Family Pictures

A few weeks ago, we took family photos. It will be the last time to do that as a family of three although, Little Ms. was definitely making sure she was not missed. We tried to incorporate her as well.


Our usually mild mannered, listening kiddo had a bit of difficulty that day. It could have been that he did not have a nap, but I think we still got a few picture keepers.



Most of these were taken by a local photographer, but D. was able to snap some as well.

Thankful For Family Traditions

Yesterday we commenced on the annual Making of the Dressing for my side of the family. It's a tradition that has happened for as long as I can remember. I am so thankful for the new additions to this annual treasure and miss those that can't always be there.

Because nothing is measured, there are always debates over how much salt, poultry seasoning, chicken stock, and eggs need to go in. Spoons are passed around for taste testing (although I'm not a big fan and usually decline). And, there's always, always a big helping of laughs to go around.

Another family tradition that I cherish, are our trips to the pumpkin patch that we started when Gavin was a baby.


Nee and Poppy joined us this time.


Gavin picked his pumpkin right away and carried it everywhere right up until it was time to pay for it. He then did a last minute switch.


D and I also found our pumpkins.


Gavin decided he wanted a closer look at my pumpkin.


And since our first trip to the pumpkin patch, I have had this thing about taking his picture with his feet next to a pumpkin.


Either the pumpkins are shrinking or his feet are humongous.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family~

Thankful for My Kiddo

I am so very thankful for this little boy.


My grandmother asked me today if he always smiles, and I was so happy to tell her that he does. It takes a lot to get this little man down.

I caught myself staring at him today as I watched him take off his socks and shoes. I am thankful I can still see a toddler in those hands and the look of concentration on his face. I was torn between being proud that he has learned so many skills over the past three years, but sad to think that it wasn't that long ago that he was a baby and needed his Ma or Da to do everything for him.


I also realized just how much he is about to grow up as he takes on the new role of big brother. When I hold him in my lap, I remind him that I have two babies: a big baby and a little baby, a boy baby and a girl baby. I'm glad he still let's me call him my baby although I don't think he will for anyone else.

A lot of people say that Gavin looks like his daddy which I can definitely can see at times, but today my mom said looking at Gavin was like having me as a toddler again. I can see some resemblance.


Gavinisms of late:

D: Why do you like honey?
Gavin: Because I like Winnie the Pooh


As we are passing by the lovely chemical plants in our area, Gavin says, "Look, they are making clouds."

A few nights ago Gavin prayed for the bad guys (his bad guy action figures). When we asked them why he prayed for them, he said because they needed God's help not to hurt Batman.

I told him that one of his shirts said, "My Dad Rocks." The next thing I know, he proceeds to get his guitar and show us how to really rock. He deserved an encore.

Thankful For Our Parents

We are so blessed to have our family nearby. Right now, Gavin is getting to spend some quality time with his Nee and Poppy so that I could go to my doctor's appointment and catch up on some much needed housework. It's funny to see him interact with my parents and how I think he even sometimes gets away with more than I ever did.

And my in-laws are just as helpful when it comes to watching Gav if I have a doctor's appointment (which seem to happen more frequently) or even if I need to just run to the store for a minute. Lately, that's a lifesaver as it's not as easy anymore to get that thirty-pounder in and out of his car seat. Just this weekend, when D and I were out for the count, Gavin spent the night with my parents and then came home and had dinner at Me Me and Grand daddy's because neither D nor I could stomach the thought of food.

What makes our parents even more special is that they have given us a godly heritage that has been passed down from their parents. And both sets have provided examples of a godly marriage in that they will have celebrated 38 wedding anniversaries this year.

I can't forget to mention that they will even go as far as dressing up for some of our "out there" parties whether it's in their best western gear or dawning the ugliest sweater.

Thankful for My Husband

A lot has changed in the nearly twelve years since I met my husband, even how much I love him. It's even more than on the day I married him. Just this weekend we got to live out some of those marriage vows, especially the "in sickness and in health" part. Boy, were both of us sick from what we think was food poisoning. But even being as sick as he was, he still tried to take care of me and single-handedly got Gavin ready for bed. He even went as far as wrapping some presents we needed to take to the church, all the while tying to take as much care with them as I would.


And while I am so thankful for his new job, I truly treasured those two months we had both being home together. No one else makes me smile, laugh or feel as taken care of as this man. He is amazing with Gavin and I know of a certain to-be-born little girl that will be adored by her daddy.



This goof ball of a man gets me out of my comfort zone yet keeps me grounded. He's the right-sided partner to my left-sided brain. And without getting too gushy, he's the only one for me.

Thankful for a Baby Girl Who is 33 Weeks

I thought I might combine my weekly pregnancy update with what I am thankful for. This little miracle growing in me is truly amazing. She already seems so different and unique from her brother and brings us a lot of joy just thinking we will get to hold her soon.

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 33 Weeks

Since I don't have a picture of me, here's one a few weeks ago at an ultrasound. We'll get to see her again in another three weeks.

Size of Baby: About 17 inches - the size of a pineapple - and weighs around 4.25 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: I am kind of concerned how I am going to extend my maternity wardrobe for the next seven weeks. A few of my shirts are getting a bit short, but that's probably what I get for wanting to wear regular shirts and not maternity shirts.

