Who is this?

Nope not Belli....It's me! She might look like me after all! Lately, all I hear is that she looks so much like her "daddy." I beg to differ!

The big reveal!

A few months ago we decided to move again! We had been looking to buy a new house near my parents and hadn't found anything that really fit our needs. We had been renting for over a year and honestly our rent was more than our house payments so it was time to GO GO GO!

Anyway, Christian and I were out one weekend looking for neighborhoods and possible houses we were interested in. We saw this open house sign and the realtor's name was Claudia so we decided "wouldn't be funny if that was it." Well anyway, we followed the signs and there she was. Our diamond in the rough! the real rough!

The house was perfect (after some needed repairs that is). It was in the right neighborhood, at the end of a cul-da-sac, large yard, separated pool area, with a view of city lights (this was a hard one to find for Christian), and cheap (it needed LOTS and LOTS of love!).

Well the open house wasn't going on, but we took a "look around." I saw some serious potential! It was what we were looking for. I knew we could could transform this house. Christian seemed excited too (although fear was also setting in).

My dad was out of town so I didn't get the stamp of approval until her returned the following weekend. He went in and said..."Done, Done." In his world that means, "I'm in."

We closed escrows (with many bumps and bruises), and started the remodel. Remolding, moving, pregnant, etc was not fun, but we are in!

There is still a lot to do, but at least we are in, we have a kitchen, and Christian's beloved grass has started to grow!

I wanted to take a moment to thank my Daddy for all his hard work! He did an amazing job and we wouldn't have been able to buy our dream home...or at least live in it. Thank you daddy for everything you did. I know it wasn't easy, but you are amazing!

Also, thank Jim and Carole for all you did to help too!

I'm sure it goes without saying, but I wanted to make sure you all knew how much all of your participation allowed our family to build this new home together.


Here are some before and afters:

Front of House Before

Front of House After

Front Entry way (broken water line)

Front Entry After

Kitchen before

Kitchen After

Living Room/Fireplace Before

Living Room/Fireplace After

Belli's Room Before

Belli's Room After

Abby Cadabby!

Belli has been watching a lot of Sesame Street lately, and has found her second favorite person...running a close first to Elmo! Abby Cadabby!

My mom found a Abby Cadabby doll and brought it to Belli. She was so happy. Now she has to have her whabba, her elmo, her abby, and her baby when she goes to bed.

Geez!

She is soooooooo excited!

I love pig tails!

Finally! Her hair is long enough for 2 pig tails!!!

I just love ChapStick!

I love to color!

on anything but paper!!!

Belli and her "Big Girl Bed"

A few weeks ago now Christian and I were awakened by the sound of little feet running down the hall...we looked at each other completely confused because Belli was asleep in her crib???? Well, we were half right....she was at on point that night asleep in her crib. She had figured out a way of getting out of her crib at night and that was the end of that.

I went online to find out how other parents have managed to keep there toddlers in their cribs, and after reading about 2 stories off of Google, I was off to Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, etc. to find her a toddler bed. (Her crib is convertible but since Baby S is almost here whats the point).

Anyway, I finally found a cheapo bed at Walmart. I was afraid she wouldn't like it or use it so I was over spending a bunch of money. Anyway, we went to Walmart and Target and found what we needed. I took Belli to pick out her bedding. She really was torn between Elmo and Dora. Well thankfully she picked Elmo because it is her new obsession! Dora I am afraid is now third or forth to Elmo and Abby and even sometimes Barney.

7 months pregnant....and hurting

I haven't really been blogging lately and today it made me sad. I went back and read all about my pregnancy with Belli, how I was feeling, what I was doing day after day, and how I looked. It made me sad to think I haven't had a lot of time to document what I am feeling with my second baby.

Sometimes people even forget I am pregnant, sometimes I forget I'm pregnant. Anyway, I am 7 months pregnant and I am starting to struggle, well with everything. For some reason I am carrying this baby really low or what feels like really low. I have convinced myself that this baby may seriously fall out of me or I will go into early labor any minute. I have been having a ton of contractions which is why I went back to read all about my pregnancy with Belli. It doesn't seem like I was having as many with her. I can't even walk down the street without having a contraction.

I also started a new diet today. My doctor told me that I need to focus on proteins and stay away from white starches. So basically no more rice, ice cream. candy, etc. Ummmm....is that not one of the benefits of pregnancy. I first thought that maybe my doctor (some skinny 35 year old...no kidding, maybe 100 lbs soaking wet) had weight issues. She has told me a few different times that I am measuring a little large (about 2 weeks larger than I should be) and that this could be a really large baby. Of course, she also mentioned that I needed to watch my weight gain. What crossed my mind...."whatever, skinny %$#%" I know, terrible, I'm a little weight sensitive these days!! Anyway, I have already gained like 28 lbs with this baby....with Belli I had only gained like 17lbs. So, the doctor really isn't wrong. I am a little, okay, maybe a lot bigger than I can be. I just don't have the time I had with my first pregnancy. Working full time, taking care of Belli, making sure I still am a wife to Christian, leaves me with very little time for myself.

Anyway, I have been thinking about going on some type of diet, but it wasn't until this weekend that I realized that I just can't imagine gaining another pound, nor do I think my body can handle it. I woke up the other day and my lower back was DESTROYED! I couldn't move, walk, or lay down. It was awful. I think my body has hit a weight maximum.

So, today was a good diet day. I had my dessert....Jello. Yummy (not even close to my Fro Yo Brownie Explosion). Mind over matter.

I plan on taking some pictures in a few days (I haven't taken 1 picture yet and I am already 28 weeks pregnant!) Anyway, 9 more weeks to go.....OMG!