4th Grade!!

Hot of the camera this morning!! I told Emma people would be checking this morning for a 4th grade picture and here you go!!!

She picked a PEACE shirt to wear this morning...I know you are all surprised!! School bells are ringing again. I can't believe that summer is over. It seems like we just got started in so many ways, but then again in other ways, it seemed like the new school year was never going to get here. Emma was so excited this morning. Actually, she has been excited ever since she went to the school Monday night to meet the teacher and discovered that her best friend was in her class for the 3rd year in a row (I did ask the teacher to not sit them beside each other). She also has another friend in her class that lives across the street. I am feeling really good about Emma's teacher this year. She is new to North Carolina. She just moved here from PA, and she seems so excited and eager to get started, and has really made a good first impression on me. She has been teaching for 14 years. She seems to have some really good ideas for the kids and how to make learning fun. I am excited to see what this school year brings. Emma is really excited about getting started and I hope that her excitement can continue on through out the school year. I can't believe that Emma is starting 4th grade. It doesn't seem right. I remember 4th grade, and I can't believe I have a child that age. She is the sweetest thing and I can't wait to see what kind of things we will be learning about this year. GOOD LUCK EMMA!! I know this is going to be a wonderful year for you, and you are going to learn tons!! We love you so much and are so excited for your new school year!!

Stay tuned... Leah meets her teacher tomorrow and starts Kindergarten on Sept. 3rd. I will post pictures of her as soon as it gets here (as long as I am not in the hospital or something like that!!)

Preggo Picture!!

Here is a picture of all my girls. Emma and Leah look too sweet. The one in the middle should make her arrival anytime. I am so excited to meet her. Emma and Leah are very excited too! She is going to turn this house upside down, but I am so looking forward to it. I am 2 1/2 weeks away from my due date, and I am counting down the days! We have her room all ready, and bags are packed. Can't wait to meet you Sara Beth.

Missouri Trip

Here are some highlights of the trip to Missouri:

This is a picture of us outside of the St. Louis Arch. I really wanted to go up in it, but didn't, we had just gotten off the plane and I wasn't feeling all that great. The girls went up with Todd and Aunt Katie, they thought it was great. This was just one of the many things we did while visiting Aunt Katie and Uncle Nick.

One of Todd's highlights of the trip was to get to check this out. I have to say that I wasn't even the slightest bit interested in stopping at this place, but once we got there, I have to admit it was pretty crazy. The tires on this thing are 10 ft tall. I don't even begin to understand how you would drive this thing (or want to). It is massive. After getting the men calmed down. ha,ha!! We took the kids to a place called the magic house. It is a children's museum. They had a great time exploring everything. There was some really neat musical things for them to do which I really enjoyed. They got to touch one of those static balls and see their hair go crazy. It doesn't take much for Leah's, it is crazy all the time anyway!!

We also went to the St. Louis Zoo. It was great. It rained some off and on but that was a blessing to me. It cooled things off a bit. We went into a butterfly house at the Zoo. It was really neat. Leah was wearing this pink hat and I think the butterflies liked it. One landed right on her head.

Then Emma was really wanting the same to happen to her. Leah took off her hat and let Emma wear it for a while, and the most beautiful Blue Morpho Butterfly landed on Emma's head. She was beyond excited. She actually did a project on this type of butterfly in 1st grade. It was perfect and so was this shot I got of her checking it out!! You can't tell from the picture but the inside of this butterfly would take your breath away it is so beautiful.

And my favorite part of the trip was just getting to spend time with Uncle Nick and Aunt Katie. I sure wish that we could live closer and spend more time together. The girls have a special place in their heart for their Uncle Nick, and he is so patient with them and actually gets down on the floor and plays with them if that is what they want to do. They played board games, and card games, and just had a great time. I know they are very happy in MO, but we would be happy if they moved alot closer to us. Selfish I know!! I guess it makes the time we do have together even more special. We love you Nick and Katie. We can't wait to do it again.

Latest Funny!!

Emma is coming down the stairs and Leah is following behind her:
Leah: Why are you telling on me?
Emma: Because you are ignoring me.
Leah: I am not ignoring you, I am praying to God, because I am about to loose my patience!!
Emma: Mama, Leah is ignoring me!!
Mama: And praying to God, what is going on up there??
Leah: (flopping down in the recliner, just like she was at her limit) I am praying to God, because I am about to loose my mind (with her hands up over her face)!!!
I thought Todd and I would die laughing. Welcome to my world. I sometimes feel like I am loosing my mind as well.

Sweet Cheeks!!

