It's a.....BOY!

Okay, folks, so here is the story...Nathan and I were planning on waiting to find out whether we were having a boy or girl until the very end! Well, we recently have become aware of a few blood disorders that are dominant on my side of the family. Therefore, I have to now get tested to see if I have a blood disorder. Even if I don't have a blood disorder, the baby still has a chance of getting one because I can be a carrier...

SO, the doctors that are doing all of this testing for me have to know the gender of the baby in order to predict the probability of the baby having a blood disorder. (Most of the blood disorders on my side of the family are male dominant). Basically, the higher the probability of a blood disorder, the higher the likelihood that it was going to be boy. So instead of accidentally finding out when someone slipped and said something, we just decided to find out!

I am still adjusting to the fact that this little one is a boy :) Since we already have a girl, it was hard to envision a boy in there! Nathan and I are so excited to meet this little man in January! We already have a name picked out but you are going to have to wait until January to find out! Bailey doesn't completely understand just how much this will change her life but she is going to be a wonderful big sister!

Eight Months

Wow, I really cannot believe it has been 8 months since Nathan and I became parents! Bailey is such a joy and learns something new every day!

Her smile could brighten any one's day! She is almost crawling and although she doesn't quite get the mechanics of how her knees work, she still gets from A to B by rolling or her personal favorite....a graceful nose dive from the sitting position. I have a feeling this girl is going to be a gutsy toddler some day!

This picture was taken on her 8 month birthday! Such a pretty girl!

She sits up a lot better now and really enjoys having the freedom to play with her toys more independently! She is FINALLY starting to grow some hair although I would still call it nothing more than peach fuzz! Thank goodness for bows!

She still LOVES playing peek-a-boo! Here is a video of Bailey and Nathan playing her current favorite past time (please excuse the poor quality...I took the video with my iPad)...

Bailey just said "Ma-ma" for the first time this last week and it is now her favorite thing to say! Grandma Patten is already trying to get her to move on to "Gra-ma" but it might be awhile for that! She loves looking at her books and giggles at almost everything! 

My Great-Grandma Anita Pedersen got re-married this weekend! Pretty sure that Bailey will be the only little girl in her elementary school someday to say that she attended her Great-Great-Grandma's wedding...

Rachel and her family are back visiting from Virginia this week so my next blog will be full of cousins pictures! After telling Bailey a story about the dragon in the deep dark forest last week over the phone, Riah informed her he was going to teach her how to give hugs and kisses! :)

Full of Giggles

Wow, time is flying by! Nathan and I are enjoying every moment that we have with our sweet baby girl! She will be six months old in a few weeks! We have taken some fun videos of her over the last month or so! Enjoy!

Bailey laughs at my hiccups!

Go figure her favorite toy would be a water bottle...

Bailey started cereal and fruits! :) Yum Yum!

Bailey (6 months) & Cousin Daxton (2 months) 

Hope you are all having a wonderful February as we anticipate spring! 

So Thankful

Nathan and I have so much to be thankful for this year! Our first home, the blessing of our first born daughter and soaking up every moment we can with her! I can't believe that one year ago I was pregnant with Bailey and didn't know it yet! Christmas morning was the day we found out we were pregnant and here we are a whole year later and we have a beautiful 3 month old daughter!

Parenthood has been quite an adventure! I work part time 2 days a week at Collage Center. While I am working, my mom stays with Bailey. She loves her Grandma time (and Grandma loves her Bailey time)! Bailey started sleeping through the night at 7 weeks and now goes down about 9pm and sleeps until 8am! This is very nice for both Nathan and I to have a full night's sleep! Bailey and I enjoy our days at home when I don't work! Being a stay at home mom has always been something that I have looked forward to and I am so thankful that I can still spend the majority of my week at home with her while still being able to be in the office doing something I am passionate about at Collage Center!

Bailey has grown so much in the last 3 months! She has almost doubled her weight! She is a whopping 15.2 pounds as of December 3rd! She started giggling, blowing bubbles, holding some of her toys and sitting up with help from us! We love making her laugh and smile!

On November 20th, we made a public dedication with our church family to bring up Bailey in a household that serves the Lord. We were blessed to have lots of friends and family come to her dedication to support us as we endeavor into the realm of parenthood.

Bailey & I

Our Family at Bailey's Dedication 11-20-11

Daddy & Bailey

We were able to spend Thanksgiving with Nathan's family since my parents traveled to VA to see Holden, Rachel, Eric & Carley. It was great to just relax the whole weekend! I even got in on some Black Friday shopping with one of my friends. Stood in line at Kohls for an hour and my friend and I decided that we need a better strategy next year and we are already making plans! Here was Bailey's Thanksgiving outfit...

Everyone is thankful for ME!

Chillin in her bumbo seat...

Cousin Fletcher catching some snuggles with Bailey and Uncle Nate!

We are looking forward to spending Christmas with both of our families! Bailey will get lots of lovin, I'm sure!