baby dolls

I never thought I'd see the day when my daughter would be quietly sitting on her bedroom floor mothering her baby dolls. I had to grab the camera super fast because I wasn't sure when I'd see it again. I wasn't even sure she remembered where they were stored, in that green cloth bin in a shelf under her books, but she did and I was so excited to see that side of her. It was soon back to cars and "on mark, des, doooooh".


We obviously have some work to do since this poor baby was forced into a back bend so the little mommy could adjust her hat but I'll take what I can get. Atleast she gets the idea, right?!

She has no idea what's to come very soon :-)



Happy New Year's Eve!!!

one more design...

...to choose from.


I'm enjoying this way too much. If I continue down this path I won't be able to decide. But I'm thinking this might be my fave so far!

help me decide please

Although I wanted to post a wordless wednesday titled, 'Cookie Monster Strikes Again' with this picture as it's statement


I couldn't help but skip it to ask for your help deciding on a design for a shirt I want to make for the girls.




So, which one do you like best???

the next month...

We have quite a month coming up-probably the busiest month we've had in a good year, or more. Here's what my planner reads:

Tuesday, December 29- 10 AM-AK's dental appt. then inflatable play land after that to make up for the trauma she thinks she endures every time she goes. I guess lying back on someone's lap while they shove their fingers into your mouth isn't all that fun.

Friday, January 1- wedding in Waco

Tuesday, January 5- leave for Kansas

Thursday, January 7- leave KS for home

Saturday, January 9- 2 PM-babyshower

Tuesday, January 12- 11:50 AM-OB Appt.

Monday, January 18- OB Appt.

Monday, January 25- OB Appt.

Monday, February 1- OB Appt.

I mean obviously a lot of these days are taken up seeing the OB but still, I'm going to be quite busy.

The trip to Kansas is for sure pushing it with me being a month away from my due date but it's just two days so I figured it wouldn't be toooo risky. This is our ONLY chance to make it up there for our face-to-face interview for the girls ranch so we're going to take the chance and pray all sails smoothly. After that trip, Isabelle is welcome to arrive at any time ;-).

After the baby shower I bet time will fly by because I'll be busy washing new teeny tiny baby clothes and trying to find a place to put them all. I'm hoping we are blessed with some type of dresser for her...even if that means getting a 3-drawer sterilite plastic storage thing. Haha! Hey, whatever works right?!

So THAT is our firm schedule for the next month. None of those plans will be taken out but things could be added and that's a little overwhelming. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.

Oh, not to mention, we still have to get a car and figure out where we're going to be living at the end of February if we don't get offered the position in Kansas.

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

34 weeks

Am I really that far along already? Anyone? This is crazy. Time is flying by like I have a ton of it ;-). In FIVE days we'll be in January. Do you know what this means?!!! It means I only have one full month left. Holy moly. And that's only if she stays in until February. Mostly everyone I know, including my husband, thinks she'll arrive at the end of January. Guess we'll see soon. What's your vote?

I'm actually feeling pretty good these days. I'm sure that's because I've gone since a little before Thanksgiving with an undiagnosed yeast infection. Gross I know, but doc says it's common in this stage...I wouldn't know though, I've never had one before in my life. About a month ago he tested me for a UTI, which I've also never had before, and that wasn't it. So two weeks later I went back and said I had looked up some stuff online and I thought it was maybe a yeast infection. He wasn't convinced for some odd reason and put me on an antibiotic just incase I had an increase in bacteria which was causing some probs. After a full seven days of taking the medicine twice a day I still was no better. Finally I had enough, scheduled myself an appointment a week early and told him nothing has worked and he needs to check things out. He did and immediately said I had a really bad infection. GREAT! I'm sure I've been trying to tell you this sir! So needless to say, I'm feeling MUCH better these days. All those aches and pains are pretty much gone and I feel happy again :-). Praise the Lord! And I'm sure you wanted to know every single bit of that LOL!

Last night I started packing my hospital bag. I've been waiting to get some things that I need. For Christmas, my mom got me some pj's with matching slippers and a nursing tank. My MIL gave me some Bath and Body Works travel shampoos, conditioners and body wash and they smell yummy! All of that went in my back along with a robe, the baby's stuff and of course the cute little bow I made her. I'm almost 100% that half of what I packed for her will come out after the baby shower and I'll replace it with new stuff. I just wanted to have stuff in there for now, just in case. A good thing is though that we live approximately 6 minutes from the hospital and the hospital is about 2 minutes from a Target so I'm not too worried about forgetting something. Sometime this week I'm going to go buy a spare deodorant, toothbrush, another pair of black stretchy pants and maybe a shirt. We'll see how that goes.

