Michaelsen Baby Love: March 2015

Well, I thought I had posted a pic a couple of weeks ago and I looked today and realized it hadn't posted after all. So - it's old news to pretty much everyone, but Jax is incredibly excited to announce that he's graduating from only child to big brother!

I am finally feeling a little more normal. FINALLY. Thank goodness! I'm still tired and in bed sometime between when Jax goes to be and when Brian goes to bed (I used to be the night owl of the house), but it's nothing like the 7pm average I had going on in February! I say average because 7pm is by no means the earliest or the latest that I crawled in bed and passed out, but it wasn't too long before or after that time!

Less than 5 weeks from today we'll know if we're having a boy or a girl this time around. While Jax tends to change his answer depending on the final choice given to him (example: if you say boy or girl he'll answer girl, if you say girl or boy he'll answer boy), I've found when it's just Jax and me he answers girl more often regardless of how I ask. Not that it means anything - he has the same 50% chance of being right as I do! Anyway, I think this is the sweetest little video - it's the first time I asked him or even mentioned the pregnancy to him in any way.

Boy or girl - if you ask me we can't go wrong. Girls clothes are so cute! Who doesn't want to shop in baby girl clothes! But, brothers. What more can I say! I'd love Jax to have a brother! Besides, boy toys are so much more fun! There simply isn't a wrong answer - I'm just excited to know!

In the last couple of months Jax has really taken the dive into full fledged big boy. After many months of practicing on a toilet Jax took about one week (one relatively easy week - in hindsight) for him to master the art. I couldn't be more proud of him.

Okay, so a few months have gone by since my last post - I'm going to get to pics now!

We didn't get a lot of snow this winter (yet?), but we did get enough in early December for Brian and Jax to make a snowman. He was so excited to build Olaf!

These boys hold my heart.

Daddy is making it snow

On Jax's birthday we had a mini breakfast celebration, just the 3 of us, and then headed to Crown Center to go to the Aquarium before heading to Salina to celebrate with Austin (who turned 2 the same day) and the rest of the family.

Petting a sea urchin at the aquarium

"oh, sea horses! I love them! Aren't they cute!"

We had a joint party for Jax and Austin at Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina. It was a How To Train Your Dragon theme and they brought some of the zoo animals in for the kids to see and touch. Tara and I requested that all animals have legs (no snakes) simply so that the staff didn't find themselves in a room full of kids and none of their parents (we'd be outta there)!

dragon cake - this was pretty much all Austin was interested in! I had to get a picture before the fingers in the icing started showing up.

stinky armadillo, but he was awfully cute! They let him run around a bit. He was just darling.

Scott was struggling to understand why everyone but him got a birthday that day (understandably), so Jax let him help blow out the candle.

We went to the Rolling Hills Zoo to meet Santa and decorate cookies and have story time with his head elf and watch his other helpers dance and then write our letters to Santa and mail them. A week or so later Jax got a letter BACK from Santa!

Jax meeting Santa!!!

Jax was more interested in eating the toppings than decorating the cookie. He just kind of dumped and then ate it off. Still tasted delicious!

Jax getting excited for the dancers!

Those knuckleheads! They love playing in the wood bin!

A couple of weeks later all of the Pestingers gathered to celebrate Christmas together. Santa made a surprise visit and got great reception this year! Jax wasn't too excited to sit on his lap, but wanted his help opening the present he brought him!

Santa and the troublesome trio

We got a new visitor this year for the Christmas season. Jelly Bean the elf came to live with us for a month or so! He rode the Polar Express in from the North Pole and then drove it around the Christmas tree this year.

Jax loved the train.

Another friend of Jelly Bean's. Jax named him Graham. Called him Graham Cracker rather than nut cracker!

A mild winter day at Nana & Papa's. Counting rocks - we were counting for a long time!

Jax loves Blue. He's getting more and more gentle with her and more and more cuddly with her, too!

Santa, and everyone else who loves Jax might have gotten a little crazy at Christmas. Looking back at pics I'm still overwhelmed by it all! But he loved every minute of it!

testing out his new clubs!

Arg!

Just look at that cherub face! Praying before mass.

We spent some time after Christmas in Frisco with Julie, Riley, and Brian Jackson. It was a great time - even if all three of us had colds.

Looks like Austin is enjoying a hug - and like Jax is trying to make it less enjoyable!

Papa gave Nana a bear for Christmas. YIKES! A BEAR!!!

Riley showing Jax how to build a ramp for his cars

Bathtime in a BIG bath tub!

We did leave a bit early because the altitude was just making the colds that much worse. The day we left to head home I found out I was pregnant. Brian was not expecting that when he asked what I wanted to talk about!

A couple of days later Tim & Peg came to visit and we had our 4th (and final) Christmas of the year. Oy! That's a LOT of presents in one month! But we had a great visit and Jax was thrilled to open more gifts!

nap time with Olaf

Bye bye snuggles with Grandpa

The next weekend Brian and I were headed to Mexico for a couple days of sunshine (Jax stayed home with Nana). I had high hopes that the trip would come before the morning sickness. I felt fine traveling to Mexico, but the next day the sour stomach started. It was not the worst of morning sickness, but it wasn't how I wanted to feel on vacation, either. At least I was comfortable and warm (mostly, it was cloudy and windy a couple of days), and had people to bring me anything I wanted!

I love this pic if the gulls hanging out at the pool.

We went out to dinner the first night. It was cool and windy! After that night I never had the energy to leave the room again after retiring from the beach each day and showering. The 1st trimester exhaustion hit fast and hard!

So we found out that our concierge would arrange for any food from any resort restaurant to be brought to us as room service (in addition to the room service menu)! God bless that man! He rescued this tired mama's hungry tummy!

I was so happy to see my J$ (Jax was dubbed "J-money" by Dustin years ago).

Jax loves his post-bath "big hug"

practicing yoga

best buds

Grandma & Grandpa gave him a hat box FULL of hats. Today he's a cowboy!

In February we had some nice weather and I propped myself up in a chair on the patio with my fancy new camera (Brian spoiled me this Christmas ;) and tested it out on my #1 subject.

Brian's birthday was pretty exciting for Jax. He was having present withdrawal! He told Brian well before his birthday that he had a present for him and it was hidden in the closet. Note to self: this kid can't keep a secret!

Cherry chip cake with cherry icing on request. Jax helped Dad blow out the candles.

This is how we spent most of February - mom only half-conscious on the couch and Jax coming by regularly to get a snuggle.

Class pics. Only missing one kid from class: BFF Katie! I'm impressed with these kids!

Jax decided he was ready to drive. I learned to take the keys with me. He can't quite get the car doors open, but if he's not out of the car yet he can get them all closed!

Jax had his first dental appointment & teeth cleaning and polish. He did great! I was thoroughly impressed!

We had a BIG development in February. After many months of practice and about a week of boot camp (with relatively few accidents) Jax was potty trained! YAHOO!!!!! To celebrate his first big day on the toilet he got to go bowling. He LOVED it! He almost beat me (not saying much for him. Says a lot about me...)

He'd cover his eyes - peek through his fingers and squeal "I can't look!"

Every pin knocked down deserves a celebration!

My camera was cold and fogged over for most of Scotty's birthday party, so I didn't really get any pics there, but we did break out his new bubble maker and play on their new playset and have a great afternoon a few weeks later later! Both were a huge hit!