A Scanner Darkly

I have discovered how to use our scanner, which is maybe not the greatest thing considering my stellar history of sweet haircuts, paper-thin eyebrows, and "fashion-forward" outfits in the 90's, but they are MY memories after all and that makes them a-OK. Here are some treasures I scanned in of childhood...
(Tyler is counting his lucky stars that at the moment he's in San Francisco so he can't help me look for his childhood awesomeness, but that's coming just you wait).

Why we are posing on a fake beach in Illinois I couldn't tell you, but that's what makes it so right.

I broke my arm when I was three...had a sling attached to the ceiling to keep it upright. Enough said.

And I thought Pea had attitude.

Green Acres

Apparently farm living is the life for Pearson. Love these shots of Pea helping Daddy out in the back yard:


Me and Mini-Me situation

Shut it down

Posting update on Bad Newz Kennelz-we won! By the look on the guy's faces you would think we tanked big time, but no people (Tyler) were unhappy with their performances even though we won. Again, I guess all that really matters is the record; which to date stands unblemished. Here's hoping Big Al's injury isn't as bad as it looked or sounded like. ugh, you know it's not a great sign when they bring out the golf cart to take you to the sidelines.
Sorry fellow readers, no camera this time. Bummer, but I promise to be on the ball for next week's game. Hope you're all having a great Saturday-go huskies tonight!!
(I am so proud of my new found and genuine interest in football-this HAS to be a good thing for my marriage;)

Looking for a Heartbeat...

Not the Miami Vice/Don Johnson misty anthem; an actual heartbeat from my budding baby! I'm 11 weeks tomorrow and just returned from my second doctor appointment today. (side note: Love my new doctor-she's absolutely great so far!)

Doppler on....listening for Ba-bum, Ba-bum. Nothing...waiting...still nothing, freaking out slash praying and then said great doc wheeled in the ultrasound machine! Some might perceive this as a bad sign, but I've learned to love these things having had four ultrasounds with miss Pea. They are the best reassurances! Hallelujah...there is little Bell! Heartbeat is seen! Sight is sometimes better than sound; in this case especially.

He/she is measuring out at exactly 11 weeks as predicted. Apparently, this little one (very similar to Pearson again) is very active already and even sort of waved at us. Hopefully, that means he or she has a sense of humor too. "Mom, do not embarrass me, I'm here!"

Introducing baby bell #2 at 11 weeks:

All's Fair in Love & War

Grandma Carolyn and Papa Steve took all three girls to the fair yesterday. Here are some great pics provided by the event's photog (Aunty Reen!) Thanks to Grandma and Papa for some free time!

I love how Heidi is chewing on Pea's shoes, classic.

Rides! So much fun...

This one is also a classic-both Kyla and Pea are a bit weirded out by the camel...

Fun in the Sun (and oh yeah, Ben Harper)...

We just arrived back from our quick weekend getaway to Arizona. A good trip to be sure, however there were some UPS and DOWNS (a lot of them on the plane ride there). Thus motion sickness + morning sickness = one bag held to mouth for duration of said flight. Here's the story of our weekend in photos!

read ALL of Eclipse in 2 days (not a joke. really I did.)

Couldn't have been happier to touch the ground after my tormented ride on the way to our destination...

Tyler's weekend was working and watching football (and being with me:).

Basking in the sun and enjoying being pregnant (while not flying)...

Out to dinner with friends! Thank you John and Brittany for making us feel so welcomed!

Do not adjust your screen-that's me and BEN HARPER in the flesh!!! His band was riding in the row ahead of us on the flight home. Ty shamed me beyond red cheeks and asked if he would take a pic with his wife. I was literally shaking and stammered, "I really like your music." DUH you idiot. ugh-I am officially a blubbering fool, but he couldn't have been sweeter and the tickets he gave us were so generous!

Swimmers Unite!

In honor of Wednesdays normally being swimming nights, I'm posting these awesome pics of Pea "swimming like mommy" and wearing mommy's "swimsoup"

Enjoy!