I read last night that Isabelle could arrive anywhere from 5-6 weeks from now. That is 35 to some other number days from now! Seriously, 35 days!!! Oh my goodness, I'm so excited. I find myself growing more and more impatient to meet her. It's never a feeling I deal with during the day but usually at night when it's quiet, she's moving around like a circus clown and I see her cradle lying empty. I just want her here and I want to HOLD HER! I cannot wait.

Here is a fun picture of AK with Isabelle. I took it this morning with my 34 week pic. I asked her where Isabelle was and she lifted my shirt (I had to pull down the belly panel to my pants), she stuck her finger in my belly button and said, "there she is!" It was so adorable. AND she had a smile on her face which made me happy.

A little side note, I'll take those stretch marks for a beautiful healthy baby anytime :-) Plus, they go away anyways.

new best friend

My little girl has a new BFF. For Christmas she got this little cute stuffed kitty cat from my brother-in-law's girlfriend's grandma whom I've never met until that day. It was a super sweet jester and it turned out to be her favorite "puzent" of all. She has carried her kitty around with her EVERYWHERE since Thursday and wakes up looking for it on her bed. It hasn't left her side. It's so precious. AND since she's gotten her little kitty who she so happened to name "Sock" she hasn't really even been interested in her lovey anymore. She only asks for it when she's going to bed. This is a huge step for her. Usually she wants her lovey a lot throughout the day. Aw, my baby is growing up.

^^^here she is the night she got it and so excited about going night night with her kitty^^^

^^^here she is at my aunt's house in San Antonio sliding on her kitty across the kitchen floor^^^

^^^and here she is this morning hanging out in her new chair with her kitty^^^

I'm telling you, Sock goes everywhere with her.

Speaking of Sock, I tried to get her to name it Spots. My mom tried Boo Kitty. And she said Sock. So, Sock it is I guess. Not Socks, but Sock.

I hope you all had a VERY Merry Christmas full of love and laughter.

wordless wednesday (Cece and Popsie love)

some Christmas talk

I need to get this out there. Christmas totally stresses me out and it SHOULDN'T! I remember as a kid everything was so much simpler. Get presents and smile :-). Now that I'm married it's "who's house will we be at this year?", "what do I get so and so?", "aaahhhh, please don't get us anything so we don't have to feel obligated to get you anything!". I know that all sounds stupid but I think it's different for everyone based off the kind of family you have.

Every year we try to make it to every one's home for the holidays. If we're here for Thanksgiving we'll be there for Christmas. If we're there for Christmas we'll be over there for New Years. Obviously at Christmas it's all spread out from family to family because everyone wants everyone to be together. So Christmas Eve we'll be here, Christmas Day we'll be there. Blah blah blah.

It's exhausting.

This year I'm overwhelmed with everyone talking about shopping, shopping and more shopping especially when I can't be out doing the shopping too. And when I say this I really don't mean that I'm jealous that everyone is shopping and I'm not. I've really realized this year that it's crazy nuts for me to feel so upset and overwhelmed that I can't give the kind of gifts that we'll most likely get. We obviously fall into a whole different category when it comes to finances this year and we can't go all out...not that we would if we could. When did Christmas become about presents and the newest fad? What about the birth of Jesus? Hello? Is anyone out there?

I'm totally guilty of being way too excited about getting something new and I still have a lot of work to do to retrain my brain to think otherwise since Christmas presents have always been a big deal in my family.

Sean and I want to work really hard to start a new trend with our little family. Maybe instead of getting and getting and getting we'll take a year to just give to little kids who never get. Or maybe before getting Christmas presents we'll sit down and pick a few toys to giveaway. It's insanely crazy how many toys kids have these days...oh and the KIND of toys. Wii's, nintendo ds, laptops, cell phones. What ever happened to a baby doll, some fingernail polish and a pair of pajamas? Haha. It's like we're all setting our kids up to be selfish with an "I deserve this" attitude as if they didn't have a hard enough time as it is being born that way. Anyways, I'm just sayin. I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes or anything. These are just things that I've been realizing now that I have my own kiddos AND since we're in a completely different position this year.

