Sewing Projects: the new adventure

I bought a sewing machine months ago and I have rarely used it since. Until recently! I decided that I wanted to cultivate new talents and hobbies and sewing was going to be one. So far I have made window curtains, pillow cases and a skirt. The skirt ended up big so I gave it to a friend. My friend Melissa Lowe and I are going to be making some maxi skirts soon for pregnancy. I am so excited to make something that I get to wear all the time!

It's pretty fun figuring out how to get the projects done. My mom is amazingly talented with sewing and making her own patterns. If I can be half as good as she is some day then I will be happy. I love all the quilts, dresses, skirts and other things she as made for me growing up and now. I hope to be able to give that to my children someday.

Abigail Olivia Howell

We found at the gender and as y can tell from the adorably girly name its a girl! We are all so excited! We had the ultrasound on Aug 14th but we wanted to do a fun gender reveal. I had the idea to dye my hair the color of the gender and Amanda made it even more fun by suggesting keeping it a secret to even Sean and I and all of us finding out at the same time. The only issue with that was Andraya, my amazing hairstylist was out of town the 14th to the 20th. So for an entire week the only one who knew the gender besides the tech was Amanda! She was great at keeping it a secret too. 

The ultrasound :

We went to Precious Predictions. She is a client of my midwife as well as a very awesome ultrasound tech. She does the ultrasound in her own home. It was so beautiful and comfortable. Noah loved that he could see his baby on the big screen tv. I will never have an ultrasound any other place. She was so amazing. She could tell right away the gender. She turned off the tv and had Amanda come to the computer screen while she wrote the gender. Sean said that he knew all along that it was a girl just by watching the ultrasound tech haha. I was thinking boy. I was wrong. 

The reveal :

Thursday the 21st I went to andrayas work and Amanda met me there. I held a towell over my eyes while Andraya did the process of dying, bleaching and dying my hair. I just love her. Then she out a hat on my head so I wouldn't see. At my parents house where mine and Sean's family were waiting I had Noah plull off the hat to reveal bright pink hair! Lots of cheers and smiles and Rebekah danced. Noah had said from the beginning that it was a sister. He was right! Can't wait to meet you sweet Abigail :) 

P.s. Read the bible story about Abigail. Its a good one. 

2nd Trimester!

I'm in the second trimester already!? This is going pretty quickly. Baby is about 3 inches now (about the size of a peapod) Fingerprints have formed on baby's tiny fingertips. Ive out grown one pair of prepregnancy pants already but most of my low sitting jeans still fit. Morning sickness left me for awhile but turns out it was a sick joke my body played on me. It has returned this week which is rude. I have an ultrasound tomorrow! Can't wait to see this little one :)

Baby Howell Heartbeat

I had my 12 week appointment with my midwife Stephanie. Its so different than it was with an OB and I love it! I loved Dr Hazzelrigg , he was a great care provider but the feel of the appointment is different when its with someone you consider a friend too. She and her student midwife talked with me for an hour. It was so refreshing to spend more time with the care provider rather than in the waiting room. She did the usual blood pressure and pulse and weight and all that. I've lost a pound since my 8 week appointment but that's to be expected with the throwing up i had been doing. I'm happy to report that the morning sickness is down to only once a day now!

Then we got to hear the heartbeat! That sound has got to be the most amazing sound a women can hear. The healthy heartbeat of her growing child. Amazing I say! Stephanie then gave me a little replica doll of the actual size a 12 week gestational baby is. Its so tiny and cute! I took it home and showed Noah Calli and Rebekah and they got so excited. Noah hugged it and said he would put it down for its nap. Bekah tried to eat it haha.

Preggie Update

I have been so bad at keeping up with blogging about this pregnancy. Today I'm 11 weeks! This pregnancy has been kind of different than the last two. I'm not as nauseous but I'm so tired! I just want to nap all day but of course with two kids and one I baby sit, thats not an option. I started having horrible round ligament pain on my left side this week. Also its true what they say about the third child and being bigger. Must be the muscle memory. I have gained an inch on my chest and an inch on my belly. Haha I'm slightly nervous to see how big I get towards the end. 

I am loving having a midwife this time around. I've only had one appointment so far but it was great. We are doing a home birth this time around and I'm so excited to experience it and everything that comes with it. I loved my labors with Noah and Rebekah. They were so spiritual and I was able to do things the way I wanted but looking back at pictures I remember having some things I didn't want. I was able to have the natural labor and I had my family there with me. The things I didn't like looking back are : having to be on iv for fluids, given oxygen and also having to stay at the hospital for days after having the babies. 

I have an appointment with Steohaine my midwife next week and an ultrasound in 2 weeks. Can't wait to hear the heartbeat! 

Here are some instagrams from the last few weeks. 

Anniversary Getaway!

I think every couple with kids needs to do this every once in a while. 

Sean and I have been married 4 years now. It has gone so quickly. I love him more and more every day :) Our anniversary was July 13th but we didn't do much since it was a Sunday. We did have a nice day with the kids and church was great. 

We decided it would be nice to get away and take sometime to be alone. My parents and sister Amanda were amazing and watched the kids for us while we stayed 2 nights in a hotel. We dropped Noah and Rebekah off at my parents house Wednesday (16th) at 4pm. Noah didn't even get upset when we left. He and Rebekah were so excited for a sleepover with grandma and grandpa. Cortney even spent the night as well. The following day they spent with grandma and then Amanda took them home with her for a sleepover Thursday night. From the pictures I saw on Facebook they had a blast! 

Sean and I had so much fun relaxing and spending time together. Wednesday night we ate at the hotel. Drurry Inn is the best hotel to stay at! They have so many extras for free! We especially love the giant jacuzzi tub! Then we went back to the hotel and watched lots of tv and relaxed. Thursday morning we had a delicious breakfast again provided by the hotel. We got to make out own waffles! We are easily excited by food especially when it's free. Later that morning we went to the musical instrument museum in Phoenix. I have been a few times but Sean had never been. I knew he would love it and of course he did. Music is a big part of his life. We spent 3 hours there and still didn't see everything. We will for sure be going back to experience it all. I love how we get to listen to the sounds and music the instruments from all around the world make. Music is truly the language of the soul. If you get the chance you should definitely check it out. 

We stopped at Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch and even stopped by Andreas work (she works half a mile from where we were staying )to say hi. Later in the evening after dinner we went to Scottsdale for the Art Walk they have every Thursday night. The art galleries open their doors to the public for free for viewing. We especially enjoyed the paintings done by Frank Balaam. He does amazing things. The gallery owner told us about him and his inspiration for the line he had just done. Apparently his family owns a very old Forrest and each painting was a shot from different areas of it. Also he comes from a line of artists. 

Friday morning we checked out at 11am and went to get our sweet babies from grandma. It was such a great time to recharge our parental batteries and get to be alone and remind ourselves why we love each other so much :) I'm such a lucky girl to have an amazing hubby and adorable sweet children. 

Late Father's Day

I forgot to post about our Father's Day. I bought Sean a giant card and on the inside traced Noah and Rebekah's foot and head and on the top wrote "I love you from my head down to my toes"  We made daddy a delicious lunch and went to my parents house that evening. It was a fun day. 

I love Sean. He is such a great daddy to these littles. They have the most fun with him. Every day when he comes home from work Noah and Rebekah run to the door to greet him and get picked up for loves. He works hard to provide for us and takes care of all our needs. Love you sweetie.