What we've been up to...

We are half way through the extension! Hooray! Which means we have 3 weeks left until we FINALLY get to go back home and have our daddy back!! I cannot even begin to explain how much I cannot wait for that! Brooklynn is even starting to get restless and anxious for less boredom! We do what we can but we are still limited in our temporary living situation! Good news is we get to break up these next three weeks with a trip to Northern California this weekend for my Aunt Robynn's wedding! We are sad that Paul cannot come with us, but we are so excited to go and see my family. Once we get back, we'll only have a week and a half, which I am sure will be consumed with packing up to go home! Yipee! This is the only time I am actually EXCITED to pack.

So recently we were able to spend some time with our friends Gabe and Holly and their baby girl Reagan...that was fun! We've also made a few trips to Galveston and Paul actually got to surf during one visit...he was so happy! He said it was the best day he had all summer! He totally deserved it!

I have been trying my best to keep Brooklynn entertained...taking her to indoor parks, playing with her ball, reading books, watching Barney, cooking, hanging with friends...whatever we can think of! Each day is different! But we are both so excited when daddy walks through the door at night! As for myself I am almost done reading Eclipse, the third book in the Twilight series, I watched the first and second season of Alias, have been cooking, and all the regular wifey and mother duties! I rearranged our living area for a change...I was that desperate...I made some onesies for my BFF's baby boy, and have been doing odds and ends little things like cleaning the fridge, etc...what can I say people...BORED!!!

Baby girl #2 seems to be more active in my belly than I remember Brooklynn being...in fact last night she kept me up for some time moving around like a gymnist! I have contractions on a daily basis and can literally feel when my belly is growing! Paul and I still have not decided on a name, haven't really even talked about it much, which is weird because by this time with Brooklynn we had her name picked out! That seems like the trend with us these days...just trying to make it through this summer and extension and not really make any plans or decisions until we get home! There will be lots to do and many decisions to make once we get home though! I'm actually really looking forward to it!

Brooklynn has been cutting her last two bottom teeth recently, which has increased the whinyness...joy! But she has also been saying "I love you" finally...which I love! She can be quite entertaining when she wants to be..it's really cute! She has her moments for sure though!

All and all we are surviving! We are almost done and cannot be more thrilled! Recently I have been feeling extremely blessed and just so grateful for my family and all that we have! We are healthy and happy!

Brooklynn's new favorite item..."Monkey". He goes everywhere with us!

Natural smile...yay!

I guess she didn't want to listen to me anymore...

Little attitude

Just hanging out...watching Barney I'm sure...snacking on her new favorite snack...ice!

In desperate need of a diaper change...saggy britches...and a daddy with a bad sunburn!

Doing whatever daddy does!

She is going to be such a good big sister...she rocked baby Reagan the entire time we waited for our table...sooooo cute!

Loves her floaty from Grandma!

Being reverent...

Mommy....please NO MORE pictures!

Gotta love the gap-spaced teeth!

Cheese ball

What do we have here...lucky charms....but she only ate the marshmallows...what a silly girl!

Turned my head for two seconds and she drew a pretty picture on her ARM!

Cheesy grin...just like her daddy!

Ah...so sweet!

Mr. Quinn in the mud!

Getting dirty...

Mmmm...she loved daddy's smoothie...look at her cheeks...sucking so hard!

Playing with her friends...Roman and Tatum...who have since gone back home to California!

It took everything in me to allow her to get dirty...I still probably rinsed her off every 10 minutes..

Love her so much!

We finally know...It's A....

GIRL!!

After a fourth ultrasound, we finally have 100% confirmation that Brooklynn is going to have a little SISTER!

I was in shock, I think I have since recovered, but I was convinced this baby was a boy! Now that I know it is indeed a girl however, all signs point to girl... I am carrying the same as I did with Brooklynn and everything about this pregnancy has so far mirrored my first with B. And apparently Brooklynn has known all along that she was having a baby sister, not a baby brother! Whenever she would talk to the baby in mommy's tummy she would say "sister"...I assumed it was because whenever we talked about the baby we would tell her she is going to be a BIG SISTER... but when I would ask her if it was a brother she would say no...

Anyways, at the ultrasound yesterday, right after the tech confirmed it was a girl, Brooklynn pointed to the monitor where we could see the baby and she said, "Baby sister!" It was the cutest thing, the tech couldn't believe it and neither could Paul and I! The timing was perfect!

