Wedding and TC

We had a wonderful weekend with our families. Caitlin and John got married in Cedar Falls which lead to a lot of old memories and a special guest at the wedding.

Nick and his sister Lindsay arranged for UNI's mascot to come to Caitlin's wedding reception and it was a major hit! Well unless of course you are Evan and for one hour wouldn't let go of me or take his eyes off of TC.

Evan's death grip on me was enough to make me smile:) 

At one point I looked over at Evan sitting on the floor with tears welling up just looking at TC. I told him he was a nice cat, but he didn't believe it. Then he woke up on Sunday and all he would talk about was "roar" or "cat" acting as though they were best friends and they hung out all night. right.

This is Jake aka Papa Roar according to Evan, TC and Nick

Varcoe siblings - Erin, Lindsay, Nick and the bride Caitlin (don't ask)

Here is a picture from a work golf tourney I played in a few weeks ago with the Biggest Loser runner-up Rebecca who is from Des Moines. Baby #2 isn't completely in the way yet, so I may have some more golfing to do this summer.

Finally here is a bump picture of me at 25 weeks. I am usually pretty good until the heat sets in or the humidity then I feel like a truck hit me. So here is to a cool summer!

Thanks for all the votes, keep 'em coming!

Love,
Nick, Amy, Evan and Baby #2

June update

Evan has been keeping mom, dad, papas and grandmas busy so far in June. Nick and I went to Chicago for a wedding and Grandpa Steve and Grandma Kate were nice enough to watch Evan for us.

They went to the library.

The off to a petting zoo to ride on a tractor and see duckies! 

Papa was umpiring a softball game which was his highlight. 

It was beach week at school and Evan got into it! Loved the hula skirt.

And don't forget the goggles!

He danced and danced to music. 

Eating donuts with mom for her birthday before school.

Papa Dave and Grandma Lois have fallen right into retirement by watching Evan a couple of times for us.  As Grandma said this is why they moved here:)

We have Aunt Caitlin's wedding this weekend and Uncle Eric comes home in less than 3 weeks! We couldn't be more excited.

This is Evan almost one year ago...wow it doesn't seem like that long, but he has grown up so fast and so much. Eric will be in for a shock at how much he is talking. Might give him a run for his money:)

I have another baby appointment tomorrow so I will fill you in on what we find out. All I know is baby is a mover and a shaker - and the humidity is a killer.

Don't forget to vote, seems like most of you think girl.

Love,
Nick, Amy, Evan and Baby #2

Dam to Dam Run

Nick loves running, I know what a weirdo. He "pays" to run one race a year called Dam to Dam. It is 12.4 miles and literally he enjoys it! Last year Evan took part in his first Dam to Dam race and we had to sign him up again. Maybe someday he has run Dam to Dam every year of his life:)  Mom will just watch and take pictures:)

Uncle Eric is coming home very soon from Afghanistan, but he also enjoys running - I know what is wrong with these people. Anyway he coordinated 400 runners in Afghanistan to run Dam to Dam the same day as everyone back home. Here is a link - Eric is over the microphone around 1:11 in the video and then he is reading the times at the end. http://www.dvidshub.net/video/117173/dam-dam-afghanistan  It was very cool!

Here comes Nick about halfway. I don't have a picture but Evan was so sad when Nick left to keep running. Tears, dada, daddy, where's daddy...that lasted quite awhile.

Evan watching the runners with Grandpa Steve (or another papa as Evan calls him)

We found Daddy!

Evan watching the runners at the finish before his race.

Pre-race high five with neighbor girl Baya. They ran last year together too.

Back home to cool off!

Riding Manny car and running through the sprinkler, must be summer!

Evan got a new hat and we gave him a choice - Twins or Cubs. He threw the Cubs hat on the floor at Scheel's. I still bought it but again asked which one he wanted he picked the Twins hat. So Twins it is!

Baby #2 is growing A LOT! If this summer keeps up, I am going to be a hot, swollen mess by October. Baby is kicking quite a bit more. The other day Lou was half laying on me purring and Baby either liked it or really didn't like it because they started kicking up a storm.

Happy Summer!
Love,
Nick, Amy, Evan and Baby #2

Bump at 20 weeks

I forgot to add my bump picture at 20 weeks. Baby seems to be growing right about the same track as Evan did. I started wearing my bella band at the same time and some people (the brave ones) actually ask or notice the belly.

I had a co-worker take this at work because I keep forgetting to do it at home.



