Halfway done!!

At the 20 week marker and I feel like a cake should've been made to celebrate. Then I remembered I don't have that kind of energy at all!! 

~Mama Bear Alyssa

It's a girl!

Baby Bear number two is a girl!! We announced on Facebook last week, but I've been so busy I forgot to post it to the blog! 

I originally posted a game to reveal the sex of the baby! Here is that! 

Eddie wanted a little boy, but I had a feeling it was a girl! Olivia June is the name we had picked out before finding out it was a girl and in the waiting room. After the sonogram was done, Eddie found an Olivia the pig book! Oh, the irony! 

 I am just over the moon that we get to be blessed with a girl this time! 

 Here are some baby bump pictures to catch everyone up! 

 

I should do a 20 weeks picture, but that's not till Wednesday! :). 

Half way done and surprised to find this pregnancy is going by faster than the first! Maybe because we didn't find out till about 9weeks and I chase after a toddler daily! Anyways, that's an update of exciting news from our bear den! Kind of skipped over Mother's Day, sorry! Just super excited about sister bear! :D 

Any exciting news with your family? How was Mother's Day for everyone?

~Mama Bear Alyssa  

 

Happy Be-Lated Easter

I know it's no longer Easter today, but I didn't post yesterday because I wanted to spend quality time with my family. 

Easter may just be Julian's favorite holiday thus far to celebrate. He loved Easter egg hunting! Even more after he realized chocolate was in the eggs! Talk about one happy baby bear. I will say this though after seeing everyone's posts with insane amounts of toys and what not in their children's Easter baskets. I almost felt bad for not filing his with more. Then realized it was the perfect amount for him! Socks, toy plane, sidewalk chalk, Thomas the Train color book with stickers, and a M&M Fan that hold the M&M's. 

I'm not sure when parenting became all about the amounts of things you get your children, but at this rate I've lost the race. 

I'm completely okay with it also! We've never gotten Julian's picture taken with the Easter Bunny or Santa. I don't think we will either. Not to sound like a parent that doesn't care, but it just seems a bit pointless to me. Those holidays shouldn't revolve around that. Or the amount of things you can buy. I see holidays as a time to spend with your family an actually enjoying that time together. 

 

Also moments like this are my favorite to catch. I hope everyone had a beautiful day with their families and enjoyed the lovely weather outside!

What was your favorite moment during Easter with your family? Did you go crazy with your kids Easter baskets? Or did you stay simple this year? 

~Mama Bear Alyssa

Real Food Tastes Better

So a friend invited me to influenster and at first had no idea what is was. I got to participate in my first VoxBox or in this case VoxEnvelope ? ;) 

I recieved in the mail a coupon. Which was complimentary for my family to test out one of four of the family sized entrees they offer. The family sized entrees they offer are:

- Lasagna with Meat Sauce

- Classic Macaroni & Cheese 

- Shells & White Cheddar with Chicken

- Butternut Squash Macaroni & Cheese

We picked the Classic Macaroni & Cheese since it's baby bears favorite and we wanted to make sure he'd eat it! 

There are two ways you can cook your entree Microwave it or bake it in the oven. I choose for time sake to go with the microwave which was super easy and fast! Eight minutes on high with the plastic cover on. (My cover seemed to be against me. It popped open and leaked cheesy goodness all over my microwave tray) Then peel away the plastic cover and mix up the Mac & Cheese! Put the cover back down and microwave for four more minutes! Let it sit for three minutes in the microwave before taking it out to enjoy! 

Hands down Classic Mac & Cheese was a winner with our family! I would probably add chicken to this next time and make it for dinner. Since Papa Bear said if I added chicken to it then he'd eat it too! A dinner everyone would eat!! Say it's not so!!! Magic to my ears! 

What magical dinner does your entire family eat? 

~ Mama Bear Alyssa 

I recieved one coupon for Annie's Homegrown family sized entree via influenster complimentary for testing purposes only! All opinions of this entree are mine and mine alone. I was not compensated for my positive feedback. We just happened to positively enjoy it! :)

Announcing

Our little baby bear is getting promoted to brother bear~! 

We announced on Facebook after we told parents. Here is the picture we originally posted, but some people didn't get it. I thought it was pretty clever since we love music in our family. 

Apparently it was too cryptic, so the next day we posted the sonogram pictures. People got it instantly! ;) 

Let me introduce you to our newest baby bear who is due to arrive October 8th, 2014!!

I think Julian knew something was up because the moment the sonogram tech turned off the lights. He started crying while Papa Bear was holding him. 

 How did you announce your pregnancy? Did you announce in a special way with all of them? 

~Alyssa

Spring is...

So close yet so far away!!! 

Yesterday was beautiful weather!! Baby bear an I got outside and played! I wore a tank top even and capris no hoodie!!!! :) To bad it won't last the weather predicts snow is coming again. How sad! 

 

 

Just when I thought we'd be able to have more outside play time! 

We even practiced finding Easter Eggs!! ;) 

Don't want the bigger kids running him over on the big egg hunt! 

What has your family done lately? Any outside games? 

~Alyssa

It's official

I am a stay at home mom...for the most part! I still do in home behavioral therapy with Joshua on the weekends. Today though was my first week not working at the restaurant and I couldn't be happier! I got studying done and all thanks to Dragon Tales on Netflix! :) 

I couldn't have asked for a better day! Well I could, but I won't push my luck! ;) I'm not sure what is going to become of me staying home and studying, but hopefully at the end of March I will be a licensed massage therapist! 

~Alyssa

Anything new in your life lately?

Happy New Year!

Say hello to 2014 and goodbye 2013~!

I'm not sure what the future holds for me and my family, but I'm excited to find out! I know I've been busy with working a lot  and I've even started to contemplate quiting a job. That way I can become a stay at home mom and work only part time. I'm having a hard time making the final decision though because I really enjoy working at all my jobs. In the end I need to put myself and the needs of my family first, so I feel like I can't go wrong with whatever choice I do end up making

So for me personally 2014 will be about striving harder to get things done in order to meet the needs of my families future! 

What are you striving for in 2014?

~Alyssa 

Happy New Year! If you're getting snow right now stay warm and safe!