Kie will have a new BABY....

BROTHER!

Coming mid October.

I am very surprise, but so very excited.

I really thought this was a girl since the pregnancies have been so different.

I also had SO many people tell me they also thought it was a girl as well.

Regardless, I'm elated because Kie will have a buddy close in age to grow up with!

I even asked the good Lord to give me what He thinks I can handle...

Apparently the world is not ready for a Baby Halley just yet :)

So yes, I will be OUTNUMBERED in the house but I love my current little momma's boy so maybe I'll have another sweet momma's boy too!

This baby is measuring 2-3 weeks bigger, whoo hoo!

I guess this is a good time to be happy that I'll be having another medical needed c-section.

However, Kie was predicted to be larger and he wasn't big at all.

Anyway, another boy means I can get him to wear all of Kie's clothes that he wore for such a short time.

So yes, saving money is a great thing in the parent world!

Well today is another LONG day for us....

Life has been so great but a bit chaotic!

I've also been having some minor issues with low, LOW blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

I have issues with fainting weekly--sometimes daily...

Any other mommies experience this?

I try to eat often (for my sugar levels) and eat foods that won't spike my sugars...

but my blood pressure isnt as easy to regulate.

Ah well, such is mommy hood....what is easy to regulate?

Well I promise to update more on this pregnancy SOON.

I've also got to start thinking of names...

I'll gladly take suggestions!

Preferably I like names that start with a "K"---so it goes with our last name Knuth. (Ka-newt)

Send any suggestions my ways!!

Hope everyone is doing great & blessed!

Until next time,

-HK-

Boy or Girl?

Bonjour! :)
SO much to write/talk about...BUT I can't :( 
Stinks that my mouth is literally and LEGALLY closed.
Y'all will have to wait to find out ALL the crazy stuff that has been going on lately.
On other news that I CAN share...
We find out MONDAY if we're having a boy or girl.


This pregnancy has been a whirlwind. By the time I was this far along with Kie we had bought TONS of baby things--& already painted the nursery and bought a crib.
We have yet to do a thing for new Baby K.
I guess because we have 99% of everything we need.
Unless it's a little girl, then we have TONS to buy.
Papa J wont even consider baby names until we know the sex.
He won't even be fun and tell me names he likes.
I guess he doesn't want to waste time thinking of other names when he can concentrate on one gender.
Makes sense.
ANYWAY, Monday will be a busy day---my doctor's appointment is at 9:30am...
AND then we'll rush home to get ready ....for somethings I can't mention.


Basically my life for the next month will be a BIG secret.
Of course I'll share what the baby is..
but everything else will be shhhhhhhhh....
Just don't tempt me too much by messaging me. 
I'm not great at withholding exciting news :)


Well, I hope everyone has been having a great week! :)
I can't believe it's already Thursday! Where's the time going?!


Until next time,


-HK-

Brother's graduation & weekend updates

Let's do a quick little re-cap of the weekend...THREE weeks ago.
I had SO much family come in for my little brother's graduation.
It was a bittersweet time.
Carter did take 5 years to graduate but I secretly never wanted to see him graduate.
I guess I felt like I still had a tie to my college years with Carter baby still in school.
And no, Carter didn't take 5 years because he was having a hard time in school...
In fact, JUST THE OPPOSITE!
He was having TOO much fun at UT!
And he saw that once you get OUT of school the real world starts.
And let's be honest,
how great is the adult world?
(Besides the marrying and having babies---all the paying bills like mortgages and insurance is for the birds!)

Anyway, not only did Carter graduate (but so did his sweet girlfriend MY future Sister-in-Law!)
but he is also moving out of his BACHELOR pad downtown.
This is the same condo I lived in while attending UT.
And I love it's location.
It's in the hustle and bustle of my loved 40 acres school.
You can hear the crowds cheering for the Longhorns during football season....
AHHHH
Takes me back to my days of easy living and LOTS of fun!

So yes, his graduation ceremony was a few weeks ago.
We also had a MASSIVE party here at our house for Carter & Chelsea (the gf).
We had over 50 people here and it was a blast!
Also Kie got to play with his two sweet cousins....
And of course he was a ham all day with everyone.
And everyone KNOWS how much I love to throw parties and play hostess!
I seriously love cleaning, cooking and just having everything organized and layed out for everyone to mingle and enjoy great food and friends.
MAYBE party planning should be on my future job list....???

