Baby Gender Reveal

     We found out the gender of baby number five back in April. It was the day after our anniversary and the same day Joel and I were getting ready to leave the kids and head out on our anniversary date. Back when I was 17 week and went in for my first check-up with the doctor that delivered Summer; Dr. Wiberg, we did an ultrasound at the appointment. I was convinced this baby was going to be a boy. I have felt like our family was supposed to have a couple of little boys in it since Joel and I first got married and since we don't plan on having more than one more kid I figured this one had to be a boy. We couldn't get a super great look but during the ultrasound Dr. Wiberg was pretty sure we were having a little girl. She told me there was still hope that the baby was a boy and set me up with an ultrasound appointment on the day I turned 21 weeks.

      When we went in for the 21 week ultrasound I left the girls with my grandma and Joel met me there. Joel made it there just in time for them to take me back in for the ultrasound. We had a student do the ultrasound and she was slow, the appointment took an hour and a half, but I really liked her. As soon as she started the ultrasound she could tell what we were having and didn't wait to tell us, which I appreciated. We are in fact having another little girl. I am glad we had a few weeks thinking we might be having another girl. It made the news not such a huge shock. Our girls have all been desperately hoping this baby would be a girl so I knew they would be super excited. Our baby was laying sideways and she had her head tucked right in my pelvis area so we could not get a picture of her face at all. She was doing the same thing at my other ultrasound so the only picture I have is a picture of her leg and foot. I tried to get the hospital to print another picture of her hand or something but they told me it cost too much so they only do CDs. I only paid $235 out of pocket for the appointment so I thought it was kind of ironic that they couldn't even afford to print off a picture. Last time I got a CD it didn't work so I haven't even tried to load this one yet.                                                                 
     Annalyn was begging to know what the baby was from the moment I picked her up from grandma's house but I made her wait to find out when Brynlee and dad got home. Luckily Joel came home early that day because I don't think the kids could have handled much more suspense. Annalyn, Kyla, and Summer helped me to get the reveal ready by covering a mason jar with playdough. Then we added baking soda to the jar and I put a lid on it. Summer kept trying to put playdough in the jar and I think we might have lost some of the baking soda but I figured there was still enough. The minute Joel walked in the door the kids were ready. I added some food coloring in with the baking soda while they were in the other room and then all four kids got a cup with vinegar. I asked everyone what they thought the baby would be and even Summer said "girl." On the count of three the kids added the vinegar and out came some red bubbles. The girls knew this meant it was a girl so they started celebrating right away. Summer was a little slow to add her vinegar and I think she just liked watching to reaction of the mini volcano we made because she was just as excited as everyone else. I am getting excited to raise five little girls and we are all pretty excited for her to join our family. I think Joel was more prepared for another girl than I was and has been nothing but excited. We are going to have a hard time thinking of another girl name so wish us luck.

     I was really glad I changed doctors. 40 minutes is a long drive in for an appointment and then I have to drive the same distance home but it was worth it to have a doctor that I like. The only problem is that my doctor will be out of town during the week my baby is due. If I want her to deliver the baby I will probably have to be induced a few days early. At the ultrasound they gave me a due date of August 30 so we talked about having me induced a week early on August 23 or 24 which I later found out is the day my girls start back at school so it wouldn't be the best timing. For now I am going to keep going to her and see how things go but I am not super excited about being induced.

     As of today I am a little over 25 weeks along. I had Annalyn take a picture of me when I was exactly 25 weeks along and little Summer had to get in the picture with me. I am feeling pretty good still these days. I have had lots of heartburn lately and it is starting to get harder to exercise and do some of the things I usually do but I am still feeling pretty good. I have been much less tired and have had more energy than my first trimester so I am trying to take good advantage of that by getting lots of chores and gardening things done now. I am already getting hot so I am kind of dreading the heat of summer. We will see how it goes. We are all excited to meet this little baby girl that will join our family in a few month.

10 Years of Marriage

     Joel and I celebrated 10 years of marriage back in April. My parents put bunk beds in their spare bedroom and my kids have been begging to go and sleepover at their house. My parents offered to watch all of them so the weekend right after our anniversary we dropped all of the kids off and went out to dinner. This was the first time I have ever left all of the kids overnight. They were pretty excited about staying the night so that made it easier to leave them. 

     Joel insisted that if we had the night to ourselves we had to do something more exciting than to stay at home so we went and stayed overnight at this place in Boise called the Anniversary Inn. They have a bunch of themed rooms and we stayed in one called the "country garden." They had a circular bed that looked like a gazebo. Annalyn insisted I take pictures of the room. You can see them below. It was nice to have a whole night where no kids came in our room and I didn't have to worry about cleaning or anything. 

Once we got into the room and looked around we decided to watch a movie. Joel found that there was a redbox that was close so we decided to walk there. We walked right by the train depot which is the spot where Joel and I took our engagement pictures. We took a selfie there just for old times sake. I will have to find the old CD with some of the picture so I can compare them. The walk to get our movie took much longer than we thought but it was nice and enjoyable. Most of the good movies were taken so we ended up getting renting the new "Jumanji" movie. We had a nice walk home and such a fun time alone together. 

Joel has been working hard and had a lot going on at work and life with four kids is a little crazy so this night was much needed. I sure do love this guy and the life we have created together. We had a fun time. They brought us breakfast and we got to sleep in and just enjoy being together. It was the perfect way to celebrate ten years of marriage.