Gender: It's a GIRL!

Movement: She still moves mostly at night but I also get the random surprise kicks sometimes. Just in the past week, I have been feeling some pain in my left rib which I am pretty sure is due to a foot being jammed into it.

Sleep: If I didn't have to turn over from side to side, I think I would be ok.

What I miss: I'm still having Diet Dr. Pepper cravings and I seriously wish it wasn't so hard to bend down to pick things up.

Cravings: Protein!

Best Moment of the Week: Hearing little girl's heartbeat is always so reassuring. I had a good check up today and the doctor said that after the next appointment, we would be going to weekly appointments! We also just got our picture files from our maternity/family photo shoot. I can't wait to share them.

Thankful for the Word

So I didn't exactly get on the thankful bandwagon like I saw so many of my Facebook friends do, but I thought since Thanksgiving was a week away (can it be true?) that I would post (or at least try to post) a blog each day of what I am thankful for.

Today, the first thing that popped into my mind was God's Word. I am truly blessed to have grown up with it in my life, but not until the past six months or so can I say that it has been something that I feel like I can not live without. Hmmm, maybe it has to deal with the trials we have gone through. It's been amazing to see how various things I have been reading or the part time editing that I do have tied into my daily Bible reading.

I still feel like I have so much further to go in terms of really ingesting what I am reading and having it placed on my heart, but for now I am enjoying this bit of daily reading. As I am finishing up on the one year Bible, that I admit has taken me two years to do, I am hoping that next year I can take smaller sections and truly let them soak in my life.

32 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 32 Weeks- eight months!

Size of Baby: About 16.7 inches - the size of a large jicama - and weighs approximately 3.75 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: All maternity pants but still trying to mix up maternity and non maternity tops. I don't think this is going to change much. I'm just not the biggest fan of maternity tops especially the ones with the ties in the back. I do like the longer maternity t-shirts though.

Gender: It's a GIRL!

Movement: She is getting more and more cases of the hiccups like her big brother did, but they are a lot softer. D also commented that she does not seem to be as feisty either which I have to agree.

Sleep:I am trying to squeeze in more sleep if I can. This morning I already had a list of things to do, but after getting up early with D and reading my Bible I decided that it was going to be ok so go back to sleep for a little while especially since big brother was also taking the opportunity for once.

What I miss: My feet! They had been slightly swollen where I could barely tell, but about three days ago decided to turn into large sausages. - not pretty!

Cravings: I am actually drinking more water and after a few weeks of being hungry all of the time, I am starting to not feel like eating so much.

Best Moment of the Week: We took Gavin to a sibling class at the hospital. It is the only class we are taking this time around, so I was hoping to get in a few questions myself. Gavin got to hold a "baby" and change its diaper, which thankfully he was all so eager to do. That will stay that way, right?



We also took a tour of the hospital where he sported his new big brother shirt they gave him. Being at the hospital again made me excited but also nervous. Maybe it was because D was teaching Gavin how babies break dance. I can't believe that in just about seven weeks we will be there having our little girl.

Three Eyed, Two Horned, Walking, Blue Candy Eater

We have had some serious computer issues lately, as in, we are wondering if we will lose all of our digital photos from the last couple of years. So we (D and I) have been desperately trying to back them all up the past few days. I had plans on posting about all of Gavin's fun costumes that he willing and insisted on putting on everyday. Something about hearing it was cold outside triggered this desire of his. Maybe it was because two weeks ago when it was in the eighties we may or may not have told him it was too hot to wear a costume to the store.

Anyways, while we are finishing the photo backing up process (sounds technical, right?), I did manage to snag one picture to post. This is his alien/monster/cookie monster/dinosaur costume (we had lots of guesses) and me in my skeleton mama and baby shirt that I made. We sported them at our church's Trunk or Treat. Gavin doesn't look too enthralled, but believe me he had a great time.

31 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 31 Weeks

Usually the picture is what holds up some of my maternity posts, but last week I had the picture and no blog. I'm going to use the picture from last week for this week but just imagine me a little bit bigger now.

Size of Baby: About 16.25 inches - the size of four navel oranges - and weighs approximately 3.3 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: All maternity pants but still trying to mix up maternity and non maternity tops.

Gender: It's a GIRL!

Movement: She has had a few cases of hiccups and seems to actually respond to Gavin or D's voice. It could also be the poking she gets when either of them are around. Both of them think my now outie of a belly button is funny.

Sleep: I kind of feel like I am burning the candle at both ends. There has just been so much to do that I'm probably not getting the rest as much as I do, but when I'm out, I'm really out.

What I miss: Picking things up off the floor easily and my energy level.

Cravings: This week it has been ice cream which is nice that Blue Bell has been on sale.

Best Moment of the Week: Gavin went with me to my check up for the first time. He was so excited about hearing baby sister's heart beat. After we listened to it, he asked me why she wasn't crying and why she wasn't coming out now. Later on, we asked him what his sister's heart beat sounded like, and he responded with, "Like Bullseye!" (the horse from Toy Story).