16 weeks

Between anniversaries, birthday parties, and a little girl almost turning 4, I totally forgot I turned 16 weeks today, hence looking ever so sloppy.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along: 16 weeks

Size of baby: 4 1/2 inches long and weighs around 3 1/2 ounces - the size of an avocado. Baby is supposed to double in size this week.

Total weight gain: 3 pounds

Maternity clothes: Not wearing any yet, but I did look through all that I have the other day. I should be pretty set for this winter since I just wore maternity clothes two winters ago :)

Gender: ?

Movement: YES! Finally!

Sleep: Sleeping pretty good.

Symptoms: Exhausted and still having crazy, CRAZY dreams. I actually kinda like having them; never a dull night :)

What I miss: Mt. Dew and lately I've really been missing my dinnertime cocktail.

Cravings: Arby's curly fries!!!

Best moment of the week: Feeling the baby kick, of course! It was Friday, Reese and I had just scrubbed the bathroom, washed the windows, and dusted, and we finally took a break, and that instant of briefly sitting still, there it was - that little flicker inside my belly. Amazing!

What I'm looking forward to: Reese's 4th birthday tomorrow! I've also started looking forward to my big bowl of ice cream I have every single night once the kids are in bed. I think it tastes that much better because I'm eating in peace and quiet.

A party fit for a princess

Our little princess doesn't officially turn 4 until Tuesday, however we decided to do some early celebrating since, you know, turning 4 is a big deal. Per Reese's request, we had a princess party.



Castle and all! Thanks to Adam, who works for my dad, for helping trim and cut the cardboard, to Reese for helping paint, and to Chet and my dad for taping it together.



It was a bit windy the day of the party, which means at our house, it's really windy, so we kept the castle in the garage, and put the kids' table inside it. Worked out perfect.

While waiting for guests to arrive, the kids stayed busy decorating treasure boxes.



They all seemed to really enjoy this. I loved seeing their creations.



The treasure box decorating kept the kids busy so I could get all the food set out for lunch.



I really loved how Reese's table turned out.....my favorite part!



And I was so pleased with how the cake turned out.....and so thankful I didn't try to make it!



Reese did a great job mingling with her guests.


(Molly (Aunt Cheyna's roommate), Aunt Cheyna, Reese, and Aunt Casyn)


(Reese and Carter)


(Reanna, Reese, Carter, and Carter)


(Baby Karlie)


(Mallorie and Reese - they seem to always find their way into Reese's room for make-up time, always!)


(Reese and Carter)

Finally, lunch time!



Then the craziness of opening presents.



Opening presents wasn't our only entertainment!


(Maddox wrapped in Reese's bug net wearing a tutu!)

Then it was time for cake!





We really want to thank all of Reese's friends and family who took time to help her celebrate. She had a great party! She's very blessed.

To my man

Our day was all we dreamed it would be.



But our life together has been much, much more.



Thank you for loving me. Thank you for the two and a half most beautiful and precious blessings. Thank you for the man you are.

Happy 5 years!



I love and appreciate you more than you will ever know.

18 months, wow!

In some ways yes, it's hard to believe our little man is a year and a half already. But at the same time, it's like he's always been part of our family. One thing I do know is that our family would not be the same without him.

I won't have year and a half stats until next week (our appt was cancelled yesterday).

Here's a little of what he's up to at 18 months old:

• Like most boys, he's on the go ALL. THE. TIME.
• I made a joke the other day to Chet that there's no doubt Cru is part of our family because he is one dancin' fool like the rest of us.

• Brushing all 16 of his teeth is probably one of his favorite things to do. Basically, you can't say the word teeth out loud without him saying teeth and running to the bathroom.

• He's still a very picky eater. If we don't have pizza, spaghetti, mac & cheese, or McDonald's for supper, he won't eat it. The foods he eats the most are yogurt, bananas, applesauce, chips, crackers, jelly sandwiches, pretty much anything made with hamburger, broccoli, pickles, and anything sweet.
• He throws a ball right handed, but bats and hits a golf ball left handed.
• He loves shoes! Doesn't matter whose, if there's a pair laying around, he's got them on.

• He's been going to bed no later than 8:30, and I usually don't hear a peep from him until 8 am (sometimes earlier, sometimes later).
• He loves to be outside. And loves the dirt!
• He says hi to anyone and everyone.
• Most of the time, you can find him like this - hat on, sucker in mouth, and burp rags in hand.

• His vocabulary has greatly developed just in the past month: Daddy, Mommy, Sissy, hi, bye-bye, Grandpa, Granny (nany), spoon, water (wah), teeth, please, cheese, shoes, bubbles, Coy, Cooty, Cru (Coo), owie (a favorite), cookie (said all day long), baby, cracker, eyes, stairs (usually says "go stairs"), go, chair, oh man, poopie (he says ever since poop overflowed out his diaper onto his changing pad), got it, excuse me, and basically whatever else you ask him to say.

• He knows where his nose and ears are. We're still working on eyes.
• He's a little slow on the animal sounds. At one point, everything barked, then quacked, then mooed. Now he basically just knows what a monkey says.
• He melts my heart every single day.
• He loves his Sissy more than anything, and thinks she's so funny, which also melts my heart.
• He's our little man, our Cruy, our Bubba, our Cru-Jo, our Cru-dog, our Cru-Cru.....most of all he's ours!

Happy 18 months, Cru! We love you!

No more toys

I've been warning her - if she doesn't learn to pick up the toys in her room, they'd be gone!

The other night, I'd had enough!



So, they're gone.



I know, mean mommy. She told me I wasn't even invited to her birthday party any more. When she's ready to listen and pick up, we'll bring a few back.

15 weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:

How far along: 15 weeks

Size of baby: around 4 inches - size of an apple

Total weight gain: 3 pounds

Maternity clothes: no

Gender: ? Any guesses? Cast your vote on my sidebar!

Movement: Still haven't felt anything yet (I felt Cru move by now). Hopefully soon!

Sleep: Sleeping pretty good.

Symptoms: Nausea just seems to be lingering a little longer than I'd like. Sometimes I feel so tired I could fall asleep standing up.

What I miss: Mt. Dew

Cravings: Nothing really

Best moment of the week: Trying new recipes and Chet loving them!

What I'm looking forward to: Chet and I celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary and Reese's 4th birthday party.

Park fun

The day before Reese's first day of pre-school, I wanted to do something fun and since the weather was too gorgeous to be inside, we packed up sandwiches and cheetos and headed to the park for a picnic.....and of course, swinging and feeding the ducks.

'Nuff said, take a peek.