I see London, I see France

I love this picture for a few reasons:

1) You can see how long Mc's hair is. Almost the middle of her back.

2) Notice the dinosaurs. One in each hand. In the right hand, the T-Rex that we have been reunited with as of the past week. It was a happy homecoming for the "saurus" in the left hand.

3) The cheese grater. Yep, my kid thinks the cheese grater is a toy. It poses as a dinosaur cage most days.

4) Lastly, Mc's bum. You really forget how small she is until she is not wearing a diaper. These are her Foofa (from Yo Gabba Gabba) panties. Beloved of all, for they have yet to be peed in. You just can't resist pinching her little cheeks!

Don't be fooled. Just because she is wearing big girl panties, potty training still does not seem to be a priority for her. She likes to sit on the toilet and read- today her book of choice, "Cool Baby Names". Even Mc is stumped about what we should name our baby boy.

16 weeks and counting

I don't think I took any blog pics with Mc until I was ready to explode, so a special preview treat for all those in blog land. The rumors are true- I started showing WAY faster with this one. It was like my body said, "hey, we have been large and in charge before, why waste time". Yep, already sporting the maternity shirts and feeling that I am going to be forced into the mommy pants in no time. Positive note- quickening has begun! It still is a foreign feeling- every so often a little rumble or a feeling of something swishing in my stomach. My appointment yesterday confirmed HIS beating heart and that we are right on track. We are so excited for our baby BOY to come to our home. I just want to see HIS little face and love on HIM. (still super stoked for our little MANchild).

Not the best picture but you get the idea.

Explosions- two fold.

What may appear to be a few shots from a recent episode of "Hoarding", is actually the new variety of tantrum at the Williamson home. Despite being sick (we had feverish barfs Monday and Tuesday) the first shot, is what she managed to pull off on Monday- what looks like her dresser exploded is actually Mc throwing all of her clothes on the floor in a fit of rage. Below that, today's marvel. Really, all these pictures really tell me is #1- my child has WAY too many clothes and #2- I fear that ultimately, come the teenage years, this is what her room is going to look like anyway.
With that being said, back to the barfs. Monday Mckinley and I decided to head out to the car wash (to wash the Salt Mobile) and then to the bank. I had intentions of going to Tai Pan but as we pulled out of the ATM, a small cough and SPLAT came from the back seat. Yep- barf in the car. Gross. Smelly. Orange barf (TMI?). I got home, gagging myself and trying to get as little on myself as possible, took her out of the car, and brought her in for a bath. Fever ensued and coach loafing but I thought the barfing had ceased. Nope. Monday night, more barfing....bed, floor, pajamas. I felt so bad for her- small and shaky and never having really experienced the joy of a good lurching. We thankfully had our good friend in the ward over to give her a blessing and though a sleepless night, no more barfing. Tuesday, no barfing but she was definitely sick. For those that know Mckinley, for her to put herself in bed, and just lay there....unheard of. We seem to be out of the woods today which is great. Just grateful at this moment, we only have one kid to worry about getting sick.

Curses were made to be broken

When we set out to have another baby, we knew that the odds, being that we have 18 nieces and only two nephews (both born to Mark's sisters), were not in our favor. We had settled in to the fact that we wouldn't have to buy too many new clothes, Mc and the new "girl" baby could share a room and our little darling would fit right in amidst the high pitched screaming of the Williamson family party. Friday afternoon we had our appointment with Fetal Studio @ 2:00. We followed our European OB/GYN into the backroom and tell him we are hoping for a boy "but we don't have our hopes up". We were pleasantly surprised to see the "pee pee" (in Europe, the PC term) and our bouncing baby boy sucking away on his hand right as the wand hit my stomach. A BOY! We were both surprised, shocked and excited to share the news with our families. While at the mall, we decided to try and find some little boy clothes...not such an easy task. Let's be honest, little girls really do have the advantage- it's like 50 -1 on the cute ratio.

So here HE is! We have absolutely no boy names so that adventure begins now. We can't wait to meet him and Mark can hardly wait to teach him to hold a wrench and how to ride a motorcycle.

