25 days to go!

Hi family and friends!

Holy cows - it's completely unbelievable that we only have a few weeks left until baby boy Skelly #2 is here. Who knows he could be here next week! We are now 36 weeks and 3 days along. _______ Joseph Skelly is still moving around like crazy - he may be a bit smaller than Liam at this stage because Liam slowed down his movements around this time and this little guy is NOT!

Daddy and I are in awe/shock that Liam will be looking at his little life-long friend very shortly.

Things are pretty much in order in the house. I've been 'nesting' like crazy and the house is coming along wonderfully. We haven't 'had' to make any improvements per say, but Kevin has been awesome with my random project ideas and our purchases for the house. Last week he installed a brand new/bright light in our kitchen and switched out 10 receptacles installing new covers on all of them. He also replaced a bunch of vent covers since the ones we had were from the early 70's (we think). He hung my curtain rods in the living room and my new curtains. Is it normal that I'm bothered that they aren't ironed yet :). Then last weekend he filled in mole holes with sand and then spread 18 bails of pinestraw in the yard. Hopefully I can get some geraniums and vinca planted sometime in the next few weeks, but I may have my hands full with two little chirping chicks of my own!

God is so good and life is simply amazing. I look around sometimes and feel like I need to pinch myself. "Is this all real Lord, have you really given these precious boys to us, am I really married to this amazing man?" Thank you Lord for who you are and who you will be in our lives!!!! Thank you for all the support from our fabulous family and friends!

Love you all!

A picture from my 'diaper sprinkle shower' on Saturday, 3/24 with my 2 1/2 month old niece Teagan Elizabeth!

Some pics from our maternity photos done on Sunday, 3/25 in Atlanta - see if anyone can guess where they were taken!!!

Liam helping our photographer with settings!



Big belly - full of L.O.V.E.



Kicked around!

So, today we are 34 weeks along! Only 6 more weeks until our due date. A few things are happening...mommy is getting little sleep, been in a recliner for about 4 weeks now. Daddy is getting little sleep because he wakes up to help me adjust with pillows throughout the night. We think Liam just completed another growth spurt - for about 2 weeks he was waking up in the night, hungry and sometimes inconsolable (we think he has had night terrors a few times).

At 34 weeks the little babe is probably around 5 lbs. now (knowing how Liam always measured bigger - this little one is probably bigger too), and the total average length is around 19 3/4 inches. I can feel him moving with more force these days. And a common sensation is pressure in my lower abdomen when he is doing a full turn or stretching length wise. This little guy, unlike Liam, loves to stick his feet up under my left rib cage and like Liam, he prefers to have his feet to the left side of my belly. Friends and family can now feel distinct movements and Kevin and I are pretty certain we can feel where his butt and feet are...

We are getting more and more excited as each day passes. We are less nervous this time around because we feel more comfortable with the whole process! There are a few things left to do at the house to prepare for baby, but at this point we've got the infant car seat ready to go, and the grandparents know they are "on-call" to come over to scoop up Liam when my water breaks and labor begins. We just have to get some infant clothes organized, the baby bassinet set-up in our room and a few little projects completed in the house.

We are eager to find out if he is going to come early or right on time like his big brother! Only the good Lord knows!!!

Some things we've been doing to keep busy lately:

-Nana and grandpa Schwalen went with us to the Atlanta Craft Show at the Cobb Galleria - Liam loved running around and seeing creations from so many talented people...
-We spent some time with Auntie Heather over the past few weeks (my sweet sister just departed Atlanta yesterday)...to return to Cambodia - we had such a great visit with her...
-Daddy volunteered for two consignment shifts to get me in a tad early...mommy worked a shift too...
-Mommy perused to two consignments in the past few weeks to get Liam's Spring/Summer clothes and to grab a few things for the baby
-Grammy and Grandpa Skelly blessed us with a double stroller for the two little guys - a super cool one!!!
-Mommy and daddy met with a landscape architect to initiate drawings for back yard landscaping and possible drainage solutions...and a parking place for the play ground for the boys...

Daddy and I plan to see a few movies and have a few date nights before Liam's little brother comes - we'll see if we can fit it all in!!!

Love you all! Good night!!!

Kelly

Outside the Atlanta Craft Show - with the pansies!

