Weekend Fun

This weekend deserves documenting because 2 things that NEVER happen, happened.

1.) Two girls who have no sense of direction made it to and from a college football game among 50,000 folks and lots of acreage safely.

2.) Both of my kids went to a restaurant and to the zoo with no tears and without anyone getting aggravated or in trouble.

This girl is the best and so much fun.  We had a great time at MSU's homecoming and are so thankful that we didn't have to endure a dreaded walk of shame to the car.  21-20 was the final score and we'll take a one point win over a one point loss any day...but, we were expecting a blow out.  Maybe MSU homecoming should be a tradition for us from now on!  Daniel was glad that I had someone to finally take selfies with besides him, because that is so not his thing.  I'm pretty sure that we have the two best husbands in the world for staying home with the kids while their wives attended a late night football game.

Yesterday, we took the kids to eat at O'Charley's and then to the zoo.  The kids were saints during the entire trip.  Speaking of Saints, they lost their first game of the season on Sunday...BOO! We've never had a meal at a restaurant that wasn't chaos even with just John McRae.  Sadie's first zoo trip was fun, too.  She enjoyed watching the water shoot up and down at the splash pad and John McRae really enjoyed his ice cream, as usual.

He's a flamingo.

The Sadie face.

Ice Cream Mustache

It's HOT HOT HOT!

 The kids got their nap out on the way home so D & I didn't get ours.  I was sure looking forward to it after staying out so late the night before.

So sweet!

Miss Sadie is now holding her cup.  She isn't crazy about the juice inside (or the flash from the camera), but she enjoys swinging the cup in the air hitting who ever she can with it, even herself.  She has so much personality these days and is so much fun.  John McRae informed us that he wanted a brother like George on Peppa Pig.  I told him to take that up with his Daddy!

Next weekend is going to be fun, too. We have a birthday party to go to at JMc's best friend's house.  He's going to be SO excited and I'm looking forward to the cake. It's possible that Sadie will get her first taste of ice cream, too!

TBT 2010 style

My Facebook status 3 years ago today:

September 26, 2010 via mobile

is snapping a few pictures of John McRae because today is one month home, but none of the pics capture how adorable he really is!

*Now, he won't hardly sit still long enough to take his picture so my feed is full of Sadie who can't yet jump out of the view of the lens.

 

John McRae has been home exactly 3 years and 1 month.  Who would have thought in just three very short years later, I'd have a 4 year old and an almost 6 month old!?! It's true that even though we have to fight through very difficult times in life, God's love and grave is enough to make it through to see sunshine and rainbows once again.  After a while, it all sort of starts making sense and you can find reasons to look back and be thankful during times that you found it hard to find anything to be thankful for at all.

 

In looking back to 2010 when my life was changing so much so quickly as a new parent, I also found statuses about how sick my Papa Carney was at that time.
So many happy things going on mixed with some very hard, sad times for my family.

Three short years later after losing him, I'm now missing my Grandma Johnson terribly, too.  I'm very thankful for the memories I have of them both.  I will treasure the happy memories forever and also the memories that my family and I made during the hard times.  During our darkest days, we spent some pretty awesome quality time together.

LOTS OF FIRSTS

September 21, 2010 via mobile

is ready for our play date with Brooke & Judah tomorrow. My first play date ever! 

 

September 18, 2010 via mobile

Might be a grown up, finally...driving this big truck pulling a uhaul right by myself.

September 14, 2010

just made Mississippi proud. Went to check the mail barefoot with a baby on my hip.

*Now, I can check the mail barefoot with a kid on each hip. ;)

 

September 14, 2010 via mobile

's sweet baby boy got a clean bill of health! All of the things he had is Korea have been healed. Praise God!!!

*And He is still answering prayers.

 

No one will care about any of this but me, but I'm documenting folks...because I sure will be glad to have these memories to look back on in 2016 and beyond!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1, 2, 3...Pretty as can be!

Sadie @ 3 Months

It seems like just yesterday, I found out that I was pregnant.  Then, it seemed like those 9 months would never come to an end so that I could breathe again and finally hold our sweet baby girl.

And just like that...
In the blink of an eye, Sadie has reached THREE months old!

  

NOW, SADIE IS:

• Smiling constantly
• Talking/Cooing up a storm
• Being very silly

• Pressing her feet down when they are on a flat surface
• Repeating the sound "Hooo" from her owl book
• She's about to move up to size 3-6 month clothing
• She loves to watch her big brother play

• She gets so excited that she doesn't know what to do with herself
• She loves to be held and talked to
• Her colic is much better
• She likes to throw a fit around 6PM, but it doesn't last long

•  She's beginning to fight sleep a little

• She's sleeping from about 9PM until 5 or 6AM
• She's now in daycare and seems to love her teacher
• She still likes to swing

• She's eating a little cereal in her morning and night time feedings
• She can eat from a spoon and has sat in her Bumbo seat a few times
• She loves to be outside
• She's very curious and loves to look around

• She's grasping objects
• She's noticing people and following them with her eyes and head as they walk by

• Establishing a personality
• Holding her head up
• She sits through church like a champ

• She's absolutely perfect
• Her big brother is getting attached to her.  She has been named the pink Power Ranger by him.

