Please Come Soon Fall!

So, Wednesday is September 1st, and no I am not thinking about Labor Day! I am thinking we are finally leaving the horrendously hot days of summer behind us, and slowly but surely getting to the fall months! I LOVE the fall! Fall and Winter are my two favorite times of the year! I think I get that from living in the north!! I love the cool, fresh air, the leaves changing colors, pumpkins, turning on the heat and putting a fire on, smelling pumpkin bread in the oven, eating hot stew while watching a football game! It's all just so cozy and I love everything about it!
I decorate almost as much for fall as I do for Christmas! Joe says there are way too many pumpkins around, but I wouldn't want it any other way!

The first weekend in October we always go to Homestead Hollow in Springville for their Fall Festival! I have been going for 11 straight years..ever since I moved to Alabama with the exception of 2008 when I was on bedrest with Maddy! I am so so excited to take her this year, b/c now that she is so much older I know she will really love it! Last year she was only 6 months old, but still got a kick out of the farm animals, hayride, and banjo music! This year she will be able to do so much more, which I'm really excited about!

I was looking at cute fall things on Etsy today and found this adorable dress for Madeline! I might try to make the smock, but I don't know about everything else!

I also found these little bloomers. How cute would they be on her??

I'm also starting to look for winter things for Gabriel since he will be here in the beginning of winter! These hats were ADORABLE, especially this pumpkin one, but I'll have to wait on the pumpkins for next year!

I would love to take him home from the hospital in a hat like this! Too cute! Knitting is something I could NEVER do, so this may have to be a to a purchase! We'll see!!

That's about it! Just counting down for the slightest bit of Fall to poke through! As soon as the weather starts getting a little cool, I know I will be wipping out all my fall things and putting a batch of pumpkin bread in the oven! Can't wait!!!

Read more...

Back to Normal

So, I'm off bedrest now and things are beginning to get back to normal around here! I'm on medication and still not feeling completley up to snuff, but I'm getting better! My Dr. is pretty sure that I shouldn't have any more contractions to worry about! My next visit is the glucose test visit! I can't believe it's here already! That is not a fun visit!





Baby Gabriel looks perfect but keeps hitting his head against my scar on my cervix from my c-section with Maddy! OUCH! My Dr. said it's normal, and that most women who haven't had a c-section don't even feel it, but since I had one, I would feel it a lot! It sends a shooting,sharp pain across my lower stomach! Not fun, but just another thing to remember my c-section by!





I am PRAYING, PRAYING PRAYING, that I don't have to have another c-section with him! I would love to go "natural"all the way, unlike I was able to do with Maddy, but we'll see!


He is all over the place! Even more active then I remember Madeline being! I watched my stomach move from side to side today! It was pretty funny! I think feeling the baby is the funnest part about being pregnant!





I'm pretty sure in saying that I think my "official" craving for this pregnancy is McDonald's cheesburgers! I can't get enough! I only allow myself one or two a week b/c I know they are HORRIBLE for you, but when I eat them, nothing else tastes better!! I've always hated McDonald's and probably haven't eaten there in about 8 years to tell you the truth! But this pregnancy it is all I want! I was at Wal-Mart the other day and smelled them on my way out and had to go back inside and get one! I split it with Maddy so I would feel better about it!!





Gabriel's room is still underway.. I don't want to post pictures until it is done b/c now it still looks pretty under construction! I'm really getting excited about it! It looks really cute! I still have to make curtains and move some things around, but we're getting there! We have almost everything now, except a crib and a car seat! We need the car seat that fits into our new double stroller and of course another crib! Hopefully those will come soon!





Madeline is more active than ever! She has so much energy, I really don't know where it all comes from! It is so nice to have her home after she was all over the place while I was on bedrest! I think she missed us a lot! She's been really clingy since we picked her up Tuesday from her Grandma and Grandpa's house! It was really hard to not even be able to hold her while I was confined to the bed! Sooo glad that is all behind us! I think she is growing again too! She looks taller to me everyday, and her appetite is getting bigger so I think a growth spurt is definetly there! She will be officially 16 months on Sat! On Sept. 4th, which I think is in about a week, it will have been two years since the day I found out I was pregnant with her! How time flies! Here's a picture of her when she was just born, just because I'm feeling sentimental and b/c I'm getting so excited about another little newborn coming!!

