Motherhood and Stretch Marks!

The inevitable finally happened! After months of lotions, oils, vitamin E and so on....3 little stretch marks just popped out this week! This is rather dumb to blog about...but for me it was devastating!! I didn't get any stretch marks with Brynlee and tried really hard to prevent them with this pregnancy but with no avail I am now reminded everyday of one of the sacrifices of being a Mother. I have finally come to terms with the new little friends on my belly. To me they represent the love I have for my little girls. Even though Brooklyn isn't born yet I love her more than I ever thought possible. It is amazing to me how much you can love someone, and I worried for just a minute I wouldn't have enough love for 2 kids. But that is such a silly notion. I love them both so much! Brynlee has been my world for the past 2 years and I am so glad she came to our family and that I get to be here Mom! She reminds me everyday how lucky I am even in the worst moments it is all worth it!! I cannot wait for our little baby to arrive! I find myself more impatient everyday!! All of the pregnancy hardships will all be wiped away and forgotten the minute I see her and those dumb little stretch marks will never matter!! All that matters is that I am blessed enough to have the opportunity to have children, for them to be healthy, and that I get to love them with all my heart!! Thank you stretch marks for reminding me everyday of how blessed I really am!!

Sneak Peek at the Maternity Pictures my awesome friend did. They are so sweet and I can't wait to see the rest!!

St. George Vacation

We went on our annual Murphy Family vacation to St. George for a week. We don't always go to St. George, but since I am pretty pregnant and it is only 4 hours away it seemed like the best option. We actually ended up going to the same house as last year becuase the backyard and pool are so awesome! I personally LOVE St. George and could definitely live there, if I had a pool in my backyard!! lol We had alot of fun and the weather could not have been more perfect!! We spent 90% of the time in the backyard and in the pool and it was great!! We did get to see some movies, the boys golfed, and the girls got pedicures. But all in all it was a lazy week of nothing but sun!! To me, the PERFECT vacation!! I did realize how OCD I am living in a house with so many people. Joe and I decided I SERIOUSLY have problems...and they are probably worse since I am pregnant! lol My goal since I have been back is to TRY and take a chill pill on some of the OCD tendanceis I have. I have been mostly successful and am going to try really hard to let go of the stupid small things that make me crazy!!!! All in all it was just what Joe and I both needed and I especially LOVED getting tan!! It always makes me feel better to have some color, especially when you feel so frumpy being pregnant! Who knew tanning the back of your legs would be so hard though when prego??!! ;) Beware, I posted TONS of pictures below!

Dancing With Dad

The Boys played lots of Basketball

We did bring Brynlee's little pool to play in and it was a big hit for her and Aaron (her cousin)

Joe's face is hilarious here!

Lots of Splashing!!

My little baby is growing up SO fast!!

The Weeks Events

Well this past week has certainly been a busy one... In between all of the crappy Utah Spring "storms" we have been outside working in the yard A LOT!!! There is so much to still do to our horrible landscaping that was left by the previous owners...we have really only made a small dent in the huge mess of things! But, at least we are getting somewhere.... Thanks to lovely HOA regulations we had to re-stain our fence inside and out. My awesome dad came out and brought his airless sprayer and did it for me since I was told I shouldn't be around the smell. I tried to stay away as much as possible but ending up helping a little...I just don't listen to "NO" very well... We got all the outside done and then the wind picked up....after rolling the stain on for 2 hours and not making much progress we bagged it and decided we will finish the inside another day with the sprayer...it is so much faster and easier!! The next day was of course rainy...so I finally started painting the baby room. I have had the paint for awhile now and just had no time... I got the paint done and now get to do all the fun stuff like re-finishing the furniture, wall decor, decorations, etc...definitely my favorite part!! You will have to stay tuned for the end result!! We have also been weeding like crazy...Joe has been been digging, leveling, and laying sod in the backyard, and Brynlee has officially started to get a tan from being outside so much! I think she definitely got my skin becuase she will be a little red at night...and tan the next morning just like me! I am trying to keep the sunscreen on her as much as possible, but she serioulsy could live outside if I would let her!! Her and abby (the beagle) are little buddies out in the backyard. They chase each other around, eat snacks together, and brynlee is constantly yelling at her "Aaaaaa-eeeeee!!! Where are you?? Aaaaaaa-eeeeee come mere!!!!" It is so dang cute and funny!! Brynlee's hair is finally growing becuase it is just crazy wispy long, and it is getting lighter from being outside so much. It will be fun to see what color hair she has at the end of the summer.... Anyways....that pretty much sums everything up for the week!! Next week is going to be just as busy but on Friday we leave for St. George for a week of vacation...so so so excited to do nothing but be by a pool all week!! No cleaning, no weeding, no laundry, no cooking every night, so more sore back from overdoing it, no more stressing, and no work!!! I am simpy going to sit on my butt as much as I possible can, and I totally think I deserve it! :)

Project #1 Stained side on Left...I think the HOA was right, it needed it!

