Sunday Afternoon Fun

Our Sunday afternoons consist of lunch at my mom's house with her side of the family. Then family time. Today consisted of all that plus a little front porch swimming and some cousin playtime.

When we went to the beach Natalie was a little unsure of the water. She liked it the first day and then the second day she wasn't crazy about it but warmed up to it. So I have been determined that this girl would like to swim. Bethany and I carried Natalie, Kynlee, and the boys swimming at Aunt Kathy's this past week and Natalie did ok with it. I think the water was a bit to cold for her plus it was our afternoon nap time. Then Saturday we went to Cole's birthday party and Randy and Denise's and I put Natalie in the pool and she LOVED it. I decided then that Natalie needed a pool of her own. Since we are in the process of building a house and Natalie is getting a little brother, a Fred's $8 Sofia the First blow up pool with have to do for now. I do believe this was the best $8 I have ever spent.

I will continue to take her to the pool at Aunt Kathy's but for the days we aren't able to make it Sofia will have to do :).

Baby #2

We finally got to find out Baby #2's gender today. Daniel, Natalie and I found out at the doctors office because we aren't strong enough to wait and find out with everyone else :). I called the bakery while still in the doctors office so they could get on the cake that our mothers would cut into to reveal the gender. When I was pregnant with Natalie, Daniel and I found out on Tuesday and then didn't have the reveal party until Saturday. If you know me you know it was not easy to keep that secret. This time my doctor's appointment was on Friday so we decided to have the reveal party that night. We kept the party pretty simple with just family.

Finally......It's a..............

Natalie is very excited about getting a brother! :)

Baby#2 is a boy and we could not be more excited. His name will be Jace Daniel. Baby J  checked out just fine on the sonogram and was measuring perfectly. The tech estimated he weighed about 10oz.
Daniel and I are beyond blessed to have both a girl and a boy and thank God daily for trusting us with his children. We can't wait to meet Jace.

Natalie: 6 months

Wow where did the time go? My baby is growing way to fast.

At 6 months you:

• weigh 15lbs 13oz
• height 25 inches
• wear size 2 diapers
• can wear anywhere from a 3-6 months to a 6-9 month just depending on the brand and what it is (you need 6-9 for length)
• have the cutest little arm and leg rolls
• have learned to spit and you think it is fun to do that while eating
• have been on your first road trip to the beach
• have rolled from your tummy to your back but again that's not something we just love to do...you are more interested in scooting across the floor
• are sitting up with support...I just like to be there just in case you tumble...you don't sit for very long and its not enough to say you can sit by yourself officially.

We are so in love with these blue eyes

Our First Vacation as a Family of 3

Every year on Memorial Day Weekend there is a group of us that goes to the beach and the guys go deep sea fishing while the girls hang on the beach.
This year was MUCH different for Daniel and I. I do believe this is the first beach trip I have ever came home from with no tan lines and I was ok with that. :)


On Friday afternoon I skipped out on car riders and came home to load up the vehicle and hit the road. My personal goal was to be southbound by 4. Daniel thought I was crazy since I had made it home by 2:45ish. He thought we should be on the road before then, but when you are packing the entire house well it just takes that long to load everything up. We were rolling through Ashland at about 4 and he said well I guess you were right. (ALWAYS!! :D) I had packed just about everything we owned for Natalie except her bed and well after this trip that will go next time too. I thought she could just sleep with us but boy was I wrong. She and her daddy slept great, me not so much. I believe I am paying for how I use to sleep. She was all over that bed twisting and turning.
The ride down wasn't terrible but it wasn't the greatest either once he hit the Dothan area. It was bed time for her and well she just wanted to be held. We finally made it to our room about 10:30 Friday night.

Watching some Mickey Mouse to pass the time

 

Saturday morning we woke up and I could not wait to get Natalie's toes in the sand. I need her to be like her momma and not her daddy. Her daddy hates the beach but I LOVE it. We made a run to Walmart to get the necessities and then grabbed some breakfast before hitting the beach.

Ready to hit up the beach. I think she is adorable!

By the time we got down to the beach she was asleep.

We spent the afternoon by the pool she really seemed to like the water.

I love these two to pieces!!

That night all 17 of us (counting kids) went to eat at the Backporch!

Natalie was a bit excited I do believe :)

Sunday was a different story. It was me and Natalie. We really appreciate her daddy being around to help way more than he knows. I decided since it was just me and her that we would hang by the pool and not even fool with the beach. (I would not have done the before Natalie!) Side note: There were other people with us, I wasn't completely by myself but they all have kids of their own too. Natalie was not in the best of moods so we didn't spend much time at the pool before we headed back to the room. When her daddy got back from fishing he kept Natalie in the room and let me go sit in the sun. She still wasn't a happy camper so I didn't sit in the sun long before I just got our stuff up and headed to the room for the day.

Natalie really loves her some Addie Brooke!

Originally our trip was for Friday thru Tuesday....we checked out a day early. I thought it would be best to get Natalie back on schedule before finishing up the last few days of school before summer. We packed up Monday morning and hit the road headed home. She did great. She slept from Bonifay to Ashland.


Overall it was a great trip and we had a good time but vacations now have a whole new meaning with a baby involved. Weekend trips are out of the question...if I am going to pack up the house I am at least gonna stay for a week. Our next beach trip is in July so hopefully it will be better

Natalie: 5 Months

At 5 months you:

• weigh about 14lbs.
• still wear size 2 diapers

• can wear 0-3 month shirts depending on brand and 3-6 month shirts; pants are a different story you need anywhere from a 6-9 month in pants but maybe that will change when we can wear shorts :)
• have started daycare....you have done well but it has been an adjustment for mommy; mommy misses Mrs. Brandi (don't get me wrong they are good with my baby girl at daycare but I liked her being the only baby with Brandi and getting sweet pictures during the day)
• are doing well with eating. You currently LOVE green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes, peaches, apples, bananas, and pears.
• prefer to sit up more than lay down

• love to be outside
• have an Uncle Chris who I think it is safe to say is crazy about you...he started grading on our house and was determined to get you on that dozer :)

• have a pretty BIG ANNOUNCEMENT that you are finally ready to share with the rest of the world that may not know

I love this picture...I guess this is her feelings on being a big sister

Baby #2 is due November 7, 2014

This was completely not planned but we are thrilled and excited to see what else God has in store for our growing family.

 

Just a few more pictures I took that are worth sharing :)

Natalie's First Easter

Our first Easter weekend with Natalie was nothing short of amazing. We so enjoyed having our girl with us and look forward to many more. On Saturday we kicked off our weekend by going to the egg hunt at church. Natalie of course wasn't old enough to hunt the eggs or even get outside considering it was cool and misting but we did get to socialize inside. Then we came back to Nana and Papa's house and dyed Easter eggs.

She was all into it.

On Sunday, we went to church and Natalie stayed in the nursery for the first time. Daniel and I helped with children's church which was a blessing in and of itself. I love to hear the Easter story out of 3 and 4 year olds mouth. There is nothing sweeter. After church we went and ate lunch at Jane and Keith's with Maw Maw Betty's family. Then we made a visit to Chris and Tara's where I did not get any pictures because Natalie was beyond ready for a nap

Checking out what the Easter Bunny brought.

Once we returned home we got a phone call that the Easter Bunny was on his way to visit Natalie since I was the horrible mother and didn't take her to see the one in the mall. (There's just something about some unknown person in a costume holding my baby that I wasn't too crazy about!) Natalie really seemed to like the Easter Bunny next year so I am anxious to see what next year brings.

My favorite :)

Hopping away until next year. :)