Happy Valentine's!

Well it's been a while since my last post. Things are good here, not too much to report. The boys are great, Max is walking more and more which is a god sent for me!! Lifting him is getting harder and harder on my pregnant body!! :-) I'm really feeling it this timed around, for one I'm older and two I have 2 little ones at home to look after! Makes a difference!!! :-) All in all though I feel good, baby's growing and so am I!! :-) I'm also feeling a bit more stress than I probably should. For those of you who don't already know, my mom had another TIA (mini stroke) on Monday. She was at work thankfully when it happened and they got her to the hospital. She's fine now, but they are looking into what is causing these episodes. This is the 3rd in 5 years so something is going on in her body. I just hope they figure it out soon!! February is a rough month for us, with this being the 4th year since my Dad's passing. Please keep her and our family in your thoughts.

We haven't done much with Lola's nursery yet. Still need to move Max to his new room and get started on painting. I have been busy though ordering all this girly girl stuff! It's so much fun and I can't wait to get her room put all together!! It's going to be very Shabby Chic!

Last week we had our first snow storm, if you want to call it that. We got about 2 inches and Jackson could not wait to get out side and build a snowman. Well, needless to say we didn't get to build the snowman.....not good packing snow but we did snow angles and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery! This was Max's 1st experience with the snow and lets just say he's not a fan! A man after my own heart, he's all about the beach!! Forget the cold stuff!! :-) Then this past weekend it was 70 here and Zach and Jack went kayaking all day on the lake! Zach said Jackson didn't want to come home, he loves the water and just being out doors. He keeps asking when we are going back to the beach house! Like Father, like son I guess! I also got a couple pictures of the boys playing outside this week and Max on the Tractor, he's ready for his own!!

Jackson and Daddy also had Daddy night at school on Thursday. They did a special craft together and had an Ice Cream treat! Jackson was so excited to share the night with his dad! He even brought home a special letter he wrote about his daddy, made me cry! Friday was their Valentine's Party at School and Max and I helped out with the party! Hope all is well with everyone! I'll post more soon! :-)

Love you all :-)

24 weeks and counting......

So we are really getting excited about baby Lola's arrival. I have been busy picking out nursery decor for this little girl and man can it get a bit overwhelming!!! :-) There are so many beautiful things out there for little girls, it's crazy compared to what they have for boys! I finally picked out her crib bedding so now it's off to the paint store to find the perfect color for the walls. Here's a picture so you can get an idea of what we're doing, I love it! It's beautiful fabric and I love the light pink & green together! :-) In other baby news, I have gained about 14 lbs and she is moving so much more, Zach & Jackson have both been able to feel her kick. It's so different this time around too, the kicks are much softer compared to the boys! Hmmm...Wonder Why??!! :-) Jackson just loves to sit with me at night and keep his hand on my belly waiting for any movement, it's so cute! :-) He seems really excited about another baby coming, we shall see how that changes once she's here!!! :-)

As for Zach and the boys, they are all doing great! Zach just got another new Kayak and is in his glory! He took it out on the river this past weekend and said it's just awsome! Jackson seems to be doing great health wise. No transfusions since November and we meet with his specialists in February to talk about when we may do surgery. I am excited, but nervous about this as you can imagine. No one whats to see their little boy get wheeled into surgery but I know that in the end he wll feel sooooo much better and we all can get on with life, especially Jackson!! Max is walking a bit more everyday, we got his first few steps here on video so be sure to check that out. He is talking more and more too, points at everything and waves Hi and Bye-Bye to everyone! He's at that age too where he wants to know where mom is and sometimes crys when I leave. It makes me sad but also happy because the minute I get back he is all about mom!!! :-)

So I think that's about it for now, I'll keep you posted on how things are going as they progress! Miss my friends and family up there in MI, but know that I'm thinking of all of you and hoping you get some warm weather soon!! Hugs to you all! :-)

Daddy's Little Girl!!! :-)

Zach and I are so proud to announce that Jackson and Maximillion are going to be joined by a baby sister in May!! We are so excited and still in shock!! It's a girl, I really can't believe it!!!! Lola Grace Shea is due May 15th and she's perfect! Strong heartbeat, all 10 fingers and 10 toes! She was even talking to us during the ultrasound, so we already know she's allot like her mommy!!! Here are a few 1st pictures of little miss Lola! We have so much to do in the next couple of months, so time should pass pretty fast and before you know it she'll be joining our family!!! I still can't believe what a wonderful Anniversary gift this is!! We are so blessed!! :-)

Love you all!

Home Sweet Home!

Happy New Year Everyone! It's been a couple weeks since my last post! We had a wonderful holiday! The boys made out like champs this christmas so thank you to those who spoil them so generously!! :-) Jackson was really excited about Santa coming and he just loves Christmas! Max was more interested in all the paper and boxes of course!!! :-) We enjoyed a quite morning at home with Grandma Patty coming by to check ou all their gifts. Then we headed to her place later i the day for a family dinner! It was very nice as usual, then it was off to Bonita Beach!!!