It's my birthday...

 and I'll cry if I want to...

but I didn't want to.

 Time and tide wait for no man, but time always stands still for a woman of thirty. - Robert Frost

Yesterday, I turned 30.  It wasn't nearly as bad as when I turned 25.  25 was tough, for a lot of reasons, but turning 30 - it was great.

Everyone was so good to me.  I received presents, lots of money, well over 100 Facebook birthday wishes, dinner, lots of cards, and had cake with Daniel, John McRae, and Sadie.

All in all, it was a good day.

It took 30 years, but I now realize that my major accomplishments are keeping my parents proud of me, loving my husband, being a good mom to my kids, having a relationship with my God who has made all of my blessings possible in His time, loving my extended family, making time for friendships that are true, working hard, and appreciating what I have and not being greedy for material things that I do not need.  I always strive to be more, have more, and one day finish my degree and be "successful," but I am successful.  I love my job and the people I work for and with.  It allows me to do charity work for for Batson and help one of the most important industries in our state to survive.  So maybe my purpose in life isn't to do all of the things I set out to do that just haven't worked out.  Maybe the smaller things that come with NO monetary pay are what I was put on this Earth for.  My passions are to help end the orphan crisis and spread awareness, put an end to the negative myths about adoption, to help the children in our state receive the top-notch healthcare that they need and deserve, and to be a loving mama to my children.  It's all coming into focus and just the right folks have been put in my life to help me with these things.

XOXO,

 The newest member of the 29 club

Baby Update - 37 Weeks

I went for my regular appointment today and it went just as I expected.  My blood pressure was up so off to labor & delivery I went for another non-stress test.  (I didn't gain any weight this week, so at least there is that to be happy about.)  My blood pressure was 160/99 at the doctor's office, and while it was still up at the hospital, it went down a significant amount.  My last reading after about 2 hrs on the monitor was good, 136/74ish. It's amazing how much it went down once Daniel surprised me with his presence. =)  I think that one read after the nurse had already contacted my midwife, though, so she never got that positive news.  Because my pelvis is narrow and my cervix is unfavorable (or at least I think that is what she said. There was so much information thrown at me at once), I will be having a c-section.  I could demand going into labor, but who wants to risk being in labor 20+ hours and then still have to have a c-section.  Not this chick! I go back to the doctor on Monday, April 1st, and I'm pretty sure I'll be put on the books for Wednesday, April 3, 2013.
(Only 9 more days, Oh My Gah!)

Our bags are packed and we are ready to go, but

I am worried about our sweet John McRae and how he is going to take all of this in once his baby sister finally arrives.  While I'm over the moon excited to welcome home our baby girl, I worry about his sweet little heart and him no longer being our only child.  That's a lot for a spoiled rotten, center of attention, aka The Boss, to deal with.  He made us parents almost 3 years ago and we never want him to feel like anyone is going to take his place, ever.

Prayers please for Daniel, John McRae, Sadie and I as we will soon begin our new journey as a family of four!

XOXO,

Stacy   

Baby Update - 36 Weeks

Today, I went for my first weekly visit.

It was routine, with two cultures checking for Strep B and any infections.  I'm not dilated ANY.  Surprise, surprise.

My stomach is measuring 38 weeks, but the ultrasound measured the baby at 36 weeks 1 day.  The ultrasounds have been measuring me about 4 days ahead of my due date(which would put me at 37 weeks today), but this one was 2 days behind it.  Very strange, especially since my stomach is measuring even further along now.  The ultrasound tech said that the ultrasound can be off two weeks and it might be off because of the way Sadie was laying.  Her estimated weight is 6.4 lbs, which means she is somewhere between 5.4 and 7.4 pounds.  Gracious, I hope it is on the lesser end because by the time I make it to 39 weeks, I might be dealing with a 9 pound baby girl! Sadie is in position to make her arrival and she literally stretches from the point of exit to my ribs.  Baby girl is filling up my entire stomach from top to bottom.  Maybe that pressure will make a little progress, instead of just making it hard for me to walk.

No contractions.  No dilation.  Minimal swelling, but a blood pressure reading of 166/98...I figure I'll be induced April 5th or somewhere around that time.  Isn't it amazing that my blood pressure was 127/72 when I went for the non-stress test a week ago today at the hospital and it is off the charts today?!?  I tell you, that blood pressure machine at the clinic hates me.  I go back again Monday for another check so I guess we'll see if I've progressed any between now and then.  
Even though I am ready to meet our baby girl, sooner rather than later, I know that I'm very fortunate that I've not had any more problems than I already have.  While I find it a bit annoying that I'm almost 37 weeks and haven't had the slightest contraction, many folks would be so glad if they didn't have to deal with the pain, worry, and annoyance until after this point.  I've not even had a Braxton Hicks!
That pretty much sums it up.
Until next week...

