Sunday, December 9, 2012

Lights & Santa!




Thanks to the internet, I recently found out a local home has a light display set to music... so of course we had to go check it out!  It was really fun to watch and the boys didn't want to leave AT ALL! I'm wondering how you handle living inside this house/as neighbors of these people though... whew.  Anyway, I think we'll be making a return trip before Christmas!










Yesterday we attended our annual Breakfast With Santa to support the local chapter of the Imagination Library. We enjoyed breakfast, won some things at the silent auction (sweet!!), and had a great visit with Santa!  No tears & they talked to him! Mason told him he wanted a bike, a basketball hoop, and TWO basketballs.  Lincoln just exclaimed "a basketball!"  Tall order ;)

Friday, November 30, 2012

November Recap

I didn't realize just HOW far behind I was on blogging until just now... and suddenly felt bad for leaving the blog-world with "throw up happens" for so many weeks.  Sorry, folks!

Looking at my November re-cap of pictures, it appears I was a poor photographer for the month.  It has been a full, busy, beautiful month none-the-less!

Gram (Bobby) and my brother Josh came into town to help as my/our Mom underwent double-knee replacement.  Uncle Josh quickly was latched onto by the boys and was clobbered at every chance they got (home, hospital room, it made no difference!).  Alike my Father, who the boys have determined they can basically coerce into most anything, Uncle Josh was the go-to for whatever plan they could hatch up.  It is amazing what a 2/4 yr old can get a grown man to do:


Needless to say, although poor Mom was down and out that week, the boys had a great time visiting :)

Meanwhile, Mom's surgery went swimmingly... then her initial recovery was horrendous... and now she is on the up-and up.  Seriously, her progress each 24-hours has been amazing. Although she couldn't see her own progress for the first week or so, I think even she now sees how well she is doing compared to where she was.  She is a fighter and she had been in pain for so long, even though the surgery is really, really rough it will be awesome to have a level of life back that she hasn't had in years.  Hurrah for technology/medical advances!

Thanksgiving, which I apparently took NO pictures of (gasp!), was a sad and happy day.  That morning Matt's Grandmother (Granny), who had been declining after a long fight with Parkinson's, passed away.  It was appropriate that the day be spent with family and spent reflecting on our blessings and gratitude.  Granny was very positive and happy and I know she wouldn't have had it any other way.  We celebrated her life at her funeral on Saturday and Matt gave a beautiful Eulogy that I think really reflected her life and her legacy.   On Sunday we had our third Thanksgiving meal (I'm going to blame ALL my pregnancy weight gain on all these meals! haha) and rounded out the weekend perfectly with more time with family.  


Squished in there was some black-Thursday shopping (I braved Walmart at 8PM Thursday for some piddly stuff), lots of black-Friday online shopping (YAY for online!), and the buying and decorating of our Christmas tree!

While I'm on a roll with November, I'll include that I had my 34 week OB appointment this week and was told I was 'looking great'.  I informed them I was officially 'feeling crowded'.  :)  I preregistered with the hospital the same day before leaving (my doc office is in the hospital)... let the count down begin!

Saturday, November 10, 2012

When throw up happens



...you may end up looking like this on the drive home...
very, very cute :)
(I think it's great how happy he appears after what had just transpired!)

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Mason: 4 Years!




It is hard to believe Mason is 4 already!  He had a pretty awesome birthday which included cake-batter pancakes for breakfast, a trip to Burger King w/his friend to eat and play on their playground, bowling as a family, and a batman party!  Mason got a spare AND a strike in the last frame while we were bowling...!   It should also be noted that Mason managed to beat Matt by 2 points... ! hehe! (Mama and her belly opted out of bowling this time).  We had a really fun weekend and Mason is absolutely thrilled by all his new toys.  Happy Birthday sweet boy, we love you SO MUCH!

Mischief

I have long said that Lincoln's middle name is mischief.  As he has gotten older, the mischief had slowed down a bit... but we seem to be in another upward tick of activity lately. Hopefully we'll be back in a 'downward' cycle by the time the baby comes!

