Dad Posting

So I thought that is was about time I (Dustin) did a post on this blog. It has been a while since I had even checked it myself, and come to find out Lyndsey has been posting. I was happy to find that out, but at the same time saddened that we haven't done more posts this year.

We have had an exciting year this year. At the beginning of 2011 I decided to take on a second job to help supplement our income a little. This was only a temporary thing as we needed to pay off some things so we could feel more financially comfortable. I had only planned on taking a part time job so as not to overload myself, but turns out thejob I got required around 68 hrs a week on average. That was in addition to the normal 40 hours I was working with my normal job. : ( My schedule was Monday Tuesday and Wednesday I would work Summit (My normal job) from 5:30am-2:30pm. Then on Wednesday night at 5pm I would go to work at my second job (Working with adults with developmental disabilities) from 5:00pm-9:00am the next morning. Then I would go straight from work to my Summit job and work from 9:15am-4:50pm and head straight back to my other job to work 5pm-9am. This continued on into the weekend and I would then work the weekend until Sunday morning when I could go home @ 9am. As you can probably imagine this limited my time away from my Family and caused stress.

I would usually get to spend Sunday day with my Family then start work again Monday morning. I only had Monday night and Tuesday night to spend the evenings with them and accomplish what we needed to before having to work again on Wednesday and not see my Family again until Sunday morning. whew!!!

October of this year came around and Lyndsey and I decided that it was a good time to drop the second job and be able to spend more time with the Family. We were able to pay off what we needed to and felt comfortable with our decision to go back to our ordinary lives! : ) October 20th is my last day at job #2 and we couldn't be any more excited than we are. It was a very large sacrifice that we had to make, but it was worth it to us in the end. I am so thankful for such a wonderful wife who worked so hard during these past 9 months (while working a part time job I might add) to make sure that our little Melody was cared for and healthy during my time away. I know that it was hard for her to feel like a single mother, but she did an amazing job and I am so grateful to her for that.

Fall is Lyndsey and I's favorite time of year and we have been enjoying the cooler weather and beautiful changing colors that occur during these months. Melody has her costume all picked out for Halloween and Lyndsey and I have yet to decide. Dressing up for Halloween is something that we both also love. There have been many Halloweens that we have spent over a $100 just on our costumes. : ) This year we vowed to make our dressing up a little less costly, but just as much fun.

We are planning a little trip come this November to visit my sister Kassie and her Family in Idaho Falls and then drive down to Utah to visit my sister Jenny and her family. While we are in Utah we plan to get new Family pictures taken from the same Family friend Whitney Robertson that we did last year. She was so much fun to work with and she does such a nice job we thought it would be worth taking a trip to visit my sister and get pictures done by her again. We are excited for this little trip as it will be our first Family vacation this year. I am going to post just a couple pictures...they do not represent anything in particular, they are just going to be some fun pictures to look at. Thanks to all those who follow our blogs, we love and appreciate you.

ANNOUNCING...

So I am not even sure if we announced we are pregnant on here, lol! The time has gone by so quickly. We are definitely pregnant though, and we are having another little girl!!!!!!!

I found out I was pregnant early this time, as I had this gut feeling. We bought dollar store tests but we were way before the missed period so we didn't expect much. I tested early anyway because I get really anxious and impatient! I saw a very faint line but wasn't sure if it was legit so we went out and purchased First Response and later that evening after our little Melody was asleep took the test. Dustin was out in the backyard talking to the neighbor (which I didn't know) when the line came up and ran out screaming, "You're going to be a daddy again!!!" It was a little awkward haha but Dustin ran promptly in and inspected and sure enough we celebrated! We told family and friends right away. We took Melody to a family BBQ which a 'Big Sister' shirt and the rest we told over the phone!! :-D

This pregnancy has been MUCH different than Melody's. From the getgo I was so very tired. I wasn't used to that as I usually have enough energy throughout the day, but I was just pooped!! When Melody would wake up in the mornings, we'd eat bananas and saltines in bed and watch cartoons until I could get up and function. I was sick until around 15 weeks this time but I managed to do all but a week without my beloved Zolfran. I tried, but in the end it got to me! Luckily I only needed it a week! Unlike Melody on most days it wasn't all day sickness but when it came on it came on stronger and I did a lot more forceful puking. (And simultaneous peeing- tmi but this is reality people).