I don't want AK to feel like she has a right to receive. I want her to be happy and fulfilled in giving with a happy spirit. AND I want to be that way. I also want to be happy to give what I can give and happy about not going into debt doing it! Help me Lord.

Does anyone out there have any little traditions they do with their family to teach their little ones about Jesus and giving, and not being selfish, and being thankful for what you have??

33 weeks

Today marks 33 weeks of pregnancy! I can't believe I entered my eighth month last week...I think I forgot to mention that. I read today that she should most likely be head down now but I'm pretty sure that Friday night the girl was turning somersaults. Sean was even shocked by all the activity going on in there and that says a lot. He's not one of those daddies who oooh and aaah over every movement. It takes quite a bit to surprise him and he was indeed surprised by her activity. It was actually pretty uncomfortable. She was definitely letting me have it. I should've gotten it on video.

This morning, around 5:30 AM, I woke up with a terrible case of heartburn. I've been lucky so far not experience bad heartburn (just indigestion EVERY NIGHT for the past couple of weeks) but lastnight I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. AND then my sweet two year old came marching in soon after that like it was time to get up. No ma'am! I prayed that it would go away ASAP because I didn't have it in me to handle her and heartburn-it was that bad. It ceased almost immediately and we went back to bed until 9:30 :-). Thanks God!

The baby shower is quickly approaching and I'm getting excited to have a group of women to hang out with for a little while :-). Sean and I got to go out to dinner the other night and then I forced him to go to Target with me to register for some stuff and he took off with the little gun and added a $1600 humongous flat screen TV, a $300 ipod and some other really funny stuff. Not to mention random diapers that our little girl won't even wear and some outfits totally in the wrong size. I'll go online soon and delete a lot of the stuff, haha! He was just walking by tagging stuff. He wanted to see how far away he could be and the laser still work. MEN. It was funny none-the-less.

Well, there's a Christmas party here tonight and I have lots to get done before then. Happy Sunday everyone!

we're excited!

BECAUSE ...

You know how we moved here a year ago thinking it would be a six month ordeal, at most, and then we'd be trucking right along? Well obviously it hasn't turned out that way and we've been wondering WHAT'S GOING ON!

My sweet husband has been searching high and low for a job that will fit our family well, provide for our needs and make us happy. Obviously, the making us happy part is just a plus, it's not a demand by any means. ANYWAYS, we are finally "yay close" to possibly having something that we feel fits us in all the right ways. There are still things we don't know about but will find out soon. I'm going to be pretty vague until we know more BUT...

Wait...first...a little history on the things we've had in our heart to do. Obviously there is the missionary pilot stuff my husband has been pursuing for yeeeeears. We're sooo close but for some reason there have been many roadblocks the past year it seems.

When I was an "older teenager", 18 or so, I had a huge desire to one day open a maternity home for unwed mothers who want help finding an adoptive family OR want help in learning how to raise their child. There are way more things involved than just that but that's the jest of it.

Then I met Sean, fell in love and we got married. All our energies were set on his aviation goals. We knocked them out one by one, all but this last and final step that keeps not happening. I figured wherever we ended up with his flying I could make my dreams happen there.

We started talking about the possibility of looking into being house parents. It sounds like something we'd both be really good at! He also has always had a desire to help "troubled" teenage girls. (I hate to use the word troubled because often they're not the problem at all, they just need to break some family cycles and learn healthy life skills.)

ANYWAYS, that's where this job possibility comes in. It's not a maternity home but it's a girls home in Kansas. We'd be house parents-responsible for up to seven girls. Our "job description", which I feel is not a job description at all, is us being leaders, encouragers, helpers, counselors (a parent form) to these girls who really need a solid and firm family environment in which to flourish. We'd have weekly meetings with the director and other house parents, I'd have other ladies around me with kids the same age as Anna-Kate, life would be very consistent and scheduled (which I LOOOOVE), Sean and I would both be home (which I also LOVE). There are many other things that I just can't think of right now because I'm so overwhelmed with it all-a good overwhelmed.