Aww!! I wish she could've stayed this little forever!!

Read more...

Slow It Down Girl!

Ugh!! Bedrest for almost a week is not a prognosis that I like to hear! I've been having cramps and presure for a while, but didn't call the Dr until last Friday! I thought it was just basic pregnancy symptoms but turns out that I was having the beginning of pre-term contractions and he is a little worried about them turning into pre-term labor!
The good thing about it is that there is no danger to Gabriel unless obvioulsy I give birth now, but even if it gets that bad they have medications that can help stop it! Bad news is if the medication doesn't take, but I'm not even going there b/c things are getting better!
Basically I've been doing too much! My Dr sais I need to slow things way down, and until the contractions go away completly I need to be on bedrest! Bedrest is fun for a couple of hours, and then it just gets old!! Especially when we don't have cable!! It's a lot different being pregnat with a toddler than it was when it was just me and Joe! I'm not worried, but it does kindof seem like it's been one thing after another with this pregnancy! Thankfully this is not a serious, life or death situation!
Apparently pre-term contractions are kindof common in the summer time which I didn't know, and if your doing too much on a daily basis! I didn't really think I was doing too much, but I guess so! So basically I just need to slow it way down I guess! Bad thing is that I can't pick up Maddy until I'm in the clear, so that stinks! I miss her when she's not here, but I know it's only for a little while!
I see my Dr on Wed unless things get worse, so pray things won't get worse and he lets me get off bed-rest! Until then I have to be creative with things to do!!

Read more...

Sniff Sniff!!

Since Monday we have been a dog free family! We kept talking about getting rid of our dog, Wookie for a while especially when I found out I was pregnant again, but kept putting it off b/c neither Joe or I really wanted to do it! We got him when we had been married about 5 months, and have had him for almost three years since then!

He was our baby when we first got married! Then I found out I was pregnant with Madeline and he became second fiddle! Then I got pregnant with Gabriel and he became third fiddle! He was such a sweet dog and it was such a fun time to have him, but with two kids and living in an apartment it was time to find another home for him!

After the third flea outbreak this summer I lost it! I still don't get how he kept getting them, but whatever! He never fully understood the concept of potty training either and I was constantly cleaning pee pee and poop out of the carpet! NOT FUN!! Madeline stepped in it one time which made it even more fun for me to clean out! We steam vaccummed the carpets just to have him re-soil all his favorite spots the next day! So, it was time!

It really makes me so sad though! I put a picture of him on the fridge to remember him by and I'm sure it will stay there for a while! Joe says our next animal will be when we have a house and it can be an outside dog! I agree! Here's our little Wookie! I hope he enjoys his new home!

We went to the Dr. the other day and Madeline is continuing to grow like a weed! That makes me sad too, but it really shouldn't! I have to get over this wanting her to stay a baby forever!! She is 33 inches tall (96th percentile) and 22lbs! Still teeny tiny but finally in the 45th percentile in weight! She will always be skinny I think! Lucky girl!! Our Dr said we could even start potty training if we wanted to! I would LOVE for her to be potty trained before Gabriel gets here, but if not, I'm not going to force it!

She is starting to use her own fork and spoon which makes me very proud! Is anyone else going through the destuctive toddler years at all or is just her? She riped our blinds the other day and broke one of them off! She also chewed her teething guard off her crib so I had to buy a new one! She's crazy..but I think she got that from Joe!

Read more...

Never A Dull Moment!

Last night I fell and I mean FELL into bed at 8pm! I was exhausted!! As I began to go to sleep I started thinking about life with two in about 3 and a half months!! That's all that's left!! I can't believe it!! I am getting so so excited, but I'm sure I will be MIA for a while as I struggle just to keep up with a newborn and a 19 month old!

