It's a....

BOY!!!! We had the ultrasound today and it showed 100% proof positive that we are having another boy!!!! We are so excited!!!! I am so glad that Aiden with have a brother close to his own age to grow up with - they will have so much fun together. I can only imagine the trouble they will get into together :) I will now be outnumbered 4 to 1 (Bryan, Aiden, Baby Boy, and Sparky vs. Me) - YIKES!!!! A house full of boys will be fun though! :)

Oh, and by the way, the reason I haven't felt this one move as much as Aiden isn't because he isn't as active, it's because I have an anterior placenta which means the placenta is between the baby and me (most placentas are posterior - towards the mother's spine). It acts kind of like a pillow so I don't feel his movement as much. It is also probably why they have had such a hard time finding his heartbeat earlier in my pregnancy. It doesn't pose any risks to the baby so I am thankful for that. The ultrasound showed that he is healthy and due around March 16! I can't wait!

All Kinds of Things...

Okay, so I admit that I haven't been a very faithful blogger lately - sorry! So this post is going to be a summary of what has been going on in the past month. First, I am excited to announce that Aiden is potty training and it is going really well. This summer, when I had an entire three months to devote to helping him he wanted nothing to do with it - of course. But about 3 weeks ago he suddenly announced to me that he wanted to go potty on the toilet and has been going ever since then. He has occasional accidents and still wears diapers at night but I am very pleased with his progress especially since it wasn't too long ago that he turned two. I'm especially glad since baby number two will be here in a few short months and that will mean less diapers to change :)

Here's a pic of Aiden proudly showing off his new Pull-Ups:
We went to the Firetruck Parade in downtown Holland about a month ago. We stopped at the Farmer's Market first to get some Honeycrisp apples - yum!
Then we met up with Aiden's Uncle Robb and cousin Austin to watch the parade. Aiden and Austin loved seeing all of the firetrucks and enjoyed the candy that was thrown to them.
Aiden's Aunt Krista (a.k.a. Auntie Ta-Ta) takes care of Aiden occasionally while Bryan and I are working. A few weeks ago when I went to pick him up she had him styling with a new hair do - soooo cute:
Since I know our days of good weather are numbered, I've been letting Aiden play outside as much as possible. We went to the park a couple of weeks ago on an especially nice day. He had so much fun!
Bryan has been working long hours on the farm combining beans and corn so Aiden decided to go out and ride with him for a couple of hours. It was all Aiden talked about for the next week. Aiden even got to sit on daddy's lap and "drive" the tractor.
Aiden dressed up as a lion (rrrrooooaaarrr) for Halloween. Instead of doing the official "Trick-or-Treating" we drove to various people's houses (Aiden doesn't need all the sugar of the candy and Bryan and I don't need it either). He had fun and enjoyed sharing his lion noise with everyone!!

In his car seat ready for the next stop! Aiden and his friends Kylee and Macie:
Aiden and his cousin Kelsey (she wasn't too thrilled with having to sit next to the scary lion - or maybe she's crying because she is wearing a STATE :( costume - even scarier than a lion :)
Aiden and his Aunt Krista and Uncle Casey (80's workout people - nice wig Casey)

I can't believe I am half way through my pregnancy already. It went so fast. This baby is definitely less active than Aiden was. I used to feel Aiden all the time but this one is pretty quiet. Does this mean that the baby will be less active than Aiden is outside of the womb too????

CONGRATULATIONS to my youngest brother Jeff who proposed to his girlfriend Angie tonight! We are so excited! They haven't set a day yet but we are thrilled to have another sister join the family!

Decision '08

I've added two polls to the left side of my blog to see what you think. November 6 we are having an ultrasound and get to find out the gender of our baby - IF we want to (and if the baby cooperates)! Bryan really wants to find out and I would like to let it be a surprise. What do you think? Please, only one vote per person. Not that we will go with the majority, I'm just curious what you think :)

Also, now is the time to voice your opinion as to whether you think we are having a boy or a girl. Again, only one vote per person please! :)

ABC's and 123's

Aiden has been working on his ABC's and 123's. As you can see from the video, 18 is his filler number - every time he can't remember a number he throws 18 in instead (of course it could also be because he whacked himself in the head with his sippy cup just prior to saying his numbers - maybe it effected his memory :) ). Pretty cute!

All Kinds of Things

Aunt Aimee, Cousin Alyvia, and Aiden's Grandparents came up to visit. Aiden and Alyvia had so much fun running all around and playing with each other. Here's a couple pics of them trying to squish into the same chair:
We celebrated Trenten's (8), Austin's (3), and Aunt Mary's (don't worry Mary, I won't reveal your age on here) birthday last weekend. Aiden had a riot playing with all of his cousins. He especially liked the Jeep that Austin got for his birthday (notice the crowd standing around them for Austin's first attempt at driving it).
Trenten got a razor for his birthday and had fun riding it all around.

Lexi and Kelsey:
Aiden had fun with Uncle Ryan on the swing...

One of the guys Bryan works with on the farm owns a small plane so Bryan went for a ride with him the other night. They flew over top of our house and Bryan was able to get a few pictures.
He also took a couple pics of the farm he works at:
Aiden has all of sudden decided that he won't take baths anymore - he only wants to take showers. He thinks he is big stuff to take a shower all by himself.
Last night I was laying on the couch and Aiden came over to talk to the baby. He lifted up my shirt and leaned way over to start talking to the baby. When I asked him where the baby was he stuck his finger in my belly button and said "right ere (here)". He thinks the baby is in my belly button. Now it makes sense why he always leans way over to talk to the baby - maybe he thinks my belly button is the microphone for the baby :) :)

Baby #2

Yes, it is true! We are excited to announce that I am about 3 1/2 months pregnant and due in March! Aiden is as excited as a two year can be and rubs my tummy and kisses it while talking to the baby. He doesn't quite get it yet that it will be awhile before the baby arrives. The other night he lifted up my shirt, put his head by my belly and said, "Come on baby! Come out!" He wants to hold and kiss the baby NOW! :)

Fair

We took Aiden to the Allegan County Fair last night. He had a blast seeing all of the animals. It was hilarious. He would go up to one pen, climb the gate a couple of rungs, reach his hand in to try to pet the animal, and then announce "Hi sheep! Hi! Hi buddy!". Then he would run to the next pen, climb the gate, reach his hand in and announce "Hi sheep! Hi! Hi buddy!". He did this over and over and over again! Each time he saw a new animal he would squeal with delight!

Of course we had to check out the John Deere's while we were there. Aiden wanted to "drive" every single one. I think he pushed or turned every single button on the tractors he sat on. That was just as important as "driving" to him!