Here is the latest update on Sara Beth. We had the ultrasound today and everything looks great. The baby is measuring right on time. The reason for me measuring ahead is because I have a lot of fluid. A generous amount is the way she put it!! She said that some people have more than others and that there is nothing to be worried about. Sara Beth is weighing in at 5 lbs 5 oz. It is crazy that they can figure that out!! Sara Beth is looking straight at you in this picture. I think she is the cutest 5 pound baby I have ever seen!! You should be able to make out 2 eyes, a nose, the mouth, big cheeks, and a chin. She is so cute I can't stand it!! We also verified the girl parts again. She said there was no doubt that she is a girl. Good thing! I don't want to re-decorate. Well, that is the update. Hope everyone is doing well. We are off to Missouri in the morning. Now that we have had the ultrasound, my mind is at ease about the trip. Can't wait to see Aunt Katie & Uncle Nick!! We (the kids) are now counting down hours instead of wake-ups!!

Dr. Appointment Update!!

Today I went for a routine check up at the Dr. I had several questions today. Usually I don't really have any. Today I wanted to find out if the baby was still breech. She said she thought that she was not, but once they start checking my cervix, they can tell better. This was good news to me!! I also wanted to see if I was still measuring ahead, and I was. The Dr. said she isn't too concerned but they have ordered an ultrasound in 2 weeks to measure the baby and see how big she is. I am pretty excited to get a little sneak peek at little (or big) Sara Beth. I am also excited to confirm once again that this baby does have girl parts!! I am nervous each and every time that I have been pregnant and bought all this "girl" stuff that they may have made a mistake. I don't want to undo everything that has already been prepared for little Sara Beth. So it will be nice to see if we can confirm one more time!! Although her room is pretty ready. No boy would want to be caught in there!!
Emma was really excited to get a good listen at the heart beat. Last time she didn't get to hear it very good, the baby was moving around to much. They even let her hold the little device they use and turn it off and on. She was tickled about it!! She said it sounded like a washing machine. Kayla is visiting us today, and I managed to get them to let all of us back to get a listen. I couldn't tell if Kayla was too impressed (she is 13 years old) but I thought it was kinda special that she got to hear the baby's heart beat!! It is old stuff to Leah, she has heard it several times now. She has been going with me all along while Emma has been in school. It doesn't get old to me. I love hearing it. Makes me get excited everytime.
I also need needed to pick up a copy of my records. We are going on a trip to Missouri to see UNCLE NICK & AUNT KATIE!! WAHOO!!! I can't believe it is actually going to finally work out. We have been trying to go since last spring break. Something keeps coming up. Anyway, we are on our way on July 28th and coming back on Aug. 4th. The Dr. cleared me to go, and said everything looked good. Just to be on the safe side to take my records in case something happens.
Well, I guess that is all for my update. Hope everyone is doing well, we are hanging in there trying to stay cool!! Sorry if I rambled on and on with this post!!

30 Weeks Pregnant & Other Stuff!!

I have made it to 30 weeks!! I can't believe I only have 10 weeks to go. I am getting pretty ready to do this thing. This weather is unbelievable. I don't think it was this hot this early when I was pregnant with Emma or Leah, and they were both born in September. It has been HOT!! I have a hard time cooling off even in my air conditioned house!! I have enjoyed the girls being out of school, and being able to do things with them this summer. Next summer it will be a whole different story!! Updates on the baby: The doctor thinks the baby is breech, but she told me not to worry, the baby still has plenty of time to turn. Also I am measuring 2 centimeters ahead. Looks like I may have a bigger baby this time. Both Emma and Leah were right at 8 lbs. Time will tell!! Todd is out of town for 2 weeks, and then we will be in crunch time trying to get everything done. Todd has been really busy getting the painting done. The girls have been moved into the bonus room and are really excited. They are in their new bunk beds and are really enjoying them (Thanks Granddaddy and Grandma Tee, and thank you Kenneth for out growing them!!)All of the walls in their room are pink except one. We (Todd) painted one wall green and blue for a hill and sky. I am going to paint some flowers on the wall with the hill, and I have some paintings that I painted on canvas that match their bedding that I am going to hang on the wall, just have to put a couple of finishing touches on them. Things are coming together, but we still have some work to do. Here are a few pictures from there new room!! They are tickled pink, ha, ha!!!As Todd was finishing up painting Emma and Leah's room, I asked him if he would like to take a break from painting or would he like to go ahead and paint Sara Beth's room. Quickly he said, "Go and get the paint, let's get this done." I had the paint waiting on him when he got home the next day. He doesn't enjoy painting to much, although he does a great job. I am so blessed that I have a wonderful husband that will do things around here that I like to have done!! He is a hard worker and I couldn't ask for a better husband!! Here is a picture of what Sara Beth's walls look like. I don't have everything in there yet, like Emma and Leah's room, we still have some work to do in there. I will update soon with some more pictures, once everything is more together. Look in the box and you will see a sneak peek at what the bedding looks like. It is called Love Birds. It is very sweet and I can't wait to get my crib set up and the bedding in there. Also in the works is the curtain. I picked out the fabric this weekend, and can't wait to get it made and hung up!! I also ordered a very sweet vinyl cling to put on the wall with Sara Beth's name on it. I am eagerly waiting for this to arrive in the mail. Things are coming together nicely. This is such an exciting time, and the baby will be in her room before we know it, which makes it even more exciting!!