AnnaB Turns 2---S'mores Birthday Party

We didn't plan on throwing a big party for your 2nd birthday, but of course it just happened and we wanted you to feel special!  I knew I had wanted to do something in the mountains for the occasion.  At first I was thinking of doing tin foil dinners, but Dad and I decided that might cost too much so we went with fancy s'mores which actually ended up being more expensive…whoops!

We invited our friends from the ward and everyone showed up so it was really fun to celebrate with all of them! {Mike, Kali & Swayde Marzley} {Shayne, Kim, Kaira, & Kameron Monson} {Hans & Diane Hansen} {Roger & Megan Campos} {Stephen, Kristen and Ella Poe} (Scott, Rachael, & Charlotte Adams}

I would say they were pretty elaborate s'mores, I went all out on the toppings…sorry Dad! We had Reese's, caramel and chocolate syrup, hershey's, marshmallows, and Oreos to squeeze in the middle of the s'more.  Everyone had a really fun time talking, eating, and just hanging out and smothering you with lots of love and presents!

Of course Grammy Shaver was so thoughtful and made you a polka dotted pink birthday skirt and shorts.  I only wish she could have been there for the festivities, it's hard having her live so far away.  You were our pink birthday princess for the day!

You, Swayde, and Charly had so much fun just being outside and playing in the dirt…I think you guys probably ate a couple of dirt s'mores too! 

On your actual birthday Tuesday August 13, we just had cake and ice cream at home with us 3. Daddy made you a scrumptious chocolate cake with pink frosting and sprinkles!  We waited to give you our big present which was your Schwinn bike! You loved it and fit perfectly on it.  It was so fun to watch you pedal and ring your little bell, you caught the hang of riding pretty quick.

We can't believe that we have been fortunate enough to have already spent 2 joyful years with you.  You will forever be our little Annabear, we are so thankful to be your parents and are amazed by how smart and sweet you are.  Everyone just loves you, but Daddy and I love you the most!  We love our family of 3 and you truly make life better.

Schaub Reunion Aug 2013

Another fun year of camping at Woods Canyon Lake with the Schaub side of the family!  We always look forward to the rain, large amounts of yummy food, fun games, family time, tons of games, and other camp festivities.

Thankfully this year Dennis and Debbie let us stay in their camp trailer with them so it was easier for all of us to sleep, especially Annabelle.  And although we hadn't shared the news with family yet I was about 9 wks pregnant and was feeling the urge to pee a lot during the night, so it definitely was convenient for us to be able to stay in the camper with a toilet! 

An unfortunate incident happened one night while Annabelle was sleeping on the little bed atop the table in the camper.  She woke up in the middle of the night and started crying because she was scared and was trying to find us.  So of course she started to move around on her bed and then banged her mouth on the side railing pretty badly.  It was pretty dark in the camper and she had started to cry hysterically so I knew she was hurt pretty bad.  Jeff finally found a flash light and we pulled her up to our bed and noticed that she had some blood in her mouth. I was so worried that she had knocked one of her teeth out, but thankfully it was just her gums that were bleeding.  

Dennis and Debbie had also woken up to help us with her.  She was pretty unconsolable and just kept crying. We tried talking and singing to her and then gave her some tylenol.  Once the medicine kicked in she was really tired and fell back asleep on our bed.  I felt so bad for her!  The next day her lip was swollen and it looked like her tooth was a bit gray.  She went about her day though and played with all her cousins and still managed to have a fun time.

:: Water balloon volleyball with sheets, Annabelle had a lot of fun playing with the left over water balloons.  She kept dropping them on the ground and they wouldn't pop so she would just sit there and squeeze them!

:: Papa, AnnaB and Meg hanging out under the ramada hiding from the rain.

:: Jeff hates taking pics but I made him do a selfie with me.

:: Kaylie, Zacky and Audrey enjoying some early morning breakfast.

