Picture This!

So here is a little guessing game. See if you can figure out what these pictures are and what they have in common. No peeking.

Give up???

 

We are expecting another baby!!!! I am almost 16 weeks and doing great. The baby is due June 4th...but we will see if she makes it that long. And yes - I did say SHE. We had an early ultrasound done by an amazing doctor. He was able to tell us Carter was a boy was I was only 13 weeks and this time around I went in at 12 1/2 weeks and they are 95% sure it is a girl, but I am not going to go and paint the nursery just yet. We are SO excited. Andrew has been calling this baby "sister" since we told him mommy had a baby in her tummy. He even ventured to say there were two sisters, but rest assured....there is only one.

What a blessing and miracle pregnancy and growing families are. We have no doubt that the Lord has his hand in the formation of our sweet little family. He has guided us to bring us the sweet spirits that are in our home. We have had our ups and downs, but try to always remember Him and that we cannot always see the bigger picture. I love my boys and can't wait to add another little munchkin to our family.

We waited until I was about 11 weeks before we told family we were expecting....well....kinda....I told Shelley the day I found out since we are together all the time and there was no way she was not going to notice. I was SO sick this time around. With Carter I was just tired, but oh man...I with this one during the first trimester I was so nauseous....and I will just leave it at that. But believe me, I am SO grateful for every bit of nausea, weakness, extreme tiredness, twinge of sciatic pain, gagging with brushing my teeth, and even my face to face with the toilet. It all means this little one is growing healthy and strong. Bring on the symptoms! I am feeling much better now and just love being pregnant. We like to wait to announce since we have had previous losses, but I am finally starting to feel confident that all is well!

I had my ultrasound the same week as Thanksgiving so we did a gender cake to announce the gender. The doctor found out what it was and called the bakery that I had lined up previously and they made by cake pink or blue. We went to dinner with my parents and Shelley and Rich and had the cake for dessert. It was so fun to cut the cake and see it was pink! (again....I am not convinced, but we shall see).

Carter got the first piece because he just could not stand it. He was so cute - every time we gave him a piece he would poke all the dots that bordered the cake. My dad was on the phone with my sisters and brother so they could hear the fun news.

Yes, my boys LOVE ketchup!

So the news is out. We are expecting and could not be more excited!!!!!

Music to my Ears

A couple weekends ago we got to spend quality time with the Bakers. We enjoyed dinner out minus children and some fabulous music! My brother in law's band Lucky Blue opened for Phil Vassar so of course we couldn't miss it. Lucky Blue did awesome and I was really impressed with some of their songs.

Oh how I just love Phil Vassar....well, not really him but his music. Bry was so funny. He said that every song on the radio that he really liked but didn't know the artist was Phil. He is so talented. His music really made me happy and reminded me of the joy in life and to find joy in the little things. I love that song "Just Another Day in Paradise." What a great reminder. Now, Phil was a little distracting with the constant flipping of his hair and requests for more beverage in his "red cup". But all in all it was so entertaining. It was a really intimate concert where people just shouted out requests and he played them. It was just him at the piano, his guitarist, and his violinist. Bry says he wants to see him every time he comes to play here....I don't think he will have to drag me!

It was a wonderful weekend!

Christmas came early when Grandma and Grandpa came to visit. Andrew kept saying it was his birthday. It was too cute!

Thanksgiving

I have so much to be thankful for I am not even sure I could put it all into words. Most of all I am so grateful for my Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. I am so thankful for my family. I am so blessed.

This year my parents came to stay and we had quite a feast for the six of us who ate. It was my Dad, Mom, Shell, Rich, Bry, and me. Andrew napped through dinner (as if he would have eaten anything anyway) and Carter picked at a couple things and I think ate a roll. But let me tell you........the food was DIVINE. There was the possibility of having the amount of people eating doubled or even tripled, but when that didn't happen we kept the same menu and just made a little less of a couple things. It was a lot of work, but so worth it.

For the first time we brined our turkey. I will always brine my turkey from now on. It was SO good. We had turkey, ham, split top homemade rolls, gravy, mashed potatoes (which we almost forgot), sweet potatoes, homemade creamed corn, stuffing, homemade cranberry sauce, jell-o, green bean casserole (for which I strained out all the chunks of mushroom from the soup), and deviled eggs.

We had quite the leftovers, but they were thoroughly enjoyed. Carter refused to take a nap that day so he joined in on the festivities and my sweet Drew slept the afternoon away....so he missed out - not that he would have enjoyed the scrumptious meal anyway! Maybe next year he will!

Sadly no pie and I need to apologize to my husband to this. Next year I will do better and pies galore we shall have!

I love Thanksgiving and the reminder it gives me to remember all the many blessings I have and to not take the big things and little things for granted.

