It's a.....

We found out what we are having on April 28th and I have not blogged about it!  Goodness gracious I've been busy!  The grandmas revealed gender.  Hmmm...Boy or Girl???

BOY!!!!!!!

Expecting

On January 21st, we found out we're expecting!  I knew I was pregnant the day before when I literally slept ALL day and was exhausted and still went to bed and slept 9 hours that night.  The next morning when I woke up, I went straight for the dollar store pregnancy test we had stashed in our bathroom.  When the double line was slightly faint, I thought, "ok, Andrea, time to buy the expensive test to confirm."  I drove down to walgreens, in my pajamas, and picked up the test.  When I came home, Shem was very suspicious of my behavior.  He knew I was suspecting I might be, but had no idea I took the cheap test when I woke up.  When I took the 2 step test and both confirmed positive, I couldn't keep my mouth shut.  I yelled for Shem to come inside from doing yard work to show the two tests.  He was ecstatic.  We jumped up and down and he got a little teary eyed.  It warmed my heart.  I love that man.  We waited to tell Maycee until her birthday when all the family was with us. Many family members have been waiting for this for years!  Maycee is already 5 and it's about dang time she had a sibling!

This sweet little bundle is expected to arrive late September.  Not only are we excited, but Maycee is thrilled!  Can't wait to see if it's a boy or girl.  I'm thinking boy, but we will see! We find out gender on April 28th.

A fresh start

It has been too long since I've updated our blog.  We have been enjoying life living in our rental home and have been here for just over a year.  Life is good.  I have been employed at Banner Baywood in the Neurological Progressive Care Unit working as a neuro/telemetry nurse.  I've been there for just about 6 months and am so thankful to be part of a great organization.  Shem just started school two weeks ago.  He is in 16 credit hours, including 3 labs and has made it a priority to also be enrolled in Institute.  I'm so proud of him.  He is so diligent with school work and scripture study.  Maycee and I don't get to spend time with him like we did this summer, but it is comforting realizing this is temporary.  I definitely was spoiled with him staying at home over the summer and doing various projects around the house.

Yesterday was a special day for Maycee.  It was her first day of preschool.  She loves her teacher and the small class size is perfect for individualized learning.  Even though she is almost a head taller than the other kiddos, she is just where she needs to be.  I'm such a proud mommy.  She is my best bud.  She makes friends quick and can't get enough of socializing.  Over summer we were working on a preschool workbook and I was amazing at how well she knows her letters and can even write them!  I think this will be a fun year for her getting ready to start Kindergarten next year.  Woah.  Where has the time gone?  Such a grown up 4 year old!

Preschool: Kids Korner
Teacher: Miss Kris

This girl kills me.  She's so funny when the camera comes out.  She loves getting her picture taken.

She did these natural, model-like poses all on her own.  I love it.  She's such a beautiful girl, inside and out.  Seriously, I am such a blessed mommy!  Love her so much.  

2014 has gone by fast!  Excited for these last few months of the year!  Making it a priority to document on here what's going on with our little family.  I also post pictures on instagram @andreawanlass

Adjusting

It's been a rough year so far. Adjusting to working full time and Shem attending school full time has been far from easy. While working was the ultimate goal for attaining my degree, it has been the most difficult transition for me and the family. Shem is happy to be in the engineering program while I struggle each day to find happiness in working. I am thankful for the opportunity but pray that I may find my place in the nursing field. Maycee has shown a dramatic change in behavior and it's a struggle to keep my patience with her. I hope to look back on these trials with gladness....until then, may I learn quickly to cope! Thankful for the peace the Gospel brings.

Hanging out with cousins Colin and Sienna!

We love Nana and Papa: at Tempe Beach Park!

Eating out....a habit for us (so bad!)

I love how she loves to wear her swimsuit..and sunglasses.  Always.  :)

Maycee's first time to Build-A-Bear.  So fun!

I need to start sharing more photos on here!  These are just my phone pics.  More pics to come.

Happy Birthday, little M!

all about maycee:
she insists her name is not "may" when I try to use it as a nickname.
her favorite toy to collect is rubber duckies...she even shop lifts them.
the best way to get good night kisses is to sing her twinkle little star and abc's.
she is obsessed with our bird, jax.  she tried killing him last week.
her favorite food is gogurt..well, for the week.
she is very good at coloring in the lines.
if she could, she would eat cookies for every meal of the day, oh and the occasional gogurt.
she loves having her back scratched before bed.
she takes out her hair everyday that it is styled and says "I want crazy hair now, mommy".
she loves to run anywhere and everywhere.  especially when we are at the store and she is not in a cart.
she says favorite like this: "fabrite".
if mommy or daddy is bent down or sitting on the floor she gets on their back and insists on piggyback.
her kisses are the best.
she loves all of her family...cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc...she begs to visit them on a daily basis.
her play place of choice is chik-fil-a's.  hands down.  her favorite dipping sauce is polynesian.
she loves nursery and when she sees mommy and daddy getting ready for church she gets so excited to go too!
last, but not least...she is a leader and very sweet.  she is quick to say sorry and give a hug.

Love you so much Maycee.  You are a treasure.  Happy 3rd Birthday!