Tea Party and Shower for Baby Girl

I have officially stepped over into the girl world after having my "Tea Party Shower" today. 2 years ago I had 3 showers that were surrounded with the color blue, sports, and just plain ole boy stuff. I am not going to lie it was fun while it lasted, focusing on just lil boy things. But on the other hand, I am so excited about this next season.  My Mom ,Mother In-law, and Aunt In-law did a wonderful job in helping me cross over into the Purple and Pink world ! Today I was surrounded by only women (family and friends), who wore hats, drunk their tea, and ate their scones to JoElle at my Baby Shower. From the tea cups to the feminine gifts I soaked in the excitement of having a Baby Girl. I know that this is only the beginning. I can't wait to put all the pretty dresses on JoElle, do her hair, lace her purple and pink shoes, take her for her 1st pedi and mani, and have our own tea party one day!

Thank you to all that attended my lovely Tea Shower. A big thanks and hugs to my Mom, Mom#2, and Aunt Kit for putting your heart and love into making me feel special on my journey to becoming a Mother of a precious Baby Girl!

Big Milestone Today!

JJ ate breakfast with a spoon all by himself today. For those of you that have kids you know how big this is, especially if you have multiple kids. JJ has been finger feeding himself but was having difficulty using a spoon correctly. With another one on the way next month we worried about this milestone. This gives us a little bit more freedom for breakfast, lunches, and dinner that require utensils. Yay for JJ! P.S. Were still working on the correct form with the utensils:)

About to have my second Baby!

How will it be getting and keeping 2 kids on 2 sleeping schedules?

How will it be having 2 kids melt your heart at one time with their smiles, laughs, and fun spirits?

How will it be taking 2 kids to story time?

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How will it be watching 2 kids at the park?

How will it be playing games and peek a boo with 2 kids?

How will it be watching 2 kids show their personalities?

How will we deal with 2 kids being cranky at one time?

How will it be feeding and preparing meals for 2 kids?

These and many more are the questions that have been running through my mind lately. We are 7 weeks away from meeting our little JoElle.Although I am very excited to meet her, I feel overwhelmed sometimes when I think too long and hard about what this next season has for us.

Then I hear God's voice say that it will all work out because his grace is sufficient and his power is made perfect in weakness . I also know that so many people have 2 kids under the age 2 in this world. And we also have many friends that have encouraged us and have got through it victoriously. Wes continually encourages me that it will be okay and that we just need to make it through the first big hump of sleepless nights. He also tells me that it will be a little bit easier because we know what to expect this time from a newborn. Last but not least, our parents and family remind us that they are here to assist and help.

With all this said I have decided to spend these last 7 weeks enjoying my 1(our JJ), enjoying napping when my 1 naps, being 1 on 1 with him, preparing food for 1 kid, waking up to 1 kid, watching 1 kid grow everyday, letting 1 kid melt my heart with his sweet spirit, going to the park with 1 kid, going to story time with 1 kid, playing games and peek a boo with 1 kid, and enjoying 1 kid with my husband.

I will let tomorrow worry about tomorrow. I will enjoy the end of this season and be grateful for the special moments with JJ. In a month and a half I will no longer be a Mommy of 1 but a Mommy of 2!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loving on my Sweet Valentine!

2 Years ago Wes asked the question" Why do men have to plan for all the big occasions... Anniversaries and Valentines Day?". I responded by saying" I don't know, but since you do a good job loving me through the year how about you be in charge of our Anniversary every year and I will be in charge of Valentines Day?" Needless to say he did not argue.

This year was extra special for me to plan. 1. We have a very loving babysitter that is willing to watch Our lil Man any day, which is Wes' Mother. 2.It has been a busy last couple of months. To purposely take a whole day to love on one another was talked about for weeks.

Wes and I love taking advantage of celebrating our love and marriage to each other. When we got married one of our goals was to never loose the fire and excitement for each other through years, kids, and life.

I decided to start the celebrations early, one day early on Sunday the 13th. I told Wes to pack an overnight bag because we were not coming back until the next day. We then said our goodbyes to our loving Son JJ and his wonderful Grandparents.

The Day and Night that I planned for my Sweet and Wonderful Hubby:
1.We went to Church and heard a wonderful message on going deeper with God and recognizing the things that may be hindering you. Right after and before lunch we exchanged our love letter and notes to eachother by reading them out loud to eachother....this is when I explained to Wes the plans for the day!
2. We took a beautiful road trip across the Golden Gate Bridge and we stopped in Santa Rosa,Ca. This is the city where Wes grew up the first 10 years of his life. I let Wes show me the neighborhood and house he grew up in as a little boy. He enjoyed seeing this town because he had not been back since he moved, when he was 10 years old. I enjoyed hearing his stories of growing up and riding his bike down the streets that we were driving down.


3. We then went to Guy's famous Restruant in Windsor, Ca. The appetizers and bread was very good. Wes was able to have one of his favorites.....Ribs and I was able to have one of mine...French Fries! They were DELICIOUS:)
4. We then went to go see the movie The Eagle. Wes had been wanting to see this movie since he seen the previews. We both gave it a solid A. Very good and suspenseful for me.
5. After the movie we spent the night in one of Wes' parents timeshares in Windsor, Ca.
6. We woke up the next morning talking about how great our Valentines getaway was for both of us. He said I did a good job of planning. We wished each other Happy Valentines Day over pancakes at a cute Diner in town. We then got back on the road in excitement to give JJ a hug when we returned home.
7. JJ was excited to see us and we were smiling from ear to ear when we walked in the door. Oh yeah, can't leave JoElle out, it seemed like she was grew on Valentines Day!

