Jack's School Party

The snowman cookies that I made for Jack's party.  The idea came from Pinterest.

Jack loved the Music & Movement time.  They were singing and moving to Christmas music  Mrs. Dana said that Jack loves to sing and his favorite is Frosty the Snowman.

Daddy and I were both able to sneak away from work for the party.

Jack was really sweet and followed directions so well.  I could tell how much he loves his friends and his teachers.



My favorite part was when they sang their prayer. Jack got a little camera shy and didn't do a lot of singing. The sweetest part was during the prayer...he closed his eyes, but had to peek just a little.



Jack's teachers, Mrs. Dana and Mrs. Kay...such sweet ladies. 



Just the Right One

The first weekend in December, we headed to Mountain High Christmas Tree Farm to find just the right tree.  It was a nice day, but very windy.  We scoured the farm for at least 45 minutes before we finally found just the right one.

"the right one"

The owner was nice enough to let Jack drive the gator.

Thanksgiving 2011

I know it's a little late, but here are just a couple of pictures from Thanksgiving.



Our little Indian on his way to Granna and Grandpa's house.







Christmas Pictures Sneak Peek

Jack had his Christmas mini-session with the talented Mandy Owens.  She always gives me a little sneak peek before she edits all of our pictures. When you see one of these on our Christmas card, just act surprised. :)

So much to thank Him for!

November has been a busy month, but I am oh so thankful to have a full week off from school.  Jack and I have been able to spend some great quality time together. This month has also been busy with "baby things".  I'm happy to announce that we finally picked out our little girl's name, Greenlee Elizabeth Sims.  We are anxious to meet her more and more each day. 

I went on November 11th, Veterans Day, for a dr.'s appt. and my 1-hour glucose screening.  We heard Greenlee's heartbeat (150 bpm) and I found out I gained ZERO pounds for the month. YIPEEE!!!! That brings my total weight gain for 26 weeks to 2lbs. I have really tried to be aware of my weight gain this time in hopes of having a smaller baby. I also passed my glucose test...I was ecstatic about this and terribly relieved. 

baby bump...27 weeks

We went for our 4d ultrasound today.  Greenlee didn't really want to cooperate, but we got a peek at her sweet face.  The consensus is that she is going to look like her big brother.  We can't wait for her to get here!

On this Thanksgiving eve, I am so thankful for the many blessings in my life.  Our Lord is the giver of life and all things precious.  He has been so good to me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

October

October was a month full of activity.  Jack had pajama day at school, I had a dr.'s appointment, and we celebrated Halloween.  At my 22 week appointment, I found out I had gained only 2 lbs. Wahoooo!  That brings my total weight gain for this pregnancy to 2 lbs.  I've been very happy, although, very shocked by this.  We heard the heartbeat again (153 bpm) and Andy saw and felt her move for the first time.  We've been squabbling over names...my pick- Ann Elizabeth, Andy's- Elisabeth, Both- Greenlee.  We're planning on settling on a name in the next few days, though Jack and I have already settled on Greenlee.  He says it in the sweetest way, Greenwee. :)  It makes my heart smile to hear him say it.  He's also been so excited about his baby "stister". 

A favorite past-time for the month was bubble baths.

After my dr.'s appt. we took Jack to Noccalula Falls to "drive" the train.

Heart-melting!

We're so proud of Aunt Maggee!  She ran her first marathon in St. Louis.  We were so sad we couldn't go, but we were cheering her on from home!

Pajama Day at school

Fall Festival at church

Jack's pumpkin- he placed the stickers :)

Halloween 2011

August and September

August and September came and left in a flash.  I entered my second trimester at the end of August, so I was feeling much better.  We spent the month adjusting to new routines of school and a new babysitter.

The first day of preschool. 
(Sporting an awesome, my-mom-can't-handle-getting-my-haircut hairstyle.)