Project #2- Before, kinda a bad picture, it was a pretty bright purple.

After!! Love it!! :)

A Girl's Best Friend, Dog & Chocolate Cookies

She was telling Abby to look at the camera and say cheese! lol

Hogle Zoo

Well I made a promise to my best friend Amy who is working in Canada for the summer that I would update my blog more so she could keep up with our life....I have pretty much SUCKED at this for the past 2 weeks since she has been gone....so I will start with before she left by posting our Hogle Zoo outing!! It was so much fun, the weather was great, and it was the first time for Bryn and I at the zoo! Of course Brynlee LOVED it, and she really did awesome the whole time. The things I learned from the Zoo experience are as follows:

1. Brynlee's favorite animals are the Monkeys, Giraffes, and Elephants.
2. She can say TONS of animal names that I had no idea she even knew!
3. Going to the Zoo while pregnant will insure at least 6 trips to the bathroom in a 3 hour span! The zoo has A LOT of bathrooms...such a great thing!!
4. Having 2 adults and 1 toddler works great!! Also great to have a friend pushing the stroller up and down all the hills so the fat pregnant mom doesn't have to!! lol
5. It is the best way to wear out a busy toddler in a short amount of time!! :)

We really did have so much fun and I totally want to go back soon!! It was also a bittersweet day because my best friend Amy who is pretty much like a sister to me was going to be flying out the next day to Alaska/Canada to work for the summer...we do so much together, Brynlee adores her, and I seriously talk to her more than what is probably healthy! lol I knew it would be hard to say goodbye and it definitely was...but at least she is coming back in Sept. and won't be gone forever! It is weird to have her gone now...my phones rings much much less, I haven't done near as much shopping (Joe is very glad in that aspect), and I am really going to miss her through the big events of the summer...birthdays...a new baby....etc... This was a great last day together and I can't wait to see you in September Amy!! We sure do miss you!!

Train Ride

Riding on her favorite animal

Me & Bryn

Amy and Bryn

Me & Amy

Baby Bump

By this point I would actually say it is more than a "Bump..." But I am actually feeling really good for the most part and enjoying this middle part of the pregnancy. I know I really only have May to enjoy before I start becoming more pregnant and miserable so I am going to enjoy it!! I am WAY more active with this pregnancy than with Brynlee and I think that is helping keep the extra weight off. I am trying to eat better and not eat tons of junk. I feel so much better so far so I am going to stick with it!! I don't think I have "officially" announced on my blog that we are having another GIRL!! Even though I was selfishly hoping for a boy so we could have one of each and be done, I am SO excited to have another little girl and a sister for Brynlee. We have also officially decided that her name is going to be Brooklyn Deon. No we aren't naming all our girls with "B" names, it has been one we loved since we knew she was a girl, one we could both agree on, and it just fits! It feels right and when it feels right there is no denying it! The middle name it Joe's Mom's middle name as well as his sister Emily's middle name. We are so excited they are both okay with us using it becuase we are honored to have her middle name be after such amazing people!! :) I am very excited to meet her and hold her and see what she looks like....but I can also wait much better this time around! I am enjoying sleeping through the night, not nursing yet, not having spit up everywhere, and changing a million diapers a day. Newborns are much easier to take care of inside the womb!! She can enjoy it all she wants I don't think I am quite ready for her yet!! Good thing I do have 3 more months!! We sure do love her already though, and I hope she keeps getting bigger and my "bump" keeps growing!!

The "I Wants!"

So after reading a family members post of her "I wants," I thought I would make my list of things I want....Especially because lately I have been a very I WANT, WANT, WANT person too!!

I want a professional landscaper to come in and re-do both my yards!! I don't want to pay for it though! :)
I want my spare bedroom to be cleaned out and the next baby room to be finished.
I want my bathroom to be magically painted while I am sleeping! :)
I want warm weather!!!
I want Summer all year long!!!
I want to go on a Vacation.
I want my toes painted.
I want a back massage.
I want to be out of debt.
I want to spend more time with my husband!!

I sure do want a lot more...but this is a pretty good list....I don't want to sound too awful!! lol

Brynlee's 18 Month Pictures!!

Well I am finally getting around to posting these pictures that my good friend Haylie did. She did such a great job and I had way too many I liked I really am struggling which ones to print off and hang in my house! I can't believe how big my little girl is getting...time sure does fly!! I am MOSTLY okay with it now becuase I know I have a new baby coming in 4 very short months!! But it is still crazy for me to be buying 2T clothes or larger and letting her be so independent is a hard also...well only for me, she takes every opportunity to be a "Big Girl"! I sure do love her though, she is my world!!!

If you ever want Haylie to take some pictures for you she does an awesome job!! http://www.haylielynphoto.blogspot.com/