Surprise!

Christmas attire for three people: $40

Apartment rent for three people (including picture window backdrop): $867

Photo session for three people: Free (thanks to good friends)

Knowing there's actually FOUR people in this picture: Priceless

That's right - Maddie's going to be a big sister in June! We've been holding onto this secret since the beginning of October, which has been the hardest thing I've ever done! But we really wanted to wait until Christmas to tell our families, and it was so fun to plan their "gift" and enjoy their surprise! On the flip side, this whole pregnancy thing is completely to blame for my lack of blogging over the past couple months ... and my lack of doing pretty much everything else. I have been SOOOOO sick! AHHHHHH. I thought I was sick with Madison and was hoping this one would be easier, but it turns out I didn't even know what sick was the first time around. I'm so glad that I had my sister here with me because she ended up doing a lot more than just watching Madison while I worked in the mornings. We all would've been existing on Rice Krispies for the last three months if not for her! I'm definitely already missing her! Anyway, I'm just praying it will get better soon! I'm 16 weeks, for crying out loud!

We have an ultrasound in a couple weeks to find out what we're having, although I'm sure it's a boy given all the trouble he's already causing :) Last time around, I really wanted a boy and was kind of disappointed when we discovered otherwise. This time, I'm okay either way. I girl would be easier and cheaper since we're already pretty stocked up on pink but I honestly can't imagine having another little girl right now. Maddie is my little girl, and it just doesn't seem possible there could be another one (yes, we are planning on having more than two, so I know someday I'll have to get over it!). Either way, I'm excited. And scared out of my mind. Two kids. Yikes. And for me, it's not just learning how to juggle two kids. I'm basically starting from scratch! One of the lasting effects of  Maddie being in the hospital so long after she was born is that I actually don't really know how to take care of a newborn. I mean, we were there all the time, but we weren't allowed to do a whole lot with her and everything we did do was supervised by nurses. I didn't have to deal with the cord stump. And she was already on a fantastic sleep and eating schedule by the time she came home. So this is definitely going to be an adventure. Wish me luck :)

If the next one is anything like this one, we're in for a wild ride!