Catching Up & Very Exciting News!

It's been nearly 7 weeks since our last post (major kudos to all the bloggers out there... no idea how you so faithfully post every day/week) and lots has happened in that time, to say the least. So I'll dive right in with short updates and lots of photos.

I'll start with our most exciting news... I'M PREGNANT AGAIN! And "it's" another "HE"!!! I know most, if not all, of you reading already know this, but this news is certainly still blog worthy. After all, when Little Man #2 reads this in 18 years, I wouldn't want him saying: "Really Mom? Caleb got a full year+ of weekly and monthly updates, and you couldn't even bother mentioning I was on the way?" Well LM#2, please know that you are just as highly anticipated as your older brother was and we cannot wait to meet you in November!! 

I'm due November 8th which puts me at 21 weeks preggo right now. While I was super exhausted the first trimester and a bit nauseated, I am feeling great now. With how similar this pregnancy has been to Caleb's, I should have known the babe was a boy, but I was actually quite shocked. Based on the two dreams I'd had (both of which included a baby girl), and the fact that we already have a girl's name picked out, I was so sure we were having a "she". Many people have asked if I was disappointed with the news, and the resounding answer is NO. It did take a day or two to wrap my mind around two little boys running around, but we are absolutely thrilled that Caleb will have a buddy to play with and wrestle - especially since they will only be 20 months apart. We're already praying that God would help forge a real friendship between the two, which will make for so many great memories. 

Here are the photos we have so far of the pregnancy and announcement:

Caleb had fun with the balloons... little does he know what they represent - a sibling that is going to
rock his world when he comes like a thief in the night to steal away our attention and affection.
Caleb - I pray that you know that we will never love you any less than we do right now. I promise!

After spending the afternoon celebrating our exciting news with Caleb, Tim and I
went on a lovely date to our favorite restaurant in Geneva. Would you believe me
if I told we did not plan the coordinating blue outfits in celebration of a boy - we
really didn't, I swear! It does make for a fun photo though :)

So excited to raise two little ones with this man!

After spending the first year documenting Caleb's "firsts", I have seriously neglected to do so since then. I promise to write another post soon with a list of firsts from the past 3+ months, but I am only going to share one of them here.  Unfortunately, this is not a first we are excited about. Poor little Caleb experienced his first concussion a couple weeks ago :( Albeit a minor one, it was definitely not fun... for any of us. After 25 minutes of crying and an incredibly disgusting episode of puking all over mom, it was apparent that something was not right. My dad (aka "Dr. Grandpa") confirmed it was likely a concussion and instructed us to spend the next 2 hours watching his behavior and making sure he did not slip into unconsciousness. Our main concern was definitely Caleb's health, but we couldn't help but selfishly wonder what in the world were we going to do with a toddler from 7:30-9:30 pm. Tim had the brilliant idea to take Caleb down to the Wheaton College football field where we had a blast! Needless to say, Caleb's behavior certainly indicated he had bounced back.

Here is a video we took that night of Caleb "dancing":

Quarterback, or...

Lineman?

Tim and I also ran a half marathon since I last posted. There were 15 of us from our small group that ran either the 10K or half. It was a great experience with awesome friends, and the best part... it's over!

I ran the half in 1:52:09 and Tim ran it in 1:53:30. Lots of people have asked if we ran it together, and based on the fact that our times were so close, you might think we would have run at least some of it together. We have never been good running partners and decided not to force it. In fact, for 10 of the 13.1 miles, Tim ran just 5-10 seconds behind me. I knew that entire time that his plan was to run right behind me until the last mile, then sprint ahead for the "win". His plan was thwarted when he pooped out at mile 10 :)

I guess I will post another one of Caleb's firsts - his first trip to the Mall of America. Most of the experience was either lost on him or overwhelming, but he did enjoy the kiddie rides:

This boy loves his trucks and thoroughly enjoyed driving his own in circles! 

We also celebrating Father's Day for the second time. We spent the afternoon at the Splash Park (basically a big fenced in cement slab with fountains and water guns). Caleb spent 10 minutes in the water and the rest of the time on a choo choo train in the corner. Either way, it was a great way to celebrate the wonderful father that Tim is to a very blessed son.

Swoon

Caleb and I spent last weekend in Marshall with my parents and my sister Hannah and her husband Michael while Tim spent the weekend golfing with a bunch of friends:

Thanks for the awesome Twin Cities hat Grammy... so stinkin' cute!

Caleb sitting on Grampa's shoulders waving at all the passing cars 

He was enamored with the fountain! 

He's also crazy about his Uncle Michael

And now for a random smattering of some fav photos from the past 7 weeks:

Caleb laughing at Dad driving

Poppy was in town which called for a celebration - Caleb loved his first ice cream cone!

This has got to be one of my top three moments as a mom... watching Caleb copy Tim as the two of them mowed the
lawn together. I was melting! 

Caleb and some of his buddies after a morning of play. 

He shoots! He scores!