it's urinary reflux (our original thoughts of what it might be) since she doesn't have uti's. But he agreed that it couldn't keep going on like this. Since he is not sure what it is, he is referring us to a neurologist to see if they can get a read on what is going on. We can't get in until February 16th, but I'm glad we at least have the next step set up. It is so sad to watch and feel so helpless to help her.

But even with her tensing, she is still so perfect in every other way! We're so blessed to have her in our family, and can't imagine our lives without her!

.:After Christmas Fun:.

We were so lucky to get to have my parents come to visit a couple of days after Christmas! It just made the holiday season complete!

They got into town on Sunday, and we decided to head down to Temple Square to see the lights. It was FREEZING outside, so we had to be sure to bundle Reece up good. She pretty much couldn't move her arms or anything else on her after we got done with the layers! I don't think she was thrilled to be so bundled, but at least she wasn't cold! We had a great time walking around and being amazed by everything. It is so beautiful!

All bundled up - what a precious face!

Beautiful temple

With Grandma Z and Grandpa Paul

Aren't my parents just the cutest???

We spent the next couple of days dragging my dad around to fabric stores, going to see Sherlock Holmes (great movie!), eating, playing Wii, and sewing! Yep, that's right, I got a sewing machine for Christmas! I was fortunate to have the master seamstress here to give me a private lesson. We made curtains for my girls' room! My mom helped me make the first one, and I made the second one all by myself. I'm pretty proud of myself!

It was such a wonderful holiday season, and we are truly so blessed to have such amazing families, friends, the gospel, our perfect little girls, and each other.

Don't forget to scroll down to read more about our Christmas festivities!

.:Christmas Day:.

This year we did Christmas morning at our own house. Santa came to visit and it was fun to see Reece's reaction to it all! Grandpa Andrus and Aunt Em came over to watch Reece open all of her gifts.

After we got through our stockings, Santa's gifts, and the gifts from my parents and Gary (spoiled some more!!!), we got ready and headed over to Ryan and Leslie's house to have brunch with everyone. It was all delicious! Then we watched Gary open up his gifts from all of us, and let the kids play.

Once brunch was done, it was time to head into Salt Lake to visit Josh's grandma. Every year, everyone just drops by when they can. It is fun to see Josh's cousins, aunts, and uncles, and let Reece meet everyone.

Taking a snooze on the way to Great Grandma Andrus' house

Playing on the pretty chair (what photographer wouldn't want that???)

With Grandpa Andrus

.:Christmas Eve:.

We had such a great holiday season this year! Josh has been off of school for a couple of weeks now, so it's been an added bonus having him around all the time! Reece and I are loving it, and I know that Reece is going to be super disappointed when he has to go back to school and she is stuck with boring old mom all day long!

Christmas Eve started out in Grantsville at Josh's mom's house. All of his siblings were able to come out. It was fun to have everyone together, and super fun to have Reece and Millie old enough to appreciate the festivities! We ate good food, opened presents (we were super spoiled!), played with presents, played the Wii, and just enjoyed each other's company.

Here are some pictures from our time in G-Ville.

Reece loves the play sunglasses at Grandma's house.

Sitting with Grandma and cousin Millie

Wearing Daddy's Cousin Eddie hat

Reece's new kitty, and giving it loves!

Playing in the new tent for the grandkids' room

This was the best picture we could get of Reece and Millie together in their jammies - they were both being goofy!

Grandma and Grandpa Beckloff with all of the grandkids.