Apr 1 ~ Natalie's grandma and grandpa wanted to take her to get her picture taken in her Easter dress. So we all went over to this new place in Normal called Portrait Innovations. They take beautiful pictures and have a variety of backgrounds...but we were highly disappointed with their service.  We got there for our appointment and the place was just packed with kids waiting to get their pictures done.  We were told they were 20 minutes behind...ended up we waited for almost an hour and 20 minutes!  Natalie was good the entire time we waited, but once they snapped a few photos she was done.  In fact, as we waited to choose which photos we wanted printed, she was asleep in my arms...that is a rare thing for her - she was exhausted.  We did leave with a couple cute shots, but I'm not sure we'll be going back there in the future.  We spent the rest of the evening relaxing and Mom Essington also made some yummy homemade pizza!

 

Apr 2 ~ Nat and I went over to Aunt Diana and Uncle Mark's house for lunch and to visit with more family.  Natalie was still being shy except with cousin Amber...she loves playing with her :) 

           I was debating on whether to leave Sunday or wait till Monday...but we were missing Daddy so we decided to leave in the late afternoon.  Natalie was tired and cranky half of the way home...she slept for a bit in the car but I don't think it was comfortable for her.  She felt a little better after we stopped at a gas station for a stretch and some snacks. It started raining about an hour from home and didn't really stop.  We found ourselves driving right under the nastiest cloud I'd ever seen as we approached Davenport, IA. It was kind of scary, so I drove as fast as I could to get away from it...I figured the cops weren't going to take the time to pull me over in that kind of weather anyway.  When we got home, Craig was finishing up installing our new storm door...it's hunter green and adds some color to the exterior of the house...we also plan to get some window shutters to match.  When Craig was done we all drove over to Wendy's for dinner and to catch him up on how the past few days had been for us out of town. We told Daddy all about the zoo and the "skinny pig" (guinea pig), and playing puzzles with grandpa, and throwing bread out in the yard for the birds!

 

Apr 3 ~ Natalie and I were at Walmart getting groceries today. She likes to stop at the lobster tank and gawk at the lobsters there.  This time a store worker was actually pulling a few lobsters out of the tank for a customer - Nat was just thrilled!

 

Apr 4 ~ Tonight was Mom's Night Out for some of the Hearts In Touch ladies!  We all went over to El Ranchero for dinner and conversation.  It was me, Amy, Ashley, Kim, Steffany & Heather.  We also presented Heather with a baby gift...a basket of goodies which included wipes, diapers, 2 outfits, a onesie, babywash, baby lotion, and a cute ceramic piggy bank. The basket was lined with receiving blanket, wrapped in cellophane wrapping, and tied with a white lacey bow.  There was also a frame in there which held a note that said "Heather & family - Congratulations on the new addition to your family.  What a blessing...we are so happy for you!  With love, The Gals from Hearts In Touch".

 

Apr 5 ~ Natalie and I skipped Hearts in Touch today since we were both really tired and I wasn't feeling well.  I felt bad about that but what can you do?  Natalie and I went out to lunch in the afternoon and then over to the playground at North Liberty Rec Center.  I was a little surprised when Nat was afraid to go down the slide.  She has been going through some kind of phase the past few weeks where she is all about mommy and being timid and sometimes unsocial.  In fact, most of the time when we visited Bloomington she was this way...she was even that way around her grandparents. I felt bad about it, but I guess children just go through these types of things from time to time.

             Craig's mom called tonight to tell us that Craig's Grandpa Essington passed away.  It was really strange getting the call because we had literally just been talking about him minutes prior to the news. I believe Grandpa Essington is in his late 80's and he's been in a nursing home for a few years now.  He had been in and out of the hospital with pneumonia recently, so we felt we'd probably be getting this news soon anyway. What saddens us the most though is that he was not a Christian and unsaved so we don't think there is much chance that we'll see him again in heaven. 

 

Apr 7 ~ Well guess what??  WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BABY!!!  Yep, we were so shocked to find out...I mean, we had been trying for nearly two years but figured at some point we'd need medical intervention to get pregnant...but it happened!!  I took a home test on the evening of Monday April 3rd and was absolutely floored when I saw the two pink lines appear!  I wasn't even going to take the test because I figured it would be negative and I'd be wasting my money, but I decided to do it last minute. Craig was at his night class that evening and there was no way I was going to be able to wait to tell him about it.  So I tied a ribbon to the test and attached a card telling him the good news.  When he got home I had Natalie give it to him and he was so excited!  Craig told me that I could go ahead and tell friends here in Iowa and my friend Sara in Illinois, but that everyone else would have to wait until we told our parents during the weekend. (We were actually going to tell our parents Easter weekend...but with the funeral we had to go to this past weekend we couldn't wait another week!) 

