Real Gone

No, no baby girl yet. We've just been busy hanging out, enjoying each other, and playing with friends. Our hospital has WiFi in each room so we'll be able to update you quickly when she does decide to arrive.

Fun story: One morning this week I awoke to a VERY loud concert at 4:30 a.m. That's A.M. people! For 30 minutes, J sang "Real Gone" from the CARS soundtrack at the top of his lungs. I was thankful we haven't had a monitor in his room in months, but even with a split-bedroom floor plan we heard every wonderful sound. I finally went in to remind him that it was still night time to which he kindly finished in his inside voice (MUCH to my surprise). Heaven only knows how long he really sang. That was a long day.

"Real Gone" is their current favorite song; and we've spent multiple nights this week listening to it repeatedly for an hour or more before bedtime (thank you for the invention of the repeat button). Here's a short video showing off their moves and singing...

Splash Bash fun

We had another birthday party this past Saturday (so many summer birthdays it's hard to keep track). The kids had a blast at Lauren's Splash Bash. Her family has a great back yard and her mama knows how to throw a party. They borrowed a water slide from some family, had a kiddie pool, a slip 'n slide (complete with baby oil and "helper" to throw them down since there are no hills), and just their normal tree house & swing set. The kids walked away with some awesome popsicle holders to keep their hands from getting sticky - YAY for mommy! Another great party and way to deal with this crazy TX heat.


These last 2 pictures are of the girls born close together to me and some of the gaggle. The first is 3 of the 4 born within 8 weeks of each other back in 2007. In reverse birth order - March, February, January. The 2nd one adds the birthday girl who is only 6 months older. These 4 are known to be a handful when together. They act a lot like sisters, but we mamas hope they are great friends like we are!

Miss E's first "haircut"

While J is at camp this week, Miss E and I are getting some great one-on-one time. Yesterday we went to the "salon" in our home for a quick trim. I've yet to cut the back of her hair, but I thought it was time to straighten things out and maybe get some of the baby fine stuff off. I don't even think I cut 1/4", but it seemed to clean it up.

Miss E was too excited...

Before...

Blowin' it dry...

After...although it still looks uneven thanks to a head tilt!

Need insurance?

I realized I never made an official announcement:

Clay is now a Farmer's Insurance Agent!!

It's a new adventure for us, but one we feel the Lord brought our way.

So - if you are in the market for insurance (auto, home, life, other property & casualty) or simply want to see what Clay & Farmers can offer you, let him/us know.

I'll post his email once he gets home.

Cute pics

Just a few cute pics I wanted to share. Taken today because the kids just looked so darn cute, and I was actually put together since I had a doctor's appointment.

They love to say, "Cheese!", but struggle standing still and looking at the camera.

Finally, got one!

Attempt to get a picture of the 3 of us, but Miss E refused to join in.

Apparently she wanted a girls only picture.

36 weeks, 2 days pregnant

Musings

It's been a couple of those kinds of days. Highs. Lows. Challenges with the kids. Productivity. Laziness. Endearing moments. Moments that make me want to crawl back in bed. Laughter followed by fighting back tears.

26 days.

I find myself tonight being a bit girly about things (not anything new for those who've been around me for any length of time over the last few weeks). There's this big change coming in our lives, and yet everyone else's life keeps going at normal pace. We surely aren't the only ones with big change coming. Some of my friends will be sending their babies to school (the real kind, not just preschool) for the first time next month. But still, it's a pretty big change happening in these walls in the next 3 1/2 weeks. WOW!

The third child is so different. It's hard to make plans about who will care for the children and such because it all depends on when Miss M decides to make her appearance. I remember with J I sent the family a detailed letter about how we wanted things to happen while they were at the hospital and in the days following. There's no point for that kind of letter now because there are too many "X" factors and too many changes this time. Even with Miss E's arrival we were at a hospital 10 minutes from our house and 2 from my folks. J was young enough that he was content to hang at the hospital with us for hours, and it was a quick solution if he needed to leave. This time the hospital is 30 minutes from home assuming it isn't rush hour. The kids haven't lasted longer than 20 minutes the last few times we've gone to welcome friends' babies. Mom is working full time...at a job that is 45 minutes from our side of the world. I have lots of offers to help, but everyone seems to be traveling at some point over the next month. I realized tonight that the likelihood of my entire gaggle (those in TX anyway) being in town when Miss M arrives is next to impossible. Makes it easy for a hormonal gal to begin to feel like this child's arrival might be overlooked. Don't get me wrong - I know it won't be, but it can feel that way. It's our 3rd kid - not as much "newness" to this as before. Due to changes in everyone's work situation, my inlaws won't be rushing here upon the call that we're on the way to the hospital. I need my mother-in-law's help the week we get home so she'll come a day or two later and then return with Granddaddy and Auntie Claire hopefully over Labor Day.

