HELLO....yes its me!

One of the many things I really miss is my sweet blog...I am sure you who use to read my blog have long moved on.  However, I have missed it and well also have some small guilt that poor Baby C's life has not been as documented as his sisters was.  Man I had so much free time back then!  Anyways that being said I am going to try once again (I think I tired a few time here and there) to jump back on this wonderful world of blogging.

I do plan to go back and write up some blogs for poor C about his monthly updates and such if not for him but just for me.  I mean he isn't totally shafted I have kept his monthly calendar like I did with H were I wrote something about each day.  You know the major milestones and all that good stuff.

Harper with Hadley, Henry, and Emma

So let's just jump into life here! Well in our normal life it is BUSY as in we go none stop around here. Miss H is into babies like no other child I know (okay my sweet niece was too actually they are very similar in many ways).  This past week we took her to the American Girl store for a long over due birthday trip.  Since she got the bitty baby twins at Christmas (a boy Henry and a girl Emma) I told her for her birthday we could go get sweet Henry some clothes.  I mean let's be honestly we have enough girl clothes to make it weeks here.  Poor sweet Henry has the ONE outfit....but don't worry she dresses him in his sisters stuff too.  Not only was she getting Henry some goodies but she also had other items she wanted.  She took her birthday money from Queen Tia and crew as well as some other money she got to buy all her new goodies.  Of course we had to have a big chat about how although we LOVE everything in the store we really only needed a few items.  Her and daddy went through a whole scenario at home before leaving I just sat back and laughed.  This mommy knows you can go through 1000 scenarios and she still is going to want it all.  However she also knows we have kinda a list and she is pretty good to sticking to that.  The must haves were Henry clothes, brush, and high chair.  She has been dying for the high chair since she saw it in the magazine many months ago.  Of course do we need another high chair (we have 3) NO, but this one is made for the bitty babies so she just needs it.  I will give her that our bitty babies don't fit so well in the other high chair options.  Plus it was her money to spend as she wished.

Sweet baby C was just along for the ride as his sister took over the AG store.  She was ooohhhing and ahhhing over everything...what was he doing?  Running all over the place but mostly pushing the stroller everywhere.  He would also take the babies down from the display and move them to another one.  He probably had just as much fun as she did because he was just doing his own thing.  Sister was too busy shopping to boss him around.  One day he will get his bossy time for her I just know it!

Since we were at the AG store we also got to see Chris' sister and boyfriend.  We also enjoy getting to spend time with them.  Poor Hunter had no idea a store for just dolls existed like this. He was cracking me up as he looked around and took it all in.  Once H made up her mind on what items she was going to buy we were out of there.  She was very good about selecting the things she really needed and not giving us too much fussing about wanting other stuff.  I was pleasantly surprised by it all.  She ended up with the high chair (no brainer there), Henry a golf outfit, the bitty baby brush set, 2 new bottles, and a new outfit for the girls.  All in all she used her money wisely and I couldn't have been more proud of her.  Even Chris was shocked at how great the adventure turned out.  See we parents set our standards low and get all excited when it works out...both of us had visions of screaming and kicking when we told her she had to pick less items....thankfully we had a list.

Chris helping pick out Emma's hairdo

Emma getting all fancy

Miss H signing her baby out from the salon

Miss H with all her goodies ready to go!

From there we hit up the mall and got the kiddos some new shoes.  Sweet baby C wears moccs mostly but will need some summer shoes for our family vacation to the beach.  He got some pretty adorable little boat shoes Aunt Whitney helped picked them out. After that we enjoyed dinner with Whitney and Hunter and the kiddos were entertained by the ice skating.  If you ask me it was a win win for all....

dreaming of skating

After that fun adventure we had a pretty normal week here.  Monday we chilled like normal got caught up on house stuff always fun.  Tuesday and Wednesday Miss H has school so Baby C and I chill.  I actually try to run as many errands as possible because lets be honest running errands with ONE kid is way easier.  Thursday we just well gosh what did we do (that was only yesterday and I can't remember yikes) nothing to crazy or I would recall.  Then today we hit up story time like normal.  This Friday is one of our favorites because it is the puppy dogs and we love to watch them read stories.  Their sweet owners dress them up for each story and create tricks that go along.  Not only that but Ms. Sandy and Mr. Bill go to our church. Ms. Sandy rocks sweet baby C in the nursery too so we really enjoy them and are thankful for them.  Today's story was about bugs it was pretty cute.  After story time we spent some time over out our sweet friends playing.  Pretty crazy Friday if you ask me.

