Snow?

So, it snowed for about 5 minutes one day so we had to get out and play in it!  Too bad you can't really see the snow in the pictures!  The boys were cold so it was short-lived.

Screening, Testing, and Bribery, Oh, my!

We had a BIG day on Thursday. Both boys were screened/tested for their new schools for next year.  I had to take off the whole day to make sure we could make it everywhere we had to be.  I was glad to do it because I just had the best day with my angels.

We got to sleep in and didn't even have to leave the house until 8:15 am!  It was fabulous!  Out first stop was Bennett's school where we had Henry's K-3 screening.  It is totally overwhelming to me that Henry is going to be ready to go to pre-school next year.  He is still such a baby in our eyes.  Maybe it's because we baby him.  I don't know...he is so young!  Anyway, Mrs. Titus came to get him and asked "do you want to go see some dinosaurs, trucks, and cars?"  He said "yes!"  He went right with her and came back about 2 minutes later.

She said he did great and said "hello" and good-bye" to all the classes.  We will be waiting to hear his results in a couple weeks.

Sweet baby!

I dropped Henry off at school and then headed to my much needed hair appointment.  It is nice to squeeze everything in one day.  After my appointment, we had Bennett's magnet school testing.  This is something we have to do in our city to try to get our kids into good schools.  It is a crazy process that makes me sad because the kids literally have to go "prove" themselves.  We do what we have to do, right?  So that's what we did.  We've been counting down the months, weeks, and days until this day.  It is huge relief that it is over!  I've decided that God is going to put Bennett wherever is best for him so I just can't worry.

My boy was so big and ready to tell how smart he is!

He wanted to do some silly face pics before he went in!

After the test I said "I'm so proud of you!"  "You did a great job!"  He said "we didn't do scientist and I forgot my address!"  But, he seemed very confident so we are proud.  I said we could go to any place he wanted to go and he chose Chuck E Cheese and Bass Pro.  We headed right over the bridge!

This boys LOVES playing video games!

We went to Bass Pro and he wanted to look at everything in that store.  He was petting this raccoon and said "look how cute, Mommy!"

Our day was full of fun and smarts!  I am proud of my boys for enduring the nonsense that is magnet testing.  We will find out the results in 3 months!

Dallas Market with Lemons and Limes

Becky and I traveled to Dallas for a market day.  We are loving buying things for Lemons and Limes Boutique!  We took Amy and her boyfriend's cousin, Mary Ellen with us for some extra opinions.  Thanks for going with us, girls!

We left after I got out of school and were so tired that we just stayed in the hotel and ate there.  I was sad to not meet up with Leslie and Leone, but Mama needed some sleep!

We had the best idea ever to wake up early and get our hair blown out at the Dry Bar.  Greatest idea ever!  It was so nice not having to wash, dry, and straighten this hair.  We decided we won't be doing our hair in Dallas again.

Our "Before" picture 

We are loving this!

Leone and Leslie came by to visit us and I was so glad.  It was good to see them even if just for a minute!

Our "After" pics!  I felt like my hair was a little too "done."  I felt fancy though.  Becky looked fab!

Mary Ellen, Rebecca, me, and Amy after a looooooong day at market.

Here are a few "sneak peeks" of what we ordered!

27 weeks with Baby #3!

Thanks for taking the picture, Bennett.  27 weeks 1 day

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 27 Weeks 

Size of baby: head of cauliflower (from Babycenter)  Bennett likes to know what type of fruit or veggie the baby is the size of

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I didn't ask because I didn't want to know!

Maternity Clothes: Mostly maternity...I am running low on tops so I re-wear the same few things over and over

 Gender: We aren't finding out!  It is sort of fun not knowing.  We are trying to come up with a creative way to tell people what we are having.  Our girl name is Sarah Kathryn and our boy name is TBD.  We've been throwing names around like crazy: Jameson, August (Neil likes this...but I said no months or seasons for names), and he mentioned Emerson today.

Movement: kicking and moving all the time.  Lots in the early morning and evening. 

Sleep: I sleep really well except for my every 1-2 hour bathroom breaks 

What I miss: pain-free living due to tail bone issues

Cravings: I have been loving cold fruit, salads, sweet tea, and CUTIES (I ate 5 in one sitting on Saturday.

 Symptoms:  Placenta Previa...my placenta moved!  We found out last week!  We are so thrilled by this news!  I've been out of breath, dizzy, and having some heart palpitations.  It was scary!  I called the dr. and she sent me to the cardiologist.  Thank goodness for MLK day because I had an appt. at 8:45 to meet with the doctor.  I had an echo at 2:30 and they sent me home wearing a heart monitor for 24 hours.  Yes, I had cords hanging out of my shirt.  Of course, I didn't have any "episodes" during the monitoring, so we shall see.  I felt pretty dumb at the doctor because I think it's just one of those fluke pregnancy things.  Here is a picture of the monitor:

I was glad to get rid of it at 3:22 pm!

