We are having a BOY!

As most of you know the Kenner family is expecting another little boy this Oct! We are thrilled & now we are busy trying to nail down a name for the little one. I've decided I DEFINITELY need to see this little man in person before I can name him, and Chris agrees. Because the 1st trimester went so quickly I'm still in a little bit of shock that I will be half-way done with this pregnancy at the end of May! Crazy..though it has gone by fast it has not lacked with the intensity of pregnancy symptoms I've been feeling. I have been basically spewing my guts everyday since mid February and it hasn't eased up as of yet. Along with the many uncomfortable side effects pregnancy brings I've been exhausted. This could be because of watching my two year old all day along with my friends 9 month old baby, but honestly I'd attribute most of it to being pregnant. I have begun exercising again, which I think will really help with my mood and the constant exhaustion I've been feeling. I figured using the excuse of "I'll start exercising again when I stop throwing up" might never happen if it never stops lol. 

Something amazing. I can feel the baby move already =) I felt the first flutters or sort of "popcorn popping" sensation at 13 weeks and now at 15 weeks I can feel actually nudges and kicks. This definitely helps me to feel closer to the baby and makes everything that much more real. My doctor informed me that my uterus is very forward and up front, which probably helps with me feeling the baby so easily, it also makes it very apparent physically that my bump is not just a hamburger still digesting. This little boy is already VERY active. I usually feel the best movements when I'm laying down just after lots of housework or walking. This happens especially late at night when I've finally gotten comfortable and about to dose off, little stinker. 

I'm really falling in love with the little boy growing in my belly. On Saturday I attended my brother-in-law's wedding ceremony in the Draper UT Temple. I was just bawling. I had barely made it back to the sealing room after having to excuse myself to (once again) spew my breakfast in the bathroom. I'm so grateful I was there. The things they say during such a sacred ceremony touch people in different ways. For me it wasn't just that my brother had chosen someone to spend eternity with and that they were now starting a new life together, just the two of them. But that I too, nearly 5 years ago began this journey with my sweetheart Christopher and feel proud of the life we have created with each other. I lean heavily on him, and I know he does me as well. We have family values that were established within our faith that we believe and live by, but have also set our own set of values within our small family of three (almost four!) I'm just so excited to welcome this little boy into our family in just 5 1/2 months! He is already so loved and wanted, can't wait to meet him!

Sorry I took the pictures with my laptop, so they are backwards.

Love this one :) you can see his little face!

Jack Turns 2!

Our little boy turned 2 today! I just can't believe it! I almost feel as if his 2nd year in life went TWICE as fast as his first did. We have had such a fun year watching Jack grow in leaps and bounds. Jack is talking up a storm and is so smart! He is already putting together 5-6 word sentences, and can tell us exactly what he needs and wants. It's so nice being able to understand Jack, he used to get so frustrated when he could explain what he was trying to say. Jack has such a tender heart too, he is always giving Chris and I, his toys, his kitties, the puppy, & his favorite people random bouts of hugs and kisses. The other day I was getting ready for church and concentrating on applying my eye make-up. Jack came into the room and grabbed onto my legs and hugged them. I looked down at him as he was looking up at me, he then said, "Mamma pretty." I about melted into a million pieces, he says sweet things like that all the time.

 BUT he's also a mimic, the other day I caught him saying a 4 letter word that started with and S...my fault. I've definitely been careful since, today he saved "Eat me up!" after I got him all dressed and ready for his pictures. Today he also told my grandma, "Nanny go inside" because he was having fun going out the doggy door and he wanted to continue being naughty without her correction. He really says the funniest things! I've been trying to write them down more often and I've started a journal about all the little things that make my life so great. MOST of them are about him :)

At Jack's 2 year check-up he weighed 30lbs 10oz, which is the 80th percentile & he is 34 1/2 inches tall, which is the 54th percentile. He loves his pediatrician Doctor Brasher and he giggled and played with him during the appt. Chris and I love seeing such a nice man care for our little boys health,  he told us how excited he is to help us with our baby on the way and he even gave Jack a new book for his birthday :) What a great-great man! 

Chris took off a few days to help me complete some projects over the weekend and we were able to renovate and decorate Jack's room into a big boy room to share with the baby. It turned out really cute and we were both very proud of our efforts.  Sunday we had a family birthday party at my auntie Tina's house to celebrate Jack AND Uncle Brett's birthday's it was fun they really showed him the love that night! We had a busier weekend than expected, but we got everything we needed done, once Tuesday rolled around I felt I could finally give a sigh of relief! 

For Jack's actual birthDAY we had an early morning picture appt. He did fabulous and we captured many of his amazing smile. While we waited for the pictures to get edited we took Jack to breakfast at McDonald's, I got a cute picture with him and his daddy and I can't believe how much of a spitting image he is of him! Chris even took Jack inside IFA when he got some fertilizer to show Jack the baby chicks, Jack sure got a kick out of that! 