Update on the Skelly's

Liam will be 18 months old on February 2nd. We will be taking him in for his check-up with the pediatrician on the 2nd. Since we have delayed all of his vaccines up until this point we will probably think about giving him one at this next appointment. As of a few weeks ago Liam fully recognizes where all of his body parts are - just can't identify his bum as quickly (I think because he can't see it). Other than that he knows his fingers, hands, feet, toes, head, hair, knees, legs, belly, bellybutton, arms (muscles of his arms too), nose, eyes, cheeks, chin, ears and some other parts :). He identifies animals and objects in the books we read him at night and we are almost finished reading the Jesus Storybook Bible with him...you loves the Goliath pages!!! His favorites right now are The Giving Tree, Goodnight Moon, The Going To Bed Book, It's time to sleep my love, Richard Scarry books, Does a Kangaroo have a mother too?, A Color of His Own...

We went outside last night and Liam loves discovering things on the ground in in the sky...he got a ride in the wheel-barrow and helped daddy spread some sand in the yard (there were several hugs pine tree stumps that are finally decomposing so Kevin and Liam filled one in...Liam got a little too curious and ate some sand in the process!

The baby is 27 weeks/ 4 days today...

As for me and the little baby - he is getting stronger and his movements are getting more and more forceful. I am feeling better these days as far as nausea go, but the fatigue is knocking me down. By the end of the day all I can think about is spending time with my boys and my head laying down on my pillow. I feel like my diet has been pretty good - except I'm admittedly not being as careful with organic options as I was with Liam. We do eat organic meat, but other than that I haven't been as picky.

We are in the process of switching providers now - I went to the last consultation this past Monday and we will be delivering at North Fulton Regional. I met with my new midwife and she said I am measuring right on target right now...she told me not to think "bigger" baby, but to think quicker delivery... :)

This week the baby is:

almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

We are so excited to have this time to prepare for our second little gift and we are cherishing the time we have with Liam before the baby comes!

We love you all and appreciate you so much!

Kell

Baby Update! Baby Names! Liam is 17 months Old!

Happy New Year friends and family!

Baby Update:
We wanted to give an update on our growing bambino. We had our last prenatal specialist appointment last Wednesday, January 4th. I say last because the doctor explained there is no reason to come back - everything looks great with the baby. Also, last Wednesday the milestone weight for the average baby was just over a pound. However, they are estimating that our little guy was about 1 pound 10 oz!!! Also, when the sonogram tech measured his humorous bone - she said it is measuring a week ahead of the average length for that bone...so, I think we're going to have another tall and big baby coming in April! Yeah!!!

It was so cool to see him in the sonogram waving his little hands and fingers around. He kept swinging his arm over and above his face like he was stretching out. Also, the tech would press firmly on my tummy with the wand and he would give a swift kick back!! He wasn't going to take any poking around I guess!!!

Lately, the little guy has been so active at night - Kevin can totally feel him kick and roll around now. During story time at night when Liam lays across my lap - the little baby kicks Liam as well!

Last night was fun, Kev and I got to talking and he had to talk me down from the rafters because I told him I didn't think I could deliver another 10 pounder with a generous noggin (words of our prenatal specialist with Liam)! I told him - of course I want a healthy baby, but maybe I should have married a guy with a smaller head!!!

Well, whatever the future holds for us I know I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Phil. 4:13!!!!

His hand/arm reaching up over his face (side profile)

Another side profile - you can see his little facial features

Baby Names:

This is an semi-unconventional way to ask for advice, but Kevin and I are researching baby names right now and we are open to accepting your suggestions! Yes, we have a few in mind, but would love to hear your ideas as well. We are leaning towards Irish/Gaelic (Kevin) or Ukranian/German (Kelly). Joseph is the middle name!

Liam Update:
Liam is now 17 months and a week old. He weighs 29.2 lbs and is 34 inches long. Kevin and I just made a heafty investment in two new carseats that will fit the little guy(s) up to 120 lbs (converts up through a forward facing booster seat). Liam knows so much - points to everything when you ask him to identify objects and LOVES book time at night before bed. We are calling him our 'little chef' and our 'grumpy bum'. He is into discovering everything - and lately we've been outside cleaning up the backyard. He's been a little hesitant to get down into the dirt and even fussed a bit two weekends ago when he fell forward and touched the leaves, pinecones, etc. It was pretty cute!