Sean and I have both talked to the director, him twice and me once. The conversations went really well. I really enjoyed getting to chat with him about the questions I had. After we got off the phone with him the other night we were even MORE excited about this actually possibly happening for us. We are going up there in a couple of weeks for a face to face greeting. There is one other couple in the "running" for the job. Whether we get it or not, we pray that whomever is going to fill this very important role at the ranch will be the right family. If that isn't us, we know God has something else in store. If we ARE offered the position, we will still be in prayer for a couple extra days about whether or not this is the place for us...unless for some reason we get there, meet everyone and just KNOW we're sold! No matter where it all goes, all we know is that we want to align with His will and stay under His covering. Simple as that.

If we do get the job and all is a go, we'll move after the baby is born-the end of Feb/beginning of March. There is a house parent family who moved there expecting a child, went back to their hometown to have the baby where insurance would cover it and then came back with a newborn. SO, I'm not too worried about it being doable. I'm waiting on an email from her so I can ask the "mom questions" I have. After those questions are answered I can't imagine how much more excited I'll be.

All of this comes in perfect time, and I mean PERFECT, if it is to come at all. I won't go into detail. I'm trying not to freak out about it. All of my excitement turns into great panic when I think about all we have to get done in two small months and with a newbie on the way.

So God, please come through.

I'll keep you updated as I know more. Until then, please keep us in your prayers.

my santa baby

I just couldn't save this until Christmas!!! Sean's little brother and sisters sent AK this Santa outfit the other day and I had to get a picture of her in it to send them a Merry Christmas/Thank you picture of her in it. They bought it themselves and had it sent to her. How sweet is that. Let me just say really fast, the little brother is 18 and the little sisters are 16 and 13 so I'd have to say it's pretty special for her to get something from her aunts and uncle.

She wasn't really wanting to cooperate for the picture but you can't not laugh when mommy counts, "oooooone, twwooooo" and then smacks herself in the head. Worked like a charm!

There's no way around loving that little santa baby. She makes me feel all mushy inside.

I love Christmas time

Remember how I mentioned here that I was a little bummed about the Christmas season because we wouldn't be having a tree this year just as we didn't have one last year? Well, after a failed attempt to borrow one a friend offered to let us use (because she couldn't find it) my MIL went out and got a little skinny 6 foot tree because she had bent her good one all up by packing it wrong. She wanted to get something just to "get by" this year and get us by this little tree does! We put it on a table in the corner out of reach from little fingers and it works nicely there. I wrapped that sucker in 5 strands of colored lights and we have ourself a purdy little tree going. I opted for no ornaments but I'm pretty sure my MIL will be adding some random things to it soon. Until then, I'll enjoy the simplicity of it.

THEN, a sweet IRL friend read my blog and emailed me about picking up some Christmas decorations that she was getting rid of. I was super duper excited about that. Since I went to Waco last weekend I scheduled a time to pick them up and was actually shocked about the amount of stuff she had waiting on her porch. I was just thinking a small box or so but it ended up being three boxes and some loose things. I walked away with a tree topper that I made into a mini tree for AK's room, some fun Christmasy hand towels, a wreath (which I've ALWAYS wanted but have never had one!), some stalkings!!!, place mats, some glass santa and snowman dishes, this cute wintery penguin soap dispenser, and even some wrapping paper! There were more things but I'm having a hard time remembering it all. I must say I was super blessed by her "trash" and am so thankful she wanted to bless me with it. It's no Kelly's Korner in our home but I'm thankful for every single "get me in the spirit" thing going on.

My MIL has a huge wreath on the front door so I took my first and only wreath and brought Christmas to our bedroom. It's hanging above our bookshelf where a dead clock once took up residence. I've been needing to replace that stinkin battery for a couple months now...this buys me some more time. MIL also has her own stalkings soooo I took the two identical ones given to us and hung them on each end of our curtain rod in our room. I smile every time I walk in there...even if I'm reminded by the pile of clean clothes laying in Isabelle's cradle that I'm running a bit behind.

Here are a handful of pics of Christmas in "our home" this year. I'm thankful for each bit of it!


THANK YOU SOOO MUCH JENNI!

Now I'll just sit and enjoy me some Shane & Shane Christmas music while drinking a nice toasty cup of hot chocolate.

