It's a BOY

We found out a week ago that we are expecting a little baby BOY! Things have been so busy, I just haven't had a chance to really update. But, here's the scoop:

We were so excited for our appointment. Jeff and I have always agreed that we will always want to know what our babies are. I guess neither one of us are good at being surprised.

We both took the day off and wanted to include Lyla-afterall, this would be HER brother or sister.

Waiting to find out what baby #2 would be ('13)     

Waiting to find out what Lyla would be ('11)

We headed to Meridian where our appointment was and literally as soon as I laid down and the sonogram started, the ultrasound tech said "Well, Are ya'll ready to find out?" She knew THAT quickly what we were having. This was literally the first shot of our baby boy.

After we all finished laughing and processing what she had just said, we got to relax and enjoy all the sweet poses HE would do for us.

He was very OPEN:) haha. The tech even commented that "he wanted us to be sure he was a boy so we were prepared." He is certainly not the shy one. Such a boy already...even in the womb.

  (Isn't he so handsome already??)

 

(More "proof" that he IS a boy)

(Check out those guns!-Daddy liked this one a lot)

(The tech said he had his hands up ready to catch a football-daddy didn't argue)

 Since live away from our families, we didn't think it would be possible to have a gender reveal, even though we wanted to so badly. So, we came up with a way to surprise our parents the day we found out. We had a cake delivered to each parent to let them know baby Graves was baby BOY Graves:)

(This is the cake delivered to Jeff's mom-thanks to some special friends in Abilene)

(My mom's friend Holly made hers and my dad's cakes. When they cut into them, there was blue icing)

*Chella made Jeff's dad's cake-once I get a picture I will post it. Needless to say, they were ALL so surprised!!!

We went out to lunch just the 3 of us after the appointment and a few days later our sweet friends Sam and Ashley came by with some cupcakes of our own! You know Lyla cannot resist a cupcake -well, she can't resist the cupcake ICING!

We are so excited about our little BOY! He was measuring a week earlier than expected, but you know they tell you to always stick by the first date you are given which is January 18, 2014. The doctor said he looks great and everything is forming and developing great. Please continue to pray with us for a healthy delivery and a healthy baby. 

We still don't have a name yet, but we are tossing around a few. We will definitely reveal once we decide. 

I have been feeling okay. This baby is very low and it is already hard to pick things up (Lyla) and bend over. Sometimes it scares me to think that we still have 20 more weeks to go. My doctor reassured me that the second pregnancy and any that follow are much harder than the first. I tend to agree. I admire moms with 3+ kids even more so now. It is so hard keeping up with a 2 year old all day (granted I keep kids at my house, so, daily, I keep up with two 2 yr olds and a 6 week old-but they are not all mine and at the end of the day two of the three get to go home) I am so thankful for a husband who is a helper in every sense of the word. I couldn't do this without him. 

Anyways, I will update more later, but for now, Lyla will be a big sister to a little brother. :) I think she's pretty excited.

(Mommy's baby 'bump' at 18 weeks. Measuring at 19 weeks)

16 Weeks with Baby #2

I did this the first go around with Lyla and I wanted to make sure I kept up with baby #2 as well. This is more for me to remember later, but please feel free to read if you are interested in how this pregnant mama is doing:)

Size of baby: Our baby is about the size of an avocado...still teeny tiny.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I have actually not gained any weight. I do, however,  have a baby bump. I have been very sick again this pregnancy and so my appetite has been weird. What I have lost in some places, I guess I have gained in my tummy...it's all even-ing out on the scale as of right now. 

Maternity Clothes: Finally broke down and bought some maternity pants. I never bought any pants with Lyla, but this baby is another story. I am going for comfort over style. But I will say, I found some pretty cute, stylish things at Target:) 

Gender:We don't know what the baby's gender is yet, but we are definitely going to find out! We will know August 19 if we will be team pink or team blue. 

Movement: Nothing yet. I cannot wait to feel that sweet movement. 

Sleep: My sleep is wonderful so far. I sleep through the night with the exception of have to use the bathroom several times. 

What I miss: ENERGY! This baby has drained this mama dry of energy! Could be because I am busy chasing a 2 year old around as well...a little different the second time around. You cannot rest just anytime you feel like it. 

  

Cravings: My cravings seriously change daily. My new "kick" is fried pickles. One thing that has been a constant is meat, cheese, fruit and yogurt. One day I could've killed for some cole slaw. The next day I wanted nothing to do with it. HA! The life of a pregnant woman!