Lightbulb Moment

My girlfriend from home wrote in her blog today that if she were sitting down at coffee with "far away" friends the following would be what she said: http://beccalenamann.blogspot.com/2009/09/if-we-were-at-coffee-post-for-far-away.html

I LOVE this sentiment, so I thought I would write what I would talk about back!
(Firstly Bek, no one can understand a broken nose situation better than yours truly-mine looks fine head on, but side profiles are strictly forbidden. :x)
Secondly, here's an update on me and us as a family. Ty and I are headed to Arizona on Thursday for a four-day getaway sans Pea. While we will miss her terribly, we are excited to get some alone time! Ty does have to work two of the days, but that's OK...I have some much anticipated reading material to ravage. After we get back I think the fall will fly by, but I don't want it to since it's my favorite time of year and since we're only going to be a family of three for a short time more. While we're on the topic, let's break it down and talk about God's timing for a minute. Beyond God being faithful, he has a design for each of our lives. And last night at our home group (bible study Ty and I just joined) I had a moment of clarity I thought I would share. We took a look at John 21-where Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me?"
He goes on to say, if you love me then you'll feed my lambs, but the end part of that text stuck out to me like a shining beacon of light. Maybe not really the point of the chapter, but the point to me at that moment. Jesus is talking about His plan for another believer (John) and Peter is asking Jesus questions about what's going to happen to John; basically comparing his walk with John's. Jesus sees right through him because he looks at the heart first and says, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
Besides the fact that I love how sassy Jesus is here, He's making the best point I could have read. He said, Chelsea, don't compare your walk to another believer's because God has an individual plan for them and for you. The two may have nothing to do with each other. Good reminder, Jesus!
There's freedom in that I believe...no need to look to your left or right, look up keep my eyes focused on Jesus and that's all that I need.
Love to you Bek, thanks for the inspiration this morning!

Ready? Set...

GO!
Rec league football has officially begun. My plan is to post on game days and today was the opener jamboree! We won both games with No fights AND though we were short about 4 players we dominated! Great start guys.
Can't wait to see what this season brings...

Littlest fans!

Huttle up

Model Behavior

Really the picture says it all...

Kicking Butt and Taking Names

Question: What is?
Answer: MORNING sickness.
Apparently I was living in a dream world in which I thought I could escape the plague of morning sickness, but for all intents and purposes that's all it was; a pipe dream and a fervent prayer!
While, we're on the subject: a man MUST have made up this phrase, because a woman would never minimize something so awful-it. is. ALL. day.
RIGHT before the 8-week point (this past Saturday) it came without mercy! Frankly, it's kicking butt and taking names. Namely, Chelsea Bell: prime target.
For those of you that read this-please pray for this to leave in a timely manner since I am laying on the couch eating saltines (and water) while my first baby has NO idea why mommy is so lame!

Dear John Letter (goodbye crib)

Dear Crib,

One relationship is ending, another beginning and it's time to move on. So Goodbye, dear crib. You've been a wonderful shelter for my baby, but she's a big girl now and has her eyes set on someone new. It's not you, it's her. Thanks for all the good times and protection, but on to bigger and better.

Sincerely,

Team Bell

She's in, ladies and gentlemen!

Today we set up her new bed and told her that since she's a big girl she gets a new bed and the baby gets her crib. She was IN to it! I'll post about her first night tomorrow...

Update!: Last night went really well, she slept through the night no problems! Now the true test: nap time...

Wedding Crashers

Last night was our last wedding of the season-a family wedding! Ty's cousin Blake (Congrats again Blake and Tiffany! woot woot!) and cherry on top: Pearson was invited!! It was her first wedding and was overly hyped about it because we talked it to death in our house. All about how she was going to see a "prince" and "princess" get married and how the princess would wear a beautiful dress and there would be a royal kiss. Adding more hype to the already hyped was the fact that Pearson's cousin Kyla was the flower girl and got to wear a "pretty dress." Pearson was so excited she was acting crazy. We had to leave during the ceremony because she kept saying, "I wanna see princess" over and over! After the ceremony the girls got to run around the deserted altar and play wedding. I don't think they could be cuter...

Playing wedding...

(The real deal)

Cat Food Queen

ugh. I hate to even write this, but this is authentic life in our house. Lately Pearson has been going into the pantry in the kitchen and shutting the door. She's a sneaky creature sometimes; fitting because sometimes Tyler goes by the name Secret Squirrel. I thought she was merely playing house with her Barbies because she talks to them in there, oh but no.
I became curious and opened the door yesterday morning. Pea had a HUGE hand full of cat food in her MOUTH, chewing along like it was no big deal. I admit, I do not have hardly any morning sickness, but this just about made me toss my cookies. I say to her, "Pearson Bell, you do NOT eat the cat food!"
"Yes, mommy."
wow...good source of fiber. Needless to say said cat food will remain top shelf of the Bell pantry.

Potty? Pish, Posh.

So NOT into it...looks like I'm sticking with the original plan of potty training after Christmas!