It's just gonna be different.
That's not bad - just different.

I've told Clay I'm looking forward to those hours of calm in the hospital when there will be more time just the 3 of us than we had with the other 2 kids. It may seem like a vacation after the "fun" we've been having with our eldest ones...and the anticipated adjustment period once we bring Miss M home. (I got a taste of how clingy the kids might be this past Saturday after we had a date night followed by Grannylou spending the night so I could sleep in. Once I appeared Saturday morning, Grannylou was chopped liver. I'm hoping Mimi doesn't get her feelings hurt if it takes them a few days to allow her to satisfy their needs after I've been MIA for a day or two.)

Anyway, I'm just processing this all out loud...I'm always a thinker before big changes occur... and now that we're basically ready for her arrival I don't have as much to keep my mind occupied.

Sorry to dump it all out here...

Our 4th & a little girl

We had a fabulous 4th of July. No pictures until friends share them with me, but lots of wonderful memories. After naps, we headed with several friends to a state park that boasts fossilized dinosaur footprints and a river. After a slightly treacherous trek to the river, we enjoyed watching our kids explore. We were so proud. The kids wanted to walk up and down for a bit (trying to find some cooler water), and they quickly became pros at navigating the slippery bottom. They loved throwing rocks and seeing the dinosaur footprints. We ended up at Blue Hole where they enjoyed jumping off rocks and floating around. I must say I was pretty proud of myself too being 35 weeks pregnant!

Then we headed back to a nearby town for dinner and fireworks. This was the first time we attempted fireworks due to the ages of the kids and J's sensory issues. Again, they made us so proud. J LOVED THE SHOW!!! He kept laughing loudly and talking about them. E enjoyed the smaller fireworks set off by those on the river, but the loud booms from the big show frightened her a bit. She just couldn't decide for sure. We enjoyed homemade ice cream and glow sticks with wonderful friends. It was a great 4th - and the kids did so well for being up WAY past bedtime. J keeps asking to go see the fireworks today...I think he's gonna love having such a grand kick off to his special day! (see previous post for the birthday fun...)


About a week or so ago, Grannylou stopped by on her way home from work. E took her back to her room so she could put Grannylou night-night. I had to grab my camera to capture E burying my mom - she was pretty particular about where things went and she was so proud!

The actual birthday

Today is the actual day - J turned 4! It's hard to believe it's been 4 years, and yet it feels like a lot longer that he's been a part of our lives. He opened his present from us this morning - a Lightening McQueen watch (the ONLY thing he had asked for) and proudly wore it to church. He took donuts as a special treat to his class since he doesn't get to celebrate with school friends. He's had phone calls and a special visit...and then got to go to his best school bud's birthday party at a water park! It was a special way to spend the day as a family.

He really impressed us with his independence. After going down the slide, he didn't much care where we were. He just kept getting out and going back to the top. The kids enjoyed the lazy river too - with Clay teaching E to hold her nose when going under the sprinklers! Clay took E down the slide once before we learned he couldn't hold her, and she was NOT thrilled about going by herself. She did brave another tunnel slide after watching her big brother. She had a blast in the sprinklers though. It's amazing how much older he seems just overnight.

Tonight, he's exercising his new awareness of needing to go to the potty (PRAISE THE LORD - he's almost turned that corner completely!!!). He's been in bed for 1 hour and come out 4 times...and each time he has gone. Not exactly sure how to handle this one - don't want to squash this awareness, but also don't want him to start a ritual of multiple post-bedtime sightings! We are just so excited that he's finally getting it - it's been a long road with all of his sensory issues and processing delays.