The Window Seat Surprise

Here's a link to what Stephen is doing in San Diego. I don't think it is possible for him to not be having fun!

Just yesterday Vicki Williams reminded me I should have my kids use scissors so they have cutting mastered by around 1st grade. Abby always asks to cut things. Today, I gave Abby her special pair of green scissors and asked her to cut out the Publix dinosaur out of her coloring book. She cut him into about 350 pieces, got another piece of plain paper and started cutting out random shapes. I walked out of the sun room to finish cleaning the kitchen.

After dinner I returned to the sun room to clean up the paper mess and discovered a bunch of long black hair all over the window seat. We made a memory today. Today was the first time one of my children cut their own hair.

Thankfully, I've scared her out of doing it again. She seemed shocked I didn't approve of the haircut. Don't worry, I made sure she knew I loved her and wasn't mad. I am quite grateful she has so much hair I couldn't find the clump she'd cut out.

The girls also had their first Taco Casa experience with the Taylors today. I think Abby and Sydney both liked it. Abby didn't like the blueberries in the empanada so she just licked the cinnamon sugar off of it. Sydney ate her chips, cheese dip AND her half burrito. I think she REALLY liked it. Maybe they're ready for Taco Bell!?!

Lazy Days of Summer

Whoever decided to call summer days lazy has a few things coming. This has been one of the busiest, most fun summers we've had! And we haven't even vacationed anywhere!

Abby is taking swim lessons (from Heather Nelson) and she has gained so much confidence in the water. Sydney is following suit (typical second born) and now likes to tell us "stop it" when we try to hold her in the water. She trusts her swim vest more than her parents!??! And we are working on teaching her to say, "Will you not do that, please?" but I'm sure it will take AT LEAST 6 months.

Stephen had a fun week at work last week closing out the fiscal year. He said every time they got a large sales order in somebody would hit this loud "BONG" thing and everyone pulled out their noisemakers to follow. One lady had a screaming woman sound. He is pretty pumped that he's getting a new pair of Reef's and a beach bag that he's ordered for his customers, too. They had Bucky's BBQ and On The Border twice there for lunch, and he was able to bring home leftovers. I think he's going to turn into an On The Border chip with salsa!

Oh, that reminds me. Stephen is also flying out to San Diego next week. I hope he doesn't have too much fun. His trip to Phoenix made him think if he ever left the southeast we'd actually be okay. I don't think I would. I really don't think I would.

I am doing well. I've successfully gained at least 25 pounds at this point (should have gained 10) and haven't thrown up in like 3 weeks! I am still taking Zofran during the day but SHOULD be done, soon. Our son seems to be happy kicking and swimming away! I, however, am enjoying the idea of this being my last pregnancy and thinking thoughts like, "Maybe he should stay in there, what do I know about raising a BOY!?!?" Thankfully, I am married to a "guys' guy" so I'm partnered with someone who has all the strengths to make up for my weaknesses! Oh, and yes, God will give me what I need when I need it. Right now I just need to find some things to make the nursery not so feminine! I'll focus on that.

Marsha and Tyler's Wedding

Abby was the flower girl in Marsha (Byers) and Tyler Mays wedding this Saturday. The wedding was absolutely beautiful. It was outside on the front lawn of the Gassaway Mansion in Greenville. It started to drizzle just as Marsha was walking down the aisle with her Daddy but she was not phased a bit because she was so excited to see Tyler at the other end of the aisle!

Abby did a wonderful job. She had a special rocking chair on the porch that was hidden by huge columns. Zoe (her Build-A-Bear) was waiting for her in the chair with a wedding dress on that Miss Marsha gave her. When Abby came back down the aisle, so did Zoe!

At the end was a live butterfly release, which provided some humor when butterflies landed on some of the guests heads! :) I thought it was so cool that the butterflies all found their way to the butterfly bushes! The reception was on the back lawn and throughout the house and it was perfect, as well. The food was SO good and everything was decorated and arranged so beautifully. It was a great day!

It's A Boy!

We had our ultrasound on Friday and found out our surprise third baby is a BOY! We are absolutely beside ourselves. During the ultrasound Stephen was so nervous he was pacing back and forth. The ultrasound technician asked if he was going to do that the whole time. I told her that is what he does when we're losing a football game! She laughed and decided to make him wait a little while.

We saw the heart chambers and the brain, skull, spine, etc. and finally she said, "Do you see that?" and we said, "What?" and she said, "That's a _____" (fill in the name of the male body part). Stephen let out a sigh of relief and said, "We're going to have a son!" I kept saying, "I cannot believe God gave us a boy!" (To see it in the picture below imagine the baby sitting on a glasstop table.)

Stephen's dad asked the Lord several months before we found out we were pregnant to please give Stephen a son. The Lord heard his prayer and answered, "Yes." I couldn't be more thrilled with the way God has planned our family. He knew I needed two girls first to really want a boy! He also made them each 2-1/2 years apart. His timing and His wisdom are so perfect!

P.S. The due date is November 4th. If he comes 2 weeks early like the girls did that will be sometime after October 22.

Abby's First Dance Recital

Abby took a preschool dance class this year that included ballet, tap and tumbling. June 2nd was the big day for her recital at the Peace Center! Nana, Gran, Aunt Martha, Miss Ashley, Stephen and I were all there to watch.

She danced to "Joy To The World" from the Finding Nemo soundtrack. She did such a super job. Her entire class froze and she looked off stage at her teacher, Miss Melanie and starting doing her arm movements. She just kept doing them over and over, even though the rest of the class was unengaged. I am not sure that any of them did any tap steps that day but the crowd loved them.

Abby was so precious and I kept saying to Stephen I wished we could bottle up that day and save it forever!

Abby with the 12 dozen pink roses Gran, Nana and Aunt Martha gave her

Celebrating with ice cream at Spill The Beans (trophy in tow)

Pictures in Falls Park afterwards

Stephen with dance trophy, 2 dozen roses AND a dance bag!

Sydney's 2nd Birthday

Sydney turned 2 and we were unable to celebrate her birthday within a reasonable amount of time because I was so sick (morning sickness) and several families were sick with stomach bugs and nasty colds. We did finally have a small "doggie" party and Haley Carson, Mr. Steve, Miss Miranda, Nana, Mimi, Abby, Daddy and I were there. It was a fun time for a small crowd! Sydney had the best time and loved the doggie hats we gave as party favors! Oh, and Macy Fuller stopped by in "the car" before everything got started. (Miss Greta didn't want her to stay in case she still had sick germs!)

Doggie cupcake tree / Macy visiting

Sydney and Nana hamming it up

Daddy helping Sydney open presents / Sydney sporting her doggie hat and shades

Stephen's 30th Birthday

When Stephen turned 30 he wanted a pinata, Mutts BBQ and ice cream cake in our back yard. Here are a few of the videos and pictures from his big day!