Aaahhhh, I love Christmas time.

wordless wednesday

32 weeks & 1 day :-)

So I'm a day late yet again. Sometimes I just can't keep up. I was out of town yesterday and didn't get back until yesterday evening so all the “important” things that I need to do still need to be done.

Anyways, I'm 32 weeks now! 8 weeks or LESS until I meet this little girl. I am SOOOO excited. She has taken up most of the room in my small torso and I've been having trouble catching my breath lately but only when I'm sitting. When I am sitting down she is as high as she can possibly go but when I am standing I can see that she still has some room left. I'm not sure I'll be able to sit anymore by the end of it all. I'm sure it'll be pretty uncomfortable.

I am still so thankful that everything went well with her last fetal echo. The doctor said I might want to have her checked a month or two after she's born but until then everything looks to be right on track with her precious heart. Thank God!

We have FINALLY gotten the invitations out for her babyshower on the 9^th of January...today actually :-). My only job was to collect all the addresses needed to get them out and that alone felt like a fulltime job. Thankfully I got them all to her lastnight and she was able to mail them out today. Yay for baby celebrations. NOW the hubby and I get to go finish registering for all necessary things we do not have as of right now...like diapers.

I go to the doctor tomorrow. I'm interested to see how much I weigh now. Although I will not be sharing the numbers with you I will tell you that as of two weeks ago I had gained about 8.5 pounds. I'm not disappointed with that number whatsoever! :-)

the winner is...

Comment poster #4-Becca @ Made with Love http://madewithlove-becca.blogspot.com/
(for some reason my linky dude isn't working on this computer, I'll change it later today)

Congratulations girl! I think I already have your address so I'll get that going ASAP! I'm out of town today but I'll check as soon as I get home this afternoon.

Thanks to those who entered. We'll have to do this again :-). I just love giving stuff away.

Isabelle post coming later today.

3D ULTRASOUND!!!

Today I went for a visit with the fetal cardiologist. This time my mom and Anna-Kate came along. AK wasn't the least bit interested in what was going on. That's what I get for bringing the DVD player as a babysitter. She wouldn't take her eyes off of The Backyardigans even for a second. Even though she was so distracted I can't imagine what we would've done without it. By the end of the appointment she was climbing under and over the chairs and being a typical toddler.

Anyways, the tech did the ultrasound and echo. She said Isabelle weighs around 3 lbs. 10 oz. For some reason I think that's big considering she's almost 4 lbs. and I still have about 9 weeks to go BUT she says it's average so I'll take her word on it. I took a video of some of the ultrasound so I could come home and show the hubby. She showed off by yawning a small yawn followed by the biggest yawn ever and a nice stretch. It was sooo cute. I'll try to upload the video but I know it'll be a whole day process so I'm start after this post.

After she got all the necessary measurements and beats she said it looked like everything was fine. She left to get the doctor just in case she wanted to take a look for herself. She came in about 15 minutes later and DID want to take a look. She got a great look at the heart, way better than the tech had done because Is would not stop moving for ANYTHING! I guess that 15 minutes gave her some time to calm down. Anyways, the doctor said she had the perfect "textbook heart" and everything looked great. Then she said, "lets have some fun shall we!". I was like, "um sure". She grabbed a different ultrasound wand and proceeded to take 8 different 3D pictures of her face. EIGHT! It was sooo exciting. I had no idea she was going to do that. When I was pregnant with AK it was procedure to get a 3D ultrasound at the office I went to but here it costs like $100. I was convinced I'd have to settle on the normal alien looking one BUT NO! I even prayed last night that God would give me an awesome pic of her but He definitely went above and beyond what I considered to be awesome and gave me amazing, breathtaking, priceless!

Okay, enough jibber jabber. Here she is:

In this first picture she has her hand laying up on her forehead. How ADORABLE is that! See?? Her arm on the left side of her face (her right) and her little hand on her forehead?!

She for sure looks like her big sister!


Here is a 3D pic of AK at 22 weeks & 5 days


And here is AK the day after she was born.

What is your opinion? Do you see any resemblance in these two little girls?



And don't forget about the Christmas bow GIVEAWAY. Totally free...mailed right to your mailbox!

31 weeks

Well I don't have a "cool" comparison pic for this week because I didn't feel like taking the time to go find it and save it and then upload it. Just imagine four navel oranges beside a quarter and there you have it, Isabelle :-).

