Just One

I had my first ultrasound today. My midwife told me last week that it wasn't a bad idea to have an early ultrasound to confirm dates, but also to make sure there was only one baby (given that I'm in my 30s, have a family history of twins and have already had one set of twins myself). Soooo, we were relieved to learn that there is just one Baby Gomes and we are right on for dates. Today the baby measured 10 weeks, 1 day.

Don't forget to enter your "vote" for girl or boy :-) Personally, I think it's a girl, but I ALSO thought Jude was a girl. What do I know!?!

Baby Gomes # 5

If you noticed the bottom "ticker" at the top of our blog, than you've probably figured it out... we're having ANOTHER baby. Okay, this little one wasn't planned (getting pregnant has never been a problem for us, apparently even when we're actively trying NOT to). We've already had 4 children and we've been blessed to bring both Abby & Jude home. With two, there is one for each of us, with three, Jon and I are going to be outnumbered! We're getting used to the idea of having 3, but it means some changes are in store...our civic hatchback is just not going to cut it, two of the kids will need to share a room... you'd think with our addition that we'd have room, but the addition was to make room for Jon & I (Abby has our room, Jude has Abby's old room & Jon and I are in the "family room"). Jude will be 18 mos old, Abby will be nearly 4. It will be BUSY for awhile, but it will be fun! God has truly blessed us already. To have another one is simply another blessing. I'm excited. Any thoughts on boy or girl? Feel free to leave your "vote" in the comments section :-)

Helping Daddy

Now that the ground is thawed, we've been working on some landscaping (aka, getting rid of the big piles of soil beside the addition). We've built up the newer part of the lot and Jon's been working on a retaining wall to make an "upper yard" and a "lower yard". Abby likes helping Daddy. She has her own shovel and wheelbarrow and dumps the dirt like Daddy.
"I'm taking a break...you can do it Daddy"
Abby's been collecting rocks to feed to "Jigajoe". Jigajoe is the name she gave to a duck on one of her balls. She makes a little hole for the ball and then brings rocks over and stacks them in front of the duck. It's very cute! She's VERY busy when she's outside.

Jude's not so stationary anymore...

Jude's got the combat crawl down, although backwards is still easier for him. He's all over the place now. Abby's happy that he's learning how to crawl, but is not at all pleased when he reaches something of hers.
Jude will often get himself backed into a spot where he can't easily get out!
"What am I doing UNDER my jumperoo?!"
Jude has been going in circles using his arms to get something he wants. He's still trying to figure out how to coordinate his legs and arms. The day is coming.... I've already started closing gates because one of these days he'll figure it out and be GONE!

Easter Brunch

We were invited to our friends' home (Troy, Katie, Anthony & Alexandra Setala) for an Easter Brunch & Easter Egg Hunt. Jude especially enjoyed the brunch part of the day!

Abby gearing up for the hunt... I think the goggles will DEFINATELY help!
YEAH! It must have been the goggles :-)

"The Look"

This is "the look". Abby gives us "the look" when we've asked her to do something she'd rather not do or when we've otherwise "offended" her. On this particular occassion, she didn't want her picture taken.

Stationary Jude

Jude enjoying his yummy water!
Atlhough he MUCH prefers to sit and play, he's been standing up to play as well. We went to Chapters this past week and he stood and played with the trains while I read stories to Abby. He will pull himself up to standing, but only when he's really motivated. He's not crawling forward yet, but is combat crawling backwards & in circles. Jude is very laid back and 25 lbs.... he has to really want something to move for it!

Jude loves the bath now and splashes like a nut the whole time. Abby likes helping. Although she got more of his face than his hair when she was helping rinse the shampoo, he just sputtered and smiled at her. He loves his big sister!

Helping Mummy & Dressing Up

Athough I originally got these overalls second-hand for Jude in a year or two, Abby spotted them and decided that she needed some overalls. They JUST fit her.
She thought it would be a good idea to help Mummy scrub the floor.
Abby with her "Dora" hair that she WOULDN'T wear for Halloween and her pretend "floaties" (aka water wings).
Ready for church! It was raining, but she thought it would be a good idea to wear her sunglasses.