22 weeks with Evan



Baby #2 Update

Evan got to go to the wee woo's house (Fire Station) for breakfast last weekend. He even got to spray the fire hose!

Dad and Evan in the fire truck

Here are some pictures from our trip to Wisconsin.

Mom and Evan, my little snuggle time I get.

Four-wheeling

In the wee-woo truck

Driving the wee-woo truck at Great-Grandpa Wieland's farm.

Feeding the mini horses with dad. He is a lot of talk and not a lot of action. Wouldn't really get too close to the horses, but wanted mom and Grandpa Dave to keep feeding the horses.

Hilson cousins and Grandparents.

Deuce Check: (written by Nick)

This is a profile of little baby. Hard to see but head is to the left and feet to the right.

Love laying face up. was really snuggling into mom's belly. Hands were in a fist most of the time we were watching. Must realize its going to have to come out fighting! Tech said she was chasing the little one and he was very active. BUSY BUSY BUSY were her exact words! Baby weighed 344 grams or approximately .75 pounds. heartbeat was 144 beats per minute.

From Evan's Blog: on his ultrasound day...

Baby was very active today so it got a little harder for the ultrasound tech as our appointment went on...
Their face is nuzzled in next to the placenta so it is hard to get a front view.

I joked with the ultrasound tech that I already have a busy one at home, what am I going to do with two?!

Grandpa Dave and Grandma Lois are officially (almost) retired. We can't wait for them to join us in the Des Moines area in June!

Love,
Amy, Nick, Evan and Baby #2



Dor Dor, Diego and the Rainforest Cafe

We went to Minneapolis/Wisconsin over the weekend. We stopped at the Mall of America and didn't really have plans to ride the rides at the Nickelodeon park, but oh boy are we glad we did.

Evan loved the Dora Ferris Wheel, Diego Bus the best and Azul the train!

Big boy on the carousel.

 Beep, beep truck!

The Diego bus was his favorite ride. We had to go twice and he kept saying more bus, more bus. He giggled the whole time.

We then went to the Rain forest Cafe for dinner with Nick's friend Jake and Christina. Evan loved all the animals and thunder. It kept him entertained long enough for us to eat:)

We headed off to Wisconsin to see our family. It was a busy weekend full of graduations and birthdays. My Grandpa and Grandma Hilson have the same birthday and celebrated their 93rd and 94th birthdays. My cousins Kay and Jennie both graduated, one from high school the other from college.

Evan got to feed the horses at Great Grandpa's farm, but feeding is a loose term. He wouldn't get within 2 feet of the mini horses, but loved when Grandpa Dave would feed them grass.

Also we bought a new car and this is Evan listening to his DVD so mom and dad don't have to have it through the whole car:)

Baby #2 is doing great, starting to show. We have our big appointment next week where we could find out what we are having, but we aren't. So we will make sure everything else is ok and wait 19 more weeks to find out what we are having. I will upload photos of my bump soon.

A funny Evan story - last night we were putting on his jammies and he likes to "help" put his Desitin on. I said are you going to put in on your belly or wiener...big mistake...he said "wiener" clear as day. I couldn't stop laughing so of course he had to say it again. I officially know now everything I say is going to be repeated so I better be careful.

Love,
Nick, Amy, Evan and Baby V. #2

Finally able to be outside

I had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend, lots of fun outside. Finally we have been able to be outside and burn some of Evan's energy.

I am 19 weeks along, so really half way. It is going so much faster than I ever thought it would. We go back to the doctor in a couple of weeks to do the big anatomy check, but we aren't going to peak. :)

Evan and dad mowed lawn together for the first time. Evan followed Nick around the yard for awhile. Then it was off to something else. Mom ended up chasing him most of the time. Nick said after he was done he got the easy job mowing.

One day on the way to school Evan insisted we take his race track, so off it went to school. Luckily we didn't have to bring it inside school, it stayed in the car.

Funny picture of Evan eating breakfast while dad was away. Donuts (nonuts per Evan), nana and cereal!

His new thing is he wants Popsicles all the time, breakfast is when he just doesn't understand why he can't have one. I haven't caved yet...

Multitasking - Riding car, holding Dora and watching cartoons.

Jumping with Owen at Aiden's 1st birthday party 

Refusing to smile for mom in Aunt Lindsay's outfit she got for his birthday. 

Also over the weekend we bought Evan's new big boy bedroom set. I will upload pictures when it gets put all together. He is still doing great in his big boy room. He is talking all the time and actually making sense:)

Love,
Nick, Amy, Evan and Baby V. #2