I seriously JUST figured out that her "knotting" up and causing me great discomfort are actually braxton hicks contractions. It's actually NOT her balling up and causing me to have labored breathing. It all happens so fast. I feel my tummy harden, my heart starts racing and then I have trouble breathing. It lasts for a handful of (or two) seconds and then goes away. I seriously thought this whole time that it was her just pressing up against my lungs or ribs or something, LOL! I remember having this discomfort in the beginning (minus the rock hard tummy) and the doctor said it was braxton hicks but I didn't believe him because it was just a weird feeling. Now I know he was right and I shouldn't question his "diagnosis". I never had any of this with AK so it's all new to me. I must say, I do not like braxton hicks, not one bit! BUT, it reminds I'm getting closer everyday and I like that!

Other than that kind of major revelation (HAHA!) nothing new is going on. I go to the fetal cardiologist early Tuesday morning where I'll get to sit back and watch my girl for a good hour :-), AND get new pics. Yippee. Super exciting. My mom is driving down to go with me since hubby will have just gotten off of work and been asleep for maybe two hours when I go. We're bringing AK along. I'm hoping this will help her better understand what's going on. She's been good so far but probably wonders where the heck this baby is that we keep talking about. Haha.

Until then, I'll just keep growing. I WILL be back with some new pictures of my littlest girl.

Don't forget about the Christmas bow giveaway posted below.

bow giveaway is here!!!

It's finally here-the Christmas bow giveaway in honor of my 300th post about my daily life...although this is officially post #301 :-). I'm thankful to those who have stuck around for the ride and if you are new to my blog, feel free to stay. Lets be friends :-).

I'm having a hard time being creative SOOOOO I'll use a number generator thing to select the winner. To help give direction to your comments you can leave one telling me:

1. what Christmas means to you

2. your favorite Christmas song

3. any fun traditions you do with your family

4. do you prefer a fake tree or a really yummy pine smelling one?

5. do you have a color scheme or theme for your tree?

Feel free to leave a comment for every thing I've listed. This will give you more chances to win. Yay! If I were you I'd come back every day or so and post an answer to help spread out your comments...that's IF anyone even enters to win this bow.

Now, take a look at the prize:
It's a multi-layer bow with all kinds of Christmas involved.

Contest ends Saturday, December 12th. One full week folks! Good luck!

P.S. Feel free to tell your blogger friends!

blog make over

So, how do you like the new blog look? I wasn't going to redo anything until I got new pics of Isabelle on Tuesday but I couldn't resist. This will be the second year that we don't have a traditional Christmas tree and it kind of puts a damper on my Christmas spirit. I grew up with big and fun color coordinated trees every year, sometimes two trees, and so it stinks not to do that with my family. I gave our tree and decorations (that were my mom's to begin with) back to her when we moved here so I don't have anything Christmasy to put out :-(. We actually don't even have stalkings. How sad is that! ANYWAYS, BECAUSE I have no visual, homely Christmas decorations to call my own as of now I decided it was totally time to bring Christmas to my blog. I'm so glad I did. It makes me feel tons better.

On another note, what a nice feeling to wake up and know I have absolutely nothing I HAVE to do today. I mean, I obviously have my normal wifely/motherly duties to tend to but other than that it's just a day of football and snacks at our home. I love that my hubby is already up with me and the tot is still sleeping. I'm going to start on a menu for this week and go to the store. I really do enjoy that when I get to go alone. And usually I even enjoy it with my gal BUT some days the grocery store is just not for me. I'm sure we're all like that from time to time, right?! I think mainly I don't like going when I'm pressed for time or in desperate need of something because then I feel rushed and when I'm rushed it seems like everyone in the world isn't cooperating with MY time frame. HAHA! I'm sure I'm not the only one to have ever thought this.

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I feel so much better now that I have a fun Christmasy thing to look at that I totally did on my own. It's mine. I did it. I own it. Awww, Merry Christmas.

