The littlest one

We had our first doctor's appointment this week. The fun part was seeing our little blueberry-sized baby on the ultrasound as part of the confirmation of the pregnancy. And as a bonus, we saw the heartbeat, which is always a good sign this early along.

We brought home this picture and showed it to Dylan, who immediately sat down with it and wouldn't let it go. Being two means he doesn't understand the fullness of what is going on, but he does get excited when we talk about the baby in mommy's tummy. Of course, with all my friends with new babies recently (3 so far, with another one due in two weeks!), he just might understand more than I realize.

One thing is for certain, I'm glad Dylan is making progress with his potty-training. He's consistently been using his potty chair at least 2-3 times a day (still with cues from mommy and daddy, but we are very proud of the progress)!
Who knows, maybe by the time baby #2 arrives, we'll be down to just one in diapers! I can hope now, can't I?

What Dylan is into lately...

Cars, of course.

He carries them around all day, places them carefully in the center of the table so he can see them during dinnertime, and clutches them as he falls asleep in bed at night (along with his 'night-night' and 'turtle'). He's a little boy, isn't he?

Drumroll

The past couple weeks we've been alright despite our lack of posts here on the blog. But we are back... and with news to share.

We are pregnant.

Yuppers. We had thought we'd wait to share the news with the world for a few more months, but as the morning sickness hit earlier than even before (last time around landing my tail in the hospital with hyperemesis for 4 days as soon as I rounded the 7 week mark), we decided we couldn't really hold it in any longer. So with the Thanksgiving holiday and recent travels to see family, we shared our news and now are excited to now share it here. So keep us in your prayers. All FOUR of us now!

I know the nausea is a sign of a healthy pregnancy and blah blah blah. But it still is nausea. And if you know me at all, you know how I dread nausea, especially the all-day kind. But I'm thankful for good friends and loving family. It's good to have that. And with the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm thankful for that more than ever.

Dylan gets excited when we talk about it, trying to wrap his little mind around the news himself, sharing it with others, proclaiming shyly: mommy. baby. tummy.
And there you have it.

p.s. Our friend, in knowing how I currently feel about food and just getting home from traveling this week, brought us some food for the next couple of days when we got home tonight. She's a good, good friend. We are blessed. So blessed.

Rancho Bernardo Fire

Here are some pictures that Ryan took last weekend during our stay down in San Diego. These were all taken from his Aunt Nancy's street. The camera doesn't convey the ashy smell in the air, nor the strange view through the neighborhood, looking through to the next street where houses and landscaping once stood.
We are so thankful that her house is still standing. She had some roof damage, which will need to be fixed. And the last picture (below) shows the burnt bushes to the left of her driveway, which is a clear reminder how close the fires were to her home (burning through at 70 miles an hour per the firemen!)
It's truly a miracle that her house didn't burn down with the rest of her neighbor's homes.

Zoo

At the San Diego Zoo this past week (which I HIGHLY recommend!)
We walked for hours and got a good workout - especially with a 30-pound toddler on my back!

The hippos were a big hit with Dylan!
Dylan and Grandma ("Nand-ma") by the elephants eating at the end of the day.

Halloween

Grandma got him dressed up in Ryan's old clown costume from his toddler days as we finished up carving the pumpkin the night before.

Getting all lion-ed up for trick-o-treating time with mommy and daddy in the neighborhood. Grandma had some experience making a good lion face with makeup, so she was nominated to do the job (and did a good one at that!)


The little lion feeling coy with his costume on!


Coming down the stairs, pausing to giggle through the stair railings at daddy and mommy!
Heading out for some candy. He only had the energy for about 10 houses, but did pretty well.

And please note that this little man said his trick-or-treat line as "keepa feet" this year. But he sure had his little roar and thank you's down, making his mama proud!