BIG Changes!

Oh, so much has happened since the last time I wrote, I’m not even sure where to begin!  One BIG change in the Kelly household is me, literally… I am now 24 weeks pregnant with baby girl #2!!!  We are both thrilled to begin this journey again and were so excited to find out that Elaine would have a sister so close in age.  I am due October 17, so based on that they will be 22 months apart.  Some people call it crazy, I think it’s perfect.  Still no name, but I will share once we decide.  Elaine Grace was named after two of her great grandmothers, so baby girl #2 has to have a name just as meaningful (or that’s how I feel anyway).  Pregnancy is absolutely different the second time around!  No time to lie around and be sick or tired, and thankfully I didn’t have much of that- although there are days that I’d love to come home and just lay on the couch.  A precious 18 month old has other plans in mind when I walk through the door… and for that, I am so thankful!  

We are still living in Danville and we’ve managed to make it feel like home for the last three months… however, we finally have an end in sight!  We have bought a home in Jessamine county that we are so excited about and are closing July 21st.  It has all of the major things we were hoping for, some things that will be a compromise, and something we weren’t expecting at all- a ginormous yard with a pool!  It is right on the county line, so we will still be very close to Lexington, walking distance to work, and still have the benefit of the schools I was wanting Elaine to be in.  It’s a house that we feel like we’ll live in for a long, long time.  One tiny thing… it hasn’t exactly been kept in the best condition and will need some love and work… to the tune of a month/month and a half’s worth.  If you are doing the math, July 21 (closing date)+1.5months (time to get it ready for move in)= Sept 1.  If you are wondering why this matters, refer back to the due date.  Basically we will have about 1.5 months from the time we can move in until baby’s due date!  Shewww-weee, makes me sweat a little to think about all the chaos excitement that will ensue when trying to unpack and very quickly get a nursery together.  It’ll be a lot of fun and I have a great partner to share it all with!  

So back to “little bit”- I know that I’ve said this a zillion times over the last almost 19 months- but this stage is so much fun!  I just love hearing her sweet, little voice and watching all of the funny things she does.  She does a role call in our house about 20 times a day… mama? dada? Baybay (Bailey)? Wayne (Elaine)?  We also go through body parts in the same way.  When you ask where something is, like her nose, she will show you, and then show you everybody else’s who happens to be in the house, including Bailey.  We’ve learned to be careful with the belly, because she doesn’t just want to point and show you where everybodys are, she wants to see belly buttons which involves her pulling up your shirt.  Cute when you are at home, not so much in public!  She has learned to kick her ball, which is so funny to watch and still loves to read.  Most nights we have to hide the books after we finish them or we end up re-reading them again and again.  She loves blueberries like her mama, playing outside, boons! (balloons) at Kroger, bubbles, and stacking lego blocks one by one, but only the square ones.  I think she’s finally getting over her infatuation with “boy”, the lego man that came in the set.  For a while he was what got her into the bathtub, kept her still for diaper changes, and content during Church.  He still gets a bath every night, but she doesn’t get near as excited to see “boy!”.  Onto the next thing, I guess.  She’s very good at following simple instructions too and especially enjoys throwing things in the garbage… hopefully it will last.  

We talk about baby sister, but try not to focus on where she is.  At this point, I don’t want her to be confused about baby and belly what the two are, however when you say something about baby sister, without prompting she comes to kiss my belly… melt-your-heart!  Our prayer is that she will adjust quickly to all the changes ahead and LOVE her new role as a big sister.  

If you are bored silly by now, refer back to my first post, I warned this would be lots of baby talk!

One other quick thing, my friend Jessica is getting married Sept. 17 in the mountains of North Carolina!  Our parents lived right behind one another when we were born, so we have “known” each other since birth and have remained friends all along the way.  I’m so excited that she has asked me to be part of her and Robert’s special day!  I’ve given baby strict instructions that she is not to share her birthday with J & R’s wedding day.  My OB said she would send us with a copy of my chart just to be sure, so no worries, right?!

Hope you are all enjoying this amazing summer weather and happy 4th of July!!!