We rushed home to make dinner to find Chris already home with a fire going and dinner started.  What a nice treat that was.  I finished up some of the shirts I needed to get shipped out and the three of them played.  Miss H talked daddy into a dance party again her new favorite thing with him.  C ran around enjoying the flashing the flashlight around.  They had a blast and I got all my stuff done so it was the perfect night.  Hope to be back more often (at least once a week that's my goal) to keep those memories and crazy moments going.

Tigercation

Well, sweet Tiger you are still up to your tricks again!  Tiger's most recent tricks are causing me more contractions ON the meds that should stop them.  These being said I kind of had a small melt down moment about this sweet baby coming.  Thankfully I have an amazing family and sister who talked me off the ledge.

All the fun began on Saturday when I was feeling contractions even after taking my morning medicine. Sad thing is I can only take this medicine every 6 hours so I have to wait it out until I can re dose.  Of course I was trying to ignore the issue at hand and just rest.  Thankfully it was the weekend and Miss H had her sweet daddy to play with.  I spent the morning in bed just hanging out drinking my water and such.  Come the afternoon I finally could redoes myself and did quickly!  That helped for about 3 hours then the contractions began again.  Of course they were not "unbearable" as the past 2 pre labor times!  

Of course after chatting with my sister I placed a call to the after hour doctor…we had a small discussion and came to the normal conclusion more than 6 "unbearable" contractions in an hour go in to the hospital.  Thankfully they stopped at about 4, or so I counted anyways.

Needless to say after all the fun my sweet sister offered to take Miss H for the week so that I could truly be on bed rest hoping to keep the contractions down.  I of course hate to send Miss H away because I will miss her and don't want her to feel ditched before the baby.  Also I feel bad for my sister who has 4 kiddos on her own (11,7,2, and 5 months) in a small living space (they are renting as they build).  But I do want sweet Tiger to cook as long as possible since I am only 36 weeks.  37 weeks is so much better than 36 and that is the main goal healthy baby!!

Therefore Sunday Chris and I loaded Miss H up and met my sister at our 1/2 way spot.  H was so excited about going to play with her cousins she couldn't stand it.  She pretty much gave Chris and I a hug and kiss then kicked us out of the door :-)  I am so thankful she is excited and that my sweet sister is willing to add to her crazy life.  This week Tiger and I have just been laying in bed everyday!

road tripping like a pro

oh the happiness

Tia will be a favorite always for this kind of fun

face timing this morning, showing off her nails

just having a blast! 

Let me tell ya laying in bed isn't that easy all day everyday!  I have caught up on most of my shows and now am catching up on blog life…ha  So until Friday my goal is keeping tiger in while Miss H is out enjoying her Tigercation at Queen Tia's house! Here's to 2 more days of hoping Tiger stays in and feeling much better about his/her arrival after that.  Plus my sweet mom is coming to help out for the next week :-) love my family

New hobby for Miss H!!

Miss H and I have done music together classes for 2 years now and she loves it! She loves going to music, seeing her friends, singing and dancing the whole shebang.  However, this semester our sweet friends schedule didn't really meet up with ours.  When I told H that her 2 favorite friends wouldn't be in class she was a little sad.  That is when we began discussing new activities and hobbies to do.  I listed off a whole bunch of new idea such as soccer, t-ball, gymnastics, and more.  She was pretty intrigued to hear more.

I told her I would do some research and then we could may try something new this semester instead of music.  After much research and discussion Miss H chose gymnastics as her new thing.  I found a gym close by that had hours that would work once Tiger arrived too.  The gym even has a trail class you can do prior to committing.  So we loaded up and went for our trial class!!  

H had the best time at gymnastics.  She loved getting to jump on the big long trampoline.  They even have a fun castle that you can jump out of into a foam pit.  She tried it once and that was about all she wanted of that!!  Needless to say she was hooked after one class and we now have been to 2 classes!  I love watching her try new things.  She is pretty funny though because if she isn't sure about the safety of the event she sits back and waits her turn, my little observer girl!  

Yeee-haw

Sweet Miss H loves January for many reasons 1) her birthday 2) The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo comes to town.  Seriously she loves the stock show, like loves it!  Last year was her first year to head on over to the stock show and she has been hooked every since.  Something about the animals, food, and rides that makes her so excited.  They have been airing the commercials on tv for a bit and every time one comes on she yells with excitement about going!

