Uncle Ross

We recieved these pictures of Hope's Uncle Ross today. It was good to see him being his odd self! We love you, Rossaroo!

Easter Egg Hunt 2008

Hope was very excited about our church Easter Egg Hunt. She ran off 3 times before it actually began, putting eggs in her basket as fast as she could before her mommy or daddy could catch her. (Where does she get her lack of patience from?)

Then, after you get 10 eggs, you are supposed to stop, wait for everyone to get 10, then go find more. Hope quickly found her 10 eggs, her daddy told her we had to stop, and she started crying saying, "But my basket is not full!" She has some issues! We were able to find a few more when everyone else had found 10, and then she was way excited about seeing what was in them, so there were no more tears!

And, just for you, another giant belly shot. That will be the last you see of that!

A Shower for Noah

Andrea, Betty and Jennifer gave a shower for Noah on Saturday. I can now say I feel like I am ready for Noah. We really got everything that we needed. We are very blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Hope wanted cupcakes oh so badly. We kept telling her she had to wait for everyone to get there. As soon as the first guest arrived she said "can we have them now?!" She grabbed her cupcake, grabbed a seat, said "Happy Birthday Noah" and took a bite!

Somehow, someone caught me on camera, so if you are looking for a belly shot, this is as close as it will get.

Hot Chocolate

Hope enjoyed her very first cup of hot chocolate after coming in from the snow.

Adventures in Snowman Building

Hope and Daddy had big plans for a snowman. It was really funny to watch. Just when they would almost complete him, he would crash down. (See picture #2!) They were finally successful and we managed to get inside before he fell (he fell shortly after, though!)

This Girl Loves the Snow!

She was throwing snow at her daddy and her mitten flew off!

Someone sent me this survey today, so in an effort to avoid doing any more house work today, I thought I would fill it out and post it here.

20 Years Ago:
I was 2 days away from being 8! I was in the second grade in Jonesboro. My best friends were Lynley and Stephanie. I loved gymnastics. I played the violin (but not well!) Mrs. Stringer was my teacher. I couldn't wait to grow up!

15 Years Ago:
Yuck! Almost 13. Is there anything harder? I went to Mabelvale Jr. High. I was a "Competicheer Rebel!" I was fired up about going to Space Camp! I went to Clinton's inauguration in D.C. I was a nerd for sure. No doubt.

10 Years Ago:
Almost 18. I was a Senior at Fair High School. I drove a white Dodge Avenger. I spent my time cheering, working at my dad's restaurant (until he fired me...seriously), coaching the Junior Prep squad at Cheer Central, playing with my baby niece, and with my friends.

5 Years Ago:
John and I had been married for 8 months. We lived in a tiny apartment on the Arkansas River. We soon moved to a town house. I was Clay's Nanny and I worked at the church. We traded in the Avenger for a green Honda Accord.

3 Years Ago:
Hope was about 3 months old. She was such a fussy baby, and I felt like a terrible mom. She cried non stop in the car everywhere we went, and I wanted to pull my hair out. Thankfully, things got much better soon after this point!

1 Year Ago:
We were living in Texas (did that really happen?) John was traveling all the time, I was working full time an hour away from our house, Hope was 2 years old, I was going through fertility treatments, I missed my family... not the best of times!

So Far This Year:
We are back in Hog Country! Baby # 2 is about 8 or 9 weeks away. I love my job, Hope loves her school, we are back near my family, John is working a lot closer to home. Things are very good!

Yesterday:
I passed out fliers for a consignment sale coming up to earn a pass to shop early. I had lunch with my mom, Hope and I just hung out for the evening. It was nice.

Today:
I have done lots of laundry, but not as much cleaning as I had planned! I keep finding the recliner too hard to resist! I am praying John makes it home safely in the snow!

Tomorrow:
Planning on a fun snow day! They are saying 4-8 inches of snow! The weather here is crazy!

This Year I Hope To:
Get Noah here safely, handle life with 2 kids calmly (so not me), be a good mommy, pay off some debt! Fun Fun!

I am tagging all of you with blogs! Michele, April, Julie, Kerum, Laura...It's your time to avoid cleaning your house, and post this on your blog!

A taste of snow!

We woke up to a fun suprise this morning! Snow! Hope looked out the window and said "I need my snow clothes!" We bundled up and went outside. She was sooo excited! She fell backwards on the ground and started to make a snow angel. She loved every second we were outside and was sad to have to back in. The snow melted quickly, but it was fun while it was here!

There are lots of pictures for Daddy, who wasn't here to see our little snow angel.

Getting ready for Noah

Now that I am about 30 weeks, we have started to get things ready for the baby boy. John and I went to Babies R Us and Target Friday to register. We also bought this swing on Friday. (Hope's was recalled, so we didn't have one.)

Now, we are trying to save up for this stroller, or one like it. I want a "Sit 'n Stand" type stoller, that will allow Hope to either, you guessed it....Sit or Stand behind the baby. I have struggled with this decision because Hope still rides really well in a stroller. But, since we don't know how long that will last, this seems like the most reasonable choice. I like the "Joovy" brand one alot, but I have recently seen some other brands that I like too...

We also got a suprise box of goodies from Aunt April and Uncle Paul this week. It has Christmas presents for Hope, and some suprises for Noah, too. Including a "Wee Wee Blocker" for protection during diaper changes! I had a good laugh. We love the super hero themed one she picked...It says "Wee Wee Man!"

