And her name shall be called.....

Yes, we have finally decided on a name for our little Princess.

Her name will be "Bella Reese Diaz."

I know that most of you know we were planning to go with the "J" thing. So here is the reason we decided to abandon it and go with something else.....

We were having a tough time coming up with a girl "J" name that we could both agree on, we quickly agreed on Jenna because we both loved the name. But we couldn't come up with anything else that we just loved. And we didn't want to name our little girl something we didn't love just to make it a "J" name. Also, if we were having such a hard time finding 1 girl name, how could we be sure to find another one if we have another girl in the future? So we thought it was best to just end it now. (hard time with this? Ref: Dugger family)

We have pondered many different names and I have always loved the middle name Reese. And the other night we were in the living room and JD suggested the name Bella Reese! Which we both loved!!! I researched it and it means "God's Promise" and is actually a Latin name. And I think that is pretty cool!

So we are so proud to have our little Princess' Jenna and Bella!

Bella is between 22 & 23 weeks right now, and here is a picture of her development. And NO! That is not a picture of me, it's a picture from http://www.babycenter.com.

She moves a TON! I can sit down and watch my whole stomach move around. Which I don't remember being able to do so early on with Jenna. I really think I'm further along then what they are telling me but only time will tell!

Enjoy the pic!

~J~

Geez people...it's a girl...not a frog...

So I know that most people would think that we would have rather had a boy. So let me take a moment to clear this up and introduce you to our family.....

It's kinda weird because when we announced that we were having a girl with Jenna we were met with total excitement and congratulations. However, now that we are having another girl we are being met with, "Oh, did you want a boy?" or "I bet JD wasn't happy" or "It will be okay, you'll have a boy too."

What's up with this? I mean it's a precious life, a wonderful little girl! And just in case you haven't noticed, we are really good at making super cute girls so this is actually a no-brainer for us. I mean, I am sure boys are wonderful, but honestly I am really good with girls (right now) and JD works a ton, so this is actually perfect for us right now. And I should also be so petty as to remind you that for Jenna we got all PINK stuff so we get to re-use everything and have very little to buy!!!

Here's the deal with JD.......
JD's original plan for us was to have 3 kids, 2 girls first (close together), and then 1 boy (a few years later). The reason for this is..... JD works about 50+ hours per week. All this is good because hey, it's for our business! But at the same time he doesn't have as much time as he would like to be active with the kids just yet. However, his plan is for me to have the girls at home for a few years and do the "girlie" thing! You know, bows, tea party's, dress-up, manicures, pedicures, jewelry, dolls, etc. And then in about 3 years or so have a boy. JD will be able to work less by then and do the whole outdoors sports thing, coach a baseball team, etc.

Now since our original plan, JD has also mentioned having several more kids...but that's beside the point...

The point is, we couldn't be more thrilled that we are having a girl! We are just so excited....and yes JD is too! Now, we did have a plan together for if it was a boy, and would have been very excited with a boy too. But I just wanted to assure everyone that there is not an ounce of disappointment with our new little Princess!

Now just watch out...because you know how cute our little Jenna is...so just wait until we have 2 little girls!!! It will be a flood of cuteness walking around!!!

Pictures to follow soon....

~J~

The results are in and.......

IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!

I couldn't be more thrilled to announce that we are having a GIRL!!!
Oh the amount of personality that will soon fill this home!

We went for our sonogram yesterday (Thurs, Oct 1st). And it was actually last minute, because otherwise we would have had to wait for another week (at least).

So bring it on....bows, pink, personality, giggles, fun, matching outfits, etc!

My sister and I are only 17 months apart and most of the time people thought we were twins. My Mom always dressed us in matching outfits and bows. I will definitely do that to my girls...they will love me for it one day!

The sono tech said that the baby is measuring a little big and is growing at 88%, so it's possible that she could come early. I will keep you posted!

And the next question I know everyone wants to know is what we will name her, but we haven't decided on a name yet, and I have no idea when we will! That might be one of those things we decide on when we have her...we'll see! Several of the names that I love are already taken (sad face) by different babies around the same age, so that stinks. But we'll come up with something, and I'll let you know when we do!

Goodnight, sleep tight!

~J~

And Jenna saves the day...or the dog...same difference!

The cutest thing happened this morning.....

So in our bedroom we have a sliding door to the back yard. Usually every morning I open all the blinds so we can have wonderful daylight...helps with the whole energy thing.

I was in our room making the bed and had the door open so Jenna could go in and out. Well, Joey (the dog) has a rival dog "Peanut" (the neighbors mini-dachshund), and every time Peanut comes out, him and Joey have a barking match at the fence. This has been happening for the 2 years we've been here and I don't see it changing anytime soon. I usually just let him bark, after he's done he's pretty wiped out and comes inside to sleep the day away. I figure in this situation...I win.

Well, not today......

Today, while Jenna is playing by the door, Peanut comes out and Joey sees him (it's really quite dramatic...let's imagine background music...dum...dum...dum...).

Joey of course bolts out of the house and runs to the fence to start his super loud and vicious (for a chihuahua) barking. Jenna (who has not witnessed such behavior) is in shock and gets so upset. She literally runs (1st time I've seen her go that fast) to the fence to try to save her dog! I see her, grab my flip flops, and head after her. When I get there she is already hitting the fence (trying to hit Peanut) and yelling quite hysterically at the dogs. I told Jenna to come here, and she turns to me with tears in her eyes, so upset that Joey is getting hurt (so she thinks). I grab Joey and we head inside...she hugged him and was so relieved that he was okay!

The look on her face once we were inside and Joey was safe and sound was priceless! It was the cutest thing ever...she felt so accomplished! However, it wiped her out too! She went down for a nap within 5 minutes of coming inside and that was 2 hours ago! What a trooper!!!