   
My August dr.'s appointment I had lost 3 lbs.  I attribute this to the start of school coupled with morning sickness.  I started feeling little nudges at the end of August (around 15 weeks or so).I made it to my September appointment and only gained back the 3 lbs. I had lost.  We heard the heartbeat (138 bpm) and found out IT'S A GIRL!!! We were overjoyed at the news of a girl.  A major shopping spree ensued as soon as we left the dr.'s office. :)

Our little girl's profile.
17w 6d

I was generally feeling a lot better, but one major difference in this pregnancy is that I've had terrible headaches.  Thankfully, the dr. gave me something that seems to help when Tylenol won't.  Jack was really excited to have a baby stister.  That's what he wanted all along.

It Always Works Out

I don't know why I always get so stressed...human nature I suppose.  Everything always seems to work out, further proof my Heavenly Father is always many steps ahead of me and knows the plans he has for me.  Thankfully, he worked it out where Jack loves school (after a little nervousness in the beginning) and we have a wonderful, Godly woman who takes him home after school.  I have been so amazed at all the things Jack has learned in school.  He has learned the story of Zacchaeus, Noah, and Jonah.  He  has also come home saying several nursery rhymes; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, It's Raining, It's Pouring, Jack and Jill, Ring Around the Rosie, and Jack Be Nimble.  They have also studied the colors green, blue, red, orange, and brown.  He can sing his abc's (he calls them bay b c's).  Unfortunately, along with all the academic knowledge came the, "That's mine!, No!, He took it away!" We're still working through a lot of that.  I'm just so thankful that the Lord worked this out so we can enjoy this season of our life. 

Detours

It is my last evening of summer vacation.  I go back to school tomorrow.  I have an overwhelming amount of anxiety right now...I've actually been fighting it all weekend.  I love school and I'm excited to meet my new students.  My problem is leaving my sweet little boy everyday.  This summer has been so fun (even though I've felt rotten) and the time I've spent with Jack has been wonderful.  It hit me that this will be the last summer we'll have with just him.  That's a sad thought and a happy one. 
I thought I had Jack's daycare situation worked out.  It will be his first experience with a daycare.  He has always stayed with a sitter or my MIL.  I think he'll really enjoy being around other kids, but I'm not sure about him going from 7:00-3:30.  I wanted a 1/2 day program, for better transition, but the afternoon pick up is the problem.  My MIL isn't working right now, so we had our solution: Daycare 8-12, and Mawmaw 12-3:30...perfect, right?  I felt amazing peace about that solution.  Then my MIL goes on a great interview and may be going to work asap!  What???  I hope she gets the job, I'm just sad for my little guy.   His world is about to be turned upside down and that tears my heart out.  
I was on my way to work in my classroom and I saw a church sign that really spoke to me.  "Detours can turn into real blessings" Hmm, ok Lord, I get it.  Your plan is always more than I can imagine. 
Right now, I have no idea what we're gonna do...IN ONE WEEK!! Please pray that I can have peace and this isn't too hard on my baby.  My heart is here at home, but until that's possible I hope we find something that's a "real blessing".  *sniff*

Our Beach Trip

We took a vacation to Gulf Shores with some friends.  We learned last year that vacationing with and without children are two totally different things!!! We had fun although  I was plagued with morning/all day sickness.  Allison, who went with us, is also expecting and is due 3 days before me.  That is really fun for us, but we also felt BLAH!   Jack had fun and he loved the ocean.  He wanted to sit at the edge of the water and let the waves splash him.  The only problem is that sand gets into places that sand ought never to get. L  He also loved the dolphin cruise we took.  It was a little too long for him, but we managed to keep his attention until it was over.  I figure this will be our last vacation for a couple of years since we have a little one on the way.  I can’t even imagine what vacation with a toddler and newborn will be like…

Heat + wind = funny hair :)

He LOVED driving the boat.

VBS 2011

Will he be a lefty?  We're not sure yet.

Jack gave his plant to Granna since she had just had surgery.