It was a day yesterday! We found fleas on our dog AGAIN!!! Not that intense this time, but a pain none the less between getting him an emergency flea bath and doing a thorough cleaning of the house! That alone was enough to wear me out!!!

Is anyone else having a flea issue this summer? I think b/c it is so hot and humid! Our dog has NEVER had fleas in the three years we've had him! Now, this summer, he gets them twice! We keep frontline on him so I can't figure it out!! Last time, it was a huge deal...we had to get the apartment fumigated which meant me and Madeline couldn't be in the house for 4 hours after Joe sprayed ( thanks to his connections to Cooks)! We packed up and stayed with his parents for the night! This time, I only found three..but still! Frontline should do the trick right? Me and Maddy gave him a flea bath and then checked him again, did a thorough cleaning of the house and Joe gave him another treatment. So far, so good! I think one or two just jumped on him outside, but still..YUCK!

After all that intense cleaning I was ready for a long nap for Madeline..but she had other plans!! She was on a "no nap" strike, which comes rarely..but comes none the less! It was really hard to finish my cleaning while she was unplugging the vaccume, throwing herself on the bed, pulling all the clothes out of drawers, destroying her room, pulling magazines out and ripping them all up, taking all her diapers out of her diaper stacker,ect! By the afternoon and our second attempt at a nap, I figured a showing of "Elmo in Grouchland" was a good idea! Needless to say, I fell asleep in 10 minutes!

She is so fast around here! As soon as you turn your back she is into something else!Here's what happend when I accidentally forgot to close the pantry door today. You can't see it in the picture, but there is a huge pile of napkins on the floor that she pulled out too!

She's so cute though, It's hard for me to stay mad at her!!!

We try to stay inside as much as we can lately, b/c lets face it, the heat is unbearable and my northern roots really come out in the summertime! If it's above 90 degrees, I really can't handle it...especially pregnant!! Here's some pictures of her on our adventure Monday, shopping for Gabriel!

Here she is in the car!

"Hi"!

And here she is in her favorite chair from PBK.Anyone want to give me $100 dollars so I can buy it for her!!!???

So, there really is never a dull moment around here! Between fleas and a toddler and one on the way, I really start to miss those days when nap time was daily occurance!!

Read more...

Sprinkled with Love!

Sat. was our first little "celebration" for baby Gabriel! It was really small and cozy which was the point-just friends getting together for lunch! I remember the CRAZY shower I had for Madeline! Huge shower, TONS of presents, such a big deal! This was just really relaxing and low-key! It was a gift-card shower which we really appreciated, but some people brought gifts that I loved!! Everything was just so nice! I forgot my camera! I know....pregnancy brain!! But my sisters got some good shots so I can get theirs. Overall, we were really so blessed and felt the love from so many of our friends and family! So many people have been praying for Gabriel for so long and it was so wonderful to have them all together! Here's some pictures of our fabulous diaper cake and delish desserts made by my sister Sarah:

Monday, My mom and sisters and I, and of course Madeline went out to spend the gift cards and get some much needed things for baby Gabriel! His room is really starting to come along! I won't post pictures until it's done, b/c right now it is still kindof a mess, But I am really getting excited! I am using the "Jungle Friends" bedding from PBK and LOVE IT!!! I'm mixing in a lot of cheaper things into it, so I hope the finished product comes together!! It's so different to go from girl baby things to boy baby things, but I am soo thrilled! I can't wait to have a boy!

I am 22 weeks pregnant today!! Woo hoo! Again, I feel like it is flying by!! I'm starting to have more cravings lately like chicken salad on croissants ( has to be croissants), avacados, cheese, and french fries! I love those! Also, McDonalds has been on my mind a lot! I know, YUCK, but something about it when I'm pregnant is my thing!! I've been feeling Gabriel move and move! I love it! Joe felt him the other night two times in a row! I think we are going to be feeling a lot more soon! My heartburn has come back! Ugh! I pretty much have to keep Tums with me at all times, and the back pain is starting up too. It's not horrible yet, so hopefully it won't be this time! Well, that's about it!

