Trick-Or-Treat!

This year Isabel was finally only enough to REALLY enjoy Halloween. She was excited to dress-up, had fun at her daycare party, and then got to run from house to house trick-or treating with family and friends in our neighborhood when Jason and I got home from work. It was great!

The DIVA had a hard time deciding on a costume. At one point she wanted to be Jessy cowgirl.. then it was Princess Jasmine... then it was a kitty cat... then it was a parrot.. and pretty much anything else she saw on TV or in a store that particular day .In an effort to avoid last year's "lizard/turtle" debacle... I went shopping without her and bought this bee costume on clearance at Gymboree. I figured she would love it. But apparently, she wasn't feeling the bumble bee when I brought it home. Once we convinced her it wasn't an ordinary but bumble bee... but instead a bumble bee PRINCESS ... she warmed to it.

Ready for school!

Kisses for daddy. Hey--- where is HIS costume?

with Miss Heather from Goddard

Home in time to trick-or-treat! Load up the wagons!! Payton the peacock is ready!

Uncle Scott, Aunt Shannon and cousin Marcus joined us too

The Leppins-- we loved our new neighborhood. SO many kids and families out-- people with fire pits on their driveways, having drinks, socializing etc. Like a giant block party.

The Kerruish fam- Hector looks great!

CANDY!

Belly, Collin, and Marcus. Bel enjoyed bossing the boys around and telling them where to go :)

Have you EVER seen anything cuter?

and we ended the night at Yaya and Grandpa's for some chicken noodle soup, fresh bread, and apple cider.

I HEART Halloween!

25 weeks.... getting closer

Well.. this has been a crazy month to say the least. Moved in to our new house.. bought our new (used) car... had friends and family over.. celebrated my niece's bday... visited the pumpkin patch twice.. graded about 4 zillion papers...have been up to my eyeballs in school committments.. etc.  I am tired just thinking about it.

In fact, the theme of this pregnancy can be summed up in one word. TIRED! I have read that you are supposed to regain some energy during your second trimester and start feeling good again. But I don't think this is probably the case for full-time working moms with toddlers. I think you are just exhausted when your head hits the pillow every night. Which is good because so far I am still sleeping pretty well.

The nauseous seems to have subsided  now (only to be replaced with more heartburn :) and at the last check-up everything seemed on schedule-- including my weight gain. Seems the weight comes on easier the second time around ;) The bad news is that the kidney issue still has not been resolved so in mid-November I will see a specialist for another ultrasound. They need to keep an eye on things to make sure that the kidneys do not "dilate" any further. Both my doctor and the ultrasound tech assured me it is not something to lose sleep over. Just something they like to watch. So... that worry is being given to God. Not much we can do about it right now.

We had baby "Toodles" room painted and are starting to unpack some of Bel's old baby clothes for her. While we still have a few months to go-- I know time will fly during the holidays. Our little one will be here soon!

Isabel "posing" for a pic with Mommy-- work it girls!

Giving "huggies" to Daddy

Awww.. what a ham.

Kisses for the new baby! We can't wait to meet you :)

Pumpkin Farm 2011

We made two trips out to Goeberts this year-- our fave pumpkin farm. Unfortunately, Jason couldn't make it either time. October has been a crazy month for him with a lot of weekend work events. And even though Belly was a stubborn crab apple for the first trip-- I was still able to get some cute pictures of her. ENJOY!

Starting the morning with breakfast at the pancake house- thanks YAYA

with cousin Paytee

Look at me Payton!

Yeah right... trying to get a pic of all the girls

Starting to feel very round... and looking a little orange... hey wait...

This is too much cuteness for one picture

What a diva! Kissy Kissy face

My bestie

I love this time of year!! Such fun and looking forward to Halloween --

MOVING!!!

UGH.

MOVING. I am not a fan. Luckily, if all goes well we won't have to move again for several years. It is just very chaotic and difficult living out of boxes... I am not sure how some people do it all the time.