Of course the stock show always begins the weekend of her birthday so we have to plan accordingly.  In the past Chris and his family have gone while they are in town, but with this new "don't do anything" life style I have to lead we didn't make it on birthday weekend.  Miss H's party day was about all I could handle and not go into labor.  No worries though she did get to the stock show!

Chris and I analyzed what day would be the nicest weather wise…because who wants to be cold right?  Once we set on a date we discussed with Miss H the important things she wanted to do there at the stock show.  Since I am only suppose to be out for 2 hours we needed to use our time wisely!  Here were her must do items:

1) Eat a corn dog
2) see the baby animals (bunnies, chicks, goats, pigs, and such)
3) Ride on Pokey (the pony she rode last year)
4) Pet the animals
5) Go to the rodeo
6) Ride some rides

So of her 6 must do items we were able to accomplish all but number 5.  We didn't make it to the rodeo this year.  She was a little bummed but she totally gets it!  I mean after all she got to do so many other fun things.  Needless to say Miss H had the best time and we love her joy for the stock show.  Of course she is already counting down till next year (even though it isn't over..ends in Feb)  Normally we would go a couple of times (we get in free because of our amazing museum membership) but not this year, next year!

The proof is in the pics:

Welcome to the Safari watch out for the animals

Her adorable invites that everyone got! 

Happy 3rd Birthday to our Sweet Miss H!!  This year we went with a Safari themed party because she is such an animal lover! Sadly I didn't get all the pictures I would have normally liked to have taken!  Mostly because a) my prego brain can't remember anything b) I am suppose to be sitting and not doing much for this sweet Tiger!

I am so thankful for great family!  My wonderful mom and dad came up 4 days early to help me get this  party set up and going!  Seriously without their help it would have never happened or I would have given birth :-)  This year I had to give up some things as far as party planing and such….one of them was painting the town building.  Yes we have a building in town that everyone paints for their birthdays and such.  It is a fun tradition and I am sad I couldn't do it this year.  Instead I settled on making her a cute sign at the house.  Actually I did non of it, because I can't, but my mom and dad did it all.  Mom even let harper help paint her sign and she was super excited about it.   She put all the "dots" on the adorable giraffe.

Seriously how freaking adorable did her sign turn out!  My mom is like wonder woman I love her so much for this! She too was sad we couldn't do the building, but this is way cutter! 

Here is our set up inside!!  I had a craft station which I think was a hit…it may have taken a little more help from the mommy's than planned but the kids loved it.  We made rain sticks that they could take home! 

 They had their choice of rice or beans or both inside the stick…then they added some fun with all the duck tape and stickers on the outside!  The kiddos really did have fun making them. 

Here is our birthday table set up…where I should have taken better pics!! We have our table cloth that we use each year.  Everyone leaves a little message for the birthday girl and we trace her hand! I love this my sister started it when my niece 11 years ago…its such a great memory!   Then for snacks we had zebra cakes, sticks (pretzels), elephant food (peanuts), animal cookies, and then her birthday cookies! We also had the watering hole which held little water bottles and juices for all. 

Are these not the cutest cookies ever!! 

 Here is our photo booth zone! We tried to get each kiddo in the jeep for a quick picture.  I think we got more than 1/2 the kids so I consider that pretty successful.  They will get a photo in their thank you card from Miss H. 

 Goodie bags…what party wouldn't be complete without goodie bags.  They each got to take a stuffed animal that was through out the party!  I let them chose one then in the bag were the following: binoculars (from Chick-Fil-A…they gave these out this summer, yes that is when I begin my party planning), a cute cup that gives you an animal nose when you drink (you can see them here), some animal print frame stickers for home, and some animals to grow at home (those capsules you put in water and they make a sponge animal) 

Here is the front of the house as the kiddos arrived!  Miss H still has her birthday sign outside because she doesn't want it come down!  We will give her the month I guess :-) 

 Party fun in action..all the mommies helping make rain sticks!!  

 The birthday girl with a quick fly by as she took a break from the bounce house fun!  We had a bounce house out back that stayed pretty busy!!

 Sweet Miss H with her friend C driving the safari jeep around, or so they thought!   Of course she had to take a ride with her cousin G too! They were so cute in this little jeep. 

Finally it was time for the presents!  Miss H is so funny she loves to open them and then really check each gift out before moving on.  

 All and all this little 3 year old had an amazing party thanks to all her friends and family! Our Safari was a great adventure now on to plan next years! :-)