Have a cup of Christmas Cheer

Our first Christmas back in Utah was a success! I loved being able to spend Christmas in our newly finished basement, wake up Christmas morning in my own bed and being able to spend a little more time with all of our family rather than having to hurry back to the warmth of Arizona.

Mc made out like a bandit! I was especially excited this year to give her the kitchen that my Grandpa had made for me when I was two. He so lovingly and skillfully refinished it and I was set with the task of fake food, dishes and the like. I wish we would have given her this present last because she didn't want to open all the other gifts- just play with the fake food and the kitchen. I really wish I had taken some before pictures. It was a dark brown wood with a yellowing counter top...all redone. I also took a picture of the back. You can see my grandpa's beautiful penmanship- the first "Merry Christmas Tisha 1984 Grandpa Jim" and then Mckinley's, "Merry Christmas Mckinley 2010 Great Grandpa Jim". Such a cool memento- we were both two years old. Just so grateful for my Grandpa and his willingness to do that for me. Overall, she was loaded up with dinosaurs, books, clothes, candy and pretend lipstick (which also made the favorite present cut). The only downside to Christmas for Mc, not having an advent calendar the day after- every day since, the first thing she asks for is as chocolate. She also took a liking to "How the Grinch stole Christmas", called "Inch" at our house and I don't think we will be finding it on TV so regularly.

You can just see the excitement....

Mark and I also had an amazing Christmas. Mark got pretty much everything related to Cafe Racers (the new rage in motorcycles) as well as our little escapade to a Bed and Breakfast, commencing this evening. Mark gave me a Shark vacuum- (for real, how did I live without a lightweight vacuum with hardwood floors??), a GPS and my coveted Hello Kitty watch. We got a wireless printer (hallelujah), Les Mis tickets (excited!!!) and I was given a Brother "Project Runway" sewing machine. Still terrified to give it a whirl but it comes with an instructional DVD...so maybe soon. Our parents are amazingly gracious and we are so blessed.

Mark and I also went all out to win @ the Ellison Christmas Eve party- I was a genius and forgot my camera so...those pics to come later. Christmas 2010 was a success. Next year, we will have two kids and Mc will have a better understanding of what Christmas is all about. Here is to hoping your New Years is awesome and 2011 is even better!

Medium American Cheddar- 2010

This is what happens when you leave the block of cheese too close to the edge of the counter where toddler hands can reach. Apparently, Mckinley prefers her cheese fresh from the block.

In other news, my best friend Nausea has reared it's ugly head again. I was feeling pretty good for a few days, told the world I was doing better, and then WHAM...back to feeling like death warmed over. I have discovered the mints seem to help and the brushing my teeth (although gagging mid brush) seem to help.

We are ready for Christmas at our house and I can't believe it is 4 days away. Where has this month gone? It makes me realize that this pregnancy is going to fly by, I am going to have a 3 year old and two children before I know it and come February, we will have lived in Utah for a year. I will say, I still can't get over how beautiful fresh powdery snow is, that my house actually looks "Christmas-ey" (icicles, snow covering the lights on the roof) and the fact that I get to wake up in my own bed on Christmas morning. Here is to hoping Santa finds you all!

The Wee One

Here is our little bean @ 12 weeks. I have to admit, I was a little nervous today. Last appointment the doctor said it might be too early to hear the heartbeat- and it was. This time, the Doppler was on my stomach for what felt like an hour and there was still nothing....I almost started to cry because I had expressed to Mark how scared I was that might happen- we have all heard the horror stories. I think the Doc sensed my anxiety and got me in for a quick ultrasound. Not even one second after the wand hit my stomach- there it was...beating heart, swimming around, legs, hands...all of it. What a sigh of relief! Still too early to decide if it was a girl or girl (yes, there was no boy choice) but we should be able to find out @ the next appointment. Just glad to have a healthy baby so far. And, here is to no barfing this whole week! Truly, a Christmas miracle.