--------------------
As for THIS past weekend...
I was a little sick.
BOO.
Seriously, I'm 18 weeks
and I thought my sickness time should be over?
Uh, no.
However, I AM not as sick as I was with Kie...so my guess that this is a GIRL still stands firm.

Anywho, I spent a lot of my weekend in bed and being catered to by my sweet husband.
ALSO lots of love to that man.
I mean, he reads this (rarely, but he does get around to it!)
So I just want to say that I'm SO lucky to have my husband.

He seriously will go get EVERYTHING I crave.
Like the other day,
I wanted a veggie Subway sandwich.
BUT I wanted the soup from Scholotsky's.
He got them BOTH for me--even though they are on opposites sides of the town.

Also, I tend to crave things...and then once I get it...or make the food..
I dont want it.
So he always is good about getting me something else.
Or replacing my ice pack (for my headaches)
or changing the sheets on the bed after I puked...
:)
Haha..

**ok, I'm not sick that much but he has helped me a lot when I've been sick!**
And
I love to watch him with Kie.
I spy on them at night with Justin is doing the nighttime routine.
J has always done Kie's bath time and bedtime.
I mean, there are nights when I do it when J works late.
That's like once every two weeks or so.
Justin works 99% of the time....
so his ONE on ONE time during the week is bath time, pj time, read a book & pray.

I love watching Justin read to Kie.
Kie sits there so still and just listens.
However, when we read he is always rushing to the end of the book or getting out of my lap to find another book!
It's so precious to watch their relationship.
Justin is just a great, great father.
He works so hard too...for all of us!

**Speaking of, that reminds me...I have been trying to come up with some awesome Father Day gift ideas sine Justin did so good for me.
I have TWO...
I MAY wait to post what they are incase he decides to randomly look at my blog.

well I'm wrapping this post up because my thoughts went out the window.
AS usual.

Btw, how was everyone's Memorial Day! 
(I realize I'M WAY BEHIND......this is what happens when you write and leave your posts in DRAFT for so long.)

I spend the day thinking of my Grandfather Jim who served in WWII...
and my three Marine uncles who served in the Gulf War and the war in Iraq---and even one uncle who lost his life while serving our country.

God Bless this Country.
I hope the people running it realizes the sacrifices so many brave women and men have made for it.
**Before I get on THAT soap box, I'll digress..... with a few pictures.

Until next time,

-HK-

Chelsea & Carter

my future little Longhorn!

Uncle Carter with Amelia & Kie
Can it get any cuter? I don't think so!

Mother's Day Weekend Recap

Mother's Day weekend was of my best weekends!
Justin really spoiled me!
He was so excited about the gift he got me, that he INSISTED I open it on Friday.
*He does this with about EVERY gift he gets me.*
My mother's day present was a NEW CAMERA!
Whoo hoo!
No more going to Sears for expensive, BAD portraits.
I now am a proud owner of a Canon Rebel T3i! And I got an extra lens!
I love, LOVE it!
I'm so glad and relived to have a decent, fast camera to take some great pictures of my baby! (And future one!)

As for that weekend....I woke up Saturday to having my favorite breakfast in bed.
One blueberry pancake and a California omlettee from Kerbey Lane.
SO, so good.
(I don't eat it all...but I like to have something sweet and something semi healthy)
Justin gave me a few hours in the morning to be a bit lazy and have some "me time."
We then spent the day playing and going to the pool so Kie could splash in the water.
Then Sunday Justin had breakfast for me again in bed. And Starbucks!
I also got the sweetest card from BOTH Justin & Kie.
Kie signed his name--and then he decided to sign his name on the living room wall....so, so sweet!

I also got a beautiful orchid!
I've always wanted one!
I love how my husband listens when I least expect him to be....
(In Home Depot the previous weekend I mentioned how I always wanted an orchid.)

After YET again another great breakfast and presents--we got ready and went to church.
The sermon WAS AMAZING.
And reminded me how important of a role it is to be a mother.
And how hard of a job we have it in this society that is geared to all things worldly.

It just inspired me more to be a better Christian mother and wife--so that I can raise up my children on the right path.


Seriously mommas, we have a tough road ahead.  Especially in a world that praises BAD behavior and promotes sex.

