M-I-C-K-E-Y

Have I mentioned how my kid is CUCKOO for this guy?



Click here to getImages &
Mickey Mouse Pictures - Pictures

And when I say cuckoo, I mean NUTS!  He LOVES Mickey.  All things Mickey.  All things Donald Duck.  All things Pluto, all things Pete, etc. etc. etc.  Get my drift?  It's the one show that we can stick on the TV and it simply CAPTIVATES him.  Sometimes, I'll admit, we probably abuse this power a little too much.  But when you're waddling around 7 months pregnant, sometimes, throwing some Mickey on just does a mama good. 

It's not a new thing, either.  Ever since he first noticed the TV, he noticed the mouse. 

And now, when he watches Mickey in his green chair, he holds his Donald Duck doll.  And when he sleeps at night, guess who he sleeps with?  Yup, you guessed it.  Mickey.

We had to put up his Mickey toothbrush holder that mom and dad gave him because he only wanted to hug it and give it kisses and it was a distraction during toothbrush time. 

Luckily, mom and dad also provided some Mickey washcloths to make bathtime fun :-)

He's going to flip when he sees his new summertime Mickey outfit that mom bought him.

Can you tell we are a little Mickey obsessed around here?
It's gonna make a little trip next summer pretty freaking fun. :-)

Flashback Friday

Me & my boyfriend, 2005... :-)

Lake

This was our annual lake weekend with my best friends from college.  Unfortunately, our Ashville, NC crew couldn't make it this year because they're busy packing to move to a new home, but we managed to have a blast nonetheless.  Taylor and Kerry and I have been friends for a very long time, and Brandy was another sorority sister of ours from college as well.  When we get together, it's just like no time has gone by at all, even though we are assured it has through the expansion of families.

When we started out this tradition three years ago, it was just four couples.  Now, at least this time, there were four kids in the mix (and one along for the ride in the belly).  Kerry and Jeff are good friends of ours in Birmingham, and we love having them as friends, especially since Thomas and their oldest Allan have become such good friends.  They have also been generous enough every year to have us all to their tree farm and lake house about an hour south of town.  To say it's relaxing is an understatement. 

This year, though, with four kids, 18 months, 17 months, 7 months, and 2 months, the relaxation took a back seat to fun with the kids, and by the end of the day, once the kids fell asleep, the adults fell into an abyss of long conversations over big dinners, tasty desserts and good wine (for them, at least :).  It was just what the doctor ordered after a long, exhausting, emotionally excrutiating, and rough couple of months. 

The best part, I think for me, was watching Thomas love the outdoors so much, and getting to meet miss Cassie, Taylor's adorable baby girl.  We also got a sneak peak of Thomas with babies.  And he was really good!   He was very concerned with the well-being of both Cassie and Samuel (Kerry's 2 month old), and was very gentle with them.  So here's hoping that sticks in two months!

Taylor w/ adorable Cassie May

The two oldest getting into the toys

"hey, mom, what can I get into next?"

Sweet Baby Samuel

Thomas checking out Cassie

This boy was ALL OVER the place

Thomas found out quick what happens when babies get ahold of your hair :)

TROUBLE

Allan chatting with Taylor & Reese's dog, Delilah

The two buds

Thomas on his first ride on a Kubota RTV

He LOVED it

And was super fascinated by the gun rack the whole time.  I think he thought he was helping to "steer"

Checking our Mr. Jeff's big tractor

This is a recent face/expression.  We think it's used when he has a question of some sort.

So PROUD of his RTV ride.

Mr. Smiles

Family Shot on the pier

All the girls with all the kids.  Mine wouldn't stay still.

Kerry, Jeff, Allan, and Samuel

Taylor, Reese, Cassie, & Delilah

Not sure why we blocked the stairs, but happy nonetheless

Sweet Miss Cassie

Thomas "helping" Cassie get her toys

Group Pic (ignore my massive belly and no makeup, please :)

I'm already looking forward to next year....

Busy Bee

Just realized I haven't posted in a week.

