Marching On...

I can't believe it's the middle of April. I see my blog every time I get on the computer and know I should be updating, but I'm just never on the computer long enough to take the time, so finally after almost 2 months since my last post, I've decided to make the time. Here's the catch up:

1. The first main news that constitutes a blurb on the blog would be our news of expecting baby # 4. I posted my news on Facebook many weeks ago, but realized after finding one of my non-Facebook friends who just found out yesterday, I haven't been very good about keeping everyone informed. So here it is, for record-keeping sake: I am just over 14 weeks pregnant as of now with a due date of October 15th. We are very excited! The girls are excited. Every time Abby says her prayers, she asks to bless the baby in mommy's tummy and to bless it to be a boy. :) We are planning on finding out the gender hopefully close to my birthday the end of next month, but it may not be until the beginning of June depending on my doctor and when she'll let me schedule the ultrasound.

2. Now that Tyler has a job with Saturdays off, I'm looking through pictures and finding that we are doing a lot more things that are fun and entertaining together as a family. We spent the day at the Dallas zoo with my brother and his family.

The girls really liked all the animal statues that they could take their pictures with.

I love this one because I'm partial to monkeys (they're my favorite animal); I just wish I could have gotten Aubrey to stay still and be in it too.

We rode the tram to see all their animals from above. The girls mostly liked it. Aubrey was a lot happier once we gave her a sucker to eat.

3. I also took the girls to a gymnastics center for a day of free play with some friends. The girls loved it! Tessa, I knew, would have an awesome time. She couldn't get enough of all the trampolines. One of the workers even asked if she was in some kind of class because she said she was fearless and was doing things on the trampoline that kids older than her are too scared to do. Gymnastics is the first thing I'd love to put Tessa into if we had the time and money, but for now she just gets to have fun during free play times. She was also really good at the balance beams. Look how high they are off the ground!

Abby did really well on the rope swing.

Aubrey was not a huge fan of the big foam pit.

4. We had an awesome visit with Tyler's sister and family who flew to Texas to visit us and other family during their spring break from school. We got to see our newest nephew who we hadn't seen since Christmas. He was adorable and chubby. The girls kept Tara and Andrew very busy playing games and just listening to them tell stories.

My sister-in-law said, after a friend commented how her baby looks like Tyler a little, that she has seen lots of looks in her baby that reminds her of Tyler. It makes me wonder if we have a baby boy, if he would look similar to this adorable baby...

5. And finally, the main reason I had to do a post soon was to show off our adorable new 4 year old. Tessa turned four on the 24th of March and her birthday festivities lasted for days. She was able to open presents on her birthday from mom and dad, the following day from Grandma and Grandpa Gibbons, and a couple days later at a party with friends. Here's Tessa in her new dress with a matching dress for her dolly.

I love Tessa's smile, and Aubrey's crazy hair.

Tessa is my only child for whom I attempt to make fun birthday cakes (call it something for the middle child). This year I attempted a butterfly. She liked it so I consider it a success.

Another shot of said cake while she blows out her 4 sparkly star candles.

Tessa had a polka-dot themed birthday party with her friends. We played games, had a pinata, and ate yummy cupcakes.

After hearing about friends who are publishing their blogs, it makes me want to be better, because ultimately that is my plan as well. At least with a couple entries a month, this should be a good family journal for the Gibbons Family. We hope you enjoy!