::  At the campsite they have a paved road that circles around the ramada and all the kids just love to run around it and ride their bikes and scooters.  Annabelle didn't have her own, but there were plenty of scooters that weren't being used so she had a chance to ride around on one.

::  Uncle Reed preparing the fire for the famous schaub-ka-bobs, it has to be at the right temperature.  We all love them so much that we usually run out of biscuit dough so you have to hurry and cook one before they are gone!

::  More fun on the scooter!

::  Grammy was in charge of one of the breakfasts and made an oatmeal bar with all the fixins', of course Annabelle couldn't keep her fingers out of the chocolate bowl!

:: Another Annabelle fav…cheetos!

::  It would down pour about 3x a day, we all enjoyed watching the rain and hanging out in the ramada talking and playing games and waiting for the rain to clear.

:: Troy, Tomina and Hunter Goodwin.

We always anticipate the next Schaub campout and look forward to spending more time with the Schaub side of the family! Here's to camping in August 2015!

Baby Schaub #2!!

We have been trying to get preg for awhile now and I have to admit I was pretty scared that it was going to take as long as it did for Annabelle and that we definitely should have been trying sooner. I didn't know it was such an art form to track ovulation and be on top of noticing the different signs of your body to know when you are ovulating. It's all very time consuming but worth it.

I thought I had been pregnant in June but Patty showed up, she had just made a late arrival.  Then I went on a girls trip to Utah with all the YW and for sure thought that I would get my period there too because all the girls were getting it and I was waiting for mine. It never came.  I'm silly and like putting off taking a preg test for awhile until my period is super past it's due date.

Right before we left on our trip to Altamont, Ut for a Johnson family reunion I wanted to take one. Thankfully I had 1 left in the bathroom, but of course silly me dropped it in the toilet so it was of no use!!! We were leaving early the next morning and Jeff thought it would be weird for me to take one at the hotel so I held off the urge and decided I would buy another one when we got back from Ut.

While we were at the reunion we found out that Jeff's cousin Amanda was pregnant and we actually had our first babies around the same time and I kept thinking how fun it would be to be pregnant again with her.  My boobs were hurting a bit and last time I found out I was preg with Annabelle that was a huge sign for me so I thought maybe I was!

We got back on Friday July 12th, and that night I went and bought a pregnancy test. I had been feeling that I was pregnant and was hoping that my my intuitions were right, Jeff thought this time around I was too.  I took the test and left the bathroom for longer than what it takes to get the results. Finally, I mustered up the courage and went back in to see the test sitting on the counter and it read "pregnant" on that small tiny screen!  I stared at it for a moment then with tears in my eyes came out to the living room to show Jeff.  He was playing a game so I told him to stop and he did and looked at it and said, "I already knew you were Elle!"  He was just as excited as me to have baby Schaub #2.

It just felt so right this time around to get pregnant and we both agree that it has happened at a good time.  I looked online and my due date is March 5, 2014. I think it will be awesome to have a Spring baby and I am so very thankful and excited.

I'm hoping for a little boy, but Jeff is convinced it's another girl.  He's so in love with Annabelle and I know just wants another little princess to adore. I want a little boy to remind me of him!

I'm also so very thankful for my Mother's pioneer genes that I have inherited and fortunately this time around I haven't been sick at all either.  I do feel more exhausted though and get tired a lot quicker by the end of the day.  Usually by the time Jeff gets home I just want to lay on the couch and take a little nap. Sometimes in the morning I feel like my stomach is really empty so I am trying to eat breakfast earlier.  I'm glad that I can feel well enough to take care of Annabelle and grow another baby inside.

My first Dr's appt is Aug. 15 and they will do an ultra sound.  I feel like once the baby is confirmed through the ultra sound and doing well, I will have the courage to announce the happy news!  I have anxiety from last time of getting pregnant so we decided not to tell anyone until after our first appt.  Jeff and I are both joyful about raising another child and feel richly blessed that we get the opportunity to do so.