Here are two photo-worthy occurrences that happened with in an hour or so of each other the other day... he is SO FAST!  For your viewing pleasure: mascara and 'eating peanut butter'.

Wow.


Sunday, October 21, 2012

28...29 Weeks

A week late on the update, but here I am!  I had my 28 week appointment this past week and baby boy is doing great!  We are still waffling on his name, but hopefully we are getting closer. One week we think we've got it solidified, the next we are back to the drawing board!  So it goes...

We had a quick ultrasound at this last appt and it showed he was about 2 lbs 13 oz and the tech noted he had a 'large' femur... it'll be interesting to see what size he is when he is born!  After two ultrasounds, we are pretty sure he is going to need some treatment for his right foot which appears to be turned inward.  Although it was difficult news to hear initially, after our (my :) ) emotions settled down and perspective finally stepped in, we are grateful for what our challenge may be.  If he does indeed need correction, it will certainly make for a whirlwind baby-stage, but we are grateful it is something that can be treated and something he will overcome quickly.  Time will tell if it is for certain, but come what may - we're ready as we can be.

Referring back to a previous post, I had been having pelvic pain (like I did with Lincoln), and it was gradually intensifying.  After its initial onset over 2 months ago, it finally stopped me in my tracks this week - literally- while I was attempting my 30-minute walk one morning.  A sudden, sharp, searing, stabbing, shooting, take-your-breath-away pain.  And it didnt subside quickly. Ugh. After that I finally made a call to a chiropractor, considering I had seen one webpage that encouraged that physiotherapy/chiropractor work could offer relief.  I got in the next day and.... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I feel so good!!!!!!!!!  I hadn't been to a chiropractor since I was a teenager and man, oh man, I am asking 'why did I wait?'.  Although I went in for my unstable and apparently out of symmetry pelvis (which, yes, turns out my pelvis was torqued, something was up with my sacrum, and my left hip was out of place) - but of course he also adjusted my neck and my back.  It is amazing how you don't realize what is going on sometimes until someone works on it -- I told him my back and neck were fine (but he was welcome to check it out), and yet as he went down my spine noting where he was finding issues, I could feel the sensitivity on the ones he was noting.  "Huh... didn't realize until you put your finger there...". Also, my neck rotation seemed fine... until he worked on my neck and suddenly my range of motion increased.  "Who knew I was supposed to be able to look that far?"  Meanwhile, concerning my pelvic pain... I walked, or maybe pranced, 30 mins the next day without any issues.  I can stand on one foot without pain.  My gait, particularly after sitting, is better.  It is fabulous.  I realize I probably sound like a crazy infomercial for Chiropractors, but it was a game-changing week for me.  He told me to come back on a pain-management basis (thanks to pregnancy hormones and muscle memory, it may just be a matter of time before something may slip out again).  Although I don't wish for the pain to come back, I do look forward to returning :

On another note (wow, it has been a busy week!), we finally found a VAN!  Our bank was closed by the time we made the deal - and our bank is out of state - so we will pick it up this next week sometime.  We are excited to settle into our new-to-us parent wagon :)  And you know we've hit a new stage of life when we're using the words "finally" and "excited" etc to describe purchasing a minivan!  Matt even made the comment that it was "pretty sexy" for a van.  HAHA.  Oh mercy.


So, there we have it!  We're down to 2-week appointments... eeeek, he will be here before we know it!!  The end of 2012 will be a blur!


Sunday, October 14, 2012

Fam Pics 2012

The boys had been CRAZY the week we were supposed to take pictures - seriously, I was ready to lay down and die by the end of the week.  I even sent Debbie a warning text about pictures - something like "willing to proceed with caution, but doubtful of cooperation..."  Well, I think the pictures speak for themselves -- the boys ended up being so good and Debbie, as usual, worked her magic!  We love them!

Here is a smattering...





