Friday, August 23, 2013

Last trip home before baby...

I posted a little about our weekend home in July (all the pics of me with Angie). We packed a ton into that weekend, and it still wasn't enough time! :( But, it was so good to see everyone that we did get to see, and we knew it was the last time we would get to go home before baby. The doc shut down my traveling after that! ;)
With my 'little' nephew, Timmie! Can't believe he is in 10th grade now!! He drove up to the house...so weird!! :( He's a doll, and such a good kid. I just love him to pieces...
 and, so do the girls! :)
 With my brother and sister in law!!
 And, the girls with their Britt!! And, she (and Billy) are in COLLEGE now!! WHAT!?!?!
 Sunday we went out early to see Grandma Lee's new pad. It is nice!!! She will be 92 in November and still as feisty as ever! :)
 Then we went out to Aunt Karen's farm so the girls could do some ridin'!!


 They both did so good and weren't a bit afraid. Before long they were both riding by themselves! LOVE IT!!

 With Aunt Karen! They love her so much. She always has the most fun stuff to do at her house! :) We had a blast visiting with her and my Aunt Kathy all day.
 

Little Miss Clinton County and Fair Week

I know I mentioned that Liv was going to be in Little Miss. It was cute. They had a little tea party/photo shoot, and some practices, but Fair Week is when things really kicked in. First up was the parade. Now, parades here and NOT like parades at home. EVERYONE in the county comes, EVERY school, business, etc has a float in the parade, the parade is HOURS long, lots of fun and everyone gives out candy or free stuff. Again, never seen anything like it. Someone had to walk with Liv and it was HOT so Scott was a trooper and walked with her while I watched with his parents.
 
Here comes Liv on the Little Miss float!! :)

 The pageant Dad! hahaha!
 With Miss Kayla, our babysitter. The girls ADORE her. She cheered for me when she was in high school and she's like family to us now.


 Catching candy with Goggy! :)
 And, like I said, EVERYONE has a float in the parade...here comes our little Girl Scout with her troop!! :) She had a BLAST walking with her friends and passing out candy!! So much fun. I miss home and I complain that we don't like at home sometimes, but truly, we are so blessed to live here in this little town and this county. Lots of good people here.
 The Girl Scout float.
 Then, it was pageant time!! Our little miss sassy pants, all ready for the event!




 Introducing herself. They had interviewed them earlier in the process, so they just had to say their name and what town they are from, then the MC read off their interview answers as they walked the stage. It was cute. Liv's answers: Favorite color: yellow, Favorite food: French fries, they asked about toys and stuffed animals and MY favorite...What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up? Her answer...a Mom!! :)

 And, the day turned out pretty well for Liv! ;) With her sash, crown and Papaw got her some flowers!!
 I laughed and said that I would bet anything that she is the first Little Miss to have an unfamiliar last name and southern roots!! ha! :)



The Little Mermaid and Vacation Bible School

I knew July was busy while I was living it, but didn't realize just how busy until I started going through pictures for the blog!! We had The Little Mermaid Showing the same week as VBS. I was afraid it would be too much for Abby, but she forged through like a champ! I can not say enough good things about her deciding to be in the play this year. Every summer the Clinton Count Showcase kicks off their season with an all kids show in the park. Abby has wanted to do it for as long as I can remember, and she was finally old enough. It is a HUGE time commitment, but the kid never once complained or didn't want to go to rehearsal. They make it SO much fun for the kids, they learn so much and they meet so many new friends. It was a wonderful, wonderful experience, and if anyone was born to be on stage singing and dancing, it's Abby! haha! She was in all her glory!
 
The whole cast!
 Dress rehearsal one night! She's the one in the front with a blue dress and yellow hat!
 Ready for opening night!
 Liv was a proud sister, and even seeing the show 1milion times during rehearsals and such, she LOVED watching it every night!!
 All of the littlest fish! :)
 Vacation Bible School was a western theme this year. It was so much fun. They even brought horses for the kids to see one day. The last day everyone is invited to watch the kids sing. It was super cute. I didn't have great seats, but I got a few shots when the 2nd grade did their song.


July Family Fun

July started off with a visit from Nanny (my Mom), and one of my nephews, Austin, tagged along. We LOVE when one of the big kids tag along, and Austin is a favorite of the girls! He is SO stinkin' cute with them and they love him and just think he is the funniest thing ever. :)
 
We got Scott a fire pit for Christmas, and we finally got it out. Pathetic, huh?!
 

 Clearly, the s'mores were a hit! haha!
 Then, as it always is, it was time for the girls to do some gymnastics, so they were trying to teach Austin some tricks, too!
 Not a bad hand stand, but his cartwheel was pitiful! ha! ;)
 Liv is always more than happy to show someone how it's done!! Good thing we have a huge yard...every inch gets used up when the girls are out tumbling.
 A few days after Mom and Austin left, we headed to Dixon to spend July 4th with Scott's family. Liv with Chuck...her favorite little kitten!! This kid LOVES animals. She is SO her Aunt Michelle! :)
 The girls wanted their hair done...you know, for the holiday that would be spent just hanging out at their grandparents! haha! But, you know I won't turn down that request...and, they are so cute I can't hardly stand it! :)

 Firework time!!
 They were SO wound up all night! Love seeing them having so much fun!!! :)
I'm breaking these post up because I uploaded almost 100 photos to get the blog caught up....whew...what a job!!!

