Nap Bedhead

Need I say anything more?????

Ryan's hair is quite the topic of conversation these days.  Do we cut it....or do we wait?  Lee has made it clear that it is a "mama decision" so I guess it's up to me.  My thought initially was to wait till he's 2, but man, it's getting long.  We'll see.  I think the time may be coming sooner than I would like.... 

 

Getting Ready for Bed

Tonight Daddy went to watch the State game at Ashe's house, a much needed time for him to relax and socialize.  Not something he gets to do often.  Ryan and I were just hanging together before bed looking out our front door at our neighbor's cats.  Here's a couple of pics of him from tonight.

 

Tonight as I put Ryan to bed and was standing in his room cuddling him before we said our prayers it really hit me that our time with him as an only child is really coming close to an end.  He's my baby and will always be my baby but we're really getting ready to have a tiny little baby that will make Ryan look like a teenager in comparison.   And Ryan is going to be a big brother.  My sweet little baby is not going to be our only baby anymore.  We're all going to have to share each other's time in different ways.  Lee and I are anxious about the normal new baby stuff that we now know to expect.  The hard stuff: the sleep deprevation, the nursing, the possibility of colic again and we're looking forward to all the wonderful stuff: the new love that our hearts will know, the new smiles we'll fall in love with and all the fun that a new baby will bring our family.  Our family will be complete when our little baby arrives and we're looking forward to the new memories we will make as a family of 4.  But, I am human and I am little sad that my time with Ryan all to myself is almost over.  He has no idea, obviously, what changes are really coming but will quickly learn to share Mama and Daddy.  Ryan has been my little bud for the last 2 years and now he'll have a new little buddy to share his life with.  I can't wait to see how their relationship will grow in the coming years.  I hope they love each other as much as I love my brother and Lee loves his brother.  I can't wait to see all of it unfold! 

 

 

Game Day at the Park

We've had a crazy week with sickness around our house.  Ryan has had the croup twice in the last 3-4 weeks and then this week has had pneumonia in one lung with a crackly cough.  He's been acting fine (like an energizer bunny) but I know that he's sick and doesn't need to be around other kiddos.  So we've been on what I like to call "house arrest" where we can't play with anyone or go to preschool.  Not much fun for any of us.  I've also caught the nasty bug that he's had and now have a lovely respiratory thing.  I even had to go to Medac this morning.  Uggh.  I'm constantly thinking that I'm going to loose my voice at any moment.  Not fun on a good day but add being 35 weeks pregnant and feeling like a blimp and it stinks!  Since Ryan has been doing much better we decided we just really needed to get out of the house for a bit we took Ryan to the Hugh McRae toddler park for a bit.  He had a blast and really enjoyed it.  I could let Daddy to the major chasing and just do something I haven't really had a chance to do lately, take some pics of our cutie pie.  Ryan of course had to wear his game day shirt today too.....GO WOLFPACK!!! 

 

Daddy loves critters, as most of you all know.  While we were at the park Lee found a cicada shell and showed it to Ryan.  Of course Ryan thought it was super neat and enjoyed checking it out.

Peter

About 2 weeks ago when Lee was mowing the grass he found this black caterpillar in the yard.  Since we had just been to Eli's bug themed birthday party, we had a bug catcher to put this little critter in.  Lee decided to catch the caterpillar and put him in the bug catcher to keep for a pet for Ryan.  We have named him Peter the caterpillar.  Ryan LOVES Peter.  It's so cute.  This morning as Lee was getting up Ryan up I could hear Ryan saying "PeaTa" over and over again with his little British accent.  We look at Peter often during the day and Ryan definitely remembers that he's living with us up in our window seal in the kitchen.  Lee looked up what kind of caterpillar this critter is and as it turns out it will turn into a big moth that is black and white and actually very pretty.  We'll see what happens.  Here's a pic of Peter and a couple of videos of him saying "PeaTa" in his British way-

 

