Ben's New Partner in Crime...

It's a BOY!!!! Here's the money shot to prove it! :)


Our sweet little guy - profile shot


Little foot


Boo! Looking a little scary here but that's his face, mouth wide open! It also looks like his eyes are open but they are actually sealed shut at this point, the skin is just so thin you can see through it. I'm sure he'll be cuter when he comes out! LOL!

Our ultrasound today went really great. It was a lot longer than Ben's and we got to see a whole lot. My favorite part was seeing the baby move around and open and close his mouth. We saw the 4 chambers of the heart, his stomach, kidneys, diaphragm, palate, spine and all important parts of his brain. Everything looked perfect and healthy according to the technician. He's weighing approximately 8 oz and my original due matched up great with his current measurements.
I'm am really excited for Ben to have a brother. They will be such good friends!!! Plus I get to use all Ben's clothes again and I don't need a single thing except diapers! :) Now we just have to pick a name...but don't ask because just like Ben we won't reveal it until this one is born!
What a great birthday present for Brent to find out he is going to have another son! Double trouble!!! :)

Walking!!!

Yesterday I went to take a shower and Brent was hanging out with Ben. When I got out Brent told me Ben was walking pretty good and to come see. Before this he had taken maybe about 7 steps in a row at a time. Well as you can see if you watch the videos he was cruising all over the place! Like as if he'd been walking all along! Today he hasn't walked much but I'm sure in the next few days he'll get more confidence to do it himself. So exciting! He just looks so funny to me walking on his own... :)

Updates

When it's 10 below zero you get beautiful sunrises like this!


Taking a ride on Papa's shoulders


The belly at 17 weeks


Just to prove that Ben really does have some hair!

Well what can I say for the past week or so other than it's been REALLY cold!!! I'm pretty used to the cold winters now but it has been so cold lately. We are talking highs of zero or negative 5. Yuck. Ben and I haven't been outside to do anything but run from the car to what ever place we had to stop at. This morning it is negative 15. Brrrr! The most misleading part about the cold is that it's perfectly clear out and seems like it could be a nice day! But then you look down at the window and see that it's frosted over on the edges on the INSIDE and remember how cold out it is! Needless to say this has given me another reason to be super psyched for our trip to Colorado. I am planning on doing a lot of walking outside!
On another happier note Ben has started taking some steps! The past few days we have been able to get him to walk between Brent and I - yesterday he did at least 7 steps! He also started saying Mama on Christmas - Yay! Not to me particularly but at least he's saying it!
The belly is growing well - I will be 18 weeks tomorrow. I have a checkup with the midwife on Monday and then Friday is the big gender ultrasound!!! I'm very excited to find out what we are having. I only hope the baby cooperates! So stay tuned for the big news!

Merry Christmas!

Ben likes the throw the plastic balls that came with his new pelican toy under the buffet...


Chillin in his new chair from Granma and Granpa in CO... all he needs is a beer and the remote!


Playing at Grandma Debbie's on Christmas night


The Family


Ben and his cousin Landon


Ben's new fire truck from Auntie Rosie - he loves it!


Opening presents Christmas morning


Eating his new blocks


We set up all the presents under the tree on Christmas Eve after Ben went to bed. He was excited to see them when he came down the next morning!

It's a good thing Ben has Granma...

Because he sure didn't like Santa this year!!!


Not even sitting with his cousin Landon...


Or his friend Mallory!

What you don't see is me sitting just outside of Ben's reach feeling like a bad mother as I let my child scream bloody murder just to get some Santa shots... but hey, we waited in line for like a half hour!

Who needs Santa...

When I've got Granma!!!

Granma Cathie gave Ben thi shirt and he looks so cute in it! Plus it really is true... :)

Random Baby note: I have started feeling kicks! This is my favorite part of pregnancy. The kicks aren't consistent but I know from obvious past experience that they will only get stronger.

Sledding!

Brent pulling Ben in his "Infant Boggen"


He loves his sled!

This past weekend we took Ben in his sled down the street. It was nice going down but windy and very cold coming back up so Brent, like a good Papa, carried him so his face wouldn't be so cold. :)

Ready for Christmas!

Ben in a pair of his Christmas pj's "reading" Frosty the Snowman

Ben loves to sit and pull all his books out of the container that they are in. He is fascinated with his new Christmas ones... they are actually from last year but he was only a little squirt then and doesn't remember them! We are hopefully putting our tree up tonight or tomorrow and I know he'll just love the lights!

Baby Update: For those of you who don't know the specifics I am due June 8th. We have an ultrasound appointment January 9th (Brent's birthday!) to find out if it's a boy or girl. Perfect timing for my trip out to Colorado and some great shopping just in case it's a girl!!! But we will be happy either way... it would be really fun for Ben to have a brother so close in age too!
I have been feeling pretty good - just tired off and on, usually falling asleep on the couch around 9pm. My belly is getting pretty big and I actually had to buy maternity jeans because the one's from Ben are too big. I love the comfy waist bands on the jeans and wish all jeans were made like that! LOL! :)

1st belly picture...

Brent and I went to Alyeska Resort for his work Christmas party. We stayed overnight... without Ben! It was my first time being away from him at night. I was pretty anxious when we left but I knew he was in good hands with Karmen and Debbie. Ben did great and I didn't do so bad either! The party was fun - more fun than the usual work party - it was Hawaiian themed to which Brent loved because that meant he didn't have to dress up!


14 weeks...
Yikes! They say with your second your belly grows a lot faster. I guess I really proved that theory true! I think my belly has really popped out in the last week or so because I didn't think I was that big until I saw this picture of myself.

The shirt says it all...

Yup! :)