Christmas Happenings

I love Christmas and everything about the season. Yes, even the sometimes stressful moments are ones I enjoy. This year we were in Florida for Christmas with my people :) There is nothing sweeter than being with my family. We are loud, crazy, and goofy...and nobody does Christmas like a VanLue Christmas! I love being able to share in the same traditions I had as a kid with Jon and Josh (and Lylah soon!)

Our Sea World passes expire soon so we took a couple family trips there in December. I love Sea World at Christmas time. They really do a great job and it's way less stressful than Disney (although Disney is and always will be my fave) We aren't quite brave enough to take Josh to Disney yet (we want him to understand what it is and be able to remember it) and so far, he has no idea Disney even exists. Josh really loves Sea World and especially took major interest in the whales the last few times we went. We went to a few shows, including and Elmo Christmas, rode the carousel and train, looked at sharks and fish, had ice cream (yes, ice cream in December!) and made some really special memories as a family. We aren't doing passes again this year since we will have a newborn and have some other passes we want to get to other places, but I'm sure we will be back very soon Shamu!

 A few days before Christmas we had a play date with our VanLue cousins. Josh had so much fun! Cade brought out all his cars and planes for Josh to play with, Caroline is the best little mommy, and Josh and Mollie get along and play so well together. Josh asks to go back to their house all the time!

Christmas Eve was a busy day for Jon and me. We have the awesome privilege (and it really is you guys...we love our church!) to play/sing for the 3 Christmas Eve services at Grace Orlando. We started rehearsing around noon and didn't get home until around 8 pm which meant Wubba-man got to stay with Mimi and crew all day. I am SO grateful to my parents and sisters for always being willing to have Wubba tag along. He has so much fun with them and apparently never whines or complains (which he does ALL THE TIME at home). Why is it kids always behave better for other people? We managed in between services to snap this family pic (thanks mom!)

Our last Christmas as a family of 3!

Christmas Eve at Grace

 We have a tradition of sleeping over at my parent's house on Christmas Eve so we are all together on Christmas morning. I absolutely love it! I'm sure we will stop one day once our little family gets bigger but for now it's one of my favorite things and I so look forward to it! Another tradition we have that my mom and dad began when my brother and I were little is opening one gift on Christmas Eve. It's always a new pair of pajamas :) We started this tradition ourselves when Jon and I got married (we still get pajamas for each other) and plan to continue it for our kids as well.

Ready to open!

New monkey pj's!

Christmas morning was a fun blur :) We opened, took a break for breakfast, and then continued opening and opening and opening. There were some super fun surprises for everyone and I loved watching Josh try to figure out what was happening. He didn't quite understand that there was more than one present for him to open at first. He was perfectly happy with the pack of cars he opened first :) Eventually he figured out that everything wrapped in McQueen paper was for him!

Stocking gifts!

He would stop and play with everything after he opened it...especially the cars!

New puzzles!

A new car from Katie!

I love this picture :)

A new "soccer rocker" from Mimi and Gray

McQueen McQueen!!!! 

So many new cars (which he asks to sleep with by the way)

My sweet sisters opening their gifts from us

Fashion and makeup guru

Video games for my hubby :)

My favorite gift from my mama - beautiful blankie for Lylah

A new tablet 

Cars cars cars...all day long

The cousins are here!

My man washing dishes - such a servant!

Trying out the new "just dance" game

Pretty Christmas table! (one of 3!)

I sadly didn't get any pictures once the aunts, uncles, more cousins and grandma arrived because it was such a flurry getting dinner ready and catching up with everyone. But...it was a blast! We had the best time celebrating!

Merry Christmas 2015!

Thanksgiving 2015

I am embarrassingly behind on blogging! The holidays were crazy (but so fun!) and before I knew it here we are almost halfway through January. Between the holidays, preparing for baby girl's arrival in a few months, plus keeping up with our ever-busy toddler, there just isn't much time for blogging. Still, I did want to share our holiday adventures (mostly in photos).

First, we celebrated Thanksgiving/Christmas with the Brown's in Peachtree City, GA. It was our first time visiting Bill, Gisele and Miri in their new city and home. We loved Peachtree and can't wait to visit again soon! Here's some photos (a few are from my sis-in-law Steph because I lost my camera charger) from our wonderful week there!

On our way to GA!

Playing with GiGi at Chick Fil A

Riding on the golf cart (Josh's favorite thing!)

Playing at Shenanigan's

Christmas Lights going up!

Talking basketball strategy with Pop Pop

We got a fabulous date night while we were there!

Documenting 21 weeks with Lylah Jo :)

Seeing a Christmas musical with Gisele and Miri

Sweet cousin Winnie

They love playing with Miri!

The Brown kiddos

The other Brown kiddos :)

All the Brown girls

And the Brown boys

Impromptu trip to the fire station

Celebrating Jon's 30th birthday with a Star Wars party!