One more thing, guess what this post makes?!! Anyone?? 300! That's what. CHRISTMAS bow giveaway coming very soon! YAY!

hot chocolate & Baby "Elno"

Two nights ago the hubby and I enjoyed our first cup of hot chocolate of the 'season' together while we watched a Christmas movie-Four Christmases=hilariously funny. It was so nice to just sit and relax and be on the same schedule. (heeeey Isabelle :-D)

AK has been obsessed with her Elmo lately. She puts him in her little stroller and pushes him around the house allll day long. When I have the door open to the extra room where the baby swing and infant carseat are being stored for the time being she'll get him out of the stroller and put "baby Elno" in for a swing. It's the cutest thing ever and the closest thing to 'mothering' that I've ever seen her do. She's not interested in baby dolls but baby Elno instead. Below is a picture of her AND baby Elno swinging together.
Yeah, so she's about 7 pounds too heavy for that swing but oh well. Fisher Price did a dang good job when they made that sucker.

Not liking baby dolls and the sorts leads me to discuss AK's Christmas presents. She's not getting dress up clothes, purses, dolls or fake jewelry this year. No. She's getting the Mack truck from the movie Cars, a race track to drive her cars on and I'm pretty sure Daddy will be tossing Mator and Doc in the mix as well. How funny is it that we're buying BOY toys for our little girl. Wow. When we go visit the toy aisle it's ALWAYS the aisle with all the firetrucks, cars, bulldozers and the likes. Actually, the other day she sent this one car a singing and she was in the middle of the aisle waving her arms in the air and spinning in circles. I love that girl. I wouldn't trade her for ANYTHING in the whole wide world!

Well, that's all the updating I have for now. I'm off to sit by the window with a cup of hot chocolate waiting for the snow to fall. Yes, it's supposed to snow here today in Texas and I'm so excited. We'll see if the big T can pull it off.

family pics

While we were in MO Sean's cousin Teresa took some family pics for us. I can't post my faves because they are Christmas present surprises but I'll show you some of the others.

AK cooperated pretty well thanks to her Uncle Kevin, magnets, ice and some extra beanie hats that I threw in the air like a mad woman all so they could come down and hit me in the face. Yeah, that's some humor my tot has there. Whatever, it totally worked and that was my goal.

Isn't she just scrumptious! I sure love that little girl.

MO pics

I've started two different posts this week and haven't completed either of them. I think I'm in a blogging funk these days. I just don't feel like doing ANYTHING! BUT I must. I don't want to forget these days before they're over and gone.

So, here's a little picture collage of our time in Missouri. They are mostly pics of AK, of course. I did toss Isabelle in there once.


AK enjoyed playing with cousin Teresa's pup, Annie. She loved that little doggie.

While we were traveling, AK would call out "Cece" whenever she thought she saw her car or felt like we were even close to her house. Which is funny because Cece only lives and hour and 2o minutes away and the only time we're in the car for that long is just to see her. I guess she figured since we had been in the car so long we MUST be going to see her Cece. It was actually kind of sad because she would get REALLY excited and I'd have to tell her we were not going to be seeing Cece. We did call her often, however.

The whole time all she wanted to do was play outside. It was kind of hard to manage because it stayed on the cool side and I didn't want her to get sick. Mostly it was just the wind. I hate the wind.

She napped and slept like an absolute angel the whole trip. It was incredible. Now we're starting completely over here at home since she got used to rooming with us on her blow up mattress.

As I've said before, the trip was good and it was GREAT to see some fam.

30 weeks!

We've stumbled into a small town and I have internet access for a brief moment! I wanted to update while I had the chance.

I'm 30 weeks today. Baby Belle is growing like a weed. This week while we've been gone I've felt especially big. Obviously I've had to sit a bit more than I'm used to which causes her to ball up right under my ribs. NOT FUN! It's quite painful and I don't like it :-). I have a short torso so this is very uncomfortable for me. So that's what I've been dealing with the past week-a bigger baby and a small torso. Only 10 more weeks to go. Yippee. I CAN'T WAIT to meet her.

I have a doctor appointment on Tuesday and then I go on the 8th for my second fetal echo. Doctor appointments are picking up and I'll stay busy with that I'm sure. Not to mention dentist and doctor appointments for the little girl-soon to be big sister! This will help the next 10 weeks go by super fast I'm sure. Not to mention allll the things we have to do before the littlest girl comes.

While we were in Missouri I got some maternity shots done. It was fun. I didn't do that with AK so it was a treat. Here is one of them...



And another...



Aaaaaand another...


To be technical, these were taken at 29 weeks and 5 days :-).

Pics taken by the wonderful Teresa.