John McRae's 4th Birthday Party

Due to my ever growing belly and fatigued body, we had John McRae's birthday party a week early.  He was so surprised, because he had no idea that he was having a party last night.  We'd asked him who he wanted to invite and what kind of cake he wanted, but had not talked anymore about it. He told us that he wanted a cake just like his Daddy's and he did not mention any kids that he wanted to be there.  We sang, cut the cake, and then ate pizza, chips & dip, and ice cream.  Yes, we cut the cake first, because he could not handle it one more second.  He had already gotten a fork and dug into the side of it.  We couldn't say too much to him about it because he was so excited and we wanted to do the same thing!  This year's party was much, much smaller than his two prior, but he loved it!  
Thanks for coming, everyone.

Thanks to my Daddy for the pics below. =)

He said that he needed to open some  yummy snacks.

36 Weeks Pregnant and still growing!

I'm 4!

Love this kid!

Singing to the birthday boy.

It fits!

This boy loves cake! (Well, at least the icing.)

Presents, presents, presents.  Such a spoiled little joker!

He's so excited that everyone is singing to him!

His awesomely delicious cake.

Scooby Doooby Dooooo!

Checking it out.

  

We have some fun stuff planned for his actual birthday, too, including taking the day off from work for a day of fun and Granny will be in town, too.

We like week long birthdays around our house. Next year, we'll be planning two birthdays very close together!  =)

Baby Update - NST

Just a quick update from today's trip to Labor & Delivery.

My doctor's office is closed this week for Spring Break.  So, I had an appointment for a non-stress test at the hospital to make sure that my blood pressure was okay and that Sadie's heart rate was beating as it should.  Unlike when I go to my regular doctor and get annoyed and anxious, my blood pressure was a great 127/72 instead of the normal 144/89 that usually reads (at the lowest) at my regular appointments.  I've been telling the staff that it was them and not me.  Maybe they will believe me now. ;)

Also, I was up 8 lbs in just two weeks time at my last appointment on Feb. 25th, but as of today (2 weeks later) I have not gained any more weight.  Must have been pesky fluid, although I'm not really swelling at all.  Maybe just a tad bit around the ankles (but hardly noticable) and my hands are getting a little puffier.  I was relieved that the scale had not inched up anymore.  Especially since everyone is telling me I look like I'm about to pop.

So, Sadie and I passed the test with great results and I'm so very thankful for that.

My next appointment is Monday, March 18th, and I pray it goes just as well.

We've got a month to go, but I wouldn't complain if we have an Easter baby!


XOXO,
Stacy 

 

Baby Update {7 Months}

Today was baby check-up day.

Everything is still looking great and so far, no problems for Sadie or me.

According to my initial appointment, I am 31 weeks and 4 days today.  Which would make my due date April 12, 2013.  My stomach has been measuring a week ahead of that and so have my ultrasounds.  My stomach measured 32 weeks today and the ultrasound measured the baby at 32 weeks 1 day.  That would make my due date April 8, 2013.  I'd like to think that April 8th is my real due date.  Those four days might not seem like a lot to some folks, but that means I'd be at least 4 days closer to meeting my baby girl.  My blood work has been good so far and even though I had a little scare after my glucose test last week, my doctor (and the ultrasound) assured me today that there isn't anything to be worried about.  The nurse called me last week after my glucose test and told me that I was not consuming enough calories because my glucose level dropped too low during the night.  So, I've been eating like a crazy person (not that I wasn't already) every since.  My doctor told me not to worry about that because my numbers were within normal range and as long as I'm not dizzy and the baby is moving, we are both fine.  This is kind of a ramble, so I'll post the details from today's visit below.

*Baby is measuring 32W 1D.*

*Baby's estimated weight right now is 4.5 lbs.*

*Blood pressure is better and as long as it stays where it is, we do not have anything to worry about.*

*My weight is good (Can't believe that!)*

*Sadie's heart, brain, and the fluid surrounding her looked good.*
*Heart rate was 169 in the exam room when Sadie was bouncing around, but 139 (I think) in the ultra sound room.  She was over her burst of energy and was resting, face down.* 

My next appointment is in two weeks on February 25th.

These are a few of the pictures from today's sonogram.  They aren't very clear, but I love the one of her hand,  lips, and nose.  If you look closely, you can see the cutest pouty lips!  She was waving in one, too.  Also, we also have definite proof that Sadie is still in fact a girl.  I typed a description on the pictures so everyone could see what I'm talking about.

Daniel and I made a little progress on the nursery this weekend.  We still have a lot to do, but at least the queen bed has been removed and there are some baby things in it now.   Even though it isn't finished, it is looking so pretty and girly.

I've been eagerly awaiting the app on my phone to say "60 days remaining," and it finally says that today!  Just two more months to go.  After today's visit, I'm hoping that she will come even soon than that.  Not too much earlier though, because we want her to cook as long as she needs to in order to come into this world healthy! =)