Storytime Dress-Up

We love storytime at the Madison Library! It is called "Mother Goose on the Loose," a program with nursery rhymes, songs, and stories. And today the kids got to wear their costumes and parade through the library. It was sooo cute! It is amazing how much Mary Ella has grown and changed since we started going in January or February. She has always participated, but now it seems like she is one of the grown-up ones in the group. Miss Lizzy would be so proud of her today...I listened to her recite "Wee Willie Winkie" and "Humpty Dumpty" over and over on the monitor when she was SUPPOSED to be napping. Ha!

After storytime, I took ME to Brad's office and she did a little showing off and trick-or-treating. She was a ham of course! Then we had lunch at Jason's Deli with Daddy and Birch.

Cheese Minnie!

Don't you LOVE her costume? This is the sweet dress Aunt Nancy made for her birthday! All I did was order some Minnie ears from the Disney Store, get a pair of sparkly black shoes from Wal-Mart to match, and throw a tutu underneath for extra fluff! I think it's simple, yet adorable! Thanks, Aunt Nancy!

Rhett's Nursery

Come on in...

Thanks to Gigi and Papa for the crib and Mia for the bedding! I love the way it all came together! And thanks to Oma for the rug!

This little blue bunny is a paci holder! :)

We borrowed the rocker from Julie and Mike. Brad painted the chest and bedside table. Mia got the rocking horse to keep at her house for ME, but I stole it for Rhett's room. ;) Believe me, she is enjoying it here too!

Gigi got Rhett this frame in Madison at Simply Spaces. I added his name.

This is the canvas for his birth stats. We will hang it on the hospital door, and then it will hang here. Thanks to Papa for painting the Razorback gown. Love it! I did the lettering and trim.

Mia also had this dresser for a changing table. It is an antique!

Okay, I know you can't miss my big belly, but can you tell I have a new camera? I was planning on ordering one after I got some more money at Christmas. I was going to get one exactly like my friend, Rachel's, because I know she put lots of research into choosing the right one. And I'm too lazy and technologically clueless to do that. So, when she told me she was considering selling hers and upgrading to one that takes video, I was thrilled! It is only a year old, and plenty fancy enough for lil' ol' me. Haven't gotten passed the auto setting, but hopefully I'll have time to play with it before Rhett gets here. And now I can use Christmas money for a better lens. I think the difference will be huge!

This built-in was already in the room, and it's why we chose to mix white and dark furniture. I don't know what is up with the shadows...apparently I cast a large one!

I made or re-used all of the frames. Actually, I already had quite a few things I used in his room...furniture, a lamp, baskets, pillows, books, toys. We did have to order curtains from PBKids.

Found this cute lamp at Tarjay...love the burlap shade!

I painted this canvas like the one in Mary Ella's room that my friend, Ann Elise, did. Mine is a sad copycat version of hers, but I still thought it turned out cute.

Into the bathroom...

Didn't change anything. His closet is inside to the left.

I monogrammed and rigged a swatch from his bedding for a button on this pillow I already had.

Rhett's bag is packed!

ME enjoying a late night ride in her princess gown.

Like father, like daughter

And here are some new pics of ME's big girl room...can't leave her out!

So blessed to have 2 babies to live and love in these rooms!

Busy Weekend

We had a busy weekend! Saturday morning we joined Team SuperJack for the Walk to Cure Juvenile Diabetes. Well, I chose not to partake in the 3 mile walk, but we were there to show our support and love for Jack anyway! And, boy, is he brave! I have seen him take his shots and finger pricks like a champ! I always tell him that he is much braver than I am!

We didn't have time to eat breakfast at home, so we made a Chick-fil-A stop on the way.

Mary Ella actually took part in the walk (from Emma's wagon). Shelley grabbed her up, threw her in, and they took off. I'm glad I wasn't the poor soul pulling this wagon over 3 miles of gravel trails. But ME sure had a blast!

I don't really know that Jack knew what to think about all the attention on his big day, but I bet he'll be ready for it next year!

We love SuperJack!

After the walk we went home for lunch and the Ole Miss game. The first half wasn't pretty, and I was beginning to think Bobby might need a place to stay the night in Mississippi. He sure couldn't go back to Arkansas after losing to Houston Nutt, but I guess he straightened the boys out at halftime and we came out with the "W."

Sunday was friends and family day at church, so I made cupcakes and baked beans for the meal afterward. We didn't stay for the fellowship because we had family of our own coming to town. Jeff and Diana came to see us, and brought Rhett this beautiful handmade sweater from England! They are traveling the Natchez Trace from Natchez to Nashville and will hopefully stop back by on their way home. We took them to a yummy brunch at Char of course! And below is a video of ME calling the Hogs! Gotta love our Arkansas girl!

