...our newest little Barnes!!

Sweet, precious baby!

Looking a little like an alien baby :)

Head and arm... waving to us :)

Last week Monday I had my first ultrasound and we were able to see our precious little baby! When I was expecting Aiden, I had my first ultrasound with him when I was only 6 or 7 weeks along, and he was just a tiny bean with itty, bitty arms and legs. This time around I was in my 10th week and it was so amazing to see so much more detail. Our little one was moving so much and kicking their little legs. It was just precious and such a joy to see! My due date is September 30, but since I will most likely deliver by C-section this time around, I imagine baby will be here a little earlier. It is all in the Lord's hands and we are trusting Him each step of the way!

I have also had many ask me how I am doing, with regard to my arthritis and this pregnancy, both on this blog and on Facebook, so I plan to get a post up later this week. It has been a blessing to have so many praying for me :)

Spring has finally arrived!! The tree's are budding, we have had our first thunderstorms of the season, and the best part, the weather is warmer...aaaahhhh! Tuesday was just magnificent. The sun was shining brightly after some rainy days and the temperature was in the mid to upper 70's. Perfect. Even though I am still feeling crummy, I just knew I couldn't let a day like that pass by. We haven't been to the park very much this winter because it was almost continually cold. Unlike the last couple winters here, where just about once a week we would have a day in the 70's, so we did much more outdoors. Needless to say, we have been feeling quite cooped up. Our first stop was to the library to return some books and dvd's (and pay a late fine: 7 dvd's one day late @ $1 a day = $7...ouch) and then pick out some new ones. Then we headed over to the park.

Soaking up some rays while swinging! Aiden's favorite thing at the park!

His favorite slide at the park. He has no fear, just flings himself down it!

Singing his ABC's while looking at the sign language alphabet :)

Look at all that static! Hysterical.

Some more.

Oh, yes, he had a fabulous time!

Thank you all for your sweet comments and rejoicing with us at the news of a new little Barnes! We are just so thrilled to be expecting this precious gift from the Lord! I had intended to update the blog fairly soon after I posted the picture of Aiden in his "Big Brother" shirt, but morning sickness has really just gotten the best of me, and most things have fallen to the side. I was fully expecting this time around to have less morning sickness. I figured since I am not working with this one (well, at least not outside the home ;)), and not waking up at 4:45am to get to work by 6:30am, that I wouldn't be too sick. Well, I was definitely wrong in my assumptions! I have been much sicker this time around than with Aiden. It started around 5 weeks and has continued to get progressively worse as each week has passed (I am currently almost 10 weeks). The nausea is so much stronger, which in turn means more throwing up. Yuck! It also is much worse at night, which is different than last time.

This weekend, though, I received a nice reprieve and I actually felt somewhat normal for a couple days. Yesterday morning was wonderful. I felt great at church and we even enjoyed a nice lunch out with a group of friends. It actually had me a little concerned, that I suddenly felt better, but this morning everything is back into full swing. As much as I don't enjoy it. I am thankful for feeling sick :) My cravings have been the same this pregnancy, fruit, fruit and more fruit. That is pretty much what I have been living on. Also a little organic yogurt or Kefir. That is all that sounds and tastes good to me! The Greek black olives that I craved with Aiden, though, are a no go this time around :)

Surprising Carl with the pregnancy test! I had taken it earlier that day and decided to surprise him with it that night at dinner. I wrapped it up and told him it was an early birthday present (since this little one is due around his birthday). I totally thought he would know what it was without unwrapping it when I told him that, but he didn't have a clue what it could be. It was so fun to watch him open it and see the smile come across his face!

I meant to get these pictures up earlier this week, but Aiden came down with a yucky, horrible stomach virus, and life stopped for a few days. Thankfully it was limited to throwing up, but it certainly was extremely messy and I have never washed so many loads of laundry at one time, in all my life. He is over it now and back to his old self, but Carl and I are anxiously waiting to see if we will be the virus' next victims.

Anyway, back to the snow. We did indeed have a record snow, just over a foot in 24 hours. We spent some time playing in it the next morning and then after lunch some of our neighborhood friends invited Aiden to join them sledding. Of course I couldn't let that opportunity pass. He absolutely loved it!!

Lots and lots of snow!

We went for a walk around the cul-de-sac.

Whee! It was so deep in some spots!

Going sledding down a hill in our subdivision!

Look at the smile on his face. He couldn't get enough of it! Over and over he went down. Such fun!

This picture is hysterical! My friend, Maggie, snapped this of Aiden with her cellphone. Poor boy went face first into the snow as he came to the bottom of the slope. He is always such a trooper, no tears, just ran over to me to help him brush the snow off and then proclaimed "again" with a huge smile on his face!