The Results are in...

Our ultrasound on Monday indicated we'd be having a...

But, it's not 100 percent as the little man won't totally cooperate with us. No girl parts were seen though. So, we're preparing to welcome our little man to the family! We're all very excited, including my dad who has waited this long to have a boy in the family!!
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And, on another note, if you get a chance, read Kevin's blog today. I just loved it. It gives you something to think about.

What will you spend it on?

Some exciting news..

Starting in May, 116 million American families are getting economic stimulus package checks from the government. To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid social security number; $3,000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return. Eligible people will receive up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples), and parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child younger than 17.

The economic stimulus payments will be issued according to the last two digits of the main filer's social security number. People who use direct deposit also will be among the first to receive the payments starting May 2. Paper checks will be put in the mail starting May 16.

Here's the schedule for when to expect yours to come:
DIRECT DEPOSIT (transmitted on date)
00 through 20, May 2
21 through 75, May 9
76 through 99, May 16

PAPER CHECK (mailed by the date)
00 through 09, May 16
10 through 18, May 23
19 through 25, May 30
26 through 38, June 6
39 through 51, June 13
52 through 63, June 20
64 through 75, June 27
76 through 87, July 4
88 through 99, July 11

One of the purposes of the stimulus checks? To strengthen the middle class, to create jobs and to turn this economy around, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California.

I've seen quite a lot of deals being made by businesses such as Best Buy, Sears, etc. to appeal to the consumer on how to spend this extra cash. I work for a newspaper in the advertising department, so we're reaching out to our clients to get them interested in running a similar ad saying come spend your stimulus check with us! It's all about spending the money as soon as you get it, huh? I guess that's the hope.

So, what are you going to do with your check? Save it? Or buy that plasma TV you've been dying to get?

Those two little lines

It only takes two little lines to change your whole world. The first appears automatically, and as you wait those very long three minutes, you realize if the other line does appear, things are going to be different from here on out. Not only are you going to have an amazing, loving 2 year old running around your house, but you are going to be welcoming an infant into your family of three. This will change the dynamic of your family forever, but in a good way. As you are in the midst of your thoughts, you realize that three minutes have come and gone. You grab the test and look it over, realizing that yes, in fact, there are two lines. Your heart skips a beat, a smile washes over your face and you thank the Lord for this blessing.

Yes, you might have guessed it by now .. I am pregnant with our second child!!

I am now almost 10 weeks along, meaning that our baby is due October 3rd. We've been to the first pre-natal appointment where during the ultrasound Brooklyn was waving, blowing kisses and calling to her "brudder or siser" to come out and play. We plan to take her with us to every appointment because we want to share this journey with her. And, while she might not understand exactly what is going on, there's nothing to be ashamed about, or no reason why she can't be there. She's as much apart of our family as this baby will be, and if you know us, we love to do things together, as a family.

She is understanding and mimicking Mommy's every move though. Much like when I was pregnant with Brooklyn, I am once again very, very nauseous and have found I can't keep as much food down as I would like. If I cough, she looks at me with concerned eyes and says "you need to 'frow up' Mommy." Several times she has came to my aid when I get that sick, rubbing my back, flushing the toilet and offering to hold me. It's all very precious. And, then, there's those times, when we're playing and she runs to the sink on her play kitchen and says "oh I need to frow up."

Kevin has been very supportive and extremely helpful, especially with chores around the house. He insists on helping with laundry on weekends, so I won't have any to do during my days off. He also has taken an interest in cooking dinner from time to time, which I must admit is a huge help as I can get pretty sick at night too.

It's just such an amazing journey that we have embarked on once again. We are all so thrilled as our families. And, we cannot wait to meet this little one later this year!!