Spring Or Winter

We took a little family outing to get rid of some old dry bread to feed the ravenous ducks and geese.  Sawyer was not having it to get down by the loud, snapping animals so he sat by me.  He even snuck in eating some of that old bread, as you can see in the picture.  

The day after feeding the ducks we got a bit of a snow storm.  Travis shoveled the driveway into a pile and continued to pile our yard snow so Sawyer could have a little sledding hill.  Our neighbors, the Rowleys, were out shoveling their drive as well so he offered up his service and expertise.  It was pretty funny watching the men work, they are both Civil Engineering students so they were making a sound structure with a nice base that would last and not just piling on the snow like most people would have done, or just me.  Sawyer and our neighbor's little boy had a blast playing on the hill.  Sawyer decided why wait for dad to get the sled ready for him, he would just go down on his stomach penguin style.  The things he thinks of at such a young age, it is amazing to me how their little minds work.  Needless to say, Sawyer cried when we had to bring him in for fear his fingers would be little popsicles. 

Ever Expanding

I am officially 20 weeks into this pregnancy.  I haven't really blogged much about what this pregnancy has been like or actually anything about this pregnancy.  The first part of this pregnancy I just wanted to lay on the couch and not be bothered with doing anything especially eating.  I don't know why they called the sickness morning sickness.  I had night and morning sickness, and it seems like a lot of the women I have talked to have mainly been sick at night as well.  I was really only a pleasant person for a few hours in between lunch and dinner, when I didn't have to think about food.
Poor Sawyer.  He was a good sport though.  He would sit with me or play by me.  Fortunately, the sickness didn't last too long into the 2nd trimester.  It still reoccurs occasionally but thank goodness it is not everyday anymore.  I took full advantage and still take full advantage of Sawyer nap time to catch a few zzz's for myself and the growing baby.  It has been really strange with this pregnancy.  With Sawyer I never had an issue sleeping but from almost day one I have had insomnia at night with this little one.  I didn't think that happened until further along in the pregnancy.
I have been able to continue running during this pregnancy so far.  When I was pregnant with Sawyer I stopped running around 10 weeks because I was worried about the baby and winter set in so it made it a little difficult.  This winter has been so mild Sawyer and I have been able to get out almost every day.
We went for our 20 week apt and found out we are having a GIRL this time.  I was really surprised. Travis was sure it was a girl because this pregnancy has been so different for me compared to my pregnancy.  I told him to not get his hopes up because all pregnancies are different.  When we went to the appointment I just wanted to see a healthy baby and a healthy mom.  There are so many things that can go wrong I just worry.  It was a good thing we wanted to find out what we were having because the first picture was showing what the sex of the baby was.  There was no question as to what we were having.  It was fun to see Travis' eyes light up.  He always tells me he wants at least one little girl and we will keep having kids until he gets a girl.  I laugh in his face and tell him when he bears the children he can keep having kids until he gets a girl. It is nice that we will have a boy and a girl though.  

As of this week of my pregnancy 20 weeks:

I have craved cheesecake, candy, fresh fruit- lots of fruit I would really like some watermelon, and an occasional doughnut

I am not showing as much as I was with Sawyer, at least I think so.  My pants still fit and aren't that uncomfortable yet.  I just think I am carrying this baby in my back.

My sciatic nerve has already been hurting me.

My bladder is being compressed always.

I can feel this little girl and she is very, very active which she will need to be to keep up with her big brother.

20 Weeks

What is this White Stuff?

As anybody in the intermountain area knows we are experiencing a crazy warm winter.  It has been so crazy, like I said before we have been so warm.  I am not complaining but it has been so weird not having a foot of  snow on the ground for the past three months.  On Wednesday we woke up to a surprise snow storm.  The southern half of the state was supposed to get the snow.  Sawyer was so excited.  He would make snow a food group if he could.  While I shoveled the drive he played outside and make lots of tracks in the snow and ingested a lot of new fresh snow.   We went on a little car ride  and he kept leaning over trying to pick up new snow as we rode the sidewalks.  

There are mountains behind those clouds.  I thought it looked awesome so I took the opportunity to snap a few shots. 

Eating more of the good cold goodness. 

