Almost half way there!

Almost half way there! This week we get to find out the gender of baby #2...if the hubby lets me! We found out with our first as I could not stand to wait. Joel was fine to wait and actually preferred for it to be surprise, but not me... the planner with slightly OCD personality traits had to know ahead of time. I've agreed to compromise and go with his wishes for baby #2, but I am still using power of persuasion to make him want to find out. We'll see if he bends at all.

I have a feeling its another girl. A lot has been the same with baby #2 as with our first. I've been VERY sick with ongoing nausea and indigestion. I have had headaches this time on top of the nausea which is new. No weight gain either...I've actually lost weight. I did the same thing with our daughter, so we're trying not to worry. With Isla, the sickness lasted until around 28 weeks and didn't revisit until I was in labor. Hopefully, will subside a little sooner with baby #2.

I've realized how luxurious my first pregnancy was, even if I was sick the majority of the time. The first time around I could go straight to bed, take a nap whenever I needed, not make dinner if I didn't feel like it, eat whatever I wanted, take a bath whenever I wanted and basically have many freedoms I do not have this time around. This time, I have a wide-eyed toddler watching my every move. She can tell when I'm sick, so I have to fake feeling well, put on a happy face and tell her everything is ok. She needs dinner or a snack, to be held or mommy time nearly 24/7 . She also watches my every move...if I'm craving ice cream or something she shouldn't have I have to sneak away or strategically plan my cravings. Especially since she is already a fussy eater. It's been an interesting journey already with baby #2.

We're starting to prepare Isla for her new sibling already. We've explained that there is a baby in mommy's belly, but now she thinks there is a baby in daddy's belly too and even her own! It's so cute to listen to her talk about babies and the fact that she is baby crazy right now makes us even more excited. We can tell she is going to be a very loving big sister to her little brother or sister. Hoping to find out the gender and share with our loved ones soon!

An Update on the Bradbury's

Wow, it's been over a month since my last post. You may be wondering what have the Bradbury's have been up to...

Well... First of all, Joel and I have both been very busy with new jobs! The Lord blessed both of us with a new job in October/November of 2013 and with any change, it has taken us a while to adjust and get settled. We are so grateful for the time we had together at our previous company and also feel incredibly blessed to both be in positions we love!

My new position allows me to work from home and the amount of extra time I get with our little nugget has been priceless! I have been busy working from home, spending more time with Isla, growing a human :), and also blogging over at The Mommies!

My friend Kristen and I launched The Mommies in the Fall of 2013 and we have loved the path that God has been taking us on through this blog. If you haven't already, please check us out at The Mommies and join for ongoing updates. Also, please message me if you would like to be a contributor at The Mommies! We love for other moms to share their experiences, blessings and tips.

Little Miss Isla Rae has been busy growing and changing into a little girl! That's right, her baby ways are leaving her and she is becoming more and more like a little girl rather than a baby every day. Of course, she will ALWAYS be my baby... and I'll never stop thinking of her in that way, but it's been so amazing to watch her develop over the past few months. Just this year alone, she has changed tremendously. She is more independent, the way she plays with her dolls and toys has changed... she is much more interactive now, she is VERY animated and loves to carry on a conversation, with anyone.

I feel so incredibly blessed to be her mommy and for the growing little bean in my belly!

Baby #2 Due 8-7-14

I'm excited to finally announce, Isla will have a baby sister or brother this year!

I'm overwhelmed with emotion and beyond grateful to God for His continued blessings to and allowing our family to grow.

Isla will turn two years old in June and Baby B. will be born sometime in August. With only two years between them, we hope the two will be close and develop a strong loving bond.

Here are a few snapshots of our announcement. I love how Isla is cracking up in some of these!

Christmas with Elmo

Isla is Elmo crazy! This year we got her a pair of Elmo pajamas, a Sesame Street themed kitchen set and my mom got her a stuffed Elmo. She's also crazy about Barney and loves her Barney movie that Gigi got her. Every day she wants to watch Elmo and Barney. We have to limit her TV time with these two or she would watch it all day! Luckily we have Elmo books, stickers and coloring pages too. I feel like our house is exploding with Elmo... but it's a super fun stage! It makes me curious to see what the next stage will be.... maybe Disney princesses or super heroes. Isla is such a fun special girl! Every stage has opened our eyes even more to the blessing that she is.

Here's a few of our favorite's from Christmas 2013...

19 months going on 9 yrs old...

Isla loves the older kids. She likes watching older children, playing with them and doing exactly what they do. I've seen this in her from a very young age. When she first started daycare at 6 months old, her eyes would always go straight towards the three year olds when we would walk in and as soon as she could crawl... she crawled to them, sat with them and watched their every move.

It makes me think about the future. If she'll remain like this for her entire childhood...always wanting to be like the older kids (just like I did) and not wanting to wait to grow up.

Lately, she likes to play like she is leaving. She gets her "purse", mommy or daddy's keys, and toy phone and heads for the door. She comes up to me and Joel and says, "bye" as she puckers her lips for a kiss. What a glimpse into the future. I think we are going to have our hands full for many years to come with this special girl!

The Joys of 18 Months...

The Joys of 18 Months:

• You love to snuggle - FINALLY! I've wanted to snuggle with you ever since I first learned I was pregnant, but you've never been big on cuddles. If I tried to stroke your head or rub your back after you fell asleep, you would immediately wake up. You needed your space as you slept... but at 18 months, you LOVE to snuggle. You scoot close to me, place your forehead against mine and wrap your arm around me as I hold and pat you to sleep. It makes me love co-sleeping even more. 
• You are talking - A LOT! You are pretty much saying anything and everything under the sun. You love to repeat mommy, so I am very cautious and accountable for the words I speak (which I've grown to love). 
• You are a singer. You love to sing songs and sing-a-long with me. You especially love the "Cousin Song" we made up where we sing all your cousins names. You also love 5 Little Monkeys, all though sometimes you ask me to change it up and sing, 5 Little Doggies, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Alphabet Song and 10 Bears in the Bed. You also love your Good Morning Song, which you actually taught to me!
• You are very silly - and FUNNY! Your dad and I crack up laughing at you constantly and you love to make us laugh. You like to hide behind the door way to the kitchen and peep your little head around to surprise us. You like to dance silly and play Ready, Set, GOOOOO! You love to be chased, thrown in the air and tickled. You also love to tickle us - instead of tickle, you say..."giggle, giggle, giggle." It's so cute!
• Your favorite pretend game is to play night night with your babies, or really any item you can find. You lay them down, cover them up with a blanket, sock, tissue, or anything you can find and pat (or beat) their backs saying - "night night baby....LAY DOWN!" It's definitely humbling hearing your parenting come from your toddler's mouth. 

Each month we enjoy you more and more and I thank God for blessing us with you daily! You are such a light. We love you.

xo, 

mommy

Isla Prefers the Reindeer...

Isla was a ball of energy this weekend! She was running wide open throughout the day and crashed before 6pm both Saturday and Sunday... must be all the talking she is doing that is wearing her out! She says nearly everything these days and repeats everything too. She carries on conversations with herself, her toys, friends and sometimes me. :)

This weekend, we took her to see Santa. We really talked Santa up all weekend. We watched Santa cartoons, played with Santa ornaments and looked up different pictures of Santa. She loved talking about Santa and the idea of seeing Santa.... but she did NOT like Santa. Not even a little... She was actually terrified of him when it came her turn, so much so that she kicked Santa in the knee!

She did however love the gift that Santa gave her and she told him, "thank you."

We'll try again next year. Merry Christmas!