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Pregnancy Update....

So, this is mostly for me, as I have been horrible at keeping tabs on this pregnancy, so I want to jot down some things so I don't forget. I have added some photo of my equally pregnant best friend for your viewing pleasure and so this blog doesn't bore you to tears! ha!
 
So, here we are at 35 weeks already!! HOLY SMOKES!! Where did the time (and this summer) go?!?! :( Overall, I have felt good. Not as good as I did with the girls, but not bad enough to feel like I have a right to really complain. The weather has been gorgeous most of the summer, even fall like some days. Aside from some small scares, the pregnancy has thus far been text book. My blood pressure is always great, I've had no swelling, I've gained a little more than I did with Liv but less than I did with Abby. I should finish somewhere in the middle of the 2, which is not bad at all. (With Liv I only gained 18 pounds. I was hoping to finish at that or less, but no such luck! ha! A girl can dream, right?!?!) I am more than ready to be back to 'normal' and to have a normal body again...and to sleep on my stomach!!! Oh, how I miss that! I am still walking but most real working out makes me start having contractions (and even walking for extended periods of time sometimes causes them) so I feel like I haven't had a good workout in months! I just walk as many laps as I can around the neighborhood. I'm sure my neighbors are more ready for him to get here than I am! ha! I have had some rough days this last week. I'm not sleeping well, my hips are hurting at night (I think it's because he is so low and compact...nothing like the girls were), I have lots of contractions, (mostly Braxton hicks, but they are enough to bother me and keep me from a good sleep). Like I mentioned, he is very compact, low and sticks straight out. With the girls they felt more stretched out, my stomach didn't stick straight out and I don't remember feeling like they 'dropped' at all. I feel like he is about it fall out! haha! I went to the doc yesterday and they didn't check but we are hopeful he has moved to head down (they will check again at 37 weeks and then I will really panic if he's not yet), but his heart beat was found very low, so that's a good sign that he is. I am measuring about a week 1/2 ahead. They think he will be a little bigger than the girls (they were only 7.3 and 7.4), or there is just not any more room for him. I'm short...he doesn't have many options! ha! Everyone seems to think he will be here by the end of August. I really don't know. Some days I feel like he will be, but since both girls were late, I feel like I should be prepared for him to be late, also. We'll see, I guess! :) I have had no cravings this pregnancy and not even much of an appetite, which is weird and freaks Scott out! haha! I think he is waiting for all hell to break loose, and for me to start demanding he go to Taco Bell at 1am or something, but nothing so far. Most things don't even sound good. I've eaten enough bananas and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to last me a lifetime. ha! I can't even think of what I want, so I just eat something boring and bland. He has the hiccups ALL. THE. TIME! I don't remember Liv ever having them, Abby did but not this much but he will sometimes 4-5 times a day!!! The girls think it is hysterical. You can see my whole stomach jump. He is SO active...much more than either of the girls. I'm guessing that's a sign, although I can't imagine a child more wild and active than they are! Lord, help me! ha! And, if his movement pattern is an indicator of when he will be awake, he is going to be a night owl like me. He is so active late at night, and his mildest times are during the day. We are pretty much ready for him. All I have to buy is the new monitor, and I have a few things to finish and hang for his room, and I need to wash all of his clothes and bottles, etc. That's it, though! :)
 
Now some fun photos....I got to go home last weekend. We haven't been home since Thanksgiving!!! I have NEVER gone that long without going home. We crammed as much as we could into 48hrs and had a blast visiting with everyone. My main goals were to see my friend, Angie, that is due just a week before me, and to see my Grandmas. They used to make trips here with Mom and Dad but because of age and health, they can't any longer so I was missing them.
 
Little back story. Angie and I met in the first grade and have been friends ever since. She is my longest and, of course, one of my dearest friends. We ALWAYS have a blast together, and I mean ALWAYS!! It doesn't matter how long we go without seeing each other, we pick right up and spend hours laughing, just like when we were little girls! :) When we both found out we were pregnant at the same time, we were SO excited!! She is having a girl, Cate, so we had to let Cate and Lawson meet! ;)
 
With our girls and our Moms! It must be so neat for our Moms to now see our daughters playing together. We were their ages when Angie and I became friends. A true full circle moment, I'm sure.
 
 Our girls!!! They are just like us...get them together and they will play for hours!! They had so much fun. My girls have asked at least 100 times when will we see Ashton again! :)
 With our bellies. We haven't ever been pregnant at the same time. So fun to be so close this time. She says Cate has to come by the 18th of August-ha!, so I'm doubting they won't share a birthday...especially if Lawson takes after his hard headed sisters.
 Group hugs!!! :) Can't believe there will TWO babies along with this crew of girlies the next time we are all together! Love it!!

About Me

Welcome to our life! :) Our life seems to be a constant 3 ring circus these days, but we have a lot of fun, laugh a lot and enjoy every minute of it (okay...almost every minute-haha!) Scott and I have been married for almost 9 years, and we are the parents of 2 amazing daughters, and another little one on the way. This blog is a way to keep in touch with family and friends. It also serves as a 'year book' of sorts for our family. Enjoy!!