6 months!

I cannot believe how different this pregnancy has become.  I felt so energized and GREAT at this point in my pregnancies with Liv & JP.  However, this pregnancy has sucked the energy right out of me.  I often feel like I could pass out from exhaustion, my heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest just from carrying a load of laundry upstairs(it's not funny, but it makes me laugh because I've never experienced that in pregnancy before!) I have tried swimming more, walking, prenatal yoga, and naps...nothing is working, and I always feel like I walk around complaining of how T-I-R-E-D I am.  If I could just get on a regimented workout routine I think I'd feel better.  I was so active and worked out no less than 4-5 days/wk with my other pregnancies, so I'm a little disappointed that I haven't stuck with that this time around.  Oh well, I guess it's the one time in life I can have the excuse of laying low & taking it easy(well, as easy as possible while taking care of my family.)  I am trying to soak it all in, and fully embrace the miracle of pregnancy.  I seriously already feel like I'm lugging around a big ole' baby boy =) and I still have a ways to go.  Shane keeps reminding me that before I know it, I will have delivered him, and will miss him moving, growing, and living inside me.  He knows me too well!  Here are some 6 month buddha belly shots.

Use caution when eating them...they are WAY TOO addicting!

Alright, I've never been one to really deprive myself of food, especially when it comes to a good treat.  However, every year around Easter when certain candy comes out on the shelves...I'm in trouble!  Cadburry Mini Eggs are one of my FaVoRiTeS(and should be in their own food group in my world!)  But they are so addicting, and I seriously can't stop eating them.  Not to mention Snickers came out with Snickers Peanut Butter Squared(equally dangerous,) which have recently been added to my collection of chocolates.  Help!  It's no wonder I'm shooting out in areas of my body I didn't know existed ;)  I'm am going to turn into a Heffalump!

Salamander Soccer=FUN!

I am so so glad that my friend D told me about this soccer program for little tike's.  Especially since it wasn't soccertots(sorry, I hope that doesn't offend anyone, it just wasn't for us.)  The soccer program Nolan is in has been SO GREAT!  It's a U3-U4 group he's been in since last Fall/Winter.  He's now learning a bit about soccer, becoming more comfortable, and understanding the concept.  His coaches are fabulous!  We look forward to Fridays not only for the soccer, but also because Nolan's little buds are in the class too, so it's the perfect play date =)  Not to mention us mamas like it too, because we get to go out to lunch afterwards.  I hope he continues to enjoy it, I've had fun watching him progress.  I've only been able to get pictures once, and some are repetitive, but still cute. 

Can't wait for Liv to get back to something extra curricular.  We've taken some time off to let her adjust to being in school ALL DAY.  So hopefully she'll be back in dance, or a sport soon too!  I want my children to have something to enjoy outside of school, whether it be a sport, music/instrument, a hobby, something that makes them happy & more importantly ensures FUN!

 

It's a BOY! Our little buddy #2

First I have to thank the LORD for blessing me with a healthy baby.  I could have cared less about the gender when we went in for our ultrasound...I just needed to know this baby was growing properly, and HEALTHY!  I knew before she even asked us if we wanted to know if it was a boy or girl, I saw his little parts =)  It's was so wonderful to see him, and now I'm even more eager to bring this little guy into the world...come on July!!!  Although, I need to enjoy each day he's still in my tummy, because it's such an amazing feeling, truly a miracle with them inside, one of the most incredible things I've ever experienced.  He's such a wiggle worm!  Shane & the kids can now feel him kicking too, and we just like to watch my belly flutter.  Nolan was setting his toy animals up on my belly today to see if his baby brother could knock them off. 

Little Miss Olivia did have her heart set on a baby sister.  She is SURROUNDED by boys with family/friends.  Her best friend is also the only girl out of 4 kiddos so she keeps saying "Ella and I can be the princesses."  I remember begging my parents to have one more baby because I was the only girl out of 5 kids!  I have to say I absolutely LOVED having brothers though.  And I know that God gave us what he thought was just the perfect fit for our family, we are thrilled! 

We got the kids blue balloons yesterday as well as little baby boy dolls.  When we picked Liv up from school we had everything set up in her booster seat.  Ever since, the kids have been carrying their new boy babies everywhere.  They both slept with them last night.  Liv keeps swaddling hers, and he's napping in her bed right now while she's at school ;) 

It still feels very surreal because I truly did not think we'd ever be able to experience this again after I had Nolan.  I am over the moon...and can only give the glory to ONE person...Thank you Jesus!  Well, maybe that isn't entirely true...my OB is AMAZING and I do believe he's had a part in this too!

*This little guy is a mover...so it was hard to get pictures with him staying still, little stinker!  If I could guess, I think he's going to look just like Nolan.  Nolan's ultrasound pictures are almost identical.  Hope he gets some of Liv's features too!

These are my 2 favorites!

 5 month belly shots(literally =) )

HaPpY BiRtHdAy Daddy~make a WiSh!

Just a few pictures from Shane's biRThday.  We keep birthdays pretty simple around here, especially when it comes to Shane & I.  He always requests homemade chocolate cream pie instead of cake~which I think is because he knows my Dad will bake him a chocolate cake(devil's food) for his birthday and he loves my Dad's cakes!

When I asked the kids what they wanted to get for their Dad they asked to paint a picture for him again. They did this last year too, so I thought it was cute they remembered that and wanted to carry on the tradition. Shane has last years Picasa paintings ;) hanging in his office at work. I'm hoping the kids want to paint for me sometime too, I want their artwork on my walls!! I think it was a good thing Shane was in Seattle while the kids painted, it was quite messy this time around! They turned out super cute, Nolan painted "a space shuttle" and Liv, a "beautiful garden." I love gifts from the heart~especially from a child's.

                                     

We LOVE St. Patrick's Day!

May St. Patrick guard you wherever you go,

and guide you in whatever you do~and may his loving protection be a blessing to you always.

Liv was being a stinker

and now, it's JP's turn to be a stinker!

My friend Amy made this hat for her little boy David who's a 1st grader in Liv's class.

I loved the bubbles coming out the top of this hat.

Um...so cute, and fUnNy!

My girl!

We've had a fun filled St. Patrick's Day!  It started with "crazy hat day" at school for Liv, followed by a parade, hat contest, picnic lunch, and we ended the day with a trip to the dentist for the kids(were they handed out shamrock balloons, plus no cavities!) 

This is the first year since I was probably 10 years old that I didn't get together with my Hennessy cousins =(  So sad, I just didn't have the energy to meet them this year(and they are at Jack & Dan's of all places, too crammed for this mama!)  My aunt usually makes us the best Irish dinner (corn beef & cabbage, with soda bread,) and we didn't do that either.  NEXT YEAR we'll be back on track.  My grandma used to make little leprechaun houses and we would try and catch them, so funny and I have yet to do that with the kids so that's also on my list for next year.  Here are a few pictures of the kids, and from the crazy hat day parade.  Some people REALLY got in to it, as you'll see.  I loved the potato heads, and Gonzaga hat!