Pregnancy #2

It is no secret that I am pregnant, but I thought I would give an update. Only 6 weeks to go!

This post is going to be very very honest. Pictures were a little hard to find.. But I found a few that hopefully represent the development of my 2nd baby. If you would like to see my first pregnancy you can read the blog posts about pregnancy here.

This pregnancy was way worse. I can honestly say that I hated being pregnant from day one.

1st trimester: I don't even count this as a time period. NOTHING was accomplished or done to be worth remembering. It was the dead of winter, we had just moved, and I hardly left the couch. Madison and I read a lot of books and ate a lot of crackers. I realized how important sleep training is to me. If Madi didn't take a long nap every afternoon, I am not sure we would have survived.... haha, but seriously. Luckily it came to an end.

2nd trimester: Like any average pregnancy, this time is the most doable. My sickness went away. Dinner started getting made, and Madi and I had a blast visiting Rexburg and doing all the fun summery things that Iowa City has to offer. We found out we were having another girl and I immediately started planning a blessing dress. I grew a ton this trimester. I will probably have another huge baby, I just hope all this pregnancy stuff doesn't cause too much havoc on my body. Back pain also came, I had a little with my 1st, but not this early or intense. . .  Also, my bladder doesn't work. :)

3rd trimester: I am in the midst and huge! I get tired easily, but I don't feel sick or queasy. I am sooo excited for the baby to come. I am curious to what she will look like and be like. I am always interested in knowing what their little personalities will be. Labor and delivery is making me a little nervous as time gets closer, but hey... modern medicine is awesome if I can't handle it.

I feel so lucky that I have had healthy pregnancies and that I seem to get pregnant fairly easily. Regardless of these blessing, being pregnant is hard. My self-esteem has taken a hit and is probably the reason for a lack of pictures of my 'developing body.' However, I let Jordan take this last picture because I want this next baby to know that I am soooo excited for her to come.  I cannot wait to hold her in my arms, introduce her to her awesome Daddy and big sister.

We swim a lot now

Madison has always LOVED water. Even from being a newborn she has loved baths, sprinklers, and swimming pools. She has not had fear of the water yet.

Luckily, this summer we have got to go swimming a lot.

Madison 7 months

Our apartment complex in Iowa has a pool that we love. Especially on hot hot humid days. It really is the only relief..... and with the humidity it is only partly a relief, but still. I love that it is so easy to get up from a nap, stick on her swimsuit, and head outside to swim. I decided to take some pictures before the summer is over/life gets more busy.

She really is a little fish. We put her in a puddle jumper a couple of months ago, and at first she hated it. She couldn't figure out how to balance. But a couple of swims later she became a pro! She loves the freedom of kicking around the pool.

Everything is more fun when her crazy dad comes along!

Hiking in humidity

We went on our first family hike in Iowa. We should have done it earlier. It was hot and muggy. However, it wasn't a long hike. Just about 1 mile. It was perfect for Madison and for the most part, she walked.

The little hike is just right outside the city, right off a highway. However, in Iowa the vegetation is so thick! Except for the random car noise, you would think we were in the middle of nowhere. Even though the scenery has it's own kind of beauty (green green green), we do miss the 'destination' hikes out west where even the smallest of hikes would almost always take us to a little waterfall or bright blue stream. However, this doesn't stop us. I am in to having tough kids, at the moment, character hikes are the best remedy for whininess and boredom. Don't worry, this wasn't your typical "Manner" character hike. We had enough water for the whole trail.

Enjoy the pictures!

I am still figuring out my new camera. (It may be a very long and ongoing process), the humidity here makes my lens blurry at the beginning. I am still figuring out how to keep it clean and dry amidst this Iowa summer weather.

I cannot believe that this little one is going to be a big sister in just about 2 months. I am a little nervous for the transition. I like my schedules, routines, and systems. Since Madi was born we had a schedule, and she and I have thrived. Adding a new person to the schedule may be kind of hard (for both of us, probably mostly me though, especially when that person nurses a lot and for a long time for the first 3-4 months). I am so excited for a new baby girl though!!!!

4th of July in Iowa

After a week long trip to Oklahoma, we arrived back in time to celebrate 4th of July in good ole Iowa. Jordan and I have always loved 4th of July, but for slightly different reasons. He mainly, just likes doing fireworks. I guess its a boy thing. He said his friends and him would bury them, put them in buckets, and do all kinds of dangerous experiments to see what would catch on fire and what would make the loudest noise. I personal love the parades and the barbecues.