Watching the ducks at the pond

He would play outside all day if he could!

I love this picture of Josh and Miri!

Sweet siblings

A sweet moment of friendship

Happy Thanksgiving!

Coming up...Christmas 2015 recap and a 3rd trimester baby update!

Lady Lylah

Well, it's official! We are having a GIRL! We are all beyond thrilled and can't wait to welcome our sweet little princess. Jon and I both suspected it was a girl pretty much my entire pregnancy so far, and Josh even answered "girl" every time I asked him what the baby would be, but I had really prepared myself for it to be a boy (which would've been GREAT too!) I cried when the technician confirmed our suspicions that we were indeed looking at our little girl on the screen! We are still trying to wrap our heads around the news!

God's timing in this pregnancy has really blown us away. We found out we were pregnant at the end of one of the saddest weeks I've experienced in a while. My grandma, Mom Jo, had just passed away suddenly and although we were at peace knowing she was with Jesus, it was still very difficult. I had always been extremely close with her and the thought of her no longer being with us was hard to imagine. When I found out we were pregnant the day after her funeral, I immediately thought of how happy she would be, especially if this baby turned out to be a girl. We had always talked with Mom Jo about naming her Lylah, after Mom Jo's mother. I thought the name was beautiful, feminine and different without being over-the-top trendy. I love that Mom Jo knew that was always our plan for our first girl. A few months before Mom Jo passed, we decided that if and when we got our Lylah girl, that her middle name would be Jo. Mom Jo was absolutely thrilled when we told her and I am so grateful that we got to share that with her before she died.

Even though we would have been so happy with another boy, this baby girl is really a special gift from the Lord in light of Mom Jo passing. What was a terribly hard and sad time for everyone became a little brighter with the news of this little one. I wish Mom Jo could be here to meet her and love on her. Lylah Jo means: The Lord adds or increases. It is such a great reminder that the Lord gives, and takes away. We lost a wonderful woman and a cornerstone of our family, but I know every time I look at our Lylah Jo, I will think of my sweet Mom Jo's smile and southern drawl, and I am grateful.

Here's a little update on our girl and mommy too:

Our sweet girl at 18 weeks 3 days

We were able to see everything we needed on the ultrasound, including a VERY clear confirmation that she is indeed, a girl :) We saw all 4 heart chambers beating (the technician said she had a beautiful heart!), we saw her kidneys, brain, spine (also said to be beautiful!), and all her fingers and toes. She opened her mouth and got the hiccups at one point...so sweet! All of her measurements were right on track, and she's even slightly chubby at this point (a relief for mommy who was so sick and hasn't been able to gain too much weight). She's about as perfect as she can be and we are so grateful and thrilled! Also great news was that my hematoma, which caused me to experience bleeding at 10 weeks and be put on bedrest and restricted activity, is completely gone! Such a huge answer to our prayers! Also great news is that so far, my blood pressure and vitals have all been normal (I was already having high blood pressure with Josh at this point) so I am so grateful!

Can't wait to put cute little shoes on those feet!

A 4D image of her with her little hand over her face...just like big brother!

Mommy is feeling pretty good these days. I'm having a lot more "pains" than I remember with Josh, but nothing alarming. Mostly round ligament stuff and stretching. I'm over the nausea/sickness (can I get an AMEN!) and now that I know my hematoma is healed, I can begin to be more active again. It's been really hard for me to be somewhat stationary, especially trying to entertain and care for Josh. I'm glad I took the time to rest, but am so grateful things can be a bit more "normal" now. Here's a picture of Lylah and Mommy at 21 weeks!

How far along: 21 weeks...officially halfway there!
Total weight gain/loss: + 7.5 pounds 
Maternity clothes: Mostly just maternity pants and my regular tops still with tanks underneath. Also at home when we don't have anywhere to be I live in yoga pants and t-shirts
Stretch marks: None. 
Sleep: I'm usually waking up around 3-4 am to go to the bathroom and usually have to eat a little something then too. Sometimes I'm able to get back to sleep but other times I turn on a show and doze in and out.
Best moment this week: Getting to see our little GIRL!
Miss anything: I've missed being active with Josh. I'm grateful we can start up again!
Movement: I'm definitely feeling lots of movement! Her jabs and kicks are finally strong enough to feel on the outside sometimes
Food cravings: Grapefruit, strawberries, breakfast potatoes and cinnamon rolls. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: I have to eat as soon as I start to get hungry. Also vegetables aren't really tasting good except for the occasional salad. 
Have you started to show yet: Yep! I popped out a lot sooner this time around. I'm just embracing the belly :)
Gender: Girlie Girl!
Labor Signs: None 
Symptoms: Round ligament pain, some hip pain and the beginnings of heartburn
Belly button in or out: In
Wedding rings on or off: On
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy mostly. I get frustrated easily and lose patience with Josh much more quickly. I'm working on it :)
Looking forward to: The Christmas season and getting our house ready for another little one!