At Years End

Today is the last day of 2012 and today I have done a lot of reflecting on this past year. 

What a year the Polnicky Family had. We had many adventures, struggles, and exciting times, but we were together through it all! And 2013 is going to bring many more of those times, that is for sure! 

As the new year approaches, we are going to be on a very big adventure, moving to Biloxi, MS. Ever since Courtney got into the Air Force, he knew he wanted to teach in his career field. He knew he had to wait some time before apply for the job in Biloxi, but in that time,  his focus came more and more on teaching. Thankfully, Courtney's wish of teaching came true. By the end of February we will be in our new home in Biloxi. 

As we settle into our new home, it means starting to decorate the nursery. What a blessing we got this year with the news of expecting our second baby. A little girl, McKenna Grace. We feel so incredibly blessed to expand our family to a family of 4. 

But what made 2012 a great year was all because of our little princess McKaila. She has grown so much in this past year. She's become a little lady right in front of our eyes. She's defiantly has her own little personality and is full of energy always. Every day is a new adventure for her. She's been learning a lot of new words and learning other new things daily! She is a true shining star and we know she's excited to become a big sister!

Here are some of my favorite photos of our family in 2012!! 

We had a great 2012 and hope you're family did as well!!!

Merry Christmas!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS!!

First of many presents for McKaila to open

She loves her Air Force One tee-shirt

McKaila and her new phone

Grandma and Grandpa Kuipers Facetimed with us while we opened presents

Stuffy

McKaila got a lot of Doc McStuffins stuff for Christmas!!

The girl loves Toy Story

One happy man, right there!

Tag Junior

Time to play with all the toys

Happy girl!

Merry Christmas!!!!!

A Child and Her Dogs

From the day we brought McKaila home from the hospital, Roxy has been McKaila's protector. If we had to go back to her room, to change her diaper, or go into the kitchen, or any room really, Roxy was there to follow. Even to this day, if McKaila runs to her room to go play, Roxy isn't too far behind. They have a special bond with eachother that will never be broken. 

It's another story when it comes to Simon. They have a love/hate relationship. McKaila loves Simon, and Simon is never too sure what to think about her. McKaila always wants to play and hug on him, but he is never too pleased with that. But, there are times that Simon, lets go of it all and gives McKaila lots of kisses and cuddles with her on the couch, while she's watching her favorite movies. 

ICE! 2012

Yesterday was a great day! We started the morning by heading to base for my 20 week ultrasound, even though yesterday marked 19 weeks of pregnancy. 

I was excited to see McKenna via ultrasound, but the down side of it all, is that for this ultrasound you have to come in with a full bladder. As a pregnant woman that always has to know where the restrooms are, this wasn't going to be fun. Luckily, it wasn't too bad until I got into the ultrasound room and the nurse said she would check my cervix (that's why they need a full bladder) take some pictures of it, then I could head to the restroom. Down side to this, is that when she looked, she said my bladder was full, but she still wanted me to wait a few more minutes and then she would be back to take pictures of my cervix. Those few minutes seemed like forever! I never had to use the restroom so badly. But once I was able to use the restroom, it was nice to relax and see McKenna moving around like crazy inside me. But like McKaila, McKenna didn't like to stay in one place for to long so the nurse could get the right measurements. So, we were probably in the room for a lot longer because of it, but I didn't mind seeing my little girl on the screen jabbing where ever the ultrasound wand was. 

Courtney and McKaila were able to join me in the room once she was done taking all the right measurements. I loved seeing McKaila pointing at the screen and saying "baby" She said it so much, that the nurse was nice enough to even print McKaila out a picture of her little sister, which made McKaila very happy. McKenna is a busy and healthy baby. According to the ultrasound, McKenna weighs about 11 ounces right now and measuring close to 20 weeks. They said that they won't change my due date, but I'm sure that McKenna will be showing her face before the due date!

Later in the day, it was off to ICE! Last year we also went to ICE! 2011 and had so much fun, so we knew we had to go again this year. Yes, it's very cold, but it really doesn't seem to bad once you have all your layers on along with the blue coats that they hand out for everyone. McKaila loved every bit of it and I think if she had it her way, she would have stayed in there forever! She really enjoyed looking at Puss in Boots and the baby Shreks. 