Missouri

Today is Saturday and we're still in Missouri. We are leaving sometime tomorrow morning for the long haul home. I know, traveling the Sunday after Thanksgiving is NOT a good idea BUT we're going to brave it and we'll survive! AK did SOOOOO well on the drive here. I am still amazed by her. We stopped a total of three times. Once at McDonald's and the other two times at stores where she walked around outside for about 10 minutes and was good to go for another few hours. She did AMAZING! Napped and everything. Such a wonderful gal!

It's beautiful here and I LOVE all the big and tall trees. They make me very happy.

Especially when I can get a picture like the one above. Isn't that precious?! The high a couple of days ago was only 42 or something but yesterday and today the highs are/were in the low 60's. It's been pretty enjoyable.

We got our family pictures taken yesterday by the hubby's cousin. She is great and they look awesome. I can't wait to share them with you. She also took some maternity shots as well so I'll HOPEFULLY be sharing those with you sometime late tomorrow evening or Monday. She also got some AWESOME pics of AK by herself. Adorable. Precious. Priceless. Can't wait to see them again!

I have thoroughly enjoyed being here with my MIL's side of the family. They are fun peeps.

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving.

catching up really fast

As I type, Isabelle is rolling about in my tummy. It's so fun to watch and feel.

Well, it finally happened, I missed a preggers update on Sunday. We've been super busy around these parts lately.

I was visiting my mom out of town this weekend since we will be in Missouri for Thanksgiving. It was nice and AK had LOTS of fun playing with her Cece!

I returned home to a sick hubby so that had me a little out of sorts. It's hard to prepare and plan for a trip that might not happen. I was praying him well while I was making lists, washing clothes, gathering things I don't want to forget and planning in my head what the trip will be like...all while hoping it wasn't all for nothing.

Today, the trip is still on. We will be leaving between 3-4 AM and returning sometime Sunday or Monday. We'll have the laptop and I will be doing a preggers update this Sunday complete with a belly picture. 30 weeks folks!!! It's hard to believe. Only 10 weeks to go when we return. Wow.

I must go now and continue gathering things. I would hate to forget something important with a two year old in tow. Like the DVD player for instance. Or her lovies! AAHHHH!

Until next time, may this sweet sweet face hold you over.



Also, a sweet friend of mine is taking her newborn son to Cooks Children's Hospital today to have some testing done. Please pray for them.

how to...

...remove a diaper-based off the tales a two year old.

Step one: plop down wherever you are and get comfy.

Step two: remove the left tab

Step three: remove the right tab

Step four: pull the diaper forward

Step five: Stand up so it falls off and jump around like a wild banshee. Also, this is where you tell your parental, if they haven't done so already, to turn the flash off so the pic will be blog worthy...without revealing anything inappropriate.


Disclaimer: I don't do this often. Really, I'm hardly ever in a diaper anymore BUT it was almost time for bed so mom had taken the first step to get me there and I totally removed it. I was hoping this would buy me some time.

all in a days work

I had my first episode of complete and total energy drainage yesterday evening. I was feeling fine and cleaning up the kitchen. Then, I stopped doing that to walk down the hall towards AK's room to do something and I suddenly felt like I was going to fall over. I'm not sure I've ever felt that drastic of a change before and it was weird! I could barely bring myself to put AK to bed. THAT'S how bad it was. It was not fun. The following pics might explain why my energy is being wiped from my very body.

^^^this right here is what I like to call raw talent. Feet in the hands, thumb in the belly button^^^

^^^hiding from "Mom-mom"^^^

^^^BOO!^^^

^^^trying to entertain her, while learning her ABC's and shapes online-she WILL be very techy^^^

^^^waving and saying hi to some lady with a little baby^^^

^^^giving mom a heart attack^^^

^^^"coloring" her favorite picture with her favorite color^^^

^^^a quick trip to Wal-Mart AFTER McD's cause mom was craving popcorn shrimp...I think she was taking a little siesta or something^^^

^^^how we both felt when the day was nearing an end...you know, AFTER she did some jumping^^^

I know it may not seem like a lot to you but that was a busy day. The girl never stops. She is always doing something worth taking a picture of which makes me tired cause I'm constantly chasing her around with the camera-HAHA! She is funny, cute, daring, "social" and wild all at the same time. Even though it exhausts me, I wouldn't change her personality for anything.