While Paul and I would be happy with either gender, Paul is beyond thrilled to have two little girls! You should have seen his face! And I think it will be much easier for the two of us to agree on a girls name rather than a boys...we could not find a boy name we loved for the life of us! Girl names however come much easier...the trick is to agree on it! (But let me let you in on a little secret....I guarantee that after nine months of pregnancy..3 of those months being miserable sick...10+ hours of labor, and pushing a baby out...my Paul will agree on whatever name I love!) But I promise I wouldn't pick a name that he didn't like!

So now that we know this baby's gender the planning can officially begin...I'm sure what Paul is most thrilled about is that we have all girl things and my shopping will be limited! I'm fine with that, I can alter my budgeting now and have more money to decorate other rooms in our new house! Oh but we are so excited to have two little girls...matching outfits every once in awhile...and of course daddy's little girls! (He has already seen dollar signs for weddings in the future..haha)

Based on all the ultrasound measurements, they were saying due date of January 6th..only a day off of the original January 7th due date...BUT we plan and hope to have this baby no later than the 29th of December for insurance and tax purposes...want to be in and out of the hospital before the new year! Brooklynn was 8 days early so I don't think its much of a stretch...but we shall see! It's gonna be here before I know it (at least once this blasted summer and extension are finally over!!)

My baby...growing up!

I couldn't just pick one picture cause I love them all...so you get them all.

Our little Brooklynn all ready for church yesterday and she looked so grown up. Makes me a little sad, but I guess she is about to be a "Big Sister" and growing up comes with the territory!

She is beginning all the "typicals" of her age...a little sassiness (have no idea where that comes from), whining when she doesn't get what she wants, super independent, helpful, the works...

Along with her growing up, mommy and daddy finally eliminated her Binky! Yes I know, about time! She only had one left, which was her favorite, and it had been through the works! The nipple had torn half way off and when Paul went to put her to bed the other night he said, "Ashley, do you know what is going to happen? She is going to suck this completely off in the middle of the night and choke herself and we are going to wake up to a blue baby!" A little morbid, I know...but it scared me enough to get up right then, get the scissors, and cut the Binky! Brooklynn threw it in the trash herself and we said "All Gone!" She was fine with it at first, but then we put her to bed.... She was crying and saying "A Binky! A Binky!" After about 30 minutes of this I went and got her and snuggled with her in our bed til she fell asleep....I was a little nervous the next day for naps and bed thinking she would have more meltdowns...surprisingly the first night was also the last night! She has been fine ever since! She will still ask for it but I'll say "Brooklynn where is your Binky?" And she will respond..."Trash!" Yep...it's ALL GONE! Hooray! I had no idea it would be that easy..And although Paul's thought was scary I am grateful for it!

Oh my...can't imagine how grown up she will look this time next year!

MMmm...

For the past four years I have had the pleasure of looking at this sexy man day and night! He hates that he looses so much weight in the summer, but I think he still looks UNBELIEVABLE! Oh how I love him, even when he pushes my buttons...like at this very moment!

22 Weeks

For the most part, now that I have been over the sickness of my pregnancy, time is actually starting to fly! It's hard to be believe that within 4 more months we will be a family of four!

Recent cravings include vanilla yogurt with fresh cut strawberries and granola, and french fries at least once a week! Starting to pick up my ice fetish again too!

The belly is starting to inhibit my comfy nights sleep, the arch in my back, and bending over the tub to give Brooklynn a bath. Paul steps in often to help me out...we tag team it!

Baby moves a lot and has hiccups all the time...just like Brooklynn did in the womb (we saw that over and over on the ultrasound yesterday...so cute)! Pelvic bones are sore constantly...especially at night when I have been laying down and then must get up to use the restroom...which surprisingly has only been about once a night- two times max!

Complaints are actually at a minimum cause this part of my pregnancies are the most enjoyable. I did try to workout the other day at the gym and felt sick for the rest of the day, so needless to say I have yet to return. However I do intend to do my own at-home little workouts!

It's weird to think I have less time to go than has already passed! Cannot wait...

So many things to look forward to...the extension has officially started, which means we are 5.5 weeks away from being done! Hallelujah!!