Symptoms: Tired, nauseous, some acne

Best Moment This Week:  Last week I got to hear the heart beat again and it was very strong! LOVE hearing that sweet sound! My moments this week have been focused on the sweet gift I already have...LYLA! She is growing so much. She is doing great potty training and learning new things. She can sing songs (on key too) and count. She is so very smart! The things she remembers just astounds me. For example, we drove by pizza hut the other day and she started saying "mommy, pizza" I couldn't believe that she remembered that's where we get pizza. (We don't have it very often either) Just little things like that impresses me so much. She is also in love with the movie Dumbo. She loves watching the baby and the mommy. I have used this movie several times to explain to her that we will have a baby soon. I am not sure she understands, but it's fun to see how much she loves babies.

Well, I could go on and on. I am a proud mama...of both my babies:) They are so worth all the things pregnancy entails. It's easy to see that this go around. I know no matter how I feel or what I look like, I am going to be blessed beyond measure in just a few short months! 

ps. No pictures yet. I will work on that this weekend:)

Lyla's 2nd Birthday

Our sweet girl turned 2 years old on July 6, 2013. (if you asked her how old she is, she will tell you she is 3...not exactly sure why, but we are working on being 2!) 

Our celebration with her always starts around the 4th of July, since she was so close to being our little Independence Day baby. We took her out to eat and then for frozen yogurt. Quitman always shoots off fireworks the night before, so we made sure we had seats for the "big event". 

She saw the fireworks last year, but really took them in this year. The lady sitting beside us even commented that Lyla hadn't blinked the entire time. She was surely amazed!

Of course, like any 2 year old-to-be, she had to put on her own show towards the end. Everyone loved it. 

We had Lyla's birthday party on her actual birthday this year. Since she loves Minnie Mouse,  (she pronounces it "Men-A Moose") that was the theme we went with!

I was so worried about the rain, because we had planned a "water day" for her and her friends. The Lord was faithful to keep it away for the entire day! It was a perfect day to celebrate!

These are some of the decorations and food:) We tried to have all of her favorites (hot dogs, cheese balls, fruit, CUPCAKES!) *special thanks to my cousin Amy for making Lyla's invitations, cupcake toppers, food signs, and thank you stickers! Also, Lyla had TWO cakes for her special day-thanks to our family friend Holly for making her second one:) Such a special surprise!

We set up the pool, slide, water table and sprinkler outside! Lyla loves the water, so we knew she would have a great time!

And lo' and behold, as soon as we let her go outside she jumped in the pool:) No matter that her friends hadn't arrived yet...the party was already started!

Once her friends got there, there was no stopping them! They all had a blast!

So many of her friends came, along with several of our students in our youth group. I hope she never doubts how loved she is!

She received many sweet gifts from all her friends-she has seriously played with every single one of them...looks like we will be giving away some old toys VERY soon!

It was the perfect day! We are so thankful to everyone who came and who continually show love to our little girl and to us. God has blessed us tremendously with awesome friends! I cannot believe it has been two years since we so nervously checked into the hospital not having a clue what to expect! We are so in love with this child that God has given us. She is truly a joy. She has the sweetest spirit and is always quick to make us laugh. She is very easy going and likes just about anything and anyone. We hope you had a great day, Lyla! We love you so much!!

Happy Birthday Lyla Rae!!!!

Lyla has a secret....

Around this time two years ago, we were planning for the arrival of our sweet Lyla Rae. This year, we are planning for something (or rather SOMEONE) else....

Yes, that's right...we are having another baby!!! At the end of this week, I will be in my second trimester! Our due date is January 18, 2014.

Lyla loves babies, so I am positive she will be so happy about this new addition:)

Last weekend, while I was in Georgia, we took her to Baby Land General, where all the Cabbage Patch Babies are born. She was in Heaven. I think she played with every baby there.  (I have to add this because it was so cute: they made Tootles wear a visitor pass in the "hospital" He had a tag and everything!)

My parents took Jess and I when we were little and things have changed a bit, but one thing remained the same..they still allow you to see "Mother Cabbage" have a baby. It is so sweet as you watch them give her a big shot of "imagicillion" and allow the audience to name the baby. Lyla watched very closely!

The baby born that day was a boy. It will be a neat story to tell if our little one happens to be a boy. We won't find out until August what we are having, but we will DEFINITELY find out! We will absolutely adore either!

One lady actually mistook Lyla for one of the baby dolls and kept going on and on about beautiful she is. You know we think so too:)

My parents bought Lyla her very first cabbage patch doll. Lyla decided to name her Claudia after Mr. Claude Haney who brings us strawberries every spring. (Claudia has a strawberry on her shirt..and Mom might have had some input on the name) But Lyla was able to "adopt" her and had to promise to love her everyday and hug and kiss her everyday!

It was such a sweet experience! I know Lyla is going to love her new brother or sister so much! 

So....SURPRISE! LYLA IS GOING TO BE A BIG SISTER!!!!!!! More updates coming soon:)