After Jack's Doctor appt. we ended the day by taking my good friend and member of our ward some dinner because she's on bed rest to stop early labor, scary :/ Then we hopped on over to "nanny" & "papa cake's". Chris helped Grandma update her phone, while Jack played pick-a-boo in their coat closet. Grandpa took me to Culver's and he picked us all up a VERY yummy dinner and dessert. It was such a fun day & night! Here are some pictures of Jack's birthday week!

Before: Still Cute

 After: Big boy bed!

 The cake I made Jack out of fondant :)

Pianta time!

Jack and Uncle Brett's cakes

 Birthday Breakfast :)

 IFA 

 Jack's 2 year pictures:

Easter 2013

Easter is such an uplifting holiday & I've spent it at my Grandma Hughes' house nearly every year as a child & now Chris & I enjoy going as a married couple with our little Jack. Jack loves "nanny" & "papa cake" & would spend his entire life in their beautiful backyard if he could! Easter is a time to reflect on our savior and the gift of life he gave me, my family, and the whole world.

We started out our weekend with the free egg hunt at Taylorsville City Hall, we took my mom's cousin Adrian, who was in town, and her family. It lasted like 5 seconds, but it was FREE and jack was laughing so hard the whole time. We then decided to go to This Is The Place and show Jack the baby animals. He was in HEAVEN! We had SO much fun, it is quite the cute place to take your little ones. We got to ride two trains, pan for gold, make a craft, ride some ponies, eat fresh made donuts, & hold the cutest baby farm animals! Definitely worth the trip!

Ready for the egg hunt!

Jack and Morgan

This Is The Place:

Sunday Easter Morning:

Our little family had SUCH a fun morning sharing the tradition of egg hunting with Jack. He thought it was so neat finding all the eggs in our living room and throwing them in his bucket. We then got dressed in our Sunday best and went to our church for the wonderful Easter program they prepared. The little children (primary) in our ward sang a few very emotionally touching songs about the Savior, nothing brings me to tears faster than a bunch angelic little children singing about Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ. It was just beautiful.

Be parents is WAY too much fun!

Ready to hunt!

He was super exited :)

All ready for church!

Chris helped me make a VAT of potato salad for our little shin-dig at Grandma & Grandpa Hughes' house and we were able to help her set up for the party :) Chris got to hide the eggs for the first time and he was really excited and proud of his hiding skills! Jack found the "Magic" egg (with my help) and Grandma and Grandpa Hughes were all too generous with the AMAZING dinner they prepared as well as the gifts they gave their grandchildren. Everyone brought such yummy side-dishes, appetizers, & desserts! After dinner I gathered everyone outside and read them a poem I found and had prepared to share. I painted a little picture of the apple blossoms referred to in the poem and everyone was so kind to sit reverently and listen.

"Jelly Beans taste good for Easter,

They are blue, green, red, and pink.


What's important at Easter time?


I'll give you time to think.



Easter is a time for chocolate.

Chocolate eggs and bunnies too.


Easter Sunday is more important.

 It's about a story that's really true.





Sure the Easter Bunny's great,
at Easter time, it's true.


But what else is there at Easter,That's more important to you?



What is the most important thing about Easter?


I'll give you a clue.


These apple blossoms that come each spring,
Are all fragrant and new,
They show there is still life,
In this apple tree.


It was just sleeping for winter.
It's alive as you can see.


A long time ago,
When Jesus lived on earth,
He had a great mission.
It started with His birth.
He taught about the good things of life,
How each of us should live.
How we should love one another.
How we should share and give.
There were some who would not understand,
The words that He said.
They hated Him and feared Him,
And rejoiced when He was dead.
He died...yet He lives.
That's the joyful message Easter brings.
We'll all live after death....
Just as these trees live every Spring!"

Afterwards my sweet cousin Sage shared the talk she had given in sacrament meeting about the Savior. She explained how happy it makes her that our church focuses on how the Savior LIVED more than on how he died. She really did a wonderful job and she is an amazing young lady. 

We had fun on the swing set, chatting, and the boys had WAY too much fun playing a game of baseball and hitting the ball over the fence (& then climbing OVER the fence to get it). You should see Chris' knee, he is DEFINITELY one of the little boys. Mason said I was the best pitcher, I was pretty excited about that and I was surprised at how good my dad is at batting! We even stood still long enough to get a big family picture! I was so sad not to have the Harrison family with us, as well as everyone else was, but it's so wonderful to know families are forever and that we have a Heavenly Father and Savior who loves us all. It was a WONDERFUL Easter full of love, fun traditions, and family :) 

 

Grandpa Great and Mason chillin

 My cute cousins Sage and Morgan

The Vat :)

Eating his "Jack" cookie made and personalized by Sage and auntie Tina

The whole fam, minus the Harrison's, best family ever!

Jack cuddling with Grandpa Great, "Papa Cake".

Tina reading Jack his new book from Auntie Mindy, Brett did awesome sound effects :)