Anyway, last Thursday "Two Men and a Truck" came and brought all of our belongings approx. four blocks to our new home. Yes, we didn't move very far. However, our house is like a whole new world. We love it! It feels so spacious compared to our condo and we are loving having our own yard and a basement. The house was pretty move-in ready but there are still lots of things we need to do around here to make it our own. But of course, it will take time and we have plenty of it now. The first priorities were getting a washer/dryer and some new living room furniture. Next, it is painting the girl's bedrooms and the downstairs bathroom. Eventually we will get through all the boxes and find a place for everything--- but for now--- we are just enjoying the chaos.

Welcome home Leppin family!!

Our front yard ...

and our backyard  :)

We back up to a "wetlands" and it is very private. Well... except for this guy who keeps visiting our backyard to eat crab apples.

 (Yes... I know. Some people may think that this is cool. I however, am a little freaked out. This deer keeps creeping closer to the house and I swear he knocked on the sliding glass door last night!)

Sitting out back-- enjoying a Sunday evening.

These are some happy homeowners!! :)

Aunt Debby Visits!

This is Isabel's HAPPY FACE.

I think she looks so happy because her Aunt Debby from Arkansas was in town last weekend spoiling her rotten. Bel got to hang out with the Leppin family for a few days and we were lucky enough to have the family around to help us move. Here are some highlights :)

Aunt Debby and Belly

Out to dinner at Francesca's (sorry Deb- caught you with your eyes closed!)

Isabel getting "lovies" from Uncle Aaron

Such a daddy's girl

Eating quickly because it is becoming harder to keep this toddler entertained through an entire meal.

Saturday morning.. off to the pumpkin patch right here in South Elgin.

My daughter will never be a farmer...... she was completely freaked out by this petting zoo.

Look who else was there! Don't you just want to eat this sweet little nugget up? My niece Payton is a little dolly.

Though she was afraid of the animals... she loved riding the pony. (Even when they had to stop the ride because hers had an "accident")

We didn't pick one out yet to bring home.. to heavy to walk with :)

Who is this GQ stud in the pumpkin patch?!

Everyone watched as Bel rode the ponies (and more importantly ate all the potato chips and M&Ms she could get her hands on)

We were thankful that Aunt Debby made the long drive up-- and glad we got to spend some quality family time together.

See... there's that HAPPY FACE again!

       Yes....... another little Leppin girl!! Okay, I realize this news is coming a little late, but things have been CRAZY around here with the big move and I realized that I forgot to post the good news. Jason came with me to the ultrasound and before we walked into the office I asked him one last time what he thought... and he said GIRL. He seemed pretty sure about it and of course he was right. She looked so sweet and I got to see her little heart beating--- and we have a new picture --- (only I can't find it to post because it is in a box somewhere) The only downside to the appointment is that the Dr. said the kidney was measuring a little off so they need to keep a closer eye on it. Of course, my doctor also reassured me that it is probably no big deal... and don't worry about it... etc. But of course I worry anyway. Which means I go back for another ultrasound this Thursday--- so please say prayers that things check out okay.

       This pregnancy continues to be very different than the first one. Isabel was a fairly easy baby to carry and life didn't slow down very much for me until the end. However, this time around I have felt many more pregnancy symptoms and at a much earlier time. My faves have included morning and evening dry heaving, sciatic nerve pain, funky rashes, and varicose veins (what?!). Of course there are still the normal preggo things like being tired, hormonal, gaining weight and having to go to the bathroom every 3 and a half minutes. Ahhhh.... it is a good thing that I now know that the reward at the end of this will all be worth it. The nice thing about a second baby is that I am less anxious and scared-- and more excited to meet my new little girl.

       Everyone is pretty excited about another girl--- my parents will have a THIRD granddaughter to spoil now.. the Leppin's only had boys so this is a new world for them I'm sure... and of course Jason realizes he is completely outnumbered now.... but he is such a great dad for a daughter. Very sweet, affectionate, and loving. Isabel is the only one who is not so "on-board". Most of the time she still insists that "Toodles" (the name she calls the baby) is her little brother. I correct her but I have a feeling it won't sink in until we bring baby girl home. How cool for her to have a little sister. My own little sister, Mandy, has been my life-long best friend and a big blessing in my life. I can only hope the same for my little girls!