Transitions in Life...5 things I truly miss about San Diego

1. My Wonderful Friends
It takes time building and keeping relationships. Over the last 10 years in San Diego I have tried my best to stay close and in touch with amazing woman. I miss seeing there wonderful faces, receiving their face to face encouragement, and enjoying their company. I am praying that God will place women of the same standards, character, and love that I had in San Diego in the Bay Area...soon.
2. My Awesome Co-Workers. I really can say that I loved my job in San Diego and the reason I loved it so much is because I love what I do and I was in love with the my fellow nurses that I worked with. 4 years is a nice amount of time to really get to know a group in and outside of work. I am currently the new girl at UCSF. Still learning the ropes and getting to know the nurses up here. They have welcomed me really well but I have such high standards after leaving UCSD medical center.

3. Our Church-The Church that we were attending before we left was just Great in so many ways. Wes and I look for 4 things in a church. 1. Good Word Preached 2. Good Worship 3. Excellent Children's church for JJ 4. Diversity. The Rock had all 4 of these and is a church that serves San Diego in so many ways. We felt very proud to be apart. We have been looking for a church with these qualities since we moved up to the bay area. We think that we might be pretty close to all 4 of our goals in a church but prayerfully waiting on complete confirmation.
4. The Weather- San Diego weather is just perfect. My definitions of perfect weather: Consistancy in its pattern, not to cold, not to hot, sunny, and just beautiful. So far the weather in the Bay Area has been very wet, very cold, and sometimes nice.
5. The City- The city of San Diego is just a melting pot of ethnicity and culture. Everything seems so conviently located in San Diego. It is not real hard to find something adventurous, fun, and entertaining to do in close driving distance. Even though I grew up in the bay area it feels as if I am I still have some figuring out about the different cities within the Bay Area.

2 Things I love about the Bay Area

1.Our Families! Wes and I have both of our families living in the Bay Area. It has been so nice to visit with them everyweek, go to the movies, catch dinner, have superbowl parties, birthday gatherings, and see JJ recieve so much love from them.

2. Making our Marriage Stronger:)Transition in life can be real rough. It is real rough and tough finding new friends, new church, starting and looking for new jobs, Wes beginning his Master's Journey, and coping with all this change at once. Through it all Wes and I have learned how to lean on God 1st and each other 2nd. We have been each-others supporters', encouragers', and it has just been beautiful to see how God has used this transition to bring us closer as BEST FRIENDs. Even when we thought marriage and our friendship was going great it just got greater.

After writing all this I will try to focus on these 2 lovely and wonderful things that the Lord has done through our transition and not focus so much on the other 5 that I miss so much. Who knows maybe in 6-12 months from now my likings of the Bay Area will out number my missed longings of San Diego!?

Our growing Boy and our Baby Girl has a name at 25 wks of pregnancy!

I am officially 25wks pregnant. My belly has grown so much over the last couple of weeks. Not only have I grown but JJ has grown too. He is learning new things and seeming more and more like a Big Brother in training. He is currently communicating with us by grabbing our hands and walking us to what he wants. For example, he will grab our hands and take us to his high chair when he is ready to eat, he will take our hand and take us to the door when he wants to go outside and play, and he will grab our hands and take us to something he can't reach, like his ball. JJ also is enjoying putting on his Daddy's, Mommy's, and whoever else shoes he see's in sight. JJ is also loving all his books that he owns(his Grandma D has established quite a library for him). He does not read them but enjoys looking at all the pictures and at times he thinks its fun to throw them all over his room. He is using the word "Baba" whenever he wants anything to eat besides milk, it's quite cute! He is distinctly calling me Mom, Wes Dad, the Fan fan(one his favorite objects), he is also saying "oh yeah", and saying "up" when wants to be picked up.

With our first Son Wes had the pleasure and full desire to name him and I love my JJ(Joshua James Bell). With our 2nd and because it's a girl I have the pleasure of the final 1st name. Wes picked the middle name. Her name will be Joelle Tiana Bell !


[ 2 syll. joe-(l)le, jo-e-lle ] The girl name Joelle is pronounced JHowEHL †. Joelle is of Hebrew origin. It is used mainly in English, French, and German. The meaning of Joelle is Jehovah is the Lord and The Lord is Willing'. The generic name has been used in the Old Testament of the Bible. Joelle is the feminine equivalent of the English and German Joel.

Wes and I both know that it was the Lords will for us to get pregnant again. I do not take it lightly, the miracle of life. I see and know women who have the desire to get pregnant and can't, I work with women who get pregnant and can't carry the baby to a viable age, I see babies delivered too early at a state where their little lungs and bodies are not compatible with life. I will take the time again to praise the Lord and say thank you God in advance for giving us another baby, on loan from you!


The Middle name will be Tiana: Our meaning = Our mothers names put together: Teri+ Donna= Tiana. We love both of our wonderful mothers so much and don't know if the Lord will bless us with another girl. We wanted to make sure Joelle would carry both of their names. Just a little history on the name Tiana, it is also the first Black Disney Princess from Princess and the Frog (2009). And last but not least, JoJo was also my nickname that my UCSD medical center Nurses use to call me when we lived in San Diego.

Her nickname will be JoJo to flow with JJ.

We are excited to meet Joelle Tiana Bell in 3.5 months. We are looking forward to see JJ interact with his little sister Jojo!