Jenna saves the dog!!!

~J~

E-N-E-R-G-Y

Where is that wonderful 2nd trimester energy? I mean c'mon if anyone needs it it's me, right? I mean, my house is in need of a deep cleaning, my laundry is in need of hangers, and I have a 13 month old! So where is it?

I am sitting here on my big comfy chair, wasting a perfectly wonderful opportunity to clean while Jenna is napping, and where is my energy?

I am just saying..... lately it seems as if after NOON I feel wiped out! This is just not gonna do. I have to change this and quick!

I feel like a silly cheerleader that wants to chant....

En-ner-gy! En-ner-gy! En-ner-gy!

(I know it only has one N, I am just demonstrating how it would sound.)

Maybe some vitamins....or some SUGAR!!! That's it...I'm going to make me some cupcakes...right now!

~J~

Drano gender test....

Has anyone else ever heard of this? So... the nursery supervisor at my church told me yesterday at church to do a Drano gender test to determine the sex of the baby. She said that she doesn't know anyone it has failed on! So of course when I heard that I decided.....heck yeah!

So today I went to Lowe's to get the Drano (crystals) to start the process.

But here's the deal....
She told me that you put about the same amount of Drano as you do "pee" and of course do it outside bc the smell could knock you out...not to mention it causes a pretty big chemical reaction that isn't safe inside. You get a medium to large glass and put a little Drano (crystals) in it and then you pee in a seperate cup and pour it in. Once the mixture bubbles up and settles, then the sex it determined by the remaining color!

Ok, so I know you probably think it's disgusting (and it is and also smells HORRID)...but I did it!
Before I did it I kinda forgot which color she said was for which...so I checked it out online.
And to my surprise it's actually pretty popular (they say between 89-97% accurate, but also an old wives tale) ....however, the colors that all the different sources online said about gender is not the same as what she said (I asked her again)!

So here I have a bunch of different sources and now "WHO IS RIGHT?"

So here's my theory...since it's been a while since she did it last (4 yrs)...maybe she got the colors confused....OR I am just as much in the dark now as before!

I know though....you want to know what the test said....RIGHT?!?

Well...according to my 5-6 different online sources, if the mixture turns dark and muggy then it's a boy and if it stays clear or lighter then it's a girl.

So "according to my sources" we are having a BOY! Which would be really exciting....but I am not getting my hopes up. Because if my friend is right then the same color means its a girl! Also exciting.....

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!! What do you think?

Either way...I will get my sono in about 3 weeks or so...so we'll know for sure then

~J~

To do or not to do.....

So I am sitting here writing out all the projects that need done in our house before this next baby arrives...and really preferably before the holidays arrive.

I have to move Jenna into her new room by the end of September which means re-painting, re-carpeting, new blinds, trim around windows, staining furniture, new outlets, etc.

Then I still need to finish putting up shelves in my master bathroom and finish out the decorating. (ok, I can live without the decorations, but not the shelves.)

Next, I have to get Jennas current room ready for the new baby, which means new carpet, re-painting, new outlets, new blind, etc.

Oh and lets not forget the BIGGEST of them all....that would be the kitchen remodel! Oh yes! All the cabinet doors have to be replaced, the current cabinets sanded down and re-stained, new sink, new countertops, new backsplash, new venthood, fix the stove, new lighting, taking out the hanging cabinets oh and yes, PAINTING!

Now of course I am going to hire out the kitchen re-model. But just having my kitchen taken away for a week or two is not cool and I have to get this done before I have a new born! I mean, I am going to be working hard as it is keeping the dust and stuff away from Jenna! Then there's the question of food...I mean, I don't want to eat out solid for 1-2 weeks! Especially bc it's just tiring! But I know it has to be done...so complaining about it is just a waste.

You might be asking why we are doing all this remodeling?

Well, let me take a chance to explain....
The house we live in was originally a rent house we had, and of course we had tenants. The house was originally only supposed to be ours for about 6 months and the people we had in it were in contract to buy it from us. However, they fell behind on their pymts and the rest is history. They are no longer here, and well, we are. The only reason we are is because when I saw the house (I was in my early stages of pregnancy with Jenna & didn't know it) I decided to "flip this house!" (total hormones)

Anyways, so here we are remodeling! And in a few years when it's done and we have decided exactly where we want to build or re-locate to (probably Mansfield or Midlothian area) we will sell. But until that it's remodel time!!! We have already remodeled both bathrooms and most of the living room. So things are looking up....

But here's the whole reason for this blog....
So we haven't had a "vacation" since our 1 year anniversary in 2006. I mean that's 3 years! We have had a few getaways, but no actual "vacation." Knowing that we will be having another baby, the possibility of us being able to take a vacation after that will be very slim. And it is MUCH needed. My husband works 50-55 hours a week. Except for Wednesdays and Sundays, my husband doesn't even get home until about 8:45p.m. (on a good day)
I mean, we are so blessed to be able to have our own business, and God has done amazing things with it. But some alone time with my husband would be marvelous!

So here's the deal....do we vacation or get all the remodeling done? Now the perfect thing would be to have my kitchen remodeled while we are on vacation, but do we dare?

Tough choice....because where we really want to vacation is Atlantis in the Bahamas!
We went there for our 1 year anniversary and the place is amazing!!!
(check it out at www.atlantis.com)
I mean...you talk about a luxury vacation...that place is immaculate!

Then there's the tough part of leaving my little girl here without us...ahh! I have never left her overnight...but I figure between my sister and having JD's parents stay here at the house we could manage.

I'll let you know what we decide....just thought I'd share what's been going on in my head today!

~J~