Melody was small and had a 2 vessel cord. This baby shares neither trait. I have also felt movement this time much earlier, beginning at 16 weeks and let me tell you, she is a mover!! :) We decided to cheat and go to Fetal Fotos to find out the gender.

But I have felt for a while that this baby was a girl. I was once again resolved to believe that with 13 nephews, Melody being a girl was a fluke and for sure this one would be a boy! But we had to have 2 ultrasounds, one at 11 weeks and then an NT scan and ultrasound at 12. Well at 11 weeks it appeared that there was a little something there but by 12 weeks it had vanished. It was at that appointment that I became convinced it was a girl :) Dustin knew deep down too I think but he played the devil's advocate and guessed boy!

I have to say that Melody having the chance to have a sister is such a blessing for me. I was really hoping I could at least have one more girl, as my sister was very important to me growing up and i loved having a little sister. I was definitely thrilled when we had our ultrasound today and our little lady showed the goods!

I have been saying I was done at 2 but I think we might give it one more go. It's hard to imagine this being our last now!

I feel like this pregnancy is so surreal sometimes but it is all setting in now! I am going to be a mom to 2 beautiful little girls who no doubt will probably be polar opposites- but I am so happy! So happy to be the mother of the bride twice, to get 2 girls ready for prom, to see my girls doing each other's hair and playing dress up together, and dressing them in matching Sunday dresses! Haha :) I can't wait to pretend this one has hair like I did with Melody and completely go all out on the bows again! Yes, double trouble :)

We are so thrilled to be parents again and feel so blessed. We love our daughters so much and can't wait to meet our little sweetie!!

-Dustin, Lyndsey, Melody, and little girl #2 :)

Update- sorry it's been such a long while!

Alright, so I figured I needed to do some updates so here we go. No pictures this time, but I promise I will get them going soon.

First off, Dustin recently took on a second full-time job and has been gone more often then not, but he is such a strong and wonderful man to take care of our family the way he does and we are so proud. He works with adults who have disabilities, and cares for them in their homes allowing them to have independent lives. He works so well with them and I couldn't be more proud. It has taken some sacrifices but we are just grateful for the blessings it has provided.

I am still working at Wings and have been here for a year now and am loving it!! Next year, Melody will be able to come with me to work and enjoy the benefits of socializing and also getting an hour of play at Planet Kid a day! It's an amazing job and I am super lucky.

Speaking of Melody, she has now started to walk and we are so excited to see her take off! She is in developmental therapy and is thriving. She says the following words now:

Hi

Mama

Dada

Ace (Nana and Papa's dog)

This

That

Hat

Yay

Hi Dad

Ouch

Baba

That is pretty awesome considering that just a month and a half ago she was not saying a single word- pretty cool!

She smacks her lips when she wants something- anything- and loves to clap at anyone willing to say 'Yay!' She is an amazing sleeper and clocks in 11-12 hours a night plus a 2-3 hour nap. In a few short months she got a full set of teeth and has enjoyed testing the new set on mom and dad (never been out of anger- she thinks it's funny but still bad) and twice it's happened when another child stuck their finger in her mouth. (Yikes!) She is in nursery now and loving it. She does really well considering she is a bit behind the other kids, and gets along really well with the only other girl in her class, a 22 month old little girl. Her hair is coming in now, and I am having to regularly trim the back until it all grows in fully (I don't want it to grow in to a mullet) and the top I'm able to put in to pigtails and other cute styles.

I got a calling in church as the librarian and I am actually pretty excited about it. It came in the nick of time since Melody can go to nursery now!

We are doing super well and are happy and overall healthy. If you are reading this, I appreciate you still checking our blog :)

Smiles,

Lynds

Randomness :)

These are some random pics of Melody, without a real reason for some, just a few cute ones :) Have a great day! Most are her playing at Planet Kid where I work :)

I have to explain the one above. Melody has gotten her top teeth in (as Dustin lovingly calls them, rat teeth) and has been chewing on the furniture like some type of animal...HAHAHA :)

She loves to sneak in to the office and try and play the child sized acoustic guitar :)

Chocolate Costco muffin :)

She started cruising the furniture!! :)