Zach left Friday the 26th and drove down with all the luggage, pack'n'plays, toys, etc. The boys and I flew down on Saturday the 27th and let me tell you what a day that was! First of all we were delyed which meant we would miss our connecting flight, so a short trip turned into being stuck at the airport for 3 1/2 hours with 2 kids waiting for the plane to show up and then not knowing if once I got to Charlotte if they would have a plane for us to take to Ft. Myers! It was a gamble I was willing to take and it payed off! Once we landed in Charlotte we had about another 2 hours to wait until we took off for FL. All in all, we made it there,6 hours later than originally planned but hey we made it!!! Max has trouble with his ears so that was really the worst part about it! All I could do was give him motrin which I had and try, try to make him sip a sippy cup! He was so exhausted and over stimulated that nothing was working for him! By this time I couldn't blame him for screaming and crying, I wanted to scream and cry too!!! :-) Jackson is a born traveler! He's such a help and truely made the flight a lot easier for me! He's such a great kid!

So once we got to Bonita, the trip was geat!! 2 weeks of nothing but sunny skies and 78 degree days, perfect!!!! We were right on the beach, Mom O rented a nice place for all of us to stay and basically we had the whole lower level to ourseleves! The kids just loved it! Santa brought a Kayak for Zach and the boys so Zach took it out in the ocean everyday, and Jackson and Wyeth both went out for a rides! My husband also did some overnight jaunts as well! Yes, that's right overnight in a Kayak paddleing for 12 hours straight up the coast 30 miles!! That's my husband for you, the true adventurist!!! Needless to say, I didn't sleep much that night but he made it back safe and sound and ready for more!! We took the kids one day to the Naples Zoo just for a little beach break, and that was fun. Took some pictures of the Lion who was roaring like you wouldn't believe and a beautiful tiger. Jackson thought it was cool, but Max wasn't having it! :-) I was lucky enough to get to go have a shopping day with Mom, Aunt Kim and Leah! We pretty much bought out Anthropology and had a great lunch together! It was a good moms day out, much needed 6 hours away! Mom and I also went to get manicures and pedicures so that was nice too!!! :-) Zach and I enjoyed a couple date nights and and just enjoyed being away!! :-) It was really nice vacation, and already counting the days til we are there again over the holidays this coming year!

In other exciting news, we find out whether we are having a baby boy or girl this Wednesday the 14th, Zach's Birthday and our Anniversary!! We can't wait! I'm doing really well, baby's moving all the time and I see my belly getting bigger and bigger!!! :-) All good things!!! So check back on Wednesday too find out the news!!! Hugs to all of you!!! ;-)

Max walking, with a little help! :-)

19 weeks and counting........

So today was my 19 week check-up. Everything looks good, baby's heart rate was 158 today, perfectly strong! Since we are leaving for Florida next week, it makes me close to 23 weeks by the time we find out the sex of the baby. A little later than usual, but it couldn't be happening on a better day. We find out on our 5 year anniversay and of course Zach's Birthday, January 14th! We are soooooo excited!!! :-)

In other news, the kids are really excited about Christmas. Jackson is definitely a Christmas kid! He gets so excited about anything pertaining to the BIG day! His last day of school was yesterday til the new year. They had a little holiday party, sang songs and presented us with gifts they made especially for us! They painted 6 x6 tiles, with their hand print making Santa, something I'll treasure forever, I'm sure! Plus and Angel ornament! He was so excited, I thought he was going to burst! It's so much fun watching it through a childs eyes! We have been baking lots of cookies, something both my boys LOVE! :-) This year, Mom O treated Leah and I to a cookie assembly at Make & Take Gourmet and let me tell you it has been a life savor! We went on a Saturday and I put together 5 batches of cookies, brought them home and put them in the freezer until I needed to bake! It has worked out so well for me, so thanks again mom! :-)

Well only a few more days til Christmas and then we leave for Florida! We are really looking forward to 2 weeks on the beach, a much needed vacation! I'll have lots to blog about after that so stay tuned! Until then, Merry Christmas to all of you! Know that I'm thinking of my family and friends from afar!!! Hugs to you all!!!

Our Visit to see Santa!

On Tuesday, Zach and I took the boys to see Santa and they did great! Jackson was so giddy and shy, he gave Santa a high-five and that was about it. Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he couldn't really say much, but when Santa asked if he wanted a train Jackson replied "I already have a train!" Like, as if to say Duh, you brought me one last year, remember??? It was priceless! :-) Max just looked up at him as if to say "Who are you and what's with all the hair?? It was great!

I thought I would fill you in on how Max is developing! He is 21.5 lbs, sleeps 12 hours at night. Still takes a morning nap for about an hour and a half and takes another one in the afternoon! He eats anything and everything! His favorite is ham & grapes! Loves Grapes, eats them all day long! He likes to feed himself, he's very independent. He's walking along furniture but still prefers to crawl! He is so fast, it's scary!! He's a very affectionate child, loves to hug and now we are learning to kiss! Both him and Jackson have found a new found love-a feather! Daddy is really good at sitting down at night with both boys and tickling them with feathers! They love it, stops them dead in their tracks! :-) So I guess that's all for now! Stay tuned for more updates as the holidays become closer! :-)