We found this changing table at a consignment store, and we dressed it up with some baskets and a new changing pad. It will go well with his Frog and Turtle Room.



And Noah is starting quite a clothing collection. We are very lucky to be able to have Zeb's clothes from when he was a baby.

There is definitely still work to be done! His room is still filled with boxes from the move (it became the catch all room for things we didn't have a place for.) My mom is working on his bedding (It is brown, green and blue.) But, we are definitely making progress! I do have gestational diabetes, but it is apparently a common thing, and everything else looks great. I can say he is a very strong boy with quite a kick!

Hope Rocks

Is it wrong that my 3 year old looooves Guitar Hero? Is it more wrong that I love Guitar Hero? I am quite a sight with my big belly playing it. I promise all of you that I won't play in public! I have beat all of the "Medium" level except for Lou at the end, and I have beat a few songs on "hard". John has beat all of "hard" and is now struggling with "Expert." Don't knock it if you haven't played it! It is the most addictive game since Tetris. I see notes in my sleep!

Hope and Clay

Last month, we went to Clay's birthday party. Hope had so much fun playing, and I loved seeing my sweet Clay and his family. I was Clay's nanny for 3+ years, and I still say that he is part mine! In a lot of ways, he was my first baby! He is now 6 years old, and such a great kid (and I am not afraid to take a little credit for that!). Here is a picture of the Hope and Clay at his party.

And here are a few of the two of them from Hope's early days!

He has a name!

Noah!
The baby boy's name is officially Noah. He has a middle name, too, but you will have to wait until after he is born to find that out!

John sent me an email last week at work that he had been up the night before thinking about the name, and had decided that it was definitely Noah. He said I could sleep now knowing that he had a name. Good thing I like the name too!

And, I shouldn't have said anything about the dang Glucose test. I failed. Yuck. I have to take the 4 hour test tomorrow.

Fashion Show

Hope's Uncle Vince and Aunt Lisa bought Hope this Fashion Show Runway thing for Christmas, and because of the massive size of it, we had not put it together yet. Vince came over tonight and put it together for her. It is huge. Huge! But, she loves it! She picked out her Christmas dress for the Fashion Show, complete with straw hat. It was hard to get her to be still for a picture, but we did capture her spectacular twirl!

Annie!!!

For Valentine's Day, my dad bought all his girls tickets to see the musical Annie on Valentine's Day. So, my mom, sister, nieces, Hope and I went to the show. It was so much fun. Hope was so good and watched almost all of the show without a peep. Not suprisingly, her favorite song was "You're never fully dressed without a smile." She danced so silly in her chair and gave the song a big applause at the end. For all the other songs, she gave this polite little ladylike clap, but for that song, it was big applause! When we got in the car, it was about 10:15, and she said "can I go back to watch Annie again?" I think she liked it! Thank you, Papa Paul!

Oh, and I have to add a note to Julia here, who I know counts how many times her pictures are on this blog compared to her sisters...my picture of you by yourself was blurry! We will have to take another one soon!

Our Valentine's Day Tradition

When John and I were dating in college, when our first Valentine's Day came along, we were completely broke! We decided not to make a huge deal of the day with gifts and dinner, etc. We decided we would make each other a Valentine. Well, the tradition has continued for 7 years now. Here is our collection of cards (minus a couple that have gotten lost.) John now makes one for Hope, too. I always love to see what John has come up with. It usually involves glitter!

Thank You, Valentine

Hope was so excited to come home to find a Valentine from Austin. The card said she was "pretty as a princess" which Hope just ate up. He also sent her a fancy new ponytail holder. Thank you, Prince Austin!

Be Gone Stomach Bug...

The Stomach Bug lives on! Now through Hope's Daddy. He was supposed to be traveling today, but instead, is at home, sounding very pitiful. It seems that he does in fact get sick, even though he often states that he never does.

Hope made it a full day at school today! Woo Hoo! I kept dreading getting a call from her Mimi again telling me to hurry and come get her.

I had my 28 week appointment today. At 28 weeks you get the dreaded "Glucose Tolerence Test." I really don't see what the big deal is. You drink a drink that tastes like orange soda, and get your blood drawn an hour later. Really, the stuff does not taste that bad. Now, I have no desire to take the longer test, which is the next step if the result come back yucky. Everything looked good today. I am one happy mama with my new heartburn prescription! It doesn't take much to make me happy!

Still no name for the little boy. We decide on a name for a couple of weeks, and then sit down and both say, "I'm not sure about the name." Surely we can name him before he gets here!

You Know Your Belly is Big When...

Your 3 year old daughter says you look like Santa Claus. Ho Ho Ho

The Show Must Go On

Hope has been one sick baby this week. She is on day five of a stomach bug that will just not go away. She seems to make a come back, and then bam, it hits her again. I have been sick with a flu like virus, so together we have made quite a pair.

We have watched lots tv and movies this week. We are going to see the Annie musical next week with my mom, sister and nieces (and if you know me at all you know how excited I am to see this!) Tonight, John had gone to get Hope's prescription and Hope wanted to watch Annie. She was sitting in the recliner, her fever was on it's way back up. She was sinking fast, but then "Your Never Fully Dressed" came on and off she went to her room. She came it with white dress shoes, and this dress on and telling me she needs me to reach her "hat with all the colors" for her. We retrieved it, and she asked me to rewind the movie for her. She sang the song, but didn't have her usual funky Hope dancing moves to go with it. She so badly wants to feel better!