we've been soaking up the spring here in big D.  there has been lots of yard work, trips to the park, the zoo, and the arboretum.  in texas you just have to enjoy the spring as much as possible so that when the temps start soaring, you can submerse yourself fully in water or air conditioning as much as humanly possible.  ;)

this weekend link ran in his first 5k with jay, baby p (pic below in my belly!) and me.  he did great!  he has obviously run in races with us before and in the stroller with me all the time, but this time we decided to let him try running himself, and that he did - ran just about a mile of the race and then did the rest in the stroller with a bottle of water to cool him off and his mama pushing.  he kept up a pretty fierce pace during his mile (for a 2.5 year old), because we still finished in just over 30 minutes!  way to go, link!!

he kills me in this pic.  so hardcore.  ;)  on the way home from the race, he just kept saying, "mama, daddy, that was FUN!!!"  LOVE IT.

so he likes running and climbing trees is his second favorite new hobby.  he spends a lot of time conquering these limbs in our backyard

too cool.

at the zoo with his buds

the rest of our time lately we have spent deciding on house issues (do we get a bigger house, add on to this house and start construction asap, stay in our current house, as is, or pursue a house we have a contingency contract on?!).  whew, we have a lot up in the air right now!  oh, i am now 17.5 weeks.  at this point with link we had just found out he was a boy - so i am hoping to find out the gender of this sweet baby at my appointment this week.  if not, i guess we will be waiting a few more weeks?  i am feeling really great.  i remember loving the second trimester last time, and this time i am feeling good and it seems to be the same - still comfortable in my clothes, just getting into stretchier tops for the growing belly.  :)  

this week holds a lot of possibility, as we have a lot of decisions to make on our house and another doctor appointment to learn the progress of baby p.  please say a prayer for us if you think of it.  we definitely have a lot on our hearts and minds these days, and a lot of big decisions to make this week!

easter eggs, bluebonnets, and birthday parties

it's only saturday night, and we've already had two birthday parties, an easter egg hunt at colonial with the pritchard clan, and a trip to the wildflower patch with hunny and papa.

there has been more sugar consumed in the last 48 hours by my child than in his previous year of life, haha. i'm quite certain that birthday sweets plus easter sweets (and all on the same weekend) would be a good way to start a big problem with a sugar addiction! haha, i kid. there's a time for fun, and this weekend has started off with a bang!

ADORABLE petting zoo at colonial

link and his cousin, jack.  they are 9 months apart exactly!

the thrill of the hunt

no tears, once again, he loved the easter bunny.  he ran straight for him.  his "look" was more at the photog for interrupting his big moment with mr bunny ;)

learning the ropes of the club with daddy

sweet cousins ;)

he loves, loves his papa.  makes this mama happy. :)

sweet boy

ready to give hunny a hug

elton john impersonation at jack and lauren's birthday friday...this is a keeper for link's future girlfriends ;)

crazy.

(first note - we are all okay in dallas.  this pic is from today, in the basement of our church, taking shelter from the tornadoes.  b/c of all the outbreaks, we were there for four hours!  finley and link were providing entertainment for the crowd.  cutest pic ever?!?)

everyone keeps telling me all the advantages of having kids that are three years apart (as mine will be).  to be honest, some days all i can think about is just the day in front of me - the fact that i have a WILD AND CRAZY two-and-a-half year old and am currently entering the second trimester of pregnancy, it's all pretty overwhelming.  it's been quite a ride these last couple of weeks around here.  we are entertaining adding onto our house - and then i think, hmmm, what will i do with construction workers, a 2.5 year old, and 110 degree temps this summer???  oh my.  on a very, VERY exciting note, my PARENTS ARE MOVING TO DALLAS!!!  LAKEWOOD, i might add, so they will be uber close.  i could not be more excited.  ahhhh!  finally!  i am so excited to have them close and for link and baby number two to have their grandparents nearby.  it's gonna be a good time!

anyway, speaking of pregnancy - this week i will turn 14 weeks.  i had an appointment today and everything is moving along nicely and baby is measuring right on schedule. :)  i am feeling good and just finally starting to get a little tiny bump.  all my clothes still fit and others might not know it's a "pregnant" bump yet, but i can see it - and i'm sure it will pop out to a "real" (BIG) bump VERY soon.  :)  this pregnancy has been a bit different, as i'm sure this child will be!  i have been MUCH queasier this time and lost weight in first trimester (gained with link).  but some things have been the same, dizzy, tired, all the fun stuff.  the best news is, a lot of that has started to subside, and i am feeling pretty good.  second trimester was great last time, so i am hoping for that again with this little one.  :)  we find out in about six weeks if this one has boy or girl parts...guess we should do another poll (i added one to the side column - vote!  i'm curious - last time you all chose correctly!)??

baby p, waving to us last week on the sono - "hey guys, all is a-ok in here!"

so for now i'm praying for guidance on our house, enjoying the lovely spring weather in texas, and thanking my lucky stars that i am feeling pretty great for now!  

pics of the last few days...

first easter egg hunt of the season - he was SERIOUS about it this year.  :) 

who knew sidewalk chalk and cars could entertain the monster for a whole afternoon?!

link helped me clean out a box of mine from my parents move - adopted my old racquet, some flags from flag football, and at one point old ski goggles, and created a new game with one of his basketballs.  hilarious.

finley and link at HP pharmacy, it's love over a milkshake

link and his buddies, charles and drew - being little boys.  :)

end of day, stripped down b/c of muddy clothes, enjoying some tcby.  life is good.