If this next child is a daughter....
She'll be LUCKY if she gets a phone OR a computer by the age of 18.
I'm not having a double standard for my kids, even Kie won't have his own personal computer or phone till WAY later in life--but with a girl, I'm just extra worried.
I feel as though girls have more pressure to look and act a certain way.

ANYWAY---(let me get off my soap box before I get TOO carried away!)
We had lunch at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants after church and we spent the rest of the day in the back yard---relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather.
I also played around with my new camera.


**This is why I LOVE Austin, Texas**
We have amazing weather---and the perfect place to be is on the patio or a deck, in some shade with a nice big drink of your choice.
Mine, just happens to be ice cold lemon water :)
--I may put this is the SECOND best place to be in Austin...
the first being on our boat on the lake!

I don't want time to fly, but I can't imagine the great fun we'll have when our kids are a bit grown and can enjoy wakeboarding and tubing!


I love how Justin is such a water guy.
And already how Kie loves it too.
He already goes *UNDER* water at 18 months.
--He does this voluntarily!
Crazy brave baby.


So the weekend was great--and it was so relaxing and nice.
Just me and my two boys.


THIS weekend, was FAR-FAR different than last weekend.
And I'll have a post with TONS of pictures to share soon.
Stay tuned!




Until next time,


-HK-

I need....

to be a better blogger!

Seriously, I have SO many things I think about weekly that I think,
"I need to write this down or I need to blog about this so I won't forget...."

Especially with pregnancy brain...I forget.
And I forget often.

ANYWAY---I promised the HGTV post to come soon.
In fact, it's written out but I don't want to publish yet because I don't know if I can legally say somethings.
I have about another week until I KNOW if I can go ahead and share with everyone our story.
Until then, I'll have to leave y'all in a small state of curiosity!

I'm so sorry! I don't been to be mean but I really don't know if I can share just yet and I need to hear back from a producer before I do.
Hope y'all understand!


On to other things....

Kie is being hilarious and funny as usual.
He does have some cute little things he says and does.
For instance, now when I ask how he's doing..
He replies,
"HAPPY!"

It's so cute.
And melts my heart.
That boy, though a handful, is my world.
Especially now with another on the way, I just cherish every second we have alone together.

I know it may sound like I'm not excited for Baby K....
I am, but I am also sad my current "baby" wont be the baby for long.

I mean, my sweet little man just went in for his 18 month check-up today (I'm always a few days late!)
and I can't believe we aren't going back to the doctor until he's 2! (However I'm glad because holding my baby down for shots is awful!)

So me and Kie BOTH won't miss those visits.
Though it was crazy how the doctor said, well next time I see you and Kie, you'll have another one!
And it hit me, man....
TIME IS FLYING!

AS for this week--it has been raining a lot!
We haven't been able to play outside (where I sometimes work on the patio table while Kie digs in the dirt for worms).
SO we've been looking for things to burn off energy.
We started going to the YMCA so Kie can go to a class and I can get my HUGE prego belly to work.


Ladies, if you see me...I am not 6 months pregnant. 
Nor am I,  7 months pregnant.
I'm just 3 1/2.
Second baby...just POPPED last week.
I went from a semi flat belly....to BIG OLE BELLY.


It's like my body prefers pregnancy state...


THANKS, thanks belly pouch.
I did have a cute little girl tell me "congratulations" while she held the door for me at the doctors office.
Super cute little girl too.
I wanted to hug her.


It was AFTER the very fat LARGE man (who am I calling big these days?) PULLED into the parking spot I had my blinker on, waiting for the parking spot.
:Don't you love it when that happens?:
when someone just whips right in and steals your spot!?!


Seriously man!
Not only was I running a bit late for the appointment---
(TODDLER TANTRUMS!)
but I had to park MILES away...
*HAIR wet*
Carrying my 27lb toddler on my hip...
and a noticeable baby pouch....


AND when I finally passed the parking spot that WAS mine...
The man was sitting there with his equally LARGE wife/gf---just SMOKING.
Guess they need a front row spot to smoke in, IN FRONT OF THE DOCTORS office?!


Ah, glad I could help em out.


Anyway, when I got to the door that's when the sweet little girl said congratulations.
And I wanted to just gobble her up and say thanks.
Because sometimes I seem to lose hope in humanity and right before I do...something small happens--like the sweet little girl, that makes me feel alright about the world.