Oh, Maddy has taken over some of Gabriel's toys already! We foolishly let her play with them and now she has become very attached! Just a little hint of what it will be like with two soon! Joe also got her to say "Go Noles" in time for football season! He was very proud!!

Read more...

Ever Feel Like A Single Mom??

Ever since I had Madeline, I have had a renewed respect for single moms, or single parents in general! Lately, that respect has been even greater! Maybe it is because I am pregnant and don't have the energy like I did when I wasn't pregnant, but lately I have been wiped out!
Joe has been working late the last couple of weeks. On and off, and to his credit he did get home at 3:30 yesterday, which NEVER happens, but other than that, I have definetly been feeling like a single parent! He is gone around 7am and usually doesn't get home until around 6 or 7 at night!

That means, EVERYTHING during the day is up to me! Not that I don't enjoy it. I love love love being home with Madeline and wouldn't want it any other way, but sometimes I just feel like, "Where's my husband when I need him???!!""
I know a few women that are feeling like this right now. My friend, Samantha, who is also pregnant is doing it on her own as well, while her husband is at police academy. So, I know I've got someone to relate to! When Joe gets home it's usually dinner time and then getting Maddy ready for bed and then I'm asleep by 8:30 or 9! Everyone keeps saying, "Oh, your supposed to have so much more energy your second trimester." Maybe that was true when your not taking care of someone else all day. I remember being tired with Madeline, but I would just come home from work and be able to get into bed without having to worry about things! Now, it's definetly different!

So, there's my hormonal, pregnant, worn out mother rant about wishing that every now and then I had a million dollars to hire a nanny or had a personal wife to take care of the things I do a million times a day! My friend Ashley said to me one time, "You know, I want a wife!" That's how I feel. Someone to do my laundry, cook my meals,buy and budget groceries, take care of the bills, clean my house, take care of my baby, ect!! Oh well, I guess it's all part of the never ending job we call motherhood! The most rewarding, joyful, loving job in the world. But with all jobs there's always something you don't like about it!!

Read more...

15 Months!

Madeline turned 15 months last Wednesday and boy have things changed! She is growing like a weed! I'm really curious to see how tall she has grown since her last Dr.'s appointment, but we don't go again for a couple of weeks!

Here's whats new in the 15 month old world:

*New words or phrases are "Night Night", "No No", "That" when she points to something and then "Yeah" when you give it to her! "Juice", "Banana"-sounds more like "Banana" now instead of just "Na Na", " Outside" and "Baby" all the time!

* Favorite activities are playing outside, going to the pool, chasing Wookie, dumping Wookie's water on the floor and eating his food, running around the house, pulling all the DVD's out, dropping things in the toilet, running around with toilet paper, taking things out of Gabriel's room and putting them in her room, coloring, and playing with chalk outside. Needless to say she keeps me on my toes!!

* Loves to give kisses and will go up to complete strangers and give them hugs!! We gotta put an end to that soon!!

* Favorite foods are cheese, cookies, spaghettie, juice, milk, peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese, bananas, blueberries and carrots ( this is new).

* Least favorite foods are peas, chicken dishes ( likes chicken on it's own but not mixed with anything), and ham has not been a success lately!

* Growing like crazy!! Went from a size 3 shoe to a size 5 in a month!!! Also, pretty much everything she wears now is 24 months. 18 months are too short and snug on her belly!

* Loves to bring toys to you and tell you what they are! For instance, will bring you a baby and say "Baby" or will bring you her Elmo doll and say "Melmo"!

* Favorite places to go are McDonalds ( loves the chicken nuggets and the Happy Meal toy), Target ( loves the toys), nursery at church, and pretty much anything that involves the outside. Still kindof sqeamish of the park. Swings are iffy and the slides have to be very short for her to go down!

That's about it! I wish she would stop growing up so fast, but I love seeing all the new things she does! Thank goodness we have a newborn coming or I might fall apart with all her growing up!

Here she coloring!!!

Read more...