Lately...

I, apparently, have neglected my blog for a while now!  Whoops!!

Let's see... what we've been up to...

A lovely, fun, wonderful long-weekend in Pigeon Forge:
*and yes... we're all soaked in the picture (mascara allllll over my face).



Trips to the park, zoo, local festivals/parades, playdates with friends, and library story time:
*have to mention... Mason totally dunked the Principal in the tank (think it was the Principal?)!








Recovering from injuries... Mason collided with our crape myrtle, Lincoln tripped over Mason & then fell down our front porch stairs (within 20 mins)! The boys, as usual, acted like "no big deal"... but Mommy winced every time she saw their poor faces. Grateful they heal fast!




Last but not least... family pictures, but that gets its own post!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Let's Go Fly A Kite (sing it)


 ...Talk about SO MUCH FUN!   <3 nbsp="nbsp" p="p">
 I suggest everyone go fly a kite :)

Baby Boy #3 (20 weeks)

Well, I am closer to 21 weeks right now, but better late than never!  I may have posted about the big "boy" reveal, but I wanted to blog a little about the pregnancy and share ultrasound pictures, etc - mostly for my book keeping!

I am very much pregnant, as you can see, but feeling pretty good.  Don't mind my awkward self-photography this morning... figured it may not happen if I didn't just get it done quick! As far as the pregnancy... I am feeling him 'thump' me all the time, which is really fun.  I am excited for the boys to get to feel him and look forward to that.  I still get yucky feeling if I don't eat often enough (every 2ish hours)... but it is manageable!  The only 'weird' pregnancy issues I have at present are small patches of eczema on my palms and I  have already started having pubic/pelvic floor pain like I did while pregnant with Lincoln.  I can't remember when it started with his pregnancy, but it has started over the last 2 weeks with this one.  I know cases can be very severe and basically disable people :( , so I am not going to go on and on about it as far as my body goes - but I have to be mindful of how I sit, how I stand, and how I roll over in bed (the key seems to be to evenly distribute weight, not sit on hard surfaces too long, keep legs pressed together, etc).  Got to love the horomone Relaxin!  Just doin' it's job... maybe a little too well.

Meanwhile, our Sonographer was qualified to read our ultrasound as she performed it - which was great!  Our previous doc would send the pictures to a radiologist and then meet with us whereas this was one a one-stop kind of deal.  Everything looked 'beautiful' (she told us he had a beautiful heart :)  ), right on track! We didn't get a good shot of his feet, so I'll be having another mini-ultrasound at my next appointment.  Kind of fun!

'Hello Baby!!!'

Now, more than ever, I am SO anxious for this baby boy to get here!  I know I should be enjoying the time to nest/prepare and heavens knows I love the fall/holiday season - but I find myself wishing away the next few months some times.  My to-do list should keep me busy enough in the meanwhile... PICK A NAME, spruce up the nursery with new curtains/decor, pick up a few essentials for the baby that couldn't be passed down, re-wash/freshen/take inventory of baby clothes, switch Lincoln to sleeping in Mason's room, a million finish-painting projects around the house, stock our freezer with food for the newborn period,  pack the diaper and hospital bag, and shop for a van!

Can't wait to meet you, sweet boy!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

It's a...


As soon as my friend Mary found out I was pregnant (or maybe before she knew I was expecting?!), she asked if she could throw me a "gender reveal party" - a fun, new party idea that has been circling the internet.    Well, 20 weeks finally came and the party was SO MUCH FUN!  Matt and I went to the ultrasound in the afternoon and immediately informed the sonographer that we needed her to tell us to look away and quietly write down the baby's gender and seal it in an envelope.  The 20 week ultrasound, which really isn't all about finding out the gender, went great and the baby is perfectly healthy and developing right on track.  Such a blessing!




Everyone cast their vote via lips/mustache, enjoyed an amazing ice cream sundae provided by Mom Haggard, and then we headed out for the BIG REVEAL!  Only Mary and her husband Mark knew what balloons would be coming out of the box...