I took him last Friday to a play date at a park in Kennesaw and he loved playing with the little ones. It's so funny for us because everyone thinks he is 2 or older (mainly because he towers over the other 17 month olds!). I just keep saying over and over, nope he's 17 months - just really off the charts for his height!


Enjoy some family pics below!



Daddy & Liam trying out the new Kelty Backpack

With Grammy & Grandpa on Christmas Eve - Red Lobster

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

May the Lord bless each moment you spend with your family and friends! So happy Jesus is the true reason for this season! From our home to yours - Happy New Year too!

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree!

We're doin' great - the tree(s) are up and we finally got the big one decorated last Friday night (harder to knock tasks out with a running toddler in the house) - the outside of the house was the first thing Kevin & I did...looks very festive - Kev gets the credit for hanging the lights and wreaths on the house! Now we're ready to welcome Uncle Nathan from Denver this Saturday!!! So happy we get to see him over Christmas break!

To catch ya'll up - Liam loves to dance, shake, "get the wiggles out" and groove to Christmas music and so does the little baby now! There is so much movement in my belly - this morning at 4:20 I was jolted out of sleep by the baby - who heard Liam wake up crying. I mistakenly set Liam's music to shuffle the whole Christmas album by Enya instead of just replaying the instrumentals! We think he woke up from that - all that to say - daddy and I didn't hear Liam on the monitor right next to us - the little baby did! I guess monitors aren't all they're cracked up to be!!!

We are getting more and more excited about the little bro coming for Liam. We still need to get the nursery in order though - move some furniture around and get Liam's "big boy" bed. It will be so cool to see Liam in a twin with toddler rails. Praying he will listen and stay put at night!

Please pray that my nerves will be calmed as we get closer to the due date - many have said the second can be / usually is bigger than the first - and since Liam tipped the scales at 9 lb 7.5 oz - with a large noggin - I'm hoping this baby is a bit smaller - however - at the end of the day we ask that the good Lord will give us a healthy happy baby boy!

The next time I go to the OBGYN (early January) they will begin measuring my belly - to see if I am on target for the April 21st due date or measuring ahead. I always measured a bit bigger with Liam so it will probably be the case with this boy! I guess we make em' big! Also hoping the diabetes test goes well - you have to drink all this sugary liquid and then wait an hour to see how your body metabolizes it - I almost threw up when I had the test done with Liam! We'll be delivering at Kennestone again in the Women's Center - and this morning I realized I'm late turning in our registration paper work!

Oh well! Things will all work out in time - learning more and more that being a mother means the time you used to have to try and hold things together in your life - now is focused on holding tight to the little people and the awesome husband in your life (growing those relationships) - the rest of life still happens whether we try and control it or not, and the less important tasks/events fall to the side. I'm grateful for the messes that get left and the sleep deprivation - and love the precious moments God gives each of us to spend with the people around us! My prayer is that we make a lasting Godly impact on our little people so that they grow up to love, honor, and cherish their families and friends.

We love each of you and wish you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 

Some pictures to enjoy - we delivered Christmas gifts to the Fort Hills community in Marietta last Saturday...Liam LOVES trucks!

Liam in the tubes at Roswell Area Park - the week before Christmas

Baby Update!

Hello family & friends!

Here are some precious snap shots of our second sweet little baby...well and a few of Liam...

Can anyone tell the gender?

Side Profile

Stacked Feet

Another Profile

Full Side Profile

It's a BOY!!!

Today we went in for our first Prenatal Specialist apt. with Dr. Allen and everything with the baby looks great/healthy. We just have to go back early January to get a better look at the heart. The baby was snugly tucked away so the Dr. couldn't see the chambers and valves as clearly as desired...

They estimate a weight of about 12 oz. today (average weight around this time is about 8 1/2 oz). Dr. Allen made a comment that maybe this ones little head won't be as big as Liam's (32 cm in diameter), although he did reiterate what the ultrasound technician mentioned - that the second baby is typically larger than the first (YIKES)!!!

We are getting more and more excited as each day passes. We plan to have big bro and baby in the nursery together (baby in the bassinet in our room for the first few months) big bro will get to graduate to a twin bed with rails!!! Also, big bro points to my tummy when we ask him where the baby is!!!