McKaila watching how ICE! was made

McKaila, Daddy, Shrek, and Donkey

Fiona and the Shrek babies

Puss in Boots

She loves Puss in Boots

Oh Christmas Tree

The Polnicky Family

McKaila loves her new Buzz and Donkey

We had so much fun going back to ICE! this year. Hopefully we can travel to see it again at another Gaylord Hotel next year since we'll be in Mississippi. 

18 Weeks

Today marks 18 weeks pregnant!!

(McKenna is the size of a dragon fruit)

Like I have said in previous posts, I didn't have a whole lot of morning sickness this time around. I don't know if it's because I knew what to do when it was going to hit or if it's because McKenna was being kind to me.. hahaha I just feel lucky that I didn't feel as sick as I was with McKaila. Even though it isn't any fun dealing with the morning sickness, what comes with it, is all worth it. I would deal with morning sickness over and over again, to recieve these little mircles in my life. 

Now, that any sort of morning sickness is no longer here, I'm hungry ALL the time! And just like when I was pregnant with McKaila, I crave Taco Bell, but I'm not eating that near as much as I did when I was expecting the first time. Along with Taco Bell, I crave french fries. So, a lot of the time, I find myself making trips in the middle of the day to get some french fries. Atleast my new craving is a lot healthier. Salads. 

McKenna has been busy moving around, and I love it! Feeling her move inside me, is by far the best thing about being pregnant. I can feel her doing flips and jab me around my belly button. But, everytime I would put my hand on my belly to feel her, she would stop. Finally, on Saturday, Courtney was able to feel her! I don't know what it was, but when we had gotten home from seeing the Festival of Lights, McKenna was moving around like crazy. I had never felt her so much, which brought tears to my eyes. (not of sadness, but of pure happiness) 

We love you so much already, McKenna Grace!

Festival of Lights

It's not Christmas, without going around looking at all the Christmas lights. Sadly, in our neighborhood, they don't get into the holiday season by decorating the outside of their house. McKaila is always looking outside our front window looking at the lights on the house across the street and every time we pull into our drive way from being away, she always says "WOW" when she sees the lights outside of our house. Sadly, our blow up Frosty didn't make it through the holidays last year, so we just have lights on the house.

Since McKaila has been loving seeing the Christmas lights outside, we knew we had to go to the Festival of Lights again this year. We went last year and McKaila enjoyed it, but we knew she would be loving it this year, and we were right.

McKaila was talking up a storm through the whole park. She especially loved seeing Santa and all his reindeers. It was great seeing her face light up when she saw something that she liked! We are sad this will be our last time going to the park for the Festival of Lights, but we are hoping we can find something close to it in Biloxi. 

McKenna Grace

We've been keeping a secret for the last week and now we are excited to share our news! We are having another girl! We are so excited to be adding another little girl into the Polnicky family.

Last week, we went to That's My Baby Ultrasound to find out the gender of our baby. I was 16 weeks pregnant on Nov. 26, so on that day we went to find out the sex. Normally, I would have to wait until 20 weeks, like I did with McKaila, but I just couldn't wait this time around. We were too excited!

We went to That's My Baby Ultrasound when I was pregnant with McKaila, so we knew when we got pregnant again, we would be going back there. It's such a comfortable environment to be in. McKaila and my sister, Amber were able to be with us in the room.. McKaila was sitting by my side the whole time while we were watching the baby on the big screen in front of us.

She gets her big feet from her mama

Our baby girl all balled up in my belly

We wanted to share our exciting news with everyone right away, but we wanted to tell everyone in the same way. With McKaila, we just called everyone to tell them, this time we wanted to do something special.

So, yesterday, it began with us sending out this picture to our families

Then, after a few hours of them thinking if it's a boy or a girl, we sent out this!!

A lot of people thought we were going to be having a boy, but even with all of Courtney's prayers to get his boy, we are having a GIRL!! McKenna Grace!! Courtney is going to be out numbered even more now!! But he loves it! He's excited to have another little daddy's girl!

*17 Weeks*