That's what happens when you're battling a cough, a giant baby in your belly, a seventeen month old (almost!), and trying to get your house on the market.  Our house went on the market around noon yesterday and as of two o'clock, we already had a showing scheduled for 3:45.  I assume it went fine, but there was no miraculous offer last night :)  Keep your fingers crossed we get a quick sale, because I am EXHAUSTED. 

As for baby Kathryn, she's keeping up her pace at making this a ridiculously tiring pregnancy for me.  I finally finished throwing up at about 23 weeks, and  had a few nice weeks until all of a sudden she exploded growth-wise.  I seriously am the size of a house, and wonder every day how I can make it eleven more weeks.  I did, however, pass my glucose test, so that's good.  And I found out this week that I am in fact Anemic, which explains the exhaustion and the constant cravings for red meat.  It happened with Thomas too, though, so I was expecting it.  But overall, she's sitting nice and low which means lots and lots of pain for mama. 

We're headed to the lake this weekend to spend some time with good friends and lots of kiddos.

I'm hoping for relaxation, sleep, and fun.

Oh, and we can't wait to meet the newest Payne Family addition, little Lucy!  She arrived just four days after our lunch with them in Mobile!

Until next time, a little show of how much our leprechaun has grown in a year...

March 2010

March 2011

The Hardest Part

There are two main things I like about being pregnant this time around: 1--the baby girl that will (hopefully and prayerfully) ensue; and 2--the kicks, swirls, punchces, and movements in my belly.  There's nothing that can quite compare to this feeling on this earth.  NOTHING. 

But then, there's the PASSLE of things I can't stand: the aches, the pressure, the 23 weeks of vomiting that I've had this time around, the heaviness, the waddling, the hip pain, the fact that if I walk around too long my left leg goes numb (yes, this has happened in BOTH pregnancies). 

But there's one thing I cannot STAND, and it is THE. HARDEST. PART. for me.  I know you're going to laugh, but it's this:

I cannot STAND having to limit my coffee intake. 

I know I technically can have more than one cup a day, but for me, I've set my limit to a cup a day, and that's what I stick with.  Because what I would prefer, is three to four cups a day.  And that's not allowed.

And, NO, decaf is not the same.  At all.  In fact, if you actually drink coffee, you know that it tastes very different.  In addition, I'm not a fan of how decaf coffee is processed. 

So, here I sit, on a Friday morning, and it's taken me two hours to drink my one cup of coffee, because I savor every last drop of it, until it's stone cold going down my throat on that last sip, and I wait until tomorrow morning.

And I think to myself...85 more days until she's born (approximately :), and then I think, good Lord, I have to make it through breastfeeding...

The sheer torture of it all...

Two Preggos at Lunch

We were in Mobile last weekend and met Jessica, Jeremy, and Luke for lunch.

Don't mess with us, we'll steamroll right over you.

Zoo

Another zoo day last Saturday!  Thomas and his buddy Allan had a blast as always, and Kerry & I had a great time hanging out too.  Kerry brought the newest addition to the crew, baby Samuel (8 weeks) along for the ride, so it was Samuel in the snap n' go stroller, and Thomas & Allan in the wagon, plus Kerry, and me, six months pregnant, galavanting around the zoo.  We were a sight to see :-)

The wagon makes them  feel like big boys, and they behave better too :-)

Allan in the petting zoo with the rakes

Thomas in the petting zoo with HIS rake

'Hey mom, check out that tiger.'

Besides that, last weekend was just full of outside time and getting things done.  We're putting our house on the market in less than two (gasp!) weeks, so say a prayer for us.  We need more space in a major way.   So we're also trying to get the house ready for that.

Outside Deck Time

Runnin Man!

Working with tools with dad, "helping" him change the hardware on the cabinets :)

And I really don't love this pic.  I look awful in it, it's blurry, and I definitely look exhausted.  But it's a belly pic to some extent, so here it is.  In all my twenty six week glory.  I feel like a HOUSE.

We're headed to Mobile for a little Mardi Gras/Birthday celebration this weekend! 

Wordless Wednesday