A BOY!!!!!
Mason and a few other children promptly started crying when they realized the balloons were flying away and not coming back.  Whoops, guess we should have prepared them for that part! 
We are so happy and the boys are stoked about getting a baby brother! This addition should feel pretty natural :)  Now to find a name....

Spoons



You know you've raised them right when they hold a spoon up to you and ask, 
"will you hang this on your nose?"

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Numero Dos!




Lincoln turned 2 this past Sunday and we had his birthday party today!  It is really hard for me to believe he is 2 already...!?!?  Where'd my baby go!  He has been so cute saying "Hap-pee Buhth-day!" all week.  His vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds and he LOVES learning how to say things and string lots of words together.  He also still has a love for being outdoors and would happily stay outside all day long, regardless of the weather.  He is now sleeping in a big boy bed, as of a few weeks ago, and it has been the easiest transition (hooray!).  He enjoys mowing, tractors, helicopters, hats, cheese, his blanket ('night-night'), his brother, reading books, swinging, shoes, playing hide and go seek, and keys.  He is a bear when he first wakes up, but snaps out of it within 2-20 minutes (ha! yes, that can be a LONG 20 minutes).  We've also just realized he has been experiencing night-terrors off and on for a while now, but luckily it doesn't happen often and NOW we know what is going on :)  He loves to help and loves being independent.  He is often a daredevil.  At the doc this week he weighed in at 26 lbs and measured 34 1/4 inches.  Although a little nervous about the table at first, he warmed up quickly and answered all the doctors questions gladly... and then even voluntarily thanked the nurse after she pricked his finger and then put a band-aid on it (thanks for hurting me?  hah).


On his birthday we had a little cake (individual microwave cakes :) and ice cream but we saved the balloons, birthday cake, and presents for today.  As for today, everything was great - what can be better than pizza, punch, and cake?  The boys had a blast - in fact, it might be hard to say which one had more fun!  Lincoln was spoiled and has a lot of cool, new toys to play with this week - including a tiny flashlight that he seems to think is his new prize possession. :)  Happy Birthday sweet boy!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Regained Energy



...means revamping in my house!  I am starting to feel human again and I feel like I have to recover my house from the last 2-3 months of my life.  Yikes.  It has meant a daily decluttering, organizing, and in some cases, even redecorating.  It makes me feel sooooo good and makes me feel more like myself.  I still  have a ways to go, but I'm proud of how this revamping turned out  :)  My living room has felt so dark and boring to me... so I am working to breathe some new life into it.  So, I gave my picture wall a makeover, mod-podged some scrap book paper on part of my shelf and my entire entryway mirror, and asked Matt to move my curtain rod a little bit.  I am already so much happier sitting in that room!  Now if anyone wants to donate to my new lamp fund....... ;)

o9i

Friday, July 6, 2012

Found some Fireworks!

Considering we haven't had rain in... forever... the fire ban is pretty serious business around here.  In fact, you can't even grill unless it is gas/propane (sorry all you faithful Kingsford users!).  Add to that the 100+ degrees it has been every day and we are one crispy state.  However, a small community just north of us somehow managed to get permission to still shoot off fireworks, so everyone and their mother crowded into Cumberland Furnace for a show!  We had a great fourth - swimming, eating, playing games, being with friends/family, and fireworks.  The boys were out exceptionally late but were only marginally grumpy the next day.  We are so grateful to live in this free country --- grateful for the men and women who serve and have served to make it free.  I don't know about you, but I have a hard time listening to the National Anthem and/or saying the Pledge without getting choked up (maybe pregnancy hormones have something to do with it this year too...).  We are really blessed.


Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Uno, dos,...


Ta-da!

We are so thrilled to announce baby #3 due January 6th!