               On Tues the 4th I called my doctor to let them know I was pregnant and to set up our first check-up.  We go in on the 17th.  The nurse told me over the phone that as of that Tues we were approximately 5 weeks and 4 days along and due about December 1st.  That Tuesday night I had that dinner with some of my Iowa girlfriends and I let them know the news.  Everyone is just so happy for us.  I just really pray that some of my other friends with fertility troubles get pregnant soon as well.

              On Wednesday night the 5th, Craig and I were in our kitchen talking about the baby and how it would be kind of neat to have a boy since Craig and his brother are basically the last two children who have a chance to pass on the Essington name. We were also saying how cool it would be if Craig's Grandpa Essington could stay alive long enough for a boy baby to be born.  It was the strangest thing, because just as we were talking about Grandpa Essington we received the call saying he had passed away.  So we are sad that he will not know this baby...but maybe he already knows it is a boy?  Who knows?  Boy or girl...we don't really have a preference either way.  We just want to have a healthy baby! 

              So this brings us to Friday the 7th.  We arrived in Bloomington and then changed clothes before going out to eat with Craig's parents and his brother Michael.  We changed Natalie into a shirt that said "I'm Gonna be a Big Sister!" and put a jacket over it for the meantime.  We all sat down at the restaurant and had Craig's mom take Nattie's jacket off.  She read the shirt but I don't think she caught on right away.  When she finally understood she was so thrilled!  We were hoping to tell my dad in person the following afternoon, but he wasn't feeling well...so I told him over the phone and he was so excited for us! 

              So how do we feel about the news that we are pregnant?  Happy and shocked of course!  We were seriously considering doing artificial insemination this fall or next spring.  We were also talking about going in to speak with an adoption lawyer.  My prayers recently were just for clear signs of what path to take and when to take it.  Well, God has decided to have us be pregnant again so that is awesome!  God's timing truly is perfect :)  I was a little emotional the first few days.  As happy as I was I kept thinking about how this was going to change our little family again.  How I'd have to now share my love with two babies and how it won't just be me and Nattie anymore.  Now, of course I know that the reality is that having this baby will change our family for the better and that it will be good for Nat to have a sibling...this is what we've wanted for so long.  It is just a hard thing to grasp you know?  I know that my love for my two children won't just be "shared" and "split" in half....I know that love grows and that my love for Natalie won't be any less than it is now.  Wow...I can't believe this!!

 

Apr 8-10 ~ We spent these days doing a lot of driving and attending two visitations and one funeral for Grandpa Essington. Saturday evening there was a visitation in Monticello, IL...that is the town where Grandpa spent his last few years in a nursing home there.  After the visitation, most of the family went to a restaurant for dinner.  It was a really long day, but nice to see everyone.  Sunday evening there was a second visitation in Hersher, IL where Grandma and Grandpa Essington lived.  At the end of that visitation there was a ceremony put on by some gentlemen of the Masonic Lodge in which Grandpa was a member.  Monday the 10th was the funeral also held in Herscher. Natalie only made it for the first five minutes before I had to take her outside. I don't blame her...it had been a long few days for her.  But I was unhappy with the fact that I missed the entire funeral and missed hearing the stories about Grandpa. Craig and Michael were both pall bearers and looked very handsome in their suits and white gloves.  Natalie was able to see her Great-Grandma Essington...she hadn't seen her in awhile...she now calls her "Special Gran" or "Special Grandma" or "Different GiGi" (she calls her other great-grandmothers "GiGi").  She saw her Great-Grandpa lying in the casket and called him "The Man with the Pogo" because she noticed he had his own little white pillow to rest his head...she calls pillows "pogos".  I told her he was sleeping and she said he needed to wake up...in which I then told her that he was going to be a taking a very long special nap.

 

Apr 11 ~ We received a call from Craig's mother tonight saying that Pastor Ken Barth passed away.  He was the music pastor over at Calvary Baptist Church in Normal, IL which is where Craig's family has gone to church since Craig was in kindergarten (also where I became a Christian and we got married).  So we are heading back over to Bloomington this weekend for another visitation and funeral.  I was supposed to be singing for the Easter services at Parkview this weekend, but that is alright because this is way more important and also I've lost most of my voice the past few days anyway.  I'll have to be sure to let the Easter Bunny know that we'll be out of town this weekend so he can drop off goodies for Natalie :)  I think we'll just save our egg coloring until we get back in town.