Mandy's Baby Shower

I was so excited this past weekend to help host my friend Mandy's Baby Shower.  We had a brunch at Greystone and it was really nice.  Reynolds got lots of pink goodies and I had fun visiting with my friends. 

Lots of Pink!!

 Sweet Friends

 The Pregnant Girls

Elizabeth (due Monday with #2) Me (due in July with #3)

Mandy (due in April with #1) and Andi (due in May with #1)

 

Such a fun morning and Andi's shower is our next big event!

It's a....

BOY!

On Monday, Jan. 30th, we had an ultrasound scheduled to check on the placenta placement (I have previa for those interested).  I said 1st thing - can you please look at the baby and see if you can tell the gender.  She did her stuff she needed to check for and then proceeded on to the heart and the heart rate was 137.  Now none of my babies have ever been that low so I immediately started thinking is this a boy.  She then started looking for gender...she said it may be a boy and circled something with a big question mark.  Alan and I both were like we don't see anything.  She said I'm really not sure but it may be a boy.  I can't tell for sure.  She did some other measurements and then came back to look again for a better shot.  We're pretty sure we got it and it's looking like a boy.  She did give us the disclaimer that the cord was also down between the legs, but the 2nd look definately looked like a boy to me.  She said she was 85% sure so that was good enough for us to at least share with family and friends.  We'll go back in early March and get another look to be sure, but for now we're thinking blue, boy names, room changes, etc...

I have to say, I was a little shocked as I really thought it was another girl.  My symptoms have been much like the girls so I just assumed it was another girl.  My nausea has yet to makes its grand exit and it may do so at anytime.  It took a day or two for it to really sink in that we're having a boy, but what fun it will be!

Happy 2012!

2012 is here and Oh, are we excited for this new year!  We shared with the girls on Christmas Eve that they would be getting a new baby brother or sister in July.   They are so so excited!  Our estimated due date is July 15th, but will be another c-section so we'll be looking at early July (or earlier if this one comes at 37 weeks like Mallary).  The nausea and sickness is here like the girls and the heartbeat has been 171, 166 and 153  and high just like the girls.  It is either the tell-tell sign another baby girl is on the way or just how I am pregnant.  We shall know in a few weeks!  Gracie already talks to the baby and asks sweet questions about how big is the baby, can it hear us, can we talk to it (she uses the female pronouns, but wants a boy).  Mallary is excited and wants to know every day if today is the day we are getting the baby.  She also asks can she hold the baby and can she stand up and hold the baby - ha!  She wants a sister! 

So keep up with our progress.  2012 is sure to be another great year!

Christmas at Meme and Chief's

After we got ready for the day it was time to pack up and head south to Birmingham to start celebrating all over again.

 MeMe and Chief's tree Santa came here too!

 family pic

 All 4 cousins sitting nicely!  They wanted to open presents!

Mallary and her pile

 Gracie and her pile

 Julie's best friend Ivy!!  Her favorite present of the day!

 a new CD player - we've been rockin out to Kidz Bop and Justin Beiber!

 Ava getting her turn - she napped through the 1st round!

 Mallary and Mallary in their matching jammies!

Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning was finally here and Santa came!!  Alan woke us all up at 7:15 to see what Santa had brought us all.  The girls were so excited and loved opening their presents.  Santa brought all the surprises they had requested! 

After Santa left all his surprises!

Stockings first

Hello Kitty treats for Gracie

 and Princess treats for Mallary

Some Highlights from Christmas Morning...

Monster High Doll

 Salon Chair for Julie

 Princess Celestia

 A big one! 

Her new Bitty Baby (which she named Mallary!)

 Her Crayon Maker!!!!!

 Zookeeper Movie!

 Giant Paper Dolls!

It was a fun morning.

Christmas Eve

Every year we make our cut out cookies for Santa and decorate them on Christmas Eve.  It's so much fun.  Mallary really got into the decorating this year and Gracie was very into decorating hers accurately.  And Mommy gets to make some too!

Later that day we get ready for church and enjoy the Christmas Eve Service.  The girls love getting to hold their own candle and sing Christmas songs.

We come home and enjoy dinner.  This year we had a little surprise for the girls during dinner, but more on that later.  Then we get in our jammies, read Twas the night before Christmas,  put our reindeer food and cookies and get ready for bed.

 Time for Santa to come visit our house!!

Gracie's Christmas Celebration

Gracie's class had a fun Christmas celebration.  We started off making gingerbread houses together as a family.  The girls worked really well together and had a lot of fun.  Next - the kindergartners gathered around Mrs. Lindsay and a special Happy Birthday Jesus cake {made by yours truly} The whole cake had 3 different colored layers, white icing, a yellow star and red heart border to represent special things.  Mrs. Lindsay read all the meanings to the children and then they each got candles to sing this little light of mine and Happy Birthday.  They loved it.  After some cake it was time for the gift exchange.  They played musical chairs and when they got out they got to get a gift.  Gracie has a big "fear of the unknown" and always chooses her own gift in these situations.  No surprise, but she is always happy!  Ha!  After all the fun she surprised me with a special ornament that she made - It was so cute!  I loved it!  What a fun morning we had together.