OH&NY

We took a somewhat spontaneous trip to Ohio/New York a couple weeks ago and had a blast!  On the trip, we went to visit my 93 year old Grandfather and also got to see our 96 year old Aunt (as well as a lot of other family... just have to mention the 90 year olds :)!  The boys traveled so, so well... seriously, I ended up not having the correct adapter for my DVD player and so we were movie-less and yet they still were amazing (for, ah, over 24 hours of driving).  The boys found Grandpa's house to be magical (of course!  I always have as well!) and had fun running around.  In NY we checked out the falls, picked up some Weber's mustard and DiCamillo's Italian bread, and enjoyed lots of time with family!  Matt couldn't come with us this time, but was well taken-care of by his family in TN :)  Thanks for not letting him go hungry!


Although I don't have a good picture to relay this... it has to be noted that I also discovered my third-great grandfather while in Niagara Falls (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).  So, so excited!  We knew we were related to Joel Robinson, a well-known local, but had lost the connection between him and our Charles Robinson.  Through the historical society on the third floor of the Niagara Falls public library I was able to find the obituary newspaper article for Charles which stated his father's name... RUFUS!  I basically wanted to jump up and down and squeal with joy in the middle of the library... but kept it to an ear-to-ear grin. I also found tons of articles about Joel and some of his other children and found Rufus and his family on the 1860 census.  Ahhhhhh!
Family History rocks.  








4 Generations!



Saturday, June 23, 2012

Swim, fishy, swim!


We got Mason into swim lessons again this year and he is doing so well kicking and 'scooping ice cream'!  He had a blast at lessons and talks about Jared, his instructor, all the time.  Today we went swimming and Mason proceeded to "dive" in the kiddie pool - sans floaties - and hold his breath, float, and get a little distance kicking all at the same time.  I'm impressed :)  I also found the best flotation devices - thanks to a friends' facebook post - called Puddle Jumpers.  Highly recommend!  (30-50 lbs/ Found ours on walmart.com.) With the puddle jumper on, he has the freedom to kick himself all over the pool on his own without us worrying or waiting for him to have some issue.  And let me tell you, it is PERFECT for Lincoln too -- who has not a fear in the world.  We love swimming... even more so when it doesn't cause a panic attack every 2 seconds!  :)

Friday, June 8, 2012

Bobby & Aunt Nancy


 We were sooooo excited to get a dose of these ladies - and the boys have been asking when they're going to see them again ever since!  Hopefully soon!  :)

 7 Generations in the picture!

We tried to get Lincoln in the picture too... this is what happened :)




Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mother's Day



There are probably a million things I could say about motherhood... but instead I'll share this quote and a recent article that I enjoyed.  I firmly believe in the nobility and divinity of motherhood.  What a gift and awesome responsibility we have!  A friend shared this article from Ann Romney and it really reminded me of some of my own feelings!  I really enjoyed it: hope you do as well!  CLICK HERE   

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Old Timer's Day 2012

Old Timer's Day 2012
Who doesn't like a parade?


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Drenched

It is safe to say that summer is officially upon us... yes, yes, I know it is only the beginning of May - but we're hitting near 90 today!!  This morning we went outside to fill up the pool so it'd be warmed up for this afternoon... and well, water play just couldn't wait.  Life is so good!  :)










Thirsty?

Thursday, April 26, 2012

You've had a birthday, shout hoo-ray...

I turned the big 2-8 this year, woohoo (bring on the even numbers)!  Matt took me out for sushi (nom nom nom) Friday night and my birth-day was spent with a household of sickness (minus Matt).  The poor boys caught something fierce and I think my pesky allergies turned into a sinus infection or something.  We all started antibiotics the next day and I expect we should all be doing better by tomorrow (whew).  I did enjoy my birthday though - counting my blessings (namely these sweet little boys I get to spend my days with - and my hunk with whom I spend my evenings/weekends) and enjoying many happy birthday wishes from family and friends!  Matt and I got to grab a bite to eat for dinner and then returned to have cake and ice cream with the boys and my parents.  And yes, my cake looks like it is on fire because Matt put all 28 candles on there!