See below for a medical overview of our baby's development...

How the baby's growing:

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! The brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that he/she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to him/her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. The arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of the body now. The kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on his/her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on the skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

So AMAZING!!!

Liam's New Ride & Baby Update:

Hey! We wanted to share this picture with you! Liam is enjoying this commercial mower at the shop where we are having our blower repaired. He sat down on it and began his brrruuumm bruuuuummm sounds. He is so used to going on the 4-wheeler with my dad that he makes these sounds whenever he is near a gadget that has wheels!

Mommy is feeling a tiny bit better as each week passes, this pregnancy has definitely been different than the first! Feeling nauseous in the mornings and usually don't have an appetite in the evenings - but hoping that each week I'll feel better and better. Our second sweet little baby is 16 weeks old now, and about the size of an avocado (4 1/2 inches). I could feel the baby moving around weeks 10 or 11. Little flutters of movement here and there.

We are so excited about all these changes in our lives, so excited that this Christmas Liam will be more interested in all that goes with the Season. Love you all so much and look forward to sharing more with you!

We have an announcement to make!

We total three now, but we'll soon be FOUR!!!

No, we're not adding a cat or dog to our family,

but adding another precious gift from God - a BABY!

See the fun poem below!!!

I do not have a face to see or put inside a frame
I do not have soft cheeks to kiss, I don't yet have a name.
You can't yet hold my tiny hands nor whisper in my ear.
It's still too soon to sing a song, or cuddle me so near.
But all will change next April ~ that's when they say I'm due.
I'm your new little gift from God.
I can't wait til I meet you.
All I ask between now and then is your patience while I grow.
I promise I'll be worth the wait.
Because of all the love we'll know.
So what I have to give you now, is a wish to you from me.
I cannot wait to be a part of our wonderful family.

Love Baby Skelly #2

Coming Up on 15 Months!

Greetings!

Liam Brendan is going to be 15 months on November 2nd - so hard to believe! He took some first steps (3-4) back on Friday 10/7 at Grammy and Grandpa Skellys' house. Then the entire following week he grew more bold and tried making his way between furniture - this past Sunday he walked across the living room on his own (Uncle Jonathan and Auntie Carolee got to witness it with Jon Jr. and Joanna). He is still quite content crawling though, we think it will be another week before he'll be on to walking exclusively. Last night we were dancing in the living room and he was walking all over. 

Auntie Heather returned to Cambodia on Wednesday, 10/12 - it was a bitter sweet goodbye - we so loved having her here while she finished up some mediation/mentoring studies and enjoyed some time for homeleave. She traveled with us to Wisconsin for our cousin's wedding, Blairesville and Hiawassee. During her stay we were shocked to see Liam pick his biting habit back up after her encouragement! Two Saturdays ago Liam and I were playing on the bed in our room and Liam crawled behind me and bit my thigh - twice - and hard!OUCH!!!! 

Some milestones: Liam weighed 27.6 pounds as of 10/24 and was 32.5 inches long as of yesterday! He knows so many words, but chooses not to speak as much as he enjoys pointing objects out...lots of objects...

Enjoy some pictures below from Roswell Area Park, the Atlanta Zoo, family time, the lake house, NY/NJ, Terrill Mill Park with Gramy and Grampa Skelly...



My Giraffe



I spy a lioness!



Very hot and sweaty day at the Zoo, helps induce sleep!





Family day in Canton, GA




Celebrating daddy's birthday!




Lake house in Blairsville, GA




Daddy teaching Liam how to row




NJ - Carlo's Bakery




Atrium near Ground Zero viewing deck




Manhattan, NY




With Auntie Meghan & Uncle Jared




Liam's 1st visit to the coolest toy store!




We almost made Liam his own Muppet Puppet




Spaghetti night - Liam LOVES noodles




John C. Campbell Folk School - Fall Festival - Brasstown, NC





Cabin in Hiawassee, GA




Liam loves his Pooh Bear!




4 Wheelin' with my Auntie




Roswell Area Park with mom, Heather, Nana and Grandpa



Liam wants to tell us he's discovered a goose at the Roswell Area Park



ATL Airport - right before Heather goes through security : (





Terrill Mill Park with Gramy & Grampa
 Walking and more walking...