Lovers Appreciation Day

I have never been a person to really look forward to Valentine's day. Well since the days of elementary school when we would have parties and get lots of candy and make cool valentine boxes.  I think Valentines is kind of a silly holiday.  Don't get me wrong I love the chocolates, I love getting fresh flowers, I love being pampered and feeling loved but shouldn't your loved one do this kind of stuff for you without having to have a day where it is required? Fortunately, I married someone who does a really good job about making me feel loved often (I have really got to stop reading the old Seriously So Blessed blog, I am starting to sound like the person) 

Valentine's Day this year was a little hectic in the Hollingshead household.  We thought about celebrating the day early because I go to Institute, a LDS religious education class, on Tuesday nights at 6:30 and Travis has a class that goes until 5:30 so every Tuesday is pretty busy.  We decided last minute that we would just celebrate with all the other love birds out there on Tuesday.  I decided I would clean the house in the early morning.  As I was vacuuming the back of the house I saw Sawyer with a red balloon.  Okay how did he get that?  Travis surprised me by bringing me flowers at lunch and Sawyer a balloon- he loves balloons.  

I convinced Travis to leave his lab a little early so we could get an early dinner before I had to go to Institute.  We decided the Olive Garden sounded nice.  I was thinking 5:00 would be early enough it wouldn't be too crowded.  It was a good thing we called ahead.  The place was packed. I was amazed at how fast and good the service was.  I was worried going there because last time we went we seriously spent like 2 hours there.  It was just a little ridiculous.  I made it home with enough time to freshen up before heading to class with my neighbor.  

When we got to class we learned that it was cancelled because our teacher hurt his back.  Good call Bro. Jacobs, what a great way to get out of teaching and instead spend time with your wife.  J/K I don't think that is what happened.  If it were any other night my neighbor and I would have gone and done something fun since we don't often get out without our kids.  We thought it would be a little weird if two pregnant ladies were out on the town instead of home with our husbands on Valentines.  Not going to class actually helped my Valentines plans.  I wanted to "kick" Travis Valentines to him.  (Kicking- is basically doorbell ditching the Valentines, a little tradition from Southern Utah)  I didn't know when I was going to do it without Travis automatically suspecting me.  Apparently, coming home early ruined Travis' plans for me for the evening. He was going to have the little one in bed, and I was going to be greeted by a candle lit cheesecake and sparkling cider.  (Don't I just have the best husband) I felt bad for interfering with his plans but what can ya do?  

When we did put Sawyer to bed we did have cheesecake with cider and candles.  It was fabulous.  Thanks for being my Valentines Travis. 

My first cheesecake ever.  I was worried that it wouldn't be very good.  I don't know why I even worried it was amazing.  Just what I needed to cure my craving. 

Travis got the nice table cloth out and bought new candles.  He is so thoughtful. 

AMAZING

Reading Rainbow

I often find Sawyer in his room reading his books.  It is absolutely adorable to me.  I am so glad he enjoys reading, well lets be honest looking at pictures, books.  The other day I was vacuuming and since Sawyer does not like the vacuum he took refuge in his room.  When I came to his room I found he had been "reading" .   He makes me laugh when he is done with a book, some times it is after just one page.  He just discards the book off the side of his chair for Mom to clean up.  

Treasure

Sawyer found a treasure in my old purse, a sucker.  He seriously thought he won the lottery.  He was so excited to eat it.  He just sat in his chair and enjoyed every last bit of it.

Winter Wonderings

January has really just flown by this year.  It usually seems that January is the slowest month of the entire year, but this year with the warm winter and holidays and being preoccupied with other things time has flown.  I know that sounds so clique but oh well.  I still can't believe the warm winter that we are having this year.  I am supposed to live the in the "ice box" of Utah but we don't even have snow on the ground. Sawyer wishes we would get some new snow.  Travis taught him how to eat snow and  now he tries to eat snow all the time, even if it is old and dirty. A real mothers dream, yuck! The other day was trying to lick the frost off of his ball his left outside.  Silly child.
We were down in Minersville recently for Julie's missionary farewell.  She has been called to serve in the Eugene, Oregon mission.  This is so cool because it actually covers my old home ward in Yreka, CA.  One of the best Wards in the entire world. While we were in Minersville we enjoyed some outside time, as you can see below. Sawyer would get on the tire horse, ride for a little bit, then tell me I needed to get on so he could pull me.  He is so funny and random.
Julie went into the MTC on Wed.  It is so crazy, it feels like just yesterday we dropped my little sister off at the MTC and she will be home in April.  I can't believe she has been in Bolivia for almost 18 months.  I can't wait for her to get home to have my running partner again.

Sam and Sawyer were the best of buds until they both wanted something the other had, pretty typical I guess for boys this age.  These boys will have such a hard time when their new baby siblings come along.  They convinced Grandma to pull them on this small patch of snow in the back yard.  Grandma was more than happy to oblige.  She even jumped on the trampoline with them.  I would have tried the trampoline too but with this baby I have to use the bathroom all the time and I didn't want to test my luck with bouncing up and down.