Bryan and Rich played football in the morning which led to ice pack on Rich's ribs and Bry's knee by the afternoon.

Andrew gave my dad some grandkid lovin' while Poppy was trying to nap.

My mom spent a lot of her time in the kitchen...at the sink...which was NOT where I wanted her, but she sure does like to keep busy and I loved all her help!

The boys spent some time with Brownie. One day we will get a dog....not one day soon, but maybe some day.

Climbing and Cuteness

Carter climbs. He loves to climb. He climbs on a lot of things.

Chairs.

Ladders.

Tables.

Office desk.

Toys.

He definitely keeps me on my toes.

It was so cute the other night when I got the boys some chocolate milk before bed and apparently Carter wanted to have some with Drew. He got really quiet so I turned to check on him and this is what I found. I love these moments....even when they make me a bit nervous. *smile*

Priceless Paintings

I am not a decorator...I have never been very good at it and don't try to pretend to be. I have never painted my walls or really done anything really creative in my home. I am working on it because I do feel that pictures and personalizing the home makes it feel more like a home.

I watched a John and Kate show a while ago about a place the kids went to and made some paintings that they hung in their home. What a great idea!!! Now, I know we can't do anything really fancy, but I had to give it a try. Off I went to buy canvas and paint. I even called my sister Julia for color input since I lack in that department as well, but with the busy time of season and my impatience I decided to attempt to pick out colors. Lucky for me I had Shell with me that day and she helped me out a bit.

I had Drew pick which color he wanted to do first and he picked Green. I gave Carter blue. I took Brown and Bry did red. Drew was amazing. I am SO glad I had him do his first because he really showed me how to just paint and not worry about it being "just right". He did a lot of dipping, mixing, swirling, dotting, smearing, etc. He got tired towards the end and I finished it up. He even helped a little with Carter's after Carter was done. I forgot to get a picture of Drew actually painting so I had him pose later.

Carter lasted all of about 45 seconds. Once he got paint on his hands he was DONE. I quick dipped his hand in paint put a hand print on his picture and sent him in tears to the tub.

Bry and I did ours one night after the boys were in bed. I have to say I really enjoyed it. Painting is quite relaxing, especially when it doesn't matter how it turns out.

My Dad and Bry hung them up in my kitchen on Thanksgiving and I just LOVE them!

Maybe this is just the beginning of my decorating endeavors - we shall see!

Lonely Nights

I am not a fan of my husband traveling. It gets lonely. Even when he works late hours it gets lonely. I am not a fan of family dinner without him, especially tonight. Drew, Carter and I sat down to delicious, moist, slow cooked chicken, gravy, homemade rolls, steamed veggies, mashed potatoes, and jello-o. Carter ate a bite of his roll and jello-o while Drew had some jell-o and ketchup. *Sigh* Good thing Bry is coming home soon!

The Cast is Off!

Last Friday was a much anticipated day for Drew. We had been talking about getting his cast removed all week. He would always say "sand and water". He knew once that thing came off he could FINALLY play at the park again and take a real bath. He was thrilled. I tried to prep him for the removal, reminding him that it would be loud but it was okay. I told him it would be a loud buzz and he would promptly respond with "tiny buzz". Apparently he thought he could control the noise level. *smile*

All was well at the doc office until we went back into the casting room. There I was, by myself with Carter and Drew. I sat on the table thing with Carter in my right arm and my left arm around Drew. The LOUD buzzing began. Needless to say there was screaming, squirming, kicking, flailing, and tears. Carter was beginning to get a little upset as well because of all the commotion. For some reason no one came to help. It was just me and the cast remover guy. We survived and I was sweaty.

Drew had stuck a little rubber stopper down his cast at some point and has three wounds on his leg, but luckily they were not too bad and are healing up nicely. He is such a little stinker!

Now - let me tell you - I would do all of this over again....all the lack of park play....sponge baths....bruised calves from being bumped with his cast.....screaming at the doctor's office.....this casting was AMAZING! Drew's good is flat on the ground where before he was always up on his toe. We have new issues to address with the whole situation, but I am so grateful for this opportunity and that it worked. He is such a trooper.

He has since played in the sand to his heart's content and ooooh bath time. His first bath he was SO excited to be able to actually get in and not shiver at the side of the tub while I attempted to bath him. Bry had been out of town that week and on the way home in the car Drew says to Bry - "missed you". Totally spontaneous and about the most cute thing ever. Then I was telling Bry about the bath experience and Drew chimes in with an "amazing". He sure did think that bath was amazing!!! He always makes us smile!!!!

Boys.....

Regardless of the bugs, bees, dirt, sticks, and thorns....my boys are starting to get adventurous. Suckers and all they were back behind the bushes. They have since learned which bushes have very pointy thorns. I so love these boys!