 

 

34 Weeks

So here's the update for us:
We're at 34 .5 weeks now.  Yikes!  The countdown is on.  In less than 6 weeks we will have our little boy!  I have a c-section set up for Monday, October 29 at 11:30am in case I don't go into labor naturally.  Normally for repeat c-sections the doctors office would set up the surgery a week prior to the due date but since we are trying for a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) they are giving me until my due date to try to deliver.   (Due date is on Saturday, October 27)  I'm feeling great still but am starting to get uncomfortable with little guy being up in my ribs.  He's moving a lot, especially when I sit down--which rarely happens unless Ryan is napping or asleep for the night.  We have another ultrasound set for Sept. 27 so I'm anxious to see if we can get a look at his little face and also I am so curious to see how he's situated in my belly.  I have my ideas, but I'd be interested in seeing it!  He has definitely made a nest on one side of my belly and doesn't ever move from there.  I'm still as active as possible, going to the gym when I'm in town or available.  I seem to be the topic of conversation at the gym too...people are always asking me questions about when I'm due or other things.  Here's a pic from Sat before I went to the gym: 34 weeks.

PS.  We STILL do not have a name for our little boy yet.  It's so hard to decide but I'm ready to get it figured out!  Maybe we'll have it decided by when he's born?

 

Family Week at Wrightsville, part 2

We decided to do a family photo shoot while on our trip last week.  Our main goal was to get a good family shot of all of us, especially since we aren't all together but every 2 years or so.  It was definitely a process to get all of us dressed and out on the beach with no meltdowns after eating supper.  It's amazing we all got out there before the sun set.  But, we were on a mission and made it happen!  It's hard to wrangle 4 kids on the beach when they really just want to play but they hung in there for us, knowing a chocolate treat ensued if they followed directions and played along with our photo session.  Here are a few of the pictures.  Sorry there's so many.....just couldn't choose which ones not to post.

 

This was a funny site.  The boys were OVER IT by this point and if one would look, the other wouldn't.  It was quite hilarious, but hard to deal with.  Not to mention these two boys are not light.  I think they're both 26 lbs. which is a load, especially when they are wiggling and throwing their body weight around because they want to get down and run! 

Awe!  Sweetness!

At the time this picture was taken I was 33.5 weeks pregnant.  Belly definitely popped out!!

Family Week at Wrightsville, part 1

Last week we spent the week at Wrightsville Beach with my parents and my brother's family.  It was a great week of getting to spend time with our whole family, not something that we get to do often.  The kiddos loved to play together and Ryan has really enjoyed getting to know Sophia, Bella and Tobin.  He repeatedly asked for Sophia, even if she was hanging around with him.  It was so cute.  Here are some pictures from our busy week. 

 

Here's Lee getting buried in the sand by the kids.  Guess it's a good thing he doesn't mind the sand.  Mama wouldn't be up for that! 

 Poppy and CC enjoying the view!

8 1/2 months pregnant.  Let's just say that this pregnant mama is not doing the beach anymore with Ryan without Lee.  It's getting a little too hard for me to handle by myself....or even with others around to help.  My family stepped in and really helped me tremendously all week, I've just come to know that there's nothing like having Daddy around.  Tag teaming the beach is the way to go.

One night we packed everyone up and headed downtown to walk on the boardwalk.  The kids liked looking at all the sights, especially the boats.

 

My sweet brother and sis-in-law.  We love having them around and enjoy our time together with them.  We wish we could have them around more.  :) 

Bella and Tobin hanging out on the porch with Poppy.

Poppy, CC, David and the girls headed down to the beach on our last night to walk in the sand.  A great night for one last walk on the beach.  Unfortunately, I was too pooped to join them.  Here are some pics from their sunset walk. 

 Uncle Lee and the boys. 

 Katie and Eli came by on Thursday afternoon to visit and the girls enjoyed playing with Eli.  Here's a pic of Eli and Sophia.