Sorry to derail.
Oh yes, back to this past week.
THIS past week Kie has been attending a "craft class" and a gym class at the Y.
It has been SO fun.
Mainly because Kie is socializing and I get to have a bit of *ME* time.
I've been using the time to get some cardio in....
and, some days I play with Kie in his class. OR I sit just outside the classroom watching through the glass windows with the other moms.


Kie was initially apprehensive but after the second day he practically leaped out of my arms to play with all the new toys and kids.
It was a little hard to see how good he was at being independent.
But really since day 1, Kie has been a social butterfly.
He's a little like his momma.
But, more laid back than I'll ever be.


All in ALL it's been an amazing week....
and of course TODAY is Mother's Day--and I have a post on JUST that coming in a few.


**I start a lot of my blogs only to finish them days later...so this is why this one IS wrapping up!
Hope everyone had a great weekend!


Lots of love,
-HK-

pregnancy update

We're expecting!

And I've been waiting to share.

At first, I was kinda hesitant to share because I liked my privacy of only telling a few people...

But, being that my parents live in a small town, news traveled fast and I felt I needed to "announce" things soon.

Also, I wanted to wait until we're at a *safer* time in pregnancy.

Anyway, we made it through phase one and so here I am happy to announce!

We are very excited and though I have the usual fears of a mother expecting her second child--I do worry about how Kie will adjust to life with a baby.

Luckily, we still have some time before he has to share his momma and daddy with anyone else.

And let me tell you, I've been cherishing every moment I can with my sweet boy.

It does make me sad that my sweet precious cherub (name given to him by his Aunt Allie!) will no longer be the "baby" but this was ALL God's timing. So I can't worry too much.

 And yes, I get scared thinking of having TWO under two (for a brief few weeks if that) but I pray that Kie will have a lifelong friend in his sibling.

My brother and I, Carter, are 22 months apart.  There have been times when I have seriously thought of killing him (not really) but regardless, I love my brother more than anything!  He seriously has become one of the greatest people I know and I love the relationship we have now. And he has been through A LOT with me--from giving me advice on dating guys, helping me through bad breakups, finding the right guy (we lived together in college sooooo he knew a lot about the guys I dated!) and he also was so great at telling me when I needed to exercise some and when to change my clothes. HA! So really, I'm excited for Kie to have a sibling so close in age.

Either way, if this new baby is a girl or a boy I definitely know it will ALL be ok!

AND I'm very happy we had Kie first because if it IS a little girl, then I know Kie will protect his little sister from any bad boys in the future. 

He's already a sweetheart so I know he'll love the new baby.

As for ME....

Pregnancy has been SO different this go around!

I feel great!

I mean, I had a few weeks of being really sick with morning sickness but I'm out of the first trimester now and I am feeling well.

I think a lot has to do with knowing what to expect.

I mean, I've gotten sick but now it doesn't phase me because not everything is new and scary like it was with Kie.

Plus, I work and have a toddler to raise so there's little time for me to be thinking of *how bad I feel*...

AND pregnancy has gone a lot faster this time--which probably is also because I have a toddler to chase.

Oh and this time, I've started showing earlier...but oh well!

I like having the pregnant belly...and my husband loves it.

He often sticks his own stomach out to mimic.

Anyway, so far so great.

This new baby is expected on HALLOWEEN!

Since it's a c-section--we already know when to expect it.

However, since I was blessed with having Kie 2 weeks earlier--I'm sure this one will come earlier too.

So I'm predicting a bit earlier then the 31st.

ALL I know is that I'll have 3 birthdays VERY close to one another.

My husband's is October 28th, New baby is DUE on October 31st and Kie's is on November 3rd.

THAT makes ONE week of 3 birthdays!

I'll be ONE worn out momma.

Anyway--tonight is TACO night.

One of my favorite meals because it's SO easy....

Throw everything into foil---

chicken, onions and mushrooms --

then TOSS it on the grill!

Of course I add lots of spices...

And to the mushrooms and onions goes a lot of butter.

THE number one thing to make sure tacos turn out great is finding GREAT, homemade tortillas.

And thankfully, living in Austin--great tortillas are easy to come by.

preview picture from the weekend

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I'll be sharing more on that soon!

xoxo

-HK-

We have an announcement... :)

Kie is going to be a BIG brother this Halloween!

I'll be posting more details soon! :)