Best Moment this week: feeling constant movement and knowing that our baby is healthy.

27 weeks with Henry

Mama is 32.

Well the time has come for me to turn 32.  I have to say I don't like the number, but all the blessings I have now are more than they ever were at 22!  I had a great day and felt very special all day long.

Neil got up and made pancakes for the boys and me.  What a great breakfast to start my day!

I got home one day during my birthday week and Rebecca had left a special surprise on our table!  Buttercups Birthday Cake cupcakes and a fun hair book.  I love fancy hair, but I just don't know how to do it!

I was super thrilled when a student walked in to my classroom with flowers for me!  Leslie sent them to me and I felt so special!  

If that wasn't enough, Neil brought me lunch and a cute little plant to school for my 22 minute break that day.  The bell rang and I had to kick him out as I got ready for my next class.  Thanks, Honey!

Sister Emily Douglas sent me this sweet picture of a beach trip we took in college.  Man, we looked good.  Well I am the only one who doesn't look the same...everyone else still looks fabulous!  I loved seeing this picture...memories!

We ate at Abby Singer's for my birthday dinner so I could make it to Bible study.  It was a fun, quick dinner.

 I felt soooooooooooooooo special the entire day!  I love birthdays!

Mom and Dad each sent me an Edible Arrangement

Becky got me the most gorgeous and delicious cake for my birthday. 

 We did call-ahead seating at Outback and apparently they don't understand what that means.  We waited with 2 kids for 30 minutes and then spent 2 hours eating.  I was so worried that everyone was annoyed the whole time.  The boys did a great job! No fits and they stayed in their seats the whole time!

Andrew showed up with gifts from Japan!  Bennett loved his helmet.  And watching movies on Nana's phone.

Henry and Gammy

Me and my cake

our attempt at a family photo

Thanks to Dad, Carolyn, Rebecca, Amy, Bennett, Janine, Richard, Andrew, Mom, Henry, Daniel, and Neil for making my birthday so special!

Daddy is HOME!

We were so glad when Neil walked in on Monday evening!  We already had dinner ready for him.  We couldn't wait!

I caught this special moment on camera right has they were kissing!  So sweet!

The boys were so happy that Neil was going to take them to school.  I had to snap a pic.  H doesn't look happy, but I assure you he is!  

Neil totally rocks as a husband and father!  So glad you are home, Neil!

I just realized I am sounding like a total whiny baby about my husband working out of town.  It is just something we have never experienced and it is not something I want to get used to.  Good thing I am starting a new Bible study called "Jonah: Life Interrupted!"  Maybe I will gain some insight!

Waiting for Daddy

Neil has worked out of town for about 3 weeks on and off..more on than off.  We have missed him terribly! It's just not the same without him.  We just don't like to be away from each other.  We are glad to have FaceTime so we can see Daddy in the evenings.  

Thankfully, my mom has been here helping us every step of the way.  I could not have kept my head above water without her.  She has cooked, bathed, played, cleaned, washed laundry, and just been Gammy for a week!  I am so thankful!  Thanks, Mom!  I am embarrassed that I have no pictures of our week.

The night before Neil came home, my mom got a deserved break!  Neil's parents came in to see us.  The boys were so excited since it had been a couple weeks since they had seen them.  We went to Outback for dinner and then they took the boys to school for me the next morning.  Such a relief!  Thanks, Nana and Granddad!  Also, no pictures. :(

The only pictures I do have from the week without Daddy are of my dad playing horsey with the boys.  We always loved this as kids and my boys do too!

It is so nice to have such a wonderful support system around us.  Our families help out when we need them and it is truly a blessing.

Date Night!

Since Neil had to work out of town the week before Christmas and for 8 days beginning the day after Christmas, we decided to have special date night.  It was so hard to not have Neil at home for 8 days.  We missed him terribly!  When Neil told me to get a sitter and reservations at The Mabry House I had it all scheduled in about 5 minutes!  He called me the next day to let me know that we would have to move the reservation up due to the Saints playoff game.  Done and done.  Lots of people at the restaurant did the same as us!  

Before dinner, I had a little "me time" so Neil could see the boys.  I had a facial and it was so relaxing!

Here we are at the Mabry House...already booked our Valentine's Day meal!

We really just wanted to go home to watch the game, but didn't feel like it was worth our sitter's time for us to only be gone 2 hours.  We headed to Zocolo and ran into Jenny and her date.  They asked us to join them so we did.  Amy and Daniel met us up there too!  It turned out to be tons of fun!

Todd and Jenny

Neil's duck face and me

Love Birds on their 8 month anniversary!