We went to the Parade! Madison had the time of her life. She loved the sirens, the dancers, the cars (vroom vroom), and of course the music. This little one loves to dance and will dance on almost any cue. She didn't realize how awesome the candy was until I actually opened one for her, but people were handing her candy and prizes right and left. 

Anybody that knows Madi, knows this is her excited face.

Squealing with delight

Afterwards we returned home and let Madison take a nap. Jordan and I watched Captain America and prepared for our little family barbecue. Sadly we were reminded how lonely we are out in Iowa at times without our families as we had a little barbecue with just us three. My sister's Snapchat story didn't help either as she shared the crazy/weird shenanigans my family was up to. However, we really enjoyed ourselves. Madi had a blast, and I was reminded again why I want a lot of kids. Your never really lonely when you have lots of kids.

Later that night we did our little mini fireworks (which we found out are against the law in Iowa) and then went to the city firework show. Madi even loved it and crashed as soon as we got home.

Happy Birthday America!

AND BEARS ..... Oh my!

Yellowstone Bear World is literally down the street from Rexburg, 15 minutes.. tops. I have never been. It is definitely an overpriced experience, but a good fun outing. I never believed that their were actually bears at the park... but there are!! Over 50. It is impossible not to see one. Kirsten came up to visit for a couple of days while I was in Rexburg and we took Madison to see what this tourist trap was all about.

Madi was a little leery of the bear

We first took the loop and saw some wildlife. We saw elk, bison, wolves, mountain goats, and of course bears!

We saw the cutest baby bear cubs, fed some ducks, and walked through a petting zoo with all types of farm animals. Madison's favorite part was by far feeding the ducks and the gift shop. Good thing we didn't pay to let her in, she liked everything that you can do anywhere.

Hermana Abilee Manner

We just got back from a trip to Rexburg for the past two weeks. We sent off my family's 4th missionary. (2nd missionary that is out serving right now)  Hermana Abilee Manner left for the Argentina MTC and will serve in Argentina. We love our Aunt Abilee and are so grateful for the opportunity we had to live in Provo at the same time as her during her first semester at BYU. This girl is amazing.

We love and miss Aunt Abilee. We can't wait to hear updates and stories. We hope her emails are better then the Elder's in my family.

Madison ~ 18 months

Madison - 18 months

I haven't normally done little update posts on Madi's age as she has grown. To me, it is pretty self explanatory to see how she is progressing from the photos of us going through life, doing our normal everyday things. However, as Madison has approached 18 months and now has moved a little beyond, she is starting to spring up into a little kid all of a sudden!. It is amazing to see them progress and it seemed before this point it was a little slow. All of sudden she is learning words quickly, signs as soon as I show them to her, and is becoming more physically confident at jumping, marching, running, and basically any little finger play that I show her. 

Madison's hair is coming in very light blonde at the moment. It is so nice and thick and even has a little curl. She has big blue eyes and a lot of teeth that she will never show me. (Taking pictures of an 18 month old is hard, she refuses to look at me, she cannot be bothered) She has a big pop belly, but skinny little long legs. (Not a lot of baby fat on those thighs). She loves to point to all her body parts and knows, head, shoulders, knees, toes, eyes, ears, mouth, and nose. We even add in cheeks, chin, belly, and booty.

Worriedly pointing at the little plane above.

She makes this face A LOT. She gets 'stoked' about everything and this is how she reacts. 

This girl loves to sing! She can be so mad, but as long as we start singing she will get excited and do whatever action is associated with the song. Currently she loves 'Wheels on the Bus' and 'Popcorn Popping'. Her likes tend to go with the season and what her mom can come up with on the spot. She loves our weekly music time. She gets so excited when she sees her designated sitting blanket and will plop herself down. She loves rhythm sticks, animal masks, jumping and marching around the room, and any song with actions. Good thing her mom is obsessed with kid's music. 

This girl is obsessed with balls. She loves to throw and catch. 

Another worried look because of an overhead plane

She is quite the impressive jumper. She easily gets both feet off  on solid ground and has learned to hold her own on the trampoline at Grandma Manner's house.

We love this little girl at our house. Her Dad is crazy about her and can't imagine another kid cooler. We are having another little girl to add to the family at the end of September. I am so excited for Madi to have a little friend. 

This little one goes to nursery like a champ, (doesn't even bother to look back.) We love our little ornery, spunky, smart, opinionated little Madison!