For SuperJack

Team SuperJack!

One Step Closer to a Cure
Walk to Cure Diabetes

Picnic at the Park

Today we met Daddy for lunch at the park and played too of course! It is chilly here! Fall is definitely in the air, but it looks like we will be back in the 80's next week. I am thankful for that because I don't have and don't plan on buying any fall maternity clothes. I am just stretching whatever I can over this belly until the end! Ha!




This one is red because she was in a red tunnel. I was just laughing at her running around in that outfit today! I'm glad her sock monkey hat still fits...it's hilarious!

Third Trimester

28 Weeks

32 Weeks

36 Weeks

Okay, so I know my third trimester is not over, and I probably wasn't right on my week count for the second trimester. But the truth is I haven't opened a pregnancy book this time, and with Mary Ella I think I read 4 and kept a pregnancy journal. Poor Rhett is already disadvantaged. ;) I just wanted to go ahead and post a few things I want to remember about this pregnancy, and let's face it, if I wait any closer to the end it probably won't be anything positive. Ha! I'll try to remember to wrap it up with a photo before we go to the hospital...if I remember.

• I have basically felt great the whole time! No morning sickness, no heartburn, just tiiiiirrrreeeddd by the end of the day.
• I am at the exact same weight I was with Mary Ella at this point, which means I've gained 5 less pounds with Rhett than I did with her because I started out 5 pounds heavier. Weight gain so far: 15 pounds...that really seems crazy to me because I've felt bigger all along this time!
• Rhett became active early and has stayed that way! Sometimes it feels like he is pushing out with all limbs with all his might! I can tell now when he has hiccups. So sweet!
• I did my best exercising during my 2nd trimester, which was the same as my first pregnancy. This time I did yoga and water aerobics, but now I'm too tired. Taking care of big sister is my exercise!
  
• I also ate healthier with Mary Ella. I haven't really craved anything terrible with Rhett, I have just been a pig the whole time. I eat when I'm hungry and eat whatever sounds good.
• I have been on a spicy kick the whole pregnancy: cherry peppers, Tabasco, salsa, spice it up!
• I feel so unprepared for his arrival, and I would probably freak out if I went into labor early. But the truth is, we're way ahead of where we were last time at this point. We were still living in our apartment in Little Rock and had only been in our house 10 days when ME came on the scene. I need to convince myself I'm ready!
• I'm starting to get uncomfortable. When I say I'm tired Brad says, "Why don't you go lay down?" He doesn't understand that it's not comfortable to lay down or sit down or stand up. I don't know how many more good nights of sleep I have left. It hurts so bad to turn over in bed. It feels like my belly is a big hard ball and if I move I'm going to pull a muscle. Needless to say I'm feeling the stress in my back, hips, and groin. Ouch!
• I have somehow skipped the sciatica pain that I had go down my legs during my last pregnancy. I have a few twinges of something, but I'm thankful it's not much. I don't like that feeling!
• My hair has been terrible! It is so dry, and I don't know why. Normally you have great hair during pregnancy because of the prenatal vitamins, right? I have always had to wash my hair every day because it gets oily so fast. But now I can go 2-3 days it is so dry. Not that I should, but if I'm just going to be around the house sometimes I don't wash it just to save it from being blown dry and straightened again. I fear it may all break or fall out when Rhett gets here...that's usually when the bad hair happens. My skin has been dry too! I had rosy red cheeks for about a week after a brief temperature change. It hurt like wind burn, but I guess it was just dry skin. Crazy!
  
• I have LOVED seeing Mary Ella grow and learn more about her brother. She still calls her girl baby dolls "baby Rhett" and takes such good care of them. I love to see her kiss and hug and pat them and can only imagine how my heart will melt when it's him. She kisses and hugs my tummy, brings him toys and snacks, covers him with a blanket, and randomly says, "I want to see baby Rhett." I wasn't sure what she would think about his crib and his room, but I think she gets that it's all his and not hers. She plays with his toys (her baby toys), but she is quick to tell you that "baby Rhett will play with that." And she doesn't have a problem putting them back in his room. She loves riding his rocking horse, and when I ask whose horse it is she says, "It's baby Rhett's." Surely this is a good sign! I think she is going to do great and love him to death! I also know he is going to think she is the best thing ever! We can't wait to see you sweet Rhett! I would do it all again and go through anything to get you here safe and sound. Stay put and grow for a few more weeks, and we will see you soon!